Shopify Masters | The ecommerce business and marketing podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs

Harlem Candle Company founder Teri Johnson started pouring candles in her Harlem kitchen with no budget and no team—just a clear sense of purpose. That focus helped her turn handmade gifts into a nationally recognized brand rooted in culture, design, and storytelling. In this episode, she shares how she validated demand early, built trust online without samples, and made tough decisions to protect her peace and profits.For more on Harlem Candle Co and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Actively Black didn't start with a product—it started with a community. By building a 23,000-person audience before launch, founder Lanny Smith turned purpose-driven storytelling into a $55,000 first day and a $2 million first year. His journey shows aspiring entrepreneurs why demand-first thinking, authentic mission, and smart list-building can change everything.For more on Actively Black click hereYou'll Learn:Why Actively Black built community before developing a productThe email + SMS strategy that led to $55K in sales on launch dayHow to sell $2M+ in your first year—even with constant stockoutsWhy fast growth can be just as dangerous as no growthHow to use storytelling and cultural pride to create brand resonanceWhat it takes to build long-term customer trust without discountingHow Lanny structured partnerships with Marvel, Disney, and iconic estatesThe real math behind inventory planning at scale (and why it's so hard)How to align investors with your vision, not just your bottom lineWhy purpose is more powerful than product in competitive industriesHow Lanny's personal values fuel every decision—from pricing to hiringChapters:00:00 Introducing Lanny Smith, Founder of Actively Black01:02 How a Career Pivot Sparked a $2M Vision01:27 Building 10K Followers Before Launching a Product03:31 Why Purpose-Driven Branding Fueled $55K on Day One06:54 What Selling Out in 3 Weeks Taught Us About Manufacturing10:30 How Actively Black Landed Partnerships with Marvel, Disney & More17:52 The Traits Behind Scaling to 8 Figures and Beyond18:48 What to Know Before Entering the $1.5T Apparel Market19:54 From “No” to $2M: How to Power Through Rejection21:43 Turning a Personal Setback Into Multi-Million Dollar Growth25:35 Why Actively Black Is More Than Just Merch (And Why That Matters)29:04 How Mission and Authenticity Drive Repeat Purchases Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Taza Chocolate didn't follow trends—it built a lasting brand by doubling down on its differences. Founders Alex Whitmore and Kathleen Fulton share how staying true to their product, owning their manufacturing, and leading with purpose helped them weather crises and grow a resilient business.For more on Taza Chocolate and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

While the bike helmet industry screamed "you need this for safety!", Gloria Hwang did the opposite. She made helmets so beautiful that 25% of Thousand customers are wearing helmets for the first time ever. Thousand now offers helmet and bike accessories in 20+ countries with financial backing from REI and the Clif Bar Family Office. Gloria talks all things customer loyalty, business branding, and nailing your product roadmap for maximum impact. She intimately shares how a personal tragedy inspired a mission to save 1,000 lives, and how that number grew to 1,300+ through their lifetime crash replacement guarantee. You'll learn the counterintuitive strategy that made safety cool, and why Thousand wins with culture instead of competing on tech features. You'll learn: Why fear-based marketing fails and what works insteadThe psychology insight that built a $10M+ brand across 20+ countriesHow 25% of customers are first-time helmet wearersTransitioning from maker to manager over 10 yearsTaking back the product roadmap to return to core differentiationWhy solving customer problems beats chasing growth at all costsChapters:00:00 Introducing Gloria Hwang, Founder & CEO of Thousand1:30 How to Change Customer Behaviors 4:11 The Personal Tragedy That Started Thousand & The Design Philosophy That Wins Every Time5:15 Why 25% of Customers Are First-Time Helmet Wearers7:30 Steps to Get Further Differentiated & Beat Out The Competition 9:55 Strategies for Collecting High-Quality Customer Insights 16:00 Expanding to 20+ Countries & Quality Standards19:50 The BEST Advice Gloria Has Ever Gotten 24:30 The Hardest Transition Gloria Went Through & How to Tackle People Problems 29:20 What to Ask for When Pitching Investors (Surprise, it's NOT Money)  32:48 How Motherhood Changed Her Approach to Business Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

How founder Catherine Lockhart built Shelter Skin through deliberate growth, in-house manufacturing, and radical transparency.For more on Shelter Skin and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Matthew Burrows didn't start Plant Material with a big budget, but through strategic inventory management and real-time tracking, he's built a three-location business growing 50% year-over-year. Today, the business competes against giants like Home Depot and Lowe's, taking pride as the #1 search result on Google. In this heartfelt conversation Matthew shares the exact systems that allow him to never overstock, eliminate waste, and maintain the illusion of endless inventory. All while operating with a lean team and minimal capital! Plant Material acts a safe-haven for community gatherings as they offer California-native and regionally appropriate plants, gardening tools, and other art objects in three different Los Angeles nurseries. You'll learn the ins and outs of merchandising, plant nursery management, and the inventory technique that saves Matthew 6-figures in revenue.   For more on Plant Material click here. You'll Learn:How Matthew uses mobile inventory tracking to buy only what he needs in real-timeWhy strong grower relationships allow ultra-lean operationsThe forecasting method that predicts seasonal demand with precisionHow to make a small retail operation appear much larger than it isWhy online showcasing (not just selling) drives foot trafficThe SEO strategies that help Plant Material compete without ad spendChapters:00:00 Introducing Matthew Burrows, Cofounder of Plant Material 1:08 How to Achieve 50% Year-Over-Year Growth (Despite Challenges) 2:44 Defining Your Mission– The Do's & Don'ts3:34 Why to View Competition As A Good Thing (Even Home Depot)5:25 The Best Tips From 15 Years Of Retail Experience 7:30 How to Scale Brick-And-Mortar First, Online Second8:15 How Shopify Showcases Real-Time Inventory to Save Plant Material 6 Figures12:17 Build an Efficient Supply Chain + Inventory Management Systems Tools 17:55 Steps to Prepare for Seasonality In Business  20:23 Building Gardens for The Community + Events That Make An Impact23:42 The Key to Appearing Bigger Than You Are (The SEO Secret)  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

MiJa Books grew from a side project to a nearly $1M business by turning customer feedback into smart pivots, book fairs, and scalable systems.For more on MiJa Books and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Set Active founder, Lindsey Carter has nailed a well-timed, high in demand, product drop. Now the team sells out millions worth of products in the matter of hours. In just seven years, she's built a celebrity-loved athletic wear brand that generates $1 million in under an hour and is on track to hit $30 million in annual revenue this year. Lindsey has yet to take on a dollar from investors and has no plans of slowing down any time soon. Lindsey shares the strategies behind building a brand that Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and thousands of loyal customers can't get enough of. She candidly opens up about building a community with 8,200+ super fans on Instagram, and leveraging AI tools that save her and her team hours every day. We'll dive into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from placing risky second orders to keep momentum going, to learning hard lessons about hiring. In this episode you'll learn: The exact strategy behind Set Active's $1M resort drop (and why location matters)How to build real community that drives sales (spoiler: you can't fake it)AI tools that turned 5-hour tasks into 5-minute winsWhy momentum is everything and how to maintain it across dropsSocial media secrets and why you should treat each platform like a different family memberSmart hiring practices and what makes employees buy into founder visionThe power of asking for help when you need it mostHow transparency and vulnerability create customer loyaltyWhat's next for Set Active…Four Seasons collabs, gorpcore, and 90s-inspired collectionsChapters:(Tips: use vague and general language that identifies what the next few minutes will talk about) 00:00 Introducing Lindsey Carter & Set Active2:20 The Lightning Strike Moment: How Lindsey Discovered Her Entrepreneurial Passion5:07 The Investor Advice Every Entrepreneur Needs to Hear 7:00 How to Build Momentum Early In Business (+ How to Keep it Going) 10:21 Core Challenges 7 Years into Set Active & How to Overcome Them14:45 Hitting Rock Bottom In Life/Business–How to Bounce Back from A Down Year 19:47 The $1M Resort Drop Strategy23:26 New Trends Coming Up: Gorpcore, a Four Seasons collab & more25:10 Why You Can't Fake Community & Winning Social Media Strategies 27:09 AI Tools That Set Active Swears By35:29 The Secret to Consistent Wins: How Set Keeps Momentum Going  Guest: Lindsey CarterTitle: Founder & CEO Company: SET ACTIVE Industry: Fashion Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Beekman 1802's founders turned crisis into opportunity, building a $92 million skin care brand by starting small, staying disciplined, and leading with heart.For more on Beekman 1802 and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Peak Design has raised over $60 million on Kickstarter across multiple campaigns, making them one of the most successful crowdfunding brands in history. Their most recent campaign alone generated $13.5 million. Founder Peter Dering shares the exact strategies, lessons, and controversial decisions behind building a $100M+ business entirely without venture capital.In this episode, Peter reveals:The Kickstarter Strategy: Peak Design uses crowdfunding as a fundamental building block of their brand, not just a sales channel.The "Omnichannel Sandwich" Approach: For their $13.5M campaign, Peak Design launched in retail stores at full price before fulfilling all Kickstarter orders, despite the backlash, they'd do it again.Building Without Investors: Kickstarter's upfront payment model solved cashflow challenges and allowed Peak Design to stay completely investor-free while reaching $100M in revenue.The Origin Story: A four-month motorcycle trip through Southeast Asia sparked the idea for a camera clip. That idea would evolve into an entire ecosystem of gear for photographers and adventurers.Company Culture & Transparency: The stated purpose of Peak Design is for employees to live happy and meaningful lives, and Peter shares all financial figures with his team.The Climate Change Project: Peter co-founded the Change Climate Project, creating the most robust climate certification now used by over 300 companies including REI, with Peak Design spending $350,000 annually on carbon mitigation.Chapters:00:00 Introducing Peter Dering, Founder of Peak Design 3:13 How Peter Pivoted from Construction Engineering to Being His Own Boss 4:00 Where to Find Life & Business Inspiration 5:27 Peter's First Invention: How to Bring a Product to Life 6:55 Breaking Down One of the Most Successful Kickstarter Campaigns Ever 8:28 The Steps for Scaling Sales From $700,000-$100M 10:22 The Best (Timeless) Kickstarter Tips  13:40 How Peak Design Hit Their Best Crowdfunding Campaign To Date: $13M17:00 Peter's POV On VC Dollars  19:10 Company Culture: The Key to Team Building & Being a Successful, Meaningful Leader 24:20 The Impact of Climate Change & The Creation of The Change Climate Project 28:10 Peak Design's Lifetime Warranty & How They Maintain High Customer Lifetime Value 30:00 Immersive Community Tactics That Create Value  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

How Haley Pavone turned a college injury into an eight-figure convertible footwear brand built on curiosity, grit, and smart, sustainable growth.For more on Pashion Footwear and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Rachel Hochhauser and Jena Wolfe didn't quit their jobs to build Piecework Puzzles—and that's exactly why it worked. The cofounders share how they turned a stormy weekend experiment into a multi-million dollar lifestyle brand, all while maintaining full-time careers. As VP of Marketing for Goop Kitchen, and renowned Author and creative agency owner, the duo are mastering the art of balancing everything, in real time. From starting with just four puzzle designs shot in Rachel's grandmother's garage, to spawning an entire aesthetic movement in the industry, Rachel and Jena have made their mark. They aren't afraid to do things differently, constantly learning and iterating from production nightmares and successful campaign launches. Discover their unconventional approach to entrepreneurship, product development, and world building in this candid interview. They both reveal why bootstrapping gave them the creative freedom they craved, how they navigate being business partners and best friends, and the unexpected pivot that led to their viral cocktail napkin line.In This Episode You'll Learn: Why NOT taking investor money gave them complete creative controlThe “advice tour” strategy that helped them solve business problemsHow they went from puzzles to viral tomato napkins (and why that shouldn't have worked)What happened when their manufacturer dropped them during the pandemicWhy working with your best friend can actually be brilliantTheir approach to brand partnerships with everyone from Goop to Better Homes & Gardens Chapters:00:00 Introducing Piecework Puzzles and The Stormy Weekend That Started It All 3:30 How to Find Your Gap In the Market & Stand Out6:00 Design Philosophy 101: How to Create Products That People Connect With8:40 The Importance of Creative Freedom & How to Obtain It!10:45 How to Run a Successful Business with Your BFF13:50 Starting Cultural Moments: The Origins of The Tomato Craze16:20 The Product Expansion That Shouldn't Have Worked (But Did)20:15 Advice for Overcoming Manufacturing Nightmares23:00 The “Advice Tour” Strategy That Has Saved Piecework Puzzles26:49 Brand Partnerships: From Goop to Broccoli Magazine29:15 Addressing Dupe Culture… 32:45 Leadership Tips For Building a Lean & Productive Team Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Discover the best Black Friday Cyber Monday strategies from 13 successful founders. Get actionable tips on sales, inventory, marketing, and more for 2025. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Ridge scaled to $5M in revenue per employee using AI. CEO Sean Frank shares his tips on harnessing the power of AI to grow revenue. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Bold Bean Co grew 250% by redefining beans as a premium, building community through storytelling, and scaling with purpose.For more on Bold Bean Co and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

One cold email landed Elavi in more than 50 Whole Foods Market stores. Learn the three-step pitch framework that gets buyers to respond in hours, not weeks. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

MALK's president scaled the organic plant-based milk brand to $100M in revenue through smart growth strategies and tactics.For more on MALK and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Province of Canada grew from $1,500 to $100K monthly revenue through 5 years of organic growth, daily content, and community building. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Solgaard founder Adrian Solgaard shares how crowdfunding, design, and sustainability shaped his global travel brand.For more on Solgaard and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Building a company with your best friends can be the best way to reach $100M. Learn about sustainable growth through a Meta strategy from Unbound Merino's CEO, Dan Demsky. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Launched with $4000 in 2020, footwear brand Larroudé scaled to 550 staff and nine-digit revenue within five years using vertical integration and a direct-to-demand model.For more on Larroudé and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Fashion entrepreneur Stephanie Ibbitson shares how writing a solid business plan transformed her struggling handbag brand into a profitable company. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Learn how Free Soul found its first customers without a marketing budget. From 4 a.m. gym visits to eight-figure growth, learn actionable startup tips ahead.For more on Free Soul and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Michelle Shemilt developed Numi undershirts after realizing women lacked sweat-proof undergarments. Learn how to scale a million-dollar fashion brand with no previous experience.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Stratus CEO Ricky Jones turned a $4000 buy into a thriving ski brand—doubling revenue with passion, niche focus, and authentic community.For more on Stratus and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Tique Chandler shares strategies that kept her honey business growing during maternity leave—from email automation to strategic delegation. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Kopari's VP built an eight-figure influencer strategy. Discover her strategy for creating content flywheels using long-term thinking over big budgets.For more on Kopari Beauty and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Allegra Shaw built Uncle Studios into a seven-figure fashion brand through ethical practices, organic growth, and community trust.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Discover how packaging is your #1 marketing opportunity with 100% open rates. Learn from Arka's founder how to turn every shipment into growth.For more on Arka and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Learn how Nicola Hamilton raised $120,000 for Issues Magazine Shop using alternative funding, dual business plans, and intuition over spreadsheets. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

D'IYANU's founder built a multimillion-dollar African-inspired fashion brand by bootstrapping, taking bold risks and mastering Facebook ads. For more on D'IYANU and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Odd Bunch founder Divy Ojha scaled from 87 to 100,000+ customers without VC funding by focusing on problem validation, lean operations and retention techniques.For more on Odd Bunch and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Bootstrapped with $20K, Still Here grew from painted jeans to an eight-figure denim brand through grit, creativity, and discipline.For more on Still Here and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

NUDESTIX Cofounder Taylor Frankel built celebrity partnerships and scaled the beauty empire to 8-figures. Discover the unique equity deals, and authentic content strategy that helps them stay ahead and set the trends.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

DedCool founder Carina Chaz built a multimillion-dollar fragrance empire as a solo founder. Learn her strategies for bootstrapping growth alone and understanding when to seek outside investment.For more on DedCool and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Bluboho grew from kitchen parties to six retail stores through human connection, customer intimacy, and strategic location planning. Today, it's one of Canada's most successful independently owned jewelry companies.For more on Bluboho and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Goodee's founders built a global home goods marketplace with purpose, curated design, and a 4.5% return rate by helping customers buy better.For more on Goodee and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Three Ships grew from $4,000 to $1M revenue in four years. Learn how the founders used retail partnerships, rebranding, and funding tactics to grow a beauty brand in a saturated market.For more on Three Ships and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

How Clubhouse Skin disrupted men's skin care with bold design, clean formulas, and a transparent launch that turned followers into retail partners.For more on Clubhouse Skin and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Knix founder Joanna Griffiths revolutionized women's underwear marketing with real bodies, authentic stories, and customer-first innovation.For more on Knix and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Khulan Davaadorj turned her battle with eczema into Mongolia's first organic skin care brand, creating jobs for herders and transforming local communities.For more on Lhamour and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Wallace Wong built Spatula Foods through strategic networking. Discover how he went from Michelin restaurants to 2M+ followers, and learn his breakthrough mindset.For more on Spatula Foods and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

How Aerflo disrupted sparkling water with portable design, sustainable refills, and a cofounder duo solving big problems with bold ideas.For more on Aerflo and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Jaxon Lane built a men''s skin care empire through innovation and strategic PR, earning organic celebrity endorsements from Nick Jonas and Niall Horan.For more on Jaxon Lane and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Jaz Fenton and Jamil Bhuya of Otherhalf Studio share lessons on design, resilience, and building businesses as partners in work and life.For more on Otherhalf Studio and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

HexClad CEO Danny Winer shares how he built a $1 billion brand with smart innovation, team culture, and a late-in-life leap into entrepreneurship.For more on HexClad and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Learn how Sergio Tache built Dossier into a million-order fragrance empire by making luxury perfumes affordable for everyone.For more on Dossier and show notes click here.  Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.