Podcasts about SKU

Most operators using Amazon Ads are inadvertently boosting Amazon's bottom line instead of their own. Neil Twa dives into the common pitfalls that make Amazon Ads unnecessarily expensive for sellers. He explains how many operators bid on unaffordable keywords, launch ads with unprepared listings, and fail to monitor their margins. Neil shares a real-life example from the Voltage community: a seller generating $18,000 a month but struggling with underwater margins. Neil outlines three actionable moves that operators at every level can implement this week to optimize their Advertising Cost of Sales by SKU. If your Amazon Ads dashboard feels like a slot machine you can't decipher, this episode is for you. Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep325 See your Amazon numbers in one place and protect your margins with Caiman Data at voltagedm.com: https://voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep325&learn_mcp=1

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupJordan Gordon runs CRO and retention at Pilothouse and hosts TWBERP, The World's Best Email and Retention Podcast. He has audited somewhere in the range of 400 to 500 brands and been inside more Klaviyo accounts than almost anyone in DTC.In this All Killer No Filler episode he breaks down why most email programs are structurally backwards. 85% of campaign revenue comes from people who have visited your site recently, and yet most campaigns are sent to anyone who opened an email in the last 180 days. You are risking your entire sending reputation to chase the 15%.Then he gets to the good part: a flow he says he has basically never seen a brand run, and why it is the most valuable one you can build.For: ecommerce founders, retention leads, email marketers, CRO teams, agency operators.In this episode:Why free traffic is the "forever job" and paid is the spikeWhy small counts hide truths (nobody hits fold 10, but the people who do are your buyers)The 85/15 rule of campaign revenueHow brands blow up a Klaviyo account: too many campaigns, too-broad segments, and the sunset flow that sends to ten years of dead addresses in one goWhy recent repeat buyers are whales you should not over-messageCampaigns are zero-intent messages, so they can only ever be about newness or offersThe essentials core flow: triggered by site visit, not lifecycle, selling your hero SKU to people who came for something elseSending less in a margin-compressed Q4Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF629Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Deepak Maini, SVP and GM of Walmart +, Walmart's membership program helping members save more time & money with exclusive benefits. Follow Deepak on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-maini-49b9089/Follow Walmart+ online at: https://www.walmart.com/plusDeepak answers these questions:Walmart+ has grown from 3 benefits at launch to 12 today — still at $98 a year. How does that expanding benefit stack change the behavior of the Walmart+ member in ways that matter to CPG brand partners — in terms of basket size, purchase frequency, and category loyalty?Walmart reaches 150 million shoppers every week across ecommerce and 4,600 stores, with data mapped to the SKU level. How does Walmart+ membership amplify the quality and fidelity of that first-party data signal — and how should CPG brands be thinking about activating against it differently than they do with non-member data?Before running Walmart+, you led the VP/GM role for Customer Digital Identity and Data Platform at Walmart. How does a logged-in, identified Walmart+ member change the economics of the digital shelf for CPG brands, particularly as agentic commerce and AI-powered discovery reshape how shoppers find products?The honest question your CPG audience wants answered: when brand partners think about their joint value creation with Walmart, how should they be weighting Walmart+ member households versus non-member households in their investment strategies? Is the gap in lifetime value as dramatic as what your major online competition has seen with their loyalty subscription program?The addition of Peacock to Walmart+‘s streaming choices drove a record number of sign-ups in Q3. What does entertainment engagement tell you about a member's overall relationship with the Walmart ecosystem — and does streaming behavior surface any insights that CPG partners can act on?Walmart Connect grew 33% in the U.S. last quarter, representing, along with membership fees, about a third of Walmart's operating income . How tight is the integration between Walmart+ membership data and the Walmart Connect advertising platform — and what does that mean for a CPG brand trying to close the loop from impression to in-store purchase?Walmart tested its first advertising formats tied to the Sparky AI shopping agent in fall 2025, with 81% of surveyed Walmart customers saying they'd used Sparky to check product availability and review specs before buying . How do you think about Walmart+ membership as a foundation for agentic shopping — and what does that mean for how CPG brands show up in those AI-mediated discovery moments?Walmart has publicly highlighted share gains with upper-income households as a strategic priority. Does Walmart+ skew toward those households — and if so, what does that mean for premium CPG brands that may have historically underinvested at Walmart?You ran Fire TV, Alexa Skills, and Amazon Music — all businesses that lived at the intersection of media, identity, and commerce. What's the most important thing you brought from that Amazon experience that directly shaped how you're building Walmart+?Walmart+ is five years old. If you fast-forward five more years, what does the relationship between Walmart+ membership and CPG brand investment look like — and what should brand and agency leaders be doing right now to position themselves for that future?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Why are so many Amazon operators still stuck in the low-margin trap? Neil Twa dives into why one high-ticket SKU with a $12 net profit per unit minimum can outshine ten low-margin products that bleed your business dry. The instinct to shy away from luxury sourcing due to perceived high capital, niche markets, or complexity is common, but Neil breaks down real-world patterns from operators in the Voltage community. One case study features a home goods brand that turned its fortunes around by embracing premium products. Neil shares three actionable moves for sellers at every level, from $5,000 to $500,000 a month, starting with auditing your catalog for premium potential. If you're feeling the pinch of low margins, this episode is your wake-up call. Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep323 See your Amazon numbers in one place and protect your margins with Caiman Data at voltagedm.com: https://voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep323&learn_mcp=1

Raise your hand if you've ever said "I know what I should be doing, but I'm not doing it." Yeah... that's what I thought. Consider this episode the kick in the pants you've been waiting for. I'm walking through the eCommerce advice you've heard a million times and still aren't doing. These come up over and over with my students and clients, including the ones who look like they have it all figured out from the outside. And after recently getting a behind-the-scenes look at what my Lounge members are working on and struggling with, I can confirm we are ALL guilty of at least one of these. No shade, no shame. Just the fundamentals that quietly cost you sales when they slip, some real stories of what happens when they do, and a nudge to pick the one or two you know you've been avoiding.   In this episode: The website issue that quietly tanked one member's summer sales (and how long it probably went unnoticed) My once-a-month habit that catches problems before your customers find them for you Why I want you logging numbers in a spreadsheet even though AI could do it for you The money-saving habit that's actually costing you money The easiest sales you're leaving on the table with people already on your site What cleaning up a 600-SKU store taught me about why customers give up before they buy The ad spend math that made my clients stop listening to their accountants (sort of) My exact rule for how long to give something before you're allowed to quit it The number one thing still holding most store owners back (yep, this one again) _______ Full Episode Show Notes http://ecommercebadassery.com/385   _______ Learn With Me Work with Me 1:1 https://ecommercebadassery.com/ecommerce-help/ https://ecommercebadassery.com/email-marketing/   Courses & Membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/membership https://ecommercebadassery.com/programs   _______   Let's Connect Website: http://ecommercebadassery.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecommercebadassery Membership: http://ecommercebadassery.com/membership   _______   Rate, Review, & Subscribe Like what you heard? I'd be forever grateful if you'd rate, review and subscribe to the show! Not only does it help your fellow eCommerce entrepreneurs find the eCommerce Badassery podcast; but it's also valuable feedback for me to continue bringing you the content you want to hear.    Review Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecommerce-badassery/id1507457683      

In "How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting", Joe Lynch and Michael Rentz, Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight, discuss how operational-grade logistics data automatically simplifies complex carbon compliance. About Michael Rentz  Michael Rentz is the Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight. He joined the company in the Summer of 2020. Before joining Gnosis, he got his start in the industry with the South Carolina Ports Authority and Maersk. He left Maersk in 2018 to pursue his own endeavors, which eventually led him back to Charleston, SC, where he worked for Techstars in an attempt to stand up the first-ever Supply Chain and Logistics Accelerator. The pandemic put an unexpected halt to that, and it was then that he fortuitously met Austin McCombs (CEO/Founder of Gnosis) and Jake Hoffman (CTO of Gnosis). About Gnosis Freight Gnosis Freight is the AI-native Global Freight Operating System for enterprise supply chains. It gives logistics, operations, and finance teams real-time insight into container movement and helps them Intervene earlier when delays, inventory risk, or cost exposure arise. By linking containers to SKU- and Inventory-level detail, Gnosis enables smarter planning, improved product availability, and more predictable business performance. Powered by continuously reconciled container Intelligence, Gnosis orchestrates exception management through configurable, low-code workflow and agentic AI across logistics, finance, and operation – reducing demurrage and detention, accelerating invoice resolution, and shortening goods-to-cash cycles. Headquartered In Charleston, SC, Gnosis serves global enterprises across retail, manufacturing, and logistics-intensive industries. Learn more at gnosisfreight.com. Key Takeaways: How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting In "How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting", Joe Lynch and Michael Rentz, Chief Revenue Officer at Gnosis Freight, discuss how operational-grade logistics data automatically simplifies complex carbon compliance. The Foundation of Scope 3 Reporting is "Sovereign Data": Accurate emissions reporting is impossible without high-fidelity operational data. Gnosis Freight utilizes "sovereign data"—logistics data they originate, validate, and structure directly from primary sources (ports, terminals, carriers, and railroads) rather than relying on third-party aggregators or high-level assumptions. If your operational data isn't audit-ready, your carbon reporting won't be either. Regulatory Shifts are Turning ESG from a Checkbox into a Mandate: With major regulatory updates like California's SB 253 looming in 2027, large enterprises (doing over $1B in revenue) that touch these key economies will be legally required to disclose their Scope 3 emissions. What was once a marketing slide about "valuing the environment" is rapidly transitioning into a strict, auditable corporate compliance requirement. Solving the Category 4 "Data Black Hole": Scope 3, Category 4 emissions (upstream transportation and distribution) are notoriously fragmented and difficult to track. By overlaying the GLEC (Global Logistics Emissions Council) framework directly onto their existing container tracking data, Gnosis calculates precise emissions across every single leg of the journey—ocean transit, port idling, rail, and final-mile drayage—without requiring manual spreadsheets or guesswork. Shippers Want a Unified Operating System, Not More "Point Solutions": Enterprise Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs) are experiencing software fatigue and actively moving away from single-use point solutions. Instead of buying a standalone carbon tracking tool, shippers want emissions data embedded directly into their daily workflow. Gnosis solves this by making carbon tracking a seamless "flip of a switch" within their broader Container Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform. Data Must Be "Operational-Grade" to Be Useful: In logistics, if data is only 80% accurate, it is functionally 0% useful because operators will simply bypass the system and default to manual website cross-checking. For emissions data to survive a financial or regulatory audit, it must be built on the same operational-grade, real-time milestones used to run daily supply chain execution. FinOps and Carbon Audits Share the Same DNA: There is a direct parallel between auditing freight invoices and auditing carbon emissions. Gnosis found that 85% of invoice discrepancies stem from incorrect operational milestones (like when a container was actually made available). By mastering these physical execution milestones, Gnosis can simultaneously spot billing overpayments in their FinOps suite and defend carbon calculations in an emissions audit. Build Solutions by Getting in the Trenches with Customers: Gnosis's rapid growth—from navigating the pandemic's demurrage and detention (D&D) chaos to launching carbon tracking—has been entirely customer-driven. Rather than building flashy tech in a vacuum, their strategy is to deeply embed themselves with logistics managers, solve their immediate operational headaches first, and give them their time back to focus on strategic growth. Learn More About How to Turn Freight Data into Audit-Ready Scope 3 Reporting Michael Rentz | Linkedin Gnosis Freight | Linkedin Gnosis Freight Gnosis Freight: The Journey Between The Ships Carbon Emissions Landing Page Carbon Emissions Upcoming Webinar Carbon Emissions Whitepaper Gnosis Freight LinkedIn Testimonials & Case Studies Container Lifecycle Management: Gnosis Freight Streamlines International Logistics with Jake Hoffman The Container Payment Portal and the Rise of AI in Freight with Jake Hoffman The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

