Shopify Masters (Shopify)

Sometimes, in order to secure the capital you need to start your business, you have to look beyond typical crowdfunding and kickstarter campaigns. Robin Axon, Managing Partner at Mantella Venture Partners and an early stage investor in QuickPlay Media, Ritual, and Shoppe AI, stops by to share his tips for locking down the money you need to finally launch the business of your dreams. 

For more on Robin Axon and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/robin-axon-vc-funding?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

Maarten Bodewes and Dimitri O founded the world’s number-one-rated earplug company, Loop Earplugs. They reduce noise in style, and dedicate themselves to educating their customers and encouraging everyone to live life at their own volume.

For more on Loop Earplugs and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/loop-earplugs-top-rated-manufacturing-partners%20?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

There's not just one way to create a product that sells. Just ask Bryan Reisberg and Scott Dunn of Little Chonk. Bryan needed a safe way to transport his corgi Maxine to his office in New York City, but there just wasn't a durable, safe dog backpack on the market. Through trial and error - and a little ingenuity too - the duo launched their company last year and are seeing strong sales numbers by leveraging Maxine's thriving social media accounts. This episode was recorded live at the 2022 Corgi Beach Day in Huntington Beach. Enjoy!

For more on top tips from founders, check out our blog: https://www.shopify.com/blog/topics/podcasts

Todd Masonis had already sold a tech company before his chocolate-making hobby turned into a full-fledged business. Here are some of the startup learnings he’s applied to Dandelion Chocolate.

To learn more about Dandelion Chocolate and show notes:  https://www.shopify.com/blog/dandelion-chocolate-startup-learnings

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that made $200,000 in 6 months to pay for graduate school, then hired a CEO to run his business and ended up having to come back to save his business.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to get the most out of an MBA program and how to run a business while pursuing an MBA.

2. How to run a hyper-targeted and successful YouTube advertising campaign.

3. The pros and cons of paying employees through equity versus commission.

Fly by Jing’s founder Jing Gao wanted to change some of the misconceptions about Chinese food in the U.S., so she started selling a chili crisp that took the food world by storm. In this episode, Jing offers tips on Kickstarter campaigns, and dives deeper into her journey of reclaiming her culture through building a business.

For more on Fly by Jing and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/fly-by-jing-reclaiming-culture

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from two entrepreneurs that built a company with their design, manufacturing and marketing all done in-house.

After growing up in Los Angeles, Nica Yusay was an expert at hunting down the best secondhand finds to fit all the latest trends. Now, Nica sources vintage designer handbags that drop weekly at shopfashionica.com and sell out in a matter of minutes. 

For more on Fashionica and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/fashionica-bag-drops-connect-with-followers?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

In this episode of Shopify Masters, we get a behind the scenes look at Rare Beauty, the cosmetics brand by Selena Gomez as its Chief Marketing Officer Katie Welch shares their marketing strategies. We chat about their approach to brand storytelling, how they’ve built an inclusive community on and offline, as well as future plans for Rare Beauty.

https://www.shopify.com/blog/rare-beauty-brand-storytelling?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

On today’s episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that drove 40,000 visitors a day before ever having a product in inventory.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to know when you have the right timing for launching a product.

2. How to determine if a PR agency will be a good fit for your business.

3. How to turn angry customers into rabid fans.

For more on RinseKit and show notes: www.shopify.com/blog/rinsekit-pivot-online?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast
 

It’s a huge responsibility to lead a 100-year-old legacy brand into a new era. Belstaff chief brand officer Jodie Harrison and director of technology Navid Jilow share what they’ve learned in the process.

https://www.shopify.com/blog/belstaff-building-after-100

In this episode of Shopify Masters, we’re in London, UK, chatting with Edwin Broni-Mensah, founder of GiveMeTap, a social enterprise that’s reducing plastic waste by mapping out establishments that offer free tap water, and building wells in Africa to supply drinking water. Edwin shares his launch journey, tips for applying to incubators, and how he balances profitability with social impact. 

For more on GiveMeTap and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/givemetap-social-impact?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

You’ll learn from an entrepreneur who moved to China to join an accelerator to launch their wearable technology brand.

HabitAware’s keen smart bracelet uses gesture detection technology to bring awareness to debilitating & trance-like hair pulling, skin picking & nail-biting, making their customers "HabitAware" and allowing them to take control.

For more on HabitAware and show notes: https://www.shopify.ca/blog/habitaware-accelerator  

Tune in to learn 

• The biggest benefits of joining an accelerator 
• How to run ads when you are in a heavily regulated industry 
• How to successfully pre-sell your products in-person and online 

Jen Liao transitioned her popular restaurant into the full blown DTC brand, MìLà, turning her family recipes into a thriving food business. She shares tips for making the switch and handling quality control, marketing, and community building.

For more on MìLà and show notes: https://bit.ly/3tQ2Q24

Learn how Kat Kavner, founder of Heyday Canning, created a viral marketing campaign to make her brand stand out.

For more on Heyday Canning and show notes click here.

Crystal Landsem, CEO of Lulus, doubled the company’s growth potential by giving customers what they wanted. Discover her best customer retention tips.

For more on Lulus and show notes click here

You'll learn from these two entrepreneurs how they made collars that cats love to wear. 

For more on Supakit and show notes: www.shopify.com/blog/supakit-online-course?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn 

• How to identify which projects to abandon and which to keep 
• Why entrepreneurship is not always about acting fast 
• Why they made a digital course for their product line 

You'll learn from an entrepreneur how he built a multimillion-dollar fitness brand and how to make sure it can withstand any crisis like recessions and pandemic.

For more on Gymreapers and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/Gymreapers-side-hustle?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn 

• The advantages and disadvantages of finding product-market fit when you are the ideal customer
• Why looking to replicate the biggest players in your space may mislead you 
• Why this entrepreneur waited two and a half years to quit his day job despite having a multi-million dollar company 

On today’s podcast you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that uses Pinterest to drive the majority of her sales.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to balance building an audience and creating and selling products.

2. How she created a viral giveaway that resulted in 7,000 new email addresses.

3. What are Pinterest group boards and how to work with them to drive traffic.

How did Charlotte Palermino build a tight-knit community on TikTok and launch her brand, Dieux Skin? Listen to discover her formula for standing out on social media and creating community with your marketing machine. 

For more on Dieux Skin and show notes: https://bit.ly/3ZTMK3A

Create a clear plan for your social media strategy: https://bit.ly/3HVAPuv

You'll learn from an entrepreneur on how she built a business to reach the first six-figure mark by having authentic conversations with her audience. Tailored Beauty sells quality ingredient beauty products that are safe for all ages. 

For more on Tailored Beauty and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/tailored-beauty-social-ads 

Tune in to learn 

• Why manufacturing is the most important skill to master early on 
• How many followers and subscribers they had before hitting the six-figure mark 
• Why it's dangerous to think that your customers think or behave like you 

In this episode you’ll learn how an entrepreneur drove $28,000 from 1 viral reddit post.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to validate a product on Instagram.

2. How to balance life as a freelancer while launching a product business.

3. What are magic moments and how to create them for your customer.

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that launches new products very quickly.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. Why an original product needs to have familiar elements.

2. How to balance your day job with your passion project and how to keep them separate.

3. How to project how much inventory to have on hand.

In this episode you’ll learn how an entrepreneur completely bootstrapped a business that has now sold 40,000 pairs of pants.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. Why you should manufacture locally first and then outsource overseas.

2. The foundations companies should build when you’re just starting out.

3. How to keep in contact with your customers after your Kickstarter campaign ends.

ButcherBox is a meat and seafood subscription delivery service that did more than $550 million in revenue last year and it hasn’t taken any outside investment. Founder Mike Salguero shares how he built the business from a hobby to an industry disruptor and why self-funding has pushed him to create his own playbook.

Sanzo founder Sandro Roco shares his inspiration for a sparkling water company, the mistakes he sometimes sees early founders make, and what he’s learned about the food and beverage industry.

