Ecommerce Wizards Podcast

Jacob Anson is the Co-founder of AgencyJR, a marketing agency that generates additional revenue through better email marketing. Across the life of the agency, they have generated over 30 million in email and SMS marketing sales with over 70 clients. Jacob is also a brand specialist for Frozen Ventures, LLC and has become adept at ecommerce marketing.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are among the most crucial days for ecommerce brands. The competition is fierce as digital marketing reaches a fever pitch in November. With so many companies fighting for a limited number of customers, how can your marketing stand out from the rest? Jacob Anson has found success for his clients through SMS and email marketing. His approach is not only effective but is also distinct from the endless stream of advertisements. He knows how important the holiday season is for businesses, and today, he tells you how to get the most out of your marketing. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks to Jacob Anson, the Co-founder of AgencyJR, about SMS and email marketing for Black Friday. The two go through how to build a client list, why you should invest in pre-existing customers, and the keys to an excellent email marketing strategy during the holidays!

Manish Chowdhary is a software and ecommerce wizard as well as a thought leader in the technology space. He is the Founder and CEO of Cahoot and Pulse Commerce, two cloud platforms designed for order and inventory management. He was recognized as one of The 30 Most Innovative Business Leaders by Insights Success Magazine and has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and Internet Retailer. Outside of his businesses, he serves as a member of the Forbes Technology Council and is an advisor for BWG Strategy LLC.

Every ecommerce business wants to perform well outside of Amazon, but this is often much harder than most entrepreneurs realize. The current landscape of online shopping is determined by Amazon and its influence.

There are alternatives to order fulfillment, but it takes expertise and grit to make it work. Fortunately, there are experts who know other ways to fulfill orders. Manish Chowdhary offers a reliable fulfillment platform for ecommerce brands. He has started two companies that work to solve the enduring problems of order fulfillment. So what does this model look like in practice? Guillaume Le Tual invites Manish Chowdhary, the CEO and Founder of Cahoot, onto the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to discuss fulfillment platforms and if they are the right choice for your business. They break down what Cahoot does for their clients and how they stand out from the competition. They then dive into the realities of Amazon, the challenges of the warehouse model, and best practices for B2C brands.

Manish Chowdhary is a software and ecommerce wizard as well as a thought leader in the technology space. He is the Founder and CEO of Cahoot and Pulse Commerce, two cloud platforms designed for order and inventory management. He was recognized as one of The 30 Most Innovative Business Leaders by Insights Success Magazine and has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and Internet Retailer. Outside of his businesses, he serves as a member of the Forbes Technology Council and is an advisor for BWG Strategy LLC.

Amazon's Buy with Prime button is an ecommerce feature that has exploded in popularity. Because of Amazon's ubiquity, the option for storefronts is worth considering. There are pros and cons related to the feature, but the reality is far more complicated. In fact, if you want to continue growing your ecommerce brand, you may want to hear what the experts have to say. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Manish Chowdhary, the Founder and CEO of Cahoot, about Amazon's Buy with Prime button. They talk about how it functions, when it works well, and its inherent dangers. They also touch on the difference between the button and FBA, why Shopify banned it, and if it successfully converts customers.

Harry Drajpuch is the CEO of Amware Fulfillment, a network of fulfillment centers that provide scalable and outsourced solutions to help businesses. He joined Amware as COO in 2015 and became CEO in early 2018, and he is now responsible for company strategy and operations.

Before Amware, Harry was President and CEO at Weber Logistics, overseeing 15 distribution centers and a large truckload fleet. Across his 30-year career in logistics services, he worked at companies such as Kuehne + Nagel, Con-Way, and Kane Is Able, Inc.

Do you have a business plagued with problems related to shipping and packaging processes?

For ecommerce businesses, the logistics are just as important as the product and marketing. Online storefronts face hundreds of complications created by the shipping and packaging process. Over time, these small details can either lead to immense success or gradual failure. Many companies turn to the 3PL model as a solution, but is it the right choice for your brand? With 30-plus years of experience in logistics, Harry Drajpuch of Amware Fulfillment has a proven record of delivering reliable, scalable, outsourced fulfillment solutions where space, automation, and labor adapt to growth requirements, risk is mitigated, and distribution costs parallel revenue. He has become an expert on the subject, so if anyone can answer questions about 3PL services, it's him. Guillaume Le Tual has an informative discussion with Harry Drajpuch, the CEO of Amware Fulfillment, to go through the benefits and nuances of 3PL shipping. They touch on Harry's background and his advice for most businesses. He then details the customer experience, packaging, sustainable practices, and much more. Hear it all on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast!

Brandon Taylor is an established figure in the energy sector and is the CEO of GreenTech Environmental. He serves on the company's board of directors, and before stepping into his role as CEO, he served as their CFO and COO. He was the Head of Treasury and Strategy at Mission Coal and led them through DIP financing and accelerated bankruptcy.

Before his work at Mission Coal, Brandon was the Vice President of Finance at Brock Group and was involved in several private equity transactions that produced a $1 billion turnaround.

How do you launch a new product in a new market? The prospect is daunting, introducing challenges for both the product and the developing marketplace that is rapidly changing. It can be difficult to know where to start when there is little precedent for your product. Fortunately, there are key strategies and principles that can help businesses navigate new territories. All you need is an expert who has learned those lessons through experience. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Brandon Taylor, the CEO of GreenTech Environmental, to discuss launching new products in emerging markets. They tackle the three keys to a successful launch and how to implement them into your business. They then discuss topics such as connecting with distributors, creating a compelling message, and why honesty is crucial.

Avi Kumar is an expert in PPC and digital marketing. As the Founder and CEO of KUWARE, a digital marketing agency, he focuses on customer acquisition through SEM, SEO, web design, email, and other tools. He spent eight years at Intel at the beginning of his career and recently became the CEO at InvisiblePPC.

With over two decades of experience, Avi is a powerhouse of talent. It's rare to come across a person who understands the finer nuances of business and technology at the same time. He has a BS, a BSEE, an MSEE in computer engineering, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship. In his free time, Avi mentors youngsters or reads books, blogs, and magazines.

When choosing the right ecommerce platform, there are hundreds of complications that can be hard to predict. Online businesses each have their own needs, which cannot always be met by choosing the most popular platform. It helps to have unbiased experts who can guide entrepreneurs to the best fit for their company. Avi Kumar has deep experience with multiple ecommerce platforms, including WooCommerce. He knows the unique advantages and limitations and helps his clients use the service efficiently. However, there are plenty of other platforms to choose from, including powerful options like Magento. So what exactly makes WooCommerce and Magento different from the rest? Guillaume Le Tual interviews Avi Kumar, the Founder and CEO of KUWARE, to learn about the differences between WooCommerce, Magento, and other popular ecommerce platforms. They start with Avi's entrepreneurial journey and his experience in this complex field. They go through topics such as security, why the size of your platform matters, scalability, using freelancers, and much more. Hear it all on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast!

Eldad Alfi is an entrepreneur who started his first business at the age of 19. Since then, he has gone on to start four companies. He is the Founder and CEO of Alfi Trade, Inc., a wholesale distribution company that supplies decorative plumbing, kitchen, and bath fixtures. Eldad is the Founder and CEO of Blue Bath, an online retailer of name-brand high-end decorative plumbing fixtures for kitchens and baths.

In addition to those two businesses, Eldad has built up his rental portfolio and expanded his investments into property management companies. He's the CEO of Alfi Properties LLC, a real estate holding and property management firm, and he co-founded La Casa Zula, an organic beach house and retreat center in the works. His focus remains on cutting-edge technologies and advancements in hospitality.

At first glance, retail and wholesale feel like completely different worlds. Any transition or cooperation between the two is rare, requiring distinct strategies and philosophies. However, they are not mutually exclusive, and some people have found success in both spaces. Eldad Alfi has worked in the two fields at various times in his four businesses. His experience is filled with obstacles and breakthroughs, giving him his unique perspective. He has a lot to share about his time in ecommerce and, more specifically, what's the best way to play the game. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Eldad Alfi, the Founder and CEO of Alfi Trade Inc., to go through his advice on retail and wholesale. They start with his multiple businesses and how he found his footing as an entrepreneur. They go on to discuss the transition from wholesale to retail, MAP enforcement, and how to sell in the marketplace. Check out the full episode to hear all of this and more.

Susan Bradley is the Founder of The Social Sales Girls, an ecommerce brand where she helps clients grow their businesses. Through community, self-paced courses, tight-knit communities, masterminds, and private sessions, she works with Shopify store owners to develop solid, strategic plans they can follow over and over to create reliable, consistent revenue.

Susan has built and sold one business and bought and sold the children's shoe brand Wee Squeak. In association with her ecommerce site, she runs a blog and podcast where she offers actionable advice on growing your business.

The eternal question for ecommerce business owners is how to increase conversions. Driving traffic is important, but your brand will never grow without capitalizing on those online visits. Thousands of people say they know the secret, but not all of them have personal experience with success in the ecommerce space. One person who found success is Susan Bradley.

Having grown and sold two businesses, Susan has firsthand knowledge of the difficulties of growing an ecommerce brand. She also has a background in wholesale and DTC companies. Now she uses her expertise to help other entrepreneurs grow their brands and increase their conversion rates. Want to know how she does it?

Guillaume Le Tual talks with Susan Bradley, the Founder of The Social Sales Girls, to go through the best advice for ecommerce brands. They start by discussing conversions and how to make the most out of your visitors. Then, the two dive into more detail on the power of social media for marketing, wholesale versus DTC, and the turnover rate for online businesses. Hear all this and more on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast!

Dan Hubbert is an established executive in the music business world and is the CEO and Owner of Power Music. He joined the company after leaving prominent positions at labels such as Columbia, Capitol, and Sony. He grew Power Music into the #1 fitness music company on Apple Music and transformed it into a global leader in pre-choreography videos since his start in 2004.

Dan also serves as a partner for Subtropic Studios, where he focuses on customer strategy through content creation and brand marketing.

The music industry is a notoriously difficult sector within business. Not only is the space crowded with competition, but it is often reliant upon new technology. Keeping up with shifting customer expectations can be challenging, requiring a flexible business model and platform to adjust properly. One company that has managed this tightrope walk is Power Music.

Power Music is a fitness music business that has found much of its success through its unique technology and successful app. Additionally, the team has adapted its ecommerce platform and stayed current to suit its customer base. The end result is an established company that has proven you can thrive within a tough marketplace. Now they show you how they managed it.

Guillaume Le Tual interviews Dan Hubbert, the Owner and CEO of Power Music, on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to discuss their ecommerce platform and the technology that goes into their app. They discuss Dan's background in business and music and what he brought to the company when he joined. The two then dig into the business' shift to Magento, their subscription model, and the best tips for growing your own ecommerce company.

Megan Blissick is the Head of Global Agency Partnerships at Signifyd, the leader in ecommerce protection. Megan's background includes a widespread ecommerce experience, ranging from brand management to digital marketing and advertising, in addition to building partnerships throughout the SaaS ecosystem.

Signifyd provides an end-to-end commerce protection platform that leverages its commerce network to maximize conversion, automate customer experience, and eliminate fraud and customer abuse for retailers. Signifyd uses big data and machine learning to provide a 100% financial guarantee against fraud and chargebacks on approved orders. This effectively shifts the liability for fraud away from ecommerce merchants, allowing them to increase sales and open new markets while reducing risk.

Signifyd counts among its customers many companies on the Fortune 1000 and Internet Retailer Top 500 lists. Signifyd is headquartered in San Jose, CA, with locations in Denver, New York, Mexico City, Belfast, and London.

Fraud is an unfortunate reality for ecommerce businesses, but what if it could be effectively and consistently prevented?

Both fraud and fraud protection are in a constant game of cat and mouse, with new issues and solutions being introduced every day. Most companies can't afford to stay on top of these trends, so they only treat the symptoms rather than the underlying causes. The best solution is to have a dedicated service specializing in ecommerce fraud. A few of these exist, and Signifyd is leading the charge with its knowledgeable staff. So while fraud can never be fully prevented, now you can stay one step ahead.

Guillaume Le Tual joins Megan Blissick, the Head of Global Agency Partnerships at Signifyd, on the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to discuss fraud in ecommerce and the best preventions. They start with the common issues in the current ecommerce landscape and what measures are being taken to deal with them. They also get into returns, subscriptions, and bot-based attacks and the unique challenges each one brings.