OPS Unfiltered

Paul Tittel and Chris Brunelli, founders of Surpass, explains on OPS Unfiltered why Shopify-native brands often break when transitioning from D2C "cowboy" freedom to the rigid, structured world of retail wholesale. They expose the "Copy and Paste Olympics" that plagues brands trying to jerry-rig D2C tech for EDI requirements, leading to costly chargebacks and operational gridlo...

Jared Ward sits down with Hamish McKay, the 23-year-old CEO of OrderEditing.com, to discuss how 1,400+ brands are automating the "messy" post-checkout experience. Hamish explains the specific 15-minute window after a customer hits "buy" where brands either lose thousands to support tickets or gain thousands in net new revenue. They dive into the controversial debate over self-s...

Jared Ward and Blair Forrest (AMZ Prep), break down the logistical failures of the "messiest Q4" in Amazon's history, where oversold AWD capabilities and frozen inventory led to massive losses and even bankruptcies. They talk about the "prisoner’s dilemma" of placement fees versus freight costs, revealing how floor loading and consolidation can slash shipping prices while...

Jared and Billy wrap up 2025 with a massive set of foundational updates for Luminous. In the December Product Update, Jared and Billy reveal: - AI-Generated Automations: Build and test workflows using plain English. - UOM Scan-to-Receive: Support for cartons, sleeves, and multi-packs. - Recoverable Stock Views: See what inventory can be reclaimed from wholesale packs. - Pick-to-Ship Automation: On...

Stop clicking and start scanning with major foundational updates for Luminous: Pick and Pack App: A dedicated warehouse tool for tote-ID and scanner workflows. AI-Powered Automations: A revamped UI that lets you build rules in plain English. Scan-to-Receive: Deeper QC for incoming shipments and purchase orders. Quick Assembly/Disassembly: See exactly what’s available to build or recover directly f...

What does it really take to build a hormone-safe beauty brand that can survive the move from startup to scale? Paige Hope, CEO of Elan Pure, joins Jared Ward to pull back the curtain on the "no-fluff" operational reality of the skincare industry, including a crystallization crisis that cost the brand hundreds of units. We break down the raw economics of US manufacturing, how to negotiate...

Jared Ward and Billy Bush introduce powerful features focused on wholesale management and financial control for the October Product Update: the Wholesale CRM now includes a dedicated "Sales" tab, offering enhanced functionality like Credit Memo sync with QuickBooks and tagging of contacts to customize notification automations. You can now establish parent/child company structures for ret...

In this September Product Update, Luminous introduces powerful features focused on financial and fulfillment control. We unveil customizable invoice templates and bi-directional Credit Memo sync with QuickBooks, streamlining wholesale AR management. Plus, learn how to set fulfillment priority preferences by customer, utilize the new Inventory Aging Report for better visibility, and manage all retu...

What if your ERP is secretly costing you 4X the price? Jon Blair, Free to Grow CFO founder, reveals the true cost and operational drag of the "NetSuite Trap" plaguing $20M+ ecommerce brands. He details the blueprint for right-sizing to a specialized tech stack (IMS + QuickBooks) and a fractional finance engine to slash costs. In this episode, learn how separating your GL from your operat...

Finally Solve Multi-Warehouse Chaos. Jared and Billy reveal a mega-update giving high-volume brands absolute control over complex operations. See the new fulfillment order "command center" with wave management, allowing you to cap 3PL orders and manage pre-orders by estimated ship date. Plus, Luminous now automates ASN (future receipt) creation to external WMS systems, eliminating manual...

"We’re removing the blind spots that cost brands time and money." In this Luminous Product Update, Jared and Billy highlight how Luminous now auto-assembles products at receipt, values in-transit inventory with precision, and reconciles stock across every location in one report. Plus, they unpack new returns management tools that integrate directly with Shopify, and a smarter cost alloca...

What if the data you rely on to ship, fulfill, and scale... is wrong? In this episode, Anthony Armstrong of Americanflat unpacks 15 years of experience in Amazon operations—from the early days of black hat tactics to building a modern multi-channel ecommerce engine. He shares what separates brands that stall at $1M from those that scale, why lean ops beats bloated systems, and how trusting the wro...

