eCommerce Fuel (general)

It is becoming increasingly popular for food brands to sell directly to the consumer through online companies they have built from the ground up. But how do you continue to grow your independent food company without in-person advertisements? To help me dissect all the logistics of this complicated business, from distribution to advertisement, is the co-founder of MissionMeats.co, Peter Awad. If you have been curious about building a food brand online, be sure to tune in!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VO0Hkj 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP313ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Shopify Reports Surging Volume for Stores via Twitter, Many Merchants Report Biggest Day EVER as Stimulus Checks Hit Accounts, Amazon Slashes Commission Rates for Affiliates, Amazon Reportedly Leveraging Seller Data to Launch Competing Products, Google Makes Their Shopping Ads Free, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/april-24-2020/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities, and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: April-24-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Alcoholism is something that is a lot more prevalent than people realize or want to admit. It is something that most people shy away from talking about because there is still such a stigma around it, but today I want to open up the discussion. To help me cover this important topic, as well as the common link between entrepreneurship and alcohol dependence, is my good friend Paul Churchill of RecoveryElevator.com. As a recovering alcoholic himself, Paul has a lot of knowledge on the subject, so if you have ever had a dependency on alcohol or know someone who does, this episode is not to be missed.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2K1Gcd8 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP312ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

I'm joined by Taylor Holiday to discuss the strange things happening with paid traffic in our current environment.  Traffic is relatively cheap but with plunging conversion rates is it actually a good time to double down on your ad spend?  We also discuss the encouraging top-line revenue trends we've seen over the last few weeks.

Direct download: Paid-Traffic-COVID.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today on the show I'm joined by good friends Drew Sanocki and Michael Jackness who open up about how COVID has impacted their lives and businesses, where we see areas of opportunity and more.

We discuss:

  • How badly our businesses have been hit
  • Thoughts on how COVID will permanently change eCommerce
  • Where we're seeing opportunities, both now and in the intermediate future
Direct download: Struggles-Silver-Linings.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

This week the United States passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.  While it provides some much-needed support to workers it also has some scary cashflow implications for small businesses.  We discuss:

  • How employers are responsible for paying for up to 14 weeks of paid leave for workers
  • The mechanics behind getting reimbursed by the government
  • Why this could cause a huge strain on your company's cashflow and what to do about it
Direct download: Family_Leave_Bill.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:32am EDT

Coronavirus Concerns Prompt Widespread Cancellations, U.S. Limits Travel From Europe, Taps SBA and Tax Deferrals to Stimulate Economy, Amazon Blocks New Listings for Coronavirus Safety Gear Amid Price Gouging, New Bill Could Make Amazon, eBay Liable for Counterfeits, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/march-13-2020/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: March-13-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I am going to be doing something I have not done in years; a round up of all the books I have been reading. Books can be extremely helpful in business, whether it is helping you to plan your next move or calm your mind after a long day of work. In this episode, I will be explaining my favorite educational books as well as fiction or just plain interesting books. If you want to find out my favorite books over the past few years or you are just a bookworm yourself, this is the episode for you.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/39in59H 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP309ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Coronavirus Hits Supply Chains and Deliveries, Congressional Hearing to Examine Wayfair‘s Effects on Small Businesses, DTC Brands Hit Rough Patch, Shopify Launches App Store Ads, Target Breaks Into Top 10 List of U.S. E-Commerce Retailers, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/february-28-2020/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: February-28-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:15am EDT

Today on the show, I am going to be sharing a pretty big announcement for something I have been working on for quite a while now: eCommerceFuel Capital, a group that will be making investments in eCommerce companies. To help me discuss this exciting news is my good friend Bill D’Alessandro of ElementsBrands.com. Listen in to learn how eCF Capital came to be, who we are looking for to join, and how you can be involved in it.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/39RURCB 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP308ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

eCommerceFuel Live 2020 is in the books! Now that we've had a few days to recover, I sit down with Bill D'Alessandro to recap the highlights of the event and our major takeaways from our 6th Annual Community Gathering. Listen in as we touch on the importance of investing in companies you truly understand, the ways Facebook marketing has changed over the last year, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2SDmkB0

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP307ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Adam Callinan is the co-Founder and CEO of BottleKeeper, a specialty beverage accessory company on a mission to keep your drinks the perfect temperature. Adam grew his business to more than $8 million in sales before hiring his first employee, and now BottleKeeper is one of the leading retailers of beverage accessories on the market. In this episode, we discuss how he was able to grow so quickly without any employees, why he is obsessed with automation, and what it takes to scale your business incredibly fast—without using Facebook ads.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2GTVP4N 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP306ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Shopify Will No Longer Refund Processing Fees for Return Payments, Trump Administration Cracks Down on Counterfeits, Chinese Outnumber U.S. Sellers on Amazon, Yotpo Acquires SMSBump, Amazon Smashes 4th Quarter Earnings Expectations, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/january-31-2020/ .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: January-31-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EDT

