Honest Ecommerce

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Karina Kogan. Karina is the Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Pvolve, an omnichannel fitness company and method that Jen Aniston calls a “game changer”. We talk about growing an omnichannel fitness brand, authenticity in celebrity partnerships, leveraging networking & relationships as startups, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Shaina Rainford. Shaina is a CEO, a mother, and the woman behind the viral haircare brand Bask and Lather Co. We talk about discovering a homemade remedy to restore hair health, ensuring business stability before becoming a full-time CEO, building a brand story and launching with impact, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Ashu Dubey. Ashu is the CEO & Co-Founder of Gleen AI, a highly accurate and capable generative AI solution for e-Commerce that boosts online sales and automates customer support. We talk about aligning AI capabilities with customer expectations, incorporating AI into help desks, editing and customizing AI responses, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Mussayab Ehtesham. Mussayab Ehtesham aka Moose is the mind behind DMOOSE, an e-commerce brand that started in 2017 with a global mission to empower everyday athletes. We talk about using a diversified business strategy, striking a balance between business and personal life, the power of long-term planning, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Brian Pedone. Brian is the founder and CEO of Quiet Punch, a home boxing fitness company selling doorway punching bag experiences. We talk about brand commitment through subscriptions, shifting from boxing equipment to home fitness, embracing the idea of a wider market, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Jake Madoff. Jake is a freelance full-stack growth marketing leader and Founder at JakeMadoff.io, helping e-commerce and service based businesses increase their revenue with paid media on Google, Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and more. We talk about the holistic approach of growth marketing, maximizing ROI with limited ad budgets, understanding channel personalities, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Kiran Smith. Kiran Smith is the CMO at ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer brand delivering high-quality, humanely raised meat and sustainably sourced seafood to consumers across the U.S. We talk about nurturing genuine influencer relationships, the multi-faceted role of a CMO, thriving in a test and learn environment, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Shizu Okusa. Shizu is the Founder & CEO at Apothékary We talk about crafting a better-for-you wellness brand, maximizing data-driven marketing, seizing a Shark Tank opportunity, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Mischa Zvegintzov. Mischa is CEO and Chief Influence Officer of Belove Media, who help online entrepreneurs bring their products to market in a big way, without costly advertising. We talk about going on podcast tours in brand promotion, tapping into diverse podcast audiences, proven messaging for podcast guest outreach and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Preston Rutherford. Preston is the Cofounder of Chubbies Shorts, which had a 9 figure exit, and loop returns, one of the top returns and exchanges platforms on Shopify. We talk about building a positive association with customers, staying true to your brand vision, turning rough returns into smooth solutions, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Daniel Winer. Daniel is the Co-Founder and CEO of HexClad. We talk about entering the market with a game-changing product, using brand storytelling in marketing, upholding trust and customer commitment, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Lindsay More Nisbett. Lindsay is an entrepreneur, creative director, and Co-Founder & Brand Director of The Line Studios. We talk about incorporating brand voice through imagery, crafting visual brand language, investing strategically in assets, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Samantha Coxe. Samantha is the founder of Flaus, the world’s first electric flosser revolutionizing dental care with high-performing dental floss and sonic vibrations that makes flossing as quick, easy and comfortable as using your favorite electric toothbrush. We talk about partnering with crowdfunding agencies, optimizing customer acquisition, strategic investor partnerships, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Darron Burke. Darron "Don Pablo" Burke is the Founder and CEO of Burke Brands. We talk about the upside of naivety as a startup business, building momentum pre-digital advertising era, utilizing modern Ecommerce strategies, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Josh Piepmeier. Josh is the Founder and CEO of Meriwether Digital, where he helps ecommerce brands generate new revenue with SEO. We talk about maximizing SEO investment in modern Ecommerce, the value of unique perspectives in content, utilizing keyword tools for keyword ideation, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Mike Pilkington. Mike is the former CEO of Death Wish Coffee and is currently a cofounder of KEY Sparkling Water. We talk about building a startup business with a clear vision, assembling a winning team, strategic hiring and delegation, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Griffin Spolansky. Griffin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mezcla, a plant-based snack brand that is mixing it up with exciting flavors and textures. We talk about the power of experienced guidance, pushing through the highs and lows, shifting from Ecommerce to retail, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen. Callie and Kelly are the co-founders of Slumberkins, a leading direct to consumer children’s brand that provides tools and resources to support little ones, families, caregivers and educators with early emotional learning.. We talk about connecting authentically with your community, a transformative experience with Shark Tank, navigating the continuous evolution of Ecomm, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Kristin Schoenstein and Elizabeth Robillard. Kristin and Elizabeth are the Program Directors for eTail Palm Springs, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in February of 2024. We talk about trends in the Ecommerce industry, creating opportunities for people to network, engaging with