Is Pure-Play DTC Done?
The world of DTC as we know it is behind us … or is it? In this episode, Andrew throws it back to the first few episodes of the show with a brief reflection on a broad question. “Is pure-play DTC over?”
Apr 13, 2022•16 min
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth
2020 transformed the world of ecommerce forever.
For the modern DTC brand, the rewards have never been greater. But the waters have also never been choppier, and the way forward has never been more uncertain.
So how do you navigate this dangerous new reality?
No matter how you do it, you’d better not do it alone.
That’s where the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast comes in — join Common Thread Collective’s Taylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin as they bring you guiding insights from across CTC’s portfolio of growing DTC businesses.
Whether you need a clear view on the macro issues affecting the world of ecommerce, or want to reorient your business around groundbreaking new big-picture strategies, Taylor & Richard are here to help answer the tough questions about what it takes to scale — and sustain — an ecommerce business.
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Episodes
Scaling Teams is as Hard as Scaling Revenue
What makes a good manager? In this episode, Andrew follows up on a comment he made in a previous conversation with Common Thread CEO Taylor Holiday about his biggest leadership mistakes. “As your organization grows, think about how you are scaling the team’s ability to function effectively and efficiently.”
Apr 06, 2022•26 min
Building a Perpetual Facebook Ad Machine
More creative, greater efficiency. In this episode, Andrew explores the best creative strategy to get the most out of Facebook ads. “The basic idea is: How much creative can you put into your Facebook account and manage it as efficiently as possible?”
Mar 30, 2022•32 min
Where Will Your Business Create Value?
Where do you create value in your business? In this episode, Andrew demonstrates how to answer that question and why it is so important for your business’ success. “Where is the profit going to come from and what is going to make this worth my time? Get as clear as you can on that, and build everything possible in the business towards that.”
Mar 23, 2022•20 min
Defining Ecommerce Success with Nate Poulin
Why argue on Twitter when you can do it on a podcast instead? In this special episode, Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday and ecommerce heavy-hitter Nate Poulin (@DigitallyNative on Twitter) take over to settle years of Twitter debates in one podcast. “We both value the identity of being not just a public thinker, but an operator.”
Mar 16, 2022•1 hr 16 min
The Ideal P&L for Every Business Type
What’s the right financial structure for your business? In this episode, Andrew applies Common Thread Collective’s Four-Quarter Accounting Principle across a range of different kinds of businesses. “One-size-fits-all heuristics are just a way to begin thinking and press into your business.“ Show Notes: Sign up for the Ecommerce Data Newsletter here: https://content.commonthreadco.com/ecommerce-data-newsletter More on four-quarter accounting: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/unit-ec...
Mar 09, 2022•25 min
What’s Next & CEO Reflections
What does a former CEO do after leaving the position? In this episode, Andrew gives some insights and learnings on being a CEO, and shares about the next step in his career (he’s not going far). “That means, for the sake of this show, it’s going to keep going!”
Mar 02, 2022•25 min
Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned as CEOs
What would your boss say about your mistakes? In this episode, Andrew brings in Common Thread Collective CEO Taylor Holiday to “evaluate” his performance as CEO of 4x400. “It was such a gift to me, to get put into a position that I wasn’t ready for, and then to go and make a bunch of mistakes.”
Feb 23, 2022•58 min
Honest Reflections for Recruiters
What’s in it for the candidate? In this episode, Andrew shares his feedback on what he is seeing from recruiters during his job search. “My hope is to help you attract great talent, as well as to attract the right kind of people to your organization.”
Feb 09, 2022•24 min
6 Honest Reflections For Job Seekers
Do you really know what you want in a job? In this episode, Andrew shares candid thoughts about his next steps in the current job market. “If you’re at a stopping point and you’re not sure what the next step in your career is, the best thing you can do is slow down and take a step away.”
Feb 02, 2022•34 min
Why Bambu Earth: An Antifragile Analysis
What’s the best use of your investment? In this episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Andrew dives into the specifics of 4x400’s decision to go all-in on Bambu Earth. “If you’re like me and you love solving problems, it’s really hard to cut bait on stuff that has a lot to like about it.”
Jan 27, 2022•42 min
21 Antifragile Ecommerce Tactics (Roundtable)
Resilience is often the key to success. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Common Thread Collective executives Orchid Bertelsen, Taylor Holiday, and Aaron Orendorff to discuss the seven characteristics of an “antifragile” ecommerce brand + 21 tactics. - Read the full article on developing an antifragile ecommerce brand: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/antifragile-ecommerce - Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6BkM1vbTYSM
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 7 min
“Aggregator Madness” and Major Changes at 4x400
Transitions are on the horizon. In this episode, Andrew provides his assessment of the aggregator model, the landscape for aggregators as a whole, and how that assessment informs incoming changes at 4x400. “We are now about four years into this journey of running an aggregator, and we have learned a lot.”
Jan 13, 2022•31 min
Black Friday Results & Lessons Learned
Lose, win, and draw. Three brands with three different outcomes. In this episode, Andrew follows up on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the lessons he’s bringing into 2022. “I’ve done Black Friday a lot of times now, and every year there’s more to learn.”
Dec 14, 2021•19 min
Expectations for Black Friday, Cyber Monday
The supply chain, inflation, product volume — a multitude of factors went into ecommerce planning for the holiday season. In this episode, recorded prior to the big weekend, Andrew shares his expectations, offers, and reasoning behind each of his brands’ Black Friday, Cyber Monday strategies. “Like everything related to the time that we live in, it is so hard to forecast.”
Dec 07, 2021•14 min
Ecommerce Data from ~230 Businesses & $2.3B+ in Revenue
In this bonus (dare we say, “emergency”) episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Andrew is joined by CTC’s VP of Marketing, Aaron Orendorff, and CEO, Taylor Holiday. Go behind-the-scenes as they share, benchmark, and examine the DTC metrics that matter most. “What we’re hopeful to do with this information is to help add another layer of context to your questions and struggles in a way that provides a richer narrative than an individual anecdote or response.” 📊 Full article with all the data ...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 3 min
The Anatomy of a Well-Executed Product Launch
How do you create products that generate value over time? In this episode, Andrew shares the what, why, and how of a recent Modern Fuel launch. “When you launch a product, you need to keep the fundamentals in front of you and keep moving forward.” Link to Legends Collection: https://modernfuel.com/pages/legends
Nov 09, 2021•25 min
The Simplest Way to Maximize Black Friday (SPOILER: AOV > Everything)
It’s not too late! In this week’s episode, Andrew shares his best strategy for a successful ecommerce holiday. “The way you maximize the moment with past customers, new customers, and everyone in between is strategizing for AOV.”
Nov 03, 2021•9 min
How to Maximize Your Email and SMS
Customer acquisition deep dive — with all the numbers! Andrew explores how to nudge subscribers into becoming customers. “People on my list who have never purchased before are very unlikely to purchase after a certain point without some kind of offer or discount.”
Oct 27, 2021•17 min
Your Most Underutilized Marketing Asset
We’re getting tactical. This week, Andrew shares strategies for using email and SMS subscription lists to acquire customers. “How do I turn those lists into dollars?”
Oct 19, 2021•25 min
Operational Leadership & Building Meaning into Your Business with Orchid Bertelsen
In this special episode, Andrew Faris and Taylor Holiday, CEO of Common Thread Collective, talk with Orchid Bertelsen — CTC’s new Chief Operating Officer. With six years of experience at Nestle USA, Orchid explains why operational leadership is no longer a luxury for DTC ecommerce brands. “The problem isn’t that people aren’t willing to take hills. They’re willing to take hills, but sometimes they take the wrong ones.”
Oct 12, 2021•51 min
The Failure of Genuine Canine
Nobody has the Midas Touch. In this episode, Andrew shares four things he would have done differently with the Genuine Canine brand before ultimately selling it. “When you’re losing, you don’t want to keep doing that thing over and over again.” As mentioned in the show ... Kynship Influencer Marketing: https://kynship.co/
Oct 06, 2021•26 min
You Need Convictions, Not Just Affirmations
Do you feel like you’re running your business based on what others have told you to do? In this episode, Andrew shares how his team at 4x400 is working to develop real points of view, core beliefs, and values. “What I am experiencing right now as a CEO is the things I believed were true before are just starting to be internalized. I wish I would have done that sooner.” Now through Sept. 23, visit youradmission.co and get free access to our exclusive online community with trainings, tools, and su...
Sep 15, 2021•28 min
Product Development Is The Future
The number one way to build your brand is to put products in peoples’ hands. In this episode, Andrew shares how 4x400 thinks about product development. “I’m betting a lot of the future of 4x400 on our ability to develop awesome products for our customers.” BONUS: Visit youradmission.co and get free access to our exclusive online community with trainings, tools, and support for your ecommerce brand. Limited time only, Sept. 14–23
Sep 09, 2021•34 min
Revisiting Our 31 Bits Influencer Marketing Strategy
The best influencer marketing starts palms down — giving without asking for anything back. In this week’s episode, Andrew is joined by Cody Wittick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Kynship, to discuss the ups and downs of 4x400's influencer marketing strategy with 31 Bits. “If you are serious about building influencer relationships that work, it’s going to have to be authentic, and it’s going to have to be real.” Show Notes: The episode where we discussed the original plan: https://open.spoti...
Sep 07, 2021•37 min
Solve The Next Problem Next
If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be? In this episode, Andrew shares the number one thing 4x400 is doing to improve as a team. “The most important thing you can do when things are challenging is to solve the next most important problem next.”
Aug 31, 2021•14 min
Our Biggest Revenue Day Ever
Over $100k in one day?! In this week's podcast, Andrew and special guest Dave Rekuc — VP of New Brands at 4x400 — share the secrets to the highest revenue day in 4x400's history. “The 100% locked-in promise from this show: Guaranteed highest revenue day ever.”
Aug 16, 2021•58 min
5 Easy Wins
Ready to jump in and get some wins? In this episode, Andrew shares five things you can do right now in your business to generate more revenue. “Last week, I talked to you about losing streaks. So today, let’s go from ‘therapy’ to super practical!”
Aug 04, 2021•23 min
On Losing Streaks
If you’ve ever played sports, you know what it feels like to be on a losing streak. In this episode, Andrew shares his personal experience of pushing through periods of loss with 4x400’s brands. “One thing that I’m doing with losing streaks is reminding myself: This too shall pass.”
Jul 28, 2021•23 min
Bad Brands Are Going Away (Here's How To Be A Good One)
Measure what matters! Now more than ever, the 4x400 team is wrapping its heads around every number. In this episode, Andrew shares how they’re attacking KPIs in the ever-changing ecommerce landscape. “At the end of the day, we are trying to create brands that people love and operate efficiently”
Jul 16, 2021•23 min
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