Greg Mercer is the founder and CEO of Jungle Scout, a company that provides various tools and resources to Amazon sellers. Today he joins the show to help me discuss the state of Amazon as we head into 2020. We talk about how to launch a product today, how that looks in comparison to several years ago, and more. If you’re thinking about getting on Amazon or you are selling on the site already, make sure to tune in.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/30KrY7V 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP305ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Google Plans to Nix Third-Party Cookies in Chrome by 2022, Google Introduces New Shopping Section in Search Results, Amazon Stopped Featuring Its Own Brands in Search Results, U.S., China Sign Trade Agreement, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/january-17-2020/  .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: January-17-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:31am EDT

Kristi Soomer is the founder and CEO of Encircled.co, an ethical fashion brand designed to help women travel lighter. Today she joins the show to talk about the concept of a B-corporation, which is something I have been wanting to learn more about for a while. Listen in as she shares what it's like to own a B-corporation, what that actually means for the business, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2N10Qf4  

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP304ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

TOMS Shoes Creditors to Take Over the Company, California’s Landmark Gig-Work Law Takes Effect Amid Controversy, California Consumer Privacy Act Officially Takes Effect, Fedex and UPS Raise Fees on Oversized Packages, Volusion Debuts SMB Financing, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/january-3-2020/ .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: January-3-2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today's episode is a replay of one of our most well-received episodes from 2019, where Kevin Stecko from 80sTees.com joins the show to discuss how he improved his business by making it smaller. Kevin has undergone the evolution from having a massive warehouse with a huge amount of inventory to scaling back and pricing his products at a premium. Listen in as he shares how he managed that change and how downsizing can help save a business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/2Q9z3dn 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP303ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today we are doing a replay of one of my favorite episodes from 2019 with Eric Bandholz from Beardbrand.com. Eric won the ECF 5 award for the most upvoted thread of 2018, and in this episode, he shares what made that year such a great one for his company. He talks about what made them decide to leave Amazon, how they’ve changed up their strategy, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2stIxrH 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP302ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Amazon Vine Rolls Out to Third-Party Sellers, ‘Jingle Bots’ Jam Online Shopping Carts to Use Up Stock and Frustrate Customers, What Is Actually in the U.S.-China ‘Phase One’ Trade Deal?, Amazon Blocks Sellers From Using FedEx Ground for Prime Shipments, Craigslist Launches App for iPhone, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/december-19-2019/ .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: December-19-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Today we have Bill D’Alessandro from ElementsBrands.com joining the show to discuss our eCommerce predictions for the coming year. We will be sharing how our predictions for 2019 held up now that we are approaching the end of the year, as well as if any of our ideas came to fruition. You’ll learn whether we think America is heading toward a recession in 2020, our thoughts on the coming election, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Lysgbz 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP301ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today on the show, I am joined by Alex Banys, the man behind Specialized mountain bikes. We discuss how to sell a brand worldwide, including places as far as Africa or Latin America, as well as why you need to create country-specific websites. Listen in to learn how to sell direct to consumers while not alienating your retailers, how to nurture your relationship with customers, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2YbcmJx   

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP300ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

E-commerce Killed It on Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Mastercard Bans Automatic Billing After Free Trials, Amazon Adds ‘Request a Review’ Button, Allbirds Calls Out Amazon for Mimicking $95 Wool Sneaker, Tesla Rolls Out Electric ‘Cybertruck’, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/december-4-2019/ .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: December-4-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Today Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com joins the show to help me discuss how to do an audit for your website or blog, as well as the benefits you will see if you take some time to clear out old content. Steve and I share how we keep our sites up to date to guarantee that new listeners and viewers are seeing our best work and so much more. Listen in to learn the importance of unique and secure links, focused keywords, and post consolidation.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2OcyL5G 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP299ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Joining me on the show today is one of the top new members of our private online community, Dustin Chaffin from ProluxCleaners.com. In this episode, he and I discuss the amazing framework he uses in his business, as well as where he spends time examining problems he's having and trying to isolate and identify the core symptoms of the issues. Listen in to learn why you should also be setting aside time every day to take a look at problems in your business, how to make your web page more appealing, and how to run your business like a pro.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2NWyTpL     

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP298ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Nike Pulling Its Products From Amazon, Alibaba Has a Record-Breaking Singles Day, Facebook Launches Facebook Pay, TikTok Tests an eCommerce Feature, Tidying Guru Marie Kondo Launches eCommerce Site, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/november-21-2019/ .

