Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth - podcast cover

Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

Common Thread Collectivewww.commonthreadco.com
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

Tactics with Taylor #3: How to Use LTV In Your Ecommerce Strategy [PREVIEW]

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co In this episode, Taylor breaks down one of the most crucial metrics in ecommerce: LTV. Watch to learn more about how to measure it, how it impacts different industries, and how to grow it into an elite level.

Dec 21, 20236 min

The Prophit System, Part 5: Executing Against the Plan

In this final episode of our 5-part series on the Prophit system, Taylor and Richard get on the mic to wrap things up, explaining how all the elements of the system work together to deliver on a daily plan for predictable, profitable growth. Show Notes: Elevar is offering 50% off Expert Installation ($1000 value) with the purchase of a subscription (Essentials Plan or above) by January 19, 2024*. Please complete this short form to take advantage of the offer. *Offer available for new Elevar clie...

Dec 21, 202345 min

The Prophit System, Part 4: Building A Channel Specific Media Plan

What do you do when your Meta ads account is on fire? How about when you need more creative? And what do you do when the account is performing too well? In this episode, Richard chats with Max Rosewater, Senior Paid Social Buyer at CTC, about the key parts of his decision-making process — and, how to translate your forecast into a day-to-day, channel-specific media plan. Show Notes: Elevar is offering 50% off Expert Installation ($1000 value) with the purchase of a subscription (Essentials Plan ...

Dec 14, 202331 min

Tactics with Taylor #3: How to Use LTV In Your Ecommerce Strategy [PREVIEW]

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co In this episode, Taylor breaks down one of the most crucial metrics in ecommerce: LTV. Watch to learn more about how to measure it, how it impacts different industries, and how to grow it into an elite level.

Dec 07, 20236 min

The Prophit System, Part 3: Building a Creative System to Accomplish a Financial Goal

On this episode, Richard chats with Aileen McKenna, Director of Creative Strategy & Performance at CTC, about the creative aspect of our growth methodology: How to use your topline financial goals to operationalize your creative production, and how to come up with good creative ideas — quickly. ⁠Show Notes: 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.

Dec 07, 202348 min

BFCM 2023 Recap

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard discuss Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2023 — the good, the bad, and what this year’s business-as-usual BFCM means for the ecommerce landscape in 2024. ⁠Show Notes: 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.

Nov 30, 202322 min

Tactics with Taylor #2: How to Connect Creative Needs and Finance [PREVIEW]

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co In this episode, Taylor and Richard talk creative — but from an unexpected angle. Listen in as Taylor breaks down how to calculate creative needs by determining month-by-month Spend/aMER requirements.

Nov 29, 20237 min

Black Friday Q&A w/Taylor (PREVIEW)

We're taking a break this week from our regular episodes for Black Friday. In the meantime, we're dropping a preview of Taylor's 2023 BFCM Q&A with ADmission members. To watch the entire episode, head over to youradmission.co to get started on an ADmission

Nov 24, 20236 min

The Prophit System, Part 2: Model The Possibilities And Choose Your Path

On this episode of the podcast, Richard chats with Luke Austin, Directory of Growth Strategy at CTC about part 2 of our growth methodology: how to build a forecasting model that ladders up to your business goals and provides clear marching orders for your creative and paid media efforts. ⁠Show Notes: 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....

Nov 16, 202346 min

Tactics with Taylor #1: Cost Caps 101 [PREVIEW]

ADmission members-only episode preview. Unlock full episodes at youradmission.co In this first episode of our brand-new bonus series, Taylor and Richard sit down to talk everything Cost Caps — why you should be using them, when to use cost caps vs min ROAS bidding, and how to set up your cost cap campaigns in Meta Ads manager. Then, they discuss the biggest barrier to Cost Caps success — creative volume — and how to make sure you have the creative you need to support your desired spend....

Nov 14, 20235 min

The Prophit System, Pt. 1: Setting a Business Objective

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard embark on part 1 of a 5-part series on CTC’s new growth methodology: the Prophit System. They kick the series off by discussing the crucial beginning of the journey: defining a business objective that will lead to the outcome that you want. ⁠Show Notes: Want access to our new bonus episodes? Join ADmission today: ⁠youradmission.co Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://getsaral.com/champi...

Nov 08, 202336 min

Crucial Black Friday Tactics w/Connor and Connor

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor is joined by Connor Rolain, Head of Growth at Hexclad, and Connor MacDonald, CMO at Ridge.com, to talk their BFCM strategy — from pacing your sale strategy to the tradeoff between offer simplicity and inventory constraints. ⁠Show Notes: Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://getsaral.com/champions/ctc The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questi...

