By Kurt Elster, Paul Reda
4.7
257257 ratings
The podcast currently has 534 episodes available.
“Honestly, I think my best customers don’t even look at the discounts. They get the email, see the new pants, and just say, ‘I want them.’”
Black Friday: the annual marketing frenzy brands prep for all year. Kurt Elster sits down with Colby Kane of Aviator USA, who has a refreshingly different approach. No cringe sales gimmicks, just a smart, no-nonsense plan. Colby shares his early-access tactics, simple email flows, and why staying low-key can outperform loud, constant discounting. They dig into why subtle beats loud, how to run discounts without gutting brand value, and how a straightforward plan is the real power move. If you’re ready for a fresh, real-world approach to Black Friday, this episode’s your blueprint.
LinksApps, Tools, and Services Mentioned:
"I can't stop talking about partial payment, apparently." – Diana Birsan
Co-founder of Downpay and former Shopify Product Manager, Diana Birsan, joins us to break down how she built Downpay, the app that lets merchants offer partial payments for pre-orders, custom-made products, and more. It’s a potential game-changer for stores with long lead times and high-ticket items. Diana shares how she made the leap from a stable gig at Shopify to starting her own thing. Want to know how partial payments could boost your sales? This episode has the answers.
Links“It’s truly magic. That’s the word I use internally to describe what we’re doing here.”
We chat with Vikram Anreddy, Head of Product for Finance at Shopify, about how Shopify is making money management way easier for merchants. Taxes, loans, cash flow—it’s all getting simplified with Shopify Finance, a one-stop shop for all your business finances. Vikram walks us through how this whole idea came about, what problems they’re solving, and what’s next. If managing your money has ever made you want to pull your hair out, this one’s for you. Plus, who knew taxes could be this easy?
Links“Most brands just send out samples and then it’s done. We go the extra mile that 99% of brands do not do.”
Building a multi-million dollar business typically involves more than wedding invitations and viral TikToks. Yet for Josh Hadley, it began precisely there. In this episode, he recounts the evolution of his e-commerce brand, Hadley Designs, from a niche stationery shop to an 8-figure operation navigating the complex terrain of Amazon and Shopify. The conversation with Kurt Elster explores how TikTok Shop became a surprising growth catalyst, offering a modern twist on the age-old challenge of acquiring customers. Hadley’s story offers a glimpse into the future of retail, where scaling hinges on the power of social media and the unpredictability of going viral. Tune in to hear how Josh took viral hits and turned them into a full-blown growth strategy
Links“PR is the highest leverage activity, and we’re not taught that because it’s easier to just create a reel and hope it goes viral.”
In this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, we meet Gloria Chou, a PR coach on a mission to break down the barriers of traditional media. Gloria didn’t take the expected path into public relations—she reinvented it. She shares how she went from diplomat to helping small businesses earn coveted media spots in outlets like Forbes and The New York Times, using her unique CPR method for pitching. We explore the quiet power of PR, how to land a spot in a holiday gift guide, and why PR might just be the secret weapon for Shopify entrepreneurs looking to grow.
LinksAlso available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/djnSFyBsB7M
We explore Shopify’s latest updates to simplify customer acquisition through its Shop Campaigns tool.
Host Kurt Elster talks with Shopify's Andrius Baranauskas, Product Director for Shop Campaigns, Shopify's not-so-secret weapon for getting new customers on autopilot.
Later, Nathan Onesian, Director of Ecommerce from melin, and Nick Daniels, Senior Ecommerce Manager, from OluKai spill how Shop Campaigns turned into their secret weapon for scaling fast.
Key Takeaways:
Guests:
Andrius Baranauskas, Product Directorat Shopify
Nathan Onesian, Director of Ecommerce at melin
Nick Daniels, Senior Ecommerce Manager at OluKai
Links:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into growing your Shopify store!
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What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle: https://ethercycle.com/work/
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“I’m a builder. I want to be building a team, building an exceptional product, and competing every day.”
Kyle Hency had a simple goal: create a brand that speaks authentically to men like him. What started as a fun idea among friends quickly grew into Chubbies, a $100M+ brand known for its short shorts and unapologetic personality. In this episode, Kyle reflects on the early days of experimenting with marketing, the challenges of scaling, and the unexpected lessons learned along the way. We explore how he transitioned from building Chubbies to co-founding Loop Returns, and now, his latest venture, GoodDay Software, an ERP solution for Shopify merchants. It’s a journey of reinvention, risk, and relentless pursuit of creating something new—while keeping things fun.
Show Links"Our number one best-selling product… it’s called the Dink Master."
Enhance Pickleball's Connor Hance shares his incredible journey from college tennis player to the leading content creator and entrepreneur in the fast-growing world of pickleball.
🎯 Episode Highlights:
👤 About Connor Hance:
Connor Hance, a former D1 tennis player for UCLA, stumbled into the world of pickleball during the pandemic. What started as a casual interest quickly turned into a thriving business. Today, Connor is known as the #1 content creator in the pickleball community, with his brand Enhance Pickleball dominating both on Amazon and across social media platforms. From his early days taping pickleball courts at his parents’ tennis facility to launching a successful line of pickleball products, Connor’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and smart content strategy.
Hear how Austin Beals hacked his way out of a chronic skin condition to create Dermazen, a skincare brand that’s bringing in $5 million a year. No investors, no BS— just one man’s obsessive quest to relieve his own seborrheic dermatitis symptoms that turned into a product line changing lives. Austin talks about bootstrapping with a small SBA loan, leveraging niche Reddit communities, and the guerilla marketing tactics that propelled his brand into the big leagues. This is the blueprint for turning your personal problems into a game-changing business.
Show LinksTackle the increasingly troubling issue of returns fraud in the e-commerce world. As return fraud rises, this once-overlooked issue is now a major concern for online retailers. You'll learn how fraudsters are gaming the system and the wild, often unnoticed, methods they're using to rip off small businesses. Brace yourself for a journey into the less-talked-about side of your shopping cart. Join us as we explore the critical steps needed to combat this growing challenge.
Show LinksThe podcast currently has 534 episodes available.
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