Episodes

  • Brand Spotlight: Ox Sox

    Brand Spotlight: Ox Sox
    Jul 1 2024

    Join host Jonathan D’Ambrosio as he chats with Matthew Tesvich, founder of Ox Sox. From battling smelly feet to creating socks that are comfortable, odor-neutralizing, and eco-friendly, Matthew shares his journey. Tune in for valuable insights into product perfection, brand protection, and the art of testing assumptions. Whether you’re a sock aficionado or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode has something for you!

    1. Inspired by Personal Experiences (01:13)

    Matthew’s childhood struggle with foot odor led him to think outside the sock. How could he create something that tackled this common problem head-on?

    2. Becoming an Entrepreneur (03:11)

    Matthew’s transition from athlete to entrepreneur wasn’t easy. But passion fueled his drive to create something extraordinary.

    3. A Long Sourcing Process (03:48)

    Sourcing materials for Ox Sox was no walk in the park. Matthew shares the ups, downs, and dead-ends he encountered.

    4. The Need for Product Testing & Feedback (06:01)

    Why testing matters: Matthew’s insights into perfecting the product and listening to early adopters.

    5. Creating a Name for the Brand (07:43)

    Behind the scenes: How Ox Sox got its catchy name and why it matters.

    6. Creating a Product that Solves Multiple Problems (09:16)

    Matthew’s triple-threat socks: Comfort, odor control, and durability. The magic formula behind Ox Sox.

    7. Understanding What Success Looks Like (10:54)

    Success isn’t just about sales numbers. Matthew’s perspective on measuring impact.

    8. Making National Headlines on Black Friday (12:30)

    How Ox Sox stole the spotlight during the holiday shopping frenzy.

    9. Iterating on Competitive Value Propositions (14:08)

    Staying ahead of the game: Matthew’s approach to refining Ox Sox’s unique selling points.

    10. Being Driven by Larger Values (17:30)

    Beyond profits: Matthew’s commitment to sustainability and purpose.

    11. The Importance of Customer Demographics (19:13)

    Know your audience: How Ox Sox tailors its marketing to specific customer segments.

    12. Matthew’s Original GTM Strategy (22:05)

    Getting Ox Sox off the ground: Matthew’s go-to-market strategy.

    13. Listening to Your Customers (25:56)

    Customer feedback as a compass: How it shapes Ox Sox’s evolution.

    14. Fighting Counterfeit Sellers with Brand Protection (28:28)

    Matthew’s battle against copycats and protecting the Ox Sox brand.

    15. An Early Understanding of Shipping Fees (31:57)

    Shipping logistics: Matthew’s early lessons in cost management.

    16. Valuable Lessons from Initial Order Miscalculations (33:11)

    The school of hard knocks: Matthew’s takeaways from inventory mishaps.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Avoid assumptions about customer behavior.

    • Prioritize durability and effectiveness in your product.

    • Maximize publicity and press opportunities.

    • Stay customer-focused at all times.

    • Authenticity drives sales.

    • Delegate to the experts when needed.
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    40 mins
  • Brand Spotlight: Modern Mammals

    Brand Spotlight: Modern Mammals
    Jun 13 2024

    In this episode of The Seller's Edge, host Jonathan D'Ambrosio speaks with Joe Moriarty and Wes Haddon about their journey in creating a standout hair care brand. Tune in to hear about their strategies for building customer loyalty, managing online criticism, and the importance of a focused product line.

    Key Takeaways:

    1. Always Keep The Customer In Mind

    2. Be Aware Of And Play Into Your Strengths

    3. If You’re Not An Expert, Find One

    4. Never Stray From Your Brand’s Core Values

    5. Increasing The Number Of Products Decreases Conversions

    6. Brands Stand Out By Being Original

    7. As You Gain Momentum, Safeguard The Foundation That Made It Possible

    8. Dedicate Significant Efforts To Customer Loyalty; It Is Your Greatest Asset

    Discussion Points:

    • 01:47 - Competitiveness of the Product Market

    • 02:22 - Identifying the Needs of Consumers

    • 04:03 - Starting to Build a Product and Brand

    • 06:47 - Previous Seller Experiences

    • 08:53 - Knowing that a Market Gap Existed

    • 10:25 - Customer Obsession: The First Sign of Success

    • 12:13 - Identifying Knowledge Gaps & Pain Points

    • 15:20 - Reducing Product Variations for Optimal Performance

    • 21:40 - Having a Strong Sense of Your Brand’s Core Values

    • 25:27 - Creating a Name for the Brand

    • 27:01 - Scaling Up while Maintaining Operational Discipline

    • 31:29 - Capturing Market Share from Brand Name Competitors

    • 34:20 - Leveraging Social Media for Education & Brand Recognition

    • 38:13 - Embracing Minimalism for Long Term Gains

    • 40:32 - The Unrivaled Power of Customer Loyalty
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    47 mins
  • Steven Pope’s Tips for FBA Sellers: How to Make Money on AMZ

    Steven Pope’s Tips for FBA Sellers: How to Make Money on AMZ
    May 30 2024
    Steven Pope, the founder of My Amazon Guy, joins this in-depth conversation, to share his big brain thinking and offer actionable insights to take your Amazon business to the next level. Key Takeaways: PPC Advertising Strategies: Discover the power of setting up auto campaigns for every SKU, even those you might overlook. Learn how a simple $0.05 bid can generate an extra $700 a month!Product Targeting and Ad Placement: Avoid common pitfalls in product targeting and leverage new ad formats like Prime Video ads to gain a competitive edge.Global Market Expansion: Learn why Japan is a booming market for Amazon sellers and get tips on how to expand internationally while managing shipping costs effectively.Localization and Future Trends: Explore the future of Amazon advertising with localized keyword data and targeted PPC strategies.Focus and Specialization: Steven emphasizes the importance of sticking to your core competencies and outsourcing tasks where necessary to build a robust, specialized business. About My Amazon Guy: My Amazon Guy is a comprehensive Amazon seller consultancy that provides a full range of services including PPC management, SEO, and content creation. Founded by Steven Pope, the agency is known for its expertise in navigating the complexities of the Amazon marketplace and helping sellers achieve remarkable growth. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable tips and strategies from one of the top experts in the field. Whether you're a seasoned seller or just starting out, there's something here for everyone. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights and expert advice on Amazon selling! Follow us on social media: Twitter: @TheSellersEdgeInstagram: @TheSellersEdge FULL TRANSCTRIPT: JONATHAN: So I know that you are somebody who has many thoughts on the ongoing complexities of Amazon. I think that it continues to evolve. And I think even Jeff Bezos was quoted as saying that they are in the business of helping people buy things. They are not in the business of helping people sell them. STEVEN POPE: Amazon is the most customer centric platform in the world and sellers are left by the wayside. And that's a moat though, right? Like if you can overcome that challenge as a seller, you're going to be wildly successful. If you have a good product and you still can't overcome that challenge, that's where the biased, my Amazon guy pitch comes in and you hire an agency and we'll help you out. But that's pretty much it. You have a lot of a deck stacked against you because Amazon is putting up roadblocks. The Chinese are coming in hot, hurting margins. Amazon is adding fees, making margins hard from that side. And there's just a lot of people that want a piece of that piece. JONATHAN: Yeah, for sure. I mean, especially with, I mean there's a lot of things going on. They're adding additional fees right now. And that's just something that I feel like Amazon keeps getting greedier and greedier when they don't want to help Amazon sellers. But they're also just like, I don't even know about the additional promotional sales beyond Prime Day. Is that something that you think sellers will benefit from or do you think that's okay and, but like Amazon will, obviously STEVEN POPE: Yes, Amazon will crush it. They're going to push a lot of Amazon products. They'll sell a bunch of kindles. They'll send a bunch of, sell a bunch of Amazon basics. But the average day, Joe, Amazon seller does not win on Prime Day at all. Yes, their sales will be higher on Prime Day. I want to be clear about that. But if you look at the long view, if you look at the seven day stretch, they're static week over week, right. So you're stealing from Peter to pay Paul, as they say. Right. Like you're not going to come out ahead. Now, should you take advantage of Prime Day? Yes. Should you run a discount? Maybe. Should you add some additional PPC spend on Prime Day? Probably. But you'll notice that I do all that with an Eeyore saying of like, yeah, okay, Optimus prime, you know, like begrudgingly. So yes, you probably should pay, play the game. But it's not necessarily the top thing I would focus on. JONATHAN: What do you think is the number one thing that Amazon kind of has going against sellers? Like, is it the fact that. I mean, everything about Amazon is cumbersome for sellers from seller central being just the cumbersome platform that it is to seller support not being entirely efficient. I'm just curious, what's the one thing that if we could fix it would make life infinitely easier? STEVEN POPE: Well, the first one that comes to my mind would be seller support. Right? Like, I. I am so tired of getting copy paste garbage out of seller support. Like half the emails in Chinese and like, you know why, right? Like they've sold out to China. They don't care about us as an Amazon seller brand business or anything. Really. That would be the easiest one to fix, too. All we got to do is install chat GPT...
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    35 mins
  • Small Business Tax Hacks: A Roadmap to Financial Success

    Small Business Tax Hacks: A Roadmap to Financial Success
    May 16 2024

    Join us for an insightful episode where we sit down with Gary Milkwick from 1-800Accountant to explore the complex world of small business finance. In this episode, you'll learn about the unique tax challenges that small businesses face and practical solutions to navigate them. We'll also discuss the significant rise in entrepreneurship and how this surge is reshaping the business landscape.

    Gary sheds light on why many small business owners hesitate to hire accountants despite the potential benefits, and what this decision could mean for their financial health. Additionally, we delve into the latest technological advancements that are transforming financial management for small businesses, making it easier and more efficient than ever before.

    1-800Accountant specializes in providing personalized accounting services to help businesses of all sizes achieve financial success. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you thrive.

    Tune in now to gain expert advice and stay ahead in the competitive business world!
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    35 mins
  • SELLING WITH PURPOSE: WAYS TO BUILD A BETTER BRAND ON AMZ

    SELLING WITH PURPOSE: WAYS TO BUILD A BETTER BRAND ON AMZ
    Apr 25 2024

    Get a stronger sense of ecommerce branding and marketing strategies with Shannon Curley, the Director of Marketing at Carbon6. Shannon brings a wealth of experience across diverse industries, including toys, tech, and gaming. Listen to her full conversation with host Jonathan D’Ambrosio, as they discuss understanding customers, crafting a message, and how to stand out from the crowd.

    Episode 12 of The Seller’s Edge, Shannon and Jonathan talk about:

    • 01:26 - The Impact of Branding

    • 02:20 - Educating Consumers about FBA Sellers

    • 04:25 - The Foundation of a Brand

    • 05:27 - Ideal Ways of Knowing Your Customers

    • 06:43 - Balancing Aesthetics with Information

    • 07:36 - Why Having an ‘About Us’ Page is so Important

    • 08:28 - The Risks of Exclusion

    • 09:07 - How Companies Endanger Profits

    • 11:36 - Always Be Authentic

    • 13:06 - Copy vs. Visual Design

    • 15:33 - The Power of Before/After Images

    • 17:03 - How to Use Colors in Branding & Logos

    • 20:17 - Why Brands Fail to Compete

    • 22:13 - The Potential for Growth in E-Commerce

    Key Takeaways:

    1. Know Your Customer And What They Want

    2. Establish A Dtc Brand And Sell On Amz

    3. Concentrate On Providing Information & Value

    4. Be Inclusive

    5. Don’t Underestimate Images

    6. Be Original To Stand Out.

    7. Learn How To Drive Change
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    26 mins
  • The eCommerce Playbook: Expert Tips for Brand Success

    The eCommerce Playbook: Expert Tips for Brand Success
    Apr 10 2024

    Join host Jonathan D’Ambrosio on The Seller’s Edge as he sits down with Jillian Losik, the Amazon expert and strategic mind behind Emarketplace Management. Together, they explore the intricacies of successful ecommerce, covering topics from ad strategies to sustainable growth. Discover how to elevate your brand with innovative tactics and strategic insights from Jillian.

    Key Takeaways:

    • The importance of having a strong product and strong values
    • Effective ad strategies for those on a tight budget
    • Why treating your DTC site as a competitor is a mistake of the past
    • Insightful tactics for dominating keywords and converting cart abandonments

    If you're looking to elevate your ecommerce game, be sure to connect with Jillian and her team at Emarketplace Management. Visit their website at eMarketplaceManagement.com for a free account audit or connect with Jillian Losik directly on LinkedIn.

    Jillian's LinkedIn:

    linkedin.com/in/jillian-losik

    EMM website:

    https://emarketplacemanagement.com/


    Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies that can help take your online business to new heights. Tune in to The Seller’s Edge with Jonathan D’Ambrosio and stay ahead in the world of ecommerce.
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    33 mins
  • Brand Spotlight: Tiny Sprouts Foods

    Brand Spotlight: Tiny Sprouts Foods
    Mar 27 2024

    In this episode of The Seller's Edge Podcast, host Jonathan D'Ambrosio explores the inspiring journey of Tina Rajani and Kim Pabla, founders of Tiny Sprouts Foods. Tina and Kim, two passionate mothers and entrepreneurs, share their story of leaving stable corporate jobs to pursue their dream of providing healthier food options for children. From leveraging influencers to scale their brand, navigating the challenges of Amazon, and participating in Whole Foods' LEAP program, Tina and Kim discuss the key strategies and decisions that have led to their success. Join us for a deep dive into the world of children's nutrition and entrepreneurship, and gain valuable insights and inspiration for your own business journey.
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    30 mins
  • Global Growth Hacks: Trendspotting, Localization, and Using Artificial Intelligence

    Global Growth Hacks: Trendspotting, Localization, and Using Artificial Intelligence
    Mar 6 2024

    In this episode, we sit down with Jana Krekic, Founder and CEO of YLT Translations, to explore global growth strategies for businesses. Jana shares valuable insights into the importance of localization, the challenges of translation, and the impact of AI on language processing. Discover why translating fully into the local language is crucial for maximizing reach, and learn the difference between translation and localization for effective communication. Understand the challenges of fixing poorly translated content and why quality is key, and explore the contrasting approaches of AI and human thinking in global markets. Uncover the advantages of entering new markets with the right product and strategy. Join us as we delve into the world of international business and uncover the keys to success in global markets.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Learn why translating fully into the local language is crucial for maximizing reach.

    • Discover the difference between translation and localization for effective communication.

    • Understand the challenges of fixing poorly translated content and why quality is key.

    • Explore the contrasting approaches of AI and human thinking in global markets.

    • Uncover the advantages of entering new markets with the right product and strategy.
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    33 mins