Shopify Masters

Bre Giglio, founder of Bashify, transformed her pandemic-era side hustle into a six-figure balloon brand. She reveals how a love for event planning blossomed after her nursing career took a turn. Discover her pivot from pop-up picnics to larger events and the mentorship that helped embrace her newfound balloon focus. Bre emphasizes the importance of customer experience over technical skills and shares her successful e-commerce launch. With ambitions to redefine party retail, she highlights the journey of balancing family and business.

Dr. Julie Chung, an ophthalmologist-turned-entrepreneur and co-founder of T3, shares her journey of transforming hair tools into luxury beauty products. She discusses tackling personal frustrations to innovate in design and packaging. Julie highlights the importance of placing these products in beauty sections rather than home appliance aisles, leveraging user feedback for validation. She reveals how strategic beauty PR caught Sephora's attention while emphasizing her choice to remain independent from VC funding to maintain brand integrity.

Tom Ollett, co-founder and CEO of Ergatta, shares his journey of transforming cardio workouts into engaging gamified experiences. He reveals how boredom with traditional fitness sparked the idea for Ergatta's rowing game, emphasizing market research that pinpointed a unique introverted audience. Tom discusses launching during the pandemic, the strategic choice of rowing, and innovative partnerships with manufacturers. He dives into subscription models, game licensing, and the importance of branding, all while reflecting on the lessons learned from his fundraising journey.

Casey Watalevich and Allie Walsh, co-founders of Canyon Coffee, share their unique journey in building a seven-figure coffee brand. They discuss how their nontraditional backgrounds fueled a design-first approach, targeting boutiques instead of cafes. The duo emphasizes organic sourcing and community engagement, using creative content marketing to foster growth. From thoughtful packaging to the challenges of bootstrapping, their story highlights innovative strategies that prioritized sustainability and relationships, all while navigating industry shifts.

Sandra Powers Murphy, Founder and CEO of luxury footwear brand Scarlet Chase, shares her journey from finance to fashion. After five years of R&D, she revolutionized supportive heels with a focus on performance and beauty. Sandra highlights the importance of customer education on sustainable comfort, the SC360 design system, and partnering with European artisans. With 300% growth and high repurchase rates, she discusses balancing perfection in product launches and using movement-focused marketing to showcase her innovative designs.

Join Jeff Eiser and Joe Myers, co-founders of Revenge Of, a unique comic and pinball retail space. They share their journey from TV production to building a thriving community-focused business. Discover how they transformed free events into organic sales, leveraged livestreams and Discord for fan engagement, and why customer advocacy is key. They also discuss the balance of passion and profitability, and how limited edition products create urgency. Their innovative approach makes Revenge Of a must-visit destination for nerd culture!

Lulu Ge, Founder and CEO of Elix, transformed her struggle with chronic pain into a thriving herbal wellness brand rooted in Chinese medicine. She shares her journey from personal relief to realizing a market opportunity, achieving a remarkable 90% reorder rate. Lulu discusses how TikTok drove customer engagement, leading to higher lifetime value. She emphasizes the importance of health coaching and post-purchase care, which cultivate deep community ties. Elix's success showcases the fusion of cultural heritage and innovative wellness solutions.

Nima Jalali, Founder and CEO of SALT & STONE, transformed his passion for clean personal care into a $100M+ brand after an ACL injury shifted his path from professional snowboarding. He discusses how he created a high-performing deodorant after multiple iterations and reveals the secret strategy that made retailers like Sephora approach him—without ever pitching. Nima shares insights on building an enduring brand, the importance of team dynamics, and applying athlete discipline to business success, all while maintaining a strong digital identity.

Teri Johnson, founder of Harlem Candle Company and Harlem Perfume Company, turned a kitchen side hustle into a multimillion-dollar fragrance empire. She shares how her passion for storytelling rooted in the Harlem Renaissance guided her brand's identity. From selling out pop-ups to selling scents online without samples, Teri highlights her groundbreaking marketing strategies. She reveals the importance of community support, genuine customer engagement, and maintaining operational integrity, all while prioritizing peace over endless growth.

Lanny Smith, a former professional basketball player and founder of Actively Black, shares his inspiring journey of turning purpose into profit. Before launching, he built a community of 10,000 followers, showcasing the power of demand-first thinking. Lanny discusses how purpose-driven branding led to $55,000 in first-day sales and $2 million in the first year, despite facing inventory challenges. He highlights key partnerships with brands like Marvel and emphasizes the importance of aligning values with investors and fostering long-term customer trust.