The Checkout

A 145% tariff isn’t just a price hike—it’s a slow-motion business killer. In this episode, the crew sits down with Cuts founder Steven Borrelli to talk about his viral open letter to Trump, the fallout from the latest tariffs, and how eCom brands can survive a 145% hit to their margins. We cover survival tactics, pricing strategies, manufacturer loopholes, and why most people on Twitter are gettin...

This Hidden E-commerce Giant Makes BILLIONS In Plain Sight How a six-person team with a terrible website quietly built one of the biggest eCom businesses on the internet—and what the rest of us can learn from it. In This Episode: There’s a whole sector of eCommerce you’ve probably never thought about—brands that sell needs, not wants. This week, John, Bart, and guest host Nate Lagos break down the...

John recently got fired from his job. We reflect on whose fault it was, plus tell stories about losing jobs. Today we're chatting layoffs, copywriting breakthroughs, and why the top 10% of spenders might be your only real customers. We kick things off with a brutally honest conversation about getting fired—how it feels, what it means, and why it might actually be your fault. Then Bart drops a VC-b...

Today on the checkout we're talking about Post Malone reaching out to work with one of co-hosts brands and the secret "guy behind the guy" who has build Post Malone's empire into an Empire. We also talk about: How to do -celebrity and influencer collabs How to build product and personal brand identity. The offers by Amazon and OF to buy TikTok Getting professionally catfished AI ad hype die down -...

Kim Kardashian is teaming up with Nike with her brand, Skims. We give our takes on this, plus Poppy’s influencer vending machine backlash. From marketing moves to funding philosophies, we’re breaking down what works, what’s overhyped, and what smaller brands can learn from the biggest names in the game. - Kim Kardashian partners with Nike — genius move or gimmick? - Why Nike needed this… and why S...

If you're not selling something to people while they’re out living life… what are you even doing? In this episode of The Checkout, John, Zoe, and Bart dive into how brands can break out of the DTC echo chamber and actually stand out—through physical experiences, creative retail, and lo-fi entertainment. From coffee shops with sandboxes to vending machines in front yards, we explore all the ways br...

If you're not #1 in your category… your only hope might be to get really, really weird. In this episode of The Checkout, John, Zoe, and Bart (with Shack out this week) dive deep into what it takes to stand out in a saturated market. From Charleston Chew to Dr. Pepper, sliding mitts to Dad Gang hats, we break down the strategies behind products that win by being different—not bigger. We talk: - Why...

Today we're talking about how some businesses can make you a lot of money while others can make you rich, but almost none of them will get you both. ⚡ Subscribe for more eCommerce insights, brand breakdowns, and unfiltered takes! 📢 Follow us on social media: Nick Shackelford Twitter/X: https://x.com/iamshackelford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickshackelford/ Instagram: https://www.inst...

In this episode of The Checkout, we dive into a wild challenge—getting LeBron James to wear a DadGang hat! 🧢💥 Host [Your Name] is joined by DadGang co-founder Bart to brainstorm how to pull off this viral stunt. From designing the perfect hat to leveraging social media for maximum hype, we break down what makes challenge content work and why it could be a game-changer for brands. We also discuss...

Why do so many famous men have alcohol brands? Welcome back to The Checkout Podcast, where we break down the latest in eCommerce, brand building, and digital culture—with a little chaos along the way. In this episode, we get into: 💥 Why every famous guy has an alcohol brand (The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart—what’s the deal?) 💥 The rise of cannabis beverages and new mind-altering brands 💥 AI...