How did our clients actually perform in March 2025?

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard break down the latest performance scorecard across our client portfolio—revealing exactly how we stacked up against forecasted revenue, spend, and contribution margin goals.

Spoiler: We beat margin expectations by +11.68%, but that’s just the beginning.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The exact numbers behind our March forecast (and how close we came)

• Why most agency case studies are misleading

• How to evaluate an agency with real data, not anecdotes

• How CTC forecasts client growth using a self-scrutinizing model

• Why contribution margin is our north star metric—and what that means for your brand

If you’ve ever wondered how to hold an agency accountable (including your own), this is the episode for you.

Show Notes:

• Common Thread listeners get $250 by depositing $5,000 or spending $5,000 using the Mercury IO credit card within your first 90 days (or do both for $500) at mercury.com/ctc.!

• What Drove March?: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/march-lessons-from-ecommerce-growth-strategy

• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com

• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

• Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC. 

Meta’s ad platform has changed—again. In this episode, we break down the exact strategies we’re using at Common Thread Collective to drive profitable growth for ecommerce brands in 2025.

You’ll learn:

• Why cost caps alone won’t cut it anymore

• How we’re adapting bidding strategies to Meta’s new algorithm

• The role of creative diversification in targeting & scale

• How to use attribution windows (like 1-day view) without losing your shirt

• The importance of incrementality and media measurement

• What we’re doing right now to unlock growth in high AOV accounts

Whether you’re running Meta ads for a $500K brand or a $50M powerhouse, this is your tactical blueprint for media buying that actually works in 2025.

Show Notes:

• Go to alialearn.com and mention our podcast on the demo, toget 30 days free and 20% off!
• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

What if you could get full funnel growth support, media buying, strategy, forecasting, creative direction, for just $5K/month on a month-to-month agreement?

In this episode of the Podcast, Richard and Taylor break down the $5K Global Accelerator Program that’s helped over 50 seven-figure brands grow through one of the most volatile economic environments in recent memory.

You’ll learn:

• Why this program was built specifically for $1M–$10M brands

• The systems and structure behind its outsized results

• How CTC leverages global talent, proven frameworks, and technology to deliver enterprise-grade strategy

• Why brands are staying longer, scaling faster, and spending smarter

We’re opening up 12 new spots this month—this is your chance to join the movement.

Show Notes:

• Common Thread listeners get $250 by depositing $5,000 or spending $5,000 using the Mercury IO credit card within your first 90 days (or do both for $500) at mercury.com/ctc.!
• Get our Global Accelerator Program: https://commonthreadco.com/pages/accelerator
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm
• Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC. 
• The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Learn more about cashback.
• Working capital loans provided by Mercury Lending, LLC NMLS ID: 2606284.

Tariffs are here—and they’re not hitting every brand the same. In this solo episode, Taylor walks through a critical 4 part framework designed to help ecommerce founders and operators craft the right response based on their unique balance sheet realities.

Whether you’re cash rich with deep inventory or strapped for both, this episode will help you determine your strategic posture: go on offense, get lean, or something in between.

What’s covered:

• The 4 key variables shaping your response (cash, inventory, debt, velocity)

• How to know which type of brand you are

• What to adjust in your CAC targets and growth strategy

• Real examples from CTC’s private client webinar

This isn’t one-size-fits-all advice—it's an actionable strategy based on your business’s real financial position..

Show Notes:

• Go to alialearn.com and mention our podcast on the demo, toget 30 days free and 20% off!
• Get our Tariff Relief Plan: http://ctctariffrelief.com/
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

If you’re waiting for things to “go back to normal” in ecommerce… stop.

In this episode, Taylor and Richard break down why chaos is no longer the exception  “it’s the rule” and what that means for how you run your brand. From unpredictable macro shifts to supply chain disruptions, stability is out. Adaptability is everything.

We dive into the 7 core traits of anti-fragile brands, why your inventory strategy might be your biggest risk, and how to make smart decisions in a volatile market.

Whether you’re trying to maximize EBITDA or just stay alive in the current landscape, this conversation will help you plan, act, and build with uncertainty in mind.

Show Notes:

• Go to Opensend.com/book-a-demo and start your 2-week trial for just $1.
• Get our Tariff Relief Plan: http://ctctariffrelief.com/
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

In this episode of the Podcast, Richard is joined by Steve Rekuc, our Director of Data, for a deep dive into what Q1 taught us — and what’s coming next.

We’re breaking down the latest from our Direct to Consumer Confidence Index (DTCCI) and revealing what macroeconomic signals, consumer sentiment, and real brand performance tell us about the road ahead.

Spoiler: It’s not just vibes anymore — the data shows real shifts in behavior that you need to understand.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Q1 consumer sentiment hit record lows

• How shoppers are thinking (and acting) in the face of economic uncertainty

• What our data reveals about new customer acquisition struggles

• The impact of tariffs, stock market drops, and shifting confidence on Q2 forecasts

• How Facebook’s Andromeda update is influencing ad performance (hint: high CTR, low CVR)

• Why future and present purchase sentiment matters more than ever

• What our MER based DTCCI forecast predicts for April and beyond

Whether you’re a DTC founder, performance marketer, or ecommerce operator, this conversation is packed with insights to help you navigate a turbulent Q2.

Show Notes:

• Go to https://your.omnisend.com/CTC to get 20% off your first 3 months with code CTC20.
• Get our Tariff Relief Plan: http://ctctariffrelief.com/
• Get the DTCCI: https://dtcci.co/
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Emergency Update for Ecommerce Brands: Tariffs have arrived and they’re already impacting your bottom line. Costs are rising, margins shrinking, and uncertainty is high. But you’re not alone.

In this special episode, Taylor Holiday (CEO, Common Thread Collective) breaks down the immediate impact of these tariffs and announces the CTC Tariff Relief Program—an emergency initiative designed specifically to protect your profitability, reduce your costs, and offer vital cash-flow relief.

What You’ll Learn:

• Immediate steps to reduce your operating expenses by at least 20%

• Strategies for managing cash flow in uncertain times

• How to maintain growth despite sudden cost increases

• Details on the CTC Tariff Relief Program (including a special $500 guarantee)

Get our Tariff Relief Plan: https://commonthreadco.com/pages/tariff-relief

Are you overlooking YouTube ads in your marketing strategy? On today’s podcast, we’re breaking down why most brands are significantly underestimating YouTube and how it’s quietly becoming the hidden gem driving real, profitable growth for smart advertisers.

Joined by Rachel Kwon (Head of Paid Search) and Tony Chopp (VP of Paid Media) from Common Thread Collective, we dive into:

• Why YouTube ads are misunderstood and undervalued by most brands

• Key insights from recent incrementality studies that reveal YouTube’s true potential

• Practical strategies for integrating YouTube ads effectively into your current marketing mix

• A step-by-step approach for testing and scaling your YouTube investment

If you’re serious about unlocking your next level of profitable growth, you can’t afford to ignore YouTube any longer. 

Show Notes:

• 
  
• Go to https://your.omnisend.com/CTC to get 20% off your first 3 months with code CTC20.
• 
  
• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

The future of ad creative just changed forever. In this episode of the Podcast, we break down the latest ChatGPT model update that literally broke the internet — and why it’s the biggest shift in AI-generated creative since GPT-3.5.

Jacob Posel joins to explain how this update unlocked a wave of AI ads so good… you can’t deny it anymore. From viral Twitter threads to wild reactions from the creative world, this is the moment where AI became a real force in advertising.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the new GPT update is a game-changer for ad creative

• The exact moment Jacob realized AI had “solved” ads

• What happens when media buying meets infinite creative

• Why most brands still don’t believe this is real — and what that means

• How you can prepare for the future of AI-generated video, creative, and strategy

For marketers, creators, and founders: This is your wakeup call. The game just changed. Get obsessed or get left behind.

Show Notes:

• 
  
• Go to Opensend.com/book-a-demo and start your 2-week trial for just $1.
• 
  
• Explore the PROPHIT System: profitsystem.com
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Are you stuck at six figures, unsure how to scale without burning your budget on expensive agencies or freelancers? You’re not alone. Most growing ecommerce brands face the same struggles—limited resources, information overload, and the stress of choosing the right growth strategies.

In this episode of the podcast, Richard and Grant Zanini, VP of Education at CTC (and founder of our ADmission program), break down how to break through from six to seven figures—without hiring an expensive marketing agency.

You’ll discover:

• Why hiring agencies often fail at this growth stage—and what you should do instead.

•  How to find the RIGHT advice in a world full of “gurus” and misinformation.

•  Practical ways to get direct, actionable support for your brand at a fraction of agency prices.

• Common pitfalls most entrepreneurs face at this critical stage and how to avoid them.

Ready to level up your ecommerce brand? Let’s dive in.

Show Notes:

• The ADmission portal is now only $97/mo. — check it out here.
• Go to Opensend.com/book-a-demo and start your 2-week trial for just $1.
• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm