The Brand Building Podcast

In this episode, we explore how Eikona is reinventing lifecycle marketing with AI-powered adaptive creative.  Imagine emails and ads that change for every single customer — in real time. Nir, Eikona founder, breaks down the future of personalization, the tech behind it, and why this shift will transform how brands grow. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Connect with Nir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nir-zvi-weingarten/  Check out Eikona: https://www.eikona.io/ 

Black Friday 2025 just became the biggest online shopping day in history. In this episode I break down the key numbers the standout trends and the strategies that helped brands win. From Shopify’s six point two billion day to Klaviyo’s one billion in attributed sales this is a fast look at what really happened and what operators should focus on for 2026.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, I wanted to slow things down and simply say thank you. This is the busiest and most stressful week of the year for anyone in e-commerce and it has been that way for me for almost sixteen straight Black Fridays. It is long nights, constant changes, nonstop pressure, and a level of expectation that only founders, operators, and agency teams truly understand. But Thanksgiving has always been the one moment inside all that chaos where I take a breath and reflect. It is a day grounded in gratitude, presence, and shared meals with the people who matter most. In this episode I share what I am most thankful for this year. My incredible Bread Loaf team who shows up every single day. Our brand partners and clients who trust us during the most important revenue window of their entire year. And my family, especially my wife, whose support makes this crazy season possible. I talk about the reality of working in e-commerce during BFCM, the history of why Black Friday mattered so much for retail, and how every offer, every campaign, every flow, and every late night is done to help brands hit their goals and finish the year strong. This episode is a reminder to pause and acknowledge the people, the opportunities, and the moments that make all of this worth it. I hope it inspires you to take a few minutes today to reflect on what you are thankful for as well. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving.

In this episode I am breaking down one of the most misunderstood and overlooked parts of retention marketing. Email deliverability. Email used to be simple. You set up an ESP, write a calendar, launch a few campaigns, and revenue shows up. That world is gone. Between iOS changes, Google and Yahoo protocol updates, and rapidly evolving inbox rules, email deliverability has become one of the most important and most complex levers in all of e-commerce. And as we head into 2026, any brand that does not fully understand deliverability is risking the entire channel. In this episode I walk through the core fundamentals every operator must know. The protocols, the DNS setup, the importance of a dedicated IP, and why verification across every app matters more than ever. I also break down the tools and processes we use at Bread Loaf when auditing hundreds of Klaviyo accounts each year and why nine out of ten brands we see are struggling with deliverability without even knowing it. We go deep on list cleaning, list management, how to protect your IP reputation, how to monitor ISP performance, and how to use Klaviyo deliverability scores, Google Postmaster, and segment level reporting to fix issues before they become disasters. I also share why spam traps are one of the biggest hidden threats in e-commerce retention and how list hygiene solves that problem. If you run email for your brand or your clients, this episode gives you the clear blueprint for understanding deliverability and maintaining a healthy, profitable channel. If you are preparing for 2026, this is the one topic you cannot afford to ignore. The episode is live now and I hope it gives you clarity on how to approach email the right way.

In this episode, I am sharing something deeply personal and easily the most life changing experience of my entire life. Two weeks ago, my wife and I welcomed our baby girl, Sienna Rose, into the world. It has been emotional, overwhelming, and completely magical, and it happened right in the middle of the busiest season of the year for me, my clients, and my agency. This is not just a new dad update. It is a perspective shift for operators, founders, brand owners, tech partners, and agency leaders everywhere. Because nothing prepares you for how becoming responsible for another human being instantly changes your relationship with time, priorities, and ambition. In this episode I talk through what the final weeks before the birth looked like, what those first forty eight hours in the hospital taught me, and the truth about how much time you truly waste before you have children. I share what cluster feeding looks like during Q4 and how running an agency through it has forced me to operate with a level of focus I did not know I had. Most importantly, I explain how fatherhood has already become the greatest motivator of my life. It is pushing me to level up in business, in my health, in my relationships, and in how I operate each day. There is a different kind of purpose that comes from knowing you are now providing for a little human who depends on you. I recorded this on a quiet Sunday evening while Sienna slept because when your available time becomes limited, your intensity and clarity increase in ways you do not fully understand until it happens. If you are a founder or operator who does not have kids yet, this episode may give you a perspective you did not know you needed. If you already have kids, you will probably relate to every word. This is the most meaningful episode I have ever filmed, and I hope you enjoy it.

After months of setbacks, broken engines, and bad service, Mark finally got his 28-foot Boston Whaler running—and in the process, learned a powerful lesson about business: cutting corners with the wrong partner always costs more in the long run. This episode dives into why cheap talent, fast timelines, and unrealistic promises destroy more projects than anything else - and why Bread Loaf’s clients keep coming back after learning that lesson the hard way.

Episode Description: In this episode of The Brand Building Podcast, Mark Milutin breaks down one of the biggest updates Klaviyo has rolled out in years - the brand-new Instagram integration powered by Gatsby.ai. For the first time ever, brands can now collect email and SMS subscribers directly from Instagram comments and DMs - no Zapier, no broken APIs, no compliance headaches. Just native, first-party data collection inside Klaviyo. Mark dives deep into: How Klaviyo’s acquisition of Gatsby.ai changes the game for DTC list growth Why traditional pop-ups are losing effectiveness (and what to do instead) The exact flow of how IG comment-to-DM automations work How this unlocks a new “Blue Ocean” for eCommerce brands to grow faster Real stats on why consumers are 3x more likely to engage via DM than the web Why the brands that move first on this integration will win big in 2025 If you’re serious about growing your email and SMS lists, this is the episode you don’t want to miss. 👉 Learn more about Bread Loaf and schedule your Klaviyo audit:https://retention-lab.com/ 👉 Read more about the Klaviyo Gatsby Acquisition: https://www.klaviyo.com/newsroom/gatsby-acquisition

In this episode of the Brand Building Podcast, Mark Milutin (Founder of Bread Loaf) breaks down why pre-sales are one of the most dangerous traps for modern DTC brands—and why he absolutely hates them. From diluted launches and spiked return rates to broken marketing funnels and lost momentum, Mark shares firsthand experiences from real clients and the brutal downstream effects pre-orders have on performance metrics like CAC, conversion rate, and retention ROI. If you’re running fashion, footwear, or premium products in the DTC space—and think pre-sales are a shortcut to early revenue—this episode is your wake-up call. Learn why true product launches drive FOMO, community hype, and 7-figure hours Discover how pre-sales sabotage your paid and retention teams Hear what the top-performing Bread Loaf brands are doing instead

The game has changed — creative alone won’t save your brand in 2025.  In this breakdown of Klaviyo’s KBOs 2025 event, I share the biggest takeaways shaping the future of e-commerce and retention marketing.  From AI-driven automation and multi-channel orchestration to WhatsApp integrations and real-time data insights — this is where the industry is heading. If you’re a Shopify brand, an agency operator, or just obsessed with growth, this episode is your roadmap to staying ahead. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Check out my FREE $4,000 Brand Retention Audit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tywPkNcqY&t=43s 

Klaviyo just dropped a game-changing WhatsApp integration — and it’s about to completely transform how brands retain customers globally. 🌍 In this video, I break down exactly how Klaviyo’s WhatsApp feature works, why it’s a massive unlock for international DTC brands, and how to build and monetize your WhatsApp list the right way. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Check out my FREE $4,000 Brand Retention Audit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tywPkNcqY 

What if your entire marketing and support team ran on AI? 🤯 In this video, I break down Klaviyo’s brand new AI Agents — the Marketing Agent and Customer Agent — and show you how they’re completely redefining what it means to automate your email, SMS, and customer experience. You’ll learn: 🚀 How Klaviyo’s AI Agents actually work (and what they can do) 💡 Real examples of how brands are using them right now ⚠️ The top 3 mistakes people make when turning on AI in Klaviyo 🔐 How to safely adopt AI without losing control of your brand voice If you use Klaviyo, you need to understand what’s coming — this update will change how every marketer operates. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Check out my FREE $4,000 Brand Retention Audit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tywPkNcqY 

What if you could run your entire email marketing operation just by talking to AI?  In this video, I’m breaking down Klaviyo’s brand-new MCP Server integration with Claude AI — what it is, how it works, and why it’s about to completely change how we run campaigns. If you’re using Klaviyo or Shopify, this is one you don’t want to miss.  ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02 

In this video, I’m breaking down Klaviyo Analytics — the hidden engine behind your revenue. Most brands send emails, run flows, and optimize campaigns without truly knowing what’s driving results or bleeding them dry. I’ll show you how to use customer analytics, product insights, and attribution models inside Klaviyo to turn your data into action.  If you’re on Shopify and serious about scaling through lifecycle and retention marketing, this deep dive is for you. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02 

In this video, I’m breaking down 7 proven strategies to grow your email and SMS list in 2025 so you can crush Q4 revenue without relying on discounts or overspending on ads. At Breadloaf, we help Shopify brands scale through lifecycle and retention marketing, and I’ll show you the exact list growth tactics we run every day for our partners using Klaviyo, Postscript, and Attentive. From popups that actually convert, to sweepstakes, product launch lead gen, and back-in-stock flows—this is the playbook for building the one asset you truly own: your list. If you’re serious about making Q4 your biggest yet, this is where you start. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Planetags $1,000,000 in less than an hour video HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeLrawEHrsc   

In this episode, I share a boots-on-the-ground recap from Klaviyo’s K:BOS in Boston—why the energy mattered, how Klaviyo is evolving from ESP to full CRM, and what operators (brand and agency) need to do right now to win Q4 and 2026. If you’re a Shopify brand and want a Klaviyo CRM + omnichannel gameplan for Q4 and 2026 (WhatsApp, RCS, direct mail, social capture, AI workflows), click the link below to lear more about my retention audit: https://youtu.be/A_tywPkNcqY?si=JBA4pc6sy9KBnpHJ Timestamp guide 00:00 Intro, why K:BOS mattered this year 03:12 High-frequency vs low-frequency operating 07:40 Agencies: creative is table stakes—what’s next actually wins 12:18 Brands’ reality: margins, talent, tool-sprawl 15:09 Klaviyo’s 3 investment pillars (omnichannel, analytics, autonomous) 18:22 Roadmap: Service desk, AI agents, RCS, WhatsApp, Gatsby 25:11 Claude + Klaviyo via MCP (why I’m hyped) 28:45 PostPilot playbook (1% budget, handwritten VIP, fence-sitters) 33:02 Operator dinner: Kona, Copley, partners 37:30 Goals for 2026 + invite to next year’s K:BOS

If you wait until Black Friday to plan Black Friday, you’ve already lost. In this video, I’m handing you the exact BFCM campaign calendar we use at Breadloaf to help our clients crush Q4.  I’ll walk you through every channel — email, SMS, push, and direct mail — and show you what to send, when to send it, and how to maximize revenue all the way through December.  Steal my playbook, drop it straight into your calendar, and make this your biggest Q4 yet. Q4 for September & October: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuZFEFgZM0w  ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02 

Stop waiting until November to win Q4 — the brands that dominate Black Friday and Cyber Monday start in September and October. In this video, I break down the exact playbook we use at Breadloaf to front-load demand, grow your subscriber list, and set your Shopify or CPG brand up for massive Q4 results. You’ll get actionable tips on: Budget splits and top-of-funnel strategy Offers, popups, and subscriber capture Re-engagement campaigns and sweepstakes Email deliverability and list hygiene Omnichannel growth with push and direct mail KPIs to track so November feels effortless Make September and October count — watch now and prepare your Q4 for success! ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  Prepare for Black Friday 2025: https://www.klaviyo.com/blog/bfcm-marketing-checklist   

iOS 26 is here, and it’s changing the game for email and SMS marketing. Your messages could be getting filtered, your tracking stripped, and your campaigns crushed if you don’t adapt.  In this video, I break down exactly what’s changed, why it matters, and the 5 strategies I’m using to future-proof retention marketing in 2025 and beyond. If you’re serious about keeping your campaigns alive, this one’s for you. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02  AI Email Summarizers Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-BK0OqOTV8     

I just got back from the Meta Advertiser Summit in LA, and the message was loud and clear: If you’re only running a few ads in Q4, you’re leaving money on the table. In this video, I’m breaking down the exact Q4 creative playbook that Meta wants us to run—hooks, formats, creator strategy, testing cadence, and more.   Plus, I’ll share the stats they dropped on stage and give you my 14-day sprint plan so you can execute this right now. Let’s win Q4 together. ✅ Elevate your brand’s Email & SMS marketing: https://breadloaf.typeform.com/to/rotiGDm7?typeform-source=www.youtube.com  🚀 Discuss your growth strategy: https://calendly.com/markmilutin/retention-audit-kick-off?month=2025-02 

In this episode of The Brand Building Podcast, I share the inside story of a record-breaking campaign that delivered a client’s first million-dollar month—plus a $1M day and even a $1M hour. I'll break down the fundamentals that made this possible. If you’re serious about e-commerce growth, this episode shows how patience, planning, and execution can set new standards for success.