Honest Ecommerce

Kyle is the founder and CEO of Win Brands Group, an omnichannel retail platform that buys and builds category-defining brands. Win’s enviable stable of brands includes Homesick (scented candles and home fragrance), QALO (silicone wedding rings and accessories), Gravity (the original weighted blanket), and Love Your Melon (mission-driven outerwear). Kyle has spent over a decade honing the art of consumer-focused venture capital and brand building, raising millions of dollars, and building businesses responsible for employing hundreds of people in the process. His background includes working side-by-side with billionaire serial entrepreneur and branding guru J. Christopher Burch, as well as founding multiple best-in-class investment and marketing operations in the US and abroad. Kyle holds a B.S. degree in accounting and finance from the School of Management at Syracuse University. He and his wife split their time between New York and Sag Harbor, with their young sons, and beloved dog Gibson. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:11] What led Kyle into Ecommerce[02:19] How Win Brands Group work[03:21] Having a holdco approach to produce scale[04:20] Combining great use of resources and talent[05:58] The first brand that Win Brands Group acquired[07:15] The stories of other brands acquired by WBG[09:49] It’s hard to create a good team[10:04] People are the Win Brands Group’s business[11:17] Success is getting more and more specific[12:05] Why Amazon is a part of the omnichannel strategy[14:40] How to make Shopify stores appealing to WBG[16:24] Startup strategies vs scaling strategies[18:34] The entrepreneurial behavior[19:00] Delegation tips from Kyle[20:43] Don’t cheap out on talent[23:17] Just keep swinging[24:42] Focus on your “superpower”[26:15] Shouting out WBG brands[27:45] Where to find KyleResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Kyle [email protected] best in class technology partners to build and scale the most innovative customer-first brands in the world winbg.comNatural soy wax blend scented candles homesick.comSilicone bands & silicone engagement rings qalo.comWeighted blankets, throws, robes + accessories gravityblankets.comBuy hats, beanies & apparel - fight cancer loveyourmelon.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!

Mike Beckham is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Simple Modern, a leading producer of premium drinkware and lifestyle products. Founded in 2015 and based in Oklahoma, Simple Modern currently generates a nine-figure annual revenue and is committed to generosity, donating at least 10% of annual profits to nonprofit organizations. Under Mike’s leadership, the company has grown into a category leader for Amazon, Target, and Sam’s Club. In addition, Simple Modern will be launching in Walmart stores nationwide in spring 2022. Prior to founding Simple Modern, Mike spent over a decade working for the worldwide Christian ministry CRU. Equipped with a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, Mike transitioned into the business world and helped found and operate several e-commerce businesses, which cumulatively generated more than $1 billion in revenue. Mike graduated with a degree from the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business, where he currently serves as the senior entrepreneur-in-residence.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:08] What brought Mike to the Ecom game[05:09] Accepting that Amazon wins the Ecom fight[07:12] D2C brands transitioning into traditional retail[08:43] Make your brand indispensable to platforms[09:25] Brands reaching “escape velocity”[10:48] The newer value props for D2C[14:12] 2 ways to position a D2C brand to customers[15:34] Reasons to invest in domestic manufacturing[17:56] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[18:16] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[19:04] Sponsor: Loop loopreturns.com/honest[19:57] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[20:44] From the starting phase to the scaling phase[21:59] Moving into the enterprise level[23:09] 2 Ecom things that catch people off-guard[24:48] Ecommerce can make you age fast[25:40] Mistakes Mike wants you to avoid[26:41] You have to have a learning mindset[27:29] Process-driven mindset vs results-driven mindset[29:11] Entrepreneurship doesn’t start with novelty[30:45] Trying is what makes people great[32:26] Being a net positive brand/business[34:15] Where to find Simple ModernResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Mike linkedin.com/in/mikebeckhamsmStylish water bottles, travel mugs, food storage, and backpacks simplemodern.comScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaTransform your returns into exchanges loopreturns.com/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

R.T. Custer is a Serial Entrepreneur specializing in story-based marketing for consumer product companies. He started Vortic Watch Company with his friend Tyler in college and grew it to a nationally recognized 7 figure luxury brand that’s now expanding into an 8,000 sq ft facility in downtown Fort Collins. In 2020 R.T. spun off the expert team of marketers helping with Vortic to create a marketing agency that soon after joined forces with fellow agency entrepreneur and friend, Jim Carter, resulting in Carter & Custer. R.T.’s goal is to change the lives of other entrepreneurs by helping them tell the world about what they have to share. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[02:08] Why R.T. chose watches[04:35] How was Vortic Watch growing their customer base[06:16] Paid ads tend to be harder with luxury products[08:53] Email is the key to marketing high-priced products[10:08] Personalization vs making it personal[11:37] Biggest learning experience from Vortic Watch Co.[13:48] The expensive lesson of winning a lawsuit[15:25] 2 books that helped Vortic Watch Co.[17:02] Having a story-based email strategy[17:36] Pivoting hard because of the pandemic[21:24] R.T.’s 3rd business venture, technically[24:10] Masterminds will change your life[27:11] Joining masterminds to “buy friends”[28:43] Where to find R.T. and VorticResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeA small batch, custom, watch manufacturing and vintage restoration company located in Northern Colorado vorticwatches.comThe best business mastermind + community for entrepreneurs fastfoundations.comA purpose-driven, referral only agency. carterandcuster.comConnect with R.T. Custer linkedin.com/in/rtcusterIf 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!

From selling handmade leather belts and wallets out the back of his Chevy Station Wagon to becoming one of the top businesses for handmade leather hats, it’s safe to say Gary Watrous (our founder) doesn’t mess around. He’s been perfecting his expertise for nearly 50 years and with the help of his son Garth, his daughter-in-law Hannah, his wife Merry-Lee, and several other family members who have been integrated into the business, he has been able to take American Hat Makers to new heights. Today, Garth has assumed command and is shaping a new direction for the hat company as we know it. In 2017, Garth was elected president of the Headwear Association and has used this position to impact the worldwide hat industry. Also known as Monterey Bay Hats, Head’N Home, American Hat Company, and American Hats, the American Hat Makers continue to bring the most durable, high-quality, handmade hats to the market. And when we say there’s a hat for any occasion, we mean it. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:14] How Garth got started on the hat business[02:17] Experiencing the start of the internet and COVID[06:18] After trying multiple websites, what made it work?[08:12] The “Field of Dreams” approach is not realistic[10:33] American Hat Makers’ numbers[12:20] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:40] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:28] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[13:59] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[14:46] Chase’s perspective on LTV[15:56] How American Hat Makers improved AOV[16:59] Customers adding more to their cart[17:42] Hotjar and its invaluable data[18:48] Mobile compatible vs mobile first websites[19:39] How American Hat Makers got expert help[20:50] Don’t be afraid of failure[21:57] Learning marketing was not enough[23:02] Garth’s approach on delegation[25:03] The “50-year old startup”[25:56] The other side of being an entrepreneur[28:22] Family still matters at the end of the day[29:47] Where to find American Hat MakersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeProudly handcrafting hats in the U.S.A. for over 40 years americanhatmakers.comConnect with Garth linkedin.com/in/garth-watrous-30378731Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Shai Eisenman is the founder and CEO of Bubble Skincare. As the first skincare brand created for young skin, Bubble sets a new skincare standard while truly listening to what its customers want and need. Today, the Bubble line consists of seven products that work together to create a complete routine from face cleansers to face masks. It’s available on hellobubble.com, in 3,800 Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com. Prior to starting Bubble in 2018, Eisenman started her B.A. at 15, and began her career in business at 16 years old. While in university, she worked for an up-and-coming high-tech security start-up, Bullet Plate, where she was responsible for new business development. Eisenman then wanted to take her experience to the tech world, where she managed compliance and Business Development for Babylon.com, a company in the AdTech world. Then, at 21, She then moved to Playtech, the world’s largest online gaming software supplier traded on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market where she was the CEO of a B2C subsidiary of over ~90 employees. Shai is currently 29 years old, resides in New York, and has a five year old daughter. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:19] Where Shai came up with the idea of Bubble[02:58] From idea to business[03:39] Finding people to test out your product[05:02] Bubble’s all-out launch strategy[07:06] Do non-scalable things at the start[07:30] Focus groups don’t give 100% accurate info[09:12] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[09:11] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[10:55] Sponsor: Loop loopreturns.com/honest[11:25] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[12:01] Understanding the market deeply[14:09] Data gave Bubbles the leverage[15:28] Contacting CEOs for raw materials[17:15] Research and try to understand the consumer[17:50] Where to find BubbleResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe first skincare brand created for young skin hellobubble.comConnect with Shai linkedin.com/in/shaipennScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaTransform your returns into exchanges loopreturns.com/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Arguably the most sought-after authority in men’s grooming, Vaughn did not find success by accident. The son of a barber, his interest in hair piqued at an early age, and he gave his first haircut as a teenager in 1976. Vaughn’s client list includes some of the most well-known names in the world—Bruce Springsteen, Richard Gere, Daniel Day Lewis, Tom Brady, President Bill Clinton, Jeff Gordon, Ashton Kutcher and Al Pacino—as well as everyday guys who do anything but fade into the background.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:29] How Vaughn had the idea of going to beauty school[02:41] Vaughn’s music background[03:39] Vaughn’s modeling opportunity[05:24] The return to hairdressing and grooming[07:45] What grooming means for Vaughn[08:45] Vaughn’s involvement in luxury beauty brands[09:52] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[10:11] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[10:55] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[11:25] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[12:13] LBP and Vaughn’s partnership with them[13:23] How Covid and the internet affected hairdressing[15:04] Targeting a niche and preparing for dry spells[17:08] Partnerships and buying the group of brands[18:25] Men and women shop differently[19:44] Make sure your products are in stock[22:02] Trust your hands[22:53] Men are not vocal but looks are important to them[23:31] Where to find V76 productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScale your business with electriceye.ioFollow Vaughn on Instagram @vaughnnewyorkAmerican-made products for the well-groomed man v76.comDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Dave Rodenbaugh is the founder of Recapture.io, an abandoned cart and SMS/email marketing service for WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, Easy Digital Downloads, Restrict Content Pro and more. Founded in 2015, Recapture has processed over 1.9 billion in gross merchant volume (GMV) and recovered over $190,000,000 for stores worldwide. Email is Dave's middle name. Dave is also the co-host of the RogueStartups podcast and the WP Minute Ecommerce show. He now works exclusively on ecommerce and has a passion for making merchants of all kinds more successful with their stores. He truly loves email, dark beer, lifestyle businesses and his family. Not necessarily in that order. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:15] What is Recapture?[02:14] How Recapture recovered almost $200 million[03:10] The Ecommerce Email Playbook[05:14] No excuse to having no email strats[08:36] Biggest fear that merchants have about email[09:30] You’re not annoying your customers[11:01] Big brands are not perfect, especially in strategy[11:47] Why you should sign up on newsletters[12:48] Just send the emails[13:49] Dave’s Email Ladder Strategy[15:41] Solutions for “not knowing what to say”[16:19] Solutions for busy founders[17:11] Unsubscribes are actually a good thing[17:54] Start with default emails provided by platforms[18:49] When “good enough” is enough to send[19:51] Mistakes can work the best or be fun[20:17] Alternate ways to give value aside from discounts[24:04] Where to find Dave and RecaptureResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScale your business with electriceye.ioTry out Recapture 60 days for free! recapture.io/honest-ecommerce-specialFollow Dave on Twitter @daverodenbaughIf you want help with email strategy, email Dave [email protected] inspired with the best showcase of email design and resources on the web reallygoodemails.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!

Wylie Robinson is the founder and CEO of Rumpl, a company that's on a mission to introduce the world to better blankets. Robinson started as a designer (architecture degree) and worked in many creative fields including graphic design, architecture, branding, illustration, music. Robinson is also a former professional mountain biker and avid surfer, skier, climber. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:27] Why blankets?[02:28] How Wylie thought of the idea of blankets[04:37] Pivoting from Kickstarter to a brand[06:31] When or when not to release on Kickstarter[07:22] Acquiring new customers post-Kickstarter[08:30] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[09:34] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[10:22] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[10:37] Experiencing co-founder separation[13:18] How Wylie’s role at Rumpl changed over the years[14:35] Wylie’s advice for delegation[16:34] Build a product that you understand yourself[17:51] Where to find Rumpl[18:17] Why Rumpl’s product selection in Amazon differentResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeOutdoor blankets that are inspired by nature and the outdoors and crafted with modern materials and technologies rumpl.comConnect with Wylie linkedin.com/in/wylierobinsonScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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 Sheldon, Chief Marketing Officer, SmileDirectClub John Sheldon is the Chief Marketing Officer at SmileDirectClub. In this role, he focuses on delivering the best possible experience to customers in order to continue growing SmileDirectClub and reach more people searching for affordable access to a straighter and more confident smile. As the Chief Marketing Officer, John oversees all digital media, paid media, creative development, social media, communication tactics, and experiential initiatives for the brand. As a results-driven marketing leader, John continually builds a track-record of success and is a champion for creating strategic plans based on key insights. John has a strong background in digital transformation and innovation across a range of industries. He previously served as Chief Revenue Officer of Fresh Direct, a food tech company and the Northeast's leading online fresh food grocer. He was also the Senior Vice President of Innovation Portfolios for Mastercard driving innovation globally for the company, and the Head of Strategy at eBay Enterprises Marketing Solutions. He has launched and worked with dozens of digital-first brands and led the strategy to bring many great brands into the digital ecosystem. John earned a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:10] A C-suite position at a well-known D2C brand[04:02] Is grass greener at an agency or at a client?[05:57] Learning through agencies and starting a business[06:50] The podcast is based in the entrepreneurial spirit[07:17] It’s the best time to start a business[07:45] How far along was SmileDirectClub when John joined[08:57] How the pandemic “helped” SmileDirectClub[11:34] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[11:54] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[12:38] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[13:08] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[13:56] Chase also invested in his teeth[14:30] How SmileDirectClub moved on from COVID [15:50] The shift in customer demands[17:43] Importance of customer lifetime value[18:28] Effects of iOS 14 to SmileDirect Club[20:23] Things to note when diversifying your channels[21:28] How SDC does attribution[22:36] Embracing being a brand challenger[24:06] It’s very fulfilling to start a brand and succeedResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScale your business with electriceye.ioConnect with John linkedin.com/in/johnsheldonAn oral care company that exists to help more people realize the life-changing potential of their smiles smiledirectclub.comSubscribe to Smile Direct Club youtube.com/c/SmileDirectClubDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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 Epstein has been in ecommerce for over 20 years, starting an online retailer and existing in 2013 to private equity. He has served as a private equity operating partner and CMO for numerous 8 & 9 figure PE-owned Ecom brands. He is currently co-founder & co-CEO of PostPilot, a direct mail automation platform built for ecommerce and direct to consumer brands. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:23] The elevator pitch for PostPilot[02:56] Being the “Klaviyo for Y”[03:55] Applying common email flows to postcards[06:29] How does attribution work for PostPilot?[07:51] The advantage of unique codes[09:13] Pricing for PostPilot[10:54] The “godfather” offer[11:38] Can you customize your own designs?[12:53] Most brands prefer PostPilot to handle designs[13:50] PostPilot’s brand new announcement![15:58] Mixing technology and strategy [16:43] Examples of how PostPilot helped big brands[18:49] Where to start with PostPilotResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePostPilot’s “Godfather” offer. An offer you can’t refuse postpilot.com/gfoIf 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!

Nate Axvig grew up in frigid North Dakota and moved to sunny Colorado after graduating from law school. He practiced as a litigator for 16 years before moving to Oslo, Norway with his wife Leslie (also a litigator) and their two kids- Luke and Bekah. While living in Norway and pursuing an advanced degree in Communications and Technology Law, Nate and Leslie discovered the world class quality of Scandinavian clothing. That planted a seed which sprouted into aktivstyle.com, their business that brings Scandinavian clothing into the United States. Since its inception in 2018, Aktiv has steadily grown and expanded into a traditional brick and mortar setting at Stanley Marketplace in Denver's eastern metro area. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:26] The products that Aktiv offers[02:53] From idea to market[04:59] Cold outreach to manufacturers[07:17] Advantages/disadvantages of selling existing goods[09:23] Being mindful of different markets[10:19] Customer acquisition for a new market introduction[13:48] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[14:08] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[14:52] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[15:39] Branching out into brick-and-mortar[17:50] Why Aktiv did it “a little backwards”[19:24] Providing a more personal experience[21:08] Where to find AktivResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Megan Grassel is the Founder/CEO of Yellowberry. Armed with her own hand-drawn sketch and the savings from her summer jobs, Megan Grassell set out to make her younger sister, along with tween girls everywhere, an age-appropriate bra. In 2013, at age 17, she founded Yellowberry. With funding from a successful Kickstarter campaign, Megan created colorful, comfortable and supportive bras for young girls along with a promise to help them feel more confident about wearing bras for the first time. Today, Yellowberry offers a full collection of bras, underwear, lounge and activewear exclusively for girls with an extra boost of encouragement to dream big and feel supported to do anything in the world. In 2014 she was on TIME Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Teens and included on Huffington Post’s list of 14 Most Fearless Teens. In 2015, Megan was named one of the 24 Millennials to Watch by Yahoo. In 2016, Megan was selected as one of Forbes 30 Under 30. She has been featured in countless media outlets including The TODAY Show, The New York Times, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Seventeen and Teen Vogue, among others. In addition to serving as an active company founder, Megan served as a member of the first-ever Barbie Global Advisory Board for Mattel. She is an active member of the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club as well as of Pulse, the newly created St. John’s Youth Hospital Board. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:39] Being an influential teen entrepreneur[03:10] Where the idea of Yellowberry came from[06:30] From a good idea to a good business idea[07:40] The challenge in transitioning from crowdfunding [11:02] Yellowberry’s previous and current software[12:43] Inventory forecasting and cash flow tips[14:20] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[14:40] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[16:51] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[17:21] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[17:14] Build relationships across your supply chain[18:41] Yellowberry’s marketing stack[20:04] What helped Megan as a young founder[21:13] The previous guests’ experience about COVID[22:32] Yellowberry’s COVID experience[25:40] Launching Yellowberry’s Basics Collection[27:16] The struggles as a young female entrepreneur[30:27] Yellowberry had to work for Megan[32:27] Did pitching multiple times make Megan better?[33:13] Where to find YellowberryResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe original by girls, for girls brand that’s changing the bra industry for girls yellowberrycompany.comConnect with Megan linkedin.com/in/megangrassellScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Prior to the NxTSTOP Brendan spent his career working in enterprise technology with Accenture and then VMware. In 2015 he founded his first startup Fathomd to bring interactive business games into MBA coursework. In 2020 Brendan launched NxTSTOP to outfit world explorers with functional sustainable travel apparel and scaled it to a multimillion dollar business in just one year. He is a graduate of Stanford and received his MBA from MIT Sloan.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:17] Travleisure® and the IPs of NxTSTOP[01:45] What is NxTSTOP[02:07] Coming up with the idea of NxTSTOP[03:26] What made NxTSTOP explode[05:20] Pivoting to face masks saved the business[06:57] Dealing with non ideal customers[08:52] Acquiring “new” customers[11:52] Customer feedback is valuable[13:36] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[13:56] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[14:39] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[16:06] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[17:37] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[18:24] Being on Shopify vs being on Amazon[22:04] Did Amazon produce economies of scale?[23:15] Other channels that NxTSTOP uses[24:38] The importance of domain authority[25:38] NxTSTOP’s SEO play[26:40] SEO for D2C Brands[27:46] SEO has great ROI[28:06] Brendan warns against agencies[29:48] Chase’s perspective on Brendan’s statement[30:09] Brendan clarifies to be careful of big agencies[30:57] Chase’s restaurant analogy[31:12] Build a “dream team”[32:44] Dealing with the iOS 14 update[35:22] How Chase analyzes brands for Electric Eye[36:25] Brendan tries out Chase’s technique[37:00] Triple Whale and other first party pixels[38:33] Where to find NxTSTOPResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFunctional, eco-friendly, stylish travel clothing and accessories thenxtstop.comConnect with Brendan linkedin.com/in/brendanmkennedyThe central source of truth for your Ecommerce store trytriplewhale.comHonest Ecommerce Bonus Episode with Triple Whale youtube.com/watch?v=W4Ant6ytppgEmail Chase [email protected] and ask for the Triple Whale discount codeScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Gilmar Arellano, who co-founded HAY! Straws and serves as its CEO, pursued the plastic straw alternative due to his unconditional love for nature. “I wanted to protect the environment from the horrors of plastic waste,” he says, “and my experience in hospitality led me to identify one of the most egregious culprits: straws made from oil-based plastic.” Hand- selecting straw from small farms, cutting it, washing it, and packaging it in eco-friendly boxes revealed a natural solution to a dire modern problem. As he embraces the HAY! brand and its mission of reducing plastic pollution, Arellano also builds a strong, devoted team. Banking on their individual commitments to the cause, Arellano harnesses the powerful energy that comes with making a difference. “Rather than micro-manage, I choose to empower people,” he explains. While growing up in Lima, Peru, Arellano longed to start his own business after observing his father, who owned a clothing factory. Arellano spent plenty of time around his father’s business before they relocated to California when he was 14. There, he worked with hospitality, beverage, and tech brands. Arellano received his education from the University of California, Santa Barbara in the form of an international studies B.A. He also studied abroad at Delhi University and, in 2014, earned his Advanced Level Three certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which aided him later on when he served as a sommelier. While pursuing his WSET certification, Arellano worked for Jardesca California Aperitiva, a Northern California-based producer. As market manager, he led the growth of the drink throughout the region, promoting it as an alternative to traditional European aperitifs. He then brought his expertise in expanding brand footprints to Allset, a pre-order and prepay restaurant reservation portal, at which he worked with now- business partner Alexey Savin. Arellano’s first advent into the sustainable product space—alongside Savin—came in 2015 in the form of a toothbrush, one that stands up on its own and sources only eco-friendly, biodegradable materials. MABLE’s commitment to supporting children’s education through toothbrush profits also became a core tenet of Arellano’s business practices. Arellano brought on Emma Grose, who he met while traveling through Vietnam, as the head of social media, photography, and website design. A strong thread of eco-friendliness began to take root in Arellano’s career as he lived out his appreciation for the Earth and its fruits through his work with wine and in sustainable product design. He soon learned just how much he could contribute to the planet by combining and applying his skill sets strategically. A few years after MABLE’s launch, Arellano continued to innovate by taking on the hospitality industry with his and Savin’s alternative to plastic straws, the HAY! Straw. With the help of Grose and Savin, Arellano brought the straw-made-from-straw to market in 2018 and started a revolution in earth-friendly products. To date, the team has helped replace more than 50 million plastic straws with HAY! straws. Arellano recently moved to Austin and can be found cycling, playing soccer, reading and traveling the world. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:03] Where Gil got the idea of alternative straws[02:48] How Gil got into sustainability[05:03] Timing is really important[05:58] The avenues that HAY! Straws targeted[07:32] Cold emails as a strategy[09:11] The difference in approaching cold emails[10:03] HAY! Straws’ email strat may not work for everyone[11:18] How to stand out in cold emails[12:25] Focusing on B2B for now[14:20] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[14:40] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[15:24] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[16:51] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[17:21] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[18:08] Most challenging parts of a straw business[20:32] D2C approach for a B2B audience[23:34] Did HAY! Straws get pushback from going online?[24:48] What platform does HAY! Straws use?[26:39] Diversify your customer base[27:37] Things will go wrong so be prepared[28:46] Where to find HAY! StrawsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeCompostable drinking straws that don’t suck haystraws.comConnect with Gil linkedin.com/in/gilmar-arellano-513a03aaScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Noah’s love of hot sauce began well before he founded HEATONIST. In fact, he’s loved spicy food for as long as he can remember. Growing up, Noah’s family joked that he got his love of spicy food from his mom’s mom. The family lived in Austin, Texas in the 50s and legend tells about a time his grandmother went to buy a garland of dried chilis for cooking. The grocer tried to talk her out of it, saying they were too hot for her, but she told him she knew what she was doing. He said if she ate one of the chilis right then and there, he'd pay for her whole basket of groceries. Groceries were on him that week! She and Noah are the only members of the family with red hair, and the only two to love spicy food. Coincidence, or connection? As he grew older, Noah found he enjoyed cooking after experimenting with his first grill. At 17, he interviewed for a job at an Outback Steakhouse that opened in town (South Burlington, Vermont). Most of his friends interviewing were made dishwashers or busboys, but somehow Noah was put on the line cooking. He loved the heat of it, and ended up working in kitchens for the next six years. While studying at Concordia University in Montreal, Noah had the chance to open his first food business: a breakfast and lunch counter inside of an MMA training facility. He named it Callaloo after the healthy Caribbean leafy green, and it was all about positive nutrition. It developed a real following with the trainers and their athlete clients. After graduating in 2007, Noah moved to New York City to get his business degree. After working in digital marketing for years, Noah began sharing his hot sauce passion with coworkers and friends, and the rest is history! He returned to his entrepreneurial and food-focused roots and launched the hot sauce tasting mobile in NYC in 2013 and opened the hot sauce tasting room in Brooklyn in 2015. Today, Noah splits time between Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Livingston Manor, NY, where he is working to establish the HEATONIST chili farm. Stay tuned for HEATONIST Catskills, coming soon! In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[02:07] Where the idea of Heatonist started[04:03] From a push cart to online, to brick and mortar[04:43] When Noah went full-time into hot sauces[05:42] How Noah got customers online[06:59] Moving into warehouses after initial success[07:51] The best investments to drive traffic[08:10] Focus on experience vs growth[08:41] Sourcing and producing hot sauces[09:29] Where the Heatonist name started[11:07] Hot sauce making is a great and loving community[11:48] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:08] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[12:52] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[14:18] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[15:49] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[16:37] How Hot Ones came into the picture[19:02] Learn to delegate early on[19:53] Logistics can be difficult[21:32] Why Heatonist stopped running their own warehouse[22:12] When should a founder move to a 3PL?[24:16] Partnering with the Shopify Fulfillment Network[24:55] Which hot sauce would Noah recommend?Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePurveyors of fine hot sauces, as featured on Hot Ones heatonist.comConnect with Noah linkedin.com/in/noahchaimbergScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Kerrigan Behrens is the co-founder and co-CEO of consumer wellness brand Sagely Naturals. Most recently, Kerrigan guided her team through an acquisition by HempFusion, expanded the brands ingestible offerings with gummies, and launched a non-CBD infused product collection in Target under the Sagely Naturals umbrella. She and the brand have been featured in publications such as Forbes, Fortune, Glossy, Coveteur, Vogue, and Green Entrepreneur. Kerrigan has been at the helm of the brand since it launched in 2015, and has successfully galvanized and accelerated marketplace acceptance of CBD as a natural and effective alternative for the products you would already find in your medicine cabinet. Kerrigan lives in Los Angeles, which also serves as Sagely Naturals’ headquarters, with her husband and daughter.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:07] Where the idea of Sagely Naturals came from[06:29] How Kerrigan processed their pivot[08:45] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[09:05] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[09:49] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[11:15] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[11:46] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[12:33] How to sell a new product in a new vertical[14:58] Doing non-scalable things at the start[15:26] Real-time feedback is very valuable[16:24] Difficulties of being in a “vice” category[20:26] Businesses that “help” cannabis brands[21:02] Rich digital media as sub for FB and Google[22:24] Sagely Natural’s email operation[24:27] Acquisition by HempFusion[26:51] Allocating budget for experiments[28:55] Where to find Sagely NaturalsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeHemp-derived, broad spectrum CBD for wellbeing sagelynaturals.comConnect with Kerrigan linkedin.com/in/kerriganhannaScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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 Baker had a vision a few years ago. He wanted to fill an empty space in the dog toy market and make toys that were tough, innovative, and do it in a way that was safe for dogs and the planet.It took some twists and turns to succeed but now, SodaPup is turning out toys that are FDA compliant, all made in the USA. Baker is not only Head Dog in SodaPup, he’s the toy designer, social media and marketing manager (that means he sits in bed at 11:30 at night and posts to Instagram), janitor (occasionally dragging the vacuum cleaner from home in to clean the office carpet), packaging designer, photographer, and jack-of-all trades.SodaPup manufactures durable natural rubber dog toys in the USA. SodaPup uses natural, sustainable, FDA compliant and non-toxic materials in their products. Because SodaPup products are made in the USA, they are made in a socially and environmentally responsible way.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:17] Where the idea of dog toys come from[03:17] Pivoting early on and finding a manufacturer [05:04] SodaPup’s early go-to-market strategy/sales model[09:27] Blending the branding in subscription boxes[12:32] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:52] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:36] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[15:03] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[16:34] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[17:21] SodaPup going strong amidst decline in sub boxes [19:00] Figuring out how to sell their own products[19:51] Instagram opened the brand to a global audience[20:42] The emergence of digital selling platforms[23:13] SodaPup still owns the customer[24:16] Adam’s love-hate relationship with Amazon[26:27] Selling on Amazon is a different skill set[27:57] What makes SodaPup different[31:44] Entrepreneur vs executive skill set[33:00] Where to find SodaPupResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeA veteran-owned business that makes tough dog toys in America sodapup.comFollow SodaPup on Instagram @sodapupdogtoysConnect with Adam linkedin.com/in/adam-baker-b9235311Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

On this podcast, we talk about the “price spiraling” trap and how to avoid it, how capital can actually be a detriment to problem solving, why you should just focus on getting your product into people’s hands first, and so much more!To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.coResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Matthew linkedin.com/in/matthewberkShare the joy of small-batch, locally-roasted beans with coffee lovers around the country beanbox.comRead The Lean Startup theleanstartup.com/bookScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest

On this podcast, we talk about the importance of gathering data first before product development, why you shouldn’t plan to scale with an MVP, when should you do D2C only and when should you consider Amazon, and so much more!To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.coResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Will linkedin.com/in/will-nitzePlant based protein bars for your brain and body eatiqbar.comListen to the Y Combinator podcast ycombinator.com/blog/tag/podcastScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest

Born in Colombia, raised in Mexico, and college-educated in the United States, Mike Abadi comes from 4 generations of textile industry experts. Abadi began his career as a New York investment banker, before realizing his passion was in entrepreneurship. Various ventures led to his first major success as co-founder of tailored suits brand Arden Reed (now Hive & Colony), before launching D2C bedding brand Sunday Citizen alongside his wife of 6 years, with whom he has 3 children. Since its creation in 2019, Sunday Citizen has grown rapidly to serve several home categories, with multiple collections and 3,000+ 5-star reviews; in 2021, company sales grew by 400%. Abadi speaks English, Spanish, and basic Chinese. 4 years spent living in China and 10+ years working with Chinese providers has earned him an in-depth understanding of factory processes and product sourcing. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:11] From investment banking to entrepreneurship[02:20] Mike’s experience in his first ventures[05:22] Why did Mike not give up?[07:27] The value in unsuccessful ventures[08:13] Where the idea of Sunday Citizen came from[12:24] Sunday Citizen’s go-to-market strategy[15:23] Expectations for marketing ad spend[17:11] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[17:32] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:15] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:42] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[20:12] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[21:00] The relationship dynamics between C-Suite spouses[22:48] How Mike got lucky to leave China before the pandemic[23:27] Sunday Citizen expanding their product line up[25:10] Sunday Citizen products are more than just decorative[26:08] 2 problems that Sunday Citizen faced[27:10] iOS 14.5 leveled the playing field[28:01] Building a “true brand” through connections[29:05] Where to find Sunday CitizenResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeDeveloping the world's softest home products sundaycitizen.coConnect with Mike linkedin.com/in/mikeabadiScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Elie Robinson is the CEO and founder of Under 5'10, a brand that makes clothing for shorter men.His background is in financial operations, and spent over 15 years in the telecommunications & Ecommerce. But like millions of other men in America, he was fed up with clothing manufacturers neglecting to make clothes tailored for shorter men. He founded Under 5’10 in 2017 and has enabled short guys around the world find a place where they can buy perfectly fitting jeans, joggers, shirts, and more made just for them. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:07] What does Under 5’10 offer[02:02] The origin and tackling the shorter guys’ needs[03:02] How Elie came up with the idea[04:08] Under 5’10’s go-to-market strategy[06:26] Crowdfunding as proof of concept[07:02] Transitioning from Kickstarter to Ecom[08:20] Setting up Ecom in Shopify[09:45] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[10:05] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[10:49] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[12:15] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[13:46] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[14:43] Believe in the results that you made[15:52] Where Elie got his boost of confidence[16:39] Learning from others and teaching to others[17:53] Under 5’10’s biggest challenge[20:27] Why Elie is insistent on staying D2C[25:09] Elie’s SEO advice: Create content[25:53] You can’t scale without content creation[28:06] Balancing validation and reality[29:38] Just doing it better can be a basis for a business[31:49] Where to find Under 5’10Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFind Men's Jeans, Chinos, Joggers, Sweatpants, & More in Shorter Sizes & From 24" to 28" under510.comConnect with Elie linkedin.com/in/elie-robinson-4b93baa1A podcast for short men, by short men under510.com/pages/living-under-510-a-show-for-short-menScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Laurie O’Hara is the Founder and CEO of OLITA, a San Rafael, CA based brand of eco-friendly, healthy sun care. In the market since 2015, Laurie has grown OLITA from its original Beach Be Gone product line, expanding to REEF SAFE mineral sunscreens, soothing SPF lip balms and nourishing After Sun body serums. OLITA’s mission is to create clean products that are safe on skin and safe on the planet. Prior to launching OLITA, Laurie had over 20 years experience in marketing and acquisitions of credit products and microloans, having worked as a Director for JPMorgan Chase and Citibank in New York City and a Bay Area CDFI. She holds an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management and a BA from the University of Colorado. Laurie lives with her husband and four children in Marin County. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:16] OLITA’s product assortment[02:04] Where OLITA’s idea came from[04:03] How long from OLITA’s inception to selling[06:46] OLITA’s go-to-market strategy[08:01] Establishing B2B relationships[08:57] From beach-side stores to D2C[10:10] Why won’t a startup hire experts from the start?[12:13] Paid is expensive, sell products yourself[12:59] OLITA’s customers are their perfect demographic[14:34] Loved ones won’t give you good feedback[16:01] Start early and delegate early[16:50] Work with performance-based partners[17:58] Laurie loves going to trade shows[18:40] Make sure invest pays for itself[19:22] The sign of a great entrepreneur[19:30] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io[19:50] Sponsor: Mesa https://apps.shopify.com/mesa[20:34] Sponsor: Gorgias https://gorgias.grsm.io/honest[22:01] Sponsor: Rewind https:/rewind.com/honestecommerce[22:31] Sponsor: Klaviyo http://klaviyo.com/honest[23:19] Laurie’s favorite Shopify apps[24:37] Shopify has a great community[26:07] Competitors are great assets[27:57] The meaning of OLITA[28:43] OLITA’s partnership with the Coral Reef Alliance[29:31] Where to find OLITAResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe natural and organic skincare brand we all need for sun safe skin and planet protection olitashop.comConnect with Laurie linkedin.com/in/laurie-o-hara-022880aSupport Olita’s crowdfunding campaign wefunder.com/olitaincSell products from other top US stores without inventory apps.shopify.com/carroSave the world’s coral reefs coral.org/enScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Kyle Ewing became a full-time entrepreneur in 2014 when he left the corporate world to build his first company, Guerrilla Tags ID Systems. After a successful exit in 2015, Kyle is now focused on the growth and development of his company, TerraSlate Paper, which manufactures and prints waterproof paper for the US Military, restaurants, and biotech firms around the world. The success of his businesses can be best attributed to a creative marketing approach that nimbly tracks customer needs to fulfillment and leverages just-in-time inventory management. His most recent high-profile advertising campaign in partnership with BMW USA is the “Road to Sustainability” in which he seeks to make redundant laminated documents in all applications. Kyle enjoys collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to develop new systems, metrics and growth strategies for emerging companies in the tech and renewable resources industries. The experience Kyle gained in corporate positions provided the underpinnings for his entrepreneurship a position as Supply Chain Manager at Brightstar Corporation on supply chain optimization and demand signal forecasting in which, at an operator-wide level, he successfully carried out multiple initiatives in supply chain management, data-driven analytics, and inventory management using triple exponential smoothing models that he built for the wireless phone industry. Kyle also held roles as a Business Operations & Management Consultant, Procurement Manager and Marketing Analyst where he gained much of the valuable experience upon which he relies. Kyle received his BSBA in 2008 and his MBA in 2009 with a Chancellor's Scholarship from the Daniel's College of Business at the University of Denver. During his time at DU he developed a passion for philanthropic work and founded the Seven Ribbons Foundation supporting cancer research. In his personal life Kyle is an avid triathlete, runner, mountaineer, and is active in philanthropic work in the community. He won the Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon in 2009, completed the Ironman Triathlon in Western Australia in 2010, and summited the mountains of the Swiss Holy Trinity: Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger in 2011. Kyle is an accomplished skydiver and musician winning the state flute championships 3 years in a row. Recent accolades include “Entrepreneur of the Year” awarded by the Worldwide Who's Who organization and has become an avid Ukulele and Guitar player. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:31] Kyle’s first business[02:48] The challenge in a “durable” product[03:28] The importance of repurchase[04:41] Raising LTV to cover CAC[05:15] How quick is it from Guerilla Tags to TerraSlate?[06:05] School education vs learning through experience[08:03] You should have the willingness to learn[09:32] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[09:52] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[10:36] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[12:02] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[13:33] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[14:20] Where did Kyle get his business ideas?[15:37] Don’t be afraid to tell your ideas[16:21] NDAs can hinder true feedback[17:17] You don’t have to spend money to sell[18:48] Why B2B is good[22:02] D2C products from TerraSlate[23:38] Is B2B marketing different to D2C marketing?[25:19] The hardest part of building and growing a brand[26:31] Hiring and managing good people is getting harder[28:19] Electric Eye needs more Shopify experts[28:43] Kyle wants to see more ADA compliance[29:44] ADA compliance is a big and complex problem[30:43] Be careful of these frivolous lawsuits[32:59] Join as many entrepreneur groups as you canResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe most durable paper on the planet terraslatepaper.comConnect with Kyle linkedin.com/in/kyleewingScale your business with electriceye.ioElectric Eye is hiring! electriceye.io/page/careersDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

In Yoni and Neal’s previous lives, they were music industry veterans behind some of the largest festivals in the country. Along the way, they saw the demand for quality cocktails growing, but the careful preparation required to make one made service in high volume environments pretty difficult. They fantasized about creating a world-class cocktail in an easy-to-serve vessel, thinking maybe they could help solve a problem for venues, events, restaurants, bars, airplanes, and regular folks at home on the couch. Eventually, they stopped fantasizing and started actually doing it.Enlisting the help of their favorite bartender and James Beard finalist, Miles Macquarrie of Kimball House, they, along with Jay, developed classic cocktail recipes and packaged them up to drink at any time and, just about, any place. Tip Top Proper Cocktails are always within reach, especially if a trusted bartender or fully-stocked bar are not.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:21] What are Tip Top Proper Cocktails?[02:11] The connection between live music and Tip Top[04:47] Challenges in serving alcohol to festival goers[06:53] The opportunity in inefficiencies[08:14] BevAlc is profitable yet complex in the US[10:21] Milestones that Tip Top reached[12:35] What is a co-packer in the BevAlc space?[13:01] From concept to shipping products[13:45] Tip Top’s D2C go-to-market strategy[15:39] The complex process of selling Bev/Alc online[16:32] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[16:52] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[17:36] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:02] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[19:30] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[20:18] Dealing with varying state legislation[21:53] Tip Top’s partnership with Delta Airlines[25:42] Things that Tip Top did to increase online sales[28:14] Making sure CX is smooth as possible[30:12] Where to find Tip Top Proper CocktailsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeClassic cocktails in tiny cans tiptopcocktails.comConnect with Yoni linkedin.com/in/yonireismanConnect with Jay linkedin.com/in/jayliddellScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit rewind.com/honestecommerce to get 1 month freeGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Paul Orlando has led startup accelerators on three continents. He runs USC’s on-campus Incubator for businesses founded by students, alumni and faculty and is Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, teaching growth hacking and venture initiation. He is a former startup founder and was a winner at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon. His book about unit economics is called Growth Units. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:51] Intro[01:47] Paul’s journey on USC[05:01] Chase’s interest in the educational field[05:37] Tactics change, but strategies don’t[07:47] The importance of lifetime value[10:38] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[10:58] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[11:41] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[13:08] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[14:39] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[15:26] There are many ways to calculate LTV[17:06] Calculating “time of return”[19:19] Segmenting CAC and LTV[23:03] The relationship between CAC and LTV[25:23] Lessons learned from traditional/old brands[29:24] The other topics in Paul’s book[31:55] Where to buy the Growth Units book[32:18] Segmented data for KPIs is the next levelResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeHelping companies move faster through intensive workshops, rapid experimentation, and consulting startupsunplugged.com/Connect with Paul linkedin.com/in/porlandoPaul’s book about Lifetime Value, Customer Acquisition Cost, and why businesses behave the way they do amazon.com/Growth-Units-Calculate-Acquisition-Businesses-ebook/dp/B08GJVV8RJScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Joe Spector has been a startup entrepreneur for over 15 years. Prior to Dutch, he was a co-founder of Hims (NYSE: HIMS), one of the fastest growing direct-to-consumer brands in history, which went public in January 2021. As a co-founder, Spector was instrumental in its success of helping millions of people; in fact, he built Hims national telemedicine and doctor network, set up the initial pharmacy supply chain, and launched wholesale partnerships. He holds a BS from the Haas School of Business at University of California at Berkeley, and an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, three children and a corgi named Edgar. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:10] Startups are both easy and hard at the same time[02:39] The “scrappiness” of startups [04:04] Silicon Valley show vs reality[05:20] Startups require “nerves of steel”[06:15] Joe’s Hims story[09:03] The names before Hims[09:46] Importance of startup names [10:40] Skills that Joe brought to Hims[12:30] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:50] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:34] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[15:00] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[15:33] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[16:20] Product that makes people happy[17:51] Eight-figure brand vs nine-figure brand[18:57] From Hims to launching Dutch[20:45] Dutch working with Shopify’s “limitations”[23:12] Dutch’s sales process using Shopify[25:48] Chase analyzes what Dutch is doing[27:30] Make a choice, start a business[29:37] It’s about how fast you pivot[30:15] Understand the types of your consumersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeOnline vet care and visits with licensed veterinarians dutch.comConnect with Joe linkedin.com/in/joespectorScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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 Hall is a follower of Christ, husband to the best wife, and the co-founder of vitafive, an emerging gummy vitamin brand with high quality ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. The humble beginnings of vitafive were started in founders Garrett Adair and Nik Hall’s 800 square foot house when they were Juniors at TCU. Since the beginning, the goals have been to help consumers find an easier way to be healthy, to be profitable, and to enjoy the life they have been given. While the road hasn’t been easy, it has always been worth it. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:05] Nik’s early interest in entrepreneurship[03:41] The interest in money making and CEOs[04:52] Benefits and considerations for co-founders[08:26] “Breaking up” with co-founders[11:09] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/[11:29] Sponsor: Mesa https://apps.shopify.com/mesa[12:13] Sponsor: Gorgias https://gorgias.grsm.io/honest[13:39] Sponsor: BeProfit https://beprofit.co/[15:10] Sponsor: Klaviyo http://klaviyo.com/honest[15:57] vitafive’s inception[17:28] Success was fast but was not immediate[18:55] vitafive’s biggest mistakes[20:46] The wild west of Facebook ads[21:30] Could startups still use Facebook marketing now?[22:41] The effect of IOS 14 and 15 to marketers[24:32] Don’t fully invest on just Facebook ads[25:04] How vitafive deals with the IOS 14 and 15 updates[26:47] Learn constantly or be a pioneer[28:09] Keep it simple and easy for customers[28:40] Where to find vitafiveResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe low sugar gummies you've been begging for delivered in the most beautiful way vitafive.comConnect with Nik linkedin.com/in/nikhallScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Dr. Amy Divaraniya is the CEO and Founder of Oova, a women’s health company. She has more than 10 years of experience as a data scientist and has both led and published original research in the areas of personal genomics and biomarker discovery. Her solid understanding of biology and being able to apply complex analyses have led to innovative projects in the healthcare space. In 2017, Dr. Divaraniya chose to pivot her career as a data scientist and devote herself to improving women’s healthcare. After facing her own struggles with conceiving her son, Dr. Divaraniya decided to build a solution to help women having difficulty getting pregnant. Today, she and her team have built the first at-home test, Oova, that measures multiple hormones through urine samples and provides personalized results and insights on a woman’s fertility. As a response to COVID-19, Oova has done an early release of their product. Oova has resonated with many women and clinicians and is now being adopted by fertility clinics and hospitals across the country. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:39] The idea of building a brand[03:23] Finding a solution and a market[03:49] Removing stigma by providing data[05:30] From idea to prototype[07:40] Passionate in solving the problem[08:41] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[09:01] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[09:45] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[11:12] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[11:44] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[12:31] The pandemic changed Oova’s business model[14:48] The B2B2C approach is similar to using influencers[15:07] Going the organic route[15:54] Educating people about new products/new vertical[17:14] Oova’s unique marketing mix[18:38] What would Dr. Amy tell herself[19:57] The value in smart people[20:40] Truly believe in what you’re making[21:22] Where to find OovaResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThe fertility translator that fully illuminates your fertility, giving you the clearest steps to conception. oova.lifeConnect with Dr. Amy linkedin.com/in/aparna-amy-divaraniyaScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Emily Vaca has over 15 years of experience in the design and advertising industry. Prior to launching MINNIDIP, Emily worked on packaging, television commercials, and content for CPG brands including Kraft, Nike and more. Emily founded La Vaca Designhouse in 2012 and launched MINNIDIP in 2017 as the first modern inflatable “adult kiddie” pool on the market. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:03] Emily’s history and experience in design[01:57] When Emily decided to go out on her own[02:56] From agency work to launching a brand[05:34] What is MINNIDIP?[06:15] The confidence to go D2C[09:04] From inception to first sales[12:34] MINNIDIP’s customer acquisition strategy[14:27] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/[14:47] Sponsor: Mesa https://apps.shopify.com/mesa[15:31] Sponsor: Gorgias: https://gorgias.grsm.io/honest[16:58] Sponsor: BeProfit https://beprofit.co/[18:29] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[19:16] Influencer seeding can be challenging[22:34] Relationships over transactions[23:17] Dealing with the risk of your idea getting stolen[26:05] The toy industry is very competitive[26:42] Starting on Squarespace, moving to Shopify[29:58] Where to find MINNIDIPResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeA creative lifestyle brand and design house that specializes in product design, content, styling and branding. lavaca.comThe original, first-ever modern inflatable pool minnidip.comFollow MINNIDIP on Instagram @MINNIDIPConnect with Emily linkedin.com/in/emilyvacaScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:41] How AJ used to run ads before Triple Whale[02:52] The health of your business depends on blended ROAS[03:23] Clarification about IOS 14[03:46] Performance degraded because FB lacks customer info[04:08] What made the FB platform better[04:42] FB is challenging to run for brands[05:41] Why AJ founded an attribution company[06:10] Triple Whale tries to provide the lost visibility from FB[06:32] The Triple Whale Pixel is not yet the be-all, end-all[07:33] What is Pixel and why does your business need it?[08:36] Why is Triple Whale different from Facebook?[10:06] The Pixel is good but not simple[10:45] How Electric Eye uses Triple Whale[11:20] The Forecasting Calculator[13:00] ROAS, CPA, and AOV on the Summary Page[15:16] The Triple Whale Pixel[15:46] Taking advantage of the Channel Overlap[17:00] Inventory management dictates paid ad spend[18:39] Client compatibility through Triple Whale[19:19] The misalignment in attribution causes distrust[20:47] How Facebook can get away with messy attribution[21:37] Attribution Model Comparison[23:01] Other features that are coming to Triple Whale[23:54] The Customer Journey feature[24:24] Web domain shenanigans[24:45] Triple Whale’s Mobile App[25:56] What differentiates Electric Eye from other agencies[27:16] Electric Eye’s Brand Scaling Framework[28:18] Scaling is achieved through harmony in teamsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeElectric Eye provides Shopify-powered sales machines to suit your strategic design, development, and marketing needsTriple Whale is the central source of truth for your Ecommerce store Use code ELECTRICEYE for a discount!Listen to another bonus episode about Electric Eye’s Brand Scaling FrameworkConnect with ChaseConnect with RyanConnect with AJConnect with Rabah

Chase is currently a Partner at Structured — a top ecommerce marketing agency, where he runs the email team. Since June of 2018, we’ve helped our clients send over a billion emails resulting in over $50 million in email attributable revenue. A few of our previous and current clients include: Orgain, The Chive, Original Grain, and CrossNet. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:02] Chase Dimond’s “claim to fame”[01:57] Where Chase Dimond’s passion started[04:48] Personalization is really important[05:40] SMS and email in tandem[06:15] AMP for emails in the future[06:38] Plain text emails are still useful[07:01] Do brands send too much email?[09:26] Chase Dimond going through the metrics[10:38] Coming up with topics for email[13:12] Comparing your emails to “big dogs”[15:01] Working with different types of clients[15:20] Stay true to your own brand[15:59] Don’t be afraid to hit send[16:42] You learn so much from your audience by sending[17:54] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[18:14] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:58] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[20:25] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[20:57] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[21:44] Why brands use design-oriented emails[23:48] The balance between text and design[24:58] How to incorporate SMS in email marketing[29:02] The common mistakes in attribution[30:03] SMS and Email is for building relationships[31:48] Holistic approach to marketing channels[33:07] Marketers wear 2 hats and get confused sometimes[35:44] Where to find Chase DimondResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeFollow Chase Dimond on Twitter @ecomchasedimondChase Dimond’s email marketing course chasedimond.podia.comChase’s website chasedimond.comChase Dimond’s free newsletter chasedimond.com/chase-email-newsletterChase Dimond’s paid newsletter app.moonclerk.com/pay/3iuv1ungf5yqScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Robert was born and raised in Maryland and went to UMD for undergrad. He joined the US Marines while still studying and in 2003, took a year off for Operation Iraqi Freedom with a light armored reconnaissance unit. After his deployment, he received his Bachelors in Economics with a Minor in Math and moved to NYC to work at UBS in investment banking. After a few years, he moved to South America for a year to learn Spanish and to do an Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile marathon). After completing the race, he came back to NYC and worked at Goldman Sachs in their Principal Strategies Group investing around the world and across various industries before receiving an MBA from the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania). After graduation, he moved to Korea for a year to look for startup ideas and moved back to NYC as the CEO and cofounder of Slidejoy.Slidejoy was acquired by Buzzvil in 2017. After running the US operations of Buzzvil, he co founded P.S. with a few friends. Raja Agnani was born in Queens, NY, and has spent the majority of his life in Southern California. After graduating from UCLA as a Regents Scholar with a BS in Biology, he worked in investment banking at Jefferies & Company in San Francisco. Raja then worked at Relativity Media, a private equity-backed investment firm and media startup, where he evaluated and executed 25+ investments in top Hollywood films and other media entities.He left this role to pursue his MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, Raja worked at Facebook, where he led business strategy and operations within the sales organization, and helped some of the largest advertisers in the world grow their businesses utilizing Facebook and Instagram. An entrepreneur at heart, Raja has always wanted to start his own company — combining his desire to create high quality consumer products and a passion for Ecommerce, he co-founded P.S.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:22] Rob’s Ecom background[03:26] Raja’s Ecom background[05:37] Do you need a co-founder?[10:38] The lack of competition in the market[14:47] Regulations in the condom industry[17:06] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[17:26] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:10] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:37] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[21:08] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[22:13] What makes PS different[24:09] Developing trust is important for brands like PS[29:16] Growth and success is a learning process[31:05] Your brand is a representation of you[32:44] Think about the long-term in your brand[33:35] Building relationships through interactions[34:38] Where to find PS condomsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeThinner, smoother condoms that don’t smell psgoodtimes.comConnect with Rob linkedin.com/in/trobseoConnect with Raja linkedin.com/in/rajaagnaniScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Charles McElroy is founder of Goldleaf, a science-forward printing company specializing in guided notebooks and elegant prints for cannabis patients, growers, and enthusiasts. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Goldleaf sells to 5 continents and custom designs for like-minded organizations around the world. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:12] Quick background for Gold Leaf[01:53] Where the idea of Gold Leaf came from[05:49] Working to gain experience[07:52] Novel ideas vs niches[10:51] Marketing vice products[12:44] The challenges and benefits of SEO[14:30] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[14:50] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[15:34] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[17:00] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[17:33] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[18:20] SEO capabilities of Shopify[19:20] The iterative process of SEO[19:47] On-page and off-page SEO[23:41] The Shopify link structure[24:56] Goldleaf’s tech stack[27:51] Native vs third-party integrations[28:57] Customizing Shopify notifications[29:06] Integrating orders from multiple sources[31:27] Go where your customers are[34:08] The difficulty of being shadow banned[36:30] The Farm Bill actually made the industry worse[37:51] Where to find GoldleafResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeBotanical science with thoughtful, minimalist design shopgoldleaf.comScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Alexa Leigh is a contemporary jewelry line based in Miami with roots in both Aspen and New York. Founded by Alexa Leigh Meyer, the brand was launched in 2010 with the intent to create sentimental value behind each piece. The collection spans from ball bracelets to chain necklaces, rings, anklets, and earrings. What makes our line so unique is that anything can be customized, with special charms or special requests in order to make one of a kind pieces for you and your loved ones.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:06] Starting a jewelry business online[04:38] Gaining experience to help your Ecom[06:06] From first collection to full-time[07:09] The changes from side hustle to full-time[09:02] Alexa Leigh’s customer acquisition plan[10:55] The benefits of personifying your brand[11:58] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:18] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:08] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[14:28] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[15:59] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[16:47] Being authentic and AL’s viral hashtag[18:57] Inventory is always a challenge[20:44] Go with your gut and do things differently[22:38] Don’t just follow competitor strategies[24:10] Influencing vs inspiring[24:51] Where to find Alexa LeighResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeA contemporary jewelry line based in Miami with roots in both Aspen and New York alexaleigh.comConnect with Alexa linkedin.com/in/alexa-meyer-29816a11Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet a started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Joe Johnson believes that he was born to be an entrepreneur. From the age of 5 years old he was creating his own businesses and he loved every second of it. Joe has been featured on ABC's Shark Tank, Forbes 30 Under 30, USA Today and others. As a student athlete, he was the Captain of the Michigan State Wrestling team, while achieving the highest honors and graduating with a degree in Finance from the Honors College with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Joe is the husband to an incredible wife and father to two wonderful kids, who are going to change the world. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:17] Entrepreneur since 5 yrs old[02:28] The unflattering side of owning a business[03:23] Where the idea of Vade came from[05:20] Novel ideas vs improvements[06:54] From proof of concept to multiple launches[08:32] The focus on getting the customer educated[11:38] Using curiosity as a selling point[12:14] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:34] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:18] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[14:45] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[15:17] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[16:04] When VADE picked up the pace[19:28] The past few years of growth for VADE[21:41] Propping up Ecom through expanding retail[22:09] VADE’s 2022 goals[22:57] How has Joe’s role changed over the years?[24:35] Leadership is different from entrepreneurship[27:30] Where to find VADE Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeProtein Powder, Pre-Workout & Meal Replacement vade-nutrition.comConnect with Joe linkedin.com/in/joe-johnson-b57210123Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Kyle LaFond is the Founder of American Provenance. Kyle started his career as a wildlife biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources but later transitioned into teaching middle school science. During his years as an educator he became passionate about encouraging his students to use safe, natural personal care products. This led to the launch of American Provenance from a renovated machine shed on his family’s 4th generation dairy farm. Kyle is always willing to share his experiences and has continued to help and mentor startup founders across the country. In his free time Kyle likes to work on various projects around his family farm. On nice weekends you can find him hiking or fishing on some of Wisconsin’s wonderful public properties. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:09] Kyle’s very interesting founding story[03:25] Becoming more than just a project[04:49] First products that were brought to market[06:16] From brick and mortar to D2C[10:02] Amazon is a necessary evil[11:47] Sales velocity and economies of scale[13:29] Guidelines to consider in-house or partners[15:03] AOV is a big consideration[15:28] How Kyle increases AOV in their Shopify site[17:16] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[17:36] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:21] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:51] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[21:18] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[22:15] Lifetime value in relation to AOV[24:00] LTV formula is different for every business[24:39] How AP is different from competition[26:26] Just doing it and the importance of roles[28:01] Where to find Kyle and his productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeMinimal-ingredient personal care products that contain no harsh chemicals, preservatives or artificial ingredients, and are always cruelty-free. americanprovenance.comRead Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business eosworldwide.com/rocket-fuel-bookRead Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business eosworldwide.com/traction-bookConnect with Kyle linkedin.com/in/kyle-lafond-b11055b9Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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 Brawner is an Ecommerce business coach and the host of the Ecommerce Influence podcast. About 5 years ago, he built a successful eCommerce growth agency and worked with a bunch of brands you’ve probably heard of like MVMT Watches, Pura Vida Bracelets, Blenders Eyewear, Kettle & Fire, Tecovas, and Four Sigmatic. He has an intimate knowledge of what it looks like in the trenches of fast-growing DTC brands. He also has an inside perspective on all the ways business owners sabotage themselves from building the lives they want — because he's done it to himself in the past. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:25] Chase and Austin had similar Ecom starts[02:08] Austin’s Ecommerce journey[04:27] Early marketing automation software[05:07] Brands that Austin worked with[07:39] Any automation is beneficial and profitable[09:23] Owned and retention vs paid and rented[10:01] Pushing to grow vs knowing what makes you grow[12:46] Being first is not enough[13:35] Negativity hurts your success[16:21] Mindset makes it easier or harder to work[17:07] A day in the life of Austin[19:56] Learning through books and other founders[21:16] Relationships and timelines[23:03] The 3 business lifecycle stages[24:38] Think like marketers, not manufacturers[25:47] Think first before outsourcing creative work[26:41] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[27:01] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[27:46] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[29:12] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[29:45] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[30:32] The Effortless Growth Operating System[33:51] The EGO System is accessible through membership[35:00] Determining what you really want[36:03] Grow your business to a point [37:33] Making your growth simple[38:26] Ask better questions[39:07] Paint a clear picture of where you want to go[40:34] Focus on one goal at a time[41:14] Assemble your championship squad[42:33] Sticking to your philosophy[43:47] Circumventing processes lead to bad people[47:08] Raise the floor[48:00] Run an agency or an Ecom business?[49:04] Books that changed Austin’s life[50:41] Reverse testimonials[52:19] Where to find AustinResources:Unlock massive growth in your business without burning out brandgrowthexperts.comConvert more visitors into paying customers ecommerceinfluence.comConnect with Austin austinbrawner.com linkedin.com/in/austinbrawnerProfit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine mikemichalowicz.com/profit-firstTraction: Get a Grip on Your Business eosworldwide.com/traction-bookVivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future cameronherold.com/vivid-visionWho: The A Method for Hiring whothebook.comDouble Your Profits: In Six Months or Less (Packaging May Vary) amazon.com/Double-Your-Profits-Months-Less/dp/088730740XSimple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits simplenumbers.me/the-booksThe Brain Audit psychotactics.com/products/the-brain-audit-32-marketing-strategy-and-structureScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honestSubscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube 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!

In a few short years, Steve Sando has taken the lowly bean from a neglected legume to superstar-status ingredient. Sando’s company, Rancho Gordo, grows, imports, and promotes heirloom and heritage varieties while working directly with consumers and chefs like Thomas Keller, Deborah Madison, Paula Wolfert, and David Kinch. Sando’s seed saving, bean production, and marketing efforts provide professional and home chefs with heirloom beans that would otherwise have been lost to history. The beans, along with corn, chiles, and tomatoes, have become key ingredients in the new American food revolution centered in Sando’s native San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, Sando and Rancho Gordo were named number two on Saveur Magazine’s “The Saveur 100 list for 2008.” Bon Appetit magazine declared Sando one of the Hot 10 in the food world of 2009. Food + Wine magazine placed Steve “at the forefront of the current seed-saving movement.” Steve’s three books are Heirloom Beans (Chronicle, 2008) (with Vanessa Barrington), The Rancho Gordo Bean Growers Guide (Timber 2011) and Supper at Rancho Gordo (Rancho Gordo Books 2014). Heirloom Beans is in its fourth printing. Steve Sando came to agriculture not from the 4H club but from the grocery store. As a frustrated home cook, he decided to grow the ingredients he wanted in his kitchen. At the forefront of neglected ingredients were beans. Although they are an indigenous product of the Americas, the only beans available commercially to most home cooks were pintos, navys, and kidneys. Discovering heirloom beans to be as rich and varied as heirloom tomatoes, Sando almost singlehandedly created the market for these unique and worthwhile legumes. He now grows more than 25 varieties in California and works with small indigenous farmers in Mexico to import their heirloom beans for the U.S. market. He lives in Napa and travels frequently throughout the Americas. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:38] Why beans?[02:15] Rancho Gordo’s first Ecom platform[03:24] Why Steve had to hire[04:07] How Rancho Gordo got its first customers[05:13] The moment Steve took it seriously[06:51] Shopify’s evolution throughout the years[07:19] Email marketing and product-market fit[09:04] You don’t have to be an expert[09:31] Competition based on talent, not budget[10:17] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[10:37] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[11:22] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[12:49] Sponsor: BeProfit beprofit.co[14:20] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[15:07] Scaling Rancho Gordo’s email list[16:11] What helped RG have consistent growth?[18:27] Having a niche produces passionate people[19:26] Steve’s political leanings actually help[20:59] Business and politics[21:31] Better sales vs better experience[22:59] The reality of lifestyle businesses[23:15] The heirloom difference[23:53] Supply chain difficulties[24:41] Black Friday without discounts?[25:30] Passionate marketplace + good product[25:53] Know and please your customersResources:Continue the New World traditional culture and try out heirloom beans ranchogordo.comConnect with Steve linkedin.com/in/stevesandoScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestVisit beprofit.co and use code HONEST15 to get an exclusive 15% off any plan for the lifetime of your planGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

On the tail end of some major life changes, in 2006, at the age of 23, Sam Dean took every penny he and his wife had (and some they didn't) and bet it all on selling body jewelry to strangers on the internet. Fresh off the memories of the "dot com bubble" and unknowingly walking towards the '08 Financial Crisis, Sam was continuously warned by family and friends that the internet and body jewelry are fads and won't be around forever. 15 years later it seems wild that anyone ever doubted the Ecommerce future, but Sam saw the writing on the wall. With hundreds of thousands of customers, Plug Your Holes now ships 8-12k orders per month and employs over 2 dozen people in their Kansas City headquarters. Sam is now looking to the future of PYH, his family and his other endeavors. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] Sam’s journey to Ecom[02:33] The idea of selling body jewelry[03:38] The genre and aesthetics are misaligned[04:34] Inherent go-to-market strategy from bands[06:14] The Vans Warped Tour Experience[08:13] How the Tour helped Plug Your Holes[09:39] 2000’s Ecom vs now[11:47] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:07] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[12:58] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[14:18] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[14:51] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[15:38] Social media approach to awareness[18:19] Mistakes Sam wants you to avoid[20:26] What you start with doesn’t really matter[21:10] Determining what you are really doing[22:01] Concert goers and body jewelry customers[23:19] Culture, acceptance, and employment crisis[24:34] Take the first step[25:25] Pushing your minimum viable productResources:Plug Your Holes plugyourholes.comConnect with Sam @Sam_DeanScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Resources:Connect with Chase linkedin.com/in/chaseclymerConnect with Andrew linkedin.com/in/andrewchristensenjonesProvide a better post-purchase experience go.route.com/fast-demoRegister to the next webinar about the Brand Scaling Framework carthook.com/webinar/building-a-brand-scaling-framework

Reza Khadjavi is the CEO and co-founder of Motion, a visual analysis tool for marketers and media buyers to identify which creatives perform best and why. On a mission to improve the creative analysis workflow efficiency between brand and performance marketing teams, he is passionate about helping marketers identify specific attributes behind what makes creatives click to drive revenue. Reza previously co-founded Shoelace, a full-funnel marketing agency focused on helping DTC brands scale. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:31] Reza’s Shopify background and journey[03:59] The evolution of Shoelace[05:49] The conception of Motion [10:01] How Shoelace operates[11:48] Where does Motion help in content creation?[15:03] Test out even unpopular ideas[16:26] The balance between creative and objective[18:06] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[18:26] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[19:11] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[20:37] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[21:10] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[21:57] 3 content systems to build out[23:49] Creative production and creative strategies[25:13] Directing influencers for more value[26:23] Using UGC as a guide[27:03] Low-level testing vs high-level concepts[30:30] Video ad editing tips using Motion[32:29] The importance of naming conventions[35:10] Where to find Shoelace, Motion, and RezaResources:Creative reporting for Facebook Ads Manager motionapp.comBe precise with your ads using customer journey marketing shoelace.comWhy naming conventions are important motionapp.com/blog/facebook-naming-conventionsConnect with Reza @rezakhadjavi [email protected] your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

