The Andrew Faris Podcast: Recent Episodes
Andrew Faris
Andrew Faris has been growing ecommerce brands since 2014 as everything from a media buyer to the head of strategy at Common Thread Collective to the CEO of 4x400, a DTC aggregator. Join him every week to learn the nuts & bolts of how to grow ecommerce brands, always shared with refreshing candor.
Olivia Kory is the CMO of Haus Analytics. Learn more about Haus at https://haus.io.
Link to Haus Incremental Attribution blog post: https://www.haus.io/blog/is-metas-incremental-attribution-outperforming-standard-attribution-what-the-data-shows
My episode about incremental attribution for my clients: https://youtu.be/tNQO3pyLtA4
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Taylor Holiday is the CEO and Co-Founder of Common Thread Collective. Learn more about CTC at https://commonthreadco.com and follow up with Taylor on X at https://x.com/taylorholiday.
Studies referenced by Taylor:
- Do Cost Controls Work? https://hermod.statlas.io/mcp/report/shared?user=anmar.commonthreadco.com&ts=1785286905
- Should You Turn Off Ads https://hermod.statlas.io/mcp/report/shared?user=anmar.commonthreadco.com&ts=1785513697
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
Mehtab Bhogal details where AI is actually creating value in his portfolio of ecommerce businesses — org structure, email, marketing, sourcing, product dev and more. Reach out to Karta Ventures at https://kartaventures.com. Follow Mehtab on X at https://x.com/mehtabkarta.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Patrick Coddou is my business partner and COO at AJF Growth. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
Michael De Lia is a Senior Ecommerce Manager at Gruns. See everything Gruns is doing at www.gruns.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
Alex Cooper is the CEO and Co-Founder of Parker and AdCrate. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/alexgoughcooper.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
JT Sarafa is the Founder and CEO of JTS Growth and a co-owner of PopDaddy Snacks. Hire JTS Growth at http://jtsgrowth.com/ and visit PopDaddy at https://popdaddysnacks.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
REFUNNEL
Track every UGC post, secure usage rights, and unlock 1-click whitelisting so you can run partnership ads in seconds at https://refunnel.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
Brad Ploch is the host of the Scalability School podcast and performance marketer and agency leader. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/brad_ploch and visit https://www.scalabilityschool.com/ to find the Scalability School podcast on your platform of choice.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
REFUNNEL
Track every UGC post, secure usage rights, and unlock 1-click whitelisting so you can run partnership ads in seconds at https://refunnel.com/.
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
Mehtab Bhogal is the co-founder of Karta Ventures. Reach out to Mehtab by going to www.kartaventures.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
REFUNNEL
Track every UGC post, secure usage rights, and unlock 1-click whitelisting so you can run partnership ads in seconds at https://refunnel.com/.
Rob Freund is an ecommerce and advertising lawyer at Robert Freund Law. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/RobertFreundLaw.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
Lauren Bonfig is the SVP of Marketing at Little Words Project. Follow and connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenbonfig28/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Sarah Resnick is the founder and CEO of Gist Yarn and Zollie.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
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Sarah Davis is the Founder, President and Chief Creative Officer at Fashionphile. Follow and connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclarkdavis/ and on X at https://x.com/Sarahdavis.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
ECOM EXPERTS
Get Shopify dev work that's reliable, affordable, and drives real conversion increases for your store with AJF Growth's preferred dev partner at https://ecomexperts.io/.
Ezra Firestone is the CEO of Boom! Beauty, Overtone, and Zipify, and the founder of Smart Marketer. Learn more from his content and courses at https://smartmarketer.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
Phil Kiel is the Director of Paid Social at Taikun Digital. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/philkiel.
Read Phil's key CPMr article on X: https://x.com/i/status/2039073020417921397
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
Patrick Coddou is my COO and business partner at AJF Growth. Follow and connect with him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
- Brent Behsore's substack series on AI: https://brentbeshore.substack.com/p/the-question-we-forget-to-ask
- Brent Beshore's Annual Letter: https://www.permanentequity.com/content/2025-annual-letter
- Andrew Youderian's 2026 eCom Trends Report: https://www.ecommercefuel.com/ecommerce-trends/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
ECOM EXPERTS
Get Shopify dev work that's reliable, affordable, and drives real conversion increases for your store with AJF Growth's preferred dev partner at https://ecomexperts.io/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
ECOM EXPERTS
Get Shopify dev work that's reliable, affordable, and drives real conversion increases for your store with AJF Growth's preferred dev partner at https://ecomexperts.io/.
Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4W7c7VShr4&pp=0gcJCd8KAYcqIYzv
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com/.
ECOM EXPERTS
Get Shopify dev work that's reliable, affordable, and drives real conversion increases for your store with AJF Growth's preferred dev partner at https://ecomexperts.io/.
Richie Mashiko is the CEO of She's Birdie and a financial and business strategy for ecommerce businesses. Follow and DM him on X at https://x.com/richiemashiko.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting movesupplychain.com.
Taylor Rath is the General Manager at Bryan Anthonys. Follow her on Instagram at LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-rath/.
Victoria Emerson
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Jordan West is the founder and CEO of Social Commerce Club, an agency that helps 8 figure+ ecommerce brands leverage TikTok Shop and other social commerce outlets for profitable growth. Work with him by visiting https://socialcommerceclub.com/.
He's also the host of the Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast, which you can find wherever you get podcasts by searching that name.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
Andrew Youderian is the founder and CEO of Ecommerce Fuel, a private community for 7 and 8 figure ecommerce businesses.
This data is from Andrew's "Ecom Fuel Trends Report" which surveyed 300 ecommerce stores. Get the full report at https://ecommercefuel.com/blueprint.
Get Andrew's "Financial Mastery For Ecom Owners" course at https://ecommercefuel.com/mastery.
Listen to the Ecommerce Fuel Podcast at https://ecommercefuel.com/podcast
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Free up cash, negotiate better pricing, and build a more resilient supply chain with the supply chain experts at https://movesupplychain.com
Patrick Coddou is my business partner and COO at AJF Growth. Follow him on X at @soundslikecanoe.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
Cody Plofker is the CEO of Jones Road Beauty and one of the hosts of the Marketing Operators Podcast. Follow Cody on X at http://x.com/codyplof. Get the Marketing Operators Podcast at https://www.9operators.com/podcast/marketing-operators.
Get Kurt Bullock's dashboard app at https://tools.producedept.co/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
Lara Guevara is the CEO of Move Supply Chain, a supply chain agency based in the Philippines that serves DTC brands. Get her video content at https://youtube.com/@supplychainlara. Get her "Unboxed Weekly" newsletter at https://unboxedweekly.beehiiv.com/subscribe. Schedule a call with Move at https://movesupplychain.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://movesupplychain.com.
Cherene Aubert is the founder and CEO of Growth Capital, a premium growth agency primarily serving beauty and wellness brands. Learn more about Growth Capital at www.growthcapital.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
Andrew Foxwell is the founder of Foxwell Founders, a private community for digital marketers.
Join the community at https://foxwellfounders.com/.
Get the 2026 State Of The Agency Report at https://www.foxwelldigital.com/2026-state-of-digital-marketing-agencies.
Read the Foxwell Digital blog at https://www.foxwelldigital.com/blog.
Subscribe to the Scalability School podcast at https://www.scalabilityschool.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL - SPOTIFY
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
David Gaylord is the cofounder and CEO of BushBalm, a $30 million, bootstrapped, profitable hair removal brand that puts skin first. Follow David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidagaylord.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Drew Marcon is the founder and CEO of Intelligems. Learn more about Intelligems at intelligems.io.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Patrick Coddou is my business partner and COO at AJF Growth. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
Gregg Carey is the Founder and CEO of More Staffing. Learn more about More Staffing's services at https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Rob Fraser is the founder and CEO of Outway Socks. Follow him on X at https://x.com/robbfraser and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbfraser. Visit Outway Socks at https://outway.com/.
Read Rob's "What 10 Years of Building Taught Me That Nobody Else Would" Article:
https://rbfwriting.substack.com/p/what-10-years-of-building-taught
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Connor MacDonald is the CMO at Ridge. Follow him on X at https://x.com/couuor and listen to him on the Marketing Operators Podcast.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
Sebastian Valiente is the founder of Growth Pod. Learn more about Growth Pod at www.growthpod.ca. See Sebastian's content on X at https://x.com/sebastian_dtc and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-valiente-74ba45164/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Taylor Holiday is the CEO of Common Thread Collective. Follow him on X at https://x.com/taylorholiday. Work with Common Thread Collective at https://commonthreadco.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Josh Durham is the founder and CEO of Aligned Growth Management. Work with AGM by visiting www.alignedgrowthmanagement.
Follow Josh on X at @JoshJDurham.
Get AGM's free Ultimate Influencer Marketing Guide at https://alignedgrowthmanagement.com/the-ultimate-influencer-marketing-guide.
Get AGM's free Complete Influencer Whitelisting Guide at https://alignedgrowthmanagement.com/the-complete-influencer-whitelisting-guide.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Matt Slykhuis is the CEO of Modern Fuel. Get 20% off a Modern Fuel writing implement with the code FARIS20.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
Sarah Carusona is the founder and CEO of BA Commerce, an agency that builds your bad ass growth team. Follow Sarah on X at https://x.com/sarah_carusona and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-carusona-531b35126/. Work with BA Commerce at www.ba-commerce.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Aycee Gardner is the CEO of Behind The Scenes Studio. Email her at aycee@btsstudio.co or learn more about Behind The Scenes Studio at www.btsstudio.co.
Patrick Coddou is my business partner and COO at AJF Growth. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
WASTENOT
WasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.
Curtis Matsko is the founder and CEO of Portland Leather Goods, a 9-figure ecommerce monster. Follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-matsko/ and on X at https://x.com/CurtisMatsko.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Jess Bachman is the co-founder of FireTeam, a performance creative agency helping to scale ecommerce brands. Follow Jess on X at https://x.com/hirefireteam and learn more about FireTeam's services at https://fireteam.is.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
AFP Episode: "Exactly How We Use AI To Make Meta Ad Creative That Scales (With Patrick Coddou)"
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4HjB3J2TFtxIvfokg9RqfK?si=afb1f92aa02843cb
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exactly-how-we-use-ai-to-make-meta-ad-creative-that/id1646694096?i=1000738610197
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
ZATO MARKETING
Get excellent Google Ads management from the same boutique agency that I regularly partner with at https://zatomarketing.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
Henry Boldiszar is the founder and CEO of an app whose name he won't tell you yet.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
ZATO MARKETING
Get excellent Google Ads management from the same boutique agency that I regularly partner with at https://zatomarketing.com.
MORE STAFFING
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
Alistair Roome is the founder and CEO of HD London Art (https://hdlondonart.com).
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work With AJF Growth: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Reduce your OpEx and create more leverage in your company with financial forecasting, AI, and offshore talent by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Patrick Coddou is my COO and (soon) partner at AJF Growth. Follow him on X at @soundslikecanoe.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
ZATO MARKETING
Get excellent Google Ads management from the same boutique agency that I regularly partner with for my clients at https://zatomarketing.com.
Nasrin Jafari is the founder and CEO of Mixed By Nasrin, a 7-figure fashion brand. Shop her store at www.mixedbynasrin.com and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nasrinharumi/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
GET MORE FROM ALEX GREIFELD
- Follow Alex on X @heyitsalexp
- Visit her website & sign up for her newsletter and course at nobestpractices.co
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Fan Bi is the CEO of The Hedgehog Company. Email him at fan@thehedgehogcompany.com. Follow Fan on X at https://x.com/lifeofbi. Listen to his podcast and follow the rest of his content at https://intothemoneyhq.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
FOLLOW UP WITH LARA
Lara Guevara is the CEO of Move Supply Chain, a Philippines-based supply chain agency that can help you develop new products, reduce COGS, speed up lead times, get better payment terms, and more. Schedule a call with Lara and her team at www.movesupplychain.com.
Schedule time with Lara and Move Supply Chain at https://calendly.com/hello-movesupplychain/move-supply-chain-discovery-call?month=2025-11.
Join Move's "Supply Chain Lounge" Slack group to get your questions answered: https://tinyurl.com/move-supplychain-lounge
ALSO REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
Explore working with the designer who designed my brand and packaging at https://aronsoncreative.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Patrick Coddou is my business partner and the COO at AJF Growth. Follow him on X at @soundslikecanoe. Formerly he founded, ran, and exited his ecommerce brand, Supply.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
ZATO MARKETING
Get excellent Google Ads management from the same boutique agency that I regularly partner with for my clients at https://zatomarketing.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with us: https://ajfgrowth.com
Katy Mimari is the founder and CEO of Caden Lane, a 9-figure baby gifts and apparel brand. Learn more and shop for yourself at www.cadenlane.com.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Visit www.btsstudio.co to work with Behind The Scenes Studio.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Tal Moore is the CEO and Co-Founder and Dave Stickland is the President and Co-Founder of Popsmith. Follow Tal on Instagram at @TalMoore and Dave Stickland at @stickland_dave.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Michael Ting is the Head of Revenue at Jaxxon, a large and growing men's jewelry ecommerce business. Reach out to Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltinggt/ and on X at https://x.com/michaelandeggie.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Jordan Menard is the co-founder of Instant Hydration (https://instanthydration.com). Watch Jordan argue with me on X at https://x.com/jordanhaswings.
Link to "Natural CAC" episode referenced here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AixptvPq3abChpFIjiYos?si=HTFHAYnLRpa-xHbToIPXeA
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Edward Wimmer IV is the CEO of RoadID Brands. Visit his brands at https://roadid.com and https://dogid.com, and soon, https://rackrabbit.com. Use the code AndrewFaris20 for 20% off at RoadID and DogID.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Most eCommerce founders are being sold a fantasy about AI — instant efficiency, zero friction, unlimited growth. The truth? For most operators, implementing AI creates new layers of complexity before it delivers real results.
In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down how his agency, AJF Growth, is actually integrating AI into their creative process — from scripting and ad generation to process design and client delivery. You’ll hear the unfiltered reality of what’s working, what’s breaking, and what every operator should know before betting their systems on automation.
If you lead a 7–9 figure brand or agency and are trying to scale profitably in the age of AI, this conversation will save you months of frustration. Learn how to think like an engineer about context, process, and adoption — so you can turn AI from a shiny object into a real advantage.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:11 - The Complications of A.I.
00:04:10 - AI First Processes
00:08:41 - Using The Tools To Scale Creatives
00:12:48 - A.I. Tool Updates & Changing Brands
00:18:56 - How To Get People To Use AI Properly
00:21:14 - Adoption of AI Long Term
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Kareem Elgendy is the CEO of Veiled, a multiple 8-figure apparel brand running at 15% EBITDA selling modest clothing primarily for Muslim women. If you're interested in working with Kareem's incubator and/or 3PL, visit https://ynkincubator.com.
//
Most eCommerce brands plateau at $1-3M because they chase growth without fixing unit economics. Kareem L. Gendi, CEO of Veiled, did the opposite — and now runs an 8-figure brand with a 10.68 MER and 40% penetration of his target market. In this episode, you'll learn how a bootstrapped modest apparel brand cracked profitability at scale through ruthless focus on contribution margin, supply chain innovation (including 90-day payment terms from Chinese manufacturers), and strategic retail expansion.
This isn't theory — it's the playbook from a founder who survived crushing inventory debt and emerged with a business throwing off real profit.
If you're stuck between growth and cash flow, this conversation will rewire how you think about scaling. Kareem breaks down the exact moment they stopped relying on gut and started using data to drive merchandising decisions, how they negotiated payment terms that changed their cash position overnight, and why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the next frontier for DTC brands. You'll also hear about their 3PL and incubator model for operators who want to leverage Veiled's infrastructure. This is essential listening for founders running 7-9 figure brands who are tired of burning cash to hit revenue targets that don't matter.
Key Takeaways:
-
Market penetration strategies for niche audiences
-
Unit economics that actually drive profitability
-
Supply chain negotiation tactics
-
How to scale bootstrapped brands without dilution
-
Retail expansion done right
-
GEO and the future of search optimization
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:07 - What Is Veiled?
00:04:11 - Product Variability
00:07:55 - Cultural Values & Marketing Strategy
00:10:34 - Veiled IS A Profit Monster
00:16:45 - Investing In OpEx
00:20:21 - Veiled’s Top Notch Logistics Strategy
00:23:33 - Looking Into The Data
00:31:57 - Outsourcing Marketing Needs
00:36:14 - Lowering Shipping Costs
00:40:13 - Profitability Hacks
00:46:50 - Wins & Losses With Supply Chain
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Taylor Holiday is the Founder and CEO at Common Thread Collective. Follow Taylor on X at https://x.com/taylorholiday.
//
This episode is a candid operator-to-operator breakdown with Taylor Holiday: how to structure a real partnership (50/50 vs 51/49), when and why to keep control, and the practical protections that matter: buyback rights, vesting, and incentive design. We cover how equity should reflect the actual working relationship and why “growth is the CEO’s job” when profit requires coordinating revenue, margin, inventory, and media (not just a “head of growth”).
We also dig into today’s Meta reality: marketplace CAC, spend/efficiency cliffs, and why bid caps exist (and when they don’t solve strategy). We contrast “explore vs expand” as a creative system, discuss whether LLMs can pre-score ad winners, and map org design so new lines (e.g., women’s) don’t get starved by near-term KPIs. Plus: why LinkedIn may print more B2B money than Twitter, and how to build a differentiated “coaching tree” instead of copy-paste agency positioning.
If you’re an eCommerce operator under margin pressure who still needs to grow, this is a sharp hour on equity, incentives, and scalable acquisition.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:09 - Taylor Coaches Andrew On His Equity Deal
00:03:43 - Measuring A Partners Value In A Business
00:09:09 - Common Concerns From Taylor
00:20:14 - Hot Take On Peter Thiel & Creating A Monopoly
00:25:43 - Growth Strategy Discussion - Market Taker
00:34:36 - Competing With The Big Dogs In Paid Ads
00:38:15 - Type of Team At CTC
00:44:04 - The Parenting Metaphor
00:59:08 - Bound Maximizers With Ads
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Sunil Agrawal is the founder and CEO of VGL Group, a $400 million holding company that includes Shop LC, a $240 million/year brand. Reach out to Sunil at sunil@vglgroup.com if you want to work with him.
//
How do you scale a publicly traded, $400M holding company while keeping margins healthy and brand trust intact?
Sunil Agrawal (CEO, VGL Group / Shop LC) breaks down the real playbook: a “deep discount” value strategy that doesn’t nuke brand equity, a vertical advantage with 60% in-house manufacturing in India, and a TV-first engine transitioning to DTC with disciplined Meta and OTT investment. We get specific on pricing architecture (e.g., “everything under $10” days), how value perception feeds LTV, and when a premium assortment can coexist with promotion without eroding positioning.
For operators, this episode is a masterclass in scale mechanics and leadership: setting a goal of $500k–$1M/month per brand on Meta (and how to learn enough to hire well), allocating ~$250k/month to OTT while TV still performs, and building an org that executes—RSUs for 250 leaders, formal training hours, succession planning, and a bureaucracy-free culture built on continual learning. If you’re wrestling with profitable growth, discount anxiety, or the TV to DTC bridge, this is an hour that will sharpen your roadmap.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:47 - Breaking Down Shop LC
00:05:45 - Setting The Right Expectations For A $400M Holding Company
00:08:24 - Significance of a “TV First” Brand
00:09:36 - Deep Discount Model
00:17:05 - Marketing Strategy For All Shop LC Brands
00:24:28 - Importance of Owning The Manufacturing & Sourcing
00:25:57 - Sunil Pinpoints This Key To Success
00:36:55 - Learning Opportunities & Work Conferences
00:39:35 - Importance of Learning & Information
00:42:16 - Goal Setting For Each Brand
00:45:41 - Why DTC Didn’t Work At First
00:47:02 - Successful Team = Successful Business
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
What if the biggest risk to your brand isn’t competition or CPMs - it's how you define success?
In this episode, Andrew walks through a practical framework for setting reasonable, operator-grade goals using EOS (10-year → 3-year → 1-year → quarterly), then pressure-testing those goals against your real constraints: product pipeline, supply chain, hiring, onboarding, and P&L design. We dig into why “rocket ship” thinking so often creates chaos: over-hiring, over-buying inventory, and chasing vanity targets - and how durable brands actually grow: methodically, with clear success criteria and a bias toward profitability.
You’ll learn how to translate vision into numbers; why returning-customer mix lowers CAC% over time; how to engineer margin through supplier work (terms, lead times, BOM interrogation); and when to seize moments without over-leveraging. Real operator cases—Born Primitive, Simple Modern, Natural Dog Company, CTC—illustrate why steady compounding beats aggressive targets that break systems. If you want a calmer calendar and a fatter P&L, this is the playbook.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:06 - Using EOS As a Framework
00:04:10 - What Is Motivating You & Your Goals (For Your Business)
00:07:42 - How Can Your Vision Be A Constraint?
00:09:01 - Examples of Great Brands
00:16:16 - Andrew defines a Rocketship Business
00:19:10 - Good Businesses Build Steady Overtime
00:25:31 - The Secret Sauce Brands Are Using To Grow
00:28:33 - Maximizing Key Moments
00:30:34 - P&L Design
00:32:53 - Don’t Let The Promise of A.I. Fool You
00:34:49 - Goals for AJF Growth
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Patrick Coddou is my business partner & COO at AJF Growth. He previously built, operated, and in 2022 exited Supply, a men's grooming business he co-founded with his wife. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
//
Most brands don’t have a creative problem—they have a process problem. In this episode, Andrew and AJF Growth COO Patrick Kadu break down how to operationalize creative so it consistently drives profit. We cover why the message is the asset, how to build a database of messages per brand, and how to bolt on a “hook library” that accelerates iteration without bloating your stack.
We also dig into Sora 2 (AI video) as a practical tool for 3–5 second hooks—where it works, where it fails, and how to deploy it without derailing your team. You’ll hear how we separate Explore vs. Expand in paid social, resist tool proliferation, and turn ideas into a repeatable process clients can trust. If you care about speed, clarity, and profitable growth (not just flashy toolS) then this is your operator’s guide.
What you’ll learn:
-
A message-first framework that scales creative and protects margins
-
How to stand up a “hook library” and plug it into weekly cadences
-
When AI video (Sora 2) is ROI-positive for paid hooks—and when it isn’t
-
The agency principle: performance + trust beats everything
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:58 - Open AI & Sora 2
00:09:05 - Using AI For Content Creation For Your Brand
00:16:19 - Does Your Marketing Clients Want You To Do This?
00:19:54 - Ad Inspiration & Using Other User Content
00:22:50 - Explore & Expand
00:28:39 - Process Oriented Attack For Creatives
00:35:00 - Writing a Hook Strategy
00:39:04 - Will Meta Dox My Ad?
00:43:23 - Repeatable Process & Implementation
00:54:22 - 2 Key Aspects For Good Client Relationships
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Dan Carnat is the Co-founder and CEO of Fiera Cosmetics, a mid 8-figure cosmetics brand founded in 2020.
//
What happens when a fast-growing DTC brand pushes price testing too far? Dan Carnat, CEO and co-founder of Fiera Cosmetics, breaks down the actual impact of pricing on conversion, acquisition, andmost importantly: reorder rates and LTV.
We dig into why a $40 customer is fundamentally different from a $16 customer, how “cheap growth” distorted channel signals and buyer mix, and why Fiera reversed course by introducing a higher-priced, improved SKU while protecting existing demand.We also unpack a pragmatic attribution stack for operators who care about truth over dashboards: platform numbers as a directional input, MMM for hypothesis generation, and incrementality tests for validation, including how Meta campaigns created measurable halo on Amazon even when the product wasn’t listed there.
Dan details Fiera’s “reality testing” process for new products (closing the loop between 5-star lovers and 1-star detractors), the operational cadence required to ship 20+ products in development without eroding trust, and supply-chain tradeoffs in a color-heavy category.
If you’re navigating margin pressure, price strategy, channel diversification (including performance-driven affiliates), or product-market fit at scale, this episode will give you concrete frameworks you can implement immediately.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:29 - What Went Wrong With Price Testing?
00:08:12 - Making Mistakes Can Reveal Truth About Business
00:10:02 - Unit Economics In Your Business
00:11:20 - Introducing A New Product with High Price Point
00:19:38 - Product Development Process
00:23:56 - Dan’s Fitness Goals & Growth Hacks
00:25:03 - Operations & Supply Chain For Fiera
00:33:36 - Where Is The Value In A Cosmetics Business?
00:35:58 - Rebranding
00:39:02 - What Makes Dan Sleep At Night???
00:41:52 - Highlight of Incrementally Testing
00:44:08 - Complexity of Lead Attribution
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Most brands feel the Meta ceiling: spend more, ROAS drops—cut spend, volume collapses. In this episode, we unpack why that happens and how to scale profitably by understanding your natural CAC, the Meta auction mechanics, and the non-linear trade-off between efficiency and volume. You’ll learn how CPMs reflect marketplace equilibrium, why “two-to-one ROAS” shows up at scale, and what actually moves results: estimated action rate, post-click profit optimization, and business design that supports volume.
We walk through a practical playbook: identify your current natural CAC; use higher-quality, message-market-fit creative to penetrate deeper at the same bid; optimize profit per click (upsells, offers, bundles, pricing tests); explore new audiences/angles; ship new products to unlock fresh demand; and engineer the P&L (opex, supply chain terms, staffing, capital) so you can win more auctions without burning margin.
If you run a 7–9 figure brand and care about scaling with profitability, this is the meta-ads episode that pays for itself. What you’ll take away:
• How Meta’s auction actually prices your customer and why CAC “settles.”
• The marginal frontier concept and why scale/efficiency is non-linear.
• The levers that raise volume without wrecking contribution margin: creative EAR, profit-per-click tests, LTV expansion, and capitalization strategy.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:44 - What Is Natural CAC?
00:04:40 - High Volume Meta Ads
00:05:41 - Your Brands Natural Customer
00:08:10 - Breaking Down How Ad Auctions Work
00:12:21 - Why Meta CPM’s Have Gone Up
00:17:35 - The Value of a Specific Search Term
00:20:51 - The Importance of a Strong LTV
00:25:06 - How To Win At Cost Thresholds?
00:35:42 - Lowering Your OpEx
00:37:58 - The Best Brands DO THIS
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify
//
Colin McGuire is the co-founder of Boomn and the CEO of Glimmr. Follow Colin on X at https://x.com/colinvmcguire.
//
TikTok views don’t always equal profit—but they can unlock massive growth. In this episode, Colin McGuire of Glimmer breaks down how 40 million TikTok views in 96 days turned a small haircare brand into a cultural force that landed on shelves at Target and beyond.
Colin explains why TikTok Shop is rarely a profit engine on its own, but how it can serve as a break-even growth flywheel that fuels cultural relevance, media coverage, and retail buyer interest.
You’ll learn the exact tactics Glimmer used: affiliate seeding, influencer bursts, GMV Max amplification, and micro-influencer flywheels - to engineer virality and parlay it into retail expansion.
If you’re an eCommerce operator weighing where to invest next, this conversation reveals how TikTok Shop impacts not just DTC revenue, but also Meta performance, Amazon sales, and long-term retail strategy. It’s a candid look at the tradeoffs between profitability, virality, and sustained brand growth.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:00 - How I Grew Glimmr
00:07:01 - Importance of Community For Beauty Products
00:10:06 - The Impact of TikTok Viewership
00:17:55 - When The Revenue Doesn’t Match The Views
00:22:23 - The Issues With TikTok Shop
00:27:07 - Ad Tactics vs Brand
00:33:41 - Selling Products In Target
00:35:57 - Colin Breaks Down His TikTok Strategy
00:44:21 - Using Affiliate Influencers For Awareness
00:48:19 - Let Your Product Speak For Itself
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Most media buyers run “test campaigns” on Meta to find creative winners. But after months of testing and reevaluating, I’ve eliminated test campaigns entirely—and performance has improved.
In this episode, I break down my updated approach to creative testing on Meta ads:
-
Why launching ads directly into scale campaigns works better than test campaigns
-
How manual bids and target ROAS outperform auto-bid setups
-
What to do about false negatives and why they’re overblown
-
When (and how) to use “warm-up” campaigns or flexible ads to boost performance
If you’re an eCommerce operator or growth marketer struggling with wasted ad spend, suppressed creatives, or inefficient testing structures, this guide will give you a repeatable framework for smarter testing and scaling.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:15 - Setting Up An AJF Growth Ad Account
00:04:19 - Changing My Tone On Test Campaigns (Use Scale Ads)
00:07:23 - Why Your Ads Get Low Spend?
00:17:40 - How Did We Test My Hypothesis
00:21:05 - Scale The Winning Ads
00:27:10 - Efficiency Is THE PATH to Scale
00:34:04 - The Results Of Running Test Campaigns
00:34:50 - The Warmup Campaign Strategy
00:38:24 - Flexible Creative Categories
00:44:10 - What Ad Campaigns Truly Work?
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify
//Sean Agatep is the cofounder and COO of Vincero, an 8-figure men's accessories brand, and Tidal, a global staffing agency connecting you with great global talent. Learn more about Vincero at http://vincerocollective.com/.
//Most founders source from China, but very few have lived inside the supply chain for five years. In this episode, Sean Agatep from Vincero Collective shares how that experience gave him and his partners a deep advantage in manufacturing, supplier relationships, and building a profitable eCommerce brand.
You’ll learn how Vincero grew from a Kickstarter project into an eight-figure accessories business by mastering supply chain complexity, negotiating with dozens of suppliers, and building redundancy that most operators ignore. Sean explains how their time in China shaped decisions around product development, margins, and growth — and why Vincero chose stability and profitability over chasing hyper-growth.
If you’re an eCommerce operator facing margin pressure, struggling with supply chain inefficiencies, or deciding between scaling fast versus building sustainably, this conversation will give you frameworks and hard-earned lessons you won’t find anywhere else.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:02:19 - What Is Vincero?
00:03:36 - Approaching Growth In The Business
00:06:56 - My Team Moved To China
00:13:18 - Supplier Relationships
00:19:17 - Does Supply Chain Differ Between Types of Products?
00:26:21 - Stability = Peace of Mind
00:29:22 - Introducing A New Product To Your Brand
00:35:17 - Brief Dive Into A New Business For Sean
00:41:45 - Acquisition Ambitions
00:45:43 - What Approach To a HoldCo Is Sean Taking?
//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Drew Fallon is the founder and CEO of Iris. Learn more about Iris at www.irisfinance.co and follow Drew on X at https://x.com/drewfallon12.
//
Raising money has become almost taboo in the DTC and eCommerce world—but is that mindset actually holding brands back?
In this episode, Andrew sits down with Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris, fresh off a $6.2M seed round. They unpack the hard truths about fundraising, margins, forecasting, and why certain categories (like supplements and gummies) are scaling at lightning speed. Drew brings unique insight from inside the financials of 100+ eCommerce brands, offering perspective few operators ever get to see.
You’ll hear a candid discussion about:
-
When raising capital creates real advantage (and when it kills your optionality)
-
Why high gross margin is the ultimate cheat code for scale
-
The long, overlooked sales cycle for B2B SaaS in eCommerce
-
How forecasting and inventory planning can make or break growth
-
The capital markets correction and what it means for CPG founders now
If you’re facing margin pressure, considering outside investment, or just want a sharper financial lens on your business, this episode is a masterclass in understanding the numbers that matter.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:15 - Raising Money
00:03:43 - Influencer Marketing In DTC
00:07:40 - Drew’s Onboarding Sales Cycle
00:10:11 - Hiring For Head of Marketing
00:11:17 - The Future Of Iris
00:16:45 - The Up Trend For E-Commerce Brands
00:18:40 - These ARE The Brands That Win
00:27:52 - Drew’s Bucket Analogy
00:31:46 - Make Your Subscription Valuable To Customers
00:37:59 - Make The Case For Fundraising
00:47:27 - Early Growth Equity Funds
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Bryan Porter is the Chief Ecommerce Officer at Simple Modern. Follow him on X at https://x.com/jbryanporter and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbryanporter/.
//
Simple Modern’s insulated drinkware shouldn’t have worked as a DTC business: low repeat purchase rates, heavy shipping costs, and thin margins. Yet somehow, Bryan Porter and his team took their average order value from $18 to $80—fundamentally reshaping the brand’s unit economics.
In this episode, Bryan explains why AOV growth isn’t just a vanity metric, but a lever for profitability when done intentionally. We break down the seven-year journey behind that transformation: bundling strategies that amortize shipping costs, personalization features like embroidery, limited-edition drops that command premium pricing, and product development designed for ecosystem buying.
This conversation also dives into bigger strategic lessons:
When to let Amazon carry single-unit orders, how to structure your site around differentiation, and why broader brand awareness—not just tactical hacks—ultimately drives scalable growth.
If you’re navigating thin margins, testing shipping thresholds, or struggling to profitably scale off Amazon, Bryan’s perspective is both practical and deeply insightful.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:24 - Andrew LOVES Oklahoma
00:02:54 - Is AOV The MOST Overrated Metric?
00:06:10 - Margin Profiles For A DTC Brand
00:13:57 - Product Development Process
00:21:17 - Increasing AOV
00:28:15 - The Pillars
00:36:16 - Tiktok Shops
00:45:40 - Let’s Chat About Money
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Eric Bandholz is the Founder & CEO of Beardbrand and the host of Ecommerce Conversations, which you can find at https://www.practicalecommerce.com/author/eric-bandholz.
Get his "36 Ways To Revive An Ecommerce Business" episode here: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/36-ways-to-revive-an-ecommerce-business.
//
Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, joins the show to talk candidly about rebuilding after losing nearly $1M in cash between 2023–2024. In this episode, Eric shares how Beardbrand plugged its biggest leaks—inventory issues, packaging missteps, and manufacturer misalignment—and why raising prices actually restored trust with customers.
We also dive into deeper questions: what it means to build for freedom instead of an exit, how to sustain motivation after 13 years in the same business, and why work itself can be life-giving. Eric discusses the role of subscription growth, fragrance innovation, and even AI-driven ads in shaping Beardbrand’s next chapter.
If you’re running an eCommerce brand under pressure from margin compression, lawsuits, or scaling hurdles, this conversation offers grounded perspective. You’ll walk away with concrete lessons on pricing, manufacturing strategy, subscription models, and long-term founder psychology.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:32 - Erics Big Reveal
00:03:12 - Current State of BeardBrand
00:07:29 - Why Problem Solving Is Key
00:15:03 - Price Changes In Products
00:17:17 - Andrew Opens Up About His Fragrance Brand
00:20:55 - What Goes Into Fragrance Development
00:25:33 - Subscriber Growth
00:34:05 - BearBrand New Productline
00:37:21 - Package Material Sourcing
00:41:09 - Building For Freedom
00:52:09 - Exciting Erik Ideas
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
"How to Solve The Biggest 4 Cost Cap Media Buying Challenges" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1UU4ihwIA
Cody Plofker Goes DEEP On Meta Media Buying" - https://youtu.be/rEeh1SieNUU?si=25kBcutn0fJCKn40
//
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the most competitive ad buying days of the year—and after 11 years of managing BFCM campaigns ranging from $1K to $1M+ in spend, Andrew has seen what actually works and what wastes money.
This episode breaks down his complete approach to Meta ads for BFCM 2025: from creative strategy to media buying, bid caps, ROAS optimization, forecasting, and how to handle customer behavior shifts like delayed purchasing. You’ll learn why simple “offer-first” creative consistently outperforms over-engineered ads, how to prevent Meta’s bidding algorithm from lagging behind reality, and the right way to balance evergreen vs. sale-specific ads.
If you’re looking to maximize spend efficiency, avoid margin-killing mistakes, and set your brand up for both scale and profitability this holiday season, this guide is the blueprint.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:38 - Key Things For Your Meta Creatives
00:05:00 - Media Buying & Correct Approach
00:11:55 - Value Optimization
00:14:01 - Delay In Purchase Behaviors
00:20:25 - Daily Forecasting
00:22:50 - Hourly Forecasting
00:24:33 - Learn and Take Notes
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can make or break Q4, but timing your sale wrong—or structuring your offer poorly—can leave money on the table. In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down the data that reveals exactly when to launch your sale and why most brands get this wrong.
You’ll learn how to:
-
Structure BFCM offers that maximize AOV and profit per order.
-
Avoid common mistakes around margin erosion and shipping costs.
-
Use early November shopping spikes to your advantage.
-
Understand why sending more email and SMS is critical, not optional.
-
Protect profit if inventory runs low, and why chasing “viral” Black Friday wins usually backfires.
This episode is about helping operators make data informed decisions. It will help operators scale profitably during the busiest season of the year. If you want to enter BFCM with confidence—and avoid the mistakes that drain margins—this episode will give you a clear framework to follow.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:55 - The Importance of Your Black Friday Offer
00:04:20 - Black Friday Deals WON’T Degrade Your Brand
00:06:34 - Larger AOV Creates Greater Margin Benefit
00:07:45 - Pay Close Attention To Your Margin
00:10:30 - When To Launch Your Black Friday Sale
00:14:25 - Consistency In The Data
00:18:31 - You CAN’T Send Too Many Email
00:21:03 - Inventory Shortages
00:23:06 - DON’T FORCE IT
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Scaling an ecommerce brand today means confronting rising costs, shifting ad platforms, and the hype cycle of new tools like AI. In this episode, Andrew Faris cuts through the noise with six clear, tactical lessons drawn directly from his work with high-growth DTC brands.
You’ll learn why retention advertising is often the most overlooked source of incremental revenue, why Meta remains the most powerful platform for growth despite the complaints, and how AppLovin is emerging as a serious performance channel. Andrew also breaks down why creative success is harder than most founders realize, what the AI “trough of disillusionment” means for operators, and how the right mix of vision and process can transform a business.
If you want practical insights that can help you make smarter ad spend decisions, improve your creative process, and position your brand for sustainable growth, this episode is a must-listen.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:39 - Spend Money On Retention Advertising
00:04:16 - A.I. Delusion
00:08:51 - Related Points For Customers
00:17:51 - META Is Still AWESOME!
00:23:26 - App Lovin
00:26:57 - Bring In The RIGHT Team
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Most ads fail long before they launch—at the concept level. In this episode, we break down the foundational framework behind effective social media advertising. Instead of chasing hacks or production tricks, we get into the real drivers of performance: messaging, hooks, nativeness, and storytelling.
//
You’ll learn:
-
Why messaging is the “nutrient value” of every ad, and how to craft one that moves the needle.
-
How hooks and nativeness work together to capture and keep attention in a feed full of distractions.
-
Storytelling frameworks that retain attention and make your message stick.
-
How to operationalize ad creation at scale—so great ads aren’t a fluke, but a repeatable process.
-
If you’re scaling a brand and battling rising CAC, margin pressure, or creative fatigue, this episode gives you practical insight into how the best ads actually work and how to structure your team to deliver them consistently.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:13 - Where Ads Go Wrong?
00:01:55 - The Value of Money and Your Product
00:05:16 - Core Messaging For Brand
00:10:14 - Breaking Down Elements of the Ad
00:13:58 - Using Catchy Hooks
00:14:51 - The Principle of Nativeness
00:21:44 - Storytelling
00:25:50 - Hypothetical Best Ad In The Universe
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Meta’s auction is a probabilistic forecasting engine. Treat it that way and your creative testing stops being guesswork. In this episode, Andrew lays out a first-principles framework for Meta Ads that resolves three tensions operators hit every day:
Consolidation: why “more purchases per ad set” increases model confidence, stabilizes delivery, and compounds performance over time.
Creative supply: how to increase diverse creative volume (not near-duplicates) without kicking high-performing ad sets back into volatility.
False negatives: when Meta gives up too early—and practical ways to limit misses without torching budget.
You’ll leave with a clear mental model for structuring campaigns, setting bid strategies (including when manual bids help and why), deciding ad-per-ad-set counts, and preventing “learning phase” churn.
If margin pressure, inconsistent scaling, or noisy tests are blocking growth, this is a rigorous, operator-grade way to diagnose the system and deploy creative testing that actually compounds.
What you’ll learn:
-
The ad-set level is where learning really happens—and how to leverage that
-
Why consolidating conversions beats scattering them across many ad sets
-
How to design creative pipelines that maximize diversity and minimize redundancy
-
Practical safeguards to reduce false negatives without sunk-cost waste
-
A simple deployment pattern to add new ads without disrupting scale
-
Listen to sharpen your testing strategy and reclaim wasted spend with a framework you can apply this quarter.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:38 - Why Meta Ad Creative Structure Is Important
00:03:53 - The Value of Purchases In Your Ad Sets
00:07:40 - Conversions Effect Ad Performance
00:10:40 - Purdy & Figg Example
00:17:13 - Utilizing Manual Bids For A Greater Performance
00:21:05 - Creative Volume Is Good
00:32:44 - Avoid False Negatives
00:41:46 - What Should You Do?
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Hiring “influencers” is not a single play—it’s four different jobs with four different outcomes.
In this episode Andrew breaks down a clear framework for on-screen ad talent: actors (scripted delivery), creators (algorithm-savvy editors who deliver finished ads), authorities (trusted endorsers who bridge efficacy/credibility gaps), and celebrities (brand-equity plays that rarely win in direct response).
You’ll learn:
-
When to script an actor vs brief a creator, and how to structure both so performance doesn’t depend on luck
-
A practical pricing heuristic for creator partnerships (the “~5% of planned ad spend” rule of thumb) and where it breaks
-
When whitelisting adds leverage—and when it doesn’t
-
How to use authorities to validate claims in categories like health, performance, or technical products
-
Why most early-stage brands should avoid big celebrity contracts (and the two exceptions: deep integration or licensed co-brands)
-
A simple audit to categorize your current roster, upgrade contracts, and operationalize briefing, asset handoff, and off-boarding
If you’re navigating margin pressure, uneven ROAS, or confusion about creator pricing and deliverables, this gives you a decision tree you can hand to your team today. Expect fewer dead-end tests, cleaner processes, and ad dollars aligned to the right kind of talent for your goal.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01_37 - Building An Influencer Program at AJF Growth
00:02:58 - Hiring Actors For Ad Creatives
00:07:49 - Let Creators Do What They DO BEST, CREATE!
00:10:59 - What Is Whitelisting Relationships?
00:17:24 - Communicating With Your Creator Partner
00:23:42 - Allowing Your Influencer To Be The Authoritative Voice
00:27:16 - Building Trust With An Audience
00:28:57 - Sources of Credibility
00:34:29 - Do Celebrities Help Sell Products?
00:39:15 - Would I advise to contract with Celebrities?
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Most DTC teams want wholesale but treat it like a black box. In this episode, Jared Mehr (Pura Vida) lays out the exact path he used to build a $35M wholesale program—from first doors to trade shows to rep groups—without blowing up margins or ops.
What you’ll learn:
-
Readiness checklist before you call a buyer: inventory, UPC/SKU hygiene, pricing, 3PL capabilities, and wholesale order flow
-
The real margin model (retail 50 / brand 50), why big boxes demand an extra 10–20% off wholesale, and how to price with future sales-rep commissions
-
Why “permanent promo” DTC tactics kill retailer interest—and what to do instead
-
Cash-flow realities: net-30/60/90, chargebacks, AR risk, and why a mom-and-pop baseline protects you when majors change POs
-
How to get your first accounts: outreach scripts, sampling, store-locator lead lists, and door-to-door tactics that still work- Operational must-haves: displays that drive sell-through, starter packs, minimums, and a reorder cadence that compounds
-
When wholesale beats ecom on profit, and how channels can lift each other rather than cannibalize
-
Scaling playbook: when to add trade shows, inside sales, and regional rep groups—and how to vet the right partners
-
Merch & forecasting: use pre-booking data to decide what to actually make (and what not to)
If you’re feeling margin pressure, stagnant growth, or rising CAC, this episode gives you a practical, de-risked way to add a meaningful revenue channel—complete with the numbers, sequences, and pitfalls to avoid. No hype. Just a clear plan to get into stores and sell through.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:36 - The Retail Experience: Should I Do It For My Brand?
00:02:18 - How Jareds Got His Start In The Retail Business
00:04:54 - Why It’s Important To Establish A Brand Online
00:08:24 - Good $ Starting Point For A Brand To Turn Retail
00:12:14 - First Things To Do
00:16:10 - How Profit & Margin Work In Retail Relationships
00:23:31 - Wholesale Vs Ecommerce
00:25:57 - The Sales Process
00:32:47 - The Hotel Gift Shop
00:35:38 - In Store Merchandising
00:41:25 - What Sales Pitch Worked For Me
00:45:13 - How To Be Successful Once You Are In Stores
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
This episode gets practical about AI and ad creative. Andrew Faris and Alex Cooper (Adcate) break down what’s actually working, why most AI ads still fall flat, and how operators can build a creative system that compounds.
What you’ll learn:
-
AI as an amplifier, not a shortcut: why bad ideas stay bad, even with great models—and how to surface signal from 20+ AI-generated options instead of shipping noise.
-
Context engineering OVER prompt engineering: building brand-specific context documents and custom GPT/Claude projects (brand data + top performers + task-specific creative principles) to raise hit rate across headlines, hooks, scripts, and iterations.
-
Operationalized knowledge: treating your agency/org as “operationalized knowledge,” then encoding that knowledge into AI so strategy scales without diluting quality.
-
Process over novelty: frameworks like AI Days and moonshot briefs to test new tools (VO3, image/video gen, research apps) without derailing production.
-
Where VO3 fits now: using intentionally unrealistic visuals for hooks and pattern breaks while keeping workflows realistic for speed and cost.
-
Tool overload triage: how to evaluate new AI releases against business outcomes (profit, CAC, volume, timelines) and avoid shiny-object churn.
-
The strategist’s new job: knowing what to create (psychology, research, copy fundamentals) while AI accelerates execution.
Why this is worth your time
If you’re feeling margin pressure, creative fatigue, or whipsawed by weekly AI launches, this conversation gives you a repeatable way to:
-
Raise creative hit rate without inflating headcount
-
Protect focus while still exploring new tools
-
Encode your best thinking into systems your whole team can use
Ship more diverse, on-strategy ads—faster
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:33 - Where Is Alex Moving???
00:02:27 - A.I. Great For Ideation, Bad For Execution
00:08:24 - Strategy For Deep Research
00:15:15 - The Agency Model In DTC
00:22:48 - How To Know What Knowledge Is Truth Using A.I.
00:35:48 - The Future Of Content Creation & Creative Output
00:41:41 - Andrew’s Bet On The Future of A.I. Technology
00:45:43 - Hot Takes With Alex
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
//
Entrepreneurs are often warned about burnout, but in the eCommerce world, overwork rarely looks like the stereotype of a stressed employee with a pushy boss. For founders and high-performing executives, the challenge is often the opposite: the work is so enjoyable, so mentally stimulating, that stepping away feels harder than leaning in.
In this episode, we dig into why that “fun” is exactly what can threaten your long-term joy — and how to resist the constant pull of your own company. You’ll hear a candid conversation on balancing ambition with rest, the science behind true mental recovery, and how to avoid using business as a constant source of stimulation.
We also explore the founder’s biggest question: when you’ve built something extraordinary and life-changing wealth is within reach, why not sell now? This conversation will give you both the mindset shifts and the strategic lens to think clearly about scaling, exits, and what you’re really optimizing for in your career.
If you want to build a company that not only scales but sustains your life’s joy, this is a must-listen.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:50 - Does Mike Actually Take Vacations?
00:04:55 - Short Term vs. Long Term Joy
00:10:16 - Preparing Your Soul For Extreme Wealth
00:21:47 - When Does Contentment Become Your Joy
00:27:17 - Analogy About The Resource of Money
00:38:12 - Intentionality With Human Connections
01:01:00 - Purpose of Luxury & Comfort As A Entrepreneur
00:01:07 - Wealth As A Mindset
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
//
What if your next supply chain decision could unlock 5–10 more points of margin—without sacrificing quality?In this episode, Andrew brings back Laura Guevara of Move Supply Chain to do a deep dive on exactly how they built a high-margin, custom-manufactured product (solid cologne) from scratch—with global sourcing, minimal MOQs, and airtight logistics.
You’ll hear how Laura’s team:
– Sourced over 80+ manufacturers across Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
– Landed beautiful, custom walnut & aluminum packaging at ~$5 per unit
– Navigated tariff risk, lead times, and sampling strategy
– Used Filipino talent for affordable, world-class execution
– Identified future margin unlocks, including raw material sourcing and toll manufacturing
If you’re scaling an eCommerce business, supply chain optimization isn’t optional. It’s your competitive advantage. This episode is a masterclass in how to build smart from day one—and where to look for your next big efficiency win.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:21 - Introducing Resolute
00:07:19 - Sales Funnel Process For Manufacturing
00:13:04 - Resolute Unit Economics Calculator
00:29:47 - Complications In Production
00:33:30 - Lara Discusses Various Supply Chain Locations
00:41:25 - Sourcing Raw Materials For Packaging & Product
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
//
This episode breaks down how one client 10Xed their Meta ad spend — not through hacks or holiday sales, but by finding a high-converting offer, reframing their message, and matching it to the right creative and bid strategy.
You’ll learn:
-
How the right framing can outperform the exact same offer.
-
Why price elasticity is about category thresholds — not discounts.
-
How manual bidding helped safely scale spend 10X without overspending.
-
What to consider when ordering inventory after a spike in demand.
-
How “explore” and “expand” thinking creates durable, scalable funnels.
-
The compounding role of brand positioning, product development, and testing discipline.
If you’re responsible for scaling revenue and ROAS inside an eCommerce brand, this episode offers a tactical, realistic framework for how to unlock the next level of growth — and how not to blow it when it shows up.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:02:23 - Andrew Discusses Clients Broken Ad Account
00:05:29 - Importance of Price & Offering Testing
00:10:15 - Why You Should Think More About Shipping
00:12:44 - How You Should Market Your Products
00:16:37 - What Core Problems Does Your Product Solve?
00:23:19 - Creative Angle Campaigns
00:37:23 - Inventory Control & Ordering
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
In this episode, Andrew Faris pulls back the curtain on his newest venture—Resolute, a solid cologne brand built from the ground up with profitability in mind. If you're a founder, operator, or investor in the DTC space, this is a rare chance to watch a brand go from zero to launch—with full transparency.
You'll learn:
-
Why Andrew chose solid cologne as a category (and why margin is greater than everything)
-
How he’s thinking about pricing, supply chain, and product positioning
-
What makes the economics work (or not) in high-margin DTC businesses
-
A step-by-step walkthrough of COGS, packaging costs, and breakeven ROAS
-
How Move Supply Chain helped source 60+ vendors to build efficiently
-
What questions remain about LTV, price testing, and product-market fit
Whether you're building your next brand or refining your current economics, this episode delivers a masterclass in strategic thinking and cash-efficient DTC execution.
Subscribe to follow the full journey of Resolute as it unfolds.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:47 - What Is Resolute? (My New Brand)
00:02:50 - Solid Cologne Preview
00:07:06 - The Components of a Good E-Commerce Product
00:14:28 - Importance of the Sample Packs
0021:32 - Creating Repeat Customers
00:23:22 - Unit Economic Calculator
00:35:29 - P&L Predictions
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
DREAMPOOL PRODUCTIONS
Need your podcast produced or edited? What about creative storytelling to drive organic growth on YouTube or social media? From creative consultation, to ideation and execution, DreamPool delivers on your production needs. Contact Christopher Faris at christopher@godreampool.com to get started!
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
What does it really take to build—and sell—a high-performing eCommerce agency? In this episode, Taylor Holiday (former CEO of Common Thread Collective) joins Andrew Faris to dissect the real mechanics behind scaling a service business, managing people (or not managing them at all), and exiting at the peak.
Taylor shares candid insights on:
-
Why "management" might be killing your margins
-
The client metric that actually drives profit (hint: it's not logo churn)
-
How AI is expanding operating margin—and agency salaries
-
When to stop saving clients and focus on expansion
-
Why “Head of Growth” is a broken title
-
How to structure your team for consistency and scale
-
Lessons from an 8-figure transaction (and what he'd do differently)
Talking with Taylor is guaranteed to provide lots of interesting conversation, more than a few laughs, and highly actionable takeaways for ANYONE in E-commerce!
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
You’re working hard. Maybe even harder than ever.
But you’re stuck—and you’re not sure why.
In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down the biggest problem facing most eCommerce businesses (yes, yours too) and shares how AJF Growth is solving it right now.
Whether you’re a brand operator, agency founder, or someone stuck in the middle of a scaling mess, you’ll walk away with a powerful framework to diagnose and fix what’s holding you back.
You’ll learn:
-
Why having great people still isn’t enough
-
The 3 levers that make (or break) a business
-
How to implement the Visionary/Integrator framework (EOS)
-
What bad strategy looks like—even when execution is perfect
-
Why AI can amplify the wrong decisions if you're not careful
Plus, Andrew breaks down how he’s using AI tools, tight processes, and deep creative systems to unlock scalable, profitable growth inside AJF Growth and client accounts.
If you’ve ever felt like you're on the agency merry-go-round—or that your internal team can’t execute your vision—this is the episode you need.
Drop your biggest ops or strategy challenge in the comments. And hit subscribe—upcoming episodes feature Taylor Holiday, Alex Cooper, and a deep dive into building a wholesale program for DTC brands.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:46 - The Agency Carousel
00:02:36 - Strategy Is Important For Growth
00:06:44 - The Right Processes In Your Business
00:11:04 - Hiring Your Team
00:16:54 - Rocket Fuel
00:21:32 - How I Am Implementing Processes at AJF Growth
00:27:00 - Supply Chain Negotiation Tactics
00:28:15 - Idea Generation
00:36:00 - Common Problem Brands Face
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
What do you do when your eCommerce brand stalls—not failing, just stuck?In this tactical deep dive, Andrew walks through a real case study of a 7-figure brand that turned stalled momentum into its most profitable non-holiday month ever.
You’ll get specific data breakdowns on how changes in spend allocation, campaign strategy (including a massive shift toward Target ROAS), product prioritization, and CRO testing led to a whopping 88% increase in contribution margin—without increasing spend.
If you're an operator feeling the pressure to grow but watching margins shrink, this episode is your playbook.
Learn how to:
-
Run leaner without killing momentum
-
Make Meta’s learning phase work for you
-
Use price testing and retention ads to boost profit per visitor- Think beyond creative volume to win consistently
-
Reinvest profit into real growth, like product development or new channels
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:28 - My Brand Experienced Stalled Growth
00:05:08 - Less Spend, More Efficient YoY
00:06:56 - Spend Down, New Customer Revenue Up
00:10:15 - Media Buying Changes
00:13:54 - The Limits of Creative Diversity
00:18:00 - Product Distribution
00:21:17 - Key Takeaways
00:28:15 - Spend Smarter Not Harder
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://btsstudio.co/.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
After selling Supply Razors and stepping away from eCommerce, Patrick Coddou thought he was done building. But two years later, he’s back—and joining AJF Growth.
In this episode, Patrick and Andrew Faris dive deep into what happens after an exit, the draw of meaningful work, and how they're scaling an agency with process, people, and purpose.
You’ll hear them unpack:
-
Why “infinite freedom” isn’t the end goal after all
-
The shift from founder-led chaos to operational excellence
-
How EOS and offshore talent create leverage
-
What makes a creative service not just good—but scalable
-
And how AI is changing how teams build and deliver at volume
This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to evolve from founder to builder—again—with a clear philosophy on work, life, and growth.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:35 - Why Go Back To Working In E-Commerce
00:06:01 - The 4 Hour Work Week Doesn’t Equal Freedom
00:08:43 - Goals For AJF Growth
00:15:37 - Growing An Agency
00:27:19 - Offshore Talent In Philippines
00:46:52 - Why Can Agency’s Experience A Bad Turn
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
If you run a large eCommerce brand, you’ve likely faced it: the dreaded Meta ads breakdown. One week you’re scaling efficiently, the next—your RoAS tanks, CPAs spike, and panic sets in. In this episode, Andrew walks through eight tactical steps to triage and fix a broken Meta ads account—based on real-world experience managing millions in ad spend.
You’ll learn:
-
How to immediately identify whether it's a technical issue or strategic breakdown
-
Why small sample size volatility may be misleading your decisions
-
How to communicate clearly with your team or agency when everything’s on fire
-
Why assuming “you’re the problem” can actually give you the most control
-
How to cut losses fast with the “Don’t Spend Bad Money” principle
-
When and how to rebuild creative from scratch—and why weird might win
This is a practical, high-urgency playbook for brand operators, marketers, and agency leads who need to stabilize performance and return to profitable growth.
Whether you’re in the thick of a platform shift, reeling from iOS changes, or just trying to keep performance consistent, this episode will help you keep a steady hand on the wheel—and make smarter, faster decisions.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:56 - How To Fix Broken Ad Accounts
00:03:20 - Short Term vs. Long Term Problems
00:09:43 - Daily Volatility In Meta Ads
00:16:26 - Stop Bleeding Money
00:22:11 - Communication With Brand Partner
00:23:10 - Eliminate Options In Your Ads
00:25:47 - Remain Calm During Fires
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
TikTok Shop is exploding—and most eCommerce brands are asleep on it.
In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Andrew Faris sits down with Jordan West (CEO of Social Commerce Club) to dive deep into what’s actually working on TikTok Shop, why creators are outperforming influencers, and how brands should rethink top-of-funnel strategy.
Whether you’re a 7–9 figure operator looking to diversify off Meta, or just exploring creator partnerships for the first time, Jordan lays out the real-world playbook: from seeding products to building a creator network that drives serious revenue. He also unpacks the cold start problem, affiliate commissions, content volume, CPM misconceptions, and how to identify the right creators without wasting time or budget.
If you're facing margin pressure, platform volatility, or simply want to stay ahead of where consumer attention is going, this episode is packed with actionable insight from someone who’s scaled TikTok Shop campaigns for 100+ brands.
What You’ll Learn:
-
Why TikTok CPMs are misunderstood—and what they actually signal
-
How to build and retain high-performing creator partnerships
-
Why volume matters: the 10–20 posts/day strategy
-
How one low-follower creator drove $250K in sales- When and how to bet $50K on TikTok the smart way
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:39: Meet Jordan West
00:05:13: Creator vs Influencer
00:13:34: How To Kick Off Creator Marketing Strategy
00:26:39: How The Meta Algorithm Works
00:32:55: Importance of Good Quality Content
00:44:03: Creator Networking in 2025
//
Jordan West is the CEO of Social Commerce Club and the host of Secrets To Scaling Your Ecommerce Brand. See everything Jordan is doing at www.socialcommerceclub.com.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Roman Khan isn’t just building brands—he’s building machines that generate real, distributable cash.
In this episode of the AJF Podcast, Roman reveals the systems behind Peak 21’s success, including the overlooked levers in supply chain that drive margins, profitability, and growth.
If you're a 7–9 figure founder struggling with inventory, margin compression, or scaling profitably—this conversation is a goldmine. Learn why your supplier might be your best financing partner, how a granular bill of materials changes everything, and how Roman’s team of 40 in Asia turns under-optimized brands into lean, cash-rich operations.
Topics include:
-
Supply chain as a growth engine (not a bottleneck)
-
Payment terms, BOMs, and price breaks that fund scale
-
How Roman avoids debt while growing 50%+ YoY
-
Why most DTC brands never reach escape velocity
-
What it takes to actually exit a brandWhether you're looking to scale profitably or exit smart, this episode will shift how you think about operations.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:08 - What Is Peak 21?
00:07:55 - Process of Vetting A Company For Acquisition
00:16:54 - Your Sub $10 Million Revenue Business Should Do This
00:30:17 - Supply Chain In Hong Kong
00:38:15 - What Is Hot On Roman's Radar for DTC
//
Roman Khan is the Founder and CEO of Peak21, an ecommerce aggregator doing more than $300M/year in revenue. Follow Roman on X at https://x.com/RomanEcom and inquire about partnering with Peak21 at https://peak21.io.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Bill D'Alessandro, founder of Natural Dog Company, just sold his brand to a private equity firm backed by Morgan Stanley. In this episode, Andrew Faris dives deep with Bill to unpack the entire journey—from building the business, to working with an investment bank, to negotiating and closing a deal with a strategic buyer.
If you're running a 7–9 figure eCommerce brand, this episode is pure gold. You'll learn:
-
What makes a DTC brand actually attractive to strategic buyers
-
The #1 mistake founders make when approaching an exit- Why contribution margin is still king in 2025
-
How Bill built operational talent that scaled with the business
-
The difference between “just another Shopify brand” vs. a sellable brand
-
Why omnichannel distribution is critical to valuation
-
Why most subscription businesses are really financing problems in disguise
-
The emotional aftermath of exiting your company
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:18 - Who is Bill D'Allessandro?
00:03:00 - The Scope of Natural Dog Co Acquisition
00:09:01 - Investment Banking During A Buyout
00:22:55 - People Management Is The Hardest With Business
00:31:35 - Why Not All Subscription Models Are Great
00:42:46 - How Meta Dependency Could Harm Your Business
//
Bill D'Alessandro is the former of CEO of Natural Dog Co and Elements Brand and current Head of M&A at Food Science, a portfolio company backed by Morgan Stanley. Follow Bill on X at https://x.com/billda and listen to Acquisitions Anonymous by visiting https://www.acquanon.com/.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
AI is changing how we make ad creative—but not in the way you’ve been told.In this episode, Andrew Faris shares his contrarian take on AI’s role in creative strategy, why the “endless AI content” model is flawed, and how smart DTC brands will win by thinking more, not producing more.Whether you’re an operator, performance marketer, or founder trying to scale profitably, this episode unpacks:
– Why the best brands aren’t just using AI—they’re thinking better
– How Meta’s ad platform is caught between volume and learning
– What actually raises the quality bar in the AI era
– Why good creative thinkers are more valuable than ever
– How AJF Growth is building AI-powered creative systems that scalePlus, hear how brands are turning AI speed into operational hiring—not layoffs.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:23 - The Misconception Of A.I. For Creatives
00:04:26 - Quantity Over Quality With Ads?
00:14:03 - Targeting Specific Customer Profiles
00:21:18 - Creating the Craziest Ads with A.I.
00:26:53 - A.I. Will Not Replace Your Strategy For Ads
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
In this tactical solo episode, Andrew Faris breaks down 7 updated Meta ad buying strategies that are shaping how top brands scale in 2025. Based on personal account data, Meta Performance Summit insights, and conversations with reps, Andrew shares what’s actually working—including why he’s now running 15–20 ads per ad set, how he’s avoiding the learning phase trap, and his new take on creative testing campaigns.
Whether you're managing $5K or $500K/month in spend, this episode is packed with non-obvious tactics that can unlock growth and reduce wasted spend.
Topics Covered:
-
How many ads to run per ad set
-
Why learning phase really matters now
-
The truth about creative testing campaigns
-
Manual bidding vs automated budgets
-
How to relaunch an underperforming ad (Thumbnail Trick)
-
Why iterative creative is dead (and what to do instead)
-
Data quality, Elevar, and pixel hygiene tips
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:21 - Machine Learning & Meta Ads
00:05:56 - Get Your Ads Out of Learning Phase
00:14:22 - Wasting Money On Test Ads
00:22:26 - Creative Testing Campaign
00:35:57 - Importance of Thumbnails & Creative Swap Outs
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
In this deeply reflective episode, Andrew Faris sits down with Matt Bertulli—founder of Pela and Lomi, host of the Operators Podcast, and a seasoned eCommerce entrepreneur with a successful exit under his belt—to unpack a deceptively simple tweet:
"Building a business is a spiritual process disguised as a financial one."
What follows is an unfiltered, vulnerable conversation about why so many high-performing founders experience emptiness despite outward success. They explore questions that every 7–9 figure operator eventually faces:
-
What’s the real point of building a business?
-
How do you stay motivated after you've “made it”?
-
What does meaningful success look like beyond dollars?
-
Why personal growth and company growth are linked—and why ignoring one undermines the other.
This is not your typical episode about margin optimization or scaling tactics—though Matt and Andrew touch on those. Instead, it’s about why we build in the first place. It’s for the founder who’s already successful, but feels stuck or unsatisfied.If you’ve ever stared at a dashboard full of green numbers and still asked yourself, “What now?” — this conversation is for you.
Actionable insight: Align your values and motivations early. Building without intention leads to burnout, not fulfillment.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:26 - What Is The Point of Business?
00:03:27 - Work Life Balance Explained
00:09:14 - The Importance of Writing For Clarity
00:19:29 - Does Money Equal Joy?
00:35:17 - YPO Membership
00:48:01 - Spiritual Discipline In Business
//
Matt Bertulli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pela and Lomi and one of the hosts of The Operators Podcast. Listen to The Operators at https://www.9operators.com/.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Andrew sits down with Chad Carlton, CEO of Good Company, a 3PL that ships over 3 million orders annually for fewer than 20 clients. In this tactical deep dive, they walk through every step of the fulfillment journey—from the moment your product hits the warehouse to when it lands at your customer’s door.
You’ll learn:
- Why most brands treat their 3PLs wrong—and how to fix it
- The real cost structure behind pick, pack, and postage
- When it makes sense to fulfill in-house vs outsource
- How to reduce returns and increase resellable inventory
- What "alignment of incentives" really looks like in logistics
Real numbers, strategic decisions, and operational leverage that can drive profitability are candidly explored—especially in a margin-compressed environment.
Whether you're considering switching 3PLs, scaling to multiple warehouses, or fixing your supply chain slippage, this episode gives you the framework to make better, more profitable decisions.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:46 - Chad's Calling To Start a 3PL Business
00:08:39 - Why Your Business Should Use A 3PL
00:19:09 - Demanding The Right Price From A 3PL Partner
00:40:44 - The Process
00:53:38 - Midwest Is The Best Location For Shipping
//
Chad Carleton is the founder and CEO of The Good Company, a 3PL based in Springfield, MO that will ship 3,000,000shipments across less than 20 clients in 2025. Visit The Good Company's website at https://www.goodcompanyships.com/ and follow him on X at https://x.com/ChadCarleton.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
What are Meta’s top advertisers learning directly from the source? In this episode, I break down 5 key takeaways from Meta’s exclusive Performance Marketing Summit — a behind-the-scenes look at where the platform is headed and what that means for 7–9 figure eCommerce brands.
You’ll learn:
-
Why incrementality is replacing ROAS as the gold standard of ad measurement
-
How Meta’s new tools aim to optimize for profit, not just revenue
-
Why data quality is your new competitive edge
-
What Meta’s push for creative variety means for your internal content systems
-
How reels and creators are central to Meta’s growth strategy
Plus: The surprising future of “ads that interact with you” — and what that means for your landing pages.If you’re scaling profitably in today’s ad ecosystem, this is the inside track.//CHAPTER TITLES:
1:50 - Hold Out Tests For Meta Ads
3:52 - Incrementality Tests
7:01 - Importance of Quality of your Data
13:13 - Creative Supply Chain
23:00 - A.I In Your Meta Ads
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Bear Handlon, CEO of Born Primitive, went from $5.5M in profit to just $200K in a single year — and then back again. In this Profit Monsters episode, Bear breaks down exactly what caused the collapse, how they rebuilt, and what they're doing now to scale into $100M+.
We cover:
-
How chasing top-line growth killed margins
-
Why flash sales damaged LTV
-
The power of product category expansion (tactical, hunting, footwear)
-
The real ROI of brand authenticity and military credibility
-
How Bear negotiates net-90 terms — and why that matters
-
The exact moment they cut spending, changed exclusions, and stabilized Meta ROAS
-
Why product quality — not hype — is the greatest unlock
Whether you’re a founder stuck in growth mode, a brand leader trying to protect profit, or an operator navigating platform volatility, this episode will sharpen your instincts and show you how serious operators recover — and win.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:50: The Dark Times of Born Primitive
11:50: Customer Acquisition Strategy
20:27: Product Categories
46:25 - Product Features + Customer Experience
56:22 - Proper Communication Channels For Marketing Apparel
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FERMAT Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
In this episode, we does something rare — I get to break down the real P&L of a $5 million DTC brand and show exactly how to think about cost of delivery, fixed overhead, and ad spend efficiency.
You’ll learn:
Why a brand with great product margins can still lose money
How in-house manufacturing + fulfillment can kill your profitability
When to cut salaries, outsource ops, and lean into paid acquisition
The framework I use to analyze any eCommerce P&L
If you run a 7–9 figure eCommerce business and want practical, honest insight into what’s really driving (or killing) profitability, this episode is a must-watch.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:28 - Intro To A P&L
5:00 - Descriptions of a P&L
10:17 - Analyzing Sales
17:31 - Digital Ad Spend
49:53 - Customer Cohort Analysis
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at https://www.richpanel.com/.
//
Taylor Holiday is the Founder and CEO of Common Thread Collective. Learn more about working with CTC at https://www.commonthreadco.com. Follow Taylor on X at https://x.com/taylorholiday and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322/.
//
Taylor Holiday says your eCommerce business doesn’t stand a chance—and he means it. In this episode, Taylor (CEO of Common Thread Collective) and Andrew go head-to-head over whether eCommerce is still a viable, scalable business model. The conversation pulls no punches and goes deep into the real pain points 7–9 figure brand operators are dealing with right now: margin compression, CAC volatility, platform shifts, and the myth of infinite scale.
You’ll also hear how ChatGPT is already changing buyer behavior, why most brands are failing at storytelling, and what it really takes to build a sustainable DTC brand in 2025.
Beyond eCom, the episode explores parenting, fitness, and the psychology behind founder burnout.
Whether you agree or disagree with Taylor’s take, this is an unfiltered look into what separates surviving brands from thriving ones.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:40 - Andrew The E-Commerce Optimist
8:20 - Is Competition A Bad Thing In E Commerce?
16:12 - What Optimization Setting To Use With Your Ads
43:36 - The Growth of Retail
1:22:00 - This Could Wipe Out Your DTC Business
1:32:00 - Meal Planning & Fitness
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
//
Dave Spandorfer is the co-founder & CEO of Janji, an 8-figure running apparel brand. Shop Janji's products at www.janji.com.
//
If you think profitable DTC growth is dead, think again.In this episode, Dave Spandorfer—co-founder and CEO of Janji, a running apparel brand—explains how his company grew to 8 figures without chasing broad TAM or burning VC money. You'll learn why narrowing your focus on a niche customer can be your greatest growth lever, how to build a mission-led brand without leading with your mission, and the specific tactics Janji used to run lean—from fulfillment redesign to offshore hiring to renegotiating with factories during tariff spikes.
What you’ll learn:
-
How Janji grew faster in year 13 than in year 3
-
Why experiential niches outperform generalized DTC
-
Operational frameworks for margin expansion
-
How to preserve brand soul and scale profitably
-
What the “tip of the spear” strategy means for your product roadmap
This episode is a must-watch for 7–9 figure eCommerce founders under margin pressure, looking to grow leaner, smarter, and with more brand clarity.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:25 - Taking Your Passion & Starting A Business
4:36 - The Mission of Janji
11:40 - How To Evolve Your Business With A Changing Market
20:20 - Longterm Growth is Stable Growth
30:50 - Keeping Your Targeted Customer & Products Narrow
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at https://www.richpanel.com/.
//
How do you scale multiple brands, hit $12M in revenue, and still sleep at night?In this episode, Andrew interviews Sam Mendelsohn—co-founder of three eCommerce brands, the 3PL Boxfort, and the elite operator community Workspace 6. Sam gets brutally honest about what actually helped him move from plateaued growth to meaningful profit: focusing on fewer things, trimming complexity, and ruthlessly prioritizing margin over vanity metrics.
You’ll hear about:
-
How he grew multiple brands without adding headcount
-
Why focusing on one ad channel (Meta) was the unlock
-
A practical framework to evaluate whether your brand has real growth potential
-
What 900+ brand applications to Workspace 6 taught him about success patterns
-
How to tell if your pricing is too low—and what to do about it
-
The emotional toll of early-stage plateaus and how he worked through it
This episode is packed with operator-grade insights for brand owners doing 7–9 figures and looking to improve margin, sanity, and scale.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00.34 - How Performance Changes Daily With Meta Ads
3:15 - What You Think About Your Ads Is Wrong
5:38 - Poker Hand Analogy
21:10 - 20 Sided Die Analogy
37:00 - Creative Ad Testing In Your Account
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
//
Sam Mendelsohn is the co-founder of Workspace6, the co-founder of three ecommerce brands doing $12M in revenue at a 7% profit, and the co-founder of BoxFort, a 3PL servicing fashion and apparel brands. Follow Sam on X at https://x.com/SamMendelsohn4, where you can DM him about any of those businesses.
//
How do you scale multiple brands, hit $12M in revenue, and still sleep at night?
In this episode, Andrew interviews Sam Mendelsohn—co-founder of three eCommerce brands, the 3PL Boxfort, and the elite operator community Workspace 6. Sam gets brutally honest about what actually helped him move from plateaued growth to meaningful profit: focusing on fewer things, trimming complexity, and ruthlessly prioritizing margin over vanity metrics.
You’ll hear about:
-
How he grew multiple brands without adding headcount
-
Why focusing on one ad channel (Meta) was the unlock
-
A practical framework to evaluate whether your brand has real growth potential
-
What 900+ brand applications to Workspace 6 taught him about success patterns
-
How to tell if your pricing is too low
—and what to do about it
- The emotional toll of early-stage plateaus and how he worked through it
This episode is packed with operator-grade insights for brand owners doing 7–9 figures and looking to improve margin, sanity, and scale.CHAPTER TITLES:1:26 - Sam Mendelsohn Discusses Starting Out In E-Commerce
6:00 - Improving Your Bottom Line Margin
12:58 - Tips From Taylor Holiday
23:06 - Keeping Sane During Growth Mode
37:26 - Variable Costs In Business
51:26 - Importance of a Community
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
//
Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO of IQBAR, an omnichannel food & bev brand on pace to do $125M at 17% EBITDA in 2025 after doing $59M in revenue at 13% EBITDA in 2024. Follow Will on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/ and on X at https://x.com/willnitze.
//
Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO of IQBAR. Follow Will on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/ and on X at https://x.com/willnitze.
//
Will Nitze, founder of IQBAR, shares how he scaled his food and beverage brand into the 9 figures and successfully turning the corner to profitability. This episode unpacks why he raised capital (and doesn’t regret it), how he thinks about supply chain leverage, what founders get wrong about bootstrapping, and the real path to operational excellence.
You’ll learn how volume-driven growth models differ from high-margin products, how to avoid channel conflict in OmniChannel, and why your COGS might be the biggest opportunity in your business.
If you're operating a 7–9 figure eCom brand and care about scale, margin, or long-term exit value—this is a masterclass.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:21: Is there really a big against fundraising?
8:23: How to make money as a food/beverage business?
13:57: Choosing the right investors for your DTC Business
27:08: Finding Product Market Fit
36:14: Operational Muscles For Omni Channel DTC
45:24: Supply Chain 101
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
//
Reach out to James Lee on X at https://x.com/jameshyujinlee to get started with overseas product photography.
Get my complete guide to Target ROAS bidding here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_7SbiBun10
//
What separates the most profitable eCommerce operators from the rest?
In this episode, Andrew breaks down 5 underutilized tactics that high-performing 7–9 figure brands are using to grow faster, retain customers longer, and increase margins—without adding risk.From low-MOQ product launches to price testing that lifts per-visitor profit, to smarter Meta bidding strategies and supply chain overhauls, this episode is packed with actionable insights. If your brand is stuck at a growth plateau, or bleeding margin from inefficiencies, this is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.
You’ll walk away with a clear, tested list of what’s working right now—and where you might be leaving serious money on the table.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:22 - Not Launching Enough Products
8:21 - Lower Cost of Product Launch
15:33 - Price Testing
18:08 - Target ROAS Campaigns
21:43 - Supply Chain Management
28:05 - Brand Marketing
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at https://www.richpanel.com/.
//
Cherene Aubert is the SVP of Ecommerce and Digital at Ilia Beauty, a 9-figure omnichannel beauty brand. Follow Cherene on X at https://x.com/ChereneAubert and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chereneetemadi/.
//
Cherene Aubert has helped scale some of the most impressive eCommerce brands—from Bobby’s 9-figure DTC ascent to leading omni-channel growth at Ilia Beauty. In this episode, we dive deep into what separates the next level operators from the rest: brand vs performance, measurement nuance, retail sell-through, and how AI might change everything (again). If you’re an 8 or 9-figure operator trying to think 3 steps ahead, this conversation is a masterclass.
Topics Covered:
-Brand vs. performance marketing at scale
-Attribution without over-measuring
-Scaling retail without cannibalizing DTC
-How top operators are integrating AI today
-Surviving the end of the old Facebook playbook
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
3:16: Day to Day of an SVP
7:02 - Why The Attribution of Bank Account Never Lies
14:57: Allocation Your Marketing Budget
23:50 - Turning Influencer Strategy Into A Direct Sale
40:40 - Measuring Your Ad Dollars
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X WEEKLY EPISODES!
//
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at https://www.richpanel.com/.//Fan Bi is the Co-Founder of The Hedgehog Company, a buyer and advisor of ecommerce brands with 4 brands in your portfolio. Follow Fan on X at https://x.com/lifeofbi and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fanbi/.//
//Are half of Shopify brands building businesses… or illusions?In this brutally honest episode, Fan Bi (The Hedgehog Company) breaks down why 50% of eCommerce brands may be worth nothing—despite flashy revenue. After reviewing 300+ P&Ls, Fan shares hard-earned insights about margin traps, mispriced equity, and the brutal realities behind “successful” DTC brands.You’ll learn:Why revenue doesn't equal valueThe red flags investors see in most Shopify P&LsWhat healthy eComm businesses actually look like todayWhen growth becomes a liability, not an assetAnd how to evaluate your business before it’s too lateThis is a must-watch for 7–8 figure founders and operators who care more about profit and enterprise value than vanity metrics.
//1:15 - Why Fan Bi Has Looked At 300+ Businesses6:00 - Importance of being Financially Disciplined14:21 - Learning From Failure24:56 - Risk vs Reward To Increase Your Margins33:00 - Why After 15 Years Fan Is Still In E-Commerce?42:12 - Business Problems vs Desired Problems// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at www.richpanel.com.
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
Is now a terrible time—or the best time—to be in eCommerce? In this episode, we break down the real impact of rising tariffs, AI disruption, and changing consumer confidence. You'll learn how top DTC brands are cutting costs, rebuilding supply chains, and unlocking hidden margin with tools like AI, offshoring, and incrementality-based ad strategies.Whether you're navigating supply chain challenges or looking to future-proof your P&L, this is a practical playbook for serious operators.
Featuring real insights for:
7- and 8-figure DTC brands
eCommerce founders
Agency and brand-side operators
//CHAPTER TITLES:
0.48 - Consumer Confidence In Purchase Decisions
3:00 - Retail Is Still Growing
8:58 - 3 Things Pushing E Commerce Forward
23:00 - Strategy To Maneuver Through Tariffs For Your Business
28:13 - What To Cut From Your Business To Survive Tariff Increases
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
Brett Curry is the Co-founder & CEO of OMG Commerce, a performance marketing agency specializing in Google & YouTube ads for DTC and omnichannel brands. Learn more about OMG Commerce at https://omgcommerce.com and follow Brett on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrettcurry/.
Get Brett's Smart Marketer course at https://smartmarketer.com/youtube-ads-blueprint.
The YouTube Guide
//
If you're a 7 or 8-figure DTC brand owner looking to scale beyond Meta ads, this is the YouTube ads deep dive you’ve been waiting for. Andrew Faris sits down with Brett Curry (CEO of OMG Commerce) to break down exactly how successful ecommerce brands are scaling profitably on YouTube in 2024.
Brett has managed YouTube ad spend for top DTC brands across Meta, Google, Amazon, and retail channels. In this episode, they cover:
-
How to transition Meta creative and targeting to YouTube
-
When to use Target CPA vs Max Conversions
-
YouTube Shorts vs In-Stream vs In-Feed ads
-
Real-world launch strategies that scaled brands from $0 to $1M/month
-
Why YouTube often underreports ROI
-
and how to measure the full impact
-
Proven creative frameworks that drive ROAS
-
How to structure campaigns, audiences, and budgets for sustainable growth
Whether you're hitting a ceiling on Meta or ready to diversify channels, this episode will help you build a scalable, profitable YouTube ad engine for your brand.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:30 - Youtubes Golden Moment In DTC
6:50 - Conversion Focused Campaigns
14:32 - Automatic Bid Strategy On Youtube
19:50 - Time To Scale Your Ads On Google
31:38 - Youtube Measurement
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
//
Nate Lagos is the VP of Marketing at Original Grain, a mid-8-figure brand that grew 100% last year, is on pace for 100% growth this year, and has been profitable at every step of the way. Follow him on X at https://x.com/natelagos and listen to his podcast, Tactical & Practical, at https://open.spotify.com/show/5nULM2GckoiJp7rri3kYt1?si=44dbbadd43df44bd.
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
What does it really take to double an 8-figure e-commerce brand — profitably? In this conversation, Nate Lagos, VP of Marketing at Original Grain, shares exactly how their team scaled 100% year-over-year without sacrificing margin — through smart product strategy, aggressive price testing, and relentless marketing fundamentals.We dive into the tactical details behind product development, launch cadence, scaling customer lifetime value, and why price testing is one of the most overlooked profit levers in e-commerce today. Nate also shares how Original Grain is moving upmarket, growing AOV, and creating more profitable customer cohorts without over-relying on paid ads.If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or e-commerce leader serious about scaling profitably in 2025 and beyond, this episode is a must-watch.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:50 - Conspiracy Theories With Nate
5:43 - Core Drive To Financial Growth'
11:22 - Product Collaborations
16:53 - Product Diversification
20:20 -Who Controls The Product Release Schedule
38:00 - The Importance of Price Testing In Your Business
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
//
Alex Cooper is the Co-Founder and CEO of AdCrate, a performance creative agency for 8 and 9 figure DTC brands. Follow Alex's (incredible!) X account at https://x.com/alexgoughcooper or go directly to https://adcrate.co to work with him.
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
//
In this episode, we dive deep into the future of ad creative with Alex Cooper, one of the most forward-thinking minds in ai - driven marketing. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or eCommerce professional relying on meta ads to scale, this conversation is a must-watch. We explore how artificial intelligence is transforming creative strategy—where it excels, where it falls short, and how to combine high-volume testing with real, authentic content. Whether you're overwhelmed by new tools or searching for a smarter way to scale, this episode delivers clarity and actionable insight for navigating the next wave of ecommerce growth.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
1:47 - Blending AI w/ Ugly Ad Campaigns
7:12 - How AI Can Test Mass Amounts of Your Ads
16:31 - What Important Factors Go Into Understanding Your Customer
22:35 - Digital Marketing AI Tools
34:00 - Using AI For Strategy Research
45:09 - Using AI For Creatives
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
Dr. Andrei Lunev and Ruslan Galba are the co-founders of Tegra.Co, a digital ads agency scaling DTC brands profitably with Meta Ads, Google Ads, and Email Marketing. Explore working with them at Tegra.Co, follow Andrei at X https://x.com/andreilunev.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
//
In this episode, we explore how AI, machine learning, and manual bidding strategies are reshaping performance marketing on platforms like Meta and Google. Featuring Dr. Andre Lunev (a PhD in physics turned media buyer) and his partner Russ Galba, this conversation dives deep into how advanced data models, cost controls, and custom AI tooling are being used by elite marketers to unlock profitability at scale. If you're running high-spend ad accounts and want to understand what’s next in paid media strategy, this episode delivers real-world frameworks and technical insight you won’t hear anywhere else.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
3:00 - Why Bid Caps Is The Go To For Media Buying
10:08 - Effectiveness of Manual Bids In Meta
20:32 - Challenges of Reliable Bidding In Google
26:10 - Helpful Tools For Digital Ads
33:00 - Analyzing Google Data Trends
42:00 - Do Ugly Ads Really Work?
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
//
Lara Guevara is the CEO of Move Supply Chain, a Philippines-based supply chain agency, and More Staffing, a hiring firm to help you find, recruit, onboard, and train incredible Filipino talent for your business. Visit Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com and More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
2:18 - Helpful Ideas To Work Through Tariffs For Ecommerce
7:59: Exploring Other Countries Besides China For Sourcing
12:00: Trade Offs Using Vietnam
23:09 - Stockpiling Inventory To Save Costs
36:02 - Could Tariffs Be Good For Ecommerce Brands?
59:02 - How Businesses Can Adapt To Higher Tariffs
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
//
Isaac Mertens is the Co-Founder & CEO of Flux Footwear, a mid-8-figure footwear brand running at a 15-20% profit margin. Reach out to Isaac via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-mertens-5b107964/.
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:58 Sec - Origin of Flux Footware
5:48 - What Products Launched Flux Footware
10:00 - Google Trends
14:50 - Self Financing & Profit Growth
23:28 - Building Customer Loyalty
36:34 - Levers of Impacts In Your Business
44:40 - Ad Creation & Content
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//Referenced Links for other videos:https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CQFzGTJpQMhduEnge301d?si=p1_rGgVXSfCc1W1KBh8VWg
https://open.spotify.com/episode/40jKOgLXxRmxCYeWtHpbYZ?si=OSh1rjKgR_eAxxU1GBFi3w//CHAPTER MARKERS:1:37: Who Is Ben Perkins and &Collar
4:15: How Slow Growth Became Profitable
10:00: Climbing Out Of Debt
29:07: Digital Ad Spend
35:10: Supply Chain & Manufacturing
46:37: The Future of &Collar//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//
Referenced Video Links for other videos:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BOKQLVvmP0hnoPq1M0m0P?si=Zekr_FFdTqGPG830CHZg4Q
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0siAjFV5WfEui8eXxOdikJ?si=y5vvyL_1QPSjeSUQB-9Wew
//
CHAPTER MARKERS:
00.38: Work Around For Meta Ad Limits
6:09: Diversify Ad Formats
13:44: Ad Creatives & Quality For Meta
21:45: Testing Ads & Investing In High Performing Creatives
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.
//
//MacCoy Merkley is the CMO at Portland Leather Goods, a 9-figure ecommerce business founded in 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maccoy-merkley-95146815b/ and X at https://x.com/maccoymerkley.//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.// Kelcey Lehrich is the co-founder and CEO of 365 Holdings, an ecommerce holding company with 6 brands currently in their portfolio. Follow Kelcey on X at https://x.com/kelceylehrich or contact him at kelcey@365-holdings.com if you're interested in selling him a brand. //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af// Chris Kresser is a world-renowned functional health expert, NYT best-selling author, and the founder of Adapt Naturals, an 8-figure supplement brand and client of mine. Learn more about Adapt Naturals at https://www.adaptnaturals.com.//SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Check out the episode with Olivia here
//
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afBILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.// SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io. //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afAdMissionGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip// Olivia Kory is the Head Of Strategy at Haus Analytics. You can work with Haus by visiting www.haus.io. Follow Olivia on X at https://x.com/oliviaakory and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-kory-50230812/.//SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//
Sean Christman is the VP of Operations at Cuts Clothing, a DTC apparel business doing over $50M in annual revenue. Follow Sean on X at https://x.com/seanchrstman. Book consulting time with him on MentorPass at https://mentorpass.co/me/seanchristman.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
AdMissionGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//
Jeremiah Prummer is the CEO of KnoCommerce (https://knocommerce.com/) and Stamped.io (https://stamped.io/).
Follow Jeremiah on X at @JeremiahPrummer (https://x.com/jeremiahprummer) and on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/JeremiahPrummer.
Subscribe to the DTC Confidence Index at https://www.dtcindex.com/.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visitinghttps://intelligems.io.//Jess Bachman is the Creative Strategy Director at FireTeam, a performance creative agency for DTC Brands. Work with FireTeam by visitinghttps://fireteam.is.Follow Jess on X athttps://x.com/hirefireteam.See Jess's last appearance on my show here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwDIG9s5b_c//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew:https://ajfgrowth.com
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visitinghttps://bily.ai.
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here:https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew:https://ajfgrowth.com
Lara Guevara is the CEO of More Staffing. Gregg Carey is the Co-Founder of More Staffing and the CEO of Section 119. If you want to work with More Staffing, go to morestaffing.co/af to get a conversation started.
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Get 20% off your first 3 months of the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands with the code FARIS20 here at https://intelligems.io/andrew-faris-podcast
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
//
Barry Hott is the creator of Building Ads With Barry, a live cohort-based performance creative course launching February 3rd, 2025. Sign up for Building Ads With Barry at www.buildingadswithbarry.com
//
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af INTELLIGEMS
Get 20% off your first 3 months of the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands with the code FARIS20 here at https://intelligems.io/andrew-faris-podcast//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Get 20% off your first 3 months of the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands with the code FARIS20 here at https://intelligems.io/andrew-faris-podcast
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afBILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. INTELLIGEMS
Get 20% off your first 3 months of the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands with the code FARIS20 here at https://intelligems.io/andrew-faris-podcast.//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afBEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio///
Episodes referenced:
1 Idea Into 300 Ads
Creative Strategy That Powers Meta Ads at Scale
//
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: @andrewfarispodcast FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.MOVE SUPPLY CHAINPay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
//
To get the Unit Economics Calculator with the Delayed Purchase Multiplier calculator that I showed in this episode, sign up for my email list at https://ajfgrowth.com.
The dynamic UTM string to add to your ads is: utm_source=meta&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_term={{adset.name}}&utm_content={{ad.name}}&fbadid={{ad.id}}
//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afMORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. //Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST FOR WEEKLY CONTENT! FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Lara Guevara is the CEO of More Staffing and its sister company, Move Supply Chain.Reach out to More Staffing https://morestaffing.co/af/ and Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com/
Follow Lara on X at https://x.com/supplychainlara //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
//
FOLLOW UP WITH MEHTAB
• Follow Mehtab On X: https://x.com/MehtabKarta
• Contact Karta Ventures: https://www.kartaventures.com/
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com//
//
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afMORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. //Paul Jauregui is the cofounder of BK BeautyFollow Paul on X at @pauljauregui.Follow Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/myover/// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //Taylor Holiday is the founder and CEO of Common Thread Collective.Follow Taylor On X: @taylorholidayWork With Common Thread Collective: www.commonthreadco.com// SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST!
//
ABOUT MY GUESTJordan West is the CEO and Founder of Upgrowth Commerce, a social commerce agency based in Vancouver, CA.
Work With Jordan at upgrowthcommerce.com
Follow Jordan On X: @jordantwestecom
Secrets To Scaling Your Ecommerce Brand: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T5nt6pLvgmP5Rr2tzAwLv?si=ed236d4e8f0e47df
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af. //
FOLLOW UP WITH ALEX:
- x.com/heyitsalexp FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
BILY
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai
ABOUT MY GUEST
Taylor Lagace is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Kynship, a full service growth marketing agency.
Follow Taylor On X: @taylorlagaceWork With Kynship: www.kynship.co
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew On X: @andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com//Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
IMPORTANT NOTE: I put together a Notion Card with an updated version of the document I shared in this video, including links to examples of different creative formats. You can access it free here: https://bit.ly/3ADsNWA
As promised, get 50% off the first month of CreativeOS + a free 3-day trial: https://www.creativeos.com/creative-os-farisFERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/afBEHIND THE SCENES STUDIOWork with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.behindthescenes.studio/.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: @andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.// Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: @andrewfarispodcast FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com#metaads #facebookads #ecommerce #advertising
BILYGet enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: @andrewfarispodcast //Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip //FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com#metaads #facebookads #ecommerce #advertising
SPONSORS
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
SPONSORS
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Rabah Rahil is the CMO at FERMAT. Follow him on X at @rabahrahil.
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com.
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.Get the best media buying coaching on the Internet + when a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting morestaffing.co/af.
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting fermatcommerce.com/af.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with an experienced manual bid media buyer when you sign up for ADmission at www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew at podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew at ajfgrowth.com
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at movesupplychain.com.
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting fermatcommerce.com/af.
Get the best media buying training on the Internet with ADmission from Common Thread Collective by visiting www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast.
PREVIOUS EPISODES WITH JACK:
- "Jack Rubin's $50M Playbook? Extreme Focus." (Spotify, Apple)
- "Jack Rubin's Subscription Behemoth Will Cross $70M While Growing 300%" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH JACK
- Follow Jack on X: @JackRubin1
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com
SPONSORS
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.Get the best media buying coaching on the Internet + when a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
LIANNA'S PREVIOUS AFP EPISODE
- "Your Brand Is Too Boring. Lianna Can Help You Fix It." (Spotify; Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH LIANNA
- Follow Lianna on X: @punchlinecopy
- Work with Lianna: punchlinecopy.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: ajfgrowth.com
Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.Get the best media buying coaching on the Internet + when a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREWTwitter: https://twitter.com/andrewjfarisEmail: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting morestaffing.co/af.Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting fermatcommerce.com/af.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET - Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission at www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
- Ash Melwani is the Co-Founder & CMO at Obvi and Chew On This DTC
- Follow Ash on X: @ashvinmelwani
- Listen to Ash's podcast and read his newsletter at chewonthis.io
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew at podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew at ajfgrowth.com
Jacob Posel is a Senior Software Engineer at Common Thread Collective. Follow him on X at @dtcjacob.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
In the 30 days leading up to me recording this episode, my team made 2,358 still image ads and 1,063 video ads for my 5 clients.
That's a level of output we've been building towards for a long time, and in this episode I'm breaking down why and how we build so much creative, what I'm learning about the process, and how I intend to keep making it better (in both quality and quantity).
EPISODE SPONSORS
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
- Work with the same Philippines-based creative team that I do with Behind The Scenes Studio, a sister company of More Staffing: https://behindthescenes.studio/.
FERMAT
- Build funnels the same way you build ads FERMAT: https://fermatcommerce.com/af.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
Think big tech companies are squeezing money from you while over-reporting results?
You might be right sometimes. But you're probably wrong with Meta. If you're measuring your performance on a click-only basis, your spend is almost definitely creating more value than you think.
In this episode I explain exactly why and how that's true.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
ADMISSION
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED
- "Taylor Holiday Interrogates My Bad Business Decisions" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
I talk about media buying methodology and the importance of Cost Controls a lot. Some might even say "too much."
But then, over and over and over again, I get access to ad accounts that are blowing huge amounts of money on ads—gigantic, ridiculous, easily-solvable amounts of money.
So I'm not going to shut up about it. Your media buying is a problem, and you need to know it.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
So Shopify Capital (or someone else) offered you $250,000 in exchange for 17% of daily revenue for 90 days. The best part? You can get the money with just a few clicks.
Should you take it?
In one of my most popular episodes ever, Natural Dog Co CEO and former investment banker Bill D'Alessandro said, "Absolutely not. You're paying an absurd APR and these lenders know you don't understand the math."
But Drew Fallon, co-founder and CEO of Iris Financial, says that these are borderline-miraculous products that ecom founders shouldn't take indiscriminately, but should use when they need to.
So I had them on the podcast to fight it out.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FERMAT
- Build funnels the same way you build ads FERMAT: https://fermatcommerce.com/af.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Bill D'Alessandro Hates Your Bad Ecom Debt" (Apple, Spotify)
- "The Financial Roadmap for DTC Success (With Drew Fallon)" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH BILL
- Get financial coaching from Bill: www.billda.com
- Follow Bill on X: https://x.com/billda
- Listen to the Acquisitions Anonymous Podcast: https://www.acquanon.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH DREW
- Follow Drew on X: https://x.com/drewfallon12
- Learn more about Iris Finance: irisfinance.co
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
If you want a growing, profitable brand, you have to get noticed. That starts at the brand level and works all the way through your ads.
Lianna Patch is my favorite copywriter around. She's the founder of Punchline Conversion Copywriting, and she's relentlessly good at one thing: she's interesting. Her copy is eye-catching, clear, and above all, funny.
In this episode, I pick Lianna's brain to learn more about how she does it—and how you should do the same.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Can You Tell Which Short Story ChatGPT Wrote?" NYT Article
FOLLOW UP WITH LIANNA
- Follow Lianna on X: @punchlinecopy
- Join Lianna's Conversion Comedy Cohort: punchlinecopy.com/cc
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
AI is revolutionizing the way we make ads. Right?
Yes. Definitely. But I'm sure I'm like many people in that, at least so far, the promise of AI for ad creative is both tantalizing and frustrating.
In this episode I'm registering my initial reflections on trying to use AI to streamline my process for making great ads, including what I think AI is good at, what it's bad at, and what I just can't stand about it.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Taylor Holiday Interrogates My Bad Business Decisions" (Apple, Spotify)
- "The Best Performing Meta Ads I Run" (Apple; Spotify)
- "Briefing A Longform Explainer Ad For Bambu Earth Live (With Dave Rekuc)" (Apple; Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
There are parts of your process for generating new ad creative that are time-consuming and, therefore, expensive.
Good. That's how it should be. But not for everything.
To build better performing creative in a more cost effective way, you need to understand the differences between which parts should be which.
On this episode of the podcast, I'm explaining exactly how to do that.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
• Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
FERMAT
• Build funnels the same way you build ads FERMAT: https://fermatcommerce.com/.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET
• Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
• "Taylor Holiday Interrogates My Bad Business Decisions" (Apple, Spotify)
• "To Make Higher Performing Ads, Know What Your Customers REALLY Want (With Sarah Levinger)" (Apple, Spotify)
• "Jess Bachman Lights Creative Strategy On Fire" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
• Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewjfaris
• Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
• Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual Assistants can be helpful, but Virtual Professionals can change your business. Hire incredible ecom talent from the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin" (All links)
- "Nasrin's Apparel Brand Is Growing Fast & Profitably" (Apple; Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ALEX
- Follow Sarah On X: @heyitsalexp
- Work With Sarah: https://dtcfashiondecoded.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH NASRIN
- Shop The Mixed By Nasrin Store: www.mixedbynasrin.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Sarah Levinger spends most of her time thinking about what people REALLY want.
Then she makes ads that talk about that.
Sarah is a Consumer Behavior Strategist, working with DTC brands to think more about what's really motivating their customers, then build their brand and advertising to communicate about those things effectively.
Learn that, she says, and your creative will reach whole new levels of performance.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual Assistants can be helpful, but Virtual Professionals can change your business. Hire incredible ecom talent from the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "How Original Grain Is Generating Huge Profits Apart From Meta Ads (With Nate Lagos)" (Apple; Spotify)
- "10 Reasons Original Grain Is Growing So Much This Year (With Nate Lagos)" (Apple; Spotify)
- "The 3 Stages Of Facebook Ads Growth" (Apple; Spotify)
ALSO REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- X Thread With Me, Sarah, & Nate Lagos
- Will Leach's "Marketing To Mindstates" Book
- Thomas McKinley's site & newsletter: ariyh.com
FOLLOW UP WITH SARAH
- Follow Sarah On X: @sarahlevinger
- Work With Sarah: www.sarahlevinger.co
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Here's one of the most common patterns I see for DTC brands:
They switch to Cost Controlled media buying. Everything goes great at first. Then things slow down and they scramble. Part of the scramble is a return to automated bidding, on the assumption that the Cost Controls are the problem. Performance only gets worse.
Today on the show, I'm talking you through why its so common to step in that trap, and how to avoid it.
EPISODE SPONSORS
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
- Build your ad creative team in the Philippines with the same team I use for my agency at Behind The Scenes Studio: https://bts.studio.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Colab with The Ecommerce Playbook!
Taylor and Andrew do our second Tim Ferris-inspired "Random Show." In this episode, we talk about:
- What the heck is Andrew's business and why is he thinking about it so badly?
- Why is Taylor tweeting and talking so much about incrementality?
- How much should you spend on ad creative relative to your Meta Ads budget?
- What's the best way to leave money to your kids when you die?
- What's the point of watching a movie like Deadpool vs. Wolverine?
And much more. Enjoy!
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual Assistants can be helpful, but Virtual Professionals can change your business. Hire incredible ecom talent from the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
SUBSCRIBE TO TAYLOR'S CONTENT ON THE CTC YOUTUBE CHANNEL
- https://www.youtube.com/@commonthreadco
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Driveline Baseball Revolutionized Pro Sports. Now They're Growing An Incredible Business." (Apple; Spotify)
- "Exactly How Supply Chain Executives From The Philippines Completely Changed This 8-Figure Brand" (Apple; Spotify)
ALSO REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- X Post About Kids & Self-Control: https://x.com/SteveStuWill/status/1818678008506728627
- Taylor's TikTok About How To Leave Your Kids Money: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidmeltzer/video/7376061516887493931?_t=8mtlKy3V8SE&_r=1
- Brady Fiegl Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRo52qCv/
FOLLOW UP WITH TAYLOR
- Follow Taylor On X: @taylorholiday
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
It's my second ever AMA! This time I'm talking about all things creative strategy for your Facebook Ads account.Want to make ads that sell products? Here's how.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual Assistants can be helpful, but Virtual Professionals can change your business. Hire incredible ecom talent from the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing at https://morestaffing.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "AMA #1: Bid Caps" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Briefing A Longform Explainer For Bambu Earth" (Spotify, Apple)
- "The Best Performing Meta Ads I Run" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Should This 8-Figure CEO Start A DTC HoldCo? (Riley Stricklin Interview)" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Jess Bachman Lights Creative Strategy On Fire" (Spotify, Apple)
ORIGINAL AMA QUESTION THREAD
- https://x.com/andrewjfaris/status/1813991043307827710
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Mehtab Bhogal is obsessed with growing profitable DTC brands.
His team at Karta Ventures own majority stakes in 2 ecommerce brands and minority positions in 8 more. They see a LOT of brands and have big incentives to grow them profitably.
In this episode, Mehtab explains how to negotiate your shipping rates, save big on Google Ad spend without sacrificing growth, how to capture more of the money your customers came to spend by thinking like a hotel, and much, much more.
If you don't pause this episode multiple times to implement what he says, you only have yourself to blame.
EPISODE SPONSORS
- MORE STAFFING: Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morestaffing.co/af.
- BILY: Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Mehtab's original X post: https://x.com/MehtabKarta/status/1811189543845916721
- Mehtab's DTC debt stack blog post: https://kartaventures.substack.com/p/ignite-dtc-growth-use-debt-to-grow
- Mehtab's DTC merchandising blog post: https://kartaventures.substack.com/p/instantly-improve-conversion-rates
FOLLOW UP WITH MEHTAB
- Contact Karta Ventures: https://www.kartaventures.com/
- Follow Mehtab On X: @MehtabKarta
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Nate Lagos is one of my favorite thinkers in DTC.
That's because he thinks as well or better than anyone I know about how to do "brand building" in a way that actually generates profit. Put another way, "brand building" doesn't have to = "money burning." At least not for Nate.
On this episode we talk about how Original Grain (where Nate is the CMO) is generating huge growth and profits via brand colabs, working with YouTube creators, and more.
EPISODE SPONSORS
- MORE STAFFING: Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co/af.
- BILY: Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Previous Nate Lagos AFP Episode: Spotify, Apple
- "Mort's Garage", my brother's vintage video game collection YT channel.
- Follow Sarah Levinger On X: @SarahLevinger
FOLLOW UP WITH NATE
- Subscribe to Nate's Podcast, Tactical & Practical: Spotify, Apple
- Follow Nate On X: @NateLagos
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Am I embracing creative testing campaigns? Am I going all ABO? Am I ditching manual bids?
No. No. And no.
But I've nonetheless made a significant change to my approach to media buying, and so far, it has worked well for every client with whom I work.
Today on the show I explain the best argument against my media buying approach (that no one ever makes) and the change I've made because of it.
This episode is extremely actionable and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped my clients.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual Assistants can be helpful, but Virtual Professionals can change your business. Hire incredible ecom talent from the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing at https://morenow.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING TRAINING ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free coaching call when you sign up for ADmission here: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "4 Media Buying Rules Most People Get Wrong On Meta" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Gregg Carey felt overwhelmed by the number of things he had to do in his 7-figure ecommerce business. Anyone who has been in that phase knows the feeling: there's too much to do, not enough time to do it, and not enough money to hire help.
Except that last part isn't true: Gregg hired Lara Guevara to take over his supply chain from her home in the Philippines, and the result was growth, profit, time, more Filipino employees, and eventually, a Filipino staffing agency that the two co-founded so other DTC businesses could experience the same.
In this sponsored episode, I talk to Gregg and Lara both about their experience working together on Gregg's business (https://section119.com/) and why these relationships work so incredibly well when they're done right.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Learn more at morenow.co/af.
PAST EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Let's Fix Your Supply Chain And Save You A Ton Of Money (With Lara Guevara)": Apple, Spotify
- "What It's REALLY Like To Be A Filipino Ecom Employee (With Lara Guevara)": Apple, Spotify
- "Gregg Carey's Business Was Transformed By Employees In The Philippines": Apple, Spotify
FOLLOW UP WITH LARA
- Follow Lara on X: @SupplyChainWomn
- Follow Gregg on X: @GreggCarey
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Riley Stricklin had a question for me.
He had left his role as CEO of Lume Cube, a mid-8-figure DTC brand that he co-founded and I'd worked on briefly a number of years ago, and was thinking about what he wanted to do next. One idea he had: start an ecom HoldCo and try to spin up multiple new brands.
When he reached out to ask for my input (as a former aggregator CEO myself), I told him, "Let's talk. And how about we record it?" And Riley agreed to it.
Come for the conversation about the good, bad and ugly of DTC aggregators, stay for Riley's insights about the CRO tests that led to 30-40% conversion rate lifts for Lume Cube.
EPISODE SPONSORS
- MORE STAFFING: Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co/af.
- BILY: Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH RILEY
- Connect With Riley On LinkedIn: @RileyStricklin
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
"Every brand is different. Make sure to test what works for yours."
That's some of the most common advice about how to run an ecommerce business and I think it's deeply misleading and unhelpful.
In this episode of the Andrew Faris Podcast, I make the case that instead of testing everything, you should learn from the collected wisdom of the people who already have.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Register for More Staffing's free webinar, "Empowering Business Owners with Coaching Skills: 5 Coaching Techniques and Free Tools to Unlock High-Calibre Talent" by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4217180218343/WN_cnD5wgzJSPmC_r98E7rN0w#/registration
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
WHAT IS OPENING THE BOOKS?
"Opening The Books" is my series of live-recorded coaching calls with brand operators who get my time for free in exchange for recording the call, including showing actual ad accounts and other financial data on the call.
For more info and resources from this episode, visit www.ajfgrowth.com/zollie
EPISODE SUMMARY
Sarah Resnick has been helping crafters and, more specifically, weavers create beautiful custom projects for years. And as she did, she realized something: people need help understanding how color works.
So she spent two years developing a product that can help makers of all kinds get better at making color decisions more effectively without going to the trouble of learning the intricacies of color theory. The product is brilliant: it's a simple deck of cards that takes the customer by the hand through the decision-making process on their projects.
Sarah realized that the product had big potential for one of her brands, Zollie, so she got together with Andrew for a specific request: how can she launch the product as effectively as possible without a monster budget?
So on this Opening The Books, Andrew coached her through the entire process on each of her channels. They talked about how to handle hype emails, building product-specific lists, and how to approach it in her Meta Ads account.
EPISODE SPONSORS
- MORE STAFFING: Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co/af.
- BILY: Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting bily.ai.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING/DTC LEARNING COMMUNITY ON THE INTERNET:
• Get a free call ($150/hr value) when you sign up for three months of ADmission From Common Thread Collective: www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
WATCH MY PREVIOUS OPENING THE BOOKS EPISODES
- Mixed By Nasrin: ajfgrowth.com/mixed
- Beardbrand: ajfgrowth.com/beardbrand
- PrettyBoy: ajfgrowth.com/prettyboy
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Where do you need to focus your attention to grow your Meta spend?
Is it in writing new angles? Increasing the volume of ads? Adding influencer content? Better media buying tactics? Or solving attribution?
Well: it depends. Growth with Meta Ads is different depending on which stage your account is. Today, I'm breaking down the 3 stages of account growth so you can think through where to dedicate your resources next.
EPISODE SPONSOR: MORE STAFFING
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting morenow.co/af.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
I'm amazed at how good some ecommerce businesses are.
Not necessarily the ones you read about or see on social media. They may or may not be good businesses.
I'm thinking instead of businesses that I have seen up close and personally. In these businesses, when operators get crystal clear that bottom line profit is the ultimate driver of the value of their business, they can build SERIOUSLY profitable, valuable businesses.
It sounds so simple: relentlessly pursue profit.
But it's much easier said than done. And today, I'm explaining what I mean by that phrase and how to actually do it.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Register for More Staffing's webinar, "Transform Your E-commerce Supply Chain into a Revenue Stream: 5 Savings Strategies that Deliver Results in 3 Months," taking place on May 30 here: https://bit.ly/3wFurF5.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "The Financial Roadmap For DTC Success (With Drew Fallon)" (Spotify, Apple, YT)
- "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Email & SMS are cornerstones of DTC growth marketing, so I brought in one of my most trusted experts on the subject, Joel Biery.
Joel is the founder of KapturBox, an email & SMS agency with whom I've worked on shared clients. So I've seen the quality of his work and can vouch for him: he knows what he's talking about.
On today's episode, we talk about how to use owned channels to drive bigger moments on your marketing calendar and why you're probably not sending enough email but too much SMS.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Register for More Staffing's webinar, "Transform Your E-commerce Supply Chain into a Revenue Stream: 5 Savings Strategies that Deliver Results in 3 Months," taking place on May 30 here: https://bit.ly/3wFurF5.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH JOEL & KAPTURBOX
- Visit kapturbox.co.
- Email Joel at joel@kapturbox.co
- Reach out to Joel on X: @joelbiery
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Email & SMS are cornerstones of DTC growth marketing, so I brought in one of my most trusted experts on the subject, Joel Biery.
Joel is the founder of KapturBox, an email & SMS agency with whom I've worked on shared clients. So I've seen the quality of his work and can vouch for him: he knows what he's talking about.
On today's episode, we talk about how to use owned channels to drive bigger moments on your marketing calendar and why you're probably not sending enough email but too much SMS.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Register for More Staffing's webinar, "Transform Your E-commerce Supply Chain into a Revenue Stream: 5 Savings Strategies that Deliver Results in 3 Months," taking place on May 30 here: https://bit.ly/3wFurF5.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH JOEL & KAPTURBOX
- Visit kapturbox.co.
- Email Joel at joel@kapturbox.co
- Reach out to Joel on X: @joelbiery
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Drew Fallon knows what financial mistakes you're making in your DTC business. And he wants you to stop.
From being the CFO & COO of Mad Rabbit Tattoo to launching Iris (a brand new DTC financial data tool), Drew has thought about ecommerce finance from just about every angle.
On this episode of the Andrew Faris Podcast, Drew and I tell you to stop spending ad dollars, start forecasting more carefully, and ultimately, create a more valuable business.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Register for More Staffing's webinar, "Transform Your E-commerce Supply Chain into a Revenue Stream: 5 Savings Strategies that Deliver Results in 3 Months," taking place on May 30 here: https://bit.ly/3wFurF5.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
LEARN MORE ABOUT IRIS
- Visit irisfinance.co
- Read the Wayflyer x Iris "Profits in focus" report.
FOLLOW UP WITH DREW
- Follow Drew on Twitter: @drewfallon12
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Everything is going great for a business: your ads are working, scale is happening, and you're seeing huge revenue growth for both new and returning customers.
But you can't figure out why: were the new ads you made THAT much better than the old ones?
Or sometimes it's the opposite: nothing is working, including the ads that were doing great only a few weeks ago. So what's the difference?
More often than you realize, it's seasonality. Today, I explain the point and tell you what to do about it.
EPISODE SPONSORS
MORE STAFFING
- Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
BILY
- Get enhanced Meta Ads event tracking on your store with 100% server side tracking at the lowest rate in all of ecom with Bily by visiting https://bily.ai.
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Almost exactly a year ago, Nasrin Jafari recorded my first ever Opening The Books podcast episode. A few months after that, she hired me and my team as her agency.
So how has it gone since that first conversation?
On this episode of The Andrew Faris Podcast, Nasrin is back to talk about the highs, lows, and what she (and I) have learned on the way to doubling her fashion brand's business.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
SPECIAL OFFER ON THE BEST DTC EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THE INTERNET:
- Get a free call when you sign up for three months of ADmission from Common Thread Collective: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin" (All links here).
- "Opening The Books: Beardbrand" (All links here).
- "Bill D'Alessandro Is Obsessed With Contribution Margin" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Briefing A Longform Explainer Ad For Bambu Earth Live (With Dave Rekuc)" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
What's your brand's pathway to profitable growth?
Well, that depends: what type of brand do you have?
If you understand the answer to that question, you can focus on the highest leverage areas of your business for creating profitable growth.
Today on the show, I'm breaking down 5 categories of DTC brands and telling you how to approach growth in each.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Register for More Staffing's webinar titled "Managing an International Remote Team in the E-commerce World: The Massive Advantages And The Serious Pitfalls" on Thursday, April 25th at 10 am PST here: https://bit.ly/3QcFjRj
THE BEST DTC TRAINING RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Jack Rubin's $50M Playbook? Extreme Focus." (Apple, Spotify)
- "Jack Rubin's Subscription Behemoth Will Cross $70M While Growing 300%" (Apple, Spotify)
- "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Apple, Spotify)
- "Taylor Holiday Says You MUST Grow Your Business" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
If you want your DTC brand to grow profitably, it can't JUST be about steadily improving your ads, emails, etc.
That's great, but there is a more effective way to spike your revenue quickly, profitably, and in a way that's replicable throughout your brand's journey, and it's by leveraging the marketing calendar effectively.
Today on The Andrew Faris Podcast, I'm telling you exactly how to do just that.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Register for More Staffing's webinar titled "Managing an International Remote Team in the E-commerce World: The Massive Advantages And The Serious Pitfalls" on Thursday, April 25th at 10 am PST here: https://bit.ly/3QcFjRj
THE BEST DTC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Taylor Holiday's "4 Peaks Theory"
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
It's a pod colab! Today on the show, The Ecommerce Playbook and The Andrew Faris Podcast join forces for a longer, wider-ranging, in-person conversation with Common Thread Collective's CEO and DTC super-genius Taylor Holiday.
Among the topics covered:
- Do you really HAVE to grow your business?
- The case for negative CAC (i.e. YOU GET PAID to acquire customers)
- My ongoing defense of the longform explainer
And much more. Enjoy!
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
SPECIAL OFFER ON THE BEST DTC EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THE INTERNET:
SUBSCRIBE TO TAYLOR'S VIDEO & PODCAST CONTENT:
- CTC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@commonthreadco
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- With $10M In Revenue And $0 In Ad Spend, Isaac Medeiros Is In A Class Of His Own" (Spotify; Apple)
- Growing Profitability ft. Alan Doan of Missouri Quilt Co" Ecommerce Playbook Episode (YouTube)
- NVIDIA CEO Jensen Yang's "I Wish You Suffering" Video
- Kevin Espiritu On Negative Cac
FOLLOW UP WITH TAYLOR
- Follow Taylor On X: https://twitter.com/taylorholiday
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
IMPORTANT NOTE
Get every resource mentioned in this episode emailed to you for free by visiting www.ajfgrowth.com/prettyboy
EPISODE SUMMARY
Ben and Kevin are best friends, partners, and the founders of PrettyBoy—a men's personal care brand whose first product is a moisturizer that helped Kevin clear up serious skin issues on his face that started when he was in college, playing football at Ohio State.
They launched with big dreams, but also with ads that were losing them money and an untenable supply chain due to the huge lead time they needed on every order. Classic startup problems.
But in 2023, things started to turn around in the ad account, and they made the leap to profitability.
In this Opening The Books episode, Andrew walks with the guys through the 2023 journey to profitability (with plentiful ad account screensharing so you can see how they did it), then talks them through the next steps as they cross seven figures in 2024 and PrettyBoy goes from side gig to the recipient of their full focus.
Watch this episode if you want to see the effects of great creative, switching to manual bidding, understanding your LTV, and solving your supply chain.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:04:56] Skincare for active males.
- [00:06:19] Men's skincare brand growth.
- [00:12:38] Viral single product launch.
- [00:15:19] Hero Product Strategy.
- [00:19:41] Business Growth Journey.
- [00:22:46] UGC Video Success.
- [00:26:27] Agency financial dynamics.
- [00:28:41] Marketing and finance intersection.
- [00:31:54] Creative messaging flexibility.
- [00:34:53] Cost Controls in Advertising
- [00:35:25] Advertising Platform Efficacy
- [00:40:20] UGC Ad Success Story.
- [00:42:16] Content testing strategy.
- [00:45:31] Scaling Up Spend Strategy
- [00:49:24] Cash flow and profitability.
- [00:55:16] Testing cost caps.
- [00:57:38] Probabilistic Forecasting Discussion.
- [01:01:48] The delayed purchase multiplier & attribution
- [01:15:06] Bid optimization strategy.
- [01:19:42] LTV and customer growth.
- [01:30:15] Product improvement feedback.
- [01:33:10] The importance of better payment terms
- [01:36:47] Manufacturing Lead Time Reduction
- [01:38:02] Organic revenue growth.
- [01:41:14] Product strategy
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co/af.
THE BEST MEDIA BUYING/DTC LEARNING COMMUNITY ON THE INTERNET:
• Get a free call ($150/hr value) when you sign up for three months of ADmission From Common Thread Collective: www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
WATCH MY PREVIOUS OPENING THE BOOKS EPISODES
- "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin": www.ajfgrowth.com/mixed
- "Opening The Books: Beardbrand": www.ajfgrowth.com/beardbrand
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's not just about sales velocity.
What happens if you've got a product that isn't selling much, but you think has potential? Should you put time and money into running ads against it?
Or what about the opposite? What about if you have a high sales velocity product, but it's lower margin and lower LTV? Then what?
In this episode I'm walking you through a 5-part framework on how to think about the next base products for you to put resources into advertising.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:45] Creative effort prioritization.
- [00:04:24] 1. Gross margin
- [00:07:22] 2. Lifetime value
- [00:12:10] 3. Total addressable market
- [00:20:15] 4. Inventory position
- [00:25:09] 5. Operational lift
- [00:28:23] Upcoming content
THE BEST DTC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE ON THE INTERNET:
- Learn More About ADmission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Countless ecommerce operators complain about getting taken for a ride by agencies, freelancers, and software companies.
In this episode I explain the most important thing you need to know to avoid the frustration and costs of having that happen to you—and to scale your business profitably in the long term.
The key? Point of view.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:45] Developing Clear POV
- [00:03:23] Business Principle Universality
- [00:09:10] Team building insights
- [00:11:17] Auto vs. Manual Bidding
- [00:13:23] E-commerce creative importance
- [00:15:41] Ad Strategy Methodology
- [00:18:59] E-commerce growth insights
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Learn More About AdMission: https://bit.ly/3x99lip
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I've already had Jack Rubin on once before, and that's for a simple reason: he's one of the most impressive DTC operators I've been around, building one of the best DTC businesses I've seen from the inside. So there's lots to share.
In this episode, learn how Jack's relentless focus on his core funnel led him to increase his Meta spend by 500% in the last year while lowering his CAC and growing to a very profitable $50M+ in revenue.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:14] DTC business growth
- [05:33] Business simplicity and focus
- [10:16] Improving subscription funnels
- [11:43] Scaling ad spend growth
- [15:53] Building massive creative operations
- [20:22] Lean OpEx as percentage of revenue with More Staffing
- [23:19] Seasonal Starter Kit offer
- [27:11] Customer LTV hypotheses
- [36:32] Brand vs. performance marketing
- [37:55] Meta targeting efficiency
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Jack's Earlier AJFG Episode (Spotify, Apple)
- Kynship DTC Advertising Agency: www.kynship.co
- Jack's Starter Kit Landing Page: https://try.purdyandfigg.com/starterkit-offer
- Taylor Holiday's 4 Peaks Theory
FOLLOW UP WITH JACK
- Follow Jack On Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackrubin1
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
"Make Ugly Ads."
It's on his hat. It's on his mic. It's on his wall.
Barry Hott isn't afraid to tell you as many times as you need to be told, and it's for a simple reason: he's right. Ugly ads work.
Barry has a lot of years in the ecommerce/DTC/paid social/growth marketing space, and I brought him on this episode ostensibly to discuss the how and why of ugly ads. But for two guys who just love talking shop it was impossible to keep ourselves from delving into all kinds of growth strategy and media buying specifics.
Strap in: Barry brought the energy and this is a fun one. Enjoy it, then go make some ugly ads.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:14] Ugly ads strategy.
- [00:05:14] Ugly ads effectiveness.
- [00:07:52-00:08:02] Ugly ads effectiveness.
- [00:12:54-00:13:04] Socially native stills.
- [00:16:49-00:16:59] Fake UGC authenticity.
- [00:20:15-00:20:26] Ad Language Nuance.
- [00:25:51-00:26:02] Apparel ad strategies.
- [00:28:47] Personalized ad language.
- [00:33:27] Insecurity through advertising.
- [00:36:40] Cost to impact ratio.
- [00:39:45] Process vs Instincts
- [00:45:47-00:45:57] Ugly ad considerations.
- [00:47:42] Authenticity in advertising.
- [00:50:21] Creative platform expectations.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful, but virtual professionals can change your business. Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines by visiting https://morenow.co/af.
FOLLOW UP WITH BARRY
- Get Barry's CreativeOS Ugly Ads Templates: https://www.creativeos.io/experts/barry
- Follow Barry on X: https://twitter.com/binghott
- Subscribe To Barry's Newsletter: https://www.haveaclues.com/
- Visit Barry's Site: https://www.hottgrowth.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
"Test creative until you have statistically significant results, then scale the winners based on that."
That seems like good advice on first glance. How can you disagree with methodical testing that's attentive to good statistical principles?
Because it's almost impossible to actually do without burning huge amounts of money on Meta, for one, and for two, it's unnecessary anyway, since Meta's machine learning can use better methods of forecasting your creative's performance than frequentist-style stat sig tests.
Yes, this one is getting into the weeds. Hopefully it helps clarify more of why you absolutely positively should not run auto-bid creative testing campaigns on Meta.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:55] Creative testing strategies for meta ads.
- [00:05:10] Frustrations with new creative.
- [00:07:16] Creative testing campaigns on Meta.
- [00:11:15] Auto bidding creative tests.
- [00:14:25] Statistical significance in ad testing.
- [00:17:48] Ad Performance Analysis.
- [00:19:56] The pitfalls of ad testing.
- [00:24:41] Creative performance and optimization.
- [00:27:17] Meta's machine learning forecasting.
- [00:30:51] Creative testing in advertising.
- [00:33:19] Prediction at scale
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "My Exact Creative Testing Method For Meta Ads" (Spotify, Apple)
- My Twitter Conversation With Zach Stuck On This Topic: https://bit.ly/42JsbZ0
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
You probably know Beardbrand and its founder, Eric Bandholz.
Beardbrand rose to prominence in the ecommerce landscape as they built a YouTube channel with over a million subscribers, thereby powering their customer acquisition with basically zero investment in paid marketing channels.
But as the impact of their organic efforts began to fade in 2022 and into 2023, Bandholz and his team decided that they needed to crack the code on Meta Ads. The problem? This channel had never been successful for them before.
So when Bandholz reached out to me to see if I could be any help as they handed the keys to a talented but green (as far as paid social is concerned) team member, Mike Lawson, I suggested he come on the podcast and build a plan from the ground-up, complete with screenshares of their actual Meta Ads account.
In this episode, you'll learn exactly how I'd build an ad account almost from the ground-up centering on a consolidated, broad-targeted, Bid Cap strategy, and you'll even get a follow-up a month after our initial recording to see how their efforts were going.
We referenced a lot of resources in this episode. Want access to all of them for free? Sign up for my email list below and I'll send them your way.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
WATCH MY PREVIOUS OPENING THE BOOKS EPISODE
• "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin": www.ajfgrowth.com/mixed
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
We're taking a break from the tactical, but this episode is no less practical.
Taking a full day completely off of work every week has been one of the most important practices for keeping my relationship to work in its right place in my life while also providing the rest required to perform at work at as high of a level as possible.
In this episode, I explain how the ancient practice of Sabbath has unique power for people like me who love our jobs, and I give practical recommendations on what has made it work for me.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:19] Setting aside one day.
- [00:04:29] Work-life balance struggle.
- [00:06:25] Sabbath as a repeatable process.
- [00:09:13] Setting work boundaries.
- [00:11:51] Rest and work productivity.
- [00:14:49] Work-life balance.
- [00:18:00] The value of work.
- [00:22:02] The perils of chasing success.
- [00:24:28] Deeper purpose beyond work.
- [00:27:47] Diversification strategy for joy.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
My last episode with Jones Road Beauty CMO & CRO Cody Plofker is the most popular episode in my podcast's history. Which meant it was time to bring him back.
This is a wide-ranging episode in which Cody and I talk about how to think about Contribution Margin as a dollar amount (instead of just efficiency metrics like MER or aMER), how to forecast a DTC brand effectively, and how to use the concept of a "unique mechanism" in your DTC ad messaging.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:52] Cody's switch to bid caps.
- [03:39] Joining Slack groups for support.
- [07:12] Removing the pacing mechanism.
- [08:52] Bidding and budgeting strategies.
- [11:23] Ratio targets and contribution dollars.
- [14:23] Tying marketing to financial metrics.
- [17:20] ASC cost caps and lowest cost.
- [21:32] Relying on meta for demand.
- [22:37] Supply chain management in e-commerce.
- [26:23] Product launches and exclusivity.
- [29:12] Adjusting bid caps for sales.
- [31:41] Delayed attribution and Black Friday.
- [33:23] Making adjustments and comfort levels.
- [37:12] By-product value of advertising spend.
- [39:30] Bid multipliers and targeting.
- [41:19] In-store sales and advertising.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit www.morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Cody Plofker Goes DEEP On Meta Media Buying" (Spotify, Apple)
- "With $10M In Revenue And $0 In Ad Spend, Isaac Medeiros Is In A Class Of His Own" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Briefing A Longform Explainer Ad For Bambu Earth Live (With Dave Rekuc)" (Spotify, Apple)
OTHER RESOURCES REFERENCED
- Dave Rekuc's CXL Forecasting Course
- Ogilvy On Advertising
- Breakthrough Advertising
FOLLOW UP WITH CODY
- Sign Up For Cody's Newsletter: https://www.codyplofker.com/newsletter
- Follow Cody on X: https://twitter.com/codyplof
- Hire Cody On MentorPass: https://www.mentorpass.co/me/codyplofker
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I've always said that the offer is the foremost driver of performance in direct response advertising. But I haven't always aligned my actions with that thought.
But after some recent & massive client wins centering on running the same ads to new offers, I've been reminded of just how crucial it is to get this right.
So in this episode, I'm categorizing defining what I mean by "offer" and categorizing offer type that can move the needle for different kinds of brands.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:25] The importance of offers.
- [00:05:53] Unlocking Account with Offer
- [00:06:46] Offer testing and optimization.
- [00:09:12] Email capture strategies.
- [00:13:59] Good, better, best offer.
- [00:15:46] Good, Better, Best offers.
- [00:19:05] Hiring talent from the Philippines.
- [00:21:44] Cash back and discounts.
- [00:27:22] Subscription-focused lander.
- [00:27:43] Strong offers and subscription funnels.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
A few weeks ago I told you that longform explainer ads are the best performing ads I run in an episode where I went through an overview of the concept and structure of the ads.
But then I thought: "Wait, why don't I just record myself actually writing one of these instead?"
So I got together with my good friend Dave Rekuc, President & COO at Bambu Earth, and we briefed out a longform explainer ad from start to finish to prep for an upcoming shoot of his.
The result is a (long) episode in which we document the entire process of thinking through what makes customers love Bambu Earth and how to communicate that with clarity in an ad.
Important note: we don't know how this ad will perform yet, but once we do, I'll update you. So make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out as we learn how it goes.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
OTHER AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "The Best Performing Meta Ads I Run" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Dave Rekuc Beat Cancer, Cash Conversion Cycles" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Let's Fix Your Supply Chain And Save You A Ton Of Money (With Lara Guevara)" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
One of the most common pieces of advice I give ecommerce operators is to hunt for savings in their supply chain so that their unit economics can better. Supply chain savings go straight to the bottom line (or open up more room for you to spend on customer acquisition).
It's good advice, but it often isn't actionable, because there is an obvious follow-up question:
How?
Lara Guevara knows the answer, and on this episode of the show, she tells you. We talked about knowing your suppliers' suppliers, negotiating freight forwarding, and thinking intelligently about exchange rates.
It's all doable, and if you don't know where to start, Lara is ready to help.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:03:11] Efficiency in e-commerce supply chain.
- [00:07:05] Savings in ocean freight.
- [00:13:16] Negotiating with local currency.
- [00:18:13] BlanketPO for cost savings.
- [00:21:28] Potential savings for brands.
- [00:25:45] Understanding tier one to tier three.
- [00:29:33] Negotiating payment terms for products
- [00:38:18] Slow-moving product report and marketing.
- [00:42:50] Balancing overstock and understock.
- [00:45:49] Out of stock and forecasting.
- [00:47:32] Fractional Supply Chain Services.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit https://morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- To get a Cohort Forecast Template, sign up for my email list at https://ajfgrowth.com.
- Lara's incredible supply chain savings thread.
- 3rd Party Auditor recommendation: V-Trust.
FOLLOW UP WITH LARA
- Follow Lara on X: @SupplyChainWomn
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
What if you could be running ads that pushed your spend up 50% at your target metrics–and they cost you nothing to create? And also, you already made them?
If you're not turning (almost) all of your existing organic content into ads, there's a good chance that's the exact scenario you're in.
Today on the show: a simple but important push to get your organic content into your ad account.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Building The Process For Meta Ads Success" (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)
- "My Exact Creative Testing Method For Meta Ads" (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)
- "The Best Performing Meta Ads I Run" (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)
- "With $10M In Revenue And $0 In Ad Spend, Isaac Medeiros Is In A Class Of His Own" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
The first place you should spend your ad dollars as a DTC brand is Meta. The second is Google.
Most people would agree with this comment, but they also see the same problem I do: it's incredibly easy to waste money on Google Ads because of the black box that is Performance Max and the 500 other ways Branded Search clicks inflate ROAS and hide bad dollars.
I know enough about this to have helped some clients stop wasting money in these ways. But I haven't known enough to help clients actually MAKE money there.
Which is where Kirk Williams comes in.
Kirk has been running Google Ads for well over a decade and is now the CEO of ZATO Marketing, a Google Ads agency that does great work.
Tune in for an episode where he explains Google's ad-related legal battles, the best strategies for DTC, and how to make Performance Max
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:05:46] Google's antitrust case.
- [00:08:21] Google manipulating search auctions.
- [00:09:22] Auction reserve pricing and trust.
- [00:13:38] Concerns about Google's PMAX.
- [00:18:03] Advantage Plus shopping campaigns.
- [00:19:34] Marketing differences between Google and Meta
- [00:21:39] Complexity of PMAX campaign types.
- [00:27:18] New customer campaign success.
- [00:29:33] Efficiency in supply chain.
- [00:33:01] Google's advertising challenges.
- [00:36:52] The challenge of competing on Google.
- [00:45:41] Advertising budget and ROI.
- [00:46:19] Search advertising strategies.
- [00:52:06] Agency brand relations.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit https://morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
FOLLOW UP WITH KIRK
- Follow Kirk on X: @PPCKirk
- Work With ZATO Marketing: https://zatomarketing.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Fan Bi sees 10 different ecommerce businesses every week and has seen ~1,000 in the last year.That's because Fan's job is to buy DTC brands for The Hedgehog Company, the aggregator where he's the CEO. He's got 4 now and looking to add. The upshot of all that? He has one of the deepest senses of the market for ecommerce brands of anyone I know, and he can tell you very quickly if your business is set up well for an exit.So on this week's episode, Fan and I talked through what makes a good DTC brand and what kind of multiples ecommerce businesses are getting today, all so that you can focus on the right metrics for maximizing the value of yours.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS• [00:02:28] The meaning of life.• [00:05:11] Valuation of e-commerce businesses.• [00:08:09] Impact of investor preference.• [00:10:37] Early-stage valuation and investment.• [00:14:48] Valuing ROI and Exit Strategies.• [00:15:41] Valuing businesses based on EBITDA.• [00:19:32] Changing deal structures in acquisitions.• [00:22:06] Negative CAGR and business volatility.• [00:28:32] E-commerce business challenges.• [00:29:00] Lean operations in e-commerce.• [00:32:07] Revenue quality and valuation.• [00:35:33] Cash conversion and working capital.• [00:39:14] DTC advantages and scalability.• [00:42:31] Unfair advantages in e-commerce.• [00:45:56] Tough time to be selling.• [00:48:24] Building a business for scale and profit.EPISODE SPONSORAdd supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit https://morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.PREVIOUS AFP EPISODES REFERENCED • "Patrick Coddou Sold Supply" (Spotify, Apple)• "Dan McCormick Is Taking 'Build In Public' To A Whole New Level" (Spotify, Apple, YouTube)FOLLOW UP WITH FAN• Follow Fan on X: @LifeOfBi• Learn More About The Hedgehog Company: https://www.thehedgehogcompany.com/FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on X: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I'm a huge believer in creative diversity. I've devoted at least one episode to the idea that brands who truly maximize Meta Ads do so by building out the operational processes required to generate creative across a wide range of formats.
And yet:
There is one type of ad that I see that most consistently outperforms the rest of the account. That ad type is the "longform explainer," and if there's one creative strategy that's core to the AJF Growth Meta Ads playbook, it's this.
Today on the show, I unpack what that ad format is and tell you why I think it works so well.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- 00:00:04 - Introduction and Overview
- 00:01:04 - The Power of the Long-Form Explainer Ad
- 00:03:45 - The Importance of Clarity in Ad Creative
- 00:07:12 - The Four Sections of a Long-Form Explainer Ad
- 00:12:30 - Section 1: The Hook
- 00:15:20 - Section 2: The Education Section
- 00:20:45 - Section 3: Validation and Guarantee
- 00:24:10 - Section 4: Offer and CTA
- 00:27:45 - Testing Different Hooks and Offers
- 00:30:15 - The Length of the Ad and Mobile News Feed
- 00:32:40 - Conclusion and Future Episodes
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Building The Process For Meta Ads Success" (YouTube, Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's one of the biggest, most remarkable exits I'm aware of in ecommerce: in 2022, Hero Cosmetics sold for $630M.
So in this episode, I brought Hero's co-founder and former CEO, Ju Rhyu, on to the show to talk about how in the world they accomplished such a big outcome, what she's up to now, and whether or not all that money actually made her happy.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:03] Acne care brand and product.
- [00:03:18] Launching on Amazon.
- [00:08:30] What made Hero successful?
- [00:09:38] Focusing on profitable channels.
- [00:13:40] Prioritizing retail over DTC.
- [00:16:29] Acquisition and role transition.
- [00:19:44] Selling the business and the best day of her life.
- [00:23:08] Investment opportunities and exclusivity.
- [00:26:23] Scaling an e-commerce business.
- [00:30:56] Happiness after a successful exit.
- [00:34:46] Work and fulfillment in life.
- [00:35:27] Transitioning after a successful exit.
- [00:39:02] The value of mistakes.
- [00:42:04] Amazon-first distribution strategy.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit www.morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
OTHERE AFP EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Patrick Coddou Sold Supply" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Patrick Coddou, One Year After The Exit" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH JU
- Follow Ju on X: https://twitter.com/jurhyu
- Follow Ju on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jurhyu
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Success!
That was mostly what I felt after BFCM this year, including 3 clients with their biggest revenue days ever.
But that doesn't mean everything was a win this year. And after a couple weeks off to manage the BFCM chaos, I've analyzed the results and collected my top 7 lessons from the biggest week of the year in ecommerce.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:28] Ad account strategies.
- [00:03:48] Maximizing Black Friday customer acquisition.
- [00:06:46] Bid caps for Black Friday.
- [00:10:07] Bid caps and overspending.
- [00:13:31] Media buying on Friday.
- [00:15:16] Delayed attribution multiplier.
- [00:19:16] Delayed Purchase Multiplier.
- [00:21:15] Launching your sale early.
- [00:24:01] Machine learning and ad performance.
- [00:27:54] Diverse types of ads.
- [00:30:28] Managing brand expectations during big moments.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- @clickyricky's Bid Cap Tweet
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
When Cody Plofker and I finished recording this episode, I told him, "That was basically Meta Media Buying 401." And that's exactly what I loved about this episode.
Cody is the CMO at Jones Road Beauty, a beauty brand quickly approaching nine figures in revenue, all of it DTC including three brick-and-mortar locations of its own.
So on this episode, Cody and I didn't hold back. If you're new to media buying, listen to this episode and jot down your questions as you go. If you're more experienced, the goal is for the level of detail to help drive you to more precision in your business.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:52] Cody's switch to bid caps.
- [03:39] Joining Slack groups for support.
- [07:12] Removing the pacing mechanism.
- [08:52] Bidding and budgeting strategies.
- [11:23] Ratio targets and contribution dollars.
- [14:23] Tying marketing to financial metrics.
- [17:20] ASC cost caps and lowest cost.
- [21:32] Relying on meta for demand.
- [22:37] Supply chain management in e-commerce.
- [26:23] Product launches and exclusivity.
- [29:12] Adjusting bid caps for sales.
- [31:41] Delayed attribution and Black Friday.
- [33:23] Making adjustments and comfort levels.
- [37:12] By-product value of advertising spend.
- [39:30] Bid multipliers and targeting.
- [41:19] In-store sales and advertising.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit www.morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
FOLLOW UP WITH CODY
- Sign Up For Cody's Newsletter: https://www.codyplofker.com/newsletter
- Follow Cody on X: https://twitter.com/codyplof
- Hire Cody On MentorPass: https://www.mentorpass.co/me/codyplofker
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Everyone knows that when you launch new creative in your Meta Ads account, you need to launch it into a creative testing campaign to see how it performs, then, if it's a winner and has accumulated some spend and social proof, move it into your scaling campaign to run against your other winners.
Right?
Not only do I think this is wrong; I think it's downright foolish and expensive for the vast majority of advertisers.
So today I'm telling you exactly how I test new creative and scale winners. Hint: it's way simpler than you think.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:15] The best way to test creative.
- [00:03:09] Creative testing campaign strategy.
- [00:06:15] Testing creative costs money.
- [00:09:10] Launching new creative and testing.
- [00:14:05] Using engagement metrics for creative testing.
- [00:15:26] Hiring talent in the Philippines.
- [00:18:30] Meta's spending on ads.
- [00:22:03] It's a creative problem.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Jess Bachman Lights Creative Strategy On Fire" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
You had questions about Bid Caps. I answered them.
Questions ranged from why your Bid Caps are underspending, why they're overspending, and whether or not they just target lower funnel traffic you were already going to get.
Hopefully this episode helps you manage your Meta Ads smarter. And if you have suggestions for my next AMA, email me or DM me on X and maybe I'll do it.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:19] Bid caps Account structure.
- [00:03:23] Bidding strategies and ad sets.
- [00:06:18] Bid caps and auto budgets.
- [00:10:01] Optimization and measurement in advertising.
- [00:12:27] External forces and bid caps.
- [00:15:11] Bid caps vs. cost caps.
- [00:19:20] Bid caps and performance optimization.
- [00:22:01] Longer consideration cycle and bidding.
- [00:26:31] Testing new creatives with bid controls.
- [00:28:54] Bid caps and budgeting.
- [00:31:05] Turning off ads in CBO campaigns.
- [00:34:07] Optimizing for one day click.
- [00:37:39] Fixed budget allocation strategies.
- [00:40:06] Bid caps vs cost caps.
- [00:44:12] Restarting ad sets with lower spend.
- [00:46:37] Bid and cost cap strategies.
- [00:51:12] Running multiple ad accounts
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
ORIGINAL THREAD WITH QUESTIONS
- https://twitter.com/andrewjfaris/status/1722364104852267361
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Jess Bachman Lights Creative Strategy On Fire" AJFP Episode (Spotify, Apple)
- "My Exact Creative Testing Method For Meta Ads" AJFP Episode (Spotify, Apple)
- My Unit Economics Sheet & Cohort Forecasting Guide can both be found by signing up for my email list at https://ajfgrowth.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Lots of people have strong opinions about how best to price an ad agencies, and I'm one of them.
I've seen this from all sides: brand, agency employee, aggregator CEO, and now agency owner. After all that, I'm convinced that charging a percentage of spend is the best model for agency pricing, at least to a certain stage of DTC businesses.
In this episode, I make the case for why, then tell you exactly how I price AJF Growth.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Add supply chain experts to your team at a drastically lower cost than you're expecting by hiring More Fractional Supply Chain, a service of my friends at More Staffing. Visit www.morenow.co and use the code AJF20 to get 20% off your first 3 months.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Building The Process For Meta Ads Success" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Wayne Borromeo didn't set out to build a water bottle brand. And he still mostly isn't.
But what do you do when TikToks of your product go not just viral, but as viral as something can possibly go?
Well, you build your seize the opportunity and get as much inventory as you can as fast as you can.
On this bonus episode, Andrew & Wayne talk through how Wondery's water bottle rocketed their business to unexpected heights.
EPISODE SPONSOR
This bonus episode was sponsored by More Staffing, whom both Andrew and his guest, Wayne, have used to add incredible ecommerce talent to their teams from the Philippines. Learn more at https://morenow.co.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:27] Wondery's cool hero product.
- [00:03:06] Experiential water bottle.
- [00:07:42] Instagram Reels success.
- [00:10:13] Creating an awesome product.
- [00:14:08] An existential crisis in the brand.
- [00:19:27] LTV of bottles and apparel.
- [00:21:35] Building brand loyalty and LTV.
- [00:24:28] Partnership with REI for events.
- [00:28:34] Adding more team members.
- [00:31:19] The importance of customer service.
- [00:34:02] The future of Wondry.
- [00:36:54] Virtual assistants can be helpful.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "With $10M In Revenue And $0 In Ad Spend, Isaac Medeiros Is In A Class Of His Own" (Spotify; Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH WAYNE
- Visit Wondery's Website: https://www.wonderyoutdoors.com/
- Follow Wayne On Instagram: @webborwayne
- Connect With Wayne On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-borromeo-98341938/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I absolutely loved this conversation.
When you "get" ecommerce the way that Dan McCormick does, it only makes sense to start a brand yourself and see how far you can take it.
Dan's creatine gummy brand, Create, is growing rapidly and turning the corner to profitability, which isn't surprising given his understanding of the space.
What IS surprising is just how transparent he's being about the journey, all the way down to a monthly tweet showing his exact revenue.
The combo of that knowledge and that transparency means you'll learn a ton from listening to Dan.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:34] Building in public on Twitter.
- [00:04:29] Destigmatizing creatine supplementation.
- [00:07:01] Collagen in retail stores.
- [00:10:03] DTC as a business model.
- [00:13:00] Scaling without scaling headcount.
- [00:18:21] Potential growth in CPG brands.
- [00:20:07] Room to run before expansion.
- [00:24:12] Capturing a broad customer base.
- [00:26:16] Expansion and hero products.
- [00:29:16] Brand expansion and customer service.
- [00:32:36] Establishing credibility and trust.
- [00:37:14] Trust building in supplements.
- [00:39:07] Fetishization of bootstrapping.
- [00:44:06] TikTok marketing arbitrage.
- [00:45:58] The world getting better.
- [00:49:07] Delivering value to listeners.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting https://morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH DAN
- Visit Create's Website: https://trycreate.co/
- Follow Dan On X: https://twitter.com/damccormick13
- Subscribe To Not Boring: https://www.notboring.co/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I've come to think of scaling a Meta Ads account as happening in two stages:
Stage 1: finding the creative messaging that resonates with your customers. This is primarily a truly "creative" problem.
But stage 2 is very different: it's about scaling up that messaging into a never-ending stream of highly diverse creative assets. And this is fundamentally an operational challenge.
On today's episode, I'm talking about 8 different kinds of creative assets and helping you with the beginnings of building that operational process.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:32] Quality and quantity both matter.
- [00:05:00] Importance of developing both quality and quantity of creative
- [00:08:52] Outsource design for ad creation.
- [00:17:01] Streamline content creation and distribution.
- [00:19:09] Invest in creative strategy early.
- [00:21:51] Operational challenges in video marketing.
- [00:26:37] Focus on operational execution and scalability.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Jess Bachman Lights Creative Strategy On Fire" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Sarah Moret Grew Curie 1000% In One Year And Sold Into Every Walmart" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I've never done an episode like this ever before.
Nate Lagos's tweet outlining his exact 10 keys to growing Original Grain was so good that I immediately DMed him and said, "Let's talk more about all of these."
So that's what we did: from 1-10, we went piece by piece through each of the points on the list and kicked them around.
This episode is good because Nate is right about so much. Calls to stop touching your ad account, spend money no matter what, and, of course, make sure you've got that dog in you–they're various levels of wise and counterintuitive.
Nate is currently the Head of Marketing at Original Grain and formerly ran growth at Dugout Mugs.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:27] Nate's tweet about success.
- [00:06:32] Change in mentality in 2022.
- [00:13:14] Having a steady hand.
- [00:15:11] Mental health and morale.
- [00:18:03] Spending more money on ads.
- [00:21:00] Cutting the marketing department's fixed costs.
- [00:24:58] We raised our prices.
- [00:27:09] Premium product and customer value.
- [00:31:02] Banger product strategy over marketing.
- [00:33:09] Launching products for new audiences.
- [00:36:21] Resisting shiny object syndrome.
- [00:39:22] Focus on generating contribution margin.
- [00:43:09] Recognizing significant tailwinds.
- [00:45:31] Real growth happens in the trenches.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting https://www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH NATE
- Read The Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/natelagos/status/1692219115266585024
- Follow Nate On X: @NateLagos
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
AOV is either the most overrated or underrated metric in ecommerce, depending on who you ask.
So I'm here to answer the question once and for all: does AOV even really matter?
It depends. Let me explain.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:11] AOV is not necessarily as good as you think.
- [00:03:58] Increasing AOV and conversion rate.
- [00:08:00] Low AOV + large market.
- [00:11:39] Slow purchase accumulation.
- [00:14:41] Nonlinear trade-off between AOV and conversion rate.
- [00:16:09] AOV and shipping efficiency.
- [00:20:00] AOV and gross margin.
- [00:22:13] AOV and profit considerations.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
- "Bryan Porter Didn't Get To $100M On Amazon With Just Tips & Tricks" (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's arguably the wildest ride I've ever been on in ecommerce: since beginning to work with Sarah Moret and Curie in January of this year (2023), we've seen massive, rapid growth–and it's been profitable from the start.
Oh also: part of that included selling into every Walmart in the US.
Just nuts.
Sarah is a killer operator and entrepreneur. With a background in both Accounting & VC, she brings a serious financial skillset to the table that has made her quick to turn her rapid growth into disciplined, smart management.
Tune in to this episode if you want to hear about how the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship and learn how we've seen such an explosion this year.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:03:55] Sarah Moret founded Curie after working in venture capital.
- [00:05:30] Entrepreneurship is for everyone.
- [00:12:04] Ups and downs of business.
- [00:17:29] Value proposition is customer-focused.
- [00:24:37] Transition from lumpy to managed growth.
- [00:29:02] Exceeding growth expectations through collaboration.
- [00:29:58] Rapid growth and Walmart partnership.
- [00:35:07] Different risk assessments in business.
- [00:43:53] Retail expansion requires careful planning.
- [00:47:52] Manage growth with financial forecasting.
- [00:48:20] Cash flow forecast is crucial.
- [00:56:16] Patience is key for success.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- "Opening The Books: Mixed By Nasrin" AFP Episode: www.ajfgrowth.com/mixed
- "Your Ecom Store Should Use A Quiz" AFP Episode (YT, Spotify, Apple)
- Curie's Quiz
- 13-Week Cashflow Guide
- Cohort Model Forecast
FOLLOW UP WITH SARAH
- Follow Sarah On Twitter: @thats_a_moret
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
As straightforward as it sounds: 4 steps that go into generating creative that actually performs.
This is the foundation of my approach with my clients, and I've seen it produce results over and over again. Hopefully it can help do the same for you.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:22] The message is the main thing.
- [00:05:26] Step 1: The Hooks
- [00:14:02] Step 2: The Body
- [00:20:05] Step 3: The Validation
- [00:22:12] Step 4: The Offer
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
About a year ago, I released the first interview I ever recorded for The Andrew Faris Podcast: an interview with Patrick Coddou after he'd officially sold Supply.
Selling Supply was a big moment, not just because every exit is a big movement, but because Patrick had become a core member of the ecommerce community, regularly offering up both help and questions as he built along the way.
So a year later, we caught up: what's Patrick been doing since selling? What's life really like after the exit? Did he have seller's remorse? Is he just going to sit on the beach forever, and if so, is "retirement" all its cracked up to be.
The conversation ended up being a wide-ranging exploration on business, wealth, faith, family, and priorities. I, for one, thought Patrick came full of insights.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:21] Life after selling a business.
- [00:09:20] Taking time for self-reflection.
- [00:09:28] Entrepreneurs often neglect rest.
- [00:15:04] Weight of business ownership.
- [00:22:20] Prioritize intentional rest for well-being.
- [00:25:18] Strong relationships lead to happiness.
- [00:31:29] Intentionally structure your post-exit life.
- [00:33:40] Set boundaries for work-life balance.
- [00:41:20] Intentional rest re-centers identity.
- [00:43:04] Rest is essential for productivity.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Patrick's Previous Episode: "Patrick Coddou Sold Supply" (Spotify, Apple)
- The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry Book
- The Good LifeBook
- "Work And Rest" Sermon By Dr. Timothy Keller
FOLLOW UP WITH PATRICK
- Follow Patrick On Twitter: @SoundsLikeCanoe
- Email Patrick For Consulting: patrick.coddou@gmail.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
A few months ago I started making a series of changes in my business. I cut work that I was good at, but not great at. I began building processes to outsource tasks that others good do just as competently as I could. And I eliminated almost the entirety of my "hourly consulting" business.
The result?
I'm wrapping up Q3 and heading into Q4 with the most profitable, most energizing, least anxiety-producing version of my business I've had yet.
The whole thing has served as yet another reminder to me of a truth I've learned before, but find myself having to keep relearning: insofar as you're able, focus on the highest value parts of your work.
Doing so pays massive dividends both financially and for quality of life.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:43] Focus is key for success.
- [00:07:31] Clarity on e-commerce business growth.
- [00:08:33] Narrowing focus for better productivity.
- [00:13:33] Focus is essential for success.
- [00:18:08] Focus on core product/business.
- [00:22:07] Focus on core strengths.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
What even IS a "creative strategy?"
Very often, it's nothing. That phrase is a nebulous synonym for "ads that someone hopes will sell products" at least as applied to Meta Ads.
But that's not Fire Team's Jess Bachman. As Jess says in this episode: he's a creative strategist, which means its incumbent on him to have an actual creative strategy.
So on this episode, inspired by a tweet of his about how his process for ad iterations regularly creates tangible results for him and his client, I asked him about that process.
He answered, and he did so with deeply helpful clarity and detail.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:25] Method for generating creative.
- [00:08:24] Creative metrics don't correlate with ROAS.
- [00:13:50] Metrics for creative performance.
- [00:13:55] Custom metrics for video ads.
- [00:18:30] Importance of measuring engagement metrics
- [00:27:19] Collect and organize ad inspiration.
- [00:31:48] Iterate to improve ad performance.
- [00:38:19] Iterative method for effective advertising.
- [00:38:26] Iterative ad optimization is crucial.
- [00:43:58] Stack ads for maximum impact.
- [00:47:43] Real methodology in creative process.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH JESS & FIRE TEAM
- Work with Fire Team: fireteam.is
- Sign Up For Fire School: fireteam.is/fireschool
- Follow Jess On X: @HireFireTeam
- Hire Jess On MentorPass
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's one thing to have the right idea. It's a whole other thing to actually implement it into your business.
In fact, sometimes listening to another podcast or reading another blog post or tweet (mine or anyone else's) can make things worse, not better, if it fills your head with more ideas to chase down that you don't REALLY know how to implement.
So today I took three key ideas that I talk about regularly and explained to you exactly how you can embed them into your business's actual operational practices, not just have them as ideas floating around your brain.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:31] Contribution Margin in E-commerce.
- [00:03:18] Contribution margin explained.
- [00:06:20] Track contribution margin.
- [00:10:08] Maintaining a low OPEX.
- [00:12:24] Forecasting your OPEX.
- [00:16:37] Scaling with bid caps.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- Weekly Contribution Margin Tracking Sheet
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
"Serve the world unselfishly and profit."
That's the tagline that Ezra Firestone appends to his work, and he's dead serious about it. As the CEO of Boom! By Cindy Joseph and of Overtone, plus the Founder of Zipify and SmartMarketer, he's one of the most seasoned and trustworthy voices in ecommerce.
That is reason enough to have him on my podcast, but I am particularly interested in Ezra's approach to the word "unselfishly." So we spent most of this episode exploring the deeper questions of life and business: what is "profit" really? What's the goal of making a lot of money? How can we generate meaning and joy in life?
Ezra is one of the most reflective thinkers I've been around on these topics, and my big hope for this episode is that it will spur similar reflections for you.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:39] Ezra Firestone is a successful e-commerce operator.
- [00:06:34] Serve unselfishly and profit.
- [00:12:48] Enjoy what you have now.
- [00:15:18] Be present and enjoy life.
- [00:19:06] You are not broken.
- [00:27:38] Generosity is self-interest.
- [00:27:50] Take care of yourself first.
- [00:32:07] Enjoy experiences and meaningful relationships.
- [00:39:49] Product optimization drives customer retention.
- [00:42:16] Deep thinking leads to success.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH EZRA
- Ezra's Instagram: @EzraFirestone
- Ezra's Twitter: @EzraFirestone
- Ezra's LinkedIn: @EzraFirestone
- SmartMarketer: https://smartmarketer.com/
- Zipify Apps: https://zipify.com/
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
In a straightforward, tactical advice episode, I make the argument that more ecom stores should consider using quizzes as a core part of their customer acquisition funnels.
Quizzes are fun, engaging, yield loads of customer data, capture email & SMS info at massive rates, and maybe most crucially, are highly effective at guiding customers to the exact right product for them.
What's not to love?
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:09] Using quizzes for customer engagement.
- [00:08:09] Quiz as a fun and effective shopping experience
- [00:09:23] Quiz as landing page alternative.
- [00:18:12] Quizzes improve customer engagement.
- [00:19:40] Start with Octane AI.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- OctaneAI Shopify Quiz Builder
- "You Have To Bridge The Digital Gap" AFP episode (Apple, Spotify)
- Bambu Earth Quiz
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Nasrin Jafari is the founder, designer and CEO of Mixed By Nasrin, a Brooklyn-based fashion company that's recently hit a 7-figure run rate and continues to grow rapidly–and profitably.
In my first ever "Opening The Books" episode, Nasrin and I essentially recorded a coaching call. That is: she gave me access to all of the platforms & numbers in her business, and then we spent 2 hours talking through where she should go from here.
My hope is that Nasrin's willingness to be this vulnerable and generous with her business's details is a giant help to others in similar stages of businesses.
There are a ton of screenshares, docs, and other references here. The video version (which will be ideal for this episode) and all of the links I mentioned are all available at www.ajfgrowth.com/mixed.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- 00:00:17 Coaching entrepreneurs in real time.
- 00:06:27 Creating a high touch brand.
- 00:12:36 Long-term brand building play.
- 00:13:39 Long-term sustainability and cultural impact.
- 00:18:06 Goal: Build a great team.
- 00:22:32 Understanding P&L buckets for profit.
- 00:27:09 Consider moving to 3PL.
- 00:31:20 Rinse and repeat product drops.
- 00:35:45 Manage cash flow with projections.
- 00:40:09 13-week cash flow crucial.
- 00:44:35 Shorten lead time for testing.
- 00:49:43 Create a marketing calendar.
- 00:53:51 LTV based forecast for growth.
- 00:57:05 Facebook ad spend and customer projections.
- 01:01:43 Projecting lifetime customer value.
- 01:06:25 Track customer revenue and spend.
- 01:10:54 Forecasting and financial management are crucial.
- 01:15:37 Keep OPEX at 15%.
- 01:22:23 Consider working with Kynship.
- 01:23:41 Influencer strategy is crucial.
- 01:28:08 Forecast profitability for growth.
- 01:32:57 Collect email and SMS addresses.
- 01:37:44 Focus on returning customer revenue.
- 01:41:11 Email and SMS for retention.
- 01:45:12 Conversion rate is not always important.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I might be more bullish on Jack Rubin's Purdy & Figg than any other brand on which I've personally worked.
That's because not only does the UK-based natural cleaning product brand have the core financial markers of a successful subscription brand (ridiculous repeat rate, low churn, good margins), but it's co-founder and co-CEO, Jack Rubin, has all the markers of a successful ecommerce operator (smart, humble, relentlessly focused on the drivers of his shareholder value–especially contribution margin).
Even after working with Jack as a business coach for months, I was repeatedly knocked back by his insights.
Frankly, this is one of the most insight-loaded episodes I've ever released. Soak it up.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:09] Subscription e-commerce business success.
- [00:06:13] Product experience drives customer retention.
- [00:11:23] Subscription brands prioritize future value.
- [00:17:37] Subscription model with strategic pricing.
- [00:23:19] Testing beats received wisdom.
- [00:25:07] Testing and adapting drives success.
- [00:31:02] Measurement and clear targets drive success.
- [00:36:40] Predicting customer behavior is crucial.
- [00:39:49] Tracking metrics for effective forecasting.
- [00:45:38] Weekly forecasting improves business performance.
- [00:48:55] Data-driven decision making is key.
- [00:51:13] Generosity and thoughtfulness create value.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE:
- Purdy & Figg Landing Page
- Kynship Influencer Marketing Agency
FOLLOW UP WITH JACK
- Follow Jack on Twitter: @JackRubin1
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
If you think forecasting is primarily about inventory planning, think again.
Taken seriously, forecasting forces you to stare your business's financials in the face so you can design your PNL for profit. That makes it a fundamental skill in operating an ecommerce brand.
In today's episode I make the case for forecasting as a key step in designing your PNL for profit, then planning, executing, and tracking towards that profit design.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:51] Forecasting provides clarity for profit.
- [00:08:48] Forecasting helps understand business performance.
- [00:10:01] Forecasting helps control costs.
- [00:14:33] Forecast Opex for scalable growth.
- [00:18:44] Forecast your business for clarity.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
- The Lightspeed Cohort Forecasting Model
- Dave Rekuc's CXL Forecasting Course
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Dave Rekuc is the current President & COO at Bambu Earth, the skincare brand that 4x400 contracted to focus on. He's one of the smartest guys in ecommerce, especially when it comes to thinking through the financial mechanics of running an ecom brand.
In this wide-ranging episode, Dave and I talk about his recent bout with testicular cancer, why he was taking work calls during chemo sessions, what makes Bambu Earth such a good business, and how he and his team have engineered their supply chain for both scale and cash.
This is one of those episode you're guaranteed to learn from.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:03:56] Life priorities & Dave's cancer
- [00:04:56] Work can be enjoyable and addictive.
- [00:10:09] High margin, stable e-commerce brand.
- [00:15:28] Lean in-house production improves cash flow.
- [00:19:36] Customer acquisition impacts LTV.
- [00:27:21] Maximize reach with varied offers.
- [00:29:30] Focus on margin extraction per thousand impressions.
- [00:35:52] Understanding customer spending habits.
- [00:39:21] LTV businesses require cash management.
- [00:43:11] Working capital is important for cash flow management.
- [00:48:28] Consider individual goals and abilities.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH DAVE
- Work Dave on Twitter: @daverekuc
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
When Gregg Carey hired Lara Guevara to lead operations and supply chain for his ecommerce brand, Section 119, it changed the trajectories of both of their careers.
That's because Lara is not only a killer ecom professional; it's also because she lives in the Philippines, and their partnership at Section 119 was a light bulb moment that led to the founding of More Staffing, a staffing agency that connects Filipino ecom talent like Lara with other ecom operators in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In fact, saying that this partnership changed their careers might be putting it lightly. Lara is now the CEO of More Staffing and credits her work as a remote employee with a U.S. based company as getting her and her family through her cancer diagnosis and treatments.
More Staffing is my current podcast sponsor, and this interview is sponsored. But don't let that stop you from listening: I only take sponsored interviews if I think the content can actually be good, and this did not disappoint.
We spent most of our time talking about what remote employment in the Philippines is like from the perspective of actual Filipinos. It was enlightening for me, and it will be for you too.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:46] Filipino employees have good English.
- [00:09:44] Outsourcing talent from the Philippines.
- [00:11:25] Higher pay attracts quality talent.
- [00:18:05] Remote work requires effective processes.
- [00:24:40] Outsourcing to Philippines for cost-effective growth.
- [00:28:05] Value in understanding client needs.
- [00:31:35] Expanding services to support clients.
- [00:36:49] Outsourcing e-commerce talent to the Philippines.
PREVIOUS EPISODE MENTIONED:
- "Gregg Carey's Business Was Transformed By Employees In The Philippines" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's one of the most common questions I get:
"I love the idea of Bid Caps, but every time I try to use them, they just don't spend as much as I want them to. How come?"
There are a lot of potential answers, and today on the show, I've got 7 of them for you.
SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:40] Bid caps are spending just not as much as you'd want.
- [00:05:37] Your perfomance isnt good enough.
- [00:08:05] Bid caps set too low.
- [00:12:10] Optimization & attribution settings wrong.
- [00:17:20] Not generating enough conversions relative to your spend.
- [00:19:52] Using your bid caps at the "bottom" of your auto bids.
- [00:22:46] Less available options at your price today.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
PREVIOUS EPISODE MENTIONED:
- "The Hidden Place Your Business Is Losing TONS Of Money" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I'm convinced most ecommerce brands have a massive cost center that they have no idea exists. In fact, they probably think it's a profit-center.
In this episode, I explain how deeply understanding the value each dollar your ads are creating saves you from acquiring mass amounts of unprofitable customers–and how Meta Ads has a tool built perfectly to solve this problem without you ever having to think about it again.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube. For episodes like this one that have a screenshare, that's the best place to listen & watch.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:21] Hidden cost center in advertising.
- [00:05:30] Threshold ROAS determines profitability.
- [00:10:14] Incremental ROAS is crucial.
- [00:18:30] Use bid caps for profitability.
- [00:23:08] Is this the reason your bid caps don't work?
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Panagiota Hatzis is an HR & team leadership professional, the founder of Kati Kalo consulting, and the former VP of Differentiation (a twist on HR) & partner at Common Thread Collective, where we used to be colleagues.
I had Panagiota on a couple months ago to talk through how to scale a team with operational intelligence. Which got me thinking: as I start to add employees, what if I used Panagiota sooner than later to help me build out the operational infrastructure of AJF Growth? Things like how we use our tech stack, what my interview process should look like, what needs to be in my handbook, and how I should onboard.
About two weeks into the month-long engagement, I was blown away. I quickly realized that hiring Panagiota as early in my process as I did was some of the best money I could possibly spend as I look towards the future of AJF Growth. So on this episode, I'm telling you why I came to that conclusion by bringing Panagiota back on the pod to show you everything she built for me.
Want to understand what makes for great system-building for your team? Watch and learn from Panagiota.
IMPORTANT NOTE
There is a lot of screensharing in this episode. To get the best experience, watch it on YouTube.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:00] Building a foundation for scaling.
- [00:04:33] Take care of your people.
- [00:09:18] Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings.
- [00:13:34] Importance of clear system use.
- [00:18:38] Establish clear communication guidelines.
- [00:24:30] Using Asana for project management.
- [00:27:37] Onboarding is critical for retention.
- [00:31:53] Prioritize intentional onboarding for success.
- [00:36:48] Setting up a solid foundation.
- [00:41:00] Set clear expectations for success.
- [00:45:16] Structured hiring process is crucial.
- [00:52:48] Intent and impact must align.
- [00:55:21] Build infrastructure and seek coaching.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS SHOW
- "Panagiota Hatzis Knows How To Scale" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH PANAGIOTA
- Work With Kati Kalo Consulting: www.katikalo.co
- Follow Panagiota on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panagiota-hatzis-ph/
- Follow Panagiota on Twitter: www.twitter.com/katikaloco
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Here's a conversation that everyone in DTC has had too many times:
Agency: "What's your ROAS target?" Brand: "Well, what's a good ROAS on Meta?"
That conversation is broken on both sides. Great agencies help brands determine that answer; great brands know it isn't as simple as that.
In this episode, I'm helping you answer this question the only way you really can: with a hard look at your unit economics and customer lifetime value.
IMPORTANT NEWS!
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube! If you prefer to watch your podcasts, click here or head to www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast to visit the AFP channel and subscribe.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:11] Determining target is crucial.
- [00:04:33] ROAS target depends on CAC.
- [00:10:09] Profitable ecommerce: first order profitability.
- [00:14:06] Focus on first purchase unit economics.
- [00:18:51] LTV affects target setting strategy.
- [00:23:51] Forecast LTV for business success.
- [00:28:04] No takeaway.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Virtual assistants can be helpful. Virtual professionals can transform your business. Get connected to incredible ecommerce talent from the Philippines with More Staffing by visiting www.morenow.co.
EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS SHOW
- "With $10M In Revenue And $0 In Ad Spend, Isaac Medeiros Is In A Class Of His Own" (Apple, Spotify)
OTHER LINKS FROM THIS SHOW
- The Lightspeed Ecommerce Forecasting Model
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
There once was a time when being a great media buyer was all about the ability to allocate budget, target customers effectively, and analyze & optimize the performance of each ad in the account.
Those days are behind us. Which raises a question: what do media buyers even do anymore?
Well, they still do a lot, and Andrew maintains that media buying is actually harder now than it has ever been.
In this episode, Andrew explains the foundation of great media buying today by highlighting the #1 skill from which all other skills flow.
IMPORTANT NEWS!
The Andrew Faris Podcast is now available on YouTube! If you prefer to watch your podcasts, click here or head to www.youtube.com/@andrewfarispodcast to visit the AFP channel and subscribe.
EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS SHOW
- "The Definitive Case For Cost Controls" (Apple, Spotify)
- "4 Media Buying Rules Most People Get Wrong On Meta" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Everything was going great for Bobbie Baby Co: the venture-backed startup disrupted a duopoly in the super-highly regulated category of baby formula and exploded to over $100m in revenue in two years, due in part to the leadership of this episode's super talented guest, Bobbie's VP of Growth (and former Director of Strategy at Common Thread Collective), Cherene Aubert.
But then the baby formula shortage happened, and as she likes to joke, Cherene's job pivoted to being the VP of "Slowth." Customer acquisition had to cease. Existing subscribers were taken care of first. And everyone waited for the supply chain to recover.
On today episode, Andrew and Cherene talk about what makes Bobbie such a great business, how to think about LTV and intelligent cohort forecasting, and why Bobbie should consider influencer deals with Elon Musk and Nick Cannon.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:35] Infant formula industry pivot.
- [00:03:37] Supply chain challenges.
- [00:08:03] Prioritizing existing customers.
- [00:11:29] Marketing to communities with more babies.
- [00:14:23] DTC growth strategies.
- [00:19:02] European vs US formula regulations.
- [00:21:26] Authenticity and differentiation in branding.
- [00:24:36] Retention and product quality.
- [00:29:25] LTV to CAC metric.
- [00:30:39] Forecasting on a three-year timeline.
- [00:34:49] Growth tactics for success.
- [00:39:01] Customer journey and marketing.
- [00:41:00] SEO beyond article writing.
- [00:44:40] Testing pricing and shipping.
- [00:47:58] Four P's of growth.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Visit Settle at www.settle.com/andrewfaris for a complete platform to manage Bill Pay/AP with fast access to extended payment terms at competitive rates and no personal guarantee.
PREVIOUS EPISODE MENTIONED IN THIS SHOW
- BFCM 5: Cherene Aubert From Bobbie Baby (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH CHERENE
- Book Cherene on MentorPass
- Follow Cherene On Twitter: @ChereneAubert
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
I tweeted a version of that episode title not long ago. It's nonsense: there is, of course, such a thing as revenue.
But in DTC, revenue is also one of the metrics I reference the least often. Instead, I'm constantly breaking it down into two smaller metrics, both of which tell me a lot more: New Customer Revenue and Returning Customer Revenue. In fact, those are the first two things I look at when I analyze a business.
In this episode I'll not only explain how I do that, but why I believe developing that same instinct is at the foundation of good growth thinking for every ecommerce brand.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:09] New vs. Returning Customer Revenue.
- [00:04:25] Returning customer revenue.
- [00:06:11] High LTV customers.
- [00:09:27] Customer movement and strategy.
- [00:12:02] Forecasting ad spend and revenue.
- [00:15:01] Forecasting DTC Business.
- [00:19:38] CAC and LTV importance.
- [00:20:47] Customer Revenue and Profit.
- [00:24:26] High LTV Brands.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Visit Settle at www.settle.com/andrewfaris for a complete platform to manage Bill Pay/AP with fast access to extended payment terms at competitive rates and no personal guarantee.
OTHER EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS SHOW
- "What To Do When You Have Great LTV" (Apple, Spotify)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
If you aren't a baseball fan, you might not realize that we're living through a revolution. And Driveline Baseball is right at the center of it.
The data-driven baseball training company has trained thousands of high school and college baseball players, well over a hundred MLB players (including MVPs, Cy Young winners, and All-Stars), and overhauled the way teams across pro sports think about turning analytical insights into player development plans. It's an extraordinary feat, and as the acceptance of their methodology has grown over the last ~15 years, so has their business.
Driveline is also one of my clients, so today on the show I talk with Driveline's CEO, Mike Rathwell, about what they're accomplished, what drives their business, where they're going from here, and the incredible opportunities you have to come work alongside me, Mike, and the best baseball players in the world.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:10] Performance training for baseball players.
- [00:03:23] Driveline's athlete training breakthrough.
- [00:08:28] Revolutionary sports coaching methods.
- [00:10:25] Coaching process vs. results.
- [00:16:15] Moneyball 2.0 approach.
- [00:18:11] Defining the North Star.
- [00:22:38] Weighted baseball methodology.
- [00:25:36] Financing for E-commerce growth.
- [00:28:52] Building demand for new products.
- [00:33:52] Chasing simplicity in complexity.
- [00:36:07] Developing baseball players' skill sets.
- [00:40:23] Driveline's lack of business plan.
- [00:44:38] Expanding business beyond core product.
- [00:48:06] Technical marketing challenges.
- [00:49:45] Technically excellent marketing chops.
- [00:53:06] Strategizing and scheduling content.
- [00:57:00] Job opportunities at Driveline.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Visit Settle at www.settle.com/andrewfaris for a complete platform to manage Bill Pay/AP with fast access to extended payment terms at competitive rates and no personal guarantee.
FOLLOW UP WITH THE DRIVELINE JOB OPPORTUNITIES
- Visit Driveline Baseball's Website: www.drivelinebaseball.com
- Apply to be Driveline's Director of Growth: LinkedIn Job Posting
- Email Andrew to learn about the Email Contractor help at podcast@ajfgrowth.com.
- Follow Mike on Twitter: @mike_rathwell
- Follow Driveline on Twitter: @DrivelineBB
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
From his early ecommerce days of enterprise level Google Ads arbitrage to his just-ended run as President of Kuru Footwear (a mid 8-figure DTC shoe brand), Sean McGinnis has seen a lot. And his professional throughline is his ability to build and manage teams.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Sean talks through the growth of DTC across his time in the industry, how he hires well and leads effectively, and what's next for him as he leaves Kuru.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:48] Scaling e-commerce team management
- [00:02:58] Kuru footwear's unique technology
- [00:06:01] Catalog Business Growth
- [00:09:59] Call tracking technology
- [00:13:44] Results at Kuru
- [00:15:33] Rebuilding and scaling a business
- [00:17:51] Paid Search and Content Campaigns
- [00:22:01] Wasted Google Spend
- [00:24:17] Trusting experts for growth
- [00:27:38] Hands-free and waterproof shoes
- [00:32:46] Hiring based on company values
- [00:34:00] Company values and job descriptions
- [00:37:04] Building your professional network[00:41:43] Screening employees based on values
- [00:43:12] Screening for organizational values
- [00:47:53] EOS for organizational growth
- [00:48:49] Implementing EOS for businesses
- [00:52:04] Two types of revenue.
EPISODE SPONSOR
Visit Settle at www.settle.com/andrewfaris for a complete platform to manage Bill Pay/AP with fast access to extended payment terms at competitive rates and no personal guarantee.
FOLLOW UP WITH SEAN
- Get coaching from Sean by emailing sean@ecomadvisor.co
- Follow Sean on Twitter: @SeanMcGinnis
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's the most philosophical I've ever gotten on the podcast, and it's all around this question: why are you actually doing what you're doing in business? What's the point? And is it creating the kind of joy deep contentedness that you're longing for at the core of who you are?
This is an easier question to ask than to answer, but as my own business has filled up its capacity and my earning has exceeded my expectations, I'm working through it myself.
On this episode, I'm asking these questions and telling you my answers.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:00:19] What are you building for?
- [00:04:52] Selling your business.
- [00:05:36] Business Valuation and Acquisition.
- [00:08:18] Success and Moving Goalposts.
- [00:11:24] Uncertain goals and values.
- [00:16:33] The problem with financial goalposts.
- [00:17:13] Pursuing contentedness.
- [00:20:11] Maximizing joy in life.
- [00:23:21] Pursuing joy in decision-making.
- [00:26:20] Leading a company well.
OTHER EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS SHOW:
- "Andrew Youderian Surveys The Ecommerce Landscape" (Spotify, Apple)
- "Andrew's Quitting The Pod" - The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast (Spotify, Apple)
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
There's no one I've met who knows Amazon like Bryan Porter, the Chief Ecommerce Operator at Simple Modern.
Simple Modern will do over $100M on Amazon ALONE in 2023, and it's not an accident. It's the downstream affect of intelligent strategies that stretch all the way back to when Bryan and his two co-founders were testing which products to go to market on Amazon with in the first place.
If you're trying to scale a business (or just a portion of your business) on Amazon, you'll need to go beyond listing optimizations and ad strategies. What does that "beyond" look like?
Let Bryan Porter tell you.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:02:21] Starting an Amazon business.
- [00:05:28] Simple Modern as D2C
- [00:08:08] Drinkware as a fashion statement
- [00:10:09] Developing unique in-house products
- [00:13:21] Creating a valuable Amazon listing
- [00:17:39] Building a brand through content
- [00:22:38] Dropping price to increase sales
- [00:23:32] Amazon Pricing Strategy
- [00:27:06] Amazon Advertising Strategy
- [00:30:42] Amazon's Branded Terms Strategy
- [00:34:16] Amazon listing optimization
- [00:39:18] Differentiating website from competitors.
- [00:42:03] DTC business strategies
- [00:43:30] DTC vs Amazon flexibility
FOLLOW UP WITH BRYAN
- Follow Bryan on Twitter: @jbryanporter
- Visit Simple Modern's website: www.simplemodern.com.
- Visti Simple Modern's Amazon store.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
- Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Your product didn't just appear out of thin air. It's the result of hundreds of hours of hard work, complete with crucial decisions you made so you could get it just right because you care about serving your customer well and being proud of the product you give them in exchange for their money.
But your customer doesn't know any of that. At least they don't if you don't tell them.
I'm back to discussing creative strategy on this episode, and the idea here is simple but constantly overlooked: learn to tell people about all the decisions that got made to make your product as good as it is.
The more they understand those, the more likely they are to buy it.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [00:01:03] Ad content: what makes great creative
- [00:03:45] Developing products with passion
- [00:06:33] What to look for in customer reviews
- [00:11:58] Selling products through clear communication
- [00:13:24] Selling products on Amazon
EPISODE SPONSOR: Aronson Creative
Level up your brand with creative leadership from Robbie Aronson at Aronson Creative by visiting www.aronsoncreative.com.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Kelsey Lehrich is the co-founder and CEO of 365 Holdings, an aggregator that currently has nine brands in their portfolio. Which gives Andrew a chance to revisit one of his favorite questions: is the aggregator model broken, or was Andrew just a poor leader of it at 4x400?
Kelcey’s business is very much not broken, and that means there’s lots to explore about what makes it work and what others can learn from it.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [02:34] About 365 Holdings
- [06:25] Keeping the portfolio vs focusing on just your players
- [13:12] Selling entities vs individual businesses
- [22:51] What percentage of your revenue is in Opex?
- [26:46] What makes a good e-commerce business?
- [29:30] The types of businesses that have ongoing demand
- [34:47] How to make a good business better
FOLLOW UP WITH KELCEY:
Follow Kelcey on Twitter: @kelceylehrich
Sell Kelcey your business: https://365-holdings.com
Go to HoldCo Conf: https://holdcoconf.com
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's the most obvious thing about selling products on the Internet. It's also one of the easiest things to forget. And being conscience of it is the bedrock of great digital communication.
What am I talking about?
I'm talking about what I call the "digital gap" between your customers and your products. Put simply, it's the fact that your customers can't actually touch, smell, taste, or even REALLY see or hear your products. Just like a Zoom call can't fully replace an in-person conversation, an image or video can't fully replace a customer's experience of your product.
In this solo episode, I explain how learning to communicate in a way that bridges the digital gap is right at the center of great, profitable online marketing.
THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: More Staffing
Hire incredible virtual professionals from the Philippines at a fraction of the cost of domestic employees with help from More Staffing. Head to www.morenow.co to get started.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
SPONSORED EPISODE. Gregg Carey is the CEO of Section 119 and co-founder of More Staffing. More Staffing helps e-commerce businesses locate, hire, recruit, train, maximize the value of incredible talent in the Philippines, and they're also my current sponsor.
I don't usually offer sponsored episodes to my advertising partners, but I'm so compelled by how and why Gregg is working with ecom professionals in the Philippines that I wanted him to explain to my audience how and why they can do the same.
So today, we explore the benefits of hiring remote employees in the Philippines–for both your business and those employees.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [03:13] Gregg Carey's background.
- [05:55] Section 119's overview.
- [06:26] Section 119’s first employee (Laura).
- [07:32] Experience in hiring employees in the Philippines.
- [08:45] Approach to hiring in the Philippines.
- [13:33] Challenges of hiring remote workers.
- [17:15] Importance of staffing in building a successful e-commerce business.
- [20:33] Specific areas of hiring for Section 119.
- [22:55] Section 119’s culture and management of a global workforce.
- [28:05] Section 119's vision of employment In the Philippines.
- [32:42] Section 119's staffing and training overview.
Hire incredible virtual professionals from the Philippines at a fraction of the cost of domestic employees with help from More Staffing by vising www.morenow.co.
Work with More Staffing at www.morenow.co.
Explore Gregg's ecommerce brand, Section 119, at www.section119.com.
Follow Gregg on Twitter: @greggcarey.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris.
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com.
Email Andrew (including about advertising on The Andrew Faris Podcast): podcast@ajfgrowth.com.
MUSIC
Intro Music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Today's interview is with one of my very favorite people in ecommerce, Andrew Youderian. Andrew is the founder of E-commerce Fuel, an online community of 7-figure & higher ecommerce store owners.
Ecommerce Fuel is the best-run online community I've ever personally seen, so I started by asking Andrew what makes great online community. From there, the conversation shifted to his unique perspective (as the head of a community of over 1,000 ecom store owners) on the state of the ecommerce landscape, how hard or easy things are right now relative to the past, and ecom operators' current & ever-complicated relationship with Amazon.
We close by giving Andrew a taste of his own medicine: we ask him some lightning round questions, just like he does with his guest on The Ecommerce Fuel Podcast.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [03:31] What is E-commerceFuel?
- [05:30] Curating valuable content and fostering reciprocity in the EcommerceFuel Community
- [08:10] Examining the success and DNA of the EcommerceFuel community
- [10:17] The importance of time and trust in Building a successful online community
- [13:37] Impact from working in the community to building strong internal teams
- [15:51] Hiring strategies and the importance of test projects and feedback
- [22:53] Insights into the e-commerce landscape from a community survey
- [26:07] Discussing perspectives on Amazon and e-commerce with Bill D'Allesandro
- [28:00] E-commerce landscape and adoption of Amazon by small brands (pros and cons of selling on Amazon)
- [30:37] The nuances of selling on Amazon in the e-commerce landscape & navigating the challenges faced by entrepreneurs
- [34:23] The evolution and future of e-commerce
- [37:14] Lightning round with Andrew Youderian
THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: More Staffing
Hire incredible virtual professionals from the Philippines at a fraction of the cost of domestic employees with help from More Staffing. Head to www.morenow.co to get started.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW YOUDERIAN
Join Ecommerce Fuel yourself.
Listen to the E-commerce Fuel Podcast.
Follow Youderian on Twitter: @youderian.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW FARIS
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris.
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com.
Email Andrew (including about advertising on The Andrew Faris Podcast): podcast@ajfgrowth.com.
MUSIC
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
You should be buying your Meta Ads with Cost Controls.
I've believed that for awhile now, but in the last six months my conviction on this point has solidified to where I now believe advertisers are costing themselves huge amounts of money in both efficiency AND scale when they refuse to implement this incredible tool.
In today's episode I'm explaining that belief with 6 arguments aimed at convincing you to see the light of Bid Caps, Cost Caps/Cost Per Result Goal, and Minimum ROAS bidding.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [01:19]What are cost controls?
- [03:58] Argument 1: Cost Controls make obvious theoretical sense
- [07:45] Argument 2: Humans are much worse forecasters than Machine Learning
- [13:16] Argument 3: Especially when human media buyers are running lots of accounts
- [14:37] Argument 4: Risk-free creative testing
- [20:12] Argument 5: Adjusting spend up and down with changes in Meta's Daily Active Users (DAU)
- [24:07] Argument 6: Risk-free scaling
- [29:15] Why people are annoyed at cost controls
THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: More Staffing
Hire incredible virtual professionals from the Philippines at a fraction of the cost of domestic employees with help from More Staffing. Head to www.morenow.co to get started.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
EPISODE MUSIC
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
So your business is growing? That's great. But it also comes with complications. Every team member you add means another line of communication, another position description to right, another onboarding process to nail, and another person to loop into the systems & processes that make your business work.
Panagiota Hatzis has seen all of this, and she's helped multiple organizations navigate growth to set themselves up for successful scale. On this episode, we talk about how good process helps you stay lean (and saves you money), how to recruit & retain top tier talent, how to think about compensation, and how to actually get everyone to use your task management software.
Panagiota is a longtime human resources executive in the ecommerce space, including alongside me at Common Thread Collective, where she was the VP of Differentiation. Now she's the founder/CEO of Kati Kalo Consulting, where she's bringing deep insight into team dynamics, recruiting, onboarding, and process building to all kinds of growing organizations.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [03:48] Panagiota's educational background
- [06:17] What it takes for an organization to scale
- [09:46] Elements of a great process in scaling in an organization
- [20:16] Profit center vs cost center employee investment
- [23:55] How do organizations get better at retaining good employees?
- [26:13] Compensation in retention
- [31:58] Attracting great talent for an organization
- [35:29] Attract A-level employees in an organization
- [37:20] Founders impact on employees
- [41:21] About Kati Kalo
Special thanks to this week's sponsor, More Staffing.
Add incredible talent from the Philippines to your team with More Staffing at www.morenow.co.
Work With Panagiota:
- Kati Kalo Consulting: www.katikalo.co
- LinkedIn: Kati Kalo
- LinkedIn: Panagiota Hatzis
Follow Up With Andrew:
- Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
- Email me: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Follow me on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Music:
- Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
- Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
In this solo episode, Andrew gets incredibly practical. Want to better harness the power of Meta Ads for your business? Great. Here are 4 truths that most accounts he's audited have gotten wrong.
TIMESTAMPS
- [0:58]: CAC is not ROAS
- [05:38]: Lowest Cost is not Highest Value
- [08:56]: AOV is not LTV
- [11:52]: Spend is performance
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Aaron Orendorff is the best B2B marketer I know, and it's not just because he's an elite writer (with a byline in the New York Times to show for it). It's also because he has a clear framework for what he's trying to accomplish in his messaging. That framework? Keeping customers from hell and taking them to heaven. He's thought about it in his posts as a marketing lead at Shopify Plus, Common Thread Collective, and now as the Head of Marketing at ReCart.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Aaron and Andrew catch up about what they're seeing across the current world of ecommerce, how to approach marketing messaging, the specifics of a good SMS strategy, and a bunch more.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [06:12] Working for Recart.
- [09:33] Meeting Andrew.
- [11:53] Upside to good writing.
- [13:55] Writing for CTC, Havard Business Review, and other publications.
- [20:27] Lesson from content commerce.
- [24:33] Reason Born Primitive is successful.
- [28:04] Aaron's framework as a marketer.
- [33:01] Advertisers adopting Aaron's hell-to-heaven framework.
- [38:44] Factors that determine success with SMS marketing.
- [39:42] Conversational value of SMS.
- [42:19] The primary purpose of SMS.
- [43:32] Getting success in SMS.
- [45:08] Do most brands push hard enough on SMS?
- [48:04] SMS providers growth curve.
- [49:46] The E-commerce Playbook's spot-on prediction.
- [52:33] Problem in SMS.
- [54:24] Aaron's Recart article.
Places to follow up with Aaron:
Aaron’s Recart Landing Page: recart.com/shopify-sms-app
Twitter: twitter.com/AaronOrendorff
Places to follow up with Andrew:
Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Your brand has great LTV, so everything is easy. Right?
Not so fast. While growing a high-LTV brand is easier than growing a low-LTV brand, having a clear roadmap of how and when to generate growth AND profit can make all the difference between success and wasted opportunity.
In this episode, Andrew talks about how to operate a high LTV brand, from planning where profit comes in your P&L to the specifics of how to run a Meta Ads account when you're forecasting high LTV.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [01:10] Observations on how to grow consumable CPG and other high LTV brands
- [08:50] Building your future P&L
- [11:57] Scaling with CAC in high LTV businesses.
- [15:14] Setting CAC Targets For Your Company.
- [16:58] Complications in setting targets with CAC.
- [18:51] Tracking long term customer value.
- [24:01] How much to spend on acquiring customers.
- [26:01] Importance of organic revenue in your business
Mentioned in the podcast:
"The 6 Biggest Factors In Retention, In Order" previous episode: Apple, Spotify.
Places to follow up with Andrew:
Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
There's just no one else quite like Isaac Medeiros that I know of in ecommerce. With a team of a ~dozen creators, 16 freelance scriptwriters, multiple YouTube & TikTok accounts, and now a Discord channel, Isaac has taken the content-driven approach to DTC to a whole different level.
The result: a fast-growing, profitable DTC brand with a PNL that doesn't look like any others I know of in the space.
I chatted with Isaac about what it really takes to build a machine like the one he has–and whether or not other brands should seek to copy his model (on this question, his answer may surprise you).
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [02:01] Isaac gives an overview of Mini Katana
- [03:17] Overview of Mini Katana's approach to YouTube organic
- [05:21] Mini Katana’s approach to generating first-party data
- [07:04] How Isaac got into organic social growth (Exploring his foolproof TikTok model)
- [09:11] Using Customer feedback to your advantage (iterate & innovate)
- [10:30] How Isaac solidified his cornerstone strategy for organic reach
- [13:55] Using TikTok for initial organic growth & pivoting to YouTube
- [16:30] Orchestrating a successful YouTube launch for your brand
- [19:53] Isaac shares his high-level tactics for growing on TikTok & YouTube
- [21:46] Isaac breaks down Mini Katana’s Team
- [24:28] Why Isaac's strategy isn't feasible for most brands (And what you should do instead)
- [29:02] What's next for Mini Katana?
Places to follow up with Isaac:
Follow Isaac on Twitter: www.twitter.com/theisaacmed
Visit the Mini Katana Store: https://minikatana.com/
Visit the Mini Katana Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MiniKatanaStore
Visit the Mini Katana TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mini.katana
Mini Katana's Second TikTok video ever: https://www.tiktok.com/@mini.katana/video/6884345688302357766
Places to follow up with Andrew:
Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Are you SURE you need that attribution tool you're paying for?
I'm not. The closer I've looked at the performance of the brands that I work with, the more convinced I have become that third party attribution tools don't provide incremental insights at best and are overtly misleading at worst.
Today on the show I make the case that you should carefully evaluate whether or not your attribution tool is actually providing you any value–and I'll tell you exactly how I do that with my clients.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [2:22] What is an attribution tool?
- [4:33] Functions of attribution tools.
- [6:03] Rise of attribution tool as a result of iOS 14.5.
- [8:03] How to assign credits to ads.
- [10:13] You're bad at decision-making; machine learning isn't.
- [13:43] Why simple media mixes mean you don't need a tool.
- [16:51] Brands that may need attribution tools.
- [19:50] The relationship between consideration cycle & attribution.
- [22:39] 3 places to look instead of an attribution tool.
- [30:12] Is FB click attribution more accurate than attribution tools?
- [33:57] Why post-purchase surveys are useless.
REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE
- Taylor Holiday's "Never Turn Off An Ad" video.
- Twitter thread about attribution tools under-reporting revenue.
- Andrew's "Don't Diversify Your Ad Spend" episode: Spotify
- Andrew's "Don't Diversify Your Ad Spend" episode: Apple Podcasts
PLACES TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
- Twitter: @andrewjfaris
- Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
- Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Matt Bertulli has seen a lot: he's run a successful agency, raised venture money, and now runs two large and fast-growing ecom brands in Lomi and Pela Case. Which means he's thought a lot about how important it is to do at least one really important thing right: nail your customer experience.
Matt joined me for a wide-ranging discussion on how to make sure you do that, how that creates value in your business, and how the visual design of Lomi creates ongoing value for the brand.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mbertulli
Check out Lomi & Pela Case.
Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Let's talk retention, but instead of pure methods and tactics, we're analyzing the "genetic" elements of high-retention brands and products.
I've got 6 of them, and I put them in order of most important to least important.
The good news? If these factors don't describe your brand or products particularly well, you're the one with the power to change them.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [2:17] The category of your product
- [4:54] The customer & product experience
- [8:28] Product subscriptions
- [11:03] Sales & discounts
- [12:42] New product
- [14:40] Email & SMS
Places to follow up with Andrew:
Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Bill D'Alessandro is back! A couple months ago, Bill wrote a post that blew up in the Ecommerce Fuel forums titled "This Is An Intervention: Stop Taking Fixed Fee Loans" where he explained why the quick & easy revenue-based loans from folks like Wayflyer, ClearCo, and Shopify Capital are so much worse than they look.
I'll be honest: I myself realized how poorly I had been thinking about this kind of debt, and I knew I needed to have Bill back on the show to explain more to the rest of us, especially after his episode on contribution margin had been one of my most popular ever.
Bill is the CEO of Elements Brands, has a finance degree, and has personally borrowed millions of dollars of debt and equity to finance his businesses. He knows what he's talking about and is an incredible guide to revenue-based ("fixed fee") loans, credit cards, asset-based loans, SBA loans, and more. It's a great chance for you to think through the financial stack at the center of your business.
Want to take Bill up on his offer to audit your financial stack? Reach out to him by heading to https://billda.com/debt.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [2:44] Bill's e-commerce debt background
- [3:33] Stop taking predatory, fixed fee loans
- [8:05] Interest rate calculation
- [13:35] Bill's opinion on when to take fixed fee loans
- [15:19] Good finance tech start for businesses
- [19:46] The importance of the "personal guarantee"
- [22:52] The pluses & minuses of Parker cards
- [28:38] Key advice about loans
- [39:18] Bill's e-commerce plans & vision
Read Bill's full article (and work with him on your financial stack!) by clicking here.
Follow Bill on Twitter at @BillDA.
Listen to Bill's podcast, Acquisitions Anonymous on Apple or Spotify.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
You didn't become an entrepreneur because you think, "Nothing will work out and I won't even try." Quite the opposite.
But if you're the CEO of your company now, it's your job to flip that instinct around and start asking, "How will this go wrong?"
For optimists like many of us, that's not intuitive. But it's necessary. In this episode I'll explain why.
TIMESTAMPS
- [00:34]: Andrew’s "CEO's should be pessimistic" advice
- [03:33]: Planning for the worst case scenario in a business
- [04:54]: Challenges in an e-commerce business
- [06:21]: Inventory problems
- [06:46]: Losing a team member
- [09:05]: A CEO’s job
- [09:58]: The 13 week cash flow forecast
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
If you gave me a list of 100 businesses and asked me to rank which ones were most likely to die in the next 5 years, I'd be shocked if you found me 5 I'd rank higher than the national retailer I'm talking about in this episode.
But here's the thing: I'd be wrong. Not only is this business still around; it's growing. And the story is full of great lessons even for those of us running very different types of businesses.
Today we're talking about the basics of how customers interact with products, and how getting that right goes a long, long, long way for your success.
TIMESTAMPS
- [0:48]: The surprising turnaround of a national brick-and-mortar retailer
- [05:27]: James Daunt's business implementations
- [07:30]: James Daunt’s books discount theory
- [08:30]: What do you really need to have a good business?
- [09:29]: Born Primitive LTV strategy
- [10:24]: Customers & products
- [11:58]: The reason your business isn't working
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Bear Handlon isn't on Twitter, and if you aren't a CrossFitter you might not have heard much about Born Primitive. But I've seen them up close for years now and I can tell you for certain: it's one of the best ecommerce businesses you don't know. BP is a mid-8-figure brand, punctuated by putting up $1.2M in two hours to kickoff BFCM.
Bear is a remarkable guy who started BP with his then-wife, Mallory, while being active duty in the Navy. Oh: and he's only now getting to Amazon and brick-and-mortar retail. So there's lots of growth left.
Bear joined the podcast to breakdown the journey with me, including what he attributes BP's success to, the true driver of LTV, and how they think about the centrality of brand-building in apparel in particular. You WILL learn a lot from this episode. Give it a look, then go buy yourself the most comfortable activewear in the game.
TIMESTAMPS
- [02:02]: The journey and highlights of Born Primitive
- [06:24]: The scope of Born Primitive in 2022
- [08:22]: Mechanisms for a profitable business
- [15:42]: Differences in Born Primitive's target customer
- [19:08]: How to scale your business
- [21:27]: Born Primitive success growth process
- [24:39]: Business and supporting community
- [29:23]: Born Primitive Product development for acquisition of retention
- [38:15]: Next year’s goals and visions
Visit Born Primitive at www.bornprimitive.com.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's the "very special episode" time of year and I'm doing my part. To round out 2022, I joined up with The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast for a colab episode where Taylor Holiday (CEO of Common Thread Collective), Richard Gaffin (Senior Copywriter & Podcast Cohost at CTC) and I reflected on the unique ability of failure to form us and teach us for the long term. Whether it's been a great or terrible year for you in 2022, there's something here for you to chew on.
Places to follow up with Taylor, Richard, CTC, & The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast:
Listen to The Ecommerce Playbook.
Explore working with CTC.
Follow Taylor on Twitter: @taylorholiday
Follow Richard on Twitter: @richardgaffin
Places to follow up with me:
Follow me on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email me: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
There's one really simple way to make certain that your DTC business simply cannot be successful at scale: lacking any organic revenue. In this episode, I'll walk through the foudnational design of a scalable ecommerce business, including the two main ways to generate organic revenue on the back of your paid acquisition.
TIMESTAMPS
- [01:10]: Importance of growing organic revenue
- [06:26]: Ways of growing organic revenue
- [15:51]: The word of mouth effect
- [23:22]: Overstated fact about product quality
- [25:02]: Ways that customers can relate to your next products
- [25:44]: The underrated element called sales
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Music Intro: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Music Outro: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Is there anything more certain in digital advertising than the importance of regularly testing new ad creative?
Most people (including me!) would usually tell you that the answer is a resounding "no." But this week on the podcast, I lay out the case for when and why you should quit the creative testing if you really want to get the most out of your ad account.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Bill D'Alessandro is the founder and CEO of Elements Brands, an aggregator that includes the rapidly growing Natural Dog Co. And while it's always too much to talk about "the secret" to someone's success, it's not an accident that Bill's success comes alongside his obsession with tracking & optimizing for contribution margin.
In this episode we start by defining "contribution margin," talk about why and how Bill's team ruthlessly reports on it, and how it helps you get away from the deceiving ubiquity of revenue metrics.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- [1:39] Bill's personal background
- [3:24] About Natural Dog Co.
- [4:51] What do you mean by contribution margin?
- [9:31] Contribution margin metrics
- [9:24] Peet's climate tech funding opinion
- [12:24] What Bill's digital marketers report on: contribution margin vs revenue
- [13:45] How do you report contribution margin in the organization?
- [18:40] Revenue is not how you value a business!
- [20:40] LTV impact in the Facebook dashboard
- [22:12] Other operational opportunities for contribution margin conversation in the business
- [26:37] Why are you making a move to 3PL?
Places to follow up with Bill:
Follow Bill on Twitter: @BillDA
Bill’s Podcast: Acquisitions Anonymous (Apple, Spotify)
Work with Bill: www.elementsbrands.com
Places to follow up with me:
Follow me on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email me: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Creative is the key to success on Facebook Ads, right?
Right. But lots of brands aren't thinking strategically about the foundation underneath creative testing that makes it possible–which means they're REALLY not thinking about how to operationalize it into their business. That means they're leaving a lot of customers and profit on the table.
In this episode I walk through what drives great creative testing, and therefore profitable customer acquisition. It's obvious once I say it, but the implications are massive.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Andrew Campbell sits in a unique position: he's the Head of Data Science at the most ambitious project in all of ecommerce, OpenStore, which means he's thinking about ecommerce data & how to automate operational processes from a perspective that no one else is. So I grabbed 40 minutes of his time to talk about what's happening at OpenStore, what it's like to row in the Olympics, and why you should be at least trying Bid Caps for your Facebook Ads.
Follow Andrew Campbell on Twitter: @TheAndyCamps
Sell your business to OpenStore: https://open.store
Follow me on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email me: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with me: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
"We need to diversify our ad spend away from Facebook!"
That's one of the most common things I hear ecom operators & marketers say right now, and it's mostly a bad idea. In this episode, I'll explain to you why the better path is to focus more resolutely on the best opportunity for efficient customer acquisition at scale–Facebook–and only diversify if and when the conditions are right for it.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris
Email Andrew: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro Music: "Tell Me Mama" by The Devious Means
Outro Music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
It's the last day of my weeklong BFCM special! This week I've got 5 very short episodes with super ecom experts giving you ONE (and only one!) tip to maximize Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The best part? They're ALL still actionable for your teams, even this late in the game.
To close out the week, I just couldn't stay away from my business partner, friend, and former CTC & 4x400 colleague and boss, Taylor Holiday. Taylor's got one last tip for BFCM focused on making sure you understand your finances. As he's said elsewhere: the next DTC winners will be those who are operationally excellent, and he's got some help for you to do that here.
You can follow Taylor on Twitter at @TaylorHoliday, work with Common Thread Collective by visiting their website, and/or click here to check out CTC's learning & early stage growth community, Admission.
Follow me on Twitter at @andrewjfaris.
Work with me at www.ajfgrowth.com.
Email me with questions or thoughts at podcast@ajfgrowth.com.
Intro & outro music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
Day 4 of my weeklong BFCM special! This week I've got 5 very short episodes with super ecom experts giving you ONE (and only one!) tip to maximize Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The best part? They're ALL still actionable for your teams, even this late in the game.
Today's episode might be the silliest Andrew has ever gotten on this show while still being loaded with ecom insight, both of which are thanks to the guest, Cherene Aubert. Cherene is currently the Head of Growth at Bobbie Baby and formerly the Director of Strategy at Common Thread Collective, where she and Andrew got to work together. You will LOVE this episode.
You can follow Cherene on Twitter at @ChereneAubert (slide into DM's: she might even be willing to consult a little for your brand). You can also shop her incredible ecommerce store, Official Shoppe.
You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @andrewjfaris and explore working with him at www.ajfgrowth.com.
Intro & outro music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
It's Day 3 of my weeklong BFCM special: 5 very short episodes with super ecom experts giving you ONE (and only one!) tip to maximize Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The best part? They're ALL still actionable for your teams, even this late in the game.
Today on the show it's Lauren Schwarz, owner of The Loft 325, a creative agency that does one and only one thing: makes you ad creative that actually sells product. Lauren's got great input on the simple truth about BFCM creative.
You can follow Lauren on Twitter at @loft325 (www.twitter.com/loft325) or work with her and her team on either an ongoing creative retainer basis or just to get some well-crafted UGC by visiting www.theloft325.com.
You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) and explore working with him at www.ajfgrowth.com.
Intro & outro music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
It's Day 2 of my weeklong BFCM special: 5 very short episodes with super ecom experts giving you ONE (and only one!) tip to maximize Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The best part? They're ALL still actionable for your teams, even this late in the game.
This time we've got Sean Frank, founder and CEO of The Ridge, a 9-figure ecommerce brand run by absolute DTC marketing assassins. Sean has arguably the most actionable tip of the bunch for the week, and it caught Andrew totally by surprise.
If you love what Sean says here, follow him on Twitter at @seanecom, and be sure to buy yourself and someone you love some products from www.ridge.com during the holidays this year.
You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) and explore working with him at www.ajfgrowth.com.
Intro & Outro Music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
So begins a BFCM special: 5 very short episodes with super ecom experts giving you ONE (and only one!) tip to maximize Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The best part? They're ALL still actionable for your teams, even this late in the game.
First up: Jess Bachman from Fire Team, an ecom agency that has seen a whole lot of Black Fridays. Jess has killer advice about how to think about the relationship between Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday and what kinds of customers you should be targeting with each.
Reach out to Fire Team at www.fireteam.is and make sure to follow Jess on Twitter at @hirefireteam (www.twitter.com/hirefireteam).
You can follow Andrew on Twitter at @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) and explore working with him at www.ajfgrowth.com.
Intro & Outro Music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
Who are your ads talking to?
If you can't answer that question with real specificity, it's pretty unlikely that those ads will perform well. And in this episode, Andrew explains how to connect the specific value your product provides with the specific customers you're trying to sell to.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris). Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Mandi Moshay knows more than Andrew about retention marketing. It's that simple. So after Andrew told everyone "just send more email" back on The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Mandi responded with a, "Not so fast, pal" and they decided to have it out in a public format for the benefit of retention marketers and brand operators everywhere.
To work with Mandi, visit www.residentconsulting.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @mandimoshay (www.twitter.com/mandimoshay). Follow Alex P (@heyitsalexp) on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heyitsalexp Follow Chad Ross (@chadross_) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chadross_
Want to stay up with Andrew? Follow him on Twitter at @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) or work with him by visiting www.ajfgrowth.com.
Does it REALLY matter if companies spend time and money on meals, outings, parties, and retreats? Andrew thinks it REALLY does, and has some practical suggestions for how to invest in building relational capital in you organization and what those investments will yield when you do.
This episode is brought to you by Kynship. Learn more about Kynship by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3EbogtK
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro music: "Tell Me, Mama" by The Devious Means Outro music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
In today's short bonus follow-up with Bryan Porter from Simple Modern, Andrew wanted to hear more about the "new to mature" framework Bryan uses to analyze and strategize Simple Modern's approach to new revenue channels. So he asked him about it.
You can see the Boston Consulting Group's "Growth Share Matrix" by clicking here: https://www.smartinsights.com/marketing-planning/marketing-models/use-bcg-matrix/
Follow Bryan Porter on Twitter: @jbryanporter (www.twitter.com/jbryanporter) Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro & outro music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
Andrew is joined by Mike Beckham (CEO) and Bryan Porter (CEcomO), cofounders of Simple Modern to talk about how they built a 9-figure omnichannel drinkware behemoth. Andrew and the SM guys talk Amazon (where Bryan has led SM to be the #1 seller of drinkware on AMZ), wholesale strategy, and a whole bunch more.
This episode is brought to you by Kynship. Learn more about Kynship by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3rrGAYc
Simple Modern's Website: www.simplemodern.com Follow Mike Beckham on Twitter: @mikebeckhamsm (www.twitter.com/mikebeckhamsm) Follow Bryan Porter on Twitter: @jbryanporter (www.twitter.com/jbryanporter)
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro music: "Tell Me, Mama" by The Devious Means Outro music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
You can't have an ecommerce podcast without having a dedicated Black Friday/Cyber Monday episode, so here it is. Andrew talks about the offer, email, and ads strategy that drives BFCM success. Listen for a clear, practical, highly actionable episode approach to the most important weekend in the DTC calendar.
This episode is brought to you by Kynship. Learn more about Kynship by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3CsZROZ
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro music: "Tell Me, Mama" by The Devious Means Outro music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Bonus episode! Andrew grabs Patrick for an extra few minutes to talk specifically about the transaction process for Supply and his read on the current M&A market for pureplay DTC ecommerce businesses.
Follow Patrick on Twitter: @soundslikecanoe (www.twitter.com/soundslikecanoe) Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro & Outro Music: "Holiday" by The Devious Means
After founding the business with his wife in 2015 and grinding his way to high 7 figures this year, Patrick Coddou has sold Supply. Patrick & Andrew talk about the journey, the exit, and what it's really like to bootstrap your from a side gig to a sale.
Follow Patrick on Twitter: @soundslikecanoe (www.twitter.com/soundslikecanoe) Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com
Intro music: "Tell Me, Mama" by The Devious Means Outro music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means
Andrew has a new podcast to go with his new business, and for the first episode, he's telling you all about both with the candor you've come to expect if you listened to "The Ecommerce Playbook" before.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrewjfaris (www.twitter.com/andrewjfaris) Email Andrew about the podcast: podcast@ajfgrowth.com Work with Andrew: www.ajfgrowth.com.
Intro music: "Tell Me, Mama" by The Devious Means Outro music: "Rusty Little Scissors" by The Devious Means