The Boring Ecom Podcast

Sign up for ⁠our newsletter⁠ to get access to our template for prompts and to download the payback model template from last weeks episode. Love 'em or hate 'em, pop-ups are the workhorses of ecommerce list building—but most brands are doing them dead wrong. In this no-BS conversation, Shaan Arora (founder of Alia) reveals why your mystery discount probably sucks, when to reveal your offer, and how to stop pissing off customers who already gave you their email. Richie and Joe dig into the numbers that actually matter, the perfect timing to display your pop-up, and why smart brands are building personalized pop-up experiences for different traffic sources. This episode is packed with actionable tactics that could easily double your list growth overnight.   TIMESTAMPS (01:28) Introduction: Shaan & Alia (03:45) Pop Up Hacks (05:51) Email and SMS Strategies  (07:44) Conversion Rates and Offers  (10:26) Testing and Metrics  (13:07) Pop Up Best Practices (18:58) Concerns About Pop-Ups  (21:17) Influencer-Specific Pop-Ups  (23:50) Opt in Rate Expectations (29:19) How to Filter Pop-Ups  (31:02) Data and Testing Insights  (32:31) Conclusion and Final Thoughts   Follow Shaan https://x.com/iamshaanarora   Special thanks to our mini-series sponsor Alia.   Follow Richie (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) and Joe (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Sign up for ⁠our newsletter⁠ to get access to our template for prompts and to download the payback model template from the last episode. Is AI really going to transform e-commerce, or is it just another overhyped tech trend? DTC Jacob joins Richie and Joe to share why he believes we're on the cusp of an 'e-commerce renaissance' powered by AI. Drawing from his experience as Director of AI at Common Thread Collective, Jacob delivers practical advice on how to start implementing AI in your business today. You'll discover which AI models work best for different tasks, how to craft effective prompts that deliver consistent results, and the three most impactful AI workflows Jacob has seen transform e-commerce operations. Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, this episode provides the strategic roadmap you need to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape. TIMESTAMPS (02:48) Introduction  (04:00) Jacob's Journey into AI and E-commerce  (06:30) How AI changes inventory management  (15:45) Exploring Different AI Models  (21:05) Practical Uses of AI for E-commerce Operators  (32:42) Future Organizational Structures with AI  (34:42) Personalized AI Models for Employees  (39:00) Practical AI Applications and Work Flows in Business  (44:36) Advanced AI Copywriting Techniques  (47:00) Effective Prompt Engineering  (56:09) Conclusion and Contact Information Follow Jacob ⁠https://x.com/dtcjacob⁠ Thank you to our sponsors ⁠⁠AfterSell⁠⁠  ⁠⁠Parker⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Rivo⁠ ⁠⁠Postscript⁠ Follow Richie (⁠⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠) and Joe (⁠⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Sign up for our newsletter to download the payback model template. Ever wonder why some e-commerce brands crush it while others bleed money? In this kickoff to their miniseries with Alia, Richie and Joe break down the exact financial model they use to evaluate business health. No fancy MBA required - just real talk about unit economics, customer retention, and how to know if your business actually makes money. Plus, they share the spreadsheet template they use with their own brands. Timestamps (01:24) Welcome & Introducing Alia  (03:56) Key Metrics: MER and CAC to LTV (05:46) Model Walkthrough: Inputs and Assumptions (13:34) Retention Curves and Payback Periods (25:50) Advanced Strategies & Applications (29:08) Conclusion and Contact Information Special thanks to our mini-series sponsor Alia. Follow Richie (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) and Joe (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

The M&A market is heating the f*ck up, and Drew Fallon is here to tell you exactly what it means for your brand. After a 3-4 year "desert" in e-commerce acquisitions, big deals are dropping again - but who's going to win? Drew explains why high AOV products are crushing it (hint: getting $200 every 8 months beats $50 monthly subscriptions), why most brands should aim for $10-40M in revenue with 10-20% profit, and the psychology behind why founders ruin good businesses by trying to grow too fast. If you want practical advice on building a sellable brand without the startup fairytale BS, this episode delivers. Timestamps (02:44) Intro: Drew Fallon (03:50) Celsius Acquisition of Alani Nu (05:13) M&A Trends and Market Analysis (08:05) Private Equity and Venture Capital Insights (13:12) Debt Markets and Lending Trends  (16:25) Brand Performance and Customer Acquisition (18:44) Retention Strategy Deep Dive  (22:55) Customer Insights and Expectations  (29:00) High AOV Products and Market Trends  (30:36) Building a Successful Brand  (34:39) Advice for Bootstrapped Brands  (38:20) Networking and Market Awareness  (40:35) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow Drew https://x.com/drewfallon12 Thank you to our sponsors ⁠AfterSell⁠  ⁠Parker⁠ ⁠Rivo ⁠Postscript Follow Richie (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) and Joe (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Join Jeremy Allen, founder of EcomCPA and an expert in e-commerce accounting, as he unpacks the fundamentals that can make or break your online brand. He shares how to set up an effective chart of accounts and emphasizes the importance of accurate inventory management without relying on complex software. Jeremy highlights common accounting pitfalls and offers insights on tax strategies. He also discusses essential metrics every e-commerce brand should track to ensure profitability and the best practices for collaborating with your accountant.

Ever wonder why everyone seems to hate their 3PL? In this episode, Richie and Joe sit down with Alex Pessala from Outerspace Logistics to break down the good, bad, and ugly of 3PL relationships. From pricing traps to tech capabilities that actually matter, Alex keeps it real about what brands should demand from their logistics partners. Whether you're shipping out of your garage or doing eight figures, this conversation will change how you think about fulfillment. Timestamps (02:42) Show Intro & Guest Background (06:50) Understanding 3PL Business Models (11:16) 4PL vs 3PL: Key Differences (14:15) How to Evaluate Potential 3PL Partners (21:40) Breaking Down 3PL Pricing & Hidden Costs (26:00) Managing the 3PL Transition Process (30:59) The Truth About Technology in 3PLs (35:53) Key Performance Metrics & Red Flags (39:26) What to Do When Stuck in a Bad 3PL Relationship (42:57) Tools for Auditing Your 3PL Bills (47:14) Early Warning Signs Your 3PL Isn't Working Out (50:11) How to Be a Better Brand Partner to Your 3PL (53:08) Closing Thoughts & Contact Info Follow Alex ⁠https://x.com/pessala⁠ Thank you to our sponsors ⁠AfterSell⁠  ⁠Parker⁠ ⁠Rivo.io⁠ ⁠postscript.io⁠ Follow Richie (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) and Joe (⁠X⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Ready to simplify your customer acquisition strategy? In this episode, Emma Shanahan from Shopify breaks down everything you need to know about Shop Campaigns - from 2-minute setup to conversion-only pricing. Learn how brands like Caraway drove $1M in sales using this new tool, why you don't need fancy creative or complex pixel integrations, and how to leverage Shop's 150M+ user base. Perfect for busy founders and marketing teams who want better acquisition results with less hassle. Read the Boring Edition from Shopify. TIMESTAMPS (00:19) Welcome and Introduction  (00:59) Emma's Background and Evolution of Shop App  (06:00) What Makes Shop Campaigns Different from Other Ad Platforms  (09:48) Breaking Down the Customer Experience  (14:30) Campaign Performance and Success Stories  (16:24) Customizing Your Brand Presence in Shop  (18:48) How to Get Started with Shop Campaigns  (20:30) Wrap-up and Contact Info Follow Richie (X | LinkedIn) and Joe (X | LinkedIn) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Want to expand beyond just online sales but worried about the tech nightmare? Patrick Joyce, VP of Engineering at Shopify, breaks down how their unified POS system lets you sell anywhere without the typical headaches of managing multiple channels. From pop-ups to permanent retail, learn how brands are driving higher customer lifetime value by connecting their online and offline presence through one seamless platform. Read the Boring Edition from Shopify. TIMESTAMPS (00:37) Intro & Patrick's Background at Shopify  (01:48) What is Shopify POS?  (04:00) Unique Use Cases (06:24) New Features in "Boring Edition" POS Release  (07:45) Turning Anonymous Sales into Relationships  (09:25) Email Marketing Integration and Return Management  (10:28) Channel Expansion Strategy  (14:28) Closing Thoughts and Contact Information   Follow Richie (X | LinkedIn) and Joe (X | LinkedIn) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

In this episode, Shopify's Patrick Millegan breaks down how the new customer accounts can drive real revenue - not just manage orders. Learn tactical tips for using this often-overlooked tool to boost retention, increase AOV, and create personalized experiences that actually convert. Plus, hear the inside story of how Shopify is making customer accounts a genuine growth lever for merchants. Read the Boring Edition from Shopify. Timestamps (00:40) Episode intro and Patrick's background (03:48) What are customer accounts and why do they matter  (06:00) Using customer accounts as a marketing lever  (10:01) Examples from brands using customer accounts  (17:41) How to edit customer accounts  (20:43) Data insights on logged-in customers  (22:30) Closing thoughts and getting in touch Patrick's Notes Connect on LinkedIn, X, or Bluesky Patrick's Business: Keap Athletics Merchant Example: Homage   Follow Richie (X | LinkedIn) and Joe (X | LinkedIn) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation.

Ever wonder why the 'boring' stuff matters most? Emma from Shopify's product marketing team joins Richie and Joe to break down why Shopify's latest update is all about making the mundane magnificent. From unverified returns to offline payments, discover how Shopify is fixing those annoying little problems that keep you up at night. Plus, get the inside scoop on how merchant feedback shapes everything Shopify does. Read the Boring Edition from Shopify. Timestamps (0:38) Emma's Journey: From Brains to Brands  (03:48) Introduction to Shopify Editions  (05:58) The Boring Edition Explained (7:15) Merchant Feedback & Feature Breakdown  (12:12) How to Provide Feedback to Shopify  (14:55) Behind the Scenes at Shopify  (16:32) Where to Find Emma   Follow Richie (X | LinkedIn) and Joe (X | LinkedIn) for more e-commerce insights and to join the conversation. Connect with Emma on LinkedIn.