Ecommercefuel: Build, Launch And Grow A 6 Figure Plus Ecommerce Business | Ecommerce Fuel

Sean Frank is the COO at Ridge Wallets, an everyday essentials brand that started on Kickstarter in 2013 and blew well past its goals in the first and second campaigns. Since then, they have bootstrapped their way to $100 million in sales without any investors or credit (until recently!). In this episode, we’re diving into how Ridge Wallets grew to the size they are today in an industry that is notorious for sucking up cash, as well as the unique influencer strategy that helps Sean get the most exposure for the brand with the least amount of work. Sean also shares the one key metric that he uses to dial in his headcount to keep the business lean without overloading his team, and we talk about why the next two years may be the hardest for those in the eCommerce game. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3qORDvg 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 e

A lot has changed over the last year when it comes to online marketing, with increased competition, changing dynamics, and major platform changes. If you feel like your head is spinning, you are definitely not alone. Steve Chou joins me today to dive into the current state of eCommerce, including what we’re ignoring and where we’re really doubling down in our marketing efforts. Listen in as we talk about all the changes that have happened over the past few years that are informing strategy in Steve’s business and in my own. You'll learn what we are doing to get the most bang for our buck, as well as why Steve is moving away from third-party platforms in favor of those that he has some measure of control over. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BLKlKK 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.

Usually when I invite a guest on the show, it’s to learn all the trade secrets of what they do really well, but today’s guest joins me because he’s an incredible human being that also happens to be really good at running an eCommerce store. Meet Josh Willard, the founder of Josh’s Frogs, an 8-figure business and the largest producer of captive-bred poison dart frogs in the United States—and possibly the world! Listen in as we dive into Josh’s interesting approach to building a values-based business, where he gets the most bang for his buck when it comes to marketing, and why he decided to only sell frogs that are raised in-house. We also talk about why Josh shares the company’s financials with his team (including revenue, profit, and even his own salary) and the benefits and risks of opening the books in this way. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2ZHfRMq Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episod

I could probably count on one hand the number of people who have landed on the website through a cold pitch email, but today’s guest is one of those people. Jason Lee is the founder of TheFBAFlipper.com, and he joins me today to talk about the ins and outs of the Chinese FBA market. Listen in as we dive into what the FBA market is like in China, who is typically building FBA businesses, and how these businesses differ from those found in the West. We also dive into some of the fraud tactics you’ll find in the Chinese market and why Western merchants have a significant advantage over their Chinese counterparts despite government support for FBA businesses. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3FQbFKK 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.

Have you asked yourself lately what the heck is going on with hiring? It’s a great time to be an employee, but a rough time to be an employer, and unless you’re a business of one, you have likely experienced the pain of finding the right people to join your team over the last year. In this episode, I’m joined by three wonderful ECF community members, Andy Hayes of PlumDeluxe.com, Meredith Erin from BoredwalkTshirts.com, and Mehtab Bhogal from KartaVentures.com, to discuss all things hiring. Listen in as we talk about what has happened with the job market, including the trends Andy, Meredith, and Mehtab are each seeing in their respective markets around the country. You'll learn the factors that have played into the difficulty finding the right people to fill open roles, how they are trying to get people through the door, and what to expect for hiring as government benefits begin to expire. We also dive into some of the egregious things that job applicants have asked for in their job search. You can find show

How many of you have considered buying a business, swooping in to fix all the problems, and making a boatload of money from the experience? Sounds great, right? The fantasy is rarely the reality though when it comes to buying a business, and today Mike Jackness of EcomCrew joins me to talk about his transition into buying a business and managing it post-acquisition. Listen in as we dive into what it was like for Mike to purchase a business and become a remote CEO, why he’s looking for somebody to take over his role as CEO of the business, and what he’s looking for in that rockstar replacement. You’ll definitely want to listen to this episode if you’re looking for a really amazing opportunity to work for an eCommerce company in a high-level capacity. And even if you’re not looking for a new gig, hopefully you’ll get a few insights into what it’s like to buy and manage a business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3FDVDUe Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figu

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 18 months, you are probably aware that container prices are stupidly high right now. Our ECF importing expert, David Bryant of eComCrew, joins me today to discuss what has caused these ridiculously high prices and what you can do to mitigate the pain. Take a listen and get insight into how we got to where we are when it comes to global shipping, what the near-future holds for lead times and pricing, and what you can do now to help lessen the blow. There are some valuable lessons I learned from my conversation with David, so make you don’t miss this episode—especially with holiday shopping just around the corner! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ipjdtW 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.

