Coworking with David J. Sitt

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David J. Sitt is CEO and founder of retail and e-commerce fulfillment company Ship Essential.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? When someone orders something online, we pack it up and ship it to their door through a carrier like USPS or UPS.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? I spend most of my day acting like the team’s cheerleader—keeping the energy up, celebrating every win, and making sure everyone stays motivated. I’m not just leading from afar but jumping into everything from intro calls to day-to-day operations to the big-picture vision. My involvement sets the tone for how connected and energized the team stays.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Opening a new warehouse while simultaneously signing on new brand partners was definitely my favorite project. It pushed us to operate at full speed on multiple fronts—building out new infrastructure while nurturing new relationships. Seeing it all come to fruition at the same time, with so many unknowns and moving parts, was both scary and exhilarating. It was one of those moments where the hard work, collaboration, and trust across the team really paid off.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? The trend I’m most excited about is live shopping; it’s such a powerful way to make the customer experience more personal again. As AI becomes more prevalent, so much of retail content is starting to feel automated and generic. Live shopping flips that dynamic by creating real-time, authentic interactions between brands and their customers. It builds trust, boosts engagement, and reminds people there’s still a human side to e-commerce. I think we’ll see more brands leaning into that mix of technology and connection to stand out.

What’s your go-to coffee order? Pour over, black.

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Get into making coffee at home.” Coffee has become too much of an obsession and I waste so much time. I love it.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? My favorite retail product at 15: vintage headphones and a G-Shock. My favorite retail product now: I'm obsessed with so many of our brands and I feel like I can go shopping any day at any one of them. It’s one of the coolest parts of the job—working with brands I’m already a fan of and supporting people who have become friends. Really loving Bandit cotton t- shirts for workouts lately (stopped wearing polyester). Brunch slippers—their new loafer is unreal. Forme posture-correcting tees are also next level.