The Relationship Commerce Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dean Dutro
The Relationship Commerce Podcast features top e-commerce entrepreneurs and marketers where they share their stories, struggles and strategies to scale now.
Ryan O'Connor is a Co-founder and VP of Growth at Worth eCommerce. At Worth eCommerce, Ryan has worked with over 1,000 eCommerce clients to turn their email strategy into a valuable profit source.
Before building Worth eCommerce, Ryan was the Founder of Gobysavvy, a UX design agency for eCommerce companies. He also founded Clusiv and was a UX Mentor at CareerFoundry. Ryan holds a master’s degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach.
In this episode… Do you use SMS as part of your eCommerce brand’s marketing strategies? How can SMS serve you even better than social media ads? What is the best kind of content to share with your subscribers through SMS for increasing engagement?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro and Ryan O'Connor, the Co-founders of Worth eCommerce, sit down to discuss the best SMS marketing strategies for eCommerce brands. They talk about the benefits of SMS and email marketing, the best content to send to your SMS subscribers, and how to effectively implement an SMS strategy for your brand.
Navin Jain is the Strategic Account Executive for SMS at Klaviyo, a company that helps businesses own their marketing and create great customer experiences. Navin is SMS Strategy Certified and has many years of experience driving sales in both the retail and real estate spaces. Before joining Klaviyo, he honed his skills as the Enterprise Sales Representative at Promoboxx, Manager of Revenue Development at GuideSpark, and National Account Sales Executive at Asure Software.
In this episode… Are you a growing eCommerce brand that isn’t getting enough from your email marketing strategies? Do you want to get in front of your desired customers — and stay in front of them? You’re in luck: SMS marketing may be the answer.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro sits down with Navin Jain, Strategic Account Executive for SMS at Klaviyo, to talk about the benefits of SMS marketing. Navin shares the best SMS approaches for conversion, why you should use SMS as a complementary strategy, and the mistakes you need to avoid with SMS marketing. Plus, Navin discusses how to have a successful holiday season with SMS at the helm and how these techniques can increase your revenue in a short amount of time.
Bryan Spunt is the Chief Executive Officer of Seek Discomfort, a clothing brand launched in May 2018 by the founders of the Yes Theory YouTube channel. He is also the Co-founder and Chief Smile Officer of Big Smiles Program, a nonprofit art program that works with children's hospitals in Los Angeles. He is also an Advisory Board Member for PopSockets.
Bryan is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for living a balanced and full life. He finds the same level of commitment to his health, hobbies, and relationships as he does to his business endeavors. He believes this is the key to sustainable success and long-term happiness.
In this episode… Do you leverage social media to market your eCommerce brand? Do you know how to create connections and build good relationships with your eCommerce customers?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Bryan Spunt, the CEO of Seek Discomfort, joins Dean Dutro to talk about social media marketing, building connections, and growing eCommerce brands. Bryan also explains how he got started in eCommerce and the role mentorship has played in his career.
Jimmy Zona is the Director of eCommerce and Digital Marketing at Turbie Twist, a company that makes super absorbent microfiber hair towels with over 30 million sold to date. Jimmy is a seasoned business executive with over nine years of experience in operations management and content production across multiple sectors. Under his leadership, he’s grown Turbie Twist’s revenue to $1 million per year and increased their site traffic from 2,000 visits a month to over 70,000. Jimmy has been featured in the Inc. 500.
In this episode… Have you been facing challenges with your logistics as your eCommerce business continues to grow? Do you know what alternative options you have to fix your problems?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro interviews Jimmy Zona, the Director of eCommerce and Digital Marketing at Turbie Twist, about how to decide on which logistics strategy to use for your growing eCommerce brand. They also discuss leveraging SEO to increase traffic and sales and the importance of being a constant learner. Stay tuned.
Tatiana Mercer is the Co-founder of Three Spirit Drinks, a company that makes plant-based, nonalcoholic elixirs. The brand is now leveraging one of the fastest-growing sectors in the drinks market: alcohol-free beverages. She is also the Co-founder of Beyond Alcohol, a primarily eCommerce-based business that recently entered the US market.
Before Three Spirit Drinks, Tatiana was the Founder of BarChick, a platform for discovering the world’s best bars. She also worked as a Sales & Marketing Executive at Future Capital Partners Limited.
In this episode… If you are a sole entrepreneur, have you ever considered getting a business partner for your eCommerce brand? Do you know the benefits of having co-founders or business partners?
Tatiana Mercer, a Co-founder of Three Spirit Drinks, joins Eric Stopper in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to talk about the benefits of having business partners. Together, they discuss how the team behind Three Spirit Drinks built a non-alcoholic drink brand out of London. Tatiana also talks about some of the plant ingredients they use to make drinks and the benefits of educating customers about your eCommerce brand.
Dan Nikas is the Founder and Owner of Elite Brands, Gearbunch, and The Social Media Mechanic. Elite Brands brings together like-minded entrepreneurs who want to expand and grow their business to the next level by focusing on building a brand. Gearbunch was created in 2016 to offer one-of-a-kind printed leggings, apparel, and accessories for prices that are drastically more affordable than the competition. In their first year alone, they turned over $4 million.
He is a former Homicide Detective Sergeant of 17 years who leveraged his policing skillset to eCommerce in 2015 when he first started Gearbunch. He is also a Facebook Blueprint Lead Trainer and an in-demand keynote speaker at industry events worldwide.
In this episode… Have you set up effective systems and strategies for running your eCommerce business? Do you have planned and strategic action steps for building trust with your existing and potential customers?
Dan Nikas, the Founder and Owner of Elite Brands and the Owner of Gearbunch, joins Eric Stopper in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to talk about the benefits of having effective systems and strategies for your eCommerce brand. Dan also talks about the importance of building trust with customers and explains why entrepreneurs must understand the inner workings of their businesses.
James Milam is the Founder and CEO of Know Headphones, a consumer electronics brand that gives a portion of its profits directly to supporting teachers and US public schools. Through their efforts, Know Headphones is helping over 32 million students. He has over 20 years of experience bringing products to market by utilizing a global supply chain.
James was the VP of Operations and Procurement at Zero Motorcycles Inc. and previously worked as the Senior Director of Sourcing and Procurement at Owlet Baby Care. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Western Kentucky University and worked in Contract Manufacturing with Burton Snowboards.
In this episode… Are you a new entrepreneur in the eCommerce space? Are you worried about growing your brand during the pandemic?
James Milam, the Founder and CEO of Know Headphones, is Eric Stopper's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast. James explains how he grew his headphones brand during a pandemic. James also talks about his entry into the eCommerce space, launching a product during the COVID-19 crisis, and the benefits of being a persistent entrepreneur.
Kara Goldin is the Founder & CEO of Hint Inc., a healthy lifestyle brand that produces award-winning, unsweetened flavored water as well as scented sunscreen that's oxybenzone and paraben-free. She has received numerous accolades including being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California in 2017, one of Instyle's 2019 Badass 50, and one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.
Kara is also the author of Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters and host of The Kara Goldin Show.
In this episode… Have you been thinking about creating an innovative product to serve a certain audience? Is there a similar — but boring — item in the market that could use a boost in value to create a better product?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Kara Goldin, the Founder and CEO of Hint, joins Dean Dutro to explain how something simple and boring can be re-created to produce a revolutionary product for the market. Kara talks about her journey to founding Hint, the challenges she faced along the way, and why she focuses on direct-to-consumer sales for her brand.
Neely Woodson Powell is the Founder and CEO of Charleston Shoe Company, a shoe company for everyday women based out of Charleston, South Carolina. Neely is an entrepreneur who started selling shoes from Mexico with just a few suitcases. In 2009, when she began dreaming about her own brand, she enrolled in an accessories design program at the Savannah College of Art & Design. She drew upon her shoe and accessory design coursework and, in collaboration with a fourth-generation cobbler in Mexico, launched her own line of hand-sewn footwear.
Charleston Shoe Company's shoe line has been sold in over 300 boutiques in the US from Miami to New York. They now have their own 26 stores spread around the US.
In this episode… How much have you been delegating in your eCommerce business? What duties do you handle and which ones do you assign to others? How involved are you in the everyday operations of your business?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Neely Woodson Powell joins Eric Stopper to discuss the lessons she has learned about delegating too heavily and keeping a business afloat during a pandemic. She explains how her company has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, what she did to overcome business challenges, and shares her advice on how to effectively manage a business during a pandemic.
Pete Williams is the Co-founder, CEO, and eCommerce Marketing Director for Simply Headsets. He is an award-winning marketer, entrepreneur, and author from Melbourne, Australia. He is a Southern Region Finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program, a Small Business ICON (Best-in-Class) Recipient, and an Australian Business Award Winner for Marketing Excellence. He is also the Author of the books, Cadence: A Tale of Fast Business Growth, 10% Wins: A Roadmap for Achieving Exponential Growth in Any Business, and How to Turn Your Million-Dollar Idea into a Reality (From the Man Who Sold the MCG).
Pete's other companies include Infiniti Telecommunications, SpringCom, and Preneur Group. He is also a Professor of Practice at Deakin University, where he works with students to bridge the gap between the textbook and the boardroom.
In this episode… Did you know that repeat customers are the best drivers of business growth? Are you aware that positive feedback from your customers can help increase your eCommerce brand's value among your competitors?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Pete Williams, the Co-founder, CEO, and eCommerce Marketing Director for Simply Headsets, joins Dean Dutro to talk about the value of investing in repeat customers. Pete explains how he ensures repeat sales for his eCommerce business, talks about the seven levers for business growth, and explains how an eCommerce brand should handle wholesale orders.
Greg Hayes is the Co-founder and CEO of Branch, an office furniture company aimed to improve the way you work. Branch was started in 2019 by Greg and his two co-founders after Greg experienced the challenges of getting office furniture for his previous company firsthand. They have done over $1 million in sales since launching their first products — and are now doing seven figures a month! Now, they’ve pivoted to a direct-to-consumer business model to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before launching Branch, Greg was the Head of Portfolio Strategy at Breather and the Manager of Office Leasing at Oxford Properties Group. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Western Ontario.
In this episode… Have you ever considered building a one-stop online store for your ecommerce customers? One place to fulfill your customer’s needs? So, do you know how to go about it?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Eric Stopper interviews Greg Hayes, Co-founder and CEO of Branch, about the benefits of building a one-stop-shop for your ecommerce customers. Greg explains how he and his business partners started and scaled their furniture company, how they were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes they had to make for the benefit of the business.
Catherine Balsam-Schwaber is the CEO of Kindra, a self-care company for women in menopause built through science-backed formulas and community-building initiatives. She is a lifelong advocate for women's health and comes with vast experience in business transformation and all things marketing.
Catherine is also the Co-founder of Aluvión Vineyards and former General Manager of Bluprint. She holds a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University.
In this episode… Did you know that customer feedback on your competitor's products can help you create better products for your target market? Did you also know that having a customer avatar can help you create better products?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Eric Stopper interviews Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, the CEO of Kindra, about the benefits of leveraging customer feedback on existing products to grow your brand. She also talks about the importance of knowing who your target customer is and how educating them can help grow your ecommerce brand. Stay tuned.
Katie McKinnon is the President of Welo Probiotics, a healthy snack and beverage wellness company based out of Canada that donates a portion of its sales to communities abroad. Katie’s team motto is to test, learn, and optimize everything they do, which is embedded in their company culture of empowerment, curiosity, and to continuously question why.
Katie was featured pitching on Dragons’ Den, a Canadian television series similar to Shark Tank. She has a background in sales and marketing, and is equipped with a passion for health and wellness.
In this episode… Which marketing methods have you been using to promote and create more awareness for your ecommerce products? How often do you engage in these tactics? And, most importantly, are your strategies working?
Katie McKinnon, the President of Welo Probiotics, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to talk about leveraging the 7 touch points of marketing to grow your ecommerce brand. Katie also discusses the benefits of email marketing, how appearing on Dragons' Den impacted her business, and the SKU challenges they have faced.
Michael Bires is the Founder of Nutrition Faktory, a vitamin and supplement company based out of Tennessee. Michael has over 20 years of experience in the nutrition space having worked in branding, retail, and ecommerce.
Nutrition Faktory company has seen tremendous growth since its beginning in 2017, opening 12 stores in its first 18 months. When COVID-19 hit, their website exploded — it took them only three days in 2021 to beat all of their January 2020 online sales.
In this episode… Are there any top-performing ecommerce brands you admire in your industry? If so, what is it about them that you can emulate in your own ecommerce brand?
Michael Bires, the Founder of Nutrition Faktory, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, where they discuss the benefits of doing your research and emulating top-performing brands to beat out your competition. Michael talks about his entrepreneurial background, explains why he returned to 9-5 employment, and shares his tactics for providing great customer support.
Kelly Watters is the Co-founder of Western Rise, a telluride-based men’s performance clothing company. She founded it with her partner and Co-founder, Will Watters. The company provides freedom for men who want to own less and experience more.
Back in 2018, the four-year-old Western Rise brought in nearly $1 million from investors who committed to the business. They are now in their seventh year and have been growing by over 100% since 2018.
In this episode… Is your eCommerce business growing slowly? Are you looking for creative ways to create more awareness for your brand through endorsements and influencer marketing?
Kelly Watters, the Co-founder of Western Rise, is Eric Stopper's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast where she explains how to connect with influential people and create awareness for an eCommerce brand. She also explains what sparked the idea for producing performance clothing and discusses how she deals with entrepreneurial stress.
Brett Bernstein is the Founder & CEO at Gatsby, a SaaS platform for identifying and engaging your brand’s social customers at scale. Gatsby is an influencer marketing software that helps brands build fully automated influencer strategies. Brett has spent his career launching products and businesses that cut to the heart of the consumer and brand experience.
In this episode… Are you currently working with social media influencers to promote your ecommerce brand? What strategies do you use to find and choose the best influencers to work with? How are you measuring your efforts? Or, are you flying in the dark?
Brett Bernstein, the Founder & CEO of Gatsby, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast where he talks about Gatsby and how an ecommerce brand can maximize their website’s vending machine to capture more leads. Brett also talks about the value of using social media influencers to promote a brand.
Peter Hajduček is the Founder and CEO at Footshop, a company about sneakers, creativity, and urban lifestyle. Some of their most popular products are stylish sneaker collaborations with Drake, Nike, Kanye West, and Adidas, among others. They are the only retailer in Central East Europe who can sell these sneakers, leading the Czech and Slovak markets.
In this episode… Have you ever considered collaborating with top brands to sell their products in your e-commerce store? Do you know what you need to prioritize while you’re putting together a partnership? What’s your plan?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 is joined by Peter Hajduček, the Founder and CEO at Footshop, to discover what e-commerce brands should look out for while putting together a collaboration. Peter also shares his entrepreneurial journey and talks about his reasons for acquiring one of his competitors.
Brian Burt is the Founder and CEO of Canopy Management, a full-service, full-stack, “A-to-Z,” done-for-you Amazon marketing agency. They are dedicated to helping brands scale their businesses, gain market share, and become the royalty of their Amazon categories.
Brian is a New Jersey native but spent most of his life in Arizona and Chicago before moving to Austin to launch Canopy with Brian Johnson, his Co-founder. He studied marketing and business development at Arizona State University.
In this episode… What have you heard about selling on the Amazon Marketplace? Did you know that it has a higher conversion rate than other e-commerce platforms? How about that Amazon is where most US-based consumers start their shopping journey? Then do you know how to get started?
On this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Brian Burt, the Founder and CEO of Canopy Management, to talk about selling on Amazon. Together, they discuss the challenges associated with becoming the face of your brand, figuring out who your perfect customers are, and building a team of motivated and productive members — virtually. Keep listening!
Byron Walker is the CEO and Founder of Survival Frog, a one-stop-shop for the end of the world. He is an entrepreneur with a rich background in coaching and consulting support for small businesses. With Survival Frog, Byron has created the largest and most trusted source of survival and preparedness products online. Since its start, the company has evolved into the industry leader of preparedness products with over a million customers throughout the US.
Survival Frog's mission is to provide an amazing buying experience for their customers on a grand scale. The experience touches every department, from how they do their marketing, format their sales pages, provide their unique offers, set up the ordering process, and more.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of using long-form sales pages for your e-commerce business? If the idea has crossed your mind, do you even know how to go about it?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Byron Walker, the CEO and Founder of Survival Frog, to find out how you can use long-form sales pages to boost your e-commerce sales. They also discuss the different marketing methods Byron uses for Survival Frog, how he handles political changes that affect his company's sales, and his strategies for discontinuing low-margin SKUs.
Victoria Beattie is the Co-founder and Owner of The Beach People, a beach and seaside brand that sells luxe products through brick-and-mortar stores and online. The brand, based on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, started in 2013 and has since grown to have offices in Los Angeles, the Gold Coast, and all around the globe.
It all began with a simple idea between Victoria and her sister, Emma Henderson: a round beach towel. The original “Roundie” towel sold out in its first season and has since become a must-have for sea lovers around the world.
In this episode… Do you operate your business through a brick-and-mortar store? If you do, have you considered opening an online e-commerce store for your brand?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, guest host John Corcoran interviews Victoria Beattie, the Co-founder and Owner of The Beach People, to discuss the benefits of selling through e-commerce and retail stores. They also talk about the benefits of obtaining intellectual property protection, acting fast when new taxes are imposed by the government, and how to deal with copycats.
Chad Ross is the Founder & CEO of Dorsal Bracelets, a lifestyle accessory brand built on the love for the ocean and a never-ending pursuit to preserve the planet.
Before starting Dorsal Bracelets, Chad was the Founder and CEO of Chuck Waters, a coastal-inspired lifestyle brand. He also worked as the Associate Director of Marketing at Ad Genius. Chad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Biological Sciences from the College of Charleston.
In this episode… Do you know your strengths and weaknesses as a business leader? Do you find it difficult to recruit, delegate, or terminate the contracts of your employees?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Chad Ross, the Founder & CEO of Dorsal Bracelets, to discuss the benefits of outsourcing and how it can help you manage your business better. They also talk about using social media to learn more about e-commerce and the benefits of having an online presence on Amazon.
Franklin Fala is the Co-founder and CEO of Swiftronics, a leader in the private reseller market of consumer electronics that aren't readily available to the domestic market. Franklin got his start as a merchant on eBay and went on to open three brick-and-mortar stores that later led to his current website. In addition to electronics, Swiftronics now offers repairs and accessories.
In this episode… How long have you been running your e-commerce brand? What have you learned along the way? What obstacles have you been dealing with—and how have you applied those lessons moving forward?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Franklin Fala, the Co-founder and CEO of Swiftronics, talks all about the power of resilience and past experience to successfully grow an e-commerce brand. Franklin also shares the lessons he’s learned over the years since starting his first business as a kid and explains how e-commerce sellers can build relationships with their customers.
Braxton Manley is the Co-Founder of Braxley Bands, a lifestyle brand that makes the world’s most comfortable Apple Watch bands. Braxley Bands uses an innovative elastic material that Braxton and his dormmate invented for a class project. The business partners started with a $20 budget and a borrowed sewing machine before scaling the business to a top 1% performing Shopify store—without investments. Braxton holds a degree from the Texas Tech University - Rawls College of Business.
In this episode… Are you the go-to creative in your new e-commerce business? Are you thinking of hiring an agency or outsourcing some of your duties to someone else as soon as you get started? If this sounds like you, you might want to reconsider your decision.
Braxton Manley, the Co-Founder of Braxley Bands, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, where they discuss why you might want to rethink outsourcing when you start your e-commerce business. They also talk about starting and scaling an e-commerce brand with a $20 capital, the benefits of having a well-defined “why” for your brand, and the importance of having a well-balanced life.
Brian Speciale is the Co-Founder of The Comfy, a cozy brand selling wearable blankets. The Comfy was founded alongside Brian’s brother, Michael, in 2017, when he stumbled upon Brian’s son wearing an oversized hoodie. Just six months later, Brian and Michael were presenting their venture on ABC’s Shark Tank and struck a deal.
Since then, The Comfy has been sold across the world on Amazon and retail storefronts like Costco, Sam’s Club, and Target. The Comfy is now one of the five most successful companies in Shark Tank history.
In this episode… What’s your company’s mission statement? Is it full of vague promises and bulky words? Does it cover what actually matters to your brand? Most importantly, how does your mission statement encompass what your company stands for?
Brian Speciale, the Co-Founder of The Comfy, is Eric Stopper’s guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast. Eric and Brian talk about Brian’s experience being on Shark Tank, the importance of a cohesive mission statement for your company, and why it’s not always in your best interest to expand your product line. Keep listening for more insights from one of Shark Tank’s most successful entrepreneurs!
Lindsey Wilson is the Founder and CEO of OWL Venice, a health and wellness brand located in Venice, California. Standing for One Whole Life, the company offers chicken, turkey, beef, and vegan mineral elixirs. Their broth elixirs are hand-crafted in small batches, using high-quality grass-fed, organic bones, and organic herbs and vegetables, all sourced weekly from local farmer’s markets. Their recipes are seasonal and vary every week depending on what is available locally.
Before starting OWL Venice, Lindsey worked as a freelance photographer, graphic designer, and web designer as well as the marketing manager for a women’s footwear company.
In this episode… What are your e-commerce brand's values? Do you know the values your brand partners hold? Are they aligned?
Lindsey Wilson, the Founder and CEO of OWL Venice, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast. Dean and Lindsey talk about the importance of working with partners that share the same values as your e-commerce brand. Lindsey also talks about her system of adding new products to her brand line, working with influencers, and managing a growing team.
Kelley Thornton is the Co-Founder of Tiege Hanley, an uncomplicated skincare company for men. Tiege Hanley was founded by four “regular guys” who wanted to create a product system and brand that makes skin care meaningful, accessible, affordable, and clinically relevant for regular guys like you.
Outside of skincare, Kelley was the Founder, CEO and Board Member of Purchase Point LLC, Regional Sales Manager at International Paper, and POP Display Vendor at Unilever. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut.
In this episode… Do you know where your customers shop? Are you up to date with their shopping habits or patterns?
Kelley Thornton, the Co-Founder and CEO of Tiege Hanley, joins Dr. Jeremy Weisz, the Co-Founder of Rise25 Media, in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to talk about leveraging your customer’s shopping habits to build an e-commerce business. Kelley talks about the benefits of co-packing your own e-commerce products, using the right product positioning strategies, and how to create routines with your e-commerce products.
Tristan Swanwick is a former journalist turned entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Swanwick, an innovative health tech company that helps optimize sleep, performance, and productivity with its flagship Swannies Blue Light Blocking Glasses. Swannies have been worn by leading health and sleep experts like Dr. Oz and have also been featured in publications like The New York Times, GQ, and BuzzFeed. Swanwick has sold more than 120,000 pairs of blue light blocking glasses to date.
Before this, Tristan worked in the media industry for more than 15 years in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. He was a journalist and editor at The Courier-Mail and also worked as a freelance copywriter and digital content creator.
In this episode… Do you know what your customers' pain points are? Have you done the research in order to solve them? And, most importantly, can you effectively transform that solution into the e-commerce product they need?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Tristan Swanwick, the Co-Founder and CEO of Swanwick, to talk about the importance of understanding your customers' pain points when creating an e-commerce product. Tristan also discusses the value of leveraging existing networks during a product launch, how to build an effective team, and why you should sell your products where your customers already shop. Stay tuned.
Anders Ankarlid is the Co-Founder and CEO of A Good Company, a company that creates thoughtful, sustainable, and elegant everyday products. They create and sell different kinds of daily use items, like notebooks, pens, toilet paper, and phone cases, all with the production materials that have the least environmental impact. A Good Company only works with suppliers that they know personally, they never use harmful chemicals like Bisphenol A plastics, and they make sure to compensate for any emissions that come from shipping and travel.
Anders started A Good Company because he wants to be able to tell his children that he did everything he could to hinder climate change. Before starting the company, Anders was a Senior Partner and Shareholder at Reforce International and Head of Sales at Looklet.com.
In this episode… Has the thought of inventing multiple products for your e-commerce brand crossed your mind? If it has, do you know what you need to consider before starting the creation process?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Anders Ankarlid, the Co-Founder and CEO of A Good Company, joins Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-Founder of Rise25 Media, to discuss the reasons why you may need to consider inventing multiple e-commerce products for your brand. Anders explains why he created more than one commodity when he started his company and talks about some of the unconventional raw materials he uses to produce unique e-commerce products for his brand.
Deborah Brenner is the Founder and Director of Las Delicias Patisserie, a boutique artisanal bakery producing high-end gluten-free pastries baked with the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Originally from Argentina, she started the business in 2009 to make the impossible possible—and now offers only products that are kosher, vegetarian, all-natural, and non-GMO.
Deborah has over 20 years of experience in investment banking. Before starting Las Delicias Patisserie, she served as Vice President at UBS International, Managing Director at Fieldston Advisors Ltd., and Vice President of Private Banking, Latin America at Bank Hapoalim.
In this episode… What makes your e-commerce product stand out from your competitors? What strategies do you use to keep your customers coming back for more of your product?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro chats with Deborah Brenner, the Founder and Director of Las Delicias Patisserie, about her strategies for giving her e-commerce customers the “Wow Factor.” Deborah also explains how you can restructure your business while in crisis mode (looking at you, COVID-19) to stay operational, plus how you can leverage direct-to-consumer selling if you sell your e-commerce products wholesale.
Jay Levitt is the CEO of Lofta, a digital HealthTech company leveraging virtual care technology to revolutionize the diagnostic journey for sleep apnea, chronic snoring, and sleep breathing disorders. Through the Lofta Complete Path and the Lofta RightStart Therapy Program, troubled sleepers are able to move from initial engagement, through screening, testing, and diagnosis, and into therapy in under a week—all from home.
Outside of Lofta, Jay is a Trustee on the Board of Directors for the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and holds a degree in Communication Studies and Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
In this episode… Do you prioritize relationship building with your e-commerce customers when they buy your products? Do they get an extraordinary and unexpected experience?
Jay Levitt, the CEO of Lofta, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to discuss the benefits of developing an emotional connection with your e-commerce customers. He explains how an e-commerce brand can use this strategy to attract and retain customers and shares his top email marketing strategies. He also talks about why you should consider using a beta product to kick off your new business.
Patrick Hayes is the Founder of 1767 Designs, a woodworking company that creates one-of-a-kind statement pieces of furniture made from Nashville's torn-down homes. 1767 is dedicated to honoring Nashville's historic architecture by reimagining the wood reclaimed from these homes.
Patrick built his first coffee table in 2014 using wood he found after a home was torn down near his Nashville apartment. Now, his 1767 team of woodworkers operates out of a 6,000 square foot studio in East Nashville, creating wall art, furniture, and other art pieces.
In this episode… Have you ever considered creating customized e-commerce products for your customers? Are you aware that doing so could grow your customer base and lead to more sales and returning customers?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Patrick Hayes, Founder of 1767 Designs, joins Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media to talk about the value of creating customized e-commerce products. Patrick explains how an encounter with his first customer inspired his wall art pieces, how he grew his business selling in flea markets and through e-commerce, and how he helps his woodworkers expand their creativity.
Beav Brodie is the Founder of Tactical Baby Gear, a military-style baby gear brand inspired by a new generation of involved fathers. Beav founded the company in 2013 to provide dads with the tools necessary to meet the rugged demands of parenting. The bags are built with military-style durability and packing efficiency, complete with fasteners, MOLLE webbing, and carabiners to strap up all the diapers, bottles, and accessories of fatherhood.
In 2018, Tactical Baby Gear was recognized by The Wall Street Journal as part of a niche market that has doubled and even tripled sales in the last year. Beav describes his business as a media company that sells a product. They engage with their customers by leveraging social media with over 140,000 followers on Instagram, over 5,500 followers on YouTube, and 280,000 followers on Facebook.
In this episode… Do you have anything lying around your house that you can use to start an e-commerce business? Do you have the skills and expertise needed to create an e-commerce product? If you answered yes to these questions, then you are ready to start your new e-commerce brand.
Beav Brodie, the Founder of Tactical Baby Gear, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to explain how his frustration while shopping for diaper bags led to the creation of a multimillion-dollar business. Beav talks about starting the business with his own sewing machine at home, finding the right business partner, the value of networking, and building a solid business by leveraging the power of social media.
Victoria Flores is a Co-Founder at Lux Beauty Club, a company that manufacturers high quality CBD products for beauty and wellness. Their products are THC-free, USA-made from FDA-certified farms, and crafted with the goal of improving lives and offering nontoxic alternative methods for health and beauty.
Lux Beauty Club’s products contain cannabinoids, plant terpenes, and a combination of vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids. All these compounds multiply and work together to form what is known as the entourage effect. Before starting Lux Beauty Club, Victoria was Chief of Staff at Katz Capital, a boutique trade and execution firm specializing in hedge funds.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of pivoting your e-commerce business by partnering with other brands to create more awareness for your e-commerce products? If you have, do you know how to pick the best ones?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Victoria Flores, a Co-Founder at Lux Beauty Club, about how she uses brand partnerships and direct-to-consumer marketing strategies to grow her CBD business. Victoria talks about the benefits of using her e-commerce products, how she pivoted her business when COVID-19 hit, and how she leverages her e-commerce website to attract, create awareness, and win more customers.
Brandon Kim is one of the three Co-Founders of Brevitē, a direct-to-consumer backpack company that makes fun, functional, and innovative backpacks. Brandon started Brevitē with his brothers in 2015 while studying industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Today, Brevitē is one of the top camera bags in the market. They have sold out of their inventory four times in the last year alone and earned millions in sales. They’ve donated more than $180,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic to charities that support the homeless and civics education in New York. Brandon was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2021 for retail and e-commerce.
In this episode… Has your e-commerce business stopped growing? Are you having challenges expanding your product reach and scaling?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro sits down with Brandon Kim, the Co-Founder of Brevitē, to talk about the strategies you can use as an e-commerce business owner to overhaul your brand. Brandon also explains why you should build a mission-based e-commerce business, why you need to visit your manufacturer, and how you can build a successful e-commerce business through Kickstarter.
Adam Short is the Co-Founder and VP of Sales at Renegade Brands, a company owned and operated by a sports-minded group with unmatched experience, passion, and integrity. Renegade Brands and their team design and deliver the highest quality products that provide exceptional performance, while also producing no toxic impact on the environment.
Renegade Brands’ products are used by over 200 professional NCAA teams, including the New York Yankees, the Dodgers, the Denver Nuggets, the Pistons, Mavericks, and so many more. They also sell disinfectants and serve nursing homes, medical offices, retail locations, and the hospitality industry.
In this episode… Have you built an e-commerce business that encourages creativity and innovation among your employees? Do you support your employees when they come up with new innovative ideas for your brand?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Adam Short, the Co-Founder and VP of Sales at Renegade Brands, to talk about the value of creativity and innovation in an e-commerce business. Adam also explains how an e-commerce company can set itself apart from competitors, the benefits of face-to-face marketing, and why e-commerce brand owners should reach out directly to their target customers.
Adam Robinson is the Founder and CEO of GetEmails, the world's first-ever email-based retargeting software. He is also the Co-Founder and President of Robly Email Marketing, an email marketing service provider with headquarters in New York City and San Francisco.
Adam is the #1 bestselling author of Permission (Sh)marketing and holds a degree in Economics from Rice University.
In this episode… Do you have an email list for your e-commerce brand? Have you faced any challenges growing it organically? If you’ve already built a robust email list, what specific strategies do you use to drive traffic and increase sales for your brand?
Adam Robinson, the Founder and CEO of GetEmails, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast. Adam talks about the importance of growing your e-commerce brand's email list, shares his best strategies for email retargeting, and explains how he handles objections to email marketing. He also talks about building his email-based retargeting software and how The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) legislations affect the use of personal data.
Simon Booth is the Owner and Director of Kiddimoto, a company that makes balanced bikes, helmets, scooters, and more for kids. After building a superbike-inspired wooden balanced bike prototype in his flat, the idea for the first Kiddimoto balanced bike was born.
Now, Kiddimoto has sold over 1 million bikes. With accessories lifting the business to the next level, they’ve also sold over 2 million helmets. Simon has created a company that is the leader in fun, well-crafted, and super cool ride-ons, safety wear, and accessories for kids. Simon holds a degree in Automotive Engineering from The University of Bolton.
In this episode… Are you in the process of starting an e-commerce business? Do you have a great idea or concept for your product? And importantly, is it niche-specific?
Simon Booth, the Owner and Director of Kiddimoto, sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to share his advice on how you can start small and grow your e-commerce brand by creating a niche product. Simon shares his experience pitching on BBC's Dragons’ Den, meeting the Queen of England, and the benefits of kids riding balanced bikes.
Rob Fraser is the Founder and CEO of endūr, an athletic lifestyle brand that elevates performance socks by fusing expressive designs with technical features. As a five-time member of the Canadian National Downhill Mountain Bike Team, Rob's competitive nature fueled his entrepreneurial spirit and provided a unique framework for building a business. From humble beginnings working out of a basement in 2016, Rob bootstrapped endūr to a 7 figure revenue by assembling a world-class team.
With an unwavering focus on performance, design, and community, endūr is an emerging and innovative leader in the athletic industry. In recognition of their rapid growth, endūr was named one of Douglas magazine's “10 to Watch” and earned a spot on season 13 of the CBC reality show, Dragons’ Den.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of working with brand ambassadors, influencers, or other companies similar to yours to promote your e-commerce products? Do you know how to find the right people to partner with?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro talks to Rob Fraser, the Founder and CEO of endūr, about the strategies he uses to find and work with brand ambassadors and brand partners. He mentions some of the companies he works with, shares some of his acquisition methods, and explains how using email marketing has led to massive growth for his company.
Dane Chauvel is the President and Co-Founder of Organic Ocean Seafood, a major supplier of sustainable seafood. Organic Ocean provides wild-caught and responsibly cultured seafood to the world’s top chefs, restaurants, and families just like yours. Their products are sustainably harvested by local fishermen, making Organic Ocean Canada's leading supplier of 100% sustainably harvested and produced premium seafood.
Coupled with Dane’s expertise in venture capital and technology management, Organic Ocean has been able to balance the fisherman’s way of life and the ecological impact their work has on fisheries. A second-generation fisherman raising third-generation fishermen, Dane earned a Master’s in Finance from Ivey Business School at Western University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from The University of British Columbia.
In this episode… Are you looking to introduce a new e-commerce product to the market that few people know about? Or has your e-commerce product been in the market for some time without a boost in sales? If either of these scenarios sounds like you, you may want to start doing something new: educating your target customers about the benefits of your product.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks to Dane Chauvel, the Co-Founder and President of Organic Ocean, about how Dane increased sales for his e-commerce products by educating his customers. He shares his background as a commercial fisherman, how his experience working in technology has helped grow his seafood business, and how he sets his company apart from other players in the market.
Dr. Travis Zigler is the Founder and CEO of Eye Love, a company on a mission to end preventable blindness by providing affordable, high-quality eye products. Joining forces with his wife and Co-Founder, Dr. Jenna Zigler, the two are on a journey to heal one million dry eye sufferers naturally by the year 2030.
Dr. Travis Zigler is an optometrist-turned-entrepreneur, shifting his career as the Owner and Optometrist of Eye Love Cares Clinic to Amazon PPC Coach with Profitable Pineapple. Particularly after Eye Love earned almost $4 million in sales in 2020, Dr. Zigler has been helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses online. Armed with Amazon advertising as one of his superpowers, Dr. Zigler and his team have helped hundreds of clients in different countries reach success.
In this episode… What is the main focus of your e-commerce brand? Are you more concerned with making bigger profits as opposed to serving your community? How are you building connections with your customers?
Dr. Travis Zigler, the Founder and CEO of Eye Love, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, where he explains why you should shift your focus from making more money to serving your community. Dr. Zigler also explains how you can create and nurture quality connections with your customers through content sharing and how plowing back the profits from your e-commerce brand can help accelerate your growth.
Mark Samuel is the Founder and CEO of IWON Organics, a health and wellness company that makes bold, flavor-infused snacks made from plant-based proteins like peas, beans, and brown rice. IWON, which stands for “I'm Winning on Nutrition”, is focused on healthy snacking and successful, long-term eating habits based on the principles of balanced nutritional profiles which are made up of healthy proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. IWON's snacks can be found in over 5,000 stores nationwide, including Kroger's, Sprouts, Whole Foods in the SoPac and NorCal regions, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Safeway, and Brookshire’s. Their products can also be found and purchased online through their website, on Amazon, and on Thrive Market.
Mark recently launched his new e-book, Small Wins Big Victories and is also the host of Let's Eat and 2WIN on YouTube. He is a father of 2 kids and a health and fitness enthusiast.
In this episode… Are you worried about getting capital for your e-commerce brand? Do you wonder if it’s possible to successfully scale your business when you just have a few members on your team? Mark Samuel believes that you can build an e-commerce brand with 5 key employees as long you know your 'why'.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro interviews Mark Samuel, the Founder and CEO of IWON Organics, about his strategies for building and scaling an e-commerce business. Mark explains how you can get capital for your brand, how you can empower your team in order to drive your company’s growth, and how you can translate the retail shopping experience to e-commerce.
Annie Morhauser is the Founder, Owner, and Designer of Annieglass. For 38 years, she has been designing and manufacturing luxury glass with her own innovative style and method. She first began Annieglass in a small studio that she shared with another artist. Her business has grown over the years, and now her designs are found at high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
In this episode… Are you ready to start growing your business but could use a little insight on the logistics? How do you choose the right employees, or know when your business needs a bigger space to call home? Once you start getting larger orders, how do you keep your products feeling special?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Annie Morhauser, Founder of Annieglass, to discuss how she grew her business without losing the personal touch that made her products special in the first place. She shares some of her strategies for picking employees and how to delegate work to sustain higher production levels. She also describes the physical journey that Annieglass took over the years and why having the right space can help streamline your success.
Don Henig is a Co-Founder of AccrueMe, a unique fintech company focused on Amazon Sellers. AccrueMe provides unique growth capital to Amazon sellers with no interest and no required payments. Don's primary career focus was initially in the mortgage and real estate industries. He is a former President of American Home Mortgage, has experience in building and selling his own mortgage banking entity, and has grown a regional mortgage banker into a national platform in short order. Throughout his career, he’s been responsible for over $150 billion in mortgage financing.
Robby Stanley is the Chief Marketing Officer at AccrueMe. He ran his own e-commerce business for 20 years, mainly in the electronic parts business, and became the biggest supplier of iPhone parts in the United States for a time. He is a former founder of two successful 7+ figure e-commerce brands and has won awards for his unique approach to marketing. He is also a sought-after speaker on YouTube video marketing techniques.
In this episode… Do you need capital to start or finance your e-commerce brand? Have you run out of money to get more inventory for your growing business? Would you take up a loan that didn't require interest and monthly repayments? If you’re nodding your head, then AccrueMe is your solution.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Don Henig and Robby Stanley from AccrueMe to talk about their company's unique lending approach for Amazon sellers. They explain how their non-interest-bearing money works, how they decide on which e-commerce sellers to invest in, and how their clients were impacted by COVID-19.
Julie Cole is the Co-Founder of the popular labeling company Mabel’s Labels, a small startup that has evolved into an award-winning family products company. Julie co-founded Mabel’s Labels in 2003 with three other busy moms, growing the company to nationwide success and helping more than 900,000 families. Mabel’s Labels is constantly growing and adding new products to their expansive line.
Julie is a renowned and syndicated blogger with articles in The Huffington Post and Today’s Parent, to name a few. She’s also a mainstay on television, appearing on The Today Show, The View, and HLN’s Raising America. Other than being a successful business owner, Julie is a mom of six children, one of whom is diagnosed with autism.
In this episode… Ever wonder about the reality behind running a company while parenting? Is balancing motherhood with your business as difficult as they say it is—or, is it easier than you think?
Julie Cole, the Co-Founder of Mabel’s Labels, has the answer to your questions. In her conversation with Jeremy, Julie opens up about the less glamorous side of running a company, including her experience crafting creative marketing strategies before the advent of social media, balancing work and home life, the importance of connecting with customers, and much more!
On this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with entrepreneur Julie Cole about her experience co-founding and running her successful business, Mabel’s Labels. Discover her inside tips and tricks to make your e-commerce business stand out and create revenue. Julie’s inspiring story of starting a small business from the ground up (literally, she started it in her sister’s basement) is a must-listen for anyone running or starting a company, no matter how big or small.
Matt Gillis is the CEO of Clean.io, a cyber-security company that helps put an end to malicious code and protect user experiences. Clean.io has powered the protection of over 7 million sites globally. With their cyber-security solutions, Clean.io can give e-commerce companies the ability to block unwanted coupon extensions, protecting your revenue and profit margins.
Matt has more than 20 years of mobile, media, and technology experience with a history of building and operating companies from startup to scaled global market leaders. With his expertise and polished skillset, Matt has delivered over $1B in annual revenues.
In this episode… Has your e-commerce business been affected by unauthorized coupon extensions on your website? Have you tried to get rid of them but failed? Matt Gillis from Clean.io has the solution.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz from Rise25 Media is joined by Matt Gillis, the CEO of Clean.io, to share how the company's digital platform can help protect your e-commerce store from unauthorized coupon extensions and malvertising. Matt explains what malvertising means, how your e-commerce site can be attacked, and how you can protect your website and reputation through Clean.io’s platform.
Shivani Dhamija is the Founder of Shivani's Kitchen, a Canadian spice and sauce brand to bring quality Indian products into your home. She creates award-winning spices and sauces manufactured in Nova Scotia and supplied to retail stores across Canada, like Sobeys. Shivani's Kitchen offers a wide variety of authentic spice blends, sauces, cooking classes, Do-It-Yourself kits, and more.
Shivani moved to Nova Scotia in 2011 to be with her partner and eventually started meal delivery services, cooking classes, and a spice blends business in 2016. Her ready-to-use sauces are salt-free, gluten-free, and preservative-free. Shivani has a passion for entrepreneurship and helping other women immigrants grow their own businesses.
In this episode… As sales for your business grow, have you considered expanding your market reach? Maybe to other regions—or even different countries? If this has been on your mind, do you have the right strategies for entering these new markets?
Shivani Dhamija, the Founder of Shivani's Kitchen, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of Relationship Commerce to share her tips and tricks for successfully entering new markets with e-commerce products. She explains how learning the culture of your new market can help build your brand, the challenges she faced growing her cooking classes business, and how e-commerce has led to more traction for both businesses.
Colleen Wagner is the Founder and Chief Adventure Officer of McGovern & Company, a heritage brand born out of love for American National Parks. The company creates products using unique decorative vintage maps for the travel, adventure, and outdoor markets. Its product line includes scarves, bandanas, mugs, blankets, buffs, socks, bags, and more.
For the last several years, Colleen has built a 100% female-owned, remote, flexible, and family-friendly company that helps working moms and donates to the planet. McGovern & Company was a finalist of the 2020 Title Nine Pitchfest, and all of its designs and products are inspired by Colleen's travels to National Parks.
In this episode… Are you ready to hire your first employee for your e-commerce startup? Do you know what to look for in the right hire? Not only that, but are you on top of your finances?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, host Dean Dutro is joined by Colleen Wagner, the Founder and Chief Adventure Officer of McGovern & Company. They discuss how to know when you’re ready to hire your first employee, what to look out for during recruitment, and the importance of effectively managing your finances. Colleen also shares the SEO strategies she uses to grow her business. Stay tuned.
Shane Boudreau is the CEO of LumberUnion, an apparel company that sells USA-made products. Every purchase from LumberUnion plants a tree in the USA, in partnership with American Forests. When possible, LumberUnion works with local factories in Los Angeles, California to produce fabric, cut, sew, dye, and package their casual luxury clothing. Some of their bags and accessories are produced overseas.
Shane is a strategic and proactive leader with extensive experience implementing effective strategies and directing/building high performing teams to achieve consistent growth and long-term financial strength. He uses his expertise in agile management and predictive analysis to drive organizations ahead of their competition. Shane is also the CEO of VestIn Capital Group, which helps to fund innovation through training, management, and advisory services.
In this episode… Do you produce your own physical products for your e-commerce business? If you do, how do you dispose of the waste? Do you take out the trash in a way that’s environmentally-friendly—or ecologically disastrous?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Shane Boudreau, the CEO of LumberUnion, to explain how you can avoid polluting the environment while producing your e-commerce products. Shane shares his strategies for creating zero impact on the environment and explains how you can make improvements on your e-commerce website to make it customer-friendly—and increase sales.
Kevin Sofen is the Business Development Manager at Darley, a business supplies and equipment company. He helps bring water and fire technologies to market using creative strategies to serve humanity. Darley has been proudly serving first responders and warfighters since 1908. Kevin has helped to evolve a 112-year old family business by embracing innovation in traditional industries.
Kevin is also the Founder and CEO of Wristsponsible, which brings water awareness, water funding, and water solutions to the world. They raise financial capital for water projects by the sale of artisan craft wristbands, incentivized crowdfunding campaigns, and corporate sponsorship social impact alignment. He is also the Co-Founder and Board Member of Box of Rain Water, Board Member of The Comics For Safety Foundation, and Co-Founder of the SDG Talks Podcast.
In this episode… Did you know that you can create an e-commerce product and use virtual reality to generate impact in the world? Did you also know that you can use virtual reality to train your employees and improve their skill sets?
Kevin Sofen, the Business Development Manager at Darley, is Dr. Jeremy Weisz's guest in this episode of Relationship Commerce. In conversation, Kevin explains how you can use virtual reality to provide training and make a difference. He also talks about his side hustle giving back to communities in developing countries and his work at Darley.
Olivia Alexander is the Founder and CEO of Kush Queen. In less than 3 years, Olivia has grown Kush Queen into a multi-million dollar multi-faceted brand carrying only the finest CBD-only and THC-infused products. The Kush Queen product line includes award-winning bath bombs, pain relief lotions, edibles, wellness supplements, and skincare.
Since working in her first dispensary in 2006, Olivia has worked on social media, creative direction, and digital strategy for countless cannabis companies. She has a knack for being able to develop, connect, and relate the right cannabis products to the right communities. She is one of the largest digital influencers in cannabis with over 2.5 million followers that average 100 million monthly impressions. Olivia is also the CEO and Founder of The Crystal Cult, an online community celebrating women who love cannabis and Kush Queen’s older sister.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of using empathetic marketing strategies for your e-commerce brand? Do you know how to create quality connections with your customers?
Olivia Alexander, the Founder and CEO of Kush Queen, is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, where she explains how she maximizes empathetic marketing to create connections with her e-commerce customers and grow her brand. She also explains why you should provide personal experiences to customers and the importance of being authentic in your communication strategies.
Kelley Higney is the Founder and CEO of Bug Bite Thing, a suction tool that extracts insect saliva/venom from under the skin to help alleviate the itching, stinging, and swelling that follows bug bites and stings. After battling with her daughter’s constant mosquito bites, Kelley discovered a little-known tool to alleviate the symptoms that come with bites.
Bug Bite Thing gained nationwide recognition in October 2019 when Kelley and her mother appeared on ABC’s hit show, “Shark Tank”. All the Sharks were biting offers to invest in the business, but it was Lori Greiner's Golden Ticket offer that secured the partnership. Bug Bite Thing is now Amazon’s #1 selling product for insect bite relief with more than 20,000 positive reviews.
In this episode… Have you ever considered making a pitch to the investors at the popular TV show “Shark Tank”? Do you know how you should prepare in advance before making your appearance? Do you have a valuation of your e-commerce brand's business?
Kelley Higney, Founder and CEO of Bug Bite Thing, is Dr. Jeremy Weisz's guest in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast. She shares her experience appearing on “Shark Tank” and closing a deal with Lori Greiner, growing her e-commerce brand, and her strategies for going into retail.
Paul Jarrett is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bulu, the industry authority in subscription boxes. Bulu does business with a wide variety of brands, from big names like Disney and Clorox to SMBs.
Paul's Co-Founder and wife Stephanie launched Bulu's flagship program Bulu Box in 2012 as the sixth subscription box to the market, which quickly gained recognition as a trailblazer. The brand has since been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, PBS, Inc, CBS News, and many other major media outlets. Paul is well known as an e-commerce and consumer packaged goods expert, as well as a memorable keynote speaker.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of creating a subscription box offering for your e-commerce products? Do you know what steps you need to take to achieve your goal?
Paul Jarrett is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bulu and an expert in creating subscription boxes for different brands. Today, he joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to talk about his strategies for starting and scaling a subscription box business. Paul also explains how he uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to grow his business and talks about the benefits of hiring an expert finance officer for your e-commerce brand.
Martin Zahuranec is the Co-Founder and CEO of eyerim, a premium eyewear company operating in 12 countries across Europe featuring a range of products from sunglasses to prescription frames and snow goggles. The company sells designer pieces, mainstream classics, and cutting-edge sports collections. With the success of eyerim, Martin has become one of the fastest growing e-commerce players in Central and Eastern Europe.
In this episode… Do you have a winning team for your e-commerce brand? Do you have the right exit strategy for your business?
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks to Martin Zahuranec, the Co-Founder and CEO of eyerim, about his strategies for scaling a premium product in Europe. They also talk about Martin's career background in Vietnam and Vienna, finding the right business partner for your company, and managing inventory for your growing brand.
Paul Barmes is the Founder of Barmes Design, a New Zealand-born and globally raised lifestyle brand committed to improving the way people live, work, and move. Their flagship product, an innovative luggage seat, entered the market in 2019. The company's luggage has been featured in Jetsetter, The Daily Herald, ABC News, MarketWatch, and more.
Andrew Skirde is VP of Marketing Operations for Barmes Design. With the work of Paul and Andrew, Barmes is much more than a luggage piece and offers a unique combination of mobile office, personal storage, and carry-on case. Your most important pieces are safe and secure with the ability to separate and organize business, as well as personal and travel items, all with quick and easy access.
In this episode… Is your e-commerce product a show stopper? Can it attract people and sell itself? Does it stand out from other products in the market?
It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking exclusively from a business perspective. But, there’s a difference between a product that does well and a product that soars: creativity.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Paul Barmes from Barmes Design and Andrew Skirde, VP of Marketing Operations, to talk about becoming an inventive and creative e-commerce leader. They also discuss the benefits of creating a show stopper product, how to work with influencers, and strategies for managing an e-commerce business during a pandemic.
George Perkins is the Head of Doing Stuff at Super Rare Games, a company that strives to supply collectors with the very best physical content for the Nintendo Switch. At Super Rare Games, George brings the most exclusive offering of the very best indie games. From the product packaging to the delivery of limited edition trading cards, they aim to provide gamers with the purest experience.
George's role involves identifying key game targets based on community feedback and market data, initiating conversations with potential clients, managing the company's team, and working with Nintendo, developers, and fulfillment houses to create and release new games.
In this episode… Have you ever thought of creating a physical commodity out of your digital product? Let’s say you have. Then, do you have the necessary skills and resources for creating the product and taking it to the market?
Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Co-Founder of Rise25 Media talks to George Perkins, the Head of Doing Stuff at Super Rare Games, about how an e-commerce brand can create and sell a tangible video game product. George also talks about working with social media influencers and developers, his most popular products, and how to handle logistics and shipping for video products.
Sean Reyes is the Founder and CEO of Shock Surplus, an automotive e-commerce brand on a mission to provide a variety of top-quality shock absorbers and coilover options in the car, truck, and SUV market. He started the company in his bedroom in 2013 and grew the brand by 25% with each passing year. Now, Shock Surplus is a seven-figure brand with 12 employees scattered around the globe.
Before starting Shock Surplus, Sean was the Marketing Director for Maxtrac Suspension and Sales Manager for BNS Suspension. He holds a degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
In this episode… Do you know how dropshipping works? Have you ever sold products that have been dropshipped through your e-commerce brand? Would you consider getting into dropshipping to expand your customer base and increase sales?
In today's episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro talks to Sean Reyes, the CEO and Founder of Shock Surplus, about how e-commerce brands can grow through dropshipping. Sean shares some of the mistakes he’s made (and you should avoid), his strategies for growing your dropshipping business, and explains how to use Google ads and SMS marketing to drive sales.
Lisa Rueff is the Founder of Collective Hearts, whose jewelry is lovingly handcrafted in Northern California using the highest quality of gold and sterling silver. Every purchase of their product helps the company donate to organizations that support causes close to their hearts like the Jacmel Children’s Center in Haiti, Adoptive Family Smile Foundation, and many more.
Lisa has led many international humanitarian trips and raised over a million dollars for women and children on a global scale. She also created the board game, Sparked, which aims to inspire and connect people through rich and memorable experiences with every game.
In this episode… Wouldn’t it be nice if the product that you’re selling in your e-commerce business can help spread love and joy not just to your customers, but to other people in the world? What if every transaction that you process can help support a cause that’s close to your heart?
Lisa Rueff did just that by creating special jewelry that supports organizations like Jacmel Children's Center in Haiti and the Black Lives Matter movement. She also learned the importance of listening to her customers' feedback and using that to improve her business and provide them with the products they want.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media is joined by Lisa Rueff, Founder of Collective Hearts, to talk about how as an e-commerce business owner, you can use your products to spread love and hope to the world. Lisa also explains how you can grow your brand by directly reaching out to your customers and how to solve production-related challenges for handmade products.
By day, Patrick Stark is the Vice President of Engineering and Product Strategy at Beta Calco, an architectural lighting manufacturer, and the Co-Founder of Endurance Tap, a sports nutrition brand, by night. Endurance Tap was founded in early 2014 by Patrick and Matt, two friends passionate about sports and nutrition.
For Endurance Tap, Patrick has been manufacturing a product that is currently for sale in over 1,000 retailers across three countries. The company has been featured in publications like Runner's World and the Canadian Running Magazine and is used by thousands of runners and athletes across North America. Before starting his sports brand, Patrick studied Industrial Design at Humber College and Environmental Studies at York University.
In this episode… Has your e-commerce brand been growing slowly since you started? Do you know what new strategies you need to adapt to increase demand for your products and scale? Do you know the needs and desires of your customers?
As an e-commerce business owner, one of the best ways you can grow and scale your brand is by leveraging your customer’s feedback to improve your product offering. Listening to your customers helps you understand their needs and frustrations—and through that, create products that will satisfy them, give them value, and grow your business.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro sits down to talk with Patrick Stark, the Co-Founder of Endurance Tap, about the importance of listening to—and applying—your customer’s feedback. Patrick explains how his company has grown through leveraging customer feedback and shares his strategies for understanding his target market, finding and working with manufacturers, and converting quality leads.
Allen Iov is the Founder and CEO of LumieWorld, a company focused on creating innovative products to help families sleep. LumieWorld's mission is to bring the world of illumination to children and parents. Their products are designed to guide children with security and support as they learn and adapt to their sleeping routines.
Allen has grown LumieWorld into a seven-figure multi-product brand that can be found in over 1,000 brick and mortar stores including Target, Home Depot, Nordstrom, and Crate & Barrel. His products have been seen on television and in the movies, and has even fielded requests by Disney to create their characters as LumiPets.
In this episode… As an e-commerce seller, do you find it difficult to get your products on the shelves of retail stores? Do you know the requirements different retailers have for brands looking to sell in their stores? Do you even know the right way to approach these retailers?
The end goal for brick-and-mortar businesses and e-commerce brands are the same: to deliver products to the target audience. But, there are some definite differences between the two when it comes to starting and running your business. If you want to make your e-commerce brand retail-ready, there are some steps you need to take.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Allen Iov, the Founder and CEO of LumieWorld, to discuss the main things you should take into consideration when preparing your e-commerce brand for retail storefronts. Allen talks about the challenges he faced growing his brand, how to grow your e-commerce brand, and his new course for e-commerce sellers, where he teaches you how to replicate his success.
Youri Vaisse is the e-commerce General Manager for Madam Glam, a New York City-based start-up beauty brand. Over the past 3 years, he has helped Madam Glam grow into a seven-figure e-commerce company using his expertise in search engine marketing, online advertising, email marketing, and other automation tools.
Youri’s had a storied career. Before Madam Glam, he was the General Manager for the Paris Saint-Germain soccer club in Miami and the Marketing Manager for Blackdivine LLC, adding over 10 years of e-commerce and digital marketing experience to his expertise. He holds an MBA from KEDGE Business School.
In this episode… What experience do your e-commerce leads and customers have when navigating your website? Are you able to capture their attention and interest immediately, keeping them on the site? Do you have an efficient onboarding process should they decide to purchase or join your email list?
Your e-commerce website should be different from other sites out there, especially when it comes to your customer’s first experience on your site. You can't afford to set up your products and expect customers to come and buy whatever you have to offer, because having a high converting e-commerce website is not about having the right products with the right descriptions: it's about offering a VIP customer user experience and onboarding process for new and returning customers.
Youri Vaisse, the e-commerce General Manager for Madam Glam, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast to explain how you can create a VIP customer experience for your e-commerce website. Youri shares his tips and strategies for scaling Madam Glam, email and SMS marketing strategies, and the various apps and tools he uses to grow the e-commerce side of the beauty brand.
Zel Crampton is the Co-Founder and CEO of Diggs, a company that designs, manufactures, and retails innovative pet supplies (e.g., crates, gates, toys, bowls) via their direct-to-consumer website and Amazon. With a team made up of pet industry and operations experts, they stand out from the crowd when it comes to innovation, branding, and the use of technology.
Zel graduated with an MBA from Columbia Business School. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company as an Engagement Manager and helped clients predominantly in the asset management sector with strategy and operations.
In this episode… Do you want to create a unique revolutionary product that provides unique benefits to your end-users? Do you want to disrupt your market category and offer a better product than your competitors?
You’ll have to create something different that stands out. And to do this, you have to understand your target market and learn their key pain points. You also need to figure out the problems they face—including those that they don't know they have—and use that information to create an e-commerce product that meets their needs.
Zel Crampton, the Co-Founder and CEO of Diggs, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, to share his strategies for creating a unique revolutionary e-commerce product. They also talk about the email and SMS software Zel uses for his business, ethnographic technique, and Zel's advice to you as you create your e-commerce product.
Germaine Caprio is the Founder and Owner of MAJAMAS EARTH, an eco-fashion and ethically-made clothing brand. She was inspired by her mother to create a clothing line that was environmentally responsible and believes that beautiful styles can be made without harming the planet—and is the future of fashion.
MAJAMAS EARTH manufactures their clothing 100% in the United States, are never sprayed with chemicals, and ensure their workers are treated ethically and paid fair wages. You can find Germaine’s product line in stores like Whole Foods or on their website.
In this episode… As an e-commerce seller and product designer, are you thinking of taking your brand to the Amazon marketplace? Do you want to sign up independent Amazon resellers to sell more of your products? If you answered “yes” to these questions, we’ve got news for you: you need to reconsider your plan.
Most Amazon resellers offer a lot of discounts on the products they sell to win the buy box on Amazon. But, this leads to significant price discrepancies on the marketplace and other e-commerce platforms, which negatively affects the brand's perception by customers. Ultimately, the brand loses their control to Amazon and the resellers. If you plan to go to Amazon, it is best to sell your own products directly to customers—and Germaine Caprio is here to help.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Germaine Caprio, Founder and Owner of MAJAMAS EARTH, joins Dean Dutro to talk about the strategies she used to grow her organic e-commerce clothing brand. She explains why you should avoid using Amazon resellers, how her business has benefited from direct to consumer marketing, and why she recommends Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for growing your brand.
John McNamara is the Head of Sales at Branch, a furniture company that produces high-end furniture at affordable prices by getting rid of the middleman. By selling directly to the customer, Branch has been able to maintain high-quality standards while offering half the price of premium furniture. Not only can you order premium office furniture from Branch, but they’ll also deliver and assemble it at no extra cost.
Before joining Branch, John was the Head of Growth at Atlas Lane. He holds a degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University.
In this episode… If you're thinking of changing your business from a B2B model to an e-commerce model, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.
Is B2B where you want to be—and if it is, why? What's your priority? Are you currently succeeding in B2B? Do you feel like you have to make the switch?
If you want to succeed in e-commerce, there’s one thing you need to focus on: customer success. You have to provide excellent service to your customers so you can transform them into your brand's evangelists and advocates. Why? This will help you increase your number of quality leads—and ultimately, boost your sales.
Today, Dean Dutro, host of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, is joined by John McNamara, Head of Sales at Branch, to talk about the different things you need to consider before shifting from a B2B business model to an e-commerce model. John shares his background, talks e-commerce software, and strategies for shifting from B2B to e-commerce.
Sacha Prost is the Co-Founder and CEO of 8JS, a premier Formula One racing-inspired brand based out of Switzerland. Sacha is the son of 4-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost, turning his father’s legacy into a family business and founding the clothing company along with his brother, Nicolas, and sister-in-law, Delphine.
Sacha is committed to keeping the brand up to the highest quality standards, manufacturing in Italy and Portugal and seeking only the best partners for each of their products. The premier clothing brand knows its audience and provides the 8JS man with garments he can throw on to go for a drive, which is why comfort, ease of movement, and durability are key.
In this episode… Are you thinking of starting a new business or in the process of starting one? Then you might be feeling something we’ve all experienced as entrepreneurs: fear that someone might steal your idea if you talk about it.
According to Sacha Prost, talking to as many people as possible can help you get started with your new business venture. So, what are best practices for finding someone to support you? One feels obvious but often overlooked: find a person within your industry who knows more than you and who can guide you. It could be someone older who has been in the industry for many years and has a lot of experience to share. Regardless of who it is, the best decision you can make is to admit that you don’t know everything and that you need guidance.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Sacha Prost, Co-Founder and CEO of 8JS, to talk about how to successfully start and grow a premier clothing business. Sacha explains why you should seek guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, talks about the benefits of having a small, engaging email list versus a large, non-engaging list, and explains why brands should focus on targeting the right customers for their premier products.
Josh Band is the Founder of Plate Crate, a baseball subscription box that aims to build the sport’s community and connect players and fans with the game. Josh started the company in 2015 from the back of his SUV while playing independent baseball in the Midwest. He was shocked that there was no baseball subscription box on the market—so he created one.
Over the last 5 years, Plate Crate has grown into a rich baseball community where ballplayers can do more than just find great gear: they connect players and families to the game they love.
In this episode… Do you know the steps you need to take to grow your new e-commerce business? Are you looking for a way to create new and better connections with your customers? What strategies should you adopt to build a thriving business that serves your customer’s needs?
To build a successful business, you should start by answering these questions. This is what Josh Band did when he realized there was no subscription box in the market for baseball lovers while batting as an independent player. This sparked a business idea and solution, which he shares with us (and you!) in today’s episode.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro talks to Josh Band, the Founder of Plate Crate, about starting and growing a baseball subscription box business to help connect players and fans with the game. Josh also talks about using influencer marketing to increase your sales, the power of product giveaways and partnerships, and your best strategies for using paid ads.
Mat Bingham is the Director of Agency Partnerships at Justuno, a conversion rate platform that helps merchants convert their daily website traffic into email and SMS leads (and sales!) through targeted onsite messaging and displays. Mat has expertise in sales, marketing, account management, organizational management, and product development.
Before joining Justuno, Mat was an Account Executive at Intuit Demandforce and a Digital Marketing Specialist at MyBookBuyer.com. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from San Francisco State University.
In this episode… One of the best decisions sellers can make to increase their website's conversion rates and sales volume is sitting right in your inbox: leveraging the power of email and SMS marketing.
As the holiday season slowly winds up, it’s wise for sellers to start launching their promotions and discount offers to customers. It’s also important to encourage customers to make their purchases early because of the delayed shipping times caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro sits down with Mat Bingham, the Director of Agency Partnerships at Justuno, to talk about how email and SMS marketing can maximize your efforts in boosting conversion rates and sales. They talk about the founding and growth of Justuno, segmenting website visitors, and getting ready for holiday sales.
Bruce Hultgren is the Founder and CEO of Oh Crap, a compostable dog waste bag company that has celebrated saving over 12 million plastic dog waste bags from landfills. While most plastic bags take 500 years (or more) to degrade—and don’t entirely break down—Oh Crap’s dog poop bags break down in only 3 months.
Before founding Oh Crap, Bruce played professional basketball in the NBL in Australia for eight years and created BillyBounce Basketball, a basketball program for kids. He also ran a business for 20 years called PocketAngels that was started following the tragic loss of his eldest sister in a plane crash, and the company The GOYA Life, which helps people with wellness and mindfulness.
In this episode… In a bid to help conserve the environment and make the world a better place, Bruce Hultgren came up with an idea for reducing plastic bag use and making compostable bags for dog poop. After some research, he found an ideal material for bags that would disintegrate in less than 90 days: cornstarch.
Oh Crap, the company founded by Bruce, has grown over the last 6 years in Australia and now ships their products internationally. However, the company's expansion plans to the US have been hit with some distribution challenges due to the big market in the country.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks to Bruce Hultgren, Founder and CEO of Oh Crap, about his company's mission of conserving the environment and helping reduce the amount of landfill made up of dog poop bags. Bruce differentiates between biodegradability and compostability, explains the differences between manufacturing and distributing poop bags for the Australian and US markets, and talks about his company's plans.
Steve Coulton is the Co-Founder and VP of Sales at OnCore Golf, a growing golf ball technology company based in Buffalo, New York. Equipped with ground-floor experience building and running a start-up golf company, he’s also an advisor to early-stage emerging technology companies with a particular focus on the medical, information technology, and clean tech industries.
Steve's passions include art, languages, design, poker, social entrepreneurship, venture capital, friends and family—and of course, golf. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from New York University.
In this episode… When Steve Coulton and his business partner started their company for golf products, OnCore Golf, their idea was to use a B2B business model. While this worked for a while, they eventually faced several challenges with retailers—so they decided to change to a B2C business model.
In addition, to increase their sales and improve their customer experience, OnCore Golf started a loyalty rewards program for their customers that has had positive results for the business.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Steve Coulton, Co-Founder and VP of Sales at OnCore Golf, to learn about the golf company's growth strategies and their loyalty rewards program. Steve talks about the challenges the company faced working with retailers, their transition to a B2C business model, and their entry into digital advertising.
Lindsay Nicholas is the Founder and Creative Director at Lindsay Nicholas New York, a women's luxury clothing line. She creates travel-friendly wardrobe staples that make women feel both powerful and beautiful: from sweaters to shorts.
Before starting her retail line, she was the Executive Director of Retail Marketing at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Head of Global Marketing at Paspaley. With more than a decade of running global and AsiaPac-Japan businesses, Lindsay has transformed into a retail marketing expert.
In this episode… Every successful business owner has gone through failure. It is what helps people learn what works and what doesn't, where to make adjustments, and ultimately, how to excel in your industry. That’s right: you can’t be successful without losing a little—or sometimes, a lot. Success and failure move together; every great leader knows this.
For Lindsay Nicholas, the secret to finding what works best for her clothing brand is simple: test, test, test. She doesn't believe in playing it safe, so she runs tests on audiences, creatives, ad copy, and offers, especially now, during COVID-19.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Lindsay Nicholas, Founder and Creative Director at Lindsay Nicholas New York, sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz about starting and growing her luxury clothing line for women. She talks about her target customers, choosing the right models and employees for her brand, and her leadership principles.
Farzan Dehmoubed is the Founder and CEO of Lotus Sustainables, an eco-friendly company on a mission to eliminate plastic from shopping. Farzan’s range of eco-friendly products, including the Lotus Trolley Bags, are now available in 13,000+ stores across the US and Canada, and online at Amazon and their own website. As the leading manufacturer of reusable bags, the company has eliminated the need for over 400 million single-use plastic bags and in 2020, the company ranked 144 on the INC 5000 fastest growing companies in America.
Before collaborating with his wife on the Lotus Trolley Bag, Farzan was an enthusiastic entrepreneur with a history of starting and operating advertising and real estate companies. He is currently based in sunny Carlsbad, California, and has been featured in publications like the LA Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, CBS News, Good Morning America, and more.
In this episode… In 2016, the state of California imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in a bid to do away with their harmful effects on the environment. However, the reusable bags brought in to replace them were not functional when it came to shopping.
To solve this problem for himself and his family, Farzan came up with a unique trolley bag that was functional and stylish. The bags have specialized pockets for different types of items like eggs and wine, and a rod at the top to keep items upright in a shopping cart. When he took the bag to the grocery store, it was an immediate hit—and he decided to manufacture more and start a business.
Dean Dutro, host of the Relationship Commerce Podcast is joined by Farzan Dehmoubed, Founder and CEO of Lotus Sustainables, to talk about Farzan's strategies for growing a startup business. They also talk about the importance of providing a great customer service experience, leveraging Amazon reviews to boost sales, the benefits of selling in multiple sales channels, and how to work with one's spouse. Keep listening.
Gabriel Llaurado is a Co-Founder of Meat N' Bone, a hyperlocal online butcher shop that hand-delivers high-quality meat straight to your door. The company has set out to disrupt the meat market and has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, The Washington Post, and many more.
Before Meat N' Bone, Gabriel led Operations and Digital at Media Global Group (MGG Media) and was the General Manager at CNN Latino NY WBQM Ch. 3.
In this episode… Finding good quality and healthy meat that’s reasonably priced is difficult for many Americans. Supermarkets and grocery stores get stocked with low-quality meat and, when a better cut does show up in the freezer, it costs an arm and a leg.
Besides, not all meat labeled grass-fed is actually from 100% grass-fed cattle—and consumers may not be aware of this. So, to help the consumers who care about where their meat comes from, Gabriel Llaurado and his co-founders decided to launch Meat N' Bone: an online butcher shop that focuses on providing quality meat products to its customers.
In this episode of Relationship Commerce, Dr. Jeremy Weisz chats with Gabriel Llaurado, Co-Founder of Meat N' Bone, about delivering premium quality meat to health-conscious customers. They talk about the company's vetting process for meat farms, their customer service experience, and how their referral program works.
Vincent Vitale is the Director of Marketing and Online Sales at Quanta Inc., a biotech company with a patented technology that supercharges ingredients so they can be absorbed into the body more effectively. Quanta serves brands in several industries, including cannabis, health and wellness, stress and pain management, fitness, and brain performance enhancement.
Before joining Quanta, Vincent was the Business Development Manager at Aspire Food Group. He has also worked at Nissan Motor Corporation, Focus@Will Labs, and FOX Sports. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
In this episode… Despite the surge in CBD product companies on the scene, there are some challenges that these businesses continue to face daily. So, what are some of these?
Being prohibited from advertising on most media platforms is one. Restrictions in payment gateways are another. These aren’t obstacles that you can avoid when growing your business, and if you don’t know how to maneuver the terrain, you may not make it very far.
Vincent Vitale faced these challenges when he joined Quanta, a CBD company. His company's payment processor was canceled the first day he joined the company. They couldn't accept online payments and had to scramble to find an alternative solution despite the company's sales growing every day.
Vincent Vitale, the Director of Marketing and Online Sales at Quanta Inc. is Dean Dutro's guest in this episode of Relationship Commerce. They talk about marketing and growing a CBD company and the various challenges the company has faced along the way. Vincent also shares his career background and how Quanta has been helping doctors affected by COVID-19.
Janine Vermeulen is the Marketing Manager at The Design Store, a trusted New Zealand-owned-and-operated provider of quality, reliable furniture, homeware, and gifts.
Janine is an experienced digital marketing manager with demonstrated expertise after working in the marketing and advertising industry for over 10 years. She is skilled in digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), PPC, analytics, web development, management, and design.
In this episode… The rapid growth of e-commerce has led to a surge in online competition. To stay above the water and visible to the consumer, businesses have to get creative if they want to ensure continuity and profits.
To increase sales for The Design Store, Janine Vermeulen decided to work on improving the company website and bettering their marketing strategies. But, where did she begin?
She started by optimizing the website by making it user-friendly with the goal of increasing conversions. She also focused on social media and Google for her marketing strategy. And this all led to one thing: a boost in company sales.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Janine Vermeulen, Marketing Manager at The Design Store, to talk about the strategies Janine used to increase company sales by 80%. They also talk about SEO marketing, Facebook and Google ads, and other elements of social media marketing.
Marcus Harvey is the Founder of Portland Gear and Owner of the Instagram account, @portland. On Black Friday in 2014, he launched the Portland Gear brand with two iconic T-shirts and just two photos on the Portland IG account. That first day, he sold over 200 shirts to 4 countries and 10 states for around $5,000. Since then, he's spotted his products all over the world and has shipped a piece of Portland to every state in over 60 countries.
Over the past 5 years, Marcus has been fortunate enough to do awesome local collaborations with the Trail Blazers, Timbers, and Thorns, the Oregon Health & Science University, the US Women's National Team, Water Avenue Coffee, Breakside Brewing, University of Portland, nonprofits, and more.
In this episode… After acquiring the Instagram account for the Portland area in 2013, Marcus Harvey started doing what anyone else would do: posting pictures of his city.
But in 2014, as he grew the community, he decided to use his graphic design and screen printing knowledge to make T-shirts that he could promote on the Instagram page. The first day of sales was such a big success that he decided to do more. And so, Portland Gear was born.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Marcus Harvey, Founder of Portland Gear, to talk about how Marcus grew his Portland-based company by maximizing Instagram. They also talk about Portland Gear’s internship program, how Marcus manages e-commerce sales, and how the company was impacted by COVID-19. Keep listening.
Dale Backus is the Founder and CEO of Ohsnap, a company that specializes in creating quality smartphone accessories. He has a passion for developing tangible products, which led him to launch his first company, SmallHD, when he was 22-years-old. The company was later acquired by the Vitec Group in 2014.
Ohsnap makes beautiful grips, stands, and chargers that make life with a phone less of a hassle. The company has successfully launched several crowdfunding campaigns, with the most recent raising $1.75 million from over 27,000 backers—which had them meeting their funding goal in 30 minutes.
In this episode… When creating physical products, most inventors create a list of features they want their product to have during the design phase. Then, they create the product based on these features.
Dale Backus decided to do this differently.
When Dale was creating his product, a phone accessory, he decided to work around 3 tight constraints: it needed to work with any type of phone, have compatibility with wireless charging, and include a grip. With these in place, he came up with a line of beautiful phone grips, stands, and chargers.
Dr. Jeremy Weisz, co-host of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, talks with Dale Backus, Founder and CEO of Ohsnap, about creating and redesigning a product under tight constraints. Dale shares details about his company's Kickstarter experience, what led to his product's success, and how he manages his e-commerce business.
Dave Loftus is the Owner and Founder of Blomdahl USA. Blomdahl provides skin-friendly jewelry to people who love to accessorize—and happen to have a nickel allergy. Dave started the company in the early 2000s after learning about a new, safe, and sanitary system for piercing babies, toddlers, teenagers, and adults. The system is manufactured in Sweden by an amazing company: Blomdahl. Dave has been in the jewelry industry since the 1980s.
In this episode… An outfit isn’t complete without that perfect piece of jewelry. For some people, accessorizing can be the best part of putting your day’s look together. However, for children and adults with a nickel allergy, finding the right non-nickel jewelry can be a chore because of quality issues and safety.
To help solve this problem for jewelry lovers in the U.S., Dave Loftus set up a business to provide jewelry that is safe, of good quality, and maybe most importantly, cute! Blomdahl USA works in close collaboration with skin specialists to create a safe line of elegant jewelry for babies, kids, and adults.
Dave Loftus, Owner and Founder of Blomdahl USA, is Dean Dutro's guest on today’s episode of the Relationship Commerce Podcast where he talks about his work of providing safe and elegant accessories to jewelry lovers who happen to have a nickel allergy. He explains how he got started with Blomdahl, the strategies he uses to find consumers for his products, and his process for finding agencies to work with. Stay tuned.
Adam Feldman is the Vice President of Business Development at Kendago B2C Media, a media company that drives massive volumes of high converting traffic for themselves and their clients. For the past seven years, Adam has grown Kendago from a tiny operation based out of a small house into a leader in innovative health and wellness products, digital marketing, and online advertising. Kendago is now a globally-recognized company with three locations, hundreds of business partnerships, and a thriving health and wellness program, Trim Down Club, with close to 3 million members.
Before Kendago, Adam was the Regional Manager for Arrow Motors and Property Manager for Inter Caribe.
In this episode… When it comes to marketing and advertising, most companies direct their attention to Facebook ads or other social media channels like Instagram and YouTube. These are very popular—but according to Adam Feldman, a business can bring in millions of new customers over just a few years by using Google Display alone. Adam knows this because he’s done it; he has years of experience using Google ads to grow a business and knows which strategies to use that will work.
Before jumping into any strategy, businesses should be aware that the right marketing funnels need the right marketing message, a journey that people can move through, and ample value should be provided to the audience so that they can become loyal to your brand.
Adam Feldman, Vice President of Business Development at Kendago B2C Media, is Dean Dutro's guest on this episode of Relationship Commerce, where he talks about how to use Google display ads to grow your business. He explains how he uses Google and YouTube ads for Kendago’s clients and talks about the importance of direct response marketing.
Rob Fraser is the Founder and CEO of endūr, an athletic lifestyle brand that elevates performance socks by fusing expressive designs with technical features. As a five-time member of the Canadian mountain bike team, Rob's competitive nature fueled his entrepreneurial spirit and provided a unique framework for building a business. From humble beginnings working out of a basement in 2016, Rob bootstrapped endūr to 7 figure revenue by assembling a world-class team.
With an unwavering focus on performance, design, and community, endūr is an emerging and innovative leader in the athletic industry. In recognition of their rapid growth, endūr was named one of Douglas magazine's top 10 businesses to watch and earned a spot on season 13 of the CBC reality show, Dragons’ Den.
In this episode… In the early days of starting endūr, Rob Fraser concentrated on developing his performance socks and making a profit. He didn't have any entrepreneurial experience, but this worked for him for one reason: he built a real business out of his efforts. While other entrepreneurs were busy seeking venture capital and raising money, he worked on growing his business.
Unlike other business people who often guess what customers want and are more concerned with using money to gain customers, Rob reached out to his customers directly and listened to their feedback. This helped him develop a feedback loop—helping him grow the company to where it is today.
Rob Fraser, the Founder and CEO of endūr, is this week's guest on the Relationship Commerce Podcast. Together, host Dean Dutro and Rob talk about his strategies for developing authentic relationships and scaling a performance socks business. He shares his background as a biker and the partnership mistake he made when he first started that cost him a lot of money. Stay tuned.
Mike Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan, and Fix This Next. He is also the Co-Founder of Provendus Group, a business growth consultancy, and Profit First Professionals, an organization designed to support accountants, bookkeepers, and other financial professionals in driving profitability for their business.
Mike is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal, business makeover specialist on MSNBC, and popular main stage keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics. He is devoted to the research and delivery of innovative and impactful entrepreneurial strategies.
In this episode… From experience, Mike Michalowicz knows that understanding the fundamentals of entrepreneurship is important to help your business succeed. He has faced his own share of business challenges and at one point, even lost his investment. He then devoted himself to studying the difference between an entrepreneur who succeeds and one who needs a fix.
What started as notes to himself ended wrapping up as books, turning Mike into a published author and owner of 3 great businesses. He wrote his latest book, Fix This Next, to help fellow entrepreneurs manage their businesses and fix the various problems they often face.
Dean Dutro, host of the Relationship Commerce Podcast, is joined by Mike Michalowicz, author and entrepreneur, to find out how Mike helps entrepreneurs and business leaders fix their business problems. They talk about the business hierarchy of needs, how Mike encourages growth in his team, and how to have difficult conversations with employees. Stay tuned.
Bud Lindman is the Vice President of E2E, an end-to-end solutions provider whose services encompass everything a small business needs to be successful. These include cost-effective product sourcing, fully integrated supply chain management, expertise in operational efficiencies, website design and development, and world-class sales and marketing strategy execution.
Bud is an experienced corporate leader with a demonstrated history of success in supply-side eCommerce and traditional retail. He focuses on providing exceptional client service to achieve end-to-end customer and client satisfaction. With extensive expertise ranging from soft home textiles to apparel, he's also highly skilled in relationship management, contract negotiations, leading teams, marketing, and sales.
In this episode… For eCommerce sellers who want to outsource their products from China, finding the right supplier is often a challenge—especially for new players entering the market. They run the risk of losing their investment if they don't find an honest and reliable supplier to deal with.
This is one of the reasons why E2E was started in 2009: the company has teams in both the US and China to help you (yes, you) find the best product suppliers.
In this week's episode of Relationship Commerce, host Dean Dutro interviews Bud Lindman, the Vice President of E2E, about the company's work helping US sellers find reliable suppliers from China. Bud talks about the company's process of finding products, how they help increase sales, and why E2E decided to start creating its own brands.
Randall Thompson is the Founder and President of Dugout Mugs and a former Toronto Blue Jays baseball player. He started Dugout Mugs, a baseball drinkware company in 2016 with three patented products generating over seven figures in 2017, 2018, 2019, and now in 2020. Dugout Mugs is licensed through Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Players Association.
Randall’s products are in over 70 Minor and Major League Baseball stadium team stores across the country. In his free time, Randall likes to play tetherball and read about Patent and Trademark Law.
In this episode… For Randall Thompson, the love of baseball started at the age of 5. He played throughout his childhood and eventually took it to the professional level with the Toronto Blue Jays. While on the field, he had the idea of making drinking mugs from baseball bats and immersed himself in the entrepreneurial journey to manufacture them after retiring.
But, to bring his business idea to life, he had to get licensing approvals from different baseball teams. So how did he go about it?
In this week's episode of Relationship Commerce, Randall Thompson, the Founder and President of Dugout Mugs, joins Dean Dutro to talk about making baseball drinking mugs after retiring from professional baseball. Randall explains how licensing rights work, how they have helped his business, and his strategies for growing the business and fan base.
Hannah Fastov is the Founder and CEO of Go Dash Dot, a company focused on women’s empowerment, independence, and multi-faceted bags. She started her company almost four years ago, after realizing that adulting requires a lot of stuff. Her pursuit of the perfect bag that could hold her gym clothes, extra shoes, phone, wallet, laptop—well, you get it— while looking professional and fashionable didn't exist.
Using her newly acquired skills from Brooks Brothers and rag & bone, Hannah set off on her journey to design and manufacture that perfect bag, and that's when Go Dash Dot was born. After just four years, Go Dash Dot, retails in over 50 locations nationwide, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and most recently in Japan.
In this episode… Starting your own business while working full-time can be challenging, as Hannah Fastov found out when she started her women's fashion business. Her desire to have a fashionable bag that could carry her full day’s worth of supplies as she moved from one place to another led to the birth of Go Dash Dot. But, when she needed time off to present her products at a trade show, her boss said no. She ended up having to ask for help from her mother.
From experience, Hannah learned the benefits of knowing what she wanted to get her to the next level and working on it in phases. She made sure to do her research before making any major decisions, which helped her grow her business before leaving her full-time job.
In this week's episode of Relationship Commerce, Dean Dutro is joined by Hannah Fastov, the Founder and CEO of Go Dash Dot, who talks about starting and growing her fashion business while working a full-time job. Hannah also talks about the challenges she faced when starting out, her biggest turning points, the tools she uses to grow her business, and the company's Renew program.
Daniel Walton is the Founder and Managing Director at OLPRO which designs, imports, and sells standout camping and camper van equipment. OLPRO has a reputation for creating exceptional outdoor leisure products with their adventurous customers around the world in mind. Thanks to their team of experts and a deeply genuine passion for getting outdoors, OLPRO delivers a range of unique and high-quality products that are changing the face of outdoor leisure.
OLPRO is an award-winning company and has earned national awards in social media and e-Commerce, including Runner Up in the British Chamber of Commerce e-Commerce Site of the Year in 2019. Before founding OLPRO, Daniel was Sales Director at Maypole Ltd, Group Retail Product Manager at Discover Leisure PLC, and Sales Director at Blue Diamond Products Ltd. He also worked in senior management at Towsure and Lastminute.com.
In this episode… For e-Commerce sellers, one of the benefits of having a loyal customer base is that those same customers can support and vouch for your brand to other people. Word of mouth is actually a great marketing tool for business because future customers are more likely to buy from a brand based on recommendations or user content shared by previous customers.
This is one of the marketing tools OLPRO uses to increase sales and expand their reach. By encouraging reviews and sharing user content on their social media, they’re vouching for the quality of their products and standing out from other industry players.
In this week's episode of Relationship Commerce, Dean Dutro interviews Daniel Walton, the Founder and Managing Partner of OLPRO, about why it’s important to build a community of loyal customers to promote your brand's products. Daniel talks about founding his outdoor leisure company, the strategies he uses to encourage user content, and his preferred software for growing his business.
Juan Chavez is the CEO of JMC Automotive Equipment, a family-owned business that has been in the industry for the past 20 years. Juan owns multiple businesses, including a drop shipping commerce business that has been in the INC 5000 for 3 years in a row, an entertainment company, and a call center.
Juan previously worked as a Real Estate Agent for New York Living Solutions and a Sales Representative for Snap On Tools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Pace University - Lubin School of Business.
In this episode… When Juan Chavez learned about e-Commerce, he advised his father to build a website for his auto repair equipment distributing company so he could sell products online. However, the company his father found wanted $10,000 to create the website; so Juan decided to do it himself.
Three months later, they made their first online sale. At that point, Juan decided to learn as much as he could about digital marketing and e-Commerce. The business saw increased sales and volume and grew to over $300,000 that year. Juan went on to start other businesses that have since grown through the digital marketing and e-Commerce skills he’s gained over the years.
Juan Chavez, CEO of JMC Automotive Equipment, joins Dean Dutro in this week's episode of Relationship Commerce to talk about growing a retail automotive company into a thriving e-Commerce business in less than a year. Juan shares the history of JMC Automotive Equipment, how he got involved in digital marketing, and the software and e-Commerce platforms he uses. Stay tuned.
Jordan West is the Founder and Owner of Mindful Marketing, a paid ads agency for seven-figure e-Commerce businesses. Jordan’s business passion is helping e-Commerce brands grow exponentially. He started in marketing at 22 when he bought a Taco Del Mar chain restaurant, and after 5 years, a large learning curve, and money lost, he tripled the sales at the restaurant with creative marketing tactics.
After selling the store, Jordan and his wife grew their children’s clothing company, Little & Lively, from a small at-home operation to one of the top ten baby brands in Canada with advanced digital marketing techniques. He is also a podcast host, a part-time paramedic who loves helping people on their “worst day”, and a father of three.
In this episode… When starting in e-Commerce, one crucial strategy that can help drive sales is developing an email list. Although online marketplaces like Amazon and Facebook Shops allow brands to set up online stores and drive sales, they don't offer the option to collect emails from their customers. This means that they have to rely on their marketing efforts to make sales, even from repeat customers.
Having an email list can change that. It allows businesses to market directly to their target audience without relying too heavily on online marketplaces. The business owns the email list, so you can use it to promote other products and further target your marketing with segmentation.
Jordan West, a marketing expert and the Founder and CEO of Mindful Marketing, is Dean Dutro’s guest in this week's episode of Relationship Commerce. Jordan talks about growing and scaling an e-Commerce business to 7 figures, buying and scaling a Taco Del Mar restaurant, running an e-Commerce business with his wife, and how having an email list has helped his businesses grow.
Kate Weiler is the Co-Founder of Drink Simple. Drink Simple harnesses the natural filtration power of trees to create clean, delicious water enhanced with natural biological benefits and imbued with some magic from mother nature. In a world where so many products have lots of additives and artificial ingredients, Drink Simple is proud to tap refreshment directly from nature to help people thrive.
Kate is also an Ironman triathlete and passionate advocate for nutrition and holistic wellness. A Boston native, she earned her Master’s degree in Nutrition from Northeastern University, her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Colby College, and holds a certification in Holistic Health Coaching from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has completed countless triathlons, including eight full-distance Ironman triathlons, and is a finisher of the 2013 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
In this episode… When Kate Weiler started her maple water business seven years ago, she primarily focused on building her social media following. Looking back, she wishes she had spent more time building her email list. Social media algorithms tend to block a lot of content from reaching people and Kate now knows that having an email list makes it easier to communicate directly to your followers and consumers.
In addition, COVID-19 made Kate realize just how important it is to have an e-commerce website collecting email addresses to ensure constant communication with your audience. So, she pivoted her strategy and used her email list to drive sales and keep the business going.
Kate Weiler, the Co-Founder of Drink Simple, joins Dean Dutro in this week's episode of Relationship Commerce to talk about the importance of building a tough mindset as an entrepreneur. Kate chats about starting a maple water company and fighting to stay ahead of the competition, how she uses email to communicate with consumers and drive sales, and the strategies she uses to provide better customer experiences.
John Cronin and his dad Mark X. Cronin are the Co-Founders of John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with the mission to spread happiness. In just 3 years, they bootstrapped their startup into a multi-million dollar company with sales in over 80 nations.
John has Down Syndrome and lives his life with the motto: "Down Syndrome never holds me back". More than half of their employees have a differing ability and everyday John and Mark demonstrate what their colleagues are capable of. They are fierce advocates for the rights of the differently-abled, testifying twice before the US Congress and having spoken at the United Nations.
John and Mark are winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and The Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian of the Year Award. They're members of the US State Department's Speaker's Bureau and have addressed audiences across the US, Canada, and Mexico, speaking before social service agencies, fundraisers, universities, and corporations.
In this episode… When John Cronin left high school, he wanted to go into business. The unemployment rate among people with disabilities is at an all-time high in the US and since John has Down Syndrome, he knew getting a job would be tough. So, with the help of his father, Mark X. Cronin, John started searching for business ideas and eventually had his Eureka moment: socks. John and Mark became business partners and immediately got started by building a Shopify store and getting their first inventory.
When they got 42 orders on the first day of business, they knew they were onto something big. They have since scaled their business to over 7 figures and have appeared in several media outlets including the BBC, Fox Business News, and ABC News, as well as on Google and magazines like Money and The Mighty.
John Cronin and Mark Cronin, the father-son Co-Founders of John's Crazy Socks, are this week's guests on the Relationship Commerce Podcast, where they talk to Dean Dutro about how they built a fun and colorful socks business with limited resources. John and Mark explain why they chose a socks business, the main challenges they faced when bootstrapping, what they did to beat the competition, and why they decided to prioritize developing a social enterprise.
Dean Dutro is the Co-founder of Worth eCommerce, a company that helps businesses of all sizes dramatically grow their revenue by at least 30% with lifecycle email marketing. Dean is an eCommerce email marketing expert and one of Klaviyo's top partners. He is also the Founder of Email Growth Training and he is also the host of the Relationship Commerce podcast.
Dean holds a Degree in Communication Studies from the California State University-Long Beach.
In this episode… A lot of people want to start a business with the intention of carving out more time to be with their loved ones. And oftentimes, they want these businesses to be built upon things that they can love and grow in the long term. Dean Dutro has seen many ecommerce businesses trying to find their footing in the online marketplace and he knows what it takes to grow a business and to make it thrive. He is an expert in growing ecommerce businesses and understands the various challenges these types of businesses face.
In this episode of Relationship Commerce, Dean Dutro gets interviewed by Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 about the couple who owned a journal store business and how his company helped double their monthly sales from $50,000 to $100,000 within a month. He talks about the strategies he used to help them grow, how he helps other businesses with email marketing even if they don't have an existing email list, why some businesses avoid using pop ups, and his best practices for avoiding spam emails. Stay tuned.
Eden Coleman is an internet marketer, YouTuber, CBD expert, and Founder and CEO of Wellicy. He is on a mission to help educate people on CBD by understanding the differences between CBD isolate, full spectrum, and broad spectrum, which dosage is best for you, and how to know which brands are high quality. In just two years, he has grown his business from $100,000 a year to over $500,000 in 2019; this year, he’s on track to break seven figures.
In this episode… When the 2014 Farm Bill was passed and hemp/CBD was legalized, Eden Coleman had a thought. He felt that more people were interested in and wanted the medicinal benefits associated with cannabis, while some just wanted to get high. This sparked a business idea that would later become the cannabis company called Wellicy.
However, the cannabis industry has stayed unregulated for a long time, which has allowed many unscrupulous people to create fake CBD products. The result? People buy these products and get disappointed when they don't reap any medicinal value from them. So Eden took it upon himself to educate people about the benefits of CBD, how to spot a fake CBD product, and what dosage is required for maximum benefits when buying a quality supplement.
Eden Coleman is the Founder of Wellicy and joins Dean Dutro in this week's episode of Relationship Commerce to talk about starting his CBD business and how he managed to grow his sales in a matter of 2 years. He also shares what he’s learned about the CBD industry, the advertising strategies he uses, and how email marketing has helped Wellicy’s growth.
Eden Coleman is an internet marketer, YouTuber, CBD expert, and Founder and CEO of Wellicy. He is on a mission to help educate people on CBD by understanding the differences between CBD isolate, full spectrum, and broad spectrum, which dosage is best for you, and how to know which brands are high quality. In just two years, he has grown his business from $100,000 a year to over $500,000 in 2019; this year, he’s on track to break seven figures.
In this episode… When the 2014 Farm Bill was passed and hemp/CBD was legalized, Eden Coleman had a thought. He felt that more people were interested in and wanted the medicinal benefits associated with cannabis, while some just wanted to get high. This sparked a business idea that would later become the cannabis company called Wellicy.
However, the cannabis industry has stayed unregulated for a long time, which has allowed many unscrupulous people to create fake CBD products. The result? People buy these products and get disappointed when they don't reap any medicinal value from them. So Eden took it upon himself to educate people about the benefits of CBD, how to spot a fake CBD product, and what dosage is required for maximum benefits when buying a quality supplement.
Eden Coleman is the Founder of Wellicy and joins Dean Dutro in this week's episode of Relationship Commerce to talk about starting his CBD business and how he managed to grow his sales in a matter of 2 years. He also shares what he’s learned about the CBD industry, the advertising strategies he uses, and how email marketing has helped Wellicy’s growth.
Jenny Penton is a homeschooling mother of 8 in the Greater Omaha area. She also happens to be the Owner of Planner Perfect, Designs By Planner Perfect, and Planner Perfect Meals. She’s dedicated to inspiring women to follow their dreams and goals instead of being led and enslaved by their tasks. Jenny has created uniquely designed and curated planners featuring her personal artwork to keep women goal-oriented and organized.
Jenny Penton is passionate about the importance of women using their talents to serve the world. She has sold over 200,000 planners, notebooks, and journals, shipping to all 50 US states and numerous countries around the world.
In this episode… Many women, and especially those who are mothers, tend to focus on taking care of their families while neglecting their own needs and dreams. Often, they think that they have no talents to explore outside of their role as caretakers, leading women to live lives without any further growth.
This is part of the reason why Jenny Penton decided to start a business centered around helping women live better and more productive lives. She owns and manages three websites that help women plan better, become more organized, provides tastier and healthier meals to their families, and above all else, use their natural talents to serve the world.
In this episode, Dean Dutro interviews Jenny Penton, the owner of Designs by Planner Perfect, Planner Perfect, and Planner Perfect Meals, about running a successful 7-figure business with 8 children. Jenny talks about how she started her business painting planners by hand, how email marketing helped her business grow, and the importance of having a vibrant community of like-minded people.
Ryan Levesque is the Inc 500 CEO of the Ask Method Company. He is also an entrepreneur and the number one national best selling author of the books Choose and Ask. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Entrepreneur on NBC News and Fox. Over 250,000 entrepreneurs subscribe to his email newsletter offering business advice.
Ryan has built a highly profitable $10 million/year business across 23 different niche markets, building an email list of over 4.1 million people using the power of quiz funnels. He's also a co-founder and investor in Bucket.io, a leading quiz funnel software for entrepreneurs used by over 30 million people each year.
In this episode… Most e-commerce businesses don't use quizzes as their primary acquisition channel. Why? Because they are overwhelmed by the amount of work that goes into building one and their past experience with quiz funnels have not been successful.
But according to Ryan Levesque, quiz funnels are a great way of drawing people to your business, and the common mistakes that people make when they create and implement quiz funnels can be avoided. He advises businesses to ask themselves a couple of questions that can ultimately lead to successful quiz funnels such as, “are you using the right process to create your quiz?”, “are you using the right hook?”, and “are you asking the right strategic questions?”
Join Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce podcast as he interviews Ryan Levesque, founder of The ASK Method Company, about using quiz funnels in eCommerce businesses. Ryan explains how his method helped an eCommerce company reduce their cost per lead by over 50% while tripling their revenue to $24 million a year. He also shares his best strategies for personalizing email blasts, common mistakes businesses make when creating quiz funnels, and the various CRM software he uses in his businesses. Stay tuned.
Amir Atighehchi is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Habit Nest, and he also helped start and grow Nutlock, DRNK coffee + tea, and Qwench Juice Bar. Habit Nest is the home for building healthy habits ultimately helping people with wholesome rewarding lives, and the company has been featured in Business Insider, The Wall Street Journal, and Good Morning America, and they have sold hundreds of thousands of their journals since 2017. In 2019, Habit Nest won the Amazon Small Business Owner of the Year for Entrepreneurs Under 30.
Amir holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management from University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business.
In this episode… One of the oldest, most common, and most reliable methods used by people to keep track of their progress in exercising and eating healthier is by keeping a journal. People often use any type of journal they can lay their hands on but because there is often a lack of good structure of what their end goal is, people find themselves falling by the way side after some time.
Three friends who loved health and fitness faced this same challenge, so when one of them found a way to record and keep track of his healthy habits everyday, it sparked a business idea that turned into an opportunity that would grow into a successful enterprise. This idea led to Habit Nest where they produced journals for specific habits like exercising, morning routines, and eating healthier food, helping people track their progress and stick with their goals.
Amir Atighehchi, one of the co-founder of Habit Nest, joins Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce podcast where they talk about the journaling business he created with his friends. They talk about common challenges they faced before creating their journals, the different types of journals they sell, how using Facebook Ads has impacted their business, and the strategies they used to grow their brand. Stay tuned.
Todd Meeks is the owner and President of Spartan Armor Systems, the manufacturers of American-designed and made body armor, tactical gear, and targets, and they ranked number 522 on the Inc 5000 list of the most successful companies in America. Todd helped grow Spartan Armor Systems from a garage side gig to over $5.4 million in sales in less than four years by focusing on customer service, growing the brand, and creating processes to offer the highest quality products they can.
Todd graduated from the University of Phoenix with a BA in Business Administration. He previously owned UPS Store franchises and worked as a business broker before going into the body armor business.
In this episode… Before the 2008 financial crisis, Todd Meeks ran a few UPS franchises but got burned. He decided to do something different and while working as a business broker, he learned about a friend's client who used steel plates as a cheap form of body armor. He became interested in the business and later purchased it with his new business partner in 2015.
5 years later, Todd has grown the body armor business from being a side gig he ran in a garage into a business that makes over $5 million in sales. He has also grown from using eBay to running a full-fledged ecommerce store that uses the power of email marketing to improve customer experience and beat his competitors.
In this week's episode of the Relationship Commerce, Dean Dutro talks with Todd Meeks of Spartan Armor Systems about how he has grown his body armor business from a garage side gig to making over $5 million in sales. He explains how creating an e-commerce website helped his business grow, why educating customers is key in growing a business, and how he uses email marketing and website content to improve customer experience. Stay tuned.
Jennifer Adams Bunkers is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of Trukid, TruBaby, Fysik, TrueBuddy, GoodPods, Velocity Source Group, and Funopolis. She has founded six companies to create real change in the world,and her one goal when she creates businesses is to make life a little bit easier. Her main business is Trukid, which is a natural skincare line for kids.
As a mom of six children, it is not always easy to balance being an entrepreneur and a mom, but Jennifer loves being both. Not only has she grown Trukid well over seven figures, she is in the process of launching several new brands alongside her son, Freddy. Jennifer has also previously helped people source and manufacture goods from Asia before deciding to start her own business ventures
In this episode… After spending many years helping people outsource products for their businesses from Asia, Jennifer Adams Bunkers decided to start her own business that she can call her own. In addition, her deep desire to inspire, encourage, and help her six kids to become entrepreneurs motivated her to grow her six companies into not just successful businesses but ones that contribute positively to the world. Now, her son, Freddy Bunkers, has started his own company and is following in the footsteps of his mother.
Join Dean Dutro as he interviews Jennifer Adams Bunkers and Freddy Bunkers on this episode of the Relationship Commerce podcast where they talk about how they started their companies, their email and video marketing strategies, how they work together to grow and bridge the gap between their respective brands, and how being part of entrepreneurship organizations has helped Jennifer’s businesses grow. Stay tuned.
Nate Lind is a tech and internet e-commerce business broker with over nine years of product-based e-commerce experience. He has launched 23 supplement and e-commerce brands grossing over a million dollars each since 2011, with nine of those selling for over $10 million worldwide. One of those brands was the largest beard grooming brand in the world, Beard Czar, with over $35 million in sales.
Nate is also a real estate investor and created the Ecom Legends Mastermind, a group dedicated to building world-class e-commerce businesses. He also hosts the Buy-Sell Summit, the largest virtual event for buying or selling of online businesses. In addition, he is a broker for WebsiteClosers.com, the largest online business brokerage firm.
In this episode… As more people get attracted to the business of buying and selling e-commerce businesses, there is a need for the sellers and buyers to be aware of what to look out for in order to get the best deal possible.
Nate Lind is in the business of buying and selling online businesses and has been doing it for many years. In fact, he has helped many business owners plan, strategize and finalize the sale of their businesses in the most profitable way possible.
In this episode of the Relationship Commerce podcast, Dean Dutro is joined by Nate Lind to talk about selling e-commerce businesses for profit. Nate explains what a seller should do to prepare for a good sale, what a buyer should look into before buying a business, calculations both parties should look into, and he also shares why he decided to start helping aspiring entrepreneurs make smarter business decisions. Stay tuned.
Dean Dutro is the Co-founder of Worth eCommerce, a company that helps businesses of all sizes dramatically grow their revenue by at least 30% with lifecycle email marketing. Dean is an eCommerce email marketing expert and one of Klaviyo's top partners. He is also the Founder of Email Growth Training and he is also the host of the Relationship Commerce podcast.
Dean holds a Degree in Communication Studies from the California State University-Long Beach.
In this episode… Many people assume that email marketing is a piece of cake. All it takes is to write an email copy, send it out, and their sales will go up. But from experience, Dean Dutro knows that one email doesn't cut it. Automation is key and personalization comes in very handy. In addition, many people ignore the pre-header part of an email and tend to write very long emails which most people don't like to read.
So how can e-commerce businesses leverage their email marketing practices to increase engagement and drive sales?
Join Dean Dutro in this episode of the Relationship Commerce podcast as he gets interviewed in his own show by Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media. Tune in as Dean shares how he helped a pet supply store business grow from $10k per month to over $200k by leveraging email marketing, and learn about the common mistakes people make when writing and sending emails, and the software tools he recommends for email marketing.