In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down one of the most debated questions in entrepreneurship: should you build a business based on passion or on skillset? From there, the crew dives into a no-BS analysis of the best and worst eCommerce business models to start in 2025, looking at the real factors that make or break a brand like margins, returns, customer support demands, marketplace competition, paid advertising performance, and evolving consumer spending trends. What you’ll learn: The difference between building from passion vs. building from your actual skillsetThe best and worst eCommerce businesses to start in 2025Which categories have the strongest margins and repeat potentialWhy some “trendy” product types are a financial and logistical nightmareHow returns, support, and ad costs are quietly killing certain industriesWhy the founder’s mindset, adaptability, and execution matter more than the idea itself If you’re thinking about launching a brand, pivoting your current business, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the real economics of eCom, this episode is your reality check. _____ Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible! Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/ Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com Particl — the competitive intelligence platform built for eCommerce brands. Track real sales, inventory, and pricing across thousands of products to see what’s selling, who’s winning, and where to move next. Get started at https://www.particl.com/ Subscribe at https://asompod.com ___ 00:00 Teaser Trailer 00:30 Welcome to the ASOM Pod 01:08 Meet the Hosts 02:08 Game Time: Best and Worst eCommerce Businesses to Start 03:52 High Margin eCommerce Categories 05:45 Low Margin eCommerce Categories 11:59 Marketplace Competition: Best and Worst Businesses 21:45 Paid Advertising: Best and Worst Categories 24:50 The Challenge of Selling Tumblers 25:16 Returns and Customer Support Insights 29:26 Trends in Consumer Spending 33:09 Best and Worst eCommerce Business Models 39:23 The Importance of the Founder in Business Success 41:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ___ Follow us on: X: https://x.com/TheAsomPod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasompod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theasompod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasompod/ Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information! #asompod #businesspodcast #businessinsider #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #ecommercepodcast #ecommerce #ecommercebusiness #ecom #dtc #dtcpodcast #ecommercetips
