

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 17, 2019 • 56min
[Q&A] 9 Worries from Merchants Prepping for Q4
In this listener mailbag episode, you'll hear nine questions from merchants preparing for Black Friday:How to manage your app addictionThe power of SMS marketingWhen to update your product descriptionsConsiderations when selling on Amazon and ShopifyThe top mistake merchants make on Black FridayMulti Currency in a nutshellShould you block site traffic from other countries?Plus: Kurt terrifies his children, and Paul kills Moby Dick.Show LinksRetention RocketSMSBumpPingdom ToolsThe Truth About Google PageSpeed Insights for ShopifyBold Multi CurrencyNever miss an episodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.Subscribe wherever you get your podcastsWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleTake a ride with Kurt on YouTubeApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.SponsorsTry Bold Product Upsell free for 90 daysSave 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify themeImprove your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta ManagerOutsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Sep 10, 2019 • 1h 3min
How a Fashion Designer Started a Niche Brand At 21
Rivky Itzkowitz is a 24 year old fashion designer living in NYC. As a practicing Orthodox Jew, she was frustrated at not being able to find modest special occasion wear that actually fit, so she set out to create her own. This episode is about the inspiring journey of hardship and success that came next.
You'll learn:
How to have the best relationships with your retailers
Why wholesale may be the best way to start a business
The differences in how to market wholesale vs. retail
Her company, Impact Fashion is the only size inclusive modest special occasion fashion line on the market. Every style is fitted to perfection and is available in sizes 2-24 because there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be. Her wholesale line is stocked in over 25 boutiques nationwide. In September 2018 she launched the B2C arm of her company on Shopify, impactfashionnyc.com.
Tune in for more details!
Show Links
ImpactFashionNYC - Use code UNOFFICIAL on impactfashionnyc.com for free shipping with purchase
IG: @impact.fashion.nyc
Never miss an episode
Subscribe on iTunes
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Sep 3, 2019 • 42min
Homepage Design Made Simple
Who else wants lower bounce rates and higher conversion rates from visitors to their homepage?
We discuss:
Should your homepage be a squeeze page?
What in Turbo theme should be tweaked to improve the mobile experience?
What content should go on the home page?
Is HERO a must? Should the value prop be the hero image headline?
Should your homepage be a branded experience or a long form sales page?
Plus Kurt develops an unnatural love for leather goods, and Paul lays out what niche he'd start a store in.
Show Links
Popov Leather
The Contract Shop
Skyline Socks
The Greek (not Latin) phrase that's the origin of "call a spade a spade"
Welsh Otter
Shipping Countdown Timer app
Motiv
Never miss an episode
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Aug 27, 2019 • 55min
How Tactical Baby Gear Scaled to Seven-Figures
Shopify Plus merchant Tactical Baby Gear is disrupting the booming world of baby products — estimated this year to produce more than $11 billion in revenue worldwide — by specializing in military-style baby gear. Founder Beav Brodie and COO Alex Alexander Kristoff join us to discuss their seven-figure success.
We'll find out:
Why you should want to fire your customer service people
Why they believe in business partnerships
The candid challenges they've faced
Beav's social media & content marketing strategy
...and more in this candid interview.
Tune in for more details!
Show Links
Tactical Baby Gear
Beav Brodie
Never miss an episode
Subscribe on iTunes
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Aug 20, 2019 • 57min
The Boring Ways Seven-Figure Stores Got There
You'll hear the answers to:
With all the shiny toys available for merchants, how should you prioritize them?
If someone feels totally overwhelmed as a merchant, what’s the one thing they should hire out to alleviate the stress?
What's the formula to determine product pricing? Are there good methods for testing different price points with your customers?
How do you properly split test multiple ad creatives for a new product, prior to launching conversion campaigns?
Plus Kurt gets a new jacket, and Paul knows who shot JFK.
Show Links
Headed to Klaviyo Boston? Unofficial Shopify Podcast listeners get $300 off by using code UnofficialShop300 at checkout.
Kurt's rad denim jacket, a gift from Pak Rat Ink.
Never miss an episode
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Aug 13, 2019 • 51min
Boredwalk: How a Husband & Wife Team Grew a 'Cult' T-shirt Business
Creative husband and wife team Matt Snow and Meredith Erin, owners of Boredwalk T-Shirts, take us through their entrepreneurial journey building a cult of customers around their lifestyle apparel brand.
You'll hear:
Why you should embrace the suck
The one tactic that helped me them gain early sales
Why they hate Amazon
The customer-centric content-first marketing strategy that has grown their business
Why you should start a podcast now
These artists-turned-ecommerce professionals produce clever original graphic goods, including apparel, accessories, and decor items. Known for their dark humor and sharp wit, Meredith and Matt have created a corner of the internet where fellow misanthropes can laugh at the world and themselves.
Tune in for more details!
Show Links
BoredWalk
The Boredwalk Podcast
Never miss an episode
Subscribe on iTunes
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Aug 6, 2019 • 51min
Have Your Best Black Friday Ever by Starting Now
Instead of waiting until November to take action, let's discuss what you can do right now to put your store in the best possible position to capitalize on Black Friday sales.
You'll hear:
high ROI traffic options other than paid Facebook, Instagram or google
the best way to get featured in places like Buzzfeed
converting lookers into buyers!
Top conversion rate optimizations techniques for product pages.
Plus Kurt sees Weird Al, and Paul needs his ear drops.
Show Links
RockAuto - Example of a successful site left intentionally dated
Adam's Polishes Quick Detail Spray - Great example of a PDP
Turbo - Use Code PODCAST20 to save 20% off the purchase price of Turbo.
Never miss an episode
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Aug 2, 2019 • 58min
[BONUS] Effective Facebook Ad Funnels for 2019
Want to know what's working with Facebook ads right now? We turn to ecommerce marketing wizard Kurt Bullock to learn the exact blueprint he uses to achieve 10x returns on ad spend.You'll learn:The exact strategies & tactics working for us right nowSpecific examples of targeting new customersThe hot ad formats to try nowWhat's new: Broad Match Dynamic Product Adsand strategy for September's campaign budget optimization requirementGrab a notepad and tune-in 'cause this one is full of actionable advice.Show LinksDownload KB's FB ads blueprint: ProduceDeptKurt Bullock's brother's store: Ballistic FabricationCanvaOver (iOS)Videoshop (iOS)Boomerang (iOS)GorillaPodTw:@kurtbullockNever miss an episodeSubscribe on iTunesJoin Kurt's newsletterHelp the showAsk a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook GroupLeave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.Subscribe on iTunesWhat's Kurt up to?See our recent work at EthercycleTake a ride with Kurt on YouTubeApply to work with Kurt to grow your store.This episode made possible by Rewind

Jul 30, 2019 • 49min
Maximizing Your Facebook Ad Budgets
Facebook ads are getting increasingly competitive and expensive– and it's not stopping anytime soon. That's scary for those of us that rely on Facebook ads to power their business and their income. In this episode, social media advisor Andrew Foxwell talks us through tactics to make Facebook ads a more reliable part of your business.
You'll hear:
Why Facebook ad costs are rising
How to recognize and overcome facebook ad fatigue
What mandatory Campaign Budget Optimization (CBO) means for you
Why social proofing is an algorithmic game changer
How to accelerate engagement on your ads
Since co-founding Foxwell Digital in 2012, Andrew Foxwell and his wife Gracie have worked with hundreds of businesses, non-profits, and organizations to launch, optimize, and manage more than $10 million in Facebook and Instagram advertising campaigns.
Andrew's past & present clients include Square, Eventbrite, Fitbit, Blenders Eyewear, Pura Vida Bracelets, Bryan Anthonys, Grand Ole Opry, and more. Andrew regularly teaches training courses with Jon Loomer on various topics such as Facebook Analytics, Business Manager, Dynamic Ads, Scaling, and much more.
Andrew is also the co-host of the Ecommerce Influence podcast and has been featured in the New York Times, TechCrunch, and various other print/online publications.
Tune in for more details!
Resources
Andrew's consulting site: Foxwell Digital
FB Training Ads: Jon Loomer
Twitter: @andrewfoxwell
FB Group: eCommerce Heavyweights
Never miss an episode
Subscribe on iTunes
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr

Jul 23, 2019 • 51min
Optimize Everything
In this listener mailbag episode, you'll hear the answers to:
What is the biggest factor conversion rate?
Where should you send cold traffic?
What should go in a email welcome series?
What are typical image requirements for Shopify product photography?
and what to do if you have a cash-eating monster business
Plus Julie gets a surprise, we geek out about cars, and Kurt disappoints Paul.
Show Links
Adam's Polishes
Old School Shirts
Orglamix
Cats Trailer
Never miss an episode
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
Join Kurt's newsletter
Help the show
Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
What's Kurt up to?
See our recent work at Ethercycle
Take a ride with Kurt on YouTube
Apply to work with Kurt to grow your store.
Sponsors
Try Bold Product Upsell free for 90 days
Save 20% on Turbo, a blazing fast Shopify theme
Improve your shop’s search engine ranking with Venntov SEO Meta Manager
Outsource your Shopify customer service with Simplr