Ecommerce Society Podcast Kerrie A. Fitzgerald

In this engaging episode, we dive into the world of Amanda Shaw, the creative force behind The Bark Day Planner, a business dedicated to throwing unforgettable parties for pets. From leaving a promising career in neuroscience to navigating the challenges of a niche business, Amanda shares her inspiring journey, the pivotal moments that shaped her path, and her aspirations for the future. We also explore the impact of media features on her business and the potential of branching into reality TV.
Featured Guest: Amanda Shaw, Founder of The Bark Day Planner
Key Points Covered:
Amanda's Transition from Science to Entrepreneurship: Discover how Amanda's love for dogs and a DIY party for her golden doodle Teddy sparked a groundbreaking career shift.
Building The Bark Day Planner: Learn about the challenges and triumphs of starting a pet party planning business, from DIY beginnings to creating a distinctive brand identity.
Expanding into Products: Amanda discusses diversifying her business with pet party boxes, acquiring Buster's Party Shop, and the challenges of navigating product-based business dynamics.
Navigating Setbacks: From difficulties with Etsy to personal health challenges, Amanda shares how resilience and creativity helped her overcome obstacles.
Media Features and Visibility: Amanda highlights how being featured on ABC and other media outlets significantly boosted her business and the importance of building credibility.
Future Aspirations: From expanding her team to dreaming of starting a rescue and possibly landing a reality TV show, Amanda shares her ambitious vision for the next five years.
Valuable Takeaways:
Leap of Faith: Amanda's journey underscores the importance of following your passion, even when it means leaving a secure career path.
Brand Identity Matters: Investing in professional branding can transform your business and connect you with your ideal clients.
Media Power: Strategic media features can catapult your business into the spotlight, enhancing credibility and attracting a wider audience.
Resilience is Key: Facing and overcoming setbacks is part of the entrepreneurial journey. Persistence and adaptability are crucial for long-term success.
Where to Find Amanda Shaw and The Bark Day Planner:
Website: www.thebarkdayplanner.com
Instagram: @TheBarkDayPlanner
Closing Thoughts:Amanda Shaw's entrepreneurial path is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and the willingness to embrace the unknown. Her story not only inspires pet lovers but also budding entrepreneurs to pursue their unique visions, no matter how unconventional they may seem.
Work With Me:
Grab my new book, Customer Obsession 
1. Sign Up For A Website Redesign
Website for you- done in a day! Learn more and to book your spot. Life’s too short for an ugly website
https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/websiteVIP 
 
2.  Join waitlist for Cultish Product
A 4-month group coaching program to help product-based brands reach cult-like status, increased visibility, more sales & gain die-hard loyal customers without an ounce of social media. Mentorship, Guest Experts, Trainings, Live Calls and so much more!
Join waitlist Learn More
 
Free Guides & Resources For The Win:
{Free Private Podcast}
Create Your Cult Like Brand “Private Podcast”
An 8-part audio series that walks you through how to create your cult brand
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Let’s Be Friends
Follow Kerrie on Instagram
Follow Ecommerce Society  on Instagram
www.kerriefitzgerald.com

Grab a website audit https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/audit
 
In this bonus episode, Kerrie shares new services that she is offering, specifically focusing on website audits. She explains that she is trimming down her current business and only offering services that are fun for her. Kerrie also discusses her experience with burnout and how it has made her reevaluate her workload. She highlights two areas she excels in: marketing and growth strategy, and website design. She introduces the website audit service, explaining what it includes and who it is for.
Takeaways
It's important to only offer services that are enjoyable and fun for you.
Burnout can lead to reevaluating your workload and making changes to prioritize self-care.
Kerrie excels in marketing and growth strategy, as well as website design.
The website audit service helps businesses identify and fix issues with their websites to improve conversion rates and customer experience.
The service is beneficial for those who are aware their website needs improvement but don't know how to fix it or can't afford a full website redesign.
 

Grab a website audit https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/audit
 
In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Jansel, the owner of Jansel & Co., a company specializing in building and growing standout websites on Shopify and other platforms. Sarah shares her journey from a 20-year corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur, her passion for fashion, and her evolution into a website design guru. Discover the insights and strategies behind creating successful Shopify stores, understanding your customer, and why investing in your website is crucial for your business. Featured Guest: Sarah Jansel, Founder of Jansel & Co.
Sarah’s journey from fashion enthusiast to Shopify expert highlights the importance of following your passions and the impact of a well-designed website on your business. Her company, Jansel & Co., not only builds websites but creates experiences that reflect the heart and soul of the brands they work with. Whether you’re starting out or looking to elevate your online presence, Sarah’s insights underscore the value of professional design in achieving your business goals.
Key Takeaways:
The significance of understanding the story behind your brand and weaving it into your website.
The common pitfalls of DIY website design and how it can impact your business.
Why a professional, cohesive website is crucial, especially for luxury or high-end products.
An overview of Jansel & Co.’s comprehensive services, from branding to website design and beyond.
Sarah’s ideal clients and how her team tailors the process to meet their unique needs.
Follow Sarah Jansel
Website: www.janselandco.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjansel/
 Instagram 2: https://www.instagram.com/janselandco/
 
Work With Me:
Grab my new book, Customer Obsession 
1. Sign Up For A Website Redesign
Website for you- done in a day! Learn more and to book your spot. Life’s too short for an ugly website
https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/websiteVIP 
 
2.  Join waitlist for Cultish Product
A 4-month group coaching program to help product-based brands reach cult-like status, increased visibility, more sales & gain die-hard loyal customers without an ounce of social media. Mentorship, Guest Experts, Trainings, Live Calls and so much more!
Join waitlist Learn More
 
Free Guides & Resources For The Win:
{Free Private Podcast}
Create Your Cult Like Brand “Private Podcast”
An 8-part audio series that walks you through how to create your cult brand
Sign Up
 
 
Let’s Be Friends
Follow Kerrie on Instagram
Follow Ecommerce Society  on Instagram
www.kerriefitzgerald.com
 
 
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to Sarah Jansel
2:47 - Sarah’s transition from corporate to entrepreneurship
5:30 - The story behind Sadie and Sari, Sarah’s fashion boutique
7:17 - What makes Jansel & Co.’s process unique
10:37 - Common mistakes Shopify store owners make
14:06 - The importance of a well-designed website
18:25 - How Jansel & Co. approaches client projects
20:42 - Ideal clients for Jansel & Co. and the process of working together
27:00 - Where to find Sarah and learn more about Jansel & Co.

Grab a website audit https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/audit
 
Ok listen up my friends, after 8 years of having my own ecommerce and product based businesses, working with 500+ students and clients, I’ve identified 3 main problems most ecomm shop sare facing each and every day. These problems are what is holding you back from growing your business. In this week’s episode of Ecommerce Society podcast I’m breaking down the top 3 biggest problems and bottlenecks that are holding back your business from growth.
 
This episode is brought to you by Mappe- an AI powered software that takes the guesswork out of growing your ecommerce business,

Join the early access email list to Mappe
www.mappe.io
 
Let’s Be Friends
Follow Kerrie on Instagram
Follow Ecommerce Society  on Instagram
www.kerriefitzgerald.com

Grab a website audit https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/audit
 
I’m starting a new product based business, called Amusejoy Poo bags and I’m sharing all the details about my new business, including why I decided to start a new business and all the dirty details in between. On Instagram you submitted a bunch of questions about my new venture and I’m answering them here. I cover questions such as, why are you starting a dog poop bag business, how much money are you spending on the launch, why dog poop, how are you building this business differently than your first…. And more.
Follow Amusejoy Poo Bags on Instagram & Tiktok
https://www.instagram.com/amusejoypoobags/ 
https://www.tiktok.com/@amusejoypoobags 
 

Let’s Be Friends
Follow Kerrie on Instagram
Follow Ecommerce Society  on Instagram
www.kerriefitzgerald.com

In this conversation, Christine from The Magnolia Firm shares insights on how to prepare a business for sale. She emphasizes the importance of reputation, reviews, and brand awareness in attracting buyers. Christine also discusses the value of having a team and recurring revenue in a business sale. She provides tips on building systems and standard operating procedures, securing contracts and recurring revenue, and dialing in profit. Christine highlights the need to plan an exit strategy and avoid burnout or health issues. She also mentions platforms for listing a business for sale and the target market for selling digital brands. Christine concludes by discussing her book 'Get Acquired' and the characteristics of an ideal e-commerce business for sale.
 
Takeaways
 
Building a strong reputation and brand is crucial for attracting buyers and increasing the value of a business.
Having a team and recurring revenue are valuable assets in a business sale.
Creating systems and standard operating procedures, securing contracts and recurring revenue, and dialing in profit are important steps in preparing a business for sale.
Planning an exit strategy and avoiding burnout or health issues are essential for a successful business sale.
Platforms like Flip, BizBuySell, and Empire Flippers can be used to list a business for sale.
Digital brands, CRM integration agencies, digital marketing agencies, and production content studios are popular businesses in the market for sale.
Removing the founder's face from the business can be achieved through user-generated content, brand ambassadors, and team members.
Christine's book 'Get Acquired' provides a comprehensive guide to selling a business, covering everything from planning to execution.

Christine McDannell is the Principal and Lead Business Intermediary of The Magnolia Firm, a boutique M&A brokerage firm helping business owners achieve the perfect exit. She is passionate about all things business - especially helping entrepreneurs step into the next phase of life with their dream business exit.

Follow Chrsitine
 
The Magnolia Firm: https://themagnoliafirm.co 
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/christinemcdannell 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themagnoliafirm
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themagnoliafirm 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagnoliafirmco 

Grab my new book, Customer Obsession 
1. Sign Up For A Website Redesign
Website for you- done in a day! Learn more and to book your spot. Life’s too short for an ugly website
https://www.kerriefitzgerald.com/websiteVIP 
 
2.  Join waitlist for Cultish Product
A 4-month group coaching program to help product-based brands reach cult-like status, increased visibility, more sales & gain die-hard loyal customers without an ounce of social media. Mentorship, Guest Experts, Trainings, Live Calls and so much more!
Join waitlist Learn More
 
Free Guides & Resources For The Win:
{Free Private Podcast}
Create Your Cult Like Brand “Private Podcast”
An 8-part audio series that walks you through how to create your cult brand
Sign Up
 
 
Let’s Be Friends
Follow Kerrie on Instagram
Follow Ecommerce Society  on Instagram
www.kerriefitzgerald.com
 
Chapters
 
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:22 Experience as an Entrepreneur
03:03 Importance of Planning an Exit Strategy
04:01 Building a Strong Reputation and Brand
05:24 Creating Systems and Standard Operating Procedures
06:20 Securing Contracts and Recurring Revenue
08:29 Challenges of Selling a Business with Declining Revenue
10:51 Avoiding Burnout and Health Issues
12:00 Options for Selling a Business with Declining Revenue
13:42 Platforms for Listing a Business for Sale
15:59 Importance of Reputation and Reviews in a Business Sale
17:31 Value of Having a Team in a Business Sale
19:22 Target Market for Selling Digital Brands
22:26 Transitioning from Small Business Sales to Larger Transactions
23:43 Inspiration for Starting a SaaS Company
24:05 Overview of the Book 'G