It’s been a rough year for many of us. Shipping rates have gone through the roof, supplier prices are increasing, and margins are getting tighter. My good friend and regular guest Bill D’Alessandro joins me today to discuss one piece of the profitability puzzle: the sad world of supplier price increases. We’re diving into what’s been going on in the world with supplier price increases, if the levels we’re hearing about are in line with what the official numbers say, and whether or not you can expect even more price increases in the near future. We’re also looking at different ways you can protect your business and your personal investments, and mitigate price increases without impacting your sales and profitability. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3kGMAcS 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 real magic of the ECF community is when you get together in person. It’s where stories are born, memories are made, and friendships are created. For the last 2 years, we have wanted to bring someone into the team who could focus on the magic of bringing people together, and I’m happy to announce that Audrey Smith, event planner extraordinaire, has joined the ECF team to up-level our post-pandemic live event game plan. In this episode, we’re diving into Audrey’s background in event planning, what made her apply for ECF, and what her favorite planning has been so far. We’re also talking about what is coming down the pipeline for ECF, including a sneak peek of the upcoming ECF Live, and what you can expect in the near future when it comes to regional events. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3lsOYmB 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.

Corey Nicholson is the 20-year-old co-founder of Peachy Shapewear, a line of women’s shapewear that leveraged the power of TikTok to scale to 7 figures. Today we’re diving into the details behind their success, as well as Corey’s own personal journey from McDonald’s to eCommerce. Listen in as he shares how Peachy Shapewear has leveraged TikTok influencers to scale, his recommendations for partnering with them, and the details to optimize TikTok ads, content, and workflows. If you’ve been considering up-leveling your TikTok game, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3hhFSYH 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.

For the first 12 years of my entrepreneurial career, I was the only shareholder in my business, and I didn’t fully appreciate how much that fact really streamlined decision-making, finances, and governance until I brought on shareholders. The truth is that bringing on shareholders opens up a whole new world in terms of possibilities and opportunities, but it also opens up a whole new set of considerations. So, in this episode, I’m jumping into all the things that you should be considering if you’re thinking about starting—or investing in—a multi-owner business so you don’t shoot yourself in the foot. I’ll be sharing how you can set up governance, what to think about when it comes to compensation, some of the different ways boards can be structured, and even what to consider when it comes to selling the business or its shares.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BKuj4f Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear abo

Could you really unplug from your business for an extended period? What would that look like? How could you make it happen? What would happen to your business in your absence? These are all questions we’re answering today with my guest, Greg Howlett. Greg is the CEO of CaringSunshine.com and Cobblestone Trade, and he recently went off-grid, completely unplugged, for five weeks with his family. As business owners, we all struggle with the work-life balance, so I brought Greg on today to discuss how he is able to step away from his business without things falling apart. Listen in as he shares how you can make it work in your business, the lessons he has learned from years of making unplugged time a priority, and the first step to actually making it happen for yourself.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/382xLdi 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

Today I am joined by Andrew Faris, the CEO and man behind 4×400, a holding company that launches and grows eCommerce brands. He is also the voice behind The eCommerce Playbook podcast, and one of the things I love most about him is his super candid thoughts about the good, the bad, and the ugly of eCommerce businesses. Listen in as Andrew dives into the businesses he has purchased, what went well, what didn’t go well, and some of the hard knocks he experienced along the way. We also talk about the difficulties of protecting cash flow without relatable revenue streams to forecast from, and Andrew shares some of his favorite pieces of eCommerce tech. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2UigWrS 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.

