
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth
2020 transformed the world of ecommerce forever.
For the modern DTC brand, the rewards have never been greater. But the waters have also never been choppier, and the way forward has never been more uncertain.
So how do you navigate this dangerous new reality?
No matter how you do it, you’d better not do it alone.
That’s where the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast comes in — join Common Thread Collective’s Taylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin as they bring you guiding insights from across CTC’s portfolio of growing DTC businesses.
Whether you need a clear view on the macro issues affecting the world of ecommerce, or want to reorient your business around groundbreaking new big-picture strategies, Taylor & Richard are here to help answer the tough questions about what it takes to scale — and sustain — an ecommerce business.
Latest episodes

Sep 21, 2022 • 11min
How to Manage People to Grow Your Brand
Using your resources as effectively as possible is essential for growing your business at any pace. In this episode, Andrew talks about two ways to manage people well. “It’s not easy to be a great manager — and it’s not in the realm of tactics for growth — but it is an important part of building a great company.”
Show notes:
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewjfaris
- Try Freshmarketer: https://bit.ly/3S5wXcH

6 snips
Sep 15, 2022 • 17min
The Antidote to Shiny Object Syndrome
Brands that are trying to grow really fast often try the next most tempting “shiny object” to get there. In this episode, Andrew talks about the importance of taking time to align your behaviors to your goals. “Where are you trying to go, how clear can you get on that goal as quickly as possible, and how much can you put your focus toward it?”
Show notes:
Try Freshmarketer: https://bit.ly/3S5wXcH

Sep 8, 2022 • 29min
Financing to Scale with Obvi CEO Ron Shah
The right tools don’t change the fundamentals of running your business — they allow you to think about your business in a new way. In this episode, Andrew talks with Obvi Founder & CEO Ron Shah about their plans for upcoming growth, and how they plan to finance that growth. “Because we’re bootstrapped, it’s hard to make that fuel last long. When you have opportunities to scale, it actually costs more to do that. When you realize the cost is higher, you need to come up with more solutions to make that happen.”
Show Notes:
- Parker, the ecommerce financial soultion: https://getparker.com/
- Follow Ron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/obviceo
- Ron's thread on how he built Obvi: https://bit.ly/3LdGVH3
- Ron's thread on his BFCM plans: https://bit.ly/3QsvtYX
- Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronak06/
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewjfaris

Aug 31, 2022 • 19min
Why Your Customer Journey is Everything
Not all customers are alike. In this episode, Andrew talks about the importance of meeting customers at different points in their customer journey. “It’s really what your whole business comes down to, in terms of your marketing, customer acquisition, and reacquistion.”
Show Notes:
- Get net 60 terms on every transaction. Visit getparker.com to learn more about the credit card built exclusively for ecommerce.

Aug 24, 2022 • 17min
What Are You Selling?
It’s a foundational question for any business: What exactly are you selling, and how is your marketing approach optimized for it? In this episode, Andrew cautions against using one-size-fits-all business advice, particularly for how you market your product. “How your product is sold may be fundamentally different than the way other products are sold.”

Aug 18, 2022 • 1h 9min
The DNA of a Resilient Brand
Is your business set up to withstand hardship? In this episode, we revisit a conversation with Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday about how businesses can remain resilient amid uncertainty. “Who are the businesses that will thrive even if the current situation does become a net negative?”
Show Notes:
- Visit getparker.com to learn more about the credit card built exclusively for ecommerce.

Aug 11, 2022 • 33min
The Only Guide You Need to Grow Your Business
There's a lot of information on the internet about how to grow an ecommerce business, but none exists at this caliber of high-level strategy and detailed execution. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Common Thread Collective VP of Marketing Aaron Orendorff where he unveils the most significant piece of public-facing content CTC has ever produced: The Enterprise Scaling Guide. “It's without hyperbole the most I've bled, sweat, poured, shook-my-fists-at-the-heavens-in-certain-moments-thing that I've ever had the great privilege of putting together.”
Show Notes:
- Visit getparker.com to learn more about the credit card built exclusively for ecommerce.
- Get the Enterprise Scaling Guide: https://bit.ly/3zNTALh

Aug 3, 2022 • 18min
The #1 Key To Email Marketing
Email is an 80/20 game: 80% of the value comes from 20% of what you put into it. In this episode, Andrew shares his thoughts on the current state of email marketing. “The number one thing that generates more value out of email is to send more email. It’s almost annoying how simple that advice is, but it’s true.”
Show Notes:
- Subscribe to the Data Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3btYXqM
- Get a free email marketing audit: https://bit.ly/3zttqxe

Jul 27, 2022 • 33min
How to Finance & Fund Your Ecommerce Business
Funding growth is incredibly hard, especially for brands that are just starting to scale. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Stephen Duke, head of marketing and growth at Wayflyer. “The thing that determines the health of so many ecommerce businesses is their financial engine: how well they are using the right finance tools and thinking about finance.”
Show Notes:
Get started with Wayflyer: www.wayflyer.com

Jul 20, 2022 • 10min
Learning From a Huge Facebook Ads Win
What’s the secret behind massive wins on Facebook? In this episode, Andrew goes back to Facebook ad basics: what works, and what doesn’t. “There are times when the thing that really moves the needle is the product. Or, put more simply, the offer.”