Are you spending more on ads but getting less in return? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies (which achieved a nine-figure exit and continues to see 8 years of consecutive growth), reveals why most modern brands are stuck in what he calls "the performance trap." Preston breaks down the crucial 95-5 rule—the reality that 95% of your audience isn't actively shopping at any given time—and explains why optimizing only for immediate conversions is slowly eroding your brand. 

He shares the hard-earned lessons from Chubbies' journey, including their midlife crisis moment when efficiency metrics looked great but the business fundamentals were deteriorating. This isn't about choosing between brand and performance—it's about finding the right balance to build sustainable, profitable growth. If you've ever wondered whether your marketing is building a moat or just buying clicks, this episode is essential listening.

—

Sponsored by OMG Commerce - go to (https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact) and request your FREE strategy session today!

—

Chapters: 

(00:00) Intro

(04:08) The Journey of Chubbies

(08:49) Navigating Early Success and Marketing Performance

(16:10) Identifying Brand Erosion and Its Consequences

(22:00) 1000 Free Postcards with Post Pilot

(22:58) The 95-5 Rule

(28:53) Balancing Demand Capture and Generation

(32:25) Testing and Incrementality in Marketing

(52:30) Understanding The Brand’s Impact on Revenue 

(58:47) Insights from Data Analysis

(1:04:18) Running Media Differently for Brand Building

(1:09:37) Identifying ICP for Marathon Data

(1:12:30) Fast Funding the Way You Need It with Wayflyer

—

Connect With Brett: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@omgcommerce 
• Website: https://www.omgcommerce.com/ 
• Request a Free Strategy Session: https://www.omgcommerce.com/contact 

Relevant Links:

• Preston’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonr
• Chubbies Website: https://www.chubbiesshorts.com
• Special Offer | PostPilot (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://postpilot.com/
• Special Offer | (Mention Ecommerce Evolution): https://wayflyer.com/

Past guests on eCommerce Evolution include Ezra Firestone, Steve Chou, Drew Sanocki, Jacques Spitzer, Jeremy Horowitz, Ryan Moran, Sean Frank, Andrew Youderian, Ryan McKenzie, Joseph Wilkins, Cody Wittick, Miki Agrawal, Justin Brooke, Nish Samantray, Kurt Elster, John Parkes, Chris Mercer, Rabah Rahil, Bear Handlon, JC Hite, Frederick Vallaeys, Preston Rutherford, Anthony Mink, Bill D’Allessandro, Stephane Colleu, Jeff Oxford, Bryan Porter and more