Oftentimes, a large portion of an entrepreneur’s wealth comes from the exit, and in this episode, I’m sitting down with Joe Valley to get geeky about the highs and lows of selling businesses. Joe is not only the author of The EXITpreneur’s Playbook and a long-time business broker with Quiet Light Brokerage, but he has also helped a lot of ECF members exit their own businesses. Listen in as we dive into the art of buying and selling from Joe’s perspective, having handled hundreds of transactions over his career, including how you can set up your business to sell for top dollar right from the beginning. We also talk about where the market is right now in terms of buying and selling eCommerce stores, as well as some of the specifics surrounding FBA businesses, addbacks, and what the perfect-sized business really is. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VxNj6A Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episode

We all know there are two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. I’m excited to have my accountant, Mario Lucibello, join me today to talk about saving on taxes and tax strategies specific for entrepreneurs and business owners. We also chatted about something I wasn’t expecting that really opened my eyes to how we view and think about our money. Listen in as we dive into how to save on your taxes in many different circumstances, including some of the best ways to sell assets without losing your profit to taxes. You'll learn why you might want to consider paying yourself more through your payroll, why having an accountant who understands your unique situation is the best way to save money, and the psychology behind how we think about our money. Mario has seen the finances of hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years, and he has a really interesting perspective on wealth and well-being that you won't want to miss. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3jfFFpb In

You probably spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours every day sitting in front of your computer screen, and your ability to use that machine well dictates not only how productive you are, but how well your business does. But how often do we really sit and think about how well our computer is set up, how well it’s optimized, and how efficient we are at using it? In this short and sweet episode, I’m sharing my tips for mastering your computer so you can shave time off your work week and get more done in less time. Something as simple as leveling up your computer skills can have massive implications on your productivity and business success, so make sure you don’t miss this episode! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3iBW5aO 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.

Cressida Granger is the owner of Mathmos.com, a name you might actually remember as being the original creator and inventor of the famed lava lamp. She is a more recent member of the ECF community, and I wanted to get her on to talk about her story and her business because it is so incredibly interesting. Listen in as Cressida shares how she manufactured a back-of-the-napkin deal for the iconic lava lamp brand, what happened when people found out that her patent on the lava lamp had expired, and why the business chose to move away from wholesale. We also discuss the Brexit challenges that have become part of the territory of shipping from Britain, as well as why Mathmos is making the move to a new e-commerce platform (and which one it is). You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3rjd2ep 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.

Building an amazing life is just as important as building a thriving e-commerce store, and today we’re talking about something that has made a huge impact in my life: splitting time between two different places. I was hesitant about doing an episode on this topic for a long time, but I decided to share for three reasons: the impact it has had, the questions I get asked about it, and the challenges that sometimes come along with it. So in this episode, I’m joined by two friends who also split their time, Danny and Pete, and we’re talking about how to make living in two places work. You'll learn why they chose the cities they did, how to build a community, how to make it work when you have kids, and—of course—how to structure your finances to make it feasible. If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a new place and wonder what that could possibly look like, this is an episode you don't want to miss! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3e5zIJx Interested in our Private Commu

I have long been a huge advocate for testing your pricing. Why? Because if you have never tested, there is potentially money you are leaving on the table. So in this episode, we’re taking the discussion a step further and talking about split testing your pricing with the founders of IntelliGems, an analytics and optimization platform for mobile developers to run A/B tests and ultimately drive monetization. Adam Kitain and Drew Marconi both have a lot of experience with product pricing and split testing, and they're in the trenches helping e-commerce store owners test pricing. Listen in as we discuss how to test your prices—with the goal of raising those prices to increase profitability—including some not-so-obvious ways that you can test without actually changing your prices. We’re also diving into the science behind price testing, how to optimize your testing, and ways that you can DIY price testing and mitigate any potential customer service risk. You can find show notes and more information by clicking her

Today we’re picking things back up with Tal Moore, and this time, we're covering all things investments—the good, the bad, and the high-returning. In case you missed the last episode, Tal is a born entrepreneur and founder of Franklin’s Popcorn, Softy Wipes, and Guardline Security. He believes that the key to financial freedom is found in your passive income opportunities. Listen in as we dive into some of the best and worst investments that Tal has made over the years and discuss why he prefers to invest in what others may consider unorthodox ventures. You'll learn his number one secret to getting above-average returns and the three rules of investing that he lives (and invests) by. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2UjAcEO 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.