Honest Ecommerce

Aaron Zagha is the Chief Marketing Officer at Newton Baby, the largest direct-to-consumer brand in the baby sleep category. With a background in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan, Aaron brings a financial operator’s lens to performance marketing, attribution modeling, and team leadership.

Before joining Newton, Aaron led international Ecommerce for Teleflora, managing growth across global markets and navigating the complexity of seasonal retail cycles and cross-border logistics. Today, he applies that same analytical rigor to the world of baby and juvenile goods where trust, conversion, and retention all hinge on deeply personalized journeys.

Aaron shares how finance-trained marketers bring discipline to growth forecasting, why he encourages his team to challenge attribution models, and how incrementality testing has become central to his media mix. He also unpacks the pitfalls of over-indexing on Meta, why Pinterest deserves more spend, and how to onboard new marketing hires with the right mental models from day one.

Whether he's explaining why some site visitors can’t be influenced or why channel diversification is more urgent than ever, Aaron delivers a clear-eyed, tactical view into what’s working in DTC marketing today.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:40] Intro
• [01:13] Finding opportunity through internal mobility
• [02:34] Building with seasoned tech entrepreneurs
• [03:09] Keeping connections that open future doors
• [03:53] Auditing channel mix to unlock growth
• [04:50] Applying stats to improve ad performance
• [05:54] Selling off-site and skewing test results
• [08:00] Optimizing upstream metrics with caution
• [09:00] Driving sales with offer and positioning
• [10:19] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye & Zamp
• [12:44] Relying on incrementality to guide spend
• [14:20] Backing bold ideas with leadership support
• [15:31] Humanizing luxury to boost relatability
• [17:01] Turning off losers without ending the test
• [20:14] Feeding AI tools to stay effective
• [21:11] Measuring performance with GeoLift tests

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• #1 rated baby crib mattress newtonbaby.com/
• Follow Aaron Zagha linkedin.com/in/aaronzagha
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Donata Stroink-Skillrud is an attorney licensed in Illinois, a Certified Information Privacy Professional, and President of Termageddon, a SaaS platform transforming how eCommerce businesses handle legal compliance. Built at the intersection of privacy law expertise and technology, Termageddon helps online businesses stay compliant with ever-changing privacy regulations, without needing a legal team.

After years of working directly with contract law, consumer protection, and international privacy regulations, Donata saw firsthand how fragmented, outdated, and risky privacy compliance had become for Ecommerce websites. What started as manual legal work soon evolved into an automated solution that identifies which privacy laws apply to a business and generates up-to-date, accurate website policies in minutes—not weeks.

Donata brings a legal insider’s perspective to the realities of online selling, breaking down complex regulations into practical steps for founders. From helping brands avoid FTC fines on subscription renewals, to clarifying why state privacy laws apply to your store, Donata explains the hidden legal pitfalls that quietly erode Ecommerce growth and how to protect against them.

Whether sharing how generic privacy templates leave stores exposed, why recurring billing pages are the newest legal battleground, or how to future-proof your policies against incoming U.S. state laws, Donata delivers a tactical, no-nonsense playbook for reducing legal risk and building customer trust.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:42] Intro
• [01:04] Breaking down contract laws for entrepreneurs
• [02:02] Explaining why Shopify won’t cover your compliance
• [03:57] Breaking down real costs of ignoring privacy laws
• [06:53] Clarifying why location won’t shield your store
• [08:10] Highlighting false refund claims that trigger fines
• [11:54] Identifying which privacy laws apply to you
• [13:36] Turning repetitive legal work into automation
• [14:55] Updating policies before laws take effect
• [16:29] Receiving automatic updates without extra effort
• [17:15] Saving weeks of legal work with automation
• [18:12] Staying compliant as privacy laws keep changing

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Protects business from fines and lawsuits termageddon.com/
• Follow Donata Stroink-Skillrud linkedin.com/in/donata-stroink-skillrud

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jess Berman is the Chief Brand Officer and co-owner of BodyBio, a family-owned supplement brand redefining cellular health through premium, science-backed formulations. Built at the intersection of clinical credibility and modern digital commerce, BodyBio is helping bridge the gap between practitioner-trusted products and direct-to-consumer wellness, making elite cellular health accessible to more people than ever before.

After spending years deeply connected to BodyBio’s practitioner roots, Jess stepped into a leadership role during a pivotal shift: moving the business from B2B-only to a thriving DTC brand. What began as a family legacy focused on scientific excellence evolved into a broader mission of education, access, and brand storytelling, bringing cellular health out of the doctor’s office and into everyday routines.

Though she didn’t come from a traditional DTC background, Jess brings strategic clarity to every stage of growth, navigating channel tradeoffs, building dual B2B and DTC ecosystems, and balancing hyper-targeted paid media with high-trust organic growth.

