
Ecom Gold
Lessons from masterminds building valuable Ecommerce brands.New episodes each week on YouTube and all podcast platforms, with your host Finn Radford. Subscribe below for exclusive content.
Latest episodes

Oct 12, 2023 • 1h 3min
Upgrading Logistics for SMB eCommerce Brands
Frazer Kinsley, founder of a company that provides investment and advisory services to emerging brands, shares insights into supply chain challenges and how to create an advantage. The podcast also delves into Swatch's successful comeback and the changing landscape of brand growth. Learn about the importance of solid fundamentals, financial metrics, and understanding true margin. This episode is packed with valuable insights for entrepreneurs and consumer goods enthusiasts.

Oct 5, 2023 • 1h 6min
Rise of the Ski Bum: Building a Brand in the Crowded Skiing Industry
In this episode, our host Finn sits down with the founder of Glade Optics, Curt Nichols. As a self-proclaimed ski bum turned entrepreneur, Curt shares his journey of turning his passion for skiing into a successful business. Join us as we dive into topics such as building a brand in a competitive market, scaling up a business, and staying true to your passion. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a fellow ski enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration. So grab your goggles and buckle up, because it's time to hit the slopes with Curt Nichols on EcomGold![00:00:00] Founder of Glade Optics, successful ski bum.[00:09:41] Challenging business building, ski community understanding, market diligence.[00:15:20] Limited funds, testing creative outlet with caution.[00:16:41] Trust gut, take risks, balance ego.[00:26:03] Early days, seasonal challenges, then scalable growth.[00:28:59] Shipping light, high-margin goggles with viral impact.[00:32:50] Seasonality addressed, focus on existing customers. Limited product line expansion.[00:41:38] Inventory constraint hinders growth, want strategic expansion.[00:46:45] High R&D budget crucial for innovative product.[00:51:18] High fees for business loans not important.[00:53:10] High-margin products lead to better marketing results.[00:58:26] Validation from reputable publications boosts brand credibility.[01:04:42] Recognition on mountains as surreal made it.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Sep 28, 2023 • 1h 10min
Next Gen Drinking: How Brez Is Transforming the Cannabis Beverage Market
This week, Finn is joined by Aaron from Brez, a ground-breaking brand disrupting the alcohol industry. In this episode, we'll dive into the fascinating story behind Brez, a cannabis beverage that aims to create people-centric products through innovative and less regulated approaches. Aaron will share how the idea for Brez was born, the challenges they faced in developing the brand, and their mission to provide consumers with refreshing, hydrating, and healthier alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. We'll also discuss the evolving culture of drinking, the emergence of the CBD and hemp-derived THC markets, and the future direction of the cannabis industry. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Aaron's journey of disruption and innovation in the alcohol industry.[00:00:00] Ecom Gold podcast welcomes special guest Aaron from Brez, a THC-infused beverage disrupting the alcohol industry.[00:06:00] Founder of Lucid, dealt with ad restrictions. Partnered with Nick and built successful brands. Expanded into CBD and cannabis industry. Developed new brand called Brez with partners. Successful team effort.[00:12:26] CBD market declined, Delta-8 THC booming. Hemp-derived THC legalized, market expanding rapidly.[00:21:20] Girlfriend tries cannabis in Amsterdam, has hilarious experience.[00:23:15] Nano emulsion technology creates a unique cannabis experience. It offers clarity and control unlike smoking or edibles. Current cannabis culture lacks understanding of dosage. Brez introduces a clear and gateway to cannabis. Brez uses 2.5mg to 5mg doses. Feel the effects within five minutes. Provides relief and happy euphoria similar to alcohol. Includes lions mane mushroom for cognitive enhancement. Not overly intoxicating or sedating like other methods.[00:32:47] Lucky start to cannabis beverage business. Fast and successful launch.[00:42:27] Creating a great product is key. Spread through word of mouth for fast growth.[00:46:53] Experience is a combination of taste and feeling. Taste is subjective, but more people associate with feeling. Lemon and grapefruit-based drink tastes natural and refreshing. The goal is to reduce sugar content and create healthier options. A pharmacology PhD joins the company for future product development.[00:54:52] Creating drinks and products for changing bar culture.[01:00:23] Alcohol harmful, Brez enhances recreational activities.[01:03:37] Changing states is innate; Brez offers a solution.[01:09:29] Nick Shack's product promises a major successGet show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Sep 21, 2023 • 43min
Empowering Beauty: How One Person's Calling Led to a Thriving Makeup Brand
In this weeks episode, Finn is joined by Summer D'on, the founder of Dion makeup skincare. They'll be exploring Summer's inspiring journey of building a brand centered around community and empowering individuals through makeup. Summer shares her experience of studying abroad in Guatemala and the impact it had on her outlook on beauty and helping others feel beautiful. We'll also delve into Summer's journey of creating her own beauty products and the challenges she faced along the way. Plus, we'll discuss the importance of community-building in today's e-commerce landscape and highlight a few amazing sponsors who are supporting us. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired on this episode of EcomGold.[00:00:00] E-commerce legend Summer leverages community for brand growth.[00:03:15] Makeup lover starts company for beginners.[00:08:39] Pandemic changes skincare and makeup routines.[00:11:36] Oldest child, pastor's kid loves makeup. Safe space for self-expression needed.[00:13:30] Nail polish brought joy to deprived girls.[00:16:55] Creating diverse makeup line to compete with Kylie Cosmetics.[00:21:50] Launch, quality, shipping during COVID, packaging, shipment.[00:23:39] Built authentic community, successful launch, viral reaction.[00:27:25] UGC content resonates, but sponsored ads can backfire.[00:32:27] Sendlane is essential for DTC brands.[00:35:28] Growing community, inclusivity, collaborations, giving back, education[00:41:18] Customer segment and positioning vital for business.[00:42:50] Summer showcased talent in e-commerce growth.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 13min
How To Sell Wool: Dominating the Travel Market with Unbound Marino's Innovative Apparel
In today's episode, Finn is joined by new guest, Dan Demsky, the co-founder and CEO of Unbound Marino. Join us as we dive into the world of entrepreneurship and discover how to sell wool. We'll hear about Dan's journey and the challenges faced when starting his apparel brand for travellers. From the importance of positioning and narrowing marketing to creating a fun and collaborative work culture, we'll explore the secrets behind their success. Get ready for an inspiring and insightful conversation on building a business and finding fulfilment along the way. So, grab your headphones and let's dive in![00:00:00] Podcast episode with CEO Dan From.[00:09:00] Lost charger broke streak, gave it up.[00:11:53] Founder creates apparel brand for light packers.[00:24:55] Fun project becomes unexpectedly successful venture.[00:27:54] Entering clothing industry, focused on sourcing and branding.[00:37:54] Old UK clothing company embraces e-commerce.[00:40:33] Startup founder finds inspiration, creates wool brand.[00:47:27] Thrilled entrepreneur leads successful company with pride.[00:55:04] Constantly experimenting to crack the advertising code.[01:00:55] Narrow marketing focus, one product, dominate market.[01:10:12] Operators Slack group: Join for playbook. Sean authentic on WhatsApp, same online. Great choice. Light on fire on random new things. Bizarre online purchase?[01:11:37] Appreciate every moment, find similarities, launch.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Sep 7, 2023 • 55min
Get To Know Louis, Carte Blanch Co Founder.
Louis, Co Founder of Carte Blanche, discusses starting the brand, their passion for branding and attention to detail. They highlight their success in the drop-based model, focusing on marketing, designs, and customer connections. They emphasize quality over profit and their creative collaboration. The podcast also covers their entrepreneurial journey from a young age, running a 3PL and a brand simultaneously, building perceived value, using the right platform for e-commerce, and recommendations for running a dropshipping business.

Aug 31, 2023 • 51min
An Inside Look at Operating a Secret 3PL With Chad Carlton.
Chad Carlton discusses 3PL and success.[00:06:24] Hardship leads to success in business.[00:12:38] Despite challenges, succeeded with new client. Leased another facility, shipped 250k pieces. Expanded to help other companies solve problems. Reached million shipments through referrals. Named company The Good Company.[00:17:40] Great cross-functional relationships, high expectations, high communications.[00:23:44] Outsource fulfillment to 3PL for efficiency.[00:27:22] Top Amazon seller questions FBA vs. self-fulfillment. People vs process company.[00:33:32] Responsibility for customer satisfaction, accountability, and training.[00:37:07] Customized 3PL rates benefit unique businesses.[00:43:52] Hack rigid system, align incentives, manage nuances.[00:48:40] Managing exceptions to improve fulfillment experience.Welcome back to another exciting episode of EcomGold. In this episode, we delve into the world of third-party logistics (3PL) with our guest, Chad Carlton, who runs an exclusive 3PL for chosen brands. Chad shares his insights on managing high demand and keeping customers coming back. We'll also explore the importance of tailoring agreements, managing expectations, and the benefits of working with specialized boutique 3PLs. Join us as we uncover the intricacies of the 3PL industry.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Aug 24, 2023 • 58min
The Power of Disruptive Content: Purple's Goldilocks Video and Kizik's Hands-Free Shoes.
In today's episode, our host Finn is joined by special guest Brett from the nine-figure brand Kizik, known for their game-changing hands-free shoes. We'll dive into Kizik's journey in the shoe industry and their goal of reaching a billion dollars in revenue. But first, we'll take a fascinating look at how Purple disrupted the mattress industry through their goldilocks video campaign and how Kizik employs a similar strategy to revolutionize footwear. From creating entertaining and memorable content to expanding into retail stores and international markets, our guest shares valuable insights into their successful marketing and growth strategies. Stay tuned as we uncover the secrets to becoming a household name and disrupting the world of shoes. This episode is brought to you by our sponsors, Sendlane and Rewind. Let's dive in![00:00:00] E-commerce podcast features Bret discussing hands-free shoe.[00:03:25] Workaholic marketer strives to balance work and family.[00:07:11] Changing business goals, growth, challenges, team management.[00:10:52] Prioritize impactful tasks, avoid unnecessary meetings.[00:14:59] Hands-free tech company revolutionizing footwear industry.[00:20:01] From photographer to marketer, learning and growing.[00:25:04] Purple focused on disruptive video content, using humor and long-form videos to stand out in the mattress industry. Kisick, a footwear company, followed a similar strategy of creating entertaining and memorable content to disrupt the relatively unchanged footwear market. Videos and demonstrations helped turn skeptics into believers for Kisick's innovative technology.[00:28:46] Functional footwear brand evolves to be aspirational.[00:34:53] Video first, demonstrating unique Hands Free technology.[00:39:55] Paid social is the biggest contributor (55-60%), followed by YouTube (5%) and paid search (10%). Testing platforms like TikTok and Snapchat is challenging to scale. Facebook and Google dominate the budget. Paid influencer partnerships are used for product promotion. Organic content is repurposed from paid social. The target audience is busy moms aged 25-40. They are active on Instagram and TikTok.[00:42:49] If you're in the DTC space, use Sendlane.[00:47:27] Shoes are sexy; more repeat buyers.[00:50:46] Flexible online sales, expanding into retail.[00:52:46] Expanding brand with new stores, international expansion.[00:56:44] Thank you, Bret, for joining the Ecom Gold podcast.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Aug 17, 2023 • 1h 10min
Taking on giants. Selling pharmaceuticals with Ryan Gresh.
[00:09:53] Feel Good Labs founded on family-developed product, pain relief through skin delivery. Nature-inspired ingredients found to be effective.[00:13:59] Increase product absorption through clean skin.[00:18:33] Passionate entrepreneur provides hope and relief.[00:24:39] Decades-in-the-making pain reliever formulation, manufacturing setbacks.[00:33:43] Challenges, authenticity, and scaling QVC success.[00:38:05] Functional medicine aims to improve overall wellness by addressing inflammation and stress. They offer natural pain cream and sport recovery lotion as initial products, then educate customers on supplements like vitamin D and fish oil for optimal health. Hydration, sleep, and nutrition are prioritized in that order. The brand recently launched a food inflammation test that reveals individual reactions to different foods. This test helps people reduce inflammation and improve overall body function.[00:46:37] Retail growth is the ultimate playbook.[00:51:50] Business changed, considering possible buyout, personal mission.[00:55:37] Growing wellness company with unique pain relief approach.[01:01:42] Iterative packaging design with emphasis on experience.[01:07:50] Promising pain relief, but challenges exist.Ryan's father, a knowledgeable expert in formulating drugs for transdermal delivery, spent decades perfecting topical pain relievers. The breakthrough came when he started collaborating with local herbalists and experimenting with different natural ingredients.Throughout their journey, they encountered various challenges, including regulatory requirements and the need for preservatives to extend shelf life. But they didn't let these obstacles hinder their progress. In fact, they're now working on a new foot and leg pain spray, refining the formulation even further.The Feel Good Labs' vision extends beyond just pain relief. They're devoted to building a world where people can be healthy and feel good without relying on supplements or pain relievers. Their dedication to educating customers on overall wellness is truly admirable.But how does Feel Good Labs differentiate itself in a market dominated by big players? How do they address the skepticism surrounding natural products' efficacy? And what strategies are they implementing to make a lasting impact?Stay tuned as we delve into these questions and more, and uncover the captivating story of Feel Good Labs. So, without further ado, let's jump right into our conversation with Ryan.Get show alerts and playbooks by signing up on the EcomGold website: www.ecom.goldClaim an extended free trial as a show listener.EcomGold is brought to you by:Rewind Shopify App.Back up your Shopify store because not doing so is absolute lunacy! As a listener of the show, you can claim a no strings attached free month with this link: https://rewind.com/ecommercegold/Sendlane.Unified email, SMS, and reviews for eCommerce. Better features. Better support. Better customer experience. Send your customers exactly what they want, when they want it. (Better than Klaviyo in Finn's opinion). https://www.sendlane.com/Follow Finn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/finn_radford

Aug 8, 2023 • 1h 4min
Beyond Endorsements: Celebrities as Founders and the Rise of Celebrity-driven Businesses
Guest Dhruv, an expert in celebrity endorsements and talent management, discusses the challenges of selecting the right celebrity for a brand and the importance of genuine celebrity investment. He explores the future of e-commerce, the role of technology, and the impact of celebrity co-founders. The podcast also delves into the dynamics of celebrity partnerships, equity stakes, and the purpose of the website in providing a comprehensive view of the brand space.
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