eCommerce MasterPlan

Caleb Slater is the managing director at Cards2Cash a platform enabling customers to sell unwanted gift cards. Founded in 2022 (when Caleb was just 16) it operates on a custom website, has recently expanded into Ireland, and has already grown to over £500k in annual sales.  In this episode, Caleb reveals how he scaled Cards2Cash with smart SEO, clever payment optimisation, and a huge focus on trust and customer experience. It’s a fast, practical conversation full of insights any eCommerce brand can apply right away.  Hit PLAY to hear: 🚀 How a 16-year-old founder built a £500k+ gift card marketplace from scratch. 🔍 The SEO strategy that now brings in 99% of Cards2Cash’s customers. 💸 The payment change that saved the business over £20,000 in fees. 🛍️ Why customer service became Caleb’s secret weapon for growth. 🤖 How he’s using AI (the right way) to cut workload without hurting CX. 🌍 The big expansion plans taking Cards2Cash across Europe next.  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [03:37] Building a Website's Challenges [07:43] Exceptional Customer Service Priority [10:48] Gift Card Trading Trends [15:11] Ensuring Effective AI Support [17:56] Overcoming Payment Provider Challenges [19:42] Global Expansion: Ireland to Germany [20:24] Listen to Caleb’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/575  --- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hilary Large is the owner at Wardrobe at The Cross, a women’s fashion boutique. Launched in 2023, they sell via their physical high street store, and via their Shopify website and have already built to 100s of orders a week.  In this episode, Hilary shares how she’s blending the best of in-store service with online scale — from personally calling first-time customers to building a brand rooted in trust, experience, and genuine connection.  Hit PLAY to hear:  💡 How Hilary Large built a women’s fashion brand that blends bricks and clicks — and why it works. ☎️ The surprising reason she personally calls every first-time online customer (and what it does for retention). 🛍️ How a small boutique competes with big brands by delivering luxury-level service. 📦 The simple systems that keep her returns low and repeat purchases high. 👗 Why having a physical store still matters — even in a digital-first world. 🔑 The one thing Hilary refuses to give up as her business scales (and why it could change yours too).  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [03:56] eCommerce Marketing Growth Journey [08:19] "Brand Growth Through Retail Presence" [12:46] Customer Trust Epiphany [14:40] "Optimizing eCommerce Customer Support" [18:56] "Protecting the Business's Foundation" [20:14] Listen to Hilary’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/574--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Davies Roberts is co-CEO and co-founder of Flare Audio, the sound technology company who retail headphones, earplugs, and ear tools. Founded in 2010 they now sell globally via their Shopify store, Amazon, and a few retail partners, and are achieving around £5million in sales a year.Back on the show for the third time, Davies shares the biggest challenges and breakthroughs Flare Audio has faced — from Meta ad chaos to game-changing sound innovation. A fast-paced episode packed with sharp lessons on resilience, product focus, and scaling a standout eCommerce brand.Hit PLAY to hear: ·      🚨 How Flare Audio’s Meta ads collapsed overnight — and the surprising fix that halved their CPA.·      🧩 Why your website wording might be sabotaging your ad performance without you knowing it.·      🎧 The science behind how your ears distort sound… and how Flare turned that into a breakthrough product.·      🌍 What tariff and customs changes REALLY mean for eCommerce brands selling globally in 2025.·      💡 Why niche audiences can spark growth — but can never be your whole strategy.·      🔧 How an inventor-founder balances deep R&D with fast-moving eCommerce realities.Key timestamps to dive straight in:[04:00] Business Challenges and Economic Strain[07:49] Meta Ads Surge & Strategy Shift[09:56] "Flare's Sound Revolution"[14:02] "Invisible Sound Solution Marketing"[17:16] "Innovative Sound Solutions Expanding"[22:39] "Unlocking Music's True Clarity"[23:48] "Holographic Audio Revolution"[29:19] Listen to Davies’ Top Tips!Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/573--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Boughton-White is the Operations Director at Dorwest, experts in herbal pet care since 1948. Selling globally via wholesale, marketplaces, Crufts! and their own Shopify store, they now do over 50,000 order a year, and were recently named Online Business of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards.  Ben shares how Dorwest — a 75-year-old family-run pet care brand — brought its heritage into the digital age. From a smart Shopify migration to building efficient systems and strong partnerships, he reveals how they’ve kept quality, trust, and growth at the heart of their eCommerce success.  Hit PLAY to hear:  🚀 How Dorwest turned a 75-year-old pet care brand into a thriving Shopify success story 🧩 The smart, slow-and-steady approach that made their Shopify migration truly work ⚙️ Why documenting every process became their secret weapon for efficiency and growth 🤝 The power of choosing partners who actually “get” your brand — and how to find them 🏡 Why Dorwest refuses to outsource fulfillment (and how that decision boosts quality) 💬 How a husband-and-wife team keeps communication flowing and the business growing  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:59] "Morning Walks and Business Success" [09:00] "End-to-End Quality Control" [10:40] Trusted Partners Shape Our Brand [13:38] "Focused Loyalty Approach" [17:25] Evolving Loyalty Rewards Strategy [20:53] Listen to Ben’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/572  --- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Julie Macken is the Deputy Queen Bee of Neve’s Bees a family business turning the produce of their bee hives and local beekeepers into products that are now certified 100% natural. Founded in 2017, they switched focus to eCommerce in 2021. They now sell via their WooCommerce store, wholesale, and a couple of events, and have now reached £100,000 a year and have just sold their 80,000th product. She shares how focusing on what truly works — and saying no to what doesn’t — helped her turn a local gifting brand into a six-figure sustainable skincare business. Hear how she refined her eCommerce strategy, built a lean but powerful team, and is now leading a mission to make the skincare industry more honest and eco-friendly. It’s always a treat when a past guest returns, and Julie’s comeback episode is packed with even more insights you can apply immediately to grow smarter and operate more sustainably.Hit PLAY to hear: 💡 The simple shift that helped Neve’s Bees double down on what really drives sales 🐝 Why splitting one brand into two strategies unlocked major eCommerce growth 💬 How Julie turned sustainability into a standout marketing story (not just a value) ⚙️ The key roles she outsourced — and how it boosted profits and freed up her time 🛍️ The brand placement mistake that nearly hurt their image — and how they fixed it 🌍 Julie’s bold mission to take on the skincare industry’s “ultra-processed” problem  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:32] Skincare Definition: Face vs Body [06:39] Skin Care eCommerce Revolution [12:17] "Skincare Website Revamp Focus" [16:09] Finding Income Through Quick Solutions [17:27] Small Business Operations Explained [22:23] "Pure Ingredients, No Water" [23:13] Skincare Industry Reform Needed [27:32] Listen to Julie’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/571  --- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this WWYD episode, eCommerce Director Jaime Hill – whose career spans Monsoon, FatFace, Jack Wills, Oak Furnitureland, Hurtigruten, and more – joins host Chloe Thomas to share how she’d approach one of the biggest challenges facing eCommerce leaders today.   Jaime dives into where to start, how to prioritise quick wins vs. long-term impact, and why real efficiency begins with your people, not your processes.   Expect practical ideas, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiration for anyone trying to do more with less.  Hit PLAY to hear:  🎯 How Jaime would tackle a “make us more efficient” brief as Head of eCommerce 🧠 Why your team (not your tech stack) is the first place to look for efficiency gains 💸 Smart ways to shift ad spend between SEO, paid search, and social without hurting results ⚙️ How a 2-week payments project boosted conversions in Germany by 35% 🤝 The simple cross-team conversations that can save you time, money, and stress 🌱 A quick sustainability win: the one website check that can cut your carbon footprint  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:59] Streamlining Operations and Team Efficiency [06:47] Team Optimization and Process Review [13:09] Prioritizing Efficiency in Evolving Industries [14:15] Optimizing Spend and Data Accuracy [19:58] Improving Processes Through Experimentation [21:44] Breaking Silos Through Communication [23:31] Listen to Jaime’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/570--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chris Forbes is the co-founder at Cheeky Panda, leading the bamboo revolution selling toilet paper, period products, kitchen roll and more. Founded in 2016 they now sell via multiple international Shopify sites, and a plethora of wholesale and marketplace locations. Turnover is now £15,000,000 a year, and did I mention they’re a B Corp?  In this episode, Chris Forbes reveals how The Cheeky Panda turned a bold eco idea into a £15M brand loved by customers and retailers alike. From smart scaling moves to making sustainability fun, Chris shares the mindset and marketing strategies behind their incredible growth.  Hit PLAY to hear:  🚀 How The Cheeky Panda grew from a bedroom idea to a £15M sustainable brand 🧠 Chris Forbes’ biggest lesson: what to focus on (and what to outsource) when scaling 🌿 Why sustainability alone isn’t a USP anymore — and what actually sells now 😂 How a giant panda costume helped them win fans and supermarket deals 🛒 The secret behind their omnichannel growth across Shopify, Tesco, and more 💡 What it really takes to turn purpose into profit — and stay ahead of the competition  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:24] "Sustainable Innovation with Purpose" [07:36] Expanding Bamboo Product Range [12:01] Supermarkets Prioritizing Sustainable Suppliers [13:47] Pricing and Quality Drive Success [16:12] "Cheeky Panda: Fun & Friendly" [21:14] Channel Strategies: Pros and Challenges [22:36] Listen to Chris’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/569--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Isobel Ridley is the founder at Lavender Hill, a women’s fashion brand focused on ethically made luxurious staples. Founded in 2013 then now sell exclusively via their Shopify store, turning over around £500,000 a year.  In this episode, Isobel shares how she built a profitable, sustainable fashion brand by focusing on what works—core products, smart use of AI, and old-school PR that still delivers.  Hit PLAY to hear:  💡 How focusing on fewer products made Lavender Hill more profitable 🧠 The clever ways Isobel uses AI (including ChatGPT!) to run her store smarter 🛍️ Why she ditched 3PLs and still fulfills every order in-house ✂️ The surprising reason she cut product lines and boosted brand value 📰 How traditional PR still drives sales in a digital-first world 🔍 The data-driven mindset behind every major business decision she’s made  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:50] "Sustainability Over Excess Colors" [07:03] In-House Operations Over 3PL [10:40] "Shifting PR: Magazines to Influencers" [14:25] Early Struggles of a Business [18:05] "Adapting Strategies for Profitability" [21:17] Listen to Isobel’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/568 --- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Bert van Son is the founder at MUD Jeans, the first and only circular jeans company in the world. Founded in 2012 they’ve been a BCorp since 2013. Selling via their Shopify store, their own store in Amsterdam, and over 250 stockists across Europe.  In this episode, Bert shares how MUD Jeans is redefining what it means to be a sustainable fashion brand — from leasing jeans to turning old denim into new. Get ready to learn how circular design, smart eCommerce strategy, and genuine purpose can work together to build a brand that lasts.  Hit PLAY to hear:  👖 How Mud Jeans turns old denim into brand-new jeans — and makes it profitable 🌍 Why sustainability alone won’t sell (and what really drives customers to buy) 🔄 The smart circular model that keeps customers coming back 💡 How mindset-based segmentation helps Mud Jeans target the right audience ⚙️ The surprising tool helping them sell secondhand jeans online 🚫 Why ultra-fast fashion is hurting us all — and what eCommerce brands can do differently  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [03:51] "Intern Turnover and Inspiration" [08:22] Leisure Jeans: A Global Sensation [13:23] Customer Sustainability Segments [15:55] Fast Fashion's Economic Impact [17:21] Tech Hubris & Brexit Concerns [18:44] Listen to Bert’s Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/567--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Janis Thomas is an eCommerce & Subscriptions Expert, recently named in the Top 100 UK Marketing Influencers list.  In this episode of the special WWYD? (What Would You Do?) series, Janis answers the big question: What would you do as a Head of eCommerce tasked with massively improving operational efficiency — especially when growth at your brand has stalled?  Hit PLAY to hear:  🚨 Why stalled growth is actually a wake-up call for your eCommerce brand 🧾 The ruthless audit every Head of eCom should do on costs, teams & tech ⚡ Quick wins that free up cash and time to spark new growth ⏳ How to stop wasting hours on admin & turn time into your secret weapon 🤖 The smart way to use AI for creative output (without losing your brand DNA) 🎯 Why an inspiring vision — not cost-cutting fear — gets teams on board with change  Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:42] Streamline and Audit for Growth [07:19] Evolving Design and Business Practices  [12:31] Strategic Prioritization for Quick Impact [15:46] Experimentation Drives Business Improvement [19:18] Team Meetings: Encouraging Experiments [22:28] Focus on Brand Consistency [26:22] AI Design Needs Specificity [28:17] Listen to Janis’ Top Tips!  Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/566--- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy