Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

Most brands put a huge amount of time and effort into hiring staff — multiple rounds of interviews, reference calls, take-home assessments. So why don’t brands put the same effort into hiring an agency? In this episode, Taylor and Richard talk through the 5 questions to ask an agency before you hire them … and who you should seek the answers from. Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open...

Welcome back to another episode of the E-Commerce Playbook Podcast! Today's episode is one for the books, featuring a guest who needs no introduction other than "your mom's favorite." Yes, you heard that right, it's none other than Alan Doan, co-founder of the Missouri Star Quilt Company, a.k.a Dr. Bill Nye on Twitter! In this episode, Alan shares the fascinating journey behi...

Big news from Meta this week: “Engaged” audiences are now available for reporting in Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns. But what does this change really mean for brands, and how is it useful if you can’t optimize against it? CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin joins Richard on the pod this week to talk about the rollout of the Engaged Customers Audience and how you can harness it to get insigh...

In this episode, Taylor and Brian Garofalow take listeners on a captivating journey through Brian's remarkable career path, tracing his evolution from a passionate skateboarder in Southern California to his current leadership role as CEO of Skullcandy. Throughout their discussion, Taylor and Brian—affectionately known as BG—explore the pivotal moments, challenges, and lessons learned along the...

In our recent DTC Index Monthly report, we analyzed the ways Meta seems to have “broken” over the last several weeks. But if Meta’s broken, what can you do about it? On this episode of the pod, Taylor and Richard dive deep into what to do — and what NOT to do — when the fundamental system your ads are built on stops working properly. Show Notes: Sign up for the DTC Index here: https://www.dtcindex...

In this episode of the State of the Ecommerce Industry brought to you by the DTC Index, we dive into the hot topics swirling around the ecommerce landscape. Join us as we dissect the noise surrounding Meta's performance, the impact of the Super Bowl, and the Valentine's Day shopping frenzy. Our team of experts, including Jeremiah Prummer from KnoCommerce, Wyatt Mayhem from Cast Metrics, Ya...

Dive into the fascinating journey of Duke Cannon Supply Co. on the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast! Join Chris Lutz, Director of Digital and Ecommerce, as we explore the brand's unconventional path to success—from specialty retail to major chains like Target and Walmart. Discover how Duke Cannon's unique packaging and merchandising strategy sets them apart on every shelf. Chris shares insights...

Inertia is as much a law of organizational dynamics as it is a law of physics. So what do you do about it?  On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard discuss Taylor’s recent week working directly with client accounts and his observations on the absolute importance of motivating your team to swift, decisive action. Show Notes: Get started with CTC’s Prophit System here .

Welcome to a new episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast! In this interview, we delve into the success story of Carnivore Snax, one of the fastest-growing brands in e-commerce, breaking barriers by selling food online with an insane GQ score of 226.8. Mark Ritz, the founder and CEO, shares insights into the unique challenges of selling meat snacks on the internet and the brand's journey. Dis...

Join Taylor and Richard as they dive into the T-shaped marketer concept by Brian Balfour, exploring key skills at the base, marketing foundation, and channel expertise layers. Taylor emphasizes specialization and taking bets on emerging channels for career success. Tune in for actionable insights and expert advice on excelling in e-commerce marketing. Subscribe now for more valuable discussions! S...

Travis and Taylor, a new album announcement from Beyoncé, a Martin Scorsese-directed ad — the Super Bowl was a night of massive cultural moments.  On this episode, Taylor (Holiday) and Richard sit down to discuss the biggest night in advertising, the necessity of creating outsized cultural moments for any brand, and whether those Temu ads made any sense. Show Notes: See how Oddit can help, or get...

🚀 Exciting News in Ecommerce! 🚀 Get ready for a wild ride as we dive deep into the chaotic world of ecommerce with the masterminds behind the scenes. In this video, we are thrilled to introduce our powerhouse team, each bringing their unique expertise and data to the table. Meet Yarden, the Co-founder and CEO of Varos, a massive data co-op sitting on a treasure trove of information from 6,000 e-...

Tune in to the latest episode of the E-commerce Playbook Podcast! In this episode, Taylor dissects the success of Jones Road Beauty with Cody Plofker, CRO of Jones Road Beauty. Discover their outstanding GQ score of 177.39 and unparalleled spending power, making them a true outlier in the beauty industry. Learn about the collaboration between Common Thread Collective and Jones Road Beauty in build...

The most crucial role on any ecommerce creative team isn’t the strategist, it’s the Creative Operations Manager. So why do so few ecommerce brands and agencies have this role? On this episode, Taylor and Richard discuss the importance of this role, how we deploy creative ops at CTC, and what characteristics to look for in a Creative Ops Manager. Show Notes: Get started with CTC’s Prophit System he...

After relaunching the email marketing service at Common Thread Collective, Taylor and Richard sit down to discuss how our service has changed since the last time we’ve offered it, how we plan email campaigns to maximize revenue, and how the scope of email marketing can — and should — expand beyond retention. Show Notes: Get started with CTC’s Prophit System here . The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is...

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast! In this interview episode, we sit down with Cherene Aubert, the VP of Digital and Ecommerce at ILIA Beauty, a powerhouse beauty brand with a GQ score of 221.  Cherene shares her expertise in decoding growth strategies, dissecting the DNA of successful ecommerce giants, and navigating the nuanced world of cosmetics and sk...

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co In this episode, CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin takes a turn on the mic, demonstrating how to forecast revenue for the most important, predictable source of revenue: Email.

aylor recently set off a firestorm on DTC Twitter/X by claiming that “top-of-funnel” platforms — those that claim to raise brand awareness without any clear path to conversion lift — is essentially a scam.  On this episode, Taylor and Richard dig into the thinking behind that clickbait headline, breaking down exactly why channels like TV are a dangerous temptation to ecommerce operators. Show Note...

In today's episode, we interview Dave Huffman, CMO of Ancestral Supplements, a unique and rapidly growing brand with a GQ score of over 397. Discover their market positioning, the power of community, and their innovative approach to product development. Join us for insights into health trends, effective marketing, and the success story of Ancestral Supplements.  Show Notes: Want an easier way...

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co It’s a common question: Where is the biggest opportunity for me to spend my advertising dollars? In this episode, Taylor lays out exactly where the vast majority of smaller businesses should be allocating their marketing budget.

On this episode of the podcast, CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin sits down with Richard to identify the key characteristics of the brands that are best set up to thrive in 2024’s profit-first environment. Show Notes: Get started with CTC’s Prophit System here . The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about th...

Welcome to the first episode of a new series on the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast! In this series, we step aside from the usual interviews and dive into the world of brand operators, exploring successful brands through the lens of their GQ score (Growth Quotient). To kick off the series, we interview Dave Rekuc, President of Bambu Earth, our own brand with a GQ score of 119.7. Explore the strengths a...

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co As the post-holiday slump hits, many brands are facing a dreaded “revenue valley” — a down moment where people just aren’t buying. In this episode, Taylor unpacks the tactics you need to survive any post-peak revenue hangover.

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard shift focus from long-term 2024 predictions to the most important trends happening right now — the decline of the “Head of Growth” role, the shift toward fixed fees for vendors, the rise of the Chief Operating Officer, and more.  Show Notes: Get 30 free days of Toki’s cutting-edge customer loyalty platform (including cashback and paid membership p...

As we enter a new year, Taylor and Richard walk through 5 critical ecommerce trends that we expect to take off in 2024. 1. The rise of the product influencer brands 2. Less, better stuff trend 3. The ***** grift comes to an end 4. Contribution margin shows up in Shopify Dash 5. ****** bubble pops Gotta listen to fill in the blanks... Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at...