The Unscalable Stuff We Do That Big Companies Can't

We get into what we're actually building and trying at Wayfront right now, and a lot of it is stuff that makes zero sense at scale. Free merch we ship to trial users and our best customers. A phone number field on the trial form where Chris personally reaches out to help set up your account. None of it is really profitable, but it's the personal stuff bigger companies can't be bothered with, and that's kind of the point. We also talk through building AI agents into the app versus relying on rigid if-this-then-that rules, why we cut AI buzzwords from the homepage, and the months-long saga of our site still not being indexed on Google.

00:00 Repositioning the brand in the AI era

03:34 We're the experts but can't put it into words

04:30 The "Wayfront approved way" and taking feedback

05:55 The ugly Apple Ferrari

08:51 Cutting AI buzzwords from the homepage

10:32 Training for a half-marathon with Claude

12:59 Why rigid rules break AI agents like buddy

15:56 The pizza order fail and consumer "dumb mode" AI

18:43 Building AI agents into the app vs rule builders

21:36 New client review and approval flows

22:43 Free merch and quiet-luxury branding

29:59 Still not indexed on Google

32:49 A phone number field where the founder texts you

34:51 Counter-outreaching the PR spam

Show notes