BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO

Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: ⁠https://btsstudio.co/.

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

After selling Supply Razors and stepping away from eCommerce, Patrick Coddou thought he was done building. But two years later, he’s back—and joining AJF Growth.

In this episode, Patrick and Andrew Faris dive deep into what happens after an exit, the draw of meaningful work, and how they're scaling an agency with process, people, and purpose.

You’ll hear them unpack:

- Why “infinite freedom” isn’t the end goal after all

- The shift from founder-led chaos to operational excellence

- How EOS and offshore talent create leverage

- What makes a creative service not just good—but scalable

- And how AI is changing how teams build and deliver at volume

This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to evolve from founder to builder—again—with a clear philosophy on work, life, and growth.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:02:35 - Why Go Back To Working In E-Commerce

00:06:01 - The 4 Hour Work Week Doesn’t Equal Freedom

00:08:43 - Goals For AJF Growth

00:15:37 - Growing An Agency

00:27:19 - Offshore Talent In Philippines

00:46:52 - Why Can Agency’s Experience A Bad Turn

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com

RICHPANEL

Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

If you run a large eCommerce brand, you’ve likely faced it: the dreaded Meta ads breakdown. One week you’re scaling efficiently, the next—your RoAS tanks, CPAs spike, and panic sets in. In this episode, Andrew walks through eight tactical steps to triage and fix a broken Meta ads account—based on real-world experience managing millions in ad spend.

You’ll learn:

- How to immediately identify whether it's a technical issue or strategic breakdown

- Why small sample size volatility may be misleading your decisions

- How to communicate clearly with your team or agency when everything’s on fire

- Why assuming “you’re the problem” can actually give you the most control

- How to cut losses fast with the “Don’t Spend Bad Money” principle

- When and how to rebuild creative from scratch—and why weird might win

This is a practical, high-urgency playbook for brand operators, marketers, and agency leads who need to stabilize performance and return to profitable growth.

Whether you’re in the thick of a platform shift, reeling from iOS changes, or just trying to keep performance consistent, this episode will help you keep a steady hand on the wheel—and make smarter, faster decisions.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:00:56 - How To Fix Broken Ad Accounts

00:03:20 - Short Term vs. Long Term Problems

00:09:43 - Daily Volatility In Meta Ads

00:16:26 - Stop Bleeding Money

00:22:11 - Communication With Brand Partner

00:23:10 - Eliminate Options In Your Ads

00:25:47 - Remain Calm During Fires

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE STAFFING

Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠.

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

TikTok Shop is exploding—and most eCommerce brands are asleep on it.

In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Andrew Faris sits down with Jordan West (CEO of Social Commerce Club) to dive deep into what’s actually working on TikTok Shop, why creators are outperforming influencers, and how brands should rethink top-of-funnel strategy.

Whether you’re a 7–9 figure operator looking to diversify off Meta, or just exploring creator partnerships for the first time, Jordan lays out the real-world playbook: from seeding products to building a creator network that drives serious revenue. He also unpacks the cold start problem, affiliate commissions, content volume, CPM misconceptions, and how to identify the right creators without wasting time or budget.

If you're facing margin pressure, platform volatility, or simply want to stay ahead of where consumer attention is going, this episode is packed with actionable insight from someone who’s scaled TikTok Shop campaigns for 100+ brands.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why TikTok CPMs are misunderstood—and what they actually signal

- How to build and retain high-performing creator partnerships

- Why volume matters: the 10–20 posts/day strategy

- How one low-follower creator drove $250K in sales- When and how to bet $50K on TikTok the smart way

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:01:39: Meet Jordan West

00:05:13: Creator vs Influencer

00:13:34: How To Kick Off Creator Marketing Strategy

00:26:39: How The Meta Algorithm Works

00:32:55: Importance of Good Quality Content

00:44:03: Creator Networking in 2025

//

Jordan West is the CEO of Social Commerce Club and the host of Secrets To Scaling Your Ecommerce Brand. See everything Jordan is doing at www.socialcommerceclub.com.

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN

Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://⁠movesupplychain.com⁠.

INTELLIGEMS

Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.

//

Roman Khan isn’t just building brands—he’s building machines that generate real, distributable cash.

In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Roman reveals the systems behind Peak 21’s success, including the overlooked levers in supply chain that drive margins, profitability, and growth.

If you're a 7–9 figure founder struggling with inventory, margin compression, or scaling profitably—this conversation is a goldmine. Learn why your supplier might be your best financing partner, how a granular bill of materials changes everything, and how Roman’s team of 40 in Asia turns under-optimized brands into lean, cash-rich operations.

Topics include:

- Supply chain as a growth engine (not a bottleneck)

- Payment terms, BOMs, and price breaks that fund scale

- How Roman avoids debt while growing 50%+ YoY

- Why most DTC brands never reach escape velocity

- What it takes to actually exit a brandWhether you're looking to scale profitably or exit smart, this episode will shift how you think about operations.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:02:08 - What Is Peak 21?

00:07:55 - Process of Vetting A Company For Acquisition

00:16:54 - Your Sub $10 Million Revenue Business Should Do This

00:30:17 - Supply Chain In Hong Kong

00:38:15 - What Is Hot On Roman's Radar for DTC

//

Roman Khan is the Founder and CEO of Peak21, an ecommerce aggregator doing more than $300M/year in revenue. Follow Roman on X at https://x.com/RomanEcom and inquire about partnering with Peak21 at https://peak21.io.

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

INTELLIGEMS

Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.

RICHPANEL

Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.

//

Bill D'Alessandro, founder of Natural Dog Company, just sold his brand to a private equity firm backed by Morgan Stanley. In this episode, Andrew Faris dives deep with Bill to unpack the entire journey—from building the business, to working with an investment bank, to negotiating and closing a deal with a strategic buyer.

If you're running a 7–9 figure eCommerce brand, this episode is pure gold. You'll learn:

- What makes a DTC brand actually attractive to strategic buyers

- The #1 mistake founders make when approaching an exit- Why contribution margin is still king in 2025

- How Bill built operational talent that scaled with the business

- The difference between “just another Shopify brand” vs. a sellable brand

- Why omnichannel distribution is critical to valuation

- Why most subscription businesses are really financing problems in disguise

- The emotional aftermath of exiting your company

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:01:18 - Who is Bill D'Allessandro?

00:03:00 - The Scope of Natural Dog Co Acquisition

00:09:01 - Investment Banking During A Buyout

00:22:55 - People Management Is The Hardest With Business

00:31:35 - Why Not All Subscription Models Are Great

00:42:46 - How Meta Dependency Could Harm Your Business

//

Bill D'Alessandro is the former of CEO of Natural Dog Co and Elements Brand and current Head of M&A at Food Science, a portfolio company backed by Morgan Stanley. Follow Bill on X at https://x.com/billda and listen to Acquisitions Anonymous by visiting https://www.acquanon.com/.

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast

⁠//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com

RICHPANEL

Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

AI is changing how we make ad creative—but not in the way you’ve been told.In this episode, Andrew Faris shares his contrarian take on AI’s role in creative strategy, why the “endless AI content” model is flawed, and how smart DTC brands will win by thinking more, not producing more.Whether you’re an operator, performance marketer, or founder trying to scale profitably, this episode unpacks:

– Why the best brands aren’t just using AI—they’re thinking better

– How Meta’s ad platform is caught between volume and learning

– What actually raises the quality bar in the AI era

– Why good creative thinkers are more valuable than ever

– How AJF Growth is building AI-powered creative systems that scalePlus, hear how brands are turning AI speed into operational hiring—not layoffs.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:01:23 - The Misconception Of A.I. For Creatives

00:04:26 - Quantity Over Quality With Ads?

00:14:03 - Targeting Specific Customer Profiles

00:21:18 - Creating the Craziest Ads with A.I.

00:26:53 - A.I. Will Not Replace Your Strategy For Ads

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris

⁠Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RICHPANEL

Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

In this tactical solo episode, Andrew Faris breaks down 7 updated Meta ad buying strategies that are shaping how top brands scale in 2025. Based on personal account data, Meta Performance Summit insights, and conversations with reps, Andrew shares what’s actually working—including why he’s now running 15–20 ads per ad set, how he’s avoiding the learning phase trap, and his new take on creative testing campaigns.

Whether you're managing $5K or $500K/month in spend, this episode is packed with non-obvious tactics that can unlock growth and reduce wasted spend.

Topics Covered:

- How many ads to run per ad set

- Why learning phase really matters now

- The truth about creative testing campaigns

- Manual bidding vs automated budgets

- How to relaunch an underperforming ad (Thumbnail Trick)

- Why iterative creative is dead (and what to do instead)

- Data quality, Elevar, and pixel hygiene tips

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:01:21 - Machine Learning & Meta Ads

00:05:56 - Get Your Ads Out of Learning Phase

00:14:22 - Wasting Money On Test Ads

00:22:26 - Creative Testing Campaign

00:35:57 - Importance of Thumbnails & Creative Swap Outs

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE STAFFING

Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠.

INTELLIGEMS

Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.

//

In this deeply reflective episode, Andrew Faris sits down with Matt Bertulli—founder of Pela and Lomi, host of the Operators Podcast, and a seasoned eCommerce entrepreneur with a successful exit under his belt—to unpack a deceptively simple tweet:

"Building a business is a spiritual process disguised as a financial one."

What follows is an unfiltered, vulnerable conversation about why so many high-performing founders experience emptiness despite outward success. They explore questions that every 7–9 figure operator eventually faces:

- What’s the real point of building a business?

- How do you stay motivated after you've “made it”?

- What does meaningful success look like beyond dollars?

- Why personal growth and company growth are linked—and why ignoring one undermines the other.

This is not your typical episode about margin optimization or scaling tactics—though Matt and Andrew touch on those. Instead, it’s about why we build in the first place. It’s for the founder who’s already successful, but feels stuck or unsatisfied.If you’ve ever stared at a dashboard full of green numbers and still asked yourself, “What now?” — this conversation is for you.

Actionable insight: Align your values and motivations early. Building without intention leads to burnout, not fulfillment.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:

00:01:26 - What Is The Point of Business?

00:03:27 - Work Life Balance Explained

00:09:14 - The Importance of Writing For Clarity

00:19:29 - Does Money Equal Joy?

00:35:17 - YPO Membership

00:48:01 - Spiritual Discipline In Business

//

Matt Bertulli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pela and Lomi and one of the hosts of The Operators Podcast. Listen to The Operators at https://www.9operators.com/.

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast

⁠//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN

Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://⁠movesupplychain.com⁠.

INTELLIGEMS

Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.

//

Andrew sits down with Chad Carlton, CEO of Good Company, a 3PL that ships over 3 million orders annually for fewer than 20 clients. In this tactical deep dive, they walk through every step of the fulfillment journey—from the moment your product hits the warehouse to when it lands at your customer’s door.

You’ll learn:

- Why most brands treat their 3PLs wrong—and how to fix it
- The real cost structure behind pick, pack, and postage
- When it makes sense to fulfill in-house vs outsource
- How to reduce returns and increase resellable inventory
- What "alignment of incentives" really looks like in logistics

Real numbers, strategic decisions, and operational leverage that can drive profitability are candidly explored—especially in a margin-compressed environment.

Whether you're considering switching 3PLs, scaling to multiple warehouses, or fixing your supply chain slippage, this episode gives you the framework to make better, more profitable decisions.

//

CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:46 - Chad's Calling To Start a 3PL Business
00:08:39 - Why Your Business Should Use A 3PL
00:19:09 - Demanding The Right Price From A 3PL Partner
00:40:44 - The Process
00:53:38 - Midwest Is The Best Location For Shipping

//

Chad Carleton is the founder and CEO of The Good Company, a 3PL based in Springfield, MO that will ship 3,000,000shipments across less than 20 clients in 2025. Visit The Good Company's website at https://www.goodcompanyships.com/ and follow him on X at https://x.com/ChadCarleton.

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠

//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠ Email: [email protected] Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RICHPANEL

Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify

FERMAT

Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af

//

What are Meta’s top advertisers learning directly from the source? In this episode, I break down 5 key takeaways from Meta’s exclusive Performance Marketing Summit — a behind-the-scenes look at where the platform is headed and what that means for 7–9 figure eCommerce brands.

You’ll learn:

- Why incrementality is replacing ROAS as the gold standard of ad measurement

- How Meta’s new tools aim to optimize for profit, not just revenue

- Why data quality is your new competitive edge

- What Meta’s push for creative variety means for your internal content systems

- How reels and creators are central to Meta’s growth strategy

Plus: The surprising future of “ads that interact with you” — and what that means for your landing pages.If you’re scaling profitably in today’s ad ecosystem, this is the inside track.//CHAPTER TITLES:

1:50 - Hold Out Tests For Meta Ads

3:52 - Incrementality Tests

7:01 - Importance of Quality of your Data

13:13 - Creative Supply Chain

23:00 - A.I In Your Meta Ads

//

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!

//

ADMISSION

Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast

⁠//

FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠

Email: [email protected]

Work with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