Fast and Free Is Over So What Wins Now
Thu Feb 05 2026
Fast and free delivery is no longer a competitive advantage.
In 2026, it is simply the minimum. What separates retail leaders now is how well they balance speed, cost, and flexibility across an explosion of channels and customer expectations.
In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Rob Hahn, COO of Pattern, alongside Miebach’s Julian Osorio, to break down what winning direct to consumer fulfillment really looks like today. Rob shares what brands are getting wrong about speed, why supply chain flexibility matters more than ever, and how specialization, marketplace requirements, and smarter inventory strategy are reshaping modern retail operations.
In this episode:
Rob’s view on the new DTC table stakes and why reliability winsHow brands can stay flexible across marketplaces, DTC, and retail channelWhat mid sized retailers should prioritize to improve cost to serve and execution
More
Fast and free delivery is no longer a competitive advantage. In 2026, it is simply the minimum. What separates retail leaders now is how well they balance speed, cost, and flexibility across an explosion of channels and customer expectations. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Rob Hahn, COO of Pattern, alongside Miebach’s Julian Osorio, to break down what winning direct to consumer fulfillment really looks like today. Rob shares what brands are getting wrong about speed, why supply chain flexibility matters more than ever, and how specialization, marketplace requirements, and smarter inventory strategy are reshaping modern retail operations. In this episode: Rob’s view on the new DTC table stakes and why reliability winsHow brands can stay flexible across marketplaces, DTC, and retail channelWhat mid sized retailers should prioritize to improve cost to serve and execution