Ecomm Breakthrough

Josh Hadley
  • 5.0 (107)
  • 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. 15h ago

    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'...

  2. 2d ago

    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  "

  3. 6d ago

    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 ...

  4. 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...

  5. 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"

  6. Jul 2

    My Prime Day Strategy (It's Not Revenue or Profit)

    In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast, host Josh Hadley shares his strategic framework for approaching major sales events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Rather than chasing short-term profits, Josh advocates using these events for customer acquisition through aggressive discounts on front-end products. Using Athletic Greens (AG1) as a prime example, he illustrates how maintaining a cohesive brand promise drives long-term success. Josh also emphasizes the importance of the 3:1 lifetime value to customer acquisition cost ratio as the key metric for sustainable e-commerce growth. Bullet Points: Strategic approach to major sales events (Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday)Importance of customer acquisition over short-term profitsUse of aggressive discounts on front-end products to attract new customersCase study of Athletic Greens (AG1) as a successful brand exampleFocus on maintaining a cohesive brand identity and promiseEmphasis on understanding and optimizing customer lifetime value (LTV)Recommended LTV to customer acquisition cost (CAC) ratio for scalable growthImportance of thoughtful product packaging and messaging for customer engagementCaution against short-term gimmicks that can damage brand trustStrategies for using sales events to clear excess inventory and enhance brand equityTimestamps: 00:00:00 Approaching Major Sales EventsThe host discusses different strategies for sales events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday for e-commerce brands. 00:00:52 Introduction to the HostJosh Hadley introduces himself, his e-commerce experience, and the focus of the podcast on building a true brand. 00:01:48 Defining a Real BrandA real brand sells a promise to a customer, not just products. The host uses Athletic Greens (AG1) as an example. 00:02:52 AG1's Brand Promise StrategyHow AG1 uses a starter kit to introduce customers to their brand promise of convenient health and wellness. 00:03:54 Prime Day as Customer AcquisitionThe primary goal of Prime Day should be front-end customer acquisition, not short-term profitability, to build an ecosystem. 00:05:57 The Importance of Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)Focusing on the long-term LTV of a customer and the 3-to-1 CAC to LTV ratio for sustainable scaling. 00:07:51 AG1's Customer OnboardingAG1's starter kit includes materials to onboard customers into their ecosystem and encourage repeat purchases, building long-term trust. 00:09:04 Long-Term Brand Building vs. Short-Term TacticsThe best brands focus on a 3-5 year time horizon, building trust through repetition and delivering on their promise. 00:11:06 Creating a Cohesive Brand EcosystemBrands should have a lead offer that introduces customers to an entire ecosystem of products delivering on a single promise. 00:13:22 The Two-Pronged Strategy for Sales EventsUse aggressive discounts on acquisition products to attract new customers and use the event for liquidating excess inventory. Links and Mentions: Tools and Websites"AG1 (Athletic Greens)": "00:01:48""Expandify": "00:07:00" General Concepts"Lifetime Value (LTV) Ratio": "00:05:57" Recommendations"Front End Acquisition Offers": "00:13:22""Liquidation Offers": "00:13:22" Transcript: Josh Hadley 00:00:00  One of the biggest topics that's always up for debate this time of year is, hey, how should I approach Prime Day? Should I be aggressive giving out a bunch of discounts? Should I turn off my PPC campaigns and just maximize profitability? Should I actually increase my prices and not decrease them? So I just ride the high of all the traffic that's going to Amazon? Well, today I'm going to be diving into how I'm going to be approaching Prime Day moving forward. And this also includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday as well. Welcome to the Econ 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. Who am I? My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I'm a man of faith. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife and the father of four children. Josh Hadley 00:00:52  I've been selling in the e-commerce space for over a decade, doing over $20 million in annual revenue, doing multi-millionaire on other sales channels such as Amazon, TikTok, Shop and Shopify, and also the host of the number one e-commerce podcast for business strategy. And that is Ecomm breakthrough. Today, I want to share with you our mindset of how we're approaching Prime Days moving forward. This also includes how we're going to be approaching, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and what some of the best brands out there in the e-commerce space are doing. I think that this is game changing because this kind of piggybacks off of what I've talked about in the past, which is, are you actually building a true brand, or are you just trying to sell products on Amazon, or are you just a product brand that's just slapping their brand name on a bunch of different random products that don't have a whole lot of cohesion? If that's the case, you probably don't want to listen to the rest of this podcast episode because it's not going to be relevant for you. Josh Hadley 00:01:48  This is going to be for those sellers that are actually trying to build a real brand. And what does a real brand mean? It means you're not just selling products, it means you're selling a promise to a customer, and then you're actually able to deliver on that promise to a customer. Now, one of the best examples that I want to dive into is aji one. And aji one does an excellent job of this on Amazon because they know exactly who they are as a brand. You don't just see Aegon all of a sudden coming out with, hey, now they're selling socks. Aegon supplements is not coming out with, you know, iPad covers or cell phone cases or anything like that. They're not an opportunistic, you know, product business. Instead, they are actually a brand trying to serve a very specific target market and customer delivering on the promise of, hey, if you come to us, we will provide you with the fastest, easiest way to get all of your vitamins and minerals in a very efficient way so that you are living your best life, that you are living, you know, in an optimal health environment. Josh Hadley 00:02:52  Okay. That's their brand promise. Now, are they actually able to deliver on this promise. And so ultimately, I share with you this example because this is what's going to be kind of set the foundation for why you're going to execute prime days and all of the big deal days like Black Friday, Cyber Monday in a new framework. So with AG one, one of the things that they do knowing their brand promise is how do I introduce people to our products to let them know, hey, they're tasty, they're easy, they're convenient, and hopefully you feel better while you use these. That's their brand promise. Okay, so how do they do that? Well, they have a seven day starter kit that they sell on Amazon. Now. They also sell some of their other SKUs on Amazon as well. But one of their key things and I just pulled it up. They're doing over 2000 units a month just on their one supplement, ...

