eComFuel

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 18 months, you are probably aware that container prices are stupidly high right now. Our ECF importing expert, David Bryant of eComCrew, joins me today to discuss what has caused these ridiculously high prices and what you can do to mitigate the pain. Take a listen and get insight into how we got to where we are when it comes to global shipping, what the near-future holds for lead times and pricing, and what you can do now to help lessen the blow. There are some valuable lessons I learned from my conversation with David, so make you don’t miss this episode—especially with holiday shopping just around the corner! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ipjdtW Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

It’s been a rough year for many of us. Shipping rates have gone through the roof, supplier prices are increasing, and margins are getting tighter. My good friend and regular guest Bill D’Alessandro joins me today to discuss one piece of the profitability puzzle: the sad world of supplier price increases. We’re diving into what’s been going on in the world with supplier price increases, if the levels we’re hearing about are in line with what the official numbers say, and whether or not you can expect even more price increases in the near future. We’re also looking at different ways you can protect your business and your personal investments, and mitigate price increases without impacting your sales and profitability. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3kGMAcS Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

The real magic of the ECF community is when you get together in person. It’s where stories are born, memories are made, and friendships are created. For the last 2 years, we have wanted to bring someone into the team who could focus on the magic of bringing people together, and I’m happy to announce that Audrey Smith, event planner extraordinaire, has joined the ECF team to up-level our post-pandemic live event game plan. In this episode, we’re diving into Audrey’s background in event planning, what made her apply for ECF, and what her favorite planning has been so far. We’re also talking about what is coming down the pipeline for ECF, including a sneak peek of the upcoming ECF Live, and what you can expect in the near future when it comes to regional events. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3lsOYmB Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Corey Nicholson is the 20-year-old co-founder of Peachy Shapewear, a line of women’s shapewear that leveraged the power of TikTok to scale to 7 figures. Today we’re diving into the details behind their success, as well as Corey’s own personal journey from McDonald’s to eCommerce. Listen in as he shares how Peachy Shapewear has leveraged TikTok influencers to scale, his recommendations for partnering with them, and the details to optimize TikTok ads, content, and workflows. If you’ve been considering up-leveling your TikTok game, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3hhFSYH Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

For the first 12 years of my entrepreneurial career, I was the only shareholder in my business, and I didn’t fully appreciate how much that fact really streamlined decision-making, finances, and governance until I brought on shareholders. The truth is that bringing on shareholders opens up a whole new world in terms of possibilities and opportunities, but it also opens up a whole new set of considerations. So, in this episode, I’m jumping into all the things that you should be considering if you’re thinking about starting—or investing in—a multi-owner business so you don’t shoot yourself in the foot. I’ll be sharing how you can set up governance, what to think about when it comes to compensation, some of the different ways boards can be structured, and even what to consider when it comes to selling the business or its shares.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BKuj4f Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Could you really unplug from your business for an extended period? What would that look like? How could you make it happen? What would happen to your business in your absence? These are all questions we’re answering today with my guest, Greg Howlett. Greg is the CEO of CaringSunshine.com and Cobblestone Trade, and he recently went off-grid, completely unplugged, for five weeks with his family. As business owners, we all struggle with the work-life balance, so I brought Greg on today to discuss how he is able to step away from his business without things falling apart. Listen in as he shares how you can make it work in your business, the lessons he has learned from years of making unplugged time a priority, and the first step to actually making it happen for yourself.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/382xLdi Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Today I am joined by Andrew Faris, the CEO and man behind 4×400, a holding company that launches and grows eCommerce brands. He is also the voice behind The eCommerce Playbook podcast, and one of the things I love most about him is his super candid thoughts about the good, the bad, and the ugly of eCommerce businesses. Listen in as Andrew dives into the businesses he has purchased, what went well, what didn’t go well, and some of the hard knocks he experienced along the way. We also talk about the difficulties of protecting cash flow without relatable revenue streams to forecast from, and Andrew shares some of his favorite pieces of eCommerce tech. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2UigWrS Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Oftentimes, a large portion of an entrepreneur’s wealth comes from the exit, and in this episode, I’m sitting down with Joe Valley to get geeky about the highs and lows of selling businesses. Joe is not only the author of The EXITpreneur’s Playbook and a long-time business broker with Quiet Light Brokerage, but he has also helped a lot of ECF members exit their own businesses. Listen in as we dive into the art of buying and selling from Joe’s perspective, having handled hundreds of transactions over his career, including how you can set up your business to sell for top dollar right from the beginning. We also talk about where the market is right now in terms of buying and selling eCommerce stores, as well as some of the specifics surrounding FBA businesses, addbacks, and what the perfect-sized business really is. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VxNj6A Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

We all know there are two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. I’m excited to have my accountant, Mario Lucibello, join me today to talk about saving on taxes and tax strategies specific for entrepreneurs and business owners. We also chatted about something I wasn’t expecting that really opened my eyes to how we view and think about our money. Listen in as we dive into how to save on your taxes in many different circumstances, including some of the best ways to sell assets without losing your profit to taxes. You'll learn why you might want to consider paying yourself more through your payroll, why having an accountant who understands your unique situation is the best way to save money, and the psychology behind how we think about our money. Mario has seen the finances of hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years, and he has a really interesting perspective on wealth and well-being that you won't want to miss. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3jfFFpb Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

You probably spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours every day sitting in front of your computer screen, and your ability to use that machine well dictates not only how productive you are, but how well your business does. But how often do we really sit and think about how well our computer is set up, how well it’s optimized, and how efficient we are at using it? In this short and sweet episode, I’m sharing my tips for mastering your computer so you can shave time off your work week and get more done in less time. Something as simple as leveling up your computer skills can have massive implications on your productivity and business success, so make sure you don’t miss this episode! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3iBW5aO Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.