chase clymer

Austin Duvall is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Duvin Design Co, a lifestyle brand known for its vibrant and retro inspired leisure apparel. 

You can find the brand at DuvinDesign.com and find him at @duvallnightlong on Instagram and Twitter.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:45] Intro
• [01:42] How Duvin Design started
• [02:42] Talking to customers to find out what works
• [03:09] Building things up from little experience
• [04:01] Factoring and establishing an online presence
• [04:46] Finding customers in person and online
• [05:52] How to appeal to influencers and affiliates
• [06:49] Combining different approaches to marketing 
• [07:27] Pick the middle ground for effective pricing
• [08:54] Capitalizing on organic growth
• [09:23] Monitoring things on a regular basis
• [10:15] Creating valuable content on all platforms
• [11:02] Episode sponsors
• [16:37] Learning from past mistakes 
• [17:21] Scaling manufacturing up in different locations
• [18:18] Focusing on the business after years of results
• [19:23] Where to check out Duvin Design

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Go-to beach brand for breezy leisure garments duvindesign.com/
• Follow Austin Duvall linkedin.com/in/austin-duvall-211621b7/
• Follow Austin Duvall twitter.com/duvallnightlong
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ray Nolan is founder and CEO of eDesk, an innovative customer support platform for eCommerce sellers. 

Ray has founded, mentored and invested in many digital commerce startups over a period of 20 years; including Hostelworld, Skyscanner and Ding.com. 

Ray founded eDesk after seeing friends running a high margin eCommerce business and struggling with operational efficiencies and profitable scaling. 

Today eDesk powers thousands of merchants around the world, using AI to help them provide faster and more personalized support to their customers.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:44] Intro
• [02:36] Knowing what your competitors are up to
• [03:27] Building key differentiators from competitors
• [04:10] Using AI to simplify customer support processes
• [05:33] Learning to refine your interactions with AI tools
• [06:19] How AI helps in ideating and outlining
• [07:20] Incorporating AI in your workflow
• [08:19] Maximizing AI for things you’re not adept with
• [08:56] Experimenting with the add-ons
• [09:09] ChatGPT and the convenience it brings
• [11:25] Synopsizing ticket history using AI tools
• [12:41] AI giving a more streamlined customer support
• [14:23] The importance of continuity in customer support
• [15:37] Chatbots and SLAs in the Ecommerce space
• [16:22] Leveraging ChatGPT to categorize tickets
• [18:01] Advantages of hands-free replies
• [18:23] Proof that AI still needs human assistance
• [19:55] Outsourcing mundane elements to AI-assisted houses
• [20:50] Customers expecting faster response times
• [21:16] Delivering expected support fast is the key
• [22:01] What eDesk offers

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Faster, smarter customer support for Ecommerce https://www.edesk.com/
• Follow Ray Nolan https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranolan/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Nicole Jenney, a passionate animal lover, transformed her life and her business by welcoming two rescue guinea pigs into her home. 

Her genuine affection for these furry companions, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, has propelled her to incredible success. 

With over 7 figures in sales and the prestigious title of 'best pet subscription' at the 2022 cube awards, Nicole is eagerly anticipating the exciting opportunities that lie ahead this year!

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:44] Intro
• [01:44] A business idea during the pandemic
• [02:29] Launching a novel idea to see where it goes
• [03:05] Planning things and creating a timeline
• [04:15] Investing in education and logistics
• [05:21] Building a website and Shopify account
• [06:00] Start somewhere and adapt accordingly
• [07:39] Nurturing your social media audience
• [08:12] Investing in paid advertising
• [09:11] Getting exposure from Instagram Reels
• [15:09] Investing right away to see conversions right away
• [15:55] Upping the budget as sales come in
• [16:25] The power of organic reach and referrals
• [17:16] Realizing your business has it going
• [18:54] Getting support from relevant people
• [20:13] Always have a Plan B with suppliers
• [21:21] Expect more challenges and adapt to change
• [21:49] Challenges in launching another niche business
• [22:33] Relaunching after learning things
• [23:15] Doing what you love as your business
• [23:45] People are drawn to passion and dedication
• [24:10] Support GPigBox and Bunny Box

