How do you transform your FBA brand from a side hustle that simply helps you get by, into a powerhouse business designed to last?  Ben Donovan has discovered the secrets to answering this important question. Ben is a 7-figure Amazon FBA seller and the founder of Brand Builder University, an educational resource that teaches entrepreneurs how to launch profitable Amazon FBA brands. Ben gives us the lowdown on why an increasing number of FBA entrepreneurs are looking to sell their businesses. He also explains why building your business with a mindset to sell will set you up for greater success down the line.  Ben sells on 9 different Amazon marketplaces across North America and Europe. He explains how external influences like the pandemic and Brexit have affected European FBA businesses, as well as the benefits of selling in multiple marketplaces. According to Ben, “If you're selling in the US, you could launch in Canada, or in the UK on your very next inventory order. It’s super easy and it could add 20 or 30% to your sales, if not more, and you don't have to find a new product, supply chain, or supplier.” Ben also walks us through how to set up an effective exit planning strategy and explains why he’s planning on shifting away from building online businesses, into buying them.  If you’d like to take a deeper dive into Ben’s extensive FBA knowledge, check out his new course, The FBA Freedom Challenge, in the links below. Topics Discussed in this episode: How Ben has built his business portfolio to its current level (05:11) How the pandemic and ecommerce boom have affected the European marketplace (08:45) The pros and cons of selling in the European marketplace (10:59) The power of community when building out an Amazon FBA business (14:05) Why more and more FBA sellers are thinking about exiting their business (17:28) The differences between building a business to keep and building one to sell (20:53) The lifestyle that a passive FBA business can give you (27:13) How to structure an effective exit planning strategy (30:21) The inspiration behind Brand Builder University (35:19) Why Ben plans to start buying businesses instead of building them from scratch (41:32) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to create an FBA business that will grow into a profitable asset!

With the ecommerce industry now booming in Europe, new aggregators are rising up to forge a place for themselves in this highly competitive arena. But what are these aggregators doing to set themselves apart from the crowd? In this episode, we’ll be talking to Hanna Nowotzin, Head of Sourcing at Factory 14, a growing European FBA and ecommerce aggregator with a focus on sustainability and brand excellence. Hanna gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at the EU ecommerce landscape and the changes she has seen shape the industry in the last few years. She explains what qualities she looks for in a new acquisition, what expansion opportunities make sense within the European market, and why Factory 14 places so much importance on multi-channel expansion. According to Hanna, “Sales channel expansion through bolt-on acquisitions is an excellent way to significantly accelerate revenue growth as well as lower your specific marketplace risk.” Hanna also gives us some valuable insights into the emerging trends that may impact the FBA and ecommerce industry in the coming year.  So, if you want to learn what it takes to build a successful FBA business in Europe, grab a notebook and listen in on Hanna’s excellent advice! Topics Discussed in this episode: How Hanna became involved in the world of online business acquisitions (02:22) The current state of the FBA and ecommerce marketplace in Europe (04:00) How Factory 14 differentiates itself from other aggregators (06:35) The qualities Hanna looks for in an online business acquisition (08:02) Why the business Factory 14 recently bought from our marketplace caught Hanna’s eye (12:40) How to ensure your offer stands out from the crowd during the negotiation process (14:57) Why Hanna is passionate about bolt-on acquisitions and sales channel expansion (16:57) Factory 14’s specialized program to boost the growth of new acquisitions (19:14) How businesses can make themselves more attractive to aggregators (22:05) The emerging trends that may shape the FBA industry in 2022 (24:33) Sit back, grab a coffee, and peek behind the curtain of the European FBA and ecommerce industries!

