PlayAbly Podcast: Gamifying E-commerce for the Future

Retailers are stuck in a discount addiction that’s killing margins—and consumers are playing right along. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we dive into the psychology behind discounting, why it’s no longer sustainable, and how shoppers have been trained to expect coupon codes at checkout.

But what if you could replace discounts with excitement and still drive conversions? Enter Buy Now, Win Later, a smarter, gamified alterna...

What if the biggest “loss” in your business history was actually your most profitable win?

In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we unpack how brands like Mattress Mack’s Gallery Furniture used psychological triggers, sports fandom, and clever hedging to turn a $10M refund into $73M in sales. We’ll show you how tying purchases to conditional outcomes—like sports games, weather, or holiday events—can drive massive urgency, AOV, an...

In this episode, we connect two unlikely worlds: Taylor Swift’s glitter-bomb Easter eggs for The Life of a Showgirl and Zohran Mamdani’s New York City scavenger hunt. Both show how playful participation is reshaping engagement in 2025.

From Taylor’s perfectly timed 12:12 album reveal, her mysterious orange door and Ophelia-inspired cover, to Mamdani turning politics into Pokemon Go with chai, we break down how these interactive stra...

Hey everyone! Welcome back to The PlayAbly Podcast, the show where ecommerce growth meets game design. Today, our host Kajal is joined by PlayAbly’s CEO and Founder, John, for a deep dive into the future of brand engagement — and why now is the time to press play.

In this episode, we explore the rising power of ecommerce gamification
as a driver for customer retention, loyalty, and delight. Drawing insights from Harvard Busines...

After a brief hiatus, the PlayAbly Podcast is back — and Angelo’s hitting the road. From LA to New York, he’s meeting with brands IRL to show how retail gamification isn't just for your Shopify store — it works just as powerfully in-store. We dive into PlayAbly's latest interactive retail activation with Central Perk, blending shoppable games and live trivia for discounts in a real-world Friends café.

From the psychology b...

Is your ecommerce store blending into the Shopify sea of sameness? In this episode of The PlayAbly Podcast, we’re joined by PlayAbly CEO and founder John Cheng to uncover the science, psychology, and serious ROI behind ecommerce gamification.

From his early days at Unity to the founding of PlayAbly during the COVID-era ecommerce shakeup, John shares how game mechanics—built on behavioral psychology and user interactivity—can radical...

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Brand ads in games? They’ve been called the Holy Grail of digital marketing… and yet, most have failed spectacularly. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, our host Kajal Ford sits down with Playably CEO and founder John Chang to unpack why traditional in-game brand advertising never took off—and why the solution isn’t squeezing ads into games, but instead bringing games into brands.

John shares h...

In this episode of the Playably Podcast, co-founder Angelo joins to break down a major parallel between two digital revolutions: the mobile gaming explosion of the 2010s and today’s Shopify store boom. What does Flappy Bird have in common with high-fiber candy brands? More than you think.

We explore how platforms like Unity and Shopify democratized access—lowering the barrier to entry while flooding the market with copycats and comp...

Turning Rainy Days into Runway Moments: How Brella Shoppe is Redefining an Untapped Market with Shauna Cowit

In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with Shauna Cowit, founder of Brella Shoppe, to explore how she’s transforming umbrellas from boring afterthoughts into must-have fashion accessories. Shauna shares how her "toxically optimistic" mindset helped her create a design-forward, high-quality umbrella br...

Gamification isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the future of e-commerce engagement and SEO strategy. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we explore how incorporating interactive experiences can transform your online store into a high-performing powerhouse.

Our Account Director, Gabi, joins us to break down how gamification enhances user engagement, reduces bounce rates, and increases dwell time—key factors that search engines like Goo...

Tariffs are back in the spotlight, and e-commerce brands are feeling the impact. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we break down what tariffs really mean, who pays the price, and how they’re shaking up global trade. Join our host and PlayAbly CEO, John, as we explore how brands can navigate rising costs, diversify supply chains, and leverage strategies like customer loyalty programs and ecommerce gamification to stay competi...

In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with Ivana, founder of Playfield, the pet accessories brand behind the viral Bailey Kit. We dive into her journey from Google to launching a DTC brand, the challenges of bootstrapping, and how she’s building a community-driven brand with playful, engaging experiences.

We also discuss the Playfield x PlayAbly partnership and how we worked together to create a gamified advent calend...

What does a game designer really do, and why does it matter for your brand? In this episode, we sit down with Seema, our Head of UX and Game Design, to uncover the psychology behind great game design and its impact on customer engagement.

From building shoppable games that drive conversions to creating immersive ecommerce gamification strategies and interactive ecommerce quizzes, we dive into how thoughtful design can tra...

In this episode, we dive into the excitement of the NRF conference, where over 6,200 global brands gathered in New York City to explore the future of retail. Join us as the Playably team reflects on their experience, including:

• Insights from showcasing shoppable games and engaging with industry leaders.
• Behind-the-scenes moments, from assembling our booth to memorable conversations.
• Key takeaways on personalization, gamification, ...

Bounce rates have been a persistent pain point for websites, but why do so many visitors leave before engaging? In this episode of the Playably Podcast, our CEO John Cheng dives deep into the psychology behind bounce rates and what makes websites "sticky."

We explore:
🎯 Why bounce rates remain high despite advancements in eCommerce.
🧠 The psychological and behavioral drivers behind engagement.
📊 How testing,...

What do Monopoly, UNO, and McDonald's Monopoly all have in common? They’ve mastered the art of engagement by tapping into human behavior, nostalgia, and fun.

In this episode, we’re joined by Seema, PlayAbly’s Head of UX and Design, to explore the timeless principles behind the games we grew up loving. From competitive moments (hello, UNO reverse card!) to simple rules that stick in our brains, we break down how these games crea...

Ever felt personally victimized by a discount spinner? You know, those flashy wheels of disappointment promising 50% off but always landing on a measly 10%?  Seema, our UX and game design guru, is here to spill the tea on why spinners are the awkward middle child of eCommerce gimmicks.

In this episode, we unpack:
🎡 Why spinners are the digital equivalent of a rigged carnival game
💡 How brands can turn spinners into interac...

What do Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and ecommerce gamification have in common? Turns out, everything. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we dive into how Taylor Swift has mastered gamification to build unmatched fan loyalty, from surprise songs to Easter eggs and fan-driven experiences.

We explore:
🎤 The gamified strategies behind the Eras Tour’s massive success.
🎮 How fan-created games and interactions keep the Swiftie...

In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with CEO and founder John Cheng to deconstruct how gamification has become a cornerstone for global success stories like Temu. From interactive spinners and loyalty programs to personalized engagement strategies, we explore how brands are using gamification to hook customers, drive loyalty, and gather invaluable insights.

We discuss the psychology behind gamified experiences, thei...