In this episode of The Random Show, Taylor Holiday and Andrew Faris sit down for a moment of focus—because something big just happened.Common Thread Collective has a new growth partner. Taylor breaks down what the deal really means, why it isn’t a retirement plan, and how private equity views agencies differently than eComm brands.• Why service businesses generate more cash (and get better multiples)• How CTC nearly collapsed—and what saved it• The real reason agency owners burn out (and how to ...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 54 min
At CTC’s recent Client Summit, Taylor Holiday and Richard Gaffin sat down to unpack what happens when you get out from behind Zoom and into a room with the people you work with. The result? Honest conversations, unexpected insights, and a clearer picture of what brands really need right now. From creative volume challenges to leadership struggles, this episode explores the unspoken truths that surface when vendors and clients share space—and why in-person connection is still one of the most powe...
Jul 24, 2025•22 min
The Tale of Two Cities in E-Commerce: Winners and Losers in 2025At CTC’s Client Summit, Taylor Holiday shares an unfiltered perspective on where the economy, the world, and the e-commerce landscape are headed—and why the future will be defined by a sharp divide between winners and losers.From macroeconomic pressures to changing consumer behavior, Taylor explains why the current environment isn’t creating a level playing field—and what separates the brands that will thrive from those that will st...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Can you turn 14 days into $1.28 million? We did—and we're breaking down exactly how we crushed our million-dollar challenge! In this episode, join Richard and Luke as they unpack the intense 14-day journey that led to massive revenue success. You'll learn: How we strategically turned a critical marketing moment into explosive growth. The day-by-day breakdown of how we overcame a nearly half-million-dollar gap in just four days. Why forecasting, clarity, and a well-engineered brand collaboration ...
Jul 17, 2025•24 min
Discover the next chapter in Common Thread Collective’s story as Taylor Holiday takes you behind the scenes of our 12-year journey from a tiny IKEA furnished office and our first Facebook ad experiments with QALO, to the seismic shifts of COVID and our reinvention as a “profit agency.” In this special episode of the podcast, you’ll hear: How CTC evolved from a passion project into a mission-driven agency focused on connecting marketing efforts to real financial outcomes The cultural transformati...
Jul 15, 2025•31 min
In this episode of the podcast, we dismantle the old school attribution windows holding your ad strategy hostage and reveal a simple framework for measuring true incremental ROAS. What you’ll discover: Why standard “7-day click” and “1-day view” settings both mislead you How to run a zero cost geo holdout test for real incremental data When to stick with your current settings and how to apply a correction factor What Meta’s new incremental conversion optimization means for your campaigns Buildin...
Jul 10, 2025•18 min
Is your brand feeling the squeeze? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we break down three essential moves every DTC and ecommerce brand must make to survive—and thrive—amid rising bankruptcy rates and tightening capital markets. You’ll learn: Why capital constraints are killing growth—and how to turn your supplier into a lender How to generate organic demand by tapping into pop culture and community The critical Q4 inventory planning strategy that could save your cash flow We’re seeing a tale...
Jul 08, 2025•19 min
Ecommerce brands are quietly shutting their doors, but what's really behind this sudden wave of closures? In this episode, we dive deep into exclusive industry data, consumer trends, and expert analysis to uncover what's truly happening behind the scenes in the ecommerce space.Join our panel of industry experts as we reveal: Why more brands than ever are filing for bankruptcy. The surprising trends impacting consumer spending. How major economic factors like tariffs and inflation are shaping the...
Jul 03, 2025•45 min
Are you building a resilient brand or just delaying the inevitable? In this episode of the Podcast, we tackle six hard hitting questions every founder and operator needs to answer right now. From survival mode decision making to brand building under pressure, we break down what separates strong, adaptable brands from those on the edge of collapse. Topics We Cover: When to cut (and when to protect) your marketing spend How to justify brand investments under financial pressure What “healthy” CAC e...
Jul 01, 2025•11 min
We’re $423K into our 14-day, $1M revenue challenge—and the pressure is mounting. With just 6 days left, we’re $577K short of our goal. In this episode, Luke Austin breaks down: What’s working (returning customers are showing up) What’s not (new customer revenue is lagging) Why our efficiency is solid, but volume is the problem The high-stakes brand collab launching on June 26th that could make or break the challenge Can we still pull this off? The next few days are everything. Show Notes: Explor...
Jun 26, 2025•10 min
What’s next for Meta ads? We just got back from Meta’s Performance Summit, and the future is clear: incrementality, AI tuning, creative velocity, and less button pushing, more strategy. In this episode of the Podcast, VP of Paid Media, Tony Chopp, shares an exclusive insider recap of what Meta’s top brass revealed about the evolving ad platform and what it means for performance marketers. You’ll learn: Why Meta is obsessed with incrementality (and how it’s changing measurement forever) How creat...
Jun 24, 2025•46 min
Meta just rolled out a brand new attribution setting called Incremental Attribution and we put it to the test. In this episode of the Podcast, Richard is joined by Tony and McCay to break down the results of a real A/B test comparing Meta’s new setting vs. standard 7-day click attribution. The outcome? An 18% lift in conversion value—from the exact same ads and budget. We’ll cover: What Incremental Attribution actually is Why it might replace geo holdouts How it works under the hood The exact te...
Jun 19, 2025•18 min
We’re attempting something BIG. Over the next two weeks, our VP of Ecommerce Strategy, Luke Austin, is taking on a real-time challenge to generate an additional $1,000,000 in revenue profitably for one of our clients. Every day, we’ll document the actions, strategy shifts, wins, and losses required to hit this massive goal. No fluff. No filters. Just real execution and behind-the-scenes access to how we actually grow brands at scale. What You’ll Learn: How to structure a revenue forecast and dai...
Jun 17, 2025•11 min
How did our clients perform in May against their forecasted targets? In this episode, we analyze the latest client report card—detailing key insights from over 60 brands we manage. We dive into: How we managed to underspend budget but still exceeded contribution margin forecasts. Real examples of price testing and rapid flash sale strategies. Actionable insights from our growth strategists on driving profit despite revenue misses. Discover what worked, what didn't, and how transparent accountabi...
Jun 12, 2025•17 min
Is your marketing stuck between creating meaningful stories and pumping out endless ad variations? This episode of Podcast breaks down the critical tension between creative storytelling and the high volume ads required for success on platforms like Meta. Join Richard and Taylor as they discuss: How the best DTC brands successfully balance creative depth with ad volume. Why two distinct marketing rhythms are essential to growing your business. Practical strategies to empower your internal team wh...
Jun 10, 2025•27 min
In this episode, Tara Austin, founder and CEO of Ruthie Grace, reveals the raw and honest story of how she nearly lost her seven figure ecommerce business—and exactly what she did to turn it around. From facing a payroll crisis that nearly shut her doors, to completely transforming her team's culture and operating systems, Tara shares powerful lessons on leadership, communication, and resilience. You'll discover: The pivotal moments that almost ended her business How transparent leadership radic...
Jun 05, 2025•56 min
In this episode of The Random Show, Taylor Holiday and Andrew Faris are back—new set, same chaos. They dive into the uncomfortable truths of e-commerce: zero barriers to entry, infinite competition, and the creative treadmill that never stops. If you’ve ever felt like you’re sprinting just to stay in place, you’re not alone. Why ecom profits get competed down to zero How “just take a thousand shots” became the default creative strategy What Andrew’s new brand launch reveals about market belief Y...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 41 min
Meta just dropped a game changing attribution feature, and it could completely upend how you measure ad performance. In this episode of the Podcast, CTC’s VP of Paid Media Tony Chopp and Paid Social Manager McCay Rasmussen join Richard to break down Meta’s new incremental attribution setting—a behind-the-scenes update that uses continuous holdout testing to determine true incremental conversions in real time. We cover: What incremental attribution actually is How it compares to 1-day click, 7-da...
May 29, 2025•33 min
In this solo episode of the Podcast, Taylor shares a powerful lesson from Cozy Earth’s CMO, who broke free from the measurement rabbit hole to create a viral TikTok challenge that earned 10M+ impressions over Memorial Day weekend. If you’re a CMO, marketing leader, or operator stuck in the endless loop of attribution models and incrementality debates, this episode is your permission slip to zoom out. Taylor introduces the concept of “Best Available Truth”—a mindset shift that allows you to act w...
May 27, 2025•12 min
Is your brand truly set up for growth? Or just treading water? In this episode of the Podcast, Taylor and Richard introduce CTC’s brand new Strategic Growth Scorecard—a 7-metric framework designed to help you quickly assess the strength of your growth engine. You’ll learn: Why we replaced ROAS with IMR (Incremental Marginal Return) The key metrics behind sustainable, efficient growth How to identify red flags in your customer acquisition strategy What separates brands that scale from those that ...
May 22, 2025•32 min
95% of ecommerce brands are worth ZERO. Why? In this episode, we unpack the harsh reality behind most DTC businesses, why logical decisions don’t drive entrepreneurship—and what actually does. Taylor and Richard dive deep into: The real odds of building a valuable brand Why success in ecommerce is often delusional by design How to align your business model with your personal financial goals The traits that separate the 5% from everyone else If you’ve ever wondered whether your business is on the...
May 20, 2025•31 min
Are you obsessively tweaking your ad campaigns only to see flat results? In this episode of the Podcast, Richard sits down with Luke Austin, to expose why daily bid and budget changes are wasting your time and money. They dive into the root issue behind inconsistent performance: a lack of belief in the data. Luke shares the system CTC uses to align teams, set targets with confidence, and stop the reactive cycle. You’ll learn why geo holdout testing is the most trustworthy signal in media buying,...
May 15, 2025•33 min
Ever wonder how $10M+ ecommerce brands make their next move? In this episode of the Podcast, Taylor and Richard walk through a real world growth scenario pulled directly from CTC’s work with a 9-figure brand. Using live data from our proprietary platform, Statlas, we break down exactly how our team evaluates performance, spots hidden opportunities, and decides what to do next. What You’ll Learn: What to do when you’re overperforming Why beating your forecast might signal a problem How a growth s...
May 13, 2025•24 min
We just did something radical: we killed the Growth Map—CTC’s signature media buying tool used for years across hundreds of ecommerce brands. Why? Because AI changed the game. In this episode of the Podcast, we break down why our old system no longer works, how AI is reshaping the future of media buying, and what we’re building to replace human limitations with 24/7 omnipresence. Learn about: Why the Growth Map is dead What “circadian media buying” is (and why it’s obsolete) How AI forecasts spe...
May 08, 2025•26 min
Most brands think they have a growth problem—but what they really have is a DOING problem. In this episode, we break down why volume of action is the single greatest predictor of business growth—and how to build a system that trains this muscle every day. From 400+ ads to 52 product launches a year, we’ll show you what it takes to build momentum, create consistently, and generate real results. You’ll learn: Why most brands dramatically underestimate the effort required The 3-stage framework: Qua...
May 06, 2025•21 min
What happens when you collaborate with a competitor instead of competing with them? In this episode of the Podcast, we sit down with Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow to unpack the bold business strategy behind their surprising partnership with Bose. From leveraging “product as marketing” to rebranding perception, launching at $99, and turning retail into a megaphone, this episode is a masterclass in how to create buzz, distribution, and long-term brand equity. You’ll learn: Why Skullcandy teamed u...
May 01, 2025•38 min
After years of relying on expensive, limited solutions, we decided to build our own. In this episode of the Podcast, CTC’s VP of Ecommerce Strategy Luke Austin is joined by VP of Technology Kwa and Director of Data Steve Rekuc to unveil our brand new incrementality testing platform — now available to all CTC partners. We’ll break down: Why incrementality testing is the gold standard of marketing measurement How our tool makes geo holdout testing more affordable and accessible Real world results ...
Apr 29, 2025•43 min
How did our clients actually perform in March 2025? On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard break down the latest performance scorecard across our client portfolio—revealing exactly how we stacked up against forecasted revenue, spend, and contribution margin goals. Spoiler: We beat margin expectations by +11.68%, but that’s just the beginning. Here’s what you’ll learn: The exact numbers behind our March forecast (and how close we came) Why most agency case studies are misleading How t...
Apr 24, 2025•21 min
Meta’s ad platform has changed—again. In this episode, we break down the exact strategies we’re using at Common Thread Collective to drive profitable growth for ecommerce brands in 2025. You’ll learn: Why cost caps alone won’t cut it anymore How we’re adapting bidding strategies to Meta’s new algorithm The role of creative diversification in targeting & scale How to use attribution windows (like 1-day view) without losing your shirt The importance of incrementality and media measurement What...
Apr 22, 2025•54 min
What if you could get full funnel growth support, media buying, strategy, forecasting, creative direction, for just $5K/month on a month-to-month agreement? In this episode of the Podcast, Richard and Taylor break down the $5K Global Accelerator Program that’s helped over 50 seven-figure brands grow through one of the most volatile economic environments in recent memory. You’ll learn: Why this program was built specifically for $1M–$10M brands The systems and structure behind its outsized result...
Apr 17, 2025•18 min
