The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

Step into the rebellious side of marketing with this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. Molly Pittman from Smart Marketer joins to rip up the rulebook on conventional advertising. We dive into the creation of "Goodsellas," a grassroots, "Goodfellas"-inspired commercial that flips traditional marketing on its head. Their conversation reveals the intricacies of creating a commercial that’s n...

"Buying a business is so much faster than building one and so much safer if you buy big enough." Also on YouTube: youtu.be/BuDtoDsC4tA Get the inside scoop on buying and selling Shopify stores from Gregory Elfrink at Empire Flippers. From the highs of a $13 million payday to the lows of emotional burnout, Gregory spills the secrets and dirty truths of the business game. Gregory, with over eight ye...

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fIDw3fvPPgI Unpack the intricacies of Shopify's Checkout Extensibility— a feature poised to revolutionize online commerce. Michael Elmgreen, Shopify's Product Director, discusses the rationale behind this upgrade, enhancing security and streamlining customization. Blake Waldron provides a developer's-eye view of the migration, shedding light on the nuanced challen...

Reprise Activewear founder Mary Bemis takes us through her incredible journey from launching a Kickstarter campaign to building a sustainable activewear brand that has caught the attention of Self Magazine and The View. She opens up about the gritty realities of bootstrapping—dealing with shady manufacturers, losing thousands, and balancing a day job while building her brand. This episode is a dee...

Get ready for a deep dive into what really makes customers stick around or peace out. Professor Daniel McCarthy unravels the myths around churn rates and why a low number isn't always a high-five moment for businesses. If data drives your decisions, this episode is an indispensable resource for anyone navigating the complexities of subscription businesses. Show Links Retention Spreadsheet PPT Deck...

Vicky Pasche, a Shark Tank alum and co-founder of Dapper Boi, reveals how a personal quest for authenticity led to the creation of a groundbreaking apparel line. Dapper Boi's innovative apparel line challenges traditional fashion norms by offering all-gender, size-inclusive clothing. Vicky discusses her journey from personal struggle to entrepreneurial success, touching on the brand's origins, its...

Unlocking Shopify Flow: Automation Insights with Paul Nuschke & Matti Pihlainen In this bonus episode we dive deep into the world of Shopify Flow with two remarkable guests. Paul Nuschke, the Senior Product Lead at Shopify, and Matti Pihlainen, a successful merchant who implemented Flow at Full Cycle, join us to explore the power of automation in e-commerce. Episode Highlights: Introduction to Sho...

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DcptOEqEACw Join Kurt Elster, host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, as he sits down with Lawson Thalmann, CTO of Chalet Nursery, to discuss how they’ve transformed their family business with Shopify POS. Lawson shares insights into their journey from legacy systems to cutting-edge retail technology. Guest Background: Lawson Thalmann, CTO of Chalet Nursery, has b...

Sit down with the insightful Mat De Sousa, a trailblazing Shopify app developer whose creations, Wide Bundle and Wide Review, have generated enviable annual recurring revenues. His story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that flourishes within the Shopify community and serves as inspiration for anyone looking to innovate in this space. Listen in as we explore the art of transforming a s...

Mary Bemis, the founder of Reprise Activewear, shares her experience using Shopify’s Magic Media Editor and its AI features. Guest Background: Mary Bemis founded Reprise Activewear six years ago, starting with a successful Kickstarter campaign. Her brand focuses on sustainability, using plant-based materials to create high-quality activewear. Despite bootstrapping her business, Mary has grown Repr...

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mi3iKmZBxRE We’ve got all the highlights from the Shopify Editions.dev conference in Toronto. With exclusive insights from Harley Finkelstein, Shopify's president, we unpack the exciting upcoming updates designed to keep the Shopify intuitive admin interface effortless for all merchants, big and small. Show Links editions.dev Shopify Editions | Summer '2...

"Faire really helps us connect and buy wholesale merchandise, and it's cheaper than trade shows." Discover how 'FAIRE really helps us connect and buy wholesale merchandise,' as Emily Grey of Flourish Market explains the transformative effects of integrating Faire with Shopify, a B2B platform for retailers to buy products for their shops. Emily offers key insights into pricing strategies and tackle...

Get the inside scoop on how to revolutionize your affiliate content game. It's not just about what you say, but how you say it. Dive into the strategies that are setting today's affiliate marketers apart from the pack. Forget what you thought you knew about affiliate marketing; it's not just bloggers and review sites anymore. We're talking influencers, social media creators, and yes, even your own...

Also available with video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/-qxIqPtAYhE Join us as we explore the journey of Kelly Oriard and Kaylee Christensen, founders of Slumberkins, an emotional wellness brand dedicated to fostering children's self-esteem and mindfulness. Learn how these educators-turned-entrepreneurs brought Bigfoot and Sloth to life and navigated high-stakes environments like Shark Tank and the...

Join us with SEO expert Jason Berkowitz as we dissect e-commerce SEO. We're cutting through the noise of AI content and zeroing in on standout strategies. It's all about making your site visible online, illustrated by a case study on an outdoor sports gear brand. We're not just talking SEO basics; we're giving you actionable strategies for Shopify stores to turn browsers into buyers. We go beyond...

"It's just a hell of a lot easier to optimize a business than to start something from scratch." Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tbVh1J1sOEQ ​​ Drew Sanocki has a knack for transforming struggling businesses into profitable ventures. In this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, host Kurt Elster taps into Drew's extensive experience to uncover the strategies that have driven his su...

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DFUi5Cq8Yuo We're slicing deep into the world of e-commerce with Isaac Medeiros, the man behind MiniKatana and Kanpai Foods. After using TikTok to sell out of his swords, he's become bearish on the platform and gone all in on YouTube Shorts. Isaac's ingenious marketing on YouTube Shorts has racked up a billion views and millions of subscribers. More rece...

Detroit's Mia Ray took her passion for fashion from a blog to a $50M Glam-aholic empire Watch: https://youtu.be/OqGQTRpjuJQ From her roots in Detroit, Mia dishes on turning a passion for fashion into a flourishing lifestyle empire, all while keeping it real and relatable. We dive into the highs and lows of building a brand, the game-changing role of social media, and how staying true to yourself c...

Could you turn your geeky hobby into a thriving business? In this week’s episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, we follow Mike Freeman, the mastermind behind Fourth Moon Toys, as he shares his transformative journey from a casual Star Wars collector to the owner of a booming online and retail business. Drawing on his experiences from the early days of internet trading to launching a niche mark...

We're talking AI chatbots as a top of funnel marketing medium with Recycled Firefighter founder Jake Starr. Jake spills the tea on turning his unique products (recycled firehose American flags!) into a digital sensation earning 20,000 email subscribers monthly, thanks to his new chatty AI sidekick. Dive into the fun and quirky world of Jake's creation 'Josh' the sales bot, and uncover how AI is th...

Did you know over 60% of online experiences start with a search engine? In e-commerce, visibility in these search results is crucial for success. This episode dives into SEO Tools & Tactics for Shopify. Joining us is experienced SEO professional Patrick Rice, who shares the strategies and tools he uses with his Shopify clients. We delve into the practical use of tools like SEMrush, Matrixify, and...

What if the simple act of asking your customers the right questions could transform your e-commerce store? From segmenting audiences to personalizing product recommendations, guest Chanti Zak shows how quizzes can do more than just engage—they can drive sales and deepen connections. Join us as we uncover the hidden power of quizzes in the digital marketplace, where every answer can lead to a new d...

"The financially sound & successful e-commerce businesses are lean as long as they can be. They keep costs down and are just careful." – Matt Putra   Unlock the secrets to a more secure financial future with guidance from fractional CFO Matt Putra, whose expertise in cash flow management is a lifeline for e-commerce businesses swimming in unpredictable waters. Together with Matt, we dissect the st...

When Mike Yarbrough swapped his software development hat for a craftsman's apron to manage carpal tunnel syndrome, he didn't just mend his physical ailments—he forged a new path as an entrepreneur. Rustic & Main sprouted from his love for woodworking, evolving from a garage project into a bustling hub where historic materials are transformed into rings with stories. This episode peels back the cur...

"We were the luckiest people in the world to be able to do this stuff." Full Video Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fEUf9MTXk4c This week, I'm joined by Preston Rutherford, co-founder of the Chubbies Shorts empire that's been redefining men's fashion with a splash of retro and an avalanche of fun since 2011. Preston, a Stanford grad with a knack for spotting gaps in the fashion world, shares...