Commerce Chefs

Roo & You is all about having fun and building a community of parents.In this week's episode, Tom and Kyle chat with Rozin, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Roo & You, about how their family-owned businesses built their customer base through community and personalized customer service. Their unique marketing strategy has allowed them to create a loyal base of customers who are truly invested in their community-centric brand. He also shares the benefits and challenges that came with working with family and what he learned from the experience. TLDR; it turns out that family businesses can get along just fine together!You can learn more about our guest here:https://ca.linkedin.com › rozin-abbas-44484945

Shoppinggives, is a social impact eCommerce platform that aligns your customer'spurchases with their values. Here to chat with Tom and Kyle is Ben Astin, Directorof Partnerships at ShoppingGives where he dives into doing good in the retailspace through strategic partnerships and new business opportunities with retailersthat are revolutionizing the future of commerce. Having a customer-centric socialimpact platform can grow your business by connecting your customers to thethings they value most.

No two customers are the same. Joined in this episode is Gina Yuter who is the Partnerships Manager at Syte hailing all the way from Tel Aviv. Syte is powered by AI and brings visual discovery to your shopping experience. Gina talks about the importance of personalizing every customer's experience based on what they look at on an everyday basis, of course without being intrusive. Learn more about our guest:https://il.linkedin.com/in/gina-kann-yuter

How will NFTs affect the future and the eCommerce space?Co-founder and COO of Novel, Anna Merzi, joins Tom and Kyle for episode 8 where she speaks on the Web3 space and how Novel is making it easily accessible and digestible for everyone. The world of Cryptocurrency is still esoteric and can be intimidating as we see these terms all over our social feeds on a daily basis but don't know exactly where to begin. Anna breaks down what these are and how they can benefit your business and customers IRL while also being sustainable. https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamerzi

In episode 7, Tom & Kyle discuss the process of becoming Climate Neutral Certified as well as submitting pb+j to becoming a Bcorp certified agency. No one better to have other than Dubinia, the Project Manager and Sustainability Strategist at pb+j. Dubinia shares her morning routine and her secrets to becoming a more sustainable business and so much more. Learn more about our guest:Dubinia, Project Manager and Sustainably Business Strategist at pb+j

How a self-run pandemic start-up leaned into ritual, community, and holistic self-care to grow.Attention new DTC founders! In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, time is of the essence. But what is the essence of time? Kyle and Tom talk with skincare and retail veteran, Rene Jaidi Harding, Founder of Skin Amity, to explore the idea of slowing things down at the start-up stage. Rene and the guys touch on product-market fit, hand-crafted education around products, and leaving space to allow each micro-interaction with customers to serve a larger purpose.Learn more about our guest:Rene Jaidi Harding, Founder of Skin Amity: www.SkinAmity.com

Mobile shopping, owned marketing, and what's next for eComm in a handheld world.What do branded M&M's, quiz apps, and phone addiction have in common? Not much, but Episode 5 sees Tom and Kyle riff with the co-founder of Tapcart on these issues—and more importantly on the shifts in mobile shopping across the world, how experience and convenience win with shoppers, and where consumers on the go are heeded so DTC brands can be poised to win big. They double ‘tap' on some big topics that fit right in the plam of your hand. Learn more about our guest:Sina Mobasser, Co-Founder of Tapcart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobass/

BCorp and how the rise of mindful brands makes commerce better for all.Murder mysteries for breakfast then saving the world at 9am, Michelle Reid shares her morning routine before hopping into the office at BCorp. In the 4th episode, Tom and Kyle explore the benefits of BCorp in the commerce space, how they are helping to set the bar for accountability and meaningful change, and the practical steps towards impact and doing good for all. Rising tides raise all ships and cooperation with competition—“coopetition”—is the wave of the future. Learn more about our guest:Michelle Reid, Community Engagement and Activation Lead for BCorp (US/Can) https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-reid111/

