
Ecommerce Conversations
Ecommerce Conversations is the long-running weekly podcast from Practical Ecommerce, hosted by ecommerce entrepreneur Eric Bandholz. •• Listen in as Eric interviews in-the-trenches founders and executives who address the essentials of launching, growing, and sustaining an online business. Hear their successes, mistakes, and plans — addressing customer acquisition, web traffic, marketing tactics, on-site conversion, shipping, favorite tools, funding, obstacles, and much more. •• New episodes every Friday. Subscribe to the podcast here, and then read a condensed transcript at https://www.PracticalEcommerce.com/tag/podcasts.
Latest episodes

May 22, 2014 • 19min
Pawnshops Migrate Online; Pawntique.com CEO Explains
Most sectors of the retail economy do business on the Internet. That now includes pawnshops. Our guest, Don Battis, is the founder of Pawntique.com, a web-only pawnshop that serves all of the U.S. from its base in New Hampshire. He speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.

May 22, 2014 • 19min
Outright CEO on Accounting for Non-Accountants
Every business, ecommerce or otherwise, should maintain accurate books and records. But for some entrepreneurs, the accounting function is intimidating and confusing. Outright.com aims to simplify the accounting process for all entrepreneurs, regardless of their accounting skills. Outright’s CEO is Steven Aldrich. He speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.

May 22, 2014 • 27min
Dropship.com Co-founder on Pros, Cons of Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is the process of selling an item that is then shipped by a manufacturer or wholesaler. Many ecommerce merchants utilize drop shipping, at least in part, to reduce inventory costs and to expand their product offerings. But drop shipping can be complicated, too. We explore the pros and cons of drop shipping in this interview with Jeremy Hanks, co-founder and CEO of Dropship.com, a software platform that automates back-office drop shipping functions between retailers and manufacturers. He speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.

May 22, 2014 • 23min
Ecommerce Owner on Selling the Business
Many merchants dream of building a successful ecommerce business, and then selling it. Our guest today — who is now a Practical eCommerce contributing editor — has done just that. He’s Dale Traxler. His former business is Beaded Impressions, a collection of four separate jewelry sites. He joins Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock to explain the process of selling.

May 22, 2014 • 21min
TRXTraining.com Exec On Innovative Video
The use of video by ecommerce merchants can increase sales. One company that uses video in innovative ways is TRX Training, a retailer of exercise equipment. It has an extensive YouTube channel, and it features videos on its own ecommerce site. Ian Hackett is TRX Training’s senior director of ecommerce and user experience. He speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.

May 22, 2014 • 26min
Logistics Expert On Reducing Shipping Costs
Strategies and ideas to reduce shipping expense appeal to most every ecommerce merchant. Our guest today is a shipping and logistics expert, helping merchants reduce their shipping costs. He’s John Haber, founder and CEO of Spend Management Experts, a shipping and logistics consulting firm.

May 22, 2014 • 28min
Alibaba V.P. On Opportunities For U.S. Ecommerce Merchants
There’s no bigger name in the ecommerce industry than Alibaba. It was launched in 1999 in China, but it now services millions of businesses and consumers, offering wholesale and retail products worldwide. Its vice president of global sales and service is Brian Wong. He joins Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock to discuss Alibaba, opportunities for ecommerce retailers on that site, and global trade generally.

May 22, 2014 • 24min
EquaShip CEO on Low-Volume Shipping Discounts
The cost of shipping is material to most every ecommerce business. There’s a company that offers smaller merchants discounted shipping rates that are typically available only to high volume sellers. The company is EquaShip. Its CEO, Ron Wiener, speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.

May 22, 2014 • 25min
Vat19.com Owner On 2011 Growth, Profits
We’ve recently asked ecommerce merchants to share their 2011 experiences — good or bad — with us. For this installment, we are joined by Jamie Salvatori. He the founder and owner of Vat19, an established ecommerce business that sells unique gift items. He’s also a Practical Ecommerce blogger, at “The (Ecommerce) Corner Office.” He speaks with us about how his company fared in 2011.

May 22, 2014 • 25min
Cat5 Commerce CEO Recaps 2011
A review of ecommerce sales for 2011 is the topic of our interview today. We are joined by an ecommerce entrepreneur and pioneer who will share his company’s experience. He’s Chad Weinman, CEO of Cat5 Commerce, which operates 10 separate ecommerce stores — including RunningShoes.com and TacticalGear.com — from its base in Missouri. He speaks with Practical Ecommerce’s Kerry Murdock.