like-minded people, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Michael Nguyen. Michael is the founder and visionary behind Fire & Brilliance. He also serves as the enthusiastic host of "Geminar," where he imparts his knowledge on all aspects of jewelry. We talk about creating lab-created gemstones and custom jewelry, building a lasting online reputation, streamlined user-friendly experience on Shopify, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Emily DeLapp. Emily is a 2-time founder, and freelance branding consultant, specializing in developing unique and engaging brands in typically over-saturated industries. We talk about setting your business up for success, building direct and authentic connection with your audience, going back to business stronger and wiser, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Claus Lauter. Claus is the producer and host of the Ecommerce Coffee Break Podcast. We talk about Pareto principle or the 80-20 rule, the importance of delegating and outsourcing tasks, assessing and doing more of what you’re good at, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Mike Feldstein from Jaspr. His background in cleaning up after a natural disaster, sparked the creation of an exceptional air purifier designed for high performance but with aesthetics that the D2C market demands. We talk about constantly improving the quality of a product, using more creative ways to grow your business, building real-life relationships with customers, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Jaye Genung. Jaye is the founder and CEO of Gobi Heat - the premium US heated apparel brand. We talk about doing your research and creating a strategy, finding out what you’re good and not good at, offering something new to the heat apparel industry, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Kurt Elster. Kurt is a long time Shopify agency partner but is probably best known for hosting The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. We talk about mapping out key considerations when migrating, telltale signs that it’s time to move to Shopify, embracing change to get better results, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Lucas Cao. Lucas is the founder and CEO of Squid Industries, an American manufacturing company with a focus on the butterfly knife and trainer industry. We talk about investing in passion and in the community, effectively conveying your idea to manufacturers, vertical integration and quality control, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Ashley and Ryan Reynolds. Ashley and Ryan are the co-founders of Cloth & Paper and both play an integral part in keeping analog planning at the forefront of the modern consumer. We talk about growing the business around the community, organic and paid marketing, investing in the right people, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Gavin Ballard. Gavin Ballard is the founder and CEO of Submarine, a platform that powers flexible commerce experiences for Shopify including subscriptions, presales, crowdfunding and more. We talk about the transition from an agency to product, being a niche in the early years of Shopify, a platform built for customization requests, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Russ and Mike. Russ and Mike are the co-founders of Freestyle, a modern parenthood company. We talk about the balance between co-founders and their skill sets, the unique challenges of running a diaper brand, using an organic ingredient as a main component, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Walter Hinchman. Walter is the CEO and founder of the athlete and active lifestyle brand Swolverine. We talk about taking calculated risks, optimizing content marketing, continuous efforts to grow your business, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Zack Schreier. Zach is the CEO of Lifestacks, a premium health company creating delicious daily rituals infused with potent supplements to boost performance and fortify long-term health. We talk about repurposing a high commodity product, validating products through customer feedback, repeat purchase as success indicator, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Bahadir Efeoglu. Bahadir is the co-founder and CEO of Fabrikator, a growth-focused inventory planning software, specialized in D2C brands. We talk about the painful lag between investments and supply, using pre-orders as a research tool, using a unified platform to track all operations, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Mackie Swan. Mackie Swan is the CEO of WOO More Play, a sexual wellness company specializing in organic, body-safe products for women. We talk about maintaining optimism when starting a business, dealing with shadow banning in the space, how challenges present opportunities to de-stigmatize, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Suzie Cyrenne. Suzie Cyrenne is the co-founder of two successful businesses, an e-commerce store in 2013 and a software company in 2018, where she currently serves as COO in both companies. We talk about optimizing shipping costs for businesses, discipline over motivation, delegating tasks, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have John-David (JD) Klausner. JD Klausner is SVP of Business Development & Strategic Alliances at Loop Returns. We talk about building cost-effective returns flows, delivering convenience and flexibility for the customer, diversifying carrier strategy to save shipping costs, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Jeremy Shepherd. Jeremy Shepherd is the founder and CEO of one of the largest pearl brands in the world, pearlparadise.com. We talk about remaining fully involved in your business, creating effective platforms from the get-go, integrating different marketing efforts to succeed, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Austin Duvall. Austin Duvall is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Duvin Design Co, a lifestyle brand known for its vibrant and retro inspired leisure apparel. We talk about learning from past mistakes, finding customers in person and online, combining different approaches to marketing, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Ray Nolan. Ray Nolan is the founder and CEO of eDesk, an eCommerce help desk that helps you achieve happier customers wherever you sell. We talk about using AI to simplify customer support processes, refining your interactions with AI tools, customers expecting faster response times, and so much more!

“...you just learn to adapt, you take these problems or these growing pains per se, and from the universe, you kind of accept it and go, ‘This is a teaching moment’.” On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Nicole Jenney. Nicole Jenney is the Co-owner and Founder of GPigBox and BunnieBox, which are monthly subscription boxes that deliver toys and treats to guinea pig and rabbit owners. We talk about launching a novel business idea, the importance of plan Bs, investing in advertising, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Albert Matheny. Albert Matheny is the CEO of Promix Nutrition. He’s an Athlete, Registered Dietitian, and Food Scientist with a Masters in Human Performance. We talk about finding the right niche for your business, doing more of what works, listening to good advisors, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Izzy Rosenzweig. Izzy Rosenzweig is the founder and CEO of Portless, who help DTC and ecommerce brands ship orders directly from China to their customer's doorsteps. We talk about the evolving space of cross border logistics, local customer experiences, simplified supply chain, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Bani Bahari and Jonathan Lawrence. Bani and Jon are the co-founders of OffCourt, a brand that makes personal care products for active people. We talk about testing the waters and taking risks, launching products and managing expectations, keeping an open mind after every rejection, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Kris Dehnert. Kris Dehnert is an e-commerce veteran, with experience in multiple industries. Currently he's the CEO and cofounder of Dugout Mugs, which is an eight figure a year e-commerce company in the baseball space. We talk about doing business with the right people, leveraging customer information, defining what success means, and so much more!

“I think that's one of the strongest abilities or exciting possibilities of these new AI tools, (they’re) going to really inform a community of creators and allow us to create custom solutions that we might not have had before.” On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Chris Long. Chris Long is the VP of Marketing at Go Fish Digital, a data-based digital marketing agency. We talk about finding your own workflow, embracing AI as marketers, using ChatGPT to optimize marketing efforts, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Caroline Cotto. Caroline Cotto is the Co-Founder & COO of Renewal Mill, a company that helps fight food waste by upcycling byproducts into nutritious flours and delicious plant-based products. We talk about upcycled food for eco-conscious millennials, challenges of being new to the B2C business, workarounds when introducing an unfamiliar product, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Michael Hodgen. Michael is the innovative CEO of Freedom Rave Wear, a company revolutionizing the festival clothing scene with their unique, sustainable, and expressive designs. We talk about the advantages of having a micro factory, why manufacturing minimums can be a limiting factor, transitioning from in-person to online, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Nik Sharma. Nik is widely known as “The DTC Guy,” a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, AdWeek’s Young & Influential, and a resource that brands and investors turn to for growth. We talk about the push and pull sections of landing pages, why landing pages provide a higher conversion rate, the easiest way to create landing pages, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Annie Slabotsky and Morgan Lerner, the co-founders of GoNanas, a women-owned, vegan, gluten free, and allergen-friendly banana bread company. We talk about why you should neve be full hands-off on your business, GoNanas’ Ambassador Program, what made them pivot from selling ready made loaves to bread mixes, and so much more!

On this episode, we have Peter Reitano. Peter Reitano is the founder of supplement brand Mojo, a supplement brand dedicated to the research, production and distribution of medicinal mushroom based products. We talk about what the biggest problems for brands are, the difficulties in launching a brand like Mojo, Peter’s vast experience with agencies and the clients that they help in Academy, and so much more!

On this podcast, we have Shay Sim. Shay is the Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Viktor Michael, the first in a new class of luxury recovery care, with conscious, clinical-grade formulas that defy downtime. We talk about the 4 ingredients that Viktor Michaels worked with, branching out from brick-and-mortar customers, being chosen for Bridge Mentorship by the True Beauty Ventures, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Gina Perrelli. Gina is the Founder & CEO of Stay Ai, the Retention Operating System for consumer brands. We talk about the 3 things that make Stay Ai unique in the retention space for Ecom, why you should always have an exit strategy, the sign of a mature entrepreneur and so much more!

On this episode we talked about why they failed to get funding from the Indian government, building a prototype from off-the-shelf components from Amazon, pivoting and succeeding through the pandemic, and so much more!

On this episode we have Meghan Foster. Meghan is the founder and CEO of T is for Tot, a brand that supports children's academic growth through fun, play-based activities! We talk about how T is for Tot marries both of her degrees, Instagram boosts actually helping her to grow, why you should consider starting small and slow, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we have Kristin Schoenstein. Kristin Schoenstein is the Portfolio Director for eTail and oversees the programming and development of both eTail Boston and eTail West. We talk all about eTail: What to expect, tips for first-time goers, the upcoming anniversary, and so much more! To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co

On this podcast, we talk about composable commerce, why you should start small, the differences between traditional Ecommerce and subscriptions, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how to figure out if your idea is worth putting energy into, how a good culture amplifies your value, the regenerative model of farming and skin care, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, Adam answers the most common questions about Retention.com, the scale of companies that it works best on, proving the high lifts on revenue, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about Annamarie’s very interesting history with toys, her accidental diversion into fashion, how a toy company pivoted during COVID, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how they only got feedback from “serious drinkers”, preparing for the Shark Tank Bump, the risks of fragile packaging, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we talk about why your customers are getting poached by Amazon and larger brands, the 4 stages of the hourglass mindset, The Ultimate Ecommerce Email & SMS Playbook, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the progression from volunteer work to a mission-based brand, the importance of managing relationships with customers, the difference between wholesale and Ecom buyers, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how Guava Family has excellent customer service despite having a very little team, their commitment to go all-in on D2C, the value of word-of-mouth in their industry, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why you shouldn’t cheap out or overspend on your launch, when should you quit your full-time job, how irreplaceable real-time feedback is, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Khierstyn from Launch and Scale™. We talk about how you validate your product, why Khierstyn recommends launching on Shopify 9 times out of 10, when you should reach out when you have a product idea, and so much more!

On this episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have David from Bushbalm. We talk about how Bushbalm’s idea was ahead of its time, why their retail and B2B channel earns faster than their D2C, doing FB ads and landing pages early, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we talk with Nicolas Bailliache from eStreamly. We talk all about live shopping: The live shopping culture between China and US, why it can produce very high conversion rates, the “channel approach” to marketing strategy, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the secret weapon for a founder's peace of mind, why you need to work in uncomfortable scenarios, the combined power of SEO and PR as a go-to-market strategy, and so much more!

On this special episode, we have my business partner Shawn Khemsurov! And we talk all about Shopify Themes: The pros and cons of custom and off-the-shelf, the hybrid approach, budget considerations, theme recommendations, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why Ring Concierge chose to stop selling other brands’ products and started selling their own, how they manage to market to 2 separate customers, why hiring is crucial to success, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we talk about how Bluetuskr approaches omnichannel strategy, why they prioritize to see the working channels first before settling into a website, the big gap in perspectives between Amazon and your own website, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why having competitors is a good thing, the reasons why Ryan bought back LensDirect, how Go Answer got created from LensDirect, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how Michael’s personal solution turned into a business, the importance of human connection in your products, why you almost always need to simplify, and so much more!

On this bonus episode of Honest Ecommerce, we have Chris from SubSummit. We talk about one of the 3 things that you should offer as a subscription service, entrepreneurs not really knowing what the customers want, tips and examples of how to implement a recurring revenue model for your brand, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why he developed a hatred for intrusive ads, how he met Tobi before even working with Shopify, the local customer behavior of pre-shopping, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why Urban EDC’s email list is its greatest asset, the importance of consistency, the success of Urban EDC’s paid memberships, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the EU and US market, why waterdrop specifically targets tennis, setting a lemonade stand style of pop-up shop to get customer feedback, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the importance of inventory forecasting, how a good product takes you halfway to success, why you should keep your operating expenses in check, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the growing trend of livestream selling, the market power of Latin-Hispanic audiences in the US, having the message and target audience as Celeste Sol’s USP, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the 2 things you need to do after product R&D, why you should consider a third co-founder, choosing editorials and earned media over paid media, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how VIDA achieved a very unique product-market fit, the advantages of digital manufacturing, how VIDA’s products and target market evolved over time, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the story of SoaPen winning the UNICEF competition, why Amanat was apprehensive at first when Shark Tank approached them, having traction before the pandemic, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why Lynn would often hire people who didn’t study advertising, the boring but crucial aspects of a business, Facebook ads as a necessary evil in brands, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the scale and complexities of corporate gifting, fine tuning your target audience, how Peachbox Co proved that resources are not a barrier to success, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we talk with Ilana Davis from JSON-LD for SEO, a Shopify app that gets you more organic traffic through Rich Results. We talk about why you need apps like JSON-LD despite Shopify having structured data, rich results vs featured snippets, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about the inherent virality of outdoor games, how to come up with unique product ideas, the numbers behind a royalty contract/licensing agreement, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about what Swoon uses to replace sugar in their iced teas and lemonades, pivoting from a sugar-free simple syrup to drinks, having a setup of selling on their online store but checking out on Amazon, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about how Lindsey’s personal solution became a business, transitioning into retail early on, why OWL Venice chooses to work with influencers who genuinely love their brand, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about Anthony’s framework of manifesting their goals, the pros and cons of having 4 co-founders, how they convinced their wives to support their entrepreneurial itch, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about Xebec’s challenging but steady growth during COVID, why they migrated from Wix to Shopify, the advantage of having a high-ticket product, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talked about the things you can compensate your partner network with aside from money, the benefits and risks of being a pioneer in the marketplace, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about launching brands on different crowdfunding platforms, the impact of connecting with your customers, why niches are usually where the money is, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about Three Wishes’ creative marketing tactics, learning from agency clients and applying it in their own business, the harsh realities of going retail first, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we talk with Kelsey Eyers and Lori Lefcourt from Rexxy, the Affiliate Marketing Headquarters. We talk about creating unique offers for affiliates, how to properly pivot, adding value to clients by niching down, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why done is better than perfect, what pushed Sheena to go full-time on Tease, how working for Shopify helped her found her business, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about regretting things that you did not vs things that you did, the difference between wealth and financial freedom, why Kosmo does not regret going full-time sooner, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about LowTides misconceptions and challenges about Kickstarter, the lessons he learned from building a business, why college education can still be valuable for businesses and so much more!

On this podcast, we talked about contacting the press as an acquisition strategy, why reading guidebooks or looking at competitors may not be good for you, the honesty you should have with yourself as to why your brand exists, and so much more!

On this bonus episode, we talk with Charles Tichenor IV from Disrupter School. We talked about why agencies and clients ultimately fail on Facebook, his passion for turning corporate workers into serial entrepreneurs, and so much more!

On this podcast, we talk about why Carve Designs initially went wholesale before going D2C, the resurgence of traditional marketing strategies, why you should invest in IP rights before starting a brand, and so much more!