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: November-21-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Today Drew Sanocki of NerdMarketing.com is back on the show, this time to discuss a company he has recently become the owner of called PostPilot. Designed to help eCommerce businesses sell more products through post card marketing, PostPilot helps users create automated post card campaigns to build up loyalty and sales. Listen in as Drew explains how to leverage post cards in your business, how his companies are gearing up for Black Friday, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/33EqU6k  

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP297ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Penalty Box is a private Facebook group that was created completely from word of mouth, with no paid advertisements or paid marketing. Here to discuss the fascinating story of how this community came to be is founder Drew Laine. Listen in as he shares interesting aspects of the business, including the metrics they track, how they are successfully using SMS-based marketing, and the tactics they used to grow to where they are today.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/33pow30 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP296ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Google’s BERT Update Improves Search Results, Impacts 10% of Rankings, Shopify Announces “Shopify Email”, Seller Labs Acquires X-Cart, Amazon Adds New Pickup Locations and Makes Grocery Delivery Free With Prime, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/november-6-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: November-6-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Today I am going to be talking about something I have been trying to grow in recently: leadership. Over time, I have realized that if you want to do anything meaningful, you really have to invest in and lead a team well. So in this episode, I will be sharing four books on the topic that stood out to me and explaining some of the key concepts I was able to incorporate into my company and culture.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/36j2W1V 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP295ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

What’s the difference between a $5 mug and a $15 mug? Generally, it’s all about the branding and packaging. Today Miriam Brafman, founder and CEO of Packlane.com, joins the show to give us a crash course on custom packaging and how it impacts customer experience. Listen in as she explains how her company customizes packaging for ecommerce sellers and how you can get started on improving your own packaging.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2pOMBBq 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP294ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Hackers Breach Volusion and Start Collecting Card Details From Thousands of Sites, UPS Partners With Stamps.com, Snapchat Introduces Dynamic Ads, Walmart Spending at a Loss to Buy Grocery, e-Commerce Market Share, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/october-23-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: October-23-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EDT

Today I've got our community manager, Padraic Ryan, back on the show to talk about everything we learned while at the Klaviyo:BOS event. We discuss how switching out imagery and text can make a massive difference in the number of people that buy from your site and all kinds of other good stuff. Listen in to hear our key takeaways, from the importance of getting to know your customers to what you should not do at a conference.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2OFNJ4F 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP293.7ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today our not-so-new community manager, Patrick Ryan, joins me at the Klaviyo:BOS event to give us an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes of our private online community. He explains what it was like going from a community member to joining the team and what surprised him most about the transition. Listen in as he shares why we have an ‘online community guide’, how we choose who is right for our online community, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/320nSbs 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP293.4ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

U.S. Avoids Postal ‘Brexit’ as Universal Postal Union Reaches a Deal, Supreme Court Rejects Domino’s Bid to Avoid Disabilities Lawsuit, Amazon Rolls Out A/B Testing Tool to Some Sellers, Toys R Us Relaunches Website, Powered by Target, Walmart Sells ModCloth, Bonobos Trims Job in Effort to Cut E-commerce Losses, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/october-9-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: October-9-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Today I am going to be talking about phone calls—specifically how phone calls are one of the most misused forms of business communication known to mankind. So what is the appropriate way to approach telephone calls as an entrepreneur in 2019? In this episode, I share my ground rules for scheduling a call, the importance of deciding what you’re trying to accomplish before making a call, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2nLX0Ng 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP293ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

What do you do when you’re audited by the IRS? Today, Alisha Navarro from 2HoundsDesign.com joins the show to share her recent experience with being audited and how she handled it. Listen in as she discusses what happened to her when she couldn’t produce certain receipts for meals and smaller purchases, what she will be doing differently moving forward, and what to expect if you ever get that terrifying letter in the mail.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2kWi9TN

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP292ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Google Announces New ‘Sponsored’ and ‘UGC’ Links, Google Changes Algorithm to Highlight Original Reporting, Amazon Expands Attribution Beta Program, Microsoft’s Launches Advanced New Ecommerce Tools, Shopify Opens Platform to CBD Retailers, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/september-25-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.

Direct download: Sept-25-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Today Chris Nelson from MCARBO.com joins the show to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to manufacturing in the USA. Unlike most American businesses, almost everything MCARBO sells is manufactured here in the United States, so Chris has tons of insight to share on the subject. Listen in as he explains pricing differences, the number of suppliers he needs to keep things running smoothly, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2lZ2zH7 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

 

Direct download: EP291ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today Kevin Stecko from 80sTees.com joins the show to discuss how he improved his business by making it smaller and taking a different approach to pricing. Kevin has undergone the evolution from having a massive warehouse with a huge amount of inventory to scaling back and pricing his products at a premium. Listen in as he shares how he managed that change and how downsizing can help save a business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2kvJITI 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP290ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Shopify Buys 6 River Systems for $450 Million, tripe Gets Into Lending and Launches Corporate Card, Apple Announces iPhone 11, Takes on Netflix, Hulu With Low Streaming Price, Senators Ask Jeff Bezos to Crack Down Unsafe Products on Amazon, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at  https://www.ecommercefuel.com/september-11-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: Sept_11_2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Today Jason Feinberg, CEO and creative director at FCTRY.com, joins the show to discuss all things Kickstarter and crowdsourcing. Jason is an expert on this topic, and he opens up about how his business has evolved over the years from starting on Kickstarter until now. You’ll learn how his team manages pre-sales, tips for building a self-sustaining brand out of crowdsourcing campaigns, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2ZCKHjM 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP289ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today Marshall Haas from NeedWant.com joins the show to share how he managed to free up an insane amount of time by hiring a personal assistant. Marshall is an incredibly interesting entrepreneur, and we discuss the difficulties of finding the right personal assistant for your business, as well as what drove him to want to work remotely. We also cover some of his other businesses and a few of his excellent articles.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2MrqlI5 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP288ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today Ilana Wechsler from TeachTraffic.com joins the show to give us a crash course on Google Display Network. This platform is a very important piece of the marketing pie that more people should utilize, and Ilana breaks down why we should all be paying attention to it. Listen in as we cover what you need to know about Google Display Network and tips for implementing it in your business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2TG2J2Z 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP287ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today Mark Thomas of WildhornOutfitters.com joins the show to help shed some light on profit sharing. Who is eligible? How much do people get? Does profit sharing truly work to motivate people to work harder? While implementing profit sharing into his business, Mark has found the answers to these questions and more. Listen in as he shares them in this episode.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/31u9MP0 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP286ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Trump Delays Some China Tariffs on Chinese Imports, FedEx Ends U.S. Ground-Delivery Contract With Amazon, Verizon to Sell Tumblr to Automattic, The Company Behind WordPress, Amazon Is Killing Off the Dash Button, Scout Delivery Robots Roll Into Southern California, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at  https://www.ecommercefuel.com/august-14-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: August-14-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

After running businesses in multiple countries, Joonas Gebhard of Blippo.com has settled in Hong Kong. Today he joins the show to discuss why he thinks HK is the best place to start a business, as well as all the logistics of setting up shop there. Listen in as he shares his knowledge about selling products from all over the world, including how taxes work and what it’s like working with suppliers and dealing with shipping.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2YC829H

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP285ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I am talking to Alex La-Do and May-Tab Bogel of the micro private equity firm KartaVentures.com. Alex and May-Tab have a fascinating story, and both of them are entrepreneurs turned investors with a lot to share. Listen in as we talk about the sweet spot to maximize returns, how not to be taken advantage of by P.E. firms, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2K6a5Zq 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP284ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Facebook Fined $5B for Privacy Violations, DOJ Opens Antitrust Investigation Into Big Tech,eBay to Offer Amazon Shipping Competitor Next Year, Walmart E-commerce Is Losing $1B as It Tries to Catch Amazon, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/july-31-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: July-31-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Bill D’Alessandro of ElementsBrands is back on the show today to discuss all the ins and outs of due diligence. Due diligence is the process that you go through when you are purchasing a company, from sending an LOI (letter of intent) to signing the closing paperwork. Bill has bought many companies and knows this topic well, so listen in if you're looking to buy or sell a company and want to make sure your money is safe. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2SqxtEJ 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP283ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Drew Sanocki from Nerd Marketing joined the show nine months ago when he was involved in the purchase of three companies over the course of a month. Today he joins us again to share how things are going with these companies and what he has learned over that time. Listen in to hear Drew’s tips on leadership and how to track your company's success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2YU81Ki 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP282ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Prime Day Boosts Sales for Retail Rivals, Early Data Show, Amazon Can Be Held Liable for Faulty Third-Party Products, Court Rules, Shopify Increasing Its Card-Processing Rates, Big Tech Execs in Antitrust Hot Seat, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/july-17-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: July-17-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Today Lianna Patch of Punchline Copy joins the show to discuss how not to be boring with your website and how to sell through humor. It's hard to do well—which is why not many people do it—but if you can pull it off, you have a huge advantage in the marketplace. Listen in to hear Lianna give her best tips on writing hilarious copy, ideas for sprucing things up on your website, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2Xqmc8d 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP281ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20am EDT

Good hiring takes a lot of time and effort. You want to be sure you find someone who is going to ease your workload, not make it more complicated. I recently went through the hiring process myself, and today I'm sharing the important lessons I learned from my most recent hire. Listen in to hear how I narrowed down 300 applicants to one new superstar employee.

You can find show notes and more by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2LwY6q7 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP280ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Shopify Unite 2019: Multisite, Smart Shipping Rules, Fulfillment Network & More, Amazon, the New King of Shipping, FedEx Lures Online Sellers With Two-Day Air Shipping at Ground Rates, Cloudflare Update Causes a Number of Sites to Go Down, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/july-3-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: July-3-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Aaron Orendorff, founder of iconiContent, joins the show to school us—myself included—on all things content marketing. We dissect the process of researching, writing, and optimizing Aaron’s article “What Is the Future of Ecommerce?”, and he shares his tips on how I can revamp my 2019 State of the Merchant Report. Listen in as Aaron explains how to save your business and your audience from terrible content.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2ZDObTk 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP279ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today, we're jumping into a very important (albeit not too fun) topic: sales tax. Michael Fleming has over a decade of experience in this area, specializing in state sales tax related issues, and he joins the show to discuss what kind of enforcement abilities states actually have to come after you and how to stay out of audits. If you are living or selling in the United States, make sure to tune in.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2WPpS86 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

 

Direct download: EP278ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Facebook Unveils Ambitious New Cryptocurrency, Libra, Former Snap and Quidsi Execs Launch E-Commerce Startup to Rival Amazon, FedEx Ends Express Delivery Contract With Amazon, Walmart to Launch InHome Grocery Delivery in 3 Cities, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/june-19-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: June-19-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Austin Brawner is the host of the Ecommerce Influence Podcast and Chief Fixer at Brand Growth Experts. After working with multiple companies that have approached 9 figures, Austin knows a lot about how to grow businesses at a rapid rate, and he joins the show today to discuss his thoughts on how to scale your business in 2019. He sheds light on why the old formula may not be as relevant now, when the right time to hire an agency is (and their role in scaling a business), and lots more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2F2yL3l 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP277ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Ben Parr is an entrepreneur, investor, journalist, and the author of Captivology: The Science of Capturing People’s Attention, and he joins the show today to discuss all things press. We dive into where he thinks the future of communication is headed and why he started his own company in the field, as well as his thoughts on PR firms and if he thinks they are truly effective. After years in the business, Ben has a lot of knowledge on how to get your business noticed online and how to market like a pro.


You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2QwzPAR 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP276ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Antitrust Troubles Snowball for Tech Giants, PayPal Expands Access to E-commerce Platform to Small Businesses, Shopify Down: Google Cloud Out(r)age, E-commerce Groups Sound Alarm Over EU Security Rules, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/june-5-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: June-5-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00pm EDT

Codie Sanchez, a former journalist who is currently a managing director at Cresco Capital Partners, joins the show today to discuss all things investing. We discuss her drive to make a big impact and why she thinks money is the best way to create change. Codie also shares her experience with angel investments and the process her team undergoes when making investments in companies. Listen in to find out her best and worst investments, her thoughts on the legalized cannabis space, and more.


You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2JxohfX 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP275ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today Chris Lema, vice president of LiquidWeb, joins the show to discuss all things Wordpress and WooCommerce. With 20 years of consistent success, Chris has a lot of information to share with us about how to successfully set up an event. We’ll talk about public speaking and how people can improve their ability to effectively hold a room. Listen in to find out if it’s worth spending the extra money on premium plug-ins for your website and Chris’ tips for using your insecurities to propel you forward instead of holding you back.


