Agency Bytes Ep 087 – Peter Kang, Barrel Holdings – Building an Agency Portfolio
In Episode 087 of Agency Bytes, I had an inspiring conversation with Peter Kang, co-founder and chairman of Barrel Holdings. Peter shared his journey of building Barrel, a standout eCommerce agency specializing in Shopify, and how his vision evolved into creating multiple specialized agencies under the Barrel Holdings umbrella.
We dove into the challenges and rewards of growing an agency, the strategic decisions that shaped his path, and what it’s like to step back from daily operations to focus on the bigger picture. Peter is passionate about investing in the right people and systems to build an ecosystem of agency services that truly thrives and writes about it weekly in his newsletter.
He also opened up about the importance of transparency in communication, their bold Omakase experiment in funnel building, and launching *Agency Habits*, a resource-packed platform for agency operators. Throughout our chat, Peter emphasized the power of relationships in business and the fulfillment that comes from pursuing work you’re truly passionate about.
This episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration—don’t miss it!
Key Takeaways
• Peter Kang co-founded Barrel in 2006 with a focus on digital transformation.
• The agency evolved to specialize in e-commerce, particularly Shopify.
• Barrel Holdings was created to manage multiple agencies under one umbrella.
• Transparency in communication has been a core value for Peter and his team.
• The Omakase experiment allowed clients to receive branding for free, building a portfolio.
• Separate agencies allow for tailored staffing and focused strategies.
• Agency Habits aims to share resources and insights among agency operators.
• Building relationships is crucial for long-term success in business.
• The importance of passion-driven work over purely strategic planning.
• Peter emphasizes the need for a succession plan in agency leadership.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites and Peter Kang
05:10 Focusing on E-commerce and Shopify
10:16 The Strategy Behind Separate Agencies
14:35 The Importance of Transparency in Communication
16:20 The Omakase Experiment: A Bold Approach
23:01 Building a Diverse Agency Portfolio
24:56 Launching Agency Habits: A New Venture
28:41 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights
Peter Kang is co-founder and Chairman of Barrel Holdings, a portfolio of digital agency businesses that includes Barrel, a leading Shopify agency, and BX Studio, a leading Webflow agency. Peter enjoys working closely with agency leaders both in and outside of Barrel Holdings, being a sounding board and sharing lessons learned from years of operating agency businesses.
Contact Peter at Barrel Holdings, his personal website, or on Agency Habits.