Honest Ecommerce

Michael Nguyen is an entrepreneur and the Founder of Fire & Brilliance who has dedicated most of his professional life to the beautiful world of jewelry. He kicked off his career in sales within the financial services sector before ever marketing a single ring, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. This was when he discovered that he had a natural talent in curating relationships, conveying relevance and building long-term business connections. In his mid-20’s, Michael started his jewelry career by creating custom and unique pieces for his clients. Michael was also an early adopter of lab-grown moissanite, diamonds and gemstones which led him to influence a movement that disrupted the traditional ways of doing “business as usual.” Fire & Brilliance was nominated as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in both 2019 and 2020 with its unique approach. As a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America, Michael is the host of the “Geminar” show where he provides relevant jewelry industry knowledge and insights. Outside of running his business, Michael enjoys reading, staying in shape, spending time with great company and tasting all types of fire-burning hot sauces.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:47] Intro[01:34] Creating lab-created gemstones & custom jewelry [02:35] From corporate misery to entrepreneurial journey[03:48] Inspiration from parents and the immigrant hustle[04:35] Undergoing mentorship and first business partnership[05:50] Transitioning to online sales and Ecommerce[07:29] Mastering jewelry through experience and study[08:01] Taking a leap of faith to expand your business[08:40] Scaling up to set business up for success[09:37] Episode sponsors[12:14] Learning Ecommerce essentials from customers[13:31] Building a lasting online reputation[14:11] Streamlined user-friendly experience on Shopify[16:18] Leveraging YouTube for organic growth[17:06] Pioneering jewelry content on YouTube[17:51] Navigating paid advertising for more growth[18:43] Using different platforms to get organic eyeballs[19:33] The riches are in the niches[20:40] Breaking the silence in the jewelry industry[21:15] Increasing awareness through educational content[22:35] Using multi-channel audience engagement[23:55] Facing rising competition in the jewelry industry[24:36] Staying true to core beliefs, quality, and value [25:21] Building a community of loyal customers[26:01] The joy of being a business of celebration[26:31] Where to get quality and custom made jewelryResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCustom moissanite and lab-grown engagement rings fireandbrilliance.com/Relevant jewelry industry knowledge and insights youtube.com/c/FireandBrillianceFollow Michael Nguyen www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfireandbrilliance/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectBook a demo today at intelligems.io/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Emily launched clean beauty brand Concrete Minerals in 2009 with $100, and bootstrapped it into a multi-million dollar business over a decade. She took an exit in 2019, and after two years of building, launched her second brand EXOH, this time in the health and personal care spaces.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:44] Intro[01:52] How Concrete Materials started[02:26] Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs[03:20] Boldly starting a company out of annoyance[04:44] Learning what the market really wants [05:31] Hitting rock bottom, the only way is up[06:58] Having less Ecommerce resources back in the day[07:48] Building a fan base for people interested [08:23] Leveraging the Wild West of social media[10:14] Episode sponsors[13:05] Setting your business up for success [13:59] Managing backend to support scaling[14:43] Maximizing email marketing[15:33] Finding and working with reliable partners[16:59] Doing the business in-house[17:32] Reaching maximum growth with no solid direction[18:24] Getting maxed out, the only way out is out[19:10] Taking the exit and finding people to take over[20:01] Taking a well-deserved break from everything[20:49] Getting inspired again & revisiting business ideas[21:33] Going back to business stronger and wiser[22:15] Prioritizing in-house production[23:53] Launching D2C and studying the numbers[24:27] Gathering more data and feedback[25:25] The importance of direct connection with audience[26:09] Venture capitalists investing on consumer goods[26:43] Building genuine, direct, & authentic connection [28:05] Where to check out EXOHResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeAmazing-smelling lip balm exoh.co/Follow Emily DeLapp linkedin.com/in/emilydelapp/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectRevolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Claus Lauter is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in eCommerce, SaaS, and marketing. He’s an official Shopify and certified Klaviyo Partner, award-winning eCommerce store owner, and certified Google expert. He was named one of the Top 20 Shopify Experts to follow in 2022. Claus is the producer and host of the Ecommerce Coffee Break Podcast, voted as a Top 20 Shopify Podcast on Feedspot. He has started and grown businesses in the USA, Germany, South Africa, and Singapore, and is a true enthusiast of entrepreneurship and digital marketing. As an avid traveler, he has visited more than 60 countries and lived on three continents.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:56] Intro[01:23] Discovering a new platform amidst pandemic[02:36] Where Pareto Principle originated[03:28] How the 80-20 rule enlightened businesses[04:48] Applying the 80-20 rule to time management[06:06] Monitoring where you ad spend goes[06:51] Assess your skills and what you can outsource[07:44] Get rid of processes that don’t bring good results[08:45] The 80-20 rule in retaining and firing employees[09:46] Being considerate & professional when outsourcing[10:46] Optimizing processes & knowing when to let staff go[11:44] Perfection is the enemy of progress[13:11] Learn the know hows of what you’re outsourcing[13:56] Familiarize yourself with all the business processes[14:29] Ecommerce Coffee Break podcast for marketers[15:19] Smart E-Commerce Marketing for outsourcingResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeMarketing podcasts for online sellers, merchants, and DTC brands ecommercecoffeebreak.com/Offshore (remote) team providers at half the cost smart-ecommerce-marketing.com/Follow Claus Lauter linkedin.com/in/clauslauter/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jaspr, an exceptional air purifier designed for high performance but with aesthetics that the D2C market demands. Working in the wildfire and flood restoration sector, Mike witnessed how polluted air can damage people’s health, and he discovered that standard air purifiers on the market cannot make substantial improvements in air quality. He decided to create something to fix the problem. Jaspr air purifiers have all of the power and efficacy of an air scrubber while being quiet and stylish – something that people would actually use.

Jaye Genung comes from an eclectic career history that includes project management, product development, procurement and account management. Her employment history includes medical devices, b2b electro-mechanical and cpg companies. This mosaic of experience set the stage for her to be able to start out with her own founder's story.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:48] Intro[02:26] Seizing the opportunity to start a business[04:10] Considering the working class in product designs[04:52] Researching the supply chain with trusted network[06:25] Negotiating for MOQs & prioritizing customer needs[07:50] Having someone that pushes you and believes in you[08:26] Talking to people means building a relationship[09:48] Doing your research and creating a strategy[10:33] Offering something new & investing on ads [11:26] Gaining traction quickly after the first 100 orders[12:02] Investing in ads for customer acquisition[12:47] From a side hustle to working full time[13:44] Seeing the business grow over the years [14:46] Pushing through amid doubts & mental blocks[15:15] What CEOs need to learn and accept[16:09] Success is not just one thing[17:03] Finding out what you’re good and not good at [17:43] Be honest and reach out to your network[18:35] having the best product is not enough[19:17] Finding balance in every tenet of your business[20:14] Where to get high-quality heated apparelResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube100% female owned heated apparel company gobiheat.com/Follow Gobi Heat on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/gobi-heat/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

One of the most highly regarded independent consultants in his industry, Kurt Elster is a Senior Ecommerce Consultant who helps Shopify merchants like Jay Leno’s Garage uncover hidden profits in their websites through his ecommerce agency Ethercycle. With two million downloads, Kurt is best known for hosting The Unofficial Shopify Podcast.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:55] Intro[01:55] Compare platform to Shopify before migrating[02:51] Figure out why you want to migrate[03:45] New things acquired after migrating to Shopify[04:44] Migrating helps you reconsider and review things[05:26] Maximize migration & explore change opportunities[06:40] Prioritize customer service over minor details[08:42] Migration is doable, but never easy[10:38] Navigating Shopify data migration[12:37] The impact of design on migrating[14:26] Map out key considerations when migrating[16:21] Embrace change to get better results[17:21] Keep up and learn new tools and techniques[18:28] Make learning easier with efficient solutions[19:23] Overcome fear with secure data migration[22:19] Streamline unusual Shopify migration[24:54] The importance of thorough sample checks[25:23] Challenges in subscription & internationalization[26:25] Addressing backend processes [27:10] Navage Nose Cleaner’s Shopify migration story[28:42] Wheel Wiz’s Shopify migration story[29:37] Realities & considerations of a rush migration[30:45] Adams Polishes’ migration story[31:47] Migration as a line item in a project[32:35] Modern Sprout's migration story[33:32] WordPress freedom VS Shopify constraints[34:43] Corresponding tasks & results of blogging[36:10] Shopify’s unique ecosystem advantages[38:46] Telltale signs that it’s time to move to Shopify[39:27] Migrating during redesign is the key[40:09] Leverage Shopify features to implement discounts[41:09] Learn more about Kurt ElsterResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeEcommerce consultancy for Shopify merchants ethercycle.com/Follow Kurt Elster linkedin.com/in/kurtelster/Subscribe to Kurt Elster’s newsletter kurtelster.com/Listen to Kurt Elster’s podcast unofficialshopifypodcast.com/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Lucas Cao is the President and CEO of Squid Industries, an American manufacturing company with a focus on the butterfly knife and trainer industry.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:49] Intro[01:48] Getting interested with the idea of balisong[03:00] Becoming a collector & joining the community[03:57] Seeing the barriers for interested newcomers[04:44] Trying to make a balisong trainer[05:37] Discovering the popularity of balisong[06:30] Testing the waters and the success rate[07:37] Gaining traction bit by bit[09:03] Planning things ahead and investing on manpower[10:27] Running the business remotely[11:15] Purchasing their first manufacturing equipment[12:29] Continuing the business full time[13:09] Vertical integration and quality control[13:53] An unexpected success in hindsight[14:32] The meticulous process of picking a brand name[17:26] Investing on passion and in the community[18:34] The goal is to make the best product possible[20:05] Sporadic growth, full of highs and lows[21:26] A shift on the velocity of production[22:18] Leveraging the resources available to you[22:52] Episode sponsors[26:17] The challenge in manufacturing and prototyping[27:46] The importance of versatility[28:50] Maximizing influencer marketing[30:20] Standing out from the competition[30:54] Trying different avenues of advertising[31:39] Effectively conveying your idea to manufacturers[34:05] Talk to manufacturers with different processes[35:14] Where to find Squid Industries Co.Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeHigh performance and community-driven balisongs squidindustries.co/ Follow Lucas Cao linkedin.com/in/lucas-cao-6a3412b1/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today https://shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ryan and Ashley Reynolds are owners of a high 7 figure subscription and e immerse brand that is embracing tactile analog planning in the digital age. Ashley founded the business in 2015 and the two have operated the business together ever since.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:49] Intro[01:30] Channeling inner entrepreneurial qualities[02:13] Entrepreneurship starts from a place of need[03:31] Stumbling upon the right community[04:00] How Cloth and Paper’s first design came to life [04:49] The shift from personal endeavor to business[06:11] Focusing on community engagement[07:08] Printing the first products by hand[08:16] Growing the business around the community[09:14] Learning that customers don’t want other products[10:21] Subscription box as a way to liquidate inventory[11:08] Episode sponsors[14:32] Using an easy subscription platform[15:15] Switching to a more robust app [16:21] Maintaining organic growth for 3 years[16:53] Tapping into other marketing efforts[17:21] Knowing what your customers want at certain times[17:52] Leveraging Meta and Google Ads[18:16] Fail fast, pivot, and move forward[18:51] Hiring employees for tasks you’re not good at[19:28] Finding out where your skills best fit [20:03] Keep a lean business for as long as possible[21:01] How co-founders should work side by side[22:34] Invest in people’s talents and potential growth[23:32] Bring in skills that you don't have at a C level[24:15] Where to get aesthetic planning toolsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeLuxury aesthetic stationery and planners clothandpaper.com/Follow Ashley Reynolds linkedin.com/in/ashley-r-a52bb9154/Follow Ryan Reynolds https://www.linkedin.com/in/rnr7h/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts https://electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today https://shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert https://sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Gavin first founded Disco Labs, an agency that specializes in custom solutions for the world's biggest brands. With the sole focus of deep platform knowledge and ecosystem leadership, Disco Labs is the global partner of choice for complex projects involving Shopify. In addition to working with startups, scale-ups, and large enterprises, Disco Labs has released numerous open-source projects, and written detailed courses teaching others how to successfully build custom and public applications on Shopify. From Disco Labs came Submarine. After over a decade working with leading ecommerce merchants and solving complex challenges for them, we saw the need for better building blocks for merchants, agencies and developers when it comes to customer experiences that go beyond the transactional. Originally built as an internal tool to deliver those experiences, Submarine’s now a constantly-evolving platform accessible to all and tasked with making innovative commerce experiences possible for the world’s leading brands. Gavin is also the author of The Definitive Guide to Shopify Themes, a slew of popular Shopify frameworks like Bootstrap for Shopify and Cart.js, and numerous articles for publications like net magazine. He can often be seen popping up on Shopify podcasts and blogs across the internet, or in person speaking at meetups and conferences around the world.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:49] Intro[01:14] Start of the journey on the Shopify ecosystem[02:54] Witnessing the evolution of Shopify[03:46] The transition from freelancing to running an agency[04:45] Being a niche in the early years of Shopify[05:55] Agencies aren’t all one size[07:18] The contrast between functions and specializations[08:24] Custom apps require specific skill sets[09:29] New functions & extensions on Shopify products[10:16] A platform built for customization requests [11:29] Visible capabilities get people’s attention[12:01] Flexibility & accessibility for all merchants[12:56] The transition from an agency to a product[14:04] Challenges in running two different businesses[14:34] The defining moment that motivated the shift[15:09] Deciding what’s the top priority[16:41] Accepting suggestions from the audience[17:55] Seeing your hard work paying off[19:07] Shoehorning your business is a sign you need help[20:25] Submarine’s approach to different business needs[21:06] What Submarine has to offer[22:02] The cost of trying to do things on your own[22:39] Managing overly complex customization requests[23:47] Keeping it simple and applying flexibility[25:10] How Submarine can help your businessResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFlexible commerce that connects with customers getsubmarine.com/Follow Gavin Ballard linkedin.com/in/gavinballard/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Russ is a repeat startup founder with a consistent track record of getting companies from zero to 8 figures+ of revenue. He’s previously on the founding team at Hello Bello. Mike is an entrepreneur and angel investor with 10+ years experience in consumer tech and products. He’s previously a founder of PRNCPLS, Co-Founder of Cameo (acquired by Vimeo), Partner at Parlor Coffee. Freestyle's diapers and wipes are sold at over 1000 grocery stores around the US, including at all Whole Foods locations nationwide. See their latest designs at www dot freestyle dot world.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:48] Intro[01:31] Connecting with your potential co-founder[02:31] Establishing what differentiates you from the rest[03:11] Using an organic ingredient as a main component[03:58] The balance between co-founders & their skill sets[05:48] Delegation and stepping into each other’s shoes[07:13] Unique challenges of running a diaper brand[08:40] Validating the idea through market research[09:14] Run ambitious tests to try out if the idea works[10:06] Episode sponsors[15:13] Dedicating a budget and a strategy[16:20] The ideation behind building a prototype[17:19] Keeping the capital intact through fundraising[18:17] Timeline: from inception to the official launch[19:12] Using relevant influencers to spread the word[19:42] Launching limited edition merch and accessories[20:21] The stereotyped story of becoming a dad[21:05] The inspiring story Freestyle wants to deliver[21:58] Collaborating with the community[23:05] Allocating budget to re-engage audiences[23:38] Ensuring a seamless retail experience[24:12] Having multiple touch points for wider reach[24:44] The secret to a successful D2C business[25:46] Where to get high-performance diaper & wipesResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeHigh-performing diapers for parents and for the planet freestyle.world/Follow Guest Russ Wallace linkedin.com/in/russwallace/Follow Mike Constantiner linkedin.com/in/mikeconstantiner/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Walter Hinchman is the CEO and founder of Swolverine. He has multiple fitness certifications, as well as a Masters in Business from the University of Nevada. Walter has more than 12 years in the fitness industry, and is currently pursuing his Masters in Human Nutrition And Functional Medicine.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:43] Intro[01:14] A business idea from a personal dilemma[02:16] Taking the jump to build a startup business[02:42] Giving the actual clinical doses customers expect [03:06] Providing full transparency and labeling[04:02] Starting with less but gaining more along the way[05:03] Taking calculated risks and strategic investments[05:42] Challenges push business owners to persevere[06:29] Doing your best for anything and everything[06:54] Episode sponsors[10:18] You are ought to hustle your way up[11:40] Exerting efforts to grow your business[12:10] Believing in yourself & knowing success takes time[13:15] Content is King, Traffic is God[14:22] Regularly releasing content to keep the momentum[15:04] Gradual Change, Continuous Efforts[16:15] Targeting people already connected with the brand[17:11] Optimizing content marketing through SEO [18:09] Get performance supplements from SwolverineResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScientifically proven performance supplements swolverine.com/Follow Walter Hinchman linkedin.com/in/walterhinchman/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Zack Schreier is the cofounder and CEO of Lifestacks, and previously the creator of Quevos Egg White chips for which he secured a deal on Shark Tank. As a Type 1 Diabetic, Zack is obsessed with building a lifestyle that supports his health and performance holistically, and he's passionate about creating and sharing products that delight and empower others. Zack recognized a widespread deficit in focus, energy, and willpower, leading to the founding of Lifestacks and the development of their first product, a delicious supplement-infused coffee creamer that helps consumers be at their best.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:41] Intro[02:03] Being your own health’s steward[02:49] Creating the world's first egg-white chips[03:41] Kick starting a more high-impact business[04:01] Gained exposure from evolving marketing channels[05:13] A pivotal experience at Shark Tank[05:44] Prepping to effectively pitch the business[06:26] A successful deal with an expert in the space[06:58] A sustained lift after the Shark Tank episode[08:00] Stockpiling inventory to accommodate future demand[08:51] Don’t let one time wonders deviate you[10:21] Balancing business management and personal goals[11:17] Good health means improved daily performance[12:50] Rebranding a high commodity product[13:51] Episode sponsors[19:00] Using a different approach to Lifestacks[20:19] Focusing on a specific & accessible target market[20:42] Validating products through customer feedback[21:22] Repeat purchase as success indicator[22:22] The circular causality of business[23:10] Driving more awareness to a broader audience[23:51] The importance of branding and brand message[25:16] The missionary, the mother, and the mechanic[26:11] Lifestacks thrive in formulation and R&D[27:10] Improving your health with LifestacksResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeSupplement-infused coffee creamer for improved productivity and performance lifestacks.com/Follow Zack Schreier linkedin.com/in/zack-schreier-808935137/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Bahadir, coming from a digital product management background, crafted products for both small online businesses and public DTC companies like Martha Stewart’s Marley Spoon. In the past 5 years, he has been leading his tech company Fabrikatör (can be read as fabricator in English) building solutions for DTC businesses.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:49] A business born out of witnessing inventory pains[02:47] Providing solution for out of stock/overstock [03:48] Challenges arise when solving inventory issues[04:58] When an inventory planning software is needed[06:10] Prepare your stocks for peak seasons[06:37] Prioritize inventory as early as you can[07:24] Learn spreadsheets for a solid foundation[08:14] The painful lag between investments and supply[09:38] Using a unified platform to track all operations[10:41] Monitor where you park your cash and capital[11:38] Inventory forecasting makes or breaks a business[12:35] Successfully using pre-orders as a research tool[14:10] Your storefront reflecting your inventory[15:15] An inventory solution for every step of operations[16:56] Pre-orders as a safety net for unexpected issues[17:45] Inventory issues affect marketing efforts as well[18:41] Collaborative platform for marketing and operations[19:43] Overstocking costs more in an ever-changing market[20:20] Reducing carbon footprint as an Ecommerce business[21:21] Get started with Fabrikator’s all-around solutionsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeInventory management software for Shopify fabrikator.io/Follow Bahadir Efeoglu linkedin.com/in/befeoglu/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Mackie is the CEO of WOO More Play, a direct-to-consumer sexual wellness brand with a focus on natural, organic ingredients and female-forward products to spark a better intimate life. WOO More Play's purpose is to empower women to have better sex, by delivering high-quality intimacy products that put her first. Have the best sex of your life with WOO More Play: woomoreplay.comIn This Conversation We Discuss:[00:47] Intro[02:01] Gaining passion and purpose for your work[03:12] Solving personal problems by exploring opportunities[04:34] Successful products come from a personal need[05:15] Building the brand with its first product[06:29] Leveraging Ecom to communicate with the audience[06:44] Facing the technicalities and issues as a startup[07:17] Maintaining optimism when starting a business[07:52] Where professionalism and passion meets[09:24] Navigating growth channels to find out what works[10:16] Starting a podcast to engage with the audience[11:14] The power of word-of-mouth in driving sales[11:42] Episode sponsors[16:49] Additional complexity in the “vice industry”[17:55] Dealing with shadow banning in the space [18:41] The underlying stigma on women and sex[19:34] The challenge of acquiring payment processors[21:19] Obedience and resilience over ever-changing rules [22:11] Challenges present opportunities to de-stigmatize[22:50] Business is about things you believe is for good [23:32] Building community & loyalty for recommendations[24:15] How earned media do wonders for a business[25:14] Consider context in every product innovation [27:27] The secret to business success is: keep going[28:10] Where to check out WOO More PlayResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeOrganic and female-forward sexual wellness brand https://woomoreplay.com/Follow Mackie Swan https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackie-swan/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts https://electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today https://shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert https://sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Suzie Cyrenne co-founded two successful businesses, an e-commerce store in 2013 and a software company in 2018, where she currently serves as COO in both companies. Suzie is also passionate about empowering women in business, evidenced by her podcast, Women Powering Ecommerce. Suzie's drive and dedication to excellence make her an excellent recommendation for her expertise in entrepreneurship and commitment to empowering others.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:46] Intro[01:17] Homeopathy remedies for pet parents[01:51] Optimizing shipping costs for businesses[03:20] Building a business you can vouch for[04:50] Switching gears to know what works[05:32] Taking risks once the potential is in sight[06:42] The journey from ideation to actual product making[07:20] Mistakes and tryouts along the way[07:53] Learning the hard way means learning more things[09:31] Interviewing people to build backlinks[10:20] Investing on paid ads[10:55] Accepting mediocrity and going up from there[12:30] Doing outsourcing with the right mindset[12:54] Podcast sponsors[18:03] Seeing gradual but effective SEO results[18:27] Leveraging email marketing to gain more revenue[19:32] Challenges arise from expensive shipping costs[20:35] Solving shipping issues with proactive tracking[21:57] Assigning employees for efficient invoice checks[22:54] Save shipping costs by working with your carriers[24:11] Delegating tasks to manage both businesses[25:15] Evaluate what important tasks only you can do[25:58] Organize and stick to your calendar[26:54] Running EOS and learning from experts[28:06] Decide when to automate or delete tasks[28:33] Suzie’s podcast aims to empower entrepreneurs[30:01] Where to check out Zumalka and Buster FetcherResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeNatural and homeopathic remedies for pets zumalka.com/Providing optimized solutions for shipping costs busterfetcher.com/en/Follow Suzie Cyrenne linkedin.com/in/suzie-cyrenne/Listen to Women Powering Ecommerce podcast youtube.com/channel/UC0usS1mUnpBZH5hApECG9BgSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

John-David Klausner is SVP of Business Development & Strategic Alliances at Loop Returns. JD has led & scaled commercial teams in high-growth companies across different continents.He loves building partner ecosystems, channel sales programs (via agencies, consultants and technology partners) that drive revenue impact across all GTM functions and solving corporate challenges with strategic partnerships that unlock new revenue streams. JD’s mantra is to lead with energy, creativity, clarity, and empathy. When he’s not hard at work with Loop, you can find JD spending quality time with his three kids in Miami.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:43] Intro[01:20] JD’s journey towards Loop[03:12] Always prepare big for the peak season [04:32] Look for opportunities to decrease expenses[05:02] Build cost-effective returns flows[06:00] Be on the lookout even after success[06:46] Diversify carrier strategy to save shipping costs[08:14] Use automated rate shopping[08:45] Get pre-negotiated rates with carriers[09:10] Leverage return vendors for discounted rates[10:00] Communicate with 3PLs and warehouses[11:07] Optimize supply chain and logistics operation[11:48] It's all about the customer experience[12:43] Improve customer satisfaction & its lifetime value[13:13] Balancing shipping costs and inventory[13:55] In-person return bars vs at-home pickups [15:13] Eliminate the cost of the reverse logistics flow[16:23] Approach business, sales and returns strategically[17:28] Deliver convenience & flexibility for the customer[19:10] Reduce returns and abuse with integrated RMS[21:40] Be wise with return products and their costs[22:47] Item grading and dispositioning with Loop[24:01] Make shopping easy & seamless for customers[24:27] Helping brands solve returns and limit impact[24:47] Sustainability with resellers/recommerce partners[25:16] Check out resources from JD and LoopResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeReturn management platform that grows with brands loopreturns.com/Seamless returns management solution, book a demo at loopreturns.com/book-a-demo-today/How to Optimize Your Reverse Logistics During Peak Season loopreturns.com/how-to-optimize-your-reverse-logistics-during-peak-season/Peak season content on Loop website loopreturns.com/peak-season/Follow John-David Klausner linkedin.com/in/johndavidklausner/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jeremy Shepherd is a leader, innovator, and a disruptor. From an early age, he struck out on his own to satisfy his fierce independence, need for adventure, and a more satisfying way of life.In a sector dominated by generations-old family businesses, Jeremy endeavored to become a first generation, self-taught pearl importer, dealer, and Internet seller.Over the past 20 years, he has traveled to pearl-producing areas all over the world, creating relationships with pearl producers, exporters, and people dedicated to supporting the pearl industry.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:45] Intro[01:23] Discovering a business idea that’s fit to your job[03:31] Learning the highs and lows of the pearl industry[04:18] Creating effective platforms from the get-go[05:21] Utilizing resources to move things forward[06:27] Maintaining things at satisfying levels[07:56] Doing auctions to reach more people[08:55] Putting up a website in the year 2000[11:47] Shifting from auctions to Ecommerce[12:20] Keeping up with the technology and the times[13:29] PR articles gives businesses exposure[14:44] Creating educational websites for target audiences[16:22] Fixing issues quickly to not hinder incoming sales[17:21] Clearing things up with credit card processors[18:08] Episode sponsors[21:34] Remaining fully involved in your business[23:37] How business is built on relationships[24:49] Bringing immeasurably valuable pearls to customers[26:02] It all comes down to the way pearls are sourced[27:21] Integrating different marketing efforts to succeed[28:01] Adjusting business operations due to the pandemic[30:11] Using virtual platforms to connect with customers[31:44] Enhancing online meetings to mimic f2f experience[32:39] The biggest business secret: Help A Reporter[34:14] Practice your elevator pitch to make it to the list[35:00] Backlinks are the backbone of SEO[35:33] Where to reach Pearl ParadiseResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeOne of the largest pearl brands in the world pearlparadise.com/Follow Jeremy Shepherd linkedin.com/in/jeremypshepherd/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Austin Duvall is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Duvin Design Co, a lifestyle brand known for its vibrant and retro inspired leisure apparel. You can find the brand at DuvinDesign.com and find him at @duvallnightlong on Instagram and Twitter.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:45] Intro[01:42] How Duvin Design started[02:42] Talking to customers to find out what works[03:09] Building things up from little experience[04:01] Factoring and establishing an online presence[04:46] Finding customers in person and online[05:52] How to appeal to influencers and affiliates[06:49] Combining different approaches to marketing [07:27] Pick the middle ground for effective pricing[08:54] Capitalizing on organic growth[09:23] Monitoring things on a regular basis[10:15] Creating valuable content on all platforms[11:02] Episode sponsors[16:37] Learning from past mistakes [17:21] Scaling manufacturing up in different locations[18:18] Focusing on the business after years of results[19:23] Where to check out Duvin DesignResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeGo-to beach brand for breezy leisure garments duvindesign.com/Follow Austin Duvall linkedin.com/in/austin-duvall-211621b7/Follow Austin Duvall twitter.com/duvallnightlongSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ray Nolan is founder and CEO of eDesk, an innovative customer support platform for eCommerce sellers. Ray has founded, mentored and invested in many digital commerce startups over a period of 20 years; including Hostelworld, Skyscanner and Ding.com. Ray founded eDesk after seeing friends running a high margin eCommerce business and struggling with operational efficiencies and profitable scaling. Today eDesk powers thousands of merchants around the world, using AI to help them provide faster and more personalized support to their customers.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:44] Intro[02:36] Knowing what your competitors are up to[03:27] Building key differentiators from competitors[04:10] Using AI to simplify customer support processes[05:33] Learning to refine your interactions with AI tools[06:19] How AI helps in ideating and outlining[07:20] Incorporating AI in your workflow[08:19] Maximizing AI for things you’re not adept with[08:56] Experimenting with the add-ons[09:09] ChatGPT and the convenience it brings[11:25] Synopsizing ticket history using AI tools[12:41] AI giving a more streamlined customer support[14:23] The importance of continuity in customer support[15:37] Chatbots and SLAs in the Ecommerce space[16:22] Leveraging ChatGPT to categorize tickets[18:01] Advantages of hands-free replies[18:23] Proof that AI still needs human assistance[19:55] Outsourcing mundane elements to AI-assisted houses[20:50] Customers expecting faster response times[21:16] Delivering expected support fast is the key[22:01] What eDesk offersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFaster, smarter customer support for Ecommerce https://www.edesk.com/Follow Ray Nolan https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranolan/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Nicole Jenney, a passionate animal lover, transformed her life and her business by welcoming two rescue guinea pigs into her home. Her genuine affection for these furry companions, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, has propelled her to incredible success. With over 7 figures in sales and the prestigious title of 'best pet subscription' at the 2022 cube awards, Nicole is eagerly anticipating the exciting opportunities that lie ahead this year!In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:44] Intro[01:44] A business idea during the pandemic[02:29] Launching a novel idea to see where it goes[03:05] Planning things and creating a timeline[04:15] Investing in education and logistics[05:21] Building a website and Shopify account[06:00] Start somewhere and adapt accordingly[07:39] Nurturing your social media audience[08:12] Investing in paid advertising[09:11] Getting exposure from Instagram Reels[15:09] Investing right away to see conversions right away[15:55] Upping the budget as sales come in[16:25] The power of organic reach and referrals[17:16] Realizing your business has it going[18:54] Getting support from relevant people[20:13] Always have a Plan B with suppliers[21:21] Expect more challenges and adapt to change[21:49] Challenges in launching another niche business[22:33] Relaunching after learning things[23:15] Doing what you love as your business[23:45] People are drawn to passion and dedication[24:10] Support GPigBox and Bunny BoxResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeSafe and healthy treats and toys for your guinea pigs gpigbox.com/Subscription box with healthy rabbit food, fun toys and nutritious treats getbunnybox.com/Follow Nicole Jenney linkedin.com/in/nicolejenney/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Albert Matheny is the CEO of Promix Nutrition. Albert has a Master’s degree in Human Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology & Food Science. He is a Registered Dietitian Track and Field Athlete, and an alum at the University of Florida (2004-2009).In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:59] Intro[01:35] Starting a business from scratch[03:01] Finding people that’s interested in your product[04:15] Reaching out to relevant people for insights[04:44] Building things up based on learnings[05:36] Placing products where target audience can see it[06:35] Finding the right niche for your business[07:37] Building presence on Amazon[08:11] Leveraging Unique Selling Points to draw people in[09:02] Slowly investing on things that help grow your business[09:36] Partnering with someone that gets you[10:12] The importance of awareness in the marketing funnel[14:22] Taking control of your business’ growth[15:06] Establishing your brand image outside of Amazon[15:58] Delegating tasks to people that fits the role[17:12] Balancing different sets of skills vital to a business [18:18] Recognizing trivial but equally crucial parts[20:04] Where to check out Promix Nutrition[20:22] Sticking to and doing more of what works[22:10] Tuning in to reality checks from time to time[22:57] Knowing when & where to pour out maximum efforts[23:59] Monitoring risks and doing necessary adjustments[24:29] Listening to good advisors for clear guidelinesResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScience-driven and performance-driven products for athletes promixnutrition.com/Follow Albert Matheny linkedin.com/in/albertmatheny/Follow Promix Nutrition instagram.com/promix/?hl=enSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Browze, specializing in home and kitchen products, successfully delivered over 2.5 million packages worldwide. After opening his own China-based fulfillment center to improve customer experience, Izzy recognized an opportunity to assist other DTC brands with direct shipping to their customers, leading to the birth of Portless. With Portless, Izzy aims to revolutionize the industry by massively improving DTC's cash flow and profit margins through direct fulfillment. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:52] Intro[01:15] How Portless helps DTC brands with shipping[02:26] Building a business based on personal pain points [03:09] The evolving space of cross border logistics[03:53] Seizing better opportunities on and for DTC brands[04:59] How shipping containers disrupted manufacturing[06:01] Grabbing unexpected business opportunities [07:08] Balancing existing and new businesses[08:24] How industries can save more with Portless[10:15] Section 321, the de minimis[11:16] Using FBA injections for faster transactions [11:44] Generating profits from strategic shipping options[13:13] Streamlining supply chains and local experiences[13:47] Going international on your business[14:32] Creating specific experiences internationally[15:32] How integration works at Portless[16:51] Ways to reach out to Izzy and PortlessResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeA go-to Ecommerce shipping platform trusted by top companies www.portless.com/Affordable home decor and kitchen accessories browze.com/Follow Izzy Rosenzweig linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Bani Bahari is co-founder and CEO of OffCourt. She has spent the last 10 years in retail and beauty - in her past life she was a strategy consultant at Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Glossier. She comes from a family business in beauty. At OffCourt, she does all product development and operations. Jonathan is a co-founder of OffCourt - he comes from management consulting background and real estate development and finance. At OffCourt, he is in charge of finance, strategy and branding. In This Conversation We Discuss:[01:11] Intro[01:53] The idea behind OffCourt[02:22] Testing the waters and taking risks[04:11] Establishing OffCourt’s branding[04:33] Prioritizing product development[05:19] Finding people to work with[06:03] Social media presence for a new business[06:28] Tying in with manufacturers early on [06:53] Venturing the market of fragrances[07:27] Importance of communication as a team[08:08] Launching products and managing expectations[08:34] The power of PR for a new business[09:46] The pressure of being new to the business[11:10] Success takes time and consistent efforts[12:54] Raising money and self-funding as a start[18:55] Testing out different PR strategies[19:48] Knowing when and how much to invest in marketing[20:43] Using customer’s touch points to sell your products[22:36] Finalizing things and reaching out to retailers[23:45] Pushing through to land a breakthrough[24:32] Facing the ambiguity of retailer’s conditions[26:50] Business don’t always go as planned[27:32] Having different mindsets in different situations[28:51] Keeping an open mind after every rejection[29:20] The importance of finding a good rep firm[30:40] Having the conviction to change plans when needed[30:53] Where to check out OffCourt[31:09] Discount code: honestcommerce15Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFunctional, personal care company for active people offcourt.com/Follow Bani Bahari linkedin.com/in/bani-bahari/Follow Jonathan Lawrence linkedin.com/in/jonathan-lawrence-177ab133/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Kris Dehnert is a serial entrepreneur and has been making money online since 2008. Having experience in multiple industries such as sports, hard goods, affiliate marketing, restaurants, apparel, consulting, cannabis, etc., Kris has a wealth of knowledge regarding business infrastructure, creative marketing, networking, and sales strategies. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, which makes baseball bat barrels into collectible barware. Dugout is currently an Inc 5000 company for the past three years, surpassed $40 million in sales, distributed internationally, and is one of the fastest growing licensees in Major League Baseball.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:45] Intro[02:00] The man behind the idea of Dugout Mugs[03:16] Reaching out to a potential business partner[04:28] Let the audience see the product for themselves[05:08] Using relevance to pique people’s interests [05:52] Catering to people’s behavior on social media[06:30] Partners don’t co-exist in the same lane[07:19] Showing what you can bring to the table as partner[08:33] Build to where you’re going[09:07] The importance of licensing for custom products[09:55] The power of networking[10:27] Cutting through the noise with paid ads[10:53] Getting & selling to as many customers as you can[11:28] Leveraging your email lists[12:15] Making the most out of UGC and reviews[16:57] Staying aligned with your morals and goals[17:54] The downside of being blinded by greed and money[18:19] Building and keeping a healthy work culture[19:47] Focusing on one task and outsourcing the rest[20:33] Reflecting on your skills & your role in the team[21:35] Doing what you like with the right people[22:24] Happiness over money [23:10] Defining what success means to you[24:22] Reflection & alignment makes decision-making easier[24:58] Where to check out Dugout MugsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePersonalized premium baseball bat-themed barware to enjoy the game dugoutmugs.com/Follow Kris Dehnert linkedin.com/in/krisdehnert/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Chris Long is the VP of Marketing for the Go Fish Digital team. He works with unique problems and advanced search situations to help clients improve organic traffic through a deep understanding of Google's algorithm and web technology. In This Conversation We Discuss: (50 Characters)[00:45] Intro[01:07] ChatGPT for SEO[02:28] ChatGPT for more technical things[03:07] Utilizing ChatGPT for auditing[04:26] Setting up a Shopify site with the help of ChatGPT[06:00] Figuring out your category page strategy[07:16] Generating feedback from ChatGPT for page setup[08:08] ChatGPT for product reviews[08:55] Using ChatGPT to import third-party data[09:36] Prompting ChatGPT to create a visualization[10:47] Using ChatGPT for CRO and SEO[11:29] Embracing AI as marketers [12:51] ChatGPT as a baseline for every marketer’s output[13:12] Marketers on ChatGPT as part of SEO workflow[13:56] ChatGPT vs a strong technical SEO[14:55] Weak mathematical functionality of ChatGPT[15:26] Verifying ChatGPT’s content accuracy & sensitivity[16:00] Checking information quality for health & finance [16:34] Drawbacks of taking ChatGPT at face value[17:46] Technical skills made accessible by ChatGPT[19:01] AI tools help create new custom solutions[19:32] How to reach out to Go Fish Digital Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeMost-awarded, data-first digital agency in the United States by the Global Search Awards gofishdigital.com/Follow Chris Long on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chris-long-marketing/Follow Chris Long on Twitter twitter.com/gofishchrisIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Caroline Cotto is the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Renewal Mill, a venture-backed startup creating a new circular economy of food by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into ingredients. A food marketing and nutrition specialist, Caroline has experience at the UN World Food Programme in Cambodia, the White House (for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative), Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, and HubSpot, where she ran the women’s diversity program globally. Caroline grew up in food, working for her family’s ice cream business in the town of Sandwich, MA. Caroline serves as the Board President of the Upcycled Food Association, and formerly served as a Fulbright Fellow in Taiwan.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:00] What is Renewal Mill?[01:41] Validating the idea for Renewal Mill[03:06] Renewal Mill’s first product[04:32] Workarounds of introducing a new product[05:04] Renewal Mill’s ideation process and timeline[05:43] How Renewal Mill entered the Ecommerce space[06:15] Driving awareness for upcycled food[06:58] Renewal Mill’s B2B go-to market strategy[07:50] Considering B2C to generate short-term revenue[12:59] Challenges of being a new B2C business[13:40] Two ways Renewal Mill overcame the challenges[14:17] Driving traffic to their website through partnerships[14:59] Partnerships are both a win and a challenge[15:38] Finding ways to stand out from other brands[16:00] Brand advocacies vs what consumers actually care about[16:28] Tailor brand messages to appeal to customers[16:57] Leveraging upcycling as their Unique Selling Point[17:31] The power of interviewing your customers[18:12] Know where customers live online and offline[18:45] Staying in traditional retail for impulse buyers[19:21] Limited offers to reel in loyal customers[20:00] Where to support Renewal MillResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeUpcycled, crave-worthy, & climate-friendly food renewalmill.comFollow Caroline linkedin.com/in/carolinecotto/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Michael Hodgen is a visionary entrepreneur and the dynamic CEO of Freedom Rave Wear, a trailblazing company that designs and manufactures cutting-edge, sustainable festival clothing. Under Michael's leadership, Freedom Rave Wear has become a frontrunner in the festival fashion industry, known for its innovative designs, eco-friendly practices, and commitment to the community. Driven by a strong belief in sustainability and manufacturing, Michael has integrated environmentally friendly materials and processes into the company's operations. With his finger on the pulse of the latest Ecommerce trends, Michael has skillfully navigated the ever-evolving online marketplace, ensuring Freedom Rave Wear continues to thrive and expand. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:00] What is Freedom Rave Wear?[03:17] Validating the idea for FRW[04:46] Starting to grow the brand organically[05:53] How FRW became an online business[08:46] Evolving the manufacturing capacity[10:55] Why FRW choose to manufacture in-house[13:16] Production based on what the customer really wants[14:54] Minimums can be a limiting factor for your business[15:38] Apparel brands don’t have to manufacture in-house[16:46] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/connect[17:44] Sponsor: Shopify https://shopify.com/honest[19:26] Sponsor: Sendlane https://sendlane.com/honest[20:52] Cashflow advantages of not having deadstock[22:15] COVID was especially challenging for FRW[22:39] Pivoting to Fabric Punch[23:32] The advantages of having a micro factory[24:18] Having a close feedback loop with customers[25:40] Scaling up from “festival” customer acquisition[26:51] The innate synergy in FRW’s niche[27:57] When you should consider paid ads[28:42] How FRW does their paid ads[29:51] Where to support FRWResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeBody positive, eco-friendly, & affordable reedomravewear.comFollow Michael linkedin.com/in/michaelhodgenSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Nik Sharma is widely known as “The DTC Guy,” a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, AdWeek’s Young & Influential, and a resource that brands and investors turn to for growth. Nik is the active CEO of Sharma Brands and HOOX, where clients include Feastables, Chamberlain Coffee, Roc Nation, Everlane, Jim Beam, Poo~Pourri, and more. Before entering the eCommerce world, Nik worked on social media strategies for A-list celebrities, including Pitbull, Priyanka Chopra, and MAGIC!, to natively increase distribution and increase fan interaction and engagement for the purpose of driving album sales.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:11] Nik’s timeline in Ecom[02:06] Landing pages and why you need them[04:27] Why brands don’t use landing pages[04:57] How you should approach landing pages[06:48] Higher conversion rates with landing pages[08:50] Landing pages are just one piece of the puzzle[09:19] The importance of a sales angle[12:02] The equal amounts of “push and pull sections”[13:23] It can take multiple CTAs to make customers act[13:47] Differentiating sales from conversion events[14:37] How conversion events help ad platforms[17:17] Scenario: Consulting a $1M brand to go 5 -10X[18:41] The Office’s definition of merchandising[20:31] Reduce the complexity of your offers[20:59] Landing pages for high AOV brands[21:55] Determining if email is for retention/acquisition[22:40] Parsing out content through different channels[23:24] The easiest trick for landing pages[24:13] Building out landing pages for mostly education[25:43] DIY landing pages and other platforms[27:52] How Nik got his passion from landing pages[29:38] The idea and model of HOOX[31:05] Where to find HOOXResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeBranding services are designed to grow, operate, and advise DTC brands in the digital landscape to meet their full potential sharmabrands.comLanding pages that unlock more efficient advertising spend hoox.coFollow Nik linkedin.com/in/mrniksharmaSubscribe to Nik’s newsletter - nik.co/subscribe Follow Nik on Twitter - @mrsharmaThe only landing page builder to combine 10 years of conversion data with the power of AI unbounce.comShopify pages without the dev time replo.appIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Annie Slabotsky and Morgan Lerner are the co-founders of GoNanas, a women-owned, vegan, gluten-free, and top allergen-free banana bread company at the forefront of the #1 comfort food trend. Since the company's inception, Annie and Morgan have launched GoNanas into 2,000 retail locations globally, including Whole Foods and Target. They have also earned appearances on QVC, Good Morning America, and in Forbes, and USA Today.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] The types of products that GoNanas is selling[01:27] Where the idea of GoNanas came from[02:21] Shelf life of baked loaves vs bread mix[02:47] Was the pivot immediate or calculated?[03:39] Killing off the first product line[05:18] Capitalizing on the viral traction[06:17] The split between wholesale and retail channels[07:24] More tips for going to retail as a CPG brand[08:41] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[09:38] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[11:04] How GoNanas gets customers for D2C[12:55] What GoNanas would have done before[14:02] You can never really be hands-off[15:39] How the wholesale part of GoNanas work with D2C[17:29] Innovation helps guide you to success[18:09] Always evaluate your strategy regularly[18:49] Create systems as you grow[19:26] Where to support GoNanasResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube#notyournanas banana bread eatgonanas.comFollow Annie linkedin.com/in/annieslabotskyFollow Morgan linkedin.com/in/morgan-lernerSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honesIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Peter Reitano is a founder, operator, and investor with 15 + years of experience in the consumer brand and advertising world.Deeply passionate about all things that enable meaningful connections & better health. In addition to leading several businesses through periods of high-growth and acquisition, Peter sits on multiple boards, has a successful fundraising track-record, international exposure and transaction experience.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:13] What are Mojo products?[02:04] How Peter got started in the industry[04:21] Next step: Acting on the idea you have[06:40] Mojo’s go-to-market strategy[08:16] Broad targeting vs narrow targeting[09:26] Copy and creative drives results[09:58] Budget allocation for customer acquisition[11:58] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[12:56] Sponsor: Shopify shopify.com/honest[14:38] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[16:04] Blending paid and organic strategies[16:53] How PR helps in retargeting [17:32] Mojo’s content play[18:27] Launching a brand in a “controlled” category[21:24] Challenges of CBD brands[22:42] Peter’s history in agencies and Academy[26:58] Agencies should at least try to launch a brand [28:25] Where to support Mojo[28:47] Where to support AcademyResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeMushroom gummies boosting focus, productivity, mood & energy mojo.shopContent agency built for strategic performance madebyacademy.comProvides psychedelic support to better the well through science, education, and products gwellamushrooms.comConnect with Peter linkedin.com/in/peterreitanoSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

With over 20 years launching and operating high growth, high volume beauty and medical aesthetics businesses, Shay oversees a broad purview of business operations for her two businesses, including recruitment, training and education, sales, and employee relations. Currently, she functions as Co-Founder/Co-CEO of Kucumber Skin Lounge, a leading multi location medical spa in the Pacific Northwest, and Co-Founder/Co-CEO of Viktor Michael, a new pre and post injection Recovery Care Collection proven to defy downtime by up to 50%.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:54] What are Viktor Michael products?[01:17] Where the idea for Viktor Michael come from[03:41] The 4 ingredients that they started on[04:54] Meeting chemists and formulation[08:06] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[09:03] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[10:29] How long from concept to version 1.0?[11:16] Branching out from brick and mortar customers[13:41] Being chosen for Bridge Mentorship for TBV[14:48] Don’t be afraid to stop[16:36] Where to find and support Viktor MichaelResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeLuxury Pre & Post Injection Recovery Care viktormichael.comConnect with Shay linkedin.com/in/shay-sim-4579ba260Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Gina is a long-time operator and advisor in the consumer industry. She started her career in Email and Content Management and has since emerged as one of the industry’s most pronounced thought leaders on all things customer experience and retention. 5 years ago, she and her co-founder, Pierson Krass, set out to start a different kind of agency. Lunar Solar Group was built on the idea that technology empowers e-commerce brands to scale. Gina has worked on launching and scaling brands like Olipop, Super Coffee, Lemon Perfect, and many other leading e-commerce brands that you all know and love. Most recently, Gina co-founded Stay Ai which is the subscription platform for modern e-commerce brands where she currently operates the company’s CEO.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:54] What is Stay Ai and what does it solve?[02:07] How Gina became passionate about subscriptions[03:59] Lunar Solar Group: Clients, solutions, evolution[05:18] Building and selling KnoCommerce[07:50] From an agency to building an app[09:42] Where Stay Ai came from[11:54] Acquiring Retention Engine[15:21] The advantage of being specific in your outcome[15:55] Always have an exit strategy[17:04] No one has gone public in the Shopify ecosystem[17:37] The sign of a mature entrepreneur[18:40] The 3 things that make Stay Ai unique[21:40] Subscription tips and tricks[22:49] Where to support Stay AiResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Gina linkedin.com/in/ginaperrelliProviding revolutionary subscription management software stay.aiProviding Ecommerce and digital marketing services that drive transformational growth for our clients lunarsolargroup.comThe customer survey platform built for Ecommerce brands /knocommerce.comIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ravi Kurani has dedicated his career to water safety. From his early days as a pool boy for his father's pool and spa business to the founder of Sutro, Ravi has always wondered why everyone can’t have clean water. This feeling solidified when he was in India with First Light Ventures Fund and Village Capital. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Riverside, MBA in International Finance from Middlebury College, and a Certificate from Stanford University in Renewable Energy Systems. He believes that being an entrepreneur is an honor he must earn daily since it gives him the ability to solve problems that not only make money but help society.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:01] What are Sutro’s products?[01:59] Where the idea of Sutro came from[03:22] The gap in the market and the first prototype[05:35] The next step after building the prototype[07:52] Finding the first customers to test the product[09:31] Removing the “human element”[11:38] Changing the business model due to the pandemic[13:09] Getting the product into customers’ eyes[14:35] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[15:32] Sponsor: Shopify shopify.com/honest[17:14] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[18:54] Find the right people[20:10] Understand that the world is always changing[21:36] Strategy vs Tactics[22:32] Where to find SutroResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe world's leading water testing device mysutro.comA podcast about water through the lens of business, technology, and policy liquidassets.ccConnect with Ravi linkedin.com/in/kuraniraviSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

T is for Tot was founded by Meghan, a passionate kindergarten teacher, with the goal of making learning enjoyable for children ages 3-6. T is for Tot’s carefully crafted subscription kits provide parents with a stress-free way to support their child's academic growth through fun, play-based activities.Each T is for Tot Kit is designed to nurture a love for learning and ensure that your child is not only prepared for kindergarten but also set up for a lifetime of learning success.Meghan Foster is a mom of 2 boys, taught kindergarten for close to a decade before starting T is for Tot, I have my master's degree in elementary education as well as a business degree. T is for Tot kits are all-encompassing and delivered each month with everything included for play-based learning fun. The goal of T is for Tot l is to make it easy for parents to give their child Pinterest-like activities, while teaching them in a developmentally appropriate way at the same time. T is for Tot includes essential fundamentals in every kit, taught in a way that is fun and developmentally appropriate. There's ample early childhood research that states the importance of starting learning early, and it needs to be a play-based approach that engages the child and leads the child to eventually be motivated in his/her own learning.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:50] What are Learn and Play Kits?[01:27] Where the idea of T is for Tot come from[02:37] What comes with a typical kit?[03:25] From a creative outlet to a business[04:04] Developing the brand and subscriptions[05:22] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[06:16] Sponsor: Shopify shopify.com/honest[08:01] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[09:28] Getting the product in front of customers’ hands[10:13] From friends and family to real customers[11:06] Did T is for Tot experience growing pains?[12:00] Manufacturing and fulfillment still in-house[12:10] Meghan’s advice for people who want to start[12:59] Where to support T is for TotResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePlay-based activities to inspire a lifelong love of learning, delivered every month tisfortot.shopConnect with Meghan linkedin.com/in/meghan-foster-78589840Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Kristin Schoenstein has been a Program Director with Worldwide Business Research since 2010 and has been producing events since 2004. She currently specializes in the retail and eCommerce sector where she heads up the eTail US portfolio. She also successfully launched and grew WBR’s customer experience portfolio. In her role, she is responsible for market research, content creation and speaker faculty management for each event. Prior to WBR, she produced events in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, and got her start organizing educational programming for physicians. Kristin lives on the North Fork of Long Island with her husband and three daughters.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:12] What are eTail conferences?[01:47] Other conferences from WBR[02:25] What you will experience at eTail[04:36] Does brand size matter to benefit from eTail?[05:36] eTail is also for apps, specialists, and vendors[06:22] Networking is a huge benefit to conferences[06:49] Why next year is a special year for eTail[07:51] Tips for first-timers at eTail[09:07] Don’t overwhelm yourself, take breaks and plan[09:35] eTail discount code for Honest Ecommerce listenersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePre-register for eTail Boston 2023etaileast.wbresearch.com/srspricingUse HONESTECOMMERCE20 to get a 20% discountPre-register for eTail Palm Springs 2024 etailwest.wbresearch.com/downloads/pre-registerUse HONESTECOMMERCE20 to get a 20% discountConnect with Kristin linkedin.com/in/kristin-paulick-schoenstein-0a7aa95If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Andrei Rebrov has worked in the technology field for more than 15 years. He is the CTO and Co-Founder of Scentbird, a subscription service for perfumes and colognes, and has helped it grow to more than 500,000 active subscribers. At Scentbird, Andrei was responsible for building early versions of the platform, growing a remote engineering team and making sure that the company has technology advantages in every department, from marketing to operations. He is also a startup adviser in various industries, from aerospace to video games. Prior to Scentbird Andrei worked as an agile engineering coach, helping various companies with their technology. Prior to that he worked as a software engineer for UBS Investment Bank and Avis UK.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] What is Scentbird?[01:41] Where the idea of Scentbird came from[02:54] Implementing a trial run of a subscription[03:47] The initial batch of shipments[04:35] Andrei’s background before being a startup founder[05:55] Learning agile late in the career[06:21] When you should focus on agile[07:38] Knowing when you are onto something[08:37] The growing pains that Scentbird experienced[09:56] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[10:53] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[12:27] Build vs buy: Where Andrei draws the line[13:51] What is composable commerce?[14:55] Only go headless when you really need it[16:20] Start small and don’t make unnecessary changes[17:10] Traditional Ecom vs Subscriptions[19:30] Where to support Scentbird[19:57] Working with 2 different tech stacks[20:53] Look for things to complement your business[21:55] The advantages of acquiring an additional businessResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeDate perfumes before marrying them. Explore over 600 designer fragrances. scentbird.comConnect with linkedin.com/in/andrebrovSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Alex McIntosh is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Natural Care, a skincare company that helps regenerate your skin, our planet, and farmer communities.To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.coIn This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:53] What are Thrive Natural Care products?[01:22] Which came first, passion or product?[03:43] Business as an engine to make the world better[04:00] The starting point of Thrive Natural Care[05:10] Figuring out the idea to put your energy in[06:45] The Mini Piloto model[09:19] Getting featured in the New York Times[10:11] Regenerative farming to improve farmers’ lives[10:50] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/connect[11:47] Sponsor: Shopify https://shopify.com/honest[11:47] Sponsor: Sendlane https://sendlane.com/honest[15:12] Is it a good idea? Vs Should I not do this?[16:11] Launching a novel model bootstrapped[17:37] How the Mini Piloto was applied to Thrive[20:30] Celebrate the learning & racing to own “mistakes”[21:22] Where Thrive launched to market first[23:57] Struggles are not a period, but a cycle[24:45] Have a big vision & pay attention to your values[25:20] Culture amplifies your value[26:35] The best MBA is starting a business[26:50] The best way to support ThriveResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Alex linkedin.com/in/alex-mcintosh-4372888Regenerative, effective, plant-based skincare for every body thrivecare.coSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTake your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honestSign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial periodSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Adam Robinson is the CEO and founder of Retention.com, an industry-leading Shopify Ecommerce solution for increasing cart abandonment revenue.Adam bootstrapped Retention.com to 14M ARR with 6 people in 2.5 years, and is on the road to reaching 50M ARR by 2024. Retention.com delivers innovative customer growth solutions for e-commerce brands to monetize their first-party audience, successfully generating over $1bn in retail sales for Shopify stores since its inception in early 2020. Before starting Retention.com, Adam founded, bootstrapped and sold Robly Email Marketing, a marketing automation SaaS, for 8 figures to private equity in 2021. Adam is on a mission to support startup founders by sharing lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey through his weekly podcast “10 years in the Making”, and posts content twice-daily on LinkedIn. When he’s not busy building a unicorn startup in public, he’s spending time with his wife, Helen, newborn daughter, Emma, and dog Bonnie in Austin, TX.To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.coResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeWatch the video episode to see what Adam is sharing on his screenConnect with Adam linkedin.com/in/retentionadamShoot Adam an email if you have questions [email protected] Adam on Twitter @retentionadamQuickly and easily grow your email list and boost your shopping cart abandonment revenue with retention marketing solutions retention.com

Annamarie von Firley is the President of Adventuretown Toy Emporium, the beloved educational Ecommerce toy store that cultivates children's curiosity by learning through play.To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.coResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCultivating children's curiosity by learning through play with innovative educational toys adventuretowntoys.comHelping parents meet the developmental needs of their children under 3 years of age fledglingsflight.comConnect with Annamarie linkedin.com/in/annamarie-von-firley-b7650abSchedule an intro call with one of our experts https://electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert https://sendlane.com/honest

Paul Voge is the co-founder and CEO of Aura Bora, a national beverage company from San Francisco. Since the company’s founding in 2019, Paul has expanded the brand’s whimsical sparkling waters into more than 8,000 stores including Sprouts, Whole Foods, Target, Publix, and Wegmans. Aura Bora’s best-selling retail varieties include Lavender Cucumber, Ginger Meyer Lemon, and Cactus Rose. Plus, every month Paul and his team formulate and release online-exclusive flavors for sparkling water aficionados like Guava Eucalyptus, Mango Chili, and the infamous Green Bean Casserole. Aura Bora prides itself on being sugar-free, calorie-free, non-GMO, Whole30 certified, and made with real herbal extracts. Read more in Fortune, Business Insider, Dieline, and AdWeek. Paul’s entrepreneurial journey started with t-shirts, socks, concrete curbs, and even Christmas trees. As a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee and Shark Tank success story, he has turned Aura Bora into one of the fastest growing beverage businesses in the world. When not selling sparkling water, you can find Paul somewhere deep in the woods, away from his phone.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:12] What are Aura Bora’s products?[01:37] Where the idea of Aura Bora came from[02:50] Making sure that the market wants your product[05:09] Getting feedback from “serious drinkers”[06:41] Launching a food/bev product in Boulder, CO[08:10] When the worst case scenario isn’t too bad[09:43] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[10:40] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[12:07] Go-to-market strategy at the start of COVID[13:30] How Paul got into Whole Foods shelves[15:09] Was it the play to go wholesale first?[15:53] The pandemic forced Aura Bora to pivot to D2C[16:24] How Aura Bora got featured in Shark Tank[17:19] Preparing for the “Shark Tank Bump”[19:08] Circumventing the risks of fragile packaging[20:28] Aura Bora’s new subscription line[21:31] Where to buy to support Aura Bora directlyResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Paul linkedin.com/in/paulvogeHeavenly sparkling water made from herbs, fruits, and flowers aurabora.comSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Isaac Hyman is the founder of HiFlyer Digital, an email & SMS marketing agency for the fastest-growing e-commerce brands in the world, as well as a featured e-commerce speaker and new author of The Ultimate Ecommerce Email & SMS Playbook. Isaac is on a mission to help brands level the playing field with the top e-commerce brands and unlock the true revenue potential of every customer on their email & SMS list.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:07] The smart things that HiFlyer Digital does[02:16] Percentage of customers that just buy one time[03:49] Books and shows that help with post purchase[04:32] Customer relationships doesn’t end with the sale[05:58] Don’t just focus on the sale[06:53] The smart way to run post purchase strategies[08:10] 4 stages of the hourglass mindset[09:53] How to get Isaac’s free playbook[11:07] Relationships around Isaac helped his perspective[11:57] Isaac is gonna go back before Q4 and BFCm[12:23] Focus on the person behind the email/phone numberResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeAward-winning email marketing agency, SMS and CRM for Ecommerce brands that knows how to unlock the revenue from every customer on your list hiflyerdigital.comConnect with Isaac linkedin.com/in/isaachymanNever Lose a Customer Again book joeycoleman.com/booksGet The Ultimate Ecommerce Email & SMS Playbook, just pay for shipping and handling. Use coupon code HONEST hiflyerdigital.com/playbookIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Keith Eshelman is the co-founder & CEO of Parks Project. Parks Project, founded in 2014, came from the idea that we can all do more to support America's parklands. In the early days, Keith volunteered at trail days in local national parks—through this, he realized that there was a huge lack of participation from the next generation. To change that, he created collections of apparel and accessories that would further connect consumers with parks to raise awareness of the projects taking place daily around the country and give folks a story to wear that supports outdoor conservation.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:01] What are Parks Project’s products?[01:33] Where the idea of Parks Project came from[03:00] The progression of Parks Project products [04:59] Finding customers through organic influence[07:00] Knowing that “We’re onto something”[08:17] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[09:13] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[10:39] Insider perspectives for launching a brand[12:33] Ecom vs wholesale buyers[14:01] The evolution of the brand[15:30] Advice for founders finding product-market fit[17:30] Manage your relationships with your customers[18:39] Getting featured by Fast Company[19:18] There’s still much to do and learn[19:54] The wellness aspect of Parks Project[20:44] Where to find Parks Project[21:08] Keith’s tips when going to parksResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCelebrating America's National Parks with a line of apparel, accessories and home decor parksproject.usConnect with Keith linkedin.com/in/keith-eshelman-a972473Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Scott Crumrine is the co-founder and CEO of Guava Family, a high-performance design company creating baby gear that treats parenting like the extreme sport that it is. Previously a designer for Motion Water Sports with a specialty in wakeboard design, Scott found parents in his life frustrated with the poor performance of strollers and other family gear. Before even becoming a parent himself, Scott teamed up with fellow designers Asa Giffin and Reed Schmidt in 2009 to bring Guava Family to life with the mission to make gear more efficient, simple, and elegant to meet their needs and the needs of people like them, particularly those with active lifestyles. Guava Family's products are loved by active parents across the country, and have received prestigious innovations awards such as TIME Best Inventions, Fast Company's Innovation by Design, and a Red Dot. Scott holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University. He holds several patents in the Action Sports and Juvenile Products industry. He lives with his wife and 3 kids in Carlsbad, CA where, when not working, he loves spending time in the ocean, and teaching his little ones to surf and ski.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:01] What are Guava Family’s products?[01:30] Where the idea of Guava Family came from[03:07] Getting the first customers and initial sales[04:50] Guava Family’s first platform on 2013[05:27] Experiencing Ecom at its “infancy”[06:28] Guava Family’s marketing platforms and channels[07:38] How Scott balances Amazon and D2C[08:07] Guava Family’s customer service ethos[09:31] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[10:28] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest[11:55] Scaling a business without taking capital[13:09] Word-of-mouth marketing in the baby industry[15:49] Determining if a product line is worth doing[16:45] Selling commodity product online might be harder[17:35] Know what your business model is and stick to it[18:21] Where to find Guava Family productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeAward-winning, portable travel cribs guavafamily.comConnect with Scott linkedin.com/in/scottcrumrineSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectSchedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Entry Envy was founded in October 2021 by Jennifer Lea in Omaha, Nebraska, to help others create a welcoming entry with simplicity and convenience that also identified their home for their guests and delivery drivers. Entry Envy custom signs with modern address numbers, last names and monograms feature a small planter box for their monthly faux floral holiday and seasonal decor refill kits. Her inspiration came after a divorce and fully remodeling her home with outdated, hard-to-read house numbers and wanting something functional and fun. Entry Envy was awarded Best New Subscription of the Year by the Subscription Trade Association in 2022. Before founding Entry Envy, Jennifer served as the Executive Director for two medium sized law firms in Omaha for 18 years. She has a bachelor's degree in business with a marketing major, an Executive MBA, and is a contributing author of the book, "Wisdom Before Me." She enjoys mentoring and sharing what she has learned about managing businesses and starting her own to help others. She has two teenage daughters, a dog, and a tortoise. Her life purpose is to encourage more young women to consider the trades as a noble profession.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:58] What are Entry Envy products?[02:27] Where the idea of Entry Envy came from[07:14] Validating the idea through an art fair[09:02] Hiring a coach to help launch the brand[10:19] What was the preparation before going public?[12:15] Getting help from overseas [13:58] Don’t cheap out but don’t overspend[14:39] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[15:36] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[16:58] Showing appreciation to first supporters[17:41] Your friends and family aren’t your customers[18:20] Getting lucky on the time of launch[19:15] When should you quit your job[20:11] The turning point when Jeniffer finally quit[21:22] At some point, you have to go all in[22:08] Where to find Entry Envy products[23:41] Invest in yourself, but don’t do it by yourself[24:51] Don’t skip testing your MVP[25:31] Definite your success and set your deadlines[26:26] The best way to understand your product-market fit[28:05] Don’t outsource getting customer feedback[28:21] Customers providing their own niches[29:44] Always talk to your customers[30:35] OutroResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCustom exterior & interior entry signs with house numbers, last names or monograms and faux floral refill decor kits entry-envy.comUse code WELCOME at checkout to save 15% off your first orderFollow Entry Envy on Instagram @entry_envyConnect with Jennifer linkedin.com/in/jenniferleafounderSchedule an intro call with one of our experts https://electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store https://jsonld.appIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Khierstyn Ross is the founder of Launch and Scale™, an e-commerce digital marketing firm that specializes in fast, early-stage growth for online physical product brands. Through Khierstyn’s work, she’s helped launch and scale multiple 7-figure brands such as Jamstack.io, Aberlite.com, CeresChill.com, and many others. Khierstyn believes in empowering online product creators to build a business that gives them the freedom to fund and create the lifestyle they want to live on their terms.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:58] What Launch and Scale™ does[01:31] Launch and Scale is the question Chase always asks[01:55] How Khierstyn ended up launching her own business[04:47] The crowdfunding landscape is very different today[05:19] From crowdfunding to pre-orders/Shopify launches[05:58] Clarifying that “Kickstarter” means crowdfunding[06:29] Why is product validation important?[07:27] Validate products before crowdfunding[08:23] Product validation: Small runs[09:34] Product validation: VIP programs[10:56] The duality of interviewing podcast hosts[11:21] Shopify vs Kickstarter on product validation[12:04] Weighing in on Shopify and Kickstarter[13:11] The downside of Kickstarter being popular[15:50] Shopify provides a more controlled launch[16:16] Breaking down the expenses on Kickstarter[17:37] You essentially run 2 campaigns on Kickstarter[17:55] If Khierstyn would choose, is it just Shopify?[18:47] Don’t use the Kickstarter model on Shopify[20:13] Kickstarter is viable, just know the risks[20:39] When should you reach out when you have an idea?[21:38] Where to find KhierstynResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeSubscribe to Launch and Scale™ @LaunchAndScaleConnect with Khierstyn linkedin.com/in/khierstynUsing a proven growth system to quickly test, launch, and scale your product through Kickstarter and Shopify, profitably launchandscale.coIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

David Gaylord is the current Chief Executive Officer at Bushbalm, a skincare and technology brand focused on improving the quality of products used for hair removal. After spending 7+ years at Shopify he took his ecommerce expertise to launch Bushbalm. The brand is now expanding its channel strategy with over 2,000 waxing salons carrying the product, and over 900 Ulta Beauty stores in the United States.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:54] What are Bushbalm’s products?[01:55] Where the idea of Bushbalm come from[03:19] From an idea to an actual product[04:19] Finding product-market fit[05:09] How long it took for David to go full-time[06:25] Succeeding in Facebook ads in this difficult time[08:20] When did Bushbalm pivot into paid ads?[09:53] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[10:50] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[12:17] Just run your business and don’t worry too much[13:22] Exploring B2B and retail[15:03] The percentages among Bushbalm’s channels[15:37] Where to find Bushbalm productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with David linkedin.com/in/davidagaylordFormulated to soothe redness, reduce the look of ingrown hairs, dark spots, razor bumps, soften body hair + more bushbalm.comSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Made in France, based in Atlanta Y'all! Nicolas is the co-founder of eStreamly, a live and video commerce SAAS platform empowering brands, retailers and creators to engage shoppers and sell seamlessly using the power of shoppable videos. Prior to eStreamly, Nicolas was a sales leader at Naturex, a company supporting CPGs & brands transitioning to Natural Foods. Citizen of the world, he had the opportunity to work and live across several continents. Passionate about Innovation & Commerce, he loves exploring, learning and having a positive impact on people's lives.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:54] How eStreamly produces high conversion rates[02:22] Live shopping culture in China vs US[03:14] Live shopping as a marketing and sales channel[04:07] eStreamly also produces less returns[04:38] eStreamly is not a “plug and play” solution[06:41] Influencers can be expensive[07:31] Best marketing strat alongside live shopping[07:52] Have compelling reasons for audiences to tune in[08:53] SMS is a powerful tool for live shopping[09:20] No marketing strat can be “one and done”[10:31] Any skill can be learned so don’t be scared[11:15] Approach any strategy with a “channel mindset”[12:01] Event marketing principles to D2C[13:02] The scarcity and timing aspect of livestreams[14:13] Important things that happen after livestreams[15:57] Recycling content from a livestream[17:34] Pre-publishing content before the livestream[18:03] Take advantage of the live shopping hype[18:58] Optimal livestream duration[20:14] Social media is made for discovery[20:36] eStreamly integrations on D2C platforms[22:23] More info about eStreamly & where to find Nicolas[23:02] Why you should try live shopping nowResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Nicolas linkedin.com/in/nicolas-bailliache-854a3022Shoppable livestream and video estreamly.comIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Mikey Goldman is part of the over-prescribed generation directly impacted by the ease at which serious drugs were “handed” out to kids and teens before natural alternatives were even discussed. He grew up with a racing mind, always struggling in school to focus and sit still. Formally diagnosed with severe ADHD and math dyslexia (dyscalculia) in highschool, he was later prescribed Vyvanse in college which led to severe side effects that resulted in a snowballing of prescription drug use including daily prescriptions from his doctor of Vyvanse, Adderall, Klonopin, Ambien, and Xanax.Through a brutal withdrawal period, Mikey eventually got off all prescriptions, and sought to find a natural solution for his ADHD + racing mind. After experimenting with dozens (if not hundreds) of wellness products, experiences, and drug alternatives, Mikey was mesmerized by the benefits of Deep Touch Pressure and weighted technology, but like many people with ADHD, he found weighted blankets uncomfortable. Quiet Mind solves for those areas of discomfort with an alternative in the form of the first-ever Original Weighted Pillow, a convenient and reliable solution for people like me - and it's only the beginning. Prior to launching Quiet Mind, Mikey worked in marketing and social media in the tech industry for companies like GreenPark Sports, Insightly, and Zuora. Quiet mind is his ticket to a joy-filled and purpose-driven career to help people never feel that way.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] What are Quiet Mind’s products?[01:40] Where the idea of weighted pillows come from[03:26] The weighted blankets trend during the pandemic[03:53] Weighted blankets are cumbersome[04:27] Weighted pillows might be the solution[05:31] The next step after getting the idea[06:30] How Mikey performed “prototyping”[06:52] Finally telling others about the idea[07:11] Figuring the target demographic[07:26] What pushed Mikey to dive in[07:45] What’s next after deciding to pursue the market[08:32] Phase 1 for Quiet Mind: Prototyping[09:06] The importance of starting with the right people[10:05] Put your own money in to condition yourself[10:47] Mikey’s tiered approach to outside investors[11:45] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[12:42] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[13:59] Sponsor: Retention.com retention.com/honest[14:51] Using an adjacent product to get feedback[17:11] Getting the word out there while still under wraps[17:58] Meeting the Gravity Blankets founder[18:34] You need to be careful if you have a novel idea[19:14] The secret to founders’ peace of mind[19:56] The product, the founder, and the story[20:50] Why PR is the number one choice for Mikey[21:36] Quiet Mind’s SEO strategy[21:52] The timing for SEO and PR[22:39] The biggest challenge for a new product[22:50] Educating audiences with your new product[24:35] Why should get the product to market ASAP[26:12] Lessons with overseas manufacturing during Covid[27:52] Where to find Quiet Mind productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Mikey linkedin.com/in/mikeygoldmanA wellness brand offering clever solutions to help people suffering from common disorders like ADHD, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and loneliness onequietmind.comFollow Quiet Mind on Instagram @quietmindSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appBook your demo today and get 20% off the annual commitment fee retention.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Shawn Khemsurov is a Designer and Co-founder of Electric Eye, a Shopify Expert agency. He brings over fifteen years of fashion retail and ecommerce experience to the table and has worked with the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap Inc, Nike, The Black Keys, Barton Perreira, Homage and Only NY. When he's not building websites or designing, he's investing in and advising for other small businesses, listening to heavy metal, and playing golf and ice hockey.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:11] Off-the-shelf theme vs custom theme[03:05] Advantages of off-the-shelf themes[05:19] Don’t buy themes outside the Shopify store[07:04] When you should consider a custom built theme[10:06] Custom theme drawback: Less flexibility[10:41] Why you would go custom beyond design[12:23] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[13:20] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[14:37] Sponsor: Retention.com retention.com/honest[15:29] Recapping the pros and cons of off-the-shelf themes[16:16] Customers wouldn’t notice if you use similar themes[16:50] Off-the-shelf themes are way cheaper than custom[17:14] Set up off-the-shelf themes, then customize later[18:34] Custom was the way to go, a year or two before[20:42] The pros and cons of going custom[21:23] The budget for custom, off-the-shelf, and hybrid[22:06] Hybrid approach works best for most Ecom stores[23:25] Off-the-shelf themes has a great foundation[24:37] Custom solutions are recommended more for Plus[25:13] Shawn’s recommendations: Switch Themes[27:52] Shawn’s recommendations: Maestrooo[28:37] Shawn’s recommendations: Archetype[29:02] Shawn’s honorable mention: Mode Theme[29:24] Out of the Sandbox and Pixel Union[29:54] Themes are getting better and better[31:07] Looking forward to the future of themes[32:30] Try out off-the-shelf themes for yourself[32:44] What we do at our agencyResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFollow Shawn on Twitter @shawnkhemsurovA typography theme designed for the unconventional switchthemes.co/shopify-themes/baselineA retro inspired them for energetic brands switchthemes.co/shopify-themes/shapesA bold grid-style theme, perfect for lifestyle and product imagery themes.shopify.com/themes/focal/styles/carbonA colored, typography-oriented theme for impactful brands themes.shopify.com/themes/impact/styles/homeFlexible, fashionable, proven design with powerful promotions archetypethemes.co/products/shopify-theme-impulseFeature-packed and fast, hand-crafted for growth and large inventories themes.shopify.com/themes/mode/styles/solarAward-winning ecommerce design and development company outofthesandbox.com/collections/themesA leading design agency known for creating premium themes for the world's best brands and creators pixelunion.netSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appBook your demo today and get 20% off the annual commitment fee retention.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Katie Bilodeau is the President of Ring Concierge, the leading luxury jeweler committed to designing forever pieces that are both inspirational and obtainable. Katie began her time at Ring Concierge as a consultant in 2017 and became President of the company in 2020 working closely with Nicole Wegman, Founder & CEO, to strategize and manage overall company initiatives. Katie's focus is on overall company strategic direction, including oversight of the operational, employee and financial departments ensuring maximum efficiency and a scalable platform for growth. Prior to her time with Ring Concierge, Katie worked in the Human Resources department as a Business Partner at Barclays Capital Investment Bank and later working at King Street Capital Management. After leaving King Street Capital Management, Katie began consulting on her own with various startups helping with their business strategy from a human capital standpoint. As a 2009 Clemson University alum, her Bachelor’s in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resource provided her the extensive knowledge and in depth understanding of how imperative the human capital strategy is to the foundation of any company.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:58] What is Ring Concierge?[03:49] Customer feedback led Ring Concierge to D2C[04:22] Ring Concierge 2.0 and when Katie stepped in[06:06] Selling other brands to selling their own products[08:16] In-house products for better margins[08:50] Engagement rings vs fine jewelry sales[10:11] From organic to social media[12:58] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[13:55] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[15:12] Sponsor: Retention.com retention.com/honest[16:08] Did Ring Concierge incentivize word-of-mouth?[16:28] Ideal customer for Ring Concierge’s bespoke side[18:05] Marketing to 2 different customers[19:11] The challenges that Ring Concierge faced[21:35] Hiring is really crucial for business growth[22:31] Where to find Ring ConciergeResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFine jewelry for women, by women ringconcierge.com/collections/fine-jewelryFollow Ring Concierge on Instagram @ringconciergeConnect with Katie linkedin.com/in/katieorourkeSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appBook your demo today and get 20% off the annual commitment fee retention.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!