Threading The Needle

In this episode of the podcast, Richard and Taylor jump into some of the hottest topics in ecommerce right now. Fresh off the July 4th weekend tweet, Taylor shares his hottest ecommerce takes that have sparked conversations and debates across the industry. Highlights from the episode: -The importance of creating more ads and why having a top-notch video editor on your team can be a game-changer. -Why the advice "test everything" might not be as effective as you think. -The shift in buying behaviors and how future generations may view brand websites. -The massive potential of physical retail and why it's still a dominant force in sales. -How mastering Excel can significantly boost your value in any organization. Show Notes: -Particl’s exclusive 2-week free trial and a 20% discount off your first month using the code "CTC." http://Particl.com -The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecom

Welcome back to the eCommerce Playbook Podcast! This episode is extra special because we’re revealing something groundbreaking. Back in January, Taylor tweeted about finding a "magical wizard" who learns faster and works harder than anyone we’ve ever met. Today, we unveil that wizard and share an exciting new service. Meet Joy Sharma, the genius behind our new CTC Global Accelerator. This program offers world-class growth services tailored for brands under $10 million in revenue, at a price that makes total sense. Joy's relentless pursuit of knowledge and his unique approach have driven incredible results for our clients, transforming their businesses and turning losses into significant profits. In this episode, Joy shares his personal journey from India to becoming a leading growth marketer, his unique method of learning from the best in the industry, and how he’s applying all this knowledge to help small brands grow. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in the current market and how rem

Welcome back to the eCommerce Playbook Podcast, State of the Industry edition! This special biannual mega episode dives deep into the first half of 2024, comparing it against the first half of 2023 to answer the burning question: How is the ecommerce industry doing? Key Topics Covered: -Year-over-year e-commerce trends for H1 2024 vs. H1 2023 -Insights into ad performance on Meta and Google -The impact of Advantage Plus and Performance Max campaigns -Consumer confidence and economic indicators -Trends in gifting and average order value (AOV) -Incrementality of ad spend and challenges with attribution Join us as we explore the data and trends shaping the ecommerce landscape in 2024. Don’t miss out on this comprehensive analysis and expert commentary! Get 50% off our latest issue with code: SUMMER50 Show Notes: Richpanel will save you money without sacrificing any quality of experience for your customer. Check them out at https://www.richpanel.com/. The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us a

Hey everyone, Richard here! While Taylor is out of town, we're diving back into an insightful episode from October of last year titled "How to Build a Map to Profitable Growth." With the expansion of the Prophit System in Q3, this discussion on core components of forecasting and setting daily expectations is more relevant than ever. In this episode, we explore: The Prophit System and its significance for predictable, profitable growth. The importance of daily monitoring and adjustments in achieving business goals. Detailed steps for diagnosing business challenges and creating a comprehensive growth map. Real-life examples of forecasting and adjusting strategies to stay on track. Join Taylor and Richard, as we share our experiences and insights to help your e-commerce business thrive in 2024 and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode is packed with valuable information to guide your journey to sustainable growth.

With Q2 officially in the books, Taylor and Richard pause to reflect on the first half of the year and give advice on how to readjust expectations for the second half. Discussion points include which key metrics to re-examine, how to beat the summer slump, and the surprisingly neglected revenue lever you should take advantage of as Q3 kicks off. Show Notes: Book a call today to see if the Prophit System can transform your brand’s trajectory.⁠ https://meetings.hubspot.com/ctc/summer-24-campaign-offer The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

On this episode, Taylor and Richard sit down to further unpack what we mean when we talk about being “against” creative testing. Topics of discussion include the importance of getting everything right before you start designing an ad, the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a great piece of creative, and why Ryan Reynolds (probably) would hate iterative creative testing. Show Notes: Go to getredo.com today and Redo will waive all setup fees making the software completely free. The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

Welcome back to another episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast! Today, we're joined by Marshall Morris, the co-founder and president of HomeLife Brands. Marshall shares insights on how there's a hidden asset within your eCommerce business that could generate millions at an 80% margin. In this episode, we explore the innovative approach of HomeLife Brands, a hybrid eCommerce company with a diverse income stream, including flagship brands like iHeartDogs.com and The Hero Company. Marshall discusses the value of monetizing digital data, the power of post-checkout offers, and the importance of diversifying revenue streams. Learn how to leverage your customer base beyond traditional eCommerce methods and discover the secrets behind their success in creating profitable and sustainable businesses. Don't miss out on this valuable conversation packed with actionable insights for e-commerce entrepreneurs. Show Notes: Go to getredo.com today and Redo will waive all setup fees making the software comp

On this episode of the podcast, CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin sits down with Richard to break down a phenomenon we noted in our most recent monthly DTC Index report: Google is losing Share of Wallet to Meta. Luke breaks down why this is happening, how Google is dropping the ball when it comes to product updates, and why Meta is better for incrementality. Show Notes: Book a call with my team to see if the Prophit System can transform your brand’s trajectory. Visit Parker today to learn how to scale with a focus on profitability. https://bit.ly/4bSvSif The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

Welcome back to another edition of the State of the Industry Report! This month, we're diving deep into the data and trends from May, brought to you by the experts at the DTC Index. Join us as we analyze key ecommerce moments and explore consumer sentiment and macro performance. Topics Covered: -Overview of May's key ecommerce moments, including Mother's Day and the start of Father's Day shopping. -Analysis of consumer sentiment and macroeconomic trends. -Year-over-year performance data showing substantial growth for ecommerce brands. -Breakdown of creative output and volume for top-performing brands on Meta. -Insights into AOV by different channel sources. -Performance comparison of ASC versus BAU for ecommerce brands. Key Insights: -May reported strong year-over-year growth for both seven-figure and eight/nine-figure brands. -Consumer sentiment remains stable and slightly optimistic. -Significant increases in ad spend on Meta with steady ROAS. -Interesting trends in consumer behavior, s

Last week, CTC’s media buyers flew to San Francisco to get the latest on upcoming product rollouts at the 2024 Meta Performance Summit.  On this episode of the show, Taylor and Richard recap the event, highlighting three key product innovations that prove that Meta is listening to the ecommerce industry, and what those innovations mean for profit-first media buying. Show Notes: Visit Parker today to learn how to scale with a focus on profitability.  https://bit.ly/4bSvSif  The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard talk about a recent flap on Twitter around the best way to test creative, and dig into a controversial take: That iterative creating testing is a waste of time and money. Then they break down what really matters — building a marketing calendar that tells a unique story. Show Notes: Visit Parker today to learn how to scale with a focus on profitability.  https://bit.ly/4bSvSif  The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard talk about our recent expansion of the Prophit system into organic and owned channels, how it gets us closer to our goal of building a complete system for Ecommerce growth, and Taylor’s reflections on turning 40. Show Notes: Get 50% off your first month of Motion when you mention Common Thread Collective to the Motion team. https://bit.ly/3VkuQ9n The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

Welcome to another episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast! Today, Taylor is joined by Kyle Hency, co-founder of Chubbies and CEO of GoodDay Software. They dive into Kyle’s journey from Chubbies to Loop Returns and now GoodDay Software, sharing invaluable insights on: Building and scaling Chubbies, a leading ecommerce brand Creating Loop Returns to solve operational challenges The importance of effective inventory management Introducing GoodDay Software, a game-changer in ERP solutions Kyle discusses the critical role of data integrity in making better inventory decisions, enhancing operational efficiency, and opening new sales channels. Follow Kyle and GoodDay Software: Website: gooddaysoftware.com Twitter: @gooddaysoftware Don’t miss this episode packed with practical advice from one of the top minds in ecommerce. Subscribe for more insights on business growth and operational excellence. Show Notes: Visit https://bit.ly/4bSvSif today to learn how to scale with a focus on profitabili

In this episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast, Taylor and Tony Chopp, the VP of Paid Media from Common Thread Collective, explore the shifting landscape of Google Ads and the challenges posed by the implementation of PMAX. With over 20 years of experience in digital advertising, Tony brings invaluable insights into how AI developments are reshaping the strategies for Google Ads, particularly with PMAX's impact on advertising effectiveness and budget allocation. Tony breaks down the complexities of Google Shopping, the nuances of data feeds, and how brands can effectively navigate the ever-evolving digital advertising space. He also shares his journey from learning painful lessons in eCommerce advertising to becoming a data feed expert, making this session a goldmine for marketers looking to enhance their Google Ads proficiency. Key topics covered include: The transition to PMAX and its industry-wide repercussions. Strategies for managing brand and non-brand PMAX campaigns to maximize ROI. Analy

Welcome to the April edition of our State of the eCommerce Industry Report! Our experts are here to break down everything that's happening in the market right now. We’re covering everything from impressive revenue growth across different brand sizes to significant shifts in advertising strategies and the evolving roles of platforms like PMAX and Advantage Plus. Plus, we'll discuss the recent turbulence in Shopify and Meta stock values. Wondering how to adjust your digital marketing or just curious about the future directions of eCommerce? This episode is packed with must-know info and actionable insights. Stay tuned as we chat about the real-world data that’s shaping our strategies and predictions, making sure you're equipped to navigate the dynamic landscape of online business. Don't miss out on this informative and engaging session—hit that play button now for a deep dive into the state of eCommerce! Show Notes: Get the DTC Index - https://www.dtcindex.com/ The Ecommerce Playbook

In this episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast, we're diving deep into why organic revenue is essential for sustainable growth. Richard and Taylor are joined by Travis Biechele, the brand-new Director of SEO at CTC. They discuss the strategic reasons behind CTC's shift towards SEO and how we're leveraging organic growth to build a stable revenue foundation for our clients. Learn about Travis's journey from a random tweet to becoming CTC's SEO Director. Hear about his innovative approach and dedication to driving results, and find out why he's the perfect fit for leading our SEO efforts. Show Notes: Get your free ticket to Make Ads That Convert: https://bit.ly/3UzCv26 The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

In this episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast, Taylor is joined by Steven Borrelli of Cuts Clothing. Steven shares how his brand, Cuts, launched as a small team focused on men's T-shirts and rapidly grew into a GQ giant. He discusses the pivotal post-COVID era, navigating supply chain disruptions, inventory challenges, and the surge in demand for new products. He also reflects on lessons learned from launching products, understanding growth vs. seasonal items, and coordinating marketing, finance, and operations to drive cash-based marketing strategies. Tune in as we unpack how to navigate unpredictable demand, refine cash flow models, and build seamless teamwork between departments. Learn about the importance of liquidation, ordering strategies, and the nuances of contribution margins. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode is a goldmine of insights on building a successful e-commerce business that scales efficiently while minimizing costly missteps. Show Note

Last week, Taylor sat down with Sean Frank from Ridge and Tomer Tagrin of Yotpo to discuss the future of ecommerce SaaS companies. This week, Taylor joins Richard to clarify an important point from that discussion — brand equity is still the difference maker for both SaaS and DTC businesses. Show Notes: Get your free ticket to Make Ads That Convert: https://bit.ly/3QEwaRN The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

In this special edition of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Richard sits down with CTC Sales Directors Matthew Axline and Peter Hassan to discuss the most common mistakes brands make, the organizational error that destroys profitability, and the one thing they’d rather not have to say on sales calls anymore. Show Notes: Get your free ticket to Make Ads That Convert: https://bit.ly/4bkY5Ox The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.

In this episode of the eCommerce Playbook Podcast, we've convened a panel of experts from the ecommerce industry to dive into one of the most debated topics today: SaaS pricing. Today's discussion features insights from Sean Frank of Ridge, and Tomer Tagrin of Yotpo, with moderation by Eric Dyck from DTC. This episode promises to offer an in-depth exploration of the strategies, challenges, and innovations shaping SaaS pricing in ecommerce. Tune in for a riveting conversation filled with expert analyses and real-world perspectives. Join us for an episode packed with valuable takeaways and straight talk from some of the top minds in the business. Show Notes: Get your free ticket to Make Ads That Convert: https://bit.ly/3Wg5kDe The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm.