ASOM Pod EP37: The Rise and Fall of Subscription Models in eCommerce
In this episode of The ASOM Pod, hosts John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), Bryan McDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride), and Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane) dive deep into the evolution of subscription-based business models in e-commerce. From viral success stories to spectacular failures, they analyze what makes—or breaks—a subscription brand.
The conversation explores major players like HelloFresh, BarkBox, Dollar Shave Club, and FabFitFun, breaking down key factors such as customer retention, churn management, and the importance of transparency in building long-term loyalty. They also discuss the operational and logistical hurdles of running a subscription business, from supply chain complexities to evolving consumer expectations.
What You’ll Learn:
- The key challenges subscription brands face and how to overcome them
- How community building and transparency drive customer retention
- Why some brands (like Dollar Shave Club) scaled successfully while others (like Juicero) failed
- What the future holds for subscription models in a changing e-commerce landscape
Whether you’re an eCommerce founder, marketer, or just a subscription box enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights and lessons.
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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!
Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/
Nacelle — Transform your eCommerce store with AI-powered product recommendations that understand your customers’ actual behaviors, not just their purchases. Learn more at https://www.nacelle.com
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00:00 Teaser Trailer
00:55 The Vegan Food Debate
03:00 Welcome to The ASOM Pod
05:39 Subscription Trends and Challenges
11:04 The Rise and Fall of Subscription Brands
20:56 HelloFresh: Adapting to Market Changes
26:16 BarkBox: Expanding Through Treats
30:22 Dollar Shave Club: From Viral Success to Corporate
33:42 Shaving Habits and Preferences
34:58 The Juicero Debacle
39:10 FabFitFun's Rise and Challenges
43:50 The Importance of Customer Retention
56:12 Future of Subscription Models
58:22 Guess That Business Game
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Follow Jimmy Kim at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim
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Follow Bryan MacDonald at:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad
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Follow John Roman at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman
Follow Amer Grozdanic at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic
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