For more on Sanzo and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/sanzo-food-and-beverage-insights

Emily Miller launched OffLimits, creating cereal with out-of-the-box branding and ingredients that are actually good for you. Discover her creative branding strategies and how you can disrupt a traditional market.

For more on OffLimits and show notes: https://bit.ly/3MHCA0m

Download our FREE branding template to help you build a memorable brand that customers will love: ​​https://bit.ly/44nXGIv

Founder Karen Danudjaja shares how she embraces iteration and prioritizes customer feedback into her beverage company, Blume, which incorporates superfoods into latte mixes and water elixirs.

To learn more about Blume and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/blume-iteration

James Hoffmann is the go-to coffee expert on YouTube. Before building his community online, James won the World Barista Championship and opened a coffee roastery. In this episode of Shopify Masters, James shares his journey of turning his passion for coffee into profitable businesses and a multifaceted career. 

For more from James and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/james-hoffmann-niche?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

For more on Lost Craft and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/lost-craft-packaged-goods-production?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from an entrepreneur who has mastered the art of creating Facebook video ads and trailers for his digital products.

On today's podcast you’ll learn about this entrepreneurs routines, habits and outside interests that helps him build a successful ecommerce business.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. Where you should focus when putting together a contract with a manufacturer.

2. Does business school help with entrepreneurship?

3. Why having lots of cash can be the kiss of death.

Lindsey Carter founded SET Active, an activewear brand that blends form and function to make effortlessly comfortable clothing that sells out quickly. Its matching workout sets and lounge gear are extremely popular among the wellness community, and can be seen on “it girls” like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Beiber. 

For more on SET Active & show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/set-active-building-community?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast 

In this episode, you'll learn how Amanda and Katie McCourt set out to scale a sustainable fashion brand that turns deadstock t-shirts into underwear. For more about Pantee and show notes, visit: https://www.shopify.com/blog/pantee-upcycling-fashion/?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast

Tune in to learn

• How to approach building a business when you have no background in the industry
• Why being outsider in an industry is an advantage
• The hardest problems to overcome during the product development stage

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that believes the key to success is to work with micro influencers rather than celebrity influencers.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to validate a product that no one has ever seen before.

2. Why you should force customers to buy from you online even if you meet them offline.

3. What are micro influencers, how to find them and how to work with them to promote your business.

To watch this episode visit our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ASIvPUTSc
 

David Gaylord, the co-founder of Bushbalm will share the product development learnings of: 

• Ideation for their first hero product 
• Finding the ideal production partner and  how they work with chemists 
• Incorporating data and marketing trends into product development 
• How to  manage large orders from retail partners 

For more on Bushbalm and transcript: https://www.shopify.com/blog/bushbalm-product-development?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast

Shanae Jones grew her hip hop–inspired tea brand, Flyest, by forming an online community where she educates customers on herbal wellness. Discover how she managed this growth while working a full-time job.

To read more about Flyest or show notes click here

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that used 3D printing to create prototypes of their products before approaching manufacturers, an approach that greatly sped up their testing and iterating times with their manufacturer.

Show Notes: http://www.shopify.com/blogs/blog/bulat-kitchen-3d-printing

Jon Sakoda, a founder at Decibel Partners who built a career in venture capital, shares his insights into the health of the venture capital industry and why founders shouldn’t worry about macroeconomics if they want to raise money or start a company this year.

For more on Jon Sakoda and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/jon-sakoda-venture-capital

In this episode, you'll learn from an entrepreneur who eliminated" Big Retail" out of their business model and continued to thrive. 

For more on Dropps and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/dropps-customer-education/?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn 

• The most useful insights from transitioning from brick and mortar to ecommerce
• How climate change played a role in the growth of their business
• The two most important types of people to talk to before developing new products

For more on Inkbox and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/inkbox-social-media?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from an entrepreneur who went beyond building a store and instead decided to create a platform to become the central hub for the Electronic Dance Music scene.

On today’s podcast you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that took a very pragmatic approach to choosing his niche and how you can be successful even if you’re not passionate about the product itself as long as you have a passion for business.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to prepare when you’re thinking about making the jump from the 9-to-5 to working on your business full time.

2. Why it’s critical and what does it mean to add meaningful value when you’re dropshipping.

3. How to create content when you don’t know anything about the industry.

With all the buzz about influencer marketing, it's easy to forget that many of your customers have their own online presence and a network they can influence.

On today's episode of Shopify Masters, we invite an entrepreneur to share how she grew her business by creating a micro-ambassador program for her brand, effectively turning her customers into her influencers.

Cindy Collins is the founder of Euphoric Herbals: maker of herbal products, specializing in pregnancy and postpartum, for women and their families.

Tune in to learn:

• How to identify which business to focus on when you’ve started multiple businesses
• How to think bigger as an ecommerce entrepreneur
• What is a micro ambassador program and how to identify worthy ambassadors

Show Notes: http://www.shopify.com/blogs/blog/euphoric-herbals-micro-ambassadors

Josh Elizetxe has been a serial entrepreneur ever since he was a teenager. Having a knack for building websites, SEO, and managing ad dollars, Josh managed sites for an array of businesses when he was still in school. Despite the early success, it wasn't until Josh befriended his dentists through multiple braces treatments and jaw surgery that he found his calling. 

Josh was intrigued by the dental industry and invested his own savings to research an at-home whitening system to disrupt the stagnant market by starting Snow Teeth Whitening. 

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you'll hear from Josh Elizetxe of Snow on how he found his interest within the dental industry and why it's important to pace yourself in the entrepreneurship journey. 

For more on Josh Elizetxe, Snow, and the show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/snow-market-disruption

Tune in to learn

• How they’ve stepped up influencer marketing to work with celebrities
• Why he invested millions of dollars of his own money into his company
• Why all his retail partners are calling him to stock his product
• How to think of entrepreneurship as a marathon and not a sprint

Ghia founder Melanie Masarin sought to redefine drinking and introduce customers and restaurateurs to an emerging category: non-alcoholic spirits.

For more on Ghia and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/ghia-emerging-category

In this episode, you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that’s built a $100,000 business from picking up the phone and calling cart abandoners.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to use Facebook ads to validate if there are any “signs of life” for your market.

2. How to use question-based selling.

3. What you should say when you are calling cart abandoners.

In this episode, you’ll learn from a Chief Growth Officer how to drive growth to a social enterprise

Sweet Beginnings makes the beelove® family of all-natural line of raw honey and honey-infused body care products. 

For more on Sweet Beginnings and show notes: www.shopify.com/blog/sweetbeginnings-growth

Tune in to learn

• How does having an online store affect offline sales
• How should Chief Growth Officer spend their time
• What you get out of one-on-one customer interviews that you can’t get out of surveys

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from two entrepreneurs who regularly produce YouTube videos that drive millions of views.

Patrick Adair Designs creates rings made of materials like carbon fiber, titanium, and other rare materials.

Tune in to learn

• How to get your first sales by running Instagram auctions
• Why content needs to change when you’re building an audience versus creating customers
• Their exact strategy to creating and promoting a YouTube video to a million views

Show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/patrick-adair-million-views

You'll learn from an entrepreneur who focused on the fundamentals to grew his social enterprise that creates equitable global supply chains by working directly with farmers to cut out intermediaries and deliver exceptionally flavorful spices. 

For more on Burlap & Barrel and show notes:  http://www.shopify.com/blog/burlap-and-barrel-social-impact  

Tune in to learn 

• The benefits of a low volume BUT high margin business 
• What are the most important fundamentals you need to establish for your ecommerce business 
• Why you should price your products in a way that allows you to be generous to your customers 

On today’s episode, you’ll learn an entrepreneur’s list of criteria to create a giftable product during the holiday shopping season.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to promote your product through college and university newsletters.

2. How to personalize just enough when pitching to publications.

3. The process for selling your product as a promotional product.

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that built a $2 million dollar business by working with influencers he met through in-person Instagram meetups.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to network with photographers to get great photos of your products for free.

2. What are Insta Meets and how can you find an influencer through an Insta Meet.

3. How to collaborate with other brands to raise your own brand’s credibility.

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that built out a nationwide rep program that’s helped them build a multi million dollar business.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to build, manage and motivate a nationwide rep program.

2. What kind of guidance to give your first salesperson.

3. How to identify the areas of your business that will have the biggest impact on your growth.

Art of Tea founder Steve Schwartz didn’t know anyone who started a business, but mentors and partners have always been key to his company’s success.

For more on Art of Tea and show notes click here. 

In this episode, you’ll learn from an entrepreneur who grows his traffic by 25% every two months through content marketing.  

For more on BuddyRest and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/buddyrest-content-marketing  

Tune in to learn   

• What are kaizen principles and how you can apply it to improving your business  
• How to respond when your target customer says your product is too expensive  
• Their system for cranking out great content that improves their SEO  

Serial entrepreneur Wil Yeung has started all sorts of businesses, from violin drop shipping to a brick-and-mortar music school to a coconut milk business to a photography service. These other companies all led to his current venture, a YouTube channel focused on plant-based cooking called Yeung Man Cooking. Here's how he has redefined failure to become a successful serial entrepreneur.

For more about Yeung Man Cooking: https://www.shopify.com/blog/wil-yeung

On today's episode, Sanshee's Sarah Fetter shares how she negotiates merchandise deals with the hottest anime and video game properties.

Topics we cover:

1. The key terms of any licensing contract.
2. Why shipping terms can trip up a licensing deal.
3. Why and how to create key systems for your business.

One Kid sells fun, functional outerwear for kids. On today's episode, One Kid's Eric Autard and Sabine Beysel explain how their video went viral, got 5 million views, and led to $200,000 in sales.

Topics We Cover:

1. How to create ads to promote a product video.
2. How to launch a product to customers that don’t know they need it.
3. How to pick your battles when negotiating with big manufacturers.

The Montreal-based music company Bonsound has found more equitable ways of working with artists to help them make a living and diversify their income streams. Find out how Bonsound is helping musicians adapt to the current state of the music business.

To learn more about Bonsound and read the show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/bonsound-working-with-artists

Founder Dianne O’Connor shares how she was inspired by magazines to create an entertaining digital experience for Weston Table customers.

To learn more about Weston Table and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/weston-table-entertainment

On today’s podcast you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that tested the market with a splash page and very quickly presold 500 products.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to use a splash page to validate the market.

2. What to do when you are not able to fulfill preorders in time.

3. The cash flow issues and how to handle them when you’re scaling up.

Erica Davis and Catherine Carter founded The Sip, a tight-knit community where members receive curated sparkling wines from all over the world and learn more about the regions and ingredients behind their favorite bottles. 

For more on The Sip & show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/the-sip-representation-in-the-wine-industry%20?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

You'll from these two entrepreneurs how looking for clothes for their wedding started a gender-defying clothing company. 

For more on Kirrin Finch and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/kirrin-finch-operations?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn 

• The big surprise when these entrepreneurs did their market research for the first time  
• Why you should have 1 flagship product when you do not have experience in an industry 
• What is a Fit Party and why you should hold one when creating a clothing brand 

Bili Balogun always loved beauty and experimenting with new products, so much so that she started her own beauty subscription box months after graduating from college in 2017. 

Bootstrapping with only $200, Bili launched Tribe Beauty Box and grew the business to over $300,000 in sales in 16 months.   

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you'll hear from Bili Balogun of Tribe Beauty Box on how to collaborate with brands, build relationships with subscribers, and launch a business through other Facebook groups. 

For more about Tribe Beauty Box and the show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/tribe-beauty-box

Tune in to learn

• What it means to use your disadvantages as your advantages
• How do you know when to move from research and planning phase to execution
• How they tripled their Facebook group numbers with a giveaway

On today’s podcast you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that sold his product into 1,200 Home Depots.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. The criteria this entrepreneur uses to kill 100s of ideas.

