Chew on This - Digestable DTC Content

In EP. 4 of Chew on This: Retention & Subscription Powered by Stay Ai, Ash and Gina sit down with the Subscription Doc himself, Matt Holman, to discuss strategies to enhance subscription models, focusing on achieving a high subscriber base and incentivizing loyal customers. Matt shares insights on improving retention rates through education and personalized communication. Key points include the significance of welcome email series, post-purchase surveys, and follow-up direct mail. The importance of understanding customer needs and offering discounts to win back skeptical customers is highlighted. Their conversation emphasizes the value of continuous engagement and tailored approaches to enhance subscription services and boost customer retention.

💡 Understanding user needs: Instead of offering generic discounts, focus on educating subscribers about your product and its benefits. This helps build trust and increases the perceived value of your subscription.

📊 Post-purchase surveys: Leverage post-purchase surveys to gain insights into user motivations, use cases, and product satisfaction. This information can then be used to tailor your marketing messages and offers.

🎁 Surprise and delight: While discounts can work, consider offering free gifts, samples, or unique experiences to create a more memorable and engaging subscription experience.

🎲 Gamification: Implement gamification strategies like points programs, punch cards, or build-a-box experiences to engage a subset of your most loyal subscribers and incentivize them to stay longer.

📈 Contribution margin: Track your contribution margin per subscriber to assess the profitability of your subscription program and ensure your marketing efforts are driving positive results.

​1:27 - Matt Holman.​

3:04 - Incentivizing subscriptions.​

4:25 - Understanding product usage for retention.

​5:28 - Improving retention through post-purchase education.​

6:19 - Utilizing welcome series for subscriptions.

​7:05 - Segmenting users based on benefits.

​10:00 - Customizing landing pages based on user interests.​

13:07 - Tailor retention strategies based on customer behavior and preferences.​

22:49 - Running an order notification with a free gift increased perceived value.​

23:11 - Adding an additional discount can prevent subscription cancellations.​

24:06 - Using inserts and success stories in month two can improve retention.​

25:02 - Implementing gamification strategies can enhance the subscription experience.

​26:12 - Offering personalized add-ons can increase subscriber engagement.​

27:20 - Utilizing surprise rewards in the subscription portal can boost customer loyalty.​

32:07 - Setting clear expectations upfront can reduce subscriber churn.​

34:07 - Product testing and follow-ups can gather valuable feedback from subscribers.​

36:01 - Analyzing data to optimize product offerings and profitability is crucial for subscription services.​

40:25 - Integrating loyalty points into subscription programs for customer retention.

44:01 - Final chews.

In the Season 3 finale of Chew on This, Ron and Ash are joined by Zach Cox, a growth lead at Google, to discuss various aspects of AI, GA-4, and retail commerce. Zach delves into Performance Max, emphasizing its role in capturing demand and acquiring new customers. He stresses the importance of considering customer lifetime value in media strategies and highlights the shift in retail thinking towards viewing retail as a growth channel. Zach also discusses the significance of attention, branding, and connection in content creation. Furthermore, he shares key factors he considers when brands approach him for growth goals and suggests leveraging customer feedback data in creative strategies. Zach concludes by pointing out the mistake brands make when transitioning into retail without aligning brand awareness and performance teams.

🧲 Zach recommends that brands leverage Google’s Performance Max platform to capture consumer demand.

📈 He advises brands to think about retail as a channel for growth and consider how they can leverage it in their overall strategy.

🎯 Zach emphasizes the importance of segmentation and tailoring messaging to specific customer cohorts.

🎥 He encourages brands to leverage their video content on YouTube, including user-generated content, for a greater reach and long-term impact.

🤖 Zach believes AI technology will continue to shape the search landscape and advises brands to stay ahead of the curve by understanding how consumers are using these tools.

​1:31 - Performance Max.​

6:03 - Importance of LTV in media strategy.​

10:04 - Retail as a channel for growth.​

13:27 - Attention, branding, and connection in content creation.​

15:46 - Key factors for growth goals.​

16:57 - Mistakes brands make when transitioning into retail.​

17:49 - Leveraging customer feedback data in creative strategies and decision-making.​

18:59 - Leveraging first-party data and limitations in using it for Google.​

20:00 - Tailoring media strategies based on customer preferences.​

21:16 - Google's role in supporting brands.​

24:01 - Google's collaboration with creators for influencer marketing and content partnerships.​

25:04 - The power of creators in the market and finding the right audience.​

33:00 - Google Analytics 4 (GA-4).​

36:00 - Connected TV (CTV) on YouTube for retail-focused advertising.​

38:03 - Final chew.

Get a FREE audit with Ronak Trivedi and 50% OFF ALL memberships: https://go.pietrastudio.com/chewonthis

In this episode of Chew on This, Ron, Ash, and Ankit sit down with Ronak Trivedi, founder and CEO of Pietra, to discuss his journey of building the e-commerce platform. Their conversation highlights the innovative approach of digitizing factories to simplify manufacturing processes and provide TurnKey solutions for e-commerce businesses. The importance of helping entrepreneurs succeed and reinventing business strategies is emphasized. Additionally, the introduction of a membership model to lower barriers for aspiring entrepreneurs is discussed, showcasing a commitment to supporting individuals in starting and growing their businesses effectively.

🛍️ Starting a business is easier than you think. Tools like Petra can help remove barriers to entry and make entrepreneurship more accessible.

🤝 Collaboration is key. Petra facilitates communication between creators and suppliers, allowing for smoother and more efficient product development.

🤖 AI is revolutionizing the industry. Automation can handle busy work, freeing up businesses to focus on creativity and growth.

💰 Existing businesses can benefit from Petra. Memberships provide access to cost-saving services and access to global infrastructure, optimizing operations.

🚀 Don’t be afraid to try. With the right tools and support, starting and running a business can be within reach for anyone with a dream.

​1:28 - The journey of building Pietra and raising money.

6:02 - Digitizing factories to streamline manufacturing processes.​

10:23 - Providing TurnKey solutions for e-commerce businesses.​

16:14 - Focusing on helping more people start successful businesses.​

21:08 - Emphasizing the importance of reinventing business strategies.​

23:32 - Collaborating with partners to offer a variety of products.​

25:21 - Introducing a membership model to lower barriers for entrepreneurs.​

25:54 - Discussing the multi-year commitment and free tools for business building.​

26:30 - Introduction of design tools on the platform.​

28:05 - Mention of various niches and products on the platform.​

29:00 - Factories' ability to manufacture various products beyond clothing.​

30:10 - Encouraging creativity and unique ideas in product development.​

31:47 - Automation of tasks through AI technology.​

33:13 - Streamlining communication with factories through the platform.​

35:09 - Emphasizing the importance of creativity in business.​

37:25 - Introducing a cashback program for businesses using the platform.​

39:00 - Pietra's membership plans offer cost-saving opportunities for businesses.​

42:02 - Membership with Pietra provides cashback incentives for businesses.​

45:09 - Pietra offers tools for businesses to enhance their product lines and marketing strategies.​

48:32 - Final chew.

🏭 Pietra - A single platform that provides you the tools and resources to save your brand time and money.🔗 https://www.pietrastudio.com/

In this episode of Chew on This, Ron and Ash sit down with Ben Sharf, Co-Founder of Platter, to discuss his journey and emphasize the importance of work-life balance in business. Ben shares insights on leaving a job to start a business, learning from experienced entrepreneurs, and utilizing personal strengths in business. He highlights the significance of hiring people for tasks where one lacks expertise, trusting employees, and scaling a business effectively. Ben also stresses the importance of avoiding wasting time on ideas and focusing on problem-solving. Their conversation provides valuable lessons on entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and building a successful business.

❓ How to build a team of 60 people in 2 months

🤝 Platter’s solution to the proliferation of apps in the Shopify ecosystem

🌐 The business benefits of consolidating apps and increasing efficiency for e-commerce brands

💪 The importance of separating work and personal life for increased productivity and satisfaction

🤑 Tech-enabled services as a profitable form of R&D for software products

​1:06 - Working on website creation.​

2:08 - Revenue in 5 months with 800 employees.

​3:06 - Leaving a job to start a business.

4:01 - Learning from experienced entrepreneurs.​

5:03 - Utilizing personal strengths in business.

​6:11 - Hiring people for tasks you're not good at.​

7:04 - Trusting and scaling a business.​

8:03 - Avoiding wasting time on ideas.​

10:30 - Building an ecosystem of features rather than standalone products for scalability.

13:00 - Recognizing the drop-off in utility of apps and focusing on building value.

15:43 - Transitioning from services to a software product for profitability and growth.

23:21 - Historical perspective of subscriptions.​

24:15 - Focusing on problem-solving rather than worrying about competition.​

25:11 - The need to provide features for startup businesses in the market.​

27:18 - The struggle with moderation and being all in or all out.

​31:00 - Reflecting on the decision to stop drinking and its impact on relationships and business.

32:02 - Ben's perspective on work-life balance and living work as part of life.​

35:03 - Shifting mindset from measuring hours to focusing on productivity and balance.​

39:06 - Setting expectations to attract the right audience.

41:25 - Emphasizing efficiency in product selection and innovation.​

43:36 - Leveraging services as a competitive advantage for profitability.

45:11 - Final chews.

In Episode 3 of Chew on This: Retention & Subscription Powered by Stay Ai, Ash sits down with Gina and Pierson to discuss strategies for acquiring and retaining customers for a subscription program. They emphasize the importance of focusing on customer routines, offering convenience, and utilizing different offers like free trials to attract customers. They also highlight the significance of upsells, cross-sells, and optimizing landing pages to increase profitability and customer retention. Data insights play a crucial role in understanding customer behavior and improving funnel strategies. Additionally, they suggest offering high-perceived value gifts and ensuring product-market fit before transitioning to a subscription model. Overall, the key takeaways include tailoring messaging, optimizing funnels, and implementing upsells to enhance the customer experience and drive revenue growth!

🎯 Personalize post-purchase communications for subscribers and one-time purchasers.

🔬 Monitor churn by product to identify opportunities for improvement.

🎨 Prioritize breakthrough creative testing ideas over iterative testing.

🎁 Consider offering high-value bundles with perceived value to increase average order value.

1:19 - Understanding customer routines and offering convenience.​

4:01 - Offers to lower acquisition costs and attract customers.

​6:03 - Landing page experiences to educate customers and drive purchases.​

7:06 - Upsells to increase AOV and profitability.​

10:22 - Tailoring messaging and funnel strategies.​

15:08 - Optimize funnels and improve customer retention.

16:01 - Product-market fit and profitability before transitioning to a subscription model.​

18:19 - Upsells and cross-sells to enhance customer experience and increase revenue.​

21:03 - Low-cost, high-perceived value gifts.​

23:14 - Increasing AOV by changing offer structures.​

24:07 - The importance of significant changes in offer structures for scalability.​

25:01 - Funnels to transition from zero customers to a substantial customer base.​

26:08 - Experiment with different offers and optimize payback periods for profitability.​

31:21 - Messaging and flows for one-time customers versus subscribers.​

33:00 - Creative messaging to remind customers of product benefits.​

35:03 - Reduce churn and increase subscriber numbers.

37:10 - Convert one-time buyers into subscribers.​

39:44 - Engage customers with interactive experiences to increase loyalty and retention.

46:22 - Final chews.

In this episode of Chew on CRO, Ron, Ash, and Ned delve into the challenges of pursuing topline growth and question the belief system behind it. They highlight the advantages of e-commerce data richness and discuss the impact of discounting on conversion rates. Alternative strategies to discounting for increasing sales velocity are explored, emphasizing the use of scarcity tactics on landing pages. The importance of behavioral psychology conversion tactics and messaging about delayed shipping are also discussed. This episode underscores the significance of scarcity and urgency in marketing, showcasing the effectiveness of scarcity messaging on revenue. It concludes by discussing the psychology behind creating urgency in consumers and the use of holdout audiences for experimentation.

In this special edition of Chew on This, Ash is joined again by Jared Ward, Founder and CEO of Luminous, to chew on more ​benefits of implementing an inventory system with Luminous. The discussion highlights how Luminous simplifies inventory management, including the ease of implementation and tracking product movement between warehouses. This episode stresses the importance of free implementation and the power of Luminous in streamlining operations. It also touches on the challenges of implementing additional tools on top of ERP systems.

🔧 Customize your inventory flow with hands-on support and unlimited training from luminous.

💸 Eliminate the high cost of implementation and save money with luminous’ transparent monthly fee.

⌛ Ensure accurate inventory counts and streamline operations with real-time data synchronization across multiple channels.

🚀 Scale your business confidently with luminous’ support for complex operations and growth initiatives.

​1:15 - Luminous' New Commercial.​

4:21 - Luminous tracks how to move products between warehouses.

​5:04 - Emphasizing the simplicity and power of Luminous implementation.​

10:01 - Implementation with Luminous is free.​

11:03 - Luminous makes implementation feel like a half-million-dollar solution.​

13:42 - The importance of implementation being free.

16:07 - Discussing the challenges of implementing additional tools on top of ERP systems.

​22:48 - Missing a data export led to under-purchasing by 7k units, highlighting the need for a system of record.

24:00 - Importance of forecasting accurately to avoid inventory management challenges.​

26:21 - Impact of missing orders on customer experience and brand reputation.​

28:01 - Addressing customer concerns and the repercussions of delayed orders.

​29:12 - Negative effects of poor inventory management on customer retention and brand reputation.​

31:00 - Discussion on building tools to handle complex inventory scenarios.

​32:40 - Different archetypes of businesses and their increasing complexity.​

36:11 - Complexity of managing bundles and scaling operations.​

38:06 - Challenges of managing wholesale and retail flows without a proper system.​

39:23 - Integrating with technology to streamline inventory management processes.

42:54 - Final Chew.

​In S3 E12 of COT, Ron and Ash sit down with Arthur Root, Founder and CEO of Nostra AI, as he discusses his journey from starting an e-commerce business to developing a personalization engine focused on enhancing site speed and customer experience. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to brands for feedback, optimizing user experience to compete with major platforms like Facebook, and the significant impact of deploying Nostra on e-commerce metrics. Case studies demonstrate improved conversion rates with faster loading times, emphasizing continuous improvement and collaboration with brands to achieve better results. Arthur's insights underscore the value of prioritizing user experience and leveraging tools like Nostra to enhance performance in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

👂 Prioritize customer feedback to constantly improve products and services.

🚀 Leverage partnerships to expand reach, gain expertise, and drive innovation.

🎯 Set clear and focused goals to guide decision-making and track progress.

📈 Simplify business processes and strategies to enhance efficiency and clarity.

​1:11 - Arthur's background in starting an e-commerce business and working on personalization tools.​

3:02 - Launching a personalization engine and the importance of listening to brands for feedback.​

6:03 - Evolution from a personalization tool to focusing on site speed and customer experience.

​9:08 - The impact of deploying Nostra on e-commerce metrics like site speed, conversion, and revenue.​

11:05 - Importance of optimizing user experience to compete with big companies like Facebook.

​13:16 - Case study with Facebook showing improved conversion rates with faster loading times.​

15:09 - Emphasizing continuous improvement outside of the ad account for better results.

​17:05 - Collaboration with brands to test and optimize performance using Nostra.​

21:57 - Companies struggle with profitability, impacting the entire business.​

24:16 - Concerns about traffic being driven by major platforms like Amazon and TikTok.​

26:04 - Predictions about changes in internet processes over the next decade.​

28:06 - Importance of site speed for SEO and utilizing an Edge delivery engine.

​30:04 - Addressing the issue of crawl budget with static content on websites.​

31:01 - Shopify's SEO limitations compared to other platforms.​

33:01 - Long-term approach needed for SEO success.

35:04 - Building organic search traffic over time.

​37:12 - Importance of having a good team for business growth.​

39:01 - Emphasizing the need for rigorous expectations in managing employees.

In Episode 2 of Chew on This: Retention & Subscription powered by Stay Ai, ​Ron and Ash sit down with Gina to discuss the significance of leading offers with subscriptions first to enhance retention. They emphasize starting retention strategies from the moment site visitors land on the page and suggest shipping bundles quarterly for better business margins. The importance of storytelling and targeting the right customers for acquisition is highlighted, along with the implementation of punch cards in subscription programs. The episode also touches on testing different discount strategies and their impact on customer retention. Overall, the key focus is on building sustainable businesses through effective subscription management and customer engagement strategies.

🤝 You don’t have to do monthly shipments or bundles only. Quarterly shipments can also work.

💡 Product education and storytelling are crucial for subscription success.

🔍 Cancellation surveys are highly valuable for understanding why customers cancel and improving your program.

📧 Optimize your upcoming order email subject lines to build accountability and remind customers to take their supplements.

​1:00 - Increasing average order value (AOV) by selling more of the same product.​

2:25 - Offering bundle deals to encourage longer subscriptions.

​3:06 - Implementing bundle offers to increase average order value.​

5:02 - Best practices for subscriber acquisition include running multiple offers simultaneously.​

6:00 - Building community and storytelling to retain subscribers.​

9:29 - Testing different subscription lengths to optimize conversion rates.​

11:00 - Addressing customer pain points to reduce cancellations.​

14:01 - Providing flexibility in subscription options to enhance customer experience.​

15:06 - Utilizing communication tools to reduce churn and improve retention.​

18:27 - Highlighting new products to encourage subscription upgrades.​

19:04 - Implementing subscription portals for brands.

20:08 - Utilizing banner ads to upsell additional products.

21:06 - Educating customers through communication tools like email and SMS.​

22:01 - Offering bundle deals to increase subscription frequency.​

23:29 - Focusing on customer retention strategies.​

25:00 - Using cancellation surveys to understand reasons for churn.​

26:02 - Implementing quick actions to reactivate canceled subscriptions.

​28:04 - Providing educational content to engage subscribers.​

29:37 - Encouraging brands to keep customers engaged through the subscription journey.

​30:05 - Discussing building healthy habits and accountability through subscription emails.

​31:04 - Building accountability and routine through subscription products.​

33:02 - Discussing the effectiveness of email and SMS for customer engagement.

37:14 - Final Chew

🩷 Stay Ai - Supercharge growth with Stay Ai, the next gen subscription app for Shopify brands that are serious about growth and performance! Designed by and for marketers, built by world-class engineers and data scientists.🔗 https://stay.ai

​In this special episode of Chew on This, Ash sits down with Jared Ward, Founder and CEO of Luminous, a company aimed at streamlining warehouse and inventory management for mid-sized brands at a fraction of the cost. Jared highlights the importance of having the right tools for inventory management, especially for mid-sized e-commerce companies facing growth challenges. The conversation delves into the evolution of e-commerce towards being omni-channel and the struggles with forecasting and replenishment. Jared emphasizes the need for a tailored inventory solution from brand to brand, and how Luminous accomplishes this in ways Netsuite doesn't. Jared shares insights into building a complex company like Qualtry and the fundraising process for developing a platform like Luminous to streamline warehouse management for mid-market e-commerce companies.

🛠️ Customize your system with multiple distribution points and seamless integration with tools like FBA and Shopify.

📊 Streamline inventory planning and forecasting with real-time data and AI-powered insights.

🤝 Gain access to free implementation and 100% support to ensure a smooth onboarding process.

🚀 Scale your business and optimize operations with Luminous’s scalable team and sustainable growth model.

​0:58 - What is Luminous?

2:15 - Challenges Faced by Mid-Sized Businesses.​

4:51 - Importance of having the right tools for inventory management.​

7:16 - Evolution of Modern E-commerce Companies Towards Being Omni Channel.

​9:02 - Challenges in Forecasting and Replenishment.

10:06 - Luminous VS. Netsuite.​

13:06 - Building a Complex Company like Qualtry.​

13:58 - Fundraising and Investment in Building Luminous.

21:08 - Challenges of Onboarding with Other Platforms like Netsuite.​

22:01 - 100% Implementation with No Extra Charge.

23:25 - Filling in the Gaps Based on Customer Needs and Market Research.

25:43 - Luminous Integrates the Best Features from Other Platforms.​

26:55 - Finding the Right Co-Founders.​

34:00 - What Makes Luminous Better.

36:17 - Luminous' Growth.

39:33 - Final Chew.

💡 Luminous - Spreadsheets suck. Cheap software doesn't work. Enterprise software is overkill. Enter Luminous: the first system for scaling your ecommerce business from painful growth to lasting success.