Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

On this episode, CTC’s Director of Creative Strategy & Performance Aileen McKenna joins Taylor & Richard to discuss the urgency of building great evergreen ad creative in September and October, how to systemically brainstorm new ad ideas, and the right place to expend effort and resources when Black Friday comes. ⁠Show Notes: If you’re a $10M - $100M ecommerce brand with a Growth Quotient (GQ) of 130 or greater, we’ll cover $25k of ad spend when you become a CTC client. Apply here: https://commonthreadco.com/pages/contact-holiday-ad-spend The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard talk to Common Thread Collective COO Orchid Bertelsen about breaking through the pre-Holiday doldrums, how to build a revenue peak that works for your brand unique needs, and why even us aging millennials should be on TikTok. Show Notes: Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://getsaral.com/champions/ctc If you’re a $10M - $100M ecommerce brand with a Growth Quotient (GQ) of 130 or greater, we’ll cover $25k of ad spend when you become a CTC client. Apply here: https://commonthreadco.com/pages/contact-holiday-ad-spend The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

KC Holiday, Co-founder of QALO, and his brother Taylor reflect on the early days of their company, Common Thread Collective, and discuss the evolution of ecommerce. They share their experiences with blogging, social media management, and creating viral content. They also talk about starting a business with no strategy, growth strategies, unconventional marketing, and unexpected opportunities.

The podcast discusses the importance of planning for Q4 in Q3 for e-commerce businesses, focusing on inventory purchasing and minimizing cash risks. It emphasizes the role of growth mapping system and forecasting in connecting marketing and finance. The speakers highlight the significance of qualitative planning and daily inputs to track progress and react quickly. They also discuss the execution of ad campaigns on Facebook and stress the importance of integrating data-driven decision making and creative strategy. The chapter emphasizes making proactive decisions and connecting marketing with finance.

Q4 success starts in Q3. And the most successful brands on Black Friday have one thing in common: They plan their entire marketing effort around four distinct revenue “mini-peaks” within the holiday season. On this episode, Richard talks with CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin and Senior Ecommerce Data Analyst Steve Rekuc, breaking down our comprehensive four-part plan to tackle BFCM for our clients in 2023.  ⁠Show Notes: The Edge Summit, hosted by Bloomreach, is a one-of-a-kind collective conversation on the future of marketing and AI. Learn more at theedgesummit.com. If you’re a 130+ GQ brand between $10-$100M, we’re so confident that we can win for you that we’re willing to give you a free month. Just click here to start the application process. The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Leadership is a combination of two major skills: Knowing when the organization is heading in the wrong direction, and knowing which direction to go instead. On this episode, Taylor reflects on a recent 180 we’ve made as a business and why he thinks it’s the right time to make that change. Then, Taylor and Richard discuss the incredible power of saying “no” and how it forms the basis of strategic decision making. ⁠Show Notes: If you’re a 130+ GQ brand between $10-$100M, we’re so confident that we can win for you that we’re willing to give you a free month. Just click here to start the application process. The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Taylor and Richard discuss a revolutionary approach to creative ideation, emphasizing the importance of aligning creative production with media buying. They also explore the challenges of balancing creative ideation and constraints, the importance of generating more ideas for advertising campaigns, and the significance of implementing a creative system for cost control in media buying.

What makes a great brand? What businesses are most likely to grow quickly? Why not ask the leader of the brand with the highest Growth Quotient score we’ve ever seen? In this episode, Taylor and Richard chat with Heart & Soil CEO Dean Brennan about the brand strategy that’s led to massive first-order profitability, dirt-cheap CAC, and 200%+ 1-year LTV growth.  ⁠Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm If you’re a 130+ GQ brand between $10-$100M, we’re so confident that we can win for you that we’re willing to give you a free month

Once you have your ecommerce tactics down and you’re successfully turning a profit, you’re confronted with a deceptively complicated question: what do I do with all this money? In this episode, Taylor talks to Dave Rekuc, president of Bambu Earth, and Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, about the smart way to put money back into your business. ⁠ Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

In many ways, $1M to $20M is the most exciting growth stage for any ecommerce business — you know you have a business that works, but you’re small enough that you have the freedom to innovate without being held back by bureaucracy. On this episode, Richard talks with ecommerce growth expert (and former Ecommerce Playbook host!) Andrew Faris about the keys to success for brands at this crucial growth stage. ⁠Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://getsaral.com/champions/ctc Get in touch with Andrew at ⁠ajfgrowth.com⁠, and check out his podcast ⁠here⁠.