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Safe and healthy treats and toys for your guinea pigs gpigbox.com/
• Subscription box with healthy rabbit food, fun toys and nutritious treats getbunnybox.com/
• Follow Nicole Jenney linkedin.com/in/nicolejenney/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Albert Matheny is the CEO of Promix Nutrition. Albert has a Master’s degree in Human Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology & Food Science. He is a Registered Dietitian Track and Field Athlete, and an alum at the University of Florida (2004-2009).

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:59] Intro
• [01:35] Starting a business from scratch
• [03:01] Finding people that’s interested in your product
• [04:15] Reaching out to relevant people for insights
• [04:44] Building things up based on learnings
• [05:36] Placing products where target audience can see it
• [06:35] Finding the right niche for your business
• [07:37] Building presence on Amazon
• [08:11] Leveraging Unique Selling Points to draw people in
• [09:02] Slowly investing on things that help grow your business
• [09:36] Partnering with someone that gets you
• [10:12] The importance of awareness in the marketing funnel
• [14:22] Taking control of your business’ growth
• [15:06] Establishing your brand image outside of Amazon
• [15:58] Delegating tasks to people that fits the role
• [17:12] Balancing different sets of skills vital to a business 
• [18:18] Recognizing trivial but equally crucial parts
• [20:04] Where to check out Promix Nutrition
• [20:22] Sticking to and doing more of what works
• [22:10] Tuning in to reality checks from time to time
• [22:57] Knowing when & where to pour out maximum efforts
• [23:59] Monitoring risks and doing necessary adjustments
• [24:29] Listening to good advisors for clear guidelines

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Science-driven and performance-driven products for athletes promixnutrition.com/
• Follow Albert Matheny linkedin.com/in/albertmatheny/
• Follow Promix Nutrition instagram.com/promix/?hl=en
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you 

left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts

. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Browze, specializing in home and kitchen products, successfully delivered over 2.5 million packages worldwide. 

After opening his own China-based fulfillment center to improve customer experience, Izzy recognized an opportunity to assist other DTC brands with direct shipping to their customers, leading to the birth of Portless. 

With Portless, Izzy aims to revolutionize the industry by massively improving DTC's cash flow and profit margins through direct fulfillment. 

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:52] Intro
• [01:15] How Portless helps DTC brands with shipping
• [02:26] Building a business based on personal pain points 
• [03:09] The evolving space of cross border logistics
• [03:53] Seizing better opportunities on and for DTC brands
• [04:59] How shipping containers disrupted manufacturing
• [06:01] Grabbing unexpected business opportunities 
• [07:08] Balancing existing and new businesses
• [08:24] How industries can save more with Portless
• [10:15] Section 321, the de minimis
• [11:16] Using FBA injections for faster transactions 
• [11:44] Generating profits from strategic shipping options
• [13:13] Streamlining supply chains and local experiences
• [13:47] Going international on your business
• [14:32] Creating specific experiences internationally
• [15:32] How integration works at Portless
• [16:51] Ways to reach out to Izzy and Portless

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• A go-to Ecommerce shipping platform trusted by top companies www.portless.com/
• Affordable home decor and kitchen accessories browze.com/
• Follow Izzy Rosenzweig linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you 

left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts

. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Kris Dehnert is a serial entrepreneur and has been making money online since 2008. 

Having experience in multiple industries such as sports, hard goods, affiliate marketing, restaurants, apparel, consulting, cannabis, etc., Kris has a wealth of knowledge regarding business infrastructure, creative marketing, networking, and sales strategies. 

He is currently the CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, which makes baseball bat barrels into collectible barware. 

Dugout is currently an Inc 5000 company for the past three years, surpassed $40 million in sales, distributed internationally, and is one of the fastest growing licensees in Major League Baseball.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:45] Intro
• [02:00] The man behind the idea of Dugout Mugs
• [03:16] Reaching out to a potential business partner
• [04:28] Let the audience see the product for themselves
• [05:08] Using relevance to pique people’s interests 
• [05:52] Catering to people’s behavior on social media
• [06:30] Partners don’t co-exist in the same lane
• [07:19] Showing what you can bring to the table as partner
• [08:33] Build to where you’re going
• [09:07] The importance of licensing for custom products
• [09:55] The power of networking
• [10:27] Cutting through the noise with paid ads
• [10:53] Getting & selling to as many customers as you can
• [11:28] Leveraging your email lists
• [12:15] Making the most out of UGC and reviews
• [16:57] Staying aligned with your morals and goals
• [17:54] The downside of being blinded by greed and money
• [18:19] Building and keeping a healthy work culture
• [19:47] Focusing on one task and outsourcing the rest
• [20:33] Reflecting on your skills & your role in the team
• [21:35] Doing what you like with the right people
• [22:24] Happiness over money 
• [23:10] Defining what success means to you
• [24:22] Reflection & alignment makes decision-making easier
• [24:58] Where to check out Dugout Mugs

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Personalized premium baseball bat-themed barware to enjoy the game dugoutmugs.com/
• Follow Kris Dehnert linkedin.com/in/krisdehnert/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you 

left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts

. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Chris Long is the VP of Marketing for the Go Fish Digital team. He works with unique problems and advanced search situations to help clients improve organic traffic through a deep understanding of Google's algorithm and web technology. 

In This Conversation We Discuss: (50 Characters)

• [00:45] Intro
• [01:07] ChatGPT for SEO
• [02:28] ChatGPT for more technical things
• [03:07] Utilizing ChatGPT for auditing
• [04:26] Setting up a Shopify site with the help of ChatGPT
• [06:00] Figuring out your category page strategy
• [07:16] Generating feedback from ChatGPT for page setup
• [08:08] ChatGPT for product reviews
• [08:55] Using ChatGPT to import third-party data
• [09:36] Prompting ChatGPT to create a visualization
• [10:47] Using ChatGPT for CRO and SEO
• [11:29] Embracing AI as marketers 
• [12:51] ChatGPT as a baseline for every marketer’s output
• [13:12] Marketers on ChatGPT as part of SEO workflow
• [13:56] ChatGPT vs a strong technical SEO
• [14:55] Weak mathematical functionality of ChatGPT
• [15:26] Verifying ChatGPT’s content accuracy & sensitivity
• [16:00] Checking information quality for health & finance 
• [16:34] Drawbacks of taking ChatGPT at face value
• [17:46] Technical skills made accessible by ChatGPT
• [19:01] AI tools help create new custom solutions
• [19:32] How to reach out to Go Fish Digital 

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Most-awarded, data-first digital agency in the United States by the Global Search Awards gofishdigital.com/
• Follow Chris Long on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chris-long-marketing/
• Follow Chris Long on Twitter twitter.com/gofishchris

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you 

left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts

. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Caroline Cotto is the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Renewal Mill, a venture-backed startup creating a new circular economy of food by upcycling the byproducts of food manufacturing into ingredients. 

A food marketing and nutrition specialist, Caroline has experience at the UN World Food Programme in Cambodia, the White House (for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative), Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, and HubSpot, where she ran the women’s diversity program globally. 

Caroline grew up in food, working for her family’s ice cream business in the town of Sandwich, MA. 

Caroline serves as the Board President of the Upcycled Food Association, and formerly served as a Fulbright Fellow in Taiwan.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

1. [00:00] Intro
2. [01:00] What is Renewal Mill?
3. [01:41] Validating the idea for Renewal Mill
4. [03:06] Renewal Mill’s first product
5. [04:32] Workarounds of introducing a new product
6. [05:04] Renewal Mill’s ideation process and timeline
7. [05:43] How Renewal Mill entered the Ecommerce space
8. [06:15] Driving awareness for upcycled food
9. [06:58] Renewal Mill’s B2B go-to market strategy
10. [07:50] Considering B2C to generate short-term revenue
11. [12:59] Challenges of being a new B2C business
12. [13:40] Two ways Renewal Mill overcame the challenges
13. [14:17] Driving traffic to their website through partnerships
14. [14:59] Partnerships are both a win and a challenge
15. [15:38] Finding ways to stand out from other brands
16. [16:00] Brand advocacies vs what consumers actually care about
17. [16:28] Tailor brand messages to appeal to customers
18. [16:57] Leveraging upcycling as their Unique Selling Point
19. [17:31] The power of interviewing your customers
20. [18:12] Know where customers live online and offline
21. [18:45] Staying in traditional retail for impulse buyers
22. [19:21] Limited offers to reel in loyal customers
23. [20:00] Where to support Renewal Mill

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Upcycled, crave-worthy, & climate-friendly food renewalmill.com
• Follow Caroline linkedin.com/in/carolinecotto/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
• Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Michael Hodgen is a visionary entrepreneur and the dynamic CEO of Freedom Rave Wear, a trailblazing company that designs and manufactures cutting-edge, sustainable festival clothing. 

Under Michael's leadership, Freedom Rave Wear has become a frontrunner in the festival fashion industry, known for its innovative designs, eco-friendly practices, and commitment to the community. 

Driven by a strong belief in sustainability and manufacturing, Michael has integrated environmentally friendly materials and processes into the company's operations. 

With his finger on the pulse of the latest Ecommerce trends, Michael has skillfully navigated the ever-evolving online marketplace, ensuring Freedom Rave Wear continues to thrive and expand. 

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:00] What is Freedom Rave Wear?
• [03:17] Validating the idea for FRW
• [04:46] Starting to grow the brand organically
• [05:53] How FRW became an online business
• [08:46] Evolving the manufacturing capacity
• [10:55] Why FRW choose to manufacture in-house
• [13:16] Production based on what the customer really wants
• [14:54] Minimums can be a limiting factor for your business
• [15:38] Apparel brands don’t have to manufacture in-house
• [16:46] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/connect
• [17:44] Sponsor: Shopify https://shopify.com/honest
• [19:26] Sponsor: Sendlane https://sendlane.com/honest
• [20:52] Cashflow advantages of not having deadstock
• [22:15] COVID was especially challenging for FRW
• [22:39] Pivoting to Fabric Punch
• [23:32] The advantages of having a micro factory
• [24:18] Having a close feedback loop with customers
• [25:40] Scaling up from “festival” customer acquisition
• [26:51] The innate synergy in FRW’s niche
• [27:57] When you should consider paid ads
• [28:42] How FRW does their paid ads
• [29:51] Where to support FRW

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Body positive, eco-friendly, & affordable reedomravewear.com
• Follow Michael linkedin.com/in/michaelhodgen
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Nik Sharma is widely known as “The DTC Guy,” a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, AdWeek’s Young & Influential, and a resource that brands and investors turn to for growth. 

Nik is the active CEO of Sharma Brands and HOOX, where clients include Feastables, Chamberlain Coffee, Roc Nation, Everlane, Jim Beam, Poo~Pourri, and more. 

Before entering the eCommerce world, Nik worked on social media strategies for A-list celebrities, including Pitbull, Priyanka Chopra, and MAGIC!, to natively increase distribution and increase fan interaction and engagement for the purpose of driving album sales.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:11] Nik’s timeline in Ecom
• [02:06] Landing pages and why you need them
• [04:27] Why brands don’t use landing pages
• [04:57] How you should approach landing pages
• [06:48] Higher conversion rates with landing pages
• [08:50] Landing pages are just one piece of the puzzle
• [09:19] The importance of a sales angle
• [12:02] The equal amounts of “push and pull sections”
• [13:23] It can take multiple CTAs to make customers act
• [13:47] Differentiating sales from conversion events
• [14:37] How conversion events help ad platforms
• [17:17] Scenario: Consulting a $1M brand to go 5 -10X
• [18:41] The Office’s definition of merchandising
• [20:31] Reduce the complexity of your offers
• [20:59] Landing pages for high AOV brands
• [21:55] Determining if email is for retention/acquisition
• [22:40] Parsing out content through different channels
• [23:24] The easiest trick for landing pages
• [24:13] Building out landing pages for mostly education
• [25:43] DIY landing pages and other platforms
• [27:52] How Nik got his passion from landing pages
• [29:38] The idea and model of HOOX
• [31:05] Where to find HOOX

