The Andrew Faris Podcast

I've never done an episode like this ever before. Nate Lagos's tweet outlining his exact 10 keys to growing Original Grain was so good that I immediately DMed him and said, "Let's talk more about all of these." So that's what we did: from 1-10, we went piece by piece through each of the points on the list and kicked them around. This episode is good because Nate is right about so much. Calls to stop touching your ad account, spend money no matter what, and, of course, make sure you've got that dog in you–they're various levels of wise and counterintuitive. Nate is currently the Head of Marketing at Original Grain and formerly ran growth at Dugout Mugs. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:27] Nate's tweet about success. [00:06:32] Change in mentality in 2022. [00:13:14] Having a steady hand. [00:15:11] Mental health and morale. [00:18:03] Spending more money on ads. [00:21:00] Cutting the marketing department's fixed costs. [00:24:58] We raised our prices. [00:27:09] Premium product and customer value. [00:31:02] Banger product strategy over marketing. [00:33:09] Launching products for new audiences. [00:36:21] Resisting shiny object syndrome. [00:39:22] Focus on generating contribution margin. [00:43:09] Recognizing significant tailwinds. [00:45:31] Real growth happens in the trenches. EPISODE SPONSOR Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.morenow.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. FOLLOW UP WITH NATE Read The Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/natelagos/status/1692219115266585024 Follow Nate On X: ⁠@NateLagos⁠ FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW Follow Andrew on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE MUSIC Music Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tell Me Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means Music Outro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rusty Little Scissors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means

AOV is either the most overrated or underrated metric in ecommerce, depending on who you ask. So I'm here to answer the question once and for all: does AOV even really matter? It depends. Let me explain. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:02:11] AOV is not necessarily as good as you think. [00:03:58] Increasing AOV and conversion rate. [00:08:00] Low AOV + large market. [00:11:39] Slow purchase accumulation. [00:14:41] Nonlinear trade-off between AOV and conversion rate. [00:16:09] AOV and shipping efficiency. [00:20:00] AOV and gross margin. [00:22:13] AOV and profit considerations. EPISODE SPONSOR Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.morenow.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Spotify, Apple) FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW Follow Andrew on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE MUSIC Music Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tell Me Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means Music Outro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rusty Little Scissors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means

It's arguably the wildest ride I've ever been on in ecommerce: since beginning to work with Sarah Moret and ⁠Curie⁠ in January of this year (2023), we've seen massive, rapid growth–and it's been profitable from the start. Oh also: part of that included selling into every Walmart in the US. Just nuts. Sarah is a killer operator and entrepreneur. With a background in both Accounting & VC, she brings a serious financial skillset to the table that has made her quick to turn her rapid growth into disciplined, smart management. Tune in to this episode if you want to hear about how the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship and learn how we've seen such an explosion this year. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:03:55] Sarah Moret founded Curie after working in venture capital. [00:05:30] Entrepreneurship is for everyone. [00:12:04] Ups and downs of business. [00:17:29] Value proposition is customer-focused. [00:24:37] Transition from lumpy to managed growth. [00:29:02] Exceeding growth expectations through collaboration. [00:29:58] Rapid growth and Walmart partnership. [00:35:07] Different risk assessments in business. [00:43:53] Retail expansion requires careful planning. [00:47:52] Manage growth with financial forecasting. [00:48:20] Cash flow forecast is crucial. [00:56:16] Patience is key for success. EPISODE SPONSOR Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.morenow.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin" AFP Episode: www.ajfgrowth.com/mixed "Your Ecom Store Should Use A Quiz" AFP Episode (YT, Spotify, Apple) Curie's Quiz 13-Week Cashflow Guide Cohort Model Forecast FOLLOW UP WITH SARAH Follow Sarah On Twitter: @thats_a_moret FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW Follow Andrew on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE MUSIC Music Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tell Me Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means Music Outro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rusty Little Scissors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means

Learn about the importance of the message in creating successful ads. Find out the 4 crucial steps to generate impactful ad creative. Explore the significance of testing hooks and capturing attention. Get guidance on creating effective advertisements and communicating product benefits.

About a year ago, I released the first interview I ever recorded for The Andrew Faris Podcast: an interview with Patrick Coddou after he'd officially sold Supply. Selling Supply was a big moment, not just because every exit is a big movement, but because Patrick had become a core member of the ecommerce community, regularly offering up both help and questions as he built along the way. So a year later, we caught up: what's Patrick been doing since selling? What's life really like after the exit? Did he have seller's remorse? Is he just going to sit on the beach forever, and if so, is "retirement" all its cracked up to be. The conversation ended up being a wide-ranging exploration on business, wealth, faith, family, and priorities. I, for one, thought Patrick came full of insights. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:01:21] Life after selling a business. [00:09:20] Taking time for self-reflection. [00:09:28] Entrepreneurs often neglect rest. [00:15:04] Weight of business ownership. [00:22:20] Prioritize intentional rest for well-being. [00:25:18] Strong relationships lead to happiness. [00:31:29] Intentionally structure your post-exit life. [00:33:40] Set boundaries for work-life balance. [00:41:20] Intentional rest re-centers identity. [00:43:04] Rest is essential for productivity. EPISODE SPONSOR Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.morenow.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Patrick's Previous Episode: "Patrick Coddou Sold Supply" (Spotify, Apple) The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry Book The Good Life Book "Work And Rest" Sermon By Dr. Timothy Keller FOLLOW UP WITH PATRICK Follow Patrick On Twitter: @SoundsLikeCanoe Email Patrick For Consulting: patrick.coddou@gmail.com FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW Follow Andrew on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE MUSIC Music Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tell Me Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means Music Outro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rusty Little Scissors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means

The podcast discusses the importance of focus in achieving business goals. It highlights narrowing focus for better productivity and emphasizes focusing on core strengths. The speaker shares their journey of starting their own business and the transformational effects of focusing on the highest value parts of their work.

This podcast episode features Jess Bachman, a creative strategist who shares his process for generating effective ads. Highlights include measuring creative performance, custom metrics for video ads, iterative ad optimization, stacking ads for maximum impact, and the importance of engagement metrics. The episode also discusses the importance of creative in performance marketing and introduces the Fire School program.

Learn how to implement key concepts into your business operations, such as tracking contribution margin and managing operating expenses. Explore the challenges and benefits of using machine learning in ecommerce. Also, hear about an upcoming episode on creative strategies and a sponsor offering hiring services.

Ezra Firestone, CEO of Boom! By Cindy Joseph and of Overtone, plus the Founder of Zipify and SmartMarketer, shares his insights on life and business. Topics include finding meaning and joy, serving unselfishly while profiting, enjoying the present, and the importance of deep thinking.

In a straightforward, tactical advice episode, I make the argument that more ecom stores should consider using quizzes as a core part of their customer acquisition funnels. Quizzes are fun, engaging, yield loads of customer data, capture email & SMS info at massive rates, and maybe most crucially, are highly effective at guiding customers to the exact right product for them. What's not to love? SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:09] Using quizzes for customer engagement. [00:08:09] Quiz as a fun and effective shopping experience [00:09:23] Quiz as landing page alternative. [00:18:12] Quizzes improve customer engagement. [00:19:40] Start with Octane AI. EPISODE SPONSOR Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.morenow.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE OctaneAI Shopify Quiz Builder "You Have To Bridge The Digital Gap" AFP episode (Apple, Spotify) Bambu Earth Quiz FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW Follow Andrew on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE MUSIC Music Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tell Me Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means Music Outro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rusty Little Scissors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by The Devious Means