"Now you can do everything in Luminous, at the top of your supply chain." Billy Bush joins Jared Ward to share a major upgrade: Bill Pay is live inside Luminous. Plus, auto-recon for AWD-FBA transfers, full HTML doc customization, and a smarter global search that cuts through chaos in milliseconds. Meet Jared Ward Jared Ward is the founder and CEO of Luminous, the supply chain operating...

“The next $100M brand will be built by 10 people and AI.” Jay Davis, the mind behind Pillow Cube and several lean ecommerce ventures, believes ecommerce’s future belongs to lean, creative teams powered by automation, content, and AI. In this episode, he breaks down why bloated brands are out, retail isn’t dead, and how fractional teams and content libraries are key to scaling faster with less. If...

"We got our first inbound lead from ChatGPT." AI isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s operational. In this episode, Jared Ward (Luminous), Fabricio Miranda (Flieber), and Blair Forrest (AMZ Prep) break down how AI is actively reshaping ecommerce—from automated outbound and SEO pods to robotic fulfillment and intelligent data mapping. If you're in ops, this is a glimpse into your not-so-di...

"The Plaid for supply chain data." In this episode, TrackStar founders Daniel and Jeremy reveal how they went from a failed YC idea to building the universal API that's untangling backend chaos across commerce. Hear how a pivotal partnership with Luminous helped both teams scale, and why syncing warehouse data—not just passing it—was the breakthrough. Meet Daniel Langer Daniel Lange...

"The sales order stays whole, but fulfillment becomes flexible." In this deep dive, Jared Ward and Billy Bush unpack the thinking behind Luminous' new Fulfillment Order system—exploring how smarter multi-warehouse orchestration, dynamic routing, and automation rules are reshaping the future of commerce operations. From solving the complexities of split shipments to laying the ground...

"This year wasn’t just about what we accomplished—it was about what we learned." In Luminous Year in Review 2024, Jared Ward and Brendon Beebe unpack the defining moments of the year—discussing the wins, the setbacks, and the insights that will shape the future. Whether it’s game-changing innovation or the quiet shifts that make all the difference, this episode captures the essence of a...

What makes business in Asia unique? Join David Dayton as he shares his experiences living and working in Thailand, Taiwan, and China, unraveling the cultural nuances that shape business practices in the region. From the role of relationships and trust in Chinese business dealings to the cultural significance of overtime work and social bonding activities, this episode offers a clear look at how cu...

What if your emails could convert like a landing page? Join Brice Douglas, co-founder of Zaymo, as he shares the story of turning a simple idea from a BYU hackathon into a revolutionary email marketing platform. From Y Combinator to building a tool that transforms static emails into dynamic, interactive experiences, this episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of startup life—securing fundi...

"The real power of AI? It’s not in replacing systems—it’s in making them smarter." This episode of OPS Unfiltered dives deep into a dynamic conversation with Fabricio Miranda, CEO of Flieber, on how AI is reshaping business operations in ecommerce and retail. From disrupting supply chain tools to transforming junior-level tasks, Fabricio, Jared, and Brendon debate whether AI can truly de...

Is your brand strategy strong enough to withstand ecommerce pitfalls? In this episode, Tana Cofer shares her journey from corporate life at Pattern to founding RosieRai and Glitter Faced. She provides valuable insights on brand potential, omnichannel strategies, and the impact of technological advancements in marketing. Tana also discusses inventory management on platforms like Amazon and the impo...

Tune in to the latest episode of OPS Unfiltered as Jared Ward and Brendon Beebe shares how Luminous blazes a path - hitting a milestone of $1 million in ARR and setting their sights on $10 million. Jared and Brendon reveal how the team is leveraging AI, hackathons, and NetSuite CRM enhancements. Plus, meet Jordan Bush, Luminous backend developer genius, and hear the latest insights from industry e...

From college grad to SaaS leader, meet Tanner Chatterley, CEO of OrderProtection.com. He shares how he mastered the VC hustle at Route, pivoted for success, and built OrderProtection through smart partnerships, tech, and exceptional customer service. Unpack the secrets of collaboration, company culture, and the power of listening to your customers. All these and more on the latest episode of OPS U...