Getting the scoop on leveraging joy, online, and in-store for customer benefit and real change. Rise and Shine! Episode 3 takes a big bite out of breakfast—the most important meal of the day. The guys enjoy a delicious chat with serial (cereal?) DTC leader, Flapjack-of-all-trades and Founder of Flourish Pancakes, Andrew Maida. They get the scoop on how joy and personality in brand can do so much good, the fluffy future of omnichannel success in the better-for-you food space, and how customer shopping habits might be tougher to flip than you might think. Good things take time in business, but this conversation—and Andrew's pancakes—is ready to go goodness.Learn more about our guest: Andrew Maida, Founder of Flourish Pancakes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-m-13b098a3/

How customer-centred design can be a recipe for your most poignant customer insights. Episode 2 features an in-depth and delicious chat with Bianca DiPietro, Design & Creative Lead at Hello Fresh. Like millions of people, you might enjoy these meal kits on the weekly, but what you might not know is how Hello Fresh leverages design thinking and customer testing to push their market hold open. The guys explore scaling, sustainability, challenging the status quo when it comes to supply chain, and disrupting entrenched markets through deep customer insights. Kyle and Tom also uncover some of Bianca's secret ingredients for turning growing customer expectations into customer delight. Learn more about our guests: Bianca DiPietro, Design & Creative Lead at Hello Fresh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-dipietro-rgd-52597133

The exciting world of Conversion Rate Optimization and the secrets to making it work for you! We are back! In our Season 2 opener, Kyle and Tom dive into the world of CRO: Conversion Rate Optimization. The bad jokes and light-heartedness continue as they bring in CRO veteran, Joris Bryon (Founder of Dexter Agency), to vamp alongside them. Conversion rate optimization is so much more than just driving conversions on a site and we explore some insights on the topic as well as some immaculate tips based on his years of experience. Kyle and Tom also touch on thoughts surrounding CRO ‘Best Practices', why you should approach them with caution, the dangers of assumptions in eComm, and the importance of A/B testing. Learn more about our guest: Joris Bryon, Founder of Dexter Agency: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorisbryon

A little holiday gift for our most wonderful listeners, at the most wonderful time of the year! Recently Tom and Kyle sat down with Dave Hale on the Journey Map podcast to chat about our career journeys, building great partnerships, and why we shut down pb+j for an entire month. We thought we'd share this fireside chat with you and hope you'll pull up a chair, and a bucket of eggnog, to dive into some end of year nuggets! Journey Map is hosted by Dave Hale and produced by Craft & Crew. Learn more and get all the episodes at: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/journey-map/id1148073440As always, if you're interested in what Tom, Kyle and the Jam Fam are up to at pb+j, look for @addpbj on LinkedIn or Instagram or visit https://addpbj.com/

It's come time for Kyle and Tom to say goodbye to Commerce Chefs (for now). With their schedules packed to the brim and sights set on lofty horizons, our beloved hosts have decided to hit pause on season two of the podcast to focus their efforts on doing what they do best—making believers out of bystanders for eComm brands worth believing in. But don't despair—Kyle and Tom will be back soon enough with even more antics, bad Dad jokes, and thought-provoking interviews. Stay tuned!Learn more about pb+j here: https://addpbj.com/

The word disruption gets thrown around in the commerce world more than a ‘hot-potato' at a pre-school; but what does it actually mean? In the last episode of the Commerce Chefs summer series, Kyle and Tom sit down with Geoff Cottrill in a fascinating unaired conversation. This titan of marketing and former SVP at Converse and Starbucks breaks down disruption and discusses the unlocked benefits it holds for your brand. They discuss what the future of branding really looks like, how new marketing leadership can either enhance or diminish your brand value, and the utmost importance of creating long-lasting relationships with your customers. Learn more about Geoff Cottrill here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycottrill/

