Journey To An 8-Figure E-Commerce Business

By Emmanuel Eleyae

I help E-commerce businesses grow into an 8-figure business.... more

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The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.

Journey To An 8-Figure E-Commerce Business episodes:

March 20, 2024#30 Why SEO Doesn’t Work for E-Commerce and What To Do Instead With Alex Back
Join host Emmanuel Eleyae as he chats with Alex Back from Couch.com about the pitfalls of traditional SEO in e-commerce and alternative strategies for success. Alex shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing challenges like domain acquisition and the unpredictable nature of SEO. Discover valuable insights on motivation, marketing tactics for content sites, and the importance of playing to your strengths. Tune in as Alex reflects on setting realistic goals and creating sellable businesses, while emphasizing the significance of individualized definitions of success. Gain valuable lessons on navigating the e-commerce terrain and building sustainable ventures from this insightful conversation.
Key Points:
(0:00) Introduction and Background
(3:12) Starting a New Business
(7:35) The Problem and Solution
(12:42) Funding and Domain Acquisition
(21:36) The Wild West of Domain Pricing
(23:00) The Hurdles of Starting a New Business
(24:57) Finding Motivation and Small Wins
(26:45) Marketing Strategies for an SEO-Focused Content Site
(29:58) The Challenges of Running a Business
(31:01) The Drive to Start and Succeed in Business
(32:52) Finding Comfort in Different Business Ventures
(34:44) The Why Behind Entrepreneurship
(35:54) The Upside and Control of Owning a Business
(38:08) Differentiating from Wayfair
(41:09) Wayfair’s Success and Strategies
(43:55) The Cost and Time Investment of SEO
(47:20) Considering Marketing Mix and Organic Opportunities
(51:02) The Challenges of Waiting for SEO Results
(54:03) Choosing a Content Site After E-Commerce Success
(57:45) Focusing on Strengths and Delegating
(59:34) Lessons From Building an E-Commerce Brand
(1:02:34) Sticking to What Works
(1:05:06) Building a Sellable Business
(1:07:16) Setting Realistic Goals
(1:08:39) Finding Buyers for Your Business
(1:10:02) Building a Profitable Furniture Company
(1:11:26) The Importance of Systems
(1:12:46) Building a Content Site on Shopify
(1:16:10) Defining Success
Resources:
Connect with Alex Back:
Website: Couch.com
Personal Website: alexback.com
LinkedIn: Alex Back
Instagram: @thebackmobile
Grow Your Business With Us:
E-Commerce Email Bundle: Elevate your email marketing game and drive sales. Get Bundle
Create Cashflow and Predictable Profits Course: Unlock the secrets to financial success in e-commerce. Learn More
1-on-1 Strategy Session with Emmanuel: Turbocharge your business with personalized guidance. Book Now
FREE Resources:
Shopify Training: Master the essentials with our comprehensive guide. Watch Now
Klaviyo Training: Optimize your email marketing with expert tips. Watch Now
...more
1h 20min
March 11, 2024#29 Building Amazon FBA Brands Guaranteed To Hit 7 Figures a Year With Neil Twa
Join host Emmanuel Eleyae as he chats with Neil Twa from Voltage Digital Marketing about the secrets to building a blooming Amazon FBA business, guaranteed to hit 7 figures annually. From mastering Amazon’s algorithms to expanding product lines and leveraging platforms like TikTok Shop, Neil shares essential strategies for success. Discover the power of organic SEO, user-generated content, and even direct mail in this fast paced e-commerce landscape. Throughout, Neil emphasizes the importance of perseverance, community, and networking. Tune in to learn how to take your e-commerce venture to the next level with Neil’s expert insights.
Key Points:
(0:00) Introduction and Background
(1:10) Starting with Amazon
(3:24) The Power of Amazon for Product Visibility
(6:17) The Importance of Selling and Marketing
(10:19) The Role of SEO in Amazon and Other Platforms
(12:25) The Modern Approach to SEO
(15:02) Calculating Customer Lifetime Value
(19:07) Understanding Amazon’s Fees and Profitability
(20:57) Expanding the Product Line for Brand Growth
(23:42) Reaching the Top 1% on Amazon
(26:23) Succeeding on Amazon with No Competitors
(29:50) Launching a First-to-Market Product on Amazon
(34:17) Using Brand Discovery Platforms
(34:55) Introduction to TikTok Shop and Direct Mail
(35:49) Benefits of TikTok Shop for Brand Discovery
(36:48) Organic SEO and Growth Opportunities on TikTok Shop
(38:13) Utilizing Affiliates on TikTok Shop
(39:07) The Power of User-Generated Content on TikTok Shop
(40:59) Building a Creator Network on TikTok Shop
(41:59) Expanding to Own Shops and Dropshipping on TikTok Shop
(44:46) Leveraging TikTok Shop for Shopify Sellers
(47:35) Using Direct Mail as an Additional Channel
(50:56) The Importance of Multi Channel Approach
(53:42) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Prioritizing Family
(56:18) Permission-Based Marketing With Direct Mail
(1:00:36) Digging Deeper into TikTok Shop
(1:02:48) Neil’s Journey and Mentoring Approach
(1:07:02) Overcoming Challenges and Perseverance in Business
(1:08:16) Joining the Voltage Community
(1:08:35) The Importance of Networking and Knowledge
(1:10:18) Joining the Community
(1:11:23) Working With Neil @ Voltage
(1:13:53) Evaluating Product Demand
(1:15:05) Where to Find Neil @ Voltage
Resources:
Connect with Neil Twa:
Website: www.Voltagedm.com
Free Training: Business Builders
LinkedIn: Neil Twa
Instagram: @neiltwa
YouTube: @NeilTwavoltage
Grow Your Business With Us:
1-on-1 Strategy Session with Emmanuel: Elevate your business with personalized guidance. Book Now
Building Predictable Profits Monthly Membership: Join our community and unlock consistent growth. Explore Membership
The Growth Optimization Audit Package: Fine-tune your strategies for maximum impact. Learn More
FREE Resources:
Shopify Training: Master the essentials with our comprehensive guide. Watch Now
Klaviyo Training: Optimize your email marketing with expert tips. Watch Now
...more
1h 16min
November 16, 2023#28: Building Trust: Cory and Nicol Varona of OCOA Beauty Tell Their Story
In this episode, your hosts Emmanuel Eleyae and Grace Eleyae talk with Cory and Nicol Varona - co-founders of OCOA Beauty. They talk about their background and why they wanted to start a hair care brand. They also talk about what it’s like being sisters and running a business together. You’ll also hear about the story of OCOA, from finding their first manufacturer to their rebrand and relaunch this year. In the Founder Rounder, they talk about how to build brand awareness and give some tips for building a community online.
Timestamps:
Cory & Nicol’s Background/Why They Started OCOA
(0:48) Cory explains what OCOA does and why they started their business. They were looking for clean quality hair products for curly hair.
(3:02) Emmanuel asks if they feel successful and Cory talks about how they rebranded this year and how the growth has been really successful.
(4:38) Nicol talks about how their personal transformations fueled their inspiration for OCOA. They both decided to stop straightening their hair and started experimenting with new products for their curly hair.
(6:55) Nicol talks about how Cory learned how to be a natural hair formulator and started creating products for a simplified routine. This led them to create their formulas and test their products but they weren’t focused on the branding.
(8:25) Nicol talks about what they did before OCOA - they both went to business school, Cory did finance and Nicol did marketing and management, which helped them some but the beauty industry is not what they thought it would be.
Family Dynamics in Business
(9:51) Cory talks about what it’s been like doing business with her sister. There were some hiccups in the beginning but they’ve been able to focus on their own strengths and improve their systems.
(12:59) Nicol gives her perspective on doing business with her sister. SHe also says they have gotten a lot better at managing the dynamic. She also says it’s important to trust whoever you go into business with.
(14:23) Emmanuel talks about why he thinks going into business with family is a bad idea, and the importance of having boundaries.
(15:46) Nicol talks about some of the conflicts they’ve experienced - they would both be putting too much energy into fixing the same issue instead of trusting the other to get it done, as well as working on setting more boundaries. She also talked about how being more efficient helped.
(18:02) Cory talks about how her and Nicol were very close growing up so they don’t really fight. They have a lot of trust for each other.
(19:40) Emmanuel talks about the positives of having family in business - they understand the wins and are able to celebrate with you.
Hiring Employees, Finding a Manufacturer, and Rebranding
(20:32) Nicol talks about how they are in the process of hiring their first employee - a social media/community manager. Emmanuel talks about the importance of building a community.
(22:45) Cory talks about how important their community is to them.
(23:36) Emmanuel gives advice for hiring - plan out their first 90 days and give them a map of things they need to do to be successful.
(24:52) Nicol says she still has a full-time job, but Cory does OCOA full time. Emmanuel and Grace talk about how that is very common for entrepreneurs in the first years of business.
(25:53) Cory talks about how they found a manufacturer for their products - they talked to a lot of people and were persistent.
(29:20) Cory talks about how they still do fulfillment from her basement with the help of family and friends.
(30:20) Nicol talks about their old branding and why they changed it.
(31:21) Nicol talks about the journey from 2018 to now with manufacturing issues and rebranding. They wanted to launch 5 products but ended up just doing the curl cream to test the market.
(33:00) Nicol explains why they wanted to rebrand - the customers loved the product but not the branding, and they felt that it didn’t express what they were about. She also talks about how their free samples were the main way they got customers.
Founder Rounder
(35:12) Cory asks about how to build brand awareness in the current economic climate where people are spending less.
(37:56) Emmanuel talks about the importance of good content and using organic strategies to test content then amplifying them with non-conversion campaigns on all socials.
(39:50) Emmanuel talks about how people are still buying, they’re just being more picky with who they buy from, so brands need to figure out what makes them stand out and use good content to get that message across.
(42:04) Emmanuel asks for advice on building a community for Eleyae Systems. Nicol says to share more of what he’s doing on social media, and go live to answer people’s questions.
(43:55) Cory says when posting on social media, they want to educate, inspire, and entertain. So sharing sneak peeks, behind the scenes, and also keeping it funny. Make sure your followers are gaining something from you.
(46:09) Grace talks more about pushing out content that elicits an emotional response and amplifying it with ads.
(47:09) Nicol talks about how to support OCOA and where to find them on social media.
Resources:
Website: ocoabeauty.com
Facebook: OCOA
Instagram: @ocoabeauty
TikTok: @ocoabeauty
LinkedIn: OCOA - Curly Hair Care

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49min
November 16, 2023#27: Building Discipline: Bubba Albrecht of Give’r Tells His Story
In this episode, your hosts Emmanuel Eleyae and Grace Eleyae talk with Bubba Albrecht - co-founder and CEO of Give’r. He talks about how they got started, experimenting with different products, and how they built a community of supporters. He also talks about his mission and philosophy for Give’r and how he used self discipline to grow and sustain the business. You’ll also hear about how frugal he is even though his business has hit the seven figure mark, and his reasoning for that. In the Founder Rounder, Emmanuel talks about how changing technology has affected advertising, and to focus on things that have always worked, like building an organic community and creating quality content and copy.
Timestamps:
The Beginning of Give’r
(0:56) Bubba explains the origins of Give’r and how he got started - he made hats for a camping trip with friends and people would ask where he got them so he made hats and t-shirts to test out selling.
(3:37) Bubba talks about success - imposter syndrome and why it’s important to define success on your own terms, as well as the importance of his team and the community they’ve built.
(7:22) Bubba talks about some of the snags when they first launched - shipping was expensive, Shopify was still new and had it’s own problems, but they still wanted to get something up and running.
(10:37) Bubba talks about how they wanted to expand and create new products, and how the optimization process was slow.
(12:26) Bubba talks about how they started experimenting with leather gloves and saw that there was a high demand for them. They were buying the gloves from hardware stores initially and kept moving up the supply chain to find a manufacturer. They expanded based on customer feedback.
(15:19) Bubba talks about their Kickstarter campaign in 2016 and how they had already tested the product and refined it. The campaign raised over $200,000 and they were able to manufacture.
(18:23) Bubba talks about how their goal was to deliver their product to everyone who supported them during their kickstarter campaign, and through this they learned a lot about the systems and operations.
(19:43) Bubba explains the term ‘give’r’ - it’s Canadian and means to give it your all.
Give’r’s Mission and Business Philosophy
(21:55) Bubba talks about the brand’s mission and philosophy. He also talks about learning balance and how to manage a team, the importance of taking chances and risks, and asking people like Emmanuel for advice when needed.
(26:13) Bubba talks about the importance of delivering to loyal customers and how more mistakes happened when they tried to grow quickly.
(27:32) Bubba talks about how important it is to make sure there’s actually a market for your product as early as possible and that people will actually pay for your product.
(29:17) Bubba talks about balancing growth and capacity and how he turned down retailers because he would not compromise his loyal customers.
Discipline
(30:27) Emmanuel talks about the importance of discipline and how it’s better to focus on building an organic audience before running ads because everything works better when you have an organic audience to fall back on.
(32:13) Bubba talks about how his decision to not run ads was because they didn’t have the money for it, and it forced them to look at other options. He also talks about the importance of talking to customers and getting their feedback.
(33:44) Bubba talks about how building slowly worked for them. He worked 2 other jobs during the first 3 years of Give’r and that allowed him to not have to worry about paying rent or other financial strain, and it also allowed him to have breaks from the business.
(36:28) Grace and Bubba talk about the importance of discipline, and Bubba gives an example of a time they took on more than they could handle and it didn’t work out.
(38:42) Bubba talks about the importance of stability and how working other jobs gave him a better chance at achieving the goals for Give’r.
Frugality
(40:44) Bubba and Emmanuel talk about how even though Give’r had been successful, he and the team have remained incredibly frugal and that’s allowed them to be sustainable.
(42:50) Bubba talks more about how frugality and discipline led to more sustainable growth, and also leading his team by example.
(45:33) Bubba talks about how increased revenue leads to more challenging problems, and you have to be committed to solving those problems.
(47:12) Emmanuel asks about the positives that come with growth. Bubba talks about how the positives outweigh the negatives and he has a great supportive team and how rewarding it is to be putting positivity out into the world.
Founder Rounder
(49:57) Bubba asks about how the internet and specifically online advertising has changed for E-commerce people.
(52:08) Emmanuel talks about how tech has changed - before privacy changes ads were too easy to run. Now it’s time to focus on what has always worked - building and nurturing a community, solving problems for people, and having good creative & copy.
(54:58) Emmanuel talks about how people buy from people and how it's important to be able to humanize your business, especially on the internet, and how good storytelling is important.
(56:52) Bubba talks about some of the feedback he’s received from customers on how their gloves hold up in extreme conditions that he was never able to test. He also talks about how there was a demand for mittens rather than gloves and how he was able to make that into a reality.
(1:00:39) Bubba talks about what Give’r is currently doing and ways to support him and his business
Resources:
Website: give-r.com

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1h 4min
November 16, 2023#26 Building Legitimacy: Jacquelyn Rodgers of Greentop Gifts Tells Her Story
In this episode your hosts Emmanuel Eleyae and Grace Eleyae talk with Jacquelyn Rodgers - founder and CEO of Greentop Gifts. She talks about her background and why she wanted to start Greentop Gifts. She talks about how she got her first customers and how she is able to work with her husband. You’ll also hear her talk about what it’s like going into retail and all the struggles that come along with that. In the Founder Rounder, they talk about struggles all business owners are facing right now and some ways to cut costs, as well as some tips for new customer acquisition. At the end, Jacquelyn talks about some of the lessons she’s learned, advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and why representation is important to her.
Timestamps:
Jacquelyn’s Background/How She Started Greentop Gifts
(0:37) Jacquelyn explains her business and why she started it - she wanted her son to have a black Santa. She also talks about what she did before Greentop Gifts - she worked in corporate for a candy company.
(2:57) Jacquelyn talks about how she found her first manufacturer and had her first batch of wrapping paper delivered to her house. She would work all day then come home and package orders in the evenings.
(6:06) Jacquelyn explains how she got her first customers - her friend filmed an “about us” video that was posted on social media and a lot of people saw it and started visiting their website.
(7:27) Jacquelyn talks about how Greentop Gifts was her side hustle for the first 4 years and how she managed working full time and running a business. She realized that for the business to grow she needed to commit to it full time so she quit her job in 2020.
(9:17) Jacquelyn talks about being in business with her husband - they have different personalities when it comes to business and they balance each other out.
(10:38) Jacquelyn talks about boundaries with her husband - they have learned when and where to talk about work-related things.
Struggles in Retail
(12:27) Jacquelyn talks about how getting into retail was not what she expected - there was a lot she didn’t know about and it’s very expensive but it was worth it for her product because most people want it the same day.
(15:10) Jacquelyn explains how being in retail is seen as a sign of legitimacy for businesses and it can be rewarding for some businesses if done right.
(17:40) Grace talks about how going into retail makes sense for some businesses because that’s where the most customers are, but it might not make sense for other brands with products that people don’t mind waiting on.
(18:29) Emmanuel talks about why he hates retail - it does give legitimacy but it is also very costly and can kill a small brand that’s not ready for it.
(19:30) Grace and Jacquelyn talk about how tricky retail can be - once your product is on their shelf you still have to get people to go and buy your product, because if it doesn’t sell, they will take it off their shelves.
(21:56) Grace and Jacquelyn talk about how intention and sacrifice are important when going into retail and how it can be a big hit to your cashflow with chargebacks and fees and the time it takes to actually see the profit from sales.
(25:09) Jacquelyn and Emmanuel discuss how intention is important - if you go into retail to make a lot of money, it’s not going to work. It’s better to be able to say no or just go into a few stores to get that legitimacy.
Founder Rounder
(26:54) Jacquelyn asks about ways to get more customers. Emmanuel talks about how that has been every founder rounder question and something that all businesses are struggling with.
(29:12) Grace talks about how new customer acquisition was really easy during the pandemic but now we’re in an economic downturn and it’s gotten harder. She says not to compare current numbers to 2020 numbers, instead compare it to your startup numbers and you’ll see that there is still life in the business.
(31:01) Emmanuel talks about cutting costs. During the pandemic, the economy was hot and there was an artificial demand that is now gone so business owners need to focus on cutting unnecessary costs to increase bottom line profit.
(32:43) Emmanuel talks about possible cost cutting strategies - get rid of unnecessary services, sell your inventory at cheaper prices, and use pre-sales.
(34:31) Emmanuel talks about how to get new customers - by focusing on what has already worked for the business as well as making good engaging content.
(35:48) Jacquelyn talks about how retail is their main source of income right now and some of the problems they’ve had with Amazon.
(38:03) Jacquelyn talks about the biggest lessons she’s learned - keep your eyes on fulfillment and try not to be a seasonal business.
(39:26) Jacquelyn talks about how entrepreneurship is not as “sexy” as people on the internet make it out to be, and you shouldn’t get into it if you’re not passionate about it. Emmanuel and Jacquelyn also talk about how people on the internet give advice that just doesn’t work anymore.
(41:49) Jacquelyn talks about what she would tell people who are just starting out - make sure you have a product that makes sense, don’t quit your job until you’re sure the business can support you, go slow and be reasonable. Emmanuel talks about how entrepreneurship is not a get rich quick scheme and you need to be passionate about it.
(45:02) Jacquelyn talks about ways to support her business and where to find her products. She also talks about Clarence Claus and why representation in the holidays is important to her.
Resources:
Website: greentopgifts.com
Instagram: @greentopgifts
Facebook: Greentop Gifts
Twitter: @greentopgifts
TikTok: @greentopgifts

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50min
November 13, 2023#25: Building a Community: Trina Small of Supermom Culture Tells Her Story
In this episode, your hosts Emmanuel Eleyae and Grace Eleyae talk with Trina Small - founder and CEO of Supermom Culture. She talks about how she started with her blog and built a community that supported her when she created Supermom Culture. She also talks about being on Good Morning America and having to get 10,000 shirts. You’ll also hear her talk about lessons she’s learned being in business and some tips from her about building a community. In the Founder Rounder, Emmanuel talks about different ways to cut costs and keep your business afloat in the current economic climate.
Timestamps:
Trina’s Background/Starting Supermom
(0:54) Trina talks about how she started Supermom Culture - she had a blog and built a community, posted a picture in her shirt and people wanted them.
(2:27) Trina talks about how things really took off during the pandemic - they went viral and even ended up on Good Morning America.
(4:10) Trina talks about what she did before Supermom - she has a background in marketing and logistics and worked in corporate until she quit her job to be a stay at home mom and started her blog.
How Trina Scaled for GMA
(6:55) Trina talks about how she started with her shirts. She did a lot of Googling and asking around. She bought a few shirts, sold them, then used that money to buy more shirts.
(8:42) Trina talks about how she tried selling different products like bags and aprons, but the real demand was for her t-shirts.
(11:02) Trina talks about being on Good Morning America for the first time - they contacted her and asked if she could make 10,000 shirts but she was still pressing them herself in her home so she had to figure out how to scale.
(13:20) Trina talks about how she got those 10,000 shirts - she had already saved the money from her previous sales so she had enough to purchase the inventory and she had a friend who did screen printing to help her.
Lessons Learned/Building a Community
(14:57) Trina talks about the biggest lessons she’s learned so far - be prepared, don’t be afraid to ask people for help, and make sure you do your research.
(15:57) Trina talks about the most difficult parts for her - having to learn as you go, being a one-man band, and not knowing about finance.
(18:22) Trina talks about the importance of building a community first.
(21:29) Trina talks about how she built trust within her community - authenticity and engaging with people.
Founder Rounder
(22:17) Emmanuel asks for advice on building a community. Trina says to join lives with people who have a similar audience and to engage with people on social media.
(26:06) Emmanuel asks for advice for people who are introverted and trying to build a community. Trina says to get over it and put yourself out there.
(29:49) Trina asks about how to navigate the current economic climate. Emmanuel says to lower expectations because sales were artificially high during the pandemic and things will not be the same as they were at that time.
(31:56) Emmanuel says to focus now on bottom line growth and cutting costs.
(33:36) Grace talks about how as long as there’s revenue coming in, there’s life in the business.
(35:14) Trina talks about how she’s been downsizing and cutting costs and some of the struggles she’s had.
(36:19) Emmanuel talks about his cashflow course and other effective ways to cut costs in business.
(43:16) Trina talks about ways to support her and what’s next for Supermom.
Resources:
Website: supermomculture.com
Facebook: supermomculture
Instagram: @supermomculture
Trina’s Instagram: @heytrinasmall

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45min
November 12, 2023#24: Building Success: Ceata Lash of PuffCuff Tells Her Story
In this episode, your hosts Emmanuel Eleyae and Grace Eleyae talk with Ceata Lash - founder and CEO of the Puff Cuff. She talks about her background and why she decided to create the PuffCuff. She also talks about what advice she would give her previous self and how/why she feels successful. You’ll also hear them discuss the struggles that come along with having family in business and ways that she had overcome those struggles. In the Founder Rounder, Emmanuel talks about why businesses are struggling right now and ways they can improve their cashflow. Ceata also talks about what’s next for PuffCuff.
Timestamps:
Ceata’s Background/Why She Created PuffCuff
(1:00) Ceata talks about why she invented the PuffCuff. She stopped chemically treating her hair and everything she used for a puff was causing damage to her hair.
(6:46) Ceata talks about her family life, wanting to adopt a child, and how her 99 year old grandmother came to live with her and in the same weekend they adopted a 4 week old baby.
(13:03) Ceata talks about how her experience as a graphic designer allowed her to make a design for the PuffCuff and how she used connections at the community college and the Small Business Development Center to find a manufacturer and other things she needed to start her business.
(15:44) Ceata talks about how she was able to find a manufacturer in the US.
(17:07) Ceata talks about how she thought PuffCuff was just going to be another side hustle for her but her crowdfunding campaign showed that there was a demand for her product.
Ceata’s Advice
(20:42) Ceata talks about what advice she would give herself when she was just starting out - focus on the numbers and learn how to read them.
(23:25) Ceata talks about why it’s important to know your numbers - it takes money to make money and you cannot successfully grow a business if you don’t know how to handle your money.
(26:54) Ceata talks about how/why she feels successful. She talks about how it’s hard to feel proud of yourself sometimes and the difference between humility and ego and balancing the two.
Business and Family
(29:07) Ceata talks about the difficulties of being a married woman and a successful business owner as well as having her kids in business with her.
(32:45) Ceata and Emmanuel discuss the difficulties of having a business with family - she talks about the need to have conversations that might be difficult and setting boundaries with family. She also talks about how she’s had to fire her son and how he works better with her husband.
(35:35) Ceata talks about her philosophy when setting boundaries with people.
(39:55) Ceata talks about how she’s had to stop mothering at work, work on saying things without hurting people, and stop trying to save people from themselves.
Founder Rounder
(44:08) Ceata asks for tips about new customer acquisition.
(45:26) Grace talks about how many business owners are struggling with new customer acquisition right now with the state of the economy. She also gives encouragement - she says that as long as there is still revenue coming in, even if its not as much as before, there is still life in the business.
(49:07) Ceata talks about how there is strength in numbers and black businesses need to do a better job supporting each other.
(50:37) Emmanuel talks about how customers are being more frugal right now and many businesses are struggling right now, but there is still revenue coming in. He advises to focus on cutting costs instead of trying to raise revenue.
(53:43) Ceata talks about the need to stop comparing herself and her business to others.
(55:08) Emmanuel talks about how sales were artificially inflated during the pandemic and we should expect things to pull down now. His advice is to cut costs and focus on what works to bring in cashflow.
(57:05) Ceata talks about what’s new for PuffCuff, they have HBCU brand ambassadors and HBCU coils and care kits, a new crowdfunding campaign, as well as some new products that will launch soon.
Resources:
PuffCuff Website: thepuffcuff.com
Support PuffCuff's WeFunder Campaign: wefunder.com/puffcuff
Instagram: @thepuffcuff
Facebook: PuffCuff Hair Clamp
Twitter: @ThePuffCuff
TikTok: @thepuffcuff
YouTube: @thepuffcuff

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1h 1min
November 10, 2023#23: Building and Scaling the Grace Eleyae Brand with Grace Eleyae Part 3
In this episode your host Emmanuel Eleyae talks more with Grace Eleyae - founder and CEO of graceeleyae.com. They talk about the pros and cons of business growth and specifically the pros and cons of having a 3PL. They also discuss how growth is a choice and it can sometimes be beneficial to intentionally stop business growth. You’ll also hear their advice for those in business with their family and the kinds of protections you need to have in place. Grace talks about how she feels like a success and how success is a mindset.
Timestamps:
The Pros and Cons of Business Growth
(0:44) Grace talks about some of the struggles, specifically with shipping, when they were scaling GE.
(2:57) Emmanuel talks about strategic ways to scale a business and the fallbacks that can happen when you aren’t prepared for that kind of growth.
(5:20) Emmanuel and Grace talk about the pros and cons of having a 3PL and why it is important to pay attention close attention to what they’re doing and what they’re charging you for.
(12:05) Grace and Emmanuel talk about ways they intentionally and unintentionally stopped growing the business and the benefits of stopping growth.
Struggles and Advice for Family Business
(16:48) Emmanuel talks about how growing a business with family can cause a strain on the relationships.
(19:03) Grace talks about the strain of growing a business with family from her perspective and how a lack of trust causes problems with both the business and the family dynamic.
(22:46) Emmanuel talks about how the pressure for the business to succeed is even higher when family is involved and it can lead to poor business decisions. Grace talks about how with family, the highs are high but the lows are low.
(24:38) Grace and Emmanuel debate whether it is possible to have a successful family business.
(26:55) Emmanuel gives his technical advice for people thinking of starting a family business.
(28:31) Grace gives interpersonal advice for people thinking of starting a family business.
(30:52) Emmanuel and Grace talk about the importance of boundaries in a family business and how they did this in their situation.
Things to Consider
(32:26) Grace and Emmanuel talk about how beneficial it is to have a coach, mentor, therapist, or third party to talk to outside of the business.
(34:44) Emmanuel talks about how it’s important for senior leaders to have assistants and how you should take care of your founders and leaders so work goes more smoothly.
(35:49) Grace talks about how risky it is to make generalizations when you should be specific and how people in family business take things personally when they should be getting specific.
Success and Failure
(38:24) Grace talks about how she views success and whether or not she feels like a success.
(42:52) Emmanuel talks about how success is a choice and a mindset.
(44:42) Grace talks about success vs. failure and the importance of celebrating success no matter how small.
(46:48) Emmanuel and Grace talk about what they’re planning on doing next for Eleyae Systems and graceeleyae.com.
Resources:
Grace’s Website: graceeleyae.com
Grace’s Instagram: @graceeleyae
Grace’s TikTok: @itsgraceeleyae

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51min
November 09, 2023#22: Building and Scaling the Grace Eleyae Brand with Grace Eleyae Part 2
In this episode your host Emmanuel Eleyae talks more with Grace Eleyae - founder and CEO of graceeleyae.com. She talks about the issues she faced with manufacturing and how important it is to negotiate with manufacturers. Emmanuel and Grace also discuss some of the things they tried that worked, and some that didn’t work. You’ll also hear about how they created systems for handling different aspects of the business and how they were able to grow so quickly. They also have some valuable insights on inventory management and how expensive it is to grow a business.
Timestamps:
Lessons Learned in Manufacturing
(0:49) Grace talks about trying to find a manufacturer and the difficulties that came with that.
(4:55) Emmanuel and Grace talk about how it’s important to negotiate with manufacturers to get the lowest price possible.
(9:09) Emmanuel talks about working at Amazon and seeing the rise of e-commerce businesses and how some of them were thriving on Amazon but it wouldn’t work for GE because there was no demand for the product yet.
What Worked and What Didn’t
(14:13) Emmanuel talks about the issues they encountered when they used WooCommerce and why he recommends Shopify instead of WooCommerce.
(18:46) Emmanuel and Grace talk more about using influencers to grow their business, what they learned in the process, and how they made a system for it.
(23:26) Emmanuel talks about how having influencers talk about your product is a great way to figure out what kind of messaging works best for your product and help with marketing.
(25:08) Emmanuel and Grace discuss things they tried in the early stages of the business that did not work: demand-based advertising, pricing was too low, and inefficient shipping methods.
Creating Systems for Manufacturing & Inventory Management
(27:51) Emmanuel and Grace talk about the issues they faced when it came to inventory - they were out of stock for the most popular items and overstocked on slow-moving products and they had to figure out how to balance this when ordering new stock, as well as discounting slow-moving items & doing pre-sales.
(32:09) Grace and Emmanuel talk about some of the problems they faced with their manufacturer - products were not coming in fast enough and some of them were defective, which caused customer service issues.
How They Were Able to Quickly Grow Grace Eleyae
(35:33) Emmanuel talks about cash flow problems and how it is really expensive to grow inventory-based businesses because you need to buy the product from the manufacturer before you can sell it to the customer, and how they were able to grow GE.
(40:00) Emmanuel talks about how when they started doing ads for GE, they performed really well because they already had lots of creative and copy from all the different influencers they had worked with.
(42:00) Grace and Emmanuel debate the importance of aesthetically pleasing branding.
(46:14) Emmanuel and Grace discuss their biggest takeaways from their growth journey.
Resources:
Grace’s Website: graceeleyae.com
Grace’s Instagram: @graceeleyae
Grace’s TikTok: @itsgraceeleyae

Ecommerce Email Bundle
Create Cashflow and Predictable Profits Course
Growth Optimization Audit Package
Predictable Profits Membership
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50min
November 08, 2023#21: Building and Scaling the Grace Eleyae Brand with Grace Eleyae Part 1
In this episode your host Emmanuel Eleyae talks with Grace Eleyae - founder and CEO of graceeleyae.com. She talks about her background and how she was introduced to the entrepreneurial world. You’ll hear about how she created the first SLAP and got her business started. She also talks about the struggles they faced in the beginning and the different lessons they learned. You’ll hear some valuable insights on finding a “high value problem”, why it’s important to have supporters in your corner, and focusing on what works for your business.
Timestamps:
Grace’s Background
(1:12) Grace’s background as an entrepreneurial child and her side hustles.
(5:46) Why Grace had an entrepreneurial background and wanted her own business.
(6:57) Grace talks about what she did in her 20’s and the different jobs she worked at.
(9:09) How taking fashion courses inspired her and gave her the skill to create the first SLAP.
The Genesis of the SLAP
(10:38) Grace talks about making her first prototypes for the SLAP, sharing it with friends and family, and making her first sale on Etsy.
(14:08) Grace shared her idea with Emmanuel, and he didn’t understand the concept of the SLAP, he didn’t think it would sell.
(16:30) Emmanuel gave Grace a credit card with a $10,000 limit to start her business. She set up her website, did a photoshoot, and purchased inventory.
(18:20) Emmanuel & Grace talk about the importance of having people in your corner to push you forward and support you when you’re just starting out.
(21:39) You should have people to hype you up, and only listen to criticism from people who have actually bought the product. Emmanuel also talks about the importance of listening to customer feedback.
Struggles in the Early Stages of the Business
(24:16) Grace talks about her struggles trying to find a manufacturer to product her hats.
(26:00) Grace talks about launching her business and how difficult it was to try to market to everyone.
(28:13) Grace & Emmanuel talk about how an influencer promoting their product caused a spike in sales and sold out their inventory.
(31:51) Grace talks about identifying a “high value problem” that the product solves and finding the right demographic to market to.
(34:09) Emmanuel talks more about the importance of high value problems and product market fit, as well as the emotional aspect of the problem.
(36:26) Emmanuel and Grace talk about finally finding the niche demographic for their product, audience testing, and selling people a solution to a problem.
(38:08) Grace and Emmanuel talk about coming up with the name for satin lined caps & why deliberate SEO wasn’t necessary.
Lessons Learned
(40:35) Emmanuel talks about how using influencer marketing boosted their sales more than ads and they needed to do more of that and how entrepreneurs need to pay attention to what works and do more of that.
(42:29) Emmanuel talks about how often entrepreneurs miss out on opportunities to grow their business - they need to double down on what is currently working to make them sales.
(44:52) Grace talks about her faith in her product and how important it is to get the product into people’s hands to actually try it.
(48:32) Emmanuel talks about the importance of having hype people and getting negative feedback from influencers - don’t listen to criticism from people who didn’t pay for the product.
(50:24) Emmanuel and Grace talk about how using influencers to review your product can help to identify what kind of messaging you should use for your product.
Resources:
Grace's Website: graceeleyae.com
Grace's Instagram: @graceeleyae
Grace's TikTok: @itsgraceeleyae

E-commerce Email Bundle
Create Cashflow and Predictable Profits Course
Growth Optimization Audit Package
Predictable Profits Membership
...more
54min

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