

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast
Kurt Elster, Paul Reda
NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY, SUBSCRIBE FOR UNBEATABLE ECOM RECON – Every Tuesday since 2014, host Kurt Elster shares the Shopify success stories that nobody tells you about, straight from the entrepreneurs living it. Subscribe for a raw look at what it really takes to succeed on Shopify.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 7, 2021 • 43min
Headless 101
On today's show, we're getting a crash course on Headless Ecommerce. Our guest today is uniquely suited to the task, having led a headless Shopify migration for a top 100 Shopify Plus store, and most recently joining headless solution provider Shogun.Show LinksShogun FrontendNOMAD - 15% off full priced and in stock gear on nomadgoods.com with code 'unofficial'Reese's LinkedInSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Aug 31, 2021 • 45min
BFCM: Prepping for this Holiday Season
If you're going to have the best holiday selling season ever, you need to have a plan in place starting now. But what's that look like? What do we prioritize?In this episode, we'll talk through phase 1 of your Best-Black-Friday-Ever plan by laying the strategic groundwork you need to succeed.SponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.ama-online-store-20TitleQ&A: Online Store 2.0SummaryWhen should you upgrade?DescriptionIn this Ask Us Anything episode, we answer listener questions. When should I upgrade to Online Store 2.0?What's headless ecommerce?The new metafields: What are they? How would I use them?What are you doing differently with FB Ads since the Apple privacy update?How to structure content for landing pagesHow to promote subscriptionsEstablishing free shipping minimums...and more. Somewhat more. Most of it is even Shopify related.Show LinksResources:OOTS: "Is My Theme Compatible With Online Store 2.0?"All of the Announcements From Shopify Unite 2021Screencast: Online Store 2.0 DemoTools:Zipify PagesShogun FrontendStores:AsutraBeardbrandBlack Diamond CoatingsHuckberryKeySmartNOMADTactical Baby GearSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Aug 24, 2021 • 47min
Your Data is Probably Bad
Everyone likes to say they make data-driven decisions, fewer actually do, and even fewer are making those decisions with good data.As more and more Shopify businesses drill into making data driven decisions having the proper foundation is imperative.I have Rich Hannah from RHUX analytics here. One of our mutual clients has been working with him and was really impressed.Hot takes:Shopify's Google Analytics native integration is imperfect Size speed doesn't matter as much as you thinkIf you go headless, your data is going to brek.Prior to starting his own agency, Rich was the former lead analytics engineer for lululemon and consulted for brands like Nordstrom, Major League Soccer, Zendesk, Starbucks, Tesla and others.

Aug 17, 2021 • 37min
What matters for the future of ecommerce
Kurt Elster, Emmett Shine, and Lisel Welden work with DTC brands on the daily, respectively, so you’d think they’ve heard and seen it all. From Domino's self-driving cars to Walmart’s plan to be fully self-checkout by the end of 2021, to virtual fitting rooms debuting at a time when a lot of Americans really just want to get back into the mall (you get the picture)-- we want to know their takes on what's upcoming in ecommerce.On the panel:Emmett Shine, Founder and Executive Creative Director of Pattern (FKA Gin Lane)Lisel Welden, Advisor, CMO, Board Director | Former Nike, Lyft & Bleacher ReportKurt Elster, your Unofficial Shopify Podcast hostModerated by Andrew Jones, Route's Marketing DirectorThis panel was originally recorded for Route Connect, an Ecommerce ConferenceShow LinksRoute ConnectSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Aug 10, 2021 • 43min
July Recap: The Summer Slump
Paul and Kurt recap and discuss July's ecom buzz:Klaviyo's new featuresHeadless HotnessThe Summer SlumpPaul's Beef(s) with KurtOur favorite Online Store 2.0 featureShow LinksKlaviyo Product EventScreencast: Online Store 2.0 DemoShogun FrontendSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Aug 3, 2021 • 39min
Discount Code Abuse: Protecting Your Profits
In this episode, we'll pull back the curtain on how coupon extensions work, and reveal new data showing how they really impact key performance metrics like average order value and cart completion.How do coupon extensions like Honey and Capital One Shopping get the discount codes that they share in their apps?When a coupon extension is present in a user's browser, how does that impact attribution?What is the impact that coupon extensions have on average order value and cart completion?If a merchant is doing affiliate marketing, what should they know about coupon extensions and how they affect affiliate fees?Kathleen is VP of Marketing at clean.io, where she's on a mission to help ecommerce brands grow profits and make smarter marketing decisions by improving the effectiveness of their discount strategies. Prior to joining clean.io, Kathleen spent 11 years as the founder and CEO of a digital marketing agency where she advised hundreds of companies on go-to-market and digital marketing strategies.Show LinkscleanCART - 14-day free trialclean.ioHoneyCapital One ShoppingSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Jul 27, 2021 • 51min
Q&A: Online Store 2.0
In this Ask Us Anything episode, we answer listener questions.When should I upgrade to Online Store 2.0?What's headless ecommerce?The new metafields: What are they? How would I use them?What are you doing differently with FB Ads since the Apple privacy update?How to structure content for landing pagesHow to promote subscriptionsEstablishing free shipping minimums...and more. Somewhat more. Most of it is even Shopify related.Show LinksResources:OOTS: "Is My Theme Compatible With Online Store 2.0?"All of the Announcements From Shopify Unite 2021Screencast: Online Store 2.0 DemoTools:Zipify PagesShogun FrontendStores:AsutraBeardbrandBlack Diamond CoatingsHuckberryKeySmartNOMADTactical Baby GearSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Jul 20, 2021 • 42min
Zuly Matallana of Tiara (Dragon's Den Update)
For more than 15 years Zuly Matallana worked in large multinational companies to develop businesses by successfully leading teams to monetize market opportunities.Now, Zuly is translating the skills she gained to become a successful entrepreneur. It started when Zuly recognized the need for a product to help busy women keep their hair dry while showering. Consequently, she found an opportunity to introduce a sustainable Shower Cap in a space traditionally dominated by single-use plastics.The TIARA Shower Cap has not only been successful worldwide but has also gained a lot of media attention. Here are some highlights:• Zuly “faced the fire” at Canada’s CBC TV Hit series Dragons’ Den securing a deal with Manjit and Jim.• Gift Pick GMA 2019• Spoke about her business to more than 3 million people on The View.• In 2020, deemed a Must Have by AllureTIARA’s newest haircare innovation, The Night Cap, sold out in less than 30 minutes. This gave Zuly the confidence to spearhead the brand. She is now innovating a line of functional products for women – with sustainability in mind.Show LinksTIARA - 10% Discount with the Code TIARALOVESponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Jul 13, 2021 • 49min
Two Stores & a Full-time Job
Ryan Tarver, a serial entrepreneur with a full-time job, joins us to discuss the realities of what it’s like to start a LLC, design a brand, and launch two shops while having a full time job, a toddler, a newborn, and way too many hobbies in the middle of a global pandemic.We discuss:The importance of brand identityThe case for co-foundersTools to stay organizedBalancing perfectionism vs "just launching"What they did when Facebook traffic didn't convertShow Linksbambinobikes.com - Use code UNOFFICIAL152 A.M. Baby - Use code UNOFFICIAL15AsanaOut of The Sandbox Turbo Theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutThey Ask, You Answer by Marcus SheridanSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.

Jul 6, 2021 • 47min
Lots of traffic but no sales?
In-store marketing & merchandising are the basics of eCommerce but something that is missed often.Our guest today won the 2020 Shopify Commerce Awards with her app ModeMagic by Mason. She's conducted interviews with over 2,000 merchants, discovering their biggest pain point is "Lots of traffic but no sales."In this episode, we'll learn what are the basics of in-store marketing - where merchants typically go wrong, and how to do better.Born in a small town in north east India, grown up across India followed by working in San Francisco, Toronto & India, Kaus has thrived as a global citizen. These experiences have made her very empathetic and helps her connect to small business owners across the globe.Kaus leads an all-star girls team, mentors women developers & storytellers across the world and is focused on creating a maker first culture.Show LinksModeMagic Sale Booster - Free 1 month-trial on ModeMagic Sale Booster app on the Shopify App Store... for all Unofficial Shopify Podcast listeners! Use the code MERCHME while upgrading your plan.The FascinationHarry's[@kmanjita}twitter.com/kmanjitaSponsorsFree 30-day trial of Zipify OCU - (To get an unadvertised gift, email help@zipify.com and ask for the "Tech Nasty Bonus".Try Bold Product Upsell, free trialSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme - Use code KURT20 at checkoutImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp 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.