After taking Sugarlash Pro from her living room to a global e-commerce giant, it's safe to say Courtney Buhler knows a thing or two about scaling a rave-worthy business. In today's episode, Courtney offers her pro tips on putting your customers first, finding your leadership style (and yourself in the process), and nailing down your market niche. Learn more about Courtney Buhler here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-buhler/

“Why” can often feel like the word less traveled in marketing. Yet, it's one of the most revealing questions to ask. Brent Baldwin, Founder of NYOO Agency, lives by the word “why,” curious to uncover the intent behind campaigns, messaging, and data-driven tactics. In this episode, Tom and Kyle chat with Brent to discuss his “why” philosophy, the reason leadership resiliency is often tied to “ego,” and strategies for brands to differentiate themselves in the market.

Heart-centered leadership is all about creating a business with your purpose and values at the helm, without losing sight of the big picture vision you're striving to achieve. In today's episode, Kyle and Tom sit down with Amy Hall, Founder of Goldilocks Goods, to chat about her approach to creating her company—heart first. The three discuss how heart-centered leadership impacts every area of her business and the need to set boundaries as founders, even when we don't want to.

Shifting your entire business model in the midst of a global pandemic may seem like a daunting task. But, as Marina Parejo can attest, it can also be equally rewarding. Listen to Kyle and Tom's unaired interview with Marina, the former Head of E-Commerce at O2 Industries, as she candidly discusses their pivot from B2B to DTC as COVID-19 broke out, resulting in a whopping 24,000% growth. The three chat about how DTC founders can cut the jargon and optimize their marketing strategies to get tangible results and how Marina approached everything from positioning to retention.

Aaron Powell, the Founder and CEO of Bunch Bikes, has mastered the magic formula for converting strong community bonds into customers. In our first episode of the Commerce Chefs summer series, listen to Kyle and Tom's full, unaired interview with Aaron as he shares his secrets on creating community referrals, building a six-star customer service system, and even his experience behind the scenes of Shark Tank.

The founder's journey can be messy, chaotic, and heartbreaking at times. Despite the stories of overnight successes we're often fed in the media, starting and scaling a business is rarely a linear path forward. In part two of Commerce Chefs' Founders Keepers series, Tom and Kyle share previously unreleased nuggets of wisdom from past founder guests all about the long and winding road to entrepreneurial success. They discuss the benefits of delusion in the business world, how a compelling narrative can keep a sense of purpose at the forefront, and why balance is so key for founders. The episode features raw and real clips from five founders who have seen massive success with their businesses. Sharing candid views on passion, purpose and finding joy along the way, the founders dig deep on what makes them tick and the big “why” that underscores it all.

It's easy for founders to fall into thinking that the grass is greener with more capital. But does more capital always equal greater success? In this episode of Commerce Chefs, Tom and Kyle sit down with experts Derek Rubenstein—VC Investor and Founder of Ives Capital, an investment firm focused on lower-market niche consumer brands—and Cameron Martel—a serial entrepreneur and the General Manager of A07 Online Media. They discuss all things capital and explore how DTC brands can begin to secure funding, or whether it's wise for them to embark on that journey at all. They touch on common mistakes made by brands when raising capital for their business, and the best way forward once they do.

In the upcoming summer series of Commerce Chefs, Tom and Kyle will be highlighting some of their favourite founders and commerce leaders from Season 1. Every two weeks beginning in July, a new long-form and previously unreleased interview with a commerce chef will be released to keep you inspired all summer long. Each episode will feature new ideas and insights that will help you be a better leader, and make the brand you lead better, too. This appe-teasing episode features hand-selected clips from previous guests Marina Parejo, formerly from O2 Canada and Shopify featured on Episode 4, Courtney Buhler, Founder and CEO of Sugarlash Pro from Episode 5 and Aaron Powell, Founder and CEO Bunch Bikes from Episode 10. In the episode, the guests discuss everything from building a community around your brand, the technology stack you need to power your ecomm efforts, and top tips to scale globally —completely raw and unfiltered.

Brand equity matters, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's top of mind for every company or consumer. So, as a DTC leader, how much energy should you put towards creating it? In this week's episode of Commerce Chefs, Tom and Kyle chat with three experts that have built incredible brands by building long-lasting relationships with their customers. Meet Aaron Powell, the customer-service obsessed Founder of Bunch Bikes and a successfully funded Shark Tank superstar, and Steve Miller, the VP and Executive Creative Director at Fuse Create who's worked with iconic brands like Air Miles, Hilton, and Canadian Tire. Plus, welcome back Matt Taylor, Director of Consumer Insights at Jamieson Vitamins who you may remember from episode 07, “Resurrecting Retail.” They discuss the importance of brand equity, the recipe you need to successfully create it, and how providing magic to your customers will always generate ROI.

Although the future will always be uncertain, as leaders, we try our best to understand what's on the horizon. As commerce continues to rapidly shift into digital, what are the key elements that we need to keep our eyes on? In this episode of Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom sit down to give you all the answers you've been dying to know. They discuss the importance of community, what personalization actually means, how to bring more joy and humanity into online experiences, and the need for businesses to have a positive social impact. Plus, an appearance is made from producer Julia, who's always setting the team up for success… except when she forgets to book us guests.

When we reflect on scaling our businesses, certain things seem implicit. Yet, bigger is not always better. Should we always be aiming to scale for the sake of it? And how do we scale without losing the soul of the brand we worked so hard to build?On this week's episode of Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom chat with experts who have found success scaling, without losing their souls: Joel Silver, an e-comm giant who has scaled iconic brands like Indigo and David's Tea, Sophie Wilmer, the General Manager of Kitras Art Glass, a generational family business that has scaled into Canada's largest hot glass studio; and Roxanne Law, the COO of Diva International, a brand that notably defined an entire product category—one they now lead.They discuss what it means to scale without sacrificing the soul of your brand. They also look beyond scale as a monetary construct and break down what it means to scale vision and impact.Learn more about our guests:Joel Silver: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelsilver/Sophie Wilmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiewilmer/Roxanne Law: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-law-a4a50553/

When we reflect on scaling our businesses, certain things seem implicit. Yet, bigger is not always better. Should we always be aiming to scale for the sake of it? And how do we scale without losing the soul of the brand we worked so hard to build?On this week's episode of Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom chat with experts who have found success scaling, without losing their souls: Joel Silver, an e-comm giant who has scaled iconic brands like Indigo and David's Tea, Sophie Wilmer, the General Manager of Kitras Art Glass, a generational family business that has scaled into Canada's largest hot glass studio; and Roxanne Law, the COO of Diva International, a brand that notably defined an entire product category—one they now lead. They discuss what it means to scale without sacrificing the soul of your brand. They also look beyond scale as a monetary construct and break down what it means to scale vision and impact.

It isn't a secret that retail has had a rough year. The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced many brands to rethink the way they reach, serve, and retain their customers through brick and mortar retail… but what if this is only the beginning?On this week's episode of Commerce Chef's, Kyle and Tom chat with expert George Gleeson, a consultant at the illustrious Boston Consulting Group, Matt Taylor, Director of Insights at Jamieson Vitamins, and Julia Chan, Director of Ecommerce at 49th Parallel and previous leader at Lululemon and Sage.Together they discuss retail's current landscape, the tension between brick and mortar and online offerings, and why “omnichannel” isn't just another buzzword - but the needed way of doing business.

Commerce Chefs has hit 1 billion subscribers on Apple! To show their appreciation, Tom and Kyle are bringing you a very special episode, filled with insights, informative jargon, and unaired moments from the show.

