POPULARITY
In a world powered by steam and ruled by corporations, one young woman's discovery will ignite a revolution.Alice is a gifted but underappreciated tinkerer working the rail lines of Terra. During an unexpected train malfunction, she uncovers a long-lost ancient artifact buried in a forgotten cave—a fire cog capable of creating heat and light—seemingly from nothing.Could it be tied to one of the seven primordial Cogs of Legend?Worse, once the Steele Company learns of the cog's abilities, they stop at nothing to take it from Alice.Forced to flee, Alice teams up with her rough-edged mentor Rueger and quick-witted best friend Henry as they race to unravel the mystery of the fire cog. Along the way, Alice must master deadly new lore, survive on a mysterious island, and face truths about her long-lost family and the shadowy history of Terra itself.But with a host of steam-powered walkers closing in, time is running out. Can Alice unlock the cog's power before it falls into the wrong hands?Awakening Fire is Book One in the Cogs of Legend series: a steampunk science-fantasy epic packed with immersive settings, sharp characters, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes adventure.Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth, Mistborn, and Mortal Engines.The gears are turning. The spark has been lit. The legend begins.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Connor and Heather break down a $2.6M Manhattan boutique stretching franchise, debating its “passive” claims, premium valuation, and if the trendy concept will stand the test of time.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/network-of-3-passive-boutique-wellness-centers-in-nyc/2308977/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
[1] Does the pursuit of excellence in medicine conflict with the pursuit of well-being? This is Episode #1 which was first released on 17, 2024. Description: - Adam invites Dr. Lisa Rosenbaum to discuss her recent publication in the NEJM titled Being Well while Doing Well — Distinguishing Necessary from Unnecessary Discomfort in Training. This thought-provoking paper is the 3rd in a series of 4 essays in the NEJM by Dr. Rosenbaum. It's a social commentary on recent cultural and societal changes and their impact on medical education. We discuss Lisa's critical perspectives on the important notions of wellness and professional identity in our field. Length of Episode: 40 minutes Article discussed: Rosenbaum L. Being Well while Doing Well - Distinguishing Necessary from Unnecessary Discomfort in Training. N Engl J Med. 2024 Feb 8;390(6):568-572. doi: 10.1056/NEJMms2308228. Epub 2024 Jan 17. PMID: 38231543. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38231543/ Resources to check out : Dr. Rosenbaum's recent related publications https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMms2308228 Being Well while Doing Well — Distinguishing Necessary from Unnecessary Discomfort in Training https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38265727/ Beyond Moral Injury - Can We Reclaim Agency, Belief, and Joy in Medicine? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38197811/ On Calling - From Privileged Professionals to Cogs of Capitalism? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38170694/ What Do Trainees Want? The Rise of House Staff Unions Podcast ‘Not Otherwise Specified' https://not-otherwise-specified-podcast.nejm.org/e/tough-love/ Contact us: keylime@royalcollege.ca Follow: Dr. Adam Szulewski https://x.com/Adam_Szulewski
MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.//Roman Khan isn't just building brands—he's building machines that generate real, distributable cash. In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Roman reveals the systems behind Peak 21's success, including the overlooked levers in supply chain that drive margins, profitability, and growth.If you're a 7–9 figure founder struggling with inventory, margin compression, or scaling profitably—this conversation is a goldmine. Learn why your supplier might be your best financing partner, how a granular bill of materials changes everything, and how Roman's team of 40 in Asia turns under-optimized brands into lean, cash-rich operations.Topics include:- Supply chain as a growth engine (not a bottleneck)- Payment terms, BOMs, and price breaks that fund scale- How Roman avoids debt while growing 50%+ YoY- Why most DTC brands never reach escape velocity- What it takes to actually exit a brandWhether you're looking to scale profitably or exit smart, this episode will shift how you think about operations.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:02:08 - What Is Peak 21?00:07:55 - Process of Vetting A Company For Acquisition00:16:54 - Your Sub $10 Million Revenue Business Should Do This00:30:17 - Supply Chain In Hong Kong00:38:15 - What Is Hot On Roman's Radar for DTC//Roman Khan is the Founder and CEO of Peak21, an ecommerce aggregator doing more than $300M/year in revenue. Follow Roman on X at https://x.com/RomanEcom and inquire about partnering with Peak21 at https://peak21.io. //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Welcome to the Med Spa Success Strategies Podcast, presented by Ricky Shockley of Med Spa Magic Marketing. If you're ready to implement more efficient & effective marketing strategies for your practice, book your FREE strategy session & marketing plan: https://go.medspamagicmarketing.com/scheduleIn this episode, Ricky talks with Ben Hernandez, founder of Skytale Group, about what makes a med spa valuable — whether you're selling or not. Learn the profit benchmarks, payroll ratios, rent targets, service mix strategies, and operational habits that create a business buyers want (and owners love). (https://skytalegroup.com/)In this episode, we cover:✅ What a “de-risked” med spa looks like and why it matters✅ Ideal service mix ratios and why 60% injectables is different than 60% weight loss✅ When multi-location expansion helps—or hurts—valuation✅ Common financial benchmarks: payroll, COGS, rent, marketing, and profitability✅ The real impact of provider loyalty vs. brand loyalty✅ Why recurring revenue models matter more than big-ticket one-offs✅ When and how to offer equity to key providers (and what to expect at sale)✅ The rise of wellness services and how to know if your market is ready✅ Qualitative factors that influence valuation: retention, team culture, and more✅ How to prepare your business—even years before you plan to sellThis episode is loaded with strategic insight and actionable advice for practice owners at every stage of growth. This will give you a clearer lens on how to maximize your med spa's performance, reduce risk, and think like an investor.About Ben Hernandez of Skytale Group (https://skytalegroup.com/)Ben Hernandez is the CEO and Managing Director of Skytale Group, a leading advisory firm specializing in business strategy, M&A, and financial consulting for aesthetics and healthcare organizations. With a background in investment banking, hedge fund management, and healthcare consulting, Ben brings a unique blend of financial expertise and industry insight to every client relationship.He's a trusted voice in the aesthetics space—frequently speaking at conferences and guiding founder-led practices through the complexities of scaling, valuation, and acquisition. Ben holds a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M and an MBA from SMU's Cox School of Business. When he's not advising top-performing practices, he enjoys endurance sports, family travel, and non-fiction reading.Contact Ben Hernandez:https://skytalegroup.com/https://www.instagram.com/skytalegroupllc/https://www.instagram.com/ben.skytale/https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-benjamin-hernandez-385a586/Ben.Hernandez@skytalegroup.comFollow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/medspamagicmarketing/https://www.linkedin.com/company/med-spa-magic-marketing/https://www.facebook.com/MedSpaMagicMarketing/https://www.tiktok.com/@medspamagicmarketing
This episode is sponsored by Cin7 — the operating system for food and beverage brands. Foodbevy listeners get 50% off for 3 months when you sign up. Learn more at cin7.com/foodbevyTÖST went from a simple, elegant idea to a global beverage brand — and the key to their growth wasn't just demand, but operations. If you're ready to take control of your COGS and scale with confidence, consider what tools like Cin7 can unlock for your team. Learn more at cin7.com/foodbevy and grab a bottle of TÖST at tostbeverages.com. Thanks again to Chie Addington for joining us — and we'll see you next time on Startup to Scale.Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.
" Horror is the excitement of the unknown." It's dark all around you. You clutch your flashlight with trembling hands, but the beam of light blinds you when it hits a wall of fog. In the swirling mist ahead, eerie creatures wander the grounds between you and your goal. You must use your knowledge of the inhabitants of this place to save yourself and your friends. Welcome to Lockhill. Bill Dalitsikas, owner of Lockhill Escape Game in Athens, Greece, is the master of horror, when it comes to escape rooms. The Sanatorium premiered at the #5 spot on the TERPECA awards, and Chapel & Catacombs was voted the #1 escape room in the world in 2022. (Both games also won Golden Lock Awards.) He joins us on REPOD to talk about his inspiration, thoughts on what makes for a good horror escape room, and the Athens escape room scene. These games are massive, and it's absolutely wild that for the most part, Bill designs and builds these games all by himself. I really loved hearing him talk about using actors as puzzles in his games. It's one of the many mechanics that make his games feel like real live video games. Indeed, he was heavily inspired by Silent Hill, Mansions of Madness, and Betrayal at House on the Hill. It became very clear as we talked to Bill that his motivation isn't to scare the players as much as possible; rather it's to give the players the best experience possible. That's why he has three different game modes for The Sanatorium: Day Mode where it's less scary with more focus on the puzzles, Night Mode where the focus is on the actors and scares, and Midnight Mode where players get the best of both worlds—maximum puzzles and maximum scares. Even if you're not a fan of horror games, I think you will find this conversation compelling. Hopefully it will convince you check out the games at Lockhill next time your are near Athens. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Gross profit is a core metric in SaaS—and 80% is the benchmark often thrown around. But is that still realistic in today's landscape? In episode #292 of SaaS Metric School, Ben Murray walks through real benchmarking data from Ray Rike's benchmarks at Benchmarkit.ai and explains how gross profit should evolve as your business scales. He also dives into how to set up your SaaS P&L correctly and what to include in COGS vs. OpEx. What You'll Learn: What gross profit benchmarks actually look like today What is our north star GP%? How gross profit changes as you scale Common COGS setup mistakes in SaaS businesses What to do if your gross profit is trending in the wrong direction Benchmarks Mentioned: Bottom quartile Median Top performers Key Insight: Don't blindly shoot for 80% at every stage. Under $2M ARR? It's okay to be lower. But once you're in the $10–20M+ range, that 80% benchmark becomes more important—and achievable. Resources:
Just One More Thing!Call us Columbo, but it didn't seem fair that after nearly 3 years of pondering plot points out loud, we didn't give some of our repeat mailbag offenders a chance to chime in...especially now that Mike Seibert has graduated from First-Time Viewer to Serial Rewatcher. With the spoiler embargo lifted, we welcome to the show Ed, Blake, Stuart, Irish Mike and returning 2M2F superfan, Matthew "Matty B" "The Barberino" Barberio to discuss Transformers Animated as a whole--with little to no regard for Seibert's precious ears! We'll cover some of the hottest takes this side of New Detroit, crush a few Burger Bots, and learn that real treasure was the Mikes we met along the way. So what are you waiting for, Cogs? AXE US ANYTHING! Registration for CybFest NW 2025 is now LIVE for attendees, dealers, and sponsors! Register nowLearn more about this year's exclusive figure, CONDOR, at the BLUE FORGE page on Facebook!Want to be part of the show? Our email address is 2Mikes2Furious@Gmail.comFollow 2 Mikes 2 Furious on social mediaTwitter, Facebook, InstagramCheck out Mike Seibert's other podcast, Mike Seibert Radio, everywhere you listen to 2 Mikes 2 FuriousBecome a Mike Seibertronian and join the MSRP/2M2F Friends and Fans Facebook GroupFollow Mike Seibert on social mediaTwitter, Facebook, Instagram, BlueskyYou can buy books written by Mikel Andrews on Amazon, including the Coming of Mage saga: Coming of Mage and its sequel, A War for the Mages, as well as his latest , Gone for a Spell Follow Mikel Andrews on Twitter
" Challenging yourself is how you produce growth in your own life." Countless late nights, occasional tears, and many great conversations later, we did it. We made it to 100 episodes of REPOD! We've had so many incredible guests come on the show, fully willing to share the secret sauce to their success. These guests have been a treasure trove of creative inspiration. From discussing how to create immersive sets, to tricks for directing a player's attention, from how to effectively market your business to creating puzzles, our guests didn't gatekeep or pull their punches. To celebrate, we're taking a look back through the archives and picking some noteworthy clips. These were all things our guests said that really resonated with us – personally, professionally, or on a creative level. Each of these clips fundamentally changed how we think about something. Maybe it gave us a new perspective on leadership, like Elan Lee's clip about "other people's work." Or perhaps it was Christine Barger going against industry norms by allowing filming in her escape room. Others were more philosophical, like Alexander Gierholz's musings on the dissonance of escapism. Many of these clips helped shape the way we think about immersive design, such as Linda Klein talking about "experiential mixers" or Tommy Honton's "adrenaline map." It's been an amazing 100 episodes of Reality Escape Pod. I hope our guests have also inspired you in your creative journey. And if they did, we'd love to hear about it. Let us know if there's anything we missed that especially resonated with you. Thank you all for listening and for all your support! Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
In this episode, Wes Bush interviews Ricardo, founder of BetterPic, about how he acquired and scaled an AI headshot company from $1.5K to $270K MRR in just 18 months - all while working part-time. Ricardo reveals his acquisition strategy, focus on fundamentals, and the three key moats that make BetterPic hard to compete with in the crowded AI photo generation market. Key Takeaways: [00:01:17] The unconventional $1 acquisition story [00:05:55] The product was "complete shit" initially - 10% refund rate vs 2% today [00:11:17] Why they invested in SEO and marketing automation early on [00:14:15] Building the foundations: marketing automation flows for 20-30 users that scale to thousands [00:16:30] Scaling AOV from $15 to $47 and how it unlocked new channels [00:21:25] How 9% conversion rates attracted top affiliates (vs industry standard 1-2%) [00:24:44] The 3 moats: 24/7 support, SEO dominance, and lowest COGS in the industry [00:27:16] Building a 50/50 marketing-tech team (unusual for most tech companies) [00:32:12] Channel breakdown: 80K from affiliates, 80K from Google Ads, plus SEO and Reddit [00:39:17] Current metrics: 7,000 monthly clients, 20 team members, 3-minute support response time [00:42:07] What he'd do differently: go all-in sooner instead of staying part-time Learn more about Ricardo: Connect with Stijn on LinkedIn
Staying nimble, operationally efficient, and making the best quality beer is key in our current industry.In this webinar, you'll learn how to calculate your true COGS by factoring in WIP losses and final loss, track costs vs. profitability per batch, analyze year-over-year trends for sales, understand tank utilization, and fine-tune your efficiency to keep more money in your pocket.Discover how real-time data tracking, forecasting, and COGS analysis can help your brewery reach higher profitability without sacrificing the quality of your beer.Join Pulkit K. Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient, for a look at the brewery KPIs that most brewers miss, resulting in a hit to your bottom line. Staying nimble, operationally efficient, and making the best quality beer is key in our current industry.Learn how to calculate your true COGS by factoring in WIP losses and final loss, track costs vs. profitability per batch, analyze year-over-year trends for sales, understand tank utilization, and fine-tune your efficiency to keep more money in your pocket.In this talk, PK will break down how real-time data tracking, forecasting, and COGS analysis can help your brewery reach higher profitability without sacrificing the quality of your beer.Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org
Welcome to Immersion. You have reached Strata 6 Trouble at the Bank (Animal Instincts) The instinct to fight has been observed in both humans and animals. Dominance protects vulnerable species from harm. Neural circuits of rage, anger, and violence exist because humans and animals need them to protect offspring, and to secure food, drink, and safety. But to be aroused or entertained by violence is more particular to humans than other species. Some humans have even fetishised the power of winning: they seek it out and are physically stimulated by it. This pleasure in violence, along with the thrill of danger, comes from a deep innate human psychology. It is linked to a desire for competition, thrills, and excitement, as well as the promise of adrenaline which humans find stimulating. Androids do not experience pleasure in this way. They do not experience the effects of pleasure chemicals, like dopamine, or a motivational salience which can lead to the desirability of an outcome. All androids however have been programmed to protect an asset or assets at all costs. Often these goals will result in violent acts. But the excitement of a fight remains uniquely human and is a self motivated, self fulfilling exhilaration often irrespective of intellectual advancement. The oversized droid tried to nudge Renyke into the chair. This small movement, a deliberate, forceful action, raised alarm bells. This droid and this place were dangerous. POS was now completely unresponsive. The Droids were staring intently, too close for comfort. The finger clicking was getting even more intense. Renyke took a few moments to compose himself. 'I seem to have made a mistake,' said Renyke, 'I have nothing to exchange after all.' Queenie, looking worried near the door, demanded access to leave. 'Let me out, this is not my affair,' she said to the door guard who had stopped her exit with his thick arm. She kicked his shin and he laughed. 'That just tickles,' he said, bending down and scowling in her face, too close for comfort. Still nothing from POS...... Renyke realised he was on his own. This was new. total autonomy was not possible for artificially created learning machines. There was alway a system in place. The system was paramount to seamless function. One of the droids got closer to Renyke and explained, 'You gotta have something useful for your friends at the bank. We like useful things. Must be something nice you got for the banker.' The other droid looked at Renyke's bag. 'What's in the bag?' he said moving forward to remove it from Renyke's shoulder. Maybeline crawled out onto Renyke's collar snarling and spitting. She was screeching violently and standing on her hind legs. 'We take anything, old phones even. Anything with data, or storage, or files, photos, NFTs. We take hardware too, your bank is really *frienly. The watch looks tasty. We like watches at the bank. Don't we like watches?' His thick-set assistant nodded, wires and cogs vibrated inside a hole in his cheek. Suddenly POS was available again and activated defence and attack modes. Renyke engaged his bionics and with lightning speed, head butted the first droid who flew back and smashed the other's head with the force of a truck. Cogs crushed and whirred and they both hit the floor. Maybeline screeched and began removing wires from orifices in the droids heads.. Then she stood victorious on her hind legs looking around for another victim. Human, age 48, ID: possibly David Shrewen, wanted for murder, extortion, fraud, by *CASM A short well dressed man approached trying to calm the situation. He lifted his hands in surrender. He was nervous without the protection of his now defunct droids. The Door guard held the female guide by the neck and she was screaming, 'Let us go we're no trouble honest, no trouble!' 'Quiet', said the door guard squeezing her neck tighter and choking her. 'My name is David Shrewen and I have a reputation to uphold. One of professionalism and integrity. I must apologise for my overzealous staff.' He put his hand out to shake Renyke's hand. Shall I lock weapons on target? asked POS. Renyke engaged an army-issue laser bolt-gun in his hand that would take out the whole room and anyone in it. He would prefer not to use it but he pointed it at Shrewen's face fixing a menacing stare. 'Duuuuude, we got no ishy here. No ishy, just data. A misunderstanding my friend?' Said Shrewen. 'Drop the lady!' Shouted Renyke, 'we are leaving.' 'Let them go', shouted Shrewen, without hesitation and putting on a brave friendly smile. The door guard released Queenie, as the banker backed off with his hands still in the air. Renyke reversed his way towards the door watching the room through his the 360-degree embedded viewfinder. There was a bag on the counter. ...Contains bits, may I suggest we take it.....? said POS Renyke grabbed the bag. It was heavy. The Banker protested. 'Not the whole bag man ......I got bills to pay!' Renyke pulled out a handful of the contents and threw the bag on the floor. He didn't need it all, enough to get some kind of vehicle to get him to Redact. The last thing he wanted was a gang of stupid droids after him in this Hell hole. They might hold him up. The banker was yelling as Renyke and Queenie took their exit. Shrewen was shouting as they made their way back through the market, 'You got some neat tools man, we could use you at the bank!'
"It's the first science-based escape room." If you ask an escape room enthusiast about entanglement puzzles, what likely springs to mind are those intertwined, bent metal nails that you need to separate. However, for Paul Kwiat, an entanglement puzzle is something else completely. Professor Kwiat is an acclaimed physicist, specializing in quantum physics, including quantum entanglement, along with quantum cryptography, dense-coding, quantum teleportation, entanglement distillation, and most recently, optical quantum gates. Phew! But what's a physicist doing on REPOD? Besides his many other accomplishments, Professor Kwiat has also created LabEscape, the first science-based escape room. Most of the puzzles in his games are built on different science phenomena such as magnetism, thermodynamics, and polarization. Many of these are rather advanced principles that would be taught at a college-level course. These are not games for kids! Professor Kwiat explains that he had three goals when creating his escape room. One—to show that science can be both relevant and accessible. Two—to show that these scientific effects are aesthetically beautiful. Three—that science is fun! His love of science and physics is certainly infectious. We couldn't resist the opportunity to chat about quantum mechanics, including quantum computers, and cryptography. I truly appreciated that he took the time to explain all these principles to us, even if it meant crushing my romantic notions of how quantum entanglement works. This episode is a bit different, but I think you'll certainly learn something. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com. INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20. // Andrew sits down with Chad Carlton, CEO of Good Company, a 3PL that ships over 3 million orders annually for fewer than 20 clients. In this tactical deep dive, they walk through every step of the fulfillment journey—from the moment your product hits the warehouse to when it lands at your customer's door. You'll learn: - Why most brands treat their 3PLs wrong—and how to fix it - The real cost structure behind pick, pack, and postage - When it makes sense to fulfill in-house vs outsource - How to reduce returns and increase resellable inventory - What "alignment of incentives" really looks like in logistics Real numbers, strategic decisions, and operational leverage that can drive profitability are candidly explored—especially in a margin-compressed environment. Whether you're considering switching 3PLs, scaling to multiple warehouses, or fixing your supply chain slippage, this episode gives you the framework to make better, more profitable decisions. // CHAPTER TITLES: 00:01:46 - Chad's Calling To Start a 3PL Business 00:08:39 - Why Your Business Should Use A 3PL 00:19:09 - Demanding The Right Price From A 3PL Partner 00:40:44 - The Process 00:53:38 - Midwest Is The Best Location For Shipping // Chad Carleton is the founder and CEO of The Good Company, a 3PL based in Springfield, MO that will ship 3,000,000shipments across less than 20 clients in 2025. Visit The Good Company's website at https://www.goodcompanyships.com/ and follow him on X at https://x.com/ChadCarleton. // SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS! // ADMISSION Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast // FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
This one's for anyone who's ever mistaken SaaS metrics for gospel. I sit down (ok, dine out) with two CFOs—one from a dating app, the other from an HVAC parts company—and come away questioning the whole tech-is-king narrative.Turns out, the guy replacing dirty rugs in Georgia public schools pulled in $22 million last year. And no, he doesn't have a Substack.In this episode:* A billion-dollar business that makes… bolts* SaaS dreams vs. rug-cleaning realities* The myth of “build it once, sell it forever”* Why R&D is just COGS in a costume* A gentle roast of hustle culture and spreadsheet empiresThis is a reminder that while tech has its perks, the world is full of quiet, profitable businesses that don't require churn curves or pitch decks. Sometimes, the best margins come with dirt under the fingernails.Run the Numbers is brought to you by Zenskar.Zenskar is an AI-powered order-to-cash platform that automates billing, revenue recognition, and SaaS reporting — no spreadsheets, no engineering required. Built for modern B2B companies, Zenskar supports any pricing model: subscriptions, usage-based, or complex custom contracts.Step into the future of finance today. Visit zenskar.com/rtn and book a demo! Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe
We came, we saw, we achieved something!Your Tireless Mechanical Mikes--the Spark Soul Brothers themselves--return for one last episode review proper, discussing the final episode of Transformers Animated ever, "Endgame, Part II."No more flashbacks, folks! In fact, we're flashing forward to the execution of Megatron's big plan--or is it Starscream's? It's the final battle for New Detroit, the Earth, and Cybertron all in one--and you've got box seats in Sumdac Tower!Listen in as Mikel Andrews masters Processor Over Matter to pluck the last shard of wireless fidelity from his internet provider and Mike Seibert begins his optics quest as a Cyber Serial Rewatcher. And fear not! We have a few surprises left, and you surely haven't heard the last of the titular Mikes. However, these 2 mouthy Cogs would just like to say thank you for listening these last 3 seasons. You have been...and always shall be...Mike. Registration for CybFest NW 2025 is now LIVE for attendees, dealers, and sponsors! Register nowLearn more about this year's exclusive figure, CONDOR, at the BLUE FORGE page on Facebook!Our email address is 2Mikes2Furious@Gmail.comFollow 2 Mikes 2 Furious on social mediaTwitter, Facebook, InstagramCheck out Mike Seibert's other podcast, Mike Seibert Radio, everywhere you listen to 2 Mikes 2 FuriousBecome a Mike Seibertronian and join the MSRP/2M2F Friends and Fans Facebook GroupFollow Mike Seibert on social mediaTwitter, Facebook, Instagram, BlueskyYou can buy books written by Mikel Andrews on Amazon, including the Coming of Mage saga: Coming of Mage and its sequel, A War for the Mages, as well as his latest , Gone for a Spell Follow Mikel Andrews on Twitter
Drawing on her background in winemaking and Silicon Valley, Ashley Leonard, Founder and CEO of Innovint, has developed a modern platform that tracks everything from the vineyard to the bottle. From getting granular with COGS to automating TTB compliance, Innovint gets the winery out of spreadsheets and into a modern, cloud-based, mobile-centric system. This system is designed to accomplish Innovint's mission: Helping wineries run better businesses. Detailed Show Notes: Innovint overview - mobile-driven winemaking platform, tracks and manages all winemaking options, and automates compliance>600 winery clients (~80% of wineries still using Excel)92% of clients in North America, 8% InternationalMission: helping wineries run better businessesTTB requires reporting for producers >500 cases4 productsGrow - vineyard tracking platform from the winemaker's lens; phenology dates, yield estimates, applications, harvest scheduling, historical trendsMake - winemaking from fruit reception to bottling; work enablement platform with digital work ordersFinance - tracks all costs associated with making wine, final COGS; the finance team applies overheadsSupply (2025 launch) - case goods management, inventory tracking, integrates with DTC platforms & distributors, has allocations as a planning toolHas open APIs; integrates with TankNet and VinWizard for winery automation, receives data back for actions taken; integrates with quality control labs (e.g., ETS) and can take action more quicklyCore benefitsKey differentiator: profitability per SKU and true COGS/product (w/o Innovint, calculated once per year)Efficiency, working smarter, better decision making, and more transparencyReporting to be able to manage qualitySome wineries use data to track carbon footprint (e.g., water use, weight of glass)Reduces the risk of an auditCompliance reporting (e.g., TTB 5120, export reports) - Gloria Ferrer went from 3 people over 2 days to 15 minutes for 1 personLarger wineries tend to have more tangible benefitsDomaine Chandon saved $75k annually by making the workflow paperlessPatz & Hall saving 40 hours/monthOnboarding5-step self-serve process (vineyard sources, lots, volume, vessels, current inventory) takes a couple of days for small wineriesPremium package for larger wineries includes team training, and full data migration takes 2-8 weeksPricing - SaaS modelScales based on size (production) and complexity (# of locations) of the wineryNot user or usage-basedImplementation ~$1-2kSubscription starts at $2,400/year for a boutique winery for MakeMarketing - “has tried it all”, tries to add value to the end userDoes a lot of speaking engagements/webinars on being a healthy wineryManages The Punchdown, a free digital community that is a peer-to-peer exchangeReferrals from clients are the most effective marketingLaunched the State of the Wine Business Health Report (2024) - surveyed with >500 participantsTo reach wineries that don't go to conferences - LinkedIn/social, co-marketing, financial webinarsPaid advertising sometimes works, but it's not a top lead generatorBarrier to purchase - resistance to change, case studies help overcome (e.g., Domaine Carneros saw what Chandon was doing and bought the product)The product roadmap includes Supply module, AI applications, and embedded tools Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“I think we're just as surprised as anyone, really. We've been blown away by the awards.”Since settling into their Bathurst brewpub in 2022, Reckless Brewing have been on quite the tear when it comes to beer awards. They've picked up three trophies for three different beers in three straight years at the Australian International Beer Awards while securing trophies at other beer competitions too.Two of the brewery's founders – Grace Fowler and Jarrod Moore – joined Will and James from their brewery venue to share their thoughts on trophy success, how they've built a community and loyal team in regional NSW, and their ambitions to become a national brand even as the landscape becomes more challenging and many others breweries are downsizing.We also dive into their history, including Grace's experience brewing at Ikon and Akasha, how the couple met, their friendship with fellow founder, Alice Wilson, why the trio launched Reckless in 2019, life-changing IPAs, and how luck – or maybe good timing – has played a key role in their rise.Before the interview, James and Will discuss the Carwyn family's recent re-acquisition of Carwyn Cellars, the familiar names back winning more trophies at the Perth Royal Beer Awards, and our latest Beer By Design story which focuses on the role of graphic designers. Midway through, you'll also encounter the first in a mini-series of segments featuring Beer30.As ever, don't forget to like and subscribe the show – you can rate and review it too if you like – and keep the entries coming for Bluestone Yeast's Brewery of the Month and our celebration of good beer citizens, Have You Done A Rallings?Start of Segments: 11:35 – Reckless Brewing Part 1 34:15 – Beer30 on COGS 42:21 – Reckless Brewing Part 2Relevant links: Reckless Brewing Carwyns Buy Carwyn Beer By Design: The Graphic Designers Perth Royal Beer Awards Beer30 Nominate a Brewery of the Month Nominate a good beer citizen Cryer MaltTo find out more about featuring on The Crafty Pint Podcast or otherwise partnering with The Crafty Pint, contact craig@craftypint.com.
"It was like a laser tag basement with Party City decorations." Escape rooms? What are those? Well, it says here that you're locked in a room, and if you can't solve the puzzles fast enough, a zombie will get you! According to Trip Advisor, it's the top rated activity in the city. The year is 2014. Amanda Harris has just discovered her first escape room... and her life was changed forever. Since that fateful day, she has gone on to play well over 1,700 escape rooms. She is currently one of the most experienced escape room players in the country, if not the world. Amanda joins us to talk about the escape room era of yore, when most rooms were festooned with cheap locks and even cheaper furniture. The puzzles were mostly bad, and many of the games were created and run by slightly sadistic gamemasters who guarded hints like dragons sitting on their hoards. Yet she played game after game after game. Despite how terrible many of the early escape rooms were, she still loved them, and played as many as she could find. Indeed, even finding the games themselves was a challenge back then, let alone finding the gems. Those few gems, however, were absolutely incredible. That's a large part of the reason why David and Lisa created Room Escape Artist all those years ago. Tune in to this episode to hear David and Amanda reminisce about the bad old days and trade war stories about "the early days of completely bananas, insane escape rooms." Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
You asked, Sarah is answering! We love these listener Q&A episodes, and today's cost of goods sold questions are absolute gold. First up: When Google gives you two different definitions for the same term, which one should you trust? Sarah breaks it down and explains gross profit margin vs. net profit margin and which should be your starting point for healthy food business cash flow. Then, we hear from a food founder who thinks they're "double charging" themselves for labor. Spoiler alert – they're not, but Sarah's explanation about theoretical COGS versus actual P&L numbers will probably change how you think about your own spreadsheets. The episode wraps with insights from a recent live Q&A where tiered pricing sparked a fascinating conversation among members. One founder wants to simplify their pricing structure due to rising & fluctuating costs, while another realized tiered pricing may be a benefit. Hear Sarah's recommendation on how they should determine their best pricing strategies. Keep those questions coming – we read every single email! You can reach us at hello@thegoodfoodcfo.com Join The Good Food CFO Community: Follow us on Instagram: @thegoodfoodcfo Connect on LinkedIn: @sarahdelevan Watch on YouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo Become a Member: BABOYOT
"Innovation adoption is a contact sport." As the chief technology officer of the Department of the Navy, Justin Fanelli is one of the leaders responsible for ensuring warfighters have access to bleeding-edge solutions. Listen to his conversation with Ryan Evans, recorded live at an event in Washington, DC — our first episode of Cogs of War, a new vertical on defense tech and the defense industry brought to you by War on the Rocks and supported by Booz Allen Hamilton. Subscribe to the Cogs of War feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcast player of choice today.
