Ecommerce Wizards Podcast
The Ecommerce Wizards podcast features top leaders in e-commerce and business to discuss proven strategies and trends from people in the trenches.
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Why Shortening the Cash Conversion Cycle is Crucial With Matt Putra
06/08/2023
Why Shortening the Cash Conversion Cycle is Crucial With Matt Putra
Matt Putra is an experienced financial executive with a long career spent with small businesses and conducting long-term forecasting for ecommerce brands. He is a Fractional CFO for EightX, a company specializing in predicting the pattern, future, and profit for businesses in any industry. Matt has worked with many businesses, including Tru Earth, The Tumeric Co., Lusomé, Community Forward Fund, and New Market Funds. Additionally, he works closely with entrepreneurs to help them establish new businesses. In this episode… The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is a metric that many businesses don’t consider enough. How many days does your ecommerce business take to convert sales into cash? Cash is everything for ecommerce businesses. Sales are essential, but cash management is even more important for long-term health. Many young companies neglect this aspect and suffer in the long run, leaving potential growth on the table or burning out. A handful of incredible tips can help online brands shorten their CCC. Guillaume Le Tual again joins Matt Putra, a Fractional CFO at EightX, to discuss CCC in-depth and what ecommerce businesses should improve about their process. They dive into the four steps Matt suggests for brands, why the subject matters so much, and how even small changes can make massive differences. They also go through inventory pricing and adding more value on the back end.
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How to Financially Structure Your Ecommerce Business With Matt Putra
06/01/2023
How to Financially Structure Your Ecommerce Business With Matt Putra
Matt Putra is an experienced financial executive with a long career spent with small businesses and conducting long-term forecasting for ecommerce brands. He is a Fractional CFO for EightX, a company specializing in predicting the pattern, future, and profit for businesses in any industry. Matt has worked with many businesses, including Tru Earth, The Tumeric Co., Lusomé, Community Forward Fund, and New Market Funds. Additionally, he works closely with entrepreneurs to help them establish new businesses. In this episode… Are you an ecommerce entrepreneur struggling to get a handle on your finances? When starting a business, getting a foothold on your finances is one of the most complex and vital aspects of your endeavor. You may face a myriad of financial hiccups, strains, and issues. You can get advice on improving logistics, but that doesn’t address your financial structure or the effects of inventory levels on cash flow. Should you take out a loan or secure a line of credit? Entrepreneurs need sound financial advice and long-term solutions so they can concentrate on growing a thriving business. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual speaks with Matt Putra, a Fractional CFO at EightX, about properly structuring your finances as an ecommerce company. They discuss the best loans, properly using a line of credit, how to handle inventory spikes, and keeping money for continual growth. Matt also talks about how to handle yourself when approaching lenders.
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Selling an Ecommerce Business: Valuation, Deal Structure, and Legal Pitfalls To Avoid
05/25/2023
Selling an Ecommerce Business: Valuation, Deal Structure, and Legal Pitfalls To Avoid
Paul Rafelson is a Partner at Rafelson Law Firm, which focuses exclusively on ecommerce business concerns. With over 15 years of experience, he has in-depth knowledge of tax, litigation, and M&A legal matters and is regularly cited by the press when it comes to Amazon and ecommerce. The House Antitrust Committee used him as a primary resource in its report on Amazon’s business practices. Before his private practice, Paul worked as an in-house attorney at Microsoft, Walmart, and General Electric. He is also a professor at Pace University School of Law in New York, where he teaches constitutional law on state taxation. In this episode… Most of the advice available for ecommerce businesses centers around building and growing the company. However, questions for entrepreneurs interested in selling and exiting remain, including what’s a fair price and what issues deserve special attention. As an experienced ecommerce attorney, Paul Rafelson has extensive knowledge in the complex world of mergers and acquisitions. With many moving parts, the process of selling your business and having a successful exit needs special attention. Paul knows that having someone to help you navigate these matters is essential, especially for Amazon sellers. Having legal counsel at your side will help prevent a deal from going sideways and ensure you get the best return possible. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Paul Rafelson, Partner at Rafelson Law, to talk about selling an ecommerce or Amazon seller business. They go through the entire process, including appropriate expectations, how much you should receive upfront, considering economies of scale, and the legalities involved in selling your business.
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How To Drive Traffic and Acquire Customers for Your eCommerce Store With Brent O’Brien
05/18/2023
How To Drive Traffic and Acquire Customers for Your eCommerce Store With Brent O’Brien
Brent O’Brien is the Senior Ecommerce Manager at Pactimo, a cycling clothing and custom team apparel store. As a dynamic and motivated ecommerce manager, he brings 10-plus years of experience to the table. He has developed marketing and sales strategies at companies such as Yeti and Truewerk. Before his ecommerce career, Brent worked in the football programs at several universities. In this episode… Every ecommerce store is looking for simple ways to drive traffic and increase sales. Unfortunately, it can be complex to decipher what may be the best plan of attack and often requires someone with experience to map it out. To learn the most effective strategies, you should learn from those with a proven track record. With a wealth of experience as an ecommerce manager and marketing leader, Brent O’Brien knows the tricks of the trade. At Pactimo, he has propelled the company toward furthering its success by growing its ecommerce DTC clothing line. When you know how to use the strategic intricacies of directing, attracting, and retaining customers using exemplary methods, you will boost your bottom line. So what are Brent’s secrets? In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Brent O’Brien, Senior Ecommerce Manager at Pactimo, to discuss his approach to acquiring customers and improving sales. They touch on the company’s best strategies, average order value, maximizing the checkout process, and how to use free trials of apps to your advantage.
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How to Grow and Thrive as a SaaS Startup With Tom Kulzer, CEO of AWeber
05/11/2023
How to Grow and Thrive as a SaaS Startup With Tom Kulzer, CEO of AWeber
Tom Kulzer is the CEO and Founder of AWeber, a company he started in 1998 to guide small businesses in fostering more engaging customer relationships and designing effective email marketing. Tom grew the company from zero to 300,000 clients through his unique take on market strategy and team building. Due to his dedication to building a thriving and unique workplace culture, AWeber has been voted one of Pennsylvania's Best Places to Work 10 years in a row. In this episode… Bootstrapping can be a formidable method of financing a startup. There are many unknowns and hurdles to overcome, especially when it’s your first venture. For SaaS companies, getting your name out there and establishing a demand for your offering is also necessary. Tom Kulzer started AWeber 25 years ago and turned a startup into a reliable software company. His email marketing strategies are already respected, but now he explains how he grew his business from the ground up. In this episode of Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual invites Tom Kulzer, the Founder and CEO of AWeber, back onto the show to talk about how he nurtured his startup. They touch on the early days, how Tom cultivated his initial audience, and how he established customers. The two also discuss the potential pitfalls of a budding business and finding people to grow with the company.
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How To Optimize Merchandising for Your Ecommerce Store With Antony Kattukaran of Tagalys
05/04/2023
How To Optimize Merchandising for Your Ecommerce Store With Antony Kattukaran of Tagalys
Antony “Tony” Kattukaran is an entrepreneur, ecommerce veteran, and skilled technology partner. He is the Founder and CEO of Tagalys, a company that reimagines visual product merchandising for other businesses. He has founded three companies and has served trusted companies such as Deloitte and Johnson Controls AG. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Tony invests time listening to his customers to understand their needs. In this episode… Merchandising and ecommerce go hand in hand, yet many stores neglect to give it the attention it deserves. The details of optimal merchandising can be highly variable and difficult to nail down. When handled properly, the improvement to a company’s presence and sales can be immense. Antony “Tony” Kattukaran is an entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in merchandising and ecommerce. His company, Tagalys, focuses on the visual and sales components of merchandising, working with brands such as Speck and Fila. His insights can make a massive difference in your online business. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Tony Kattukaran, the Founder and CEO of Tagalys, about how to improve your merchandising, touching on the importance of the process and what should be prioritized for ecommerce storefronts. They also give practical advice on when to recommend products, show out-of-stock merchandise, and use AI technology.
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The Good, the Bad, and the Honest Truth About Adobe Commerce With Tyler Sperry
04/27/2023
The Good, the Bad, and the Honest Truth About Adobe Commerce With Tyler Sperry
Tyler Sperry is an experienced e-commerce specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and publishing industries. As the Director of E-commerce and Affiliates at America’s Test Kitchen, he oversees the presentation of products across e-commerce, physical retail, and third-party distribution. Tyler is skilled in procurement, merchandising, social media, online marketing, and project management. He previously worked as a Buyer for BJ’s Wholesale Club and as a Sales and Events Manager at KarmaLoop. In this episode… Are you an e-commerce company considering a change to your commerce platform? It’s essential to weigh your options and pick one that fits your needs. Selecting the right e-commerce platform can be tricky. Not only is it difficult to know which is best, but it is hard to know if it will stay that way. Companies change over time, and some platforms lack the flexibility to adapt alongside your business. Adobe Commerce is a popular option, but it may not be perfect for every shop. So what are some of the key advantages and limitations of the platform? On this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Tyler Sperry, the Director of E-commerce and Affiliates for America’s Test Kitchen, to discuss his experience with Adobe Commerce. Tyler touches on the company’s first platform, why they changed to Adobe, and some of their experiences with it. They also offer advice to those considering making a transition.
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5 Common Email Marketing Mistakes With Reinis Krumins of AgencyJR
04/20/2023
5 Common Email Marketing Mistakes With Reinis Krumins of AgencyJR
Reinis Krumins is the Co-founder of AgencyJR, helping e-commerce businesses scale quickly through their unique product launch formula. They specialize in email marketing for seven and eight-figure brands. AgencyJR is the second marketing service he founded; his first was Sprelf Media in 2018. Reinis is also the Product Director for Frozen Ventures, LLC and has a background in social media graphic design. In this episode… In a previous episode, Guillaume and Reinis spoke about the viability of email marketing and how it can increase revenue. Yet there are many mistakes that companies make when starting out. There are a lot of minute details that can hold back the potential of the model. It is important to not only be aware of them but know how to solve any missteps. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Reinis Krumins returns to talk about the five biggest email marketing mistakes companies make. He and Guillaume discuss the importance of email structuring, segmentation, using TikTok, and getting more out of repeat customers. They also touch on brand consistency and how it applies to emails.