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. While an attractive website may draw consumers in, user testing is often the key to creating a memorable, user-friendly buying journey that’ll keep consumers coming back for more.  In this episode, we’re joined by user testing expert Quinn Zeda. Quinn is the founder of Conversion Crimes, an accessible and affordable user testing platform. She reveals how user testing can reduce your bounce rate and increase conversions by helping you get inside your customers’ heads. According to Quinn, “User testing reveals the why behind your website data and analytics. It helps you understand what's motivating people or what's causing friction for them. Then it's really easy to understand how to make a change or improvement on your website to solve that problem.” Quinn explains which areas of your website to focus on when performing user testing, and discusses some of the common mistakes that people make when trying to optimize their site’s usability. Quinn also gives us some insights into her journey as a SaaS founder, the lessons she learned along the way, and the various obstacles she had to overcome getting Conversion Crimes off the ground.  If you're searching for the secrets to an improved user experience and reduced churn, then look no further! Topics Discussed in this episode: How Quinn became involved in the world of online business (03:40) What inspired Quinn to start her SaaS business, Conversion Crimes (06:59) The obstacles Quinn had to overcome when launching her new business (14:38) The key lessons Quinn learned as a blossoming SaaS founder (18:59) The nuts and bolts of what user testing entails (23:41) The secrets that user testing might reveal that data just can't explain (25:52) The key areas Quinn focusses on when user testing websites (29:45) The common mistakes people make when trying to make a user-friendly site (33:44) The real-life ROI effects of user testing (34:37) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to optimize your website and improve your ROI!

On their journey towards financial freedom, many investors hone in on assets like real estate and stocks, often overlooking the power of purchasing online businesses. Buying unconventional businesses is contrarian investor Codie Sanchez’s bread and butter. Codie has acquired a personal empire of cash-flowing assets across multiple business models. She teaches investors how to do the same as the founder of Contrarian Thinking, an educational resource where investors and entrepreneurs can learn about how to create an ocean of wealth through different income streams. In this episode, Codie explains why buying businesses is a great way to fast track your way to financial freedom. She walks us through the first steps to diversifying your income through online business acquisitions and the common mistakes many entrepreneurs make when trying to achieve financial independence. According to Codie, “The number one reason people don't achieve financial freedom is they do not spend the time thinking about it, they do not spend the time learning about it, and then they do not spend the time taking action on it.” Codie also discusses the philosophy behind being a contrarian investor, and how to effectively manage a portfolio of businesses.  If you’re looking for ways to kickstart your journey to financial independence, you don’t want to miss a minute of this episode! Topics Discussed in this episode: What it means to be a contrarian investor (02:07) Why business ownership is a great way to achieve financial freedom (05:20) The first steps to achieving financial freedom through business ownership (09:53) The benefits of diversifying asset classes (14:48) Managing time and leadership across multiple income streams (19:53) Common mistakes investors make on their journey to financial freedom (22:08) Out of date investment advice that investors should be wary of (26:09) Current trends that are driving the investment industry (29:34) The lessons Codie has learned throughout her career (35:36) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to diversify your income streams through purchasing unconventional businesses!

Scaling an e-commerce business often requires large amounts of capital. Many entrepreneurs risk their financial security by bootstrapping their business without fully understanding the different funding options available to them. This is where today’s guest, Leonardo Felisberto, steps in to save the day. Leonardo is the global head of partnerships at SellersFunding, a financial platform designed to help e-commerce sellers grow and scale their businesses through effective financial management. In this episode, Leonardo discusses the obstacles e-commerce sellers have previously faced when applying for growth capital, and how modern seller funding can lower the barriers to entry into e-commerce businesses. Leonardo walks us through the key criteria he looks for when approving sellers for funding and the common mistakes sellers make when trying to raise growth capital. He also explains how to set up a practical cash flow system for your business as well as the industry trends e-commerce entrepreneurs should look out for.  If you’re searching for a reliable way to secure growth capital for your e-commerce business, then you don’t want to miss out on Leonardo’s expert advice! Topics Discussed in this episode: Leonardo’s journey into the world of e-commerce funding (02:20) How the e-commerce industry has evolved since the pandemic (04:53) Why previous funding options presented an obstacle to e-commerce sellers (07:52) How seller funding can lower the barriers to entry into e-commerce businesses (11:42) The criteria Leonardo looks for when approving sellers for funding (17:37) Common traps business owners fall into when raising capital for their business (19:42) The first steps to setting up an effective cash flow system (22:36) Real-world examples of the impact of growth capital on e-commerce businesses (27:10) The key piece of advice that e-com sellers should know when seeking funding (31:07) Trends in the e-commerce space that are exciting business owners (34:13) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to secure the growth capital that will take your e-com business to the next level!

In today’s world, almost everyone uses email. But many entrepreneurs still underestimate the power of email marketing and its ability to establish a meaningful connection with your customers.  This week’s guest is Greg Zakowicz, a veteran email marketer and the Sr. Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend, an ecommerce marketing automation platform. With 15 years of experience under his belt, Greg has witnessed firsthand the transformative power that email marketing can have on eCommerce businesses. According to Greg,  “If you sell something online, you should probably be sending marketing emails. Otherwise, you’re leaving money on the table.” In this episode, Greg discusses how email has evolved over time and how to set up a successful, automated email marketing strategy. He explains how to use email marketing in each step of the buyer journey and how it can plug the holes that social media marketing can’t fill.  He also walks us through how to breathe life back into a dormant email list and some of the common email marketing pitfalls that trip up eCommerce business owners.  If your list of email subscribers is simply gathering dust, you don’t want to miss out on Greg’s valuable insights! Topics Discussed in this episode: How Greg got his start in the world of email marketing (01:16) How email marketing has evolved over time and why it remains relevant (06:49) Why email marketing is an essential tool for e-commerce businesses (14:39) The foundations of setting up a successful email marketing strategy (21:16) How to revitalize a dormant email list and reestablish a meaningful connection with existing subscribers (27:14) The common email marketing pain points that entrepreneurs encounter (34:21) What email marketing success looks like, and who is getting it right (40:58) How SMS can work hand-in-hand with email marketing (45:20) Pro tips for utilizing automations in your email marketing (51:38) Insight into any upcoming email and SMS automation trends (56:52)   Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to leverage the power of email marketing!

Many entrepreneurs wish for more hours in the day, but how do you streamline your business to buy back that valuable extra time? Gianmarco Meli believes SOPs are the answer to this crucial question. Gianmarco is the host of The Seller Process, a podcast that focuses on systems and SOPs that help entrepreneurs automate their businesses.  In this episode, Gianmarco provides FBA and ecommerce business owners with a roadmap on how to use SOPs to turn their businesses into well-oiled machines. He discusses how implementing SOPs can help business owners increase their efficiency across the board, from product development to inventory management, to onboarding new employees.  Gianmarco breaks down the different types of SOPs you can use and explains how to create systems and processes that are tailored to suit your business. He also discusses the important role that SOP’s play when scaling your business: “When you scale your business, you also scale its complexity. If you don’t have the necessary systems and processes in place, in the form of SOPs, your whole business could break apart.” As an extra bonus, Gianmarco has given our listeners a free ebook guide to creating SOPs! Get your copy using the link below. If your business is overrun with redundant processes and unnecessary complexities, then you don’t want to miss out on these important tips and tricks!  Topics Discussed in this episode: How Gianmarco got started in the world of ecommerce (02:23) Gianmarco explains what SOPs are (06:02) What are the advantages for Amazon sellers to have clear SOPs in place? (07:16) How SOPs can help FBA sellers scale their businesses (13:17) Gianmarco walks us through how to create an SOP from scratch (15:20) Where do SOPs fit into Amazon brand building? (22:44) The best practices for implementing SOPs across teams (28:01) Gianmarco shares some insights into emerging trends in the FBA industry (32:47) What motivated Gianmarco to start The Seller Process podcast (36:58) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to use SOPs to maximize your business productivity!

The best way to achieve success is by capitalizing on your strengths and mitigating your weaknesses. The question is, how do you identify what those strengths and weaknesses are? This is where your site metrics come into play. Metics reveal a wealth of information that can help you scale your business and maximize your ROI. In this episode, we’re joined by Brian Sierakowski, the Director of Operations at Baremetrics, a software that translates metrics into analytics and insights that help business owners make profitable, data-driven decisions. Brian helps clear up the confusion around metrics by guiding us through which data points to focus on and which ones simply add to the noise. According to Brian: “If you get your metrics just right, you can craft the data to show you something that gets to a level of specificity. Then the answer to the question of, "What should we do next?" becomes obvious.” Brain explains how tracking your site metrics can help you make more informed decisions, and how the data that is revealed can help you create effective scaling strategies for your business.  Topics Discussed in this episode: How Brian got his start in the online business world (09:19) Brian explains what metrics are and why they’re important (28:22) Which metrics give you the best picture of how your business is performing? (35:16) The biggest challenges people face when trying to optimize their metrics (40:55) Segmenting your metrics instead of drinking from the data fire hose (45:38) When your metrics reveal a trend, how long should you wait before acting on it? (51:55) The different metric optimization strategies for new vs established businesses (01:03:18) How metrics can help get your business out of a rut (01:11:22) Brian’s predictions on the future of the SaaS industry (01:19:28) The best hidden growth opportunities within site metrics (01:24:28) What tools or resources can help online business owners optimize their metrics? (01:25:19) Brian recalls his funniest moment working in the online business space (01:26:39) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to access a wealth of untapped growth opportunities through your site metrics!

How do you integrate your business into consumers’ lives and have your products playing on their minds, even when they’re not online? Today’s guest believes Pinterest is the key to deepening customer engagement. In this episode, we talk to Kate Ahl, the founder of Simple Pin Media, a marketing agency that creates personalized Pinterest marketing strategies for online businesses. Kate also created the Simple Pin Podcast, a popular Pinterest-focused podcast that boasts over a million downloads. Kate has a unique take on Pinterest, believing that it doesn't fit in with the likes of Instagram and Facebook. She has often stated: “Pinterest is very much like Google. It is not a social media platform, it is a search and discovery network.” In this interview, Kate elaborates on this concept and explains how patience is a virtue when marketing on this unique platform - but that it can pay off handsomely. We also dig into what makes Pinterest users tick and how entrepreneurs can leverage Pinterest to grow their traffic and boost their brand awareness.  Kate walks us through how the pinning platform has changed over the years and the new trends that are shaping the Pinterest landscape. Taking these factors into account, Kate discusses the biggest challenges businesses face when using Pinterest and how to go about setting up a successful Pinterest marketing strategy for years to come. If you feel like your Pinterest marketing is lacking that extra oomph, you don’t want to miss out on this episode! Topics Discussed in this episode: How Kate got started on Pinterest and the birth of Simple Pin Media (02:04) Why Pinterest is a search and discovery network, not a social media platform (07:52) How Pinterest can supplement your SEO to bring in floods of traffic to your site (09:19) How the Pinterest ecosystem has evolved over the years (14:18) What it takes to be successful and the trends driving Pinterest today (17:27) The Pinterest Verified Merchant Program and buying intent on Pinterest (21:58) Is Pinterest the right platform for Amazon sellers? (29:03) The steps to starting a successful Pinterest marketing strategy (35:46) Kate’s biggest success story growing client’s businesses through Pinterest (44:12) The biggest challenges businesses encounter when using Pinterest (47:03) How Kate built her Simple Pin Media team by training women in her community (51:25) What Kate’s podcast has shown her about the power of the Pinterest community (54:18) Rapid-fire questions (58:03) Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to create a Pinterest marketing strategy that will shine a spotlight on your business!

Many entrepreneurs dream of making a seven-figure exit from their online businesses, but few people understand the logistics, high emotion, and intense negotiations that go into a successful sale.  In this episode, we'll have a round table with the buyer and seller from a recent seven-figure deal to give you some unique insights into what it's really like to buy and sell an online business with Empire Flippers.  The seller, Wilson Dos Santos, owned a rapidly growing FBA business and was ready to quit the rat race to enjoy the spoils of his hard work. The buyer, well-known FBA aggregator Thrasio, represented by Acquisitions Manager Kevin Flaherty, saw the business as a prime opportunity for investment.  Wilson walks us through his journey as a seller, explaining what prompted him to sell his business at the height of its success, the ins and outs of the listing and negotiation process, and ultimately, how his life has changed for the better since selling the business.  Kevin gives us an insider’s perspective on what kind of FBA business catches the eyes of aggregators, how Thrasio vets potential acquisitions, and how they structure their offers to stand out from the competition. If you’re considering buying or selling an online business, you don’t want to miss a second of this special behind-the-scenes episode!