The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

On today’s episode we discuss the future of ecommerce. We talk about what we notice in the market right now. We also discuss our future plans for our businesses. This will be a part one on this subject. Part two will focus on our predictions about business on Amazon. The topics we discussed today: Why Amazon’s trade deal with China will cause trouble for American manufacturers. The things that Mike thinks will set China back in a “take over.” Signs that retail stores are dying. Automation’s role in retail shopping and production. Will Facebook still be king of advertising? How PPC (pay per click) is becoming a unsavory business practice. Why SEO will phase out. Why arbitration sellers will have stricter guidelines and licensing. The reasons we moved away from Amazon and focused on personal selling platforms. Our predictions for Amazon are a whole episode in itself, so tune in for part two of this topic. Our Predictions for eCommerce: Amazon. Resources Mentioned Today: Amazon Color It Cuttingboard.com Icewraps.com If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

During today’s episode we talk about the common debate e-commerce founders have: Shopify or BigCommerce. In recent developments BigCommerce has made some polarizing changes to their services. The changes have alienated theme developers and price changes have alienated users. This has caused many users to move their business to Shopify. We discuss this shift and compare Shopify and BigCommerce. We have both had experience with both sites so our conversation is more of a pro and con list. The questions we answer today are: Which site has the most capacity for products that require lots of options (ex: color choice). Which site is most common (thus easier to work with for others)? Which site makes managing orders easier. Which site allows the best customer follow-up process. Which site offers the best coupon or sale options to a customer. Other topics we cover are: What happened to BigCommerce’s business. Why Shopify is so much bigger than BigCommerce. Why check out conversation is a big plus for these sites. BigCommerce’s theme changes and why it’s causing problems. The pros of BigCommerce. The pros of Shopify. We tried to keep away from bashing these sites because both sites have their uses. It all depends on what an entrepreneur needs to do on their platform. So consider this episode as a weighing of the options. Go with whatever will best fit your product. Resources Mentioned Today: Shopify BigCommerce Cuttingboard.com Icewraps.com Color It If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

On today’s episode we are going to answer some listener questions again. Today’s questions have to do with credit. You guys asked us, “How do I build business credit?” and “Why should I use credit vs. cash?” We answer these questions today and give you some insight into how interest rates and loans work for businesses. The points for “How do I build business credit?” Why it’s important to have good personal credit. Issues that can affect a bank loan. Why time changes credit negotiations. Why you need PayPal to do business overseas. The points for “Why should I use credit vs. cash?” The benefits of credit. Credit as a tool. Cash as a tool. How to keep money in your company, while keeping up with inventory. How to build credit with vendors. Why you should only use credit for inventory. What are “net terms?” Some of the other topics we discussed today: How to negotiate free shipping. Why you should always use cash if possible. What is the best percentage of interest? When to say no to the interest. This turned out to be a pretty deep subject today. We’re glad we can offer some help or insight for you guys. Resources: Cuttingboard.com Color It If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Well we are both are back from our Asia trips and we’re ready to get back into the swing of the podcast. We record these episodes in batches and we’re getting ready for a new one. We also plan on doing a follow up episode on “Cash is King.” So keep an eye out for that. We’re simply going to be answering a listener's questions today. We received a two part question from Ryan. He asked us “Is there a point when having too many products can hurt your store?” and followed up with “Does it make sense to remove low margin items in favor of high margin products?” We answer both of these questions based on our experiences. If you are having a problem with these kind of issues, this episode could be useful to you. The points of our first answer: Why having too many products can be a problem. The only reason to keep so many. How it makes inventory easier. How your sales stats can help pare down a large product list. The points of our second answer: What are the customers buying? How 3PL makes things easier. How the business stats can help influence your decision. When to raise prices, When to mark-up a product. How to avoid being a mere peddler. The advantages of cultivating a brand and what that can mean for your products. Resources Mentioned Today: Cuttingboard.com Colorit.com Icewraps.com If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Hello this is Grant Chen bringing you today’s episode. Today we talk with Chris McCabe of eCommerce Chris. Chris’s business helps seller who have been suspended, blacklisted, or are under investigation by Amazon. Amazon has created a complex system which is supposed to weed out the bad apples and protect the customers and reputable sellers. The problem is there are policy issues and Standard Operation Procedures that can keep a seller from using their account. That is where Chris comes in; Chris is a former Amazon employee and has inside understanding of Amazon’s process. He teaches people how to cooperate with Amazon and regain control of their accounts. During today’s episode Chris shares what he does for his clients and how you can avoid the suspensions and investigations of Amazon. Today’s points: What eCommerce Chris does for Amazon Sellers Chris’s background with Amazon The issues Chris helps with for sellers Amazon’s stricter policies Why many sellers need to change their business models Why a seller shouldn’t rely on closeout sales and liquidations How to produce good supply documentation Chris’s plans for SCOE Conference Common mistakes sellers make with Amazon The 4 main infractions How to be proactive with a suspension case How not to be passive How to think like an investigator Amazon vs. eBay Why Chris only hires former Amazon Sellers Today’s Resources: eCommerce Chris Ecom Crew SCOE Conference Amazon Chris’s Course If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

This is Mike Jackness with Ecom Crew. On today’s episode I’m going to tell you about my recent trip to China. I want to stress that these types of trips are essential if you are going to do business with Chinese manufacturers. My trip consisted of 3 places; Shanghai, Pon, and Na-Jing. At all these places I visited some of my suppliers. During this visit I made some notes for future visits. So I’m going to share some of the tips and observations I made during this last visit to China. The tips I cover today: How valuable the Canton Fair is to overseas trade China’s great public rail system Why you should not go to China in the summer Why staying in American hotel chains is best The importance of knowing the culture of your hosts Bring gifts for your hosts Always think about the long term If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Our show today is titled Cash is King! We discuss the ups and downs of inventory and anticipating your market. When we got started, we relied on affiliate marketing so actually keeping an inventory is new for both of us. Today, we tell you what guidelines we use for ourselves with inventory. Also, we talk about inventory practices on Amazon, so tune in for some practical tips. The topics we covered today: An update on our shipping troubles. The 90 Day Rule When you can set terms with a manufacturer. Past issues we’ve seen with inventory. How to be a good buyer. How to optimize Amazon’s inventory listings. Amazon’s holiday storage fees. The benefits of owning your own warehouse. Knowing when to liquidate or hang in there. Why you should do your homework on a product before you order. The mistakes we’ve made in our inventories. Resources: Amazon Stitch Labs Skubana If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Today we talk about a topic we’re kinda divided on, Luck. Some people think luck is essential in business; while others think that luck is made. We debate that conversation on today’s podcast. There are some compelling points made on both sides. Give the episode a listen and see on what side you fall. The points we discussed today: The role of luck in business. The importance of being in the right place at the right time. Being Lucky vs. Being Tenacious. Why you can’t fight city hall. Having a high risk tolerance in business. How to turn lessons into luck. Amazon Nightmares. SEO Lessons. Focusing on good content and user experience. The importance of keeping on eye on your vendors. Resources Ecom Crew Color It Cuttingboard.com If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Today we welcome our guest Steve Chou to the podcast. Steve is the owner of Bumblebee Linens and the creator of My Wife Quit Her Job. Recently Steve has redesigned his linen site and has increased his conversion rate by 42%! Today we discuss what he believes made such an impressive conversion rate happen. Steve’s blog My Wife Quit Her Job is where he he discusses how he and his wife began their custom handkerchief and other linen web store. He even discusses how he increased his conversion in a blog post. On today’s episode we compare notes and offer advice on how to make the changes that will help your business grow. The topics we discussed today are: Sellers Summit The usefulness of a Mastermind group. The rule of shipping, returns, and trust. The design changes Steve made to Bumblebee Linens’ site. How color scheme changes play a part in conversion rate. Why user testing is important to design changes. Why IE is still important to include in a site design. Other tips Steve has to improve your site and brand perception. The benefits of self-coding and custom platforms. Steve’s online training course.   To contact Steve you can fill out the contact form on mywifequitherjob.com or you can follow @mywifequit on Twitter. Ecom also has a special promotion going on with Sellers Summit. If you follow the link on our page you will be able to purchase a virtual pass to the the recorded speaker sessions for 2016’s event. You will be able to purchase the passes at a 33% discount. If you purchase the passes by July 15th you will get exclusive access to a Google Hangout where you can ask the speakers the questions you want answers too! So check out the link in the resources to take advantage of this deal. Resources Mentioned on Today’s Episode My Wife Quit Her Job The Exact Steps I Took To Increase Conversion Rates 42% For My Online Shop, by: Steve Chou Bumblebee Linens Profitable Online Store Sellers Summit ColorIt Cuttingboard.com If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Our guest today is Chad Rubin, the co-founder and CEO of Skubana. Chad shares with us how he and his business partner developed Skubana. Skubana is an All-in-One E-Commerce Operation software. It allows Amazon sellers and other e-marketplace sellers to run their business from one central location without tons of employees or software costs.   During the show today Chad tells us about his background and how Skubana has changed the way e-commerce get done. He offers his insight on the future of Amazon and how the Chinese market is going to change things. There is a ton of great information on today’s podcast.   Some of the topics we cover are:   Chad’s background on Wall Street and Crucial Vacuum How multiple softwares can get expensive and useless The ups and downs of running a warehouse Working with Wal-Mart.com and Jet.com How e-commerce is like Monopoly Chad’s opinion on the future of marketplaces How ecommerce has embraced “Amazon-faction”   Also today Chad is offering to give a free copy of his book Cheaper, Easier, Direct to our listeners. Plus anyone needing referrals to 3PLs can e-mail Chad at chad@skubana.com.   Resources Mentioned Today:   Colorit Cuttingboard.com Skubana Amazon Cheaper, Easier, Direct, by: Chad Rubin and Frank Turner Jet.com Crucial Vacuum   If you have any questions or anything you’d like us to discuss on the podcast please go to ecomcrew.com and fill out the contact form. Also we would really appreciate if you would leave us a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!