The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

Megan Smalley didn’t plan to build a powerhouse ecommerce brand. Scarlet & Gold started as a creative side project—until she got laid off.Fast forward 12 years, and Scarlet & Gold is one of the only women-owned businesses licensed for NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) merch on Shopify. This March, their Shopify sales are up 74.2% year-over-year—with over 53.6% of those sales tied to March Madness merchandise.And here’s the kicker: 69.5% of their basketball sales come from just two NIL deals.So how did she do it? What makes NIL merch so powerful? And what’s it really like running an ecommerce business that lives and dies by game-day hype?That’s what we’re talking about today.👉 Read more from Shopify’s newsroom: shopify.com/news/march-madness-entrepreneursLinks & Resources🔗 Check out Scarlet & Gold → scarletandgoldshop.com🔗 Need custom merch? → scarletandgoldcustom.com📌 Sponsors:Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnelsCleverific – Smart order editing for ShopifyAddress Validator – Reduce delivery errors & costs🎧 Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.💡 Want to grow your Shopify store? Work with Kurt:Apply for a strategy session → ethercycle.com/applySee what we’ve built → ethercycle.com/workGet my best Shopify insights → kurtelster.com👥 Join Our Private Facebook Group:Connect with other Shopify entrepreneurs → facebook.com/groups/UnofficialShopifyPodcastThis is a story about ecommerce, sports, and the weird world of NIL merch.It’s about how one Shopify store turned athlete partnerships into real growth.And it’s about what happens when you take a risk—and it actually works.

Jay Myers, co-founder of Bold Commerce and seasoned Shopify expert, joins the discussion to reveal critical mistakes that could be undermining your sales. He elaborates on the crucial role of an optimized checkout process in building trust. The duo discusses the pitfalls of subscription models and offers insights for enhancing product pages to boost add-to-cart rates. They also share tips on improving navigation and emphasize the importance of storytelling in e-commerce, urging merchants to foster genuine customer relationships.

Imagine a world where your worst gas-related fears simply… disappear. No awkward moments, no subtle side-eye glances. Just peace, dignity, and activated carbon filters.That’s the world Collin White and his father set out to create when they launched Tootles, a Shopify store selling flatulence-filtering underwear. At first, people laughed. But then, they listened. Because for people with digestive issues, this isn’t a joke—it’s a solution.Today on The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, Collin joins Kurt to talk about building a business in a deeply niche market, convincing manufacturers that fart-proof underwear is, in fact, a real thing, and finding customers who need his product (but don’t necessarily want to talk about it).In this episode:✔️ How Collin and his dad took Tootles from idea to reality✔️ The science behind fart filtration (yes, it works)✔️ Marketing a taboo product without making it a joke✔️ How Tootles increases AOV with clever bundling✔️ Why subscriptions aren’t always the answer for consumable productsFarts are funny. Business is serious. And somewhere in the middle, there’s a Shopify success story worth listening to.Links & Resources🔗 Tootles Website: WearTootles.com🔗 Kurt’s Shopify Agency: Ethercycle.com🔗 Judge.me (Review App Used by Tootles): Judge.meSponsors🔗 Cleverific: cleverific.com/unofficial🔗 Zipify: zipify.com/KURT🔗 ViralSweep: apps.shopify.com/viralsweep

Ron Shah, Founder of Obvi and a health and wellness mogul, shares his unfiltered journey through entrepreneurship. He discusses the emotional toll of failing brands like Coffee Over Cardio and Paw Rangers and the lessons learned from those experiences. Ron dives into the importance of adaptability in business, revealing how success in one venture doesn’t guarantee another. He also reflects on the value of confronting ego and knowing when to pivot or persist, ultimately showcasing that failures can be just as enlightening as triumphs.

David Lindahl, the founder of Rainier Watch, turned a simple Twitter account into a thriving brand featured in REI. He shares his unexpected journey from posting weather updates about Mount Rainier to launching a successful e-commerce store. Topics include the challenges of scaling the business, navigating wholesale partnerships, and the emotional aspect of building a brand tied to a community. David also discusses the importance of authenticity, managing negative feedback, and the impact of storytelling in creating lasting customer connections.

In this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, Brynn Snyder, co-founder of Slate Flosser, shares how she and her dentist husband tackled one of the most overlooked aspects of health—flossing. Together, they reimagined oral care with a product that could prevent gum disease, heart issues, and more.But flossing is just the beginning. This episode dives into their journey through a $194K Kickstarter campaign, battling knockoffs on Amazon, and scaling a Shopify store with sustainability and innovation at its core.Brynn reveals the challenges and triumphs of creating a physical product, why subscription models are key to recurring revenue, and how staying passionate can make or break your business.Flossing might not seem revolutionary—until you hear this story.Show LinksSlate FlosserKickstarter CampaignSlate Flosser on AmazonSponsorsCleverific: https://cleverific.com/unofficialZipify: http://zipify.com/KURTAddress Validator: https://www.addressvalidator.com/Work with KurtGrow your Shopify store with me: https://ethercycle.com/applySee our recent client successes: https://ethercycle.com/work

Daphne Eastmond, founder of Frizz + Co, left her accounting career to create a haircare brand celebrating textured hair. She shares her inspiring journey of self-acceptance and the birth of her hero product. Daphne discusses the innovative marketing strategies she employed, along with the significant role of community support in her business. In-person events emerged as a key growth tool, fostering real connections with her audience. She also reflects on balancing brand authenticity with essential sales metrics for sustainable success.

David Vranicar, Shopify’s sustainability operations lead, discusses the innovative Shopify Planet app designed to help merchants achieve carbon-neutral shipping effortlessly. He emphasizes the app's potential to enhance brand trust and boost conversions through sustainable practices. Vranicar also addresses the importance of transparency in combating greenwashing and the app’s role in fostering genuine climate action among businesses. Additionally, he highlights how easy implementation can lead to significant environmental impacts while satisfying eco-conscious customers.

Brandon Horoho, co-founder and CMO of Montana Knife Company, shares insights on transforming a side hustle into an 8-figure knife brand. He discusses the importance of American manufacturing and community engagement. Learn how their weekly product drops sell out consistently due to innovative marketing and customer relationship strategies. Brandon highlights the challenges of local production and the benefits of owning your audience through email lists. Plus, hear about exciting future plans, including the launch of new pocket knives!

Devyn Merklin, former CMO of Livingood Daily, shares the raw truth behind scaling a supplement brand to $70M in annual revenue. From relentless testing to mastering Shopify funnels, Devyn provides a thoughtful analysis of the strategies that worked, the mistakes that taught valuable lessons, and how brands can apply these insights to their own growth journeys.LinksPeopleDevyn MerklinDr. Blake LivingoodEzra FirestoneRandall PitchRussell BrunsonBrandsHooniganLivingood DailyOffsetSmart MarketerAppsPrintfulViralSweepToolsKajabiClickFunnelsServicesFlippaEmpire FlippersBuyBizSellThe XScaleSponsorsZipifyCleverificBoost Filter & SearchHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave a reviewSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.Never miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletter