Own Your Commerce

Adam Levinter: Keys to building a billion-dollar subscription enterprise

We’re excited to welcome Adam Levinter to the Own Your Commerce podcast. Widely regarded as a subscriptions expert, Levinter is the founder and CEO of Scriberbase and author of The Subscription Boom: Why an Old Business Model is the Future of Commerce. An entrepreneur, podcaster, thought leader and passionate ecommerce expert, Levinter brings the latest news, insights, and ideas from the exciting world of subscriptions to this discussion. 

Some topics we discuss: 

• How to launch, scale, and optimize a subscription business for future growth.
• The history of the subscription business model and why it's the future of commerce.
• The shift from a transactional economy to a relationship-driven one being driven by the subscription model.
• Strategies and key metrics for countering subscriber churn and growing lasting relationships.
• Tips for brands on how to reduce churn, growing membership and LTV, and drive recurring revenue. 

Claudiu Cioba: Shoppable video and the future of interactive commerce

Did you know that 82% of Internet’s traffic comes from video? For CEO & Founder of VideoWise, Claudiu Cioba, stats like this represent a tremendous opportunity for ecommerce brands. Dive into a fascinating discussion about interactive video content and how it has already begun to revolutionize ecommerce. Cioba founded a dedicated shoppable-video solution for ecommerce in 2021 and has already seen significant results for brands embracing this next-gen approach.

Some topics we discuss: 

• The significance of video content to shoppers and brands today.
• How Cioba came up with the idea for VideoWise and launched in 2021.
• Success stories from brands using video and interactive commerce.
• Data and key findings from the world of video commerce.
• Is shoppable video the right solution for you ecommerce store or enterprise brand?

Alok Ahuja: “Own your customer’s doorstep” with mind-blowingly fast delivery

We are pleased to welcome Alok Ahuja, CEO and Founder of the innovative same-day local delivery solution, Trexity. Think of it like Uber Eats, but for ecommerce delivery. Whether trying to keep up with ever-increasing customer expectations, or servicing a local marketplace, Trexity enables brands to offer same day local delivery and makes it smooth and easy. Ahuja has worked for Shopify and brings 15+ years of software technology and ecommerce experience to this conversation, with key insights and advice for any brand looking to remove the friction from delivery. 

 Some topics we discuss: 

• The importance of providing an intimate, reliable delivery experience for customers.
• Leveraging local delivery for subscriptions to increase customers lifetime value. 
• D2C brands hyper focus on owning the entire customer experience from manufacturing to delivery. 
• The changing landscape of commerce and how local and brick & mortar retailers can add value through delivery. 
• The “Amazon factor” and how it has raised the bar of what customers expect.  

Rick Watson: Shopify vs. Amazon, the state of omnichannel ecommerce.

We are excited to welcome Rick Watson to this week’s episode of the Own Your Commerce podcast. Watson is the CEO and Founder of RMW Commerce Consulting where he supports investors and management teams (B2C, B2B, or Omnichannel) plan, execute, and optimize major digital initiatives. In this episode Watson shares his 20+ years experience in ecommerce and what brands can do to ensure their technology strategy is optimized to deliver results. 

 Some topics we discuss: 

• The state of Direct-to-Consumer and Omnichannel retail. 
• 3p marketplaces vs. direct stores. Which model ultimately wins?
• The impact of technology on retail brands and how to craft the perfect technology or supply chain strategy. 
• Watson’s experience architecting the WHP+ platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com. 
• Shopify vs. Amazon. 

Guest bio:

Rick Watson has spent 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur in the ecommerce industry, having worked with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes. While serving as CEO of Merchantry, he led the company to a $30M acquisition by Tradeshift. Watson also directed the cross-border product strategy of Pitney Bowes, a $450M business, comprising Borderfree and the eBay Global shipping program. Today he is the CEO & Founder of RMW Commerce Consulting and hosts The Watson Weekly podcast. Fun fact: he has visited Siberia in Russia 3 times. 

Jason Greenwood: ‘Stealth commerce’ and the future of purchase automation.

We are excited to welcome Jason Greenwood, Founder of Greenwood Consulting, to episode 35 of the Own Your Commerce podcast. Greenwood brings 20+ years of experience helping brands across ANZ and beyond expertly architect compelling digital shopping & brand engagement experiences. GWC was founded to offer B2B and B2C brands the same quality of ecommerce consulting services often only available to ‘sexy retail brands.’ 

Some topics we discuss: 

• Defining “stealth commerce” and what it means for the future of ecommerce. 
• The secret to creating compelling digital shopping & brand experiences.
• Which brands a composable or headless commerce solution is right for. 
• AI-commerce and the future of purchase automation. 
• Unpacking the complexities of B2B commerce compared to the B2C space.  

Guest bio:

Jason Greenwood is the Founder & Lead Consultant at Greenwood Consulting and has spent 20+ years helping brands creating compelling digital shopping experiences. A passionate ecommerce writer, mentor, content creator, and keynote speaker, Greenwood is the host of the At the Coalface Podcast and the author of the At the Coalface Digest. He does all this from a tiny off-the-grid sustainable home in Auckland New Zealand where he lives with his wife. 

Links and resources:

At the Coalface Podcast

At the Coalface Telegram Channel 

Greenwood Consulting

Andrew Maffettone: Expanding the reach of ecommerce brands

We are excited to welcome Andrew Maffettone, a marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in ecommerce, to Own Your Commerce. Not only has he owned and managed multiple marketing companies in the ecommerce space but has also worked in-house at multiple online selling companies, driving brands to new heights. With his knowledge of marketing and business strategy, love for staying ahead of the curve, and ability to execute marketing solutions, he created BlueTuskr, a team of specialized experts dedicated to the growth and success of ecommerce sellers.

Some topics we discuss: 

• How to Operate an 8-Figure ecommerce marketing department with one employee.
• Paid advertising attribution: Why ecommerce digital marketing has gone traditional and how to measure It.
• Structuring Google Ads shopping and search campaigns to scale your ecommerce business.
• Ecommerce SEO: The exact process and tech stack Maffetone uses to explode organic traffic and improve ROI.
• Why an ecommerce omnichannel approach is how all sellers will be marketing in the future.
• The importance of a CRM and why high-volume sellers are making the switch.
• The perfect Instagram marketing process For ecommerce sellers.

Guest bio:

Andrew Maffettone (Maff) is the Founder of BlueTuskr, a full-service marketing company for e-commerce sellers. With 15 years of experience, he has proved himself to be a leader in the field. Andrew's entrepreneurial knowledge and success allow him to excel in his industry as well as helping others grow theirs. His knowledge in branding, social media, SEO, web design, graphic design, email marketing, and more, providing exceptional results consistently. He also hosts the always entertaining and informative E-Comm Show podcast. 

Links and resources:

• BlueTuskr
• The E-Comm Show

 

Chase Clymer: From strategic design to Shopify-powered sales machine

In this episode of Own Your Commerce, we are excited to welcome Chase Clymer, Co-Founder at Columbus-based agency Electric Eye. Clymer and his team specialize in helping ecommerce brands look their best and make more money. They do this by creating Shopify-powered sales machines from strategic design, development, and marketing decisions. Clymer is also the host of Honest Ecommerce, a weekly podcast providing online store owners with honest, actionable advice to increase their sales and grow their business. 

Some topics we discuss: 

• How to create exciting digital experiences that also help brands scale.
• The impact of speed on ecommerce conversion (why fractions of a second matter).
• Electric Eye’s Growth in-house strategy called the Brand Scaling Framework.
• The difference between healthy acquisition and unhealthy acquisition (what’s sustainable).
• Clymer’s exciting journey from touring musician to founder and entrepreneur.

Guest bio:

Chase Clymer is the Co-founder of Electric Eye, an agency that increases sales for ecommerce brands. He is also the host of Honest Ecommerce, a weekly podcast, community & educational resource providing online store owners with honest, actionable advice to increase their sales and grow their business. 

Links and resources:

• Electric Eye
• Honest Ecommerce

 

Yasmin Nozari: Discovering the “a-ha” moment in customer data

Yasmin Nozari, Co-Founder and COO of Peel, loves looking for the “a-ha” moment in customer data. Peel offers automated analytics for Shopify stores, helping merchants focus on what they do best and leave the number crunching to the experts.

A former Math teacher, Nozari has always had a passion for numbers and enjoys helping brands figure out how to turn customer data into strategies that drive revenue and growth. If you run an ecommerce company and are looking to get more out of your customer metrics, or you simply want to up your knowledge of ecommerce data analysis, this episode is packed full of valuable insights you’ll enjoy. 

Some topics we discuss: 

• What are the industries greatest struggles when it comes to analyzing and understanding data? 
• Are there any metrics worth keeping an eye on that don't necessarily lead to an immediate action? 
• If you had to offer companies only three metrics what would they be? 
• Which metrics do ecommerce brands access the most, the least? 
• What are the most important metrics subscription stores need to be aware of?

Guest bio:

Yasmin is the cofounder & coo of Peel -- she leads the customer product experience, sales & marketing. She has a ton of fun finding the "a ha" moments in the data, working with merchants to find more insights and building the software to make it all scale. She was previously working in tech in product roles at a bunch of startups. She started her career as a classroom middle school math teacher.

Links and resources:

Peel 

Peel Subscription Insights 

Mate Prgin: Is your store compliant with global data privacy laws?

When you start an ecommerce store, you’re global from day one. That means that even if you're based in Toronto, you may have customers in the United States, Europe, or anywhere in the world. For this reason ecommerce merchants need to constantly make sure they are compliant with global data and privacy standards. That’s where Enzuzo comes in. 

 

Today’s guest Mate Prgin, CEO of the Waterloo based data security solution, specializes in helping brands of all sizes ensure they are up-to-speed on everything from handling sensitive customer data to being compliant with global privacy laws. This episode is an absolute must-listen for anyone selling online. Learn everything you need to know to avoid the costly penalties of non-compliance while offering your international customer base the best purchasing experience. 

Some topics we discuss:

• Zero-party data and the impact it can have on merchants.
• When starting a DTC brand, things you can do pre-launch to make sure that your privacy policy and practices are in order.  
• What ecommerce store owners should be thinking about in terms of GDPR/CCPA and new privacy laws coming. 
• The consequences of getting data privacy wrong.
• The most common mistakes merchants are making when it comes to privacy and compliance.

Guest bio:

Mate is the founder and CEO of Enzuzo, and a serial entrepreneur.  Previously he was CEO and founder of Avvasi, a Big Data analytics company, that was bought by NetScout (NTCT). Prior to that Mate was CEO of VideoLocus, a video streaming technology company that was bought by LSI (now BRCM).  Mate has a bachelor degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA for Richard Ivy school of business. 

 

Richard Kestenbaum: What metrics matter for ecommerce brands today?

What metrics matter for ecommerce brands today? We asked Richard Kestenbaum, a New-York based investment banker and co-founder of Triangle Capital who has spent the last 20 years working with consumer facing brands. Kestenbaum brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience  — from fashion, apparel, and beauty, to pet retail and subscriptions. A regular contributor to Forbes business blog, Kestenbaum shares the latest ecommerce trends, technology, and metrics you should be aware of whether you are just starting out, or leading a high-growth enterprise. 

Some topics we discuss:

• Metrics and key indicators used to determine whether a business is performing well or not.
  
• The rapid rise of the subscription economy and what the future holds for subscription brands. 
• Why certain subscription verticals are performing better than others.
  
• How AI has influenced retail and the future of machine learning commerce. 
  
• Omnichannel vs. Omniretail and the rise of “anywhere” commerce.
• The top challenges facing retailers in commerce today, the latest trends and technologies shaping the marketplace. 

Guest bio:

Richard Kestenbaum has been an investment banker for over 40 years and founded New York based Triangle Capital in 2003. Since then he has developed a long and successful track-record completing transactions for clients in consumer-facing businesses. With a focus on mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising, Kestenbaum shares his knowledge and experience regularly on a blog about consumers and trends hosted by Forbes.com. 

Links and resources:

• • Forbes
  • Triangle Capital
  • The new omniretail: Getting to anywhere commerce
  • Beyond the Product