Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

In this episode of The Random Show, Taylor Holiday and Andrew Faris sit down for a moment of focus—because something big just happened.Common Thread Collective has a new growth partner. Taylor breaks down what the deal really means, why it isn’t a retirement plan, and how private equity views agencies differently than eComm brands.• Why service businesses generate more cash (and get better multiples)• How CTC nearly collapsed—and what saved it• The real reason agency owners burn out (and how to avoid it)This is a must-watch.

• Ready to solve your influencer strategy? Book Your Strategy Demo at https://www.getsaral.com/demo
• 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 eCom

At CTC’s recent Client Summit, Taylor Holiday and Richard Gaffin sat down to unpack what happens when you get out from behind Zoom and into a room with the people you work with. The result? Honest conversations, unexpected insights, and a clearer picture of what brands really need right now.

From creative volume challenges to leadership struggles, this episode explores the unspoken truths that surface when vendors and clients share space—and why in-person connection is still one of the most powerful tools for growth.

You’ll learn:

• Why face-to-face conversations uncover issues Zoom never will

• The creative volume problem every brand is wrestling with—and how to fix it

• The leadership challenge CEOs secretly struggle with

• How agencies and brands can build trust and alignment beyond metrics
  

Show Notes:

• Ready to learn how your consumers truly experience your brand today! Request your FREE report at https://stord.link/mystery 

• Explore the Prophit System: [prophitsystem.com]

• Have a question for the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

The Tale of Two Cities in E-Commerce: Winners and Losers in 2025At CTC’s Client Summit, Taylor Holiday shares an unfiltered perspective on where the economy, the world, and the e-commerce landscape are headed—and why the future will be defined by a sharp divide between winners and losers.From macroeconomic pressures to changing consumer behavior, Taylor explains why the current environment isn’t creating a level playing field—and what separates the brands that will thrive from those that will struggle.You’ll learn:- The key economic signals shaping e-commerce in 2025- Why some brands will find massive opportunity while others collapse- How to position your business to be on the winning side

Show Notes:Ready to start texting smarter? Visit postscript.ioExplore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Can you turn 14 days into $1.28 million? We did—and we're breaking down exactly how we crushed our million-dollar challenge!

In this episode, join Richard and Luke as they unpack the intense 14-day journey that led to massive revenue success. 

You'll learn:

• How we strategically turned a critical marketing moment into explosive growth.

• The day-by-day breakdown of how we overcame a nearly half-million-dollar gap in just four days.

• Why forecasting, clarity, and a well-engineered brand collaboration were game-changers.

Whether you're a marketer, brand owner, or entrepreneur, you'll gain powerful insights into the systems and strategies behind generating massive revenue spikes on tight deadlines.

Show Notes:

• Ready to start texting smarter? Visit postscript.io

• 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

Discover the next chapter in Common Thread Collective’s story as Taylor Holiday takes you behind the scenes of our 12-year journey from a tiny IKEA furnished office and our first Facebook ad experiments with QALO, to the seismic shifts of COVID and our reinvention as a “profit agency.” 

In this special episode of the podcast, you’ll hear:

• How CTC evolved from a passion project into a mission-driven agency focused on connecting marketing efforts to real financial outcomes

• The cultural transformation that refocused us on customer experience and shareholder value

• The story behind our strategic growth partnership with Acacia—and what it means for our technology roadmap and your bottom line

Show Notes:

• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com

• 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.!

• 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.

In this episode of the podcast, we dismantle the old school attribution windows holding your ad strategy hostage and reveal a simple framework for measuring true incremental ROAS.

What you’ll discover:

• Why standard “7-day click” and “1-day view” settings both mislead you

• How to run a zero cost geo holdout test for real incremental data

• When to stick with your current settings and how to apply a correction factor

• What Meta’s new incremental conversion optimization means for your campaigns

• Building one unified measurement system to compare Facebook, Google, and beyond

Ready to see your real ROI?

Run your free holdout study now at commonthreadco.com/pages/incrementality and stop guessing.

Show Notes:

• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com

• 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.!

• 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.

Is your brand feeling the squeeze? You’re not alone.

In today’s episode, we break down three essential moves every DTC and ecommerce brand must make to survive—and thrive—amid rising bankruptcy rates and tightening capital markets.

You’ll learn:

• Why capital constraints are killing growth—and how to turn your supplier into a lender

• How to generate organic demand by tapping into pop culture and community

• The critical Q4 inventory planning strategy that could save your cash flow

We’re seeing a tale of two cities in ecommerce: brands that are scaling and brands that are dying. This episode gives you the playbook to land in the first group.

Show Notes:

• Go to https://bit.ly/4mFOWa1 to get 20% off your first 3 months of Omnisend 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

• Watch the Andrew Faris Podcast: https://youtu.be/F0u0JF8ogSc?si=N0pII8Fxdvc8pg8I

Ecommerce brands are quietly shutting their doors, but what's really behind this sudden wave of closures?

In this episode, we dive deep into exclusive industry data, consumer trends, and expert analysis to uncover what's truly happening behind the scenes in the ecommerce space.Join our panel of industry experts as we reveal:

• Why more brands than ever are filing for bankruptcy.
• The surprising trends impacting consumer spending.
• How major economic factors like tariffs and inflation are shaping the industry.
• Which brands are thriving—and who's at greatest risk.

Don't get caught off guard. Watch now to discover what's happening, why it's critical for your brand, and how you can adapt to survive (and even thrive) during this turbulent time in ecommerce.

Are you building a resilient brand or just delaying the inevitable?

In this episode of the Podcast, we tackle six hard hitting questions every founder and operator needs to answer right now. From survival mode decision making to brand building under pressure, we break down what separates strong, adaptable brands from those on the edge of collapse.

Topics We Cover:

• When to cut (and when to protect) your marketing spend

• How to justify brand investments under financial pressure

• What “healthy” CAC efficiency actually looks like

• Why some business models won't survive 2025

• The biggest mistake brands make in market downturns

• When it's okay to walk away from your business

Whether you're slashing CAC, navigating a P&L crisis, or questioning your business model entirely this episode is your gut check.

Show Notes:

• Go to https://bit.ly/4mFOWa1 to get 20% off your first 3 months of Omnisend 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

We’re $423K into our 14-day, $1M revenue challenge—and the pressure is mounting. With just 6 days left, we’re $577K short of our goal.

In this episode, Luke Austin breaks down:

• What’s working (returning customers are showing up)

• What’s not (new customer revenue is lagging)

• Why our efficiency is solid, but volume is the problem

• The high-stakes brand collab launching on June 26th that could make or break the challenge

Can we still pull this off? The next few days are everything.

Show Notes:

• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com

• Follow the full journey: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/million-dollar-challenge

• 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.!

• 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.