OPERATORS

Topics covered include: raising organic reach cap, organic versus paid scaling, marketing and product approaches, international expansion on Amazon, localized websites for international customers, effectiveness of marketing strategies, being skeptical and questioning conventional wisdom, intelligence embracing being wrong, solving LTV problem, beneficial conflict in business partnerships.

Topics discussed in this podcast include licensing essentials, revenue generation through licensing, brand collaborations, risks in licensing agreements, expanding brand through partnerships, using targeted marketing for licensing agreements, high risk in licensing due to inventory, sales spike and infrastructure key for success, simplifying agreements for unique products, legitimizing business through licensing, and the long term perspective in product licensing.

Explore the concept of building competitive advantages in business and the challenges of creating moats in consumer industries. Discover the value of intellectual property (IP) enforcement and the difficulties of patenting. Learn about the significance of IP and licensing agreements for protecting against knockoff products. Discover how Pilacase and Hexclad used licensing and sustainable products to enter competitive markets. Understand the benefits of institutional knowledge as a moat for businesses and the advantages of experience, money, and relationships as moats for business success. Hear about the challenges and importance of building a moat for a business and the success and innovation in the espresso industry. Stay vigilant against fraud and embrace strategic thinking for business success.

The podcast delves into the evolution of pricing strategies, emphasizing the importance of affordable pricing and high quality products. It discusses the process of pricing, including gross margins and price optimization. The speaker shares their experience with passing audits and proper inventory management. The chapter also explores the use of price testing and navigating early decisions to avoid costly mistakes.

Trade show booth laughter fuels brand motivation. HexClad's successful brand building and growth. TAM size and the importance of a functional product. Great brands start with superior functional improvement. Investing in functional over fashion. Consistency is key in building a brand. HexClad redefines and dominates its category. Spend less, increase sales. Starting a business in an industry with low scores. Elon Musk's strategy of buying social media network for leverage. Different opinions on brand with a few exceptions. Infer, Lomi, and embracing disagreement.

[00:03:57] Questioning the relevance of the media spend model. [00:10:23] Innovative ad agency with flexible payment plans. [00:13:23] Amazon advertising, agencies can be helpful, learn first. [00:18:02] "Not a great salesperson, let's talk about work." [00:24:41] Agency red flags, client tenure, trusted agencies. [00:31:35] Partnerships with aspirational brands can be beneficial. [00:38:54] Media-commerce combo: content and brands unite. [00:49:13] Launching products [00:59:53] Newness makes marketing easier and improves sales. [01:07:24] Broad audience appeal, diversified marketing mix. In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumored to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world's biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By: Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Sendlane. https://learn.sendlane.com/operators Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitter.com/JasonPanzer Matt (Host) https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike (Host) https://twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm Finn (Producer) https://twitter.com/finn_radford Northbeam (Partner) https://twitter.com/northbeam Fulfil.io (Partner) https://twitter.com/fulfilio Sendlane (Partner) https://twitter.com/Sendlane We Rise Together.

https://www.mykitsch.com/ Jeremy: https://twitter.com/JeremyThurswell?s=20 [00:03:12] Kitsch backstory [00:12:14] Unintentional business success, Faire platform adoption. [00:15:44] Omnichannel success, importance of D2C, event announcement. [00:24:51] Omnichannel strategy targets incremental customer acquisition. Channel conflict creates internal tension and challenges. [00:29:58] Physical retail needs unique products for success. [00:35:54] Maximizing physical retail space is crucial. [00:45:19] Think omnichannel, section in store, product breadth. [00:47:59] Set up a shelf, see what it looks like. [00:52:17] D2C dictionary: wholesale, specialty, mass market, club, convenience, independent. [00:59:17] Wholesale strategy: advantage of independent retailers. [01:05:16] Building credibility leads to trust and success. [01:08:33] Keurig strategically expands brand through targeted distribution. [01:13:53] Retail varies by environment, attracting different customers. Walmart values driving new customers, while big retailers aim to appeal to a broader income range. Ulta is popular with Gen Z and launching new products there is desired. Each retail environment requires expertise and a big-picture view. Limited physical space in retail adds value for strategic partnerships. Retail provides consistent revenue and margin consistency. Margin compression can be challenging for retailers. Contracts are pre-negotiated. [01:19:21] The struggle with antiquated infrastructures. Whole Foods focuses on wellness, spa, and sleep products, placing them near aromatherapy items. [01:24:15] Successful Kitsch power couple prioritizes relationship for business success. In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world's biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By: Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Sendlane. https://learn.sendlane.com/operators Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitter.com/JasonPanzer Matt (Host) https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike (Host) https://twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm Finn (Producer) https://twitter.com/finn_radford Northbeam (Partner) https://twitter.com/northbeam Fulfil.io (Partner) https://twitter.com/fulfilio Sendlane (Partner) https://twitter.com/Sendlane We Rise Together.

[00:02:59] Unconventional hiring strategy: trust-based recruitment success. [00:05:11] CEO Jeff runs the business day-to-day, while the Matt focuses on product and marketing. Trust is crucial for high-performance teams. Trust is built through interactions and time. Hiring someone in a leadership position requires trust. [00:10:58] Recruiter found experienced operator for venture fund. [00:13:19] Profits interest for celebrities, no shares. Need VP-level protege. Compensation and thoughts on 300k? [00:17:02] Unique advantages attract top talent, not just money. [00:22:24] Culture-driven team with focus on results. Hesitant about expanding meetings and remote work. [00:30:52] Culture impacts meetings. Record them. No agenda, cancel the meeting. [00:31:47] Work culture: meetings, time, collaboration, and trust. [00:37:19] Leadership matters whether remote or in person. [00:39:44] Culture influences performance, but meetings increase with more employees. It's a constant balancing act. [00:41:57] Values and consistency are key to success in an organization. [00:46:24] Work expands to fill time: reduce it. [00:51:07] Set time limits, make decisions, move forward. [00:53:03] Positive feedback on a great idea. In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumored to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world's biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By: Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Sendlane. https://learn.sendlane.com/operators Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitter.com/JasonPanzer Matt (Host) https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike (Host) https://twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm Finn (Producer) https://twitter.com/finn_radford Northbeam (Partner) https://twitter.com/northbeam Fulfil.io (Partner) https://twitter.com/fulfilio Sendlane (Partner) https://twitter.com/Sendlane We Rise Together.

00:02:17 Amazon's Prime Day exceeded expectations, with some sellers reporting significant increases in sales compared to normal days. 00:25:47 Factors affecting success: marketing, forecasting, costs, logistics. Favorable exchange rate benefits importing. American consumers healthier than China and Europe. E-commerce competition increasing. 00:31:53 Difficulties in China's business environment due to COVID-19 and currency exchange rates. 00:33:34 Retailers push back on price increases. China's impact on market and competitiveness. 00:40:17 China's reliance on food imports grows, manufacturing jobs shift to Vietnam and Mexico, challenging future ahead. 00:46:36 Real estate buyers ignore prices with Chinese money. 00:51:14 Time kills all deals; keep momentum. 01:00:50 My focus jumps around for urgency. 01:06:34 Investing in distractions won't grow net worth. 01:12:42 Exceptions: relational opportunities and watchlist investments. 01:18:50 Finance history: financialization dominates, private equity profits. 01:21:22 Operate your own business, bet on yourself. In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumored to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world's biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By: Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Sendlane. https://learn.sendlane.com/operators Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitter.com/JasonPanzer Matt (Host) https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike (Host) https://twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm Finn (Producer) https://twitter.com/finn_radford Northbeam (Partner) https://twitter.com/northbeam Fulfil.io (Partner) https://twitter.com/fulfilio Sendlane (Partner) https://twitter.com/Sendlane We Rise Together.

00:02:53 Bet against Zuckerberg? No. Killed Snapchat and Twitter. Sean is bummed about rebuilding social graph on threads. 00:06:58 Twitter's alienation may lead to new communities. 00:13:19 June highlights: suffering and key metrics discussed. CAC target achieved, sales up 100% with 20% lower CAC. North Beam saved the business. 00:16:21 Approach to Prime Day has changed, no major discounts. 00:20:31 Prime Day: margins, discounts, customer behavior. 00:26:09 Million-dollar accounting costs lead to a failed audit. 00:32:47 Wholesale shipments, chargebacks, accounting nightmare, ERP, profit per day, optimize for dollars. 00:36:59 "Have a plan, avoid reckless spending." 00:44:12 Email and SMS are commodity services. SendGrid is commonly used for sending emails. Shopify is not a commodity service. Winning in commodity services requires price and service. 00:47:37 Minimize COGS, focus on key financial P&L. 00:52:58 Different pricing approaches in DTC and retail. 00:57:23 Brand creates monopoly and determines value. In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumored to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world's biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share their wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By: Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Sendlane. https://learn.sendlane.com/operators Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitter.com/JasonPanzer Matt (Host) https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike (Host) https://twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm Finn (Producer) https://twitter.com/finn_radford Northbeam (Partner) https://twitter.com/northbeam Fulfil.io (Partner) https://twitter.com/fulfilio Sendlane (Partner) https://twitter.com/Sendlane We Rise Together.