The Marketing Factor, by Cobble Hill

Marketing Factor
  • 5.0 (9)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to "The Marketing Factor" - the podcast and content series that dives deep into the world of direct-to-consumer e-commerce, uncovering the strategies and insights that separate the hobbyists from the heavy hitters. Hosted by Austin Dandridge, the visionary CEO of Cobble Hill and a seasoned digital marketing expert, each episode is a masterclass in making the leap from small-scale to stratospheric success.

  1. FEB 10

    Herman Scheer's 15-Year Journey to Healthcare Branding Mastery | John Scheer

    After 15 years of building brands across every category, John Scheer and his partner made a bet that focus would beat breadth and it paid off. In just three years, Herman Scheer doubled their business by going all-in on healthcare, self-care, and wellness branding. In this episode, John breaks down: On Positioning & Niching: Why specialization turned prospects from comparing agencies to making a choiceHow focusing on healthcare eliminated the "comparison game" with dozens of other creative agenciesThe real reason most agencies stay generalists (and why that's a mistake)On Building Healthcare Brands: Working with brands like Ritual, Bobby, and disruptive healthcare startupsWhy "your first 500 customers talk about you more than your next 5,000"—and what that means for brand positioningThe shift in supplement marketing: from benefit-forward to science-backed transparencyOn Industry Evolution: Why AG1's recent efficacy controversy signals a major shift in wellness marketingHow consumers now understand bioavailability and demand proof of resultsBalancing science vs. feeling when selling health productsOn Agency Growth: How bringing on a third partner helped them move upmarket and double revenueThe transition from "taking any creative work" to working with sophisticated businessesMoving from Venice Beach to Cleveland while maintaining cutting-edge wellness workJohn Scheer is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Herman Scheer, a strategic brand consultancy specializing in healthcare, self-care, and wellness brands. They work with everyone from venture-backed startups to established CPG brands in supplements, fitness, health tech, and healthy food & beverage. ABOUT THE MARKETING FACTOR:Hosted by Austin Dandridge, Creative Director of Cobble Hill (a Pyxl company). Get tactical marketing insights from brand founders and marketing leaders driving real growth.

    34 min

  2. 11/19/2025

    Data Warehousing, Automation & the Future of AI

    In this episode of The Marketing Factor, Austin Dandridge sits down with Julian Modiano founder of Acuto and Weavely to unpack the future of data, automation, and AI inside modern marketing agencies.Julian’s rare background blends deep PPC experience from Merkle and Brainlabs with true engineering chops as a Google Cloud developer — giving him a uniquely technical and marketer-centric view of what agencies actually need. We cover data warehousing, MMM vs attribution models, AI slop, automation pitfalls, BigQuery, Looker, TikTok’s rise, and whether agencies should hire developers. This episode is loaded with practical insights for performance marketers, operators, founders, and anyone building the “agency of the future.”💡 What You’ll Learn• Why data warehousing is becoming essential for agencies — and when brands should adopt it• How Acuto and Weavely were built to solve real reporting and automation pain • Why platform reporting from Meta & Google keeps getting worse• How MMM + MTA can actually work together• The #1 reason most automation projects fail (and how to avoid it) • Whether agencies will need developers (or if AI will replace them first)• Why AI is creating a “slop era” — and how to stand out with real human creativity • Where AI genuinely helps marketers (and where it’s still terrible)• The rise of TikTok as a core data source for agencies • How future marketers will blend technical fluency with creative thinkingHighlights00:00 — How Julian blends PPC + engineering01:59 — The origins of Akudo & Weavely04:52 — Why platform reporting is breaking07:46 — How to think about attribution vs MMM10:57 — When brands should consider a data warehouse12:33 — Why automation projects blow up14:23 — What to automate vs what humans should own17:05 — Will marketers get replaced by AI?19:56 — AI slop + why original thinking matters22:59 — Why full AI-generated reporting is dangerous27:57 — Advanced workflows: MCPs, APIs, and querying your own data34:24 — TikTok’s rise in agency reporting stacks36:18 — The future of Akudo & Weavely37:45 — Barcelona restaurant hot takes38:10 — Best book Julian recommends

    33 min

  3. 10/28/2025

    Building Outdoor Brands That Last with Jon Howard | The Marketing Factor Podcast

    In this episode, Austin Dandridge talks with Jon Howard, founder of JoHo & Co. and longtime outdoor industry marketer, about what it takes to build enduring brands in today’s crowded DTC landscape. From shifting outdoor storytelling beyond product specs to developing data-driven customer personas, Jon shares how to align teams, leverage community marketing, and balance wholesale with DTC growth. They unpack post-COVID trends, influencer credibility, evergreen campaigns, and why clarity—not constant chasing—drives long-term success.

    40 min

  4. 09/10/2025

    E-commerce Marketing Secrets: HART Jewelry's Black Friday Strategy & Customer Acquisition Tactics

    In this episode of The Marketing Factor, Austin Dandridge interviews Curry Hagerty, the marketing mastermind behind HART Jewelry's explosive growth. Discover how this contemporary jewelry brand scales without heavy discounting and dominates Black Friday with innovative strategies.KEY TAKEAWAYS: Black Friday pre-sale strategy for existing customersWhy creative testing beats optimization for Meta adsBuilding a marketing team with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)Klaviyo automation for retail stores and trunk showsAttribution tracking with Triple Whale vs Meta reportingAI tools for e-commerce growth and customer discoveryRunning 25-30 new ad creatives monthly on MetaWhitelisting campaigns using real customers vs mega-influencers Omnichannel customer feedback loops from retail to onlineGeographic email segmentation for pop-up eventsBrowse abandonment flows without heavy discountingKlaviyo for email/SMS marketingTriple Whale for attribution trackingMeta advertising optimizationShopify Plus AI featuresDaydream.io for AI-powered shopping discoveryPerfect for e-commerce founders, marketing managers, and jewelry brands looking to scale profitably without racing to the bottom on pricing.

    39 min

  5. 08/01/2025

    How to Dominate When No One Knows What They're Doing

    In this episode of The Marketing Factor, host Austin Dandridge speaks with Wil Reynolds, founder of Seer Interactive, about the evolving landscape of digital marketing. They discuss the importance of embracing a testing mindset, fostering a culture of innovation, and navigating uncertainty in the industry. Wil emphasizes the need for operational transparency over content volume and the significance of cross-divisional collaboration. The conversation also touches on leveraging AI for insights and the future of marketing in an AI-driven world, along with personal use cases for AI in everyday life. Key takeaways* Embrace a testing mindset to thrive in marketing.* Fostering a culture of innovation is crucial for success.* Navigating uncertainty requires honesty with clients.* Operational transparency is more important than content volume.* Cross-divisional collaboration enhances marketing effectiveness.* Understanding customer experience is key to marketing success.* AI can provide valuable insights for marketers.* Personal use of AI can enhance everyday decision-making.* Marketers must adapt to the changing landscape of digital marketing.* Continuous learning and improvement are essential in marketing.Chapters 00:00Introduction to the Marketing Factor01:07Embracing a Testing Mindset in Marketing03:22Fostering Innovation and Team Dynamics05:51Navigating Client Expectations in Uncertain Times07:56The Shift from Certainty to Probabilistic Marketing08:52Operational Transparency in Brand Relevance11:19Adapting Strategies for AI and LLMs14:45Cross-Divisional Collaboration for Marketing Success19:01Leveraging Data for Insights22:50The Importance of Customer-Centric Marketing27:16Personal Use Cases for AI in Everyday Life

    32 min

  6. 07/15/2025

    From Gin Lane to Pattern: Suze Dowling on Building Brands That Actually Matter

    In this episode of The Marketing Factor, host Austin Dandridge sits down with Suze Dowling, co-founder, operator, and one of the sharpest minds in DTC. From her unexpected path to Gin Lane to her role shaping the brand collective at Pattern, Suze unpacks what it really takes to build emotionally resonant brands in today’s landscape. They get into the weeds on why email still outperforms, how to hire for curiosity (not credentials), and what a “clarity check-in” can do for your business. You'll also hear Suze’s take on navigating acquisitions without losing a brand’s soul, her personal rituals for staying balanced, and why Melbourne might just be her spirit city. Whether you're scaling a DTC brand or just trying to get your email flows to convert, this episode delivers sharp insight without the fluff. Highlights: Creating tension for emotional connection The underrated power of email marketing Why hiring curious people changes everything Using clarity check-ins to stay focused What makes a brand acquisition actually work Chapters00:00 Introduction to Suze Dowling and Her Journey 02:49 Transitioning from Marketing to Brand Building 05:22 The Evolution of DTC Marketing Strategies 08:14 Understanding Consumer Behavior and Engagement 10:42 The Importance of Email Marketing in E-commerce 13:34 Navigating the Challenges of a Holding Company 16:16 The Role of TikTok in Modern Marketing 19:13 Final Thoughts on Marketing Strategies and Brand Growth 25:02 Performance Marketing Insights 26:10 The Clarity Check-In Framework 29:56 The Power of the Pivot 32:22 Hiring for Curiosity 33:53 Evaluating Brands for Acquisition 37:02 Revitalizing Acquired Brands 40:57 Daily Habits for Sanity 43:18 Admiring Innovative Brands

    47 min

  7. 05/07/2025

    This Is How Smart Teams Actually Use AI

    Justin Watt, co-founder of Switchboard and expert in systems design, joins Austin Dandridge to break down how high-performing teams use AI and automation to scale without adding complexity. In this episode of The Marketing Factor, they cover low-lift, high-impact workflows, how to prep your business for AI, the real bottlenecks behind AGI, and why tools like Notion and Airtable are still top picks for lean teams. If you're building a direct-to-consumer brand, creative agency, or fast-growing business, this conversation will change how you think about operations, automation, and modern marketing strategy.

    23 min

  8. 04/22/2025

    Intuition, Brand Building, and the Future of Non-Alc with Molly Fienning, Founder of Sipland

    In this episode of The Marketing Factor, Austin Dandridge sits down with Molly Fienning, the serial entrepreneur behind Babyators, Red Clay Hot Sauce, and now SipLand—a platform redefining non-alcoholic beverage culture through community, content, and curation. Molly shares what it means to build from the second mountain—a phase of entrepreneurship driven not by scale or speed, but by alignment, intuition, and presence. They discuss how younger founders are rewriting hustle culture, why the future of consumer brands depends on in-person community, and how building for yourself can actually be the smartest strategy of all. If you’re rethinking how (and why) you build your brand, this one’s essential. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:42 – Meditation, Joe Dispenza, and tuning in04:15 – The “second mountain” and redefining success09:58 – Starting Babyators and spotting market gaps13:30 – SipLand: a new vision for non-alc community19:42 – Gen Z founders, boundaries, and new energy27:57 – Gut vs data: how Molly makes decisions30:38 – Building real-life brand experiences33:50 – SipLand as a brand consultancy37:53 – Who you think your customer is vs who it actually is43:37 – Why Molly builds for herself first47:42 – DTC, margins, and what to avoid in CPG50:13 – Where to find Molly and learn more about SipLand

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Marketing Factor" - the podcast and content series that dives deep into the world of direct-to-consumer e-commerce, uncovering the strategies and insights that separate the hobbyists from the heavy hitters. Hosted by Austin Dandridge, the visionary CEO of Cobble Hill and a seasoned digital marketing expert, each episode is a masterclass in making the leap from small-scale to stratospheric success.

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