2. What makes a product attractive to a big box buyer.

3. The difference between selling on Zulilly versus Amazon.

Life and business partners Colby and McKenzie Bauer are bringing functional and expressively minimalist accessories to market with Thread Wallets. Injecting creative designs into the sleepy category, the Bauers built the business out of their home and grew it into an 8 figure business.

For more on Thread Wallets and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/thread-wallets-niche

Tune in to learn

• The power of a “shallow rock bottom” and how it can help to quickly rebound from failure
• The importance of in-person validation and pricing
• How to identify a product or category that is more primed for the word of mouth marketing 

Have you ever head of Exchange Marketplace? It’s Shopify’s marketplace to buy and sell businesses. 

In addition to browsing businesses that are up for sale, you can now gift a business to an aspiring entrepreneur in your life for as little as $50. 

Visit https://exchangemarketplace.com/categories/gift-a-business  for more information. 

New York-based clothing company Alex Mill set out to make the perfect button-down shirt. Founder Alex Drexler and CEO Roxanne Stahl O’Hara share how the brand grew organically through word-of-mouth and working with content creators.

To learn more about Alex Mill and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/alex-mill-following

Founder and CEO Aishwarya Iyer did not set out to become an entrepreneur, but her passion for cooking and high-quality ingredients spurred her to launch Brightland. To make the career switch, she had to overcome founder impostor syndrome. Now, Brightland is a fan-favorite olive oil, honey and vinegar brand that has set the standard for what pantry staples should look and taste like.

To learn more about Brightland and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/brightland-olive-oil

For more on Ebike Generation and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/ebike-generation-dropshipping?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

Maap sells premium cycling apparel designed in Melbourne, Australia. On today's episode, Maap's Oliver Cousins explains why he invested in their brand identity right from the start.

Topics we cover:

1. Why it’s critical to nail down your branding, early.
2. How to work with a creative agency to figure out your brand identity.
3. How to design a product that balances form and function.

You'll learn from an entrepreneur how they built a 7-figure healthy cereal brand for Kids in a matter of 2 years. 

Three Wishes Cereal is a high protein, low sugar, grain-free breakfast cereal, that tastes like the cereals of your childhood, made with modern-day clean ingredients. 

For more on Three Wishes Cereal and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/three-wishes-cereal-retail-partnerships?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast

Tune in to learn 

• How to decide what to change and what to keep when you are innovating on an existing product 
• How they were able to get into Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Wegmans early in their business
• The most important changes they made to their website to make purchasing frictionless 

Founder Andrew Benin shares how olive oil company Graza was able to stand out on the olive oil shelf at the grocery story with fun branding and packaging and a high-quality single-origin Spanish olive oil.

For more on Graza and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/graza-branding

We chat with Marissa Groots from STIL on how to scale a side hustle, working with large retailers, and how to stay creative with marketing strategies.  

STIL a company that aims to design organizational products that inspire women to feel, work, and find their best selves. 

For more on STIL and show notes: www.shopify.com/blog/stil-marketing  

Tune in to learn

• How she was able to sell out her first production run using her life savings  
• Why the moved from focusing on big influencers to featuring their customers into brand ambassadors 
• How she turned a seasonal business into predictive and stable revenue throughout the year 

In this episode you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that started by selling digital products and then transitioned into physical products.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. Why you might want to start with a physical product instead of a digital product for your first business.

2. How this entrepreneur was able to start a business simply through hashtags on Instagram.

3. How to connect with influencers and get them to work with you to cross-promote.

On this episode of Shopify Masters, you'll hear from an entrepreneur who went from being a registered nurse with no business experience to the founder of a $1.4M business that was featured Shark Tank in the span of 2 years.

Show Notes: http://bit.ly/2pUP0rv

In this episode of the Learn with Shopify mini series we chat with Aaron Zack, the former vice president at Propeller Coffee Co to learn strategies for pivoting a wholesale food and beverage company online and the marketing tactics that helped to build and scale this arm of the business. 

For more on Propeller Coffee and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/propeller-coffee-customization?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll hear from David Barnett, the inventor and founder of the wildly popular PopSocket: a unique smartphone accessory that provides a kickstand, earbud management, and ergonomic grip for your texting, calling, and gaming convenience.

Show Notes: http://bit.ly/2C9nXAF

Ryan Close established a new product category with his company Bartesian, created competition for his own brand, and signed major licensing deals with some of the largest liquor companies in the world.

For more on Bartesian and show notes: https://bit.ly/46Tqrgu

You'll learn from an entrepreneur who built a successful DTC brand for menswear. Mack Weldon is a pioneer direct to consumer and a one-stop destination for men's essentials. 

For more on Mack Weldon and show notes:   https://www.shopify.com/blog/mack-weldon-dtc?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn 

• Why they made a big bet with a huge launch with an expansive product line and influencers right from the beginning 
• How to identify amazing agencies to help you grow your business 
• What they did to sell out during their first launch 

You'll learn from these entrepreneurs how they built a 7-figure brand by creating for functionality and ensuring all shapes and body types are included in their offering. Active Truth is an activewear brand that celebrates all women regardless of their size, shape or stage of life. 
For more on Active Truth and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/active-truth-inclusive-community?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast

Tune in to learn 

• How these two entrepreneurs spent their initial $20,000 investment 
• How working with an influencer became a game-changer for their business 
• How to amplify your social proof and reviews to get more sales  

On today's episode, an entrepreneur shares her step-by-step process for finding and repurposing viral content for Facebook and Instagram.

Topics we cover:

1. How to re-purpose viral content for your brand.
2. The most important metric to look for when measuring engagement.
3. How to hire and train someone to run your social media.

You'll learn from an entrepreneur how he highlights the differentiating factors of their products to stand out from the competition

Promix sells premium nutrition products made with farm direct ingredients designed to support your optimal health & performance.

For more on Promix and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/promix-differentiation?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast 

Tune in to learn  

• How to figure out what your customers care about  
• Why it's important to look out for new addressable markets  
• The lessons learned from working with the wrong projects and people  

You'll learn how Kill Cliff differentiates its products in a saturated market through an aggressive content strategy.

For more on Kill Cliff and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/kill-cliff-differenciate?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=description&utm_source=podcast  

Tune in to learn 

• How do you make sure that customers are aware of your differentiators when you're in a crowded marketplace
• Why they made a near-fatal mistake by going first into retail and how the transition to ecommerce saved their business
• What multi-point content strategy and how they use it to drive tons of organic traffic

For more on Chandler Honey and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/chandler-honey-branding?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll learn from two entrepreneurs who built a systematized business where they can adapt quickly to a fast-growing vaping industry.

Show notes:
http://www.shopify.com/blogs/blog/surviving-in-the-vaping-industry

On today's episode, you’ll learn why Taft Clothing held off launching their flagship product to market a smaller one first.

Topics we cover:

1. The downside of launching a smaller product before your flagship product.
2. How to determine which differentiators matter to your core customers.
3. Product photography tips for amateur photographers.

We are chatting with Michelle Feeney, the marketing maven that's responsible for catapulting brands like Creme De La Mer, MAC, and St.Tropez to cult-favorite status. She's now the founder and CEO of Floral Street, a vegan and sustainable fragrance brand that's sold in Sephora, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie. Michelle shares her journey and strategies for scaling lovable brands and bootstrapping a startup.   

For more on Floral Street and for show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/floral-street-fragrance-mixing-sustainability?utm_campaign=shopifymasters&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=podcast

Literie Candles doesn’t just sell scents, it sells memories. In this episode, Literie Candles founder Erica Werber explains how she created candles based on New Yorkers’ favorite pastimes and why the packaging has made her scents sell.

For more on Literie Candles and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/literie-candles-packaging

JP Brousseau dropped and broke his fair share of phones. Sick of replacements and repairs, he started Phone Loops and designed finger and wrist straps that give users a secure and comfortable grip on their devices.

Despite solving a common problem, having massive media coverage, and being a part of the Oscars VIP gift bags, JP credits project management as the key to Phone Loops’ success.

In today's episode of Shopify Masters, you’ll hear from JP and COO of Phone Loops, Alex Gingras on how one project management tool helped them to reach millions of sales.

Tune in to learn

• How they appeared on national TV programs, received media coverage, and got to be apart of the Oscars VIP gift bags
• What questions your Facebook ads consultant should be asking you
• How to scale a 2,000 influencer marketing program

Show Notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/phone-loops-product-management

Serial entrepreneur Alex Matthews explains why he rebranded his tepache brand, De La Calle, to a modern Mexican soda brand.

For more on De La Calle and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/de-la-calle-rebranding

Hear how Fanjoy became the go-to merchandising company for top social stars. From Addison Rae to The Try Guys, Fanjoy powers over 100 creators when they create and sell merch. 

For more on Fanjoy and show notes:  www.shopify.com/blog/fanjoy-merch

Tune In To Learn: 

• How Fanjoy finds and selects social stars to work with
• The process of scaling from a print on demand business to find ideal production partners 
• Fanjoy's plans for expanding into retail as a DTC brand 

During a golf tournament, Jeremiah Curvers was injured and got a double herniated disk. Bedridden for three months, Jeremiah got to think a lot about mattresses and what he wanted to see in his ideal mattress.

Motivated by his research, Jeremiah launched Polysleep to create a direct consumer sleep brand that offers better rest while making a social and environmental impact.

In this episode of Shopify Masters, you'll hear from Jeremiah Curvers of Polysleep on how to partner suppliers and physical stores.

For more on Polysleep and the show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/polysleep-partnership

Tune in to Learn

• How to partner with physical stores to showcase your product
• Their tricky pre-Black Friday email that sold out all of their Black Friday products
• How to create high converting content with your affiliates

In this episode you’ll learn how 3 co-founders drive traffic from Reddit without coming across too salesy.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to delegate tasks to your team and ensure the work gets done.

2. How to know if you should find a partner or outsource.

3. How to avoid getting burned when posting your business on Reddit.

Vanessa Pham and her sister, Kim, co-founded Omsom, an Asian sauce company, because they had a story to tell about growing up as first-generation Asian Americans. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Vanessa shares her tips for making your brand’s story resonate.

For more on Omsom and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/omsom-storytelling

You'll learn from an entrepreneur how they made their first million without even a website. Rocketbook sells notebooks that can be saved forever and erased with water (or in a microwave). 

For more on Rocketbook and show notes:  https://www.shopify.com/blog/rocketbook-app  

Tune in to learn 

• What contributed to the early success of their crowdfunding campaign
• The manufacturing challenges they had with over 30,000 crowdfunding presales
• How they collected over 3 million email addresses by building an app

Bird & Blend Tea Co. founder Krisi Smith wanted to bring fun tea blends to the UK., and gathered quite a following in the process. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Krisi shares how she built her customer base around students and tourists, getting their support to help fund retail expansion and rebrand the company.

For more on Bird & Blend Tea Co. and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/bird-and-blend-community

On today’s podcast you’ll learn from an entrepreneur that ran into hidden logistic costs and what he recommends you look out for.

In this episode you'll learn:

1. How to approach your personal network to promote your product.

2. Why the hidden costs in logistics are especially dangerous.

3. Why you should figure out how much it costs your manufacturer to produce your products.

DoToly makes affordable animal jewellery, gifts, and home decor. On today's episode DoToly's Cindy Chan, shares how success comes from speaking your customer’s language.

Topics we cover:

1. What it’s like to close down a physical store.
2. How to increase your chances of success when selling on a
   marketplace.
3. How to transition from selling on a marketplace to selling on your
   own store.

In this episode, you'll learn from an entrepreneur who built a shopping app for their brand which ultimately increased their conversion rate. 

True Vintage is a leading vintage clothing retailer providing global customer base with an eco-friendly approach to fashion.  

For more on True Vintage and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/true-vintage-app 

 Tune in to learn 

• How they grew their Instagram to 30,000 followers in just a few months 
• How they built a shopping app for their store 
• How to scale up a business up to 8,000 SKUs of one-off products