Podcast appearances and mentions of kurt elster

When Beav Brodie was handed his wife's purple diaper bag to carry around town, he knew something had to change. As a tattooed, custom car-building dad, that bag just didn't fit. So he did what any problem-solver would do—he grabbed his sewing machine and made his own. That side project turned into Tactical Baby Gear, a thriving eCommerce brand that's become the go-to for dads who want gear that's as functional as it is badass. In this episode, Beav shares his journey from knowing absolutely nothing about eCommerce (including what a UPC code was) to building a product line that customers trust and keep coming back for. He also pulls back the curtain on navigating the chaos of 2025—from Meta auction issues to tariff headwinds—and why he's betting big on Amazon and YouTube as his growth channels for the year ahead.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Opening & Introducing Beav Brodie(04:45) 2025 Headwinds, Tariffs & Personal Life Challenges(08:45) Becoming a Real Operator: Systems, SOPs & Founder Mindset Shifts(12:00) Origin Story: From Custom Cars to Tactical Baby Gear(17:00) Manufacturing Realities: COVID, Price Creep & Moving Abroad(24:38) Recover hidden Amazon revenue with Threecolts(25:33) Meta Constraints & The Founder Bottleneck in Content(29:30) UGC, Influencers & Why Authenticity Beats “Pretty” Content(36:25) Offers, Acquisition & The Realities of Low-Repeat Categories(42:10) Brand vs Discounts: Community, Trust & True LTV(47:00) Channel Expansion & Product Philosophy(50:19) PostPilot: Direct mail that prints money.—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Tactical Baby Gear: https://tacticalbabygear.comSponsor Offer | Threecolts: http://threecolts.comSponsor Offer | PostPilot: http://postpilot.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Kate Assaraf tried every plastic-free shampoo bar on the market. They sat in her shower like, and I'm quoting here, "tombstones." Failed products. Dead ends. So she decided to make her own. Without Instagram ads. Without Amazon. Without any of the things you're supposed to need to build a business. Today on our program, we follow Kate's journey from beauty industry veteran to the woman who said no to everything, and built a million-dollar company anyway.In this episode, we explore how Kate sold 250,000 shampoo bars in 4 years while refusing Meta ads, Amazon listings, and influencer partnerships. When her contract manufacturer went under, she didn't find a new one—she built her own factory and hired the displaced workers. Now with 400+ retail partners and 7-figure revenue, Kate proves that sometimes the best growth strategy is saying no to growth hacks.GUEST BIOKate Assaraf is the founder of DIP Haircare, a plastic-free beauty brand that's redefined sustainable haircare without compromising performance. With 20 years in the beauty industry, Kate launched DIP from her kitchen table in October 2021 after discovering that existing eco-friendly alternatives failed to deliver. Her shampoo and conditioner bars compete directly with luxury salon brands while lasting up to a year. By refusing traditional DTC tactics and focusing on local retail partnerships, she's built a 7-figure business that champions American manufacturing and community-first commerce.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSDIP Haircare: https://dipalready.com/Find DIP in stores: https://dipalready.com/pages/stockistsKate on Instagram: @kateassarafWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

There's this thing that happens when you run an e-commerce store. You know you need to discount, but you're terrified. Terrified of training customers to wait for sales. Terrified of looking cheap. So you do nothing, or worse, you slap WELCOME10 on your popup and call it a day. Meanwhile, the big brands? They're discounting constantly. Just invisibly.Cara Marin from Seguno looked at 162,000 discount code sets. Real data from real stores. And what she found flips everything we thought we knew. The most successful stores discount more, not less. They just do it smarter. With unique codes. With segmentation. With strategies that preserve brand value while driving conversions.The revelation that changes everything: it's not about the discount. It's about the delivery. 20% off might be the magic number, but 10% is secretly almost as effective. Gift with purchase is used 6X more by Plus stores. And those customer service recovery codes? They're turning angry customers into superfans. This isn't theory. This is what actually works.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSSeguno 2025 Unique Discount Benchmarking ReportSeguno Bulk Discount Code BotPromo Party ProPostPilotShopify Discount DocsWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria sits down with Kurt Elster — e-commerce expert, long-time Shopify insider, and host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast — to break down exactly what founders need to know if they want to hit their first $100K on Shopify.Kurt has helped brands scale from five to eight figures, and today, he's pulling back the curtain on the real mistakes most founders make… and the simple fixes that can transform your store's conversions, customer loyalty, and long-term revenue.If you're an e-commerce founder struggling to grow, this episode is your shortcut.The THREE Most Common Mistakes Keeping Founders From Their First $100KKurt has seen every Shopify setup imaginable — and the same roadblocks show up again and again. In this episode, he unpacks:Obsessing over themes instead of messagingNew founders sink hours into choosing the “perfect” theme — but Kurt shares why:Any theme in the Shopify Theme Store works for any nicheDawn (Shopify's FREE theme) is the perfect starting pointWhat actually moves the needle is clarity, content, and your story — not fancy templates   2. Ignoring the post-purchase experienceYour second, third, and fourth sales are where your profit lives. Kurt breaks down:How to start collecting product reviews (even with zero customers)Why vulnerability helps you get reviews fasterHow to create a simple retention email flow using built-in Shopify EmailWhy follow-up = more revenue than your first sale  3. Being afraid to email your customersKurt crushes the fear of “bothering” your list and shows:Why plain-text emails outperform heavy designWhy weekly emails lead to fewer unsubscribesHow staying top-of-mind can turn one-time customers into superfansThe mindset shift founders MUST adopt to scaleThe Tools, Features & Strategies Founders OverlookKurt shares the most underutilized (and free!) Shopify features that boost conversions instantly, including:Shop Pay & Shop Pay InstallmentsFaster checkout = more conversions. Younger buyers especially rely on installments.Customer accounts (passwordless login)Reduce friction and make repeat purchases seamless.The Shop AppA built-in discovery marketplace your brand should absolutely be in.How to Build a Repeatable, Revenue-Driving Customer JourneyKurt walks through simple but powerful workflows like:A 1-day “thank you” email that builds instant loyaltyA 14-day product review request that feels human and authenticA post-purchase upsell email (“complete the set”)A 24-hour “order add-on” coupon that increases AOV with almost no effortFinal TakeawayYou don't need a fancy theme, expensive tools, or complicated funnels to hit your first $100K on Shopify.What you do need is: ✅ Clear messaging ✅ A simple, human post-purchase system✅ A willingness to email consistently✅ The courage to stay visibleIf Kurt's clients can go from zero to multiple six figures, so can you.

Think you've maxed out your paid advertising? Think again.In this episode, Miranda Pettinger (365 Holdings/Cuddle Clones) shares how she scaled AppLovin from zero to $80,000/day in just 7 days during Black Friday—and why it's now their highest-spending channel, even surpassing Meta.Miranda doesn't just share success metrics—she breaks down the exact strategy, creative approach, and measurement framework that made it possible. This is the blueprint for brands ready to diversify beyond Meta and Google.If you're spending serious money on Meta and hitting scale ceilings, AppLovin might be your most underrated growth opportunity. Miranda proved it's possible to find incremental customers, better ROAS, and massive scale—all while simplifying your account structure.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Miranda and Cuddle Clones(07:54) The Journey from Zero to $80,000 a day.(13:27) Targeting, Media Buying and Creative on AppLovin(17:03) Understanding AppLovin(19:38) Analyzing Customer Behavior and Incrementality(22:59) Fermat: Optimize Shopper Experience with AI(23:53) Limitations on AppLovin and Final Thoughts(31:15) Crafting Compelling Ads(37:24) Analyzing Successful Ad Elements(42:17) Targeting and Audience Engagement(46:27) Brand Recall and Interactions(50:25) Utilizing AI for Ad Optimization(53:35) Creative Diversity and Longevity(58:41) Final Thoughts(01:03:08) Save Money and Connect Your Marketing Channels with Channable—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Connect with Miranda on X: https://x.com/mirandpettingerCuddle Clones: https://cuddleclones.comAppLovin: https://www.applovin.com/Sponsor Offer | Fermat (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): fermatcommerce.comSponsor Offer | Channable (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://channable.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

So there's this guy, Bora Celik. Software engineer, thirty years in the game. Last year he tells his investors something crazy: SaaS is dead. Not dying. Dead. And here's the thing - he might be right. See, while everyone's playing with ChatGPT, asking it questions, Bora's building these things called AI agents. They don't just answer questions. They do the work. Like, actually reach out to influencers, negotiate deals, send products, follow up. No humans involved. One of his clients, Harney & Sons Tea, they've got agents running their entire influencer program. The agents find people, check their engagement rates, send emails, track who posts. Everything. And the wildest part? The CEOs of these $100 million companies are building their own agents now. Using tools anyone can access. Today, Bora shows us exactly how.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSN8N Agent Builder: https://n8n.io/ai-agents/Agentic Brand Newsletter: https://agenticbrand.ai/Agentic: https://a.gentic.co/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

So there's this moment in 2022 where Celia Hatch wakes up from a dream about chicken supplements called "Chicken Spice." She thinks it's ridiculous. Fast forward to today, and she's running a seven-figure business serving America's 13% of households with backyard chickens.The twist is it started as her teenage son's eighth-grade homework assignment. He made $500 selling herbs in craft bags, then quit. Ms. Hatch, a serial entrepreneur with 16 businesses behind her, picked it up and scaled Buff Clucks to seven figures in 18 months using Meta advertising, landing pages, and subscription bundling.This is a story about accidental entrepreneurship, the growing market of premium pet owners willing to double their feed costs, and why sometimes the best business ideas come to you in your sleep. Along the way, Celia reveals why their Shopify store is the "neglected child" of their operation, how a "sneeze warning" became genius marketing, and why she wishes she'd built a proper Shopify store from day one.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSBuff Clucks: https://www.buffclucks.com/Buff Clucks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buff_clucks/Funnelish (tool they use): https://funnelish.com/SEMrush: https://www.semrush.com/Ubersuggest: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Shopify just went from 100 variants per product to 2,048. Shopify Partners Kurt Elster and Paul Reda tested it and found out there's a secret limit at 250 where everything changes. Your theme might work perfectly, it might half-work, or it might completely break depending on when it was built.They also dig into the new VS Code-based theme editor (developers love it, merchants hate it), the "unlisted" product status that's perfect for hiding free gifts and private sales, and Kurt reveals the one homepage element that gets clicked more than anything else—you're probably not using it right.This is pure Shopify platform talk that's more entertaining than it should be.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSUnofficial Shopify Podcast Insiders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unofficialshopifyWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

#659 What if the simplest, scrappiest tactics could unlock massive success online? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel chats with Kurt Elster, founder of Ethercycle and host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, about how he built a thriving agency helping e-commerce brands scale on Shopify. Kurt shares how handwritten letters under shop doors turned into multimillion-dollar opportunities, why niching down is the key to standing out, and how building relationships and showing up consistently built his authority in the Shopify space. They also dig into the power of positioning, the psychology behind great website design, and why doing the uncomfortable things — like showing up, sharing your knowledge, and saying yes to new challenges — creates “luck” in business! What we discuss with Kurt: + Building a business around Shopify + How handwritten letters led to clients + The power of niching down + Turning expertise into authority + Creating “luck” through visibility + Lessons from early entrepreneurship + Why consistency compounds success + Common e-commerce design mistakes + Importance of copy and clarity + Building audience before launching Thank you, Kurt! Check out Kurt Elster at KurtElster.com. Check out Ethercycle at Ethercycle.com. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kurt and Filip break down buy-two-get-two offers that crush percentage discounts, why five emails on Black Friday is actually conservative, and the three-week framework 8-figure brands use to win Q4. If you're planning to send a couple emails on Cyber Monday and call it done, this episode will make you rethink everything.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSFilip Pejic on X: https://x.com/BallinFilBedford Marketing: https://www.bedfordmarketing.co/The Paper Boy Newsletter: https://thepaperboy.beehiiv.com/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Are you spending more on ads but getting less in return? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies (which achieved a nine-figure exit and continues to see 8 years of consecutive growth), reveals why most modern brands are stuck in what he calls "the performance trap." Preston breaks down the crucial 95-5 rule—the reality that 95% of your audience isn't actively shopping at any given time—and explains why optimizing only for immediate conversions is slowly eroding your brand. He shares the hard-earned lessons from Chubbies' journey, including their midlife crisis moment when efficiency metrics looked great but the business fundamentals were deteriorating. This isn't about choosing between brand and performance—it's about finding the right balance to build sustainable, profitable growth. If you've ever wondered whether your marketing is building a moat or just buying clicks, this episode is essential listening.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(04:08) The Journey of Chubbies(08:49) Navigating Early Success and Marketing Performance(16:10) Identifying Brand Erosion and Its Consequences(22:00) 1000 Free Postcards with Post Pilot(22:58) The 95-5 Rule(28:53) Balancing Demand Capture and Generation(32:25) Testing and Incrementality in Marketing(52:30) Understanding The Brand's Impact on Revenue (58:47) Insights from Data Analysis(1:04:18) Running Media Differently for Brand Building(1:09:37) Identifying ICP for Marathon Data(1:12:30) Fast Funding the Way You Need It with Wayflyer—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Preston's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonrChubbies Website: https://www.chubbiesshorts.comSpecial Offer | PostPilot (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://postpilot.com/Special Offer | (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://wayflyer.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