You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2W4XwWg  

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

 

Direct download: EP274ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Adobe Partnering With Amazon to Build "Branded Stores for Sellers", Mailchimp Expands From Email to Full Marketing Platform, Walmart Enters High-Stakes Next-Day Delivery Game, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/may-23-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: May-23-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

John Chen, CEO of Ad Llama and owner of Blush and Bar, joins the show today to share the five lessons he learned from working at a hedge fund and why he says it was one of the best experiences of his life. We will discuss how to use market segmentation to expand your business and why we should be focusing on just a few specific KPIs and forgetting about the rest. Listen in to discover what John’s advice is on beating the market and how he has managed to consistently grow his companies. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2LqYNTn 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP273ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In today’s episode, I am sharing the major takeaways from the 2019 State of the Merchant Report. It is a bit of a tradition for me to survey several hundred merchants to discover what is happening in the eCommerce realm, and this report reveals if ad costs are going up, the state of drop shipping, how much growth Amazon is seeing and much more. Listen in to find out the results!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2JwJ5DR 

Direct download: EP272.5ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Amazon to Offer Free One-Day Prime Shipping, Trump Threatens to Hike Tariffs on $200B of Chinese Goods, Amazon to Collect Calif. Sales Tax for Small Online Retailers, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/may-8-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: May-8-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Taylor Holiday is a managing partner at Common Thread Collective, which was rated the best place to work by Glassdoor. Taylor is well-versed on how to run a business and keep your employees and clients happy, and today he is going to share with us his tips and tricks. We talk about what TMYD stands for and how you can implement it into your business to ensure your clients' needs are aligned with your work. Listen in to discover how Common Thread Collective is growing so quickly and the steps you can take to help your business do the same.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2vqc0RA 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

 

Direct download: EP272ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Two years ago, my family had three massive, life-changing decisions to make, and we didn’t know which way to go on any of them. Thankfully, we were able to work through a framework that helped us make definitive choices that we’re happy with today, and in this episode, I'm sharing the key steps that helped us get to the point where we felt comfortable and confident that we made the right call. Listen in to hear the strategy we used and how you can apply a similar process in your own life the next time you find yourself at a major crossroads.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2IP7IuX 

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners? Learn more here.  

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Direct download: EP271ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Amazon Is Shutting Down China Marketplace Business, Many States Moving Away from Transaction Thresholds for Sales Tax, Facebook Revamps Ads Manager and Business Manager, Amazon Opens Key Delivery to Garages, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/april-24-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: April-24-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Bryce Adams is the founder of Metorik, a company that is best described as the Swiss Army Knife of WooCommerce. Not only does Bryce know a ton about WooCommerce, but he also bootstrapped an extremely profitable business with himself as the only employee—and managed to do so in a way that didn’t sacrifice customer service or the quality of the product. I brought him on the show today to ask him how he did it, what helped him decide where to put his time and money to make his company such a success, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Z7MC0B 

Direct download: EP270ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I’m bringing you a bit of a shorter episode between full-length shows to give you an update on the eCommerceFuel Job Boards. It’s time to come full-circle on the series I began last summer when I started this project and keep my commitment to giving you a transparent, non-polished look at what it’s like launching a new venture. In this episode, you’ll hear the final update as I share the messy, slightly embarrassing story behind what’s going on with our job boards.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2WTKXtC 

Direct download: EP269.75ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Carson McComas of FuelMade.com knows Shopify better than just about anyone, and he joins me on the show today to do a deep dive into what’s going on with this platform. We cover the recent features they’ve rolled out, how they're using augmented reality on their website, how things are going with their virtual employee, Kit, and more. Listen in to hear updates on Shopify today and what's coming in the future.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2D3MFkJ 

Direct download: EP269.5ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Amazon Quietly Scales Back Promos for Private Brands, Before Shopify Breakup, Mailchimp Quietly ‘Acqui-Hired’ LemonStand, Klaviyo Raises $150M in Funding, Online Sales Beat Brick-and-Mortar for First Time, Adobe Launches Commerce Cloud, Built on Magento Acquisition, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/april-10-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: April-10-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Beardbrand had an amazing 2018. They’re up over 50% and their founder, Eric Bandholz, won the ECF 5 award for the most upvoted thread of 2018. Today I’ve got Eric on the show to share what made last year such a great one for his company. He talks about what made them decide to leave Amazon, how they’ve changed up their strategy, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2OHbIPe 

Direct download: EP269ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Welcome to the second episode of our two-part series with Nate Lipton from Growers House. In last week’s show, we went live on the mic as I got a full, behind-the-scenes tour of the warehouse, and this time, we’re headed into town to grab some pizza and drinks to talk even more about how he does things. We cover the online community he has created and its impact on his business, how he gets his employees excited to do good work, his approach to delegating, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Fu8I4w 

Direct download: EP268ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Mailchimp Pulls Shopify Integration App, Instagram Launches Shopping Checkout, Charging Sellers a Fee, PayPal Now Lets U.S. Users Instantly Transfer Funds to Bank Accounts, Apple Rolls Out TV Plus and Other Subscription Services, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at https://www.ecommercefuel.com/march-27-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: March-27-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s episode is going to be a bit different from the usual format. I recently headed over to the Growers House warehouse with the company’s co-founder Nate Lipton to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they run things on the backend, and you’ll get to hear us live on the mic as I get the tour. Listen in to hear Nate break down how things are running in his business and what he's doing to keep it all going smoothly.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2UNnHwz 

