Winning With Shopify

In this episode Nick sits down with Lorna Bruce, co-founder of The Bean Shop, to talk about building a coffee brand that customers genuinely love - and how they’ve grown a balanced business across Shopify, retail, and wholesale!From selling coffee “over the baby gate” during COVID to building an online store that keeps growing, Lorna shares what actually drives retention: exceptional customer service, strong brand consistency, and email marketing that feels human.In this episode, we cover: • The Bean Shop’s origin story (from art school to coffee roasters) • Why they supply cafés instead of competing with them • How COVID accelerated online coffee sales, and what sustained growth after • Bringing in-person customer experience to Shopify (chat + tone + loyalty) • Why email marketing is the retention engine (especially with subscriptions) • The real-life chaos of business ownership: firefighting + prioritising • Growth plans: new eco roaster + improving ops and capacityMentioned in this episode: • The Bean Shop: thebeanshop.co.uk • Instagram: @thebeanshopuk • Want to sponsor the show or get involved? hello@winningwithshopify.com • Join the Growth Vault waiting list (Sept 1 launch): wwspodcast.comEXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:Winning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠⁠⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopify⁠⁠Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more - all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at ⁠⁠https://taxcloud.com/summer/⁠⁠Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: ⁠⁠https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcamp⁠⁠Check out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! ⁠⁠https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/⁠⁠Key Takeaways:00:14 – Supplying Cafés: A Smart Coffee Business Strategy00:34 – Starting the Coffee Business Journey00:46 – Exceptional Customer Service in Action01:37 – The Bean Shop Origin Story03:20 – How a Retail Background Shapes Business Success04:22 – Work for Others First: Learning Before Owning05:58 – The Challenge of Digital Customer Connection06:18 – Using Chatbots Without Losing Brand Voice07:31 – What Great Customer Service Really Looks Like08:18 – Embracing the Chaos of Business Ownership10:22 – The E-commerce Journey: From BT to Shopify14:43 – Where the Name “The Bean Shop” Comes From15:11 – Building a Consistent Brand Visual Identity18:38 – Telling Ethical Coffee Sourcing Stories20:17 – Splitting Operations to Support Business Growth22:42 – Maximizing Existing Business Assets29:27 – Giving Free Coffee with Equipment Sales33:28 – The Owner’s Role: Firefighting vs Prioritising35:01 – What’s Next: Growth Plans & a New Eco RoasterFollow us on socials:https://www.instagram.com/winningwithshopifypodcast/https://www.tiktok.com/@winningwithshopifyhttps://www.youtube.com/@winningwithshopifyJoin our newsletter: https://wwspodcast.com/Proudly powered by Spec Digital, a world class SEO Agency and PPC AgencyBecome a sponsor: https://wwspodcast.com/pages/sponsorship

In this episode, we skip the usual news roundup and dive deep into one topic ecommerce brands struggle with more than they realise: branding.This is about branding that works, not branding that just looks good.We break down real-world branding lessons from brands like Allbirds, Gymshark, and Who Gives A Crap, and explain why effective brand positioning drives conversion, retention, and long-term growth on Shopify.What we cover in this episode:• Why branding should be built for effectiveness, not personal preference• How standout brands win by going against the category norm• The difference between scalable branding and trendy design• Why consistency beats cleverness every time• How brand trust directly impacts conversion rate and repeat purchase• Why changing your logo “to keep it fresh” usually hurts growth• How to define what your brand stands for — and what it stands againstWe also walk through:• Choosing colour palettes with intention (not trends)• Why logos should be recognisable, not descriptive• How typography and tone of voice shape trust• Why every brand needs a clear “brand bible” before scalingThis episode also feeds into what we’re building for 2026 - the newly named The Unofficial Shopify Growth Vault, a central hub of practical Shopify growth content launching September 2026.If you run a Shopify store, ecommerce brand, or agency, this episode will help you rethink branding as a growth lever, not a design exercise.👉 Don’t forget to sign up for the Shopify Growth Vault 2026, launching 1st SeptemberVisit: ⁠⁠https://wwspodcast.com/pages/shopify-summit-2026Follow us on socials:⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/winningwithshopifypodcast⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@winningwithshopify⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@winningwithshopifyJoin our newsletter: ⁠⁠https://wwspodcast.com/⁠⁠Proudly powered by Spec Digital, a world class SEO Agency and PPC AgencyBecome a podcast sponsor: ⁠⁠https://wwspodcast.com/pages/sponsorship⁠⁠

In this episode, we break down what ecommerce brands should be focusing on right now - from email marketing and customer loyalty, to TikTok shifts, brand visibility, and platform updates that could impact growth in 2026.Topics covered:• Why email remains one of the most underused revenue channels• 4.6 billion global email users - and why retention matters more than acquisition• The risks of over-reliance on Google Ads and paid traffic• How to build a more resilient ecommerce business using existing customers• TikTok’s US algorithm split and what it means for brands and advertisers• Why change creates opportunity for marketers who move quicklyPlatform & partner updates:• Yoast’s new Site Kit by Google integration (WordPress)• Tracking brand visibility in Google Gemini with Yoast AI Brand Insights• Agentic commerce and why it matters as AI search evolves• Sales tax changes for SaaS and cloud services in the US (via TaxCloud)Quivia (quick facts from the episode):• Average UK child spends 92 minutes per day on YouTube• 64% of the world’s population uses social media• TikTok was the most downloaded app of 2025If you run a Shopify store, ecommerce brand, or digital agency, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you prioritise channels, reduce risk, and build long-term growth.👉 Don’t forget to sign up for the Shopify Summit 2026, launching 1st SeptemberVisit: ⁠wwspodcast.com⁠ → Shopify Summit 2026Follow us on socials:⁠https://www.instagram.com/winningwithshopifypodcasthttps://www.tiktok.com/@winningwithshopify⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@winningwithshopify⁠Join our newsletter: ⁠https://wwspodcast.com/⁠Proudly powered by Spec Digital, a world class SEO Agency and PPC AgencyBecome a sponsor: ⁠https://wwspodcast.com/pages/sponsorship⁠

Most Shopify brands think they’re data-driven… until they compare Shopify vs GA4 vs ad platform numbers and realise nothing matches.In this episode of Winning With Shopify, Nick sits down with Tom Armfelt (ex–TK Maxx eCommerce + analytics) to break down the hidden tracking issues, why “best practice” can slow you down, and the metrics that actually matter when you want profitable growth.You’ll learn how enterprise teams (like TK Maxx) approached fast experimentation, why A/B tests often fail in the real world, and how to simplify your Shopify stack without losing performance - while focusing on powerful metrics like Revenue Per Visitor (RPV) and Profit Per User (PPU).What you’ll learn in this episode:Why your tracking can look “correct” but still be wrong (GA4 dashboards ≠ truth)The biggest Shopify analytics mistakes (and how to fix funnel consistency)Why RPV beats conversion rate as a growth KPIHow PPU changes your ad strategy (and reveals what’s truly profitable)The real reason A/B testing often isn’t reliableHow app overload silently slows sites + muddies your dataWhy buying your own product reveals UX problems instantlyLessons from TK Maxx: product turnover, SEO constraints, and moving faster at scale🎟️ Shopify Summit — Sept 1, 2026: Visit www.wwspodcast.com to join the newsletter for updates, speaker teasers, and sponsor opportunities.📩 Want to sponsor an episode or get involved? Email: hello@winningwithshopify.comEXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more - all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at ⁠⁠https://taxcloud.com/summer/⁠⁠Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: ⁠⁠https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcamp⁠⁠Winning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠⁠⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopify⁠⁠Check out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! ⁠⁠https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/⁠⁠Key Takeaways:00:02 – Beyond E-commerce Best Practices03:02 – TK Maxx’s E-commerce Journey Explained05:48 – Startup Agility vs Corporate Processes06:45 – TK Maxx: A Startup With Enterprise Backing08:10 – Corporate Budgets & Idea Socialization09:42 – How to Move Faster in E-commerce10:15 – The Unique TK Maxx Customer Buying Cycle10:42 – SEO Strategy: Removing Google URLs11:32 – Aligning SEO, PR & Merchandising12:17 – Organizational Knowledge Retention Challenges15:09 – Leveling the E-commerce Playing Field16:49 – Shopify App Overload Pitfalls17:16 – Hidden Website Data Layers & Plugins19:37 – Using AI for E-commerce Data Integration20:17 – The Challenges of Reliable A/B Testing22:09 – Buy Your Own Product: See the Customer View26:03 – Implementing Product Reviews Effectively30:29 – Revenue Per Visitor (RPV) Explained31:43 – Profit Per User (PPU) for Shopify Stores38:17 – Homepage vs Product Page Landing StrategyFollow us on socials:https://www.instagram.com/winningwithshopifypodcast/https://www.tiktok.com/@winningwithshopifyhttps://www.youtube.com/@winningwithshopifyJoin our newsletter: https://wwspodcast.com/Proudly powered by Spec Digital, a world class SEO Agency and PPC AgencyBecome a sponsor: https://wwspodcast.com/pages/sponsorship

In this episode of Tuesday Tea Break Talks, we announce one of the biggest projects we’ve ever launched - the unofficial Shopify Summit 2026.Our goal is simple but ambitious: to create the largest collection of Shopify-focused content ever released on a single day - completely free for merchants worldwide.This episode breaks down:• Why most ecommerce conferences fail to deliver real value• How the Shopify Summit will work differently (fast, practical, on-demand)• Our goal to build the world’s biggest Shopify content library• How merchants, brands, agencies and app founders can get involvedWe also share the full structure of the summit, including seven dedicated stages:• Brand stories• Marketing & sales growth• Customer retention & lifetime value• Finance & back office• Warehouse & logistics• HR & legal• Shopify apps showcaseEvery stage is designed to give Shopify merchants practical, actionable insights - without the fluff.Plus, we cover key updates from:• Yoast — AI brand visibility tracking and Gemini mentions• Shopify — new category-level return insights to reduce refundsUseful links mentioned in this episode:• Site Kit by Google integration now available for all Yoast customers (WordPress only) https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-january-7-2026/• New Track Brand Visibility in Gemini with Yoast AI Brand Insights https://yoast.com/yoast-ai-brand-insights-january-13-2026/• My latest Search Engine Journal article on agentic commerce and UCP (https://www.searchenginejournal.com/agentic-commerce-what-seos-need-to-consider-acp-ucp/563503/)If you run a Shopify store or ecommerce brand, this episode explains why the Shopify Summit 2026 could become the most valuable free learning resource in the industry.📅 Launching September 1st, 2026🎟️ Free to attend👉 Sign up now at wwspodcast.com and click Shopify Summit 2026

What happens when you combine ethical production, parent-to-parent word of mouth, insanely fast delivery, and simple, customer-first SEO?You build a Shopify brand that’s doubling year on year!In this episode, Nick sits down with Liam Charlton, founder of Ethical Schoolwear - a Shopify store changing the school uniform game with better quality, better ethics, and a surprisingly powerful growth engine: the school playground.We cover:• How Ethical Schoolwear started (and why ethics became the mission)• The “playground marketplace” and how word of mouth really works• Why fast delivery creates 5-star reviews (and repeat customers)• The simple SEO approach that drives sales • What products sell best• How to scale without losing what makes the brand special• Plus: a teaser for the biggest online Shopify Summit launching September 2026Visit Ethical Schoolwear: ethicalschoolwear.comEXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: ⁠https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcamp⁠Winning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopify⁠Check out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! ⁠https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/⁠Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more — all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at ⁠https://taxcloud.com/summer/⁠Key Takeaways:00:00 – Shopify’s CEO on Doing Good (and Why It Matters)02:28 – Meet the Founder of Ethical Schoolwear08:49 – Why Buying a Farm in Wales Beat Selling the Business13:35 – The Reality of Multiple Suppliers in School Uniform17:53 – Rethinking the School Uniform Industry23:20 – Weight Loss, Capsules & Consumer Trust26:25 – “Uber for Dads”: The Best Business Lesson Learned32:25 – Tesla, Trustpilot & the Power of Brand Reputation37:23 – School Uniforms: Ethics, Scale & Impact41:17 – The Biggest Challenges Facing the Business43:29 – One Lesson Every Founder Learns the Hard Way46:07 – How to Double Your Business in One Year

We’re kicking off 2026 by breaking down how shopping habits are changing, what the latest Shopify and BFCM data tells us, and where ecommerce brands should focus this year.In this episode:• Ecommerce trends shaping 2026• AI’s real impact on Shopify, CRO and content creation• UK Black Friday visibility winners and retail shake-ups• Why authenticity, reviews and UGC still drive conversions• The return of subscriptions (done smarter)• Why Boxing Day is still a critical sales moment• The biggest marketing blind spots heading into 2026Key stats we cover:• Shopify BFCM hit $14.6B (+27% YoY)• 81M+ shoppers bought from Shopify brands• 39% YoY growth in Shop Pay• Smartphones now drive 77%+ of retail site traffic• Nearly 40% of Gen Z use TikTok or Instagram instead of GoogleQuivia – test your ecommerce knowledge:• What % of holiday shoppers planned to shop Boxing Day sales?• Did “Black Friday” search volume rise or fall YoY? • What % of shoppers use Google or YouTube to shop?• True or false: Over half of users leave if a site takes more than 3 seconds to load?If you’re responsible for Shopify growth, ecommerce marketing or CRO, this episode will help you reset and refocus for 2026.

New year, fresh opportunities, and a reality check for ecommerce brands heading into 2026.This week, we break down the shifts that actually matter: AI-driven personalisation that’s now powering real-time selling, shopping that’s happening everywhere (from TikTok to AI assistants), and why first-party data is becoming the backbone of growth as privacy tightens.We also unpack the biggest Q4 lesson: brands cutting marketing to “save money” aren’t fixing the real problem - tracking and performance are.Add in faster mobile expectations, Gen Z searching on social instead of Google, and what Shopify’s latest trends signal for 2026 - and you’ve got a short, sharp reset for the year ahead.Grab a drink and join us for a Tea Break designed to spark smarter decisions.

Happy 2026, everyone! We’re kicking off the first episode of the year with a clear-eyed look at what’s coming next for marketers, founders, and growth teams. In this episode, Nick uncovers the three blind spots quietly killing growth, he runs through the biggest marketing shifts coming in 2026.Nick also shares an optimistic outlook on AI, regulation, economic pressure - and why tough times always produce better businesses.We wrap up the episode with one big focus for 2026: getting customers to come back. Plus a surprising lesson from Tupperware - a brand that scaled without traditional marketing.Grab a tea and let’s set the tone for the year ahead☕️

Get yourself a festive cuppa (or brandy and mince pie!) and take a break as we wind down for Christmas.This episode is the perfect end-of-year listen as we unwrap the biggest moments in ecommerce and marketing.🎁 Fact of the Week: Shopify BFCMBlack Friday Cyber Monday landed like an early Christmas present for Shopify merchants.From record-breaking sales to standout shopping behaviours across the globe, this year’s BFCM numbers tell a powerful story about how consumers shopped in 2024, and what brands should be preparing for next.We won’t spoil all the stats… but let’s just say it was a very merry BFCM.Big Topics: Looking Ahead to 2026As the year winds down, we’re turning our attention to what’s coming next.In this episode, we chat through the marketing trends set to dominate 2025, including:How AI is becoming part of everyday marketing lifeWhy video (especially short-form) is still topping wish listsThe growing importance of data-driven decisions for better resultsAgency Updates:Before we sign off for the holidays, we’re sharing a little festive teaser:We’ll be hosting a January webinar (date TBC) with TaxCloud & Seguno - more details coming in the new year !Perfect listening while wrapping presents or planning for the new year.