Whether discussing how BodyBio fixed its reliance on branded traffic, why affiliate funnels outperformed typical influencer playbooks, or how brand guidelines helped unify internal teams and external agencies, Jess offers a transparent and tactical perspective on scaling a modern wellness brand without sacrificing trust.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:43] Intro
• [01:52] Rebuilding websites to unlock conversions
• [03:16] Growing brand awareness through omnichannel
• [04:26] Bootstrapping marketing with a two-person team
• [05:40] Managing fulfillment while scaling DTC
• [07:18] Finding new customers through authority partners
• [09:31] Testing creative angles to convert cold traffic
• [11:34] Leading growth through transparency and story
• [12:21] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Reach & Zamp
• [15:52] Defining brand guidelines before scaling online
• [17:52] Testing incrementality before scaling Amazon
• [18:48] Skipping short-term wins for long-term brand health
• [20:48] Preparing for shoppable AI disrupting search

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Supplements Made From Science https://bodybio.com/
• Follow Jess Berman https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesshkane
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest  
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Stephanie Moyal is the co-founder of Troop, a functional mushroom brand transforming wellness routines through approachable, science-backed gummies. Built at the intersection of personal healing and product innovation, Troop is helping redefine how consumers experience the benefits of mushrooms, one gummy at a time.

After exploring multiple career paths and feeling unfulfilled, Stephanie came across a book on mushrooms that sparked a complete shift in direction. What started as a personal fascination with neuroplasticity and brain health quickly evolved into a product mission grounded in education, quality, and access. At Troop, Stephanie leads everything from product development to brand storytelling, helping bridge the gap between skepticism and belief in a growing wellness category.

Though she entered CPG without a traditional background, Stephanie brings a founder’s resilience and clarity to each challenge, navigating go-to-market tradeoffs, scaling digital alongside strategic wholesale, and building emotional alignment with customers and cofounders alike.

Whether discussing how Troop approached product sampling and what didn’t work, why the mushroom industry is just getting started, or how therapy strengthened her cofounder partnership, Stephanie offers a candid and insightful perspective on building a brand with both purpose and endurance.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:39] Intro
• [00:54] Turning personal curiosity into a company
• [03:43] Brainstorming product formats in the kitchen
• [04:19] Navigating the nightmare of early production
• [06:23] Finding backup production in a crisis
• [08:02] Pivoting from tasting to paid acquisition
• [09:31] Expanding across DTC, Amazon, and retail
• [11:19] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Reach & Zamp
• [14:38] Focusing efforts instead of chasing channels
• [16:28] Looping back to what worked all along
• [18:27] Writing down ideas to filter later
• [21:08] Bringing on experts to avoid missteps
• [22:32] Growing stronger through personal challenges

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Premium daily mushroom supplements trytroop.com/
• Follow Stephanie Moyal linkedin.com/in/stephanie-moyal-95a4bb60
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest  
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Sabir Semerkant is an Ecommerce expert, growth strategist, and founder of Growth by Sabir, where he helps brands unlock compounding growth through a proven framework called the 8D Method. With over 20 years of experience and $1B+ in revenue driven, Sabir has worked with everyone from Fortune 500s to DTC challengers, scaling brands like Canon, Tommy Hilfiger, and Sour Patch Kids along the way.

Today, Sabir leads growth across a wide range of eCommerce verticals, helping founders break through revenue plateaus with precision systems and operational clarity. His work is grounded in execution: simplifying tech stacks, identifying bottlenecks, and unlocking 2X results without chasing shiny tactics. In 2024 alone, his Rapid 2X program delivered a 108% average lift across 29 brands in just 21 days.

Whether he’s unpacking the real reasons most brands stall, breaking down why resumes don’t equal results, or showing how to grow without over-relying on Meta ads, Sabir brings a direct, operator-first mindset to the conversation.

He shares what it takes to scale in today’s crowded DTC space without gambling on paid, blindly outsourcing growth, or losing sight of what truly moves the needle.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:39] Intro
• [01:23] Learning marketing like a software upgrade
• [08:53] Improving CTR with daily copy experiments
• [14:55] Centralizing KPIs to drive clear decisions
• [19:11] Knowing your numbers without excuses
• [21:47] Segmenting real buyers from email signups
• [23:35] Testing ideas before scaling campaigns
• [28:32] Repositioning your product to fix weak growth
• [31:03] Aligning your whole team on brand growth
• [40:30] Avoiding the agency swap loop for growth

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Turning Promising Ecom Brands Into Profitable Winners https://growthbysabir.com/
• Follow Sabir Semerkant https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabirsemerkant

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Aaron Magness is the SVP of Marketing at Full Glass Wine Co., a brand acquisition and management firm focused on operating DTC wine companies with strong community roots and lasting customer value. From first-time buyers to wine club loyalists, Aaron leads marketing across a growing portfolio of brands, building distinct identities while driving collective growth at scale.

With 15+ years of experience at fast-growing consumer brands, Aaron brings a sharp operator’s mindset to every marketing challenge. His work centers on sustainable value creation, balancing customer acquisition with deep retention, brand storytelling with data-driven execution. Outside of Full Glass, he’s also an active advisor and investor in consumer startups, with a passion for enhancing customer experience at every touchpoint.

Whether unpacking how to manage marketing across multiple brands, sharing what he looks for in standout talent, or reflecting on the role of skill vs. luck in his career, Aaron offers a grounded, thoughtful take on what it really takes to lead modern marketing teams.

He shares what it means to scale without shortcuts, how to build teams that compound over time, and why marketing today is more about connection than ever before.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:41] Intro
• [00:59] Investing in your professional network
• [01:47] Navigating job loss during economic downturns
• [03:09] Scaling DTC through subscription experience
• [06:03] Building expert teams in a startup portfolio
• [07:04] Transferring insights across brand portfolios
• [08:47] Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, Reach & Zamp
• [15:08] Specializing before expanding your skillset
• [18:07] Aligning teams around shared outcomes
• [19:41] Focusing on customer quality over quantity
• [23:16] Balancing tools with firsthand market knowledge

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Redefining the fragmented DTC wine market by building a multi-brand platform, delivering curated wines fullglass.wine/
• Follow Aaron Magness linkedin.com/in/aaronmagness
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest
• Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest  
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Julie De Angulo is the VP of Ecommerce and Digital at Bajio Sunglasses, a premium polarized fishing eyewear brand purpose-built for serious anglers, from saltwater flats to bass tournaments. Bajio combines Patent Pending LAPIS lens technology with hyper-targeted storytelling to serve one of the most gear-obsessed subcultures in outdoor retail. Julie leads the charge in turning that product obsession into a scalable digital channel, anchored in retention, merchandising, and cultural fluency.

Before joining Bajio, Julie spent nearly two decades in Ecommerce and digital marketing, scaling brands across home goods, pet supplements, fashion, and accessories. Her background in mass communications gave her a sharp instinct for message-market fit, one she’s since sharpened into a full-funnel skillset spanning email, SMS, SEO, and paid acquisition. At Bajio, she joined when the brand had little to no Ecommerce presence, and has since built a high-performing revenue channel from the ground up.

Whether breaking down how to tell product stories that resonate with niche audiences, mapping customer journeys from first click to long-term loyalty, or translating brand values into conversion-focused creative, Julie brings a tactical yet brand-led perspective to Ecommerce strategy. She shares what it takes to grow when you're starting from zero, why not all anglers are created equal, and how to build sustainable foundations that scale with authenticity.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:38] Intro
• [00:49] Focusing on a passionate niche audience
• [02:19] Building a scalable foundation for growth
• [04:31] Learning early that data drives everything
• [06:32] Repositioning a brand beyond wholesale
• [07:54] Tailoring messages to regional fishing niches
• [10:00] Hiring guides instead of paid influencers
• [11:18] Separating community from ad creative
• [12:37] Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, Reach & Zamp
• [18:59] Contributing to a mission-led product story
• [20:53] Scaling small brands with real impact
• [22:23] Balancing SKU simplicity with flexibility
• [25:03] Responding to viral demand with local supply
• [25:53] Forecasting smarter with predictive analytics

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Florida-based polarized sunglasses for fishing https://bajiosunglasses.com/
• Follow Julie De Angulo https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianadeangulo
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest
• Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jeremy Horowitz is the Managing Partner of Because Ventures and the creator of Let’s Buy a Biz!, a media brand and private equity-backed content engine built to make ecommerce M&A more transparent, data-driven, and founder-friendly. Because Ventures is a private equity search fund focused on acquiring and scaling Shopify brands and apps, while Let’s Buy a Biz! documents what it actually takes to grow Top 1% ecommerce businesses.

Before launching either venture, Jeremy worked across every layer of the Shopify ecosystem from scaling high-growth DTC brands like Lumi, to leading growth at top-performing Shopify apps like Gorgias. His on-the-ground experience gave him a front-row seat to what really drives retention, profit, and valuation. Now, through Because Ventures, Jeremy applies that knowledge to acquire and operate ecommerce businesses with sustainable margins and focused stacks.