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Branding services are designed to grow, operate, and advise DTC brands in the digital landscape to meet their full potential sharmabrands.com
• Landing pages that unlock more efficient advertising spend  hoox.co
• Follow Nik linkedin.com/in/mrniksharma
• Subscribe to Nik’s newsletter - nik.co/subscribe 
• Follow Nik on Twitter - @mrsharma
• The only landing page builder to combine 10 years of conversion data with the power of AI unbounce.com
• Shopify pages without the dev time replo.app

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Annie Slabotsky and Morgan Lerner are the co-founders of GoNanas, a women-owned, vegan, gluten-free, and top allergen-free banana bread company at the forefront of the #1 comfort food trend. 

Since the company's inception, Annie and Morgan have launched GoNanas into 2,000 retail locations globally, including Whole Foods and Target. 

They have also earned appearances on QVC, Good Morning America, and in Forbes, and USA Today.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:59] The types of products that GoNanas is selling
• [01:27] Where the idea of GoNanas came from
• [02:21] Shelf life of baked loaves vs bread mix
• [02:47] Was the pivot immediate or calculated?
• [03:39] Killing off the first product line
• [05:18] Capitalizing on the viral traction
• [06:17] The split between wholesale and retail channels
• [07:24] More tips for going to retail as a CPG brand
• [08:41] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect
• [09:38] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest
• [11:04] How GoNanas gets customers for D2C
• [12:55] What GoNanas would have done before
• [14:02] You can never really be hands-off
• [15:39] How the wholesale part of GoNanas work with D2C
• [17:29] Innovation helps guide you to success
• [18:09] Always evaluate your strategy regularly
• [18:49] Create systems as you grow
• [19:26] Where to support GoNanas

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• #notyournanas banana bread eatgonanas.com
• Follow Annie linkedin.com/in/annieslabotsky
• Follow Morgan linkedin.com/in/morgan-lerner
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/hones

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Gina is a long-time operator and advisor in the consumer industry. 

She started her career in Email and Content Management and has since emerged as one of the industry’s most pronounced thought leaders on all things customer experience and retention. 

5 years ago, she and her co-founder, Pierson Krass, set out to start a different kind of agency. 

Lunar Solar Group was built on the idea that technology empowers e-commerce brands to scale. 

Gina has worked on launching and scaling brands like Olipop, Super Coffee, Lemon Perfect, and many other leading e-commerce brands that you all know and love. 

Most recently, Gina co-founded Stay Ai which is the subscription platform for modern e-commerce brands where she currently operates the company’s CEO.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:54] What is Stay Ai and what does it solve?
• [02:07] How Gina became passionate about subscriptions
• [03:59] Lunar Solar Group: Clients, solutions, evolution
• [05:18] Building and selling KnoCommerce
• [07:50] From an agency to building an app
• [09:42] Where Stay Ai came from
• [11:54] Acquiring Retention Engine
• [15:21] The advantage of being specific in your outcome
• [15:55] Always have an exit strategy
• [17:04] No one has gone public in the Shopify ecosystem
• [17:37] The sign of a mature entrepreneur
• [18:40] The 3 things that make Stay Ai unique
• [21:40] Subscription tips and tricks
• [22:49] Where to support Stay Ai

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Connect with Gina linkedin.com/in/ginaperrelli
• Providing revolutionary subscription management software stay.ai
• Providing Ecommerce and digital marketing services that drive transformational growth for our clients lunarsolargroup.com
• The customer survey platform built for Ecommerce brands /knocommerce.com

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ravi Kurani has dedicated his career to water safety. From his early days as a pool boy for his father's pool and spa business to the founder of Sutro, Ravi has always wondered why everyone can’t have clean water. 

This feeling solidified when he was in India with First Light Ventures Fund and Village Capital. 

He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Riverside, MBA in International Finance from Middlebury College, and a Certificate from Stanford University in Renewable Energy Systems. 

He believes that being an entrepreneur is an honor he must earn daily since it gives him the ability to solve problems that not only make money but help society.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:01] What are Sutro’s products?
• [01:59] Where the idea of Sutro came from
• [03:22] The gap in the market and the first prototype
• [05:35] The next step after building the prototype
• [07:52] Finding the first customers to test the product
• [09:31] Removing the “human element”
• [11:38] Changing the business model due to the pandemic
• [13:09] Getting the product into customers’ eyes
• [14:35] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect
• [15:32] Sponsor: Shopify shopify.com/honest
• [17:14] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest
• [18:54] Find the right people
• [20:10] Understand that the world is always changing
• [21:36] Strategy vs Tactics
• [22:32] Where to find Sutro

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• The world's leading water testing device mysutro.com
• A podcast about water through the lens of business, technology, and policy liquidassets.cc
• Connect with Ravi linkedin.com/in/kuraniravi
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

T is for Tot was founded by Meghan, a passionate kindergarten teacher, with the goal of making learning enjoyable for children ages 3-6. 

T is for Tot’s carefully crafted subscription kits provide parents with a stress-free way to support their child's academic growth through fun, play-based activities.

Each T is for Tot Kit is designed to nurture a love for learning and ensure that your child is not only prepared for kindergarten but also set up for a lifetime of learning success.

Meghan Foster is a mom of 2 boys, taught kindergarten for close to a decade before starting T is for Tot, I have my master's degree in elementary education as well as a business degree. 

T is for Tot kits are all-encompassing and delivered each month with everything included for play-based learning fun. 

The goal of T is for Tot l is to make it easy for parents to give their child Pinterest-like activities, while teaching them in a developmentally appropriate way at the same time. 

T is for Tot includes essential fundamentals in every kit, taught in a way that is fun and developmentally appropriate. 

There's ample early childhood research that states the importance of starting learning early, and it needs to be a play-based approach that engages the child and leads the child to eventually be motivated in his/her own learning.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:50] What are Learn and Play Kits?
• [01:27] Where the idea of T is for Tot come from
• [02:37] What comes with a typical kit?
• [03:25] From a creative outlet to a business
• [04:04] Developing the brand and subscriptions
• [05:22] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect
• [06:16] Sponsor: Shopify shopify.com/honest
• [08:01] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest
• [09:28] Getting the product in front of customers’ hands
• [10:13] From friends and family to real customers
• [11:06] Did T is for Tot experience growing pains?
• [12:00] Manufacturing and fulfillment still in-house
• [12:10] Meghan’s advice for people who want to start
• [12:59] Where to support T is for Tot

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Play-based activities to inspire a lifelong love of learning, delivered every month tisfortot.shop
• Connect with Meghan linkedin.com/in/meghan-foster-78589840
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Kristin Schoenstein has been a Program Director with Worldwide Business Research since 2010 and has been producing events since 2004. 

She currently specializes in the retail and eCommerce sector where she heads up the eTail US portfolio. 

She also successfully launched and grew WBR’s customer experience portfolio. In her role, she is responsible for market research, content creation and speaker faculty management for each event. 

Prior to WBR, she produced events in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, and got her start organizing educational programming for physicians. 

