E-commerce sounds simple. Sell stuff online. But anyone who’s actually done it knows the truth. It’s logistics and marketing and customer service and technology and inventory management all happening at once. The founders in this section have built the companies and tools that make it work.
These interviews cover every angle of online commerce. Direct-to-consumer brands. Marketplaces. Shopify apps. Payment solutions. Fulfillment. The conversion optimization rabbit hole that you can fall into and never come out of. And the customer experience side, because in e-commerce, the experience is the brand.
The founders here are candid about what’s hard. Returns. Shipping costs. The Amazon question. Building customer loyalty when switching costs are zero and the next competitor is one search away. These are real problems, and the conversations here offer real perspective on solving them.
You’ll find insights on product-market fit for physical goods, digital marketing for e-commerce, subscription models, international expansion, and the art of turning first-time buyers into repeat customers. Whether you’re launching your first online store or scaling an existing one, these founders have been where you are.
[quote style=”boxed”]Ask lots of questions, including dumb ones.[/quote] Sam Prochazka co-founded Novosbed.com – the zero-risk memory foam mattress company – in 2009 to give consumers an alternative to the ubiquitously…
[quote style=”boxed”]I work out 3-4 mornings per week. By starting the day with a workout I clear my head, and sometimes even creatively solve problems, all while gearing up for…
[quote style=”boxed”]Say no to many good ideas. Stick to your best idea.[/quote] Jin is the founder of Original Stitch, the leading online destination for buying customizable dress shirts. Jin also…
[quote style=”boxed”]I try not to think of things that don’t go our way as “failures” because we’re just getting started and everything has been a learning experience.[/quote] Sydney Loew is…
Meet Sydney Loew – Founder and Chief Cuteness Officer of Poketti
[quote style=”boxed”]I would not think about scale at all early on, I would focus on acquiring knowledge first and foremost, even if the best way to acquire knowledge isn’t the…
Most ideas sound good in theory — until you mention them to others. So I like to bring my team together a couple of times each week to throw out…
Focus as fast as you can on the outside. Talk with (beta) customers, let them work with the (beta) product and stay closely in touch. That’s how you can fail…
[quote style=”boxed”]Read. Stay curious. Keep learning. Identify smart people and ask them questions.[/quote] Xander Oxman is Co-Founder and CEO of Club W, an e-commerce company providing a better way to…
[quote style=”boxed”]If you operate from a place of fear or resistance to change, you become blind to the most exciting opportunities and growth. Celebrating the adventure of uncertainty, while staying…
I recommend everyone join me in following the entrepreneurial recipe: Build it, test it, learn from it, fix it. Then rinse and repeat as fast as possible! Simon Slade, CEO of…
[quote style=”boxed”]Ask people what they hate about your company.[/quote] Majella Mark, the Connecticut girl who moved to the big city to put her stamp on the world has numerous years…
[quote style=”boxed”]Get close to your employees, and take a genuine interest in their future. [/quote] Evrim Oralkan is the founder and CEO of Travertine Mart, a boutique online flooring company specializing…