HexClad just pulled off one of their biggest marketing plays so far - a Super Bowl Ad - but this wasn’t just about airing a commercial during the big game, it was a multi-layered, cross-platform campaign designed to maximize impact beyond a single TV spot.

In this episode, Connor and Connor break down how the HexClad team made it happen, from choosing the right creative concept to executing an omni-channel marketing playbook that extended far beyond game day. They dive into why the company decided to invest in a Super Bowl ad, how they built pre-game buzz through influencers and viral social moments, and what set their approach apart from traditional brand marketing. They also unpack the balance between brand and performance marketing, how they leveraged meme amplification and social storytelling to scale awareness, and how they plan to track success beyond just game-day sales, including search trends, social engagement, and long-term brand impact.

This episode was recorded just a few days before the Super Bowl ad aired—stay tuned for a future episode where Connor shares his first impressions on how it performed.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

02:52 Health and Wellness Trends

06:09 Analytics Tools and Reporting Standards

09:06 Creative Strategies for 2025

12:08 Hexclad's Super Bowl Campaign Overview

14:55 Concept Development and Agency Collaboration

17:48 Execution of the Super Bowl Campaign

21:10 Omni-channel Marketing Strategies

27:03 Engagement and Community Buzz

29:55 Cultural Timing and Relevance

38:48 Emerging Media Measurement Solutions

42:41 Campaign Comparisons and Expectations

50:02 Measuring Super Bowl Campaign Impact

57:24 Revenue Projections and Strategic Planning

01:03:12 Enhancing E-commerce Experience through Bundling

HexClad Super Bowl Ad:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIShJGu1ISc

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

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Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

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Today we are joined by a member of the Operators family, Matt Bertulli, CEO of Pela Case and Lomi, to talk all things marketing. Jumping off fromSean Frank’s tweet questioning if meta is still incremental, we get deep into the nuance of paid media and how it’s shifting, the increasing challenges of reaching new customers on Meta, and why the old playbooks don’t work anymore. We also discuss scaling beyond meta and reallocating budget to TV, YouTube and strategic partnerships to drive new customer acquisition, what content tends to make for the best ads, how to measure long-term impact and where performance marketers are getting it wrong, and much more.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

02:52 E-commerce Advertising Trends for 2025

05:51 Navigating the Challenges of Meta Advertising

08:55 The Role of Incrementality in Meta Advertising

11:46 Understanding Meta's Advertising Dynamics

15:12 The Future of Meta Advertising and Brand Strategies

30:29 Understanding Meta's Impact on Marketing Strategies

36:12 The Shift from Purchase to Brand Awareness

42:54 Reevaluating Marketing Objectives in a Changing Landscape

49:49 The Convergence of Content and Advertising

54:30 Exploring Non-Meta Marketing Channels

01:01:08 Understanding Audience Awareness and Engagement

01:04:50 Channel Diversification and Media Mix Strategy

01:10:09 Influencer Marketing as a Scalable Strategy

01:14:57 Evaluating Influencer Partnerships

01:17:51 The Role of Post-Purchase Surveys in Marketing

01:20:45 Creative Collaborations with Influencers

01:23:27 Testing and Optimizing Marketing Strategies

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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https://motionapp.com/creative-trends

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

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Today we’re diving into the second part of our hiring series, this time focusing on onboarding and how to set up your new hires for success from day one. We discuss how to get the best out of your new hires as quickly as possible, how to integrate them seamlessly into your team and culture, some common onboarding issues and challenges we’ve experienced, and we break down our strategies, systems and workflows around setting up new hires and empowering them to thrive.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

05:47 Exploring Agenteo: Automating YouTube Creator Sponsorships

09:14 Performance Metrics and Initial Results from YouTube Campaigns

12:06 Understanding CPMs and Influencer Marketing Dynamics

14:52 Navigating Hiring Challenges and Expectations

18:13 Onboarding New Hires: Setting Expectations and Momentum

20:58 Building Relationships and Integrating into Company Culture

23:51 Strategies for Effective Team Collaboration

36:37 Streamlining Project Management and Onboarding

40:14 The Importance of Incrementality Testing

42:10 Balancing Guidance and Autonomy in Hiring

48:22 Collaborative Goal Setting and Performance Management

56:19 Establishing Clear Expectations and Accountability

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

This week we’re talking hiring for high-growth ecommerce teams. We’re sharing insights on how to know when to hire, why buying back your time is essential for leadership, org chart design and how it evolves over time, and we share some real-life scenarios and challenges we’ve experienced when growing our teams. If you’re struggling with your team structure, planning your next strategic hire or looking to build out your team effectively as you scale, this one’s for you - and join us next week when we’ll be discussing all things onboarding and how to get the best out of your new hires.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

04:24 New Features in E-commerce Tools

06:28 Hiring Trends and Team Structures

14:06 Rationalizing Hiring Decisions

19:19 Building Organizational Hierarchy

27:14 Cross-Channel Collaboration and Strategy

36:46 Scaling International Marketing Efforts

40:37 Evolving Organizational Structures

45:23 Navigating Hiring and Firing Challenges

53:27 Optimizing Customer Experience and Operations

01:00:16 The Importance of Cultural Fit in Hiring

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Today, we’re diving into one of the most hotly debated topics in performance marketing: creative testing volume. Should you prioritize scaling creative volume or focus on quality? In this episode, we share how we’re approaching creative testing, how our strategies have evolved over time, what we’re budgeting for creative, when more isn’t always better, and the costs of maximizing volume.

We also explore the challenges of producing at scale, what “quality” really means in today’s ad landscape, and how creative strategy evolves as a business grows.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

04:23 Creative Testing Volume: The Debate

10:02 Finding the Right Balance: Volume vs. Quality

14:16 Setting Creative Goals and Deliverables

20:13 The Spectrum of Creative Strategies

24:44 Long-Term Investments in Creative Assets

30:42 Diversity in Content for Non-Cookware Categories

36:15 Strategic Depth in Marketing Approaches

39:01 Navigating Creative Exploration and Product Launches

42:08 Leveraging AI for Customer Experience

51:00 Budgeting for Creative Production

56:59 The Role of AI in Creative Strategy

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In this episode, Cody and Connor dive into the hottest DTC predictions for 2025, discussing everything from the rise and fall of AppLovin to the transformative impact of AI on customer experience and ad creative. They share their thoughts on outsourcing and the shift to global teams, the evolution and consolidation of SaaS tools, strategies for scaling with operational leverage in today’s competitive market and more.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

04:08 AppLovin's Future in Advertising

09:56 Google's Advertising Landscape

18:57 The Impact of AI on Consumer Brands

27:48 Creative Strategies and Tools for 2025

35:15 YouTube Strategies and Incrementality

40:14 E-commerce Labor Market Trends

42:38 Outsourcing and Operational Leverage

45:32 Simplifying Business Models for Efficiency

48:41 Upper Funnel Measurement Innovations

50:17 SaaS Consolidation and Cost Management

53:22 The Future of Omnichannel Commerce

01:06:47 Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

In this episode, we’re breaking down the influencer marketing strategies we’re using this year. From product seeding to scaling creator partnerships, we’re talking about EMV and how to measure it affectively, how to maximise spend on influencers for maximum ROI, and strategies for whitelisting, affiliate deals and paid creator partnerships.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

05:49 Influencer Marketing Strategies for 2024

09:10 The Power of Product Seeding and Community Engagement

12:02 Leveraging Micro and Macro Influencers

15:08 Balancing Paid and Organic Influencer Partnerships

17:59 Exploring Diverse Creator Collaborations

21:07 Navigating the Influencer Landscape Across Platforms

24:00 Measuring Marketing Effectiveness and Incrementality

30:21 The Volatility of Social Media Platforms

34:43 Tools for Content Discovery and Attribution

37:15 Shifting Perspectives on Influencer Marketing

40:35 Budgeting for Influencer Marketing

43:54 Upper Funnel Channels and Measurement Challenges

48:50 Balancing Organic and Paid Influencer Strategies

52:42 Integrating Influencer Marketing with Product Launches

56:02 Creating Buzzworthy Product Launches

01:01:16 Leveraging Influencer Marketing for Product Launches

01:09:21 The Future of Influencer Marketing Platforms

01:17:15 Measuring Success in Influencer Campaigns

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

E009: Ashton Wall: Putting Influencer Marketing At The Core of your Marketing Stack

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ITRVhkBjsck

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Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

It’s a full house today, and we’re joined by Shane Rostad to talk CRO. Shane’s recently launched his own brand as co-founder of Cheeky, a new creator-led brand that smashed its launch with 10k orders in its first month. In today’s ep we’re talking about brand positioning and messaging, how to drive LTV and boost AOV with strategic post-purchase upsells and CRO tactics to unlock sustainable growth. If you’re scaling a DTC or ecom brand an are looking for strategies to position your brand more effectively, convert more customers and keep them coming back for more, this one’s for you.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

02:16 Transitioning to Brand Side: Shane's New Journey

04:46 Launching Cheeky: The New Brand Experience

07:40 Growth Strategies: Leveraging Creator Partnerships

11:01 Understanding Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

12:58 Product Offerings: Subscription vs. One-Time Purchases

18:07 UI/UX Design: Crafting the Customer Experience

22:18 Product Positioning: Standing Out in a Crowded Market

29:44 CRO Insights: High-Level Strategies for Growth

35:18 Expanding Demographics: Reaching Younger Audiences

36:44 Navigating Customer Journeys and Personalization

48:14 CRO Strategies for DTC Brands

01:06:38 Post-Purchase Optimization and Revenue Strategies

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠

Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

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Zach Stuck episode:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/35i3FjPEar8dRdVPUGBfah?si=c992d2f87287454b

YouTube: https://youtu.be/M4xn2aISEbg

Today we are joined by Dan McCormick, co-founder and CEO of Create Wellness. Create went from zero to $20M+ in revenue in just two years with only six-full time employees, and today he’s sharing what those roles are and how he went about building his high-leverage DTC business. We discuss the power of positioning, agency vs. in-house teams, the future of supplement brands, team structure, retention strategies, and what makes a modern brand scalable.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Introduction

02:13 Growth Strategies and Creative Testing

04:31 Dan McCormick and Create Wellness Overview

07:19 Identifying Market Opportunities in Creatine

10:44 Team Management and Organizational Structure

13:51 Revenue Growth and Headcount Dynamics

20:04 In-House vs. Outsourcing Strategies

26:32 Marketing Operations and Team Responsibilities

32:21 Future Growth Projections and Business Scalability

37:18 Market Trends and Challenges in the Supplement Industry

39:12 Navigating the Supplement Industry's Challenges

42:57 The Evolution of DTC Brands

46:20 Building High-Leverage Teams

56:21 Leveraging AI and Technology in Marketing

01:01:34 Capitalizing on Seasonal Trends

01:03:01 Product Expansion Strategies

01:09:19 The Power of Influencer Marketing

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Haus.

http://Haus.io/operators

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

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Today we are getting into the hottest new ad channel in ecommerce right now - AppLovin. We discuss how we’ve been using it within our brands, the pros and the cons of this emerging channel, and whether it's a scalable alternative to Meta Ads. Cody shares results from his team's recent holdout test, breaking down AppLovin's impact on incremental sales, new vs. repeat customers, and CPAs. We also unpack broader strategies for driving growth across paid media, creative campaigns, and channel diversification.

If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6

00:00 Celebrating Milestones and Sales Success

02:47 Scaling Paid Social: Creative Testing Strategies

05:49 Exploring AppLovin: The New Ad Channel

18:11 Understanding AppLovin's User Base and Growth

23:49 Measuring Incrementality: The AppLovin Test Results

29:46 Reactivating Customers: The Cost-Benefit Analysis

33:40 Customer Reactivation Challenges

36:01 Understanding Incrementality and Profitability

39:14 Analyzing New Customer Acquisition

46:07 Exploring the Limitations of Customer Exclusions

51:04 Innovative TV Campaign Strategies

56:24 Measuring TV Campaign Effectiveness

Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw

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Prescient AI.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.prescientai.com/operators

Richpanel.⁠⁠⁠

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Subscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/