Ecommerce Wizards Podcast

Yoni Kozminski is the Founder and CEO of both Escala and MultiplyMii. Escala offers consulting services for ecommerce companies and Amazon sellers who want to scale their businesses. On the other hand, MultiplyMii specializes in affordable offshore staffing solutions and HR outsourcing for ecommerce businesses. Both companies provide different solutions aimed at taking ecommerce and Amazon businesses to the next level.

In addition to being a scaling expert and entrepreneur, Yoni also hosts the podcast Successful Scales, where he interviews leaders on what it takes to build successful businesses. He has a background in digital marketing and advertising, and has worked with companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Mastercard, and Sony.

As your ecommerce business scales, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. Your small, focused team starts to expand and your simple business plan has to adapt. There might be that initial urge to micromanage and keep a tight hold on your company, but there's a better and more natural way. In fact, it might even directly contribute to your continued growth.

Organization and systematization are crucial to the success of your company. More specifically, the ability to automate and structure your business can work wonders for your day-to-day and bottom line. It's difficult to do it well; but, it helps to have someone who has done it a thousand times before. That's where Yoni Kozminski comes in.

In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Yoni Kozminski, the Founder and CEO of Escala and MultiplyMii, about the best way to systematize your ecommerce brand. They go step by step through Yoni's process of evaluation, education, and organization. They also talk about the specific tools and lessons that will help your company scale effectively. Stay tuned to find out more!

Kevin Hillstrom is the President of MineThatData, a service that offers data-driven insights into how customers interact with brands, advertising, products, and channels. Kevin has helped over 250 clients ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar brands. His MineThatData blog is widely read in the marketing industry and has 10,000 monthly visitors.

Kevin has over 30 years of experience in analytics and marketing, giving him a keen understanding of the relationship between the two. Previously, he worked for leading brands such as Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer.

All ecommerce businesses use data, but how deep do they go? Sure, a few analytics might help businesses make better marketing decisions, but that's only the beginning. Having detailed data and knowing how to read it might be the most important component of any brand's success. Now, all you need is the right expert.

Enter Kevin Hillstrom, a data specialist and customer development expert. His services and blog are centered around using sophisticated analytics tools to help ecommerce companies make the right choices. His long career in the marketing and analytics industries have given him the expertise to not only interpret the information but also apply it. Now, he's here to share a glimpse into his process and how he translates numbers into results.

Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Kevin Hillstrom, the President of MineThatData, to discuss how he uses data to help brands understand and convert customers. They talk about how to both acquire new customers and foster loyalty among pre-existing clients. They also dive into the future of ecommerce, how to effectively use discounts, and the three different types of consumer audiences to target. Find out the rest on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast!

Derric Haynie is the Chief Ecommerce Technologist for EcommerceTech.io. After seeing a disconnect between ecommerce teams and the tools they were using, Derric started his company to help these businesses find the right technology for them. He has years of experience in marketing, technology, and ecommerce and is a renowned expert in Shopify applications and tech.

Before starting EcommerceTech.io, Derric held executive roles at a number of ecommerce and marketing companies, including Gorgias, BoxyCharm, and Vulpine Interactive. Outside of work, he volunteers for GrowthX Academy, where he mentors and advises students interested in becoming expert growth hackers.

Ecommerce is constantly changing. Anyone in the industry will be quick to tell you how fluid and uncertain the market can be — especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. So much is still unknown, especially for smaller digital brands. Is your company prepared for the coming tides of the online marketplace?

No one can truly know what the future of ecommerce will hold, but there are people who are plugged into the latest trends and challenges impacting the industry. Derric Haynie, a Shopify expert and ecommerce wizard, is one of those people. He works with digital tools and brands every day, giving him a keen insight into what is on the horizon. So, what are Derric's predictions?

Guillaume Le Tual invites Derric Haynie, the Chief Ecommerce Technologist at EcommerceTech.io, back to the show to discuss his thoughts on the future of ecommerce. Together, they talk about the current problems and pain points in the marketplace and how they might be improved. They also dive into the trends affecting manufacturing, the importance of diversifying the supply chain, and how AI can be used to improve your online store. Hear it all on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast.

Shawn Johal is an entrepreneur, workshop leader, and business growth coach. In 2019, he launched his coaching practice, Elevation Leaders, where he works with companies generating anywhere from $5 million to $200 million in revenue.

Shawn is also the Co-founder of DALS Lighting, a manufacturer of LED lighting solutions. Under his leadership, the company grew its revenue three times over and established a world-class workplace. Additionally, he is the Director on the Board for the Champions for Life Foundation, an Accelerator Coach for Entrepreneurs' Organization, and an international best-selling author.

Despite all of the different theories on sales, a successful business comes down to one thing: cash. In order to survive, businesses must make money — or more specifically, turn a profit. Without a positive, consistent cash flow, that profit will be impossible. Unfortunately, many businesses are stumbling in the dark, desperately trying to figure out why they're struggling to achieve the cash flow and growth they need.

Shawn Johal has gone through that same experience of trying to solve the cash flow problem. Now that he's on the other side, he has the know-how to improve cash flow and increase profits for other businesses. With his tried-and-true models and metrics, he can help you diagnose cash problems and solve them quickly. So, what are Shawn's expert tips for growing profitably?

Shawn Johal, the CEO of Elevation Leaders, returns as a guest on the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to share his advice for improving your cash flow. The two talk about Shawn's past struggles with cash and how he increased profits and growth for his business. They also dive into the seven levers of business, the cash conversion cycle, and how to handle financing. Discover this and more by checking out the full episode!

Steve Chou is the Founder of My Wife Quit Her Job, an educational blog and podcast that teaches people how to sell physical products in the digital marketplace. Steve is also the Co-founder of Sellers Summit, a curriculum-based conference where attendees can receive current and practical ecommerce strategies. Additionally, he runs Bumblebee Linens, a seven-figure online store that sells handkerchiefs and linens for special occasions.

Before this, Steve worked in electrical engineering for almost 20 years at companies such as Tensilica and Cadence Design Systems.

It's getting harder and harder for businesses to thrive with brick-and-mortar stores alone. Many companies have started exploring ecommerce, with some making a full transition to the digital marketplace. The only problem? Ecommerce is a vastly different industry.

The old faithful strategies of running an in-person store don't work the same online. In fact, even the best techniques are changing day to day and year to year. It can be intimidating to try and enter the world of ecommerce so late in the game. However, there are experts who have dedicated themselves to helping brands in their early years of selling online. One of these is Steve Chou, the Founder of the blog and podcast My Wife Quit Her Job. Now, he's here to share that same advice with you.

Guillaume Le Tual interviews Steve Chou, the Founder of My Wife Quit Her Job, to discuss how to successfully transition from brick and mortar to ecommerce. Together, they go over strategies for expanding your business online, the best channels to market in, and why high barriers to entry can be effective. They also share the common pitfalls for new ecommerce brands and how to avoid them. Find out more on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast.

Mike Jackness is an entrepreneur and e-commerce expert. He is the President and CEO of Terran, a leading e-commerce conglomerate that owns and builds top brands like IceWraps and Wild Baby. He also co-hosts the company's podcast, EcomCrew, where he discusses all things e-commerce.

Mike started his first business straight out of high school before joining Lee Technologies as the IT Director. During his time there, he helped grow the company from 40 employees to over 200. More recently, Mike served as the President and CEO of Protos Marketing, which he founded with two business partners.

Everyone has an idea for a new e-commerce product, but what does it take to successfully launch one?

Anyone who has tried to build a successful e-commerce brand will tell you how difficult the process can be. You must have an innovative idea, strategic marketing, and countless hours of hard work to bring it all together. Additionally, there are plenty of pitfalls along the way that can hinder even the best businesses. Every successful entrepreneur has a list of things they wish they had done differently — and that's why advice from those who've walked the path before is so important. Fortunately, that's exactly what Mike Jackness is here to do.

In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual interviews Mike Jackness, the CEO and President of Terran, to discuss his perspective on starting and running a new e-commerce brand. They go over Mike's storied experience as an entrepreneur and how he manages his current companies through Terran. They also talk about the difficulties of duplicating success, what to know about your margins, and how to construct effective funnels. Stay tuned to hear it all for yourself!

Tivan Amour is a serial entrepreneur, leader, and SMS expert. He is the CEO of Tone, which was acquired by Attentive in 2021. Both work as SMS marketing solutions designed to increase revenue for ecommerce brands. Now Tivan serves as the General Manager and Conversational for Attentive. His last business, Fortified Bicycle, was acquired in 2019 after six years of continued growth. He also served in the past as a FedEx board member and a student entrepreneur mentor at BUILD.

SMS marketing can sometimes feel like a relic from a different era. After all, most people focus more on apps and websites than text messages in today's age. The truth, however, is that SMS marketing can be more effective than ever. Not only are people using their phones at greater rates than in the past, but they are valuing companies that reach out. A genuine relationship between you and the customer is becoming the essential piece of marketing.

This is the viewpoint of Tivan Amour, a serial entrepreneur who has seen how effective SMS marketing can be firsthand. His first business found success when he started implementing text messages for abandoned carts. After that, he founded his own SMS marketing company called Tone in 2017, which was then bought out by Attentive. If anyone knows the power of text messages, it's him.

Guillaume Le Tual invites Tivan Amour, CEO of Tone, to discuss why SMS marketing may be an unexplored tool for your ecommerce brand. The two go over how text messages work and the unique benefits over other forms of marketing. They also discuss a host of topics, including discounts, where ecommerce is heading, and why having your own app may not be as great as it once was. Hear it all for yourself on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast.

Neil Twa is an Amazon growth expert and the CEO of Voltage Digital Marketing, a company that launches, operates, and acquires private e-commerce brands. Since founding Voltage with Reed Larsen, Neil has steadily expanded the company's services to help e-commerce sellers create successful brands on Amazon. They now work with businesses in SaaS, consulting, business coaching, and Amazon managed services industries.

Throughout his career, Neil has introduced dozens of entrepreneurs to passive streams of income. With experience generating millions of dollars on Amazon, he is an expert at helping brands achieve exponential success on the platform.

How do you succeed on Amazon? As the largest digital marketplace in the world, it has become a crucial platform for e-commerce brands. Many of the pressing questions that companies have about succeeding on Amazon involve performance and marketing. But what if there's a basic question that many brands are forgetting to ask?

With so much competition on Amazon, the question of what you sell is just as important as how you sell it. Consumers interact with thousands of products on a daily basis without giving much consideration to their market appeal. But, even with the platform's endless catalog, Amazon still has holes left to be filled. As Neil Twa says, there is always room to innovate, rebrand, and surprise in the digital marketplace — all you need is someone to help you think outside the box.

In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Neil Twa, the CEO of Voltage Digital Marketing, to discuss what to sell on Amazon and how to sell it. They go over the process of finding gaps in the marketplace and explain the key to boosting your profit margins. Neil also shares his digital marketing advice to Amazon sellers, including how to generate traffic and effectively dominate your market. Stay tuned to hear all this and more!

Shawn Johal is an entrepreneur, workshop leader, and business growth coach. In 2019, he launched his coaching practice, Elevation Leaders, where he works with companies generating anywhere from $5 million to $200 million in revenue.

Shawn is also the Co-founder of DALS Lighting, a manufacturer of LED lighting solutions. Under his leadership, the company grew its revenue three times over and established a world-class workplace. Additionally, he is the Director on the Board for the Champions for Life Foundation, an Accelerator Coach for Entrepreneurs' Organization, and an international best-selling author.

What is the secret to scaling a business? Some companies make the process look easy, but it rarely is. There's a lot that goes into effective growth, and even the most successful brands can struggle along the way.

According to business coach Shawn Johal, scaling an e-commerce business takes experience, strategy, and time. While there is no silver bullet, there are steps that every business can take to reliably grow. That's why Shawn has simplified his approach to four pillars of successful growth. His techniques have worked for companies of all shapes and sizes, and now he's here to explain how you can make them work for you.

Guillaume Le Tual hosts Shawn Johal, the CEO of Elevation Leaders, to talk about his pillars for effectively scaling an e-commerce business. The two discuss which metrics to track for team success, how to hire the right people for the job, and the importance of setting SMART goals for your company. They also dive into Shawn's process and break down how each pillar can transform your business' growth. Learn these tips and more on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast.

Caspar Hardholt is the Founder and CEO of Alumio, an integration platform for e-commerce brands. Caspar founded the business in 2016 to help companies simplify their digital processes and scale their businesses. His background is in user experience design and digital commerce.

Caspar spent more than 15 years as the CEO of MediaCT, which he helped grow into one of the leading Dutch commerce development agencies. Additionally, he has served as a board member of Touch Kiosk B.V. and Cobrowser.

Ecommerce platform integrations are difficult. Most companies that have undergone the process can describe the unforeseen challenges they experienced along the way. Balancing the budget, deadlines, and efficiency of the platform is hard, and the consequences can be severe. For this type of process, it's always best to do it right the first time. However, many brands don't have the staff or expertise to do it all themselves. That's where Alumio comes in.

Alumio is designed to help e-commerce businesses effectively create and manage their platform integrations. They have worked with dozens of companies to make the undertaking as painless as possible. Alumio's founder, Caspar Hardholt, has an extensive background in e-commerce and UX design. If anyone knows how to make platform integrations run smoothly, it's him.

On this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Caspar Hardholt, the Founder and CEO of Alumio, to discuss how to pull off a successful e-commerce integration. Caspar discusses a host of integration topics, including the pros and cons of agile frameworks, how to prevent scope creep, and the importance of team planning. He also talks about how to strike a balance between budget and deadlines when things get difficult. Stay tuned!