Building a brand today takes more than a shiny homepage. Bob Rockland (Code) and Anshey Bhatia (Verbal+Visual) join Aaron Schwartz (Orita) to share how they help brands grow with soul—by marrying conversion best practices with storytelling that resonates.In this episode, they unpack what it really takes to scale DTC in 2025—from obsessing over checkout UX to localization, cleaning up bloated tech stacks, and staying human in the age of AI.Whether you're a founder plotting your next international move or a marketer trying to lift AOV without tanking CX, this one's for you.💡 Curious how top Shopify agencies are helping brands grow fast and stay true to themselves?👉 Hit play for sharp tactics, some contrarian takes, and a few jokes about wool.👥 Say hi to the guests:Bob Rockland, Co-Founder at Code, https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-rockland/Anshey Bhatia, Founder & CEO Verbal + Visual, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansheybhatia/🎧 Chapters:[00:00] Meet the Experts: Bob, Anshey & a Side of Wool[03:53] From Homepage to Heartbeat: How Brand Identity Has Evolved[10:10] Going Global: How Smart Brands Expand Without Imploding[16:02] More Than Pretty: Why Personalization Needs a Pulse[21:45] First Impressions Matter: What Top Clients Ask (and What They Miss)[24:02] Client Coffee Chat Questions That Reveal Everything[27:15] Red Flags & Quick Wins: Diagnosing Brand Bloat[30:05] Code Red: When to Rebuild Your Site vs. Keep Tinkering[32:00] Checkout, Please! Turning “Just Browsing” into “Take My Money”[34:03] More in the Cart, Less in the Returns Bin: AOV That Sticks[37:50] Founder Fuel: Advice, Warnings & What’s Actually Worth It🌐 Check out orita.ai for more episodes of The Orita Podcast—where we sit down with the most interesting operators, marketers, and founders in e-commerce to talk about what’s working right now. Hosted by Aaron Schwartz, co-founder and co-CEO of Orita. Orita uses machine learning to help brands send smarter, more profitable marketing—by figuring out who actually wants to hear from you and when.If you’ve got a customer list, this show is for you. Whether you’re deep in Klaviyo flows, thinking through supply chain strategy, or just trying to make your paid media budget stretch a little further, we’re here to help you learn from the people building some of the most resilient and resourceful brands and agencies out there.http://orita.ai?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=bob-and-anshey 🔗 Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/Keywords:e-commerce, Shopify, brand identity, globalization, personalization, emotional connection, marketing strategies, customer experience, commerce ecosystem, digital transformation, e-commerce, client engagement, technical assessment, average order value, checkout efficiency, business growth, digital marketing, customer experience, brand strategy

What makes a Shopify store actually work in 2025? Kurt Elster (Unofficial Shopify Podcast) and Arvind Krishnan (Swym) have answers grounded in experience—and battle scars.

In this episode, Orita Co-Founder Aaron Schwartz brings together two of the most trusted voices in the Shopify ecosystem to unpack what’s working in DTC today—from site design and customer engagement to AI, app stacks, and how to future-proof your brand.

They cover everything from how Wishlist Plus grew to 35,000 free users (without blowing up their margins), to why discovery and personalization still haven’t quite lived up to the hype—and where they might go next. You’ll hear Kurt’s take on building trust, and Arvind’s belief that the best moat is talking to your customers… a lot.

Some brands treat omnichannel and affiliate marketing like buzzwords. Kait Stephens (Brij) and Andy Cloyd (Superfiliate) show how connecting real-world touchpoints and creator partnerships can drive smarter acquisition and deeper retention—when done right.In this episode, Aaron Schwartz (Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Orita) digs into real strategies for connecting DTC, retail, and creator marketing. From QR codes that tie in-store buyers to your email list, to influencer campaigns that drive both foot traffic and long-term loyalty, Kait and Andy share what’s working—and how to measure it.We’re talking data, tools, and how to align teams around metrics that reflect the entire customer journey, not just the last click.💡 Want to understand how top brands tie together retail, email, influencer, and retention flows? 👉 Watch now for tactical tips from two founders who are building the infrastructure to make it happen.👥 Guests: Kait Stephens – CEO of Brij Andy Cloyd – CEO of Superfiliate Aaron Schwartz – Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Orita 🎧 Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Backgrounds06:14 Understanding Omni-Channel Retail and Consumer Data12:01 The Importance of Retention in Customer Relationships18:20 Measuring Success in New Marketing Strategies27:21 Metrics for Evaluating Omni-Channel Success30:24 Tactical Approaches to Super Affiliate Marketing35:28 Budgeting for Creator Partnerships39:11 Investing in the Commerce Ecosystem46:18 Lessons from Investor to Operator50:14 The Importance of Founder Market Fit and Team Alignment💛 Extra Credit: 🔗 Learn more at orita.ai Say hi to Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/

When the market turns, even the best operators feel the strain. Aman Advani (Ministry of Supply) shares how he’s managing short-term chaos without torching long-term strategy.In this episode, Orita Co-Founder Aaron Schwartz sits down with Aman to unpack what it takes to adapt in 2025—from rethinking returns and reshuffling supply chains to managing customer expectations when your own plans keep shifting.They dive into the practical: moving warehouses across borders, rethinking “free returns” through a loyalty-first lens, and trimming the marketing stack for efficiency. This is a conversation for operators who are doing their best to stay steady—even when nothing feels stable.💡 Curious how a founder of a beloved DTC brand is navigating supply chain chaos, consumer pullback, and what’s next for personalization? 👉 Watch now for sharp insights, war stories, and some unexpected optimism.👥 Guests: Aman Advani – Co-Founder & CEO, Ministry of Supply Aaron Schwartz – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Orita🎧 Chapters:[00:00 Introduction and Background][03:08 Founding Story of Ministry of Supply][06:02 Navigating Tariffs and Economic Challenges][09:00 Consumer Sentiment and Pricing Strategies][11:52 Return Policies and Customer Engagement][15:01 Supply Chain Decisions and Tariff Impacts][18:12 Agility in Operations and Inventory Management][20:58 Metrics and Performance Tracking][26:01 Product Evolution and Customer Retention][28:01 Engaging Existing Customers][30:21 Personalization in Marketing][32:58 Future Vision for Ministry of Supply][35:22 Advice for Business Operators]💛 Extra Credit:🔗 Learn more at orita.aiSay hi to Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/

In this episode, Aaron Schwartz (Orita) is joined by Matt Fier (QDL), Zac Fromson (Lilo Social), and Elliot Kovac (Dispatch) to talk about what’s really going on behind the scenes of modern e-commerce. From tariff chaos and supply chain delays to cautious consumer behavior and the collapse of one-time purchases, this is a crash course in how top operators are shifting from growth-at-all-costs to retention-first, margin-smart strategies.💛 Want to build a business that survives the storm?👉 Follow Orita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oritaai👥 Meet the guests:Zac Fromson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacfromson/Elliot Kovac – https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kovac-13a7b0152/Matt Fier – https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewfier/Aaron Schwartz – https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/💛 Highlights from the episode:[2:00 – What actually breaks when tariffs hit][7:30 – One-time purchases drop; subscriptions and retail rise][13:20 – Agencies becoming financial operators, not just email senders][19:40 – How “DTC” is blending with retail and big box strategy][28:10 – Inventory panic: how brands are burning budget to stay on shelves][41:50 – From deliverables to value: how agencies are evolving][49:30 – Tools that actually work: AI that’s worth your time]💛 Wondering how to survive the DTC chaos?🔗 Watch now or grab the full transcript at orita.ai

When tariffs, mold, and manufacturing headaches collide… you get a masterclass in physical product building.In this episode, Aaron Schwartz (Orita) sits down with Justin Seidenfeld (Canopy, Doris Dev) and Prince Ghosh (Factored Quality, Pietra) to talk about what it actually takes to launch and scale in the messiest corners of consumer goods. They cover everything from tariff survival plans to co-founder matchmaking, and why some of the best brands start with vinegar, Q-tips, and a beauty hack.💛 Want to learn how real brands build IRL? 👉 Follow Orita on LinkedIn:   / oritaai  👥 Meet the guests: Justin Seidenfeld –   / justin-seidenfeld  Prince Ghosh –   / princeghosh  Aaron Schwartz –   / aaroncharlesschwartz  💛 Highlights from the episode: [2:00 – A humidifier, a messy cleaning routine, and the birth of Canopy][7:10 – How to think about tariffs without losing your mind][13:30 – Three types of brands and how they’re reacting][20:00 – What retailers say when prices shift][33:00 – How Canopy bootstrapped from idea to hero product][41:15 – Should every DTC brand become a platform?][47:20 – The three traits great physical product founders share][52:00 – Building your dream co-founder trio]💛 Curious how mold became a category insight? 🔗 Watch now, or grab the full transcript at orita.ai

Everyone’s talking about AI, discounts, and attribution. But the smartest brands? They’re quietly doubling down on retention, precision, and profitability.In this episode, Aaron Schwartz (Orita) brings together Jessica Levinson (Common Thread Collective), Melanie Balke (The Email Marketers), and Jess Chan (Longplay Brands) to talk about what actually works when acquisition gets expensive and loyalty matters more than ever.They’re covering the hard stuff: what to cut, what to double down on, why “blast the whole list” is still a thing (ugh), and how to personalize without drowning in bad data. It's the clarity every founder, marketer, and retention leader needs right now.💛 Want to make your lifecycle program actually work?👉 Follow Orita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oritaai👥 Say hi to the guests:Jessica Levinson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalevinson/Melanie Balke – https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebalke/Jess Chan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesschann/Aaron Schwartz – https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/💛 What’s inside this episode: [3:15 – How brands are navigating tariff messaging and backlash] [8:30 – The wartime CEO playbook: cost cuts, smart pivots, and ruthless focus] [14:00 – Stop blasting. Start segmenting. (For real this time)] [19:00 – The second purchase problem no one talks about] [25:00 – Tools we trust, and the AI we’re still waiting for] [30:00 – Metrics that matter: beyond open rate and revenue per send] [42:00 – Bad advice that just won’t die] [47:00 – One thing every founder should do this quarter]💛 Bonus: 🔗 Learn more at orita.aiPing Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncharlesschwartz/

Everyone talks about retention. Karly Craig actually built it.

In this episode, Karly Craig (CMO at No Days Wasted and Author of "Email Is Not Dead”) joins Orita’s Daniel Brady and Aaron Schwartz to unpack what great retention really looks like—from the first email to the 10th purchase.

We dive into:

– How Karly scaled an agency to 500+ brands (then walked away)

– What she really thinks of the “email every day” crowd

– How she uses AI to write faster (without losing brand voice)

– Why most marketers ignore their most important retention signal: the customer service inbox

– The difference between brand marketing and performance and how to do both well

– What to test, what to automate, and when to just call the damn customer

This episode is part tactical teardown, part therapy session for marketers.

If you run retention or email marketing at a growing brand, this one’s a must.

Shopify is crowded. AI is everywhere. So where’s the real opportunity in commerce tech?

Venture capitalists Caitlin Bolnick Rellas (CRV) and TJ Mahony (Vinyl) have seen it all—e-commerce, B2B, logistics, AI, and beyond. In this episode, they break down:

💰 What they actually look for in a founder (Hint: It’s not just the idea.)

📦 Why the biggest untapped opportunities are in “boring” industries (logistics, reverse logistics, gov procurement)

⚡ Why point solutions are dead—and platform thinking is the future

🚀 How early-stage founders should be thinking about funding & scaling

🤖 The AI impact: Where it’s driving real value vs. where it’s overhyped

📊 Why traditional e-commerce is maturing—and where commerce tech is headed next

And yes, we also cover why nobody should pitch a three-phase master plan, how investors think about market timing, and why some of the most successful founders are a little bit crazy.

If you’re building, fundraising, or just want to understand where commerce tech is actually going, this episode is for you.

How do you make smart decisions when there’s almost no feedback telling you if you’re right?That’s the challenge Kyle Hency (Good Day) and Yaw Aning (Malomo) are facing as they build their companies—one in logistics and operations, the other in post-purchase customer experience.Kyle built Chubbies by launching products fast, testing, and iterating. But with enterprise software? It’s two years of building before he even knows if he got it right. No fast signals, no obvious feedback loops—just long-term bets with no safety net.Meanwhile, Yaw has spent the last few years turning the biggest frustration in e-commerce—customers asking “Where’s my order?”—into a growth channel for brands.In this episode, we cover:🚀 How founders assess risk when signals are low📦 Why post-purchase communication is the #1 trust-builder for e-commerce brands💰 How poor return processing is quietly burning millions for brands📊 The shift from growth-at-all-costs to profitability-first strategies🤖 The AI hype cycle—where is the actual value?If you’re building in commerce, logistics, or SaaS—or just trying to figure out how to make smarter bets in business—this one’s for you.