Direct download: EP267ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I’d thought we’d talk about something that’s been in the news recently: Amazon’s growing PPC business. Their PPC division has nearly doubled over the last year, and I’ve got Marshall Hayes of Amplio Digital here to talk about what’s been going on. Marshall knows the Amazon PPC world really well, and he explains what’s changing, what this means for sellers, and what we can expect in the future.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2H9mmNG 

Direct download: EP266ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Amazon Cracks Down on Counterfeit Products and sues the operators of five businesses allegedly selling fake reviews, Criticized as Anti-Competitive as they lift restrictions on sellers, Target's curated third-party marketplace, Negotiating rules on global e-Commerce, and more.

You can see the full show notes for this episode at  https://www.ecommercefuel.com/march-13-2019/

The News Cart features industry news, community discussions, compelling job opportunities and interesting content around the web from the previous two weeks.  

Direct download: March-13-2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

For the last year, Kevin Williams of Brush Hero has been dealing with the nightmarish implications of having his product ripped off. Not only have the knockoffs cost him more than half a million dollars in lost sales and out-of-pocket fees, but the whole ordeal has also halted his company’s growth as they try to fight back. In this episode, Kevin gives us a candid look at what happened, what he’s doing to fight for his company, and what business owners should be doing to protect themselves from counterfeiters. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2EMsnxa 

Direct download: EP265ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

When it comes to finances, a lot of eCommerce store owners tend to struggle. So today, I’ve got Cyndi Thomason of Bookskeep.com on the show to shed light on how to make your business profitable using the Profit First methodology. Cyndi is an eCommerce accountant and bookkeeper specifically focused on this methodology, and she shares how to set it up in your own business, advice for allocating funds, and lots more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2IGxOSB 

Direct download: EP264ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In this episode, my good friend Bill D'Alessandro and I are diving in to talk about last month’s event, eCommerceFuel Live 2019. It was the most ambitious event we’ve put on yet, and we both learned a bunch and had a ton of fun. Listen in to hear how it all went, our big takeaways, and thoughts on how we’ll do things next year.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2NiWuiG 

Direct download: EP263ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

It’s easy to forget that people in positions of influence and thought leadership face challenges just like the rest of us—especially because it’s rare for them to open up about hardships they face. But today, Ezra Firestone of SmartMarketer.com joins the show to give us all a look at the struggles he has had while getting his software business, Zipify Apps, off the ground. Listen in to hear him paint a more accurate picture of the problems entrepreneurs face and what it really takes to get a business up and running.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DfyMz4 

Direct download: EP262ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I’ve got my good friend Bill D’Alessandro on the show to share how his business has been going over the last year. He has been working on his vision of buying up a lot of different brands in the consumer goods space to bring them under one roof and build a bunch of small consumer brands, so I wanted to talk with him to see how that’s going. He shares a lot of great stuff about challenges he’s faced, what’s gone well, the technology tools he’s using to keep everything straight, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2ENYe2A 

Direct download: EP261ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

This year Hurricane Florence hit Dana Jaunzemis' business headquartered in North Carolina. She lost power for more than a week and wasn't able to ship for close to two weeks. Business came to a screeching halt. In this episode, I chat with her about the experience, what they learned and how to minimize the impact of a natural disaster if/when something similar happens to your business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2RRtoMy  

Direct download: EP260ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Richard Jalichandra (or RJ as he’s commonly known) is the founder of 101 Commerce, a company with the goal of acquiring 101 FBA businesses. We chat about if the risks of being so dependent on Amazon terrify him, how he plans to manage such a massive portfolio, the rise of single-person 8-figure businesses, and more. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2CFuTDa  

Direct download: EP259ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Mark Hanratty launched SwankyBadger.com exclusively on Etsy and used the momentum to build his business. Today, Swanky Badger is a 7-figure business, and they sell more than half a million dollars each year on the bohemian marketplace. I sat down with Mark to understand how to succeed on the platform and what's changed in the years since he started, especially since Etsy has become a public company.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2FoNIhM 

Direct download: EP258ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Ben Arneberg has done some impressive things. He's jumped out of airplanes for the Air Force, met Jeff Bezos and even done work for the Department of Defense and CIA. But what's perhaps most impressive is how he's built a near 8-figure business with only one employee. In this episode we discuss the tactics he's used to grow so significantly with nearly no overhead.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Ry6edi  

Direct download: EP257ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Alex Cranmer is a really interesting guy. When he's not acting in movies or TV shows, he runs International Military Antiques, the largest supplier of military antiques in the U.S. In this wide-ranging podcast we discuss the benefits of selling one-of-a-kind items, how to write an email newsletter that gets 20% CTRs, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2EW3M9N 

Direct download: EP256ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Wrapping up the holiday season here and coming to the end of 2018, I’m bringing back another of my favorite episodes from this past year. As anyone who’s had any meaningful success knows, relationships are crucial in business, so today I’m revisiting a show I did back in July that covers 15 critical habits to master in order to build better business relationships. Listen in to learn what it takes to create genuine, long-lasting, and meaningful connections with people.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2V5kHMT 

Direct download: EP255ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

As we’re getting to the end of the year and reaching that point of reflection, I wanted to revisit a couple of episodes that I had a lot of fun with in 2018. The one I’m bringing back today is a show I did back in April with Tadpull co-founder Jake Cook that covers hiring fresh—if a little green—marketing talent right out of college. Listen in to hear him share the tactics he uses to find, hire, and keep great talent.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2RSi1Qy

Direct download: EP254ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

This week Bill D'Alessandro and I revisit our predictions for 2018 to see how many we nailed and (more likely) how many just seem silly in retrospect. We also serve up a fresh batch of predictions for 2019 on topics ranging from Amazon delivery to trending marketing tactics to likely acquisitions in the coming year.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2QF3g6u 

Direct download: EP253ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Arman Assadi has worked on copywriting projects for well-known entrepreneurs such as Neil Patel, Timothy Sykes, and others. He also has experience running a 7-figure eCommerce store, so I asked him to come on to talk about the 80/20 of eCommerce copywriting. We also discuss how to work more productively by understanding your brain type, as well as differences among crowdfunding platforms.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DVsw1i 

Direct download: EP252ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

With Amazon cracking down on illegitimate reviews, unscrupulous players have a new weapon in their toolkit: attacking a listing by posting loads of fake, positive reviews. The worst part is it can be effective, as Zac Plansky unfortunately discovered. In this episode, I talk with Zac about the attack and how he was finally able to get his account reinstated after a stressful suspension.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2FH65iV 

Direct download: EP251ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s episode is a follow-up to one I did back in June about the eCommerceFuel Job Boards. It’s been a while since I launched that project, and I wanted to share some updates to document the journey so you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to launching something from scratch. Listen in to hear what went well, what didn’t go so well, how things are going with the budget, and some key stats of the business so far.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2qXt1Ai

Direct download: EP250ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

If you’re involved in the ecommerce space, you’ve surely noticed that it’s becoming harder and harder to stay 100% compliant when it comes to sales tax. Between the recent Supreme Court case and Amazon tax issues, quite honestly, it’s getting to be a real pain. So today I have Michael Jackness of EcomCrew.com here to share how a new organization he helped launch called the Online Merchants Guild is fighting against these sales tax hurdles. Listen in to learn what they’re doing, as well as how you can get involved to help make sure our online selling environment doesn’t become a nightmare from a compliance standpoint.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2AVxzgr 

Direct download: EP249ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today I’ve got LemonStand’s Ross Paul on the show to talk about subscriptions—namely in the e-commerce space. LemonStand is a shopping cart company based in Vancouver, Canada, and as the company’s VP of Growth, Ross knows his stuff when it comes to building a successful subscription model. We dive right in to talk about which businesses can benefit from this model, billing issues people run into, and how to make sure you retain as many customers as possible. Tune in to hear it all now!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2PyWtKY 

Direct download: EP248ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In this episode, I’m going to share my experience designing a product from scratch. I’ve touched on this topic in passing on the show before, but today you’ll get a real, behind-the-scenes look at everything, from designing and manufacturing to unit economics and selling on Amazon. And most importantly, I’ll share all the mistakes I made along the way. Listen in to hear how everything went, and what I’d do differently if I had it to do all over again.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2CxFr8S 

Direct download: EP246ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s episode is all about an important topic that rarely gets discussed among entrepreneurs: mental health. Being an entrepreneur can be really hard at times; you’ve got super high highs and really low lows, and that can take a major toll. So I’ve got Sherry Walling of ZenFounder.com on the show to talk about how to take care of ourselves while running our businesses. In addition to being an entrepreneur herself—and being married to one—Sherry has a long background in clinical psychology. Listen in to hear her advice for maintaining your mental health as a founder, what to keep in mind about working with a spouse, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2CIvUgr 

Direct download: EP245ECOMMERCEFUEL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT