Ten Years In The Making

As AI dominates headlines, eCommerce brands are hard at work trying to figure out how to employ cutting-edge technology to improve their bottom line.  For Oren Harnevo's Feel, however, human touch has been the secret to driving incremental revenue for eCommerce companies. Feel builds 24/7 live sales teams for online businesses, allowing customers to connect with experts at all hours of the day. On average, Feel has increased AOVs by 50% and conversions by 35%, while decreasing product returns by 11x for its consumers.  Today, I'm sitting down with Oren to discuss how Feel is able to consistently build expert sales teams despite serving businesses across multiple niches. How do you find, hire and train great salespeople? And is it repeatable for other businesses? You'll also hear about how AI can help online eCommerce sales teams scale, how to implement video into online sales, and why brands must clearly distinguish the difference between sales messaging and support messaging. Key Takeaways with Oren Harnevo How does Feel help 7, 8 and 9-figure brands make more sales?  Pricing a service in a way that attracts DTC brands.  How to quickly train a sales team to be experts on a specific brand or niche.  Building a 24/7 sales team to accommodate customers in all time zones.  The effect work-from-home has had on formality in the workplace — and how it affects businesses of different sizes. Why would a company not be a good fit to work with Feel?  Balancing the high conversion potential of video sales with customer engagement preferences.  The importance of distinguishing between sales and support messaging when interacting with customers online.  What impact with AI have on conversational eCommerce?  Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit Retention.com/31 Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of Ten Years In The Making, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. Connect with Adam Robinson: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtalksemail/  Get The Podcast on: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/10-years-in-the-making/id1656993308 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LPWNrljdXFv0caHvfQUIv?si=qiHzoPUdR-6TSgUJOiwyrw YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJe-176R0xRyfb9eBk80Yg?sub_confirmation=1 

We're doing things a little differently in this episode as I join Drew Sanocki and Michael Epstein on the Nerd Marketing Ecommerce podcast to discuss what life will look like for DTC companies in a cookieless future. As giants like Google and Apple relay their plans to limit the collection of third-party cookies, eCommerce companies will be forced to tap dance to come up with ways to continue personalized ad targeting. But while some people think these changes will be fatal for DTC companies, I see a few ways companies can adjust to the new normal.  As the founder and CEO of Retention.com, I'm constantly involved in the nuances of effective customer tracking. In this episode, you'll hear Drew and Michael ask me important questions about ad targeting, customer retention and data collection. You'll also hear about the important differences between server-side and client-side tracking, how Retention's technology works, and what part of marketing you should optimize to increase sales. Key Takeaways with Drew Sanocki & Michael Epstein How can brands prepare for the upcoming deprecation of third-party cookies?  Server-side tracking helps websites collect user data at the server level instead of on the client's device. What are the long-term risks associated with it? The fine line between privacy and ad targeting that companies like Retention.com navigate — and why the business model has a capped ceiling.  The differences in data collection laws between the U.S. and Europe. A crash course in misconceptions and realities behind the legal nuances that affect email marketing.  Should Ecommerce stores be A/B testing abandoned cart flows or newsletters? Is it possible to maintain business consistency when experiencing rapid growth?  Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit Retention.com/30 Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of Ten Years In The Making, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. Connect with Adam Robinson: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtalksemail/  Get The Podcast on: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/10-years-in-the-making/id1656993308 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LPWNrljdXFv0caHvfQUIv?si=qiHzoPUdR-6TSgUJOiwyrw YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJe-176R0xRyfb9eBk80Yg?sub_confirmation=1 

For many DTC brands, cracking the big-box retailer code can be a challenge.  But for Greg LaVecchia and Bloom, placement on Target and Walmart shelves has been rocket fuel on their way to 9-figure sales in just their 4th year of business.  Greg is a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the CEO of Bloom, a DTC supplement company. Along with his wife and co-founder Mari, Greg has grown Bloom to become Target's top-selling SKU in the wellness OTC vitamins, minerals and supplement department over the past 12 months.  Today, Greg sits down with me to share how he solved the puzzle of going from DTC darling to retail behemoth. You'll also hear Greg discuss Bloom's influencer marketing program that generates more than 500K social media views per month, how he handles digital advertising when focusing on retail sales, and how to handle product innovation needs with major retailers.  Key Takeaways with Greg LaVecchia How Bloom became the No.1-selling SKU in Target's wellness OTC vitamins, minerals and supplements department over the past 52 weeks The backstory of Bloom's founding and how you can build upon one simple idea.  Creating an in-house agency of TikTok and Instagram influencers to generate over 500M views per month as a top-of-funnel strategy. When do you know it's time to chase expansion for your brand?  Busting the myth that DTC brands don't do well in big-box retailers like Target and Walmart. The nuances of using digital marketing ads to send consumers into retail stores to buy your products. The need to think further ahead with product development when selling in retail vs. selling online. The difference between a retail broker and a distributor, and why working with distributors can hurt product control. The importance of focusing on the day-to-day instead of dreaming over a future exit.  Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit Retention.com/29 Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of Ten Years In The Making, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. Connect with Adam Robinson: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtalksemail/  Get The Podcast on: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/10-years-in-the-making/id1656993308 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LPWNrljdXFv0caHvfQUIv?si=qiHzoPUdR-6TSgUJOiwyrw YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJe-176R0xRyfb9eBk80Yg?sub_confirmation=1 

Entrepreneurs often follow a simple code: zig while others zag.  So while the DTC mattress industry adopted the online "bed-in-a-box" model, Saatva co-founder Ricky Joshi took a different approach, prioritizing white glove delivery, 24/7 customer service and brick-and-mortar storefronts to build a $400M mattress giant.  In this episode, Ricky tells the story of how Saatva became the seventh-fastest-growing privately held retailer in the U.S. by branching beyond e-commerce and embracing physical retail.  In addition to the story behind Saatva's growth, you'll hear Ricky share insights on how he assesses which cities to open stores in, how to determine whether or not to add new product lines, and how Saatva has embraced different verticals to 2x their Average Order Value without losing the customer service touch that helped build their success.  Key Takeaways with Ricky Joshi How Ricky uses the marketing efficiency ratio to determine where to double down in his business.  The one "super advantage" that e-commerce brands looking to go into retail can latch onto.  How using physical retail stores as a customer service hub can help companies get a leg up on their competition.  What are the factors to consider when determining which locations to open a retail store in?   How do you know when it's time to take the leap to scaling?  Why hasn't Saatva chosen to expand internationally despite their U.S. success? How Saatva has doubled its Average Order Value over the course of its growth. How can retail companies manage the simultaneous challenges of logistics and inventory while weighing the desire to increase product lines?  Why sticking to a game plan can help companies weather economic turbulence.  Has Saatva seen any revenue slowdown in the face of recent economic conditions?  Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit Retention.com/28 Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of Ten Years In The Making, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. Connect with Adam Robinson: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtalksemail/  Get The Podcast on: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/10-years-in-the-making/id1656993308 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LPWNrljdXFv0caHvfQUIv?si=qiHzoPUdR-6TSgUJOiwyrw YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJe-176R0xRyfb9eBk80Yg?sub_confirmation=1 

For Mike Xhaxho, building an audience of 25,000 followers for his DTC brand WaterBoy means doing one thing: making a few videos.  With just seven TikTok videos, Mike grew WaterBoy's following from 0 to 25,000, earning millions of views on its way to hitting $10M in sales in the brand's first two years.  Today, Mike sits down with me to talk about WaterBoy's TikTok-led marketing strategy, including the story behind his first brand-building videos, the factors he considers when creating content, and why trying to create viral videos might actually stop creators from going viral. You'll also hear about marketing tips for getting through to Gen Z, how to repurpose the same content across TikTok and Facebook, and effective ways to iterate and test content for successful ad campaigns. Key Takeaways with Mike Xhaxho Why did Mike launch WaterBoy to compete with companies like Liquid I.V. and Pedialyte?  How Mike grew from 0 to 7,000 followers with his first TikTok — and 7,000 to 25,000 with his seventh.  The importance of focusing on quality over virality with TikTok videos. The difference in funnel structure when advertising on Facebook vs. TikTok. What are the considerations that come with paying for influencer marketing content? Should entrepreneurs design a new product or iterate on an existing product? Why authenticity beats polished brands for Gen-Z consumers. The element of effective ads that "will never go out of style." Want the Full Show Notes? To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit Retention.com/27 Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of Ten Years In The Making, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. Connect with Adam Robinson: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtalksemail/  Get The Podcast on: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/10-years-in-the-making/id1656993308 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LPWNrljdXFv0caHvfQUIv?si=qiHzoPUdR-6TSgUJOiwyrw YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJe-176R0xRyfb9eBk80Yg?sub_confirmation=1