Kristin lives on the North Fork of Long Island with her husband and three daughters.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:12] What are eTail conferences?
• [01:47] Other conferences from WBR
• [02:25] What you will experience at eTail
• [04:36] Does brand size matter to benefit from eTail?
• [05:36] eTail is also for apps, specialists, and vendors
• [06:22] Networking is a huge benefit to conferences
• [06:49] Why next year is a special year for eTail
• [07:51] Tips for first-timers at eTail
• [09:07] Don’t overwhelm yourself, take breaks and plan
• [09:35] eTail discount code for Honest Ecommerce listeners

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Pre-register for eTail Boston 2023

etaileast.wbresearch.com/srspricing
Use HONESTECOMMERCE20 to get a 20% discount

• Pre-register for eTail Palm Springs 2024 etailwest.wbresearch.com/downloads/pre-register
  Use HONESTECOMMERCE20 to get a 20% discount
• Connect with Kristin linkedin.com/in/kristin-paulick-schoenstein-0a7aa95

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Andrei Rebrov has worked in the technology field for more than 15 years. 

He is the CTO and Co-Founder of Scentbird, a subscription service for perfumes and colognes, and has helped it grow to more than 500,000 active subscribers. 

At Scentbird, Andrei was responsible for building early versions of the platform, growing a remote engineering team and making sure that the company has technology advantages in every department, from marketing to operations. 

He is also a startup adviser in various industries, from aerospace to video games. 

Prior to Scentbird Andrei worked as an agile engineering coach, helping various companies with their technology. 

Prior to that he worked as a software engineer for UBS Investment Bank and Avis UK.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:59] What is Scentbird?
• [01:41] Where the idea of Scentbird came from
• [02:54] Implementing a trial run of a subscription
• [03:47] The initial batch of shipments
• [04:35] Andrei’s background before being a startup founder
• [05:55] Learning agile late in the career
• [06:21] When you should focus on agile
• [07:38] Knowing when you are onto something
• [08:37] The growing pains that Scentbird experienced
• [09:56] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect
• [10:53] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest
• [12:27] Build vs buy: Where Andrei draws the line
• [13:51] What is composable commerce?
• [14:55] Only go headless when you really need it
• [16:20] Start small and don’t make unnecessary changes
• [17:10] Traditional Ecom vs Subscriptions
• [19:30] Where to support Scentbird
• [19:57] Working with 2 different tech stacks
• [20:53] Look for things to complement your business
• [21:55] The advantages of acquiring an additional business

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Date perfumes before marrying them. Explore over 600 designer fragrances. scentbird.com
• Connect with linkedin.com/in/andrebrov
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Alex McIntosh is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Natural Care, a skincare company that helps regenerate your skin, our planet, and farmer communities.

To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:53] What are Thrive Natural Care products?
• [01:22] Which came first, passion or product?
• [03:43] Business as an engine to make the world better
• [04:00] The starting point of Thrive Natural Care
• [05:10] Figuring out the idea to put your energy in
• [06:45] The Mini Piloto model
• [09:19] Getting featured in the New York Times
• [10:11] Regenerative farming to improve farmers’ lives
• [10:50] Sponsor: Electric Eye https://electriceye.io/connect
• [11:47] Sponsor: Shopify https://shopify.com/honest
• [11:47] Sponsor: Sendlane https://sendlane.com/honest
• [15:12] Is it a good idea? Vs Should I not do this?
• [16:11] Launching a novel model bootstrapped
• [17:37] How the Mini Piloto was applied to Thrive
• [20:30] Celebrate the learning & racing to own “mistakes”
• [21:22] Where Thrive launched to market first
• [23:57] Struggles are not a period, but a cycle
• [24:45] Have a big vision & pay attention to your values
• [25:20] Culture amplifies your value
• [26:35] The best MBA is starting a business
• [26:50] The best way to support Thrive

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Connect with Alex linkedin.com/in/alex-mcintosh-4372888
• Regenerative, effective, plant-based skincare for every body thrivecare.co
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Take your retail business to the next level today shopify.com/honest
  Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Adam Robinson is the CEO and founder of Retention.com, an industry-leading Shopify Ecommerce solution for increasing cart abandonment revenue.

