In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation with Jesse Pujji, a well-known entrepreneur and investor who has previously appeared on the show. Jesse is the Founder of Gateway X, Executive Chairman of Ampush and GrowthAssistant, and most recently, the CEO and Founder of KahaniApp.com, a software company that enhances eCommerce store websites into engaging mobile experiences.

Listen in as we dive into various topics in this episode, including how many people are on Jesse’s various teams, how he was able to get his time back, and what his leadership style is. We also talk about his experience working with an Executive Coach, the benefits he found from working with a coach, and how he balances work and family life. Finally, he shares details about KahaniApp.com and how it is changing the online shopping experience.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3YVqaH0

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

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What do you get when you combine TikTok with DTC and eCommerce? You may just get Dulma Altan, the founder of Makelane.com, creator, and commentator on all things DTC and eCommerce on TikTok. Dulma has been on the up-and-up in the eCommerce space, and I’m excited to chat with her about so many different things, including Silicon Valley, capitalism, community, and more.

Listen in as she shares what it was like moving from Mongolia to the U.S., the lessons she learned from her first business, and what it was like working at Google. We also dive into TikTok and discuss how the platform has evolved as we come out of the pandemic, as well as what the future of short-form video looks like. To make things even more interesting, we also discuss a little bit about capitalism, what it’s like building a really amazing community, and the biggest roadblock for many women in the eCommerce and DTC space.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3uR0EVr

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It is the most wonderful time of the year! Not only is it a time to get together with friends and family and enjoy each other’s company, but it’s also the time of year when Bill D’Alessandro and I look back on our predictions from a year ago, see where we were massively off, and make even more predictions for the coming year.

So get comfortable, grab your holiday favorite drink, and get ready to see how egregious our predictions were from last year, and speculate with us on what 2023 will bring. We’ll be talking about where we think the markets will be headed, what we expect to see from the labor market and domestic sourcing, and what’s up with Shopify in the coming year. We also share our AI-related predictions for the new year and chat about some really cool tools that may just change how we all run and manage our businesses.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3FsNgMf

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Do you know where your best customers are coming from? Sara Livingston is the Head of Customer Solutions at Rockerbox.com, and she joins the show today to geek out about all things traffic. From trends to new channels, we’re getting into all of it today and answering the question: how do you determine where you should be spending your marketing budget?

Get ready to dip into the weeds as Sara shares where the traffic trends currently sit when it comes to where brands are spending their ad money, how marketing spend is changing on different platforms, and how budgets differ between large and small brands. We also get into attribution and discuss how to think about it, how to test new channels, and how to find out where your best customers are coming from—and get them to spend more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3isEB4o

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Dalia Rojas is the owner of Sixty61.com, an incredible brand and eCommerce store that carries custom sport bike parts and accessories. Dalia is also a newer member to the eCommerceFuel community, and she’s been an incredible member in the short time she’s been part of the community, so I wanted to get her on the podcast to learn more about her, what she’s up to in eCommerce, and her interesting journey to owning Sixty61.com.

Listen in as Dalia shares how she first acquired the brand after coming from a background in tech, how that background has benefitted the business and growth, and how she has been able to leverage multiple platforms to sell her product. We also discuss the exclusive distributor agreement she has with an Italian exhaust company, how she went about securing that agreement, and whether it has lived up to the hype. If you’re interested in learning more about what it’s like selling on Amazon, eBay, and Walmart, or how to get into an exclusive distributor agreement in your industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3AVmcUq

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

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I was recently looking through the new members to the eCommerce Fuel community and there was one company that caught my eye: Mountain Gazette. Mike Rogge, founder and owner, joins me today to talk about his journey re-launching and breathing new life into the beautiful oversized magazine that celebrates all things mountain sports, adventure sports, and the outdoors.

Listen in as Mike shares what it’s like to buy something from the past and revive it, how he is marketing the magazine, and how he has built a team of in-house and freelance contributors. We also discuss the economics of print media and content, and geek out about all things sports and the outdoors in general. Mike has a truly interesting story and has built something super cool, so this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3EBEpYe

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If you’ve been out and about on a Sunday, you have probably come across the product created by today’s guest. Chris Ruder is the Founder of Spikeball.com and he has a really cool story about how he started the company and ran it as a side hustle for five years before taking it full-time and growing it to where it is today.