"These tools rely on automation that only catches 30% of issues. And for blind users with screen readers? The overlays often conflict with their assistive tech—making the site harder to use."Bet Hannon runs AccessiCart, an agency that fixes accessibility problems for e-commerce stores—usually right after they've been sued. We talked about why "quick fix" overlay plugins are making the problem worse, the four accessibility issues you can fix right now, and what the European Accessibility Act's €100K fines mean for US-based stores.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSAccessiCart: https://accessicart.comBet on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bethannonWAVE Accessibility Tool: https://wave.webaim.orgOverlay Fact Sheet: https://overlayfactsheet.comWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

In this episode, I sit down with Kurt Elster, host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, to talk about how AI is shaking up ecommerce and changing the way Shopify brands grow. We discuss the new AI tools that are actually moving the needle, boosting conversions, streamlining operations, and increasing average order value.  What You’ll Learn The top Shopify features boosting big brands. How to leverage AI for sales growth. How to optimize your store for conversions. Sponsors SellersSummit.com – The Sellers Summit is the ecommerce conference that I’ve run for the past 8 years. It’s small and intimate and you’ll […] The post 611: The Shopify Features That Are Exploding Sales For Big Brands With Kurt Elster appeared first on MyWifeQuitHerJob.com.

I spent three days at Smart Marketer Live in Denver, capturing raw conversations with agency owners, brand founders, and Meta reps about what's actually working in 2025.This isn't your typical conference recap. We're talking about Meta's Andromeda update that killed everyone's ad performance over the summer, why TikTok Shop might be a trap, and how a chicken supplement business owner plans to poach employees like she's manifesting herbs.Featuring Beav Brodie (Tactical Baby Gear), Brett Curry (OMG Commerce), Attila from Smart Marketer, and Celia Hatch (Buff Clucks).SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSTactical Baby Gear: https://tacticalbabygear.comFight Soap: https://fightsoap.usBuff Clucks: https://buffclucks.comOMG Commerce: https://omgcommerce.comSmart Marketer: https://smartmarketer.comWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

What happens when a trial attorney who spent his days in courtrooms becomes the CEO of one of the fastest-growing premium tool belt companies online? Connor Crook's journey from practicing law to building Diamondback Tools into an 8-figure business is packed with unconventional strategies that any DTC brand owner can apply. In this episode, Connor reveals how he leveraged Instagram to become "trade-famous," built an Apple-like product ecosystem that keeps customers upgrading, and made the bold decision to slash his cost of goods by 70% while simultaneously improving quality - a move that transformed his entire business model.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(03:47) From Trial Attorney to Toolbelt CEO(06:45) Building Community and Becoming Insta-Famous(10:26) Promotional Strategies and Customer Engagement(14:45) Open Source Product Development(26:02) Save Money and Connect Your Marketing Channels with Channable(27:25) Creating a Product Ecosystem(32:23) Unlocking Repeat Business Through Product Upgrades(36:14) Reducing Costs and Improving Quality: The Vietnam Shift(46:54) Cash Flow and Profitability in E-Commerce(56:21) Transform Your Subscription Business with Loop—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Connor'sLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-crook-bb82b110Diamondback Website: https://toolbelts.com/Special Offer | Channable (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://www.channable.com/Special Offer | Loop (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://www.loopwork.co/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

So there's this baseball media company. They make shirts about guys with nicknames like "The Big Dumper." And they needed three different store experiences, but only wanted to use one store. What our co-host Paul Reda figured out next is either brilliant or insane. Maybe both.Today on the show, we're asking: when does a hack become a feature? When does one store become three? And why would anyone voluntarily remove every frontend app from their Shopify store? Plus, ChatGPT can now sell your products directly. No, really. We'll explain how that works and why Kurt thinks automated fraud prevention might actually matter this time.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSJomboy Media Shop: https://shop.jomboymedia.com/ChatGPT Shopping Signup: https://shopify.com/chatgptCustomer Category Segmentation: https://changelog.shopify.com/posts/segment-customers-based-on-the-product-categories-they-ve-browsed-or-boughtAutomated Fraud Prevention: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/fraud-prevention/indexUnofficial Shopify Podcast Insiders (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnofficialShopifyPodcast/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

"ChatGPT is not that sophisticated yet. So for marketers, what that means is there are real ways right now for arbitrage in this short period of time before ChatGPT gets good enough to say, no, we're only showing the proper result."Mac King from Domaine breaks down why merchants are seeing ChatGPT and Perplexity show up as referral sources in their analytics—and what to do about it. We talked about the terminology wars (GEO vs AEO vs AI search optimization), why AI engines favor content from Google's 10th page, and the Reddit strategies that actually work without getting banned.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSDomaine AI Commerce Suite: https://www.meetdomaine.com/insights/domaine-news/domaine-launches-ai-commerce-suiteMac King on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenziepking/Mac King on Twitter: https://x.com/MacKing/Profound (tracking tool): https://www.tryprofound.com/Shopify Knowledge Base app: https://apps.shopify.com/shopify-knowledge-baseSEOFOMO newsletter: https://seofomo.co/Commerce GPT newsletter: https://www.yotpo.com/commerce-gpt/WORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Amazon's 2025 Prime Day was a wake-up call for sellers - the four-day format killed urgency, lightning deals lost their punch, and profitability took a hit across the board. In this episode, Brandon Fuhrmann, a 12-year Amazon veteran and co-founder of the Innovate conference, breaks down what went wrong with Prime Day and what it means for your Q4 strategy. As a seven-figure seller in the brutal kitchenware category, Brandon shares the hard-won lessons from navigating Amazon's evolving landscape where fees are multiplying, Chinese sellers are getting smarter, and profit margins are under constant pressure.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(05:07) Insights from Prime Day 2025 and Changes in Dynamics(11:11) Ad Strategy & Lightning Deals(13:14) Preparing for Q4 & Prime Day 2026(19:01) Managing Fees & Profitability(22:37) Join Us at Grow NYC!(25:35) Maximizing Profitability Through Cost Management(30:52) Navigating the Competitive Landscape and AI Optimization(40:56) Amazon Innovate: A Seller-Centric Conference(47:42) Fermat: Optimize Shopper Experience with AI—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Brandon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonfuhrmannAmazon Innovate: https://amzsummits.com/events/innovate-2025/Grow NYC: Joingrow.comSpecial Offer | Fermat: fermatcommerce.comPast guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Jamil Bhuya has scaled businesses across three wildly different industries: restaurants, beauty, and now Shopify agencies. That multi-industry perspective gives him a unique superpower—he can spot the conversion killers that store owners become blind to. We talked about why fresh eyes matter more than fancy tools, the psychology behind purchase objections, and how being too close to your business destroys your ability to see what customers actually need.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSOther Half Studio: https://otherhalf.studioJamil on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamil-bhuyaWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