Whether debunking the myth that “every brand needs subscriptions,” tracking the 84% adoption rate of email/SMS across $1M+ stores, or predicting which app categories will consolidate over the next five years, Jeremy brings a deep analytical lens to ecommerce strategy. He shares insights from crawling 103,000 Shopify stores, explains why most loyalty programs fail, and urges founders to simplify their tech stack before adding complexity. His story is a masterclass in using real data, not hype to guide business decisions.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:40] Intro
• [00:55] Scaling DTC brands to eight figures
• [02:03] Expanding beyond Shopify Plus assumptions
• [04:18] Filtering out inactive and duplicate stores
• [05:05] Highlighting the top 10 most used apps
• [09:08] Focusing on what actually drives growth
• [10:56] Comparing native vs third-party app adoption
• [12:23] Spotting analytics as a breakout category
• [14:11] Explaining why real CRO starts at $5M+
• [16:49] Spotting support as an underused category
• [18:29] Unpacking the subscription model myth
• [22:47] Auditing app stacks to save thousands

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Ecommerce Social Impact Fund because.ventures/index.html
• Insider analysis of the largest Ecommerce brands’ financials letsbuyabiz.xyz/
• Follow Jeremy Horowitz linkedin.com/in/jeremyhorowitz1

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Lucy Jeffrey is the founder of Bare Kind and Candid Founders, two purpose-driven brands built from a mission to make commerce more meaningful. Bare Kind is a bamboo sock company that donates 10% of profits to save the animal featured on each sock, while Candid Founders is both a YouTube channel and growth agency helping consumer brands scale on Faire, a leading B2B wholesale marketplace.

Before launching either company, Lucy worked in banking and began experimenting with ecommerce by selling reusable straws, t-shirts, and other sustainable products. Her viral turtle-themed content and strong brand mission helped Bare Kind stand out in the crowded DTC space and grow into a seasonal powerhouse, with 70% of revenue landing in Q4. But with a growing team and cash flow challenges, Lucy co-founded Candid Founders to help other brands succeed on Faire while smoothing Bare Kind’s revenue curve.

Whether scaling to 1,000+ retail accounts, turning her backend team into a profitable service business, or shutting off paid Meta ads to improve profit margins, Lucy brings a sharp, experimental mindset to Ecommerce. She shares insights on building sustainable DTC brands, making wholesale work, and running two businesses with her husband without relying on outside capital or paid ads. Her story is a masterclass in founder adaptability.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:40] Intro
• [00:55] Launching with purpose before product clarity
• [02:50] Choosing a name that allows you to pivot
• [03:40] Starting with dropshipping to test demand
• [05:37] Hiring help before scaling ad spend
• [08:09] Comparing traction between early SKUs
• [10:07] Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, Reach & Zamp
• [16:29] Avoiding traps in commoditized markets
• [18:48] Educating retailers to build trust fast
• [22:25] Listening to demand before launching services
• [24:07] Turning internal wins into client services
• [26:22] Plugging the DTC and wholesale channels

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Faire growth agency that helps brands thrive candidfounders.com/
• Comfy, vibrant animal socks that save the world’s animals barekind.co.uk/
• Follow Lucy Jeffrey linkedin.com/in/lucy-jeffrey
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest
• Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest  
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Tyler Simmons is the founder and CEO of Elevate Sports, the company behind BucketGolf, a portable par-3 game that transforms backyard spaces into playable courses and brings a competitive twist to casual golf. Elevate Sports designs products that blend athletic training and outdoor entertainment, helping families connect and athletes sharpen their skills through hands-on play.

Before launching Elevate Sports, Tyler was a Division I college athlete and worked at a lacrosse equipment company. With no prior experience in product development or ecommerce, he started by building a lacrosse training aid from scratch. That early prototype sparked a journey into consumer products, culminating in the launch of BucketGolf, a category-defining game that hit $1 million in revenue before Tyler hired his first full-time employee.

Whether turning a homemade backyard game into a seven-figure business or figuring out paid media strategy through trial and error, Tyler brings a scrappy, product-first lens to brand building. He shares insights on launching without a playbook, designing products that go viral on video, and bootstrapping high-growth businesses without outside capital. His story is proof that you don’t need a perfect plan, you just need to start.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:37] Intro
• [00:53] Launching products that bring people together
• [01:46] Validating demand with zero research
• [03:53] Making mistakes instead of waiting
• [05:47] Building momentum before it’s perfect
• [06:44] Choosing action over endless planning
• [08:09] Learning to sell before scaling up
• [12:05] Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, Reach & Zamp
• [18:27] Learning paid media through trial and error
• [20:21] Boosting what already works organically
• [21:30] Standing out in a saturated market
• [25:27] Pushing through constant setbacks

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Elevate Sports for Lacrosse Training Gear elevatesportsequipment.com/
• The Ultimate Backyard Golf Game bucketgolfgame.com/
• Follow Tyler Simmons linkedin.com/in/tyler-simmons-771b5718a
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest
• Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/
• Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest  
• Fully managed sales tax solution for Ecommerce brands zamp.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!