Listen in as Chris shares what it was like raising the initial $100k he needed to launch the business from friends and family, why he never considered using third-party investors, and the lessons he learned mixing business and personal. We also dive into the marketing strategies that Chris has employed, why he has never relied on paid advertising, and how he has leveraged community, connection, and word of mouth to scale his business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3tp0WlK

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

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How do you build a great routine in your life as an entrepreneur? Is it possible to have a schedule that allows you to have flexibility, get things done, see your family—and is also efficient so that you’re not working 80 hours a week? This episode is for all the hyper-efficiency and optimization geeks out there because I'm answering these questions and more.

I’ve experimented with a lot of different methods and hacks over the years to get the most out of my day, and today I’m talking through the things I have tried. Listen in to hear what has worked to optimize my routine, what has not worked for me, and a quick and dirty overview of my current daily schedule. I also share why I almost always push back on phone call requests, what I’m doing to optimize efficiency in the long term, and why I make deep work blocks a priority to really dig into meaningful work every week.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3UJ2kv3

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Even a decade into eCommerce, I am still often amazed by the variety of things that people make a living from selling online. From high-end toilet seats to live chickens, it never ceases to blow my mind, and it’s so cool to see people build really niche, and really interesting, businesses. In today’s episode, I’m flying solo and diving into the nitty-gritty of our Charlotte event. I'll be sharing some of the more interesting and unique takeaways that came out of the event and giving you a flavor of what you can expect at a regional event.

Listen in as I go over interesting takeaways from not only a tactical perspective, but also from a fun and personal perspective. You'll hear examples of amazing brand and customer experiences, what it was like walking through a FedEx facility (I highly recommend everyone do this at some point in their life), and one of the most popular facets of the event.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Nt9y3K

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What is the future of Amazon? That’s what we’re diving into today with Bill D’Alessandro of ElementsBrands.com. Bill is a repeat guest on the show and someone who has very different views on the current—and future—state of Amazon.

Listen in as we debate whether Amazon is dying like some believe, whether brands should be leaving the platform for greener pastures, and Amazon’s biggest weakness. Whether you sell on Amazon or not, the behemoth is hard to ignore if you’re in eCommerce, so this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3F8izgN

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

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It’s been a tough few years for many eCommerce brands, and in this episode, we’re chatting with Brenden Marquardt, owner of LoriBeds.com, a brand of really beautiful murphy beds that are functional, affordable, and made in the U.S. Brenden has built an amazing business that has also faced a pretty challenging period, over the last six months in particular, and we’re diving into some of the challenges they’ve faced, as well as what they’ve done to weather the storm.

Listen in as Brenden shares how the brand came to be, how raising prices led to a rebrand, and the importance of finding the right value proposition. We also get into the supply chain challenges that Brenden has faced, what he’s done to overcome them, and how a website redesign turned out to be a game-changer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3TgFBWT

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

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We all know that great customer service is a cornerstone of any successful eCommerce business, but finding a truly great customer service hire is not always easy. Aaron Powell from BunchBikes.com joins me today to share how he was able to find and hire someone who is above and beyond your average run-of-the-mill team member and how that hire has revealed the true definition of what it means to be an “A-Player.”

Listen in as Aaron discloses how he found his unicorn customer service hire, as well as how this hire has been a game-changer and pushed the business forward in unexpectedly positive ways. We also dive into some bike geekery and discuss the bike market, infrastructure building, and how Aaron has found a niche within a niche that has allowed him to build a really amazing business. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Mn6fuA

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

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What does it take to build a brand in this day and age, and how has the branding experience changed from even a decade ago? David Segal is not only a tea veteran, having founded David’s Tea and now Owner and Co-Founder of FirebellyTea.com, but he also has a ton of branding experience that spans years. He joins the show today to talk all things branding and so much more.

Listen in as we dive into David’s retail experience, what it’s like starting a brand today versus years ago, and how he is weaving really unique branding elements into his new website. We also discuss the investment that went into the current brand and find out what Firebelly Tea is looking for in their next eCommerce Marketing Manager.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3rrxQkt

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

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In this episode, we’re deep diving into all things leadership with Jesse Pujji, whose name you might be familiar with as a second-time guest on the show. He’s an entrepreneur and investor who is also the Founder of Gateway X, Executive Chairman of Ampush and GrowthAssistant, and more recently, CEO and Founder of Kahani, a software that transforms eCommerce stores from boring websites into engaging mobile experiences.

Listen in as we talk about a bunch of different stuff, including what it means to be a leader, what it’s like working with an Executive Coach, and how Jesse balances family and kids with a very ambitious work schedule. We’re also discussing how the online shopping experience today is, in a lot of ways, identical to a decade ago, and whether or not people are really buying off of social platforms.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3dYU8Hf

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

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By far, the thing that has made the biggest impact in terms of financial results in my own business—while doing the least amount of work—has been pricing, and it’s something that I’ve always wished I had done so much sooner. Joining me on the show today is Drew Marconi, co-founder of Intelligems.io, which helps eCommerce brands scientifically test their pricing to find the right one for their brand, and we’re geeking out together on all things pricing.

Take a listen as we discuss the current pricing landscape and find out what Drew learned during their recent Shopify pricing experiments. We also discuss whether it’s better to include shipping in your pricing, whether you should let your customer base know if you’re raising your prices before you pull the lever, and what to expect in the near future when it comes to pricing trends.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3xpei3H

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

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What do you get when you take a discontinued National Geographic catalogue and 12 years of experience in the print catalogue sector? If your name is Allan Shiffrin, you may just get an 8-figure business. If you’re an eCommerce brand, you’re definitely going to want to listen to this episode to find out how you can make direct mail a major source of sales for your brand.

Listen in as we geek out about catalogs, direct mail, and how to be able to make what is equivalent to a Facebook lookalike audience for direct mail contacts. Allan also shares some of the tools and co-ops that you can use to get started, how to lay out a great catalog, and the magic number of products to include in a direct mail catalog.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BaxlQn

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Search for “side hustle ideas” in Google and you’ll get a million and one results. In fact, side hustles have trended upward over the last couple years as people worked them to supplement their income during the pandemic—and many even used their side hustle as an exit path during the “Great Resignation.” Spencer Jan is the co-founder of SoloStove.com, and he is one of the side hustle success stories, having bootstrapped his way to a $2-billion valuation in only 8 years while working a full-time job for much of that time.

Listen in as he shares Solo Stove’s journey from being a side hustle to a highly profitable and valuable company. You’ll hear why he and his co-founder and brother, Jeff, obsessed over margins from the very beginning, as well as the painful reality they faced when they first went to sell. We also discuss the importance of profitable margins, how to stay lean as a company, and why it’s important to get out of the default mode of working more and instead spend more time on what matters most.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3wEIh7C

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

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Do you understand why your customers buy? This week, we’re running a replay of one of the more interesting episodes from the last year with Charles Burdett of PipDecks.com, which is a suite of card decks that helps people do anything from brainstorming creative workshop ideas and improving their storytelling to designing more innovative products.

What makes PipDecks.com particularly interesting is how Charles was able to take a product that has a very low cost of goods and sell it at incredibly high prices. You’ll learn how his positioning and his branding have been the secret to selling the decks based on their value rather than on their physical worth. He also shares the one question we should all be asking our customers to understand why they buy, as well as how to overcome the mindset block that most entrepreneurs will grapple with at some point.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QVnnce

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

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Email has to be one of the biggest pain points that entrepreneurs face, and it’s also something that is an inevitability in today’s world if you’re in eCommerce. I’m happy to say that I finally feel like I’ve gotten to a good place when it comes to my inbox—I no longer feel a sense of chaos when I open my email, and what used to take me over 2 hours now takes me half the time it used to. 

In this last solo episode of the summer, I’m discussing how I managed to wrangle my email and cleared out most of the junk, made the important stuff easy to spot, and overall made it possible for me to move through my inbox quickly and efficiently. I’ll also be sharing the game-changer that helped me control the chaos much more easily and why I let go of a lot of hangups I had when it came to email (that you may also have and not even be aware of!).

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ADmpf4

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

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Welcome to another episode in the summer mini-series where we're diving into topics related to creating an amazing life—something that I know applies to all the entrepreneurs listening. Today we're jumping into something that all the finance geeks will love: tracking your net worth and spending. I'm sharing not only why you should be doing it, but also the best ways I’ve found to pull the info together in a way that makes sense and doesn’t have you sharing your financial info with third-party apps.