When most DTC brands think about scaling, they focus on optimizing Facebook ads or expanding to new digital channels. But Jared Mehr helped build something different at Pura Vida—a wholesale empire that became 25% of their business and played a crucial role in their $135 million exit to Vera Bradley. In this episode, Jared breaks down the counterintuitive truth about wholesale: it's often more profitable than your direct-to-consumer sales, provides incredible diversification, and creates marketing lift that benefits all your channels.Starting from cold calls and trade show hustle, Jared shares the exact playbook that took Pura Vida from selling friendship bracelets in a San Diego bedroom to building relationships with thousands of retailers nationwide. Whether you're tired of being at the mercy of Zuckerberg's algorithm changes or looking to build a more attractive business for potential acquirers, this episode reveals why wholesale might be your most overlooked growth opportunity.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(04:23) The Importance of Wholesale in Business(13:42) The Pura Vida Success Story(16:51) Practical Steps to Launching Wholesale(21:44) Wayflyer: Fast, Flexible Funding Designed for You(22:26) Making It Easy for Retailers to Say Yes(27:21) How to Identify Your Target Retailers(34:08) Common Mistakes in Wholesale Retail(37:51) The Role of Sales Reps(42:05) Understanding Retailer Terms(45:30) Pricing Strategies for Wholesale(51:15) Threecolts: Recover Hidden Revenue for Free—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Pura Vida Bracelets: https://www.puravidabracelets.com/Jared's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredmehrSpecial Offer | Wayflyer: https://wayflyer.com/en/partners/omgcommerceSpecial Offer | Threecolts: https://www.threecolts.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

We're seeing 10x more bots than humans on client stores. Fraudsters are buying your cheapest items to test stolen credit cards. Your SEO agency wants 150 new collections.This week, we dig into the actual problems hitting Shopify stores right now. Not theory, not best practices, but the real BS we're fixing for clients. We break down why your analytics are lying, how to stop credit card testers, and whether more granular SEO collections are brilliant or idiotic.Plus: The free Shopify app that caught a critical launch mistake, proof that ChatGPT drives revenue, and beta access to our new Promo Party app.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSShopify Launch CheckMicrosoft ClarityFraud ControlCheckout BlocksBeta test Promo Party: Contact Kurt via newsletter or LinkedInWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Amazon enforcement has reached unprecedented levels in 2024. Even 8 and 9-figure sellers are getting suspended, and Amazon's "two strikes and you're out" policy means there's virtually no room for error. If you sell on Amazon, this episode could save your business.Amazon's tolerance for any form of manipulation is at an all-time low. The cost of non-compliance isn't just a warning anymore - it's permanent removal from the platform. Even if you think you're playing by the rules, the rules have changed, and they're being enforced by AI that doesn't give second chances.We sit down with Chris McCabe, former Amazon employee with 5.5 years inside the company and 11+ years helping sellers navigate suspensions and enforcement. Known for direct, no-nonsense advice that saves businesses from permanent bans.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Intro(01:40) Overview of Amazon Enforcement and Review Manipulation(06:12) Reporting Abuse: Best Practices(11:42) Identifying and Avoiding Review Manipulation Tactics(23:11) Grow Subscription Revenue with Loop Subscriptions(24:16) Common Mistakes to Avoid and Additional Considerations(30:44) Understanding AI Takedowns(33:39) Improper ASIN Mergers(36:04) Amazon Policy: No Gray Areas(38:50) Navigating Appeals Effectively(45:22) Drive More Revenue with Post Pilot—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact Relevant Links:Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mccabe-2646555Ecommercechris: https://www.ecommercechris.com/Amazon's Anti Manipulation Policy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G8CXDFT9GLRRSV3GLOOP: http://loopwork.co/PostPilot: https://postpilot.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Also on YouTube: youtu.be/56r_UJZbtLg"We want to make sure that merchants who are starting their business who don't know what are all the jobs they need to take care of for shipping to merchants who are thriving and understand the space and have complex workflows, we can solve this problem for everybody."Vibhor Chhabra, Director of Product at Shopify, breaks down how Shopify Shipping has evolved into something completely different from what you might remember. We covered the new carrier integrations (including FedEx), bulk label printing for up to 250 orders, automatic shipping insurance up to $200, and why Amazon is now a fulfillment partner through SFN. Plus how shipping transforms from a cost center into a competitive advantage.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.com/unofficialZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSEmail: vibhor.chhabra@shopify.com (feedback welcome)Shopify Shipping: https://www.shopify.com/shippingWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

If you're selling on Amazon, you're playing defense every single day. Or you should be. Negative reviews can tank your rankings overnight, and dozens of hidden listing issues are quietly sabotaging your sales while you sleep. In this eye-opening episode, Danan Coleman, CEO and founder of Ecom Triage and host of the Ecom Growth Show, reveals the underground world of Amazon review manipulation and the critical monitoring strategies that separate thriving brands from those that struggle. From detecting fraudulent review patterns to catching orphaned ASINs before they cost you thousands, Danan shares the insider knowledge that most sellers never learn until it's too late.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducting Danan Coleman(03:40) Understanding the Impact of Negative Reviews(08:07) Amazon Guidelines and Best Practices for Review Removal(14:09) Identifying Defamatory Reviews(19:20) Time Decay to Reviews(24:47) Navigating Amazon's Review System(30:56) Monitoring Product Visibility and Critical Issues(40:43) Tools for Managing Amazon Listings(42:26) Exploring Catalog Defender—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Danan'sLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danancolemaneCom Triage: https://ecomtriage.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

TikTok Shop right now is bigger than Amazon or Shopify was from launch. That is what TikTok Shop is right now." Bold statement? Maybe. But Jordan West, founder and CEO of Social Commerce Club, has the data to back it up. With CPMs dropping 26% last year while ad spend increases, and creators with under 10K followers generating $250K in monthly sales, we're witnessing the early stages of what could be the biggest disruption in e-commerce since Amazon itself. In this explosive episode, Jordan breaks down his exact three-phase playbook for scaling from zero to $100K per month on TikTok Shop, reveals why big brands like Estée Lauder are struggling to adapt, and shares the underground strategies that are creating millionaire creators overnight.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducting Jordan West(05:18) The Exponential Growth of TikTok Shops(10:48) Understanding the TikTok Shops Ecosystem(14:12) The Power of Social Search(16:16) Understanding Social Commerce(19:34) Misconceptions about TikTok Shops(24:33) The 80/20 Rule for Viral Content(26:16) Best Practices(31:36) Making It From Zero to Viral(33:20) The Tiktok Shop Playbook: Phase One(38:18) The Tiktok Shop Playbook: Phase Two(42:44) The Tiktok Shop Playbook: Phase Three(46:21) Exploring YouTube's Potential in Social Commerce—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Jordan's LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jordan-west-marketerPast guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Also on YouTube: YouTube: youtu.be/p1PO9o9Se5o"I'm not very good at success. That's something I learned as part of this. I actually think probably most of us aren't very good at success."Jayden Clark thought he'd cracked the code on dropshipping success. Then his seven-figure business nearly broke him. We talked about why he sold for £500K instead of holding out for millions, the SEO and paid ad strategies that drove his rapid growth, and how a 90-minute massage changed everything.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.com/unofficialZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSFounders Clubhouse: https://foundersclubhouse.co.uk/kurtWoodlark Garden Luxury: http://woodlarkgardenluxury.co.uk/Ben Knegendorf's episode: https://unofficialshopifypodcast.com/episodes/ben-knegendorf-dropships-FLGufeLEWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

What does it take to build a skincare brand that not only survives but thrives for over two decades in one of the most competitive markets? In this powerful episode, Stefan Kalu, CEO and owner of Dr. Brandt Skincare, shares the remarkable journey of how a dermatologist's vision became a $100M+ beauty empire that pioneered the "doctor skincare" category. From surviving the tragic loss of their founder to navigating COVID-19 and a complete brand revamp, Stefan reveals the strategies, mindset, and bold decisions that kept Dr. Brandt at the forefront of innovation while staying true to their core mission: "Take the doctor home with you."—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Dr. Brandt Skincare(03:27) The Unique Aspect of Dr. Brandt Products(07:10) Notes on Product Positioning (09:31) Balancing Clinical Authority and Accesibility(12:21) Longevity and Staying Relevant in the Skincare Market(16:16) Strategies for Customer Retention and Loyalty Programs(21:21) Innovative Research and Development Practices(26:55) Attracting Customers & Storytelling in Marketing(30:59) Stephane's Journey to CEO(36:14) Mental Health Advocacy and The Dr. Brandt Foundation—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Stephane's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanecolleu/Dr Brandt's Website: https://www.drbrandtskincare.com/Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

When most brands struggle to break through the noise online, Chris Lang and Fresh Chili Company cracked the code by doing something radically different: they started with story, not sales. In this episode, discover how a small New Mexico chili company became a top 1% Shopify store with explosive 85% year-over-year growth, a 4.96% conversion rate, and 3.74% ROAS—all while building an engaged community that devours their content faster than NBA games get views.Chris reveals the exact strategies behind their meteoric rise, from leveraging organic social as a testing ground for paid ads to creating "addictive" content that turns customers into brand evangelists. This isn't another generic growth story—it's a masterclass in building authentic connections that drive real business results.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Fresh Chile Company(02:30) History of The Chili Capital of the World(07:03) Keys to Success: Storytelling & Community(11:20) Balancing Organic and Paid Strategies(16:57) Creative Content & Testing Philosophy(21:47) Building a Brand Story(24:22) Search Visibility(27:46) SEO Strategies & Content Plans(34:20) How Fresh Chile Builds Community—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislangsocial/Fresh Chile Website: https://freshchileco.com/_Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

Also Available on YouTube: youtu.be/_nqN9HyOpxMWhat happens when a 23-year-old refuses to play the ecommerce advertising game? Colby Stevens built Shine Supply into a $7M detailing brand using nothing but Instagram ASMR videos, authentic storytelling, and a "people over profit" philosophy.No paid ads until last month. No Amazon. No selling out to scale.Instead: 80,000 Instagram followers, hundreds of photo reviews, and a community that buys because they believe in the brand, not just the product.Colby breaks down the exact strategies that grew their family's Shopify store - from Klaviyo automation that actually works to the review incentive system that drives social proof. Plus why they turned down millions in Amazon revenue to stay true to their dealers.Key Takeaways:How to build 80k Instagram followers organicallyThe ASMR video strategy getting thousands of viewsReview incentive system that drives social proofWhy they refused millions in Amazon revenueKlaviyo automation that actually convertsBuilding authentic brand community on ShopifyFair warning: you'll want to detail your car after this one.Sponsors:Swym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.com/unofficialZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTGuest Links:Shine Supply - Colby's detailing brandshinesupply.comShine Supply Instagram - 80k followers, zero adsinstagram.com/shinesupplyMentioned Tools:Shopify - Ecommerce platformshopify.comKlaviyo - Email marketing automationklaviyo.comLoox Reviews - Photo review systemloox.appWork With Kurt:Apply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

Russell Breuer, founder of Spot & Tango, shares the remarkable journey of building a $100+ million pet food company from a New York studio apartment in just seven years. What makes this story even more impressive? They've remained profitable while operating as a subscription-only, direct-to-consumer brand in the competitive pet food space. Russell reveals the strategic decisions that set them apart—from their innovative "Unkibble" fresh-dry process to building their own 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. This conversation is packed with actionable insights on vertical integration, subscription model optimization, and performance marketing excellence.This episode is essential listening for any D2C founder looking to build sustainable, profitable growth while maintaining premium positioning in their market.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Spot & Tango: The Value Proposition of Fresh Pet Food(06:15) The Importance of Vertical Integration(11:56) Subscription-Only Model: A Strategic Choice(15:52) Key Lessons for Increasing Conversion Rates(19:03) The Role of Education in Customer Engagement & Relationships(23:09) Understanding Return on Invested Capital(28:58) Growth Levers & Marketing Strategies(32:29) The Role of AI in Performance Marketing(35:05) What's Next for Spot & Tango—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Russell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-breuer-0b3b57Spot & Tango Website: https://spotandtango.com/_Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

What happens when you build a company specifically to sell it—and then execute that plan? Liz Saunders went from running registration at Seller Summit to delivering the closing keynote, all while building Fluencer Fruit, the Chrome extension that helps Amazon Influencer creators optimize their content strategy. In this powerful episode, Liz reveals her entire exit playbook, from reading "Exit Preneur" before she even started building to keeping GAAP-compliant books from day one. But this isn't just an acquisition story—it's a masterclass in understanding the Amazon Influencer ecosystem, where creators earn 1-4% commissions and brands are discovering that video converts better than text, and UGC converts better than brand videos.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Re-Introducing Liz Saunders (03:30) The Journey of Fluencer Fruit(07:20) Amazon Influencer Program Insights(10:09) Shifts in Influencer Marketing(13:35) Brand Strategies for Influencer Engagement(19:05) Multi-Channel Selling(21:31) Building and Selling Fluencer Fruit(28:03) Insights from the Sales Process(32:05) Future Endeavors—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Liz's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-saundersFluencer Fruit: https://fluencerfruit.com/_Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more