Why are you still building your brand around what buyers wanted two years ago? That gap between your offer and what the market actually wants right now is where margin goes to die. Neil Twa dives into the seven trends shaping U. S. eCommerce today. He shares insights from real accounts, not just headlines, and breaks down how sellers can align their brands with current buyer demands. Take Ashley, for example. When she first joined Voltage, her single SKU was under $10,000 a month. The product was decent, but the brand was invisible, generic listing, no story. Neil outlines three actionable moves to audit and adjust your brand positioning, whether you're at $5,000 a month or $500,000 a month. Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep321 See your Amazon numbers in one place and protect your margins with Caiman Data at voltagedm.com: https://voltagedm.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep321&learn_mcp=1

„Basketnews.lt podkaste“ Karolis Tiškevičius, Jonas Miklovas ir Tomas Purlys aptarė virš 700 krepšinio mylėtojų subūrusio sąskrydžio fenomeną, Mindaugo Balčiūno ir Pauliaus Motiejūno žodžių karą, kandidatus pakeisti Rimą Kurtinaitį bei parašo ant „Žalgirio“ sutarties dar nepadėjusio Jono Valančiūno situaciją. Tinklalaidės partneriai: – carVertical. Neapsigauk perkant naudotą automobilį, patikrink jo istoriją. Su kodu BASKETNEWS gauk 20% nuolaidą ataskaitai čia. – Inbank. Atsirado papildomų išlaidų? Su kodu KREPSINIS gauk nuolaidą vartojimo paskolos sutarties mokesčiui čia. – Nealkoholinis alus „Gubernija“, daugiau informacijos čia. – Pirmieji 100 bilietų į BasketNews sąskrydį 2027 – žemiausia kaina, juos galite rasti čia. Temos: Sunku patikėti, iki kokio reiškinio išaugo sąskrydis (0:00); Širdingas AČIŪ: fanų primintos istorijos (23:54); Reakcijos į sutrikusio Balčiūno komentarus (30:51); Tyrimai ir mitai apie Balčiūną, rinkimai ir IBU (45:30); Kokios įtakos turės Kurtinaičio pakeitimas? (54:41); Geriausi gaisro gesintojai rinktinei (1:00:54); Nemenkinam Kurtinaičio praeities nuopelnų (1:12:14); Nepadėtas JV parašas ir ar liks Pačėsas (1:20:21); Tikėjimas „Žalgiriu“ ir dingęs Skučas (1:25:26).

Nutrition and supplement company AG1 famously built a $600 million business off of a single SKU. Then, in 2025, the brand made major leaps by introducing new flavors and a sleep supplement. CEO Kat Cole speaks with Modern Retail's Melissa Daniels about how the brand grew its next generation of products from its own scientific research, and how it's looking to scale through retail beyond its DTC roots.

In this episode, the discussion focuses on a 54-year-old performance exhaust manufacturing business and the creative SBA financing structures, inventory risks, and seller financing strategies that could make—or break—the deal.Business Listing – https://www.sunbeltnetwork.com/sacramento-ca/buy-a-business/listings/listing-details/northern-california-exhaust-component-manufacturer-sc2139-53520/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.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

In this episode, the discussion focuses on a 54-year-old performance exhaust manufacturing business and the creative SBA financing structures, inventory risks, and seller financing strategies that could make—or break—the deal.Business Listing – https://www.sunbeltnetwork.com/sacramento-ca/buy-a-business/listings/listing-details/northern-california-exhaust-component-manufacturer-sc2139-53520/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.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

The same handbag. Thirty different platforms. Hundreds of dollars between listings. And no way to know what it's actually worth.In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O'Kane speaks with Chris Lucas, founder and CEO of Secondsense, a platform that aggregates luxury resale listings from over 30 vendors, normalises their attributes, and tells consumers what a product is really trading at. Chris describes it as the Google Flights for luxury resale.Chris's background is unusual for the fashion space. Stanford AI, senior machine learning engineer at Instagram, then Harvard Business School. He built a prototype while still a student, a TikToker put it on her channel, the site crashed overnight, and Chris opened a fundraise the next morning. He didn't wait until the product was ready. He didn't wait until he graduated. He just ran.What's most striking about the conversation is Chris's view on where value sits now. He argues the modelling layer, the application layer, and the hardware layer are all effectively democratised. Someone can duplicate a website in minutes using tools like Lovable or Claude Code. The only thing that can't be replicated is years of clean, structured, proprietary data and the domain expertise to know what to do with it. For Secondsense, that means knowing that a caviar leather Chanel sells differently from lambskin, or that champagne hardware changes the price, details a layperson would never spot.✨ In this episode:Chris explains why the secondhand luxury market is broken: fragmented supply, opaque pricing, and one-of-one SKU processing that leads to chronic supply-demand mismatchWe hear the story of the TikTok video that crashed his prototype and the snap decision to fundraise before graduating HarvardChris shares his framework for thinking about the AI stack (data, models, applications, hardware) and why only one of those layers is defensibleBarry and Chris discuss why domain knowledge matters as much as technical skill, and why hiring people who understand both is a sportChris gives an honest account of Secondsense's sustainability story: it's real, but it's not what's driving his customers' purchasing decisionsWe explore the vision for scaling beyond luxury handbags into any product category that trades inefficiently on the resale market, from liquor and art to wine, electronics, and even equestrian saddlery

V zbirki Prišleki (izdaja jo LUD Literatura) je pred kratkim izšla zbirka kratkih zgodb z naslovom Peti okus likovne umetnice in pisateljice Nataše Skušek. Zbirka se odlikuje s svojo pestrostjo (vsaka zgodba je presenečenje, avtorica pa pogosto preseneti tudi s svojimi konci). Več o zgodbah v svoji drugi pripovedni zbirki in še čem pove Nataša Skušek v pogovoru z Markom Goljo v Izšlo je, prebere pa tudi zgodbi Plavalka in Pridna učenka. Nikar ne zamudite pogovora in njene zbirke.

Today on the Invest In Her Podcast, host Catherine Gray talks with Sarah Lerner-Mantel, Managing Partner at Roll Tack Ventures, a Midwest-based venture capital firm investing in Series A and B B2B technology companies that drive growth, improve efficiency, and reduce risk. Before launching Roll Tack Ventures, Sarah helped scale Wayfair's 33-million-SKU marketplace and co-founded a med-tech company that developed an innovative ventilator during COVID-19, leading the company through acquisition. Her mission is to help exceptional founders grow industry-defining companies by providing not only capital, but meaningful strategic support and connections.  In this episode, Catherine and Sarah explore what it really takes for startups to raise venture capital, the difference between Series A and Series B funding, and why the Midwest is an untapped opportunity for innovation despite generating a quarter of U.S. GDP. Sarah shares how Roll Tack Ventures partners with founders by opening doors to customers—not just writing checks—and discusses her own entrepreneurial journey from startup founder to venture capitalist. They also discuss the importance of increasing women's representation in venture capital, how investors evaluate companies, why founders should better understand the venture funding process, and how education can encourage more women to become both founders and investors. Whether you're building a company, considering venture investing, or simply curious about how innovation gets funded, this conversation offers valuable insights from both sides of the investment table.  Websites Mentioned Roll Tack Ventures – https://rolltackventures.com Show Her The Money – https://showherthemoneymovie.com She Angel Investors – https://www.sheangelinvestors.com   Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels   #InvestInHer #WomenInBusiness #WomenFounders #WomenEntrepreneurs #VentureCapital #VC #StartupFunding #SeriesA #SeriesB #FounderJourney #B2BTech #TechStartups #Innovation #FemaleInvestors #WomenInVC #AngelInvesting #WomenWhoInvest #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ScalingStartups #MidwestStartups #FounderLife #StartupSuccess #CatherineGray  

Host Branden Hudson introduces guests Nick Tagipour and Drew Dunlap to announce the launch of Tului, a new performance-focused energy drink aimed first at gyms. They discuss how their 20+ year friendship and combined experience in fitness clubs and consumer packaged goods led to the brand, plus the risks and cash demands of entrepreneurship and the need for a focused go-to-market plan. Tului's hero SKU features 200mg caffeine paired with 150mg L-theanine for “jitter-free” energy, plus a “performance stack” with nootropics (alpha-GPC, uridine 5'-monophosphate), B vitamins, and L-citrulline for pump, designed for clean energy and mental clarity. The name comes from Nick's grandmother's maiden name and supports trademarkability. First cans were produced yesterday; rollout starts in Nick's clubs with demos, events, and later e-commerce at tuluilife.com and @tului.life.00:00 Welcome and Support01:04 Meet Nick and Drew01:53 Why Build Tului04:12 Startup Reality Check07:07 From Idea to Shelf08:30 What Makes It Different10:07 Performance Stack Breakdown11:57 Flavor and Daily Use13:25 Fitness Industry Shift14:37 Vision and Lifestyle Brand17:59 Authenticity and Small Wins21:36 Celebrate The Wins22:14 Naming Tului Origins22:38 Trademark And Moats25:04 First Cans Tasting26:21 Savor The Win28:44 Where To Buy Launch31:56 Focused Channel Strategy33:11 Culture Brand Lessons36:00 Two Year Roadmap40:26 Socials And Wrap Up

On répète qu'il suffit d'acheter l'outil, de créer son produit et de vendre. Franck Berthelot a passé près de dix ans à réparer les projets qui ont cru ça. Fondateur de Darix, il ouvre le capot de Salesforce et du CPQ pour montrer ce qui se cache derrière une simple case à cocher : 40 objets qui s'ajoutent d'un coup, toute une chaîne métier à réaligner, et un projet vendu six semaines qui finit par en durer six mois. Un épisode pour comprendre pourquoi la vraie difficulté d'un projet Lead to cash n'est presque jamais technique, mais humaine.Franck évolue dans l'écosystème Salesforce depuis 2018. Passé par le e-commerce chez Yves Rocher, la finance de marché, puis l'AMOA et les cabinets d'intégration (4C, Levana), il a été référent Business System chez Aircall pendant quatre ans avant de fonder Darix, un cabinet de conseil Lead to cash / Quote to cash, avec son associé Yacine Zelmat, architecte technique.Ce que tu vas apprendre dans cet épisode :Ce qu'est vraiment le CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote), et pourquoi cette brique devient le cœur du réacteur dès qu'on veut automatiser sa facturationPourquoi le fameux « on a déjà tout spécifié, il n'y a plus qu'à implémenter » est le signal d'un projet qui va déraper, et quelles questions reposer avant de se lancerComment une refonte Quote to cash touche toute l'entreprise (sales, customer success, ADV, finance), et pas seulement les commerciauxJusqu'où va le no-code Salesforce, et à quel moment le code devient inévitable (calcul d'ARR multi-SKU, renewals à gros volume)Pourquoi le RevOps qui brille est un profil hybride, aussi à l'aise avec le métier qu'avec le système, et jamais un pur expert d'outilComment la dimension métier protège les Ops face à l'IA, quand une knowledge base suffit déjà à remplacer un prestataire purement techniqueNotes complètes, ressources et captures de l'épisode : [LIEN]Chapitres :[00:02:54] Le parcours de Franck, d'Yves Rocher à l'écosystème Salesforce[00:10:09] Le CPQ expliqué : catalogue, pricing, devis[00:16:06] Le piège du « j'ai juste à implémenter »[00:21:08] La boîte de Pandore : pourquoi six semaines deviennent six mois[00:25:12] Le RevOps hybride et l'équipe système[00:41:03] Les déclencheurs d'un projet Quote to cash[00:57:04] Facturer des jours ou de la valeur : les Ops face à l'IA[01:28:22] Le facteur humain : reconvertir l'ADV, aligner avant de systémiserPour aller plus loin :L'épisode d'Engrenages avec Raphaël Brousse, qui définit le Quote to cash comme une porte d'entrée sur la compréhension businessDarix, le cabinet de Franck et YacineLes concepts cités : CPQ, ETL, multi-SKU, Data CloudLes outils évoqués : Salesforce, NetSuite, HubSpot, AttioHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Today I want to talk about SKU numbers because a question that I often get asked is how many SKUs should I have before I start selling wholesale? Unfortunately, the answer is it depends. Which I know you all want like a solid number and we do give some solid recommendations and guidance for like how much we want you to have in Paper Camp and also how many you should have before you start exhibiting at trade shows. But I wanted to do this solo episode on the podcast about this topic because there is a lot of nuance and I want to break down what that nuance is and so you can apply it to your own business.Today's episode is brought to you by our Paper Camp program. Paper Camp is our wholesale coaching program where we teach you everything you need to know to build strong wholesale foundations. Over the course of 4 weeks, we tackle your product line, sales tools, and marketing plan, and we even talk about how to exhibit at trade shows if that's what you want to do. We start with your product line and go into everything from how often you should be releasing new products to ensuring that your numbers are sustainable for the wholesale market and their price for profit.Then we move into sales tools you must have for selling wholesale so you make a strong first impression with buyers like catalogs and your terms and conditions. Then, we cover marketing strategies and ways to reach various store owners. Each week's teachings build on the previous week, and we host weekly live engaging coaching calls to answer all of your questions. We will open enrollment for our next round of Paper Camp soon, and we sell this program out every time we run it. Join the wait list and you'll get early access to enroll.SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLISTYou can view full show notes and more at http://prooftoproduct.com/448 Quick Links:Free Wholesale Audio SeriesFree Resources LibraryFree Email Marketing for Product MakersPTP LABSPaper Camp

In this episode the hosts review a niche marching band equipment manufacturer and explore why a seemingly durable business serving schools across America may be dramatically overpriced despite nearly 30 years of operating history.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/established-niche-manufacturer-with-40-year-brand-and-30-margin/2492280/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.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

In this episode the hosts review a niche marching band equipment manufacturer and explore why a seemingly durable business serving schools across America may be dramatically overpriced despite nearly 30 years of operating history.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/established-niche-manufacturer-with-40-year-brand-and-30-margin/2492280/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.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

Double Tap - Ep 468 This episode of Double Tap is brought to you by: Foxtrot Mike (Code: WLSISLIFE) C&G Holsters (Code: WLSISLIFE) Blue Alpha Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Rost Martin (Code: WLSISLIFE) Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public   Show Titles   GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ DEAR WLS Question from Bama Chris from AL Upon my untimely death when I am murked by an up Town gentleman with a High Point but have my wife tell everybody I was fucked to death in a gay bar to save my rep.

“It's not a test. It's diversity for the Meta algorithm.” Can running more landing pages hurt your ability to make decisions? Connor MacDonald (CMO, Ridge) and Cody Plofker (CEO, Jones Road Beauty) dig into landing page optimization strategy, conversion rate optimization for Meta ads, and when structured testing is the wrong tool entirely. They cover what Jones Road learned from overdeveloping pages and what a disastrous A/B test on a new offer taught Ridge about how Meta allocates spend. They examine the operational cost of landing page sprawl, how to structure a site-wide theme A/B test without introducing too many variables, and whether DTC brands at scale should slow down product launches or double down on them. AG1's move into creatine opens a broader conversation about the limits of single-SKU subscription businesses along with where product expansion makes sense. Powered By Motion Creative Benchmarks 2026 https://motionapp.com/thumbstop-pulse/creative-benchmarks-2026?utm_campaign=marketing-operators&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_content=creative-benchmarks-2026&utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast Aftersell https://9ops.co/aftersell-mops Haus https://www.haus.io/operators Richpanel https://9ops.co/richpanel Operators Newsletter https://9operators.com/

Tonja Jelen Vtiskovanje, Nataša Skušek: Peti okus, Dragica Krapež: Diktator z griča. Recenzije so napisali Marija Švajncer, Miša Gams in Robert Šabec.

Jacques Spitzer is a 4x Emmy® award-winning creative agency founder who was named to AdWeek's Agency Vanguard as one of the top 20 leaders shaping the future of advertising. His agency, Raindrop, has generated billions in campaign sales for powerhouse brands like Dr. Squatch, Native and Grüns and insurgent brands like Good Culture, Hello Panda, Magic Spoon and more. Raindrop's creative force has been showcased by their work on three Super Bowl campaigns and their recent execution of the largest brand launch in Procter & Gamble history for Spruce. As a champion for the next generation of disruptive companies, Jacques serves as a strategic advisor to high-growth CPG brands that Raindrop Ventures has uniquely helped launch and invested in, including Grüns, Laundry Sauce, ForAll, VitaWild, Maeva and Magic Mind. With a trophy case boasting over 50 advertising awards, Jacques' work is consistently recognized for its rare blend of viral creativity and massive ROI. His insights have been featured in Forbes, AdAge, and Entrepreneur Magazine.  He was recently named one of the “most influential people in San Diego” by the San Diego Business Journal and one of “California's most visionary CEOs” by the Los Angeles Times, who noted: “Raindrop's creative success and results have put San Diego on the map for creative work across the country.” In addition to his work in advertising, Spitzer helped produce the full-length documentary Wampler's Ascent, which won over 38 international film festival awards. In This Conversation We Discuss:  [00:00] Intro [02:43] Scaling Ecommerce through storytelling  [04:41] Maximizing current growth channels first  [08:14] Managing multiple priorities as a founder [10:11] Shifting from product to customer worth [15:26] Callouts [15:36] Overcoming a leader's limiting beliefs  [24:03] Taking balanced risks to protect equity  [25:17] Combining math with strategic stories Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Marketing that people love raindrop.agency/    Follow Jacques Spitzer linkedin.com/in/jspitzer5/    If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Most brands are approaching TikTok Shop the wrong way.They treat it like another social channel.Or another influencer program.Or another paid media tactic.But TikTok Shop is different.It is a discovery engine, a creator revenue channel, a marketplace, and a content machine all working together.In this workshop, Jordan West and Brywinn Travers break down what actually helps brands move from zero to meaningful TikTok Shop revenue as fast as possible.They cover how to choose the right hero SKU, why visual demo value matters, how creator economics impact performance, why inventory depth can make or break your launch, and how TikTok Shop content should connect back into your broader paid media and DTC strategy.They also talk about one of the biggest mistakes brands make after launch:Getting a flood of creator content, but having no system for usage rights, whitelisting, approvals, landing pages, or paid amplification.Topics covered:How to choose a TikTok Shop hero productWhy creator content ability matters more than price pointWhat makes a product work on cameraWhy inventory depth matters before a blitzHow reviews and shop health affect performanceWhy TikTok Shop should not live in a siloHow creator content can fuel Meta, DTC, and AmazonWhy usage rights and whitelisting need to be planned earlyHow to use comments, reviews, and creator feedback as market intelligenceWhy brands need real creators, not AI-generated humansThe big takeaway:TikTok Shop is not just about going viral.It is about building the right operating system around creators, products, content, paid media, inventory, and conversion.If your brand is serious about TikTok Shop, this is the foundation you need before trying to scale.MASTERMINDhttps://socialcommerceclub.com/pages/tiktok-shop-os-mastermindSCC https://socialcommerceclub.com/pages/contact

A legacy brand had never sold on Amazon. One launch strategy later, it hit six figures in year one. What made the difference? Here's how…   ► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Helium10SeriousSellersPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 ► 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   What does it take to bring a decades-old retail brand onto Amazon and turn it into a six-figure channel in its first year? In this episode, Bradley Sutton welcomes Spencer Gordon, an e-commerce operator who has built Amazon businesses from the ground up, including a premium beverage storefront and, most recently, the Amazon channel for Leanin Tree Greeting Cards. Spencer shares how he went from working in his family's logistics and beverage business to launching Amazon operations for a legacy greeting card company that had never sold on the marketplace before. Instead of randomly uploading products and hoping for the best, he started with proven retail winners, used Helium 10 to identify high-value keywords, and built his launch strategy around branded search, long-tail keyword opportunities, and strong catalog positioning. The episode gets tactical with Spencer's Amazon launch process, including how he uses test listings to check Amazon relevancy before launching a real SKU, why he relies on Amazon Vine for early reviews, and how he structures PPC campaigns for ranking momentum. He also breaks down his use of branded campaigns, product targeting, long-tail exact match keywords, fixed bids, and bid rules that raise or lower bids based on sponsored and organic rank. Bradley and Spencer also dive into listing optimization, especially why the main image can be the difference between winning and losing the click. Spencer shares how AI tools help his team generate image concepts, while Bradley recommends pre-launch audience testing to avoid wasting traffic on weaker creative. The big takeaway? You do not need to be a brand-new startup to win on Amazon. Whether you are launching from scratch or bringing a legacy brand into the modern marketplace, growth comes from testing, learning, adjusting, and taking action before the opportunity passes you by. In episode 753 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Spencer discuss: 00:00 - Introduction To Spencer's Amazon Story 03:00 - Learning Business From The Ground Up 05:03 - Launching His First Amazon Store 09:18 - Moving Into A New E-Commerce Role 11:21 - Inside Leanin' Tree Greeting Cards 13:34 - Starting Amazon From Scratch 15:59 - Hitting Six Figures In Year One 16:41 - Choosing Products And Keywords 22:03 - New Product Launch Strategy 23:05 - Testing Amazon Keyword Relevancy 27:37 - Long-Tail PPC Ranking Campaigns 37:06 - Main Image Optimization Strategy