Listen in as I break down the high-level reasons why you absolutely should be tracking your net worth and your household spending, the method I love for tracking spending, and what I include (and exclude) when looking at my net worth. I also discuss my 4% rule, benchmarking, and the cool freedom chart that tracks your monthly burn rate against your earnings and shows you real-life progress over time.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QgSPkR

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If you’ve noticed recently that your emails are not being read or clicked through as often as usual, you are not alone. Today on the show I have Daniel Reifenberger, our resident ECF email marketing expert and the Founder and Chief Strategist at YourLoyalTribe.com, to walk us through what has been going on in the world of email marketing—and of course, how you can improve your email deliverability metrics.

Listen in as Daniel breaks down the audit he did on eCommerceFuel’s email deliverability, and hear my raw, unscripted reaction to the data as I hear it for the first time. We also discuss what the auditing process was like, what the overall email marketing landscape looks like today, and tips for improving your email deliverability.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3oXDOsi

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

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If you’re in the eCommerce world and have any kind of inventory-based business, you know how growth can be a double-edged sword: the faster you grow, the larger the POs that you have to place and the more likely you are to slip into a negative cash flow. Ben Tregoe is the CEO and Co-Founder at BainbridgeGrowth.com, a company that helps eCommerce businesses with advanced financial modelling and evaluating different options for financing their growth. He joins me today to talk through some of the options and the pitfalls that eComm businesses can face as they grow.

Listen in as Ben shares some of the biggest mistakes that brands make when it comes to financing, as well as the importance of thinking well into the future when looking at all the options available. We also discuss the best financing options for every stage of the eCommerce business (including PO factoring, mezzanine debt, and the Kickfurther model) and the one area where many don’t focus enough when it comes to financing options.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3PY7Fgd

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

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We've all heard the phrase “work on it, not in it” in relation to business—otherwise known as “the owner’s trap.” But what if I could make the case for why there actually is a time and a place to get back to working in the trenches, talking to your customers, and diving right into the nitty-gritty of your business?

In this mini solo episode, I share the top reasons why you should consider periodically diving back into the details of your business, including how you can get some really valuable feedback from not only your customers, but also your team members. Then tune in to the end for a bonus mini-episode with Allan Fisch of Moonshot Brands, an organization that buys Amazon and Shopify businesses and gives eCommerce founders financial freedom, as we discuss what’s happening right now in the eCommerce landscape and how A2X plays into Allan’s acquisition process.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3PQmpgA

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

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So how are entrepreneurs doing lately? Dr. Sherry Walling joins the show for the second time around to give some insight into the state of entrepreneurship today, including whether entrepreneurs are re-evaluating their lives and businesses as the world emerges from the pandemic. As a Clinical Psychologist that specializes in helping entrepreneurs with their mental health, and the founder of the ZenFounder.com podcast, she has a unique finger on the pulse of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in the world today.

Listen in as we talk about some of the most common myths that entrepreneurs tell themselves, what it can look like to balance work and personal life successfully as an entrepreneur, and whether it is actually more stressful to be an entrepreneur today than at any other time. We also explore grief and psychedelics, including the strategies that Sherry personally used to grieve and how she uses psychedelics therapeutically in her practice.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3RLT4Wo

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

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It’s been a wild few years in eCommerce, so I was super excited to sit down and go over the results of our fourth-ever eCommerce Trends Report for 2022. The results were eye-opening, and there were some pretty interesting takeaways about what is working in eCommerce, what’s not working, what trends are emerging, and what the general lay of the eCommerce land looks like.

In this episode, I’m going over four of the most surprising takeaways, including the best model when it comes to having a strong competitive advantage, pricing tactics that almost always work, and why ROAS is less important than we think. I also discuss something that we saw for the first time ever with Amazon and how really effective branding and marketing played out in the numbers.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3uyQCbX

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A lot has happened in the last 24 months when it comes to shipping and logistics due to the pandemic, and you might be wondering what the immediate future holds. Here to give us his take is Dhruv Saxena, Co-Founder and CEO of ShipBob.com, one of the largest global 3PL providers that is trusted by over 7,000 brands and fulfills orders all around the world.

We’re deep-diving into all things logistics, warehousing, and international shipping as Dhruv shares his perspective on the status of international logistics and what you can expect if you’re trying to move goods from one point to another. We’re also talking about the biggest changes he’s seen on the fulfillment side, where popular freight carriers stand after COVID, and what the availability of warehouse space looks like across the U.S. You'll learn some of the best and worst logistics stories Dhruv has ever heard and get the low-down on the demand for same-day shipping for anyone whose name is not “Amazon.”

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3OVLUx4

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

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There’s no doubt that one of the areas that COVID impacted the most was in the way we work, and specifically, in how the pandemic pushed remote work into the mainstream. Dan Andrews is the Co-Founder of Tropical MBA and Dynamite Jobs, and he’s been beating the remote work drum for over a decade. He joins the show today to talk all things remote work, including whether it’s here to stay.

Listen in as we dive into how the narrative of remote work has changed over the past few years, what the optimal structure for organizations going forward will likely be, and whether offering the option to work remotely is still considered a perk for most employees. We also discuss when you should—and shouldn’t—post a salary in your job description, what you can do instead to manage expectations and maintain interest, and how to find and vet great remote team members. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3y6kdvf

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

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What does the future of eCommerce look like? Fan Bi is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of TheHedgeHogCompany.com, an eCommerce holding company that acquires and grows brands, and he has a really unique perspective on some of the trends happening in the eCommerce marketplace today—which is what we’re geeking out on in this episode.

Listen in to find out whether the M&A party is coming to an end, what Fan is seeing in his portfolio when it comes to eCommerce, and why it might be another rough year for eCommerce store owners. We also talk about why now is the best time for getting lean and focusing on your branding and story-telling, and Fan shares the mindset shift that allowed him to sleep at night during the rough ride that COVID brought many in eCommerce.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/39F7mXD

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

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Launching in the turbulent time that was February 2020, Leah McHenry, Founder & CEO of Mythologie Candles, has successfully grown her business to over $6 million in sales in just 24 months. Today Leah joins the show to describe her “secret sauce” to successful marketing—including her advice for anyone just starting their business from the ground up—and how she uses influencers to not only cut down on marketing costs, but also create more content for the brand.

Listen in as she shares how the positioning and branding of her products have been so critical to the growth of her business, as well as why she believes it is essential to have your audience dialed in before you create your product. You’ll learn the role her Facebook community has played in her business, how much paid traffic her company uses, and her tips for market research.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QoKNqP 

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

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One of the core values of the eCommerceFuel community is reciprocity: members giving as much as they are taking. With that, we ask that all new members share a case study with the community, and new member Sarah Douglass, Founder of WiseOwlOutfitters.com, recently shared one of the best case studies on buying and selling a business. It was super detailed, really thoughtful, and offered a ton of insight—so of course, I had to have her on the show to share it.

Listen in as Sarah shares the backstory to Wise Owl Outfitters, including the very honest reason why she decided to sell it, even though she loved the brand and the business that she had built. We also dive into what the selling process was like, the lessons Sarah learned along the way (including the big mistake she made with her CPA), and the importance of doing thorough due diligence on your buyer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3GDNeRG

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

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How does your investment portfolio look these days? I’ve been doing some investing over the past couple of years, running a very small investment syndicate that has taught me a ton, and I’m excited to have someone on the show who has been doing similar things. Andrew Gluck is the Founder of Irrvrnt.com, an investment fund that invests in DTC operations companies and emerging eCommerce tech (among other things), and we’re going to be geeking out on all things investing—and so much more.

Tune in as we share the lessons we’ve learned, as well as the mistakes we’ve made in our respective investment journeys. You'll hear us deep dive into angel investing, including what to consider before becoming an angel yourself. We also talk about rolling funds, the current investment landscape, and whether having a solid network to tap into is an important pillar of successful investing.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3yXLv86

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

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If you are running events in the eCommerce space, you know what a lonely world it can be. Today, I’m excited to be joined by Nick Shackelford, Co-Founder of GeekOut Events, which puts on high-intentional no-fluff events all over the world. In this episode, we’re talking event planning, but we’re also talking about so much more related to eCommerce, including marketing, branding, and even copywriting.

