Shows / Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth
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…
Episodes
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthHire Smart People
This week's episode centers on how an "agency guy" hires agencies. In that process, host Andrew Faris shares the one thing he looks for (above everything else)…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthMargin is Fake
This week’s episode comes to you from on the ground at our shipping fulfillment center in North Carolina. And after being around the actual products that we…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthBonus Episode: The Purchase of FC Goods (feat. Weisser)
Last week you learned about our side of the story: the sale of FC Goods. This week: we're bringing on the buyers, featuring Eric Weisser(CEO, Weisser…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth10 Takeaways from a 15,500% Ecommerce ROI: We Sold Our First Brand & Reveal Everything
Pop the champagne and drop the beat … We just sold our first brand. And, yes, the math in that outlandish headline is right: a 15,500% increase from our…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe Challenge Of Volatility
One of the hardest things about running an ecommerce business is that the future is unpredictable. Or in the words of host, Andrew Faris: "the only certainty…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthOur Best Performing Creative Was (Almost) Free
We did not see this coming… but we stumbled into a giant Facebook ads win for one of our 4x400 brands. It was our biggest win in months, and it was pure luck…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthHow Influencer Marketing Will Save Our Brand
Influencer Marketing that actually works? We've never done anything like it, but as we take the next steps to grow our brand 31 Bits, influencer marketing will…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthUnleashing Vision
Unleashing Vision by Common Thread Collective
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthOur Business Funnel Is Broken
This week, we're talking about the biggest problem we have to solve right now in our business and the steps we're taking to fix the top of the funnel. We've…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth5 Lessons From Black Friday, Cyber Monday
We won't delay, Black Friday & Cyber Monday went below average for the six brands we operate this year... Here's why, plus five takeaways we learned.
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThis Has To Work (Again)
As we head into Black Friday again, the same sentiment holds true: "this strategy has to work". Andrew Faris gets transparent on the impact of what a win and…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthPre-Black Friday Anxiety Check
We're gearing up for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and it's natural for the business anxieties to sink in. To face the uncertainties, root yourselves in the…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthTaylor & Andrew Build An Organic Marketing Flywheel
We're back with the monthly installment of "One Topic with Taylor". This week on the show, we're going to do a thought-exercise about how to extend brand…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth5 Holiday Tactics It's Not Too Late To Try (S2: E17)
You don’t have time to read this episode description, because Black Friday is right around the corner! So, we'll be quick – today's episode will teach you five…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthProduct First, Brand Impact Second (S2: E16)
We’re diving back into the story of 31 Bits, one of our newly acquired ethical jewelry brands. From its acquisition to proving viability, the growth journey…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Acquired Our 6th Brand: Modern Fuel
This episode, we have an exciting announcement to make… 🎉 We’ve acquired our 6th brand: Modern Fuel 🎉 From its founder story to early-stage strategy, we cover…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthOne Topic With Taylor: Is Discounting Bad For Your Brand?
Back by popular demand, is the second monthly installment of “One Topic with Taylor” series on the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast. CEO of Common Thread Collective…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthEpisode Update: A One Week Break
A short message and a notice of a one week break from the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Ran Out Of Inventory Somehow (S2: E15)
The ongoing narrative of what it’s like to run a new ecommerce business goes something like this: 1. Trying to prove brand viability in the early stages 2…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthSigns of Life (S2: E14)
You read that title correctly – we have signs of life in the ad account of our newly acquired brand 31 Bits. We've had some bumps in the road getting the brand…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Relaunched Our Ad Campaign. And It’s Going Badly. (S2:E13)
From acquisition, to relaunch, to this episode. Every weekly episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast up until this point has been leadup to this moment. Our…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthOne Topic With Taylor: Where Did The Marketing Campaign Go?
The first in a new monthly episode – CEO of Common Thread Collective, Taylor Holiday and host, Andrew Faris each bring one topic they've been wrestling with…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthFailure To Relaunch (S2: E12)
The episode title pretty much says it all … But, when we started this podcast, we committed to sharing it all – the raw numbers, struggles, and growth. And…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe 31 Bits Relaunch Is Officially Underway. Here's How It's Going. (S2:E11)
We finally relaunched our newly acquired brand, 31 Bits. After months of planning and research, we share how it went. Plus, get the exact strategies we used…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Solved Slick's #1 Problem (S2:E10)
Our brand, Slick Products, just had it’s biggest. win. ever. That’s because we (finally) solved the problem of customer retention. How? This Richard Thaler…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthGrowth vs. Profit: How the Age Old Debate Is Unfolding (S2:E9)
On this week’s episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we talk about the challenge of sorting out profit vs. growth. Truthfully, it’s something we battle…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthBuilding A Brand Homepage: Design & Copywriting Strategies (S2: E8)
We are right on the cusp of rolling out all the work we’ve put in to get our newly acquired brand, 31 Bits, firing on all cylinders. That’s because we've just…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe Headaches & Rewards of Building an Ethical Supply Chain (S2: E7)
The challenge and beauty of our newly acquired brand, 31 Bits, centers on its mission of ethical manufacturing. While we’re always striving for ethical…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthResisting The Tyranny Of The Urgent (S2:E6)
C.S. Lewis said it first, and we’re seconding it today on the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast. Regardless of what the gurus say, jumpstarting revenue isn’t…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Acquired Our 5th Brand (Featuring: Taylor Holiday)
We acquired our fifth brand into the 4x400 ecosystem! Listen now to find out... Featuring: Taylor Holiday, CEO of Common Thread Collective
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthProduct Development By The Numbers (S2:E4)
On today’s episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast we’re talking about the product development approach for 31 Bits. It’s built not just on what we think…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe 4 Steps To Fix Conversion Rate (S2:E3)
We’ve analyzed the problem, now it’s time to fix it. But, before we get to any solutions, we have one last question about conversion rate to answer… From…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthHow Do We Know If We're Successful?(S2:E2)
On today’s episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we’re defining success, putting a number on it, and pointing to metrics that indicate it. As we walk you…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe Exact Plan For Growing Our Brand (S2:E1)
Welcome to Season 2 of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast! Coming off the back of acquiring a new brand, this season will focus on pulling back the veil of how we…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthStop Running Small Tests (Episode 15)
There’s big business opportunities in front of you if you stop with the small stuff. How big? Well, let’s just put it this way: our brand Slick Products had…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe ONE Thing We Have To Do To Win For 31 Bits (Episode 14)
Fresh off of the new acquisition of ethical fashion brand, 31 Bits, into the 4x400 portfolio – we talk about the ONE metric that will determine our destiny…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthBonus Episode: Why 31 Bits Chose 4x400
Bonus Episode! Host, Andrew Faris interviews the founders of newly acquired brand, 31 Bits.
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Acquired A Brand (And We're Telling You Everything About It) – Episode 13
From founder story to the future, we cover all things brand acquisition today as we add a new business to the 4x400 ecosystem. + Special guest, Taylor Holiday…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthShould We Buy 6x The Inventory We Bought A Month Ago? (Episode 12)
Today on the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, we talk about one of our brands that’s finding remarkable success in the age of coronavirus, the exact tactics we used…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthHow Much Inventory Should We Buy In A Moment Like This? (Episode 11)
Today we're talking about the challenge of success. In particular, the challenge of figuring out inventory buying vetted against performance.
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThis Moment Won't Last, Maximize It (Episode 10)
At 4x400 our brands are winning big. And for many brands in the ecommerce space, it’s like Black Friday all over again. This week on the Ecommerce Playbook…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthBonus: What 32,000 Ecommerce Merchants Can Tell Us About Coronavirus (With Jake Cohen from Klaviyo)
Bonus Episode! Featuring Jake Cohen, Director of Product Marketing at Klaviyo.
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWhy Do We Sell So Much Stuff On Sundays? (Episode 9)
For most of our brands, Sunday’s are drastically outperforming any other day of the week for sales revenue. But, before I make any sweeping generalizations…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth250% Improvement on Facebook Ads: Here's How We Did It (Episode 8)
This one's for all the data nerds. On today's episode, we're getting a little more tactical – sharing the process we use for customer acquisition and how we…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Are Crushing The Coronavirus (Episode 7)
We went from getting destroyed last week, to flipping the table and having the most profitable week in 4x400 history. On today’s new episode of the Ecommerce…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe Coronavirus Is Crushing Us (Episode 6)
We don’t always get it right, and things are not always going well for our business. Now is one of those times for us… When we started this podcast, we…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthConstraints Generate Creativity: Profit and Growth Amidst the Coronavirus (Episode 5)
E-commerce playbook podcast coming back at you again in the midst of all things Coronavirus. I'm trying to figure out what the heck the right thing to do is in…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthHow Our Ecommerce Brands Are Responding to Coronavirus COVID-19 (Episode 4)
COVID-19 is officially a global pandemic. And we all have questions. Here’s how we’re responding and preparing our DTC brands at 4x400.
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthDid I Already Blow It?(Episode 3)
Returning to work after 6 weeks of paternity leave, I'm reacquainting myself on what the heck is happening in my business in the aftermath of Black Friday…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthThe Black Friday Results Are In(Episode 2)
I’m back giving you the second update in this content series about what is going on with 4x400, the holding company for the brands that we at Common Thread…
Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & GrowthWe Need Black Friday To Work(Episode 1)
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Ecommerce Playbook. Each week we’ll be releasing a podcast from the frontlines — the numbers, struggles, and growth…