Your biggest advantage in e-commerce is being a founder who refuses to get knocked out.

In this episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil Twa sits down with Dan Demsky, CEO and co-founder of Unbound Merino, an 8-figure DTC apparel brand built on nearly a decade of grit, adaptation, and relentless reinvention.

Dan opens up about the real challenges DTC operators are facing today: tariffs slashing margins overnight, supply chain volatility, rising acquisition costs, and the pressure to stay profitable while scaling. He explains how his team survived by tightening cash flow, cutting waste, and becoming sharper operators instead of panicking or raising prices too quickly.

If you’re building in ecommerce and want to understand what’s actually happening on the ground, how high-AOV brands survive acquisition costs, or what retail expansion really looks like this episode is a masterclass in real-world leadership and long-term DTC growth.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ Why survival comes down to “don’t get knocked out” and strong cash-flow discipline

✅ How to audit spending, tighten costs, and become a sharper operator

✅ Why high AOV is critical when acquisition costs hit $50+ per customer

✅ Surviving COVID, freight spikes, and now tariffs as a long-term founder

✅ What retail expansion actually requires: timelines, risk, buybacks, and buyers

📍 Chapters

02:12 What tariffs actually do to margins and operations

04:24 Cutting costs, tightening cash flow, and becoming a better operator

08:44 The founder mindset: “just don’t die” and keep surviving

13:00 High AOV, acquisition costs, and the profitability game

17:50 Preparing for Black Friday and Q4 uncertainty

19:45 Why profitability beats revenue vanity every time

23:10 Using AI for leadership, planning, and business coaching

30:10 What retail really requires: inventory, buybacks, timelines, and patience

Guest: Dan Demsky

CEO & Co-Founder, Unbound Merino

Website: https://unboundmerino.com

Follow Neil: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/ 🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

In This Episode, We Cover:
🎧 Like This Episode? ✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders ✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network ✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Amazon launched a Temu killer, started selling certified used cars, and began rewriting product listings for AI bots…

Factories across China and Vietnam are signaling early Lunar New Year shutdowns, and TikTok Shop had one of the biggest quarterly numbers in platform history.

In today’s Week in Review, you’ll learn what’s shaking global supply chains, how AI is becoming the new gatekeeper for ecommerce, what Amazon’s new moves mean for sellers, and why 2026 will be the year operators pull away from dabblers.

🚀 What should I sell next? Visit: gpt.caimandata.com to generate data-driven product ideas powered by Caiman Data’s AI engine.

TLDR:

✅ Order your inventory NOW. China and Vietnam are winding down for Lunar New Year. Your Q2 inventory window is shrinking so plan now or get pushed into April/May production.

✅ Amazon launched Bazaar to fight Temu and started selling certified used cars. Expanded Grade & Resell and rolled out Lightning Replenish AI.

✅ Cheap products are dying. Premium is rising. Bazaar will siphon bargain hunters away from mid-tier listings. If you sell premium or branded products, this is good. If you sell low-margin commodities, pivot before 2026.

✅ TikTok is becoming the top-of-funnel for all retail. $19B last quarter means TikTok now beats Etsy and eBay.

✅ AI agents are scraping your listings, rewriting your bullets, and deciding what products get recommended. The question is no longer “How do I rank?” It’s “How do I get AI to choose me?”

✅ Winning listings look different now. Clean attributes. One benefit per bullet. Structured specs. Clear problem/solution. Images that match your claims. If your listing isn’t machine-friendly, you’re invisible.

📍 Chapters

00:54 Factories in China + Vietnam begin early slowdowns, Q2 production windows are shrinking fast

02:12 Amazon launches Bazaar to compete with Temu + Shein

03:32 Amazon enters automotive with certified used cars

04:29 Grade & Resell expansion reduces return losses

05:06 Lightning Replenish AI predicts customer reorders

06:00 Voltage selected as Amazon Launchpad Premier Partner

07:12 TikTok Shop reports a $19B quarter

09:27 AI agents scraping and rewriting product listings

10:45 How to optimize your listings to get chosen by AI

12:00 TikTok discovery + Amazon conversion strategy for 2026

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

What if the safest path in an AI-driven economy isn’t climbing the corporate ladder, but owning a business that AI can’t automate?

In this episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil Twa sits down with franchise expert Jon Ostenson, former President of ShelfGenie and founder of FranBridge Consulting, who has helped thousands of people transition from corporate jobs into business ownership.

Jon shares how he left a Fortune 1000 VP role, took a pay cut, and stepped into franchising with zero industry experience. He breaks down why non-food franchises (home services, senior care, property services, fitness, pet care, and B2B services) are exploding in demand as AI reshapes the job market and accelerates corporate layoffs.