Listen in as we dive into the reasons behind why Nick (or anyone, really) puts on events (hint: it’s definitely not for the money), how he leverages a built-in FOMO effect with his pricing strategy, and his hack for getting critical information to his customers without relying on email or SMS. We also talk about the current digital marketing landscape, why Nick is not going all-in with TikTok (yet), and the core philosophies that he sticks to when it comes to creating a killer brand presence.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3sYnWbj 

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Kurt Elster is the man behind Ethercycle.com, a Shopify agency that specializes exclusively—and very successfully—in helping Shopify store owners generate massive revenue growth. Not only does he put out some really amazing websites on Shopify, but he also hosts The Unofficial Shopify Podcast and has a bunch of really cool apps that we talk about in this episode.

Listen in as we dive into all things Shopify, including what store owners need to stop asking for on their sites, the one thing that Kurt has done that has really moved the needle for his clients, and the must-haves on any Shopify site that increase conversion and engagement. Kurt also shares the top three apps that get put on every site he builds to reduce friction for consumers, and in turn, increase revenue for store owners.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3NnObQ6

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Most eCommerce owners struggle with hiring, let alone trying to hire when they’re scaling at a rapid pace. Roc Pilon is a successful entrepreneur in business, real estate, and the fitness industry. He has a really interesting story coming from a trailer in Boise, Idaho dealing with the effects of the 2008 recession and going all in with $5,000 and an idea to innovate better powerlifting gear. 

Listen in as we dive into how Roc managed to successfully hire 30 people over the span of two years using LinkedIn as his hiring tool and how he has approached compensation with the team members he has hired, including how he handles performance incentives. Roc also shares how to best get your team to model the core values of your business, what the downsides are to having a remote team, and how hiring an Operations Manager has been a game changer for him.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3LU3EY9

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Tune in as we explore Joel’s experience with innovating to the point of alienation and the lessons he learned through that process, what the golden ratio for innovation is, and the importance of taking care of the base first. We also discuss the challenges of selling your business and watching somebody else run and raise it and what the three boxes to check are when you’re thinking of selling your business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3KnSzwV

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Adam Craft is the founder of ElevatedCraft.com, a mixology and drink product brand that is focused on designing bar tools that improve the home bar experience. He has built a pretty cool business and community on Facebook, and in this episode, we’re diving into the role that community has played in growing the brand and exploring where Adam intends to take his community in the future.

Tune in as we geek out about the strategy that comes into play with growing and maintaining a really great community, including when to consider hiring a full-time community manager and whether to stay on Facebook or move to another platform. Adam also shares how instrumental his Facebook group has been to growing his brand, how Kickstarter helped with his initial launch, and all the things to consider when you’re thinking through how to brand your community.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3LmAGzE

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You know him as the founder of SmartMarketer.com and the co-founder and CEO of BOOM!, but Ezra Firestone recently added another brand to his portfolio: oVertone Haircare. In this episode, we talk about how he took an established but struggling brand and turned it around in only 90 days. 

Listen in as we discuss the details of Ezra’s oVertone takeover and optimization, which included massive cost-cutting, team re-structuring, and overhauling the marketing strategy to really focus on upsells and great content. You'll hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to subscriptions, as well as how Ezra sets boundaries in his business and schedules his days to make life enjoyment a priority.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3vsg7uR

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Many of us have been in the position where we have an interesting opportunity in front of us to purchase another eCommerce business - maybe it has a complementary product line or it would make a good strategic addition to your existing business - and we’re on the fence about whether we should actually pull the trigger. In this solo episode, I’m sharing the top things you should consider before committing the time, effort, and money that it takes to follow through on such a huge decision, all based on my own experience closing deals.

Listen in as I dive into what you need to consider before buying that shiny new object, including whether you have the skills to diligence the deal well and the time to follow through on the deal. (Spoiler alert: It will take longer to close than you think it will!) I also discuss the financial aspects to consider, how to identify the micro and macro leverage you might have to move the deal in your favor, and why sometimes the better decision is to put a little TLC into your existing business rather than spread your energy (and capital) too thin.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3EbudEY

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We were thrilled to hold eCommerceFuel Live at Chesapeake Bay, a place rich in history and great food. This year was especially unique, as it was the first large live event we have held since the beginning of the pandemic, and coming back together as a community was very rewarding. In this episode, we will be reviewing everything that happened during eCF Live. To help us discuss this is Bill D’Alessandro, CEO of Elements Brands.

Listen in as Bill and I share how this year’s event was different from the eCF Live events we have had in the past, as well as the importance of making time to do the things that make you happy. You will learn where growing companies often fail, how to build a rich company culture, and how to effectively sort your social media accounts by engagement levels to create a sales funnel.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3xckqx1 

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Are you wondering where to put your money this year when it comes to paid traffic? Jesse Pujji is the founder of Gateway X, a holding company that invests in DTC brands, and the co-founder of Ampush, a growth marketing company that connects the right consumers with the right brands, and he knows his stuff when it comes to the growth space and running a business.

In this episode, we get right into why Facebook might not be the devil that it is often made out to be, why TikTok might actually be the second coming of Facebook, and all the weird and wonderful ways that businesses can leverage the platform to grow their business. We also talk about why Jesse is a huge fan of affiliate marketing, how he manages his affiliates, and the details of hiring and balancing being in the business with leading the business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3NvPeib

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Charles Burdett is the founder of PipDecks.com, a suite of card decks that helps people do anything from brainstorming creative workshop ideas and telling better stories to designing more innovative products. It's an amazing case study on how to sell the value and the transformation as opposed to the physical product, and I’m super excited to sit down with Charles today to talk about how he scaled to a 7-figure card deck business.

Tune in as we dive into the unintentional birth of PipDecks.com, as well as Charles’ secret to selling his decks based on their value rather than their physical worth. You'll learn the question we should all be asking our customers to understand why they buy, what it means to have freedom, how to not lose sight of what is most important in life, and the mindset block that most entrepreneurs will grapple with at some point.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/41UFC71 

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There’s running a business, and then there’s running a business when you have small kids, which is a totally different ballgame—and one that I’m talking about today with my good friend, Bill D’Alessandro. Bill is right in the thick of it with this two-year-old and five-month-old, and we’re going to be keeping it real and dishing about the struggles of trying to balance parenthood and entrepreneurship.

Listen in as we give our honest thoughts on what it’s like trying to run a business while raising young kids, how to maintain some level of productivity, and how to find a balance between family and business that works for you. We also share one of the best investments that you can make to balance work and family life, as well as some of the things anyone who has kids (but especially entrepreneurs!) should consider doing financially for their children while they’re young. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3pX83Ai

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Michael Epstein, my good friend and partner in crime, has served as the CMO for multiple eCommerce brands and has a ton of great experience in the online marketing space. I got to know him over the course of an intense 6-month period, watching him conceptualize and build a brand, and I thought it would be fun to have him come on the show and talk about his eCommerce adventures.

Listen in as we unpack so much in this episode, including Michael’s insights into the eCommerce market as it stands today, his experience conceptualizing and launching brands, and his advice for eCommerce business owners who are leading their own marketing and design departments. We also talk about hiring, whether it’s better to develop your in-house talent or hire externally, and what you can expect in terms of compensation for eCommerce marketing talent today.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/34p2VNW

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I had the opportunity to sit down with Paul DeJoe, Co-Founder and COO of MUD:WTR, a coffee alternative that came to be in an almost unintentional way. He’s a really interesting, fun, and smart guy and we talked about a lot, including podcasting, content creation, and how MUD:WTR is trying to convince people to give up their morning coffee—which is certainly no small feat.

Tune in to hear the incredible story behind MUD:WTR, from how they got started to where they are now—and how they made it all happen. We also dive into the nitty-gritty of their marketing (such as why they are building an in-house content studio), how podcasting has helped them build great brand awareness, how they are building a community centred around the idea of health and self-improvement, and so much more!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3heWO1G

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The real magic of the eCommerceFuel community happens when we get together in person, and we had the opportunity to do that late last month in Los Angeles. If you missed it, you’re in luck because today I’m flying solo and giving you the big takeaways and a recap of what I learned during the incredibly cool L.A. Regional Event.

Listen in as I share some of the biggest lessons I learned during the event from other ECF members, including what is working in terms of client acquisitions for many, as well as why a marketing mindset is critical in the highly competitive hiring landscape. I also share my thoughts on why I believe that it will be harder to scale quickly for businesses just starting out and divulge some of the trends that you’re most likely to see emerge in the next 12-24 months in the eCommerce stratosphere.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3v2vko0

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You can’t build anything interesting without some level of sacrifice, but if you’re an entrepreneur that is years into the hustle and you still can’t seem to get freedom from your business regularly, there’s a problem. Dale Majors, founder of VentureAnyway.com, joins me today to talk about something that so many of us struggle with: our businesses becoming all-consuming while our personal and family lives slowly disappear.