  7. Jun 29

    The Secret Playbook to Scaling Beyond Amazon: TikTok, Influencers & Retail Presence

    Matt Greene is the CEO and founder of Happy Innovations - bootstrapped to mid-eight figure revenue, selling personal care products under the Happy Nuts, Happy Curves, and Happy Soles brands. Highlight Bullets > Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn….  Matt Greene's journey in building Happy Innovations and its brands (Happy Nuts, Happy Curves, Happy Souls).The importance of product development and R&D in creating effective personal care products.Strategies for launching and succeeding on Amazon, including targeting broad search terms and utilizing PPC.Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including production delays and shifts in marketing strategies.The significance of diversifying sales channels beyond Amazon, including Shopify, TikTok Shop, and retail.Insights on the complexities and long-term commitment required for retail expansion.The role of affiliate marketing and creator partnerships in driving sales and brand awareness.The impact of seasonal demand on Shopify sales and the need for effective ad strategies.Recommendations for e-commerce entrepreneurs on focusing on profitable sales channels and leveraging TikTok for growth.The necessity of continuous product innovation and differentiation for long-term success in the market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Matt Greene, CEO of Happy Innovations, whose personal care brands have reached mid eight-figure revenue. Matt shares his journey from product development to scaling across Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, and retail. Key insights include the importance of product innovation, building and supporting affiliate creators, approaching retail only after reaching ~$20M in revenue, and prioritizing profitability on each channel. Matt also recommends leveraging TikTok as the easiest post-Amazon expansion and emphasizes patience, operational excellence, and continuous product improvement as foundations for long-term success. Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode: Win one channel before expanding Dominate Amazon first (optimize PPC, reviews, profitability) and use it to fund growth—don’t diversify until you’ve built a strong revenue and ops foundation. Use TikTok Shop for scalable growth Build a creator engine with small retainers, consistent posting (30–60 days), and content ownership you can reuse across ads and other channels. Differentiate through real product innovation Go beyond competitor gaps—invest in R&D, solve a specific problem deeply, and continuously improve to drive repeat purchases and long-term brand value.Timestamps: 00:00:42 Podcast & Guest IntroductionHost Josh Hadley introduces the show and guest Matt Greene, founder of Happy Innovations, a mid-eight-figure personal care brand. 00:02:34 The Origin of Happy NutsMatt shares how the brand started from a personal need, focusing on a year-and-a-half-long product development and branding process. 00:04:16 Starting on AmazonThe decision to launch on Amazon was driven by its low customer acquisition cost for an innovative, low-priced product. 00:05:21 Amazon Success StrategyHow they found success by targeting existing search terms for related problems like anti-chafing and sweat protection. 00:07:40 Diversifying Beyond AmazonAmazon is still their core channel but now represents less than 60% of their total business revenue. 00:08:33 Profitability in New ChannelsMatt discusses early struggles with Shopify and the importance of ensuring every new sales channel has a path to profitability. 00:10:11 Early Foray into RetailMatt explains the long and complex process of getting into retail, which started years before getting on shelves. 00:12:11 When to Expand Sales ChannelsMatt's philosophy on focusing on one channel until $5-10M in revenue before expanding to reach different customer segments. 00:15:25 Why TikTok is the Best Next StepMatt recommends TikTok as the first channel to expand to after Amazon due to cheap traffic and similar operations. 00:16:08 Building a TikTok Shop StrategyMatt details their journey on TikTok, from early struggles to a successful strategy focused on supporting and developing affiliates. 00:17:38 How to Work with TikTok CreatorsThe strategy involves coaching new creators, setting expectations for a 30-60 day ramp-up, and providing continuous support. 00:19:29 Incentivizing New CreatorsUsing small retainers and performance bonuses to encourage new creators to consistently post content and build momentum for the brand. 00:27:30 A Targeted Shopify StrategyTheir Shopify approach focuses on specific, high-intent periods like holidays and seasonal campaigns rather than an always-on strategy. 00:30:38 The Realities of Entering RetailMatt advises waiting until your brand is stable and recognizable (around $20M) before tackling retail's high costs and complexities. 00:34:12 Driving Sell-Through in RetailHow they succeeded in retail as a bootstrapped brand through strong on-shelf branding, product quality, and a TikTok halo effect. 00:38:13 Three Actionable TakeawaysThe host summarizes key lessons: master one channel first, expand to TikTok next, and approach retail with caution. 00:42:19 Matt's Book RecommendationsMatt shares two influential books on SEO and life prioritization, including "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry." 00:42:49 Favorite AI ToolMatt explains how they use Claude for data analysis, creating dashboards, and developing landing pages for their website. 00:43:54 Admired E-commerce PeersMatt shares his respect for other brand owners in his network rather than big-name figures from a different era. Resources mentioned in this episode: Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites "Shopify": "00:04:32", "00:40:21""TikTok Shop": "00:01:03", "00:15:25""Expo West": "00:10:11""Amazon PPC": "00:06:28""Meta Ads (Facebook Ads)": "00:09:09""Amazon MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment)": "00:14:56""Discord": "00:26:06""Google Forms": "00:26:06""

  8. Jun 25

    How to Conduct a 2 Week CEO Time Study (Step-by-Step)

    In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares a powerful productivity strategy: conducting a two-week time study. Josh explains how tracking time reveals inefficiencies and misplaced priorities that limit business growth. He introduces a four-bucket framework—Delete, Delegate, Design, and Double Down—to help entrepreneurs categorize their activities and focus on high-leverage work. Josh emphasizes that a CEO's role must continuously evolve through revenue milestones, and recommends tools like the Timing app and ChatGPT to analyze time data and redesign job responsibilities for maximum impact. Bullet Points: Importance of conducting a two-week time study for entrepreneurs and CEOs.Tracking and analyzing time to identify inefficiencies and misplaced priorities.The role of the founder or CEO as a potential growth ceiling for the business.Evolution of the CEO's role as the business scales through revenue milestones.Categorization of tasks into four buckets: Delete, Delegate, Design, and Double Down.Regular self-assessment and role redesign for sustainable scaling.Value of time analysis for team members at all levels, not just CEOs.Use of tools like the Timing app for tracking time spent on activities.Analyzing collected data to identify opportunities for improvement and delegation.Emphasis on intentional time management and leadership evolution for business growth.Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction to the Two-Week Time StudyYour calendar reveals your business's future growth. A time study shows where your time is actually being consumed. 00:01:18 The Importance of a Time StudyA founder's time becomes the ceiling for business growth. This study helps align your actions with your business goals. 00:02:40 Evolving as a CEO at Different Revenue MilestonesThe CEO's role must change as the business scales from $1 million to $5 million, $10 million, and beyond. 00:04:22 Common Misconceptions About Time UsageFounders often think they're focused on growth but are stuck in administrative tasks, revealing a disconnect in priorities. 00:06:08 Why the Study Must Be Two Weeks LongTwo weeks is the minimum time to get an accurate picture of your normal habits, beyond a single focused week. 00:07:53 The Brutal Question for CEOsAsk if the CEO you want to become should be doing your current tasks, emphasizing the need for personal evolution. 00:09:23 The Four Buckets for Categorizing Your TimeAfter the study, categorize all tasks into four buckets: delete, delegate, redesign, or double down on high-leverage activities. 00:11:10 Common Findings from a Time StudyCEOs often find they spend too much time checking instead of leading and get derailed by personal tasks mid-day. 00:14:44 The Real Outcome: Redesigning Your JobThe goal is to redesign your job description every 90-180 days, focusing on growth levers to earn promotions. 00:16:17 How to Conduct the Time StudyUse the Timing app to track everything from sunup to sundown, including personal time, to get a complete picture. 00:18:58 Categorizing Your TasksCreate key themes or categories for your activities, such as "CEO strategic work," "hiring," and "personal tasks." 00:21:04 Analyzing the ResultsThe app shows where your hours went, revealing high-time categories like hiring, which can inform who to hire next. 00:25:05 Using ChatGPT for Deeper AnalysisExport your time data and use a specific ChatGPT prompt to analyze it using the four-bucket framework for insights. 00:26:36 Example ChatGPT OutputChatGPT can identify the best and worst uses of your time, highlighting where to apply your judgment for maximum leverage. 00:29:49 Conclusion and Final TakeawaysYour calendar is your strategy. Run the study regularly, apply the four buckets, and constantly evolve your role as a leader. Links and Mentions: Tools and Apps  "Timing App": "00:16:50" Key Concepts and Frameworks  "Two Week Time Study": "00:02:02" Recommendations  "ChatGPT": "00:25:05" Additional Notes  "QR Code for Resources": "00:29:49" Transcript: Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Show me two weeks of your calendar, and I'm going to be able to confidently tell you whether you're going to be growing or staying stuck in your business over the next 12 months. Welcome to the Ecomm 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. Most founders think that they know exactly where their time is going. However, when you conduct a two week time study, 90% of entrepreneurs are blown away with where their time is actually being consumed in the business. And oftentimes it's not in the places you want your time being consumed in the business. Most of the time, you're stuck in the thick of thin things. That's not providing a high ROI in the business. My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I'm a man of faith. Josh Hadley 00:00:56  I'm a husband to a beautiful wife and the father of four children. I've been selling in the e-commerce space for over a decade, selling multi-million on sales channels such as Amazon, TikTok, Shop and Shopify, and I am also the host of the number one business strategy podcast for ecommerce entrepreneurs. That's E-com breakthrough. Today, I'm going to be sharing with you the details about this two week time study, which is one of the best tools to magnify your output and be able to ten x the efficiency and the growth inside of your business. So why is a two week time study so important? And why do I do this on a regular basis? By the way, I do this myself at a minimum every six months, and when things are really moving along quickly, I'm doing it every 90 days. If the business is scaling fast, the reason why you want to conduct a two week time study is because the founder's time eventually becomes the ceiling for your growth as a business. This is going to provide you with a framework for seeing whether your behavior in the business is actually matching the business that you think you are trying to build? Way too often I hear people are saying, oh yeah, I'm all focused on growth. Josh Hadley 00:02:02  But then you show me your two week time study, and then I find that most of your time is spent in administrative work, doing manual routine things that aren't actually driving results in the business, but it's just kind of keeping things afloat. That's not what you want to be focused on. And this is something that applies to CEOs, and this applies to entry level workers that are doing routine administrative work as well, because I believe that everybody in any role needs to take an honest look and self-assess. Am I spending my time on the right levers in the business that are truly going to provide an ROI, a return on your investment, or your time? Let's dive into why this is so vital for a CEO that's building a business. When you're a CEO and you're a founder and you're crossing that $1 million mark in revenue, it's honestly the hustle that has gotten you to where you are today, and that ultimately will become a ceiling. If you're not able to delegate and identify a system as to how you generated that first million dollars in revenue. Josh Hadley 00:03:02  You're never going to scale to that next level, whic...

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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
    274
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ecomm Breakthrough (c) 2022
  • Show Website
    Ecomm Breakthrough

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