Bob DeMars is the founder of Blind Barrels, a blind whiskey tasting subscription disrupting the industry’s current distribution model by showcasing American craft distilleries, ones which rarely get the shelf space they deserve.

The recent quarantine brought about blind whiskey tastings with friends, and DeMars saw an opportunity for a startup unlike any other in the alcohol industry.

These blind tastings are all about discovery, education, removing brand bias, and, of course, supporting smaller distillers that are making some amazing handmade products.

Each quarter, subscribers get to test their senses by tasting and discovering hard-to-try-or-find craft whiskey brands - ones that deserve to be discovered.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [01:17] Intro
• [02:16] Understanding the appeal of whiskey samples
• [03:12] Exploring the stages of whiskey tasting
• [05:13] Navigating the three-tier system regulations
• [06:49] Raising funds through friends and family
• [07:49] Handling startup stress and responsibility
• [09:00] Leveraging influencer partnerships effectively
• [10:46] Learning PR pitfalls and self-promotion
• [12:08] Launching the business & attracting subscribers
• [13:23] Overcoming initial tech hurdles
• [14:20] Learning the tasks before delegating
• [16:28] Multi-channel touches for brand conversion
• [18:08] Episode sponsors
• [21:21] Focusing on qualified traffic before CRO efforts
• [22:19] Avoiding affiliate fees with strategic gift codes
• [23:27] Unexplained SEO boosts in industry niches
• [24:34] Micro influencers for brand saturation & sales
• [25:36] Evaluating micro influencers by genuine engagement
• [27:38] Managing inquiries directly for brand credibility
• [28:28] Creating connections with whiskey box shipments
• [29:20] Hosting events with interactive whiskey giveaways
• [31:30] Finding joy in simple whiskey moments
• [32:02] Discover Blind Barrels & support local distillers
• [33:18] Balancing sales with community building online
• [34:01] Keeping investor energy through consistent updates
• [35:47] Valuing hard lessons during difficult times

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Blind whiskey tasting subscription blindbarrels.com/
• Follow Bob DeMars linkedin.com/in/bob-demars-975bba5
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Adam is the founder and CTO of Intelligems, a profit optimization engine for ecommerce brands.

He and Drew Marconi started Intelligems 3 years ago after spending 4 years building dynamic pricing in the ride sharing industry in order to bring that level of sophistication around pricing and economics to DTC ecommerce.

Intelligems today enables brands to A/B test content, pages, discounts, shipping fees, and prices on their storefronts. It also enable brands to build tailored experiences and personalizations informed by the learnings of those tests.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [01:12] Intro
• [02:04] Transitioning from ridesharing to Ecommerce
• [03:09] Testing product prices for big impact
• [04:41] Benefiting from Google's unexpected move
• [05:44] Gaining traction with early adopters
• [06:44] Clarifying CRO basics and misconceptions
• [08:04] Balancing conversion rate and AOV
• [10:04] Adopting a testing mindset
• [11:56] Exploring test win rates and client mindset
• [13:45] Iterating quickly after test failures
• [14:36] Trusting data over intuition
• [15:55] Embracing non-winning test results
• [16:33] Assessing business lifecycle impact
• [17:10] Balancing orders with profit margins
• [19:18] Understanding statistical significance basics
• [21:04] Evaluating probabilities in test outcomes
• [22:23] Considering risks in statistical test outcomes
• [23:16] Moving on when tests reach clear results
• [24:52] Balancing creativity and analytics in a CRO
• [25:44] Psychological insights to optimize conversions
• [27:24] Leveraging psychology in Ecommerce strategies
• [28:18] Consumer behavior with key readings
• [29:04] Testing price strategies for bigger impact
• [30:24] Integrating brand education into conversion tactics
• [31:50] Optimizing landing pages for high traffic
• [33:20] Prioritizing first impressions on landing pages
• [34:06] Running advanced tests with Intelligems

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Price A/B testing for Ecommerce intelligems.io/
• Follow Adam Kitain linkedin.com/in/adamkitain/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Tanya Mykhaylova is the Director of E-Commerce at Casa Di Luce, a premier designer lighting and home decor brand based in Toronto, Canada.

For two decades, Casa Di Luce has been a cornerstone of Toronto's design scene, embodying family values and entrepreneurial spirit. Operating multiple showrooms throughout the city, the company eventually established a firm presence in Toronto's design district by inaugurating a spacious flagship showroom.

Five years ago, Tanya made the decision to leave her corporate consulting job and join Casa Di Luce full-time, driven by a desire to leverage her expertise and propel her family business into the digital age. Tanya has adeptly stayed ahead of the latest e-commerce trends, guiding Casa Di Luce through the dynamic online marketplace to sustain growth and expansion.

Today, the company carries over 200 brands and ships to customers across North America.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:51] Intro
• [01:27] Operating a managed marketplace
• [02:18] Joining the family business strategically
• [03:34] Gaining helpful skills for website development
• [04:30] Transforming outdated ecommerce platform
• [05:57] Handling ecomm migration during covid boom
• [07:36] Learning from UX: failing fast and iterating
• [09:47] Overcoming setbacks for future growth
• [10:49] Episode sponsors
• [14:01] Avoiding unnecessary custom solutions
• [16:04] Growing pains of increased online presence
• [17:51] Building custom features based on feedback
• [19:11] Refining site navigation through feedback
• [21:06] Outpacing competitors through agile innovation
• [22:25] Pioneering untested innovations in industry
• [23:38] Challenging client beliefs with data
• [24:23] Taking action and testing ideas in real-time
• [25:19] Get your modern and design lighting at Casa Di Luce

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Modern lighting and design lighting Canada www.casadiluce.ca/
• Follow Tanya Mykhaylova linkedin.com/in/tanyamykhaylova/
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

As an outdoor industry leader for nearly 30 years, Gordon has committed his career to building brands that practice a triple bottom line (people, planet and profit) approach to business.

Gordon launched Toad&Co, a responsible lifestyle apparel brand in 1996. Now headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, he remains the CEO of the growing global brand. He also co-founded Planet Access 27 years ago, a social enterprise committed to providing life skills, vocational training and travel experiences for people with disabilities.

Gordon spent 17 years on the Outdoor Industry Association Board including a 6-year stint as Chairman and Vice Chairman. He is currently a Board member for the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund, the Santa Barbara Film Festival and Chairs the advisory board of the Eco-Entrepreneurship Advisory Council at the Bren School Environmental Solutions graduate program at UCSB.

He also serves as advisor to several early-stage responsible business start-ups. He received a BA in Psychology from Hamilton College and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from Wharton School of Business.

Married with two 20 something daughters, between family and work Gordon enjoys just about anything the outdoors has to offer, especially if it is in the ocean, on a river or in the mountains near his family cabin in June Lake in the Eastern Sierras. Travel, film and birds are some of his other passions.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:46] Intro
• [01:58] Thriving with responsible consumers
• [03:47] Handling first collection without ecommerce in '96
• [05:08] Pivoting business strategy after 9/11 crisis
• [06:25] Building best in class before expanding
• [08:34] Balancing retail and ecommerce strategies
• [10:08] Promoting brand awareness through various channels
• [12:26] Adapting brand for Gen Z and millennials
• [13:59] StoreTester: done-for-you conversion rate optimization
• [15:16] learning from fast-changing Ecommerce trends
• [17:36] Adapting to changing buyer behavior
• [19:18] Managing evolving market dynamics
• [20:43] Aiming for lasting positive impact
• [22:16] Inspiring ethical entrepreneurship
• [24:04] Authenticity in brand commitment
• [25:29] Staying committed to your passion
• [26:27] Balancing gut feeling and analytics in business
• [27:30] Surviving and thriving in niches
• [28:11] Sustainable, organic, & eco-friendly clothing

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Sustainable, organic, & eco-friendly clothing toadandco.com/
• Follow Gordon Seabury linkedin.com/in/gordon-seabury-3597a03/
• Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Josh Hadley is not just the founder and CEO of an eight-figure e-commerce brand; he is also a leading voice in the e-commerce space as the host of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast.

His professional journey took off at American Airlines' Leadership Development Program, fresh from earning an MBA from the University of Utah.

While maintaining his corporate career, Josh and his wife co-founded a custom wedding invitation business, leveraging their unique skill sets in the evenings. Recognizing an opportunity in the Amazon marketplace, they strategically pivoted their venture to create a stationery empire, growing their portfolio to over 1,300 products.

Josh relishes the rewarding challenge of balancing business growth with family life in Dallas Texas.

Raising three children while building a successful venture with his wife, he exemplifies the possibility of harmonizing personal fulfillment with professional success.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [01:10] Discussing actionable ecommerce strategies
• [02:18] Reflecting on early entrepreneurial spirit
• [03:15] Inspiring innovative business ideas in college
• [03:48] Transforming a hobby into a thriving business
• [04:58] Experimenting with early Facebook Ads
• [05:33] Confronting scalability challenges
• [07:00] Adapting and evolving in Amazon
• [08:17] Developing entrepreneurial intuition
• [10:11] Advantages of using Amazon
• [11:55] Cons of Amazon
• [12:41] Navigating rising Amazon fees
• [14:04] Understanding revenue dynamics on Amazon
• [15:27] Leveraging Amazon's logistics efficiency
• [16:01] Testing product ideas on Amazon
• [18:06] Strategizing growth with proven Amazon products
• [18:42] Balancing Amazon and off-platform strategies
• [21:28] Tracking multi-channel ad performance
• [23:43] Active management in Amazon business
• [25:09] Learning tips from Amazon gurus
• [26:48] Testing on Amazon: fast and cost-effective
• [29:09] Quickly assessing success with Amazon data
• [29:48] Unique skill sets of Amazon and Shopify
• [31:50] Expanding beyond Amazon: preparing for future growth
• [33:40] Learn more from Josh Hadley

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Strategies to scale to 8 figures and beyond ecommbreakthrough.com/
• Education, calendar, and reward prints hadleydesigns.com/
• Follow Josh Hadley linkedin.com/in/joshhadley/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Brandon Blum is the Cofounder and CEO of For Others, a mission-driven lifestyle brand based out of New York City.

Before For Others, Brandon spent six all-encompassing years inside the marketing wings of three prodigiously large media companies in New York City.

Brandon possesses a blend of experiences spanning branding, marketing, digital, media, content, and publishing.

Through his work, Brandon learned how brands - large and small - told their stories and built their brands.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:39] Intro
• [01:32] Creating a brand with a positive community impact
• [02:53] Experiencing first sales at a pop-up
• [04:10] Bootstrapping and soft launching the business
• [05:30] Launching without overthinking
• [06:30] Balancing day jobs and side hustle
• [07:26] Leveraging project management skills
• [08:36] Recognizing project management as a skill
• [09:49] Electric Eye: your true Shopify expert
• [10:46] Discovering opportunities in unexpected places
• [12:16] Adjusting business projections post-pandemic
• [14:00] Standing out in a saturated online market
• [14:58] Transitioning from corporate to startup
• [16:25] Fulfillment in building a passion-driven career
• [18:24] The power of networking in business
• [20:53] Expanding your Luck Surface Area
• [22:32] Evolving products based on real-world insights
• [23:38] Luxury accessories and apparel from For Others

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• A mission-driven lifestyle brand for-others.com/
• Follow Brandon Blum linkedin.com/in/blumbrandon/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Shawn D. Nelson is the founder and CEO of Lovesac, repeatedly recognized as the fastest growing furniture brand in the US for over a decade.

Lovesac is publicly traded on Nasdaq, ticker “LOVE,” and is projected to exceed $1 Billion in annual sales over the next few years leveraging its rapidly growing fleet of more than 270 Lovesac branded retail locations.

From humble beginnings, Shawn founded Lovesac in 1998, making Sacs by hand for neighbors and friends while in college. He graduated from the University of Utah in 2001 with a BA in Mandarin Chinese before opening Lovesac’s first retail location in his hometown of Salt Lake City shortly after graduation.

In 2005 Shawn won a million-dollar investment from Richard Branson on his prime time hit reality TV show, The Rebel Billionaire, and was named acting President of Virgin Worldwide for a time.

Shawn later achieved his Master’s degree in Strategic Design and Management at the world famous Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City and continued on as an instructor there for a few years teaching courses on Sustainable Business Models, Leadership, and Innovation.

Shawn now holds over 50 issued patents across multiple product categories with dozens more pending. The majority of Lovesac’s sales today are driven by the ever-expanding product platform called “Sactionals,” the world’s most versatile couch and myriad Sactionals product extensions including embedded technology.

Shawn’s recent book, “Let Me Save You 25 Years,” celebrates Lovesac’s colorful history, and the many “mistakes, miracles, and lessons” learned along the way.

Shawn lives in St. George, Utah with his wife, Tiffany, and their 4 kids, 2 cats, and 1 crazy dog.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:42] Intro
• [01:35] A business idea right at home
• [03:05] Learning from direct customer feedback
• [04:13] Taking the last gamble and it worked
• [06:21] From side hustle to full-time business
• [07:22] Managing first store and franchising
• [08:16] Leveraging TV fame for VC investment
• [09:04] Competing in Branson's reality show
• [10:12] Staying grounded amidst financial highs and lows
• [11:00] Electric Eye: your true Shopify expert
• [11:56] Plan and DO something
• [13:31] Playing along the journey
• [15:09] Resilience through COVID and other setbacks
• [16:47] Patience is key to long-term growth
• [17:42] Defining your own success and timeline
• [19:27] Sharing 25 years of mistakes and miracles
• [21:01] Knowing when to pivot and when to persist
• [22:53] Thriving in uncertainty as an entrepreneur
• [24:13] Big outcomes require hard decisions
• [25:21] Get inspired with Shawn and Lovesac's journey

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Modern couches, sactionals and bean bags lovesac.com/
• Follow Shawn D. Nelson linkedin.com/in/shawndnelson/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Udayan Bose is the Founder & CEO of NetElixir, has been driving success for retail businesses online for nearly 20 years.

With a focus on the digital retail space, NetElixir uses proprietary technology, strategic growth models, and expert campaign management services to deliver exceptional results for their 600+ retail clients worldwide.

Udayan's determination has earned NetElixir partnerships with industry leaders like UPS, Google, and Bing.

Udayan is also a regular lecturer at top universities and has been featured in prestigious online journals such as The New York Times, Forbes, AdWeek, and more.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:44] Intro
• [02:01] Recounting early success with first innovation
• [02:33] The power of the internet through experimentation
• [03:25] Helping retail Ecommerce brands grow predictably
• [04:58] Making search work with mathematical precision
• [06:33] Meeting key players in ecommerce success
• [07:45] Building strong client partnerships
• [08:23] Recalling Google's milestone with Google Shopping
• [09:35] Envisioning the future with generative AI
• [11:24] Strategizing amid changing data landscapes
• [12:33] Adapting to the new era of restricted data sharing
• [13:13] Strategizing with limited data access
• [14:25] Walled gardens for integrated social commerce
• [15:49] The era of retail media networks
• [17:14] Exploring AI's role in future data access
• [18:11] Preparing for diminished data availability
• [18:57] Mastering rapid adaptive experimentation
• [20:15] Leveraging AI for predictive customer insights
• [21:22] Democratizing SEO and SEM with free tools
• [23:06] Supporting SMBs with innovative solutions
• [24:50] Discovering who links to your site
• [25:35] Humbling moments: OpenAI's impact on tech giants
• [27:03] The impact of disruptive innovation
• [28:19] ChatGPT's impact on business strategies
• [29:49] Crafting effective prompts for ChatGPT
• [30:34] Leveraging AI skills for competitive advantage
• [31:31] Navigating the age of abundance with AI

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Ecommerce digital marketing agency in Princeton, New Jersey netelixir.com/
• Follow Udayan Bose linkedin.com/in/netelixirudayanbose/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!