Ecommerce Conversations
396 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsListen in as host Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, interviews interesting entrepreneurs in the ecommerce space.
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Episodes
Guatemalan Entrepreneurs Are Gay, Married, Successful
July 08, 2022 14:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBIt sounds like a movie script. A gay entrepreneur in Guatemala launches a cookie company in 2012 from his mom's kitchen. He meets another Guatemalan entrepreneur, also gay, who joins the business. They get married, immigrate in 2019 to the U.S., and, overcoming a slew of obstacles, relaunch the company from their base in Austin, Texas, achieving success. The company is called Wunderkeks. The entrepreneurs are founder Hans Schrei and his co-owner husband, Luis Gramajo. I recently spoke with...
Custom Teeth Guards Propel Online Dental Lab
July 01, 2022 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBFolks who grind their teeth while sleeping rely on custom-fitted guards for prevention. For sellers of those guards, the complication is the custom-fitting. It requires an exact teeth impression, which presumably calls for an in-person visit. But not if the seller is Pro Teeth Guard, a San Diego, California-based online dental lab that sells made-to-order teeth guards via ecommerce. Its impressions-by-mail process facilitates custom manufacturing — and satisfied customers. I recently spoke...
Lessons from Shopify 2.0 Upgrade, New Theme
June 24, 2022 14:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBHost Eric Bandholz's company, Beardbrand, recently completed a migration to Shopify 2.0 and a new premium theme, the fourth since its inception in 2013. Jenny Durre, Beardbrand's in-house designer, managed the entire 2.0 process — selecting the theme, customizing pages, streamlining the layout, and ultimately going live with the new version. She describes it all in this conversation. A condensed and edited (for clarity) transcript is at: https://pec-ly.com/?6jBh.
180 Marketing Founder: 4 Buckets to SEO
June 17, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBSearch engine optimization for ecommerce boils down to four buckets. That's according to Jeff Oxford, founder of 180 Marketing, an Oregon-based firm. Read a condensed and edited (for clarity) transcript at https://pec-ly.com/?6jrc.
PostPilot Is Klaviyo for Postcards
June 10, 2022 13:37 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBApple's iOS 14 privacy changes have created a windfall for direct mail providers such as PostPilot. Owners Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein explain how modern postcard programs mimic email campaigns.
Cocktail Syrup Manufacturer Pivots to DTC
June 03, 2022 14:04 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBChris Harrison co-founded Liber & Co., a maker of cocktail syrups, in 2012. The Austin, Texas-based company thrived by selling mostly to bars and restaurants. Then Covid hit.
'Impossible Sleep' Makes Sleep Possible
May 27, 2022 14:12 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBJoel Runyon launched Impossible, a fitness and performance company, in 2010. The company sells digital training programs, apparel, and nutritional supplements. "Sleep," a powder drink, is the latest. It helps high performers recharge and recover via deep sleeping.
Fed-up Toy Company Responds to Knock-offs
May 20, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBMolson Hart launched Viahart, a manufacturer of educational toys, in 2010, selling mainly on Amazon. The company experienced repeated intellectual property theft, which prompted his launch of a second company, Edison Litigation Financing.
Efficiency Pro: Happy People Are More Productive
May 13, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBThanh Pham, the founder of Asian Efficiency, a productivity training company, once focused on efficiency to help folks get more done. Then he realized the real driver of productivity is happiness, not time management or focus.
Needing Deodorant, Curie Founder Made Her Own
May 06, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBIn 2018 Sarah Moret, an accountant and athlete, couldn't find a suitable aluminum-free deodorant. So she made her own. Fast forward to 2022, and that deodorant business is now Curie, a thriving direct-to-consumer seller of personal care and lifestyle goods.
For Supply.co, EOS Is A-OK
April 29, 2022 12:40 - 31 minutes - 29 MBSupply.co, a DTC seller of shaving supplies, endured a tough 2021, as did its founder, Patrick Coddou. By year's end, he was exhausted, burned out. He turned to the Entrepreneurial Operating System, a management framework. The results? "It has changed the company, and it’s changed me."
'Embrace Growth' Is Core to Atlas Staffing
April 22, 2022 13:29 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBJoshua McKee founded Atlas Staffing 11 years ago. The company now has five locations in the western U.S., serving a light industry niche. McKee advocates core company values and communicates them to his staff. "Embrace growth," his favorite, refers to personal growth, not financial.
Direct Mail Replaces Facebook for Barbecue Seller
April 15, 2022 14:01 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBLea Richards founded Pig of the Month, a DTC seller of barbeque, in 2011. After Apple's iOS 14 privacy change, she shifted to direct mail for customer acquisition — to good results. She explains that switch, the logistics of shipping perishable goods, and more.
Direct Mail Replaces Facebook for Barbeque Seller
April 15, 2022 14:01 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBLea Richards founded Pig of the Month, a DTC seller of barbeque, in 2011. After Apple's iOS 14 privacy change, she shifted to direct mail for customer acquisition — to good results. She explains that switch, the logistics of shipping perishable goods, and more.
Ecommerce Copywriter on Tactics, Tools, More
April 08, 2022 14:26 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBChristopher Silvestri is an ecommerce copywriter and UX designer who launched Conversion Alchemy, an agency, two years ago. The key to high-converting copy, he says, is researching the target audience. He explains how he does that, including his go-tool tools and common merchant mistakes.
Sutro Pivots from Drinking Water to Swimming Pools
April 01, 2022 15:21 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBRavi Kurani is an engineer and former venture capitalist who launched Sutro, a water sensor manufacturer, in 2012 in India. His initial go-to-market strategy failed. So he moved to California, his home, and shifted to measuring swimming pool water from the drinking kind.
'People Development' Drives AppSumo to $80 Million in Revenue
March 25, 2022 14:34 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBAyman Al-Abdullah joined AppSumo, the daily deals site for digital goods, in 2015. Annual revenue was $3 million. When he left the company in 2021, revenue was a whopping $80 million. How did he do it? "People development," he said.
For Fragrance One, It's Selling without Smelling
March 18, 2022 15:33 - 33 minutes - 31 MBKamil Banc is co-founder with his brother Jeremy of Fragrance One, a direct-to-consumer seller of colognes and perfumes — entirely online. Sales are booming despite buyers never smelling the fragrances. He explains how in this conversation with host Eric Bandholz.
Fox Rocks on LinkedIn
March 11, 2022 14:55 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBIn 2009 Judi Fox began networking on LinkedIn, having lost her job early that year. She now, in 2022, has nearly 39,000 LinkedIn followers. Her business advises companies and professionals on marketing strategies for that platform.
Stryx, a DTC Brand, Prepares Rollout in Target Stores
March 04, 2022 15:09 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBJon Shanahan is the co-founder of Stryx, the pioneering direct-to-consumer seller of men's cosmetics. The company is soon to launch its products in 950 Target stores. The decision comes with risks. Shanahan discusses those issues and more with host Eric Bandholz.
Consumers in a Pandemic Need Murphy Beds
February 25, 2022 15:48 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBIn 2015 Brenden Marquardt was a Texas-based investment analyst. He met a homesteader named Lori who made custom Murphy beds, those that fold up in a wall. Marquardt was looking for a side hustle. He acquired her business. Fast forward to 2022, and Lori Wall Beds is an eight-figure direct-to-consumer company.
BK Beauty, Avoiding Facebook, Thrives with Affiliate Marketing
February 18, 2022 15:46 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBPaul Jauregui first appeared on this podcast in 2020, having launched BK Beauty, a direct-to-consumer beauty brand, with Lisa, his wife, the year before. Unlike many DTC brands, BK Beauty does not rely on Facebook advertising. Affiliate marketing is the company's go-to channel.
Solo Brands Founder, Now Wealthy, Reflects
February 11, 2022 15:17 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBIn 2010, Spencer Jan and his brother launched Solo Stove, for camping. Fast forward to 2022 and Solo Stove is Solo Brands, a public traded aggregator of ecommerce companies, which rose from its acquisition of Jan's business. What's it like to watch others run a company he founded? Jan addresses it in this episode.
LiveRecover Founder Sells Company, Buys OrderBump
February 04, 2022 15:41 - 32 minutes - 30 MBDennis Hegstad co-founded LiveRecover, a real-time SMS app, in 2018. He sold the company in 2021. "I became bored," he said. So he purchased OrderBump, a Shopify app for product upsells.
Former Ecommerce CEO Asks, 'What's Next?'
January 28, 2022 15:43 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBAndrew Faris is a former pastor who migrated to digital marketing. From there he rose to CEO of 4x400, an ecommerce aggregator that once owned seven brands. Having recently resigned from that position, he's now assessing priorities and evaluating his next career move. It's a not uncommon position for many executives and entrepreneurs.
Paid Search Drives Kuru Footwear to 2021 Success
January 21, 2022 15:46 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBI first interviewed Sean McGinnis for this podcast in November 2020. He had recently arrived at Kuru Footwear, a direct-to-consumer shoe manufacturer, as chief marketing officer. One year later, he's president of the company, and sales are booming.
20 Years in Ecommerce for Miva's CEO
January 19, 2022 21:11 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIt's been a wild ride for Rick Wilson. He started in ecommerce in the 1990s as a salesman with Miva, the pioneering platform. In 2007 he joined an investor group that purchased the business. Fast forward to 2022 and Wilson is Miva's CEO. He recently completed the company's second capital raise and authored a second book.
TikTok Marketing Is Hard Work
January 14, 2022 15:11 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBRyan Magin founded Viral Edits, a video agency, roughly two years ago. He creates original and repurposed videos for brands and influencers, focusing on TikTok and Instagram. The business has grown dramatically. The process is much more difficult than it appears, he says, requiring hours of video watching, editing, and nuance.
'I Like Starting Things,' Says Serial Entrepreneur
January 07, 2022 15:32 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBHaving arrived from Estonia 14 years ago, Peep Laja has launched three companies: CXL for e-learning, Speero for conversion consulting, and Wynter for B2B customer intelligence. "I've always been entrepreneurial," he told me. "I like starting things."
MarketerHire Exec on Freelancers, Content, SEO
December 31, 2021 15:28 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBTracey Wallace is a longtime B2B exec and content marketer, having worked at BigCommerce and now, MarketerHire, a marketplace for freelancers. She addresses the post-Covid workforce, the benefits of hiring freelancers, and, yes, how to drive traffic with content marketing.
Subscriptions, Books Drive Man Flow Yoga
December 17, 2021 15:33 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBIn 2012, Dean Pohlman was a collegiate lacrosse player who had taken up yoga. It so improved his on-field performance he began teaching the workouts to teammates. That led to DVD recordings, which led to a YouTube channel. He called it "Man Flow Yoga." Fast forward to 2021, and Pohlman is a global authority on yoga instruction for men.
'Modern Wisdom' Is a Media Sensation
December 10, 2021 16:06 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBChris Williamson is a modern-day polymath with a fitting podcast. It's called "Modern Wisdom." Launched in 2018, it's experienced a whopping 30 million downloads across 400 episodes. He told me, "We talk about human nature, marketing, philosophy, life, life hacks, biohacking, fitness, health, pretty much everything."
Barbell Logic Rides Shift to Online Fitness
December 03, 2021 14:53 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBThe pandemic has upended the fitness industry. Having no access to public gyms, millions of folks turned to at-home workouts. According to Matt Reynolds, the founder of Barbell Logic, an online strength coaching company, the shift is permanent. "As the world has opened back up," he told me, "there's been a change of mindset, a paradigm shift in personal fitness training."
The Right Answer to 'What Do You Do?'
November 26, 2021 15:04 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBClay Hebert once attended a conference in San Diego. He sat next to a fellow who inquired about his work. "What do you do?" the fellow asked. Describing the encounter, Hebert told me, "That question stumped me." He had fumbled his introduction to Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress.
The Beauty of Bootstrapping a Business
November 19, 2021 15:49 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBThis episode is different than most. I'm interviewing no one. Instead, I'm addressing a singular topic: bootstrapping, the concept of launching and growing a business without outside investors. My company, Beardbrand, is bootstrapped. It's a beautiful thing.
Subscriptions Power Disco Past iOS 14.5, Amazon
November 12, 2021 16:55 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBThe year 2021 has been a doozy for Ben Smith. In March, he celebrated an investment round for Disco, his direct-to-consumer skincare company. In April, Disco's customer acquisition cost increased by a whopping 300% with the release of iOS 14.5. In May, he began selling on Amazon, only to see Amazon bid on the exact Google Ad keywords he relied on for traffic to Disco's website.
eCommerceFuel Founder on Work-Life Balance, Priorities
November 05, 2021 14:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBAndrew Youderian is the founder and CEO of eCommerceFuel, a leading online community of established store owners. He oversees a diverse team and manages a growing business with worldwide members. Surely, one would think, he works long hours with little downtime.
21 Years In, 2BigFeet Charts Opportunities, Growth
October 29, 2021 14:57 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBWhere can you find a size 24 men's shoe? At 2BigFeet.com. Brandon Eley co-launched the business in 2000, before Google AdWords and long before Facebook and Shopify. "We've seen a lot of changes in 21 years," he said. "Keyword stuffing was legitimate search engine optimization back then."
Gas Station Coffee Spurs Golden Ratio Founder
October 22, 2021 15:42 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBSolving a personal hardship may be the most common motivator for starting a business. Clark Nowlin's hardship was acidity in coffee. It wrecked his stomach. Golden Ratio Coffee is Nowlin's solution. It's a producer of low-acid coffee. He founded the business last year in Austin, Texas, and it now sells direct-to-consumer in all 50 states.
Amid Facebook Ad Turmoil, Supply.co Retrenches
October 15, 2021 13:59 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBPatrick Coddou is a direct-to-consumer pioneer, having launched Supply.co in 2015. The company designs, manufactures, and sells premium shaving products — all to great success. Until 2021. That's when Apple's iOS 14.5, which launched in April, upended Facebook's ability to hyper-target ads. Coddou's company relied on sales from those ads. He's retrenched the company and is soon to launch two new products.
Mental Conditioning Is Vital for Entrepreneurs
October 08, 2021 12:04 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBLauren Johnson says high-performing entrepreneurs have similar characteristics as professional athletes. Both have mental traits that lead to inevitable success. She first observed those qualities when working for the New York Yankees, teaching mental performance to accomplished baseball players.
Mental Conditioning Is Vital for Entrepreneurs, Says Consultant
October 08, 2021 12:04 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBLauren Johnson says high-performing entrepreneurs have similar characteristics as professional athletes. Both have mental traits that lead to inevitable success. She first observed those qualities when working for the New York Yankees, teaching mental performance to accomplished baseball players.
PPE Provider Thrives on Influencers (and Hollywood)
October 01, 2021 15:18 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBRoman Zrazhevskiy's company, Mira Safety, sells protective gas masks. It launched in 2018, targeting consumers, medical providers, law enforcement, and others. The masks protect against tear gas, chemicals, and, yes, viruses. Still, reaching prospects was a challenge.
Lessons from Bankruptcy Drive Ecom Agency Founder
September 24, 2021 14:58 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBJosh Durham knows the downside of entrepreneurship. He founded an ecommerce company in 2015 and quickly grew revenue. Then it went out of business. Fast forward to 2021 and Durham has bounced back. He founded a successful marketing agency, Aligned Growth Management, that builds on his own early-day lessons.
Should DTC Brands Sell to Mass Merchandisers?
September 17, 2021 12:02 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBBeardbrand's products are in all 2,000 Target stores. Lindsey Reinders, my business partner, drove that project in 2018. Selling goods to mass merchandisers is a goal of many direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands. Has it worked out for Beardbrand? I asked Lindsey that question and more.
Software Exec Shifts to Bicycle Components, and Thrives
September 10, 2021 14:51 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBBrian De Groodt launched Dispatch Custom Cycling Components in 2018 after a long career in enterprise software. The company sells bicycle headset caps, which sit atop the stem connecting handlebars to the frame. Customers can customize the caps, adding uniqueness to their bikes.
Foundr Owner on Burnout, Recovery, Priorities
September 03, 2021 16:05 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBNathan Chan seemingly had it all. His business, Foundr, is hugely successful, combining media with entrepreneurship training. He interacts with prominent global founders. Then came burnout. "I experienced burnout earlier this year for the first time ever," he told me. "It wasn't good. I realized I had just ground myself out."
Hyve Founder: Bacteria Is Helpful for Home Cleaning
August 27, 2021 14:57 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBShreya Patel is a biologist and healthcare administrator who seeks to change how folks clean their home. Products that kill bacteria do more harm than good, she says. And that's why she launched Hyve, a direct-to-consumer seller of household cleaning goods. She says, "Cleaners that kill 99.9% of bacteria leave 0.1% that are likely the most harmful."
Apparel Merchant Is the 'Godfather of Memewear'
August 20, 2021 13:36 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBArdon Lukas launched Shirtwascash in 2014, having spent several years in corporate finance. He sells t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, sweatshirts, you name it — all printed with cultural memes or images. Some are edgy; all are interesting. He's the "godfather of memewear," according to his LinkedIn profile.
'Intrepreneurship' Has Rewards, Says Company Founder
August 13, 2021 14:56 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBBryan DeLuca has a name for folks who build brands within large corporations. He calls them "intrepreneurs." He should know. Having co-founded and then sold a successful ecommerce business, DeLuca worked for a traditional retailer, creating brands within the company.