305 | Data Over Ego: Pivoting & Listening to Customer Feedback | with Jim Phillips

Honest Ecommerce

#E-Commerce #Tech #Advertising #Advice #Digital #ECommerce #Marketing #Shopify #Shopify Expert Chase Clymer #Business #Industries #Podcasting Education

33:19

What’s the secret to lasting friendships? How does queer community show up through the ebbs and flows of life? And what’s the REAL story behind the “YMCA” song? In the first episode of Silver Linings, The Old Gays dive into an essential part of queer life: chosen family. They discuss the vital love, support, and sense of belonging that community provides, especially during life's toughest moments. They open up about what “queer” means to them, how chosen family has impacted their lives, and how to maintain close bonds over time–including their love for each other! “We’ve come a long way, baby.” Family isn’t just what you’re born with; it’s the people who show up, shape you, and stick around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 22:17

MP3•Episode home

As the Co-Founder & CEO of Graymatter Labs, Jim Phillips is currently creating plant based alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. Prior to Graymatter, he spent his career in early stage growth in both B2B & B2C SaaS platforms focused on digitizing commerce.

Jim helped build Charm.io to acquisition in 2022. He was a Former Leadership Team at Ritual responsible for the Midwest Region of the US market 0->$40M revenue. He also served a tenure at Ritual including launching the US market with Chicago as the company's first expansion city in 2016.

Prior to Ritual, Jim co-founded Fooda ($34M raised) & was on the founding team at HighGround (acq. July 18').

In This Conversation We Discuss:

[00:40] Intro
[01:19] Discovering a revolutionary product
[02:44] How D2C insights sparked a new venture
[04:14] Finding the right supplier for your product
[06:03] The black box of contract manufacturing
[07:16] Learning Meta ads to drive initial sales
[08:04] Launching subscriptions for wider reach
[09:09] Episode sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems
[12:22] The power of networking at industry events
[12:55] Overcoming a life-threatening health challenge
[14:42] Deciding to go all-in after a life-altering event
[15:54] Discovering your true customers through feedback
[17:28] Using data over ego to make better decisions
[18:32] How customer interactions shape your brand
[19:31] How to stay resilient through business challenges
[20:22] Solving growth challenges with the right strategy
[21:12] Graymatter for better focus and productivity

Resources:

Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
The first drinkable ADHD supplement https://trygraymatter.com/
Follow Jim Phillips https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-phillips-5978827/
Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

467 episodes

305 | Data Over Ego: Pivoting & Listening to Customer Feedback | with Jim Phillips

Honest Ecommerce

68 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Prior to Ritual, Jim co-founded Fooda ($34M raised) & was on the founding team at HighGround (acq. July 18').

In This Conversation We Discuss:

[00:40] Intro
[01:19] Discovering a revolutionary product
[02:44] How D2C insights sparked a new venture
[04:14] Finding the right supplier for your product
[06:03] The black box of contract manufacturing
[07:16] Learning Meta ads to drive initial sales
[08:04] Launching subscriptions for wider reach
[09:09] Episode sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems
[12:22] The power of networking at industry events
[12:55] Overcoming a life-threatening health challenge
[14:42] Deciding to go all-in after a life-altering event
[15:54] Discovering your true customers through feedback
[17:28] Using data over ego to make better decisions
[18:32] How customer interactions shape your brand
[19:31] How to stay resilient through business challenges
[20:22] Solving growth challenges with the right strategy
[21:12] Graymatter for better focus and productivity

Resources:

Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
The first drinkable ADHD supplement https://trygraymatter.com/
Follow Jim Phillips https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-phillips-5978827/
Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/

467 episodes

#E-Commerce #Tech #Advertising #Advice #Digital #ECommerce #Marketing #Shopify #Shopify Expert Chase Clymer #Business #Industries #Podcasting Education

All episodes

1
332 | Turning a Tree-Planting Mission Into a Global Brand | with Derrick Emsley 30:35

1 day ago30:35

30:35

Derrick Emsley is the co-founder and CEO of Tentree, a purpose-driven lifestyle apparel brand that plants ten trees for every product sold. With a background in environmental stewardship, carbon markets, and sustainable business strategy, Derrick leads Tentree’s mission to make regeneration scalable through consumer action. Since launching Tentree in 2012, Derrick has grown the brand into a category leader in sustainable apparel, helping plant nearly 100 million trees worldwide. Without relying heavily on paid media, his scaled impact through values-aligned partnerships, product storytelling, and community-powered growth. In 2021, he co-founded Veritree, a technology platform built to verify, monitor, and audit global reforestation with end-to-end transparency. Grounded in climate impact and systems thinking, Derrick focuses on building businesses that convert everyday consumption into measurable environmental good. Whether guiding Tentree’s brand vision or driving tech innovation with Veritree, he offers a blueprint for founders' scaling mission with integrity, traceability, and long-term environmental ROI. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:48] Intro [00:58] Naming the brand after the mission itself [01:55] Pivoting purpose into a consumer brand [03:54] Partnering with retailers to gain early traction [05:49] Running mission ops while scaling the brand [06:22] Building tech to verify real-world impact [08:22] Responding to unexpected product demand [10:10] Connecting funders to verified outcomes [11:35] Embedding impact to boost DTC performance [12:53] Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, Reach & Zamp [20:15] Building a global supply chain from scratch [23:21] Balancing co-founder strengths from day one [24:10] Creating decision fatigue with too much choice [27:33] Leveraging impact as a growth advantage Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Earth-First, sustainably made apparel that plant trees tentree.com/ Verified reforestation projects for your business veritree.com/tree-planting Follow Derrick Emsley linkedin.com/in/derrickemsley Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
331 | Persistence Powers Long-Term Growth | with Celeste Hilling 32:45

8 days ago32:45

32:45

Celeste Hilling is the founder and CEO of Skin Authority, a direct-to-consumer skin health technology brand focused on merging cosmetic performance with immune-boosting skincare. With a background in research, marketing, and tech, Celeste leads the development of biotech-powered formulations that deliver visible results while strengthening skin’s natural defenses. Since launching Skin Authority, Celeste has scaled the brand without paid media or a PR agency, leveraging strategic collaborations, emotional brand storytelling, and a rabid customer base to drive growth across North America and Europe. Her work has been featured on MSNBC, ABC, FOX, and in wellness circles as a fresh voice redefining beauty as part of whole-person health. Rooted in a science-backed, customer-led model, Celeste focuses on building high-retention product experiences powered by habit, transformation, and trust. Whether mentoring female founders or licensing next-gen skincare IP, she brings a playbook for scaling with authenticity, resilience, and long-term brand equity. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:42] Intro [00:54] Exploring wellness through skin health [01:18] Bringing science into a vanity-driven space [02:06] Educating consumers with purpose and clarity [03:09] Reframing wellness as a real market need [07:06] Estimating costs and timelines realistically [10:27] Building momentum through word of mouth [11:58] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, & Reach [17:02] Bootstrapping growth with strategic partners [18:41] Investing in backend infrastructure early [20:18] Launching Ecommerce from day one [23:19] Collaborating early to build awareness Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Best Skin Care Products for All Skin Types skinauthority.com/ Follow Celeste Hilling linkedin.com/in/celeste-hilling-8735a64 Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
Bonus Episode: Tweaking Tariffs to Maximize Margins Legally with Izzy Rosenzweig 22:29

12 days ago22:29

22:29

Izzy Rosenzweig is the founder and CEO of Portless, a supply chain platform helping ecommerce and DTC brands fulfill customer orders directly from China, cutting delivery times and unlocking cash flow through tax deferment and tariff optimization. A 10-year DTC veteran, Izzy first launched Browze in 2012, shipping over 2.5 million home and kitchen products globally. After building a China-based fulfillment center to improve customer experience, he saw an opportunity to help other brands bypass traditional U.S. warehouses, leading to the creation of Portless. Portless enables brands to ship faster, avoid upfront taxes, and reclaim working capital, transforming how modern operators manage logistics. Izzy's deep experience in cross-border fulfillment, HS code strategy, and tariff engineering gives him a unique lens into how ecommerce brands can survive regulatory shifts and thrive under pressure. With a margin-first, speed-to-cash mindset, Izzy helps brands reimagine global operations to win in today's volatile landscape, efficiently, legally, and profitably. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:43] Intro [00:56] Understanding the De Minimis model [02:36] Revealing the new customs entry methods [07:35] Clarifying tariffs vs. import taxes [08:25] Comparing global manufacturing options [09:30] Recognizing China’s manufacturing edge [10:36] Separating security from supply chains [12:24] Predicting the next tariff move [13:39] Balancing tariffs with tax reform [15:18] Pausing growth without clear policy [16:00] Deferring taxes to boost cash flow [20:02] Migrating platforms to save cash Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Follow Izzy Rosenzweig linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846 If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
330 | Self-Care Powers Sustainable Growth | with Mark Murrell 32:14

15 days ago32:14

32:14

Mark Murrell is the founder and operator behind Get Maine Lobster and Black Point Seafood, specializing in scaling premium direct-to-consumer seafood brands with a focus on operational agility, customer loyalty, and brand storytelling. Raised in Maine, Mark turned a love for local seafood into a nationwide business, mastering dock-to-doorstep logistics for live lobster delivery. Since launching in 2010, Mark has served over 500,000 customers, quadrupled his customer base, expanded into new categories like seafood appetizers and select beef, and acquired Maine Lobster Direct to deepen fulfillment capabilities. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Rachael Ray, ESPN, and national campaigns for Chase Bank, alongside collaborations with Momofuku and Geoffrey Zakarian. Rooted in a customer-first, margin-focused mindset, Mark builds brands that balance growth with sustainability. Whether scaling operations or evolving brand experiences, he brings a clear playbook for turning fresh products into loyal communities, efficiently, profitably, and with staying power. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:45] Intro [01:32] Highlighting specialty items for customers [02:44] Starting a business from personal experience [03:50] Delivering higher quality through logistics [04:59] Pitching new ideas with simple outreach [05:51] Adapting CRM systems for operations [06:39] Managing growth with limited capacity [07:47] Balancing two businesses during early growth [09:07] Surveying customers beyond product feedback [10:36] Aligning brand identity with buyer emotions [11:36] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, & Reach [16:41] Taking risks when the signs are undeniable [18:43] Launching internal marketing after early growth [20:21] Redesigning operations for more agility [22:48] Realizing early sales hide margin problems [27:26] Blending creativity with structured thinking [28:29] Building resilience through daily habits Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube #1 Lobster Delivery Service From Dock To Doorstep getmainelobster.com/ Premium Maine lobster and seafood across the U.S. and Canada blackpointseafood.com/ Follow Mark Murrell linkedin.com/in/mainelobster Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest . If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
329 | Strong Teams Start With Honest Founders | with Brian Anderson 33:23

22 days ago33:23

33:23

Brian Anderson is a seasoned CEO and entrepreneur who specializes in scaling high-growth consumer brands and preparing them for profitable exits. With a background that spans fitness, wellness, supplements, outdoor, and travel, Brian has operated in both startup and private equity environments, guiding companies through critical growth and turnaround moments. Over the last decade, Brian has led brands like AG1, Delsey Luggage, MELT Method, and 2XU, while also advising companies such as Pvolve, Moji, and Connecticut Cannabis Company. His leadership has helped generate hundreds of millions in revenue and multiple successful exits. Rooted in a hands-on, operator-first mindset, Brian partners with founders to level up strategy, streamline operations, and build teams that can scale. Whether he’s stepping in full-time or advising from the sidelines, Brian brings a clear playbook for helping founder-led companies hit the next stage of growth, efficiently, profitably, and with the endgame in mind. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:43] Intro [01:09] Focusing on wellness-driven consumer brands [03:03] Balancing product, ops, and financial reality [06:05] Delegating better at larger revenue stages [08:29] Mentoring weak spots before replacing them [10:22] Licensing major brands to grow fitness revenue [12:27] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, & Reach [17:34] Building credibility through past outcomes [18:47] Partnering with founders instead of leading solo [21:25] Positioning your company for a clean exit [24:08] Guiding founders through the exit process [26:48] Creating deal structures where everyone wins [28:43] Getting fractional help without full-time cost Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Follow Brian Anderson linkedin.com/in/smallpondgroup Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest . If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
Bonus Episode: Using SEO Data to Drive Shopify Revenue Gains with Kai Davis 27:24

26 days ago27:24

27:24

Kai Davis is the founder of Double Your Ecommerce and KeywordMagic.ai, two platforms helping Shopify merchants unlock sustainable growth through SEO, content, and email marketing. With over a decade of experience in digital strategy, Kai has worked directly with hundreds of Ecommerce businesses, offering fixed-price SEO services and tailored growth playbooks that prioritize results over complexity. Drawing from his deep expertise in search intent, content optimization, and store-level messaging, Kai equips Shopify brands with the tools they need to boost organic revenue, refine collection and product pages, and convert more traffic without overwhelming shoppers. Kai helps merchants rethink underperforming pages, optimize seasonal campaigns, and build resilient marketing systems, so they can grow more by working less. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:43] Intro [01:14] Introducing what drives real SEO results [02:46] Building pages around real search demand [05:44] Starting SEO with product-type collections [07:22] Using conversational copy to boost SEO [08:37] Filtering keyword data by page type [10:43] Recognizing when a term is too competitive [11:49] Understanding why products convert lower [13:56] Training custom GPTs for brand-aligned content [16:29] Drafting faster without losing quality [17:19] Exporting product data to scale AI writing [17:53] Building tools to surface keyword insights [19:54] Understanding your funnel before traffic drops [22:08] Optimizing for AI-driven shopping behavior [24:11] Offering hands-on SEO help for time-strapped teams [25:28] Focusing on what actually moves SEO rankings Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube SEO Services for DTC Shopify Stores doubleyourecommerce.com/ Follow Kai Davis linkedin.com/in/kaisdavis If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
328 | Turning Sports Updates Into Automated Revenue | with Jamie Mottram 33:06

29 days ago33:06

33:06

Jamie Mottram is the President of BreakingT, a real-time licensed sports apparel brand redefining speed and relevance in a saturated sports merchandise market. With deep roots in digital sports media, Jamie brings over two decades of experience from leadership roles at Yahoo, AOL, and Gannett, where he built fan-first platforms like For The Win and helped generate hundreds of millions of monthly views. Leveraging his expertise in content, audience engagement, and digital commerce, Jamie helped scale BreakingT from a side project to an 8-figure business by turning trending sports moments into must-own fan gear, often within hours of a game-changing play. Guided by the belief that fan excitement is the most powerful demand signal, Jamie has led BreakingT through rapid growth by building a responsive supply chain, refining its segmentation and outreach engine, and expanding across DTC, wholesale, and Amazon. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:43] Intro [01:00] Creating products from real-time trends [01:26] Applying media skills to Ecommerce growth [02:33] Focusing on traction over profitability [02:57] Spotting viral moments fans want to wear [05:29] Launching with digital mockups to test demand [07:21] Fulfilling retail orders faster with screen print [08:49] Combining paid, organic, and affiliate for scale [12:12] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless & Reach [17:17] Balancing speed between Ecommerce and wholesale [20:30] Pushing retail to move faster than seasonal cycles [21:22] Navigating approvals in licensed product drops [23:05] Realizing Amazon serves a different customer [23:56] Balancing marketplace growth with brand control [26:08] Choosing platforms based on product urgency [28:16] Turning social signals into merch decisions Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Real-time licensed sports fan gear, apparel, and t-shirts breakingt.com/ Follow Jamie Mottram linkedin.com/in/jamiemottram Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest . If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
327 | Trusting Real Experience Over Credentials | with Jon-Mark Craddock 30:59

5 weeks ago30:59

30:59

Jon-Mark "JM" Craddock is the CEO of La Matera, a premium direct-to-consumer brand elevating craftsmanship and authenticity in a market crowded by fast fashion. With hands-on expertise in brand building, supply chain management, and Ecommerce growth, JM draws on his experience at high-growth brands like Chubbies, Marine Layer, and Tuckernuck to scale La Matera while preserving its artisanal roots. Driven by the belief that lasting brands are built on quality and meaningful customer connections, JM has led La Matera through a new chapter of growth, refining its identity, strengthening its supply chain, and balancing digital expansion with a commitment to craftsmanship. Under his leadership, La Matera continues to deliver timeless products that honor tradition while thriving in a modern DTC landscape. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:42] Intro [01:09] Building networks through unexpected paths [04:37] Finding hidden value in early teams [05:18] Building momentum with new platforms [06:50] Learning supply chain under real pressure [09:35] Choosing brands with personal connection [12:15] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Snowball & Portless [16:18] Balancing trust and strategy with sellers [17:48] Answering every deal email immediately [18:40] Backing deals with personal guarantees [20:29] Buying businesses to create opportunities [21:39] Rebuilding brand soul through founder voice [25:20] Tapping networks to solve real problems [27:20] Choosing tenacity over easy wins Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Collection of meticulously handcrafted leather belts and accessories lamaterashop.com/ Follow Jon-Mark Craddock linkedin.com/in/jonmarkcraddock Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
326 | Creating Experiences That Ads Can’t Buy | with Erin Murray 24:53

6 weeks ago24:53

24:53

Erin Murray is the Chief Brand Officer at Mad Rabbit, a fast-growing tattoo skincare brand reshaping the way consumers and professional artists approach post-ink care. With deep expertise in brand storytelling, product development, and digital strategy, Erin has helped propel Mad Rabbit to quadruple sales year-over-year and expand from a direct-to-consumer model into major retail partnerships. Driven by the belief that brand growth stems from authentic community engagement, Erin has steered Mad Rabbit's shift from a purely consumer-first brand to one that deeply integrates pro artist voices. Under her leadership, the brand has launched ambassador programs, refined its identity, and executed a digital-first yet retail-savvy strategy that connects across multiple touchpoints. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:40] Intro [00:56] Recognizing emerging consumer needs [01:26] Scaling brands before the market exists [03:15] Growing communities that drive revenue [04:13] Bringing in fractional experts early [05:44] Pivoting strategy with real consumer data [08:56] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Snowball, and Portless [12:58] Testing channels before doubling down [16:08] Driving foot traffic after landing retail [18:16] Thinking beyond direct response marketing [18:59] Scaling brands with a holistic mindset [20:36] Expanding products to fit customer journeys [22:05] Building brands without losing core buyers [22:53] Refining brand identity for new markets Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Mad Rabbit is your easy tattoo care solution from soothing new ink to reviving & protecting current ones madrabbit.com/ Follow Erin Murray linkedin.com/in/airynn00 Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
Bonus Episode: Creating Connections That Can’t Happen Online with Paul Chambers 20:24

7 weeks ago20:24

20:24

Paul Chambers is the Co-Founder of SubSummit, the world’s largest conference dedicated to subscription, membership, and recurring revenue models in the direct-to-consumer space. With over 20 years of experience in subscription commerce, including launching Gentleman's Box in the early 2000s, Paul brings a rare blend of operator insight and community-building expertise to the challenges of scaling retention-first brands. Driven by the belief that subscriptions are more than a billing model, Paul helped transform SubSummit from a small founder meetup into a global ecosystem, connecting thousands of brands each year. The event fuses tactical content with curated networking and is designed to help ecommerce teams grow beyond one-off purchases and into long-lasting customer relationships. Each year, Paul and his lean team develop a thematic roadmap for the event, guiding DTC operators through the shifting landscape of loyalty, retention, and membership. From Walmart+ to Amazon Prime to True Classic’s hybrid models, Paul studies the movements of top brands and distills them into actionable lessons for growing recurring revenue. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:42] Intro [00:54] Navigating business partner dynamics [02:31] Connecting DTC brands through events [03:08] Starting with a founder-first vision [04:30] Learning big lessons from small niches [06:05] Rebranding to reflect the vision [06:59] Investing upfront in long-term value [10:15] Improving how people connect [12:42] Balancing virtual and in-person events [14:17] Designing curated table conversations [15:48] Making events affordable for founders Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Leading subscription commerce conference subsummit.com/ Follow Paul Chambers linkedin.com/in/paulcchambers If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
325 | Regaining Brand Clarity After Trend Overload | with Demi Marchese 16:46

7 weeks ago16:46

16:46

Demi Marchese is the Founder and Head of Brand at 12th Tribe, a fast-growing fashion brand blending curated style with operational excellence to empower the next generation of confident women. With expertise in merchandising, marketing, and brand-tech integration, Demi turns creative vision into scalable systems that drive real growth. Bootstrapped from scratch, 12th Tribe reflects Demi’s hands-on leadership across every function, from designing product drops to building workflows that streamline team execution. She’s driven by a mission to not only create beautiful apparel, but to curate a lifestyle rooted in confidence, freedom, and community. Demi is also a systems thinker, embracing AI and automation to scale brand voice, streamline content, and optimize customer journeys. She’s trained ChatGPT to mirror her own copy style, implemented AI-driven SMS segmentation, and continues to experiment with tools that bring brand and tech closer together. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:40] Intro [01:00] Building a site before Shopify blew up [03:34] Testing demand without inventory risk [05:06] Leveraging organic social growth [07:09] Responding quickly to market shifts [08:57] Episode Sponsors: Intelligems & Electric Eye [12:01] Refocusing on your core customer [14:10] Scaling brand voice using AI Want more insights from top Ecommerce leaders? Our episode guest was a featured speaker at eTail Palm Springs 2025, sharing insights with top Ecommerce minds. If you want to be part of the next big discussions, join eTail Boston in August 2025 and/or eTail Palm Springs in February 2026! Learn more at eTail’s official sites: etaileast.wbresearch.com/ etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Your online vibe director + stylist 12thtribe.com/ Follow Demi Marchese linkedin.com/in/demimarchese Book a demo today at intelligems.io/ Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/ If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

1
324 | Investing in Product Before Spending on Growth | with Robert Cardiff 24:15

8 weeks ago24:15

24:15

Robert Cardiff is the co-founder and COO of Laundry Sauce, an 8-figure DTC brand reinventing the way consumers experience laundry. With a background in venture building and performance marketing, Robert helps Ecommerce brands unlock growth by identifying white space, building high-affinity products, and scaling through bold creative bets. Before launching Laundry Sauce, Robert founded multiple consumer businesses and now leads Give Ventures, a nonprofit teaching entrepreneurship to underserved youth in Central and South America. His work spans brand development, manufacturing operations, investor storytelling, and go-to-market execution—giving him rare end-to-end insight into what it takes to launch premium products in commoditized categories. In 2021, Robert and his co-founders made a $40,000 investment in a single anchor video—before making a single sale. That video helped legitimize their vision and raise millions in capital, setting the stage for their early DTC success. By skipping Amazon, obsessing over product-market fit, and treating customer feedback as gospel, Robert and his team built a brand people actually love in a category no one cared about. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:39] Intro [01:22] Positioning beyond generic options [02:18] Differentiating in legacy categories [04:05] Asking why they’d buy your product [07:04] Iterating through multiple brands [08:45] Episode Sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems [11:57] Partnering with top creatives [13:18] Launching with paid media first [15:33] Hiring experts for each channel [17:21] Growing with mostly organic traffic [18:10] Getting DTC focus right first [20:05] Surveying customers to guide R&D Want more insights from top Ecommerce leaders? Our episode guest was a featured speaker at eTail Palm Springs 2025, sharing insights with top Ecommerce minds. If you want to be part of the next big discussions, join eTail Boston in August 2025 and/or eTail Palm Springs in February 2026! Learn more at eTail’s official sites: etaileast.wbresearch.com/ etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1 The World’s Best Smelling Detergent https://laundrysauce.com/ Follow Robert Cardiff https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcardiff Book a demo today at https://www.intelligems.io/ Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service https://storetester.com/ If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews! Review Link: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156 Honest Ecommerce is a weekly podcast, community & educational resource providing online store owners with honest, actionable advice to increase their sales and grow their business. Visit http://honestecommerce.co/ for more information. Or get all our content sent directly to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter: https://honestecommerce.co/pages/subscribe…

1
Bonus Episode: Growing Your Brand Beyond Technical Fixes with Sia Karamalegos 30:06

9 weeks ago30:06

30:06

Sia Karamalegos is a freelance web developer and web performance engineer helping ecommerce brands turn faster load times into real revenue. As a Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a former engineer on Shopify’s performance team, Sia brings a unique blend of hands-on experience and deep technical insight to the challenge of building faster, more performant online stores. With a passion for developer education and community building, Sia organizes the Eleventy Meetup, Durham Social Hack Night, and a new global web performance meetup, connecting engineers around the world to share real-world tactics and tools. She’s also a frequent international speaker and writer, known for making complex topics like Core Web Vitals and JavaScript performance approachable and actionable. In 2024, Sia launched ThemeVitals, a tool that benchmarks Shopify themes using real user data—not lab simulations to uncover which themes actually perform well across the devices your customers use. It’s a mission rooted in impact: helping merchants and theme developers make smarter, faster decisions that drive conversion and long-term growth. Through her work, Sia is redefining how ecommerce teams think about performance, showing that real user data, smart defaults, and community-driven tooling can transform the way we build the web. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:40] Intro [01:00] Focusing on real-world site speed fixes [02:39] Improving performance metrics for merchants [04:22] Translating Google metrics for merchants [04:56] Understanding how Core Web Vitals work [07:34] Balancing traffic vs technical optimization [10:36] Shifting focus from speed to sales [13:16] Balancing performance with product experience [15:26] Highlighting global device performance gaps [16:54] Uploading giant images the wrong way [21:04] Auditing your tech stack regularly [21:53] Comparing Shopify themes with real data [24:11] Balancing features vs speed in theme choice [26:00] Avoiding minimalist themes that lack function [28:08] Encouraging feedback for future improvements Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Explore real-world Core Web Vitals performance data for popular Shopify themes themevitals.com/ Web Developer & Performance Engineer sia.codes/ Follow Sia Karamalegos linkedin.com/in/karamalegos If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

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323 | Creating Brand Experiences Beyond Ecommerce | with Jiake Liu 27:08

9 weeks ago27:08

27:08

Jiake Liu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Outer, a brand revolutionizing outdoor living by reimagining furniture and transforming backyards into immersive, functional spaces. With a mission to make life outside effortless and enjoyable, Outer combines eco-friendly materials, durable design, and an innovative showroom model—crowdsourcing real customers’ backyards to create a unique, community-driven shopping experience. Before launching Outer in 2018, Jiake built his career in tech and software engineering at Riot Games, where he honed his expertise in problem-solving and user experience. Now, as an angel investor and founder, he’s leveraging technology, sustainability, and consumer-first innovation to redefine how people connect with their outdoor spaces. In 2025, Jiake is taking Outer beyond furniture with Outer Spaces—a proprietary solution designed to convert vacant backyards into fully functional outdoor living spaces, from wellness retreats and dining areas to personal gyms. Under his leadership, Outer is reshaping the way we think about outdoor living—proving that sustainability, design, and convenience can coexist seamlessly in Ecommerce. In This Conversation We Discuss: [01:06] Intro [01:48] Introducing a new way to sell products [03:40] Finding the right investors for growth [05:10] Pitching a better product to investors [07:38] Building a brand through viral marketing [08:35] Building brand trust through storytelling [09:43] Validating ideas with ad mockups [10:13] Talking to customers before launching [11:14] Staying connected with customers post-purchase [11:57] Inventing solutions before customers ask for them [14:06] Episode Sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems [17:19] Building trust with real product experiences [19:58] Turning media buzz into big opportunities [22:22] Mastering numbers before raising capital [23:27] Building outdoor spaces in one day Want more insights from top Ecommerce leaders? Our episode guest was a featured speaker at eTail Palm Springs 2025, sharing insights with top Ecommerce minds. If you want to be part of the next big discussions, join eTail Boston in August 2025 and/or eTail Palm Springs in February 2026! Learn more at eTail’s official sites: https://etaileast.wbresearch.com/ https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube The Perfect Outdoor Sofa is Now Within Reach liveouter.com/ Follow Jiake Liu linkedin.com/in/jiakeliu Book a demo today at intelligems.io/ Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/ If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts . It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!…

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322 | Turning Returns Into Business Insights | with Michael Hughes 32:21

10 weeks ago32:21