Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

Funding growth is incredibly hard, especially for brands that are just starting to scale. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Stephen Duke, head of marketing and growth at Wayflyer. “The thing that determines the health of so many ecommerce businesses is their financial engine: how well they are using the right finance tools and thinking about finance.” Show Notes: Get started with Wayflyer: www....

What’s the secret behind massive wins on Facebook? In this episode, Andrew goes back to Facebook ad basics: what works, and what doesn’t. “There are times when the thing that really moves the needle is the product. Or, put more simply, the offer.”

First it was supply chain disruptions, and now it’s … warehouse disruptions? In this episode, Andrew talks about brands currently experiencing an abundance of inventory, the problems this is causing, and how businesses should respond. “Our warehouses are now so backfilled that there’s all these containers and nowhere to put the stuff. Even Target has said publicly they’re going to cut prices in or...

How do you determine the percentage of revenue that goes toward your ad spend? In this episode, Andrew answers this question he received recently on Twitter. “This is a crucial question for any business. For ecommerce in particular, advertising is the key way you’re driving traffic to your site.” Show Notes: - Get started with Wayflyer ecommerce financing: https://bit.ly/3arbACq - Use the Unit Eco...

Retention is king right now, so what’s your strategy? In this episode, Andrew is joined by Yotpo Product Marketing Manager Judith Zhu where they discuss how to generate revenue with subscriptions for any type of business. “One of the most powerful levers you can pull is having subscriptions as a meaningful part of your business.” Show Notes: - Connect with Judith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judit...

What’s your greatest challenge right now? In this episode, Andrew talks through a problem he’s having trouble solving, and what he’s doing about it. (Spoiler: the key is breaking the problem down into smaller problems). “Despite the current macroeconomic moment, I still have to figure out how to help this client grow.”

The market decline is real — but is there hope? In this episode, Andrew casts a positive outlook for the future, and suggests this is the time to invest in growth. “There is a moment right now to capitalize amid all the doom and gloom in the ecommerce space.” Show notes: - Get started with YotPo subscriptions: https://bit.ly/YotpoSubscriptionsEcommPlaybook - Statlas: https://bit.ly/3MV23AP - Andre...

At the center of what you’re selling, what’s the most important? In this episode, Andrew talks about getting as clear as possible on the marketing messaging for your product. “You have to know what you are selling with total clarity, and in order to sell it well, you have to communicate that one thing more and better than everything else.” Show Notes: - Bambu Earth’s success: https://bit.ly/3xHG8c...

What’s on your mind as an ecommerce owner or operator? This episode, Andrew and special guest Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday cover 10 trending and top-of-mind ecommerce topics. “We’ll go big, we’ll go broad, we’ll go bitter and angry Twitter wars.” Show Notes: Subscribe to the Data Newsletter: https://content.commonthreadco.com/ecommerce-data-newsletter Mehtab's Twitter Account: https...

It is a fact that brands are pulling back on Facebook spend. They shouldn’t be. In this episode, Andrew explains why the return on Facebook ads is better than you think, where your money is going, and how your growth is happening. “When you start buying traffic of any kind, it affects all your channels. A steady decline in Facebook spend produces a steady decline in organic and paid. And, ultimate...

“Get really good” might seem like unhelpful advice, but there’s a principle behind it. In this episode, Andrew emphasizes the need to be great at some aspects of your business, and why doing so will set your brand apart from the rest. “The brands that are winning have some feature or element of their business that make them uniquely good. They’re great at something.” Looking to scale your business...

If you aren't happy with your business, it’s probably time to make some changes. In this episode, Andrew draws from his experience as a consultant coming in with a fresh perspective on a brand and its problems. “When I look at businesses, my only goal is to win for them. So I ask, ‘Why not do the thing that’s going to make you more money?’”

Quantity alone isn’t always better than quality. In this episode, Andrew does a deep dive into Facebook ad creative strategy. “It’s not just about the volume of ads, but the quality of ads. I believe you need both to be successful.”

Ever made it to the end of your promotion and realize you forgot something? In this episode, Andrew zooms into the mechanics of effective product launch and promotion strategies. “I’m going to give you five elements of executing a great promotional moment from start to finish.” Show notes: - Overview of the Four-Peaks Theory: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/ecommerce-marketing-calen...

If you’re a naturally productive person, skip this episode. For the rest of us, Andrew shares how he’s managing context switching and productivity. “I know I’m not alone in the challenge of working between multiple things at once.”

The world of DTC as we know it is behind us … or is it? In this episode, Andrew throws it back to the first few episodes of the show with a brief reflection on a broad question. “Is pure-play DTC over?”

What makes a good manager? In this episode, Andrew follows up on a comment he made in a previous conversation with Common Thread CEO Taylor Holiday about his biggest leadership mistakes. “As your organization grows, think about how you are scaling the team’s ability to function effectively and efficiently.”

More creative, greater efficiency. In this episode, Andrew explores the best creative strategy to get the most out of Facebook ads. “The basic idea is: How much creative can you put into your Facebook account and manage it as efficiently as possible?”

Where do you create value in your business? In this episode, Andrew demonstrates how to answer that question and why it is so important for your business’ success. “Where is the profit going to come from and what is going to make this worth my time? Get as clear as you can on that, and build everything possible in the business towards that.”

Why argue on Twitter when you can do it on a podcast instead? In this special episode, Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday and ecommerce heavy-hitter Nate Poulin (@DigitallyNative on Twitter) take over to settle years of Twitter debates in one podcast. “We both value the identity of being not just a public thinker, but an operator.”

What’s the right financial structure for your business? In this episode, Andrew applies Common Thread Collective’s Four-Quarter Accounting Principle across a range of different kinds of businesses. “One-size-fits-all heuristics are just a way to begin thinking and press into your business.“ Show Notes: Sign up for the Ecommerce Data Newsletter here: https://content.commonthreadco.com/ecommerce-dat...

What does a former CEO do after leaving the position? In this episode, Andrew gives some insights and learnings on being a CEO, and shares about the next step in his career (he’s not going far). “That means, for the sake of this show, it’s going to keep going!”

What would your boss say about your mistakes? In this episode, Andrew brings in Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday to “evaluate” his performance as CEO of 4x400. “It was such a gift to me, to get put into a position that I wasn’t ready for, and then to go and make a bunch of mistakes.”

What’s in it for the candidate? In this episode, Andrew shares his feedback on what he is seeing from recruiters during his job search. “My hope is to help you attract great talent, as well as to attract the right kind of people to your organization.”

Do you really know what you want in a job? In this episode, Andrew shares candid thoughts about his next steps in the current job market. “If you’re at a stopping point and you’re not sure what the next step in your career is, the best thing you can do is slow down and take a step away.”