Adam bootstrapped Retention.com to 14M ARR with 6 people in 2.5 years, and is on the road to reaching 50M ARR by 2024. 

Retention.com delivers innovative customer growth solutions for e-commerce brands to monetize their first-party audience, successfully generating over $1bn in retail sales for Shopify stores since its inception in early 2020. 

Before starting Retention.com, Adam founded, bootstrapped and sold Robly Email Marketing, a marketing automation SaaS, for 8 figures to private equity in 2021. 

Adam is on a mission to support startup founders by sharing lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey through his weekly podcast “10 years in the Making”, and posts content twice-daily on LinkedIn. 

When he’s not busy building a unicorn startup in public, he’s spending time with his wife, Helen, newborn daughter, Emma, and dog Bonnie in Austin, TX.

To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Watch the video episode to see what Adam is sharing on his screen
• Connect with Adam linkedin.com/in/retentionadam
• Shoot Adam an email if you have questions adam@retention.com
• Follow Adam on Twitter @retentionadam
• Quickly and easily grow your email list and boost your shopping cart abandonment revenue with retention marketing solutions retention.com

Annamarie von Firley is the President of Adventuretown Toy Emporium, the beloved educational Ecommerce toy store that cultivates children's curiosity by learning through play.

To learn more, visit: http://honestecommerce.co

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Cultivating children's curiosity by learning through play with innovative educational toys adventuretowntoys.com
• Helping parents meet the developmental needs of their children under 3 years of age fledglingsflight.com
• Connect with Annamarie linkedin.com/in/annamarie-von-firley-b7650ab
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts https://electriceye.io/connect
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert https://sendlane.com/honest

Paul Voge is the co-founder and CEO of Aura Bora, a national beverage company from San Francisco. 

Since the company’s founding in 2019, Paul has expanded the brand’s whimsical sparkling waters into more than 8,000 stores including Sprouts, Whole Foods, Target, Publix, and Wegmans. 

Aura Bora’s best-selling retail varieties include  Lavender Cucumber, Ginger Meyer Lemon, and Cactus Rose. 

Plus, every month Paul and his team formulate and release online-exclusive flavors for sparkling water aficionados like Guava Eucalyptus, Mango Chili, and the infamous Green Bean Casserole. 

Aura Bora prides itself on being sugar-free, calorie-free, non-GMO, Whole30 certified, and made with real herbal extracts. 

Read more in Fortune, Business Insider, Dieline, and AdWeek. Paul’s entrepreneurial journey started with t-shirts, socks, concrete curbs, and even Christmas trees. 

As a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee and Shark Tank success story, he has turned Aura Bora into one of the fastest growing beverage businesses in the world. 

When not selling sparkling water, you can find Paul somewhere deep in the woods, away from his phone.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:12] What are Aura Bora’s products?
• [01:37] Where the idea of Aura Bora came from
• [02:50] Making sure that the market wants your product
• [05:09] Getting feedback from “serious drinkers”
• [06:41] Launching a food/bev product in Boulder, CO
• [08:10] When the worst case scenario isn’t too bad
• [09:43] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect
• [10:40] Sponsor: Sendlane sendlane.com/honest
• [12:07] Go-to-market strategy at the start of COVID
• [13:30] How Paul got into Whole Foods shelves
• [15:09] Was it the play to go wholesale first?
• [15:53] The pandemic forced Aura Bora to pivot to D2C
• [16:24] How Aura Bora got featured in Shark Tank
• [17:19] Preparing for the “Shark Tank Bump”
• [19:08] Circumventing the risks of fragile packaging
• [20:28] Aura Bora’s new subscription line
• [21:31] Where to buy to support Aura Bora directly

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Connect with Paul linkedin.com/in/paulvoge
• Heavenly sparkling water made from herbs, fruits, and flowers aurabora.com
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Schedule your free consultation with a Sendlane expert sendlane.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!