Oct 26, 202355 min

How to Build a Map to Profitable Growth

The past few episodes of the Ecommerce Playbook focused on the profitability struggles that will define 2024. But this week, Taylor and Richard demonstrate how you reach profitability: a clear forecast that sets daily expectations across dozens of key metrics. ⁠Show Notes: Get V2 of the Ecommerce Diagnostic Toolkit before the price goes up here: https://bit.ly/46WU14Q Want us to put this system in place for you? We’d love to talk. Just get in touch with us at https://commonthreadco.com/pages/eco...

Oct 19, 202333 min

The One Key to Winning in 2024 w/Luke Austin

New customer revenue is plummeting as brands run earlier, more frequent discounts, and returning customer revenue may not be far behind. Looking at the state of ecommerce this month, CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin sits down with Richard to discuss why he’s worried about Q4 2023, and the one thing that clearly distinguishes winning brands from the field as we move into 2024. ⁠Show Notes: Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://...

Oct 11, 202330 min

September Was Rough. What Does That Mean for Q4?

The feeling among ecommerce brand leaders right now is pretty uniform: September was a bad month. And we have the data to substantiate that feeling. In this episode, Taylor and Richard dive into this week’s DTC Index newsletter and break down why last month’s “sponge squeeze” could have a major impact on performance moving forward. ⁠Show Notes: Sign up for the DTC Index here to get up-to-date information on key ecommerce trends: https://commonthreadco.com/products/dtc-index Purchase the full BFC...

Oct 04, 202318 min

Digging Into The BFCM Offer Database

On this episode, Taylor and Richard dive into the 2023 BFCM Offer Database, a massive spreadsheet that documents Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers from 700+ ecommerce brands. Discussion includes why you definitely should run an offer on Black Friday, a surprising truth about Buy One, Get One offers, and the role of novelty in “breaking the noise” on the biggest weekend of the year. ⁠Show Notes: Purchase the full BFCM Offer Database here: https://commonthreadco.com/products/black-friday-offer-...

Sep 27, 202334 min

What Will 2024 Look Like For Ecomm?

On this episode, Taylor and Richard break down the most important trends in ecommerce, and discuss what the future holds for margin innovation, AI, and the connection between marketing and finance. ⁠Show Notes: For a limited time, join our membership program , ADmission, plus get access to all of our flagship ecommerce products for no additional cost. Get started at Stamps.com today for a four-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale! If you’re a $10M - $100M ecommerce brand with a Growth Q...

Sep 21, 202340 min

Why Evergreen Creative Matters Right Now w/Aileen McKenna

On this episode, CTC’s Director of Creative Strategy & Performance Aileen McKenna joins Taylor & Richard to discuss the urgency of building great evergreen ad creative in September and October, how to systemically brainstorm new ad ideas, and the right place to expend effort and resources when Black Friday comes. ⁠Show Notes: If you’re a $10M - $100M ecommerce brand with a Growth Quotient (GQ) of 130 or greater, we’ll cover $25k of ad spend when you become a CTC client. Apply here: https...

Sep 14, 202344 min

How to Build a Q3/Q4 Revenue Peak w/Orchid Bertelsen

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard talk to Common Thread Collective COO Orchid Bertelsen about breaking through the pre-Holiday doldrums, how to build a revenue peak that works for your brand unique needs, and why even us aging millennials should be on TikTok. Show Notes: Want an easier way to source UGC? Streamline your process with SARAL’s chrome extension: ⁠http://getsaral.com/champions/ctc If you’re a $10M - $100M ecommerce brand with a Growth Quotient (GQ) of 130 or greater,...

Sep 07, 202351 min

Ecommerce Reflections feat. the Holiday Brothers

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor is joined by his brother, QALO co-founder KC Holiday, and producer Cory Hamilton, the OG CTC employee, to reflect on the early days of CTC, how ecommerce has changed over the years, and how to grow an ecommerce business from the ground up. ⁠Show Notes: Go to ShipStation.com/thread today and sign up for your FREE 60-day extended trial. The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about...

Aug 30, 202350 min

Holiday Success Starts Now

The theme of our 2023 Holiday strategy: Your Black Friday/Cyber Monday outcome depends on the foundation you set in August. In this episode, Taylor and Richard break down the decisions you need to make right now to set yourself up for holiday success, from inventory planning to creative volume to revenue forecasting. ⁠Show Notes: If you’re a 130+ GQ brand between $10-$100M, we’re so confident that we can win for you that we’re willing to give you a free month. Just click here to start the applic...

Aug 23, 202335 min

How to Build a Successful 2023 Holiday Strategy

Q4 success starts in Q3. And the most successful brands on Black Friday have one thing in common: They plan their entire marketing effort around four distinct revenue “mini-peaks” within the holiday season. On this episode, Richard talks with CTC Director of Growth Strategy Luke Austin and Senior Ecommerce Data Analyst Steve Rekuc, breaking down our comprehensive four-part plan to tackle BFCM for our clients in 2023. ⁠Show Notes: The Edge Summit, hosted by Bloomreach, is a one-of-a-kind collecti...

Aug 16, 202338 min

When Do I Change Direction?

Leadership is a combination of two major skills: Knowing when the organization is heading in the wrong direction, and knowing which direction to go instead. On this episode, Taylor reflects on a recent 180 we’ve made as a business and why he thinks it’s the right time to make that change. Then, Taylor and Richard discuss the incredible power of saying “no” and how it forms the basis of strategic decision making. ⁠Show Notes: If you’re a 130+ GQ brand between $10-$100M, we’re so confident that we...

Aug 10, 202329 min

How to Scale Creative Ideation (Almost) Infinitely

For ecommerce entrepreneurs and agency owners alike, creative continues to be the most important variable — and the trickiest to operationalize. On this episode, Taylor and Richard talk about a recent breakthrough at CTC: A new framework, courtesy of CTC Director of Creative Strategy Aileen McKenna, that reliably generates good creative ideas — quickly. ⁠Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the wo...

Aug 02, 202339 min

The Anatomy of a 450+ GQ Brand with Dean Brennan

What makes a great brand? What businesses are most likely to grow quickly? Why not ask the leader of the brand with the highest Growth Quotient score we’ve ever seen? In this episode, Taylor and Richard chat with Heart & Soil CEO Dean Brennan about the brand strategy that’s led to massive first-order profitability, dirt-cheap CAC, and 200%+ 1-year LTV growth. ⁠Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have ab...

Jul 27, 202348 min

How Should I Invest my Cash? with Mike Beckham and Dave Rekuc

Once you have your ecommerce tactics down and you’re successfully turning a profit, you’re confronted with a deceptively complicated question: what do I do with all this money? In this episode, Taylor talks to Dave Rekuc, president of Bambu Earth, and Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, about the smart way to put money back into your business. ⁠ Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about ...

Jul 20, 202355 min

How to Scale From $1M to $20M with Andrew Faris

In many ways, $1M to $20M is the most exciting growth stage for any ecommerce business — you know you have a business that works, but you’re small enough that you have the freedom to innovate without being held back by bureaucracy. On this episode, Richard talks with ecommerce growth expert (and former Ecommerce Playbook host!) Andrew Faris about the keys to success for brands at this crucial growth stage. ⁠Show Notes: The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.c...

Jul 13, 202345 min

How Attribution Tools are Hurting Your Acquisition

Over the past several weeks, CTC Growth Strategist Luke Austin’s been conducting an experiment across a number of our clients to answer a simple question: are third-party attribution tools like Rockerbox and Triple Whale actually more accurate than native platforms like Facebook and Google? On this episode, Taylor and Richard talk with Luke about the results of the experiment, why CTC is skeptical about third party attribution tools, and the steps you should take to test your own attribution too...

Jun 28, 202342 min

How to Turn Ideology into Action

Every brand has a mission statement. Every brand should have a clear business philosophy. But how do you take those ideas and create a framework for your people to actually put them into action? On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard discuss how CTC is taking our core philosophies and turning them into repeatable behaviors across the entire agency. ⁠Show Notes: The ADmission All-Access Sale is on until the end of the month — go to commonthreadco.com/allaccess to get all of our produc...

Jun 22, 202348 min

Introducing: The Direct To Consumer Confidence Index

On this episode, Taylor talks to CTC’s Senior Ecommerce Data Analyst Steve Rekuc and Kno Commerce CEO Jeremiah Prummer about the launch of the Direct-to-Consumer Confidence Index (DTCCI) — a real-time view of the macroeconomic sentiment of your customers. Learn about the origins of the DTCCI and how to use it to help grow your ecommerce business. ⁠Show Notes: Want Custom Insights On Your Customers? Sign up for the Direct to Consumer Confidence Index - DTCCI.co The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is o...

Jun 15, 202332 min
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