Ecomm Breakthrough

Josh Hadley
  • 5.0 (108)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Unlock the full potential and growth in your business. Join Josh Hadley, a successful 8-figure e-com business owner and investor as he interviews highly successful CEOs and business owners who share specific actions you can take today to help your business reach its full potential and leave a lasting impact on the world. Whether you sell on Amazon FBA, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Walmart, ClickFunnels, or Etsy you'll learn what is working for the most successful business leaders in eCommerce. Each eCom breakthrough episode is filled with strategies you can implement to help you scale to 8 figures and beyond. Here's a small list of the topics we will cover: - How to find new products to sell - How to find good manufacturers - How to manage cash flow - Inventory management (shipping & logistics) - Optimizing sales pages for conversion - How to successfully launch a new product on Amazon.com - Product ranking & optimization - Amazon PPC management - Implementing business operating systems - Driving external traffic to Amazon - Preparing to exit - How to hire and build a team with A-Level talent - Leadership skills

  1. 18h ago

    Throwback: The Power of Serving Over Selling - Building Deeper Connections for Success

    In this episode, host Josh welcomes high performance coach and conscious leader Mario Lanzarotti to discuss the mindset shifts essential for business growth. They explore the internal conflicts entrepreneurs face between their ambitions and unconscious fears, the importance of addressing unmet emotional needs, and how shifting from scarcity to abundance unlocks success. Mario shares real-life case studies and practical strategies, such as leveraging relationships, focusing on service, and reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. The conversation offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs seeking to develop unstoppable mindsets and achieve effortless, sustainable business growth. Chapters: Introduction to Mario Lanzarotti and Mindset Coaching (00:00:00)Josh introduces Mario Lanzarotti, his background, and the focus on mindset for entrepreneurs and high achievers. The Internal Conflict: Conscious Goals vs. Unconscious Fears (00:01:07)Discussion about entrepreneurs’ frustration with not reaching big goals and the unconscious fears that hold them back. Self-Sabotage and the Iceberg Analogy (00:03:09)Mario explains self-sabotaging mechanisms, using the iceberg analogy to illustrate the power of the unconscious mind. Identifying and Addressing Unmet Needs (00:04:12)Mario discusses the importance of recognizing unmet emotional or support needs to progress toward higher goals. Case Study: Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance Mindset (00:05:39)Mario shares a client story about overcoming scarcity mindset, self-forgiveness, and moving toward abundance. The Power of Forgiveness and Acceptance (00:08:14)How forgiving past mistakes enabled a client to invest in growth and experience business breakthroughs. Comparison Trap and Self-Assurance (00:09:12)Josh reflects on the dangers of comparing oneself to others and the importance of self-assurance and personal growth. Case Study: Making Success Effortless, Not Hard (00:10:20)Mario shares another client story about shifting the belief that success must be hard, and leveraging relationships for growth. Actionable Takeaways: Who Not How, Serving Over Selling, Self-Reassurance (00:13:15)Josh summarizes three actionable strategies: leveraging others’ expertise, focusing on service, and practicing self-reassurance. Closing Remarks and Gratitude (00:16:26)Josh thanks Mario for the conversation and Mario expresses his appreciation. Links and Mentions: Tools and Concepts  "Mindset Shifts": "00:00:00"  "SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)": "00:01:07"  "Scarcity Mindset": "00:06:11"  "Abundance Mindset": "00:07:12"  "Forgiveness Meditation": "00:08:14"  "Who Not How Principle": "00:13:15"  "Serving Over Selling": "00:14:34"  "Self-Assurance": "00:15:51"  Case Studies and Examples  "E-commerce Company Case Study": "00:05:39"  "Agency Business Case Study": "00:10:20"  Notable Quotes  "More money, more problems": "00:03:09"  "Everything has to be hard": "00:10:20"  Actionable Takeaways  "Who Not How": "00:13:15"  "Serving Over Selling": "00:14:34"  "Self-Assurance": "00:15:51" Transcript: Josh 00:00:00  Guys, I am super excited to introduce you to today's guest. This is kind of a new, new one for us. He doesn't just have expertise in the e-commerce space. Instead, he has a much broader landscape in the mindset shifts and tools he's going to be able to share with us. I know are going to be able to have a tremendous impact on your business. Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Mario Lanza, a high performance coach, a TEDx speaker with over 1 million views, and a conscious leader, Mario Lanza. He travels the world helping entrepreneurs make more money in half the time through building an unstoppable mindset from CEOs to Olympians and mission driven entrepreneurs. Mario helps high achievers all across the world gain the mental clarity and focus necessary through his masterclasses on conscious leadership and next level mindsets. So with that introduction, welcome to the show, Mario. Mario 00:00:58  Josh, thank you so much for having me on the show. I'm really excited, and I think you and I were going to have a powerful conversation filled with lots of value for your listeners. Josh 00:01:07  One of those inner thoughts in my mind, when I'm having to make either a difficult decision or I have to slow down in order to like create an SOP or to hire a team member because, you know, that's that's the next step. That's what needs to happen. My frustration is I think that those should what are the things I know I should be doing? And it's more along the lines of, I should have a $100 million business. I look at all the other successful e-commerce businesses. I feel like I'm just as capable as they are, but I'm doing something wrong. I'm spending too much time on these little tasks and I'm making this a little decision, like, why am I not at that $100 million already? And what what would you say to that? Like, I feel like that's what's kind of like deep down. Like I have this vision of I love my potential, but I'm not there yet, right? And so I beat myself up. Mario 00:02:07  Yeah. This is a classical one. Mario 00:02:09  And again, I want to honor you for stepping one step further out. And I think a lot of your listeners will be will resonate with that because they look at where they are and then they tell themselves, I'm not where I'm supposed to be. There's so much inside of me that can be brought up. And, you know, it's true. There is so much more inside of you that can be brought out. But the reason it's not already out is because actually, you do not want the 100 million. Because if you have the 100 million, you know that there's something that's going to increase. Often in a mental perspective, the amount of problems will increase, right? That's why they say biggie made the song. More money, more problems, more responsibility, more, more being on your own because, you know, you climb the mountain even higher and so. Less people to relate to. If you're the 100 million guy, maybe in your family, you're the only one. And so nobody really, truly knows how Josh feels when Josh is by himself. Mario 00:03:09  And so all of that is what I call a self-sabotaging mechanism, where you tell yourself consciously, yep, I want the $100 million business. But unconsciously you are scared of that. Because here's the thing what a self-sabotaging mechanism is. It's your conscious mind working against your unconscious mind. And if you've ever seen the picture of the iceberg where you know, you see the tiny peak above the water and the huge body underneath, your unconscious mind makes up about 95% of everything. So if you are like, yes, I want that $100 million business, your unconscious mind. No bro no no no no no, not gonna happen. That's way too much. So first of all, I would have you look at the reality of the way that you're showing up and divorce this idea that what you want is the $100 billion business. Because if your behavior shows the opposite, what you really want is you want to stay safe. You want to stay in control. You want to stay in your comfort zone. And there's nothing wrong with that. Mario 00:04:12  That's the first realization that I would bring in. And then second is to look at what is it that's missing for you if you truly want to get to that $100 million level, there are certain needs that you have that are currently not being fulfilled. It might be more of a support system. It might be someone like a coach or a...

  2. 2d ago

    The $1B Brand Playbook: Retail Strategy, Culture, and AI Secrets Revealed

    Evan Dash is the CEO of StoreBound and Author of the best-selling book, A Dash of Good: How to Turn a Business Based on Values into a Valuable Business. Evan’s journey took him from firefighter to business executive before becoming a household name in the kitchenware industry. Alongside his wife Rachel, they launched DASH, their namesake kitchenware brand. Under Dash’s leadership, the company skyrocketed to success, achieving sales of over $1 billion in sales and becoming the world’s largest producer of waffle makers, popcorn poppers, and egg cookers, with over 100 million units sold. Before its 10th anniversary, Dash negotiated a majority sale of his company to Groupe SEB, the $8 billion global leader in the housewares industry. Highlight Bullets > Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn….  Entrepreneurial journey from firefighter to CEO of a billion-dollar kitchenware brand.Transition from corporate retail experience to founding a business.Importance of a retail-first strategy versus direct-to-consumer approaches.Challenges faced in retail, including inventory management and product-market fit.The significance of a caring company culture and hiring practices.Strategies for DTC brands entering the retail space.The role of AI in enhancing business operations and creativity.Partnership dynamics in business, particularly with a spouse.Lessons learned from early failures and successes in product launches.Emphasis on building trust and relationships with customers and retailers.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Evan Dash, CEO of StoreBound and founder of Dash kitchenware. Evan shares his unconventional journey from firefighter to entrepreneur, building a brand that surpassed $1 billion in sales. He discusses leveraging brick-and-mortar retail expertise, the importance of a content-first strategy, and hiring people who genuinely care. Evan also highlights his partnership with his wife Rachel, strategies for DTC brands entering retail, and AI's growing role in business operations. Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode: Start where you have an unfair advantage Leverage your existing expertise, network, or channel (retail, DTC, etc.) instead of blindly following trends. Validate demand before scaling Use tools like crowdfunding, small test runs, or pilot launches to confirm product-market fit and reduce inventory risk. Treat retail like a different business If entering brick-and-mortar, master pricing, margins, cash flow, and logistics—don’t assume your DTC playbook will work.Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction and Setting the StageEvan discusses generational shifts in kitchenware preferences and the initial marketing approach for Dash. 00:00:22 Podcast IntroductionHost introduces the E-com Breakthrough Podcast and sets up the episode’s focus. 00:00:35 Guest Introduction: Evan Dash’s BackgroundEvan’s journey from firefighter to CEO, and the founding of Dash kitchenware. 00:01:51 Personal Connection and Product RecognitionHost shares personal experience with Dash products and introduces the main interview. 00:02:19 Evan’s Entrepreneurial JourneyEvan recounts his unconventional path from firefighting to retail and business. 00:04:01 Lessons from Retail and E-commerce EvolutionEvan discusses his retail background, the fall of legacy brands, and the rise of e-commerce. 00:05:57 Transition from Corporate to EntrepreneurshipEvan explains how being fired led him to start his own business with his wife. 00:07:45 Working with a Spouse: Partnership InsightsEvan and the host discuss the dynamics and benefits of building a business with their wives. 00:10:02 Travel and Business Partnership BenefitsEvan shares the advantages of traveling and working closely with his spouse. 00:11:21 Launching Dash: Retail-First StrategyEvan explains why Dash started with a retail-first approach and the challenges faced. 00:12:11 Early Product Experiments and Brand NamingEvan describes initial product ideas, licensing, and the decision to use his last name for the brand. 00:14:30 Content-Driven Brand BuildingDash’s early focus on content creation, social media, and appealing to younger consumers. 00:16:37 Retail Placement and Cash Flow ChallengesHow Dash leveraged retail relationships for credibility and managed cash flow pressures. 00:17:47 Retail Flywheel and Industry FOMOThe impact of early retail success and how it led to more opportunities. 00:18:35 Product Flops and Risk MitigationEvan discusses product failures, the importance of sell-through, and strategies to minimize risk. 00:22:07 Crowdfunding and Retailer RelationshipsUsing Kickstarter/Indiegogo to test products and proactively managing retailer relationships. 00:24:30 Advice for DTC Brands Entering RetailEvan’s recommendations for DTC brands looking to expand into retail. 00:25:08 Learning New Channels and Building ExpertiseThe importance of becoming an expert in new sales channels and hiring for knowledge gaps. 00:27:02 Brokers vs. Direct Outreach in RetailPros and cons of using brokers versus direct outreach for retail expansion. 00:28:14 Focus, Time Management, and Agency PitfallsThe risks of losing focus, the value of time, and challenges with agencies. 00:29:37 Hiring Smart People and Building TeamsHow hiring smarter people and building strong teams drives business growth. 00:30:36 Culture of Caring and Core ValuesEvan’s approach to company culture, hiring for care, and building a values-driven organization. 00:34:15 Defining “Care” in Company CultureWhat “care” means at Dash and how it’s embedded in the company’s DNA. 00:35:16 Empowerment, Trust, and Winning HeartsPairing care with empowerment, trust, and a focus on winning hearts internally and externally. 00:38:20 Culture as a Competitive AdvantageHow culture and core values translate to consumer experience and business success. 00:39:16 AI in Business: Human vs. AutomationEvan’s perspective on AI, its role in efficiency, and why humans remain central. 00:40:17 AI as a Multiplier, Not a ReplacementHow Dash is adopting AI to boost productivity while maintaining a human-centric approach. 00:41:28 Final Thoughts and Book RecommendationEvan recommends his book and offers to connect with listeners. 00:41:49 Three Actionable TakeawaysHost summarizes key lessons: domain expertise, caring culture, and hiring smart people. 00:45:08 Rapid-Fire Questions: Book, AI Tool, InspirationEvan shares his favorite book, AI tools, and sources of inspiration in CPG and fashion. 00:48:34 Closing and Contact InformationHow to connect with Evan and Dash; episode wrap-up. Resources mentioned in this episode: Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Kickstarter": "00:23:27""Indiegogo": "00:23:27""ChatGPT": "00:46:15" Books"

  3. 6d ago

    5 Predictions That Will Shape E-Commerce Through 2030

    In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares his predictions for the future of e-commerce over the next decade. Drawing from his experience scaling a brand to eight figures, he analyzes Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, and AI-driven commerce. Josh advises entrepreneurs to master one platform before expanding, build creator relationships through TikTok Shop, leverage Shopify for brand ownership, and prepare for AI-powered shopping experiences. He emphasizes that rising competition, increasing ad costs, and the growing importance of brand trust will define the future landscape of e-commerce. Bullet Points: Current landscape and future predictions of e-commerce platformsDominance and evolving competition on AmazonChallenges and opportunities presented by TikTok ShopGrowth and significance of Shopify for independent e-commerceImpact of AI and agent commerce on shopping experiencesImportance of building a strong foundation on one platform before expandingStrategies for managing Amazon operations and team buildingRole of creator partnerships in driving sales and brand loyaltySequential approach to scaling e-commerce businessesEmphasis on content distribution for brand visibility and engagementTimestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction to E-commerce PlatformsThe speaker introduces the main topics of the episode: Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, and the future of AI in e-commerce. 00:00:55 The Current Noisy E-commerce LandscapeA discussion on how the e-commerce world has become noisier, with Amazon's dominance being challenged by new platforms and strategies. 00:02:56 Amazon's Future: Dominance and ChallengesPrediction that Amazon will maintain its dominance with faster shipping but will see increased ad costs and competition from overseas sellers. 00:05:03 The Evolution of Amazon's AlgorithmThe speaker predicts Amazon's keyword-driven ranking algorithm will be replaced by a more conversational, AI-driven search, eliminating traditional page rankings. 00:06:00 Predictions for TikTok ShopTikTok Shop is predicted to be a challenging platform for profitability, with rising fees and a shift towards paid reach. 00:08:17 The Enduring Importance of CreatorsWorking with content creators will become even more crucial for building brand trust in an increasingly AI-driven world. 00:08:17 Shopify's Continued DominanceShopify is expected to become the undisputed king for independent e-commerce websites, integrating with AI and social commerce platforms. 00:11:17 The Future of AI and Agent E-commerceAI will transform shopping with personal assistants, making brand integrity and trust more important than ever for consumer purchasing decisions. 00:14:08 Where to Focus Your EffortsThe speaker outlines his business strategy, recommending entrepreneurs master one platform, like Amazon, before expanding to others. 00:16:01 The Sequential Approach to GrowthA step-by-step guide: master a platform, build a team, then focus on TikTok Shop to build creator relationships. 00:18:02 Unlocking Shopify and Driving TrafficAfter mastering creator relationships, entrepreneurs can effectively unlock Shopify's potential by knowing how to drive traffic through affiliates and paid ads. 00:20:04 Integrating Agent Commerce and ContentAgent commerce is the final step, focusing on content distribution and building brand trust to rank in large language models. 00:22:25 A Roadmap for EntrepreneursAdvice for entrepreneurs to focus on one sales channel until reaching $5 million, build a team, and then expand sequentially. 00:24:19 Conclusion: Focus and Proper SequencingFinal advice to avoid distractions by focusing on one initiative at a time to achieve faster and more sustainable growth. Links and Mentions: Tools and Platforms  "Amazon": "00:00:00"  "TikTok Shop": "00:00:00"  "Shopify": "00:00:00"  "AI and Agent eCommerce": "00:00:00"  Key Predictions and Insights  "Amazon's Future": "00:02:56"  "TikTok Shop's Profitability Challenges": "00:07:20"  "Shopify's Dominance": "00:09:17"  "AI's Impact on Shopping": "00:11:17"  Recommendations  "Focus on Amazon until you have a solid team": "00:15:08"  "Building relationships with creators": "00:16:57"  "Unlocking Shopify after establishing creator relationships": "00:19:04"  "Engaging with consumers through content distribution": "00:21:13"  Additional Notes  "Creator Gold Rush": "00:16:57"  "Affiliate Management": "00:19:04"  "Content Distribution and Engagement": "00:22:25" Transcript: Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Amazon, TikTok shop, Shopify, and even AI and agent eCommerce. These are all of the many topics that are surfacing to the top right now in all of the mastermind groups that I'm a part of. So if you're listening to this, which of these platforms should you actually be investing the majority of your time into? Which of these platforms actually deserve your attention? In today's episode, I'm going to be sharing my perspective, the platforms that I am actively focused on and why, and what my predictions are for e-commerce over the next decade. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I'm a man of faith. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife, and I'm also the father of four children. Josh Hadley 00:00:55  I've been selling in the e-commerce space for over a decade, doing over $20 million annually and doing multi millions in revenue on TikTok. Shop, Shopify and Amazon. And I am also the host of the number one business strategy podcast for ecommerce entrepreneurs, Ecomm Breakthrough. There is so much noise going on right now in the world of e-commerce, and frankly speaking, I feel like it's noisier over the last couple of years than it ever has been in the past. To be honest with you, from about 2015 to maybe about 2023, the only thing you would hear from people is Amazon and Amazon. Amazon. And then we would always wish that Walmart would actually be a serious player in the e-commerce space. But frankly speaking, Walmart never really got their act together. There are some people that are doing well on Walmart. But you know, from my perspective, in any test that we've continued to run, is that like the market just simply is not worth the time investment over there. So with that being said, right now, we are living in just like an extremely noisy period of time for e-commerce. Josh Hadley 00:01:54  And what we heard was many people succeeding on Amazon from about 2015 to about 2023. But then like there has been a massive shift and I believe that it started around the year 2023. This is where the Amazon algorithm really started to break down. For a lot of the brands that were early adopters to Amazon, and it's not that Amazon magically changed their algorithm or things like that, but Amazon has been heavily recruiting overseas sellers ...

  4. Jul 15

    Throwback: Exit Like a Pro - Secrets to a Lucrative E-Commerce Sale

    In this follow-up episode, host Josh welcomes back Scott Deetz, founder of The Northbound Group, to discuss strategies for successfully exiting an e-commerce business. Scott highlights common seller mistakes, such as poor risk mitigation, lack of transparency, and neglecting post-sale obligations. He emphasizes the importance of professional advisory support, staying involved after the sale to secure contingent payments, and planning thoughtfully for life after exit. Scott encourages entrepreneurs to leverage their experience to attract investor capital for future ventures, helping maximize exit value and ensure long-term success. Chapters: Introduction & Scott’s Background (00:00:00)Scott Deetz is reintroduced as the founder of The Northbound Group, with a focus on e-commerce and SaaS business exits. The Importance of a Proper Exit (00:01:06)Scott emphasizes that most of the financial reward comes at exit, not during business operations. Risk Mitigation Strategies (00:02:21)Discussion on identifying and mitigating risks, such as stock outages and maintaining business stability to maximize exit value. Transparency and Caring About the Brand’s Future (00:04:26)The need for transparency during the sale and caring about the brand’s ongoing success with the new owner. Managing Post-Sale Obligations & Deal Tracking (00:05:27)Importance of tracking post-sale obligations, contingent payments, and using a deal tracker to avoid costly mistakes. The Value of Professional Advisory Support (00:07:54)Why having an experienced advisory team is crucial for managing the complexities of a business sale. Staying Involved After the Sale (00:08:34)The benefits of remaining involved post-sale to ensure contingent payments and business success, and how this role can be less demanding. Mindset Shift: Long-Term Involvement (00:11:26)Encouragement to stay invested in the brand’s long-term success rather than immediately disengaging after the sale. Planning for Life After Exit (00:11:57)Advice on taking time to plan the next venture, leveraging new status and opportunities in the entrepreneurial community. Leveraging Investor Capital for Next Ventures (00:13:23)Encouragement to use investor capital, not just personal funds, for future ventures, and to consider new business directions. Summary & Final Advice (00:16:24)Recap of the 12 mistakes to avoid, urging listeners to proactively plan for exit and maximize business value. Contact Information & Closing (00:17:23)Scott shares how listeners can reach out for advice or support regarding business exits. Links and Mentions: Strategic Finance and Advisory  "Northbound Group": "00:00:00" Deal Management Tools  "Deal Tracker": "00:06:23" Contact Information  "Scott Deetz" on LinkedIn: "00:17:25" Transcript: Josh 00:00:00  Today I am super excited to introduce you all to Scott Deetz. We've already introduced him because he's been on the podcast previously, so he is our first part two guest that we've had. So you know, Scott, there's there's your award of the day already is, you're our first part two guest. but I am super excited. This is something we didn't have enough time in episode number one, and Scott has taken a lot of time to develop and actually prepared a presentation that he'll share with you guys today. about this kind of part two. But here's Scott's bio. Scott is the founder and CEO of The northbound Group, a leading strategic finance and corporate development and sell side M&A advisory firm focused on Amazon and e-commerce, physical goods and SaaS businesses. Northbound has more than 30 full time team members dedicated to the mission of helping ecommerce entrepreneurs achieve life changing events. So with that introduction, welcome to the show again, Scott Deetz. Scott 00:01:04  Hey, Josh, how you doing? Know, it's great to be back. Scott 00:01:06  And, this was a lot of fun for me to work with our team to put the content together. So I'm looking forward to sharing it and, and hearing your thoughts on it. And obviously, part of my own personal passion is I want to help every sell side entrepreneur, get what they deserve, for their businesses. As you said, you work years and years. and as I always like to say, you work years and years to build a company. But if you don't do the last step right of exiting that company, you're oftentimes leaving more than half of your money, you know, on the table because, for many physical goods and other sellers, the money they actually take home from their business is, the bulk of it comes more than 50% comes when you exit. Not the entire time that you're running the business because you're always reinvesting back in the business. So, real, really looking forward to sharing the content with you and everybody else and, and getting your feedback. Josh 00:01:59  Scott, do you have any specific examples that you might be able to share? That might be like what types of risks, right. Josh 00:02:06  We talked about Amazon account health risk. Right. That's one thing. We talked about not having your trademarks and things like that. But what are some of those other like risk factors that you feel like sellers could be actively trying to mitigate? Scott 00:02:21  Yeah. So I'll give two answers to that. One general and one specific. The general rule of thumb is that every new question a buyer has to ask when you explain your business to them, the price goes down. So you want to think about being able to explain everything upfront so they can see the whole package and see what it is. And I'll give you a great example of risk if you are thinking of exiting in 12 months from now, making sure that no matter what, you don't have any stock outages and you get the capital financing in place to show the run rate of the business while it has stock in place. Because every time there's a stock outage, a buyer has to ask the question, why did that happen? And it either happened because you didn't plan accordingly, or that this business is so up and down and volatile that it's going to be a lot to handle. Scott 00:03:16  So buyers love boring businesses. And so being able to show the ability, I kind of say that in jest, because everybody wants something that's kind of fun, but flashy and volatile is not what buyers are looking for. So if you just think about the risk of your business, demonstrating that you've been able to maintain a similar price for a longer period of time, demonstrating that you've been able to maintain a, a stock in inventory, demonstrating that you've been able to maintain rank. So the way to think about it is just to look at your PNL and look at what are the numbers that could change, that a buyer would be most afraid of them changing, and then designing a risk mitigation plan that shows them demonstrated evidence of why they don't need to fear those things. And that's in addition to all of the compliance things that we talked about before. But those are some specific examples of making sure to show that your business is not risky. And then also from an ownership standpoint, making sure that you have all of your, you know, documents in order, all of your suppliers are people that you've worked with that are reputable. Scott 00:04:25  those types of things. Josh 00:04:26  Awesome. Yeah. Scott, I think overall, like as we go through these mistakes, one thing I see a common pattern and trend of is that, look, when you're trying to exit your business, this isn't you saying for the most part, this isn'...

  5. Jul 13

    The China Sourcing Strategies No One Talks About

    Joining us today is Lyden Smithers — President and Co-Founder of Titan Network, one of the most exclusive communities for high-level Amazon sellers in the world.Lyden isn’t just teaching e-commerce  he’s actively building and scaling brands, sourcing at a high level from China, and helping sellers bridge the gap from 7 to 8 figures and beyond.Lyden leads the China Magic trip and is one of the best. Highlight Bullets > Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn….  Importance of building strong relationships with suppliers, especially manufacturers in China.Strategies for negotiating favorable payment terms to improve cash flow and scale e-commerce businesses.Cultural aspects of negotiation in China, including the significance of face-to-face interactions.Techniques for presenting oneself as a trustworthy partner to suppliers.Handling common objections from suppliers regarding payment terms and cash flow limitations.The role of order volume and growth potential in negotiating better terms.Preparing effective presentations for suppliers, focusing on trust and mutual benefits.Managing challenges such as tariffs, raw material price increases, and currency fluctuations in supplier negotiations.The significance of granular supply chain management and cost optimization.Key takeaways for sellers on the importance of supplier relationships and negotiation strategies.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast, host Josh Hadley sits down with Lyden Smithers, president and co-founder of Titan Network, to discuss how Amazon sellers can scale from seven to eight figures by mastering supplier relationships. Lyden shares strategies for negotiating favorable payment terms with Chinese manufacturers, emphasizing the cultural importance of face-to-face meetings and the concept of guanxi. He explains how leveraging order volume growth creates win-win partnerships, how to handle common supplier objections, and how granular supply chain management drives profitability, even amid tariffs and rising costs. Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode: Shift Your Mindset:Treat your supplier as your most important business partner. Invest in the relationship for long-term mutual gain.Negotiate Payment Terms First:Use your growth potential as leverage. Better terms unlock cash flow and growth; price reductions are easier to secure afterward.Show Up in Person:Face-to-face meetings build trust and open doors that emails and messages can’t. Attend trade shows, visit factories, and invest in guanxi.Timestamps: 00:00:00 Negotiation Culture in ChinaLyden discusses negotiation as a cultural norm in China and encourages not being afraid to ask for better terms. 00:00:25 Podcast Introduction & Guest BackgroundHost introduces the podcast, Lyden Smithers, and the focus on supplier relationships and payment terms. 00:02:33 Unlocking Growth Through Payment TermsLyden shares his journey negotiating payment terms, emphasizing cash flow’s role in scaling e-commerce brands. 00:03:47 Cash Flow Constraints & Supplier RelationshipsDiscussion on how cash flow limits growth and the importance of leveraging supplier partnerships for better terms. 00:05:08 How to Approach Payment Term NegotiationsLyden explains the importance of positioning negotiations as win-win and painting a long-term partnership vision. 00:06:03 Building Trust and Presenting ValueAdvice on showcasing growth, expertise, and reliability to suppliers to secure better terms. 00:06:48 Partnerships vs. TransactionsLyden illustrates the difference between transactional relationships and true partnerships with suppliers. 00:08:08 Negotiating with New ManufacturersGuidance on starting negotiations with new suppliers and the importance of face-to-face interactions. 00:08:36 Face-to-Face Negotiation & GuangxiExplains the concept of Guangxi (relationship) and how in-person meetings unlock better terms. 00:10:01 Alternatives to In-Person NegotiationDiscusses insurance and financing options for payment terms, but stresses the value of direct negotiation. 00:12:07 Preparing for Supplier MeetingsTips on creating effective presentations and understanding your cash flow before negotiating. 00:13:01 Structuring Your Pitch to SuppliersHow to present growth, market access, and order forecasts to make your offer compelling. 00:15:06 Handling Modest Growth ScenariosStrategies for negotiating when you can’t promise large order increases, including leveraging competition. 00:17:05 Leverage and Good Cop/Bad Cop TacticsUsing competitor quotes and internal “bad cop” strategies to strengthen your negotiation position. 00:19:11 Common Supplier ObjectionsHow to handle supplier pushback, especially regarding their own cash flow limitations. 00:20:39 Navigating Tariffs and Market UncertaintyImpact of tariffs and market changes on supplier willingness to offer terms, and the importance of ongoing relationships. 00:22:16 Switching Suppliers for Better TermsHow to use established business volume as leverage when seeking new suppliers at trade fairs. 00:24:06 Realistic Payment Terms to NegotiateTypical payment terms to aim for (e.g., 10% deposit, 90% at 90–120 days), and negotiation tactics. 00:26:42 Advanced Payment Term StrategiesCreative solutions like suppliers borrowing to fund orders, and adjusting deposits versus days for compromise. 00:29:00 Overcoming Language BarriersBest practices for communicating with suppliers, including using translators and clear, simple presentations. 00:30:46 Managing Price Increases & Cost OptimizationApproaches to handling price hikes, currency fluctuations, and optimizing unit economics. 00:33:44 Granular Supply Chain OptimizationDetailed strategies for reducing costs across packaging, shipping, and storage to maximize profitability. 00:36:16 Negotiation Sequence: Terms Before PriceAdvice to always negotiate payment terms before discussing price reductions for maximum leverage. 00:37:02 Immersing in Manufacturing & Continuous ImprovementEncouragement to understand the manufacturing process deeply and always ask “why” to uncover savings. 00:38:07 Actionable Takeaways RecapHost summarizes three key actions: prioritize supplier relationships, negotiate terms before price, and show up in person. 00:41:00 Book, AI Tool, and Influencer RecommendationsLyden shares his favorite book (Traction), AI tool (Alibaba’s Accio), and e-commerce influencer (Kevin King). 00:44:03 Contact Information & ClosingLyden provides ways to connect, and the episode concludes with closing remarks. Resources mentioned in this episode: Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites  "

  6. Jul 9

    The Fastest Way to Make Better Business Decisions

    In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares a practical decision-making framework for choosing between competing business opportunities. Drawing from his own dilemma of hiring either a Director of E-commerce or a Director of HR, Josh outlines six key questions across two categories: assessing revenue creation, business leverage, and risk protection, then evaluating downside risk, upside potential, and feedback speed. He emphasizes that true business faith means disciplined, strategic action rather than blind risk-taking, helping entrepreneurs confidently prioritize the best opportunities over merely good ones. Bullet Points: Decision-making framework for evaluating business opportunitiesImportance of prioritizing between competing good, better, and best optionsRole of faith in business decisions as disciplined and strategic actionDilemma of hiring between a director of e-commerce and a director of HRImmediate vs. long-term impact of hiring decisions on business growthCore questions for assessing business opportunities: revenue generation, leverage, and risk protectionRisk and reward analysis: capped downside, upside potential, and feedback speedPersonal examples illustrating the decision-making framework in actionEmphasis on informed decision-making and strategic focusEncouragement to share insights with others in the entrepreneurial communityTimestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction to the Decision FrameworkThe host introduces the challenge of choosing between good, better, and best opportunities and presents his decision-making framework. 00:00:58 Host's Background and ExperienceJosh Hadley shares his background as a man of faith, family man, and successful e-commerce entrepreneur across multiple platforms. 00:01:54 The Current Business DilemmaJosh explains his current challenge: choosing between hiring a Director of E-commerce or a Director of HR for his business. 00:04:16 The Principle of Faith in Life and BusinessThe host discusses faith as a core principle, using personal examples like marriage and children to illustrate taking calculated leaps. 00:07:19 Business Examples of Faith-Based DecisionsJosh relates the principle of faith to common business decisions like product launches, influencer marketing, and choosing sales channels. 00:09:08 Decision Framework Part 1: The First Three QuestionsThe first part of the framework is introduced: Does it create revenue, create leverage, or protect the business downside? 00:11:08 Applying Part 1 to the Director of E-commerce RoleThe host analyzes the Director of E-commerce position using the first three questions, concluding it checks all three boxes. 00:12:50 Applying Part 1 to the Director of HR RoleThe Director of HR role is evaluated against the first three questions, showing it meets fewer criteria immediately. 00:15:05 Decision Framework Part 2: The Final Three QuestionsThe second part of the framework is revealed: Is the downside capped, what is the upside, and is feedback fast? 00:15:40 Applying Part 2 to Both RolesBoth the Director of E-commerce and Director of HR roles are compared using the second set of three questions. 00:20:45 The Importance of Studied DecisionsFaith is defined as disciplined strategy and planning, not impulsive action, which this framework helps facilitate for business decisions. 00:22:15 Case Study: Launching a Hero ProductA past example of choosing a higher-risk, higher-reward product launch that led to exponential growth for the business. 00:24:05 Case Study: Expanding to TikTok ShopHow the framework helped prioritize TikTok Shop over other sales channels, leading to rapid success and viral growth. 00:26:08 Case Study: Prioritizing ShopifyThe decision to focus on Shopify over other marketplaces by calculating its massive upside potential, which was quickly validated. 00:27:28 Summary of the Six-Question FrameworkThe host recaps the complete two-part, six-question decision framework for choosing the best business opportunities and encourages listeners to apply it. Links and Mentions: Tools and Frameworks"Decision Framework Questions": "00:09:08""Second Decision Framework Questions": "00:15:05" Websites and Sales Channels"Amazon": "00:01:00""TikTok Shop": "00:01:00""Shopify": "00:01:00""Walmart": "00:01:00""Etsy": "00:01:00""eBay": "00:01:00" Concepts and Principles"Recruiting and HR Management": "00:03:13""Faith in Business": "00:04:16" Personal Experiences and Examples"Hero SKUs Launch": "00:22:56""TikTok Shop Success": "00:25:13""Shopify Launch": "00:26:08" Transcript: Josh Hadley 00:00:00  The most difficult choices in life and business are rarely decisions between good or bad opportunities. Rather. The most difficult choices are between good, better and best opportunities. Faith is not just a principle of saying yes to something and moving forward rather most often. Faith is a principle of being able to know what you're saying yes to, while also saying no to maybe five other things at the exact same time. To ensure that you are prioritizing the true right opportunity that is meant for you. Today, I'm going to share with you the decision framework that I utilize to choose between those good, better, and best options that sit in front of us on a daily basis as business owners. Welcome to the E-com Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own e-commerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. Josh Hadley 00:00:58  My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I'm a man of faith. I am a husband to a beautiful wife, and I am also the father of four children. I have been selling in the e-commerce space for over a decade, doing over $20 million in revenue and selling multi millions on three different sales channels such as Amazon, TikTok, Shop and Shopify. And I am also the host of the number ...

  7. Jul 8

    Throwback: How Can Amazon Sellers Achieve a Healthy PPC to Organic Sales Ratio?

    In this episode, host Josh interviews Ritu Java, CEO of PPC Ninja, about effective Amazon PPC management. Ritu shares insights on healthy PPC-to-organic sales ratios, TACoS benchmarks, and the importance of budgeting based on net margin. She cautions about the complexities of sponsored display ads and stresses the need for regular account audits. Ritu also recommends The Goal by Eli Goldratt, highlights ChatGPT as a productivity tool, and suggests following Kevin King for e-commerce insights. The episode concludes with Ritu offering a free PPC audit and sharing her contact details. Chapters: Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Ritu Java, her background, and expertise in Amazon PPC and e-commerce. Healthy PPC to Organic Sales Ratios (00:00:58)Discussion on what constitutes a healthy PPC to organic sales ratio, with examples from different product categories. TACoS Benchmarks & Profitability (00:03:04)Explains TACoS (Total Advertising Cost of Sales), how it changes over time, and guidelines for setting targets. Calculating Net Margin and TACoS (00:06:07)Breakdown of how to calculate net margin, relevant costs, and what a reasonable TACoS percentage looks like. Budgeting and PPC Management Takeaways (00:08:08)Three actionable takeaways: budgeting for PPC, being cautious with sponsored display ads, and performing regular account audits. Book Recommendation: The Goal (00:11:26)Ritu recommends "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt and explains its impact on understanding business bottlenecks. Productivity Tool Recommendation: ChatGPT (00:13:14)Ritu shares ChatGPT as her favorite productivity tool and describes how she uses it, especially for Google Sheets formulas. E-commerce Influencer Recommendation (00:15:09)Ritu recommends following Kevin King for his innovative ideas and influence in the e-commerce space. How to Connect with Ritu Java (00:16:23)Ritu shares how listeners can contact her for audits, masterminds, and follow her content online. Episode Wrap-up (00:16:48)Josh thanks Ritu for her time and insights, closing the episode. Links and Mentions: Tools and Software  "PPC Ninja": "00:00:50"  "ChatGPT": "00:13:14"  "Google Sheets": "00:14:05"  Books  "The Goal by Eli Goldratt": "00:11:31"  People  "Kevin King": "00:15:09"  Contact Information  "Email (ritu@ppcninja.com)": "00:16:23"  "LinkedIn (Ritu Java)": "00:16:23" Transcript: Josh 00:00:00  So today I'm super excited to introduce you all to Ritu Java. Ritu has started her e-commerce journey as an Etsy seller over ten years ago. She is the CEO of PPC Ninja, a software tools and services provider managing Amazon ads for six, seven, and eight figure brands. As someone who is really passionate about data science and advertising, Ritu has dozens of PPC mastermind programs, workshops, and webinar and has even trained hundreds of Amazon sellers on PPC. She has shared her knowledge on over 100 podcasts, webinars, blogs and conferences including the Prosper Show, Global Sources Summit, Powwow, the Billion Dollar Seller Summit, and many more. So with that introduction, Ritu, welcome to the show. Ritu 00:00:50  Josh, thank you so much for having me. I am super excited to be here and to talk all about PPC today. Josh 00:00:58  What is what would you recommend from the hundreds of accounts that you viewed. The sellers that are using your platform and software. What do you see right now is a healthy balance of PPC sales to organic sales for an established brand. Ritu 00:01:14  Yeah, and I think it's very dependent on the category. Some categories are so saturated that 60, 40, 60 PPC and 40% organic is becoming the norm. For example, just to give you an example from the pet space just so crowded, like especially if you're, you know, selling any kind of like, dog toys or, you know, pet products and things like that. there's so much competition there that, you know, 50 to 60% coming from ads is pretty normal. Like, there's no chance you can compete with mainland Chinese brands with just organic. They've already got 20,000 reviews and more like, how can you, you know, how can you even compete? Begin to compete with that, right? So the ads become your only way, your only chance of being seen. And that leads to the 6040 ratio. But in some of the other categories where it's a little bit more, you know, difficult for anyone to imitate you or to provide services that, you know, require human, you know, intensive work like support or whatever, like after the fact, it's probably still okay to get like 40% from, ads and 60% from organic. Ritu 00:02:37  So let's say research heavy products or products that require or have a good margin. Right? Have a good margin, that are not so easy to imitate those categories. You're still seeing quite a healthy ratio. So it totally depends on the category. I would recommend just making a note of that number today and just watching it over time. Because just baseline it and then you'll see whether it's going up or down. Josh 00:03:04  Yeah that's good input. And on that note, while we're talking about metrics, what do you see as a healthy tacos percentage for an established brand. And I'm sure it changes based on what category you're in. For sure, if you're supplements, you're playing a much longer term game and you're playing on subscriptions and repeat customers. But let's say for an average brand, right, that has, you know, one time customers more often than not. What do you think is kind of the ballpark tacos number to ensure that they're they're healthy and competitive across the board? Ritu 00:03:39  Yeah. So that's such a great question. Ritu 00:03:41  Really $1 million question. So okay, here's what I think of tacos. Now your tacos is going to be different at different stages of your journey. So you know when you are starting off your tacos, needs to be competitive with the market. You can't be looking at tacos as a profitability metrics. It's more of like, what's the maximum I can afford to spend in order to get this business off the ground? But then as time progresses and you start to see, you know, revenue coming in, flywheels working, everything is going fine. Then you start to tweak the, you know, the tacos target a little bit to kind of make it more profitable. so I think, it's a kind of, it's a calculation that I, look for at three points. So I look at spend. I look at revenue and I look at profits. Right. So initially, when you're just starting off, you know, even the smallest amount of spend will result in a drop in profits. You know, you're starting off. Ritu 00:04:54  You're spending money on ads. All of that is eating into your profits. But at a certain point the the spend as you increase your ad spend, it's actually going to generate revenue for you. Right. So what's the sweet spot when those two lines kind of cross over? that's the target tacos that is going to shift with, with, you know, the maturity of your of your account. So, we do say that the guideline is we don't want to spend more than 50% of net margin for your for your advertising. So I guess if you can keep that just general rule of thumb in mind, you should be fine. so no more than 50% of net margin. eventually you want...

  8. Jul 6

    How to Double Your Amazon CTR with Ai and Main Images Overnight

    Joining me today is John Li, the co-founder of PickFu, a powerful consumer-feedback platform that helps e-commerce sellers, authors, app developers, and marketers make smarter, data-driven decisions.Before launching PickFu, John spent years at Microsoft as a software engineer and program manager but his entrepreneurial curiosity led him to create a simple tool to test ideas with real people.That tool evolved into PickFu, now trusted by tens of thousands of Amazon sellers and brands to validate product images, packaging, and listings before they go live, saving them from costly mistakes and giving them the confidence to scale.John is a true advocate for taking the guesswork out of e-commerce growth, and today, he’s here to share how feedback-driven testing can help you turn more browsers into buyers, and more ideas into 8-figure successes. Highlight Bullets > Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn….  Importance of human validation in AI-generated content.Role of consumer feedback in eCommerce decision-making.Comparison of AI-generated images versus human-created images.New features of PickFu, including multi-question surveys and Amazon SERP mockups.Impact of main image testing on click-through rates (CTR) and sales.Iterative testing strategies for optimizing product images.Integration of AI tools in the testing process and their benefits.Case studies demonstrating ROI from using PickFu for image testing.Quality control measures for test respondents in consumer feedback.Additional use cases for PickFu beyond main image testing, such as product selection and packaging design.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with John Li, co-founder of PickFu, about using consumer feedback to make smarter eCommerce decisions. John explains how PickFu helps sellers validate AI-generated content through real human feedback, particularly for main product images, which drive 75% of click-through rates on Amazon. They discuss PickFu's newest features, including multi-question surveys, Amazon SERP mockups, and AI-powered insights. John shares compelling case studies demonstrating strong ROI from simple image tests, and outlines an iterative testing playbook to help sellers continuously optimize listings and scale their businesses efficiently. Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode: Test Before You Launch, AlwaysDon’t rely on gut feel or AI alone.Run quick polls with real buyers to validate your main image, copy, and creatives before going live.Optimize Your Main Image RelentlesslyYour main image drives up to 75% of CTR. Treat it like your #1 growth lever. Test multiple variations, benchmark competitors, and iterate until you win.Build a Fast Feedback Loop (AI + Humans)Use AI to generate ideas fast, then validate with humans. Repeat this cycle quickly: create → test → analyze → improve to consistently outperform competitors.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction & Importance of Human Validation in AI EraDiscusses the need for real human feedback to validate AI-generated creative assets, especially for e-commerce images. 00:00:29 Podcast Introduction & Guest BackgroundHost introduces the podcast, John Li, and PickFu’s mission to help brands make data-driven decisions. 00:02:13 Is PickFu Still Relevant in the Age of AI?Explores whether AI can replace human feedback and the continued importance of human validation for image testing. 00:04:23 AI vs. Human-Generated Images: Performance InsightsCompares the effectiveness of AI-generated images versus human-created ones, emphasizing context and quality. 00:06:04 PickFu Platform Updates & New FeaturesOverview of new PickFu features: multi-question surveys, Amazon SERP mockups, image stack, A+ content testing, and screen recording. 00:08:31 Integration with AI Agents & MCP ServerExplains PickFu’s MCP server, enabling users to run and analyze polls via AI chat agents like Claude and ChatGPT. 00:10:02 Main Image Testing & Impact on Click-Through RateDiscusses the critical role of main image testing, its effect on CTR, and shares a case study of a failed launch turned successful. 00:13:42 Iterative Testing Playbook for CTR OptimizationOutlines a step-by-step playbook for optimizing main images through iterative testing and competitive benchmarking. 00:18:50 How to Structure and Automate Testing with AIDescribes how PickFu’s AI features and MCP server help automate the testing process, including prompt engineering and image generation. 00:20:33 Compounding Gains from Continuous TestingHighlights the value of frequent, automated testing for incremental improvements that compound over time. 00:22:34 Future of E-commerce Creative Testing & AutomationDiscusses the vision for AI-driven, automated creative testing and the evolving role of humans in the process. 00:23:54 Case Study: Simple Test, Big ROIShares a case where a single $85 PickFu test led to a 12.5% CTR increase and $3,800 in extra revenue. 00:25:15 Who Should Own the Testing Process?Explores who in an organization should manage testing—owners, creative directors, or listing managers. 00:27:28 Action Steps for Sellers New to TestingAdvice for sellers: benchmark against competitors, focus on top and mid-tier products, and optimize main images. 00:29:31 Panel Quality & Validity of PickFu ResponsesExplains how PickFu ensures high-quality, valid consumer feedback and differentiates from competitors. 00:32:13 Sleeper Use Cases: Product Selection & PackagingHighlights underutilized PickFu use cases like product selection, pricing validation, and packaging design. 00:34:40 Actionable Takeaways & RecapHost summarizes three key action items: frequent main image testing, leveraging video tests, and preparing for AI-driven automation. 00:37:10 Rapid-Fire Questions: Book, AI Tool, E-com InfluencerGuest shares his favorite book, AI tool, and a recommended e-commerce influencer to follow. 00:38:35 Closing & Contact InformationProvides information on where to learn more about PickFu and how to connect with John Li. Resources mentioned in this episode: Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"PickFu": "00:01:57""Claude AI": "00:09:09""ChatGPT": "00:09:09""Nano Banana": "00:20:33" Books"

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About

Unlock the full potential and growth in your business. Join Josh Hadley, a successful 8-figure e-com business owner and investor as he interviews highly successful CEOs and business owners who share specific actions you can take today to help your business reach its full potential and leave a lasting impact on the world. Whether you sell on Amazon FBA, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Walmart, ClickFunnels, or Etsy you'll learn what is working for the most successful business leaders in eCommerce. Each eCom breakthrough episode is filled with strategies you can implement to help you scale to 8 figures and beyond. Here's a small list of the topics we will cover: - How to find new products to sell - How to find good manufacturers - How to manage cash flow - Inventory management (shipping & logistics) - Optimizing sales pages for conversion - How to successfully launch a new product on Amazon.com - Product ranking & optimization - Amazon PPC management - Implementing business operating systems - Driving external traffic to Amazon - Preparing to exit - How to hire and build a team with A-Level talent - Leadership skills

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Hadley
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    277
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ecomm Breakthrough (c) 2022
  • Show Website
    Ecomm Breakthrough

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