Polling your target market for their input on your product and brand development can help save thousands in wasted costs and fast-track your eCommerce growth. In this episode, PickFu founder Justin Chen walks us through this key strategy to help you gain crucial insight into your target market’s buying behaviors. Try PickFu: https://www.brandbuilderuni.com/go/pickfu (save 50% with code BBU) Connect with Justin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinchen/   Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter  Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Justin Chen 02:19 - Justin's Background 04:24 - Understanding Split Testing and Its Significance 07:56 - Key Stages in Business where Testing can be Useful 10:20 - Applicability of PickFu Across Various E-commerce Platforms 11:10 - Ideal Timing for Using PickFu in Business 16:16 - Testing Brand Assets: Brand Name, Design, Logo 18:11 - Maximizing PickFu for Improved Conversion Rates 20:05 - Real-world Examples of Successful Testing Outcomes 23:47 - PickFu Platform Dynamics: How it Works 27:59 - Advanced Strategies for Optimal Testing Outcomes 29:39 - DTC Brands Utilizing Social Media Ad Testing 30:30 - Exploring PickFu and How to Get Started

Driving external traffic to your Amazon product listings can be a big boost to rankings and sales. One of the best ways to drive that traffic is by partnering with influencers and content creators. However, the tech to support this marketing channel on Amazon has been seriously lagging… until now. In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Schab from Levanta, a platform dedicated to helping Amazon sellers succeed with influencer marketing. We discuss best practices and growth strategies to help you implement this lucrative traffic source. Try Levanta: https://levanta.io/  Connect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-schab/  Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter   Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Rob Schab 01:08 - Rob's Background 03:32 - Key Elements of a Successful Influencer Marketing Strategy for Amazon Sellers 05:50 - Challenges Faced by Amazon Sellers in Adopting New Marketing Strategies 07:53 - Where to Find Influencers for Driving Amazon Traffic 10:50 - Assessing If Influencer Marketing Fits Your Brand and Strategies for Standing Out13:17 - Product Seeding: Does It Still Work? 14:28 - Addressing Pain Points in Influencer Marketing with Levanta 16:54 - Working Dynamics Between Brands and Influencers through Levanta 20:19 - Determining Compensation Thresholds for Influencers 23:20 - Future Plans and Developments for Levanta 24:27 - Brand's Role in Creative Relationships with Influencers 27:23 - Additional Insights for Driving Influencer Traffic 29:01 - Importance of Regular Communication with Influencers 30:23 - Where to Learn More About Rob and Levanta

Building a successful ecommerce brand should never be about winning on one channel, but instead being everywhere your customers are. In this episode of the Brand Builder Show, learn how to take your Amazon business omnichannel with ecommerce growth expert Andrew Maffetone. Subscribe to Andrew’s podcast: https://ecommshow.bluetuskr.com/  Learn more about Blue Tuskr: https://www.bluetuskr.com/ Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Andrew Maffetone 01:09 - Andrew's eCommerce Background 04:29 - Understanding Omnichannel and Its Benefits for Amazon Sellers 07:04 - Considering the Right Stage for Amazon Sellers to Go Omnichannel 13:55 - Leveraging Amazon Success for Off-Amazon Growth 16:24 - Choosing Between Expanding Channels or Product Lines 19:03 - Approaching Omnichannel Strategy: Paid Ads vs. Organic 22:36 - Exploring Additional Channels Beyond Amazon and Own Website 25:16 - Exploring TikTok Shops 27:58 - Overcoming Challenges in the Omnichannel Journey 34:22 - Final Thoughts on Omnichannel Success 36:53 - Andrew's eCommerce Podcast and Where to Connect

Dive into this episode of the Brand Builder Show to hear how Kelley Thornton built men’s skincare brand Tiege Hanley to 8 figures in annual revenue. Explore Tiege Hanley: https://www.tiege.com/  Connect with Kelley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelleythornton-ceo-tiege-hanley/  Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter   Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Kelley Thrornton 02:05 - Introducing the Brand and the Journey So Far 05:02 - Navigating Brand Failures and the Decision to Restart 06:56 - The Motivation Behind a Fresh Start 09:37 - Challenges and Considerations in Bringing on a Partner 14:17 - Ideation, Product Selection, and Initial Development Challenges 22:38 - Maintaining a Premium Brand Image Despite Competitive Pricing 24:04 - Strategies for Launching the First Product 26:35 - Leveraging Partner Audiences and Sales Strategy 29:41 - Implementing Subscriptions as a Business Framework 34:23 - Insights into the Operational Side of the Business 36:49 - Future Plans: Selling the Business and Beyond 40:53 - Closing Thoughts and Insights from Kelley

Learn how to use PixelMe to drive external traffic to Amazon with Carbon 6’s Clayton Atchison. Try PixelMe: https://brandbuilderuni.com/go/pixel-me  Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter   Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Clayton Atchison01:04 - Quick Update on Carbon6 and Clayton's Background04:29 - Exploring What's New with PixelMe07:11 - Who Should Consider Using PixelMe, and at Which Stage of Their Journey?09:58 - Live PixelMe Demo33:26 - What PixelMe Customers Can Expect34:52 - Positive Impacts of PixelMe on Businesses42:23 - PixelMe's Suitability for Businesses of Various Sizes

Learn how Taylor Sanford sold $50k in pre-orders for his backyard game brand. Use code BRANDBUILDER to save 15% at https://premierspike.com/  Follow Premier Spike on all socials @premier.spike Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter   Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Taylor Sanford00:43 - Taylor's Background in eCommerce03:44 - Navigating Challenges in a Unique Industry05:40 - Assessing Product Potential: How to Know It Will Sell08:46 - Insights into Product Development11:47 - Timeline: From Product Development to the First Unit on Sale14:17 - Achieving $50k in Pre-Orders15:32 - Marketing Strategies for the Product18:23 - Overcoming Logistics Challenges for European Expansion22:24 - Expanding Reach and Finding New Customers25:49 - Collaborating with Influencers and Sponsoring Athletes31:43 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs34:15 - Future Plans: What's Next in the Next 12 to 18 Months?35:53 - Where to Connect with Taylor and Learn More About Premier Spike

Learn how Samantha Kozuch built a thriving eCommerce brand simply by solving problems for her audience. Follow Samantha: https://www.instagram.com/samanthakozuch/  Samantha’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-mindset-and-manicures-with-samantha-kozuch/id1697694007  Learn more about the Maniscripting Journal: https://maniscripting.com/  Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter   Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Samantha Kozuch 01:49 - Samantha’s eCommerce Journey 07:38 - Building Confidence for the Launch of Her First Product 11:02 - The Appeal of Physical Products over Digital 14:04 - The Development Journey of Samantha's Journal 17:32 - Dealing with Product Delays 20:19 - Establishing Relationships with Manufacturers 23:37 - Multi-Channel Marketing Strategies for the Product 28:23 - Harnessing the Power of Affiliate Marketing 31:58 - Future Plans: Brand Direction and Personal Involvement 35:34 - Dynamics of Working with a Fiancé as a Business Partner 38:24 - Business Advice from Samantha 40:21 - Where to Connect with Samantha Online

When it comes to product sourcing, there is a growing demand within the eCommerce community for alternatives to China. Thankfully, the options are growing quickly.  In this episode, we’re joined by sourcing expert Yulia Blinova to discuss what those options are and how to best navigate them. Learn more about Zignify: https://zignify.net/  Get our weekly eCom Memo: https://brandbuilderuni.com/newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Yulia Blinova 01:09 - Yulia’s Background in Sourcing and eCommerce 06:39 - The Concept of a Hybrid Supply Chain 08:01 - Potential Competitors to China in Global Manufacturing 11:00 - Infrastructure Challenges in Alternative Sourcing Locations 16:05 - Comparing Sourcing Costs: Turkey vs. China 18:17 - Initiating Contact and Finding Quality Suppliers Beyond Alibaba 23:53 - How Many Manufacturers to Approach for Sourcing Worldwide 31:25 - Expert Insights on Balancing Quality and Price in Sourcing 33:16 - Considerations for Annual Contracts with Manufacturers 36:42 - Where to Learn More About Yulia and Zignify

Social commerce is fast developing into a sales channel that cannot be ignored by eCommerce brands. With TikTok Shop in particular picking up a lot of speed, the opportunities to reach new audiences are huge. So, to talk through this key topic we invited Hannah Wu from live shopping marketplace Lollishop and Stu Conroy from eCommerce agency Highlands. We talked about: What opportunities does TikTok Shop presentWill live shopping catch on?How to work with influencersAnd much more Enjoy! Episode Links Learn more about LollishopLearn more about Highlands Additional Resources Get our weekly eCom Memo Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guests: Hannah Wu and Stuart Conroy 01:28 - Stu's eCommerce Background 02:31 - Hannah's eCommerce Journey 03:38 - Explaining Social Commerce 05:06 - The Potential of Social Commerce in Western Markets 08:26 - Exploring TikTok Shop Functionality 10:24 - Collaboration Dynamics with Creators on TikTok 18:13 - TikTok Direct Purchases 21:09 - Any Other Recommended Social Commerce Platform? 22:18 - Staying on Top of Trends in Social Commerce 25:22 - Live Shopping and Its Dynamics 26:43 - Expanding Globally with Social Commerce 27:44 - Exploring Lollishop and Where to Learn More 30:31 - Insights on Future Trends in Social Commerce 36:48 - Where to Connect with Our Guests

In today’s episode, we welcome back a veteran of the show, Ben Leonard. Ben has just launched his new book ‘Quit Stalling & Build Your Brand’, and we dove into some of the big topics included inside. It charts the journey of his first brand Beast Gear all the way through to 7 figure exit, and walks you through the process of following in his footsteps. Enjoy! Episode Links Buy Quit Stalling & Build Your Brand on Amazon Additional Resources Get our weekly eCom Memo Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Ben Leonard 00:44 - Ben’s Background Story 03:25 - The Journey of Ben's Book07:44 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Eager to Make Money 09:57 - Common Excuses That Hinder Entrepreneurship14:53 - Advice for Busy Individuals Wanting to Start a Business 17:43 - Approach in Developing New Products 22:06 - The Importance of Empathizing with Customers and Solving Their Problems 23:46 - Clarifying Brand, Branding, and Marketing Concepts 25:44 - Understanding eCommerce Cash Conversion Cycles 28:00 - Pitfalls to Avoid When Speeding Up the Cash Cycle 32:02 - Additional Insights about the Book and Where to Find It

Fiona Chan is the founder of Youthforia, a cosmetics brand that specializes in makeup that’s actually good for your skin. Youthforia has been growing like crazy since launching just a couple of years ago and even secured a Mark Cuban investment on Shark Tank recently. In this episode, we talk about: Where the idea for Youthforia came fromThe challenges of cosmetic product developmentHow Fiona got her first sale and continues to grow marketing effortsAnd of course; the Shark Tank experience Episode Links Shop YouthforiaFiona’s LinkedIn Additional Resources Get our weekly eCom Memo Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Fiona Co Chan 00:44 - Fiona’s eCommerce Journey 01:30 - Conceptualizing, Innovating, and Developing Products 04:20 - Challenges of Innovating in an Established Market 05:45 - Collaboration with Manufacturers for New Products 06:43 - Safeguarding Unique Selling Points 07:27 - Establishing Strong Branding Principles 08:53 - Securing the First Sale 09:45 - Leveraging Influencer Marketing 11:32 - Exploring Youthforia’s Marketing Channels 15:39 - Pitching on Shark Tank 19:33 - The Impact of Appearing on Shark Tank 21:04 - Building the Youthforia Team and Operational Insights 21:40 - Navigating Growth Challenges 22:21 - Planning for Future Product Development 23:39 - Closing Insights for Entrepreneurs 24:29 - Where to Connect with Fiona and Explore Youthforia

If you’ve ever lost sleep over the potential of Amazon account suspension, this is the podcast episode for you. In it, we’re joined by Ann Williams from GetUnsuspended. We talked through the most common causes for Amazon seller account issues so you can steer clear of them. We also talked through what to do if your account ever actually gets suspended.  To active accounts and free-flowing Amazon payments! Episode Links Learn more about GetUnsuspended Additional Resources Get our weekly eCom Memo  Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction To Guest: Ann Williams01:51 - How GetUnsuspended Started04:04 - Understanding the Common Causes of Amazon Account Suspensions07:47 - Strategies for Managing Multiple Amazon Accounts09:38 - Issues Related to IP Sharing13:25 - Things To Do To Get Your Account Restored18:35 - Recognizing Cases Where Account Recovery May Be Unattainable19:43 - How Amazon Handles Suspensions and Tips To Manage Them22:25 - Get Unsuspended Services and Packages

Todd Goldstein founded Whoa Dough just a few short years ago and now sells millions of healthy snack bars per year. What started with a vision to create a healthy snack he and his kids can enjoy has turned into a fast-growing national brand. In this interview, we dove into exactly how he’s done it and talked about product development, branding, marketing, building teams, staying lean, and a whole lot more. Enjoy! Episode Links Buy some Whoa DoughConnect with Todd on LinkedIn Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Todd Goldstein00:40 - Todd’s Background01:09 - Story Behind Whoa Dough03:05 - Crafting a Gluten-Free Product07:44 - Obtaining Food Product Certifications09:59 - Whoa Dough Branding13:05 - Getting the First Sale15:54 - Whoa Dough Growth and Expansion17:46 - Building the Team19:48 - Raising Capital to Fuel Accelerated Growth20:46 - Finding a Product Manufacturer22:39 - Other Challenges that Whoa Dough Faced25:52 - Business Outlook for Whoa Dough27:21 - Final Advice For Entrepreneurs 28:02 - Where to Find Whoa Dough and Todd

International expansion presents a lot of opportunity for eCommerce brands to grow revenue without having to grow SKU count. But if you’re not careful it can be a costly exercise and result in missed opportunity. So in this episode of the Brand Builder Show, we talk to Jana Krekic, founder of YLT Translations. Jana and her team have helped over 3000 brands expand internationally and are certified industry experts. In the episode we talked about which marketplaces are worth expanding to (and which aren’t!), best practices for expansion, and what the future might hold for the global opportunity. Enjoy! Episode Links Find out more about YLT TranslationsConnect with Jana on LinkedIn Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Jana Krekic 00:54 - Jana’s Background 02:17 - Building and Expanding a Team 06:05 - Venturing into the European Market 13:44 - The Pitfalls of Using Google-Translated Content for Listings 19:55 - Effective Management of PPC Campaigns in Europe 22:07 - Translating Images for International Markets 25:07 - Translating Listings for Marketplaces Beyond Europe 31:53 - Insights into the Future of E-commerce, Globally and Internationally 34:25 - Strategies for Rolling Out Products in European Markets 37:03 - Leveraging Tax and Shipping Services38:11 - Jana’s Recommended eCommerce Services 39:44 - Exploring YLT Translations and How to Connect with Them

In this week’s episode of the Brand Builder Show, we’re joined by Owais Amin. Owais is the founder of Upscale Valley, a successful Amazon agency working with 50+ clients.  In the episode, he shares the latest strategies that are working for his top-performing clients… Including a super-smart launch strategy you’ve probably never considered! Enjoy! Episode Links Connect with Owais Additional Resources Get our weekly eCom Memo Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Owais Amin00:56 - Owais Amin's Background 05:21 - Exploring Product Research and Launch Strategies 11:49 - Levels of Product Differentiation 17:16 - Product Launch Strategy 23:29 - Maximizing Ranking Through Keyword Optimization 26:45 - Navigating Pricing Strategies 34:26 - Changes in Amazon Review 36:05 - Insights into Product Design and Development 42:47 - Predictions for the Next 12 to 24 Months in the Amazon Industry and How to Prepare for Success 48:20 - Connect with Owais Amin and Upscale Valley

There are three core metrics that define success on Amazon: Impressions…Clicks……and conversions If you can master driving all three, you can master selling on Amazon. In this week’s episode of the Brand Builder Show, we’re joined by Daniela Bolzmann from Mindful Goods. Daniela is a sharp operator who runs her own brand while also working with a number of high-profile, successful clients. As you’ll hear in this episode, she talks a lot of sense and shares a lot of wisdom. Enjoy! Episode Links Check out Mindful Goods Additional Resources Get our free weekly eCom Memo Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Daniela Bolzmann 01:49 - Daniela’s Background and eCommerce Journey04:53 - Challenges in a Consumable Business Setup 06:04 - Managing Business in the States from Abroad 07:33 - Dealing with Overwhelm and Prioritization 11:48 - Amazon’s New Review Badge Impact 15:48 - Image Tag Testing and Amazon Experiments 16:25 - Amazon Creator Program 18:22 - Audit Listing Process 21:02 - SEO Optimization 22:21 - Testing Main Image 25:13 - Frequency of Changes and Over-Optimization 29:31 - Content Optimization and User-Generated Content 31:34 - Enhancing Clicks on Amazon Listings 33:30 - Common A+ Content Mistake and Strategy 37:13 - Daniela’s Inspirational Brands 39:25 - Where to Find Daniela and Mindful Goods

As the eCommerce industry grows, so does the range of different sales channels you can explore. But our guest on this week’s podcast episode believes you shouldn’t discount more traditional channels when looking to grow your business. Maureen Mwangi is a ‘big box’ retail expert and helps her clients get stocked on some of the biggest retail chains in the US. In this episode, I quizzed her about when a brand is ready for retail, how to get it ready, and how to create agreements with retail buyers that are a win/win.  Enjoy! Episode Links Subscribe to Maureen’s Podcast Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Maureen Mwangi 01:20 - Maureen’s Background 05:14 - Can Smaller E-commerce Brands Enter Retail? 07:27 - Challenges in Retail Entry 10:42 - Launching with Retail as the First Channel: Is It Advisable? 11:26 - Crafting Retail Contracts and Protecting Brand Interests 15:49 - The Role of Product Packaging in Retail Success 19:31 - How to Start Connecting with Retailers 22:08 - Pricing Considerations for Retail 25:09 - A Case Study: An E-commerce Business's Journey into Retail 28:34 - Where to Find Maureen

Amazon advertising is an ever-evolving platform that saves its best success for those who continue to evolve their learning at the same pace. In this week’s episode of the Brand Builder Show, we’re joined by advertising expert Sammy Akthar. Sammy has run his own brands and also manages a large number of high-volume brands and as such is on the cutting edge of what is working right now. In the episode, we talked about the latest strategies he’s testing including a unique approach to organic ranking through geo-targeting. Find out all about it in this week’s episode! Episode Links Follow Sammy on YouTube Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Sammy Akthar00:55 - Sammy’s Background02:01 - The Path to Agency Services03:25 - Crafting a Coffee Brand05:09 - Evolution of Amazon09:02 - Defining Success: KPIs in Amazon Advertising Assessment14:01 - Unlocking Conversion Benefits through Q&A15:20 - Campaign Structure: Strategies for Optimization20:07 - Geolocation's Role in Ranking Dynamics24:10 - Strategies To Maximize ROI on Amazon26:53 - Amazon's Changing Ecosystem30:49 - Key Advice from Sammy31:30 - Explore Sammy’s Podcast

If you’ve ever sold products on Amazon there’s a good chance you’re owed money. Why? Because every day Amazon accidentally loses or damages products in the midst of its gigantic fulfilment operation, but doesn’t always reimburse you for them. That’s why we asked reimbursement specialist Lee Loree from Carbon6 to come on the Brand Builder Show this week. He talks us through the main reasons you might be owed money… But more importantly how you can claim it back so it goes on your P&L - not Jeff’s! Enjoy! Episode Links Get a free account audit with Seller Investigators Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Lee Loree 00:46 - Lee’s Background 01:47 - Acquisition of Seller Investigators by Carbon6 02:53 - Exploring the Causes of Losses for Amazon Sellers 08:37 - Understanding Statutes of Limitations for Reimbursements 10:27 - Seller Investigators' Approach: Synergy of Automated and Manual Processes16:50 - Collaboration between Amazon and Seller Investigators 18:16 - Scope of Reimbursement Amounts and Timelines 21:43 - Preventive Measures for Sellers to Avoid Losses 24:06 - Advantages of Engaging Services from Seller Investigators 26:47 - Building a Strong and Effective Team 30:35 - Factors Driving Business Growth 33:45 - Connecting with Lee and Finding Seller Investigators

Facebook ads have changed more than the weather in recent years, yet there are eCommerce brands that continue to drive incredible growth by mastering the platform. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Nigel Thomas who is the CEO of Alpha Inbound, an agency working with 7 and 8-figure DTC brands.  In the episode, we talked about the three key levers that impact ad performance: creatives, landing pages, and increasing average order value. Enjoy! Episode Links Find Nigel on LinkedIn Additional Resources Get our weekly Brand Builder Newsletter Talking Points 00:00 - Introduction to Guest: Nigel Thomas 01:53 - Nigel’s Background 09:28 - Dynamics of Facebook Advertising 16:49 - Importance of Having Good Creatives 20:43 - Utilizing User Generated Content as Creative 25:43 - How to Combat the Rise of Advertising Costs 27:17 - Optimizing Landing Page For Conversion 29:44 - Increasing Average Order Value 32:29 - Other Key Metrics That Make Up A Successful Advertising Funnel 35:02 - Return on Ad Spend vs Marketing Efficiency Ratio 39:08 - Improving Retention and Increasing Customer Lifetime Value 42:49 - How to Connect with Nigel