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Email Marketing Optimization for Ecommerce Stores With Reinis Krumins of AgencyJR
04/13/2023
Email Marketing Optimization for Ecommerce Stores With Reinis Krumins of AgencyJR
Reinis Krumins is the Co-founder of AgencyJR, helping e-commerce businesses scale quickly through their unique product launch formula. They specialize in email marketing for seven and eight-figure brands. AgencyJR is the second marketing service he founded; his first was Sprelf Media in 2018. Reinis is also the Product Director for Frozen Ventures, LLC and has a background in social media graphic design. In this episode… Email marketing can be an afterthought for many online businesses. Most people are familiar with the constant barrage of meaningless emails that wind up costing more than they generate revenue. However, there is a better way to use emails that can lead to significant increases in sales. Reinis Krumins co-founded AgencyJR in 2019 to help other businesses use emails that actually convert. Its process has been refined over the years, with clients seeing an average boost of $127,000 in monthly email sales. So what do you need to know about the system for your own business? Guillaume Le Tual interviews Reinis Krumins, the Co-founder of AgencyJR, to discuss a better way of using email marketing. They talk about how to bring in and keep customers, Black Friday emails, and product launches. The two also talk over the experience you can only get when working with established brands. Hear the rest on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast.
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Wealth-Building & Tax Saving Strategies for Ecommerce Store Owners and Entrepreneurs in USA & Canada
04/06/2023
Wealth-Building & Tax Saving Strategies for Ecommerce Store Owners and Entrepreneurs in USA & Canada
As President of Insogna CPA, Chase Insogna is passionate about helping small businesses and their owners with accounting, tax strategy, and wealth building. Since its inception in 2011, Chase has grown the business to include a team of highly-trained professionals that use tech-savvy solutions to create efficiencies and provide expertly designed and transparent advisory, coaching, planning, and strategy. In this episode… Are you a small business owner who’s focused on growing your business? That’s one crucial aspect of running a business, but how much planning have you put into your long-term goals? For many business owners, much of their focus is absorbed in growing the business. Although that’s essential for success, it doesn’t take wealth-building into account. You don’t want to spend your whole life growing and reinvesting profits back into the business and have little to show for it at retirement. That’s where a trusted advisor comes in to help prepare you with long-term planning, including where to invest, how to build wealth, and how to get the most out of tax-saving strategies. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual has an informative conversation with Chase Insogna, the President of Insogna CPA, about wealth management and tax-saving strategies. They talk about various topics such as C Corps versus S Corps, forecasting and planning cash flow, and forming a financial safety net. The two also talk about personal finance tips for business owners at each stage of growth.
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The Seven Stages of Growth for Entrepreneurs With Preston Brown
03/30/2023
The Seven Stages of Growth for Entrepreneurs With Preston Brown
Preston Brown is a speaker, entrepreneur, consultant, and real estate guru. He is the Owner of Zia Homes, a luxury home builder located in El Paso, Texas. He works closely with other entrepreneurs and business leaders to scale effectively and discover their purpose. As a speaker, Preston orates extensively on culture, entrepreneurial growth, business, and achieving financial freedom. In this episode… Entrepreneurs are faced with thousands of thought leaders, books, blogs, and opinions on how to succeed. The sheer volume can be intimidating and confusing, with contradictory information becoming more abundant. There are several pitfalls to avoid, including the personal and the business side of starting a business. With all of this in mind, how do you find actionable steps toward being a successful entrepreneur? Preston Brown is an entrepreneur who helps others start and scale their businesses. Through his personal success, he has taken his tenants and synthesized them into a simplified list. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual invites Preston Brown onto the show to discuss the essentials for entrepreneurs. They break down the seven steps and the keys to securing each one. They touch on a host of valuable wealth-building and management topics, including the best ways to invest. The two also discuss employees, software, automation, and much, much more.
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How To Use Email Marketing To Boost Customer Lifetime Value for Your Ecommerce Brand
03/23/2023
How To Use Email Marketing To Boost Customer Lifetime Value for Your Ecommerce Brand
Tom Kulzer is the CEO and Founder of AWeber, a company he started in 1998 to guide small businesses in fostering more engaging customer relationships and designing effective email marketing. Tom grew the company from zero to 300,000 clients through his unique take on market strategy and team building. Due to his dedication to building a thriving and unique workplace culture, AWeber has been voted one of Pennsylvania's Best Places to Work 10 years in a row. In this episode… Email marketing is an often misused tool. For many people, emails feel stiff and forced and lack helpful information or offer them anything they truly want. How can ecommerce brands use email marketing to engage customers and boost their lifetime value? AWeber is an agency that helps small businesses connect with their clients and communicate more effectively through emails. Their version of email marketing is far more organic, inviting, and effective than many other simple solutions. The result is a vital marketing tool that will exceed expectations. So what do you need to know to get started? In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual invites Tom Kulzer, the CEO and Founder of AWeber, to break down the essentials of email marketing for ecommerce businesses. Tom walks through the most common mistakes and the small tweaks that can lead to huge improvements. They also address the terms of service for email platforms, selling to other businesses, and the best ways to collect new subscribers.
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[Mini Series] Merchant Testimonial: How To Grow Using Less With the Adobe Magento Commerce Platform
03/16/2023
[Mini Series] Merchant Testimonial: How To Grow Using Less With the Adobe Magento Commerce Platform
Erik Dotzauer is the Ecommerce Manager at DocShop Pro, a one-stop-shop medical supply marketplace that also provides a customizable inventory management system for clinical offices. He has served in a host of leadership and marketing positions, including Senior Magento Project Manager and Team Lead at Human Element and Director of Athletics Marketing at Eastern Michigan University. His early career was spent in city and community development. In this episode… Every online marketplace is made or broken by its ecommerce platform. The customer experience, data management, and usability have lasting repercussions that can lead to meaningful growth. While there are many areas in business that taking shortcuts can be justified, your platform should be a priority. Few companies understand this principle better than DocShop Pro. As a massive online storefront for medical practices, DocShop Pro has grown considerably over the last decade. A major component of this success has come from adopting a more capable ecommerce platform. And you can hear all about it in this episode. Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Erik Dotzauer, Ecommerce Manager at DocShop Pro, on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to discuss Erik’s experience with Adobe Commerce. They talk about the company’s eight years of growth, the necessary changes they made, and how they functioned both online and offline. Erik also details how DocShop's ecommerce platform helped accelerate its growth.
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Referral Marketing & Word-of-Mouth Tactics To Grow Your Ecommerce Store With Jay Gibb of Cloudsponge
03/09/2023
Referral Marketing & Word-of-Mouth Tactics To Grow Your Ecommerce Store With Jay Gibb of Cloudsponge
Jay Gibb is an entrepreneur, developer, consultant, and the CEO and Founder of CloudSponge. Since 2010, the company has helped ecommerce businesses increase their sharing volume and referral email open rates. He spent over 22 years at Arizona Bay as a principal engineer and partner and recently joined Verto as VP of Product Strategy. Throughout his career, Jay developed specialties in software development management and product design, software architecture, and process definition and execution. In this episode… Every ecommerce store is looking to grow by leaps and bounds, but few have their websites and processes optimized. Substantial improvements can be highly effective, but so can minor tweaks. There are many tactics that can lead to long-term advancement and repeat customers, but they’re easy to overlook. Jay Gibb is an entrepreneur and ecommerce expert who helps business leaders in this exact situation. So what are his tips and tricks? Guillaume Le Tual invites Jay Gibb, the Founder and CEO of CloudSponge, to talk about effective ecommerce tactics on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast. They discuss the best way to get referrals and leverage address books to your advantage. They also go through emails, coupons, and keeping your customer on your website longer. Stay tuned to hear all of this and more.
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How To Grow Quickly as an Ecommerce Startup With Omar Soliman of Couryah!
03/02/2023
How To Grow Quickly as an Ecommerce Startup With Omar Soliman of Couryah!
Omar Soliman is the Co-founder and COO of Couryah, a Canadian-based online on-demand delivery platform launched in 2019 designed to be a one-stop-shop for your needs — from grocery stores to drug stores to restaurants and more. Originally from Cairo, Omar moved with his family to Canada in 2007 and dove head-first into ecommerce and marketing. He has an extensive background in business analysis and raising customer service standards. His previous positions include Manager of Franchise Performance at Restaurant Brands International and Business and Operations Analyst at Citco Group. Additionally, Atlantic Business Magazine recognized him as one of its 30 Under 30 Innovators. In this episode… Every startup wants to hit the ground running, but how many actually accomplish that goal? The current ecommerce landscape is filled with tough competition and several pitfalls for new businesses. However, some startups have found quick success through a combination of preparation and strategy. Couryah is a grocery delivery platform that rose to the occasion. Now you can learn exactly how they did it. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual hosts Omar Soliman, the Co-founder and COO of Couryah, to discuss how they handled their overnight success. They break down the platform and the advantages of their product. They also touch on the competition, starting their business with minimal capital, and Omar’s advice for other entrepreneurs.
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How a Magento Master Balances Employee Happiness and Success With Brent Peterson of Talk Commerce
02/23/2023
How a Magento Master Balances Employee Happiness and Success With Brent Peterson of Talk Commerce
Brent Peterson is an entrepreneur, commerce evangelist, and a Magento Master. His podcast, Talk Commerce, is designed to help entrepreneurs know how to start, grow, and scale their businesses through the lens of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and marketers. Before he sold it, Brent was the President and Co-founder of Wagento, a full-service Magento ecommerce development agency specializing in SEO, web design, and the Magento platform. Speaking at Magento events worldwide, he’s given presentations, keynotes, and held workshops. In addition, he is an active member and the SAP Chairperson of the Minnesota Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. In this episode… Employee happiness is a nebulous concept; however, it’s evident that happier employees lead to stronger businesses, but many companies still fail to invest in their teams. When top talent leaves, it trickles down into all aspects of the organization. So what can you do to attract and retain valuable employees in this competitive environment? From his experience mentoring Wagento’s project team on a customer and employee-centric approach to communications and project management, Brent Peterson has gained many insights into employee happiness. It takes more than offering a big paycheck for companies to attract and retain talent in today’s job market. Employees have the power of negotiation since the jobless rate is so low, which means businesses big and small have to compete with each other, keeping employee happiness at the forefront. On this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual speaks with Brent Peterson, the host of Talk Commerce, to discuss employee happiness and its direct influence on business success. They touch on the hiring process, keeping star talent, the challenge of having a remote team, and system modifications that benefit everyone. Brent also goes through the expectations of employees and businesses and how they relate to each other.
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Are You Properly Monitoring Your Cybersecurity? With René-Sylvain Bédard of Indominus
02/16/2023
Are You Properly Monitoring Your Cybersecurity? With René-Sylvain Bédard of Indominus
René-Sylvain Bédard is the Founding CEO of Indominus, the President and Chairman of the Board for its consulting arm, and the Chairman of the Board for the AI arm of the business. Indominus is an innovative IT firm that provides comprehensive strategic support, develops cybersecurity programs, and leads major technological transformation projects, applying automation and artificial intelligence to company operations to help them scale and grow. René-Sylvain has an extensive career spanning 25 years with clients such as Hilton, Bell Canada, the Toronto Montreal Stock Exchange (TMX), and various municipal government agencies. He is a recognized Microsoft partner and has previously worked with HP and Dell. He is also an entrepreneur and public speaker in the areas of infrastructure and cybersecurity. In this episode… On the last episode with René-Sylvain Bédard, he and Guillaume discussed cybersecurity and potential pitfalls to avoid. Now, they dive deeper into visibility. Preventing cyberattacks is crucial, but having an incident monitoring system in place is equally, if not more, important. Many companies have blindspots in their detection systems, leaving vulnerable windows for potential attackers. So now that you’ve taken a step towards greater security, how can you finalize that shift with better visibility? In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, René-Sylvain Bédard returns to talk with Guillaume Le Tual about the visibility of cyberattacks. They touch on the concept of “eyes on console,” various systems that can notify ecommerce businesses, and why you must implement protection across all devices.
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How To Take Your Company’s Cybersecurity To the Next Level With René-Sylvain Bédard of Indominus
02/09/2023
How To Take Your Company’s Cybersecurity To the Next Level With René-Sylvain Bédard of Indominus
René-Sylvain Bédard is the Founding CEO of Indominus, the President and Chairman of the Board for its consulting arm, and the Chairman of the Board for the AI arm of the business. Indominus is an innovative IT firm that provides comprehensive strategic support, develops cybersecurity programs, and leads major technological transformation projects, applying automation and artificial intelligence to company operations to help them scale and grow. René-Sylvain has an extensive career spanning 25 years with clients such as Hilton, Bell Canada, the Toronto Montreal Stock Exchange (TMX), and various municipal government agencies. He is a recognized Microsoft partner and has previously worked with HP and Dell. He is also an entrepreneur and public speaker in the areas of infrastructure and cybersecurity. In this episode… Cybersecurity can be a nebulous concept for many ecommerce businesses. Everyone can acknowledge the importance without adequately investing in their own protection. The result is weak systems that are prone to disaster, costing companies far more than they ever would have spent on security. It’s not only important to focus on cybersecurity but to find the right people who can properly implement it. René-Sylvain Bédard is an expert on cybersecurity and the present danger of cyberattacks. He started his company, Indominus, to help other companies navigate their journeys toward better prevention and restoration. So what do you need to know to keep your company safe? In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual interviews René-Sylvain Bédard, Founding CEO of Indominus, to discuss the most critical aspects of cybersecurity for ecommerce businesses. They break down the current state of cyberattacks, necessary training and protections, and how to identify threats. They also go through two-factor authentication, tokenization, and much more.
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Crucial Advice & Strategies for Selling an Eight-Figure Business With Nathan Hirsch of EcomBalance
02/02/2023
Crucial Advice & Strategies for Selling an Eight-Figure Business With Nathan Hirsch of EcomBalance
With over 13 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Nathan Hirsch is a knowledgeable ecommerce leader and a successful founder. He is the Co-founder and CEO of EcomBalance, which offers simple bookkeeping services for growing ecommerce brands. He co-founded and eventually sold FreeeUp, which provided online business owners a more reliable and faster way to hire talented workers online. Nathan also co-founded Outsource School to help companies find virtual assistants. Most recently, he launched the sister company of EcomBalance, and AccountsBalance was born and provides bookkeeping services to agencies, SaaS, and online businesses. At the beginning of his career, Nathan got his start selling textbooks through Amazon, and he and his co-founder eventually scaled it to $5 million. In this episode… In the last episode, Guillaume spoke with Nathan Hirsch about how to scale a business from nothing to eight figures. Now they touch on the next step for many entrepreneurs: How do you successfully sell and exit your business? There are countless pitfalls you need to be aware of when selling. Higher numbers are not always better, and many unsuspecting entrepreneurs have missed the proper way to exit. Since Nathan and his business partner successfully navigated their own deal, he wants to offer those same insights to you. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual interviews Nathan Hirsch, the Co-founder and CEO of EcomBalance, to detail how to successfully sell an eight-figure business. They talk about the success that led to exiting, how to maximize your company’s value, and strategies for negotiating the best possible deal. Stay tuned to hear all of the essential advice for yourself!
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How To Scale an Ecommerce Startup To Eight Figures With Nathan Hirsch of EcomBalance
01/26/2023
How To Scale an Ecommerce Startup To Eight Figures With Nathan Hirsch of EcomBalance
With over 13 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Nathan Hirsch is a knowledgeable ecommerce leader and a successful founder. He is the Co-founder and CEO of EcomBalance, which offers simple bookkeeping services for growing ecommerce brands. He co-founded and eventually sold FreeeUp, which provided online business owners a more reliable and faster way to hire talented workers online. Nathan also co-founded Outsource School to help companies find virtual assistants. Most recently, he launched the sister company of EcomBalance, and AccountsBalance was born and provides bookkeeping services to agencies, SaaS, and online businesses. At the beginning of his career, Nathan got his start selling textbooks through Amazon, and he and his co-founder eventually scaled it to $5 million. In this episode… Every entrepreneur wants to know the keys to launching a successful ecommerce startup. What about the challenge of starting from scratch and working up to eight-figure revenue? This process is difficult but not impossible, and few know this better than Nathan Hirsch. Starting in his college dorm room, Nathan quickly built his side hustle into a full-blown business. Since then, he has started and successfully operated several other companies using the same winning principles. One of his more recent ventures is Outsource School, having scaled the business from zero to eight figures of income. Now he explains the process he uses that makes his companies thrive. On this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual talks with Nathan Hirsch, the Co-founder of Outsource School, the Co-founder and CEO of EcomBalance, and the Co-founder of FreeeUp, about his advice and strategies for launching his businesses from the ground up. They talk about Nathan’s entrepreneurial background, the internal structures his teams used, and how they got the word out about their brand. They also take time to break down Outsource School’s approach to hiring and freelancing.
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Untapped Potential: What’s the Future of SMS Mobile Ecommerce Checkout? With Osa Gaius of Parrot
01/19/2023
Untapped Potential: What’s the Future of SMS Mobile Ecommerce Checkout? With Osa Gaius of Parrot
Osayame (Osa) Gaius is a software engineer with extensive experience and is the Founder and CEO of Parrot, an end-to-end payment solution that uses SMS to drive a better checkout experience. Before Parrot, he served as the Vice President of BlackRock and was a senior software engineer for both MailChimp and Luma. Having grown up in Nigeria, Osa went from having minimal computing exposure to being an ecommerce software development expert. He received his bachelor’s in computer science from the University of West Georgia and worked as a research intern at Texas A&M University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In this episode… Do people tend not to open your emails? Would you like to implement a more effective way of deploying your ecommerce marketing strategy to engage with customers? While emails have been the most common method of collecting information and creating accounts, it is not the only one. In fact, emails are only opened approximately 20-30% of the time compared to SMS, which hits about 90-95%. SMS messaging is a more direct and friendlier approach and has made it easier for ecommerce brands to interact with consumers to drive sales. So, what do you need to know to get started? Guillaume Le Tual invites Osa Gaius, the Founder and CEO of Parrot, back onto the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to dive into SMS checkout and what the future holds for SMS mobile ecommerce. They talk about the unique advantages of the model, the differences between SMS and emails, and how to leverage the strategy for increased upselling and cross-selling. They also touch on the common mistakes most ecommerce brands make along the way and how to avoid them.
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What Should You Know About Raising Capital and Starting a Tech Business? With Osa Gaius of Parrot
01/12/2023
What Should You Know About Raising Capital and Starting a Tech Business? With Osa Gaius of Parrot
Osayame (Osa) Gaius is a software engineer with extensive experience and is the Founder and CEO of Parrot, an end-to-end payment solution that uses SMS to drive a better checkout experience. Before Parrot, he served as the Vice President of BlackRock and was a senior software engineer for both MailChimp and Luma. Having grown up in Nigeria, Osa went from having minimal computing exposure to being an ecommerce software development expert. He received his bachelor’s in computer science from the University of West Georgia and worked as a research intern at Texas A&M University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In this episode… Successfully launching a startup is a daunting task for anyone. Even seasoned entrepreneurs encounter new problems and obstacles when starting a new business. The process is as exciting as it is difficult, so advice is essential to getting it right from the beginning. Osa Gaius quit his job and started a company, but he needed investors to make it work and take it to the next level. His friends and family initially helped, but he needed to acquire venture capital to explode the business. At the onset, he had to deal with the challenges of the pandemic while pitching his product to investors. Osa found success with his company, Parrot, having run a successful fundraising campaign of over $2 million. Now he shares his knowledge and his experience with you. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual interviews Osa Gaius, the Founder and CEO of Parrot, on launching a successful startup. They break down Osa’s introduction to entrepreneurship, building an MVP, and acquiring free users to fuel growth. They also touch on the best ways to acquire and utilize venture capital after fundraising.
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Why To Implement Adobe Commerce Into Your Ecommerce Store With Anna Taylor of Supply America
01/05/2023
Why To Implement Adobe Commerce Into Your Ecommerce Store With Anna Taylor of Supply America
Anna Taylor is the Director of Digital and Marketing Projects at Supply America, Inc., a food service business dedicated to distribution solutions for chain businesses, multi-unit operators, and national companies. She has nearly two decades of experience executing cross-functional projects and UX and UI systems. Anna worked in marketing and ecommerce at TriMark USA and SG Commerce LLC before joining Supply America. In this episode… Have you considered upgrading your ecommerce platform to improve the customer experience and diversify your audience? Ecommerce platforms can be a powerful tool for reaching your business goals and increasing profitability. So, how do you know what platform is best for you? With nearly two decades in the ecommerce and marketing arena, Anna Taylor knows the ins and outs of selecting an ecommerce platform, why choosing the right one is key, and why Adobe Commerce and its capabilities may be the right choice for your business. One of the essential considerations is adaptability as your company scales. You don’t want to go two or three years and suddenly, your platform is antiquated and needs a complete overhaul. Anna recommends assessing your company goals to determine the functionality and customization you’ll need to support your growth to decide whether Adobe Commerce could be a perfect fit for your ecommerce business. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual sits down with Anna Taylor, Director of Digital and Marketing Projects at Supply America, to discuss choosing the right commerce platform. Anna explains the importance of future-proofing, assessing your company’s growth playbook, what integrations you want, and why Adobe Commerce may be the right ecommerce platform for your business.
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How To Improve Your Hosting Performance on Adobe Commerce With Josh Ward of Nexcess
12/29/2022
How To Improve Your Hosting Performance on Adobe Commerce With Josh Ward of Nexcess
Josh Ward is the VP of Sales at Nexcess, a business that provides managed hosting services for WordPress, Magento, and other ecommerce platforms. In his role, he helps the sales team, processes, and marketing initiatives at Nexcess and assists with recruiting. He spent the first decade of his career switching from IT manager to system administration before transitioning to marketing. In addition to his career, Josh is also the President of Gateway All Sports Booster Club, where he supports students by raising funds for facilities, equipment, and uniforms. In this episode… On the last episode with Josh Ward, he broke down the key differences between PWA and standard Magento builds. Now he goes into depth on optimizing hosting performance. Even with the perfect web application, many optimizations still need to be made to your hosting capabilities. Many ecommerce brands are missing out on their full potential by failing to ask the right questions and look in the right places. Now you will find out exactly what you need to know. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual invites Josh Ward, the VP of Sales at Nexcess, back onto the show to talk about improving your hosting performance on Adobe Commerce. They go through topics such as CDNs, knowing when and how to split your database, strategically planning for traffic spikes, and much more.
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Benefits and Best Practices: PWA Headless Magento Versus Regular Build With Josh Ward of Nexcess
12/22/2022
Benefits and Best Practices: PWA Headless Magento Versus Regular Build With Josh Ward of Nexcess
Josh Ward is the VP of Sales at Nexcess, a business that provides managed hosting services for WordPress, Magento, and other ecommerce platforms. In his role, he helps the sales team, processes, and marketing initiatives at Nexcess and assists with recruiting. He spent the first decade of his career switching from IT manager to system administration before transitioning to marketing. In addition to his career, Josh is also the President of Gateway All Sports Booster Club, where he supports students by raising funds for facilities, equipment, and uniforms. In this episode… The technology behind ecommerce hosting can be complicated at first. There is no magic bullet for your brand — each need or feature might require completely different solutions. However, this does not mean you cannot be informed about what might be best. PWA builds can be a powerful alternative to more traditional builds, but now you can know which is right for your brand. Guillaume Le Tual invites Josh Ward, the VP of Sales at Nexcess, to detail the key differences between hosting a PWA versus a standard build for Magento. They discuss the strengths of both models, how they deal with indexing issues, and why some brands have gone to cloud hosting rather than physical servers. Stay tuned to hear all this and more on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast!
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Best Practices for Superior Labor Outsourcing With John Jonas, Founder and CEO of OnlineJobs.ph
12/15/2022
Best Practices for Superior Labor Outsourcing With John Jonas, Founder and CEO of OnlineJobs.ph
John Jonas is the Founder and CEO of OnlineJobs.ph, a job board that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs to virtual workers in the Philippines. He hosts The Secret Sauce of Outsourcing, a podcast where he discusses tips, tricks, advice, and stories on how to utilize outsourcing properly. Before OnlineJobs.ph, John worked as the Chief Technology Advisor for ClientSkills and a PHP Programmer for QComm. In this episode… There is often a stigma associated with outsourcing labor. There may be connotations of exploitation, inefficient staffing, and communication difficulties related to the industry. However, some agencies find incredible benefits for employers and employees alike. One leading company in this field is OnlineJobs.ph. John Jonas started OnlineJobs.ph after encountering his own issues with staffing and outsourcing. He and his team have since honed the process, supplying ethical and effective solutions for brands. Throughout the process, John has developed core principles to help others experiencing the same problems. In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual has an insightful discussion with John Jonas, the Founder and CEO of OnlineJobs.ph, about getting the most out of outsourcing solutions. They start with John’s initial experiences with the field and how he created a better way for ecommerce brands. He goes on to cover topics like cultural barriers, time zones, emails versus interviews, filtering for the right people, and so much more.
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How the Buy Now/Pay Later Model Leads to More Conversions With Jacob Springer of Sezzle
12/08/2022
How the Buy Now/Pay Later Model Leads to More Conversions With Jacob Springer of Sezzle
Jacob Springer is the Senior Account Executive for Canadian Expansion at Sezzle, a certified B Corp that offers financial education and payment options without interest. He is a sales expert with extensive experience in driving growth in industries such as eCommerce, retail, and financial technology. With a focus on customer experience, trend forecasting, and B2B solution selling, Jacob aids in strategic direction, increasing market share, and catering to changing consumer trends. In this episode… Are you struggling to convert traffic into leads? Do you notice prospective customers browsing your website and then leaving without making a purchase? The most important step for any ecommerce brand is to convert their leads. Even generating incredible traffic is not enough if customers never check out. One effective solution is the buy now/pay later model. This offers customers the ability to buy more expensive items without relying on their own credit or immediate funds. Ecommerce businesses have seen increases in their conversions without getting locked into difficult contracts. So how does it work in practice? In this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast, Guillaume Le Tual speaks with Jacob Springer, the Senior Account Executive of Canadian Expansion at Sezzle, to discuss the company’s approach to the buy now/pay later model. They dive into the tangible benefits of the model, how it’s taking off in North America, and why Sezzle doesn’t utilize vendor contracts. They also touch on why Sezzle works well for particular customers and brands. Stay tuned for more!
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The Best Solutions for Reducing Involuntary Churn in Ecommerce Subscribers With GQ Fu of LTVplus
12/01/2022
The Best Solutions for Reducing Involuntary Churn in Ecommerce Subscribers With GQ Fu of LTVplus
As an experienced entrepreneur, GQ Fu has founded and co-founded five companies. He is the CEO of LTVplus, a business that offers customer service outsourcing for ecommerce brands to increase their lifetime customer value. Most recently, GQ started Recover Payments and UberQA to solve other problems for digital brands. In addition to his startups, he hosts the How We Solve Podcast. In this episode… Involuntary churn is a subtle but damaging trend for any subscription-based service. Ecommerce brands can often lose shocking sums of revenue based solely on negligence. While the issue can be devastating to a company’s bottom line, the solutions are often simple and easy to implement. All it takes is knowing the right steps to keep more current subscribers. Guillaume Le Tual invites GQ Fu back on the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to break down involuntary churn and how to minimize it. They discuss the source of the problem, the best strategies to combat churn, and how to solve the growing issue of abandoned carts. They also touch on how to anticipate subscriber needs to create a better user experience.
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How Do Ecommerce Brands Benefit From Implementing Digital Customer Service? With GQ Fu of LTVplus
11/24/2022
How Do Ecommerce Brands Benefit From Implementing Digital Customer Service? With GQ Fu of LTVplus
As an experienced entrepreneur, GQ Fu has founded and co-founded five companies. He is the CEO of LTVplus, a business that offers customer service outsourcing for ecommerce brands to increase their lifetime customer value. Most recently, GQ started Recover Payments and UberQA to solve other problems for digital brands. In addition to his startups, he hosts the How We Solve Podcast. In this episode… Most online shoppers have had negative digital customer service experiences at some point. Companies need to take these instances more seriously because a bad experience can lead to a poor word-of-mouth reputation and lower customer retention rates. Just as inadequate customer service can result in adverse consequences, outstanding customer service can often bolster the success of a business. As an experienced entrepreneur, GQ Fu had his own subpar experiences in digital customer service, so he started LTVplus to solve this issue by outsourcing world-class customer service specifically for ecommerce brands. The results have been significant for his clients. Now he’s here to explain the benefits and value of implementing this service into your ecommerce platform. Guillaume Le Tual interviews GQ Fu, the Co-founder and CEO of LTVplus, to talk about how live chat customer service positively impacts the success of ecommerce brands. They go through the common pain points and benefits of the service. They also touch on chatbots, customer lifetime value, and the overlooked benefits of down-selling customers.
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How To Improve Your Ecommerce Agency With Joseph Maxwell of SwiftOtter
11/17/2022
How To Improve Your Ecommerce Agency With Joseph Maxwell of SwiftOtter
Joseph Maxwell is the Founder and CEO of SwiftOtter, Inc., an agency that specializes in Magento to help ecommerce brands establish a presence in the marketplace. He cut his teeth in development and design during his five-year role at Communication Concepts, Inc. Joseph hosts two podcasts for ecommerce developers and industry experts: Smash the Bug and Actionable Insights. In 2019, he was recognized as a Magento Master, the highest award in the Magento community. In this episode… Completing and supporting any project as an ecommerce platform is a monumental task. It requires an incredible amount of experience, expertise, and time to provide an excellent platform for businesses. Beyond the work itself, however, is the relationship with clients. Both sides of the process are integral to the success of any agency. So what does it take to propel your agency to the next level? Joseph Maxwell started his agency in 2011 that specializes in Magento. He and his team have grown by leaps and bounds, including an award for Magento Master within the community. They have worked on countless projects and can now teach others how to navigate their client relationships. Guillaume Le Tual speaks with Joseph Maxwell, the Founder and CEO of SwiftOtter, on this episode of the Ecommerce Wizards Podcast to discuss how to improve your agency. They talk about clients’ expectations and requests and how to deliver a fantastic platform. They then touch on providing support, mutual trust, saving disaster projects, and much more.
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