Steve Engelbrecht started Sitation from a rental apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts — five weeks after being laid off in the chaos that followed 9/11. Today it's a 62-person commerce enablement firm with a client roster of household names and a defensible niche the big SIs can't easily replicate.Recorded live at Salsify's Digital Shelf Summit in Atlanta, Christian sat down with Steve — founder and CEO of Sitation — for a conversation about building a services-plus-software business in commerce, how AI is rewriting the buy-vs-build equation, and why a 62-person specialist can out-maneuver Deloitte Digital and Accenture Song in product data.What we cover: The Sitation origin story and the early bet on PIM before it was a category, the three pillars of the business today (systems integration, managed services, and proprietary software), why the software-services convergence is playing out in real time, the "headless PIM in 2026" conversation with Salsify's CEO and what AI agents, MCP, and CLIs mean for the future of product data, how AI lowered the bar for participation and changed buy-vs-build, the Philips case study — a 111% conversion lift on a single SKU by optimizing content, not price, why 90%+ of Sitation's team came from industry and how that makes them stickier than the big SIs, and how Steve thinks about Sitation's future: international expansion as a platform vs. fitting neatly into a larger strategic's plans.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:26 — Welcome from Salsify's Digital Shelf Summit in Atlanta1:00 — The origin story: first day of work September 10, 2001, laid off five weeks later2:11 — Early to commerce enablement — and Boston as a commerce software hotbed3:02 — What Sitation does today: the three business segments5:25 — The 2019 "pick a lane" problem and why software-services convergence vindicated the strategy6:16 — How AI is changing the buy-vs-build equation7:36 — The "headless PIM in 2026" conversation with Salsify's CEO8:33 — Salesforce going headless and the new customization opportunity for SIs10:00 — APIs, the MCP revolution, CLIs, and why schema matters for AI agents11:05 — How a 62-person firm out-maneuvers multi-thousand-person SIs11:42 — Why this is a massive market, not a zero-sum game12:30 — The Philips case study: 111% conversion lift on one SKU without touching price13:30 — Why multinationals choose a boutique over Deloitte Digital or Accenture Song15:46 — The strategic question: platform play or acquisition target?16:29 — International expansion as the organic (or capital-backed) growth path17:40 — Why Sitation's platform credentials make it an attractive, hard-to-replicate target18:45 — Why you can't build Sitation's early-mover position — you have to buy it

In this episode, Josh interviews Destaney, CEO of Better AMS, about advanced Amazon advertising strategies. Destaney shares insights on setting ad budgets based on brand goals, structuring campaigns for profitability and growth, and the importance of campaign-level organization. They discuss the challenges of managing large SKU counts and the need for software tools like Pacvue, highlighting that expertise is crucial to leverage such platforms. Destaney emphasizes using data-driven, white-hat strategies and staying proactive with Amazon ads. The episode wraps up with actionable tips and an invitation to connect with Better AMS for further learning and free brand audits.Chapters:Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Destaney, CEO of Better AMS, and discusses her background in Amazon advertising.Destaney's Experience in Amazon Ads (00:00:49)Destaney shares her journey, starting young in Amazon ads, and her experience managing large ad spends.Budgeting for Amazon Ads (00:01:23)Discussion on how brand owners should approach setting budgets for Amazon ads based on goals and growth.Structuring Campaigns for Different Objectives (00:02:05)Destaney explains campaign-level structuring for profitability, keyword research, brand defense, and market share.Fluid Budget Allocation & Campaign Adjustments (00:03:05)How to fluidly adjust budgets between campaigns based on product launches and changing objectives.Challenges Managing Many SKUs & Need for Software (00:04:05)Josh describes the difficulty of managing 1200 SKUs and the need for software to optimize Amazon PPC.Evaluating Amazon PPC Software & Automation (00:05:14)Destaney discusses the importance of having knowledgeable staff and choosing the right software for automation.Advanced vs. Automated Software Solutions (00:07:08)Recommendations for advanced users (rules-based tools like Pacvue) vs. automated solutions for less experienced teams.Limitations of AI in Amazon Ad Tools (00:08:10)Destaney explains the current limitations of AI in Amazon ad software due to restricted data access.Pacvue & Importance of Expertise (00:09:04)Josh and Destaney discuss why Pacvue is powerful but requires deep Amazon ad knowledge to use effectively.Actionable Takeaways for Brand Owners (00:10:33)Josh summarizes three key action items: focus on brand metrics, shift mindset on ranking strategies, and invest in expertise.Closing & Where to Find Destaney (00:13:38)Destaney shares where listeners can follow her and learn more about Better AMS, including free brand audits.Links and Mentions:Tools and Software"Perpetua": "00:07:08""Pacvue": "00:08:40"Websites and Social Media"Better AMS" now BTRMedia: "00:13:52""LinkedIn": "00:13:52"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today I'm super excited to introduce you all to Destaney with Sean. Destaney is the CEO of better AMS and better. AMS is a retail media agency managing over $50 million of spend across Walmart and Amazon. So with that, welcome to the show, Destaney.Destaney 00:00:16  Thank you so much for having me, Josh. Really excited to be here.Josh 00:00:19  I'm super excited to have you on the show. My team is also excited to have you on the show, because they watch your YouTube videos and all the content that you're putting out, and oftentimes in our own strategy meetings, it will be, hey, I remember Destaney said this, Destaney said that. And so to have you on the podcast, I'm super excited to have you here. And I think I want to encourage our listeners to pay attention, because Destaney knows what she's talking about as it relates to Amazon advertising.Destaney 00:00:49  I hope so. I have been in this space for like six years, and I have done nothing but Amazon ads. So, you know, a lot of people are forced to go wide, whether it's because you're brand building or how quickly the industry industry changes.Destaney 00:01:02  I was super thankful to be thrown into Amazon advertising management at like 22 years old. I think my first large brand was managing around $10 million spend a quarter, so I, I had to learn really fast and this is all I know at this point. So thank you everyone for supporting my content because you are, you know, paying for my meals at night.Josh 00:01:23  I love it. A lot of brand owners come to you probably and say, oh well, my budget is unlimited if it's profitable, right? Like if it's profitable, then spend as much as you want. And I think I've fallen into that camp at some times. So Destaney, based on your wealth of knowledge and experience working with even higher level brands, doing 300 million a year, what, like how would you recommend a brand owner comes up with a budget for their products?Destaney 00:01:53  Yep. Yeah. So a budget's obviously so dependent on goals and growth and all of those things. So I always struggle to give that. I will say I interviewed a ton of the other agency owners.Destaney 00:02:05  I think we're managing in total. I kind of like over $500 million worth of spend. And what everyone said an average tacos for a high growth brand that's trying to be competitive is around 10 to 15%. I don't love giving that as a general gauge, because I know a lot of people have certain SKUs that are going to be a lot higher because they're more competitive category, different goals. And I hate giving like one size fits all solutions. Anyone who's listened to me or follow me knows that. It's like my biggest pet peeve. but I will say something to remember is that Amazon advertising is actually really precise. you know, sometimes like Facebook ads where you're doing audience targeting and behavioral aspects are combined in Amazon. Ads are not like that. You can be so granular. So one thing we recommend is we we set up all of our strategies on the campaign level. So when a brand comes to us we're going to have campaigns for profitability. We're going to have campaigns for keyword research. We're going to have campaigns for brand defense, and we're going to have campaigns for rank or market share.Destaney 00:03:05  And when we have all of those set up, that means we can take that budget and fluidly adjust based on our needs. So if we have a $20,000 a month budget and this month we're launching a new product, we're going to shift more of that budget to be focused on rank. And that's going to take away from our profitability campaigns, which means we're probably going to have a higher ACOs, but we're launching now the moment that becomes steady. We're going to lower our budget on our rank and move to profitability. So that way we can be really fluid with those adjustments that make your Amazon advertising align with your actual top line sales goals.Josh 00:03:40  Now that makes a lot of sense. Now I think we I could dive in even further with you. We could get into some real nitty gritty stuff here. Maybe that would have to be a part two. because what I'd like to shift into is we went through this last year in terms of trying to identify a software solution that could execute a lot of these good strategies.Josh 00:04:05  So for our team, you know, we hired an internal PPC manager. We were formerly with an advertising agency for I think four years. So we'd been with them for a long time. But to your point, you know, it's hard for an agency to really get into the details of every single product and tracking their metrics. And w...

If TikTok just handed you a key to ten new European markets, would you even know what door to walk through first? Spoiler: most sellers are still standing in the hallway. Neil Twa, host of The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast, breaks down how TikTok Shop's expansion into ten EU countries is a shift for FBA sellers. Neil shares insights from a call with a mid-tier FBA operator doing $30,000 a month, revealing the instinctual panic or ignorance many sellers face with new channels. He offers three actionable moves: audit your SKU set for content potential now, not later; use TikTok's reduced friction for international expansion; and understand the real development behind TikTok Shop's strategy. This episode is packed with insights for sellers at every level, from those launching their first product to operators doing $1M+/month. Ready to audit your AI readiness? Take the free 5-question assessment: voltagedm.com/aiquiz?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep299 Ready to implement with us? Join the Voltage Business Builders cohort at voltagedm.com/membership: https://voltagedm.com/membership?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep299

This week, Dave speaks with Dean McElwee, ecommerce and digital transformation leader and author of Ecommerce for CEOs.Dean shares what he's learned working across global brands, complex categories, and digital shelf transformation — including why DIY and home improvement require a very different ecommerce content playbook.In this episode, Dean breaks down the challenges of managing SKU complexity, spec data, mobile legibility, B2B and B2C shopper needs, and content workflows across retailers. He also shares his perspective on It'sRapid Optix, and why analytics should help teams understand not just what needs to be fixed, but why those fixes matter in the shopper decision process.The conversation also explores how AI and creative automation are helping ecommerce teams refresh content more efficiently, reduce manual work, and focus on doing the digital shelf basics brilliantly.Connect with Dean on LinkedInFollow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedInLearn More about It'sRapidGet the It'sRapid Creative Automation PlaybookTake It'sRapid's Creative Workflow Automation with AI surveyEmail us at sales@itsrapid.io to find out how to get your free AI Image AuditTheme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker

In this episode of Better Advertising with BTR Media, Destaney sits down with Ana Sviatschi, Director of Digital Commerce at Future Beauty Brands, to talk about what it really takes to grow in today's beauty and ecommerce landscape.Ana shares her journey from Unilever to Bayer to Future Beauty Brands, and breaks down why brands often chase the “next shiny thing” before fixing the basics. From content and catalog health to SKU economics, TikTok Shop, AI, and leadership alignment, this conversation gets into the unsexy but essential work that actually drives growth.Connect with Ana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-laura-sviatschi/ Connect with Destaney on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destaney-wishon/

In an already competitive market, Beekman 1802 is maintaining steady growth through human connection and is using AI to do it. David Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Beekman 1802, sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss how his team is cutting through industry traffic and content using human creativity and emotional brand building. "AI is not coming for our jobs. People who know how to use AI will come for the people who don't know how to use AI.” Inside the Episode: - Ruthless Inventory: Why you need to avoid the micro-trend trap, and double down on what your customers are loyal to. - Operational Simplification: How reducing SKU count freed up working capital, eased vendor management, and improved store planning, without sacrificing brand identity - Getting Creative with AI: How to position your tech into a ‘red-teaming' approach to aggressively stress-test ideas, name options, and look for vulnerabilities before any capital is deployed - Keeping AI Out of Creative: How to establish market differentiation amid the influx of AI-generated content - Stop letting tech run your creative. Start using it to clear out the daily clutter so your team has the breathing room to stand out. Catch the full conversation and more inside the episode.