What if disruption wasn't a destination, but the byproduct of a worthwhile journey? On this week's episode of Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom chat about what disruption actually means and how leaders can use it to their advantage… without going overboard. They sit down with two incredible guests: Geoff Cottrill—marketing legend and previous exec at Converse, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and even the Grammy Foundation—and Khaleed Juma—former Creative Director of Shopify and now fractional CMO at various brands, including General Assembly Pizza. Together, they come to the conclusion that disruption is not about where you're going, but how you get there and can better everything from your big picture mission to simply sending emails to your colleagues.

How does being a founder affect your leadership? This week on Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom talk about the ups, downs, failures, and triumphs of leading a company as both a founder and CEO. They chat with the extraordinary Roberta Mantenuto—Co-Founder and CEO of Aria Vent—about her changing role as Aria has grown across the continent. Adding in Courtney Buhler—Founder and CEO of Sugarlash Pro—on how she scaled the brand globally while keeping a unique customer lens. Plus, pb+j alumna, Amy Hall—Founder and CEO of Goldilocks Wraps—discusses her unique approach to heart-centered leadership and setting boundaries. TL;DR: this episode might just change your perspective on what it means to scale a company as a founder and a leader, all with too many Green Lantern references.

Let's talk about CeX, baby. This week on Commerce Chefs Kyle and Tom dive into all things customer experience with Marina Parejo, Head of Ecommerce at O2 and formerly from Shopify Plus, Teresa Greiner who's worked with the likes of Microsoft, Nike, and the Olympics, even bringing in Danielle Jeffery, a relationship psychotherapist, to work through each phase of a relationship. Relationships between brands and customers are ultimately just relationships between people. The brands of tomorrow need to step up and lead with empathy to create better solutions that keep customers happy and wanting more. Post-purchase may be a long term game, but it's definitely worth the investment. And that's CeXy.

This week on Commerce Chefs, Tom and Kyle are taking a slightly different approach… talking to just each other -- the entire episode. Not to worry, this episode features action stories, anecdotes, and knowledge bombs all about our priorities as brand leaders (oh, and outtakes, ‘cause who doesn't love outtakes?). How to stop being so ‘busy' all the time and look at what's really important. At the end of the day, no one wants to be known as the person who fussed around. Leaders need to stay present and focused to have real impact and inspire their teams to do the same.

In this episode, featuring a lot more Chumbawamba than anyone asked for, the commerce chefs get real about relevance, resilience, and being better every day. Spoiler alert: as with most important things, it's rooted in the choices we make. Relevance is dynamic and resilient brands need their leaders to wake up every day and choose courage over comfort. That way, they can reframe failure to build opportunities. Kyle and Tom explore these themes with Brent Baldwin—a prolific marketer who's worked with the likes of Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, and is now founder of NYOO Agency—Katie Tuff and Yannis Karlos—founders of the Banff Hospitality Collective—and Nate Justiss—co-founder and lead product designer of Distil Union.

In our inaugural episode (ooooo that sounds fancy), Kyle and Tom dissect the tension of leading a purpose-driven brand and the challenges that arise from operating in a market that wasn't designed for it. They use big 10-letter-words and bad jokes and bring in experts Angela Wallace (COO of Bogobrush and Founder of A.W. Impact Agency), Richa Gupta (Founder & CEO of Good Food For Good), and Natatsha Vandenhurk (CEO of Three Farmers), to explore how purpose has driven their businesses, while asking the vital question: is having a purpose worth it? (or maybe more importantly, does anyone really even read these episode synopses?

Welcome to Commerce Chefs! A quirky, thoughtful, and thought-provoking show for future-focused commerce leaders. We're here to pit the world's most brilliant, inspiring, and driven DTC visionaries – the “Commerce Chefs” – with riveting questions to uncover their secret ingredients at the intersection of passion, performance, and leadership in practice. For the past decade, hosts Kyle and Tom have led teams of designers, thinkers, strategists, and digital wizards to help brave brands become enduring classics. Now, they're here to help you uncover what makes consumer brands magical so we can all become better leaders and by default, make the brands we lead better to.