Welcome back to the D2Z Podcast with your host, Brandon Amoroso. Today, we're joined by Patrick Pazos, the new Sales Manager of DRINKS.com and Electriq, to discuss the fascinating intersection of wine and e-commerce.

We start by discussing the huge opportunity that wine producers have in the e-commerce space with Shopify. Patrick sheds light on why it's important for wineries to move away from traditional, legacy technology and embrace the advanced tech stacks and integrations offered by Shopify.

The conversation then moves to the importance of a cohesive Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) system. It's surprising to see that even major, revenue-generating wine producers are still stuck using antiquated systems. 

Marketing, or the lack thereof, is a big topic too. We talk about the gap in market research within the wine industry and the potential improvements that can be made. Patrick stresses the crucial need for wineries to establish a direct relationship with their customers for long-term success.

We also explore how businesses can go beyond the website to truly engage with customers. We talk about the vital role of branding and brand positioning in a saturated marketplace. 

Closing out our chat, we delve into the future role of AI. We talk about how AI is shaping the marketplace and where it might be particularly beneficial for wineries.

Tune into this episode of the D2Z Podcast for a great conversation on digital strategy, marketing, and e-commerce. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button for more insights and discussions. Enjoy the show!

In this episode of The D2Z Podcast, I'm speaking with Phil Sblendorio, the CRO at AMB Interactive. Phil uncovers the secret sauce behind building, growing, and scaling successful businesses. We share our firsthand experiences, highlighting the importance of brand experience, navigating market challenges, and the pros and cons of partnering in business. We'll also discuss the significance of celebrating milestones throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

Scaling an agency requires assembling the right team, and Phil and I delve deep into effective hiring strategies. We explore the practicality of utilizing referrals and questionnaires to filter out unqualified candidates, and reveal how to incentivize team members for optimal performance. We also shed light on the importance of a unified reporting system and accurate data when working with clients. It's not just about the numbers; finding the right people and enabling their growth within the company is key.

We discuss the financial implications of transitioning from juggling multiple jobs to focusing solely on your business. Additionally, we share our personal experiences on scaling our own businesses and the decision-making process behind transitioning certain roles from outsourcing to in-house operations. 

Join us for this jam-packed episode as we take your business to new heights! 🚀

In this episode of the D2Z podcast, we have an enlightening conversation with Aaron Roper from Rebuy, a leading platform in the Shopify ecosystem.

We start by exploring the evolution of the Shopify ecosystem over time and how agencies have transformed into big conglomerates through mergers and acquisitions. Aaron sheds light on the changing dynamics and the impact it has on the industry as a whole.

We then dive into how Rebuy collaborates with agencies and interacts with tech partners to deliver exceptional solutions. Aaron shares insights into how Rebuy empowers and facilitates agency partners, highlighting the important role they play in the success of tech solution providers.

Certification programs have become increasingly crucial, and we discuss the significance of doing them well. Aaron shares his perspectives on how Rebuy ensures its certification programs meet the highest standards and deliver value to partners and customers alike.

As the platform evolves, we explore what to expect from Rebuy in the future. Aaron provides exciting glimpses into upcoming developments and enhancements, giving listeners a sneak peek into the future of the platform.

Lastly, we delve into the world of referral programs and their importance in driving growth and expanding customer reach. Aaron shares valuable insights on how businesses can leverage referral programs effectively to foster customer loyalty and generate new business opportunities.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Aaron Roper at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronroper/ and Rebuy at https://www.rebuyengine.com/.

In this episode of the D2Z podcast, I had an insightful conversation with Wyatt Shane, Partner Manager at Recharge, a leading subscription management platform.

We began by discussing the latest product updates from Recharge and how agencies are playing a crucial role in testing new features for tech partners with their clients. Wyatt emphasized the importance of addressing client feedback and incorporating it into the development of tech solutions.

We explored the delicate balance between introducing new features, considering client feedback, and staying aware of competitor roadmaps. The evolution of e-commerce technology was a key topic of discussion, highlighting the ever-changing landscape and the need for continuous innovation.

Listening to customers is a vital aspect of product development, and Wyatt emphasized the significance of engaging with customers and understanding their needs. We touched on the collaborative nature of innovation and how it truly takes a village to drive meaningful progress.

We then turned our attention to the relationship between subscriptions and memberships in the DTC space. Wyatt shared insights on how these models can work together to enhance customer experience and drive business growth.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Wyatt Shane at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyatt-shane and Recharge at https://rechargepayments.com/.

This episode of the D2Z Podcast is presented by Gorgias, the number one Shopify customer support platform, helping brands like BrüMate and 11,000 more turn their customer support into a profit center.

In today's episode of the D2Z podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Marco Shinouda, Partnerships Manager at Gorgias, an e-commerce integrated Helpdesk platform.

We kicked off the conversation by diving into the importance of integrations within the Shopify ecosystem. Marco shared insights on how Gorgias prioritizes which platforms to integrate with and how they collaborate with tech partners to create seamless integrations.

One of the unique aspects of Gorgias is that it is specifically designed for e-commerce customer service. We explored the differences between Gorgias and legacy help desks like Zendesk, highlighting the features and functionalities that make Gorgias stand out.

We then delved into a discussion comparing the Shopify ecosystem with other popular e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and WooCommerce. Marco shared his perspectives on the strengths and benefits of the Shopify ecosystem for merchants.

Customer service plays a crucial role in retention, so we explored how businesses can leverage it as a retention strategy. Marco shared best practices for customer support and highlighted the importance of automation in delivering efficient and personalized customer service.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Marco Shinouda at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-shinouda/ and Gorgias at https://gorgias.grsm.io/brandon.

This episode of the D2Z Podcast is presented by Gorgias, the number one Shopify customer support platform, helping brands like BrüMate and 11,000 more turn their customer support into a profit center.

In this episode, we welcome Adena Merabi, Partnerships Manager at Okendo, a leading customer reviews and marketing platform.

We kick off the conversation by discussing the biggest changes in the e-commerce landscape in 2023, including macro trends and shifts in consumer behavior. Adena shares insights into the challenges merchants face with customer acquisition and how Okendo is addressing these challenges through their product offerings.

We delve into the additional product lines that Okendo has developed to enhance customer experience, retention, and referrals, and how these solutions are evolving alongside the DTC industry. We also explore the expansion and integration of different platforms in the competitive market and the importance of quality tech offerings over tech bundling.

Finally, we dive into the role of agencies in the DTC marketplace and how they contribute to the success of e-commerce brands. Adena shares her perspectives on the unique value agencies bring to the table and the symbiotic relationship between agencies and brands.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Adena Merabi at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adena-merabi/ and Okendo at https://www.okendo.io/.

This episode of the D2Z Podcast is presented by Gorgias, the number one Shopify customer support platform, helping brands like BrüMate and 11,000 more turn their customer support into a profit center.

In this episode, we have a special guest, Parker Amoroso, CEO and Co-founder of SCALIS found at scalis.ai. SCALIS is a fully integrated ATS and Job Board platform that aims to democratize hiring in the era of AI.

We dive into the pressing issues surrounding hiring and the challenges of finding qualified candidates for job openings. Parker shares insights into the terrible experience of job hunting from both the candidate and employer perspectives.

We discuss the limitations of traditional job boards and how they often fail to deliver effective results. Parker introduces SCALIS' tagline, "hiring shouldn't suck," and explains how the platform seeks to address these inefficiencies in the hiring process.

Parker also shares the inspiration behind the idea for SCALIS and the journey they embarked on to launch the company. We explore the challenges they encountered along the way and the big inefficiencies they sought to tackle in the job market.

Join us for an insightful conversation as we delve into the world of hiring, job boards, and the mission to revolutionize the hiring experience with SCALIS.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Parker Amoroso on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkeramoroso/ and SCALIS at https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalis-ai/.

Drew Owen, Shopify's PE & VC Practice lead, discusses global business development and partnerships, including DRINKS, and how Shopify seeks partnerships to open up access to new industries. He also shares insights into how Shopify supports companies when they move to the platform, building out their platform based on their needs and priorities.

Drew emphasizes the importance of focusing on a retention strategy in the face of high acquisition costs, choosing the right tech partners for the right merchants, and utilizing customer engagement strategies. He also discusses macro trends in the Shopify ecosystem, the wine industry on Shopify, and the significance of content for brands.

Find Brandon Amoroso at https://www.brandonamoroso.com and https://www.electriqmarketing.com.   

Find Drew Owen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/owendrew/.