What on earth possessed us to start a watch brand? That's a question we get all the time. We saw boring, repetitive designs churned out year after year. We saw watches that didn't provide for individual expression. There was a blatant lack of uniqueness of style and colorways. Plus, we saw brands that did not connect directly with the people who were wearing their products. There was a significant disconnect.The market was ready for something new and different. A watch brand that would connect to its fans, one that would form and sustain real relationships. A brand that would involve the people who bought their watches in the process of product development. A brand that would continually aim to create distinctive limited edition watches screaming attitude and nonconformity. Perfect timepieces for the watch lover looking for something different to add to his or her collection. We saw the need and created LIV Watches. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:56] Tongue twisters and ad copies[01:33] LIV’s founding story[03:25] The benefit of Chaz’s background[04:51] How LIV got their unique designs[06:46] The crowdfunding go-to-market strategy[08:32] The benefits of successful Kickstarters[09:50] Look to challenge traditional approaches [11:31] Reinforcing the “no budget” motto[12:08] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:28] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:13] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[14:39] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[15:12] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[15:59] The prospecting and retargeting process[16:56] Relationships and having the last word[18:01] From crowdfunding to DTC[21:00] Building their custom crowdfunding platform[23:06] Backing games on Kickstarter[23:44] Cons of using Kickstarter[25:31] Be careful with data and feedback[26:50] Lifetime value and cost per acquisition[28:05] Where to find LIV WatchesResources:Fine Swiss watches from a brand that really cares about you and your collection livwatches.comConnect with Chaz @ChazanowScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Bearaby’s Chief Growth Officer, Joaquin Arce has charted rapid expansion and impact for the award-winning weighted blanket brand in three years time. Joaquin optimizes all components of the business that generate revenue working cross-functionally with sales, marketing, affiliate, SEO, and beyond to expedite key growth initiatives. From the early days of the start-up’s initial brand ideation, to the first sale of Bearaby’s (now fan-favorite) Cotton Napper, Joaquin has worked cross-functionally to achieve success on the digital front resulting in an engaged and organic community of thousands. Joaquin participated in the double degree program Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Economics at Universidad del Pacifico in Peru. Committed to advancing Latinx business leadership, in 2020 he took part in The Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, a research and education collaboration between Stanford University and the Latino Business Action Network. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:20] The idea of Bearaby[04:09] The similarities between founders[05:02] Bearaby’s go-to-market strategy[06:55] Considering traditional retail partnerships[08:13] The site also benefits from the partnership[09:08] Other benefits that you might not consider[10:06] Mistakes Joaquin wants you to avoid[11:03] CTA without discount codes[11:50] Bearaby’s podcast placements[13:20] Podcasts are lacking in metrics[14:21] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[14:41] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[15:26] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[16:52] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[17:25] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[18:12] The Black Friday/Mindfulness campaign[21:13] Bearaby’s napping culture[22:31] The April Fool’s/Hedgehog campaignResources:Sustainable, breathable, and filler-free weighted blankets bearaby.comConnect with Joaquin linkedin.com/in/joaquin-arce-525b47131Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Thomas Smale is the Founder and CEO of FE International. He is a serial business entrepreneur and M&A expert, having built the industry-leading firm in the $1-100M global technology sector. With experience dating back to the early 2000s, Smale offers invaluable technical, diligence and negotiation advice to early-stage and seasoned business owners alike, which has resulted in over 1,000 successful exits. Smale can be regularly found speaking at industry events where he enjoys meeting like-minded entrepreneurs and investors. Alongside his duties at FE International, Smale is a sought-after author and keynote presenter for leading industry events worldwide. He has been interviewed on top podcasts and blogs on a variety of topics, including business strategy, buying and selling businesses, negotiation tactics and more. He writes a business column regularly on entrepreneurship, growth, and business management for Entrepenur.com and is a Young Entrepreneurs’ Council member. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:19] Thomas’ backstory[04:54] Reasons to buy or sell websites[06:25] 3 main buyer groups for websites[08:15] 3 types of websites that FE Intl buys [12:30] Setting up for selling your business[15:31] What makes FE Intl different[17:15] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[17:35] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:19] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:46] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[20:18] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[21:06] Best practices for selling your website[22:23] Don’t sell your business when it’s declining[23:44] It’s easier to sell businesses now[25:30] Write down your processes[25:58] Consider an evergreen business industry[28:56] Does FE Intl help buyers?[29:55] Be careful in choosing advice[31:40] Should you raise money?[32:20] Consider your future early on[33:59] Where to find Thomas and FE InternationalResources:Connect with Thomas @ThomasSmale linkedin.com/in/thomassmaleSell your online business with a Professional M&A Advisor you can trust feinternational.comGet a free valuation of your website feinternational.com/sell-your-websiteScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Sarah is the CEO of Sarah Delevan Consulting and host of The Good Food CFO Podcast. A former good food business owner and buyer, Sarah has a talent for understanding, diagnosing, and improving the financial performance of food businesses. From the ingredient sourcing, to product and menu pricing, to building scalable systems for long term success, she’s able to see what’s going on in a business’s day-to-day operations just as clearly as she can see the big picture. After years of building proven, repeatable methods and systems, she founded Sarah Delevan Consulting in 2017. Since then she’s helped good food businesses across the country achieve financial sustainability and profitability, and remains steadfast in her mission to change our food system one profitable good food business at a time. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:10] What got Sarah to the financial side of food[03:15] Are bars and restaurants easy to go bankrupt?[05:04] Where Sarah’s consulting business step in[06:43] KPIs that you should take note of[08:56] The Financial Success Formula[09:36] Common mistakes of Food/CPG brands[11:49] When you should raise your price[13:01] The entrepreneurial pitfall of pricing[14:56] Don’t price yourself based on Amazon[17:06] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[17:26] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[18:11] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[19:38] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[20:10] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[20:57] The next step: Problem solving[23:28] Focus on one thing at a time[25:18] Playing with AOV depends on certain conditions[27:18] Think ROI for everything you spend money on[28:46] Food-related businesses are fun and unique[30:17] Figure out product-market fit first[30:56] The most surprising part of consultancy[32:00] How to determine your financial health[33:07] Where to find SarahResources:Build a profitable food business of your dreams on your terms sarahdelevan.comJoin the Profitable Food Business Community profitablefoodbusinesscommunity.mn.co/feedConnect with Sarah @sarah.delevan.consultingListen to The Good Food CFO Podcast podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-food-cfo-podcast/id1544877345Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Hilary Quartner is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Hilma. Hilary built her career in the consumer products and retail industry, most recently as Head of Strategy & Finance at Jetblack, a Walmart-incubated startup, with prior experience at The Wonderful Company and Credit Suisse Investment Banking. At Hilma, she is focused on building the direct-to-consumer and Ecommerce channels, as well as leading growth marketing and financing. Hilary holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and BA from Columbia University. She lives and works in New York. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:52] What led to the founding of Hilma[05:09] Determining if “natural” is worthing investing in[07:50] From idea to having an Ecom store[09:16] What makes Hilma different[11:37] Hilma’s go-to-market strategy[14:06] The ease-of-use of the Shopify ecosystem[15:12] It’s easier and more preferable to just start now[15:38] Mistakes Hilary wants you to avoid[15:47] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[16:07] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[16:52] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[18:18] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[18:50] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[19:38] The first step is the hardest[21:32] Picking which channels to focus[24:18] Omnichannel benefits both retail and Ecom sides[25:17] Why Hilma chose to also go with Amazon[27:27] Can Hilma now invest back into its business?Resources:Get natural remedies backed by science hilma.co - Use code HONEST10 to get 10% off your first purchaseConnect with Hilary linkedin.com/in/hilary-quartner-04a64127Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Brendan Hughes has been “doing” eCommerce and digital marketing since 1997. For much of his career he was responsible for implementing digital marketing strategies in large consumer organizations in Europe. After spending some leading digital transformation in a large news media publisher and as a board member of IAB, Brendan realised how intransparent the entire ad industry had become. He wrote extensively on the topic and has recently published his first book providing practical advice to eCommerce store owners on how to get better returns when advertising across the big walled gardens that dominate the industry. Brendan now leads the team at Optily, an innovative solution to cross-platform ad optimization. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:18] Coding in the 90’s[02:47] From building websites to Ecommerce[06:25] Analyzing the marketing funnel[08:52] Cognitive biases that affect marketing[10:15] Quantifying the success of your process[11:19] Fine tuning the top of funnel[12:09] Success in short form video[14:04] The research and evaluation mode[15:29] Tackling the lower end of the funnel[17:39] Funnel inefficiencies and plateauing[19:01] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[19:32] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[20:05] Sponsor: Gorgias gorgias.grsm.io/honest[21:32] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.io/honest[22:04] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[22:52] Shortening the funnel through data[25:27] Why you should still consider retargeting[27:14] Acquisition vs retention marketing[29:36] Setting the ROAS expectation[34:13] Goals, data, and experience matters[36:23] Short-term vs Long-term[38:18] Acquisition costs are based on the channel[40:08] Best fit customers for Optily[43:39] Optily does not replace SMEs or contractors [46:46] Optily specials offers for listenersResources:Try Optily for 14 days optily.com/request-a-demo/ and also get 15% discount on your first yearHave a “no-strings attached” free 1 hour ad strategy consultation calendly.com/brendan-optily/ad-strategy-consultationConnect with Brendan linkedin.com/in/brendanhughesScale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.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!

Thomas Lotrecchiano is the co-founder of Omigo, modern bidets that get you perfectly clean. On this podcast we talk about Thomas being a business partner with his dad, the difficulty of paid acquisition, Omigo advertising on cable TV, and so much more! To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co Resources: Instantly turn your toilet into a modern bidet myomigo.com Connect with Thomas linkedin.com/in/thomas-lotrecchiano-44978675 Scale your business with electriceye.io Download Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesa Respond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honest Level up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honest Get started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest

Marc Bacher is the Founder and CEO of Stuga, a collection of modern floors from the world’s happiest forests, thoughtfully designed by Scandinavians to transform your home. On this podcast, we talk about how to be competitive against established stores in your industry, building trust to get customers, combining brick-and-mortar and Ecom principles, and so much more! To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co Resources: Scandinavian hardwood floors made easy stugastudio.com/ Connect with Marc linkedin.com/in/marc-bacher-1563215 Scale your business with electriceye.io Download Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesa Respond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honest Level up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honest Get started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest

Jay Myers is the co-founder of Bold Commerce, been in Ecommerce since 1998 and has grown Bold to almost 500 staff and power over 100,000 Ecommerce brands. To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co Resources: Increase the value of your business. Try Bold Subscriptions FREE for 60 days! boldcommerce.com/solutions/recurring-billing-software Connect with Jay linkedin.com/in/jasonnmyers Checkout more Bold apps for your online store boldcommerce.com Scale your business with electriceye.io Download Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesa Respond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honest Level up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honest Get a started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest