How Simon Phillips Built, Lost, and Rebuilt Million-Dollar E-Commerce Brands: Lessons From Failure
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Release Date: 05/13/2025
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Ed Parcaut welcomes Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, to the Inner Edison Podcast for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Hear Nick share his compelling journey from humble beginnings as the child of Indian immigrants in Canada to hedge fund investor on Wall Street, and ultimately to turnaround CEO for multiple companies. Nick dives deep into the lessons learned from his upbringing, the immigrant work ethic, and how becoming a new parent has changed his perspective on life and business. Discover how Nick transitioned from Wall Street to running large...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this insightful episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Jared Jennings, the founder of Phantom Brands, to dive into the realities of starting and scaling a successful e-commerce and streetwear business. Discover how Jared transitioned from corporate sales to entrepreneurship, the hard-earned lessons from launching his own clothing brand during the pandemic, and the power of networking in the apparel industry. Jared also reveals the pitfalls he faced—from manufacturing headaches to a major social media hack—and how those tough moments became stepping stones...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Apple Podcast Description: In this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Jeff Trapp, an experienced tax strategist and founder of Tax Planning Pros. Jeff clarifies the differences between an Enrolled Agent (EA) and a CPA, shares candid stories about his path into the tax field, and offers practical advice for business owners on proactive tax planning. Listen in as Jeff reveals common tax mistakes, the importance of building your personal brand, and key tips for keeping your books in order. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Join host Ed Parcaut as he sits down with Milan Martin, founder of The Free Spirits Company, for an inspiring conversation about reinvention, creativity, and reimagining how we experience cocktails. With over 20 years in the advertising industry, Milan shares his journey from the high-pressure world of global ad agencies to launching a groundbreaking non-alcoholic spirits brand. Discover how Milan’s pursuit of creativity led him to challenge the very idea of what a great drink should be, and how he turned a simple question—"What if alcohol didn’t have to be the star?"—into a thriving...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this inspiring episode of the Inner Edison podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Robert Hunt—CEO peer group facilitator, executive coach, and author of "Nobody Cares Until You Do." Robert opens up about his unconventional shift from corporate marketing leader to entrepreneur, why he never planned on starting his own business, and how desperation forced him to carve a new path. Robert shares candid lessons from his own setbacks, including confronting financial hardships, making tough family decisions, and finding the courage to sell his home in order to rebuild. He reveals the inner...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this insightful episode of the Ed Parcaut Podcast, Ed sits down with Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit and host of the LearnItAll podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about personal growth, career pivots, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence. Damon shares his journey from being drafted twice by Major League Baseball teams to navigating imposter syndrome and ultimately finding his passion in leading a tech-learning company. Together, Ed and Damon dive deep into the world of podcasting, the evolution of technology from floppy disks to cloud-based learning, and how AI is...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Simon Phillips, a New Zealand-based entrepreneur with a remarkable journey through the highs and lows of building e-commerce brands and agencies. Simon opens up about launching his first successful brand at 19, scaling it to seven figures, and then losing it all—only to bounce back with a new agency and, ultimately, a powerful accelerator program for e-commerce businesses. Through candid discussions, Simon shares hard-earned insights on what it really takes to build, lose, and rebuild both business and self-belief....
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this insightful episode, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Chris Miles—entrepreneur, money expert, and creator of the Money Ripples podcast. Chris shares his candid journey from traditional financial planner to becoming financially free—twice—and reveals the hard lessons he learned along the way. The conversation dives into the real-life challenges of building wealth, surviving the 2008 crash, and how true financial independence is about building streams of income rather than simply accumulating a nest egg. Listen as Chris and Ed break down myths about financial advising, investing for...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Join Ed Parcaut as he sits down with Dave Behar in this intriguing episode of the Ed Parcaut Podcast. Dave, a seasoned professional in the mortgage industry, takes us on a journey through the ever-evolving landscape of real estate in Southern California, particularly in San Diego. Dive deep as Dave shares insights into the value surges in places like San Clemente and Rancho Santa Fe over the years. Beyond real estate, Ed and Dave explore the fascinating world of media, discussing Dave's unexpected journey into building the "Ion" brand and the challenges faced along the way. With a focus on...
info_outlineInner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Join host Ed Parcaut as he sits down with marketing expert James Hipkin on the Inner Edison podcast. James shares his unique journey from a music degree graduate to a global marketing strategist, highlighting key experiences in rock and roll, ad agencies, and international business. Discover the strategic principles that have driven his success and why understanding your customer is crucial in today's digital age. James breaks down the evolution of marketing, discussing how timeless principles apply even with the advent of AI and digital tools. He shares insights into crafting the right...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Simon Phillips, a New Zealand-based entrepreneur with a remarkable journey through the highs and lows of building e-commerce brands and agencies. Simon opens up about launching his first successful brand at 19, scaling it to seven figures, and then losing it all—only to bounce back with a new agency and, ultimately, a powerful accelerator program for e-commerce businesses.
Through candid discussions, Simon shares hard-earned insights on what it really takes to build, lose, and rebuild both business and self-belief. The conversation covers the pitfalls of working with agencies, the shift to training internal teams, the power of niching down for business growth, and the crucial balance between personal development and professional success. You’ll also hear their thoughts on leveraging AI, building community, and why focusing on your core customer is more important than ever.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or anyone seeking inspiration through adversity, Simon’s story and Ed’s wisdom will leave you with valuable takeaways on resilience, reinvention, and the importance of both inner and outer work in business.
Learn more about Simon Phillips at E-commerce Accelerator.
Tune in, get inspired, and discover why your greatest confidence often comes from your greatest defeats.
**Contact Ed Parcaut:**
- 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com)
- 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)
#InnerEdisonPodcast #EdParcaut #SimonPhillips #Ecommerce #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #MetaAds #DigitalMarketing #BrandBuilding #NicheMarketing #Veterans #CommunityBuilding #AgencyLife #MindsetMatters #PersonalGrowth #MarketingStrategy #Authenticity #OvercomingFailure #BusinessLessons #PodcastHighlights