Ecomm Breakthrough

Sam Ross is the Co-Founder and CEO of Numeral, a company revolutionizing how e-commerce and SaaS businesses handle US sales tax and international tax automation. Before launching Numeral, Sam built several e-commerce ventures that generated over $50 million in revenue, giving him first-hand experience with the challenges of scaling, managing cash flow, and preparing for an exit.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges of US sales tax compliance for e-commerce businesses post-2018 Wayfair ruling.The complexities of sales tax nexus and varying state regulations.Personal experiences of e-commerce entrepreneurs with sales tax issues.The financial consequences of non-compliance, including audits and penalties.Strategies for managing sales tax compliance, including the use of automation tools.The importance of understanding product taxability and state-specific exemptions.Options for businesses with unpaid sales tax liabilities, including retroactive registration and voluntary disclosure agreements.Emerging growth opportunities in e-commerce, such as TikTok Shops and AI-driven search optimization.The significance of customer-centric product development based on search behavior and preferences.Recommendations for e-commerce entrepreneurs on compliance, handling state notices, and investing in new technologies.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Sam Ross, co-founder and CEO of Numeral. They discuss the complexities of US sales tax compliance for e-commerce businesses, especially after the 2018 Wayfair Supreme Court decision. Sam shares his entrepreneurial journey, explains how Numeral automates tax compliance, and offers practical advice on managing tax risks. The conversation also explores emerging e-commerce growth strategies, including leveraging AI, personalized marketing, and niche product development, providing actionable insights for founders navigating today’s challenging tax and digital landscape.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Automate Sales Tax Before It Becomes a Costly ProblemRun a nexus scan across all your channels (Shopify, Amazon, 3PLs), identify where you owe tax, and automate filings—before audits, penalties, or exit due diligence destroy value.Never Respond to State Notices AloneIf you receive a tax letter, pause and consult a CPA or tax attorney immediately. One wrong reply can trigger audits or liabilities—set up systems to track and manage every notice.Use AI + Niche Search Data to Find Your Next WinnersMine long-tail search queries (e.g., highly specific gift or use-case terms) and build modular products around them. Optimize content for AI-driven search and answer engines to capture emerging buyer intent.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comNumeralShopifyAmazonEtsyTaxJarAvalaraJungle ScoutChatGPTWhoop BandTikTok ShopInfluence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert CialdiniChad Janis (Grüns)Sam Ross on TwitterSam Ross on LinkedInSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedIn<...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley explores the “hidden cost of growth” in e-commerce. Drawing from his own journey scaling to eight figures, Josh explains how business expansion often leads to overwhelming complexity, not more freedom. He introduces the “momentum matrix,” a framework based on the 80/20 rule, to help entrepreneurs focus on the most impactful products and sales channels. Josh shares actionable strategies for prioritizing efforts, reducing operational overload, and maintaining lifestyle goals while scaling, emphasizing that true freedom comes from systems and focus—not just hitting revenue milestones.Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast! 🚀 In this episode, Josh Hadley shares his journey in scaling a business from zero to eight figures, focusing on practical strategies for founders. We discuss the importance of simplicity in business, utilizing "The Momentum Matrix" to identify growth drivers and profit engines while avoiding "The Complexity Trap." Learn how the 80 20 principle animated helps identify the most impactful SKUs and sales channels for optimal time management and accelerated growth. Tune in to level up your business!Tools and Frameworks"Momentum Matrix for Products": "00:06:58"Concepts and Principles"Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)": "00:05:40""Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)": "00:21:12""Strategic Neglect": "00:25:32"Websites and Platforms / Sales Channels"Amazon": "00:17:59""Shopify": "00:17:59""TikTok Shop": "00:17:59""Etsy": "00:17:59""Walmart": "00:20:12""Discord and WhatsApp": "00:22:33"Action Items"Identifying Top SKUs": "00:26:45"Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction & The Freedom MythJosh introduces the podcast, his background, and the misconception that revenue milestones guarantee freedom.00:02:03 The Hidden Cost of GrowthExplains how scaling increases complexity faster than revenue, leading to operational burdens and diluted focus.00:04:23 Applying the Pareto PrincipleDiscusses the 80/20 rule and how 20% of products or tasks drive 80% of results in e-commerce.00:06:58 The Momentum Matrix for ProductsIntroduces a framework to categorize products into four buckets based on their impact and alignment with the brand.00:08:01 Bucket 1: Core Growth DriversDetails the characteristics and strategies for top-performing, brand-aligned products.00:11:29 Bucket 2: Profit EnginesDescribes products that generate strong profit but are less central to the brand’s direction.00:12:34 Bucket 3: Maintenance & HarvestingCovers products with limited market potential, requiring minimal attention and resources.00:15:45 Bucket 4: Sunset/Kill ProductsFocuses on products with zero or negative profit, recommending liquidation and exit strategies.00:16:55 Momentum Matrix for Sales ChannelsApplies the same bucket framework to sales channels, prioritizing those with the highest impact.00:17:59 Sales Channel Buckets OverviewExplains strategic growth engines, cash engines, opportunistic channels, and distractions, with examples for each.00:21:29 Momentum Matrix for AffiliatesDescribes how affiliates are bucketed by impact, with most resources devoted to top performers.00:24:26 Strategic Neglect & FocusEmphasizes the importance of ignoring low-impact tasks and products to protect focus and scale effectively.00:26:45 Action Steps & ConclusionEncourages listeners to identify their top 20% drivers, implement bucketing, and focus on what truly moves the needle.Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the E-com Breakthrough Podcast. I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. Have you ever told yourself that, hey, when I have that $1 million business, or that $5 million business, or even that $10 million business, all my cares in the world will be gone. I will have the freedom and the lifestyle that I want to live. And then guess what? You hit those thresholds and those milestones, and then you're like, what happened to my freedom? What happened to the lifestyle that I set out to achieve? Today we're going to be diving into the hidden cost of growth. And this is I am preaching to the choir because that was me I remember my first business ever was, hey, wouldn't life be amazing when I hit $1 million in revenue.Josh Hadley 00:01:00 I can't even fathom what that looks like. And then I achieve that and I say, oh, I'm nowhere near the kind of the freedom aspect or the lifestyle that I was on set out to achieve. We're going to be diving into how to prevent those issues from creeping up inside your business. That as it scales, how do you still continue to maintain that freedom of time and lifestyle that you set out to achieve? I'm going to be sharing three actionable things that we have impleme

In this episode, host Josh interviews Afolabi Oyerokun, co-founder of Honu Worldwide, about his journey building successful Amazon brands. Afolabi shares key lessons he’d apply if starting over: focus on innovation, automate processes, and prioritize time for rest and strategic thinking. He emphasizes creating unique products, niching down, and protecting intellectual property through patents and copyrights. Afolabi also discusses using data-driven research for product development and effective listing strategies. The episode offers actionable insights for entrepreneurs aiming to scale and protect their e-commerce businesses.Chapters:Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Afolabi Oyerokun, his background, and achievements in product development and Amazon businesses.Lessons Learned & The Importance of Freedom (00:00:56)Afolabi discusses lessons from his Amazon journey, emphasizing the original goal of freedom and challenges faced.Three Key Takeaways: Innovate, Automate, Rest (00:02:21)Afolabi outlines his three main takeaways: innovate, automate, and allocate more time for thinking and rest.The Power of Innovation & Niching Down (00:04:58)Afolabi explains the importance of innovation, creating unique products, and niching down to dominate categories.Protecting Intellectual Property (00:08:30)Discussion on the necessity of protecting product designs with patents and copyrights, and the types used.Case Study: Copyright Enforcement on Amazon (00:10:24)Afolabi shares a real example of using copyright to remove copycats and restore sales on Amazon.The Value of IP in Brand Exits (00:12:19)Afolabi describes how intellectual property increased the value and appeal of his brands during exit.Finding Design Inspiration & Trend Analysis (00:14:08)Afolabi details how they research trends, combine successful patterns, and create standout product and packaging designs.Product Listing Strategy: Variations vs. Standalone (00:16:20)Afolabi explains their approach to listing products as separate items rather than variations to maximize search visibility.Closing & Future Topics (00:17:11)Josh thanks Afolabi and hints at future discussions on supply chain topics.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites "Honu Worldwide": "00:03:00""Data Dive": "00:14:30"Concepts and Ideas "Innovation": "00:04:58" "Automation": "00:04:58" "Thinking Time": "00:04:58" "Design Patents": "00:08:37" "Utility Patents": "00:08:37" "Copyrights": "00:08:37" "Intellectual Property (IP)": "00:12:19" Key Takeaways "Niche Down and Innovate": "00:06:45" "Protect Your Ideas": "00:08:30" "Create Unique Designs": "00:14:30" Notable Quotes "Your business is in your IP.": "00:12:19" "If you don't have any IP, you don't have a business.": "00:12:19"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm really excited to introduce you to Afolabi Oyerokun. He is the co-founder of Honu Worldwide and Innovative Product Development, Sourcing and 3PL company based in Pennsylvania. Afolabi has always been a has always been passionate about finding things, haggling and negotiating prices. His obsession with finding good quality products at bargain prices led him to help several seven and eight figure brands increase their profits and scale rapidly by buying smart from Asia and the US. He is behind the successful launches of several multi-million dollar products on Amazon and other retail channels. An entrepreneur at heart, Afolabi owns and has sold a few seven figure private label brands. He loves helping people design, develop and manufacture innovative products. Welcome to the show.Afolabi 00:00:53 Thank you Josh. I'm happy to be here. I'm excited.Josh 00:00:56 You know, if you were to restart on Amazon, which I think that's what you're doing now, is you're creating some new brands and launching them on Amazon. What are some of those lessons, actionable takeaways that you can give to other sellers to say, hey, here are the challenges that we faced at different points in the business, that I'm going to make sure that we don't go through these same challenges again in the future.Josh 00:01:20 If you wouldn't mind breaking some of those lessons learned for us. Breaking it down.Afolabi 00:01:25 I'm going to, if I were to start all over again, I'm also going to weave some stories and past experiences into it. So when somebody goes into E-comm, you're starting your e-commerce or you're starting your Amazon business. Sometimes we forget the reason why we started in the first place. We forget the reason why we quit our jobs and we went into e-commerce. For me, my main driver was freedom. I wanted freedom, I wanted to be. I wanted to be able to control my time. I wanted to be able to be there for my family any day, any time. I wanted to be able to take off. If I want to take off, I want to take off, you know? Yeah. So you start this e-com business and you're married to it. You know, you're you're you're waking up 3 a.m. in the morning. You're, you know, you're slee

John LeBaron is the CRO at Pattern, the leading e-commerce accelerator that helps brands scale profitably across marketplaces worldwide. John runs the SaaS and Services business units for Pattern and oversees all global go-to-market activities for the company and its partners. Prior to joining Pattern, John ran marketing for the Google Cloud business at Rackspace and has held a variety of global marketing roles with leading tech companies including Apple, Cisco, and Ciena. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, an MSW from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges faced by e-commerce brands, particularly on Amazon, including competition and pricing pressures.The importance of inventory management and maintaining stock levels to avoid losing market share.Strategies for optimizing conversion rates, focusing on product imagery and continuous testing.The role of data-driven approaches in improving traffic, conversion, price, and availability.The significance of strategic pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and its relationship with organic rankings.Insights on leveraging AI and technology for product listing optimization and advertising efficiency.The impact of overseas competitors on the e-commerce landscape and brand profitability.The concept of the "e-commerce equation" and its components: traffic, conversion, price, and availability.Best practices for managing logistics and shipping to enhance operational efficiency.The importance of continuous improvement and adapting to changes in the e-commerce environment.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews John LeBaron, CRO at Pattern. They discuss how e-commerce brands can profitably scale on Amazon amid rising competition, pricing pressures, and operational challenges. John shares Pattern’s data-driven strategies—optimizing inventory, pricing, traffic, and conversion—using advanced AI tools and logistics solutions. Key takeaways include the importance of inventory availability, rigorous conversion rate optimization, and strategic PPC management to build organic rankings. The episode offers actionable advice for brands seeking sustainable growth and highlights Pattern’s role as a partner in navigating today’s complex e-commerce landscape.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Protect Your Availability or Lose the GameForecast demand aggressively, fix your inbound bottlenecks, and partner with fast-moving 3PLs—because every stockout destroys ranking, momentum, and profit.Obsess Over Conversion, Starting With the Main ImageRun continuous A/B tests on your hero image, audit your live content weekly, and optimize every element (titles, bullets, A+, coupons, bundles) to lift conversion without increasing ad spend.Use PPC to Own Keywords, Not Rent Them ForeverShift ad spend toward keywords that improve organic rank, monitor Buy Box and conversion signals, and prioritize long-tail opportunities to build profitable, compounding visibility.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] AIPatternLinkedInThe E-MythAtomic HabitsAll In PodcastSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJohn Lebaron 00:00:00 We're absolute zealots around something we call the e-commerce equation, which is revenue as a function of traffic times, conversion times, price times, availability. And I think that's very much the way that we think about accelerating brands is just isolating those specific variables of the equation and really going to work on okay for traffic, for example, there's paid traffic. There's, you know, organic traffic, there's off platform traffic. And what are

In this episode, host Josh interviews James Thomson, Managing Partner of Equity Value Advisors, about scaling e-commerce brands, especially on Amazon. James shares practical advice for brand owners aiming to grow from seven to eight figures, emphasizing the importance of delegating tasks, building a competent team, and creating a three-year business plan. He discusses making brands attractive to investors, leveraging capital for faster growth, and focusing on brand equity and customer experience. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways for building teams, enhancing brand value, and strategic planning for long-term success and potential exits.Chapters:Introduction and Guest Background (00:00:00)Host introduces James Thomson, his background in e-commerce, Amazon, and advisory roles.Actionable Steps for Scaling from 7 to 8 Figures (00:00:58)James shares first steps: delegate tasks, free up time for strategic thinking, and focus on growth opportunities.The Power of Delegation and Building a Team (00:01:13)Discussion on outsourcing, hiring competent help, and multiplying business impact through effective delegation.Strategic Thinking and Long-Term Planning (00:04:04)Importance of spending time on big-picture questions: product expansion, new channels, and funding.Making Your Business Attractive to Investors (00:04:53)How to position your brand for investors, debunking myths about channel expansion, and identifying growth levers.Developing a Three-Year Business Plan (00:05:46)Necessity of a three-year plan, working backwards from growth goals, and evaluating new channels and products.Preparing for Channel and Category Expansion (00:07:03)Exploring requirements for retail and new categories, talking to experts, and assessing readiness for expansion.Securing Capital and Mindset Shift for Growth (00:09:01)Considering outside investment, selling equity, and the benefits of being part of a larger, faster-growing business.Investor Excitement: Key Growth Levers (00:10:46)What excites investors: clear three-year plans, actionable growth levers, and a roadmap for scaling post-acquisition.Three Actionable Takeaways for Brand Owners (00:12:33)Host summarizes: build and delegate to a team, focus on brand equity and customer experience, and create a multi-year growth plan.The Importance of a Three-Year Plan (00:15:04)James emphasizes three-year planning, aiming for aggressive growth, and preparing for a successful exit.Conclusion and Contact Information (00:16:30)James shares how to connect with him on LinkedIn; episode closes with thanks.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesAmazon Seller CentralLinkedInKey Concepts and StrategiesDelegating Tasks: 00:01:13Three-Year Business Plan: 00:05:46Brand Equity: 00:13:13Actionable TakeawaysBuild Your Team: 00:13:13Focus on Brand Equity: 00:14:24Create a 3-5 Year Business Plan: 00:15:04Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm really excited to introduce you all to James Thomson. James is the managing partner of Equity Value Advisors, advising brand executives and investors that are seeking guidance on how to accelerate e-commerce revenues and to align e-commerce and physical retail distribution and pricing strategies. Formerly, James was the chief strategy officer at Big Box Experts, a managed services agency supporting brand executive teams selling online, as well as private equity investors evaluating brands sold on Amazon. He has also served as the business head of Amazon Services, the division of Amazon responsible for recruiting tens of thousands of sellers annually to the Amazon Marketplace. He also served as the first fulfillment by Amazon Account Manager and prior to Amazon. James was a management consultant and retail banker. So with that introduction, James, welcome to the podcast.James 00:00:56 Thank you for having me today, Josh.Josh 00:00:58 On that note, James, I mean, we talked a lot about different strategies that people can be implementing to move from seven figures to eight figures and beyond. What would be like your actionable advice for them to say, hey, this is what I would do first, second, third.James 00:01:13 So the first thing I would do, we actually haven't talked about yet. First thing I would do is I would start to delegate tasks to people and clear up your plates so you can spend more of your time thinking about how to go and source better products, how to do more research to find those product gaps in your catalog that you can start to fill. How to start thinking about new channels that you might expand into. When I think of the day to day activities of what it takes to run an Amazon business, there's an awful lot of stuff that, quite frankly, we don't really like doing. You got to check reports. You got to check seller central. You got to check your inventory. You probably got to talk to your, three people if you've got one that's bringing products in from overseas. There's a lot of activities that need to be looked at. And I didn't even talk about, oh,

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley explores why many e-commerce brands stall between $1 million and $5 million in revenue. He introduces the "inverted pyramid of value" to illustrate how founders often get stuck in low-leverage tasks, and explains that breaking through requires identifying and focusing on the business’s main constraint. Josh shares actionable frameworks and prioritization strategies to help entrepreneurs delegate, systemize, and concentrate on high-impact activities, enabling them to escape the “swamp” and scale their businesses to the next level.Welcome to the Ecom Breakthrough Podcast! I'm Josh Hadley, sharing my journey scaling an "ecommerce business" from zero to eight figures. This episode details "scaling strategies" and the "business mindset" needed to overcome common "business obstacles" faced by entrepreneurs. Learn how to identify constraints and "grow your business" beyond plateaus with a solid "ecommerce strategy"! 🚀🔥 #EcommerceTips #BusinessGrowth #shortsTools and Concepts"Inverted Pyramid": "00:05:32""AI Tool of Choice": "00:20:53""Pyramid of Value Creation": "00:42:47""Systems and Focus": "00:04:27"Books"$100M Money Models" by Alex Hormozi": "00:17:26"Video Content"Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast YouTube Channel": "00:05:32"Key Concepts"Business Strategy Definition": "00:18:29"Questions for Identifying Constraints"What must be true to grow tenfold in 12 months?": "00:20:53""If I could magically fix only one of these things tomorrow, which one would make all the others easier?": "00:23:30""What measurable number proves that this is the real bottleneck or constraint in your business?": "00:25:25"Business Constraints by Revenue Thresholds"0 to $1 Million: Can we actually generate demand?": "00:30:22""$1 Million to $5 Million: Can we scale profitably?": "00:31:33""$5 Million to $15 Million: Can we execute without the founder?": "00:34:00""$15 Million to $30 Million: Can we build real leadership in the business?": "00:35:17""Above $30 Million: Can we allocate capital strategically?": "00:36:34"Action Items"Identify Constraints": "00:40:33""Kill Distractions": "00:41:45"Encouragement"Leave a Review": "00:42:47""Share the Episode": "00:42:47"Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview00:01:05 The Swamp of E-Commerce: Why Growth Stalls at $1M–$5M00:02:17 Common Reasons for Plateauing00:03:17 Too Many Initiatives, Not Enough Focus00:04:27 Motion vs. Progress & Identifying Constraints00:05:32 The Inverted Pyramid of Value00:06:45 Levels of the Inverted Pyramid: Admin & Busywork00:07:53 Levels of the Inverted Pyramid: Operational Optimizations00:09:00 Levels of the Inverted Pyramid: Growth Engines00:10:07 Levels of the Inverted Pyramid: Strategic Value Creation00:11:20 Examples of Admin & Busywork00:12:27 Examples of Operational Optimization Tasks00:13:39 Examples of Growth Engine Activities00:15:05 Examples of Strategic Value Creation00:16:08 Why Founders Get Stuck & The Need for Strategic Decisions00:17:26 How to Identify Your Business’s True Constraint00:18:29 Business Strategy: Prioritizing Limited Resources00:19:43 Why Focus Fails & The Power of Saying No00:20:53 Three Questions to Reveal Your Constraint00:22:16 Question 1: What Must Be True to 10x in 12 Months?00:23:30 Question 2: If You Could Fix One Thing, What Would It Be?00:25:25 Question 3: What Measurable Number Proves the Bottleneck?00:26:44 Assigning Numbers to Constraints & Prioritizing00:30:22 Common Constraints at Different Revenue Levels00:30:22 $0–$1M: Generating Demand00:31:33 $1M–$5M: Scaling Profitably00:34:00 $5M–$15M: Executing Without the Founder00:35:17 $15M–$30M: Building Real Leadership & Financial Modeling00:35:17 $30M+: Capital Allocation & Executive Leadership00:36:34 Mapping Your Constraint to the Pyramid00:39:23 Five Action Items for Focus & Scale00:42:47 Closing & Call to ActionTranscript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the E-com Breakthrough podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. Would you like to know why a lot of Ecom brand owners hit a plateau, and why they get stuck at certain revenue thresholds? Today, I'm going to be sharing the number one bottleneck that holds back most e-commerce businesses, and how you can avoid getting stuck in those same traps. My name is Josh Hadley. I am first and foremost a man of faith. I am a husband and I am also a father of four. I have been an eight figure brand owner and I've been in the e-commerce business for over a decade. I am also the host of the number one E-commerce Business Strategy podcast, which is E-com breakthrough. Today we're going to be diving straight into why most Ecom founders sta

Rafay and Graeme are the founders of The UpTik, an education and mentorship platform that helps eCommerce brands and entrepreneurs scale through TikTok. With over a decade of experience in eCommerce and short-form video, they’ve helped thousands of businesses grow on platforms like TikTok, Shopify, and Amazon using proven frameworks that drive real results. Their approach bridges the gap between traditional eCommerce and the creator economy—turning social media attention into anti-fragile revenue. They’ve worked with everyone from early-stage founders to billion-dollar brands, and their new book, Scroll to Sold, breaks down exactly how to turn TikTok attention into sales.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Importance of understanding TikTok Shop fundamentals for e-commerce success.Common mistakes brands make when entering TikTok Shop.Strategies for analyzing competitors and historical data to inform TikTok strategies.The significance of content volume and consistency in driving engagement and sales.Building strong relationships with creators and treating them as integral team members.The role of creator training and support in enhancing content quality and brand representation.The impact of TikTok's algorithm on content virality and engagement metrics.The necessity of viewing TikTok as a top-of-funnel awareness tool rather than just a direct sales channel.The importance of long-term commitment and strategic investment in TikTok Shop for sustainable growth.Examples of successful brands leveraging TikTok for awareness and sales, including their approaches to creator partnerships.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Rafay and Graeme, founders of Uptik and authors of From Scroll to Sold. They share expert strategies for e-commerce brands to succeed on TikTok Shop, emphasizing the importance of benchmarking competitors, producing high volumes of content, and building strong, supportive relationships with creators. The discussion covers actionable tips, common pitfalls, and the evolving role of social commerce, offering listeners a roadmap to drive sales and brand growth through TikTok’s unique ecosystem.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Benchmark Like a ProReverse-engineer the early moves of brands that recently won on TikTok Shop. Use tools like Killer Data to study their creator volume, posting cadence, and offers—then outperform their output.Out-Create EveryoneCommit to a relentless content engine: 30–100+ posts per week across brand and creator channels. Test formats fast, double down on what gets full watches, and treat content as your primary growth lever.Build a Creator Sales ForceOnboard creators personally, support them with weekly check-ins, and gamify performance. A trained, motivated affiliate army will drive scalable GMV far beyond what your brand channel alone can do.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] ShopAmazonShopifyDiscordDouyinKalodataWispr Flow

In this episode, the host interviews Brian Johnson, a leading expert in online advertising and Amazon conversion strategies. Brian shares actionable advice on how brands can stand out in crowded marketplaces by highlighting unique product features, understanding buyer psychology, and continuously innovating their listings. He emphasizes the importance of clear, benefit-driven messaging and regularly analyzing competitors and customer feedback. Through real-world examples, Brian illustrates how deep customer understanding and attention to detail can drive sales and outpace competitors. Listeners gain practical tips for differentiating products and optimizing Amazon listings for higher conversion rates.Chapters:Introduction to Brian Johnson (00:00:00)Host introduces Brian Johnson, his background in online advertising, and his achievements in Amazon strategy.Differentiation Through Unique Features (00:00:57)Discussion on using unique or overlooked product features (e.g., filtered beer, handcrafted products) to stand out in the market.Mindset Shift in Product Optimization (00:02:16)Emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond standard competition and adopting a new mindset for product differentiation.Understanding Buyer Psychology (00:02:48)Brian explains how most competitors ignore buyer psychology and the opportunity this creates for attentive brands.Continuous Innovation and Adaptation (00:04:15)Necessity of ongoing innovation and regular review of product listings to maintain differentiation as competitors adapt.Communicating Benefits Quickly (00:05:12)Advice on leading with clear, succinct benefits in product titles, images, and bullet points to answer "what's in it for me?"Conversion Rate Optimization Tactics (00:06:07)Focus on the importance of quickly communicating benefits for higher conversion rates, especially in the first few seconds.Three Actionable Takeaways (00:07:00)Host summarizes three key takeaways: always innovate, analyze top search terms and listings, and focus on customer benefits.Pattern Breaking in Listings (00:09:04)Discussion on breaking visual and content patterns in listings to stand out, while staying within Amazon’s terms of service.Understanding Customer Motivation (00:10:25)Example of Wendy’s Frosty: understanding why customers buy and using those insights to improve product offerings.Learning from Competitor Mistakes (00:12:00)Brian shares a Wendy’s failure example, highlighting the importance of spotting and capitalizing on competitors’ mistakes.Closing Remarks and Farewell (00:14:12)Host thanks Brian for his insights and encourages listeners to follow his work. Brian expresses his appreciation.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesAmazonWendy'sConcepts and StrategiesDifferentiation in Product Listings: 00:07:07Buyer Psychology: 00:03:16Review Analysis: "00:03:16Actionable TakeawaysContinuous Innovation: 00:08:17Evaluate Top Search Terms: 00:09:04Customer-Centric Copy: 00:10:25Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce you all to Brian Johnson. Brian has served as a leader in online advertising and conversion rate strategy for nearly two decades. He's a trusted partner to tens of thousands of brands across the globe. And Brian's work has earned him a reputation as a disruptive force in a world brimming with new and interesting challenges. Through his advertising agency, Canopy Management, as well as his highly successful Amazon advertising consultancy, community training and software, Brian has helped over 25,000 brands increase sales by over $2 billion on Amazon through advertising strategy, conversion rate optimization and differentiation. The results his products and services deliver continue to put him in high demand, with companies both large and small around the world. So with that introduction, Brian, I want to welcome you to the podcast.Brian 00:00:56 Thanks for having me.Josh 00:00:57 I don't remember there's a there was a beer company and you might know this, right? That what they changed in their marketing is that they said that their their beer was filtered, right. I think that's the correct thing, right? Where their beer is the exact same.Josh 00:01:14 Went through the exact same process as everybody else. Right. And that is the differentiating factor is like they just went through that thought process of like, all right, what's the most expensive step or what's the what takes the longest amount of time. And they're like, oh, we spend a lot of time filtering. Let's call out that our beer is filtered. And so at that time, nobody else was calling out that our beer was filtered, whether that was important or called out. You know, and and it differentiated them. And I think there's a lot I mean, I've already had a big mindset shift with that, like with some of my products that, one thing that we can do is like there's a lot of like, hand tooling time that takes a lot of, like, hand craftsmanship for some of our products. It's like, why don't we say t

Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, where I document my journey scaling an e-commerce brand and share the systems, strategies, and lessons learned in real-time. This episode introduces a scalable meeting cadence designed to improve business operations, outlining various types of effective meetings including weekly 1:1s, leadership huddles, and quarterly strategic planning sessions. Each meeting type has specific objectives and agendas to foster leadership and team alignment, ensuring your business is always moving forward. 🚀In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares his proven seven-meeting operating system for ecommerce teams. Drawing from his experience scaling an eight-figure brand, Josh details how structured weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings drive alignment, accountability, and rapid decision-making. He explains the purpose and agenda of each meeting, emphasizes the importance of preparation and focus, and offers actionable advice for implementing this system to eliminate distractions and accelerate business growth. Listeners gain a clear framework to improve team communication and execution on the path to scaling their own businesses.Tools, Frameworks, and Concepts"Traction (Book)": "00:03:10""EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)": "00:03:10""Ryan Deiss' Scalable Operating System": "00:03:10""KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)": "00:19:31""Scorecards": "00:19:31""131 Principle": "00:22:46""Profit and Loss Statements": "00:30:16""Balance Sheet": "00:31:21""Ad Spend Performance": "00:32:29""Meeting Cadence Operating System": "00:36:58"Meeting Types"Weekly One-on-One Meetings": "00:06:52""Leadership Huddles": "00:15:07""L10 Leadership Meeting": "00:17:25""Weekly Leadership Meeting": "00:18:28""Monthly All Hands Meeting": "00:24:47""Monthly Financial Review Meeting": "00:29:01""Quarterly Strategic Planning Meeting": "00:33:37""Annual Strategic Planning Meeting": "00:35:46"Key Practices and Actions"Commitment Follow-Ups": "00:20:31""Issue Identification and Resolution": "00:22:46""Team Recognition and Shout-Outs": "00:28:00""Leave a Review": "00:38:04""Share the Episode": "00:38:04"Websites and Media"Ecomm Breakthrough YouTube Channel": "00:36:58"Key Takeaway"Systems and Focus": "00:38:04"Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction & Importance of MeetingsJosh introduces himself, the podcast, and the importance of systems and focused meetings for business growth.00:02:05 Common Meeting Challenges & The Seven Meeting Cadence OverviewDiscusses common meeting problems and introduces the seven meeting operating system for team alignment and accountability.00:06:52 Weekly One-on-One MeetingsExplains the structure, purpose, and agenda of weekly one-on-one meetings for alignment, KPI review, and coaching.00:13:51 15-Minute Leadership HuddlesDescribes short, twice-weekly leadership huddles for daily alignment, sharing wins, priorities, and resolving roadblocks.00:17:25 Weekly L10 Leadership MeetingDetails the 90-minute weekly leadership meeting for KPI review, accountability, issue resolution, and cross-departmental alignment.00:24:47 Monthly All Hands MeetingCovers the monthly company-wide meeting to reinforce vision, share wins, recognize team members, and align on monthly goals.00:29:01 Monthly Financial ReviewOutlines the monthly financial review meeting to analyze P&L, channel performance, cash flow, and expenses for business health.00:33:37 Quarterly Strategic PlanningExplains the quarterly planning session to review past goals, set new priorities, and cascade objectives to departments.00:34:47 Annual Strategic PlanningDescribes the annual planning meeting to set company-wide goals, define top priorities, and assign ownership for execution.00:36:58 Action Steps & ConclusionEncourages listeners to implement the meeting cadence, share the episode, and remember the importance of systems and focus.Josh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. Fun fact do you know that 99% of you are holding meetings the wrong way? Or there's probably a good portion of you that don't even hold meetings at all because you see them as unproductive, not worth your time, or you have no idea what to even be talking about in those meetings. Today, I'm going to share with you the seven meeting operating system that I use in my own business, in order to ensure that everybody's rowing in the same direction, that we're executing, on the same strategies and tactics in order to scale to over nine figures. First and foremost, who am I? My name is Josh Hadley. I am a man of faith, a father of four, and a husband to a beautiful wife.Josh Hadley 00:01:

Today on the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, let’s welcome a true expert in the world of social commerce, Michelle Barnum Smith. Michelle is the founder of TTShopSellers and one of the leading voices when it comes to helping e-commerce brands unlock the massive potential of TikTok Shop.With years of marketing experience under her belt and a track record of guiding sellers through the ever-changing world of online retail, Michelle has become a go-to strategist for Ecom sellers looking to diversify their revenue, scale into new channels, and build sustainable growth strategies.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. The evolving role of TikTok Shop in e-commerce and its distinction from traditional marketplaces like Amazon.Strategies for sellers to succeed on TikTok Shop, focusing on content creation and engagement.The importance of treating TikTok Shop as a top-of-funnel, entertainment-first platform rather than a direct sales channel.Common mistakes sellers make when onboarding to TikTok Shop, including listing entire catalogs without focus.Criteria for selecting TikTok-friendly products, including demonstrability, unique features, and impulse-buy price points.The strategic use of TikTok Shop for inventory liquidation and building momentum for products.Listing optimization techniques specific to TikTok Shop, including title and description strategies.Pricing strategies tailored for TikTok Shop, emphasizing impulse buying and promotional tactics.The significance of creator collaboration and effective management in content production for TikTok.Continuous optimization and testing as essential practices for long-term success on TikTok Shop.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Michelle Barnum Smith, founder of TTShopSellers, TikTok Shop Strategist and TikTok Shop Expert. Michelle shares actionable strategies for e-commerce sellers looking to succeed on TikTok Shop, emphasizing the importance of focused product selection, engaging content, and leveraging affiliates. She explains how TikTok Shop differs from traditional marketplaces, offers tips on pricing, merchandising, and listing optimization, and discusses the necessity of continuous content creation and advertising. The episode concludes with personal insights from Michelle and an invitation for listeners to access free audits and further resources.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Focus on 1–3 High-Potential Products Using the Five TikTok FiltersApply the “Five Filters” (demonstrable, unique features, passionate niche, problem-solving, impulse price point) to select only 1–3 hero products per quarter. Building momentum around a few strong listings beats dumping your whole catalog.Commit to High-Volume Content: 5–10 Videos per Week per ListingTikTok Shop success = content volume × consistency. Produce 5–10 short videos per listing each week using a mix of brand content, UGC, affiliates, and in-house creators to maximize hooks and discovery.Create Impulse-Buy Offers with Free Shipping + Flash Sales + CouponsTikTok Shop is driven by urgency and value. Always offer free shipping, run frequent flash sales, and use coupons instead of permanent discounts to maintain your pricing power while boosting conversions.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] KingTikTok ShopAmazonShopifyCreator Search InsightsChatGPTEuka AISoraTTShop Sellers

In this episode, e-commerce expert Norm Farrar shares actionable strategies for Amazon sellers to build and engage their own audiences. He discusses using insert cards to collect customer emails through offers like free products, warranties, and cookbooks, and emphasizes the importance of email marketing to boost revenue. Norm explains how to create and repurpose valuable content, such as chef-sourced recipes, across Amazon posts and social media. He also highlights the benefits of hosting live cooking shows on Amazon Live and using video creation services to enhance product listings, offering practical tips for optimizing Amazon sales and brand growth.Chapters:Introduction to Norm Farrar (00:00:00)Host introduces Norm Farrar, his background in e-commerce, and his Amazon podcast.Case Study: Email List Building with Insert Cards (00:00:33)Norm shares a case study about a beauty company collecting 280,000 emails via insert cards but not utilizing them.Insert Card Offers: Free Products and Extended Warranties (00:01:36)Discussion of effective insert card offers, including free products and extended warranties to collect customer emails.Meal Plans, Cookbooks, and Recipe Content Strategy (00:03:20)Norm explains using meal plans and cookbooks to collect emails, and sourcing recipes from chefs and culinary students.Repurposing Content: Newsletters and Amazon Posts (00:04:34)How recipes and user-generated content are repurposed for newsletters and Amazon posts to engage customers.Mindset Shift: Value-Driven Email Marketing (00:05:00)Host reflects on providing value through email, not just sales pitches, and repurposing content across channels.Amazon Live Cooking Show Launch (00:06:52)Norm introduces their new Amazon Live cooking show featuring chefs and culinary students using their products.Live Content Strategy and Product Demonstrations (00:07:45)Details on using live cooking shows to demonstrate products, increase engagement, and gain followers.Video Content Creation and Repurposing (00:09:07)Norm discusses creating videos with influencers, repurposing video content for Amazon, social media, and YouTube.Using Billo for Video Production (00:10:38)Introduction to Billo, a service for affordable, high-quality product videos, and how to use them for marketing.Three Actionable Takeaways for E-commerce Brands (00:12:57)Host summarizes key takeaways: business planning, building an email list, and repurposing content.Amazon Internal Tools for Listing Optimization (00:14:46)Norm recommends using Amazon’s internal tools for listing optimization and growth opportunities to increase sales.Closing Remarks (00:16:21)Host thanks Norm for his insights and wraps up the episode.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesAmazon LiveAmazon Seller CentralStrategies and ConceptsEmail List Building: 00:01:08Insert Cards for Email Collection: 00:02:06User-Generated Content: 00:04:34Content Repurposing: "00:09:07Listing Optimization Tools: 00:14:46Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce to you Norm Farrar. Norm specializes in providing e-commerce and online marketing services for brands. He has worked with fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, and 20th Century Fox since the early 1990s. Norm has focused on helping entrepreneurs optimize their operations and unlock their businesses potential. Presently, he is the host of the popular Amazon podcast lunch with Norm. So welcome to the show, Norm.Norm 00:00:32 Hey, glad to be here.Josh 00:00:33 So, Norm, I wanted to ask, you know, what are some of the best practices that you see with that? And maybe do you have any case studies or maybe some examples that you might be able to share with us, just to kind of spark some ideas in people's mind of the various opportunities that do lie in, you know, building your own audience off of Amazon from those insert cards.Norm 00:00:55 Well, and it's a good and bad story, but I know we were working with a beauty company who had built an email list up to 280,000 emails.Norm 00:01:08 Wow. But he would not. He never. He thought it was inconvenient. It would inconvenience people if he sent them emails.Josh 00:01:18 That doesn't make sense.Norm 00:01:19 280,000 emails. So yeah, that that that wasn't, that wasn't a smart move, but,Josh 00:01:27 Attracting. I mean, how did he attract 280,000 people to give him their email address? Right. Like, do you know what the offer was?Norm 00:01:36 Yeah. Well, different beauty products. So what it would be is you could go. You could go to the insert. It would go to a landing page. The landing page, would offer them one of his other products. So if you had the shampoo conditioner, you could have the, what's called keratin treatment, or you could have, there was, some serums and stuff like that, but you were offered a free product. So in the $10.Josh 00:02:06 In the insert card on the insert card, it says, hey, claim your free product I assume then yeah. Okay.Norm 00:02:13 Yeah. So all it di

Ephraim Ausch, Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistic Solutions. With years of hands-on experience helping brands navigate the complexities of Amazon FBA and global supply chains, Ephraim has been instrumental in guiding 7-figure sellers to scale with smarter, more reliable shipping and logistics strategies.At Tactical Logistic Solutions, he oversees everything from freight forwarding and customs clearance to warehousing and FBA prep, ensuring sellers not only get their products where they need to be, but also protect their margins and scale with confidence.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges in e-commerce logistics for Amazon sellers scaling from seven to eight figures.Rising costs associated with Amazon's logistics services and AWS.Navigating tariffs and understanding shipping terms (DDP, FOB, EXW).Impact of increased competition from overseas sellers, particularly from China.Strategies for optimizing logistics to maintain profit margins.Importance of understanding Amazon's evolving inbound shipping policies.The role of third-party logistics (3PL) versus Amazon's own logistics services.The significance of brand storytelling in competing against price-focused overseas sellers.Recommendations for diversifying sales channels beyond Amazon.The necessity of consulting with logistics experts to improve supply chain management.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Ephraim Ausch, Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistics Solutions. They discuss the evolving challenges Amazon sellers face, including rising logistics costs, tariff complexities, and intense competition from overseas sellers. Ephraim shares actionable strategies for optimizing supply chains, navigating shipping terms, and maintaining profit margins. The conversation also covers the importance of brand building, diversification across marketplaces, and leveraging expert consultants. Practical advice and industry insights make this episode essential listening for e-commerce entrepreneurs aiming to scale and stay competitive.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Audit Your DDP Strategy for Potential 10-15% Tariff SavingsWork with a customs consultant to analyze if having your manufacturer ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) makes sense for your products. Break down your product components (e.g., plastic handle vs. steel blade) on commercial invoices to potentially reduce duty classifications. This only works if your supplier's margins allow for it and they're willing to be the official shipper.Switch from Placement Fees to 5-Way Splits for Better CoverageStop paying Amazon placement fees and instead do 5-way splits into multiple fulfillment centers. This distributes your inventory across 9-12 locations per split, improving delivery speed to customers nationwide and potentially increasing sales by 4-10%. Use a flat-rate freight service to avoid high trucking costs for partial loads.Build a Supply Chain Buffer SystemAlways maintain backup inventory outside of AWD/FBA - whether in your garage, basement, or a 3PL warehouse. This protects you from Amazon delays, lost shipments, or FC transfer bottlenecks. Running out of stock can permanently damage your listing's ranking, so having a contingency plan is essential for protecting your sales velocity.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Global Logistics (AGL)DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)EXW (Ex Works)AWB (Amazon Warehouse and Distribution)FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)Seller CentralSmart ScoutSeller BoardHelium 10PerplexityTraction by Gino WickmanVistageSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaEphraim Ausch 00:00:00 The main question. You start off right now. Should I use AWS or not? Is the

In this episode, the host interviews Howard Thai, a former top 50 Amazon seller and founder of the Elite Seller Society mastermind. Howard discusses how his mastermind group helps sellers solve problems, access mentorship, and gain valuable resources. He shares insights on black hat tactics in the Amazon marketplace and stresses the importance of understanding these to protect your business. Howard advises sellers to fully optimize their listings, monitor for unauthorized changes, and innovate through unique product bundles to stand out and succeed on Amazon.Chapters:Introduction to Howard Thai and His Amazon Journey (00:00:00)Host introduces Howard Thai, his Amazon success, and his background in educating Chinese sellers.Overview of the Elite Seller Society Mastermind (00:01:19)Howard explains the purpose, benefits, and unique resources of his mastermind group for Amazon sellers.Value of Mastermind Groups and Continuous Learning (00:03:16)Howard discusses attending other masterminds, the investment involved, and the importance of learning from top-tier groups.Black Hat Tactics: Stigma and Seller Concerns (00:04:22)Host and Howard address the stigma around Chinese sellers and black hat tactics on Amazon.Understanding and Defending Against Black Hat Tactics (00:04:52)Howard explains why sellers must understand black hat tactics to protect themselves and their listings.Current Black Hat Tactics and Amazon’s Response (00:06:17)Howard lists active black hat tactics, notes their decline, and praises Amazon’s efforts to protect sellers.Proactive Listing Protection Strategies (00:08:32)Howard details steps for sellers to proactively secure their listings, including team building and monitoring.Filling Out All Listing Fields for Security and Visibility (00:09:43)Howard explains the importance of completing all Amazon listing fields to prevent manipulation and improve searchability.Leveraging Filters and Searchability on Amazon (00:11:41)Howard highlights how properly filled fields affect product visibility in Amazon’s filters and search results.Key Takeaways and Actionable Advice (00:12:52)Host summarizes three main takeaways: innovate with bundles, optimize listings, and understand black hat tactics for defense.Closing Remarks and Resources (00:15:59)Host thanks Howard, shares his website, and encourages listeners to follow his work and mastermind events.Links and Mentions:Elite Seller Society ShopifyFacebookAmazon Seller CentralTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Without further ado, I am excited to introduce to you Howard Thai. Howard is a former top 50 seller on all of Amazon. And his origin story as a seller is an epic itself. Between selling thousands of units of hoverboards daily and battling with Amazon Incorporated on Amazon, Apple actually on Amazon. The story of his humble beginnings is a story too long to tell. He began his journey as an educator by single handedly spearheading the training of Chinese sellers on Amazon. The insights that Howard provided and the tools he developed led to what many in the United States consider the Chinese takeover of Amazon. He has saved, started, scaled and sold hundreds of businesses via Amazon and other virtual platforms. And he's done it time and time again. So welcome to the podcast, Howard. Howard, I think this is a good time to kind of talk about your mastermind. You do something with the elite seller society and you have a mastermind big, you know, kind of event that you do once a year, I believe.Josh 00:01:05 this is something that I've been very interested and I keep asking you about. I think every time I talk to you, I'm like, hey, do you have the dates? And do you know where you're going yet? So tell us more about that. And what is it all about? What content are you sharing?Howard 00:01:19 So the elite level of society is like, a mastermind that I have created. it's everyone that's been in our event, our mastermind events that gets, gets added into and, we kind of go in and help each other within our group, like how to solve problems, as well as, there's like, something that we can offer our group through, like, other mentorships or through, like, special, like things. I'm working on getting our, all our membership members. Members, that own, their own, account rep So that they don't have to go through the SAS program or SAS program. That really sucks. So they're getting like really good quality. employees and Amazon being able to support them.Howard 00:02:13 So I'm talking to Amazon on that on how we can actually make that work for our employees. So that's just something cool that I'm working with or things that things that are always open when you're in the mastermind. I like like you said, my shift change. Like you never you're in a box all the time. For most of the people that aren't in, in these mastermind I'm talking about, like, if you're even in these podcasts or in Facebook groups, you'll never get the same kind of, like information that you really could get on

Today’s guest is someone who’s on the cutting edge of Amazon growth strategy and tech innovation. I’m thrilled to welcome Jonathan “Jon” Tilley, the CEO and Co-Founder of ZonGuru—a powerful, AI-powered software suite built by Amazon sellers for Amazon sellers.With over a decade of experience in branding, digital strategy, and now SaaS leadership, Jon has helped thousands of serious sellers optimize their listings, scale profitably, and build businesses that last. Under his leadership, ZonGuru has grown into a globally trusted toolset, known for being Amazon Rufus-optimized, data-driven, and designed to boost revenue and conversion.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Evolving landscape of e-commerce, particularly on Amazon.Impact of AI-driven algorithms and search engines on product discovery.Importance of adapting product listings to align with intelligent algorithms.Shift from keyword-stuffed listings to emotionally connected, brand-focused presentations.Need for sellers to understand their target audience and customer intent.Use of structured data formats and schema for optimizing product listings.Rise of conversational commerce and AI chat interfaces like Amazon's Rufus.Importance of emotional connection and storytelling in product descriptions.Strategies for leveraging AI tools to gain customer insights and improve visibility.Necessity of maintaining authenticity and human creativity in content creation.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Jon Tilley, CEO of ZonGuru. They discuss how AI-driven search engines like Amazon’s Rufus are transforming e-commerce. Jon explains the importance of structuring product listings with new schema standards and focusing on brand storytelling to connect emotionally with customers. The conversation covers optimizing for AI algorithms, leveraging social platforms for visibility, and preparing for conversational commerce. Jon also shares practical tips and tools for sellers to future-proof their businesses in an AI-powered marketplace, emphasizing adaptability, authenticity, and deep customer understanding.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Optimize Listings for AI Discovery – Structure your Amazon listings with semantic data and schema markup so AI-driven search engines like Rufus can better understand and recommend your products.Build Emotion-Driven Brand Content – Focus your product pages on storytelling and emotional resonance, not just keywords. Use real customer insights to craft authentic, benefit-led messaging.Adopt and Experiment with Emerging AI Tools Early – Stay ahead of competitors by testing new AI platforms for product discovery, data insights, and content optimization as soon as they launch.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] A9RaycastRedditWikipediaYouTubeInstagramTikTokZonGuruPoppi SodaSimple ModernAlex Hormozi10x Is Easier Than 2X by Benjamin HardyScience of Scaling by Benjamin HardySpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJon Tilley 00:00:00 At the very heart of that. I think it's truly understanding how to technically structure your listings for these new intelligent algorithms. And there is a very specific schema that you should be applying to your listings, whether it's on Amazon or whether it's on Shopify or where else you are. you know that schema? The good thing about it is it is evolving around what that schema looks like and what influences that those algorithms. But, there is a lot of similarities in terms of the schema across the different platforms. So that I would say is is number one.MC 00:00:38 Welcome to the Econ Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your

In this episode, host Josh interviews Ryan Deiss, founder of DigitalMarketer, about the smartest way for entrepreneurs to hire their first employees. Ryan explains why business owners should avoid hiring assistants for minor tasks and instead recruit experienced professionals who can fully own critical business functions. He discusses overcoming fears around big hires, financial considerations, and the importance of mapping out your value creation process. Ryan also shares strategies for systematizing operations and building a team that enables real growth and freedom, rather than creating more management headaches.Chapters:Introduction to Ryan Deiss and Episode Overview (00:00:00)Host introduces Ryan Deiss, his background, and the episode’s focus on business operating systems and hiring.Common Mistakes in First Hires (00:02:12)Ryan explains what not to do when hiring your first employee, warning against hiring assistants for minor tasks.The "Genius with a Thousand Helpers" Trap (00:02:56)Discussion on why hiring helpers instead of professionals leads to more management and less freedom.Hiring Professionals to Own Critical Functions (00:03:46)Advice to map value creation, identify weak spots, and hire experienced professionals to own those areas.Overcoming Fear and Financial Concerns in Big Hires (00:04:37)Ryan addresses the fear and financial hesitation of hiring high-level employees and how to mitigate it.Cost Comparison: Professionals vs. Multiple Helpers (00:06:14)Breakdown of the financial and operational impact of hiring one pro versus several lower-level helpers.The Real Cost of Ineffective Hiring (00:07:48)Explains the long-term frustration and wasted resources from hiring multiple helpers instead of a pro.Path to Entrepreneurial Freedom (00:09:18)Ryan outlines the goal: remove yourself from all value creation steps by hiring pros for each function.Debunking the "Learn It Before You Hire It" Myth (00:10:13)Ryan refutes the idea that founders must master a function before hiring an expert for it.Three Actionable Takeaways (00:11:39)Host summarizes key actions: value creation mapping, overcoming imposter syndrome for big hires, and automating processes.Closing and Where to Learn More (00:13:31)Ryan shares where listeners can learn more about his programs and communities.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Founders BoardKey Takeaways Value Creation Mapping: "00:11:58" Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: 00:12:59 Automating the Value Creation Process: 00:13:28Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce to you Ryan Deiss. Ryan is the founder and the CEO of The Scalable Company Digital Marketer, and a founding partner at Scalable Equity, LLC, a venture equity accelerator that builds and acquires B2B media and software brands. He is a bestselling author, founder of multiple companies, collectively employing hundreds around the globe, and one of the most dynamic speakers on business operating systems in the United States today. So welcome to the podcast, Ryan.Ryan 00:00:32 Thanks for having me. It is not difficult to be among the most dynamic speakers about business operating systems, because most people would consider that to be like watching paint dry. But I think it's I think it's pretty sexy stuff, so I appreciate that.Josh 00:00:47 Hey, and I agree as well. Typically it is, it is one of those topics that most people, I think tend to avoid, right? If you go to a conference and you're like, which one should I go to? I think the shiny object is always like the newest marketing hack, right? Or like social media? and with your experience obviously running Digital Marketer, you're you're well versed in that.Josh 00:01:09 And I think you could argue you're one of the most well-versed in digital marketing itself. But today we're going to be talking all about business operating systems. So how do you know who should be your first hire? Right. is it kind of going along that customer journey, so to speak, or your value journey that we're talking about here? And is it identifying, you know, hey, actually our secret sauce is in product innovation, right? Like that's our secret sauce. That's where it seems like we're bringing a lot of value, especially on Amazon. Right. You talk about, you know, bringing traffic. It's like well Amazon's brought traffic to you. Plus they have the fulfillment engine. So like they've tackled two big levers for a lot of people right. so if you identify like, hey, we're really good at product innovation or something like that, Does that mean, hey, I should first hire out that product innovation? Or do I need to figure out a product? Do I need to hire a project manager? Or is it an executive assistant? Like, how do you go through the process of deciding who to hire first and why?Ryan 00:02:12 So let me answer the question by telling you what not to do.Ryan 00:02:14 And then I'll come back around and give a more explicit answer. So what most people do, and it's not what you s

Today, I’m excited to welcome Mike Olson, Partner and Founding Member at WealthPoint, LLC. With over 25 years of experience in financial and insurance planning, Mike has dedicated his career to helping affluent families and business owners unlock clarity in complex financial decisions. He holds multiple professional designations—CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, and MSFS—and is nationally recognized for his expertise in structuring insurance solutions that fuel business growth.In today's episode, we’re diving into a powerful and often overlooked strategy: how e-commerce entrepreneurs can use insurance to fund inventory cash flows. Mike is here to share how these creative financial tools can give Amazon sellers and online business owners the liquidity and leverage they need to scale sustainably from 7 figures to 8 and beyond. Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategic use of life insurance policies for e-commerce entrepreneurs.Funding inventory cash flows and scaling businesses from seven to eight figures.Benefits of life insurance, including tax advantages and creditor protection.Importance of tailored insurance policy design based on individual financial situations.Building a cash reserve ("war chest") before borrowing against life insurance.Flexibility in policy features to accommodate fluctuating cash flows.Higher potential returns from well-structured life insurance policies.Comparison of life insurance loans to traditional high-interest financing options.Importance of disciplined financial management and repayment strategies.Long-term benefits of life insurance as a financial safety net and retirement tool.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Mike Olson of Wellpoint LLC about using life insurance as a strategic financial tool for e-commerce entrepreneurs. They discuss how established business owners can leverage specially structured life insurance policies to fund inventory, manage cash flow, and scale sustainably, while also gaining tax advantages and creditor protection. The episode covers the pitfalls of traditional financing, the importance of disciplined policy funding, and actionable steps for building a financial “war chest” to support business growth and personal security. Mike also shares insights on technology, AI, and economic resources.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Build a Financial War Chest – Use life insurance to accumulate cash value over time, creating a reserve you can tap into for high-ROI business opportunities or emergencies.Design for Flexibility – Work with an advisor to structure a policy that matches your business’s cash flow, allowing for adjustable premiums and strategic borrowing.Leverage Smartly for Growth – Borrow against your policy only for clear, high-return purposes—like funding inventory or scaling operations—while maintaining a disciplined repayment plan.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] KingMatt ClarkCopilotPerplexityArmstrong EconomicsWealth PointSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaMike Olson 00:00:00 This is for the entrepreneur that has a profitable business. You don't start putting your first dollar that you're saving into insurance, right? You still have a balance sheet. You have some cash. Your business has a strong kind of cash reserve to support it. Personally, you have write a savings account for bills. So this is kind of that add on. Once you have a successfully profitable business and now you're trying to optimize efficiency.MC 00:00:32 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take you

In this episode, host Josh interviews Simon Hammer, VP of Product at Vimbly Group, about acquiring and managing e-commerce brands. Simone shares a case study from the cocktail shaker market, illustrating how focusing solely on quantitative metrics led to missed opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of qualitative customer feedback, brand storytelling, and product-market fit to build lasting brands and avoid competing only on price. The discussion highlights key lessons for e-commerce leaders: assess market potential, listen to customers, and continuously test and iterate to stay competitive.Chapters:Introduction to Simone Hammer and Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Simone Hammer, his background, and experience in e-commerce and investment banking.Approach to Brand Acquisition and Quantitative Analysis (00:00:55)Discussion on traditional quantitative methods for acquiring brands and the limitations of focusing solely on numbers.Case Study: Cocktail Shaker Brand and Market Dynamics (00:01:38)Simone shares a case study about their cocktail shaker brand, market share, and the impact of COVID-19.Competitor Analysis and Information Memorandum (00:03:08)Simone describes obtaining a competitor’s information memorandum and insights into their strategies and market position.Market Changes and Increased Competition (00:04:07)Discussion on rising freight costs, increased competition, and the challenges faced in the cocktail shaker market.Brand Building vs. KPI Focus (00:05:05)Comparison between their KPI-driven approach and the competitor’s focus on brand building and storytelling.Consequences of Ignoring Qualitative Feedback (00:06:59)Simone explains the negative outcomes of neglecting qualitative customer feedback and the resulting price competition.Importance of Qualitative Customer Insights (00:07:53)Emphasis on the value of qualitative data, customer feedback, and brand building for long-term business success.Lessons Learned and Industry Trends (00:09:01)Reflection on industry trends, the necessity of qualitative insights, and the risk of competing solely on price.Host Reflection and Question on Customer Feedback (00:10:04)Josh reflects on his own business practices and asks Simone what customer feedback they missed.Specific Customer Preferences Missed (00:10:53)Simone details specific customer preferences, such as the shine of the shaker and the appeal of the stand.In-Person vs. Online Customer Insights (00:11:55)Insights gained from in-person customer interactions versus online feedback and the importance of customer development.Three Key Takeaways for E-commerce Success (00:13:43)Josh summarizes three actionable takeaways: market opportunity, listening to customers, and continuous testing.Closing Remarks and Future Follow-Up (00:16:48)Josh thanks Simone and mentions the possibility of future episodes to check on progress.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Helium 10Key Takeaways Identifying Market Opportunities: 00:13:43Listening to Customers: 00:14:47Testing and Iterating: 00:15:49Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Simon Hammer. Simon is the VP of Product at Vimbly Group, a New York City based firm that scales and invests in tech enabled businesses where he has worked for over ten years. He currently runs Vimbly Group's e-commerce business unit, as well as having his hands involved in a number of Vimbly Group's eight other business units. Prior to the Vimbly Group, Simon was a healthcare investment banker at a boutique investment bank in New York City, where he focused on raising capital and mid-market mergers and acquisitions involving biotech, healthcare, technology and healthcare service companies. He has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, and I met Simon at the Billion Dollar Seller Summit earlier this year. And Simon, I'm excited to welcome you to the podcast. Welcome.Simon 00:00:50 Thanks, Josh. Really appreciate that. Nice intro. Thanks for having me.Josh 00:00:55 As you look to acquire other brands, and I love that you kind of were an acquire or aggregator before the aggregator theme became pop became popular. So you're not on the the bandwagon there.Josh 00:01:08 You can be like, no, we were doing this long, a long time ago. You know, I think that that's really interesting, Simon. I think you've taken this approach that's actually a little bit different than I think the typical answer is, right, because I've listened to a bunch of other people that talk about acquiring businesses. And I'm looking at these specific numbers and, you know, I'm trying to draw conclusions and, you know, kind of look at 2020 and what happened during Covid and say, okay, this was an artificial bump and it's all very quantitative, right?Simon 00:01:38 All the quantitative stuff that you're talking about like looking historical, it's a given. Right. We always do that. We've always done it. And for the longest time, that's all we did. And, you know, one of our brands right now

Tomer Rabinovich is a self-taught Amazon business owner, consultant to some of the biggest names in the online sales industry, and one of the most sought-after speakers at Amazon seller events throughout the world. He began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of ten as a professional magician, he studied economics and business in college. He later launched his first product and established a thriving Amazon business based on observation, iteration, and a unique ability to simplify the complex. He now consults 7-8 figure sellers through his Mastermind Coaching groups and his digital programs as well.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for succeeding in the competitive Amazon and e-commerce marketplace.Current challenges faced by sellers, including increasing competition and margin compression.The concept of launching "impossible products" with high barriers to entry.The importance of creating social media-friendly products that can go viral.The evolving e-commerce landscape, including the role of social commerce and platforms like TikTok.Criteria for identifying and validating product opportunities for future success.The significance of focusing on high-revenue niches and differentiation.The necessity of understanding PPC and managing advertising effectively.The importance of building a strong team and company culture for long-term growth.The need for continuous product development and expansion into new marketplaces.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Tomer Rabinovich, an Amazon business owner and consultant. They discuss the evolving challenges of selling on Amazon, including increased competition and shrinking margins. Tomer shares strategies for success, such as launching "impossible products" with high barriers to entry and creating social media-friendly items that can go viral. The conversation covers the importance of omnichannel sales, building strong teams and company culture, and focusing on continual product development to drive growth in the rapidly changing e-commerce landscape.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Go Beyond Amazon – Build omnichannel demand through platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Shopify to reduce reliance on Amazon’s ecosystem and boost brand resilience.Launch “Impossible Products” – Focus on products with high barriers to entry (e.g., regulatory, complex, patented) to create defensible niches and command premium margins.Design for Virality – Develop products and packaging that naturally perform well on social media, encouraging user-generated content and organic buzz to drive traffic back to Amazon.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] (Amazon Vine Program)"Meta AdsNomadsJoin Top DogThe Amazon WaveUnreasonable HospitalityWhat to Say When You Talk to YourselfBuy Back Your TimeLeadership Secrets from Nick SabanSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaTomer Rabinovich 00:00:00 And one of the biggest barriers to entry, I will say, is creating a social media friendly product. And if you can do that and you can make your product, I call it like almost organically going viral, is a game changer these days, and that will get you to omnichannel very quick. And we can talk more about that if you like.Intro 00:00:25 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:39 Do you want to know what's working right now to take your Amazon business to the next level? Or do you want to know all the mistakes to avoid in the ecommerce space? Today

In this episode, host Josh interviews Dr. Travis Zigler, a former optometrist who founded "Eye Love", a brand focused on healing dry eye naturally and funding free eye care clinics. Travis shares his journey from optometry to e-commerce and Amazon PPC, leading to the creation of Profitable Pineapple Ads. He discusses the importance of finding personal fulfillment beyond business, explains the 80/20 rule for Amazon advertising, and offers actionable strategies for optimizing PPC campaigns and product listings to drive growth and impact.Chapters:Introduction to Dr. Travis Zigler and His Journey (00:00:00)Josh introduces Dr. Travis Zigler, his background in optometry, e-commerce, and founding "Eye Love" and Profitable Pineapple Ads.Starting Profitable Pineapple Ads and Finding Personal Worth (00:01:08)Travis discusses starting the agency, the importance of finding self-worth beyond business, and his and his wife's personal missions.Mission Trips and Foundation Work (00:02:59)Travis shares about their charity work, mission trips, and the value they find in giving vision to those in need.Pivot to Amazon PPC and Agency Origins (00:03:33)Transition to discussing Profitable Pineapple Ads, why Travis started focusing on Amazon PPC, and the agency’s early challenges.Simplifying Amazon PPC: The 80/20 Principle (00:05:50)Travis explains the 80/20 rule in PPC, focusing on what works, and how this approach improved results for their clients.Scaling the Agency and Using Software (00:06:47)Describes the agency’s growth, adoption of software, and scaling to 120 clients with a team of 11.Simple PPC Strategies and Case Studies (00:07:55)Travis outlines actionable PPC strategies, focusing on top-performing products and keywords, and how this benefits clients.Optimizing Listings and Campaign Structure (00:10:00)Details on optimizing product listings, using professional images, and structuring ad campaigns for maximum impact.Three Actionable Takeaways and Final Thoughts (00:11:25)Josh summarizes key takeaways: self-reflection, the 80/20 principle, and implementing focused PPC or blog strategies.Episode Wrap-Up (00:15:02)Closing remarks, gratitude, and looking forward to future meetings.Links and Mentions:Companies and FoundationsEye LoveEye Believe FoundationProfitable Pineapple Ads AgencyWebsitesProfitablePineapple.comConcepts and Strategies80/20 Pareto Principle: 00:05:50Single Keyword Ad Campaigns: 00:10:00Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Doctor Travis Zigler. He is a recovering optometrist turned ecommerce entrepreneur. He is the founder of Eye Love, whose mission is to heal 1 million dry eye sufferers naturally. Doctor Travis and his wife, Doctor Jenna Zigler, used the profits from Eye Love to Fund free clinics in Jamaica and the US through their charity, the Eye Believe Foundation. And due to the success of Eye Love, others have asked if Doctor Travis would help them grow their businesses online and more specifically with Amazon, which led to the creation of the profitable Pineapple Ads Agency. Well why pineapple? Well, why not specializing in Amazon PPC? Doctor Travis blogs about Amazon PPC and selling on Amazon, and also has a free Amazon PPC Masterclass, which you can check out at Profitable pineapple.com. So welcome to the podcast, Travis.Travis 00:00:57 Josh, happy to be here and glad to be glad to be providing value to your audience, so looking forward to it.Josh 00:01:03 You had previously started profitable pineapple ads before the exit.Josh 00:01:07 Is that true?Travis 00:01:08 Yeah, so we started about four years ago and the exit was about a year ago. Okay.Josh 00:01:12 And so so yeah, you had already started it. So you already had something else going on, right? Do you feel like that helped?Travis 00:01:18 It did help. But to go back to your question about tips and pointers, it's all about where you find your worth in life. And a lot of us as entrepreneurs find that worth in what we're doing in our business. We bury ourselves in busy work because that's what we feel like is our worth. And it's all about that is finding what makes you feel. I don't want to say worthy, but find out what makes you feel good inside. I'm a creator. I love to educate and so I educated with my dry brand. We had a show called The Dry Eye Show. It was a podcast and a YouTube station. But then in the agency side, I also am. I teach people all the strategies that we used. And so I love to educate people on how to do stuff.Travis 00:02:05 And I was a professor at Ohio State. So I find my value in education, in masterminding with people, in networking. And so as long as that didn't go away when we sold our business, then I would be fine. My wife, on the other hand, I don't think she knows as much. She finds it in motherhood a little bit. But we have we have two kids and they're in school during the day, so. But she also finds it in I think writing is her kind of passion. Is email, copywriting, blog posting and

Ezra is the founder of BOOM! by Cindy Joseph, a multimillion-dollar DTC beauty brand built on authenticity and emotional storytelling. He’s also the founder of Smart Marketer, where he’s helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow their online businesses, and Zipify Apps, a suite of tools that help Shopify brands boost conversions and lifetime value.Ezra has built multiple 7-, 8-, and even 9-figure brands, and he’s a true pioneer in teaching how to grow not just through great products — but through great customer relationships.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Importance of product promise and quality in e-commerce success.Strategies for increasing repeat business and customer retention.Evolution of e-commerce marketing channels and targeting methods.Impact of large language models (LLMs) on future consumer engagement and advertising.Necessity of optimizing key acquisition channels: Google, Facebook, and Amazon.Role of content creation and influencer marketing in brand visibility.Challenges and opportunities presented by platforms like Amazon and social commerce.Importance of continuous product development and innovation.Strategies for effective use of AI tools in content production and marketing.Need for a holistic approach combining product quality, marketing, and customer engagement.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews e-commerce veteran Ezra Firestone. Ezra shares actionable strategies for scaling brands in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, emphasizing continuous product innovation, optimizing key channels (Amazon, Facebook, Google), and leveraging influencer and AI-driven content. The discussion covers the shift toward AI-powered discovery, the importance of creative ad systems, and practical retention tactics. Ezra also highlights the value of community-building, mentorship, and adapting to new technologies, offering listeners a roadmap to future-proof their e-commerce businesses.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Overhaul Your Creative Production SystemScale up video content dramatically through brand ambassadors, micro-influencers, and paid creators. Use AI tools (like Vo3 and 11 Labs) to multiply content variations. Aim for 60-70% of paid ads to use whitelisted content from creators for 30-40% lower CPMs.Launch Products ConsistentlyImplement the "new and fancy" technique—create updated versions of your bestsellers. Target 2-4 product launches per year. Add basket builders (high-margin accessories) and test multiple size variants. Default product pages to your highest-priced variant to increase average order value.Optimize the Big Three ChannelsFocus 90% of acquisition energy on Amazon, Google, and Facebook. Fill out complete product data in Shopify's backend for LLM readiness. Activate Shop App campaigns and optimize all social commerce channels (Instagram Shop, TikTok Shop) even if they're currently small revenue sources.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] ShopAmazonShopifyChatGPTFacebook ShopsInstagram ShopSocial CatAmazon VineAmazing Selling Machine

In this episode, the host interviews Brad Allen, an Amazon seller and entrepreneur, about his journey from eBay and retail arbitrage to building a successful Amazon FBA business. Brad shares how he sourced high-end European skincare products, overcame a major account suspension and $400,000 debt, and transitioned to private label. He highlights the importance of active business management, cash flow planning, and creativity. The episode concludes with actionable advice for Amazon sellers: stay hands-on, manage inventory and finances wisely, and innovate to stand out in the marketplace.Chapters:Introduction and Account Suspension (00:00:00)Brad is introduced; discusses his Amazon account suspension and overcoming $400K in debt.Early E-commerce Journey (00:00:33)Brad shares his start with eBay in childhood, selling household items, and his early exposure to e-commerce.Discovering Amazon FBA (00:01:11)Learns about Amazon FBA in 2012, transitions from eBay, and begins retail arbitrage with toys and other products.Corporate Career and Realization (00:02:19)Describes unfulfilling corporate jobs, getting fired, and joining a friend’s epoxy flooring business in Ohio.Entrepreneurial Mindset Shift (00:03:34)Realizes he enjoys working for himself, which reignites his interest in e-commerce and Amazon.Deep Dive into Retail Arbitrage (00:04:36)Explores flipping products from eBay to Amazon, focusing on high-end skincare, and develops sourcing systems.European Skincare Arbitrage Strategy (00:06:45)Discovers sourcing high-end European skincare from overseas retailers, imports to the US, and sells on Amazon.Scaling and Living Abroad (00:08:54)Business grows; Brad moves to Buenos Aires and Africa, living a digital nomad lifestyle while running the business.Amazon Account Suspension Details (00:10:04)Explains the cause of his Amazon suspension—authenticity complaints and inability to provide manufacturer receipts.Lessons from Suspension and Financial Struggles (00:11:05)Discusses lessons learned: importance of active management, risk-taking, and not being complacent in business.Advice on Growth and Risk (00:11:48)Emphasizes reinvesting profits, financial planning, and the need for risk tolerance as an entrepreneur.Financial Intelligence and Risk Management (00:13:57)Stresses forecasting, living below means, and being prepared for the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.Three Actionable Takeaways (00:14:11)Host summarizes: 1) Active management and planning, 2) Cash flow and inventory management, 3) Creativity in the Amazon marketplace.Episode Wrap-up (00:16:43)Host thanks Brad, hints at a future episode, and closes the interview.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites EZSniperActionable Takeaways Set an Annual Plan for Your Business: 00:14:11 Cash Flow Management: 00:15:04 Bring Creativity to the Amazon Marketplace: 00:16:15Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I am super excited to introduce you to Brad Allen. I met him at Kevin King's, $1 Billion Seller summit, and he's going to have a lot of knowledge to share with us. I'm going to dive in like immediately to what was mentioned in your bio. You had your account suspended. You had you ran into 400 K of debt and loans, but you've kind of come out the other end and you're you're crushing it right now on Amazon. So tell me, Brad, what happened with the account suspension?Brad 00:00:33 So I, I was doing, retail arbitrage and I got, I got really into it. it it was actually kind of unique. It started off, where I was, I, I was really into eBay growing up, so I was always selling stuff, just like as a kid throughout the house, whether it was mine or not. I was grabbing, like, antiques from the basement and, like, selling stuff out of the garage. And I think that's where I got kind of, you know, introduced to e-commerce and kind of obsessed so that that kind of was always on the side.Brad 00:01:11 And I was doing that through grade school, high school, and then into college. And I learned about Amazon FBA and I think 2012. and as an eBay guy, it was like blew me away because I was, you know, the guy waiting in line at the, at the post office and having to deal with customers. So the fact that you could just send a bunch of items in and Amazon will ship it and take care of customer service was very appealing to me. So I started, I just started watching videos and the easiest way to start, which I don't know how many people really started out like this, but I'm sure some. But I was going into, you know, odd lots and Walmarts and just buying toys or whatever I could find. And essentially I was just kind of learning that process. so, you know, that was a good way to, like, get my feet wet into Amazon FBA. and then, you know, life kind of happened where that was put off to the side.Brad 00:02:19 I was in the corporate world for a while. not doing very well. I just, was not very passionate about what I was doing, and, I got a call from a buddy. I was living in South Florida. I'm from Ohio originall

Julia Rubien is the Founder and CEO of Amie, a TikTok agency dedicated to helping beauty brands grow and thrive in one of the fastest-moving platforms today. Under Julia’s leadership, Amie has become both a TikTok Marketing Partner and a TikTok Shop Partner, making them one of the go-to agencies for brands that want to convert attention into real revenue. She and her team specialize in creating original and trending content, running highly effective TikTok ad campaigns, and building engaged communities that feel authentic and connected. Her work has helped beauty brands not only showcase their products but also turn TikTok into a true virtual storefront, driving measurable growth.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for success on TikTok Shop, particularly for beauty brands.Importance of optimizing shop operations and merchandising before driving traffic.The role of affiliate marketing in generating content and driving sales.Necessity of maintaining a steady flow of high-quality, engaging content.Effective use of promotional strategies, including bundles and gift-with-purchase (GWP) offers.The significance of participating in TikTok’s promotional events and flash sales.The need for a holistic approach that integrates shop operations, content creation, and advertising.Insights on pricing strategies and impulse buying behavior on TikTok Shop.The impact of sample volume on return on investment (ROI) and brand visibility.Recommendations for brands to focus their resources on one channel to maximize impact.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Julia Rubien, founder and CEO of Amie, a TikTok agency for beauty brands. Julia shares expert strategies for succeeding on TikTok Shop, emphasizing the importance of optimized shop operations, high-volume affiliate marketing, original brand content, and robust ad campaigns. She highlights the need for significant investment, tailored promotions, and a holistic, coordinated approach. Julia also offers actionable tips for brands to build momentum and scale effectively on TikTok Shop, while sharing insights from her own experience and agency work.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Invest in All Four Pillars Together – Don’t cherry-pick strategies. Success comes from aligning shop optimization, affiliate marketing, brand content, and paid ads into one powerful flywheel.Scale Affiliate Content Early – Build momentum fast by sending 500–1,000 samples a month, offering hybrid compensation, and training creators for consistent, on-brand videos.Treat Your TikTok Shop Like a Flagship Store – Curate best sellers, bundle products, and use GWPs or exclusives to boost conversions and trigger TikTok’s algorithmic favor.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] ShopShopifyAmazonSephoraUltaCanvaNotionGMV MaxTime FinderLinkedInKate Youngman on LinkedInSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJulia Rubien 00:00:00 These are the moving parts we need to work on, and we need to work on them all at the same time. So I would say that, you know, every client's shop strategy is going to be a little bit different depending on the product, the price point, the brand, the where they're at in their growth journey. But the advice that I could give every listener and every single brand is that.Intro 00:00:27 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:41 Do you want to know how to generate more sales on TikTok shop and increase the number of views that your videos get on TikTok?

In this episode, host Josh interviews Steven Yates, CEO of Prime Guidance, about strategies for scaling e-commerce brands. Steve emphasizes optimizing Amazon listings and leveraging all available tools before expanding to other marketplaces like Walmart or eBay. He discusses the importance of having a direct-to-consumer website, maximizing Amazon advertising, and using analytics tools to track performance. Steve provides actionable advice on when and how to diversify sales channels, ensuring brands grow efficiently and profitably while building a strong foundation on Amazon first.Chapters:Introduction to Steven Yates and Prime Guidance (00:00:00)Josh introduces Steven Yates, his background, and expertise in retail management and e-commerce.When to Expand Beyond Amazon (00:00:48)Discussion on timing and considerations for expanding to other marketplaces like Walmart, eBay, Wayfair, and international markets.Sales Lift Estimates from Other Marketplaces (00:01:28)Steve provides rough estimates of sales lift from Walmart, eBay, and other channels compared to Amazon.Importance of Optimizing Amazon Before Expanding (00:01:39)Emphasis on being 80-90% optimized on Amazon before moving to other marketplaces.Choosing the Right Next Marketplace (00:03:32)Advice on analyzing where your customers are and not following a cookie-cutter approach to expansion.Launching a DTC E-commerce Website (00:04:04)Discussion on when and why to launch a direct-to-consumer website alongside Amazon.Benefits of Having a DTC Website (00:04:38)Steve explains the strategic advantages of having your own e-commerce site for brand building and customer retention.Capturing and Nurturing Website Visitors (00:05:46)Tactics for capturing emails and engaging visitors who land on your DTC website.Key Levers to Pull on Amazon (00:06:21)Josh asks for a list of actionable levers to increase sales and grow a brand on Amazon.Detailed Breakdown of Amazon Optimization Levers (00:06:33)Steve details optimization tactics: product pages, infographics, A+ content, pricing, assortment, advertising, and Amazon programs.Amazon Advertising and External Traffic Strategies (00:08:05)Discussion on types of Amazon ads, external traffic, and leveraging Amazon’s Brand Referral Bonus.Utilizing Amazon Programs and Betas (00:09:11)Overview of Amazon programs like FBA Small and Lite, brand store, Amazon posts, and customer engagement emails.Order of Operations for Optimization and Traffic (00:10:31)Advice on optimizing for Amazon’s algorithm and conversion before scaling advertising and traffic.Three Actionable Takeaways for Brands (00:11:21)Josh summarizes three key takeaways: maximize Amazon levers, focus on Amazon traffic, then expand to other channels.Tools for Tracking Amazon Metrics (00:13:40)Discussion on aggregating and analyzing Amazon data using third-party tools and Excel.Brand Analytics and Bonus Tool Recommendation (00:14:59)Steve recommends using Amazon Brand Analytics and nozzle.ai for tracking repeat purchases and customer lifetime value.Where to Learn More About Prime Guidance (00:16:21)Steve shares how listeners can contact or follow Prime Guidance for further help.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Prime Guidance Shopify WooCommerceAmazon Attribution Program Amazon Posts Helium 10Nozzle AI Transcript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Steve Yates. He is the CEO and founder of Prime Guidance. Steve developed well-rounded expertise working for multi-billion dollar fortune 500 retailers such as Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods and eBay enterprise prior to founding Prime guidance in all industry consulting. With 30 years experience in retail management and 23 years experience in e-commerce. Steve and his team provide companies with strategic advice and innovative solutions that are based on real life experience working for industry leading retailers. He helps companies grow faster, smarter and more profitably by providing advice, mentoring and coaching for today's busy executives. So welcome to the podcast, Steve.Steven 00:00:46 Thank you. Josh. Thanks for having me.Josh 00:00:48 One of the first questions I want to ask, just kind of selfishly for myself, because we're looking to expand onto different channels right now with our business. We've grown to eight figures just on Amazon alone. But we're we are looking to, you know, is it time to explore or double down more on Walmart eBay, Wayfair? Do we try to get into target? Do we go international right and start shipping stuff into Canada, Mexico, the UK, etc.? So my question to you here, Steve, is what kind of sales lift do you see from those different marketplaces? Right.Josh 00:01:28 Like what do you estimate as hey you go to Walmart it best case scenario, you're probably looking at a 10% lift eBay. Maybe it's a 2%, you know, so on and so forth.Steven 00:01:39 Yeah. So it's a very tricky question because I've seen it wildly different. So interesting. I had to if I had to, to put a rough ass

Mo is a growth strategist who's helped scale 8- and 9-figure DTC brands in health, wellness, beauty, skincare, and more. He comes from a pharmaceutical background, but what really sets him apart is how he blends data and customer insight to lead content strategy — he’s been behind over 1,500 pieces of performance-driven content, from UGC to statics to direct response ads. On top of that, he's hands-on with product development, creative systems, and helping teams actually execute and scale with clarity.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for scaling e-commerce brands from seven or eight figures to nine figures in sales.Importance of understanding the customer journey and data holistically.The impact of marketing channels on overall sales and the interconnectedness of ads across platforms.Key financial metrics and benchmarks for healthy e-commerce brands.Common pain points for brands trying to scale, particularly around trust and investment strategies.The significance of defining detailed customer personas and understanding their motivations.The role of user-generated content (UGC) and volume testing in effective advertising.The importance of creative content that addresses customer pain points using their own language.The evolving landscape of social commerce, particularly on platforms like TikTok Shop.The critical role of landing pages, offers, and founder storytelling in driving conversions and building brand trust.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews creative strategist Mohamed Elwahary (Mo), who specializes in scaling high-revenue DTC brands. Mo shares actionable insights on holistic data analysis, customer persona development, and the power of testing content at scale—especially on platforms like Meta and TikTok Shop. He emphasizes using real customer language in marketing, the importance of founder-led storytelling, and leveraging AI tools for creative production. The episode concludes with Mo’s personal recommendations and advice for brands aiming to break through growth plateaus and reach nine-figure success.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Think Holistically About Data — Track how all your marketing channels influence each other before cutting spend. Use attribution tools like Northbeam or Triple Whale to see the full customer journey.Invest to Scale, Don’t Save to Survive — Allocate budget for testing, creative production, and new channels. Growth requires spending strategically, not just cutting costs.Create at Scale Using Real Customer Insights — Mine customer reviews for language and emotions, turn them into ad hooks, and test hundreds of creative variations to find winners.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] WhaleForeplayTikTok ShopAmazonMeta (Facebook and Instagram)Nano BananaCaptionsThe Psychology of MoneyJulian HearnSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaMo 00:00:00 One of my case studies are doing. We're doing really great on Amazon, and they decided at some point to turn off all of their meta ads. Instantly, their Amazon sales shrink by 35% instantly. Why? Because what you do not know in the arena where we live, I might see your ad on Facebook and buy from Google and buy from Amazon and buy elsewhere. Come again and buy back later even with the referrals. So we need to understand things holistically.MC 00:00:41 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:55 Do you want to know how to increase your sales page conversion rates? What is the

In this episode, Josh interviews Kris Gramlich, an experienced Amazon FBA seller and entrepreneur. Kris shares practical strategies for building customer loyalty, including using product insert cards with QR codes that lead buyers to claim free gifts in exchange for their contact information and order ID. He emphasizes providing value rather than manipulating reviews and discusses sourcing free sample gifts locally to quickly engage customers. Kris also offers actionable tips on optimizing product images, building an audience, and leveraging influencer marketing, all aimed at fostering long-term relationships and driving repeat business on Amazon.Chapters:Introduction to Kris Gramlich (00:00:00)Josh introduces Kris, his background in entrepreneurship, and his Amazon FBA journey.Product Insert Cards & QR Codes (00:01:03)Discussion on using product insert cards with QR codes to engage customers and offer free gifts.Landing Pages & Customer Verification (00:02:00)Explaining the process: QR code leads to a landing page, collects customer info and order ID to verify purchases.Avoiding Review Manipulation (00:04:06)Emphasizing not asking for reviews to avoid Amazon penalties and focusing on providing value instead.Free Gift Strategy & Messaging (00:05:15)Details on the types of free gifts offered, messaging on insert cards, and conversion rates.Sourcing & Sample Packs (00:05:48)Switching to U.S. suppliers for faster fulfillment and offering sample packs as free gifts.Landing Page Experience & Brand Story (00:07:30)Using videos and storytelling on landing pages to build brand connection and encourage opt-ins.Gift Relevance & Opt-In Process (00:08:01)Ensuring free gifts are relevant to the purchased product and using order ID to prevent abuse.Email Follow-Up & Community Building (00:09:16)Using MailChimp for follow-up emails, sharing brand story, and building a community around new product launches.Consumable Products & Customer Satisfaction (00:10:26)Focusing on consumable pet products, offering alternatives if customers are unsatisfied, and prioritizing customer happiness.Actionable Takeaways & Listing Optimization (00:11:46)Josh summarizes three actionable takeaways: optimize listing images, build an audience, and use free samples for subscriptions.Product Launch Strategies & Influencer Marketing (00:13:55)Discussing launch strategies: audience outreach, PPC, influencer marketing, and new affiliate software tools.Where to Find Kris & Closing (00:15:51)Kris shares how listeners can connect with him and offers a free gift; episode closes.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesZapierMailchimpSellozo.comTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I am excited to introduce you to Kris Gramlich. Kris is a professional FBA seller, a podcast host and an account executive at Sellozo. Kris has always been entrepreneurial and enjoyed the thrill of selling items, from selling items at garage sales as a kid to mowing yards and then selling clothes on eBay. Kris learned how to sell physical products on Amazon in 2013, starting out by selling things around the house. He learned the basics of retail arbitrage and started sourcing his own products. Kris launched his first product in 2014 after watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts. Currently, Kris has four brands and enjoys helping other sellers on Amazon. Kris hosts a podcast with Dustin, another seller, where they talk about industry leaders and other sellers. So welcome to the podcast today, Kris.Kris 00:00:52 That's quite the intro there. Josh. That's pretty good. I'm gonna have to take a couple notes there and kind of implement those on our own podcast. That was really good.Josh 00:01:00 Hey. Well, you have, you have a good bio yourself.Josh 00:01:03 I think that's that's why it sounds so good to you. So I want to dive in a little bit more with, how you're building that audience with insert cards. You know, we do the same thing with our brand. I don't know that I necessarily see that as, like, overly gray. I mean, you look at like a box of, you know, grab some Clorox wipes. Right. What's on the product label for Clorox wipes? it's the P&G website. Right. So like and they have like a, you know, they're not saying like, hey, come register your warranty per se, but like they have links to their social media, right? They have their icons, they have their website on there. So like I don't think people need to be as scared about that. Right. But what are you seeing working really well when it comes to product inserts?Kris 00:01:49 Well if anything good out of Covid came, it's that people were more adapted to QR codes. So people like start to they know what that is now.Kris 00:02:00 And so QR code like that just not people realize, oh I can scan that. So a QR code insert that is has some type of messaging messaging like so thank you. you know, get your free gift. there's, there's things that, that I'm doing now where, somebody scans it,

Bill is a 4x founder, a serial entrepreneur, and currently the VP of Corporate Development at FoodScience, LLC, a leading provider of science-based wellness solutions for both humans and pets. With a strong focus on quality, innovation, and trust, FoodScience has been quietly building and acquiring some of the most exciting wellness brands in the market today.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Bill D'Alessandro's experience in e-commerce and business acquisitions.Challenges faced by e-commerce brands regarding profitability and financial literacy.Importance of understanding contribution margins, fixed costs, and clean accounting records.Transitioning from cash basis to accrual accounting for better financial clarity.The significance of accurate inventory accounting and cost of goods sold (COGS).The necessity of cash flow forecasting and its role in financial health.Strategies for effective team management and the importance of hiring quality talent.The role of life insurance policies as a source of low-cost capital for businesses.Recommendations for improving accounting practices and financial oversight.Insights on leveraging AI tools for problem-solving in e-commerce operations.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Bill D’Alessandro, VP of Corporate Development at Food Science and a seasoned e-commerce entrepreneur. Bill shares insights from building and selling the Natural Dog Company, discusses common financial pitfalls in e-commerce, and stresses the importance of clean accounting, cash flow forecasting, and management-level talent. He also explores strategic uses of AI, long-term financial planning, and team building for scaling businesses. The episode offers actionable advice for founders on profitability, financial literacy, and preparing for sustainable growth or acquisition, with a special focus on the pet wellness industry.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Know Your Real Numbers – Stop chasing revenue vanity metrics. Understand your contribution margins, switch to accrual accounting, and review your P&L monthly so you can make data-driven decisions.Protect Your Cash Flow – Build a rolling 3–6 month cash flow forecast, negotiate supplier terms early, and secure lines of credit before you need them to avoid costly cash crunches.Invest in A-Players, Not Assistants – You can’t scale to eight figures with low-cost help alone. Hire experienced operators who can own functions, drive accountability, and free you to focus on strategy.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] InventoryEcom CPAChatGPTNatural Dog CompanyMorgan Stanley Capital PartnersFood SciencePortland Leather GoodsPlain Talk by Ken IversonBill DA's Personal WebsiteBill DA on X (formerly Twitter)Special Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaBill D'Alessandro 00:00:00 A lot of brands aren't thinking about it that way. And then they're also not really disciplined around looking at their PNL with a contribution margin and then kind of a fixed cost section. And like trusting their numbers when they get their QuickBooks file at the end of the month, that that number in the QuickBooks file actually represents how they did, and they feel confident in that number, and they manage the business according to that number. That is like less than 10% of brands. So that's actually a lot of what I do.MC 00:00:32 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:46 Ever wonder why you don't have enough money in your bank account, or wondering why you have to conti

In this episode, Amazon algorithm expert Mark Casey shares insights on how sellers can optimize product rankings. He explains the importance of shopper behavior, external traffic, and consistent sales for Amazon’s algorithm. Mark discusses effective product launch strategies, including leveraging a shopper network, running PPC campaigns, and the significance of the FBA “honeymoon period.” He also offers tips for reviving older listings and highlights the tailored services provided by his company, House of AMZ. Listeners receive exclusive discounts on product launches and listing optimization services.Chapters:Introduction to Mark Casey and House of AMZ (00:00:00)Host introduces Mark Casey, his background, and the founding of House of AMZ.Amazon Algorithm Overview (00:01:09)Mark explains key factors Amazon’s algorithm considers for product ranking, focusing on shopper behavior and engagement.FBM vs. FBA Launches & Honeymoon Period (00:03:26)Discussion on launching via FBM versus FBA, the impact on conversion rates, and the Amazon honeymoon period.Case Study: Launching a Competitive Supplement (00:05:17)Mark shares a case study on launching a premium supplement, emphasizing branding, graphics, and shopper feedback.Shopper Network & Feedback Loops (00:06:41)Explanation of using a shopper network for feedback, image testing, and optimizing listings before launch.Long-Term Launch Strategy & Consistency (00:07:31)Mark details a 15-30 day launch strategy with consistent daily sales and external traffic for sustainable ranking.Combining External Traffic, Shopper Network, and PPC (00:10:07)Discussion on integrating external traffic, shopper network purchases, and PPC campaigns for optimal product launches.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:10:58)Host summarizes three key strategies: building an audience, leveraging surveys and external traffic, and revitalizing old listings.Revitalizing Old Listings & Review Management (00:14:09)Advice on rejuvenating older products, merging ASINs, relaunching, and managing negative reviews.House of AMZ Services & Special Offers (00:15:29)Mark describes House of AMZ services, special discounts for listeners, and how to contact the company.Podcast Closing & Contact Information (00:16:41)Final remarks, website details, and encouragement for listeners to connect with House of AMZ.Links and Mentions:Tools and ServicesPickFuPost Purchase ProASIN DoctorWebsitesHouse of AMZPodcast EpisodeEcomm Breakthrough Podcast's Episode with Kevin KingTranscripts:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Mark Casey. For the past seven years, Mark has studied the Amazon algorithm to understand how it works and how we can work along with it to rank products. He has traveled the world to speak and share these techniques with the largest sellers worldwide. Mark's personal background is marketing and branding. Having brands of his own, along with his Amazon knowledge working under the nine figure brand, combining those together is how House of arms was born. Where Mark can help is to optimize your products and brand not only for the outside world, but mainly on Amazon, which is its own ecosystem in itself. So welcome to the podcast, Mark.Mark 00:00:41 Thank you very much. Yeah. Good morning. How are you?Josh 00:00:44 Hey, I'm doing great. Thanks again for joining me. And I apologize for my voice, both to the listeners and to yourself. I lost my voice coaching, hockey practice and yelling, shouting at the kids. because there's multiple teams on the ice. So you have to speak relatively loud.Josh 00:01:03 And, it did my voice in, that's for sure. So I apologize about that.Mark 00:01:07 Oh, good. Yeah. No worries.Josh 00:01:09 Mark, you've studied the algorithm for seven years. You I would argue you would consider yourself an expert when it comes to ranking products on Amazon. So tell us, you know, can you break down the Amazon algorithm to our listeners and tell us what you are seeing that Amazon cares about when it comes to ranking products today?Mark 00:01:31 So if you have another six hours, I could do well, I could go in depth. no. But so yeah, there's a lot I mean, well, first of all, a lot of things change within the Amazon algorithm. Many, many things like it's always changing, evolving and growing and it's there's so much to it. But what I always like to break it down and explain to people in a very simple way is that every little thing that the shopper does, Amazon takes into account, and what that means is every little thing from how you clicked and how you even got.Mark 00:02:02 How you even got to Amazon, you know, backing up all the way there, how you got to Amazon, what keyword you search when you got there, how long like every little point in detail. So really. So we we really broke it down and saw okay. So someone goes on the listing onto Amazon. Where do they come from. Do they come from a Facebook ad. Do they come from a referral from let's say, What

Bryce Keffeler brings a rare combination of deep financial expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and a proven track record of helping high-growth businesses scale and stay wealthy. I’m thrilled to welcome Bryce Keffeler, Managing Partner at Dew Wealth Management — a firm that’s not only been named a Great Place to Work, but has also made the Inc. 5000 list four years in a row. Bryce specializes in helping business owners grow, manage, and protect their wealth using family office-level strategies — think M&A, investment consulting, and financial structures designed for 10x growth. Before Dew, he worked in corporate M&A at Intel and has since become a serial problem-solver for founders navigating complex exits or aggressive scaling.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Financial strategies for e-commerce business ownersBusiness structuring options (LLC vs. S corp vs. C corp)Tax minimization techniques and their implicationsImportance of defining business goals (sell vs. cash flow)Challenges in cash conversion cycles for inventory-heavy businessesDevelopment of a model P&L for financial decision-makingImpact of advertising costs on profitability and business valuationExit planning and factors influencing business valuationImportance of working with fiduciary financial advisorsAdvanced tax strategies for entrepreneurs, including R&D tax credits and IC-DISCIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Bryce Keffeler, managing partner at Dew Wealth Management. They discuss essential financial strategies for e-commerce entrepreneurs, including business structuring for tax efficiency, balancing profitability versus growth, and advanced tax-saving tactics. Bryce shares insights on preparing for business exits, optimizing cash flow, and the importance of working with fiduciary advisors. The episode also highlights practical tools, recommended resources, and Bryce’s new book, offering actionable advice for entrepreneurs aiming to build, protect, and maximize their wealth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Define Your Endgame EarlyDecide if you’re building to sell or to cash flow—this choice drives every decision from business structure to tax strategy. Align your CPA and wealth advisor around that goal now.Build a Model P&L and Track It QuarterlySet target percentages for COGS, ad spend, SG&A, and profit margins (aim for 15%+). Review quarterly and make cuts or optimizations when you miss targets.Assemble a Proactive Wealth TeamWork only with fiduciary advisors and tax strategists who plan ahead, not just file returns. Ask: “Are you a fiduciary at all times?” before hiring anyone.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Wealth ManagementInc 5000Comet Web Browser (by Perplexity)PerplexityMichael Gerber - Author of 'The E-Myth'Brandon YoungRadical Candor by Kim ScottChatGPTAlex HormoziSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaBryce Keffeler 00:00:00 What's our goal with this business? I know, Josh, you and I were kind of just talking about this. Are we building this business to sell, or are we building this business to harvest cash flow and building our personal, balancing our wealth from the profits that it made? So I think that's the first critical determination that needs to be made. And it needs to be made off of, like, what are we actually trying to do here? Because that's going to change the entire structuring of the business. And so specifically what I'm talking about there is that most business owners, most of the common business owners start as an LLC. And then generally they make the S Corp election because making the S Corp election allows you to essentially pay yourself a W-2 income, and then you don't have to pay s

In this episode of the Econ Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh interviews Chad Rubin, operations and strategy leader at Profasee. Chad discusses the critical role of dynamic, AI-driven pricing for e-commerce and Amazon sellers, sharing how continuous price optimization can boost profits without sacrificing sales rank. He offers actionable advice on leveraging AI tools, strengthening business operations, and building strong supplier relationships. Chad also recommends influential books and software for entrepreneurs, and emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted advisors. The conversation provides practical strategies for sellers aiming to thrive in a competitive, ever-changing marketplace.Chapters:Introduction to Chad Rubin and Profasee (00:00:00)Josh introduces Chad Rubin, his background, and his role at Profasee, focusing on e-commerce and AI-driven pricing.Why Pricing Matters in E-commerce (00:00:37)Chad explains his focus on pricing, its impact on profitability, and why many sellers neglect price optimization.The Fear of Raising Prices and Real-World Example (00:02:01)Josh discusses common fears around raising prices and shares a personal example of increasing prices without losing sales rank.Dynamic Pricing vs. Static Pricing (00:03:57)Chad describes Profasee’s approach to dynamic pricing, the importance of adjusting prices, and the Amazon flywheel effect.Dynamic Pricing in Other Industries (00:05:28)Josh compares dynamic pricing in e-commerce to revenue management in airlines and emphasizes the need for ongoing price adjustments.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:06:13)Josh summarizes three key takeaways: focus on profits/pricing, incorporate AI, and strengthen organizational structure and supplier relationships.The Importance of Level 10 Meetings and Team Alignment (00:08:38)Josh highlights the value of EOS Level 10 meetings for organizational clarity and leadership alignment.Most Influential Books for Entrepreneurs (00:09:41)Chad recommends "The 4-Hour Workweek" and other books that influenced his entrepreneurial journey.Favorite and Game-Changing Software Tools (00:11:27)Chad shares his favorite software tools, including Ellie and Notion, for productivity and business management.Mentors and Influential People in E-commerce (00:12:31)Chad discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted advisors and names key people he respects in the industry.How to Connect with Chad Rubin and Profasee (00:14:46)Chad provides contact information and ways to connect with him and learn more about Profasee.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Profasee ChatGPT Ellie.com Notion Books The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss on Amazon The Almanack of Naval Ravikant The Great CEO Within People Mentioned Brandon YoungTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm super excited to introduce you to Chad Rubin. Chad leads prophecies operations and oversees its strategy. He often speaks about e-commerce, Amazon, and leveraging AI strategies on webinars and conferences worldwide. He is also the author of the Amazon bestseller cheaper, easier, direct. Prior to Profasee. He founded Think Crucial and co-founded Cubana and the Prosper show. He is also a father, husband, and loves coffee and tacos. So with that, Chad, welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast.Chad 00:00:35 Thank you for having me. Excited to be here.Josh 00:00:37 I want to ask you the question, Chad. You've you've gone through multiple exits. You have your own ecom brand. Why the focus on pricing and why is it so important at the end of the day?Chad 00:00:48 Yeah. So. Well, firstly, the reason why I was focused on price was that I was trying. I'm trying. I'm still working through it. I've been working on turning around my e-commerce business. It's been deteriorated over time. Didn't get a lot of love for me as I've been building other initiatives in my life.Chad 00:01:03 And so, you know, for me, I optimize spend and my ACOs, and I've been optimizing our conversion rate and my listings itself and the infographics on those listing pages. But the one thing that's driving the most to the bottom line is a very small lever, and it swings big doors, but it's not being swung with price. And I just couldn't understand why. Like if we have a $10,000 ad campaign, you would never leave it on. You would never leave it on optimized, you'd always be optimizing it. So why is nobody optimizing price? Because it's a it's hard to understand and it's very manual. And by the time you make the change to the price, the market shifted. So this is why I focus on it. And it's a juicy it's a delicious problem.Josh 00:01:50 It really is. And it can provide I mean it's a huge impact to your bottom line, right? If you want to, you know, increase your bottom line, the best way to do it is just by raising your prices.Josh 00:02:01 Says Roland Frazier, one of the previous guests that we've had on the show. One of the things that he does first, when he acquires any businesses

Mansour Narouzi, Partner at Incrementum Digital and a mastermind behind scaling 7- and 8-figure brands on Amazon. He’s helped brands crush it across multiple distribution channels and knows how to unlock maximum value from each marketplace. If you’re looking to supercharge your growth, you’ll want to hear this one.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Transition from civil engineering to Amazon selling and advertising expertise.Importance of understanding customer touchpoints in advertising.Overview of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) and its capabilities.Use of advanced audience segmentation and targeting strategies.Tracking customer journeys across multiple ad types and channels.Integration of direct-to-consumer website data with Amazon advertising.Measurement of marketing efficiency and cross-channel behavior.Strategies for retargeting audiences, particularly those who added to cart but did not purchase.Insights on brand tailored promotions and their effectiveness.Importance of data analysis and custom reporting for optimizing advertising performance.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Mansour Narouzi, partner at Incrementum Digital and Amazon advertising expert. Mansour shares his journey from civil engineering to Amazon success, then delves into advanced Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) strategies. He explains how AMC enables brands to analyze customer journeys, create targeted and lookalike audiences, and optimize ad campaigns. The discussion covers retargeting, brand tailored promotions, and using analytics tools to measure campaign impact. Listeners gain actionable insights on leveraging AMC and Amazon’s latest advertising features to boost sales and outpace competitors.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Dive Into Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) NowAccess AMC via the Insights tab in your advertising console.Start with pre-built templates and the AI assistant to ease the learning curve.Focus on building custom and lookalike audiences for smarter targeting.Experiment with Audience Segmentation and RetargetingRetarget “add to cart” audiences with Sponsored Product campaigns and brand tailored promotions.Use lookalike audiences based on high-value customers, not just any segment.Create separate campaigns for each audience to maximize control and results.Leverage Brand Tailored Promotions and Measure EverythingLayer promotions on top of targeted audiences for a conversion boost.Use customer journey analytics to track drop-off rates and brand search trends.Build custom dashboards to monitor performance and inform decisions.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Marketing CloudAmazon Advertising ConsoleBrand MetricsBrand Tailored PromotionsCustomer Loyalty TabCustomer Journey AnalyticsVisual Studio CodeGeminiIncrementum DigitalThe E-MythKevin KingSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00 What was their first exposure to the brand so that you can understand, hey, this is actually what's like attracting demand generation for your listings and for your brand. That to me is what you highlighted. So it's like if auto campaigns, let's just assume if auto campaigns are are like the first bite at the apple for whatever reason for your brand. Like that's people's first exposure to your brand. Well, guess what happens if you decide to turn off auto campaigns because you heard it at some conference that auto campaigns are bad, right? Well, now you're shooting yourself in the foot because that was people's first interaction with you.Intro 00:00:41 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the

In this episode, the host interviews Josh Gibson, founder of Sojourn Group Consulting, about strategies for growing e-commerce sales on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. Josh shares expert tips on protecting profit margins, optimizing product listings, leveraging Amazon’s NARF program for international expansion, and efficiently managing inventory shipments. He discusses the benefits and challenges of expanding to Walmart and other platforms, emphasizes the importance of strong team communication, and recommends trusted industry resources. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways for maximizing sales and diversifying channels for long-term growth.Chapters:Introduction to Josh Gibson and Sojourn Group Consulting (00:00:00)Overview of Josh’s background, company focus, and personal life.Protecting Margins on Amazon: Categories, Weights, and Inbound Shipments (00:01:15)Importance of tracking product categories, weights, dimensions, and optimizing inbound shipments to protect margins.Challenges of Managing Amazon Shipments and Auditing (00:02:19)Issues with Amazon’s inventory reconciliation and the need for ongoing auditing to avoid losses.Prioritizing Marketplace Expansion and Expected Sales Lift (00:03:10)Discussion on which marketplaces to expand to first and typical sales lift percentages.Expanding with Amazon NARF (North America Remote Fulfillment) (00:03:50)How NARF enables easy expansion to Canada and Mexico, and the expected 7% sales lift.Considering Deeper International Expansion (00:04:53)When to consider establishing a physical presence in Canada or Mexico for further growth.Selling on Walmart Marketplace: Opportunities and Challenges (00:04:53)Walmart’s marketplace growth, operational challenges, and the shift to Walmart Fulfilled Services.Walmart Advertising and Early-Stage Advantages (00:05:49)Opportunities in Walmart’s less competitive ad platform and strategies for early success.Walmart Sales Lift and Rural Market Penetration (00:06:56)Typical 5–10% sales lift on Walmart, with strong performance in rural and Midwest areas.Three Actionable Takeaways for Marketplace Sellers (00:08:49)Maximize success on your primary channel.Fully optimize listings, especially for mobile.Expand to new marketplaces after optimizing the first.Optimizing Amazon Listings for Mobile and Conversion (00:09:48)Detailed tips for optimizing titles, images, videos, and A+ content for better conversion.Expanding to Additional Marketplaces Beyond Amazon and Walmart (00:10:54)Consider Target, eBay, Newegg, Etsy, and Wayfair for incremental revenue after maximizing Amazon and Walmart.Most Influential Book Recommendation (00:12:31)Gary Vee’s books and content for building a brand and leveraging social media.Favorite Productivity Tool or Resource (00:15:00)Slack for team communication and the importance of a fast, reliable computer.Most Admired E-commerce Influencers (00:16:14)Recommendations to follow Steven Pope, Bradley from Helium 10, and Kevin King for free, valuable content.Closing Remarks and Appreciation (00:17:26)Harry thanks Josh for sharing actionable insights and expertise.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Sojourn Group Consulting Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) NARF (North American Remote Fulfillment) Walmart Connect Helium 10 Influential People Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) on LinkedInSteven Pope from My Amazon Guy on LinkedIn Bradley Sutton from Helium 10 on LinkedIn Kevin King on LinkedIn Events Sell and Scale Summit Productivity Tool:SlackTranscript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Josh Gibson. over the past 20 years, Josh has been leading sojourn Group consulting, a company with a strong e-commerce focus. Sojourn Group consulting specializes in marketplace sales, and has evolved from being a third party seller into an agency that helps other sellers grow their marketplace presence without having to hire a full team. Their years of experience and team make their bolt on solution very simple for many companies. Outside of work, he is happily married for 15 years and is the father of four children ages eight, six, four and two. That makes him very busy at this stage in his life. He says there's little time for anything except work and family. So welcome to the podcast, Josh.Josh Gibson 00:00:45 Thank you. Thanks for having me.Josh Hadley 00:00:46 Well, with how busy you are with a young and growing family and the business, we're excited to have you share some of your time with us. So thanks again for joining us. What else is there that you know? You're saying that Amazon eats your margin for business lunch and dinner or for breakfast? Lunch and dinner, right? So what else is there that you know, people should be paying attention to? And Amazon specifically for now that, you know, there could be a lot of, you know, marginally going out the business.Josh Gibson 00:01:15 Yeah. I mean, it's important to to track your weights and your gyms and your categories of what products

Stefano Pretto, the CEO of Nomadz, a PPC profit-focused agency and coaching company helping Amazon sellers optimize every dollar of their ad spend. With a team of seasoned Amazon experts, Nomadz provides PPC management that rivals the best in-house PPC teams, all backed by data-driven insights and a commitment to transparent, caring partnerships.Whether you're looking to build a personalized roadmap for growth or just tired of wasting money on inefficient campaigns, Stefano’s approach is all about action, clarity, and results.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Amazon PPC (pay-per-click) advertising strategiesCommon mistakes in PPC campaigns, including overspending on product page placementsImportance of analyzing placement reports and reallocating ad spendCampaign and budget allocation best practices for profitabilityConsistency in managing PPC campaigns and accountabilityDeciding between in-house PPC management and outsourcing to agenciesFramework for transitioning from agency to in-house PPC managementHiring strategies for PPC talent, including candidate assessment and sourcing methodsImportance of building a strong in-house PPC team for scaling businessesDeveloping standard operating procedures (SOPs) and processes for effective PPC managementIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Stefano Prieto, CEO of Nomadz, about optimizing Amazon PPC campaigns. Stefano shares common mistakes sellers make, such as overspending on ineffective ad placements and inconsistent campaign management. He offers actionable strategies for budget allocation, emphasizes the importance of consistent PPC oversight, and discusses when to transition from agency to in-house management. The episode also covers best practices for hiring top PPC talent, building strong teams, and leveraging data-driven approaches to maximize profitability and scale Amazon businesses efficiently.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prioritize PPC as a core competency – Treat Amazon ads seriously, invest proper resources, and don’t assign it to underqualified team members.Use agencies strategically – If PPC feels overwhelming, partner with a proven agency while preparing to train someone internally to take it over as you scale.Hire top talent across functions – Continuously bring in A-players (PPC, supply chain, product dev, etc.) to build a strong moat, sustain premium pricing, and fuel long-term growth.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] PPC Placement ReportAmazon Marketing CloudNomadz AgencyUpworkOnlineJobs.phManus AILovableAlex Hormozi's FrameworkHow to Stop SmokingSo Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal NewportEcomm Breakthrough YouTube ChannelDr. Ellis Whitehead on LinkedInSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaStefano 00:00:00 And it's, you know, like my our first app. It's always to see how they are doing with their PPC. And it's amazing to see the new like the people that come to us, they are making always the same mistakes over and over again. And the first big one I would highly suggest to everyone who is watching this video to analyze.Intro 00:00:19 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:33 Are you ready to learn the best Amazon PPC strategies working right now, or are you ready to learn whether you should bring PPC in-house or let an agency do it? Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley. I scaled my own brand from 0 to 8 figures in sales, and now my mission is to take it to nine plus figures

In this episode, the host interviews Harry Joiner, a top executive recruiter in marketing and e-commerce. Harry shares his selective approach to working with clients, emphasizing the need for clear business strategies, strong financials, and a commitment to e-commerce. He compares recruiting top talent to casting star actors, noting that A-level candidates seek companies with compelling stories and solid economics. The discussion highlights the importance of business leaders knowing their numbers, defining their vision, and welcoming candidates who ask tough questions to build high-performing teams. The episode concludes with actionable advice for attracting and retaining top talent.Chapters:Introduction to Harry Joiner and His Credentials (00:00:00)Host introduces Harry Joiner, his background, and notable companies he’s worked with.How Harry Selects Clients (00:01:04)Harry explains his criteria for choosing which companies to work with, comparing it to Hollywood actors picking scripts.Evaluating Client Business Fundamentals (00:02:20)Discussion on analyzing a client’s business economics, strategy, and suitability for top-tier candidates.Attracting Top Talent: The Hollywood Analogy (00:03:41)Harry compares recruiting top talent to attracting star athletes or actors, emphasizing the need for a strong business foundation.The Importance of Smart, Challenging Candidates (00:05:28)Harry shares his preference for candidates who ask tough questions and challenge him, indicating high-caliber talent.Recognizing Top Candidates by Their Questions (00:06:25)Harry describes how the best candidates demonstrate their value by probing deeply into business metrics and strategy.Hiring Lessons from Personal Experience (00:08:41)The host reflects on his own hiring experiences, noting that the best hires are those who challenge leadership and require preparation.Three Actionable Takeaways for Business Leaders (00:10:33)The host summarizes three key action items: define your exit strategy, know your numbers, and cast a clear vision for recruits.Harry’s Process and Final Advice (00:12:50)Harry emphasizes having a simple, practical process for business planning and offers to share it with listeners.Episode Wrap-Up and Thanks (00:15:35)The host thanks Harry for his insights and closes the episode.Links and Mentions:Tools, Websites, and LinksLinkedInBooks and ArticlesSuccessWall Street JournalBusinessweekUSA TodayInternet RetailingVideosShark TankEntourageTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Harry Joiner. Harry is described by Search Engine Watch as a dominant recruiter in client side multichannel, the in multi-channel e-commerce space. He is an executive recruiter for marketing and eCommerce. He has been interviewed by success magazine and he has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, marketing, Sherpas, Great Minds in Marketing series, Businessweek, USA, TODAY.com, Internet Retailer, and many more. He has closed dozens of manager, director, VP and C-level ecommerce searches for some of the following companies. A&E television. Adidas American signature brands. Ashford. Com. Backcountry. Com. Boot barn. Com Columbia Sportswear. And many, many more. So welcome to the podcast, Harry.Harry 00:00:48 Thank you so much. Great to be here, Harry.Josh 00:00:50 I think what's interesting there, you mentioned, you know, you have a small firm, right? You're well experienced. Your results speak for themselves. If people go check out your LinkedIn profile, there's raving reviews of people that have worked with Harry.Josh 00:01:04 so, Harry 150, you know, companies are going to apply to kind of hire your services. What what are you looking for is you kind of determine what are the 50 you're going to work work with. What's the difference between those that you say no to versus the ones that you say yes to and why?Harry 00:01:22 Sure. It's a great question. well, so when people pitch us on a deal, so they pitch me into Alan and it's a little bit like if you've ever seen a concept pitched on Shark Tank, it's a little bit like that. Alan and I are very particular about the deals that we take, and I think I learned this watching entourage back in the, you know, 2000, 2008 through 12 or something that in Hollywood, the richest actors aren't the richest actors because they're the best actors. They're the richest actors because they get the best scripts. It's a lot like that as an e-commerce recruiter. So we like searches that can be closed on the back of a single story, right? So the brand, the you know, the client, they know what their business is about and who their business is for and what their unique selling proposition is.Harry 00:02:20 So why should anyone do business with them versus any option available to them? including doing nothing. we look for the underlying economics of the client's business. So do we understand how they make money? Do they understand how they make money? Do they understand how they're goi

Joe Hides, Co-Founder of Affluent.co, a performance-driven agency that’s helped DTC brands generate over £200 million in revenue through strategic execution across Meta Ads, email marketing, and conversion rate optimization.Joe is a master of Shopify scale, building omni-channel growth systems that turn bold Big Ideas into real, repeatable results. His team is obsessed with ROI, and their strategies are designed to increase brand reach and grow sales exponentially..Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Differences between selling on Amazon and Shopify, focusing on traffic generation and customer intent.Importance of paid advertising, particularly Meta ads, for driving traffic to Shopify stores.Strategies for scaling Shopify brands, including competitor analysis and understanding customer acquisition costs.The significance of creating compelling ad creatives and the need for high volume and diversity in ads.The role of email marketing and retention strategies in increasing customer lifetime value.Utilizing tools like the Facebook Ad Library for competitor research and ad performance analysis.The necessity of a customer-centric approach in Shopify branding and marketing.The impact of ad fatigue and the importance of continuous testing and iteration of ad creatives.Recommendations for starting a Shopify brand, including identifying competition and understanding ideal customer personas.The integration of various marketing channels, including Google Ads and email marketing, for a holistic growth strategy.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Joe Hides, co-founder of Affluent Co, about scaling DTC brands on Shopify versus Amazon. Joe shares his journey from pro skier to e-commerce expert, emphasizing the need for demand generation, competitor research, and high-volume Meta ad testing on Shopify. They discuss the importance of customer personas, owning customer data, and leveraging user-generated content. Actionable takeaways include identifying competitors, understanding your ideal customer, and sourcing diverse ad content. Joe also highlights the theory of constraints as a key business philosophy and shares his favorite AI research prompt.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Study competitors – Identify your competition, analyze their funnels, and track ads that have been running long-term to spot proven winners.Know your customer – Define your ideal customer persona (ICP), understand their pain points, and use competitor research to refine your targeting.Scale content fast – Build a creator/affiliate program to generate large volumes of UGC content (e.g., 1,000+ pieces monthly) to test, learn, and avoid ad fatigue.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Ads LibraryForeplay.coShopifyGoogle AdsChatGPTAffluent AgencyThe E-Myth by Michael GerberThe Goal by Eliyahu M. GoldrattSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJoe Hides 00:00:00 The first thing is like trying to figure out, are there competitors in your space that are making any of these platforms work on, you know, a different level that is typically like the earliest indication of the the chance that you have to be successful and like is the difference between like, okay, I've got this product and I can't see any Facebook ads selling it. That's going to be potentially more of a warning sign rather than a sign of opportunity. And so it's like figuring out with the product that you have is there actual legs behind it. And I think.Intro 00:00:34 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your b

In this episode, host Josh interviews Matt Altman, marketplace lead at Right Side Up, about advanced strategies for launching and scaling brands on Amazon. Matt shares actionable insights on budgeting for product launches, optimizing PPC campaigns by focusing on conversion rates, and leveraging Amazon’s internal data tools. He emphasizes the importance of consistently launching new, non-competing products to avoid cannibalization and drive growth. The discussion concludes with practical takeaways for sellers aiming to scale, plus an offer for a free brand audit from Matt’s agency, Right Side Up.Chapters:Introduction to Matt Altman and Right Side Up (00:00:00)Josh introduces Matt Altman, his background, and the success of his agency, Right Side Up.Current Product Launch Strategies on Amazon (00:00:31)Matt discusses effective modern tactics for launching new products and the importance of a sufficient launch budget.Budgeting for Product Launches (00:01:02)Explanation of current budget requirements, category selection, and why launch budgets have increased.Estimating Launch Budgets and Pre-Launch Data Collection (00:02:54)How to estimate launch budgets, use Amazon Ads, and gather pre-launch data using search query reports.Leveraging Search Query Performance Reports (00:04:14)Matt explains the value of Amazon’s search query performance reports versus brand analytics.Keyword Targeting and PPC Campaign Setup (00:05:19)Details on targeting specific keywords, campaign types, and optimizing for conversion rates over ACOS/TACOS.ASIN Targeting and Relevancy Building (00:07:44)Using ASIN targeting campaigns to build relevancy for launch keywords and leveraging historical data.Scaling to Eight Figures and Beyond (00:08:09)Advice for established sellers on scaling, focusing on new product launches, and avoiding complacency.Avoiding Product Cannibalization and Diversifying Product Lines (00:10:41)Strategies to prevent keyword overlap, expand product lines, and increase brand reach without cannibalizing sales.Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:12:54)Josh summarizes three main takeaways: aggressive product launches, PPC optimization via conversion rates, and image optimization.Strategic Delegation and Removing Bottlenecks (00:15:04)Matt advises stepping back, identifying bottlenecks, and delegating to scale the business effectively.Conclusion and Free Audit Offer (00:16:20)Matt shares where listeners can learn more and offers a free audit for podcast listeners.Links and Mentions:ToolsRight Side UpAmazon Search Query ReportsBrand AnalyticsPacvueEcom AnalyticsData DiveTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm super excited to introduce you to Matt Altman. Matt leads the marketplace at right side up. Matt has over 12 years of selling experience. He's launched and sold multiple personal brands, all starting from a retail arbitrage budget. Four years ago, he started an agency right Side up to help high growth CPG brands focus on dominating the marketplace. They've been able to scale many brands from 0 to 3 million in monthly sales. Welcome to the podcast, Matt.Matt 00:00:29 Thanks for having me. Josh, how are you doing?Josh 00:00:31 Doing great. What are some of the key things that you, you advise or recommend when launching a brand new product on Amazon that are working today? Because, as you know, a lot of those black hat tactics, you know, have come and gone. you also have the, you know, the rebates that everybody was doing, and now it's kind of leveled the playing field a little bit more. Tell me what you're doing that's been working for you guys.Matt 00:00:55 Yeah. So first off, I think that the biggest thing is making sure you have a big enough budget to launch your products.Matt 00:01:02 like the days of 5 to $10,000 budgets to launch products are just gone in my eyes, at least in the spaces that I work in. so we usually overestimate our budgets by like 20 to 30% of what we actually think it would be just to make sure that we're in a good place in case it doesn't go the way that we want it to. but outside of that, we're looking for a couple of major things. one is we want to see continued growth in the category. Amazon's making that way easier now with like the search query reports, the product Opportunity Explorer. There's so many internal tools that they're giving you access to now that you can really easily find that. And then the other big thing that we're looking for is categories that you've got maybe like 3 or 4 power players in. And by power players they aren't really doing that much. They're still kind of growing, but they're ahead of like the other 20 items there. really it just kind of is showing us that, hey, there's enough sales to go around.Matt 00:02:01 If these four people can all kind of be around the same and customers really don't care which one they're choosing right now, they're just basically picking whichever ones at the top from what we can see. So yeah, we used to go into very heavy like categories wh

Fernando Campos, the Co-Founder and CEO of HiveHQ, the #1 profit and analytics platform built specifically for TikTok Shop sellers. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by TikTok’s fragmented backend—with data scattered across Ads Manager, Seller Center, and Affiliate Center—HiveHQ is the solution that brings it all together into one powerful dashboard.Fernando isn’t new to the e-commerce world—he’s also the Co-Founder of MarketplaceOps, where he’s helped manage and scale brands to over 9-figures in revenue. Now, with HiveHQ, he’s giving sellers the visibility and insights they need to understand true profitability, optimize at the SKU level, and scale smarter and faster on TikTok Shop—and soon across multiple channels.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Opportunities and challenges of selling on TikTok Shop.Strategies for scaling e-commerce businesses from seven to nine figures.Importance of product selection for TikTok Shop success, focusing on visually demonstrable and impulse-friendly items.Role of shoppable videos and their impact on TikTok's algorithm.Building and managing relationships with creators and affiliates for content generation.Effective use of flash sales and discounts to drive genuine demand.Importance of data analytics in tracking performance and profitability.Strategies for leveraging live streams and giveaways to boost engagement and sales.Recommendations for brands transitioning from Amazon to TikTok Shop.Insights on building a robust affiliate marketing strategy for sustainable growth.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Fernando Campos, co-founder and CEO of Hive HQ. Fernando shares his journey from overcoming financial struggles to building multi-million-dollar e-commerce brands. The discussion centers on strategies for scaling on TikTok Shop, including leveraging shoppable videos, creator partnerships, affiliate marketing, and data-driven decision-making. Fernando emphasizes the importance of focusing on one growth pillar, building strong affiliate relationships, and using analytics to optimize performance. The episode offers actionable insights for e-commerce entrepreneurs aiming to capitalize on TikTok Shop’s rapid growth and evolving opportunities.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Expand to TikTok Shop once Amazon is stable – Focus on Amazon first, then scale to TikTok Shop once operations are solid (especially if doing $5M+ in sales).Go big on affiliate sampling – Treat TikTok as a volume game. Send out large quantities of product samples (hundreds to thousands) to creators to find what works.Build relationships, not transactions – Treat affiliates like an MLM-style sales force. Keep them engaged, incentivized, and excited to continuously promote your products.Resources mentioned in this episode:Here are the mentions with timestamps arranged by topic:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] HQKalo DataDiscordFastmossTikTok Seller CenterRead AIChatGPTSteven PopeFernando CamposJared Mortensen's Underwear BrandJordan WestHIVEHQ Discount Code: HADLEY 15Special Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaFernando 00:00:00 Will generate the consensus right is more videos per day. Shoppable videos are like tagged with the product is going to perform better, right? Just because it's sending more signal to TikTok saying, hey, this product is like having a moment, like people are talking about it, and so then they're going to push that to more people and your GMV max will run more efficiently.Intro 00:00:28 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh 00:00:41 So

In this episode, the host interviews Kelcey Lehrich, founder of 365 Holdings and co-founder of the HoldCo Conference. Kelcey shares her journey from traditional business to e-commerce, the growth of 365 Holdings, and the challenges of acquiring and integrating multiple brands. He discusses the purpose of the Holdco Conference for multi-business entrepreneurs, strategies for stable acquisitions, and the realities of shared services. The episode offers practical advice on self-awareness, focusing on key business levers, and learning from experience in scaling and managing holding companies.Chapters:Introduction to Kelcey Lehrich and Holdco Conference (00:00:00)Kelsey introduces himself and explains the origin and purpose of the Holdco Conference for multi-business entrepreneurs.Kelcey's Journey into E-commerce and 365 Holdings (00:02:22)Kelcey shares how he and his partner entered e-commerce, acquired their first businesses, and built 365 Holdings.365 Holdings’ Structure and Focus (00:03:30)Discussion of 365 Holdings’ current scale, vertical integration, and future focus on food, baby, and consumable brands.Growth Strategies: Product Launches and Acquisitions (00:04:28)Comparison of launching new products versus acquiring businesses, and the importance of consistent experimentation.What to Avoid When Acquiring Businesses (00:05:52)Kelcey outlines lessons learned and what to avoid when evaluating acquisition opportunities.365 Holdings’ Core Strengths and Incremental Improvements (00:07:04)Exploration of the company’s strengths, vertical integration, and focus on small, compounding operational improvements.The Reality of Shared Services in a Holdco (00:09:54)Kelcey discusses the challenges and realities of sharing services across multiple brands in a holding company.Three Actionable Takeaways for Entrepreneurs (00:11:44)Host summarizes three key lessons: self-awareness, vision and action, and learning through experience in M&A.Kelcey’s Book Recommendation (00:14:03)Kelcey recommends "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz for entrepreneurs managing growing teams.Favorite Productivity Tool (00:14:40)Kelcey shares Superhuman as his favorite email productivity tool.Influential Figures in E-commerce (00:15:25)Kelcey discusses the many people who have influenced him, mentioning Gary Vee, Roland Frazier, and others.How to Connect with Kelcey and Learn More (00:16:59)Kelcey provides ways to connect with him and learn more about Holdco Conference and 365 Holdings.Links and Mentions:Tools and ResourcesSuperhumanWebsitesHoldco Conference365 HoldingsBooksThe Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz on AmazonInfluential FiguresGary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)Roland FrasierTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Kelcey Lehrich. Welcome to the podcast, Kelcey.Kelcey 00:00:05 Thank you for having me. Great to be here.Josh 00:00:06 Kelcey I attended Holdco conference. You did a fantastic job. That was your first ever Holdco conference. Tell our guests a little bit more about this Holdco conference, because I think it's really unique. And you're kind of one of the first to kind of come up with this type of holding company conference.Kelcey 00:00:24 Yeah. So I appreciate your kind words and glad you could come. And we'll see you there next year. date's coming soon. so I have a friend in town named John Wilson. you can find him on the internet. He's pretty public. he and I met, and we both have, 50 to 100 employees, multiple tens of millions of revenue, and we have multiple businesses. And we knew a few other people that had similar circumstances. And there really was no event, no conference, no, kind of home base or hangout place for people like us.Kelcey 00:00:56 And one day I'm like, hey, like, why don't we go ahead and we'll host the party. and so John and I partnered on that project, and, from January, when it was kind of hatched with the tweet to July, it was a bit of a wild ride, but it was a lot of fun. We're really proud of the first year. And, yeah, it's meant to be the place that multi business entrepreneurs called the holding company, meet, learn, scale and grow. But the kind of niche there is that if you're in software and you're venture backed, there's a conference for you. If you are in real estate, there's a conference for you. If you are in insert any industry, sales, metal stamping, mobile home parks, whatever it is, there's a conference for you. If you're a Holdco entrepreneur, there really wasn't a place to call your own. And our vision for Holdco is to be kind of that home base for people like us.Josh 00:01:43 Yeah, I love that.Josh 00:01:44 I love what you guys have started there. And I think we'll dive into that a little bit in more detail later in this podcast. But Kelcey, you've got a vast experience in e-commerce. Obviously you have a holding company that has multiple brands. You've acquired multiple e-commerce brands, you've grown them, you've scaled them. So yo

Jason Boyce is one of the true veterans of the Amazon marketplace. He started selling on Amazon back in 2003 and went on to build a top 100 seller account before founding Avenue7Media, a full-service agency dedicated to helping brands outperform their categories through smart, scalable strategies.He’s the co-author of The Amazon Jungle and a recognized expert in areas like Amazon Ads, Amazon DSP, ASIN strategy, account reinstatement, and product safety compliance. His agency supports clients across both Amazon and Walmart, focusing on profitable growth and cutting-edge solutions like Bottom-Up Audience Building for CTV.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges faced by e-commerce sellers on Amazon, including shrinking margins, tariffs, and increased fees.The impact of black hat tactics on legitimate sellers.Opportunities presented by connected TV (CTV) advertising and generative AI for brand growth.Introduction of the "stair step to the cloud" marketing strategy, focusing on a full-funnel approach.Importance of optimizing bottom-funnel PPC advertising and leveraging Amazon Marketing Cloud data.The role of creative content and high-quality marketing materials in justifying premium pricing.Strategies for retargeting and prospecting new customers using demand-side platform (DSP) advertising.The significance of building brand trust and credibility through TV advertising.The "seven avenues" strategy for comprehensive brand growth, covering presence, financials, traffic, customer knowledge, creative, product quality, and rivals.Predictions for the future of e-commerce, particularly the influence of AI on organic ranking and customer engagement.In this episode of the E-Comm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Jason Boyce, Amazon marketplace veteran and founder of Avenue Seven Media. Jason discusses the challenges facing Amazon sellers, including shrinking margins and increased competition, but highlights new opportunities in connected TV (CTV) advertising and generative AI. He introduces his “seven avenue strategy” for brand growth, emphasizing the importance of strong foundations in presence, financials, traffic, customer knowledge, creative, product quality, and competitor analysis. Jason also predicts AI-driven commerce will soon revolutionize online shopping, urging brands to adapt and leverage emerging technologies for long-term success.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Expect challenges and embrace change – Ecommerce is tough; lean into hard times as opportunities to innovate.Fix weak business foundations – Tackle at least one of the seven core areas (Amazon presence, finances, traffic, customer, creative, product, competition) and improve it step by step.Leverage new channels like CTV – Test connected TV ads as a cost-effective way to scale brand awareness and reach targeted audiences.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Seven MediaLift AIChatGPT Grok AI GeminiPerplexity AIThe Amazon Jungle (by Jason and Rick Cesari)The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamJason Boyce on LinkedIn Jason Boyce on X (formerly Twitter) Special Mention(s):Steven Pope on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJason 00:00:00 We have what we call this stair step to the cloud. What's in the cloud? Your brand is famous now, right? And we in the old days, you. You couldn't do this if a client came to us and they had no brand search volume on Amazon. They had no brand search volume really to speak of on Google were like, hey, don't do Amazon right now because there's nothing. We're bottom funnel here, man. We're a sales channel. We can't do much to improve your brand or do anything. Those are the old days. But now you can actually build a brand. But we start by inverting the old advertising funnel a little bit.Intro 00

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley conducts a live strategy audit with eCommerce brand owner Charlie Mckenzie. They discuss advanced Amazon sales strategies, including keyword optimization, targeted PPC and product targeting ads, and leveraging Google Ads to custom Amazon Store pages for higher conversions. Josh emphasizes the importance of product innovation, catalog expansion, and understanding customer intent. Charlie receives actionable advice on improving ad efficiency, refining product listings, and sourcing new product ideas from platforms like Etsy. The episode offers practical tips for boosting Amazon performance and sustainable brand growth.Chapters:Introduction and Brand Overview (00:00:00)Josh introduces Charlie and outlines the brand’s focus on a single main product with size variations.Keyword Research and Organic Ranking (00:01:05)Discussion on keyword research, current rankings, and strategies to move up to top organic positions.Amazon PPC and Product Targeting Ads (00:02:07)Advice on using PPC, especially exact match campaigns and product targeting ads against same-color competitors.Leveraging Google Ads and Storefront Landing Pages (00:03:11)Strategy for using Google Ads to drive traffic to custom Amazon store landing pages to improve conversions.Reducing Competitor Distraction and Conversion Optimization (00:04:41)Importance of removing competitor distractions on landing pages to increase conversion rates from external traffic.Charlie’s Takeaways and Action Items (00:05:40)Charlie shares his main takeaways, including storefront creation and renewed focus on product targeting campaigns.Testing and Optimizing Product Targeting (00:06:51)Guidance on setting rules for product targeting ads and turning off underperforming campaigns.Product Innovation and Brand Expansion (00:07:34)Discussion on the importance of ongoing product launches and not relying solely on “home run” products.Marketplace Research and Arbitrage Opportunities (00:09:49)Charlie discusses using marketplace research and arbitrage to identify new product opportunities.Finding Trends Outside Amazon (00:10:48)Advice to look for trending products on other platforms (Etsy, DTC sites) and bring them to Amazon.Keyword Research and Listing Optimization (00:12:06)Charlie emphasizes his focus on keyword analytics and listing optimization for organic ranking.Focusing on Customer Needs in Sales Copy (00:12:53)Advice to highlight the root problem the product solves, not just compare features with competitors.Actionable Strategies Recap (00:13:46)Summary of key strategies: product innovation, customer-focused sales copy, and price testing for profit.Closing Remarks (00:15:47)Final thanks and well wishes as the episode concludes.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click Advertising) Google Ads Amazon Store Builder Data Dive Podcast Episodes Tyler Gregg of Ampd on LinkedIn Transcripts:Josh 00:00:00 Welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in ecommerce. Today I'm speaking with Charlie Mckenzie, and we have recorded a live strategy audit session for you today. Charlie, welcome to the podcast. Thank you very much for having me on, Josh. I'm excited to be here. Awesome. At this point with Charlie Charlie's brand, he's got one skew. Well, he's got multiple skews because he's got some size variations in there, but he's got one product that is generating the sales for this brand. One of the first things that we looked at, for your brand, Charlie, was keyword research. And you're doing a great job of implementing the right search terms in your product title. In fact, you're crushing, you know, the competition in terms of the exact match keywords that you've got implemented in your title, and therefore you're actually ranked on the first page for many of those keywords. However, you're not in the top five positions right on most of those keywords.Josh 00:01:05 And so we then went through and discussed. All right. So what are some strategies that we can employ to. You've already got traction. You're obviously indexed for some of these big keywords. How do you move them up into that 1 to 5. You know organic ranking position? One of the things that we talked about was PPC. And Charlie, you know, you've started dipping your toes in the PPC waters. Initially we talked actually a couple of months ago, and you were not running ads on Amazon. And, you know, I told you like, hey, you should definitely start running some ads on Amazon because it is going to impact your organic ranking. You've been dabbling a little bit in that. My recommendation to you from our session was that, you know, create some exact match, keyword campaigns for those keywords that you're trying to rank for number one. But then number two, one of the things that we've found a lot of success with in our business is product targeting ads on Amazon.Josh 00:02:07 And

Damon is a powerhouse in the world of wellness and e-commerce — someone whose leadership journey combines global experience, deep product expertise, and a relentless commitment to quality. I’m thrilled to welcome back Damon Sununtnasuk, the founder and CEO of Natural Cure Labs — the company behind the Palmara Health and VitaTails brands, known for their research-driven, USA-manufactured supplements for both people and pets. Crushing it on Tiktok, Walmart, Target.com & Amazon.comHighlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for scaling wellness brands in the e-commerce space.The role of social commerce and its impact on brand visibility.Marketing techniques specific to TikTok and other social media platforms.The growing influence of AI-generated content in marketing versus human-created content.Cost analysis and return on investment (ROI) for AI versus human content creators.Community management and creator engagement strategies.The importance of feedback loops in content creation and quality improvement.Technical challenges and solutions for content publishing on TikTok.Data-driven approaches to understanding target demographics and creating relevant content.Predictions for the future of e-commerce, including the rise of AI agents in consumer purchasing decisions.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Damon Sununtnasuk, founder and CEO of Natural Cure Labs. They discuss strategies for scaling wellness brands using social commerce, with a focus on TikTok and the balance between AI-generated and human-created content. Damon shares insights on leveraging AI for cost-effective, compliant marketing, building and managing global creator teams, and the technical challenges of scaling content. The episode concludes with actionable tips, book and tool recommendations, and reflections on the future of e-commerce and AI-driven commerce.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Embrace AI, But Don’t Abandon Human CreatorsUse AI for scalable, compliant, and cost-effective content.Maintain a human creator program for authenticity, community, and brand storytelling.Prioritize Volume and ConsistencyVirality is a bonus, not a requirement.Consistent, high-volume content (hundreds of videos daily) creates compounding brand awareness and sales.Invest in Data-Driven Personas and Prompt EngineeringLeverage your own sales data to inform AI personas and scripts.Use tools like Prompt Cowboy to refine AI prompts for better output.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] TikTok Affiliate CenterWhatsAppGeeLarkPerplexityGeminiGrok AIChatGPT Flux AI Veo4 Amazon Brand AnalyticsManychat QuoraRedditPrompt Cowboy Alex Hormozi on LinkedIn Matt Altman on LinkedIn $100 Million Offers$100 Million Leads$100 Million Money ModelsDamon Sununtnasuk on LinkedInSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaDamon Sununtnasuk 00:00:00 Again, like of the 8000 cleaners, we have 90% of dormant. Right. And who's in charge of, like, keeping these guys engaged and educated and enthusiastic? You kind of need someone to sort of be that cheerleader, but also to help and like, understand, like, okay, this person, you know, needs requires a little bit of extra attention here. Or, you know, I think that's that's a big bet we've made. And we just brought the person on within the last 30 days.Intro 00:00:24 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:37 Everybody wants to know the secret how to go viral on TikTok, how to make money on TikTok sh

In this episode, host Josh interviews Rafael, founder of Share It Studio and a 3x Telly Award-winning Amazon marketing expert. Rafael shares strategies for building a successful brand on Amazon, emphasizing the importance of understanding your target audience, leveraging Amazon’s brand analytics, and creating high-quality, authentic content. The discussion covers Amazon’s evolving brand-building tools, including A+ content, brand stores, and social features like Posts and Live. Rafael offers actionable tips for optimizing listings and highlights the value of investing in content to boost trust and sales. Listeners also receive a special discount on Share It Studio services.Chapters:Introduction & Rafael’s Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Rafael, his achievements, and Share It Studio’s success with Amazon listings.Mentorship & Entering Amazon Marketing (00:00:38)Rafael discusses the value of mentorship and how he transitioned into Amazon marketing.The Importance of Brand Building (00:02:36)Josh highlights Rafael's results and asks where sellers should start with brand building and content.Identifying Your Amazon Audience (00:03:09)Rafael explains the need to analyze data and understand the differences between Amazon and other e-commerce audiences.Using Amazon’s Brand Tools (00:04:02)Discussion on Amazon’s brand analytics, content tools, and the importance of creating a brand experience.Amazon’s Social Features & Custom Content (00:05:22)Rafael emphasizes using Amazon’s social features (Posts, Live, Follow) and creating custom content for holidays and trends.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:06:57)Josh summarizes three key actions: analyze data, update content based on findings, and prioritize/testing content types.Content Quality Reflects Product Quality (00:10:03)Rafael stresses that high-quality, authentic content signals product quality to buyers, especially for sensitive categories.Final Thoughts & Influences (00:11:17)Rafael shares his admiration for Gary Vee and Carlos, and the importance of helping others in the e-commerce space.How to Connect with Share It Studio (00:12:55)Rafael provides contact info, offers a complimentary consultation, and a special discount for podcast listeners.Closing Remarks & Bonus Offer (00:14:00)Josh and Rafael wrap up, highlighting the 15% discount for listeners who mention the podcast.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites: Share It Studio Amazon Brand Registry Amazon Live Videos Instagram Contact Information: Email: [email protected] Figures: Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) on LinkedInTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I am super excited to introduce you to Rafael. Rafael is the founder of Share It Studio. He is A3X Telly Award winning entrepreneur in marketing and film. He has 13 plus years of marketing experience, five of which are specialized in Amazon marketing. Sherritt studio sets itself apart as a boutique agency with a high level, data driven approach and bespoke full package services. The studio boasts 500 plus successful Amazon listings, with an average sales increase of 77% within the first month of launching. So welcome to the show, Rafael.Rafael 00:00:38 Josh, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. What you were saying about finding somebody to help you. it's the best way I found out. I did the exact same thing with my mentors. Is Josh Nelson right here? Okay, so what you're offering is actually very, very, very good. I highly recommend that anybody that's, you know, listen to this. I met Josh in person. Super cool guy. you should definitely at least talk to him.Rafael 00:01:02 maybe you're not ready, but maybe within a month, you know you'll hit the target and you'll be ready to to to, you know, reach out to Josh and he can help you scale your business. But if if somebody has a blueprint, why would you want to, like, go sideways if somebody knows what it's going to happen? He's going to tell you, like, hey, you might run into this and this is what you have to do instead of you bouncing your head against the wall, you know?Josh 00:01:27 So true. Rafael, I guess I need to pay you that $100 now. Slide that under the table there.Rafael 00:01:33 No, this is not paid advertising. In no way whatsoever. It's just that I really I was I was super I am so stubborn that I, when I had my company, I was working for Nickelodeon at the time, and, I was, coordinator for post-production for Latin America. And I'm like, you know, at that time, my ego was just stupid.Rafael 00:01:55 and I was like, no, I don't need anybody's help with this. I can do myself, blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm just gonna apply for all the awards. I'm just gonna get all the awards and, you know, blah, blah, blah blah. And at some point I was like, oh my God, I'm really struggling, I need help. And a friend told me, a friend who's very much more successful than me with an agency. He's like, hey, man, I reached my million dollar mark, but I can't.

Joanna Lambadjeiva, founder and CEO of Amazing Wave Digital, an agency that helps Amazon and e-commerce businesses unlock scalable growth through practical AI solutions. From AI-powered business process audits to tailor-made strategies, team training, and streamlined operations, Jo and her team help brands identify inefficiencies and build custom systems that actually move the needle.With a proven track record of helping brands increase productivity, scale creative output, and build more agile teams, Jo is here to show you how to stop dabbling in AI and start integrating it in a way that’s strategic, sustainable, and wildly profitable.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. The rapid integration of AI in e-commerce and its transformative effects on shopping behaviors.The importance of adapting business strategies to remain competitive in a changing landscape.The role of AI agents in making purchasing decisions for consumers.The significance of user-generated content and community engagement for brand visibility.Strategies for optimizing product listings and enhancing brand content using AI tools.The shift from traditional SEO to AI-driven recommendation engines.The necessity for brands to diversify beyond platforms like Amazon to mitigate risks.The potential for AI to enhance internal operations and improve team productivity.The importance of building authentic brands that meet customer needs in an AI-driven market.Practical steps for e-commerce businesses to start leveraging AI tools effectively.In this episode of the EComm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Jo Lambadjieva, founder and CEO of Amazing Wave Digital. They discuss how AI is rapidly transforming e-commerce, from changing consumer shopping behaviors to the rise of AI-powered agents making purchase decisions. Jo shares actionable strategies for brands to adapt, including leveraging AI tools for product optimization, building authentic engagement on platforms like Reddit, and preparing for an AI-driven marketplace. The episode offers practical advice for e-commerce businesses to stay competitive and thrive as AI reshapes the industry landscape.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Start Your AI Habit NowSpend 10 minutes a day using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to brainstorm, test prompts, or analyze data. Small, consistent use compounds fast.Optimize for AI DiscoveryPublish helpful content on Reddit, Wikipedia, and reputable media—these are the sources AI models trust and pull recommendations from.Test Fast, Iterate FasterUse AI to A/B test images, copy, and listings weekly. Treat AI as your “rapid testing lab” to stay ahead of slower-moving competitors.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] SearchSEMrushPressXAnthropicPerplexityChatGPTClaudeGoogle Creative SuiteGemini 2.5Gen SparkCustom GPTsSiddhartha by Hermann HesseMetaJon Derkits NewsletterKevin King's NewsletterSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJo Lambadjieva 00:00:00 If you really just start putting all of this into like one neat package of what this means, it means that, yeah, shopping is going to be very soon, very AI powered. And for that reason, you have to start making some smart decisions about how to, like, pivot your business and sort of diversify your risk. If you are just like basically focus on just one platform, e.g. Amazon.Intro 00:00:28 Welcome to the E-com Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:41 AI is rewriting the rules of e-commerce in real time. Agents shopping is coming when AI agents are buy

In this episode, host Josh interviews Aaron Hovivian, CEO of The Collab Team, about scaling operations for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. Aaron shares his journey from retail and corporate project management to founding his own operations consultancy. The discussion covers the importance of identifying strengths, implementing operating systems like EOS, and documenting SOPs to streamline growth from seven to eight figures. Aaron offers practical advice for overcoming operational bottlenecks and introduces his Ops Experts Club resource hub. The episode provides actionable steps for business owners looking to delegate effectively and build scalable, efficient operations.Chapters:Introduction & Aaron’s Background (00:00:00)Aaron shares his entrepreneurial roots, early jobs, and inspiration from his father’s business journey.Discovering a Passion for Operations (00:00:49)Aaron describes his natural inclination for improving systems and his transition from retail to project management.First Entrepreneurial Leap & Founding The Collab Team (00:01:35)Aaron recounts leaving a stable job to help a friend’s business, marking the start of The Collab Team.Systems Thinking & Early Genius (00:02:54)Discussion about always thinking in systems and the importance of operating in one’s zone of genius.Complexity in Growth & The Value of Operations (00:03:31)Aaron explains how business growth brings complexity and the need to streamline through operations.The Power of Delegation & Operating Systems (00:03:48)Aaron introduces the concept of “Delegate and Elevate” from EOS and the importance of SOPs.Why Operations Matter for Scaling (00:04:37)Aaron discusses why operations are crucial for entrepreneurs aiming to scale from seven to eight figures.Visionaries vs. Operators: Identifying Strengths (00:05:02)Aaron explains the difference between visionary entrepreneurs and those skilled in operations.Common Pitfalls in Delegation & Team Structure (00:06:17)Challenges entrepreneurs face when delegating without clear processes or team roles.Intentionality & Backward Planning (00:07:06)The importance of planning from the end goal backward to reduce daily frustrations.Operations as a Business Pillar (00:07:33)Josh compares operations to a three-legged stool, emphasizing its equal importance with sales and vision.Implementing Operating Systems & Frameworks (00:08:02)Josh shares his experience implementing operating systems and frameworks like EOS and Scalable.Entrepreneurial Profiles & The Kolbe Assessment (00:08:56)Discussion about the Kolbe assessment and how most entrepreneurs are high quick starts, not high follow-through.Three Actionable Takeaways for Entrepreneurs (00:09:33)Josh summarizes three steps: set your goal, do a time study/gap analysis, and document SOPs for delegation.Aaron’s Additional Advice: Start with the Highest Burn (00:11:15)Aaron advises tackling the most painful or draining tasks first to maximize relief and ROI.Ops Experts Club Gift & Resources (00:12:27)Aaron introduces the Ops Experts Club, offering free access and tools like the Gap Analyzer for listeners.Closing Remarks & Gratitude (00:14:31)Josh and Aaron wrap up, expressing appreciation and encouraging entrepreneurs to leverage operations for growth.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesOps Experts Club on FacebookGap AnalyzerBooksTraction by Gino Wickman on AmazonAssessmentsKolbe AssessmentTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Aaron Hovivian, the CEO and Project Lead at the Collaborative Team Management, or AKA the Collab Team. So welcome to the podcast, Aaron.Aaron 00:00:11 Hey Josh, thanks for having me man. So good to be here.Josh 00:00:13 Aaron, you've got a lot of experience. As we can see in operations, you've helped grow solopreneurs into multifaceted eight figure brands and helping scale people beyond that. Aaron, let's back things up and tell me, like, how did you even get started in operations? Why is that your specialty?Aaron 00:00:31 Yeah, I you know, so growing up, my dad was an entrepreneur. My dad was entrepreneurial, you know, and I saw him going out there starting his own business. For him, it was construction for him. He, you know, he had been working for some big guys doing construction in Southern California, you know, for his whole career. And at the age of 40, you know, he said, hey, I'm going to go out and do this on my own.Aaron 00:00:49 He was able to build this empire for himself. You know, of 85 people doing, you know, high rise construction ceilings in LA in Orange County. And I think inspired by his journey, I think is what inspired me. But I noticed me all growing up, you know, from my earliest jobs. I started working in skateboard snowboard shops as a kid, you know, but even there I did a lot of retail just starting out. A lot of kids do, you know. But I noticed about me is that I'm always pulling apart systems. Like, I'm always wondering, how could we

John is the Brand Evangelist at PickFu and Founder and CEO of Aspy, he helps businesses make data-driven decisions to optimize their product listings and marketing strategies on Amazon.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Importance of optimizing main images for Amazon product listingsSignificance of click-through rates (CTR) for Amazon sellersRole of the hero image in attracting potential customersInsights into consumer behavior and preferences when shopping onlineNecessity of data-driven decisions for product listing optimizationContinuous testing and optimization of hero imagesUnderstanding and adhering to Amazon's image guidelinesRisk versus reward in image presentation strategiesTrends in product imagery and innovative visual elementsImportance of clearly communicating value propositions in hero imagesIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews John Aspinall, brand evangelist at Pickfu and CEO of ASPY. They discuss the critical importance of optimizing main images for Amazon product listings to boost click-through rates (CTR). John emphasizes that a compelling hero image is crucial for attracting clicks, likening it to the exterior of a house. He shares insights into consumer behavior, stressing the need for data-driven decisions and continuous testing. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways for improving CTR and sales, highlighting the role of visual elements and the impact of tariffs on product costs.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Regularly Test and Optimize Your Main Image: Stay competitive by continuously refining your hero images.Understand the Impact on Conversion Rates and Ad Spend: Your main image directly affects these critical metrics.Leverage AI Tools: Use AI tools to scale testing and experimentation effectively.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough YouTubeeComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] 10Jungle ScoutSmart ScoutAmazonPickFuCanvaGoogle WhiskGoogle EffectsClaudePerplexityDeepSeekGoogle GeminiMr. BeastThe Diary Of A CEOSteven Pope in LinkedInLa Roche-PosayChatGPTSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Past guests include Kevin King, Michael Gerber, author of The E-myth, and Steven Pope from My Amazon Guy. Today I am speaking with John Aspinall. John is the brand evangelist at Pickfu and the founder and CEO of ASPY, and he helps businesses make data driven decisions to optimize their product listings and marketing strategies on Amazon. Think about how you can make that main image stand out. John is your guy that's going to blow people away today, and that's what we're going to be talking about, ...

In this episode, Chad Franzen interviews Josh and Becca Hadley about their journey working together as a married couple. They share insights into balancing business and family life, setting boundaries, and defining clear roles. The Hadleys discuss the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship as partners, offer advice for couples considering a joint venture, and highlight the importance of communication, shared vision, and prioritizing their relationship. Personal anecdotes reveal their daily routines, family priorities, and fun facts about each other, providing an honest look at blending marriage and business.Chapters:Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:00:00)Chad Frandsen is introduced as the interviewer; Becca and Josh Hadley are welcomed to the podcast.Working with Your Spouse: Initial Thoughts (00:00:21)Becca and Josh share their experiences and feelings about working together as a married couple.Early Days of the Business (00:01:54)Josh describes how they started working together, their routines, and the excitement of building the business.Balancing Roles and Avoiding Friction (00:03:29)Discussion on the importance of clarifying roles and responsibilities to prevent conflicts.Work-Life Boundaries and Daily Routines (00:04:46)Chad asks about setting workday boundaries; Becca and Josh explain their flexible approach and daily schedules.Family Priorities and Involvement (00:07:01)Josh emphasizes prioritizing family, coaching kids’ sports, and the importance of being present as parents.Advice Received About Working Together (00:08:24)Becca and Josh recall advice they received about working as a couple and the importance of maintaining balance.Advice for Couples Considering Business Together (00:10:23)Josh and Becca offer advice to couples thinking about starting a business together, stressing clear roles and shared vision.Working from Home: Pros and Cons (00:12:39)They discuss working from home, its benefits, challenges, and how it affects their work-life transition.Personal Insights: About Each Other (00:13:43)Chad asks Becca and Josh to share something listeners wouldn’t know about the other, revealing personal and fun facts.Closing Remarks (00:15:52)Chad wraps up the interview, thanks the guests, and offers best wishes.Links and Mentions:Company/Tool:Rise 25Book/Quote:No success in the world can compensate for failure in the homeTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm excited to introduce to you. I have two special guests with me. We have my wife, Becca Hadley, and then we have Chad Franzen here of rise 25, who has done hundreds of interviews with successful entrepreneurs and CEOs. We have flipped the script, and he is going to be interviewing Becca and I today. So welcome to the podcast, Chad.Chad 00:00:21 Hey, thanks so much, Josh. Great to be here with both of you. So, Becca, what is it like working with your spouse?Becca 00:00:28 Yeah, I love it. I know almost every single person I talk to always says, I don't know how you do that, or that didn't work for me or were divorced or whatever it is. We I think it's been one of the best things for us. I think we had a strong foundation before we began working with each other, and it kind of started off slow. And Josh was working in corporate America. We were working together at night, but for us, it's been it's been fun.Becca 00:00:51 It's been our hobby, I think since both of us are doing what we love, it's very fulfilling and then even more fulfilling to do it together. I think one of my favorite things is just the opportunity to, like, travel together to different conferences like we've had so many like couples trips that are business trips. and it's been so fun. We've seen so many places together. I think we're also learning new things together at the conferences we go to and the things that we listen to, the podcast, everything that we do together. So I think it takes our relationship even to the next level, which is really fun. Now, that's not to say that it's always easy. We definitely have our frustrations or our arguments or sometimes, like when we're on a date. In my head, I'm like, stop talking about the business, let's be on a date. So it's just finding a balance and making sure that, like in our relationship that we have like family time specifically and date nights and business time.Becca 00:01:41 And for us, honestly, it has been an incredible blessing. I've loved every minute of it.Chad 00:01:45 So great. Yeah. Why don't we get back to that in just a minute? Kind of the the boundaries or whatever, like work and home or whatever. But, Josh, what are your thoughts on working with your wife?Josh 00:01:54 Yeah, I think that it's been an amazing experience. And I think that, like Becca talked about, it's Is important for us. I think it like has actually brought us closer together because we've been working on like a similar vision. Like I would say, like kids brings you together, right? You and your spouse together on like a similar vision of like, we

Josh started his career at American Airlines (AA) and spent 5 years in their MBA leadership development program. Josh’s experience at AA further refined his leadership abilities and strategic decision making skills. While employed at AA Josh and his wife Becca started Hadley Designs. As the CEO of Hadley Designs, Josh led the business to gross $100,000+ in revenue within it’s first year and in 2022 Hadley Designs crossed the eight figure mark, grossing over $10,000,000 in revenue.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Leveraging AI tools for hiring management-level staff globally.Conducting a time study to identify hiring resource allocation.Creating a clear role profile and scorecard with defined expectations and KPIs.Attracting top talent through detailed job descriptions and hidden tasks.Sourcing a large pool of candidates to ensure quality selection.Implementing AI recruiting tools for streamlined candidate sourcing and application management.Establishing a rigorous vetting process, including assessments and test projects.Conducting group interviews to evaluate candidate interactions and dynamics.Performing thorough reference checks to verify candidates' past performance.Setting high performance standards for new hires to enhance team effectiveness.In this podcast episode, the speaker, an experienced entrepreneur and host of the "Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast," shares a detailed seven-step process for hiring management-level staff using AI tools. The speaker emphasizes the importance of conducting a time study to allocate hiring resources effectively, creating detailed role profiles and scorecards, and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for efficiency. They discuss innovative techniques such as group interviews and AI-driven resume screening to streamline the hiring process. By implementing rigorous vetting processes and thorough reference checks, the speaker provides actionable insights for scaling businesses to eight figures and beyond.Here are 3 short, actionable takeaways from the podcast summary:Start with a Time Study: Track your daily activities in 15-minute increments for two weeks to identify tasks you can delegate—this sets the foundation for hiring the right management-level support.Use AI to Streamline Hiring: Leverage tools like ChatGPT to quickly generate tailored role profiles and scorecards, and platforms like Workable to automate resume screening and candidate sourcing.Vet Rigorously, Hire Deliberately: Implement group interviews, test projects, and reference checks to assess both skills and culture fit—only hire candidates who raise the bar for your existing team.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough YouTubeeComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] (now known as Upwork)Criteria Corp (for assessments)Workable.phChatGPTSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00 Today, I'm going to be walking through how we're going to be leveraging AI to hire management level staff anywhere in the world. Okay. And I'm going to be showing you guys kind of the filters, everything that we've set up. There's a lot to dissect in 20 minutes. So we're going to be flying through all of this. But the good news is Jim and Mimi, those two things that you talked about AI and hiring leaders, like, that's exactly what I'm talking about today. All right. So this is the easy way to use AI to find incredible management level contractors overseas. as Bryce mentioned. Who am I? So first and foremost, father of four, husband to a beautiful wife. We had a baby six months ago. Five months ago. His name is Harvey and Harper. She's the one here. She's a she's my second and she's six years old. So happy to have her with us. And then we started our brand on Amazon back in 2016. We've been an eight fi

In this Throwback episode, host Josh interviews patent attorney Rich Goldstein about the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection for businesses, especially e-commerce sellers. Rich explains the differences between copyrights, design patents, utility patents, and trademarks, highlighting why registering trademarks in China is crucial for those sourcing products there. They discuss how IP protection helps prevent copycats, increases business value, and is essential for a successful exit. Rich also shares actionable tips for building an IP strategy and recommends resources for further learning. The episode concludes with advice on connecting with top experts in the Amazon and e-commerce space.Chapters:Introduction to Rich Goldstein and His Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Rich Goldstein, his experience, and his role in helping businesses obtain patent protection.Josh’s IP Mistake and the Importance of Early Protection (00:01:39)Josh shares his mistake of not getting IP protection early and discusses the risks of product copying on Amazon.Copyrights vs. Design Patents for Product Protection (00:02:56)Rich explains the difference between copyrights and design patents, and when each is applicable for product protection.The Importance of Registering Trademarks in China (00:04:33)Discussion about the risks of not registering trademarks in China and the potential consequences for e-commerce sellers.Understanding Utility Patents (00:06:16)Rich explains what utility patents are, what they protect, and how they differ from design patents.Three Actionable IP Takeaways for Entrepreneurs (00:08:44)Josh summarizes three key IP action items: trademarks, patents, and the value of IP for business exits.The Value of an IP Budget and Learning About IP (00:10:25)Rich emphasizes budgeting for IP as a business grows and the importance of entrepreneurs educating themselves about IP.Recommended Thought Leaders in E-commerce (00:12:06)Rich shares names of influential people and groups in the e-commerce and Amazon seller space.Where to Find Rich Goldstein and His Resources (00:14:32)Rich provides information on where listeners can find his website, book, podcast, and event updates.Links and Mentions:Tools and WebsitesGoldstein Patent LawBooksThe ABA Consumer Guide to Obtaining a PatentPodcastsInnovations and Breakthroughs PodcastNotable Individuals and GroupsKevin KingBrandon YoungTitan GroupNorm FarrarDanny McMillanTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today, I'm excited to introduce to you Rich Goldstein, who is on a mission to connect, protect, and educate. He helps small businesses, startups, and in e-commerce and digital marketers and inventors in their quest to obtain patent protection. Along with his team of attorneys. He counsels individual inventors and startups regarding the best steps to take for patent protection and when patent protection is available. Over the past 28 years, he has obtained more than £2,000 for his clients. And Rich is the host of the Innovations and Breakthroughs podcast and is the author of The Consumer Guide to Obtaining a Patent, published by the American Bar Association. So Rich, welcome to the podcast.Rich 00:00:46 Thanks so much, Josh. Thanks. Thanks for the warm introduction. And and really great to be on your podcast.Josh 00:00:51 Rich, I'm happy to say that we are a part of that number of 2000 plus, you know, patent successful patterns that you've been able to obtain and counting. Right.Rich 00:01:03 And counting.Josh 00:01:03 Yep. So thank you for your help and helping us get some of those design patterns that we've received for our business.Josh 00:01:10 So rich. Absolutely is the man.Rich 00:01:12 Absolutely. My pleasure. It's really exciting to see kind of what we're creating there in your company in terms of, asset value and protection, you know, against competitors. So, it's really cool. And someday we'll, we'll do a, you know, a Harvard business case study of some kind, to, you know, to take a look at what we've created here. I think it's pretty awesome.Josh 00:01:39 Well, I think that's the hope for both you and I that we're creating some significant value in the long run. Now, Rich, I shared this on previous podcast episodes as I shared some of the mistakes that I've made along my journey. One of those mistakes that I've made was not getting IP protection whatsoever for many of our products for four years, right? We literally went for in our business for four years before, you know, you and I fortunately met. And you're like, dude, you've got to start doing something here. And we had a great conversation.Josh 00:02:13 And now that we started getting copyrights issued for all of our products and then design design patents for some of our products, it's allowed us to actually protect more of our products, because prior to that, as many sellers know, as soon as you launch a product on Amazon, it's months, you know, sometimes as quick as a month later, sometimes 3 to 6 months later, you

Andrew co-founded Reason Automation after years at Amazon, working on their retail and vendor businesses. There, he learned data wasn’t just a resource—it was the backbone of every decision being made. To be successful, you had to dive into the numbers yourself, without a team of analysts to rely on. That hands-on experience shaped his approach to data and inspired him to create a company that helps other businesses tap into the power of their own analytics.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Importance of data analytics in e-commerce decision-makingChallenges of data overload and how to manage it effectivelyPrioritization of tasks for entrepreneurs to drive growthUnderstanding SKU-level profitability and its impact on businessThe significance of real-time data for informed decision-makingIdentifying trends and opportunities in the marketOvercoming fear of data analysis and making timely decisionsThe role of feedback in leadership and personal growthStrategies for monitoring key metrics to enhance performanceAdapting to changing consumer behavior and market dynamicsIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Andrew Hamada, co-founder of Recent Automation. They discuss two pivotal factors for scaling e-commerce businesses: effective data analytics and task prioritization. Andrew, leveraging his experience at Amazon, emphasizes the importance of transforming data into actionable insights without getting overwhelmed. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on key tasks that drive growth and to understand product-level profitability. The episode also highlights the necessity of regular monitoring and the value of constructive feedback in leadership. This conversation offers invaluable guidance for scaling seven-figure brands to eight figures and beyond.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prioritize What Matters Most Start each day by identifying your top 5 high-impact tasks and eliminate or delegate the rest to maintain focus and momentum.Track SKU-Level Profitability Regularly analyze product-level data to uncover hidden losses—especially from advertising—and adjust pricing, spend, or inventory accordingly.Act Fast with Real-Time Data Set up dashboards to monitor 3–5 key metrics in real time and make quick, informed decisions to stay agile and competitive.Resources mentioned in this episode:Here are the mentions with timestamps arranged by topic:Ecomm BreakthroughJosh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough YouTubeeComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] Seller CentralSelling Partner APIData KioskMidjourneyLinkedInJason BoyceSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInNeil Patel on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Past guests include Kevin King, Aaron Cordovez, and Michael E Gerber, author of the E-myth. Today I am speaking with Andrew Hamada, and today we are going to be talking about the two things that are going to set you and your business apart from the competition and allow your brand to be able to scale and win in today's competitive environment. This episode is brought to you by Ecomm Breakthrough, where I specialize in investing in and scaling seven figure ecommerce brands to eight figures and beyond. If you're an ambitious e-commerce entrepreneur looking for a partner or coach who can help take your business to the next level, reach out to me at Ecomm Breakthrough. Com. That's ecom with two ends and let's turn your dreams into reality. Today I am excited to introduce you all to Andrew Hamada. Andrew co-founded Recent Automation after years at Amazon working on their retail and vendor businesses. There, he learned data wasn't just a resou

In this Throwback episode, host Josh interviews Steven Pope from My Amazon Guy about advanced strategies for Amazon sellers, especially those with mature or seven-figure brands. Steven details the importance of focusing on SEO, PPC, merchandising, and design, and explains why SEO should be continuously optimized. He shares a case study on using Amazon’s search query performance report to find untapped keywords, and discusses practical tactics like updating product images and A/B testing. The episode wraps up with Steven’s favorite business resources and advice to take action and keep improving your Amazon business.Chapters:Introduction & Episode Overview (00:00:00)Josh introduces Steven Pope and sets up the discussion on advanced Amazon content strategies for mature brands.The Four Pillars of Amazon Success (00:00:40)Steven outlines the four key areas: SEO, PPC, merchandising, and design, emphasizing their importance for traffic and conversion.Challenges Facing Amazon Sellers (00:02:10)Discussion of increased competition, shrinking margins, and the need to focus on fundamentals instead of hacks or blackhat tactics.Deep Dive: SEO is Not Set-and-Forget (00:03:51)Steven explains his multi-phase SEO approach and stresses the importance of continuous optimization.Case Study: Using Search Query Performance Report (00:04:12)Steven introduces the ICAP marketing funnel and demonstrates how to use Amazon’s search query performance report to find valuable keywords.Market Share Growth Example (00:06:18)Steven shares a real-world example of tripling market share for a previously overlooked keyword using data-driven SEO.Image Optimization & A/B Testing (00:08:15)Discussion on improving product images (e.g., adding age ranges) and the impact on click-through rates, with a live example.Implementing Data-Driven Content Changes (00:09:59)How to use search data to inform content updates, including A/B testing and targeting specific demographics.Three Actionable Takeaways (00:11:30)Josh summarizes key steps: analyze search query data, implement keyword-driven content changes, and A/B test main images and A+ content.Favorite Business Book (00:13:17)Steven shares his most influential book, "The Road Less Stupid," and its impact on his decision-making.Favorite Productivity Tool (00:13:48)Steven discusses his upcoming productivity tool, Hybrid, and mentions the value of tools like Calendly.Recommended Ecommerce Influencer (00:14:33)Steven recommends following Harry Joiner for unique ecommerce insights and strategy frameworks.Final Words of Wisdom (00:15:18)Steven encourages listeners to take action and shares his contact info for feedback and stories.Podcast Closing (00:15:41)Josh thanks Steven for joining the podcast and wraps up the episode.Links and Mentions:Tools and Resources Seller Central Pickfu Calendly Books The Road Less Stupid Traction Scaling Up People to Follow Harry Joiner on LinkedInTranscript:Josh 00:00:00 Today I'm speaking with Steven Pope of my Amazon guy, and we will be talking a lot about content, strategies and how to uplevel your game on Amazon to capture more traffic and drive more revenue. We talked about this prior to recording Hitting the record button on this podcast, but I want to learn from you. And our audience is going to be interested, Steven, to learn. What would you recommend? Seven figure sellers and those that are maybe experienced on Amazon? They have a mature brand, so to speak. What should they be focusing on? Amazon, especially knowing where, you know, kind of the puck is going in the future with Amazon where things are going. What strategies would you recommend sellers be implementing right now?Steven 00:00:40 Anything that generates traffic and improves conversion rates. Full stop. That's it. That's all you got to focus on those two basic parameters. Now I can break those two down one layer deeper. Yep. Under traffic there's PPC and SEO and under conversion there's merchandising and design. So those four pillars make up E-commerce on Amazon.Steven 00:01:01 And so as we continue to go down even a layer further. Content production is the most underrated, easiest thing to do. As an Amazon seller that is being abandoned. Now, obviously there's a lot of cardinal rules of Amazon. Like never go out of stock. That's cardinal rule number one. And cardinal rule number two is kind of like cardinal rule number one. Don't go out of stock. Right. And so like those are important concepts. But when we look down to the very basics of how to sell more products to more people, more often for more money, it comes back to those four pillars SEO, PPC, design and merchandising. And if you were ignoring 1 or 2, maybe even three of those protocols, you're in a world of hurt right now. You are losing to the Chinese who are hacking your accounts and your listings. You are losing to Amazon's policies, who are clamping down and making it harder to be on the platform. You are losing to your Are competitors who

Brandon is a seasoned Amazon entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Innovate, and he is the driving force behind a successful Kitchenware Brand with years of experience building and scaling e-commerce businesses. Brandon brings a unique perspective, shaped by both his entrepreneurial journey and his background as an attorney. Today we're going to be diving into his business. What is he doing with the challenges we're all faced with tariffs and Amazon fees and increasing competition? He's going to be sharing his journey and his tips and strategies he's implementing in his business today.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Journey and experiences of an Amazon entrepreneur in e-commerce.Challenges faced in 2025, including tariffs, Amazon fees, and competition.Importance of pricing strategies and ad spend management for profitability.Insights on product listing optimization and inventory management.Growth and significance of the Innovate conference for e-commerce sellers.Strategies for navigating sourcing challenges and diversifying manufacturing locations.The role of customer feedback and product testing in successful launches.Legal considerations in e-commerce, including trademark and patent issues.Importance of continuous product innovation and optimization for sustained success.Recommendations for leveraging tools and resources to enhance e-commerce performance.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Brandon Fuhrmann, Amazon entrepreneur and co-founder of Innovate. Brandon shares advanced strategies for scaling e-commerce brands, including optimizing pricing, ad spend, and product listings amid rising tariffs and fierce competition. He discusses leveraging international markets, building a lean team, and the importance of continuous product innovation. Brandon also offers actionable insights on legal protections, customer feedback, and multichannel expansion. Listeners gain practical, high-level tactics to drive profitability and resilience, plus an exclusive invitation to the Innovate conference for elite sellers aiming to reach 8 figures and beyond.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Play the Price–Ad Spend Game: Adjust pricing & PPC together. Drop prices to rank faster, then raise and boost ads to keep momentum.Keep Listings Fresh: Constantly update images & copy based on split tests and customer feedback. Have backups ready to pivot fast.Diversify or Die: Sell in multiple marketplaces (EU, CA, Walmart, Shopify) so you can shift inventory when tariffs or demand change.Resources mentioned in this episode:Insiders Agency: 00:16:10Helium 10: 00:27:14Jungle Scout: 00:27:14Shopify: 00:23:55Walmart: 00:22:26Faire: 00:24:41SellaMetrics: 00:33:58Amazon: 00:03:33FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): 00:03:45PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Advertising: 00:18:42E-myth by Michael E. Gerber: 00:00:37Grit by Angela Duckworth: 00:44:49Deep Work by Cal Newport: 00:50:13Jabran Niaz on LinkedIn: 00:51:30Innovate Conference: 00:52:16Special Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.Transcript AreaBrandon 00:00:00 When you look at profitability, there's the two biggest levers are really pricing and ad spend. Right. So you can you can price your product cheap and have lower ad spend and make the same amount as having a price that's expensive. But you've got to pump the ad spend, right. So it's kind of a fine balance between the two and kind of seeing, you know, can I lower ad spend here but keep pricing the same? Can I lower pricing and then lower AD spend to make up for that.Host 00:00:24 Right. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh 00:00:37 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. I'm your host, Josh