Topics covered:A field report from week one of Crossroads Publishing Group—what's coming in the door, what's surprising, what's confirming.What a hybrid press actually is. A working definition: a publisher where the author shares the financial risk via a fee (broadly $5K to $45K, depending on the engagement), in exchange for real editorial work, professional production, distribution under the press's imprint, and a higher royalty share than traditional contracts.Why the vanity-press confusion exists, and why it's no longer accurate to the category as it stands in 2026.The IBPA Hybrid Publisher Pledge—the trade-association standard the legitimate hybrid presses meet (and the vanity operations don't).Three case studies of serious hybrid presses: She Writes Press (founded by Brooke Warner, 2012; 500+ titles; Industry Innovator Award from the Book Industry Study Group in 2017; Warner is chair of the IBPA) Greenleaf Book Group (Austin; operating since 2003; 1,500+ titles; multiple New York Times bestsellers) Lucid Books (Texas Christian hybrid; 5,000 authors in 20 years of operation)Three structural reasons the hybrid category is growing while the Big Five contracts: * The agent and Big Five pipeline is capped (≈1,000 active US agents, 3-5 new clients each per year) * Platform requirements at traditional imprints have become unworkable for serious working writers * The math of a hybrid contract is often better for the author: The traditional advance reality in 2026: $5K-$25K for non-celebrity nonfiction, declining year over year, with the author doing the marketing anyway, on a 10-15% royalty, with the publisher owning the ISBN.Why this matters for The Difficulty‘s actual listeners — coaches, therapists, consultants, pastors, mission-driven leaders, retired executives in second and third acts, working professionals in midlife transition.Five questions to ask any hybrid press before you give them a dollar:One — Are they IBPA pledged? If not, why not? Two — What is the author royalty split, in a specific number, with accounting schedule? Three — What editorial work is actually included in the price — developmental, line, copy, proofreading; at what stage; how many rounds? Four — Where does your book actually go after publication? Real distribution (Ingram, Amazon, Bookshop.org, library channels like Baker & Taylor and OverDrive) or just a SKU on a website? Five — What is the editorial selection rate? A serious hybrid press turns books down.About Crossroads Publishing Group:Crossroads is a hybrid press for practitioner authors—coaches, therapists, consultants, mission-driven leaders, and working professionals with a serious book and a body of insight. Three main category lanes on the site. 80% net royalties to the author. IBPA-pledged criteria built into the model.Inquiry door: crossroadspublishing.groupCall to action:If you're a practitioner author with a serious book and the hybrid path sounds like it could be yours, visit crossroadspublishing.group to start the conversation. Feedback on the show is welcome — what episodes are speaking to you, what you'd like to hear more or less of. Get full access to The Descent at chadprevost.substack.com/subscribe

Episode #220 of the PricePlow Podcast brings Ben Kane and guest host Joey Savage to Washington, DC for the 2026 NPA (Natural Products Association) Fly-In Day. Their guest on the US Capitol steps at sunset: Uday Gosalia, founder of UGo Beyond and a proud advisor to Future Nutra. This year’s trip had a sharper edge than most. For the first time in several years, the industry came to DC specifically in opposition to active legislation, not just to make a general case. Two bills are in play: Senator Dick Durbin’s Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2026 (S.3677), which would require every supplement SKU registered with the FDA before market entry, and the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R. 7366), introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy, which needs a Senate companion to stop states from layering their own supplement restrictions on top of federal law. The conversation covers those two bills, the drug preclusion clause risk, what actually happens when you explain DSHEA to a senator’s staffer, and why consistent DC presence matters more than any single meeting. Our NPA Fly-In Day preparation guide and Episode #100 with NPA CEO Dan Fabricant offer essential background on PricePlow’s history at these events. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast and sign up for FDA news alerts before diving in. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/uday-gosalia-220 Video: Uday Gosalia and Future Nutra Oppose MPL at NPA 2026 Fly-In Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WBa-IPH5I Detailed Show Notes: Uday Gosalia (UGo Beyond) at the NPA 2026 Fly-In Day (0:00) – Introductions (1:45) – The 2026 NPA Fly-In: Industry on the Offensive (2:15) – Opposing S.3677: The Mandatory Product Listing Problem (5:00) – H.R. 7366: Protecting Supplement Access for Minors (7:15) – HSA/FSA Eligibility and the Enforcement Gap (8:00) – Rep. Jim McGovern: An Unexpected Ally (11:00) – Teaching the Hill: Explaining How Supplements Are Regulated (12:45) – Do Your Legislators Take Supplements? (14:30) – The Ashwagandha “Gotcha” Moment (15:45) – DC Is More Accessible Than You Think Where to Follow and Learn More Connect with Uday Gosalia and UGo Beyond LinkedIn: Uday Gosalia (UGo Beyond) Sign Up for FDA News on PricePlow Resources Mentioned in This Episode NMN, FDA, and the Supplement Industry’s Winning Battle Against Pharma NPA Fly-In Day Guide: How to Come Prepared for a “Lobby Day” Dan Fabricant (NPA): Why You Need to Show Up in Washington DC (Episode #100) The NPA is Fighting Dick Durbin’s 2022 Supplement Bill (Episode #067) Thanks to Uday Gosalia for joining from the Capitol steps, and to Joey Savage and Future Nutra for making this episode happen. For anyone ready to get involved in supplement advocacy, our NPA Fly-In D… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Lauren Livak Gilbert, lead of the Digital Shelf Institute, joins the podcast to explore how agentic commerce and AI tools like Amazon's Rufus are transforming product discovery. As the industry shifts from traditional SEO keyword stuffing to natural language and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), sellers must optimize their Product Detail Pages by directly answering consumer Q&As to feed context-driven AI recommendations. Currently, nimble challenger brands are capturing market share by adapting quickly and building off-site trust signals, while large legacy brands are often bogged down by massive SKU counts, messy data taxonomy, and regulatory hurdles. To overcome these challenges and safely scale AI content generation, Lauren emphasizes the critical need for strict E-commerce hygiene and a single source of truth for product data using Product Experience Management platforms like Salsify. Episode Notes: 00:00 - Introduction to Lauren Gilbert and the Digital Shelf Institute (DSI) 01:48 - Defining the "Digital Shelf" and the Data Explosion 03:51 - What is Agentic Commerce? 08:12 - Amazon Rufus, Natural Language, & Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) 14:16 - Why Challenger Brands are Winning Market Share 18:01 - The Core Data and Taxonomy Problem for Large Brands 21:40 - Solving Content Chaos and Workflows with Salsify 24:42 - Legal, Compliance, and the Importance of Trust Signals 28:08 - How to Join the Digital Shelf Institute Related Post: How to Build a Repeatable Amazon Competitor Analysis Workflow How to Reach Lauren: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurenlivak Scott's Links: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813 X: @itsScottNeedham Instagram: @smartestseller YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371 Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

In this episode of Brand Growth Heroes, I'm joined by founder Bethan Higson and Alice Gallsworthy of Mother Root. Get this: Mother Root is already the UK's number one non-alcoholic spirit brand in terms of revenue driven per product. Whoah.So what's the deal? This ginger-based non-alcoholic aperitif is different to most playing in food and beverage, as it only has one core SKU, but an incredibly powerful DTC growth engine. Even though it's the UK's No1 non-alc spirit, it still only has around 6–7% distribution -  talk about headroom for growth!As you might imagine, Bethan and Alice are incredibly clear on the choices that created their growth. We talk about why they stopped trying to do everything, how they went all-in on DTC, how customer interviews and jobs-to-be-done thinking shaped their marketing, and why the product itself delivers something so many non-alcoholic drinks miss: flavour, ritual, heat, length and a real adult drinking moment. We also get into team building, finding the right second-in-command, launching into the US, and why operations has to scale at the same rate as marketing if you don't want the business to break.What You'll Learn How Mother Root grew from around £1.5M to £15–16M run rate.  Why focus on one channel helped build a repeatable and scalable growth model.  How jobs-to-be-done customer interviews shaped Mother Root's digital marketing.  Why the non-alcoholic drinks consumer is not necessarily the Gen Z sober-curious stereotype.  How Bethan and Alice think about hiring, operations, US expansion and scaling without breaking the business. Why AI is part of EVERY part of the working day at Mother RootKey Topics Discussed Mother Root's growth from early-stage brand to £15–16M run rate  Building a challenger brand with one core SKU  The evening drink ritual and the role of non-alcoholic drinks  Ginger, apple cider vinegar, slow burn and flavour architecture  Choosing where to play and walking away from distracting channels  Building a DTC growth engine  Paid social, customer interviews and jobs-to-be-done insight  Word of mouth and repeat purchase  Nielsen performance and retail headroom  Hiring a brilliant number two  Scaling operations alongside marketing  Launching Mother Root in the US  Why the non-alcoholic category is not just about Gen Z Useful Linkshttps://motherroot.com/https://www.instagram.com/motherroot/Like this episode? PLEASE share the love by sharing this episode with another founder building a challenger brand, a colleague or a mate who loves brilliant non-alcoholic drinks, or anyone trying to work out how to build a sharper, more focused growth model. Don't forget to FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to Brand Growth Heroes on your favourite podcast app, and even LEAVE A REVIEW - both of these actions make a MASSIVE difference to our mission to help more founders just like you.Join our community on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube, and find out more about the programmes and courses Fiona runs, as well as the NextGen CPG WhatsApp group for founders leaning in to the value that a leadership approach to engaging with AI can unlock for businesses like yours.Follow Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.*****Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes' podcast sponsor  - Joelson, the commercial law firm *****If you're a founder, you already know how much energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with consumers.But scaling a CPG business also brings legal complexities that can make or break your growth journey - from contracts and regulatory compliance to protecting your intellectual property.That's why we're proud to partner with Joelson, the leading commercial law firm specialising in helping founders of scaling consumer brands.Joelson works with brands like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze and Pulsin, and advised the innocent founders on their landmark sale to Coca-Cola - and still work with them at JamJar Investments today!To learn more contact hello@joelsonlaw.com - in fact, Joelson is offering Brand Growth Heroes listeners a FREE Legal consultation - we highly recommend you take them up on this! CreditsThanks to our Sound Engineer Gyp Buggane at Ballagroove.com and all the Brand Growth Heroes team.

In today's episode, we'll dive into a fascinating twist on the e-commerce journey — what happens when you buy back the very brand you once sold. Ben will share the lessons, emotions, and strategic insights behind exiting — and then re-entering — your own business. Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Ben Leonard's entrepreneurial journey with Beast Gear, from initial investment to seven-figure exit.Challenges faced after selling Beast Gear to Thrasio, including mismanagement and loss of brand identity.Importance of effective inventory management and the consequences of overleveraging.The significance of building a genuine consumer brand beyond basic Amazon tactics.The role of intellectual property protection and the impact of neglecting it.Insights on the operational difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on e-commerce.Strategies for diversifying sales channels and avoiding dependency on a single platform.The importance of quality in products and overall business operations.Marketing strategies for brand awareness, including the use of influencers and social media.Lessons learned from reacquiring and reviving a brand in a competitive market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with entrepreneur Ben Leonard, who built Beast Gear into a seven-figure brand before selling it to aggregator Thrasio. Then buying it back after mismanagement caused revenue to collapse. Ben reveals how Thrasio abandoned the brand-building strategies that drove Beast Gear's success, mishandled inventory, and neglected intellectual property protection. He shares lessons on diversifying beyond Amazon, maintaining product quality, and building genuine customer communities. Ben also discusses his new dad-focused baby carrier brand, Tuco, and offers actionable advice on scaling e-commerce businesses sustainably.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Build a brand, not just an Amazon listing Engage customers off-Amazon (TikTok, email, events) and create a loyal community—not just traffic.Treat inventory like risk, not just growth Forecast per SKU, avoid over-ordering, and ensure sell-through within ~6 months to prevent cash flow disasters.Diversify early and protect your moat Expand beyond Amazon (Shopify + social channels) and actively enforce IP to protect your brand from copycats.Timestamps:00:00:34 Introduction to the EpisodeThe host introduces the guest, Ben Leonard, and the topic: buying back his brand after selling it to an aggregator.00:02:14 The Brand's Decline Under New OwnershipBen confirms his brand crashed after he sold it to the aggregator Thrasio due to mismanagement and operational failures.00:05:41 The "Magic" Thrasio IgnoredBen explains his original success came from building a true brand with customer relationships, which the new owners dismantled.00:09:27 The Financial FalloutBen reveals the brand's revenue plummeted from $6 million to about half a million dollars under Thrasio's ownership.00:13:13 Three Key Mistakes by the AggregatorThe host summarizes Thrasio's critical errors: inventory mismanagement, ignoring off-Amazon branding, and failing to protect intellectual property.00:19:51 Why You Must Diversify Beyond AmazonBen stresses the need for Amazon sellers to act like real brands and diversify channels to build a sustainable business.00:22:23 The Revival Playbook for Beast GearBen outlines his bootstrapped strategy to revive the brand, focusing on TikTok Shop and rebuilding community goodwill on a budget.00:27:08 Launching a New Brand: TucoThe conversation shifts to Ben's new venture, Tuco, a baby carrier startup designed specifically for dads.00:32:22 When to Implement Brand Awareness StrategiesBen and Josh discuss when a brand should start investing in top-of-funnel marketing and diversifying beyond its primary channel.00:37:40 Three Actionable Takeaways for Brand OwnersThe host summarizes key lessons: diversify with solid processes, avoid inventory leverage, and work with creators for brand awareness.00:42:13 Ben's Final Three QuestionsBen shares his most influential book (The E-Myth), favorite AI tool (Claude), and an e-commerce professional to follow.00:45:51 How to Connect with BenBen shares the best places for listeners to find him online, primarily LinkedIn and his personal email address.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Shopify": "00:03:03""Amazon": "00:03:03""TikTok": "00:09:54""YouTube": "00:19:51""TikTok Shop": "00:23:10""Meta Ads": "00:24:07""WordPress": "00:35:58""Email Marketing": "00:36:33""Claude (AI Tool)": "00:43:03""LinkedIn": "00:45:09""Ecomm Breakthrough Website": "00:46:24"Books"Quit Stalling and Build Your Own Brand by Ben Leonard": "00:01:01""Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller": "00:21:31""The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber": "00:42:25"Videos"Brand Rescue Mission": "00:08:17""Escaping the Amazon Goldfish Bowl": "00:19:51"Podcasts"Operators Podcast": "00:09:54"Other Mentions"Forbes": "00:01:01""Peregrine Commerce": "00:25:41""Sean Cowie": "00:44:09"Episode Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started my business 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 ...

What happens when breweries start making cider… not because they have to, but because they want to keep drinking beer? That question kicks off episode 504 featuring Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt of Element Brewing Company. "Most breweries probably see cider as a way to let them continue making beer." That line says a lot. And it opens the door to a bigger conversation. Breweries adding cider isn't just about diversification. It's not just about gluten-free taps. And it's definitely not just about adding another SKU. Something is shifting. In this episode, we dig into: • Why breweries are turning to cider right now • What changing consumer habits have to do with it • How cider fits into a beer-first business model • What this trend means for independent cider makers At Element, cider isn't an afterthought. It's part of a strategy to stay relevant in a changing market and a window into where craft beverages may be heading next. Time Stamps 00:00 Why Breweries Are Making Cider 02:01 Season Travels Recap and Road Notes 04:44 Tours, Travel Updates, and France Signup 06:44 Meet Element Brewing Company 07:07 From Brewing to Distilling: The Origin Story 10:43 Barrels, Aging, and Apple Brandy 15:37 Sourcing Cider and Apples for Production 19:23 Why Breweries Are Adding Cider Now 23:53 Branding and the Element Two Concept 25:44 South Deerfield Expansion Plans 29:13 Cider Making Mindset 29:40 Tasting a Dry Botanical Cider 30:36 Yeast Choices and Sweetness Strategy 32:15 Balance First: Building Flavor 33:38 ABV, Structure, and Serving Glassware 34:59 Learning Curve and Cider Books 35:50 Apple Varieties, Terroir, and Flavor 38:33 Experimentation and Small Batch Cider 41:12 Personal Palates and Fridge Favorites 42:40 The Bigger Shift: Breweries Moving to Cider 46:00 Advice: Make Your Cider Stand Out 48:53 Apple Brandy Toast 49:40 Why Independent Cider Media Matters 51:54 Tom Oliver and 500 Episodes 53:00 #CiderGoingUp Campaign 53:45 Final Sign-Off Find the full show notes for Episode 504 at CiderChat.com Direct link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/504-breweries-making-cider-element/ Mentions in this episode: Totally Cider Tour to France Listen wherever you get your podcasts Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube

Your Shopify taxonomy is not just your navigation menu — it's the way your store teaches Shopify, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, Meta, and AI tools like ChatGPT what your products are, who they're for, and why they matter.In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I'm breaking down why taxonomy is really your store's semantic strategy. We'll talk about the difference between Shopify's built-in structure and the deeper semantic taxonomy your e-commerce store actually needs for modern SEO, GEO, and AI search.If your products, collections, tags, metafields, variants, and SKU prefixes feel a little chaotic, this episode will help you see how they can all work together to create a clearer, smarter product universe.You'll learn: Why Shopify taxonomy is your store's ontology  The difference between Shopify's structural taxonomy and your semantic taxonomy  Why collections and tags alone are not enough for modern search  How AI and LLMs interpret your product categories  Why persona or solution hubs matter for buyer intent  How SKU prefixes can act as semantic signals  The three-tier taxonomy framework for e-commerce brands  Why clear information architecture can improve visibility, conversions, and AI recommendations The big idea: your taxonomy is not just a set of collections. It's a semantic model of your business.When your product categories, attributes, titles, metafields, and internal links all work together, you reduce confusion for buyers and ambiguity for AI — which can lead to better search visibility, stronger buyer journeys, and a store that is easier to understand, recommend, and buy from.Resources MentionedJoin AI SEO Skool (Join FREE for 7 days!): https://AISEOskool.comVisit the website: https://simpleandsmartseo.comPodcast hub: https://SimpleandSmartSEO.com/best-seo-podcastText me your questions or comments!Hey, Shopify store owners! (Especially if you're selling on Etsy, too!)Here's a quick question: Are people actually finding your products on Google?If SEO feels confusing, overwhelming, or like something you'll "get to later", this is for you.I'm hosting a free, seven day Shopify SEO challenge that breaks it down into simple, doable steps.No tech headaches, no fluff. Join us at  Hey, Shopify store owners! (Especially if you're selling on Etsy, too!)Here's a quick question: Are people actually finding your products on Google?If SEO feels confusing, overwhelming, or like something you'll "get to later", this is for you.I'm hosting a free, seven day Shopify SEO challenge that breaks it down into simple, doable steps.No tech headaches, no fluff. Join us atSupport the showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal!Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO!Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)Grid and PixelNote: If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money. But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

Today we're digging into a topic you might not have considered before: the importance of clean financial data. We talk about numbers constantly—how to focus on them, why they matter, and what you should be looking at. But we haven't truly discussed why having clean information is the absolute backbone of successful decision-making in a product-based business. The Danger of Dirty Data I recently spoke with two clients who were using a financial analysis tool to guide their buying. The tool kept telling them to buy more, buy more. They followed the data, thinking they were being efficient, only to end up buried in inventory that didn't move. That wasn't a supply chain problem or a marketing problem—it was a data problem. Dirty data is dangerous because it doesn't come with a warning label; it looks like fact, but it's actually fiction dressed as finance. What Does Dirty Data Look Like? If you want to avoid making wrong decisions confidently, watch out for these five common red flags: Miscategorized Transactions: Expenses floating in no man's land or assigned to the wrong revenue streams. COGS vs. OPEX Confusion: When your inventory purchases are blurred with operating expenses, you can't see your true margin. Timing Errors: Recognizing revenue when cash hits rather than when it's earned (Cash vs. Accrual). Inventory Valuation Gaps: Your books say you have 800 units, but your warehouse only has 500. Un-netted Discounts: Refunds and chargebacks that aren't properly subtracted from your top-line revenue. The Three Cs of Clean Data To run a genius inventory system, your data must be: Consistent: Applying the same rules and categories every single month. Connected: Your POS, bank account, and accounting software should all tell the same story. Current: Books should be reconciled and in your hands by the 15th–20th of every month—not just at tax time! 8 Key Data Points You Need to Track I want you to look at your dashboard and ask: “Do I actually have this number, and can I trust it?” Gross Margin by SKU: Not just overall, but by category and brand. Inventory Valuation: Real-time wholesale and retail value. 12–13 Week Cash Flow: A forward-looking projection of your bank balance. Net Revenue: Gross sales minus returns, fees, and discounts. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): What it actually costs to get a buyer through the door. Inventory Turn: How fast your product is moving by department. All-in Cost Per Unit: The landed cost including shipping and handling. Contribution Margin: Revenue minus all variable costs to see what truly goes toward profit. Your 3-Step Data Audit Don't just listen—take action today with these three simple steps: Step 1: Pull your P&L and go line-by-line. Ensure every expense is correctly categorized. Step 2: Confirm your bookkeeper is reconciling accounts monthly and delivering reports on time. Step 3: Check your POS. Ensure every SKU has an accurate cost associated with it. Final Thought: Stop treating your books like a tax document and start treating them like a GPS. Clean data leads to better decisions, which leads to stronger margins, which leads to cash. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