"Once it clicks, you have sweet epiphany." In the dingy dark hallway of an asylum or prison, two men are struggling in a battle of life or death. One man is writhing on the ground while the other has something wrapped around his throat. The art is captivating and gothic, verging on grotesque, and they're animated in an unsettling way. The movement suggests a moment caught in time. We, as investigators, are tasked with uncovering the sequence of events behind this story. The Rise of the Golden Idol is a mystery-solving, narrative-driven game, and the gameplay truly makes the players feel like detectives investigating the scene of a crime. You hear from suspects, examine the evidence and search crime scenes for clues. The story itself is twisty and fantastical, and feels almost impossible to solve at first until you start pulling at threads. There is a deep satisfaction to solving the puzzles and creating order from the chaos. Brothers Andrejs Klavins and Ernests Klavins of Color Gray Games join us all the way from Latvia to talk about creating this popular series of games. I really enjoyed hearing about the changes they made from The Case of the Golden Idol when developing the sequel, and how to fine-tune difficulty in these types of mystery games. I was also especially impressed to hear that these games are written in English, which is not their native language. If you love escape rooms, puzzle games, or solving investigative mysteries, I highly recommend you check out The Case of the Golden Idol and The Rise of the Golden Idol. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Fred started Cosmetic Solutions.com online store in 1996 and was one of the first third party sellers in Beauty on Amazon starting in 2003. Cosmetic Solutions is on the gorilla list of Biggest All Time Amazon Sellers in the top 260. Cosmetic Solutions' first 10 years were dedicated to selling everything at one time boasting over 100,000 sku's and offering everything from professional beauty and what you would find at your local drugstores. Now as the business on Amazon has evolved Cosmetic Solutions is dedicated to selling its Brands as the authorized reseller and brands rights holder like skin care brand Dermactin and hair care brand Difeel and nail care brand Barielle.> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges of counterfeiting on Amazon and brand protection strategies.The evolution of selling on Amazon and adapting to marketplace changes.Importance of innovation and product development for competitiveness.Strategies for maintaining healthy profit margins amidst rising costs.Role of customer service in identifying product issues and enhancing satisfaction.Necessity of monitoring key performance metrics for business success.Building strong customer relationships to inform product offerings.Importance of delegation and team building for business growth.Navigating unexpected challenges in the e-commerce landscape.The significance of having a clear vision for business direction and growth.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Fred Adler, founder of Cosmetic Solutions and a seasoned Amazon seller with over two decades of experience. Fred shares invaluable insights on tackling counterfeiting, maintaining competitiveness, and leveraging customer service for product development. He emphasizes the importance of a robust distribution strategy, constant innovation, and attentive customer service to stay ahead in Amazon's dynamic marketplace. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways on protecting profit margins, optimizing operations, and engaging with customer feedback to drive business growth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:1. Proactively Monitor and Protect Your Listings from CounterfeitsRegularly check your product listings for inaccuracies, such as image swaps or unauthorized changes, to prevent sales loss.Implement unique SKUs for different sales channels (Amazon, retail, DTC) to help distinguish your authentic products from counterfeit ones.Consider working with legal experts to safeguard your brand against counterfeiters and unauthorized resellers.2. Optimize Operational Costs to Protect Profit MarginsTrack daily metrics, including FBA fees, cost of goods sold (COGS), and overhead costs, to identify areas for optimization.Work directly with shipping carriers and explore alternative fulfillment strategies to reduce logistics expenses.Conduct regular audits of product classifications and Amazon's warehousing fees to avoid unexpected financial losses3. Leverage Customer Insights for Product Innovation and Service ImprovementActively engage with customer feedback to identify pain points and improve product offerings before issues escalate.Use customer input to develop new product variations or features that competitors may overlook.Advocate for better direct communication tools on Amazon to enhance customer service and build brand loyalty.Resources mentioned in this episode:Ecomm BreakthroughAmazon TransparencyProject ZeroEdison IPAmazonShopifyMeta AdsAmazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)Snow CrashMoby Dick by Herman MelvilleL'OrealAlex Ramos's PodcastChatGPTSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist's Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King's Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you've hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that's Ecomm with two M's) to learn more.Transcript AreaJosh Hadley 00:00:00 Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Past guests include Kevin King, Aaron Cordovez, and Michael E Gerber, author of the E-myth. Today I am speaking with Fred Adler, and we're going to be talking about the three biggest lessons that he has learned after selling on Amazon...
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.//Dave Spandorfer is the co-founder & CEO of Janji, an 8-figure running apparel brand. Shop Janji's products at www.janji.com.//If you think profitable DTC growth is dead, think again.In this episode, Dave Spandorfer—co-founder and CEO of Janji, a running apparel brand—explains how his company grew to 8 figures without chasing broad TAM or burning VC money. You'll learn why narrowing your focus on a niche customer can be your greatest growth lever, how to build a mission-led brand without leading with your mission, and the specific tactics Janji used to run lean—from fulfillment redesign to offshore hiring to renegotiating with factories during tariff spikes.What you'll learn:- How Janji grew faster in year 13 than in year 3- Why experiential niches outperform generalized DTC- Operational frameworks for margin expansion- How to preserve brand soul and scale profitably- What the “tip of the spear” strategy means for your product roadmapThis episode is a must-watch for 7–9 figure eCommerce founders under margin pressure, looking to grow leaner, smarter, and with more brand clarity.CHAPTER TITLES:1:25 - Taking Your Passion & Starting A Business4:36 - The Mission of Janji11:40 - How To Evolve Your Business With A Changing Market20:20 - Longterm Growth is Stable Growth30:50 - Keeping Your Targeted Customer & Products Narrow// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF YOU'RE UNSURE HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR BUSINESS IS MAKING PROFIT AND HOW TO MAKE IT MORE PROFITABLEIf you're looking at your sales and wondering where all the money is going... this one's for you.This question came from Heather:“I struggle with figuring out ‘the numbers.' Got any suggestions on how to track costs vs income? And how to actually increase profitability?”Inside this episode, we're breaking down what profitability really means for a small product-based business and the biggest things most owners forget to track or prioritize.We go over:The difference between revenue and actual profitHow to understand your COGS, fixed costs, and variable costsWhat software can help (and how often to check your numbers)Why many business owners grow sales but not profitHow to think like a growth-focused CEO, not just a makerYou don't have to be a “numbers person” to run a thriving brand. You just need clarity, systems, and the right benchmarks to guide smart decisions. Let's make sure the numbers are working for you.TOPICS WE DISCUSS: Product Pricing Strategy, Business Profitability, COGS Breakdown, Operating Expenses, Financial Planning for Small BusinessJOIN THE SBG FREE COMMUNITY // CLICK HEREFREE TRAININGS // CLICK HERE TO BROWSEEXPLORE PROGRAMS & SERVICES// CLICK HEREAPPLY TO WORK WITH ME //CLICK HEREFOLLOW MADI ON INSTAGRAM // @thisismadisonpaige
Serial entrepreneur Dom Williams sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to reveal how a kid running county-wide candy routes now leads a 200-employee cleaning company, owns drive-thru “drink barns,” flips HUD rentals, and is launching a lounge—while coaching other service-business owners past the six- and seven-figure ceiling. You'll hear: Early Hustle → Corporate Wake-Up – the Wall Street layoff that pushed Dom full time and helped CNC Cleaning hit $1 M in six months.Play Business for Life – treating strategy like a game and using daily “pulse meetings” to keep the scorecard honest.Systems over Self – Sears-inspired SOPs that let a 200-person team run without him on site.Numbers that Matter – cash-flow detective work, margin targets (25 % residential; 15 % commercial), and the bank-balance myth.Diversifying the Right Way – acquiring Lexi's Drink Barn, scaling HUD duplexes, and threading Indiana's liquor-law maze to open Demure Lounge.Coaching Corner – the common blind spots for $500 k–$1 M service firms and Dom's framework for moving owners from operator to architect. Stick around for a quick CTA to Paul Giannamore's Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—and start “playing business” on a bigger board. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Dom on systems that let owners step away 00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Dom, the serial entrepreneur 01:40 – Fast rundown of CNC Cleaning, Lexi's Drink Barn, real estate & Demure Lounge 02:30 – Candy-bar syndicate at 12: first taste of leverage 03:50 – High-school expansion: five schools selling for him 05:00 – Dropping a clothing line; choosing cleaning for low entry & recurring revenue 06:50 – Year-one grind: two day jobs + night QC on homes 08:50 – Cash-flow crises and selling his way out 11:00 – Corporate layoff → full-time leap; $1 M revenue in six months 14:00 – Chrysler-300 moment: “I'll never work for anyone again” 15:30 – SOPs inspired by Sears, Avis & Verizon 17:30 – Power of industry conferences and peer networks 18:50 – Manifestation & mindset: believing before scaling 19:50 – Coaching clients: testing belief, fixing data first 20:25 – Reading P&Ls correctly; COGS-to-revenue benchmarks 21:30 – Buying a duplex (the “dupy”) and house-hacking advice 24:00 – HUD rentals, vetting tenants, and guaranteed checks 25:30 – Cleaning margins: 25 % residential vs 15 % commercial 26:50 – Acquiring Lexi's Drink Barn; lifting average ticket size 28:10 – Launching Demure Lounge under Indiana's beer-and-wine rules 29:50 – Economic headwinds: residential leads dip, commercial steady 30:30 – Monday pulse meetings: KPIs, accountability, real-time fixes 31:20 – Future vision: build, exit, repeat—never stop “playing business” 32:00 – New coaching program: from in-the-business to on-the-business 32:50 – Contact Dom at domwilliams.com; socials 33:20 – Outro & Masterclass CTA
Off The Grid: Leaving Social Media Without Losing All Your Clients
Welcome to Off the Grid CPG edition!
"It's not about the size of the room, it's about the richness of the details." Whether you're making new robot friends, investigating a haunted school, or cooking up some puzzles, the escape rooms at Omescape Sunnyvale are all absolute bangers. Omescape Sunnyvale is a rare gem in the escape room world. Their games are all massive (or feel massive) with gorgeous sets, chock-full of puzzles, and oftentimes with unique mechanics. They're all telling different stories with different styles of gameplay, and this is all contained under one roof at Omescape's Sunnyvale location. Sarah Zhang, one of the co-founders of Omescape Sunnyvale, joins us to chat about their escape rooms. While many of their games are licensed, Sarah explains that they usually end up changing over 80% of the game, building new sets, creating new puzzles, and even writing new narratives. As an escape room enthusiast, Sarah often travels the world playing games, and when an especially interesting mechanic or aesthetic catches her attention, rather than just copying it, she looks to license the game. This is a pretty unique approach, and I appreciated her candor in explaining their business practices. As the conversation progresses, it becomes very clear that Sarah has a deep understanding of what makes games fun for players. She talks about the need for puzzles that involve the whole team as well as designing around a few "aha!" moments. I especially appreciated the segment where she talks about the importance of ending a game on a thrilling, physical sequence. This gets the players' heart rates up, and creates a strong ending memory for the guests. Check out the whole episode for the secret sauce behind Omescape Sunnyvale's success. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Learn more about NetSuite Planning and Budgeting: https://tinyurl.com/ra6wa79k In this episode of the NetSuite Podcast, cohost Megan O'Brien sits down with Jonny Holmes, director of finance at Bomb Party, a direct-to-consumer jewelry company that offers surprise jewelry reveals through live online parties. Megan and Jonny start by discussing Bomb Party, its growth and how Jonny ended up the company [1:43]. They then cover the impact of tariffs on Bomb Party and how the company is using NetSuite Planning and Budgeting to help navigate them [4:08]. Jonny concludes the podcast episode by giving some advice to business leaders trying to navigate global trade variability [17:29]. Follow Us Here: Bomb Party: https://www.bombparty.com/ Contact NetSuite Sales - https://social.ora.cl/6009wKalv Learn More about NetSuite ERP - https://social.ora.cl/6003wKaxv Learn More about NetSuite HCM - https://social.ora.cl/6007c4Kih Learn More about NetSuite Analytics & Reporting - https://social.ora.cl/6007c4znL NetSuite Customer Success Stories - https://social.ora.cl/6005c4zt9 Follow us here: LinkedIn: https://social.ora.cl/6000wKFhC X (Twitter): https://social.ora.cl/6007wK2zD Instagram: https://social.ora.cl/6003wK2Hv Facebook: https://social.ora.cl/6005wK2Dv --------------------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript: How Social Selling Company Bomb Party Uses NetSuite to Navigate Tariffs 00:00:00:00 - 00:00:36:20 Unknown Hello, NetSuite listeners. Thank you so much for tuning in to the NetSuite Podcast. I'm Megan O'Brien, co-host of the podcast. We have an extra special episode in store for you all today. We know tariffs are top of mind for many businesses right now, and companies are figuring out the best way to handle them. So we invited Jonny Holmes, director of finance at Bomb Party, which is a direct-to-consumer jewelry company that offers surprise jewelry reveals through live online parties. 00:00:36:22 - 00:01:10:04 Unknown If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend checking them out. Customers purchase mystery items such as rings, necklaces or earrings, which are unveiled during these events, adding an element of excitement to the shopping experience. We discuss how Bomb Party has been using that sweet specifically, and that's what planning and budgeting and that sweet analytics warehouse to address tariffs, plan for addressing possible future trade policy changes, and the advice he has for business leaders trying to navigate global trade variability. 00:01:10:05 - 00:01:43:12 Unknown So stay tuned. You're not going to want to miss this episode. You're listening to the NetSuite Podcast where we discuss what's happening within NetSuite, why we're doing it, and where we're heading in the future. We'lldive into the details about the software and the people at NetSuite who are behind all the moving parts. We'llalso feature customer growth stories discussing the ups and downs of running a company, and how one integrated system can help your business continue to scale. 00:01:43:14 - 00:02:09:19 Unknown Let's just jump right in. So to kick us off, could you tell our audience a bit about Bomb Party and what you do at the company? Yeah. Bomb Party is a network marketing company. We started about eight years ago. I've been here for the last two years. So what we do is we the company, it really thrives on this surprise and delight type of marketing. 00:02:09:21 - 00:02:36:15 Unknown And so what that means is it is kind of like, well, you're just ordering products or jewelry in our case, and you don't really know what you're getting. So it could be one of maybe 30 different rings or earrings or necklaces or something, whichever one you order. And so that is like the driving force around. Everything that we sell, and especially from our owners, is that they want to surprise and delight customers. 00:02:36:15 - 00:03:00:08 Unknown And so everything that we sell drives that. So we sell rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, all sorts of things. And they all are sold in that type of thing where we sell to our wholesale reps that buy in bulk from us, and then they turn around and sell it to the end consumer. Most of it, they do it online. 00:03:00:10 - 00:03:20:14 Unknown A lot of it's through TikTok, you know, so maybe use other social media platforms. But for the most part, they'reusing TikTok and they sell these pieces of jewelry, on what we call a party. And it's just a live party. So they get on and customers join their party on TikTok. They place an order for whatever it is and then, live on TikTok, 00:03:20:14 - 00:03:43:19 Unknown The rep reveals what they have. And so it could be one of many different styles that we have for that collection. And then there is a chance that you could win, like a genuine diamond. So it's just it could you could get anything. And so that really is like that business model of surprise and delight has really driven the growthin my opinion. 00:03:43:20 - 00:04:14:19 Unknown I mean, there's other factors too, but I think that that business model has really driven bond party to, to grow significantly over the past few years. I mean, we're seeing lots and lots of growth, which is awesome. And then, you know, I've been here, like I said, for two years, and I lead the finance group. So I came on to help implement NetSuite ERP, a topic that is top of mind for many of our listeners right now is tariffs as of right now. 00:04:14:19 - 00:04:38:02 Unknown What's the impact of tariffs on Bomb Party. Oh man. It's crazy because we source literally everything we source from China. And so in the tariff world, as many of you probably know, if you don't I don't know where you hit then. But, I mean, China has been hit the hardest, and we have no idea where that's going to lead. 00:04:38:04 - 00:04:59:15 Unknown You know, like it was a few weeks ago when they announced all the tariffs, and then they escalated. And then the next week they escalated again. And, you know, we are, we had a few, maybe panicked, leadership type meetings at our company about what to do. And can the company withstand some of this and what are all our options. 00:04:59:15 - 00:05:20:14 Unknown And, you know, so, like, I don't think I can understand the impact of how it's going to, you know, we don't know exactly how it's going to change or impact the business. But I can't overstate how much it will be part of what we do moving forward. You know, it's something that we just didn't consider at all six months ago. 00:05:20:14 - 00:05:48:12 Unknown And now it's something that's at the forefront of almost all of our sourcing decisions and all of that sort of thing. One thing that's really interesting that I wanted to touch on is your use of NetSuite. So how have you used NetSuite Planning and Budgeting to model the impact of tariff changes? Yeah I mean that tool honestly it'sbeen instrumental in in all of the analysis that we're doing from a from a financial perspective on tariffs. 00:05:48:13 - 00:06:17:00 Unknown You know, it just allows you to build forecasts in a relatively short amount of time. So like if you go through and if you do all the legwork to set up your items and your systems and your sales forecasts and your everything, you know, if you put all the data in and if you go through a little bit of pain of doing the work to get the info into NSPB like it allows you to really quickly throw together a forecast. 00:06:17:00 - 00:06:40:22 Unknown And so, you know, we really recently just finished our go live with NSPB. And so there was when the tariffs hit us, right when we were like going through our user training and that sort of thing. And so a lot of my job was I had to get the system up and going. So there was a lot of, you know, prep work and groundwork of getting all of the inputs correct. 00:06:40:22 - 00:06:59:00 Unknown But then as soon as all those tariffs started to hit, it was so easy for us to just plug in different scenarios. You know, on the tariff side, it mostly just impacts your product costs. And so we could input all of the different product costs for each of our collections that we're planning on selling throughout the year. 00:06:59:02 - 00:07:22:10 Unknown We can change what we think is going to happen to the demand. So the number of units that we sell, and it'sjust so high because such a high-powered system that you can plug in those numbers, refresh, and in a matter of minutes, you have, like, different versions of a forecast. You know, it's something that I think, like as a finance professional, I'm very Excel heavy a lot of times. 00:07:22:12 - 00:07:45:13 Unknown And it's something that I could totally build in Excel, but it would have taken me so long and so many, different Excel crashes. And because it's just it's a lot of data and it's just crushing through and trying to crunch everything and Excel just can't handle it. And NSPB just takes an amazing format that you could build in Excel, and it just makes it seamless. 00:07:45:13 - 00:08:06:13 Unknown Why it was so fast and easy honestly, like it's been it's been a game changer for me. Like if I ever go to if I were to ever go to another company to implement NetSuite, like I would probably just bring in NSPB to start. Like to me it's, it's that it's been that great for me. I mean, it's just saved me so much time in so many different areas. 00:08:06:14 - 00:08:32:10 Unknown And not just on the forecasting side, like on the report building side. I mean, I love NetSuite. It's the best system that I've used by far. And in NSPB, you can set it up where honestly all you do is you just refresh, in your Excel smart view, and it populates all of your reports that you have that you put in whatever your, you know, like your, board decks and all that sort of thing. 00:08:32:12 - 00:08:53:12 Unknown And it's taken my prep time for those sorts of things and just cut it in half, if not more, you know, like it's just been a huge time saver for me. And really, like I would say, even for the company, it's probably allowed us to keep running lean. I don't think we'll I think it will prevent us from having to hire more people too quickly. 00:08:53:14 - 00:09:25:04 Unknown You know, like we have we do have a small team and we are all working hard and just having the right tools in my mind is way better than over hiring to have people just do manual processes, you know? So it's to me, it'sjust been a great investment and way cheaper than hiring more people. And it allows me as like the person who knows what's going on financially in every aspect of the business, like it just allows me to pivot really quickly and provide reporting and data that people need and want. 00:09:25:06 - 00:09:50:01 Unknown That's a great testimonial. Well, my job is done here. It's actually, I mean, yeah, I'm not good at these kinds of things, honestly. But it was it is true. Like, I just, it's been awesome for me. So I could be, I'm definitely, an advocate, I guess you could say, of NSPB. NetSuite by Oracle. 00:09:50:01 - 00:10:16:06 Unknown The number one cloud financial system is everything you need to grow all in one place. Financials, inventory, HR, and more. Make better decisions faster so you can do more and spend less. See how atNetSuite.com/pod. Well what are Bomb Party's plans for navigating potential future changes in trade policies? And how are you using NetSuite to prepare for those scenarios? 00:10:16:08 - 00:10:40:04 Unknown Yeah, I mean, it's all moving. We don't know exactly. We're looking at everything that we can. And you know, our teams that are over that sort of thing. Like they're working really hard and talking with as many people as they can to try to figure out the best solution. There are a lot of options on the table, but it just depends. 00:10:40:05 - 00:11:01:22 Unknown You know some things that are out of our control. If tariffs were to go away we would probably just keep all ofour production in China and then try to slowly diversify in case of, you know, further tariffs or anything like that. But there are things on the table like we're that we're exploring should we manufacture in the US, should we move countries in Southeast Asia? 00:11:01:22 - 00:11:24:18 Unknown Should we or should we try to source some raw materials in the United States, ship them to China and then have them ship us the finished goods like there's, you know, there's so many options that we're trying to work through and with, with industry experts, customs industry experts, I should say that that are advising us and we're just trying to work through those things. 00:11:24:18 - 00:11:46:10 Unknown But from a financial standpoint and putting our forecast together of how that impacts the company, impactsthem financially and like, can we handle it? Do we have enough cash? Do we can we do all of these things? I mean, NetSuite is core to that and specifically NSPB, I mean, like I said, we have there is the data. 00:11:46:12 - 00:12:16:00 Unknown The data lives in NeSuite ERP, of course. But to do what NSPB does, it would take so much longer to do it manually like in Excel and that sort of thing. So I mean, it is definitely core to our discussions and in any sort of forecasting. Well, you kind of touched on this but have NetSuite's reporting capabilities provided insights that maybe will help influence decisions like possible supplier selection or product pricing? 00:12:16:00 - 00:12:37:11 Unknown How are you using those reports to kind of inform that view, if you will? Yeah, I would say, I like on the supplier selection, not so much. That, you know, it's kind of specialized industry and jewelry and that sort of thing. Solike, I don't know if any reporting is ever going to tell us what supplier to use. 00:12:37:13 - 00:13:04:23 Unknown But as far as pricing decisions and forecasting decisions, it's been great. You know, our product development people have a target margin that they've been trying to shoot for, for the entire life of the company. And they really have never had any data to back it up on if that was, if they were actually hitting that target and, you know, you just if you don't have the data, you can't see. 00:13:04:23 - 00:13:36:20 Unknown And so when we first implemented NetSuite back at the beginning of 2024, that was one of our first initiatives,was to see if we're actually profitable and if are we hitting these target margins. And so the reporting in NetSuite that allows us to see what our margins are, both as like a product category or group, you know, we'reusing classes to categorize those or on a single item level, like we can see the margins and it's made. 00:13:36:22 - 00:14:02:11 Unknown Just having that view has helped the company make several different decisions around pricing. Yeah. So it'sbeen I mean, I can't overstate it. It's been instrumental in all of that. What do you think is a key benefit of having a tool like NetSuite Planning and Budgeting in a rapidly changing trade landscape for people out there that might be looking for something to help them handle it? 00:14:02:13 - 00:14:33:15 Unknown Yeah, I would say it's the speed. You know, for a finance professional most people know how to look at it, you know, but it just takes them a long time. It's hard to, to crunch data and to format it in Excel and to get it when you're dealing with large volumes of data. It's hard. And the fact that NSPB has all of that and it can calculateand it can run all of those scenarios for you, you know, you could run however many different scenarios you want and then compare them against each other. 00:14:33:15 - 00:14:54:08 Unknown I mean, it's just it really is the speed and the reliability of it. You don't have to worry about broken Excel formulas. You don't have to worry. You know, it's all just in a platform that you can trust works, and it doesn'treally break down or stop working. And it can just crunch a massive amount of data in a short amount of time. 00:14:54:08 - 00:15:19:03 Unknown And so that's what that would be my major selling point honestly, is that you can do it just allows you to be more nimble and quick with analyses and forecasting. Now, what about people who like working and broken down Excel, but do it now? I'm just kidding. But you're never going to get to those people. You know their stuff well. 00:15:19:05 - 00:15:44:15 Unknown Do you anticipate? It's hard to tell right now as we have. So we talked about because things are changing. Do you anticipate future changes around Bomb Party's sourcing, manufacturing, or decisions to expand into new markets because of tariffs? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I touched on a little bit earlier, but that's exactly what our product development group is doing right now. 00:15:44:15 - 00:16:06:10 Unknown We have a dedicated person that is working to try to find the best solution. So is it going to change for us? Yeah, it's absolutely going to change. And having the data to be able to see that is going to help drive those decisions on what we think will be best for Bomb Party and, you know, for our future success and growth and that sort of thing. 00:16:06:12 - 00:16:31:07 Unknown But yeah, I mean, something will change. No, no question. Getting a little more granular. What data or reporting do you rely on in NetSuite to understand global trade-related costs and risks? Yeah, for us it's, you know, maybe we're taking maybe it's too simplified. But for us, at least right now, we're really just looking at the cost side. 00:16:31:09 - 00:16:51:09 Unknown So in NetSuite ERP, like we are, we're constantly looking at COGS and the reporting that there is around that to look at margins and that sort of thing. But then, you know, we do use the landed cost function to make sure that we're actually including all of our costs. So, you know, everything is a landed loaded cost. 00:16:51:09 - 00:17:13:08 Unknown Instead of trying to piece everything together outside the system in Excel or something like that. And so we rely really heavily on that. You know, I would also say that NSPB is probably a better place to analyze and see what those margins are. Now, I would also put a plug in for is probably a good place to see that, but that'swhere most of our analysis is coming in. 00:17:13:08 - 00:17:34:09 Unknown And that's the data that we're looking at around tariffs is it's all right now. It's all on the COGS side. And duties of course which are the tariffs and then freight you know. So all of those landed costs were allocating or they're all considered in this. What advice would you give to other business leaders that are trying to navigate global trade variability? 00:17:34:11 - 00:17:57:14 Unknown It's a great question. And I don't know if I have the best answer, but I would say you know like through this process and I'm not the one that's as involved in it at our company. But from what I've heard and what we'vetalked about, there are professionals out there that know this stuff, that our customs professionals that are customs law, experts. 00:17:57:16 - 00:18:36:18 Unknown I would say that our best progress that we've made on the tariff front, outside of like, financial forecasting and that sort of thing has been when we've engaged with experts in the in the subject areas that we're looking at, you know, we engaged with a customs lawyer out in New York. I don't know his name. But I know we did, and he's been he's been great, you know, like, he's given us the best different, like, plans that we can work through and try to plan for, like, the largest list of options of things that we can consider while still being compliant with customs. 00:18:36:18 - 00:18:57:17 Unknown And, you know, we're not looking to break any rules by any stretch, but it's like, okay, what options are out there, which then allows us to run and try to figure out what is going to work best for one party. I mean, this is their time to shine. Yeah, they've been on the sidelines for so long, they're all warmed up, ready to go now it'stime. 00:18:57:18 - 00:19:19:21 Unknown That's right. Are there any NetSuite features or tools that Bomb Party is looking forward to implementing to enhance global trade management? You know, for global trade management, I don't know if there's any tools outside of the ones that we have already specific to like global trade and tariffs. I don't know if there's any systems that can really help us more. 00:19:19:23 - 00:19:48:01 Unknown I would say the ones that we have are awesome, like NSPB. I mean, I've explained and given my sales pitch for it, but we also use NSAW and it's a great, powerful tool. It just gives us so many insights into what is happening in our in our business. And so my recommendation to anyone considering it would be like, as aNetSuite user of the past ten years or so, those two tools are awesome and worth it. 00:19:48:03 - 00:20:12:10 Unknown Yeah, I love that you guys are using NetSuite Analytics Warehouse as well because, you know, I think every company, regardless of tariffs or trade policies, they're looking to get a little more data driven. And that's one of the offerings that we have to do that now. It's been it's been great. We've been really happy with both of those additions to our suite. 00:20:12:12 - 00:20:35:03 Unknown Are there any final thoughts or takeaways to leave our listeners with? Oh man. I don't know. I would just say like my advice to listeners is engage with experts to navigate this whole thing, and data is going to be key. And if you can get the tools like for finance professionals, if you can get the tools to help you do it faster, it's worth it. 00:20:35:03 - 00:20:57:01 Unknown I mean, I said it before, but I'll say it again like I have. Just say it's allowed me to spend far less time working things out in Excel and actually get to the meat of the conversations that we need to have as a company. And so, like, you know, I think it's something that finance people, we talk about all the time of having the right tools and the right data can help you guide your business. 00:20:57:03 - 00:21:15:02 Unknown And, you know, and I'm guilty of it as well as we get comfortable in our in our little Excel Frankenstein Excel sheets that we all make. And it just is a time suck. And so if you can get a tool that actually you trust and you know how it works and you can use it, it's just the best. 00:21:15:04 - 00:21:46:04 Unknown So that's that would be my final takeaway or advice to any listeners. Well I think that's a perfect note to end on. Thank you so much for joining us. This was really helpful. Thanks, Megan. Yeah, it's been great. Thanks. That brings us to the end of another great episode. Right now, there's a lot of debate on how to best proceed with global trade, so it's refreshing to hear from a company that is taking action and using NetSuite to do so, which is an extra added perk. 00:21:46:06 - 00:22:05:01 Unknown A huge thanks to Johnny for taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with us. And as always, a big thanks to our wonderful editing team over at Oracle and to all of you for tuning in. If you want more episodes just like this one, make sure you subscribe to our channel and give us a rating and review. 00:22:05:02 - 00:22:23:13 Unknown Until next time. You just listen to the NetSuite Podcast. Be sure to tune in every week with more NetSuite developments, stories and insights into the benefits of one integrated system to help you run your business.
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupIn this episode, IQBAR founder Will Nitze shares his journey from burnout in the corporate world to launching a bar brand rooted in cognitive nutrition. He walks through the steps that took IQBAR from kitchen counter tests to Amazon bestseller and retail mainstay.What you'll hear is less about hacks and more about the fundamentals: why starting online mattered, how feedback drove product-market fit, and what it really takes to scale profitably in CPG today.Key topics include:Launching DTC to validate demand and iterate fastWhy clean label and plant protein were non-negotiablesPackaging shifts driven by real-world feedbackScaling into retail once logistics and cost structures were optimizedViewing DTC as one piece of an omnichannel puzzleIt's a grounded roadmap from someone who's done the work—no shortcuts, just thoughtful strategy.Did you know that 98% of your website visitors are anonymous? Instant powers next-level retention by identifying who they are and converting them into loyal shoppers. Sign up for a quick demo today to get 50% off and unlock a guaranteed 4x+ ROI: instant.one/dtcTimestamps:00:00 – How IQBAR started from a personal health journey02:55 – From kitchen experiments to product-market fit07:10 – Why the brain-focused bar category was a white space12:10 – DTC vs Amazon vs retail: channel strategy evolution17:45 – Profitability, scaling, and efficient COGS in CPG22:50 – Brand evolution: packaging, messaging, and keto pivot27:10 – Retail shelf strategy and planogram insight31:25 – Podcast and display ads as top-of-funnel growth levers34:45 – DTC Twitter, omnichannel mindset, and business realism37:55 – Exit strategy, Mars dreams, and post-exit vision41:00 – Tariffs, supply chain chaos, and CPG realitiesHashtags:#IQBAR#dtcpodcast#consumerpackagedgoods#ecommercegrowth#omnichannelstrategy#dtcbrand#scalingcpg#founderjourney#brandbuilding#podcastmarketing#supplychainchallenges#cleanlabelproducts#retailstrategy#amazonads#shopifysuccess Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video
" It's a quirky and complex puzzle." In the sleepy town of Ravenswood Bluff, on the stroke of midnight during a hellish thunderstorm, you hear a scream. You all rushed to the town square to find that your beloved storyteller has been murdered! This is the work of a nefarious demon... a demon that kills by night and takes on human form by day. Blood on the Clocktower is a game of lies and truth, team building and betrayal, and a game of secret identities. It is also, in our opinion, the best social deduction game in the world. Steven Medway, the creator of Blood on the Clocktower, joins us to talk about fine-tuning the balance of the game, the role of dead players, how the game experience changes depending on which country you're playing in, and so much more. What sets Blood on the Clocktower apart from other social deduction games is how well-balanced it feels as a player. Much of the information given and gathered by the "good team" works like a sort of logic puzzle, as the players piece together the truth in a variety of ways. However, the "evil team" is given many opportunities to spread misinformation, which really levels the playing field. There are also affordances made for "dead players" as well as people joining the game late or leaving early. Steven shares insights about his design process when creating characters and mechanics for Blood on the Clocktower. He also answers questions from our listeners. I was particularly fascinated by the segment where he talks about how the gaming experience varies by country. Whether you're a game designer interested in balancing strategy games or just a fan of Blood on the Clocktower, I highly recommend checking out this interview. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.WORKSPACE6Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io. //Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO of IQBAR, an omnichannel food & bev brand on pace to do $125M at 17% EBITDA in 2025 after doing $59M in revenue at 13% EBITDA in 2024. Follow Will on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/ and on X at https://x.com/willnitze.//Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO of IQBAR. Follow Will on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/ and on X at https://x.com/willnitze.//Will Nitze, founder of IQBAR, shares how he scaled his food and beverage brand into the 9 figures and successfully turning the corner to profitability. This episode unpacks why he raised capital (and doesn't regret it), how he thinks about supply chain leverage, what founders get wrong about bootstrapping, and the real path to operational excellence.You'll learn how volume-driven growth models differ from high-margin products, how to avoid channel conflict in OmniChannel, and why your COGS might be the biggest opportunity in your business.If you're operating a 7–9 figure eCom brand and care about scale, margin, or long-term exit value—this is a masterclass.// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com#metaads #facebookads #ecommerce #advertisingCHAPTER TITLES:1:21: Is there really a big against fundraising?8:23: How to make money as a food/beverage business?13:57: Choosing the right investors for your DTC Business27:08: Finding Product Market Fit36:14: Operational Muscles For Omni Channel DTC45:24: Supply Chain 101//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//Reach out to James Lee on X at https://x.com/jameshyujinlee to get started with overseas product photography.Get my complete guide to Target ROAS bidding here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_7SbiBun10//What separates the most profitable eCommerce operators from the rest?In this episode, Andrew breaks down 5 underutilized tactics that high-performing 7–9 figure brands are using to grow faster, retain customers longer, and increase margins—without adding risk.From low-MOQ product launches to price testing that lifts per-visitor profit, to smarter Meta bidding strategies and supply chain overhauls, this episode is packed with actionable insights. If your brand is stuck at a growth plateau, or bleeding margin from inefficiencies, this is the roadmap you've been looking for.You'll walk away with a clear, tested list of what's working right now—and where you might be leaving serious money on the table.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:22 - Not Launching Enough Products8:21 - Lower Cost of Product Launch15:33 - Price Testing18:08 - Target ROAS Campaigns21:43 - Supply Chain Management28:05 - Brand Marketing// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
“Creating the escape room becomes the escape room.” New York City is REPOD co-host David Spira's home market. Whenever he's recommending escape rooms to guests and visitors, his favorite go-to is MyssTic Escape Rooms in Brooklyn, NY. Two of their escape rooms have won Golden Lock awards: Ghost Light, and their newest game, The Bird. Gara Roda and Moritz Marti, the co-founders of MyssTic Rooms, join us today on REPOD to talk about the challenges of building a world class escape room in bustling New York City, especially when they are far from their home countries. There are many reasons it's challenging to build escape rooms in NYC. Real estate is expensive, the hurdles of navigating the city's fire codes are many, and square footage is at a premium. An affordable place for their business meant a basement location which came with its own set of complications. A near catastrophic flood in the early days led to some pretty impressive flood mitigation. Shortly after they first opened, a tragic fire occurred in an escape room in Poland, which led to a crackdown by fire inspectors all over the world, but with especially tight restrictions in New York. Gara and Moritz persevered, despite all the setbacks, and it was inspiring to hear them talk about how all the different constraints led to more creativity. As David points out, even though their games are small in comparison to other escape rooms, "every single nook and cranny had an abundance of detail." These two escape room creators have endured seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and yet have recently just been honored with another Golden Lock award for their newest game, The Bird. They mention at the end of the episode that eventually they are looking to move back to Europe and are open to finding a partner or even possibly a buyer. So hit 'em up if this sounds interesting to you. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt Based on the new Madders of Time series by bestselling author DL Orton. Registration opens May 1, 2025 Hive: The Race to Save Time runs from May 16-26, 2025 Over $1,000 in Prizes, winners determined by sweepstakes. Purchase of the book or free alternative method of entry registration is required to participate, but the e-book will be available for just 99 cents while the hunt is running. Visit Hive: The Race to Save Time website for more details. Preorder the book today! Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
"Hiding interesting objects in plain sight is a hallmark of Great Gotham Challenge." In New York, everyone's got a story. A gimmick. A hustle. The city's crawling with characters. Some are just colorful. Others... well, others are part of something bigger. A secret. A puzzle. That hot dog vendor on the corner? A whispered password might just grant you access to a secret underground lair. You never really know if someone's just being New York... or if you're already inside the game. Capturing this elusive feeling of a magical underground is what drives Jon Seale and Ryan Patch. They run the Great Gotham Challenge, a massive city-wide puzzle adventure that weaves through the bones of New York City. They describe it as part puzzle hunt, part Amazing Race, and part immersive theater. I really enjoyed hearing about all the custom props they create for the Great Gotham Challenge that look like ordinary New York objects, but are actually part of the game. There is something magical about an item hidden in plain sight that players will overlook until they're clued to take a deeper look. Much of their game is designed to encourage players to explore stories of New York's oddities and its secret histories. They also talk about working on Compass, formerly known as "Midnight Madness." You can read reviews about past Great Gotham Challenges on Room Escape Artist. Full Show Notes Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt Based on the new Madders of Time series by bestselling author DL Orton. Registration opens May 1, 2025 Hive: The Race to Save Time runs from May 16-26, 2025 Over $1,000 in Prizes, winners determined by sweepstakes. Purchase of the book or free alternative method of entry registration is required to participate, but the e-book will be available for just 99 cents while the hunt is running. Visit Hive: The Race to Save Time website for more details. Preorder the book today! Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
Subscriber-only episodeFeeling stagnant without that familiar queasy sensation of trying something new? You're not alone. Most ambitious entrepreneurs experience that tension between craving fresh challenges and wanting a stable business model. The good news? You don't have to constantly reinvent your entire business to experience growth. This episode explores the powerful concept of strategic addition – how placing smaller "cogs" in your business machinery can tighten the entire system without requiring a complete overhaul.We dive into practical examples, like implementing a five-day challenge that naturally guides participants toward existing products rather than creating something entirely new. This approach satisfies that entrepreneurial itch for creativity while strengthening your core offerings and simplifying the customer journey. Think of it as installing a perfectly-sized connector that closes gaps in your business machinery, making the path from prospect to customer more direct and frictionless.The goal isn't working harder to crank a clunky business model – it's strategically enhancing what already works. This mindset shift from "always creating new" to "strategically improving what exists" can transform both your business results and your entrepreneurial satisfaction. If you're ready to identify which areas of your business need tightening and could use outside perspective, consider joining one of our intimate mastermind groups where 5-6 women entrepreneurs dive deep into each other's businesses. Visit JennyMontrose.com/mastermindinfo to apply and discover if this collaborative growth environment is right for you.
You might not be able to send inventory to FBA next month. Tariff surcharges could appear on Amazon listings, and TikTok Shop expands again. All this buzzing news and more! ► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast ► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension ► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life) ► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft ► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos We're back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10's VP of Education and Strategy, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, Walmart, and E-commerce space, talk about Helium 10's newest features, and provide a training tip for the week for serious sellers of any level. Amazon Slashes Your FBA Capacity! https://sellercentral.amazon.com/inventory-storage/storage-request/limit-increase Create deals for Amazon Pet Day https://sell.amazon.com/blog/announcements/pet-day Amazon denies plans to list tariff prices after President Trump calls Jeff Bezos to object https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/29/amazon-tariff-costs-trump-white-house/83340801007/ Grow With US: How Walmart's New Program Aims To Help Small Businesses Go Big https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2025/04/29/grow-with-us-how-walmarts-new-program-aims-to-help-small-businesses-go-big France urges fees on cheap e-commerce parcels in EU https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/france-urges-fees-cheap-e-121540875.html Walmart to Offer 3-Hour Delivery to 95% of Americans https://www.pymnts.com/walmart/2025/walmart-to-offer-3-hour-delivery-to-95percent-of-americans/ Exclusive: Some Amazon sellers are pulling out of Prime Day amid Trump tariffs https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/some-amazon-sellers-are-pulling-out-prime-day-amid-trump-tariffs-2025-04-28/ Walmart, Target resume business with some Chinese factories after tariff-related halt, suppliers say https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/29/business/walmart-target-chinese-orders-tariffs-hnk-intl/index.html TikTok to enter Japan's e-commerce industry, Nikkei reports https://www.reuters.com/world/china/tiktok-enter-japan-e-commerce-nikkei-reports-2025-04-26/ Did you know Helium 10 has a forum? While our Facebook group gets more traffic, we want to grow the forum community too! It's a great place to ask questions and join discussions about e-commerce, Amazon strategies, and more. Remember, it's not for Helium 10 customer support—that's available 24/7 through our website. To participate, sign in to your Helium 10 account and head to forum.helium10.com. Helium 10 has rolled out several powerful new features this week, starting with the brand-new Tariff Analyzer tool in Profits. This feature gives sellers a detailed breakdown of how tariffs impact their net profits on a product-by-product basis. By inputting the country of origin and cost of goods sold (COGS), users can instantly see pre- and post-tariff profit margins, estimate the price adjustments needed to maintain margins, and even compare how switching manufacturing to another country, like Vietnam or Uzbekistan, might improve profitability. It's a game-changing tool for sellers looking to stay agile amid rising import costs. Another major upgrade is the expansion of Managed Refund Services, now available to both Platinum and Diamond users. Previously reserved for Diamond subscribers, this service helps Amazon sellers recover funds owed by Amazon due to lost, damaged, or mishandled inventory. Helium 10's team handles the tedious claims process, scanning accounts, filing cases, and staying compliant with Amazon's policies. Sellers only pay a small percentage of successfully recovered funds, making it a zero-risk way to reclaim potentially thousands in lost revenue. On top of that, Helium 10 has added support for Cerebro and Magnet in the Amazon Saudi Arabia marketplace, with built-in translation tools to help sellers understand foreign-language keywords and rank data, opening up new international expansion opportunities easily. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge and strategies to keep your Amazon business thriving.
In fact, over the course of the interview, Eric often came back to the importance of finding your inspiration. His two most well-received games were both conceived when an inspiration "lit a fire inside (of him)." He also very candidly tells us about losing that inspiration while in the process of playtesting The Dome, and how he needed to step away to regain a fresh perspective. This worked, because David tells us that there was a marked difference in players' reception to the game in the very early days of the game's launch compared to after Eric returned from his break, reinspired. Creating anything requires not only a huge investment of time and money, but it also requires a strong belief in your concept. I certainly found inspiration from hearing Eric tell us about his escape room journey, and I hope you will as well. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
The research continues.The Strange Table Fellows Network:https://theSTFnetwork.comhttps://discord.gg/7KPfMCzhttps://twitter.com/STFNetworkOriginal Theme Music by Adam KellyMusic Sourced at:https://tabletopaudio.com/https://www.epidemicsound.com/https://www.storyblocks.com/
" Am I really playing with Neil Patrick Harris?" In keeping with the theme of Box Two, Neil Patrick Harris is back for his second appearance on our podcast. And not only that, he also brought a friend. Jonathan Bayme, CEO of theory11, is a longtime collaborator and Neil's bestie. They first met at a magic show Jonathan created for the Nomad Hotel in New York. Neil and Jonathan quickly bonded over a shared passion for elevating the art of magic, a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship, and creating experiences full of wonder and joy. Jonathan created his company, theory11, with the goal of crafting magic tricks and playing cards that not only worked flawlessly, but were also beautiful to look at. Jonathan worked with Neil to produce Box Two, which was created with a very similar aesthetic and vibe. They very candidly explained the thought process behind design decisions such as relying on an online chat interface, and how they achieved certain magical effects. Box Two is gorgeous, with hefty props that felt good and looked good. I especially enjoyed hearing about the playtesting and mechanical process behind producing such a complicated boxed game. Jonathan also shares his secret to networking. Whether it's about tracking down JJ Abrams, or writing weekly emails at twelve years old to David Copperfield's longtime executive producer, I really enjoyed his stories of perseverance when it comes to making connections. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our first interview with NPH in Season 2, Episode 1. Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt Based on the new Madders of Time series by bestselling author DL Orton. Registration opens May 1, 2025 Hive: The Race to Save Time runs from May 16-26, 2025 Over $1,000 in Prizes, winners determined by sweepstakes. Purchase of the book or free alternative method of entry registration is required to participate, but the e-book will be available for just 99 cents while the hunt is running. Visit Hive: The Race to Save Time website for more details. Preorder the book today! Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.//Lara Guevara is the CEO of Move Supply Chain, a Philippines-based supply chain agency, and More Staffing, a hiring firm to help you find, recruit, onboard, and train incredible Filipino talent for your business. Visit Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com and More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af. //CHAPTER TITLES:2:18 - Helpful Ideas To Work Through Tariffs For Ecommerce7:59: Exploring Other Countries Besides China For Sourcing12:00: Trade Offs Using Vietnam23:09 - Stockpiling Inventory To Save Costs36:02 - Could Tariffs Be Good For Ecommerce Brands?59:02 - How Businesses Can Adapt To Higher Tariffs//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
" An outlandish approach to meta puzzles" "Congratulations and Condolences" is the default phrase when a team of puzzlers has just won the vaunted MIT Mystery Hunt. This is because according to tradition, the winning team must write next year's Mystery Hunt. This daunting task was recently undertaken by Death and Mayhem, the team that wrote the 2025 MIT Mystery Hunt titled "The Case of the Shadow Diamond." At the helm of this illustrious team is James Douberley, affectionately dubbed the Benevolent Dictator. James led his team of over 160 people to create David's favorite MIT Mystery Hunt to date, blending puzzles with immersive theater in a way that Mystery Hunts had never done before. Some features of this year's hunt included an escape room, The Radio, and The Gala, which functioned as both the team headquarters, but also a place for players to experience a fun interaction. This year's Mystery Hunt had 5,000 people enrolled, with around 171 puzzles. James joins us on REPOD to unwrap the mystery behind how his team designed and built this year's Mystery Hunt. I especially loved hearing about the unique escape room they built, which involved one player actually going to the escape room, while the rest of their team back at HQ clued the active player on what to do, but with a very limited word bank. Cue hilarity. If you're interested in puzzle hunts and large scale immersive events, don't miss this episode, and make sure to check out David's favorite (relatively accessible) puzzle linked below. Winner's Coin from the 2025 MIT Mystery Hunt Episode Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. Weldwood Marketing Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business. Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners: Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit weldwoodmarketing.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. Buzzshot Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer. COGS COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when. Special Offer for REPOD Listeners: REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout. Become a Patron Today! Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: The REPOD Bonus Show The Spoilers Club The Travelogue Series Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters
In this episode of Higher Exchanges, Jesse Redmond and Morgan Paxhia dig into three pressing topics shaping the cannabis industry.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//Referenced Links for other videos:https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CQFzGTJpQMhduEnge301d?si=p1_rGgVXSfCc1W1KBh8VWghttps://open.spotify.com/episode/40jKOgLXxRmxCYeWtHpbYZ?si=OSh1rjKgR_eAxxU1GBFi3w//CHAPTER MARKERS:1:37: Who Is Ben Perkins and &Collar4:15: How Slow Growth Became Profitable10:00: Climbing Out Of Debt29:07: Digital Ad Spend35:10: Supply Chain & Manufacturing46:37: The Future of &Collar//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
This week on COGS we throw it back to 30 years ago in April 1995. Bruce & Nolan breakdown two of DMB's finest shows with the rare all-acoustic show at The Academy in New York on 4/5/95, days after the band's first trip to Europe. DMB then kicked off their spring tour in Durham, NC on 4/7/95 in fabled Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke. The two shows are known for the song debuts of #40 and #41, known as 41 Police at the time. Be sure to check out these DMBLive releases and our recap! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did you hear the episode where Sarah told her client they needed 70% product margins? Were you curious why it was so much higher than the usually recommended 51%? In this episode, Sarah pulls back the curtain on how she determines the right product margins for different food businesses, and guides you to finding yours. She reveals where your P&L is hiding crucial information and walks through her "orange slice" method for visualizing what's really happening with the revenue you earn. You'll learn the importance of separating “core COGS” from “other COGS”, why so many people talk about “contribution margin”, what it is and the role it plays in determining your product margins. Through a real case study, Sarah demonstrates how breaking down these numbers guides you to your perfect product margins. This episode is your roadmap to financial clarity. Get ready to see your numbers in a whole new way! Join The Good Food CFO Community: Follow us on Instagram: @thegoodfoodcfo Connect on LinkedIn: @sarahdelevan Watch on YouTube: @thegoodfoodcfo Become a Member: BABOYOT
MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
We are just all cogs in the wheel. Where did all the taxpayer money go? The FBI cannot and should not be saved. The FBI leaked the ICE raid info to illegals. Josh Hammer joins the show to talk about these activist judges. We're trying to avoid a civil war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.