Chase Your Dreams

Glynis Tao

Welcome to Chase Your Dreams. This is a podcast for fashion entrepreneurs who are ready to pursue their passion and make a living doing what they love. I’m your host Glynis Tao, an apparel business consultant and SEO specialist with 20 years apparel industry experience. I’m also a mom to a wonderfully, energetic little boy named Chase.

  1. E-Commerce SEO Strategies in the Age of AI Part 2

    5D AGO

    E-Commerce SEO Strategies in the Age of AI Part 2

    In this conversation, Glynis Tao discusses the importance of adaptability in today’s changing e-commerce landscape. With the popularization of AI-driven search, Glynis emphasizes the importance of foundational SEO best practices that still apply. Through a case study, she shares how one of her clients used strategic blogging to earn a citation from AI Overviews, resulting in an increase in visibility and organic traffic. She also discusses what makes a valuable blog, how to build trust with your audience, performance metrics that you should be monitoring/measuring (besides just clicks), and more. Websites and SEO are not disappearing—they are evolving. About Glynis Tao Glynis Tao is the founder of ⁠Chase Your Dreams Consulting⁠, an apparel business consulting & online marketing agency that specializes in SEO & AI search optimization for e-commerce companies. With over 25 years of experience in the fashion industry, Glynis is an expert in creative entrepreneurship and fashion business operations. Driven by a mission to empower and help her clients build e-commerce businesses that are purposeful and profitable, Glynis uses her industry experience to develop data-driven strategies that deliver real results. Website: ⁠https://glynistao.com/⁠ Instagram:⁠ @glynistao Takeaways Adopting an adaptability mindset is key to staying ahead in the e-commerce industry. Creating consistent and helpful content will keep your brand relevant. Strategic blogging will drive visibility and organic traffic to your site. Valuable blogs are often ones that answer common customer questions. Schema and metadata helps search engines understand your content and increase your site’s visibility. Establish trust with your audience by sharing expertise. The earlier and faster you adapt to industry changes, the better.

    25 min
  2. E-Commerce SEO Strategies in the Age of AI Part 1

    NOV 4

    E-Commerce SEO Strategies in the Age of AI Part 1

    In this episode, Glynis Tao discusses the evolving landscape of e-commerce SEO in the age of AI, focusing on how e-commerce brands can adapt their growth strategies to remain competitive. She highlights the importance of understanding the changes in consumer search behaviour, the AI challenges brands face, and effective SEO strategies that work today. Glynis emphasizes the need for original content, technical SEO foundations, and building trust with both customers and AI systems for long-term success. About Glynis Tao Glynis Tao is the founder of Chase Your Dreams Consulting, an apparel business consulting & online marketing agency that specializes in SEO & AI search optimization for e-commerce companies. With over 25 years of experience in the apparel industry, Glynis is an expert in creative entrepreneurship and fashion business operations. Driven by a mission to empower and help her clients build e-commerce businesses that are purposeful and profitable, Glynis uses her industry experience to develop data-driven strategies. Website: https://glynistao.com/ Instagram: @glynistao Takeaways - SEO is evolving due to AI advancements. - Consumers are now relying on AI-driven search to make purchase decisions. - EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) is vital for content. - Strategic blogging can significantly help establish trust, authority and credibility. - Content that is high quality and original will likely rank higher in search engines. - E-commerce brands need to focus on unique value propositions. -Technical SEO foundations are essential for visibility.

    24 min
  3. The Secret to Turning Website Traffic into Paying Customers

    OCT 28

    The Secret to Turning Website Traffic into Paying Customers

    In this episode, Evelina Kaganovitch explores why building trust is more important than increasing traffic for e-commerce fashion brands. She shares her journey from fashion school burnout to becoming a messaging strategist, emphasizing the need for authentic storytelling and meaningful communication. Discover what the key to a successful email marketing strategy is, why brand messaging is crucial to long-term success, and how to enhance engagement and drive conversions through content. About Evelina Kaganovitch Evelina Kaganovitch is a data-driven copywriter for fashion brands looking to connect with their customers and drive conversions through engaging content. After burning out in fashion school, Kaganovitch turned to the startup world to combine her passion for writing, fashion, and entrepreneurship. Building off of her own experience in the fashion industry, Kaganovitch connected with fashion entrepreneurs looking to improve their brand messaging to help them better communicate with their audience. Today, Kaganovitch is a successful messaging strategist, using email marketing, ads, and sales pages to increase customer engagement and sales. Website: evelinakreative.com LinkedIn: @evelinakreative Instagram: @evelinakreative Youtube: @evelinakreative Email Subject Line Swipe File Takeaways - Building trust is more important than just driving traffic. - Genuine, quality connections with customers is what sells. - Email marketing is a powerful tool for driving conversions. - Speak like a human to your audience. - Authentic storytelling resonates more than salesy messaging.

    43 min
  4. How to Scale a Business Through Franchising with Rhea Lana Riner

    OCT 21

    How to Scale a Business Through Franchising with Rhea Lana Riner

    In this conversation, Rhea Lana Riner, founder of Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment Events, shares her 28-year-long entrepreneurial journey. What started as a simple clothing swap in her living room transformed into a multi-million dollar franchise, striving to make high-quality children’s clothes accessible and affordable. With an emphasis on community, values, and personal growth in entrepreneurship, Riner offers insights into what it’s like starting a business as a woman from the ground up. She discusses how she started her business, challenges she overcame, and rewarding experiences that made the challenges all worth it. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling, the resale market, and the power of franchising in building a successful business. About Rhea Lana Riner Rhea Lana Riner is the visionary entrepreneur, CEO, and founder of Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Events. In 1997, Riner held a simple clothing swap in her living room, seeking low-cost, high-quality children’s clothes. Since then, she has transformed her clothing swaps into a multi-million dollar national franchise with over 120 locations across 26 states. As a mother of three, Riner has always known that this business is about more than just clothes. Her events aim to empower moms, build community, and create flexible pathways to entrepreneurship. Riner has helped thousands of families access high-quality, affordable children's merchandise and has mentored franchise owners to grow professionally, personally, and spiritually. For the past 28 years, Riner continues to be a leader in the ecommerce space, building a values-driven business and inspiring women to take on leadership roles. Takeaways Franchising offers a unique way to scale a brand sustainably.Connecting to the heart of your customer is essential.Fostering a community around your brand builds loyalty.Women can lead and grow businesses without compromising family values.Storytelling is a powerful tool for brand connection.As a leader, personal growth is the key to long-term business success. Contact Info Website: ⁠rhealana.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@rhealanas⁠

    37 min
  5. Founders Defining the Future of E-commerce: Live from Ecom North

    OCT 14

    Founders Defining the Future of E-commerce: Live from Ecom North

    What does it really take to thrive in the ever-changing e-commerce world? In this special live edition of the Chase Your Dreams podcast from Ecom North, Glynis Tao interviews several inspiring leaders in the e-commerce space. Hear from e-commerce founders Gillian Liu of Kiyoko Beauty, Hannah Wang of The Aesthetics Studio, Andy Hsu of MotionGrey, and Hellen Harbilas of Hellen’s Boutique, as they share success stories, challenges, and valuable insights on running successful businesses in the rapidly changing digital landscape. Each guest shares their unique experiences and growth strategies, emphasizing the need for adaptability and innovation in the e-commerce industry. Ready to chase your own dream? Tune in and get inspired by real founders shaping the future of e-commerce. About the Founders Gillian Liu is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Kiyoko Beauty, a Toronto-based online retailer for authentic Asian beauty products. Website: kiyoko.ca Instagram: @kiyoko.beauty Hannah Wang is the founder of The Aesthetics Studio, an Ontario-based sticker and stationery shop with a focus on promoting mental health awareness. Website: aestheticsstudioo.com Instagram: @theaesthetics.studio Andy Hsu is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of MotionGrey, a Vancouver-based ergonomic office furniture company with a mission to make standing desks and chairs more accessible and affordable. Website: motiongrey.com Instagram: @MotionGrey Hellen Harbilas is the founder and creative director of Hellen’s Boutique, a Toronto-based brand specializing in luxury sculptural candles and handmade home decor. Website: hellensboutique.com Instagram: @hellens.boutique Takeaways Consistent and quality content is crucial to e-commerce growth. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires consistent effort. Building trust with customers is essential for success. Authenticity and storytelling are important for standing out in crowded markets. A good product must be paired with a strong brand identity. In-person connections can enhance online business growth. Continuous learning and adaptation are vital for future proofing your e-commerce business.

    35 min
  6. E-commerce & Retail Strategy in the Age of AI

    AUG 19

    E-commerce & Retail Strategy in the Age of AI

    Jeanel Alvarado, founder of RETAILBOSS, has built her career helping entrepreneurs navigate the fast-changing world of retail. In this episode, she shares how she went from starting a blog to building a global consulting firm, and the lessons you can apply to your own business. You’ll hear how consumer habits are shifting, what AI means for the future of online shopping, and why blogging and content creation are still powerful tools for building authority. By the end, you’ll walk away with practical steps to help you future-proof your retail business and stay competitive in a market that never stops evolving. About Jeanel Alvarado Jeanel Alvarado is a visionary leader in media and retail and the founder and CEO of RETAILBOSS, a platform she launched in 2011. With over 15 years in the retail industry, Jeanel has grown Retail Boss from a blog into an internationally recognized retail publication and consulting firm trusted by professionals around the world. She's also the founder and head of marketing at Stylebuy a B2B wholesale platform and fashion label offering women's, men's, kids' wear, and lifestyle products.  Through her partnership with Glow, Jeanel hosts, manages, and produces fashion events and influencer gifting experiences. Her career includes serving as senior managing director at the School of Retailing at the University of Alberta School of Business, where she led consulting projects for major brands like Victoria's Secret, Tiffany & Co., and various real estate firms that own shopping centers and malls. Takeaways Leverage AI search early to capture new customer discovery. Learn core e-commerce metrics to guide smarter decisions. Blog consistently to build trust and credibility. Optimize product pages for long-tail, detailed searches. Create content that proves your expertise versus making claims. Understand and embrace AI tools to stay ahead of competitors. Use physical retail to deliver memorable brand experiences. Pivot quickly when trends, tech, or consumer behavior shifts. Contact info Website:  https://retailboss.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retailboss/ Email: jeanel@jeanelalvarado.com

    1h 1m
  7. How to Build a Successful Fashion Retail Business with Laura-Jean Bernhardson

    AUG 12

    How to Build a Successful Fashion Retail Business with Laura-Jean Bernhardson

    In this conversation, Laura-Jean Bernhardson shares her experience as an entrepreneur in the fashion industry, from starting a knitwear business to opening multiple retail stores. You will learn about the benefits of building systems, mindset shifts that will help you grow with creativity and confidence, and ways to make your brand memorable. You will also hear about Laura-Jean’s pivot from retail brick and mortar to business coaching. Get ready to learn how to run your business the right way—through Laura’s lessons from decades in the industry. About Laura-Jean Bernhardson Laura-Jean Bernhardson has been an entrepreneur since 1994, starting with a handmade knitwear business that she grew into a seven-figure fashion design and retail company. Her boutiques, Fresh Collective, were known for carrying small batch artisanal clothing and accessories by local designers, including her own lines, Fresh Baked Goods, and Palette. But Laura-Jean didn't stop at fashion. She also co-founded a licensed daycare business that she ran successfully for over a decade. Over the years, her passion for mentoring other women entrepreneurs evolved into a full-time coaching business. Now, she helps founders grow businesses with heart, passion, and profit without burning out. And she's also on a mission to build a life that feels fun, flowy, and creatively fulfilling. Contact info Website: https://laura-jean.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/laurajeanbizcoach/ Takeaways Scale with systems by documenting processes, delegating decisions, and removing bottlenecks. Turn setbacks into wins by staying flexible and pivoting quickly. Collaborate strategically to share resources, cut costs, and create complementary products. Know your ideal customer through market research and tailor everything to their needs. Treat business like design by bringing creativity into sales, marketing, and operations. Hire expert help early to avoid mistakes and speed up growth. Push past fears to sell with confidence and connect authentically.

    55 min
  8. The Best Of: Fashion Entrepreneur Founder Stories

    AUG 5

    The Best Of: Fashion Entrepreneur Founder Stories

    Welcome to the special Best of: Founder Stories episode of Chase Your Dreams. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a fashion brand from the ground up and stay true to your values while doing it, this episode is for you. Over the past few seasons, I've had the privilege of speaking with some incredible women in fashion, designers and founders who've carved their own paths, built purpose-driven businesses, and stayed resilient through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. In this roundup, you'll hear highlights from four powerhouse conversations. Stella Carakasi on pivoting her business model and staying authentic as a designer. Linda Lundstrom, a Canadian fashion icon known for her ethical approach to design. Kristi Soomer, who built a profitable slow fashion brand from scratch. And RozeMerie Cuevas, who took her Vancouver-born brand Global while protecting her brand's DNA. Each story is different, but the common thread is clear. These founders lead with purpose, adapt with grit, and never lose sight of why they started. Whether you're launching a brand or navigating your next chapter, you'll walk away with timeless advice, hard-won lessons, and the reminder that success in fashion doesn't come from following trends, it comes from following your truth. About  Glynis Tao is the founder & CEO of ⁠⁠Chase Your Dreams Consulting⁠⁠, which is an apparel business consulting & online marketing agency that specializes in ⁠SEO & AI search optimization⁠ for e-commerce companies.  She helps fashion, beauty and lifestyle e-commerce brands create optimized content and attract potential customers through organic search results.   Contact info Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://glynistao.com/⁠⁠⁠ Email: hello@glynistao.com Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@glynistao⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/glynistao.coach⁠

    39 min
5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to Chase Your Dreams. This is a podcast for fashion entrepreneurs who are ready to pursue their passion and make a living doing what they love. I’m your host Glynis Tao, an apparel business consultant and SEO specialist with 20 years apparel industry experience. I’m also a mom to a wonderfully, energetic little boy named Chase.