Al Gerrie is now the founder and CEO at Zigzag global a genius returns management system. In this interview though we’ll be diving into Al’s serious eCommerce pedigree – which includes a number of household names including Mountain Warehouse and Office Shoes; and as a consultant at Marketplace and International specialists Pentagon. And of course getting a few tips from him about just how to make returns work for you. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad ...
Aug 05, 2017•30 min•Ep. 114
Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe is one the UK’s top 20 natural beauty experts and the founder & CEO of Premae Skincare. She’s also the recent recipient of a British Empire Medal for services to dermatology. Premae Skincare is a boutique bricks and clicks business focused on making products to help the customer look pretty and feel confident. They launched in December 2011 and now have sales in excess of £135k. We discuss how she founded her company, and how her passion for helping her customers keeps...
Jul 29, 2017•31 min•Ep. 113
Helya Mohammadian is the CEO and founder of Slick Chicks. Slick Chicks sell a revolutionary range of ladies underwear – it’s all about making pants (not trousers) much easier to use. They launched in summer 2016 and are growing steadily. They've been featured in Cosmo, Huffington Post and Mashable. She's using Shopify, and it's all about customer engagement on social media. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/...
Jul 22, 2017•26 min•Ep. 112
Matt Isherwood is the author of “Designing eCommerce Websites – over 50 UX Design Tips and Tricks for Great Online Shops” it’s number 1 Amazon seller, and reviews include a 15year website design veteran who says “Matt’s densely-packed ebook has been a major eye-opener”. Matt’s worked at the BBC and onefirestay, and is now specialising in working with growing startups. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-ana...
Jul 15, 2017•39 min•Ep. 111
Sebastian Galbraith-Helps runs the online only eCommerce business HoneyTreePublishing.com, with his wife the artist Lizbeth Holstein. HoneyTree is the UK’s leading bespoke stationery boutique, where customers can pick from over 2,000 unique designs and have the high-quality stationery of their choice delivered next day. Sebastian and his team have mastered the logistical and technological challenges of selling bespoke online, to turnover in excess of £500,000 a year. This may seem familiar as Se...
Jul 08, 2017•37 min•Ep. 110
Gabrielle O’Hare is the Content Controller at Argos – managing the 5th biggest content production studio in Europe producing all the photography and video that’s used on Argos’s website. Argos is a UK multichannel retailer that turns over £4bn. For those of you outside the UK who aren’t familiar with Argos they sell pretty much everything – from jewellery and toys through homewares and garden, have stores everywhere, and a massive catalogue of products that all kids in the UK have very fond memo...
Jul 01, 2017•32 min•Ep. 109
Over the last four years Dan Faggella built his business Science of Skill to over $2m in annual sales, and sold it for over $1million. Science of Skill is an American online only retailer of self protection products and educational programmes. Today we’ll be discussing (for you!) both balancing physical and virtual products, and how Daniel achieved the huge growth in his business. Spoiler – we’re going to be talking dashboards and discipline! This podcast uses the following third-party services ...
Jun 24, 2017•40 min•Ep. 108
Last week I was back in the warm hug of the DCA world again – that’s the UK’s Direct Commerce Association. It was their Annual Summit (which usually pulls in the big guns – so great for networking with the best). The good news for all of you is that there were also some stella presentations that I shall be sharing with you shortly. It was a full single day, with various streams and special workshops on the go. I stuck to the main conference stream and that’s what I’ll be bringing you updates fro...
Jun 21, 2017•24 min
Tom Hunt is in charge of growth at sTitch Leggings – selling leggings for men. They launched in Dec 2012, and in March 2017 had their best month yet, turning over £5k. Tom has also recently launched a SaaS business called “Sneez” to publicise Sneez they’ve set themselves a challenge to get sTtitch Leggings up to £100k per month. Despite failing in the Dragon's Den (the UK's Shark Tank) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.c...
Jun 17, 2017•35 min•Ep. 107
Simon Rigby is the founder of Delicious Coffee. Simon is a coffee lover who’s turned that passion into an online only business selling delicious coffee, and everything you need to make it. He launched in early 2016 and now has over 1,000 customers. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Jun 10, 2017•28 min•Ep. 106
Mark Morris is the Managing Director of Introversion Software a highly respected independent game developer and publisher. Since launching in 2001 they’ve brought 5 critically acclaimed video games to market – including the BAFTA award winning Prison Architect, which has sold over 2 million copies to date. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Jun 03, 2017•40 min•Ep. 105
Yanne Root is the founder of Violent Little Machine Shop. Violent Little Machine Shop is an online only & wholesale business distributing their unique and crazy tactical patches (and many other items). They launched in June 2013 and now approaching their 50,000th order. Really interesting interview about following your own path, the freedom of eCommerce to be you, and be where you want, Email marketing and getting the brand right. This podcast uses the following third-party services for anal...
May 29, 2017•38 min•Ep. 104
Christine Nicholson is the founder of Divine Legs an online only business selling tights (that’s pantyhose for our American listeners) individually and as subscriptions. Christine started Divine Legs in 5th August 2016 she hit 100 orders in the first 100 days, and things are continuing to grow, 25% of whom are subscribers. We discuss how she came up with and executed her 100 orders in 100 days strategy, plus her tips and recommendations for anyone looking to boost their business. This podcast us...
May 22, 2017•40 min•Ep. 103
Our host Chloe Thomas attended Channel Advisor's Catalyst conference in Manchester last week, and has distilled the whole day down into this show of takeaways for the smaller eCommerce retailer. Packed with inspiration, thought-provoking bits, and some top tips. Including updates from Channel Advisor, Amazon, Mary Portas and Julie Deane CEO of Cambridge Satchel Company - enjoy! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/le...
May 22, 2017•33 min
Connor Gillivan has built a 7-figure businesses trading drop-shipped items on Amazon. Connor has also founded a business called Freeeup which you can use to outsource technical yet time-consuming eCommerce tasks to their band of 400 and growing vetted freelancers (think Upwork but for eCommerce!). AND Connor has just published a brand new book “Free Up Your Business: 50 Secrets to Bootstrap Million Dollar Companies” – packed with great tips and advice from Connor’s years of experience. Given all...
May 15, 2017•34 min•Ep. 102
Shirine Modad-Neill is the founder of Full Disclosure a online fashion boutique bringing customers a curated selection of luxury lingerie, sleepwear and swimwear from established and under-the-radar designers. Launched in Aug 2014, with high price points, they now 1-2 orders per day, from £50-£2000 per order. We discuss how they get 30% of their customers to buy again, their personal approach to customer service, and the power of email marketing - especially their welcome sequences. This podcast...
May 08, 2017•35 min•Ep. 101
Our host Chloe Thomas attended the DCA Digital Marketing Day last week, and now brings you her quick picks of the top takeaways from the event. Including great advice on how to get started with Optimisation and Personalisation. AND how Funky Pigeon has reworked their automated emails to create huge results. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
May 04, 2017•16 min
This is our second "Ask Chloe" episode. Chloe Thomas (our host) answers 6 questions posed members of the eCommerce MasterPlan World Facebook group. Including lots of email marketing advice, product photo tips, mistakes for eCommerce startups to avoid, how to improve your marketing when there's just you! And the best ways to increase site visitors and sales. Have a listen! And join the group to ask your question. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analyt...
May 01, 2017•42 min•Ep. 100
John Warrillow runs The Value Builder System a statistically proven methodology for increasing the value of your company. We discuss the role subscription and customer life time value has in power the growth of any business. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Apr 24, 2017•32 min•Ep. 99
Steve Honight is UK Brand Manager for Newton Running. Newton Running is an American business who design, wholesale, and retail their running shoes. The newtonrunning.co.uk business launched in the UK on 2009, and has been managed by Steve and his team for the last 2 years looking after both the wholesale and website sales in the UK, Steve’s business turns over $1million per year, including over 2000 direct to consumer ecommerce orders. This podcast uses the following third-party services for ana...
Apr 17, 2017•38 min•Ep. 98
Our host Chloe Thomas attended Internet Retailing Expo last week, and now brings you her pick of the top takeaways from the event. Very much focused on devices, development, and keeping yourself and your business on track. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
Apr 13, 2017•23 min
Suzy Moore is the founder or So Suzy Stamps a bricks and clicks retail business that has been trading for 3 years and has over 1,900 customers. The website is on Bigcommerce and the majority of the marketing is powered by the community she's built around the business, and the card designers who promote her products. Suzy is a master of using community to grow your business. She's also launched a podcast to help her customers turn their love of card creation into businesses and income streams. Th...
Apr 10, 2017•28 min•Ep. 97
Nick Brackenbury is co-founder and CEO at NearSt. NearSt are on a mission to get all of us back into our high street shops. They believe finding and buying something from a real shop nearby should be faster and easier than ordering it online. They came out of a 9m closed beta period in May 2016 and is growing quickly – 250 london shops in 6 categories and anticipate 1000 stores on the platform by mid 2017. Active Customer base growing at 35% per month. We discuss how to grow, why sales should al...
Apr 03, 2017•29 min•Ep. 96
Rebecca Clements was the owner and creative director of Crafty Pie an online only store selling modern wedding stationery and gifts. The business launched in 2012 and Rebecca grew it to a six-figure turnover before selling in late 2016. She’s also just bought BisjouxRose which will launch before this show goes live! We discuss starting, growing, selling, buying and launching!! There's lots of tips and ideas in this one from this serial eCommerce entreprenuer. This podcast uses the following thir...
Mar 27, 2017•36 min•Ep. 95
Vanessa Agyemang is the founder & designer of Copper Dust, a luxury British home décor brand specialising in handmade lampshades and limited edition illustrations. Launched in August 2014 in Autumn 2016 they get about 10 orders per month on the website. Wholesale has also been part of Vanessa's business - focusing on the boutique and interior designer markets. She's tested a lot of interesting ways to grow her business - including PR, Popup stores, Trade Shows. There are lots of tips and ide...
Mar 20, 2017•26 min•Ep. 94
Kelsey Duffy is the founder of Versakini an online only and wholesale eCommerce store. They design and sell a unique take on the bikini. Launched in Summer 2015 the 2016 collection has sold over 1,000 units. We discuss the challenges of launching a new concept in swimwear, building the right team, how to outsource your social media and much more. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/...
Mar 13, 2017•34 min•Ep. 93
Dominic Poznanski is the founder and director of LetterBox4You.co.uk. They’re an online only primarily B2B eCommerce business selling post boxes. The business started in 2012 and they are now steadily growing at 80% per year targeting a turnover in excess of £500,000 this year. We discuss being a single manufacturer business, and how to escape being reliant on Amazon and eBay. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/leg...
Mar 06, 2017•31 min•Ep. 92
Skip Fidura is the Client Services Director at dotmailer, they've just released their latest "Hitting the Mark" report - packed full of email marketing ideas you can use, and reviewing the email marketing performance of the 100 biggest retailers in the world. PLUS he outlines the 3 biggest opportunities from the report, and how to take advantage of those opportunities in your business. We dive into Abandoned Baskets, Welcome Campaigns, and getting those email sign ups. This podcast uses the foll...
Mar 03, 2017•36 min
Judith Treanor is the Director and Founder of Temples and Markets an online only eCommerce business who are helping to trade artisans in South East Asia into a better life, and bringing unique products to a customer who wouldn't otherwise find them. After 12 months of preparation the website launched in November 2015, and now has 15,000 on the email list, and anticipates a monthly revenue of $10,000 by Christmas 2016 heavily built on repeat purchases. This podcast uses the following third-party ...
Feb 27, 2017•34 min•Ep. 91
Angela Taylor is the founder of Bathing Bunnies, an online only ecommerce store which designs and manufactures luxurious towelling gifts for babies and children. Founded in 2012, started selling in 2013 and the business is now 50:50 online and wholesale, selling to 100s of different distributors and 1,000s of happy consumers. We discuss the necessity of different routes to marketing, how to get started with wholesale and much more. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysi...
Feb 20, 2017•29 min•Ep. 90