Today we're digging into a topic you might not have considered before: the importance of clean financial data. We talk about numbers constantly—how to focus on them, why they matter, and what you should be looking at. But we haven't truly discussed why having clean information is the absolute backbone of successful decision-making in a product-based business. The Danger of Dirty Data I recently spoke with two clients who were using a financial analysis tool to guide their buying. The tool kept telling them to buy more, buy more. They followed the data, thinking they were being efficient, only to end up buried in inventory that didn't move. That wasn't a supply chain problem or a marketing problem—it was a data problem. Dirty data is dangerous because it doesn't come with a warning label; it looks like fact, but it's actually fiction dressed as finance. What Does Dirty Data Look Like? If you want to avoid making wrong decisions confidently, watch out for these five common red flags: Miscategorized Transactions: Expenses floating in no man's land or assigned to the wrong revenue streams. COGS vs. OPEX Confusion: When your inventory purchases are blurred with operating expenses, you can't see your true margin. Timing Errors: Recognizing revenue when cash hits rather than when it's earned (Cash vs. Accrual). Inventory Valuation Gaps: Your books say you have 800 units, but your warehouse only has 500. Un-netted Discounts: Refunds and chargebacks that aren't properly subtracted from your top-line revenue. The Three Cs of Clean Data To run a genius inventory system, your data must be: Consistent: Applying the same rules and categories every single month. Connected: Your POS, bank account, and accounting software should all tell the same story. Current: Books should be reconciled and in your hands by the 15th–20th of every month—not just at tax time! 8 Key Data Points You Need to Track I want you to look at your dashboard and ask: “Do I actually have this number, and can I trust it?” Gross Margin by SKU: Not just overall, but by category and brand. Inventory Valuation: Real-time wholesale and retail value. 12–13 Week Cash Flow: A forward-looking projection of your bank balance. Net Revenue: Gross sales minus returns, fees, and discounts. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): What it actually costs to get a buyer through the door. Inventory Turn: How fast your product is moving by department. All-in Cost Per Unit: The landed cost including shipping and handling. Contribution Margin: Revenue minus all variable costs to see what truly goes toward profit. Your 3-Step Data Audit Don't just listen—take action today with these three simple steps: Step 1: Pull your P&L and go line-by-line. Ensure every expense is correctly categorized. Step 2: Confirm your bookkeeper is reconciling accounts monthly and delivering reports on time. Step 3: Check your POS. Ensure every SKU has an accurate cost associated with it. Final Thought: Stop treating your books like a tax document and start treating them like a GPS. Clean data leads to better decisions, which leads to stronger margins, which leads to cash. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

In this Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Judah Berger, AI Product Manager at Unframe.ai, joins Omni Talk to explore one of the biggest questions facing retail leaders today: how do you actually implement AI across an organization without creating operational chaos? Judah works directly with enterprises to turn AI from an exciting concept into scalable systems that solve real business problems, helping companies identify inefficiencies, design AI powered workflows, and deploy solutions employees can actually trust and use. As companies rush to adopt tools like ChatGPT and Claude, Judah explains why unrestricted experimentation can unintentionally create an “Excel on steroids” problem, where disconnected prompts and workflows multiply inconsistencies across the business. From AI governance and workflow orchestration to SKU intelligence, predictive inventory management, and a real world footwear retail case study that generated a reported 40x ROI, this episode offers a practical roadmap for retailers looking to operationalize AI responsibly while still encouraging innovation across their teams. Key Topics Covered: • 00:01:56 – The four major approaches retailers can take toward AI implementation • 00:05:21 – Balancing bottom up AI experimentation with enterprise wide governance • 00:17:40 – How organizations should identify, scope, and scale the right AI use cases • 00:21:26 – The technology, auditability, and infrastructure needed for scalable enterprise AI • 00:26:58 – Case study: How a footwear retailer used AI inventory intelligence to achieve a reported 40x ROI See our past 8 years of wonderful Spotlight Series podcast guests, featuring roughly 200 movers and shakers in retail, by clicking here: https://omnitalk.blog/category/spotlight-series-podcast/ #retailtech #AI #retailAI #inventorymanagement #retailoperations #SKUintelligence #supplychain #predictiveanalytics #enterpriseAI #generativeAI #retailinnovation #OmniTalk #retailpodcast #AIstrategy *Sponsored Content*

There's an old idea in M&A called the Rembrandt in the attic. A company owns something valuable — a brand, a patent, a customer list, a data set — and nobody inside the business sees it for what it is. The right acquirer walks in, looks at the same asset through a different lens, and recognizes a masterpiece.  Dori Yona spent six years and raised $14 million building what he thought was a price protection company for consumers. Earny tracked everything its users bought online and automatically clawed back refunds whenever the price dropped within the retailer's protection window.  The model never quite worked. After two rounds of layoffs, a shutdown plan presented to the board, and a move out of the Santa Monica office, Dori pivoted to selling the one thing the company had in abundance: SKU-level purchase data on 3.5 million users.  That pivot found the acquirer.  To a consumer packaged goods (CPG) giant trying to understand what shoppers were actually putting in their carts during COVID, the data was the prize. The consumer app was almost incidental. 

You're pulling in $25,000, maybe $30,000 a month on Amazon. Deposits are rolling in, ads are running, and inventory is moving. Looks like a real business, right? But here's the catch: your P&L — that profit and loss statement — is more than just an accounting document. Neil Twa breaks down why it's crucial for sustainable growth. We dive into real-world examples, like a home goods brand doing $18,000 a month with three SKUs. Neil shares three actionable moves to build your contribution margin per SKU this week. If you've been running your business off deposits and ad reports instead of a real P&L, you're not alone. The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast is here to guide sellers at every level, from $5K to $1M+ per month, to truly understand their numbers.

Most people don't think twice about the spice jar on their shelf. But behind it is a supply chain that can pass through 20 different hands — and that's exactly where quality, safety, and accountability break down. In this episode, Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl speak with Ori Zohar, co-founder and co-CEO of Burlap & Barrel, about how they're reshaping the spice industry by sourcing directly from smallholder farmers across 22 countries. Ori shares how Burlap & Barrel built a transparent, trust-based supply chain — no formal contracts, just long-term relationships — and how that model has helped them navigate real-world pressures like the pandemic, tariffs, and rapid scaling. He also gets into the operational side: how GS1 standards and barcoding became foundational tools for managing a 100+ SKU business across warehouses, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels.  This is a story about innovation, transparency, and the power of human relationships in building a sustainable supply chain.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why trust-based relationships with farmers outperform formal contracts How they responded to tariffs — without raising prices or passing costs to farmers The practical role GS1 standards play in managing a high-SKU, multi-channel business   Things to listen for: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (07:13) Third-wave spices and why a broad lineup demands better tracking (09:44) The Dr. Salunke story: transparency and traceability in action (13:23) Why contracts with farmers don't work (19:11) How to handle tariffs without raising prices (31:55) Navigating turbulence with a values-first strategy (32:36) How GS1 standards power their warehouse and retail operations   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.orgGS1 US on LinkedIn Register for GS1 Connect 2026, happening June 9 to 11 in Las Vegas, and get 10% off with the promo code GS1USPOD10 at connect.gs1us.org.   Connect with the guest: Ori Zohar on LinkedInVisit Burlap & Barrel at https://www.burlapandbarrel.com/ Follow Burlap & Barrel on Instagram  

Sellers running TikTok Shop alongside their Amazon listings are seeing ACoS drops of 30-50%. Neil Twa breaks down the mechanics behind this game-changing strategy on The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast. Discover how a husband-and-wife team selling collagen powder in the $35–$45 range boosted their sales from $22,000 by leveraging TikTok Shop. This episode delivers actionable steps for sellers at every level — from those just starting to $1M+/month operators. Neil shares three moves to optimize your ad spend: start by listing your top SKU on TikTok Shop. It's not just a trend; it's a strategy to enhance your margins.

If you're shipping AI product lines, are you measuring the two metrics that actually tell you whether your AI is making money — or burning it? In episode #371, Ben Murray covers two AI unit economics metrics every SaaS CFO and founder should be tracking today: the Inference Expense Ratio and the Work-to-Inference Ratio. Traditional SaaS metrics aren't enough anymore — and a year from now, when your board, investors, and potential acquirers start asking for AI margin and efficiency data, the companies that built the chart-of-accounts structure now will have clean answers. Everyone else will be scrambling. The Inference Expense Ratio (AI revenue ÷ inference cost) — and why you can start calculating this from your GL today if your chart of accounts is set up properly The healthy benchmarks: 10:1 for AI-infused products, 5:1 for AI-native, and why 3:1 is the warning zone where inference is silently eating your gross margin Why this metric only works if your chart of accounts cleanly separates AI revenue from non-AI revenue — and the SKU tagging that makes it possible The Work-to-Inference Ratio — how Salesforce's "agentic work units" concept lets you measure whether your AI is getting more efficient over time Why every AI product needs its own definition of a "work unit" — record updated, report generated, MCP called — and how the wrong definition will distort your margin trends The chart-of-accounts evolution every SaaS company needs right now: from SaaS-only structure to SaaS + AI, with new GL accounts for inference cost in DevOps COGS How the Inference Expense Ratio connects to Ben's ROSE metric — measuring revenue produced per dollar of employee, contractor, and agentic AI spend Tune in to get the AI unit economics framework in place — before your board and investors start asking the questions you can't answer. Resources Mentioned Ben's new AI course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ai-finance-metrics-saas ROSE metric: https://www.thesaascfo.com/saas-rose-metric/

There's a town in Texas called Round Top. Population eighty-seven. One square mile. And in that town, an artist named John Lowry sold a single painting for $141,500. (We toured his gallery on YouTube — link's right there in his name. Watch it before or after this episode.) That's the headline. Here's the part nobody tells you: he then sold roughly $60,000 more in reproductions of that same image. Same painting. Different mediums, different sizes, different price points. One image, two hundred grand. That is not luck. That is not a once-in-a-lifetime fluke. That is a system. And the same system is what Gray Malin uses to run a 4,156-SKU catalog with 221 variants of certain images. The same system is what Wyland — yes, that Wyland — uses to sell 972 products across 45 different mediums, raising prices roughly 10% a year for the last sixteen years. This episode deconstructs the engine that makes all of that possible. Print on Demand and the sample ladder aren't two ideas. They're one engine. The artists at the top of this business have figured that out. Most artists haven't. We're going to fix that today. But first — a quick rant about what gets in the way. In this episode: The $141,500 painting in a town of 87 people — and why the second sale is the lesson The knife salesman pivot: why Print on Demand is a sample tool first, a profit tool second Hobbyist or business? The honest question every artist has to answer The Drain — four ideas clogging up most art businesses (you can't run a business / you can't run sales or marketing campaigns / you can't be perceived a certain way / never discount your work) — and why every pro you admire threw all four of them out Why we study the masters: you studied Van Gogh and Ansel Adams in art school. Time to study the people doing it best in the business of art. Gray Malin, deconstructed: 4,156 SKUs, 16-year escalator, 221 variants of single images. What an artist with a real engine looks like under the hood. Wyland, deconstructed: 972 products across 45 mediums. The 10%-a-year price escalator that compounds for decades. The catalog as a museum gift shop. The Range Unlock: your catalog isn't N images. It's N images × M mediums × P price points. Most artists are sitting on 100x more inventory than they think. Same image. Every price point. Why this is the single most important sentence in your art business. The bottom rung IS the sample: a $20 mug isn't a giveaway, it's a customer-acquisition machine wearing a price tag The Buc-ee's flex: how the cheap stuff at the front door funds the expensive stuff at the back wall John Lowry, the customer mirror: an Art Storefronts customer in a one-square-mile Texas town doing exactly what Malin and Wyland do — at his scale. Proof this isn't a billionaire-only game. (Watch the full studio tour on YouTube.) "You don't sell JPEGs" — the Brooks rant about why a digital file is not a product, and what the pros actually sell How the Six Basics from The Long Game show up — receipt by receipt — in all three of these businesses The artichoke storage room (you'll know what this means by the end) This week's homework: audit your own catalog the way we just audited Malin and Wyland. Take your top 5 best-selling images. Count how many mediums you currently offer them in. Count how many price points. Now ask: could I responsibly add three more variants of each, this week, with Print on Demand? If the answer is yes — and it almost always is — you just found revenue you already earned but haven't collected yet. Resources mentioned: John Lowry of Humble Donkey Studio — the full video tour on YouTube (the original 2024 interview referenced throughout this episode) Humble Donkey Studio — John Lowry's website Humble Donkey on Instagram Gray Malin — the catalog we deconstruct Wyland — the other catalog we deconstruct Art Storefronts — the website + storefront engine built for working artists Related episodes: Why Your Website Will Still Be Working in 2055 — The Long Game (the parent episode this one builds on) Humble Donkey Studio — the original John Lowry interview, July 2024 All Oars In — The Anatomy of a Sale Nothing New Under the Sun — The Rules That Actually Sell Art So: which 78-year-old version of yourself wins? The one still asking what to post on social media, or the one running a real engine — same image, every price point, compounding every year? You don't have to be in a billionaire's neighborhood to do this. You can be in Round Top, Texas. Population 87. The engine doesn't care where you live. It cares whether you build it.

We Like Shooting - Ep 660 This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: Midwest Industries (Code: WLSISLIFE) Die Free Co. (Code: WLSISLIFE) Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Flatline Fiber Co (Code: WLS15) Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171  Public   Show Titles   GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 Gear Chat [Ruger] RXM The Ruger RXM is a striker-fired pistol designed with a grip angle similar to the 1911 for natural point of aim, featuring a polymer frame developed in collaboration with Magpul. It incorporates a modular FCI (fire control insert) system allowing frame swaps without a new background check and is compatible with Gen 3 Glock parts, holsters, sights, and lights. Reliability testing showed 800 rounds fired without failures, with suppressor-height tritium night sights and direct optic mounting for RMR, DPP, or RMSC footprints. Cost: MSRP $539 / Street ~$438 Special: FCI (fire control insert) system for modularity enabling frame swaps Note Ruger RXM Review [Hi-Point] Hush-Point 30 The Hush-Point 30 is a lightweight, modern suppressor designed for .30-caliber centerfire rifles like the AR-15, available in titanium and Inconel models. It features advanced flow-through technology that directs gas away from the shooter to reduce over-gassing in direct-impingement systems. The suppressor is HUB compatible and includes 1/2×28 and 5/8×24 threads for .223 and 300 Blackout calibers.0 Availability: Shipping now. Available at Guns.com (titanium: https://www.guns.com/silencers/p/hi-point-hush-point-30-ti?i=654780, Inconel: https://www.guns.com/silencers/p/hi-point-hush-point-30-inconel?i=654767).0 Cost: MSRP: Inconel $822.88, titanium $846.81.0 Special: Advanced flow-through technology that vents gas forward to reduce over-gassing, especially for direct-impingement systems; HUB compatible; includes 1/2×28 and 5/8×24 threads.0 [Inland Manufacturing] Model 1910 The Inland Manufacturing Model 1910 is a suppressor for the M1 Carbine platform, replicating the original Maxim Silencer design with modern internals. It features a monoblock monocore construction that allows easy servicing without removal from the barrel, even for cleaning, and includes an offset bore. Compatible with .30 caliber and .357/9mm calibers, it provides a throwback to early 20th-century suppressor technology patented by Hiram Percy Maxim. Availability: Shown at NRAAM 2026; available at Guns.com (https://www.guns.com/silencers?product.manufacturer=INLAND%20MANUFACTURING) Special: Monoblock monocore design with offset bore; can be cleaned without removing from barrel Note (Nick) Bus Built Projects [RevoMag] RevoMag (Nick) The RevoMag is a revolver reloading device designed to be faster than a speedstrip and more concealable than a traditional speedloader. It features a polymer magazine-style body with a reversible pocket clip, compatible with calibers such as .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .327 Magnum. Proudly made in the USA for everyday carry and personal protection. Special: Magazine-style reload with squeeze-to-release mechanism and reversible pocket clip68 Bullet Points Gun Fights No one stepped into the arena this week. The Agency Brief Agency Update “The government looked at a piece of plastic on the back of a rifle, panicked, and spent ten years proving that gun control is a complete myth.” THE INTEL (THE STORY) The Play-by-Play: 1989 Catalyst: The Stockton school shooting gives gun control groups their emotional leverage. The media pivots away from the shooter's massive rap sheet to demonize the “evil” semi-auto rifle. What the Media Lied About: They flat-out lied that military machine guns were flooding the streets. Anti-gun activist Josh Sugarmann explicitly published this strategy: exploit the public's confusion between semi-autos and fully automatic weapons to manufacture outrage. The Architects: Bill Clinton needed a “tough on crime” headline. Sen. Dianne Feinstein drafted the ban, later admitting her true goal on 60 Minutes: “If I could have gotten 51 votes… for an outright ban… Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in; I would have done it.” What It Actually Did: Banned 19 specific firearms and semi-autos equipped with two or more “scary” cosmetic features (bayonet lugs, flash suppressors, folding stocks, pistol grips). It also capped new magazines at 10 rounds. The Backroom Deals: Democrats didn't have the votes for a permanent ban. They negotiated a 10-year sunset clause and grandfathered in millions of existing firearms, gambling they could just expand it later. The Workaround: The industry adapted overnight. Manufacturers removed the banned cosmetic plastic and sold functionally identical rifles. Congress literally regulated aesthetics. 2004 Sunset: The ban expires. An official, DOJ-funded study by Christopher Koper concludes the ban did absolutely nothing to reduce gun violence. The Reality Check (Hidden Incentives): Conditioning the Public: This was a psychological op to condition Americans to accept the government banning entire categories of firearms based purely on Hollywood aesthetics. Incrementalism: Lawmakers knew a total gun ban wouldn't fly, so they established the “feature test” as a foothold for future, broader bans. The True Target: The feature ban was mostly temporary political theater; starving the civilian market of standard-capacity magazines was their real long-term objective. Market Impact: They hoped shifting regulations would bankrupt the tactical firearms market with compliance red tape. Instead, they inadvertently birthed the massive modern AR-15 industry. THE 2A ANGLE (LEGAL & IMPACT) The Threat: The '94 ban is the exact blueprint tyrannical blue states (CA, NY, IL, WA) use today to terrorize FFLs and castrate standard rifles. They took a proven federal failure and turned it into permanent state-level law. For modern FFLs, this means SKU-by-SKU compliance nightmares, massive inventory risks, and the constant threat of a new federal ban—which, next time, likely won't include a grandfathering clause. Bruen Test: Text: The Second Amendment protects “arms.” Semi-auto centerfire rifles and standard capacity magazines are plainly protected arms. History & Tradition: There is zero founding-era analogue for restricting arms based on ergonomic grips or muzzle devices. The Founders didn't ban repeating arms when they emerged. Heller / McDonald Check: Arms “in common use for lawful purposes” are fundamentally protected. With over 24 million AR-15s in civilian hands right now, they undeniably satisfy the common use standard. Banning them violates the core of Heller. Bruen kills the feature-test dead; rogue appellate courts are simply playing games to delay the inevitable. Regulatory Creep: The Expanding Ratchet: The feature test is a backdoor trap. It started with bayonet lugs and flash hiders, then moved to pistol braces, threaded barrels, and parts kits. Fluid Definitions: Current AWB proposals name over 200 firearms and reduce the threshold to just one aesthetic feature. The Handgun Endgame: Once society accepts that a semi-auto action plus a detachable mag equals a “weapon of war,” your daily-carry Glock 19 or P365 is logically next. Agency Update 94-04 AWB coming next? WLS is Lifestyle Note Secret Service LPVO Drip Imgur Image yYOLY0f The provided URL points to an Imgur page at https://imgur.com/yYOLY0f. Page content indicates JavaScript is disabled, preventing access to the image or any details. No firearms, cultural elements, or product information is accessible or stated. The Alley Not Stated The webpage is a news article about an Oakland County man charged in a deadly shooting of a teen burglar. It mentions a generic ‘9mm' firearm used by the man in self-defense context, with no manufacturer or model name specified. No technical gear details matching the required format are explicitly provided. Going Ballistic ATF NFA Division: Over 1 Million Forms Processed in 2026, 6 Million Suppressors Registered (Savage) The ATF's National Firearms Act (NFA) Division processed over 1 million NFA forms in the first four months of 2026, surpassing previous annual totals due to the elimination of the $200 tax stamp for suppressors and short-barreled firearms effective January 1, 2026. Over half of these were Form 4 applications for suppressor transfers, with nearly 6 million suppressors now registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) as of April 2026. This marks a historic surge, with 2026 registrations rivaling decades of prior accumulation. The Gist: National (United States): ATF NFA Division and National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR); applies nationwide to NFA items like suppressors and short-barreled firearms. Impact: Elimination of $200 tax stamp for suppressors and short-barreled firearms effective January 1, 2026, caused surge in processing (over 1 million forms in first 4 months of 2026 vs. 1.37 million in all of 2024); over 5.99 million suppressors registered as of April 10, 2026. Bottom Line: Historic surge in NFA adoption post-tax elimination, with 2026 early-year forms exceeding prior annual records and suppressor registrations rivaling 76 years (1934-2010) of prior totals. Post-Bruen Gun Rights Cases: Wolford v. Lopez, United States v. Mitchell, United States v. Hemani, Viramontes v. Cook County, and Roberts v. ATF (Savage) The article details several post-Bruen Supreme Court and lower court cases challenging restrictions on public carry, prohibited-person statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), AR-15 bans, and NFA registration requirements....

Thinking about adding more products to fix slow sales? In this episode, I break down the SKU problem that no one talks about as you grow a product-based business. Did you know more products can drain your margins, dilute your marketing, and create operational chaos? Here's how to recognize when your product line is actually working against you and how to fix the problem before it costs you. Tune in to learn how to stop managing mess and start focusing on the hero products that drive clarity and sustainable profit.In This Episode, You'll Learn:00:00 Why adding more products is not the answer to your business.03:30 Why product businesses end up with too many SKUs.05:30 The profit and margin problem no one talks about.07:00 What happens when your marketing tries to sell too many things?08:45 Why do customers get confused and stop buying?09:15 How to identify your hero products and what to let go of.11:00 The shift from managing more to simplifying smarter.12:00 The fastest way to simplify and become more profitable.Resources + LinksReady to stop guessing and follow a proven system? Book your strategy call HERE!Get business tips sent right to your inbox - join the newsletter!Watch on YouTubeFollowJacqueline on IG: @theproductbosstheproductboss.com