First-Party Data, Retail Media, and the Future of Media Buying

In this week’s episode of Chief Advertiser, Samir Balwani chats with Scott Ohsman, Vice President of Digital Commerce at Quickfire, about the future of digital advertising and media buying.

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Table of Contents

Scott Ohsman is the Vice President of Digital Commerce at Quickfire, a digital commerce agency. With over 25 years of experience in retail and e-commerce, he drives brand growth and digital strategies for Quickfire. Throughout his career, Scott has launched over 200 brands on Amazon and owned and operated a sales and marketing agency specializing in Amazon brand management. He is also a co-host of the Always Off Brand podcast, which shares insights on e-commerce trends and strategies.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [1:03] Scott Ohsman’s career shift from retail sales to digital commerce and e-commerce strategy
  • [7:09] The future of media buying in 2025
  • [13:05] Scott breaks down affiliate marketing, influencers, and paid media
  • [19:04] How Amazon and other retailers are disrupting programmatic advertising with first-party data
  • [26:36] Why many brands still struggle to leverage customer data effectively
  • [28:45] Considerations about the shifting inventory landscape

In this episode...

The rise of AI, Amazon’s dominance, and the growing emphasis on first-party data have made media buying more complex than ever. Businesses must now navigate new challenges like increasing ad costs, changing consumer behavior, and the ongoing disruption of traditional advertising models. How can brands leverage data to optimize their media strategies?

According to digital commerce expert and retail strategist Scott Ohsman, brands can navigate the changing landscape of media buying by focusing on first-party data and diversifying their advertising channels. This includes modifying media buying strategies to incorporate programmatic advertising, connected TV, and live sports sponsorships. To analyze advertising performance, Scott stresses adopting a data-driven approach, integrating Amazon performance metrics with DTC data for a holistic view.

In this week’s episode of Chief Advertiser, Samir Balwani chats with Scott Ohsman, Vice President of Digital Commerce at Quickfire, about the future of digital advertising and media buying. Scott also talks about the shifting inventory landscape, the challenges of leveraging affiliate marketing, influencers, and paid media, and how Amazon’s data dominance is reshaping the e-commerce industry.

Where to listen:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

  • “Amazon has created a world where they are the content creator, the conversion vehicle, and the advertising network.”
  • “If your agency isn’t thinking about what’s coming next, you’re already behind.”
  • “Media buying is shifting; brands need to know where the most cost-effective inventory is going to be.”
  • “Affiliate marketing today is just paid media by another name, and it’s creating massive channel conflict.”
  • “The best growth hack? Know your customers — how they buy, how long it takes, and what influences them.”

Action Steps:

  1. Leverage first-party data: Understanding your customers and using your own data for targeting is key to staying competitive in a privacy-focused ad landscape. Brands that rely too heavily on third-party data risk losing direct insights into their audience and limiting their long-term marketing effectiveness.
  2. Rethink your media mix: Instead of relying solely on Meta and Google, explore emerging channels like Amazon DSP, CTV, and live sports advertising. Expanding your media strategy ensures you’re reaching consumers where they actually spend their time to improve the overall return on ad spend.
  3. Align affiliate and influencer marketing: Ensure these channels complement, rather than compete with, your paid media efforts to reduce channel conflict. A well-integrated strategy will create a seamless customer journey and maximize the impact of brand partnerships.
  4. Stay ahead of the AI and automation shift: Programmatic media buying is evolving rapidly, and brands need to understand how automation is impacting costs and efficiency. By leveraging AI-driven optimizations, businesses can make smarter, data-backed decisions while reducing manual effort.
  5. Invest in a strategic agency partnership: As media buying gets more complex, having experts who understand the shifting landscape is crucial for sustained growth. The right agency can provide foresight and expertise to stay ahead of industry trends and shifting ad platform regulations.

Episode Transcript

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