✅ The difference between food and non-food franchises (and why non-food wins)
✅ What it costs to buy into a franchise and how royalties really work
✅ How much profit new franchise owners can expect in year one
✅ Semi-passive franchising models and how professionals keep their W2 while owning a business
✅ Why home services, senior care, and property services remain AI-resistant
✅ How to evaluate a franchise’s financials, support, and long-term viability

📍 Chapters

02:00 Taking a pay cut and jumping into entrepreneurship
05:00 AI layoffs and why people are rushing into business ownership
07:34 How much you can earn in year one with service-based territories
12:00 How to hire operators and what makes a great candidate
14:25 Funding, legal considerations, and evaluating franchise agreements
15:51 Typical investment ranges and the $100K–$400K sweet spot
18:00 New disruptions in franchising (junk removal, lawn care apps, etc.)

Guest: Jon Ostenson
Website: https://franbridgeconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-ostenson
Book: Non-Food Franchising

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

🚀 What should I sell next? Visit: gpt.caimandata.com to generate data-driven product ideas powered by Caiman Data’s AI engine.

What matters for e-commerce going into 2026? Freight rates are dropping, tariffs just changed again, TikTok Shop is exploding, Amazon rolled out new updates, and factories in Asia are reporting eight straight months of contraction.

In today’s Week in Review, you’ll learn what’s happening in global supply chains, how AI is reshaping buying behavior, what Amazon’s newest changes mean for sellers, and why 2026 is shaping up to be a major reset year for U.S. brands.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ Freight updates and the rare moment of calm in global shipping

✅ The new tariff reduction on China imports and what it means for margins

✅ Why Asia’s eight months of contracting orders signal big changes for 2026

✅ How to secure production windows before the Chinese New Year hits

✅ Amazon is turning Black Friday into a 12-day event

✅ Sponsored product videos officially launching

✅ How Google’s AI Overviews are affecting shopping keyword rankings

✅ The collision of AI and margins and why speed is the new moat

📍 Chapters

01:02 Freight Update: Rates sliding again

01:58 Asia’s eight months of contracting orders

02:56 Why you need to lock in production windows now

03:11 Amazon turns Black Friday into a 12-day event

03:30 Amazon’s AI bot auto-purchasing products

04:00 China cracks down on cross-border tax dodgers

06:28 Sponsored product videos now available

07:36 Walmart CEO steps down + Walmart partners with Voltage

08:12 Multi-channel shipping from Amazon inventory

08:38 Google AI Overviews affecting search

08:52 Platforms, fees, and AI’s effect on discovery

09:35 The collision of AI and margins

Follow Neil:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/

🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

What if you could take a single product idea and build a real business from it, even with zero e-commerce experience?

In this episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil Twa sits down with community member and entrepreneur Ashley Klaus, who scaled a simple scar-care product into a fast-growing brand doing over half a million dollars in revenue.

Ashley opens up about the real work behind launching on Amazon. The early mistakes. The plateau that almost made her quit. The inventory chaos that comes with rapid growth. And how mentorship helped her navigate every stage of the journey.

If you’ve ever wondered whether an everyday idea can turn into a real business, this episode gives you a blueprint built on experience, patience, and smart execution.

✅ How Ashley validated a product idea after her first attempt failed
✅ Why structure, support, and mentorship accelerated her success
✅ Managing growth from 40 units a day to 120+ units a day
✅ How cash flow planning changes when your product takes off
✅ Why focus beats chasing every new idea
✅ Building a brand vs competing in a price war
✅ Using Subscribe & Save to increase recurring revenue
✅ The mindset shift every new seller needs to reach seven figures
✅ How Ashley balances business, family, and creativity
✅ Why e-commerce offers unmatched flexibility for busy parents

01:06 The Scar-Care Idea and Why the First Launch Failed
03:26 Learning the System Instead of Outsourcing Blindly
05:20 Launching One Product and Focusing on a Core SKU
09:30 Building a Premium Product in a Crowded Market
14:30 Inventory Challenges When Growth Explodes
17:00 Managing Cash Flow and Forecasting Like a Real Operator
22:00 When to Add New Channels Like TikTok and Shopify
25:00 Why Community and Mentorship Remove Risk
28:00 Hiring for Your Weaknesses and Staying in Your Strengths
36:00 Abundance Mindset and Understanding Market Size
40:00 Pricing, Premium Branding, and Avoiding Price Wars
44:00 Choosing Products With Barriers to Entry
47:40 The Temptation to Quit and Why Ashley Pushed Through
50:20 What Entrepreneurship Gave Her and What’s Next

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

Most new e-commerce sellers are starting in the wrong place.

In 2025, the rules have changed. Tariffs are higher. Social commerce is exploding. Marketplaces dominate global sales. If you're still launching the old way, you're already behind.

In this week’s Friday “Week in Review,” Neil breaks down the real starting point for new sellers. You’ll learn the five decisions that determine your success, how to validate products with data, how to choose the right channel, and the early metrics that matter.

✅ Why most new sellers start in the wrong place
✅ The five decisions that determine your success in 2025
✅ How to validate product ideas without gambling
✅ How to budget your first ninety days and avoid common money traps
✅ Why pricing determines your survival in a tariff-heavy market

📍 Chapters

00:00 Most New Sellers Start Wrong in 2025
00:54 The Five Decisions That Shape Your Success
01:27 Marketplace First, Not Branding
02:04 Validating Products With Real Data
03:17 Pricing Determines Your Future Margin
04:11 How New Sellers Fall Into the Growth Trap
05:30 Find Winning Products With the $5 Product Research GPT

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

What if that old Amazon store you stopped using is still worth thousands of dollars?

Most people just walk away, but you can sell your account.

In this episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil Twa sits down with long-time friend and eCommerce expert Aaron O'Sullivan to break down the real market for Amazon seller accounts. You’ll learn how to legally sell your store, what buyers are looking for, and how to protect yourself from account health pitfalls.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your old store could be turned into real cash, this episode will show you exactly how the process works.

💡Visit https://ecomstores.com/voltage and see if your account qualifies!

In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ How to tell if your Amazon store is worth selling

✅ What makes an account valuable to buyers

✅ The legal process for transferring your store without breaking TOS

✅ How to protect your account’s health before selling

✅ Why focus and mentorship matter more than ever for long-term success

✅ The story behind Aaron’s new mission supporting children in the Philippines

📍 Chapters
00:00 Why Some Amazon Stores Still Have Hidden Value

01:06 Can You Sell Your Amazon Account Legally?

03:26 What Buyers Look For: Account Health, History, and Original Ownership

05:20 How Much Are Stores Worth ($500 to $20,000+)

06:29 Why You Should Sell Before Your Store Goes Dormant

07:12 What Disqualifies an Account from Being Bought

08:22 How the Sale Process Works from Escrow to Transfer

10:06 Beyond Amazon: Can Shopify and TikTok Stores Be Sold Too

12:17 The Mindset of Successful Sellers and Why Most Fail

14:30 Lessons from Losing Millions and the Power of Focus

17:19 Building Wealth Takes Time and the 10-Year Horizon

19:32 Purpose Beyond Profit: Aaron’s Mission in the Philippines

22:05 Why Every Seller Should Treat Their Store as an Asset

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!

TikTok, Shopify, and Amazon are shifting fast. These updates will shape how you sell in 2026.

In this week’s Friday “Week in Review,” Neil breaks down the latest data, platform changes, and pricing strategies helping sellers stay profitable as ad costs rise.

You’ll learn how a small pricing shift turned into a major profit win, what TikTok’s new tools mean for real sales, and how AI-driven updates from Shopify and Meta are changing how brands grow online.

🚀 What should I sell next? Visit gpt.caimandata.com to generate data-driven product ideas powered by Caiman Data’s AI engine.

In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ Why raising prices can increase profits (and when to do it)
✅ How to cut wasted ad spend on Amazon and keep margins strong
✅ TikTok’s new Content Insights and Travel Ads and what they mean for discovery and conversions
✅ How Shopify and Meta are using AI to personalize stores and boost lifetime value
✅ Why the future belongs to sellers who connect Amazon, TikTok, and Shopify into one system

📍 Chapters
00:00 Why 2026 Will Reward Brands That Build Systems, Not Just Sales

01:01 How a 10% Price Increase Led to Double the Daily Revenue

02:21 Using TikTok’s New Tools to Drive Real Conversions, Not Just Views

03:03 How Shopify’s AI and In-Chat Shopping Are Redefining Customer Experience

04:03 The Three-Engine Strategy: Connecting Amazon, TikTok, and Shopify for Sustainable Growth

05:01 Lessons From “Breaking” Amazon’s Ad System and Finding Its Hidden Limits

05:39 Using the $5 Product Research GPT to Find Winning Ideas

Follow Neil:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neiltwa/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiltwa/
🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/voltagefba
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbabusinessbuilders

🎧 Like This Episode?

✅ Subscribe for weekly conversations with real founders

✅ Share this with a brand owner or marketer in your network

✅ Drop a review to help others discover the show

Ready to stop trading time for money and build almost automated income with FBA? Visit https://voltagedm.com to learn how you can buy back you freedom by building your very own ecommerce empire!