In this episode of the Ecommerce Evolution Podcast, host Brett Curry welcomes Mickey Winter (CEO) and Carrie Weidenbach (COO) of Aysnd, a digital agency specializing in purpose-driven ecommerce brands. As industry veterans with decades of combined experience, they share invaluable insights on maintaining brand mission during economic uncertainty, particularly amid recent tariff challenges. This conversation delivers practical strategies for navigating market pressures while staying true to your brand's core values and purpose.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Carrie & Mickey(02:22) Navigating Tariff Chaos and Supply Chain Diversification(04:19) Defining Purpose-Driven Brands(06:29) Pricing & Profitability in Uncertain Times(12:25) Carrie & Mickey's Background(16:50) The Conscious Commerce Maturity Matrix & Level One, Awareness(22:29) Level Two, Scaling(27:06) Level Three, Optimizing(32:38) Level Four, Leading(36:15) Level Five, Pioneering(39:38) Staying Mission-Driven in Uncertain Times—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:AYSND: https://www.aysnd.com/Mickey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeywinterCarrie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-weidenbach-a5272aaBOOM! Beauty: https://boombeauty.com/Patagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/home/AB InBev: https://www.ab-inbev.com/__Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, Trevor Crump, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Bryan Porter and more

In this episode of the E-commerce Evolution Podcast, host Brett Curry sits down with with award-winning entrepreneur Leah Garcia (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-garcia-592988/), founder of Nulastin (https://nulastin.com/).Leah has a remarkable journey building a beauty brand with shocking retention numbers—80% blended returning revenue and 65% subscription-based customers. From her bootstrapped beginnings (going from zero to $17.5M before hiring her first employee!) to developing bio-designed elastin products that deliver real results, Leah unpacks the strategies that have made her company a standout success even in uncertain economic times.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Leah Garcia (02:54) Nulastin's Mission and Core Products(07:19) How to Achieve High Retention Rates(12:59) Removing Friction in the Shopping Experience(19:33) Optimizing Subscription Models (25:50) Knowing Your Customers & Fostering Connections(30:50) Improvements to Reduce Churn (37:08) Direct Response Marketing Insights(41:42) Navigating Uncertainty in Business—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Nulastin: https://nulastin.comLeah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/leah-garcia-592988Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahgarciatv/Heart & Soil Beef Organics: https://heartandsoil.co/__Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, Trevor Crump, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Bryan Porter and more

In this insightful episode of the E-commerce Evolution Podcast, host Brett Curry sits down with Tom Leonard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbleonard), a fractional marketing leader who specializes in operationalizing Media Mix Modeling and incrementality testing. They dive deep into the often confusing world of marketing measurement. Tom and Brett will debunk myths about attribution and we reveal what truly drives customer acquisition. For ecommerce brands struggling to understand where their marketing dollars are actually working, this conversation offers practical insights on how to move beyond misleading platform metrics.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Tom & Marketing Measurement(06:30) Understanding Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA)(12:22) The Case for Incrementality Testing(22:20) Exploring Media Mix Modeling (MMM)(27:30) Navigating Budget Cuts and Marketing Spend(32:17) Understanding Incrementality Vs. Attribution(35:45) The Importance of Cost Per Incremental(40:16) How to Get Started with MMM(44:09) Final Thoughts—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ Relevant Links:Tom's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbleonard__Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, Trevor Crump, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Bryan Porter and more

In this insightful episode of the E-commerce Evolution Podcast, host Brett Curry sits down with Jhana Li (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhana-li), founder of Spyglass Ops, to tackle one of the biggest challenges holding back growing businesses: operational constraints. While many entrepreneurs excel at product development and marketing, they often hit a ceiling when it comes to building operational systems and processes. Jhana shares her expertise as a transformational operations consultant who has helped hundreds of seven and eight-figure businesses scale by creating systems that allow founders to work on their business rather than in it.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introducing Jhana & SpyGlass Ops (04:21) Common Operational Problems Founders Face(07:52) Developing a Strategic Vision to Break Through Bottlenecks(14:39) Setting Yourself Apart From Competitors(17:52) Vision Alignment With Your Team(20:51) Hiring and Onboarding the Right People(32:31) Structuring An Effective Hiring Process(40:28) Coaching a High-Performing Team(46:04) When To Let Underperformers Go(50:43) Final Thoughts—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ __Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, Trevor Crump, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Bryan Porter and more

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XXSr4Po30oYPaid ads are busted. SEO is back but weirder. Gen Z isn't using Google. What now?VC Smriti Jayaraman pulls back the curtain on the Shopify brands building futuristic funnels today. We're talking AI quizzes, voice search, digital oracles, and tech that reads your face to guess your shirt size. It's strange. It's smart. And it works.

In this timely episode, Brett Curry (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry) sits down with Nick Flint (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-flint-b46063b3/), Director of Email Marketing, to tackle the pressing challenge facing e-commerce brands today: how to maintain profitability amid rising tariffs. As import costs surge, they share actionable strategies for protecting your bottom line without sacrificing growth. Whether you're considering price increases, optimizing marketing spend, or leveraging email to boost customer loyalty, this episode delivers practical solutions you can implement immediately.—Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!—Chapters: (00:00) Introduction(01:28) Increasing Profitability in the Current Landscape(04:30) Strategies for Princing and Bundling(06:32) Effective Cost-Cutting Measures(11:51) Maximizing Email Marketing Effectiveness(15:06) Final Thoughts—Connect With Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ __Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, Trevor Crump, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D'Allessandro, Bryan Porter and more

In this episode of Firing the Man, we sit down with Kurt Elster, founder of EtherCycle and host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. Kurt shares his journey from flipping Beanie Babies and Furbies on eBay to becoming one of the most trusted Shopify experts. He discusses key strategies for building and scaling a successful Shopify store, including the importance of branding, storytelling, and optimizing your website for conversions. Kurt also highlights the biggest mistakes store owners make—like neglecting their checkout page and cluttering their navigation menu—and offers practical solutions to fix them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow your e-commerce business.We also dive into customer acquisition strategies, including the role of Amazon vs. direct-to-consumer sales, how to drive traffic beyond Facebook and Google ads, and why content marketing is a game-changer. Kurt shares his take on the value of trying things yourself before hiring experts, the importance of understanding your unit economics, and how to build trust with potential customers. Plus, in our signature Fire Round, Kurt talks about his favorite book, his passion for e-biking and restoring vintage cars, and what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from those who struggle. Don't miss this conversation filled with expert advice and behind-the-scenes insights from one of Shopify's top consultants!How to connect with Kurt?Website: https://kurtelster.com/               https://ethercycle.com/Podcast: https://unofficialshopifypodcast.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kurtincLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtelsterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ethercycle Support the show

