eComFuel Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Optimizing the Entrepreneur's Weekly Routine Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

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Takeaways From Our Charlotte Event Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Clashing Takes on the Future of Amazon (A Debate) Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

How LoriBeds.com Navigated a Very Tough Year Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

The Transformative Power of One Amazing Hire Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

What it Takes to Build a Unique Brand in 2022 Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Leveling Up as a Leader Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Pricing Strategies for an Inflationary World Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Launching a Beautiful High-Converting Catalog Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

Side Hustle to $2 Billion IPO: The Solo Stove Story Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.