In this episode, host Brandon Amoroso delves into the dynamic world of e-commerce with Alex Back, the founder of Couch.com. The conversation kicks off with Alex's journey, from the success of Apartments Hub to the inception of Couch.com, a platform aimed at simplifying furniture shopping in the digital age. Together, they explore the challenges faced by the furniture retail industry in its transition to the online space.

Alex provides a compelling glimpse into Couch.com's mission, which involves bridging the gap between furniture manufacturers and retailers to create a tailored marketplace for users. They delve into the intricacies of building a marketplace, tackling the "chicken and egg" dilemma, and the platform's strategy of platform development and organic growth through content and SEO.

The discussion takes a deep dive into marketing, examining the evolving landscape of influencer marketing and the impact of authenticity. The value of strategic partnerships, the build-versus-buy dilemma, and the future of comprehensive platforms like Shopify are also explored.

Join this insightful conversation to gain invaluable insights into the e-commerce and furniture retail landscape, discovering how Couch.com aims to revolutionize the way we shop for home furnishings.

Timestamps

🎙️ Introduction of Alex Back and Couch.com (00:00:02)

🤝 The gap between furniture manufacturers and retailers (00:01:50)

🛠️ Marketplace tech build versus buy decision (00:06:33)

🐣 The chicken and egg problem in building a marketplace (00:12:45)

📈 Leveraging content and SEO for organic growth (00:15:00)

🪑 Creating a furniture-first advertising platform (00:17:48)

💼 Couch.com's Business Model (00:18:17)

🎯 Niche Marketing vs. Broad Marketing (00:20:38)

🌍 The Challenge of Being Everywhere (00:21:48)

📚 Lessons from Previous Business (00:25:12)

📢 Focus on Marketing (00:30:02)

💼 Challenges of Multiple Apps in Shopify (00:33:57)

🤔 Pros and Cons of Specialization and Consolidation (00:35:27)

🚀 The Potential of Shopify and Market Dominance (00:37:53)

🌟 Alex's Journey to Starting Couch.com (00:38:11)

🚀 Launching Couch.com - A New Opportunity (00:43:06)

Alex Back:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-back-49784435/

Couch.com - https://couch.com/

Apt2B - https://www.apt2b.com/

Brandon Amoroso:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonamoroso/

Web - https://brandonamoroso.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bamoroso11/

X - https://twitter.com/AmorosoBrandon