OPERATORS

OPERATORS

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In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share its wealth of knowledge with people like you.

E098: The LTV Trap: Escape Your Broken Business Model

00:00 Introduction03:12 The Impact of Chargebacks on Businesses08:57 The Nature of Chargeback Fraud11:53 Strategies for Preventing Chargebacks18:03 Building a Robust Data Infrastructure35:07 Evaluating Technology Investments40:12 Personal Branding and Business Identity44:16 Cross-Company Networking for Leaders48:20 Understanding Lifetime Value (LTV) in Business54:50 The Uncertainty of Future Consumer Behavior58:04 The Impact of Disruption on Business Models01:06:55 Innovating Product Offerings f

Feb 26, • 1:45:34

E097: Scientist to Entrepreneur

00:00 Introduction 03:08 The Science of Consumer Brands05:57 Transition from Academia to Entrepreneurship12:08 Launching a Science-Backed Beauty Brand14:53 Acquisition and the Future of Beauty Brands17:46 The Scientific Method in Entrepreneurship21:04 Data-Driven Decision Making in E-commerce24:05 Evan's New Venture in Allergy Solutions36:07 Understanding the Market for Cat Allergy Solutions39:57 Exploring Product Development and Pricing Strategies44:52 Building a Lasting Brand: Lessons from Exp

Feb 19, • 1:12:11

E096: Content Creation & Brand Storytelling

Chapters00:00 Introduction and Sponsorships01:51 Navigating Natural Disasters and Personal Experiences04:06 Transitioning to the Cannabis Industry09:50 Challenges in the Cannabis Business14:04 The Shift to Short Form Content Creation20:08 The Rise of Short Form Video26:06 Building a Community Through Content29:59 The Value of Authentic Content Creation36:45 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Content Creation43:10 The Nuances of Selling Information and Courses51:20 The Importance of Data in Business

Feb 12, • 1:13:42

E095: Tariffs.

00:00 Introduction 02:25 Understanding the Impact of Tariffs on Trade 05:43 The Reality of Tariffs: Perspectives from the Ground 09:25 Fentanyl Crisis: A National Security Concern 12:35 The Political Landscape: Canada vs. U.S. Tariff Strategies 17:50 Negotiation Tactics: The Art of the Deal 21:34 Manufacturing Decisions: The U.S. vs. Canada 25:55 The Future of Trade: E-commerce and Supply Chain Dynamics 36:21 Navigating Tariffs and Trade Regulations 39:07 The Impact of E-commerce on Domestic Sel

Feb 7, • 1:11:30

E094: Big Business, Big Challenges: Mastering Resource Management.

00:00 Introduction 02:03 The Importance of Effective Communication 04:01 Luxury Beliefs and Societal Challenges 09:47 Understanding Second and Third Order Effects 18:53 Time Management Strategies for Leaders 31:11 Data Management and Decision Making 35:48 Coaching and Developing Young Talent 39:30 The Power of Multiplication in Leadership 46:33 Investing in Human Capital 49:53 Agency Dynamics and Challenges 59:51 Understanding Product-Market Fit 01:09:50 Navigating Agency Relationships and Loyal

Feb 5, • 1:18:40

E093: Managing High Performance Teams.

00:00 Introduction 02:03 Cherene's Career Decisions and Work-Life Balance 05:47 Team Dynamics and Management Styles 13:21 Data Management and Decision Making 19:26 Building Effective Teams and Organizational Culture 31:06 Empowering Growth Through Inclusion 38:06 Building a Culture of Trust and Independence 47:23 The Journey of Personal and Professional Growth 57:02 Sustaining Success Through Adversity Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-T

Jan 29, • 1:01:44

E092: Markets, Conferences, Growth & Optimism.

00:00 Introduction 02:15 Insights from the ICR Conference 09:25 Market Sentiment and Tariffs 14:42 The Importance of Product Development 20:54 Shark Ninja's Unique Brand Strategy 25:51 Balancing OPEX and Future Investments 30:29 Consumer Sentiment and Growth Opportunities 38:54 Consumer Confidence and Market Trends 44:40 Mimetic Behavior in Business 49:27 The Importance of Independent Thinking 54:25 Data-Driven Decision Making 01:00:52 Optimism in American Economic Growth 01:06:05 Building Rela

Jan 22, • 1:16:32

E091: Passport Acquires Brand Access

00:00 Introduction 02:26 Understanding the DTC SaaS Landscape 03:20 Brand Access: A Solution for Global Expansion 08:08 Passport: End-to-End Internationalization Solutions 12:21 Navigating Compliance in International Shipping19:15 Choosing the Right Partner for Global Sales 27:48 Breaking News: Acquisition Announcement 30:06 Navigating International Logistics Challenges 36:16 The Importance of Strategic Partnerships 42:49 Scaling Operations and Market Expansion 49:18 Future Trends in Global Tra

Jan 15, • 1:00:53

E090: The Bentist - 7.42M Subscribers

00:00 Introduction 02:23 The Challenges of the DTC SaaS Landscape 05:09 Ben's Journey into Dentistry and Orthodontics 12:11 The Rise of Social Media in Dentistry 20:07 Building a Brand: The Bentist and TikTok Success 27:17 Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur 32:24 Innovative Business Model and Future Plans 34:44 Building a National Dental Brand 37:06 The Economics of Dental Practices 40:57 The Role of AI and Automation in Business 49:16 Deflationary Effects of AI on Industries 01:03:51 O

Jan 8, • 1:09:57

E089: “The acceleration we’ve been waiting for” - Paul from BK Beauty

00:00 Introduction 02:00 BK Beauty's Journey and Background 03:04 The Rise of TikTok Shops 10:03 The Mechanics of TikTok Shops and Its Impact 13:53 The Power of TikTok's Algorithm for Commerce 17:46 The Future of Social Shopping and Influencer Marketing 27:37 The Rise of Omni-Channel Marketing 30:51 The Impact of Subsidies on TikTok Shops 34:29 Navigating the Challenges of Live Streaming 38:46 The Future of YouTube Shopping 43:53 The Uncertain Future of TikTok 50:41 Building a Cloud of Economic

Jan 1, • 55:18

E088: Thrive in '25

00:00 End of Year Reflections and Planning 02:14 The DTC SaaS Landscape: Building to Serve 06:33 Year-End Recap and 2025 Planning 10:49 Budgeting and Forecasting for the New Year 14:33 Balancing Growth and Margins 22:37 Inventory Management and Strategic Decisions 31:23 Navigating Demand Planning and Market Share 41:02 Understanding Category Share and Market Dynamics 48:17 Identifying Growth Capacity and Leadership Challenges Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_

Dec 26, 2024 • 1:03:12

E087: Can you ever bet against Zuck?

00:00 Navigating the Evolving Landscape of E-commerce 07:45 The Impact of Regulatory Challenges on Business 17:13 The Future of TikTok and Its Implications for Marketing 29:57 The Digital Reformation: A Shift in Information Control 32:44 Impact of TikTok on Marketing Strategies 37:13 Meta's Performance and Advertising Challenges 41:44 Diversification in Advertising Spend 49:56 The Future of Advertising Platforms 55:02 Regulatory Changes in Pharmaceutical Advertising Operators Exclusive Slack: h

Dec 18, 2024 • 1:05:35

E086: Mike's New Brand: Introducing Trevi

00:00 Introduction 04:03 Growth Metrics and Business Valuation 09:59 Launching New Ventures: Trevi's Journey 18:06 The Dynamics of Consumables vs. Hard Goods 26:06 Strategizing for Market Penetration 36:02 The Potential of High Adoption Rates 39:45 Valuing Business Performance and Product Extensions 43:03 Branding Strategies and Market Positioning 49:00 The Importance of Team Focus and Structure 51:25 Navigating Market Dynamics and Consumer Preferences 56:40 The Debate on Brand Integration vs.