Kurt Elster, he is currently helping Shopify Plus merchants like HOONIGAN make more money at his Shopify Partner agency, Ethercycle. He is hosting a podcast with over two million downloads: The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. He is developing public Shopify apps. And he is investing, advising, or both with: Govalo, PostPilot, and other select clients and P.E. firms. Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Transitioning from Amazon to Shopify for e-commerce sales.Differences in customer acquisition strategies between Amazon and Shopify.Importance of building an email list for customer engagement and retention.Utilizing Google Shopping for driving traffic to Shopify stores.Risks associated with relying solely on Amazon for sales.The significance of creating valuable content for SEO and customer trust.Exploring podcast advertising as a marketing channel.Strategies for establishing an online presence with a basic Shopify store.The role of Shopify Collective in expanding product offerings through collaboration.Emphasizing a long-term mindset and experimentation in e-commerce success.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Kurt Elster, a seasoned Shopify expert and host of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast. Kurt shares his journey from retail arbitrage to becoming a Shopify specialist, offering valuable insights for Amazon brands transitioning to Shopify. Key strategies discussed include the importance of email marketing, leveraging Google Shopping, and utilizing podcast advertising to drive traffic. Kurt emphasizes the need for a long-term approach, focusing on content creation and customer engagement to build a successful Shopify store. This episode is a must-listen for business owners aiming to scale their e-commerce operations.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:1. Secure Your Brand's Digital Presence Early - Reserve your domain and variations as soon as you file for a trademark to prevent future challenges in securing your desired online identity. This simple step avoids costly setbacks and protects your brand's online presence from the start.2. Prioritize Consistent Traffic Generation - Transitioning to Shopify means proactively attracting customers. Focus on creating a robust traffic generation strategy, leveraging a combination of paid ads, SEO, and Google Shopping listings to draw in visitors and increase sales.3. Build and Engage Your Audience Through Email Marketing - Begin growing your email list early, as this channel is vital for nurturing customer relationships and boosting repeat sales. Set up automated emails like welcome sequences and cart abandonment reminders, and prioritize plain-text formats for a personal touch.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comeBayWordPressFulfilled by AmazonMeta AdsGoogle ShoppingiHeartMedia/iHeartRadioTikTok AdsChatGPTKlaviyoBeehiivGoogle Merchant CenterData Feed WatchShopify CollectiveGoogle Shopping IntegrationHow to Shoot Video That Doesn't SuckThe Unofficial Shopify PodcastHooniganAether CycleWalmart MarketplaceHarley FinkelsteinSpecial 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 SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures.&n...

Are you making one of these Shopify mistakes? If so, you're losing sales. In this episode, The Unofficial Shopify Podcast host Kurt Elster teams up with Bold Commerce co-founder Jay Myers to reveal the top 10 mistakes that Shopify merchants make—some of which even big brands get wrong. From neglected checkouts to bloated main menus, they share simple, actionable fixes that can boost conversions and keep customers coming back. What You'll Learn:The #1 checkout mistake that kills trust (and how to fix it in 60 seconds)Why most subscription models fail—and the secret to making them workThe overlooked product page changes that increase add-to-cart ratesWhy your main menu is confusing customers (and how to fix it)How to stop relying on paid ads and build a business that lastsLinks & Resources:Bold Commerce – Shopify apps for subscriptions, upsells, and moreSubscription Death Curve – Jay Myers' SubSummit KeynoteShopify Markets – Sell globally from a single storeShopify Checkout Customization – How to brand your checkoutKlaviyo – Email & SMS marketing for e-commerceMaster & Dynamic – Premium headphones with long-form product pagesTimbuk2 – Example of great product pages for bagsTactical Baby Gear – Niche brand with strong storytellingClubhouse – Audio platform that rose to pandemic fame“Jobs to Be Done” (JTBD) – Product innovation concept by Clayton ChristensenSeth Godin's Blog – Marketing insights from Seth GodinConnect with Kurt:

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we welcome Kurt Elster, Shopify expert and founder of EtherCycle, a consultancy specializing in optimizing Shopify stores for eCommerce brands. https://ethercycle.com https://www.instagram.com/kgelster/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtelster/ Kurt dives into tactical advice for DTC founders, focusing on Shopify's most underutilized features and strategies that drive conversions. Whether it's improving your store's navigation, creating high-converting landing pages, or running better promotions, Kurt's insights are laser-focused on helping Shopify brands grow.

What if your side hustle turned into an 8-figure brand selling out every week?Montana Knife Company's Brandon Horoho shares the journey from launching during COVID to building a global brand rooted in American manufacturing. Discover how MKC redefined success with transparency, customer engagement, and relentless marketing.Episode Highlights:Why MKC chose Shopify as their platform and how it drives their success.The secrets behind MKC's 120+ consecutive weekly product sellouts.How owning your email list can outshine ad spend.Building a thriving direct-to-consumer brand in a competitive market.The challenges and rewards of investing in local manufacturing.What's next for MKC: Pocket knives and a 50,000 sq. ft. facility.About Brandon Horoho:Brandon Horoho is the co-founder and CMO of Montana Knife Company, an American-made knife brand that has taken the DTC world by storm. With weekly product drops and an obsessive focus on quality, MKC has grown from a garage startup to an 8-figure powerhouse in just four years.Show LinksMontana Knife Company: https://montanaknifecompany.comFollow MKC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montanaknifecompanyWork with Kurt: https://ethercycle.com/Sponsors:Cleverific: https://cleverific.com/unofficialZipify: http://zipify.com/KURTAddress Validator: https://www.addressvalidator.com/Work with Kurt:Grow your Shopify store with me: https://ethercycle.com/applySee our recent client successes: https://ethercycle.com/work

Kurt Elster launched his ecommerce agency in 2009 and his first Shopify store in 2011. His “Unofficial Shopify Podcast,” which he started in 2014, is now required listening for that community of merchants, developers, and vendors.He and I recently discussed the state of Shopify — themes, upgrades, user engagement, and the overall ecosystem.For an edited and condensed transcript with embedded audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/shopify-pro-on-themes-upgrades-ecosystemFor all condensed transcripts with audio, see: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/tag/podcastsListener reviews of Ecommerce Conversations elevate visibility and help others experience the lessons of online entrepreneurs. We invite you to leave a review on this channel.   ******The mission of Practical Ecommerce is to help online merchants improve their businesses. We do this with expert articles, podcasts, and webinars. We are an independent publishing company founded in 2005 and unaffiliated with any ecommerce platform or provider. https://www.practicalecommerce.com 

Growing an e-commerce business while managing distribution channels can feel like an uphill battle. You want to scale but run into roadblocks like limited reach, high fees, or lack of control over how your products are presented. Balancing growth with maintaining ownership of your brand and customer relationships isn't easy. Finding the right mix of platforms and strategies often becomes the key to moving forward without compromising what makes your business unique. Kurt Elster is a Shopify expert and the founder of Ethercycle, a boutique Shopify consultancy. He has been a Shopify partner since 2011 and is known for helping e-commerce brands thrive in the digital marketplace. In addition to his agency work, Kurt is the host of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast, which has amassed over 2 million downloads. Today, Kurt shares his insights on the evolution of Shopify, the importance of owning your distribution channels, and the strategies he has employed to build a successful lifestyle business. Stay tuned! Resources Kurt Elster: Your new favorite resource for unbeatable ecom recon. Ethercycle: Turn Your Shopify Store Into A Revenue Generating Powerhouse Of Persuasion Connect with Kurt Elster on LinkedIn Follow Kurt Elster on Facebook Subscribe to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast hosted by Kurt Elster

Tired of logging into five different portals just to make a return? Shopify says enough. Patrick Millegan joins Kurt Elster to talk about the new customer account extensions, designed to simplify logins, reduce support headaches, and make online shopping enjoyable again. It's a step forward for UX that proves e-commerce should be easy for everyone.LinksGet all the info on what's new: Shopify Editions Winter '25More people & links:Patrick Millegan (Senior Product Lead, Shopify)Kurt Elster (Host, The Unofficial Shopify Podcast)Keap AthleticsCleverificShopify FlowSufioUproShop PayHydrogenSponsorsZipifyCleverificOmnisendHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.Never miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletter

“Honestly, I think my best customers don't even look at the discounts. They get the email, see the new pants, and just say, ‘I want them.'”Black Friday: the annual marketing frenzy brands prep for all year. Kurt Elster sits down with Colby Kane of Aviator USA, who has a refreshingly different approach. No cringe sales gimmicks, just a smart, no-nonsense plan. Colby shares his early-access tactics, simple email flows, and why staying low-key can outperform loud, constant discounting. They dig into why subtle beats loud, how to run discounts without gutting brand value, and how a straightforward plan is the real power move. If you're ready for a fresh, real-world approach to Black Friday, this episode's your blueprint.LinksKurt's Black Friday Email Planning Google Sheet: A ready-to-use holiday email calendar templateColby Kane (Guest): Aviator USAKurt Elster (Host): EthercycleApps, Tools, and Services Mentioned:GovX: Military and first responder discount verificationKlaviyo: Email marketing automationHappy Returns: Return management platformRedo (Return management with optional fee for package insurance)SponsorsZipifyCleverificOmnisendHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.Never miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletter

“Most brands just send out samples and then it's done. We go the extra mile that 99% of brands do not do.”Building a multi-million dollar business typically involves more than wedding invitations and viral TikToks. Yet for Josh Hadley, it began precisely there. In this episode, he recounts the evolution of his e-commerce brand, Hadley Designs, from a niche stationery shop to an 8-figure operation navigating the complex terrain of Amazon and Shopify. The conversation with Kurt Elster explores how TikTok Shop became a surprising growth catalyst, offering a modern twist on the age-old challenge of acquiring customers. Hadley's story offers a glimpse into the future of retail, where scaling hinges on the power of social media and the unpredictability of going viral. Tune in to hear how Josh took viral hits and turned them into a full-blown growth strategyLinksHadley DesignsEcomm Breakthrough PodcastThe Seven-Step Process Entrepreneurs Should Use When Hiring New TalentThe One ThingSponsorsZipifyCleverificOmnisendNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

Choosing the right eCommerce platform can be a game-changer for your business. With so many options available, it's important to find the platform that sets you up for success. In this episode, we chat with Kurt Elster, an expert who believes Shopify is the go-to platform for any eCommerce entrepreneur. Kurt has been running a Shopify services agency for over a decade, helping store owners with theme development, migrations, and support. He's also the host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast and has interviewed more than 500 eCommerce entrepreneurs. Kurt shares why Shopify is not just a software company but a champion for entrepreneurs. He dives into everything you need to know about selling on Shopify—from funding your store through Kickstarter-style campaigns to building an audience and optimizing conversions to boost sales. Driving traffic to a Shopify store is often a lot harder than attracting customers on Amazon. To combat this, eCommerce entrepreneurs need to think outside the box and keep their eyes open for hidden opportunities. According to Kurt,  “People are ignoring SEO because they think AI is going to destroy it, which means a lot of people are not investing in SEO right now. But where are these AI tools getting the answers from? They're still doing Google searches!  So, building content like long-form, ultimate guide content is a missed opportunity for a lot of folks. And, it's easier than ever to create the content because ChatGPT and other tools can help you write it.” Kurt also discusses the advantages of expanding into the Amazon marketplace and gives tips for Amazon FBA sellers looking to diversify with Shopify. Whether you're thinking about starting a Shopify business or looking to grow your current one, this episode is packed with insights to help you succeed! Topics Discussed in this episode: How eCommerce stores have evolved over the last decade (06:38) The most common mistakes eCommerce sellers make (10:23) The pros and cons of Kickstart-style campaigns (14:06) How to build an audience for a Shopify store (22:28) How to build an audience for your eCommerce business on Reddit (27:06) The benefits of expanding into the Amazon marketplace (30:18) Tips for Amazon FBA sellers looking to diversify with Shopify (34:25) The core pillars of good conversion rate optimization (38:02) Personal vs professional brands (42:32) Kurt's advice for entrepreneurs looking to build an agency (47:54) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Kurt's website The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Matrixify Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn Shopify tools and tactics to skyrocket your sales!

Tackle the increasingly troubling issue of returns fraud in the e-commerce world. As return fraud rises, this once-overlooked issue is now a major concern for online retailers. You'll learn how fraudsters are gaming the system and the wild, often unnoticed, methods they're using to rip off small businesses. Brace yourself for a journey into the less-talked-about side of your shopping cart. Join us as we explore the critical steps needed to combat this growing challenge.Show Linksnofraud.com - check out their blog which has resources on return fraud, covering all the different types & prevention strategiesSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCUFinale InventoryGrowth CollectiveNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.

“Most Shopify themes are built by developers to create an online store catalog, not a converting funnel.”In this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, Kurt Elster talks with Matthew Stafford, the CEO of BuildGrowScale, about finding success in e-commerce. Stafford, who went from selling t-shirts to mastering conversion rate optimization (CRO), shares his journey and offers practical advice for Shopify store owners. He discusses how to boost conversion rates, improve site speed, and create better user experiences. Whether you're an experienced store owner or just starting out, Stafford's insights will help you navigate the challenges of online retail and achieve lasting success. Tune in for a mix of compelling stories and actionable tips that can transform your e-commerce business.Show LinksBuildGrowScaleMicrosoft ClarityLucky OrangePersuasion by Robert CialdiniSponsorsZipifyCleverificNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.