Listen in as Dale shares how to scale your business without becoming a slave to it, what he wishes he would have done before selling his first business, and how he took what he learned through his own entrepreneurial journey and now uses it to help other business owners build amazing lives. We also talk about the importance of building habits versus chasing goals and what Dale did to bring more control—and happiness—into his life.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3LA4UQt

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Cost of goods sold: love it or hate it, it’s a big deal in the eCommerce world. To wrap up our three-part series on accounting and finances, we’re diving into all things COGS: the value of it, the implications it can have on your business, and how to figure it out without losing your mind.

Joining me today are Jamie McDonald, CEO of A2X Accounting, Scott Scharf of CatchingClouds.net and previous eCommerceFuel financial expert, and Brittany Brown, founder of LedgerGurus.com, who also specializes in eCommerce accounting for Quickbooks and Xero. No matter what phase of business you are in, this is an episode you literally can’t afford to miss. So listen in as we break down the good, the bad, and the ugly about your cost of goods sold.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HFR3Wq

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Today I am joined by Tyler Jefcoat, the CEO of Seller Accountant, an accounting firm that specializes in accounting and bookkeeping for online sellers. Tyler has a ton of experience in the eCommerce field, and today we’re diving deep into due diligence and how you can get your business ready for sale from a financial and accountant standpoint.

Take a listen as Tyler walks us through some of the things that have completely killed deals on the table, how to build trust with potential buyers (and maximize the money in your pocket), and when you need to start getting really obsessive about tracking your inventory. If you think due diligence is the opposite of a super sexy topic, you might think differently if it means you’ll be making an extra 6 figures on a deal!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ADjf9q

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I’m flying solo and kicking off the first of a series of episodes talking all about everyone’s favorite topics: finances, accounting, and bookkeeping in the eCommerce world. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love this episode as we geek out about numbers—and if the word “bookkeeping” makes you want to cry, I promise this episode will leave you with some tangible tips and insights into how to make it work for you.

Listen in as I share eight rules to keep you profitable in your business (and sane while you’re getting it all done!). You'll learn about some great resources to refer to if you need to fine-tune your accounting skills, why I prefer to do my own bookkeeping, and the biggest metric that you need to be tracking in your eCommerce business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3GZnoXI

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that it’s been a rough year for eCommerce. After the debacle that was the Apple and Facebook divorce, you are definitely not alone if you found the ax being taken to your ad account ROI.

Joining me today are Austin Harrison and Grant Margerum, founders of Northbeam.io, the new standard for eCommerce intelligence and attribution. Listen in as we talk all about data, tracking, and what the heck happened between Apple and Facebook. You'll learn what you need to know about the different types of data, what the future of tracking looks like, and how Northbeam.io helps clients grow their revenue by an average of 44%—and allows them to make smarter, faster decisions.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3zZxJQU

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Spencer Jan is the co-founder of Solo Stove, along with his brother, Jeff, and they have a phenomenal story of bootstrapping their way to a $2-billion valuation in only 8 years. Within the last 24 months alone, they’ve had two private equity deals and three major 8-figure acquisitions! Spencer joins me today to talk all about that and so much more.

Listen in as he shares Solo Stove’s journey from being a side hustle to a highly profitable and valuable company. You'll hear why they obsessed over margins from the very beginning, as well as the painful reality they faced when they first went to sell. We also discuss the importance of profitable margins, how to stay lean as a company, and why it’s important to get out of the default mode of working more and instead spend more time on what matters most.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3tood8J

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Ramon van Meer is the owner of AlphaPaw.com, an entrepreneur, and a self-described bootstrap founder of numerous businesses. He has a really cool story of immigrating from the Netherlands 12 years ago and pivoting to the internet marketing space, where he has self-financed his ventures and built some really amazing communities. 

We dive into so much in this episode, including how Ramon has been so successful doing something that very few have done in the eCommerce space: buying and selling websites. We also talk about how he has built communities (and then monetized those communities), how he is pivoting to overcome the challenges the pandemic has thrown his way, and what he would do differently if he ever decides to acquire another community.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3mczp3B

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

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