Dec 11, 2024 • 1:10:07

E085: AppLovin and TV ads

00:00 Introduction 03:49 Staffing Solutions and Temporary Agencies 10:13 Exploring New Marketing Channels 20:01 Comparing AppLovin with Traditional Advertising 29:53 The Future of Advertising and Data Integration 31:34 Integrating SMS and Email Marketing 32:26 Exploring the Evolving Landscape of TV Advertising 34:50 Navigating TV Ad Spend and Creative Strategies 38:23 Understanding TV Ad Targeting and Placement 43:14 The Role of Trust in TV Advertising 46:54 The Unique Dynamics of TV as a Market

Dec 4, 2024 • 1:03:01

E084: BFCM Pulse Check

00:00 Introduction 06:13 Black Friday Week: Strategies and Expectations 09:12 The Dynamics of Wholesale vs. E-commerce 12:04 The Importance of Communication and Forecasting 14:58 Managing Fulfillment and Operations Effectively 18:10 The Role of Roadshows in Brand Awareness 21:02 The Debate on All-in-One Solutions in E-commerce 35:20 Navigating Forecasting Challenges 37:41 Crisis Management: Nightmares in Business 41:02 Cash Flow Management in Wholesale 44:20 De-risking Your Business 50:30 Levera

Nov 26, 2024 • 1:08:38

E083: Curtis Matsko: Operators X Portland Leather Goods

Curtis Matsko, Founder of Portland Leather Goods. 00:00 Introduction 05:01 The Move to Mexico and Manufacturing Growth 11:14 The Evolution of Portland Leather 16:51 Marketing Strategy and Product Development 22:32 Supply Chain Control and Efficiency 28:52 Future Plans and Business Growth 32:14 Building a Competitive Supply Chain 35:10 The Importance of Quality Leather 38:05 The Vegan Leather Debate 41:42 Marketing as a Core Strategy 46:01 Managing Growth and Operations 51:43 Innovative Marketin

Nov 20, 2024 • 1:04:59

E082: Election Tariffs?

00:00 Introduction 04:23 Post-Election Implications for Business 10:57 The Future of Manufacturing 18:23 Automation and Robotics in Production 24:45 Manufacturing Shifts and Domestic Assembly 32:41 The Future of Global Supply Chains 39:34 The Balance of Globalism and Nationalism 46:43 Consumer Optimism and the Future of Building Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUw Mike's Tweet: This is what the future of manufacturin

Nov 13, 2024 • 49:55

E081: Business Debt

00:00 Introduction 03:07 E-commerce Challenges and Event Insights 05:50 Principles and Personal Values in Business 09:11 The Role of Debt Financing 12:00 Understanding Debt vs. Equity 14:52 Navigating Amazon and Alternative Platforms 21:00 Debt Strategies for Growth 27:10 Debt and Business Strategy 36:29 Understanding Debt Recapitalization and Its Mechanics 39:45 Liquidity Options and Their Implications 42:30 Building Relationships with Banks for Credit 45:21 Types of Debt: From Merchant Cash A

Nov 6, 2024 • 1:40:35

E080: Boardroom to Playroom

00:00 The Chaos of Entrepreneurship and Parenting 06:14 The Balancing Act of Family and Business 19:56 The Myth of Work-Life Balance 28:01 Creating Supportive Work Environments for Parents 30:58 Balancing Work and Family Life 35:28 The Role of Caregivers in the Workplace 38:51 Intentionality in Life Management 40:47 The Wave Model of Life Balance 44:54 Setting Boundaries at Work and Home 49:51 Empowering Others and Personal Agency 57:30 Scarcity and Focus in Life Management 01:01:41 The Complexi

Oct 30, 2024 • 1:32:38

E079: The Pro’s and Con’s of being a CEO

00:00 Introduction 06:01 Engagement with Sports Teams 09:49 Understanding Sports Audience Demographics 12:07 The Challenges of Sponsorships 15:49 Navigating College Sports and NIL Opportunities 19:57 The CEO Experience: Challenges and Responsibilities 23:50 The Pressure of Growth and Expectations 28:07 Managing People and Organizational Growth 31:50 The Complexity of Team Dynamics 35:05 Firing and Organizational Fit 35:35 Navigating Difficult Conversations as a CEO 39:15 The Hedonic Treadmill an

Oct 23, 2024 • 1:10:57

E078: Going Global

00:00 Introduction 02:57 Leadership Retreats and Team Dynamics 05:53 Traveling for Business: The China Experience 09:04 Consumer Behavior Insights from Italy 11:48 Cultural Differences in Retail and Consumer Products 15:06 The Impact of American Brands Abroad 18:12 Navigating International Markets and Localization 23:56 Conclusion: The Future of Global E-commerce 38:10 Understanding Lululemon's Unique Market Position 41:03 Challenges of International Expansion 43:54 The Complexity of Diversifica

Oct 16, 2024 • 1:14:25

E077: In Conversation with the Candy King

00:00 Introduction 06:06 From Swords to Candy: The Pivot 12:49 Innovating in the Candy Market 20:55 Challenges of Retail vs. DTC 29:52 Navigating Cash Flow and Retail Relationships 39:02 The Importance of Product and Market Fit 49:16 Consumer Behavior and Market Trends Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA Powered By: Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands

Oct 9, 2024 • 1:00:01

E076: Ecommerce Comeback

00:00 Introduction 02:26 Understanding System One and System Two Thinking 18:28 The E-commerce Landscape: Current State and Future Predictions 39:31 Strategies for Q4: Optimism and Discounting 01:01:54 The Role of TikTok Shops in E-commerce 00:00 Introduction 02:26 Understanding System One and System Two Thinking 18:28 The E-commerce Landscape: Current State and Future Predictions 39:31 Strategies for Q4: Optimism and Discounting 01:01:54 The Role of TikTok Shops in E-commerce Sean's Reference

Oct 2, 2024 • 1:06:02

E075: Purpose Driven Business

00:00 Introduction 01:25 The Power of Purpose in Attracting and Retaining Talent 08:04 Creating Focus and Guiding Decision-Making with Mission and Purpose 17:07 The Role of Margin in Fueling Positive Change 26:30 Authenticity and Trust in Communicating Purpose 30:23 Addressing Skepticism around Corporate Purpose 30:51 The Importance of a Clear and Focused Mission 38:17 Avoiding Mission Scope Creep 41:37 Balancing Mission and Diverse Perspectives 46:58 Endurance and Compounding Effects of Missio

Sep 25, 2024 • 1:01:07

E074: Growth hacking profit with Mehtab

00:00 Introduction 02:04 Optimizing Supply Chain for Increased Profitability 08:01 Reducing Fulfillment Costs with a Better 3PL 10:51 Re-engineering Products to Eliminate Waste 14:39 Building Relationships with Suppliers for Cost Savings 20:04 The Power of Being Likeable in Business 21:31 Shrinkflation: A Profitability Hack 24:51 Finding the Optimal Price Point through Price Testing 28:58 Pricing Testing for Increased Profitability 30:23 The Power of Bundling 31:48 Optimizing Supply Chain and S

Sep 18, 2024 • 57:10

E073: How to Manage Your Wealth

00:00 Introduction 07:24 The Viral Tweet and Perspectives on Wealth Advisors 15:21 Promise 1: Control 16:14 Promise 2: Exclusive Access to Investment Opportunities 24:25 Promise 3: Access to Events 25:49 Promise 4: New Financial Instruments 26:48 Promise 5: Safety 27:15 Conclusion and Importance for Entrepreneurs 28:13 Borrowing Against Non-Liquid Assets: Benefits and Risks 31:34 The Controversy of Taxing Unrealized Capital Gains 39:17 The Importance of Having a Clear Sense of Purpose 44:03 The

Sep 11, 2024 • 55:03

E072: Why You Shouldn’t Run a Sweepstakes, Holiday Season Advertising, Temu’s Earnings & More

00:00 Introduction 02:18 The Pros and Cons of Running Sweepstakes 10:09 The Impact of Sweepstakes on Revenue and Customer Engagement 13:30 Q4 Planning: Leveraging Gift-Giving for Increased Sales 18:16 TV Advertising and Other Marketing Channels 23:49 Q4 Sales: Gift-Giving vs. Gift-for-Self 30:45 Finding the Perfect Gifts 32:11 Advertising Strategies for the Holiday Season 34:38 The Power of Direct Mail in Marketing 49:30 The Risks of Publicly Traded Chinese Companies 54:12 The Impact of Personal

Sep 4, 2024 • 1:02:00

E071: Catching up with Austin

00:00 Introduction 03:32 The Value of Time and Convenience 07:49 Bias to Impact and Velocity in Work 13:29 Leadership Styles and Kindness vs. Gentleness 19:12 Resilience and Embracing Failure as a Leader 26:21 Creating a Culture of Risk-Taking and Learning from Failure 31:48 The Importance of Being Anti-Fragile as a Leader 38:30 Longevity and Persistence in Business 44:34 The Key to Success: Duration and Self-Discipline 49:29 The Partnership Between Northbeam and Meta 52:43 Consumer Spending Tre

Aug 28, 2024 • 1:29:32

E070: The Risks and Rewards of Hypergrowth

07:41 The Importance of Making Low-Impact Decisions 09:36 The Role of Leadership in Decision-Making 11:25 Learning from Mistakes and Allowing the Team to Make Mistakes 14:48 Identifying High-Leverage Decisions 16:44 Making High-Leverage Decisions in the Cookware Industry 21:14 Forecasting and Planning for the Future 31:06 The Advantage of Being in a Growing Category 34:21 The Significance of Intrinsic Growth Rate and New Customer Acquisition 38:37 The Role of Brand Equity in Expanding into New

Aug 21, 2024 • 1:02:09

E069: How to run sales like a 9-figure brand

00:00 Introduction 03:24 Discussion on Personal Networks and Investment Opportunities 06:46 Investing in Unique Business Opportunities 09:12 Balancing Personal and Professional Priorities 11:06 Maximizing Sales on Prime Day 13:41 Amazon's Brand Awareness Strategy 18:45 Strategies for Running Deals and Discounts 23:28 Gradual Discounting and Protecting Margins 27:15 Segmenting SKUs by Channel to Avoid Conflicts 28:40 Avoiding Algorithmic Price Matching and Differentiation 30:00 The Power of B

Aug 14, 2024 • 58:12

E068: Taylor Holiday - Part 2

00:00 Introduction & The Reality of E-commerce Growth 31:26 Disparity in E-commerce Growth 33:20 Challenging the Perception of E-commerce 35:08 Challenges Faced by Seven-Figure and Eight-Figure Stores 45:41 Growth Rates of Seven-Figure and Eight-Figure Stores 53:07 Comparison of Growth Rates 55:20 Challenging Conventional Wisdom 58:36 The Importance of Having a Competitive Advantage 01:03:20 The Correlation Between Customer Sentiment and the Market 01:04:47 Setting Realistic Growth Expectati

Aug 7, 2024 • 1:10:15

E067: Taylor Holiday - Part 1

00:00 Introduction and Overview 03:22 The Impact of Cap Tables on the Organization 05:17 Equity as a Tool for Employee Retention08:38 The Power Dynamics of Board Control 23:21 The Importance of Trust in Equity Allocation 26:46 Reflecting on Past Decisions: What Would You Change? 27:41 Navigating the Challenges of Equity and Ownership 38:02 The Importance of Open Communication and Fairness 45:17 Understanding the Psychology of Equity and Monetization 53:24 Insights into the E-commerce Industry: A

Jul 31, 2024 • 56:01

E066: Special guest episode with the founder & CEO of Flexport Ryan Petersen

00:00 Introduction 03:18 Overview of Flexport and its Services 08:09 Differences between Flexport and Shopify in Fulfillment 10:04 Utilizing Real-Time Data for Supply Chain Planning 14:47 The Importance of Visibility and Communication in Logistics 17:56 Challenges in the Freight Forwarding Industry 18:25 Choosing the Hardest Businesses and the Value of Simplifying to Amplify 23:33 Expanding into Omni-Channel Fulfillment and B2B Distribution 28:12 The Complexity of Wholesale Orders and Physical R

Jul 24, 2024 • 1:08:43

E065: Capital, Investment & Politics

00:00 Introduction 03:12 Weekend Recap and Discussion on Aging 06:26 Transitioning from Fluid Intelligence to Wisdom 09:20 The Political Landscape and the Biden Presidency 13:41 The Importance of Privacy and Anonymity on Social Media 15:30 The Influence of Generational Shifts on Institutions 18:12 The Role of Swing Voters in Elections 20:53 The Need for Competent and Moderate Leadership 22:22 The Value of Wisdom and Experience 25:37 The JP Morgan Founders Forum and Insights from Jack Ma 30:19 Th

Jul 17, 2024 • 1:08:42

E064: Manage your time like a 9-figure CEO

00:00 Introduction 03:09 The Role of an Executive Assistant 06:06 Finding and Trusting an EA 08:49 When to Hire an EA 10:15 Different Perspectives on Having an EA 20:21 Balancing Personal and Work Tasks 23:12 Avoiding Lifestyle Creep 26:34 The Lumpy Nature of Needing an EA 30:21 Finding Time as a CEO 43:28 Aligning Personal and Business Finances 48:31 Optimizing Processes and Priorities Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkC

Jul 10, 2024 • 55:53

E063: Part 2: How to build resiliency into your business

00:00 Introduction 00:31 Understanding the Challenges of Inventory Management and Fulfillment 06:32 Building a Resilient Business through Channel and Market Diversity 10:39 The Importance of Sustainable Competitive Advantages and Modes 13:50 Productive Paranoia and Risk Mitigation for Long-Term Success 23:40 The Strategy of Sharing Information and Fortifying the Business 26:28 Building in Public 28:17 Accountability and Learning 29:44 Finding a Community 38:12 Recognition and Resilience 47:29 L

Jul 3, 2024 • 51:56

E062: Special Guest Episode: Growth Marketing Ft. Sarah Carusona

00:00 Introduction 08:09 Navigating the Agency Landscape and the Role of ERPs in E-commerce 14:51 Segmenting Advertising Strategies for New and Returning Customers 24:21 Challenges in Measuring Customer Acquisition Costs 27:08 Utilizing Data Warehouses and Technologies for Customer Analysis 31:51 Tracking and Attributing Customer Data 41:18 The Power Law Distribution of Customer Behavior 49:26 TV and Influencer Marketing as Awareness Plays 54:31 Understanding the Media Mix and Targeting the Core

Jun 26, 2024 • 1:02:55

E061: Part 1: How to build resiliency into your business

00:00 Introduction 03:18 Building Resilience: Lessons from the Meta Summit 08:59 Diversification: Mitigating Risks in a Platform-Driven World 24:10 The Evolving Role of AI in Marketing 27:30 Investing in Resilience: Strategies for Long-Term Success 28:57 The Challenges of the E-commerce Ecosystem 29:55 The Risks of Relying on Algorithms 31:19 Transitioning from the Marketplace to 1P 34:35 The Importance of Understanding Your Numbers 45:38 The Global Competition in E-commerce 53:06 Building Resil

Jun 19, 2024 • 57:46

E060: Defending Your Time, Standing for Something, HexClad Super Bowl Ad & More!

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Topics 01:20 The Impact of ERP Systems on Inventory Management 05:32 The Influence of Social Media on Public Discourse 07:02 The Disruption of Traditional Media and Commerce by Digital Platforms 13:26 The Relevance of Super Bowl Ads in the Current Media Landscape 32:15 The Cost and Value of Working with Creative Agencies 37:32 The Impact of Brand Equity and Branding Investments 45:26 The Frustration of Cold Emails and the Importance of Strategic Networking 53:3

Jun 12, 2024 • 58:49

E059: Meta, Consumer Sentiment & Be a Cockroach!

00:00 Introduction 08:34 Understanding Consumer Sentiment and Advertising Strategies 15:23 The Impact of Meta on Business Performance 33:36 E-Commerce Strategies and Customer Acquisition 47:43 Brand Expansion and Product Lines 59:33 Brand Equity and Category Expansion 01:03:24 The Challenge of Hubris in Business Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Desig

Jun 5, 2024 • 1:07:30

E058: The Secret to Ecommerce Success? The Human Factor

00:00 The Business of People: Navigating Hiring Challenges 10:22 Organizational Culture and Leadership Impact 29:02 Navigating the Challenges of Hiring and Building Leadership 35:00 The Impact of Growth on Organizational Dynamics 49:48 Executive Roles and Leadership Structure Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA#/shared-invite/email⁠⁠⁠ Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Effici

May 29, 2024 • 57:09

E057: Operators in Session with Cherene Aubert

00:00 Introduction 03:41 Chaurene's Career Journey and Leaving Bobby 08:06 Growth and Challenges at ILIA Beauty 14:17 Lessons from Bobby and the Importance of Customer Obsession 22:07 Skills and Insights from the Agency World 27:25 Remote Work and Managing High-Performing Teams 34:22 Generating Sustainable Growth 36:38 Building an Organic Customer Acquisition Baseline 37:38 Alternative Growth Strategies: New Products and Distribution Channels 38:04 Clever Discounting Techniques: Gift with P

May 22, 2024 • 1:13:08

E056: 9-Figure Brand Health Check

00:00 Introduction 00:32 International Expansion and Diversification 01:28 Streamlining Logistics and Inventory Management 11:31 The Challenges of Launching New Products 12:55 The Benefits of Planning Product Launches in Advance 28:26 The Impact of Digital Marketing on Sales 30:24 Paid Ads and Physical Retail 40:27 Challenges of Scaling a Business 45:39 Building a Positive Work Culture 54:56 The Importance of People Management Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shar

May 15, 2024 • 1:00:12

E055: The AI Takeover, Formal Education Decline, Ecom Tech Disruptions & The Future of Employment

00:00 Introduction: Outsourcing, AI, and the Future of College Education 03:44 The Impact of Remote Work on American Workers 06:30 The Rise of the Global Workforce 26:41 Reevaluating the Concept of Equity in a Global Economy 27:39 The Rise of Robotics and AI in the Workforce 29:07 Remaining Competitive in a Changing Job Market 31:32 The Future of Credentialing 35:09 The Gig Economy and the Freelancification of Work 37:24 Government Policies and the Impact on Employment 47:37 The Changing Nature

May 8, 2024 • 55:15

E054: TikTok and Cool Brands

00:00 Government Bureaucracy and Productivity 07:05 Enforcement of Intellectual Property 14:37 The Speed of Government Action 30:45 The Impact on Brands and Creators 41:04 Innovative Brands: Malbon Golf and Rude 53:29 Challenges of Growing a Fashion Brand Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA#/shared-invite/email⁠⁠⁠ Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-

May 1, 2024 • 52:37

E053: Temu & Politics

00:00 Introduction and Overview 08:10 The Impact of Taxes on Entrepreneurship 15:20 The Rapid Growth of Temu 33:18 Adding Value, Building Brands, and Operational Excellence in Ecommerce 41:02 Creating Sustainable Competitive Advantages and Protecting Intellectual Property 52:04 Being Proactive and Vigilant in Protecting Your Business Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA#/shared-invite/email⁠⁠⁠ Powered By: Fulfil.i

Apr 24, 2024 • 1:01:36

E052: Connor Rolain: Marketing Tactics, Product Expansion, Creative Operations, Growth Team & More

00:00 Introduction 08:02 Transitioning from Agency to In-House 30:34 Unlocking New Levels of Growth 37:26 Expanding into Consumables and Higher-End Appliances 46:29 Segmenting Ad Sets for New Product Categories 57:37 Measuring and Comparing Creative Metrics 01:08:28 Maximizing Potential through Editing Existing Creative Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA#/shared-invite/email⁠⁠⁠ Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly

Apr 17, 2024 • 1:10:47

E051: Workload Strategy, Personal Finance, Q1 Recap, Liquidity & More

00:00 Introduction and Overview 09:04 Personalized Investing 16:33 Growing your brand is hard 27:50 Managing Illiquid Assets 38:32 Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) 50:31 Investing in Growth Before It's Needed 58:00 HexClad and Amazon 01:09:24 Q1 Recap at Simple Modern Operators Exclusive Slack: ⁠⁠https://9operators.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq4n-UVM6oTQkdltEwLINwkCWIA#/shared-invite/email⁠⁠ Powered By: Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficie

Apr 10, 2024 • 1:17:11

E050: Cody Plofker: Marketing Strategies, Meta Advertising, Maximising Contribution, International Market Expansion

00:00 Introduction 03:09 Panzerism: Trust No One 04:06 Termination of Relationship with an Agency 07:53 Success, Failure, and Overvaluing Contributions 09:46 Building Trust and Hiring Practices 13:32 Challenges with Meta Advertising 15:00 Diversification into Other Channels 25:17 Transitioning to Other Channels 27:40 The Importance of Profitability and Knowing Your Numbers 30:01 Dealing with Meta Performance Issues 31:01 Navigating Conversion Lag and Meta Changes 36:19 Balancing Growth and Eff

Apr 3, 2024 • 1:02:05

E049: Connor from Ridge: Artificial Newness, Channel Activation, Content Planning, Pricing Strategy

02:00 Preparing for Father's Day 07:14 Content Planning and Pricing Strategy 11:11 Media Mix and Channel Activation 29:45 Channel Diversification and Crop Rotation 32:39 Initial Wins and Marketing Strategy 33:36 Challenges with Meta Platforms 35:09 Identifying Issues and Taking Action 36:08 Reallocating Budgets and Measuring Incremental Lift 38:47 The Importance of CPM and Channel Diversification 44:12 Building Redundancy and Expanding Product Categories 51:07 Creating Artificial Newness and

Mar 27, 2024 • 1:00:40

E048: Roman Khan: Buying and Growing DTC Companies

00:00 Introduction and Background to Roman 06:05 Roman's Journey and Current Ventures 10:14 Lessons from Rocket Internet 13:29 Communication Platforms and Future Plans 24:32 The Importance of Supply Chain Management 31:02 Building Strong Relationships with Suppliers 32:21 Using Factories as Financing Partners 32:55 Negative Cash Conversion Cycles and Negotiation 35:14 Building Transparent and Trusting Relationships with Suppliers 38:38 The Success of Multi-Brand Models 41:28 Investing in Kan

Mar 20, 2024 • 1:05:12

E047: DTC Hardships, Amazon Fees, Klaviyo Agency Move & More

00:00 Introduction and Market Update 07:39 D2C Apocalypse: Meta Issues 33:02 The Challenges of Being an Amazon Seller 34:21 The Importance of a Differentiated Value Proposition 35:07 The Evolution of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Brands 36:01 The Role of Product and Brand in Retail 37:28 The Potential Ban of TikTok 38:13 Regulatory Concerns and Potential Buyers for TikTok 40:14 The Uncertainty of TikTok's Future 42:31 Considering the Impact of TikTok's Potential Ban 44:21 The Need for Focus a

Mar 13, 2024 • 1:03:59

E046: Ridge Retreat, Measuring Brand Awareness, The Rising Cost of Advertising & More.

00:00 Ridge Retreat 03:12 Off-Site Team Building 06:08 Challenges of Hosting Retreats 07:36 New Product Launch: Hexclad Pizza Steel 11:51 Measuring Brand Awareness13:18 Aided and Unaided Awareness 15:21 Actionable Insights from Brand Awareness Data 20:59 Awareness vs Competitors 25:11 The Size of the Market 29:14 Expanding the TAM 31:05 Brand Awareness vs Brand Affinity 33:01 Building Market Share Regionally 35:24 The Importance of Household Penetration 36:19 Creating Organic Demand and Network

Mar 6, 2024 • 58:29

The Ridge X Marques Brownlee Partnership: A Deep Dive

In this episode, the Operators discuss Ridge's recent announcement that they've partnered with Marques Brownlee, the number one tech YouTuber. The decision to bring in Marques as an investor, advisor, and board member is driven by the belief that creator-led brands are the future. Sean explains that the skills that made Ridge successful in the past, such as digital marketing, are no longer as relevant due to changes in the digital advertising landscape. The partnership with Marques aims

Feb 28, 2024 • 46:10

E044: January retail sales, Yeti’s earnings, Shopify’s Q4 & More

03:42 Discussion on January Retail Sales 24:07 Analysis of Shopify's GMV in Q4 33:09 Panzerism of the week 41:49 Creating a Fun Work Environment 44:00 Yeti's Earnings and Expansion into Cookware 54:00 Challenges in the Bag Industry 01:05:23 The Importance of Gross Margin in Business Growth Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/s... Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.

Feb 21, 2024 • 1:06:57

E044: January retail sales, Yeti’s earnings, Shopify’s Q4 & More

03:42 Discussion on January Retail Sales 24:07 Analysis of Shopify's GMV in Q4 33:09 Panzerism of the week 41:49 Creating a Fun Work Environment 44:00 Yeti's Earnings and Expansion into Cookware 54:00 Challenges in the Bag Industry 01:05:23 The Importance of Gross Margin in Business Growth Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/s... Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam. https://

Feb 21, 2024 • 1:07:06

E043: Shopify's price increase, Tapestry's earnings, TikTok as a marketing platform & more

00:00 Introduction and Random Conversations 06:00 Review of Tapestry's Earnings 20:16 Discussion on Amer Sports IPO 28:17 Analysis of Shopify's Price Increase 42:16 Exploring TikTok as a Marketing Platform 46:34 Sean's Bearish View on TikTok 48:29 Overspending on Amazon Advertising 53:24 Evaluation of TikTok 57:13 Assessing TikTok's Audience Trust 59:07 Complexity and Uncertainty in Geopolitics 01:04:43 Handling the Unknown in Business 01:05:38 Geopolitical Considerations Summar

Feb 14, 2024 • 1:06:44

E042: January Performance, International Thoughts, Sean's Challenge, Conditioning Customers & More

00:00 January Performance 03:06 International Expansion 06:23 Competitor Challenges 11:31 The Rise and Fall of Brands 19:01 Surprising January Results 22:03 International Market Opportunities 32:00 Inventory Shortage 38:54 Scaling and Customization Challenges 39:28 Using Pre-Orders to Manage Demand 40:13 Scarcity as an Asset 41:46 Expanding to International Markets 42:16 Leveraging Scarcity for Higher Margins 45:13 Conditioning Customers to Act Quickly Summary: The conversation covers the perfor

Feb 7, 2024 • 50:55

E041: Competitors, Avoiding Imitation, Red Ocean Strategy, Timing Expansion, Hero Products & More

Episode 41 Summary The Operators discuss the topic of competition and how entrepreneurs think about their competitors. They explore the importance of understanding the competitive landscape and share their thoughts on spending time and energy on competitors. The conversation also touches on the concept of red ocean industries and the benefits of being in a growing category. The Operators emphasize the need to focus on running your own race and the dangers of imitating competitors without unders

Jan 31, 2024 • 1:02:45

E040: Merchandising Deep Dive

00:00 Enhancing customer experience through digital merchandising planning. 10:44 Seasonal merchandise crucial for successful wholesale strategy. 12:55 Research shows too many options can overwhelm. 20:32 Omnichannel complexities and retail trade-offs. 25:38 Exclusive SMU unit requires strategy. 29:50 Business adaptability leads to changes and growth. 38:15 Align products with brand message for success. 44:08 Merchandizing and brand building define company values. 46:29 Capitalizing on chance, s

Jan 24, 2024 • 1:01:54

E039: Creative, Top Of Funnel, Productivity Hacks, Delegation, Brand Performance & More.

00:00 The Importance of Taking Time Off 03:27 The Productivity Hack of Taking Space 05:05 Defining Productivity for Different Roles 10:18 The Lion Work Ethic 12:20 The Value of Planning and Prioritizing 13:53 The Importance of Delegating and Empowering Others 19:27 Differentiating Between Where and Why vs. What and How 22:30 The Potential of TV Advertising 24:14 Exploring Different Top-of-Funnel Sources 27:37 The Role of Owned Retail in Top-of-Funnel Awareness 29:15 The Limitations of Podcasts a

Jan 17, 2024 • 55:32

E038: The Inventory Deep Dive.

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Inventory Management 01:24 The Complexity of Inventory Management 03:20 Factors Affecting Inventory Risk 05:27 Time-Based and Seasonal Inventory Risks 07:23 Product Market Fit and Specificness as Inventory Risks 09:15 The Financial Engineering Aspect of Inventory 10:04 The Impact of Inventory on Lending and Credit 13:15 The Importance of Managing Downside in Inventory 15:32 The Risks of Overstocking and Understocking 19:09 The Impact of Macro Factors on Inven

Jan 10, 2024 • 1:05:36

Operators Bonus Episode - The Sendlane Panel Event

Operators Bonus Episode

Jan 3, 2024 • 55:00

E037: 2024 Planning, How Ridge Launched Watches, Move Back To Bootstrapping, CEOs Just Write & More

00:00 Introduction and New Year's Celebration 01:29 Annual Planning and Quarterly Execution 03:17 Purpose and Use of Reporting 08:36 The Role of CEOs in Reporting 10:58 Expectations for 2024 in the DTC Industry 19:31 The Nature of Human Behaviour and Risk 24:47 Review of E-commerce Performance in 2023 29:23 Expanding Target Audience and Design 35:14 Targeting Niche Audiences 38:44 New Stuff, New Places, New People 41:10 Generating Demand and Acquiring New Customers 42:49 Conversion Rate for

Jan 3, 2024 • 1:01:49

E036: The Big Debate: Remote or Office? Featuring Steven CEO of Cuts Clothing VS Sean CEO of Ridge.

This is a special unreleased episode. The third show ever recorded by the Operators. (00:00) Introduction and Appreciation (01:57) The Effectiveness of Facebook Ads (03:35) The Role of Other Advertising Platforms (06:11) The Importance of In-Market Demand (08:17) The Debate: Remote vs. In-Office Work (17:03) Advantages of In-Office Work (21:23) The Challenges of Hybrid Work (25:35) The Future of Work: Remote or In-Office? (32:14) The Long-Term Trend of Work from Anywhere Operators Exclusive Sla

Dec 27, 2023 • 1:04:23

E035: 2024 Marketing Predictions, December Sales Check, Marketing Mix, US Economy & More

December Pulse Check Peak Gift Giving Period Measurement of ROAS & MER Marketing Spend and Meta Ads Cost Caps Media Mix and Advertising Platforms Google vs. Facebook Advertising Different Advertising Strategies for Different Businesses The Role of Demand Generation and Search Factors Influencing Success on Facebook and Google The Importance of Intent Capture and Creation The Dominance of Meta (Facebook) in Advertising The Influence of Facebook Ad Dollars on E-commerce The Future of Measurab

Dec 20, 2023 • 58:07

E034: Seans Skill Tree Framework, Personal Finance, Ad Efficiency at Scale, Avoiding Emotional bias

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 01:22 Twitter Game and Ecommerce Metrics 04:18 Using Logos on Websites 06:05 Opinions and Authenticity on Twitter 09:25 The Skill Tree Framework for Ecommerce 13:43 Taking Opportunities and Working at Growing Companies 19:19 The Nuances of Ecommerce and Individual Businesses 21:07 Personal Balance Sheets and Financial Security 25:20 The Impact of Personal Balance Sheets on Decision Making 31:51 The Role of Personal Balance Sheets in Entrepreneurship 35:09

Dec 13, 2023 • 1:00:42

E033: Cyber Monday Results, Contract Manufacturing, Global Commerce Dynamics, Market Competition.

00:00 Exciting holiday sales followed by January slowdown. 04:32 Demand pulled forward during sales? 06:47 Embrace competition; it's a lever. 15:31 Rise in national brand sales surpasses expectations. 18:45 Innovation and freshness drive marketing success. 21:49 Water bottle manufacturing builds billion-dollar industry. 23:50 Silicone lid production is cost-prohibitive compared to China. 29:32 We need capital and better incentives for manufacturing. Dependence on China is a business fragilit

Dec 6, 2023 • 1:00:15

E032: Black Friday Results Show, Q5 Planning, Maximising December, Market Trends, OOH Ads & More

00:00 Efficient preparations ease BFCM stress. 09:06 Focusing on DTC, working with retailers. Exciting results. 13:18 Inventory shortage, long lead times, monitoring closely. 18:16 Amazon's sales surpass other retailers during holidays. 22:33 Effective Black Friday strategy: volume over creativity. 28:50 Truck driver trolls authorities in the name of cheap ads. 35:31 $100 million spent to sponsor NFL game. 41:56 Negotiating with vendors in e-commerce relationships. 44:13 Striving for vertic

Nov 29, 2023 • 1:12:35

E031: Black Friday Special: Deals, Customer Experience, Operations, Success Metrics, Trends & More

03:28 Cautious optimism as sales already exceed expectations. 09:44 Group learning is valuable; spending and believing. 13:28 Late ad start, YouTube TV for awareness. Facebook lacks reach and knowledge. Create awareness ourselves. Scale up on peak hits, manage spend. Ex Roomba CMO advised against unnecessary spending. 19:33 Data suggests success of OOH billboard campaign. 22:49 Local focus crucial for building consumer brands. 27:33 Mixing digital and physical marketing is crucial. 38:18 Custom

Nov 22, 2023 • 1:09:20

E030: Amazon & Meta Join, Authentic Brands Group Welcome Shein, Ridge Launch Travel, Q4 Pulse Check.

25 listeners get 25% off the new Ridge travel range. First come first serve 25 only. Use code: operatorspod 02:12 Apple EU regulation of its App store, Meta resisted compliance, leading to data flow disruption and the subsequent 2021 debacle. Facebook invested heavily in rebuilding data flows and is now strengthening ties with Amazon, a company that Apple has a strained relationship with, as they open up their walled gardens. Shopify is already connected to this network. 09:57 Email and SMS c

Nov 15, 2023 • 1:01:53

E029: DSC Acquisition, ERP, Strategy, BFCM Tips. Plus Operators Are Joined by Sharoon CEO of Fulfil.

[00:02:32] Non-disclosure of data indicates intentional misdirection. [00:03:17] Shopify dominating the e-commerce industry confidently. [00:09:51] Unilever holds minority stake of Dollar Shave Club, why? [00:11:59] End of toxicity surrounding DTC industry acquisitions? [00:15:36] M&A is difficult; deals often fail. [00:20:07] "I wish I said 'I don't know' more." - Mike. [00:22:01] Be direct when asking for a something. [00:26:12] Brands buy multiple software pieces; in

Nov 8, 2023 • 1:00:40

E028: Future of Chinese Manufacturing, Hello Bello Breakdown, Celebrities as Partners, Luxury Brands

[00:02:48] China: diversifying manufacturing class. [00:03:47] China diversifying manufacturing location. [00:08:52] HexClad considering steel requirement, exploring other manufacturing countries like Mexico, Vietnam, India for future expansion. [00:14:04] Vertical integration, American-made claim, steel tariffs, selling in China; takeaways from Sean China trip. [00:20:47] Hello Bello, just a restructure? [00:22:53] Positive outcome: Resetting cap table benefits Hello Bello. [00:25:23] Celebrity

Nov 1, 2023 • 56:11

E027: Building Houses, Price Sensitivity, Amazing Tech, Growth Teams, Strategic Planning & More

[00:06:00] House building [00:08:52] Price insensitive Canadians eagerly buy everything; friends seek bargains. [00:10:05] Consumerism's paradox: price insensitivity and the deal. Relative happiness and wealth perception amidst inflation concerns. [00:14:32] "Company values customers, rejects external funding - impressive." [00:18:36] Brilliant move: from high street to high-end luxury. [00:21:01] Planning 2024, expanding globally, growing cautiously. [00:25:34] In down markets, co

Oct 25, 2023 • 57:40

E026: Consumer Takeovers, AI VS VC, Zuck's Digital & Physical Infusion, Q4, Alo IPO & More

[00:02:20] Impending influx of consumer company takeovers. [00:05:42] VC, SAAS: Destroyed by AI. [00:11:35] Zuck: merging of physical and digital worlds. [00:13:29] Chefs are like rock stars. [00:18:23] Q4 [00:20:48] Unused credit line, positive balance sheet, tax filing. [00:24:53] Dividend recap: profitable enough for large loan. [00:32:19] Alo VS Lulu [00:33:00] Alo IPO [00:38:02] Black Friday to Christmas, consumer behavior compressed. Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9o

Oct 18, 2023 • 40:08

E025: Q3 Results, Global Growth, Scaling 1-10, Consumer Landscape Speculation, Interest Rates & More

[00:04:00] Q3 recap. [00:15:45] HexClad expected to dominate Q4. [00:26:51] 1-10M business growth. [00:29:51] Scaling requires process, system, team, organization. [00:38:24] Panzerism. [00:47:07] Consumer behavior changes speculation. [00:54:24] Political Predictions and Concerns. [01:00:21] Canada, what's happening? [01:05:34] People are emotional, not rational in consumerism. [01:11:13] Collectables. Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-20pd2eq

Oct 11, 2023 • 1:17:52

E024: Aggregator Models Thrasio, Diversification, Ecom Acquisitions, Brand Value Longevity & More

[00:03:09] Discussion on Thrasio and holdco model. [00:03:42] Thrasio's business model: acquisition, consolidation, profit. [00:07:36] Flawed aggregator investment thesis; only public markets. [00:13:06] Leveraging media machine, scaling brands on Amazon. [00:15:10] Value-driven growth on Amazon requires synergy. [00:20:01] Holdco and conglomerates have valuable characteristic. [00:23:09] Hesitant about holdco, distractions and lack of diversification. [00:26:11] Leaders must avoid shiny obj

Oct 4, 2023 • 52:23

E023: Cashback Tactics, Growing Categories, Taking on Incumbents, 2024 Ecom Headwinds & More

00:02:58 Amex loyalty, payment issues, scaling challenges summarized. 00:07:50 Scaling business, focus on enterprise value. 00:13:18 Recommended credit cards. 00:18:36 Consumer brand focuses on lifestyle, not cookware. 00:23:52 Drinkware becomes fashion for scale. 00:31:59 Importance of nimbleness and avoiding conventional wisdom; concern over plastic water bottle sales. 00:35:03 Companies crush traditional playbook, adapt, pay attention. 00:47:18 Loan repayment implications. 00:54:15 Conference

Sep 26, 2023 • 1:01:27

E022: Full House of Operators. Growth Targets, Differentiation, Role of a CEO, Trending News & More

[00:05:17] Setting growth target, big partnerships, HexClad, expanding customer base [00:10:38] Mayhem, slow hiring, key hires, delegating. Getting there. [00:14:39] Digging into valuable MMM Media Mix modeling. [00:15:33] Leading with empowered, talented individuals for success. [00:20:13] Leadership has different layers and responsibilities. [00:22:45] Scheduled days with themes for different tasks. [00:29:07] Enterprise sales team in Lomi, unusual in DTC. Coach communicator, politician. Love

Sep 20, 2023 • 1:00:26

E021: Operators Q&A: International Expansion, Pivoting & Adaptability, Organic Content & More

[00:00:00] Unexpected encounter leads to golf opportunity. [00:10:11] Perceived limit low, raising organic reach cap. [00:14:41] Organic versus paid scaling: a dual challenge. [00:18:36] Marketing and product need different approaches. [00:27:57] Getting in front of customers is crucial. HexClad initially focused on demonstrations in Costco, then shifted to online ads. Media Mix modeling is valuable for growth. [00:35:02] Expanding market internationally, starting with Amazon. Opportunity for gr

Sep 13, 2023 • 1:07:36

Episode 020: Mastering The Art of Product Licensing. A Deep Dive Conversation With The Operators.

[00:02:56] Licensing: Mickey Mouse, NFL, big IPs. Structured how? [00:04:29] Territories, channels, products, royalties: Licensing essentials. [00:07:43] Licensing creates revenue and limits competition. [00:11:53] 'PhD' levels discuss brand collaborations, licensing agreements. [00:14:03] Two layers: IP in licensing agreements, risks. [00:18:08] Licensing expands brand through partnerships and products. [00:23:56] Look beyond obvious licenses for brand partnerships. [00:27:40] Licensing

Sep 6, 2023 • 59:02

E019: Building Business Moats: Strategies, IP, Competitive Advantages, Knowledge, Patents & More

00:02:22 Consumer businesses need competitive advantages for success. Building scale and expanding into new categories give companies an edge. Limited moats exist for consumer products as network effects are often absent. Scale brings cost and exploration benefits that smaller competitors lack. Strategic decisions should align with the business. IP, policy, and contract modes are crucial elements for success in the waste management industry. Legislation and unique supply chains create barriers f

Aug 30, 2023 • 1:01:19

E018: How To Price Your Products. A Deep Dive Special.

[00:02:23] Close relationship with Callaway and Travis Matthew. Topgolf is future of company. [00:05:54] Late to market, focused on value. [00:08:33] Cost Plus pricing: Calculate costs, add markup. Weaknesses: Customer perception, competition's pricing. [00:13:32] Extensive price history, AOV increase, wallet market. [00:15:02] Gucci wallet: affordable gift with high demand. [00:18:39] Affordable premium product, strong email deliverability. Exceptional. [00:21:44] Pricing strategy: gross m

Aug 23, 2023 • 59:17

E017: How Do You Build Brand Equity? A Deep Dive Special With The Operators.

00:01:44 Trade show booth laughter fuels brand motivation. 00:03:57 HexClad's successful brand building and growth. 00:11:02 TAM size: average; acquiring millions of new customers a year; need to go international, focus on repeat rate; think about true servable market; brand equals capital B brand; need a functional product, fashion game is cyclical; Dyson and Apple as examples. 00:13:52 Great brands start with superior functional improvement. 00:22:12 Brand emote, invest in functional over

Aug 16, 2023 • 58:00

E016: Ridge's CMO Connor Joins, Using Agencies, Launching Products, Monetising Your Audience & More

[00:03:57] Questioning the relevance of the media spend model. [00:10:23] Innovative ad agency with flexible payment plans. [00:13:23] Amazon advertising, agencies can be helpful, learn first. [00:18:02] "Not a great salesperson, let's talk about work." [00:24:41] Agency red flags, client tenure, trusted agencies. [00:31:35] Partnerships with aspirational brands can be beneficial. [00:38:54] Media-commerce combo: content and brands unite. [00:49:13] Launching products [00:59:53] Ne

Aug 9, 2023 • 1:11:16

E015: Kitsch's COO Jeremy Thurswell Joins, Omnichannel Deep Dive, Retail Masterclass & More

https://www.mykitsch.com/ Jeremy: https://twitter.com/JeremyThurswell?s=20 [00:03:12] Kitsch backstory [00:12:14] Unintentional business success, Faire platform adoption. [00:15:44] Omnichannel success, importance of D2C, event announcement. [00:24:51] Omnichannel strategy targets incremental customer acquisition. Channel conflict creates internal tension and challenges. [00:29:58] Physical retail needs unique products for success. [00:35:54] Maximizing physical retail space is crucial. [00:45:

Aug 2, 2023 • 1:27:48

E014: The Operators Focus on Culture. Hiring Unconventionally, Paying Top Talent, Meetings, Values.

[00:02:59] Unconventional hiring strategy: trust-based recruitment success. [00:05:11] CEO Jeff runs the business day-to-day, while the Matt focuses on product and marketing. Trust is crucial for high-performance teams. Trust is built through interactions and time. Hiring someone in a leadership position requires trust. [00:10:58] Recruiter found experienced operator for venture fund. [00:13:19] Profits interest for celebrities, no shares. Need VP-level protege. Compensation and thoughts on 300k

Jul 26, 2023 • 53:16

E013: Prime Results, Hiring Execs, China, Ecommerce Health, Investing, Panzerism & More.

00:02:17 Amazon's Prime Day exceeded expectations, with some sellers reporting significant increases in sales compared to normal days. 00:25:47 Factors affecting success: marketing, forecasting, costs, logistics. Favorable exchange rate benefits importing. American consumers healthier than China and Europe. E-commerce competition increasing. 00:31:53 Difficulties in China's business environment due to COVID-19 and currency exchange rates. 00:33:34 Retailers push back on price increases.

Jul 19, 2023 • 1:23:17

E012: Twitter vs Threads, Prime Day Deal/No Deal, Definitive COGS, Margins, Profit Per Day & More

00:02:53 Bet against Zuckerberg? No. Killed Snapchat and Twitter. Sean is bummed about rebuilding social graph on threads. 00:06:58 Twitter's alienation may lead to new communities. 00:13:19 June highlights: suffering and key metrics discussed. CAC target achieved, sales up 100% with 20% lower CAC. North Beam saved the business. 00:16:21 Approach to Prime Day has changed, no major discounts. 00:20:31 Prime Day: margins, discounts, customer behavior. 00:26:09 Million-dollar accounting costs

Jul 12, 2023 • 59:22

E011: Choosing The Right Business, Communication, AI Commerce, Entrepreneurial Experience & More

[00:04:45] Returns fraud website exposed fraudulent refund practices. [00:09:19] NetSuite as a fulfillment solution didn't work for us. We chose Fulfil.io. [00:12:35] Alex had a successful exit selling Morning Brew. He started an outdoor game called The Plunge but decided to shut it down due to the small market size and the difficulty of the game. [00:17:18] Expertise lines up, network successful. No consumer business. [00:22:14] Evercore is a bad bank, Goldman is good. Love winning or love

Jul 5, 2023 • 1:07:01

E010: Katy Mimari Founder & CEO of Caden Lane in Conversation With The Operators & More

Katy’s incredible story, Caden Lane. (02:16) The problems with wholesale retail. (18:50) Growing to 30m as the only executive. (23:30) The C word bump (29:00) Walking away from 100M (36:15) Selling to PE (38:13) Boosting LTV at scale (45:00) Panzerism (51:45) Dealing with negativity (54.00) Identity TAM (01:13:00) In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumored to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The world

Jun 28, 2023 • 1:22:01

E009: Mehtab Karta, META Cheat Codes, Financing, Panzerism, Covid, 13-week Cash Flow Model & More.

How to not pay your META creditors? (01.11) Mehtab intro (02.27) Financing eCommerce (17.40) Was Covid actually good for business (37.57) Value propositions (47.55) 13-Week Cash Flow Model (01.05.00) Rules for Managing Your Business (01.08.00) In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three

Jun 21, 2023 • 1:12:17

E008: Meta Summit Recap, Marketing Complexity, Perfectionism, Action vs. Inaction Bias, & More

In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share its wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Each of the 9 figure operators uses Northbeam to measure e

Jun 14, 2023 • 46:05

E007: Luck & Timing, Our Worst Investments, Product Diversification, Facebook Conspiracy & More

(01:15) The role of luck in success (04:25) Time in the game matters (08:45) Worst things we've done as a business (09:30) Sean- It got legal (10:50) Matt - Shut it down (16:15) Two hero products confuse pixels (20:00) Jason - Driving garbage traffic (25:00) HexClad product diversification (27:30) Homepage takeovers suck (30:30) Advertising diminishing returns (33:50) Facebook scammers (38:15) Facbook - BOF, MOF or TOF (46:19) Amazon advertising inefficiencies (01:05:21) Mike - Worst busine

Jun 7, 2023 • 1:13:59

E006: Marty Wholesome Goods, De-Risking Talent, Data & Testing, Gamers, Panzerism, Prime Day & More.

Marty Sullens. Managing Partner at Wholesome Goods. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sumohax0r (03:20) Intro (04:16) Marty Story (09:35) Wholesome Goods Structure (18.30) Building your own data models (25:26) Healthy abrasion (32:20) Unicorn role (41:53) Panzerism (50.00) Hire Gamers (59:00) Prime day knowledge drop In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The wor

May 31, 2023 • 1:14:28

E005: Attribution Modeling, Branding, Panzerism, Company Acquisition, Ridge Regrets & More.

Attribution modelling (MER, mixed media) (03:30) Branding (Simple Modern) (19:00) Klaviyo (25:00) Panzerism (35:00) How most brands are sold (38:00) Ridge Regrets (51:00) In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in

May 24, 2023 • 1:07:27

E004: Organisational Structure, Taking Vacations, Panzerism, Negotiation, TV Advertising & More. (Listen until the end, it's worth it).

Powered By Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Each of the 9 figure operators use Northbeam to measure everything and scale everywhere. Show Breakdown: Intro (00:54) Org structure (02:09) Panzerism (33:25) Negotiation (36:36) Taking vacation (39:11) Buying TV Advertising (48:20) Special Bonus (Stick around until the end. It's worth it) Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Follow us on Twitter: Show Twitter Sean (Host) https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason (Host) https://twitte

May 17, 2023 • 1:04:26

E003: People Cost, Panzerism, Asymmetric Risk, Shopify Layoffs, Flexport & More.

(2:13) Operators intro (5:15) Revenue and People Cost (18:00) Panzerism - work hard (26:15) Asymmetric Risk (40:18) Shopify Layoffs (52:00) Flexport and Logistics Powered By Northbeam. Each of the 9 figure operators use Northbeam to measure everything and scale everywhere. Visit Our Website: ⁠https://www.9operators.com/⁠ Follow us on Twitter: Sean Host: https://twitter.com/SeanEcom Jason Host: https://twitter.com/jasonpanzer Matthew Host: https://twitter.com/mbertulli Mike Host: https://twi

May 10, 2023 • 1:09:09

E002: Should consumer brands be public, Strategy for 2023, When to use 3PL, Being a CEO & more

(3:00) Strategy at HexClad for 2023 (7:00) Ridge. Are you pushing for growth or preparing for growth (10:00) HexClad. What is your future of fulfilment and ops (11:00) Ridge. Your experience with 3PL (19:00) Proactive vs reactive strategy and action (38:00) Digging into consumer IPOs (01:01:00) 2023 strategy for Matt Powered By Northbeam. Visit Northbeam Each of the 9 figure operators use Northbeam to measure everything and scale everywhere. Visit Our Website: https://www.9operators.com/ Fo

May 3, 2023 • 1:04:10

E001: Welcome to The Show, Bootstrapped VS Venture, Salary & Distributions, How Much Lawyers Make, The Value of Bankers, Sharing is Powerful. Featuring Our Fourth Host Mike Beckham.

In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share its wealth of knowledge with people like you. Powered By Northbeam.Visit Northbeam Each of the 9 figure operators use Northbeam to measure everything an

Apr 26, 2023 • 1:09:03

OPERATORS (Trailer)

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Apr 25, 2023 • 0:56