The Ultimate Guide to Building a Profitable Shopify Store for Amazon Sellers with Kurt Elster

Mar 18, 2025

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Kurt Elster, he is currently helping Shopify Plus merchants like HOONIGAN make more money at his Shopify Partner agency, Ethercycle. He is hosting a podcast with over two million downloads: The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. He is developing public Shopify apps. And he is investing, advising, or both with: Govalo, PostPilot, and other select clients and P.E. firms.

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> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn….

Transitioning from Amazon to Shopify for e-commerce sales.
Differences in customer acquisition strategies between Amazon and Shopify.
Importance of building an email list for customer engagement and retention.
Utilizing Google Shopping for driving traffic to Shopify stores.
Risks associated with relying solely on Amazon for sales.
The significance of creating valuable content for SEO and customer trust.
Exploring podcast advertising as a marketing channel.
Strategies for establishing an online presence with a basic Shopify store.
The role of Shopify Collective in expanding product offerings through collaboration.
Emphasizing a long-term mindset and experimentation in e-commerce success.

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Kurt Elster, a seasoned Shopify expert and host of the Unofficial Shopify Podcast. Kurt shares his journey from retail arbitrage to becoming a Shopify specialist, offering valuable insights for Amazon brands transitioning to Shopify. Key strategies discussed include the importance of email marketing, leveraging Google Shopping, and utilizing podcast advertising to drive traffic. Kurt emphasizes the need for a long-term approach, focusing on content creation and customer engagement to build a successful Shopify store. This episode is a must-listen for business owners aiming to scale their e-commerce operations.

Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:

1. Secure Your Brand’s Digital Presence Early - Reserve your domain and variations as soon as you file for a trademark to prevent future challenges in securing your desired online identity. This simple step avoids costly setbacks and protects your brand's online presence from the start.

2. Prioritize Consistent Traffic Generation - Transitioning to Shopify means proactively attracting customers. Focus on creating a robust traffic generation strategy, leveraging a combination of paid ads, SEO, and Google Shopping listings to draw in visitors and increase sales.

3. Build and Engage Your Audience Through Email Marketing - Begin growing your email list early, as this channel is vital for nurturing customer relationships and boosting repeat sales. Set up automated emails like welcome sequences and cart abandonment reminders, and prioritize plain-text formats for a personal touch.

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This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures.&n...