The Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast with Jordan West

Send us a textThe 25% U.S. import tariff is here—now what? If you sell products from Canada or Mexico into the U.S., your costs just skyrocketed overnight. But instead of panicking, let’s focus on solutions.In this episode, Jordan West breaks down exactly what you need to do to protect your margins, rethink fulfillment, and keep your business profitable despite these new costs. If you're in e-commerce, this episode is a must-listen.The new tariffs are a massive challenge for e-commerce brands, but instead of focusing on why they happened, let’s talk about what to do next.Jordan dives into:How to adjust pricing without losing customersThe best fulfillment workarounds to avoid tariff hikesHow to reposition your brand to stay competitive in the U.S.Why you should consider expanding to new international marketsStep-by-step strategies to survive and thrive despite the tariffsKey Takeaways & Next StepsRaise prices strategically—consider splitting the tariff cost with customers.Explore fulfillment options—setting up a U.S.-based warehouse or 3PL could save you.Expand beyond the U.S.—consider Europe, Australia, or Asia for growth.Adjust marketing & messaging—double down on brand loyalty & premium positioning.Look into tariff-exempt strategies—some goods/categories might have workarounds.Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a textTikTok Shop isn’t just another e-commerce trend—it’s a land grab, and brands that move fast will dominate. Just like early Facebook ads in 2015, Amazon FBA in 2012, and Instagram’s organic reach in its prime, TikTok Shop is that next big opportunity.Right now, TikTok is rewarding sellers with massive organic reach, lower seller fees, and insane platform incentives—but this window won’t last forever.In today’s episode, Jordan breaks down:Why TikTok Shop is exploding and how brands are winning bigHow to leverage free viral traffic for sales (without ads)Why one-click checkout is driving insane conversion ratesHow to use creators and affiliates to sell for youWhy TikTok is literally handing out free money to brands right nowHow live shopping is turning into a revenue gold mineThe one viral post that can change everythingBy the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly why TikTok Shop is the platform to scale your brand in 2025—and how to take action before it’s too late.Key Takeaways:TikTok Shop is in land grab mode—the brands that move first will dominate.You don’t need a huge following to sell—TikTok’s algorithm does the work for you.One-click checkout = higher conversions, more impulse purchases.Creators sell for you—only pay when they drive real sales.TikTok is literally handing out money to brands in 2025—take advantage before it’s too late.Live shopping is the next big revenue driver—brands are making six figures an hour.One viral post can generate thousands of sales overnight. Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a textMaking your first sale on TikTok Shop doesn’t have to be complicated! In this episode, Jordan West walks you through 10 actionable steps to land that first sale quickly. From picking the right product to leveraging TikTok's powerful affiliate and live-selling features, this episode is packed with proven strategies to help you succeed. Learn why choosing the right product matters, how to optimize your listing for visibility, and why collaborating with micro-influencers can be a game-changer.Plus, a sneak peek to his TikTok Shop Elite Mastermind community, where members get access to AI-powered product recommendations and a supportive network of sellers.Key Takeaways: Pick a trending, impulse-buy product to increase chances of success. Optimize your listing with high-quality visuals and keyword-rich descriptions.  Leverage TikTok’s affiliate program to collaborate with proven creators. Go live for real-time engagement and instant sales. Run Spark ads on best-performing posts to reach a wider audience. Engage with comments using video replies to boost trust and visibility. Use limited-time discounts strategically to create urgency. Get your first 1,000 sales and 100 reviews before scaling up. Stay consistent and test multiple videos to find what works best.Links:TikTok Shop Elite Mastermind: Join hereSocial Commerce Club: Learn moreFollow Jordan on Twitter: @JordanWestSubscribe on YouTube: Jordan WestGrowth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodca

Send us a textBuckle up because today’s episode is packed with gold. I’ve got Rytis Lauris, CEO and co-founder of OmniSend, on the pod, and let me tell you—this guy has been in the e-commerce automation game for over a decade. With more than 120,000 customers worldwide, OmniSend is changing how brands do retention marketing, and today, we’re breaking it all down.We’re talking about what’s working right now in e-commerce, what’s straight-up not working, and the biggest shifts happening in automation and customer retention. Rytis shares some seriously insightful takes on how Apple’s privacy changes are shaking things up, why email marketing isn’t dead (despite what people say), and what brands need to focus on to stay ahead. Oh, and we’re also tackling that big debate—should you ever remove subscribers from your email list? Let’s go.Key Topics:How e-commerce marketing has evolved over the past decadeWhy OmniSend is the go-to alternative to those overpriced enterprise platformsIs email marketing actually dead? (Spoiler: Nope.)How Apple’s privacy updates are changing the game for online brandsThe real way to keep your email list clean and engagedWhy AI isn’t replacing humans in marketing anytime soonBuilding a customer-funded business and keeping your brand agileWho is Rytis Lauris?Rytis Lauris is the co-founder and CEO of OmniSend, a marketing automation platform designed specifically for e-commerce brands. With a background in digital marketing, Rytis saw a gap in the market for an affordable yet powerful email and SMS automation tool that serves small to mid-sized businesses. Under his leadership, OmniSend has grown to serve over 120,000 customers worldwide, helping brands maximize retention and boost revenue through smart automation. A firm believer in customer-funded business models, Rytis has led OmniSend without external investment, focusing on delivering real value to customers.Connect with Rytis Lauris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rytisl/Visit OmniSend: https://www.omnisend.com/Key Takeaways:Retention is king. Brands relying solely on acquisition will struggle; the real money is in repeat customers.Sunsetting subscribers too soon is a mistake. Engagement isn’t just about open rates—clicks matter more.AI can automate, but humans differentiate. The best marketing still needs a human touch to stand out.Customer-funded businesses stay agile. OmniSend has scaled without outside investment, proving that putting customers first wins.Apple & Google privacy changes aren't the end. Brands just need to adapt by focusing on first-party data and owned channels.Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodca

Send us a textEver wonder what it takes to scale a brand from $3.5M to nine figures? In this episode, I sit down with MacCoy Merkley, CMO of Portland Leather Goods, to break down exactly how they did it—without relying on overcomplicated marketing tactics.MacCoy started at Portland Leather Goods seven years ago, back when they were just a small Etsy shop. Fast forward to today, and they’re the largest leather bag manufacturer in North America. We dive into:The wild Craigslist job interview that landed him the roleHow COVID-19 forced them to pivot—and ended up accelerating growthThe single biggest driver of their success (hint: it’s not ads)Why discounting isn’t the enemy—and how they do it strategicallyThe future of e-commerce in 2025 (and why great products win every time) Meet MacCoy MerkleyCMO of Portland Leather GoodsFormer wedding photographer who landed a marketing job through CraigslistHelped scale Portland Leather Goods from $3.5M to over $100M+ in revenueA big believer in great products > marketing hacksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maccoy-merkley-95146815bTwitter: https://x.com/MacCoyMerkley Key Takeaways from the Episode: 1. How MacCoy Landed a Marketing Job With No ResumeAnswered a Craigslist ad for a “Digital Media Specialist” role2. Scaling from Etsy to Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)Curtis (the founder) started Portland Leather Goods by hand-making leather bags in his garage3. How COVID Forced a Business Pivot (That Led to Explosive Growth)COVID-19 shut down their in-house production—forcing them to pause website sales4. Why Product Quality is the #1 Growth Lever30% of their new customers come from referrals—no ad spend needed5. The Future of E-Commerce in 2025Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads still work—but only if you have a product worth talking about6. Why Personal Branding Matters (Even for B2C Brands)MacCoy & Curtis post daily on LinkedIn & Twitter—keeping PLG top of mindGrowth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a textMeet Nate Banks—a third-generation sock manufacturer who’s keeping American-made socks alive while playing the DTC game like a pro.Back in the day, there were over 130 sock factories in the U.S. Now? Just two remain. And Nate runs one of them.How did he survive while everyone else disappeared? Simple: He adapted.In this episode, we get into:How Nate went from folding socks in his grandparents’ living room to selling millions of pairsWhy AI + automation are the only way U.S. factories will surviveThe big shift in DTC that’s forcing brands to rethink their entire strategyWhy he ditched the polished ads and started filming raw, unfiltered videos—and why they work 10x betterThis one’s packed with real talk, wild stories, and lessons from the trenches. Let’s go! Key Takeaways from the Episode:DTC is the Future (But Not How You Think)Forget mass production—Nate’s factory thrives by going hyper-custom and leaning into small-batch, niche products.AI & Automation = The New Manufacturing PlaybookFrom lean inventory to better margins, Nate is proving that AI isn't just for tech bros—it’s for factories, too.Authenticity > EverythingForget fancy ads. Nate’s best-performing videos? Him talking to the camera in his factory. Turns out, people trust real humans.If You’re Not Building Systems, You’re ScrewedScaling isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Nate breaks down how he’s structuring his business to run itself.The Next Big DTC Shift? It’s Already Happening.TikTok Shop, social commerce, creators—Jordan & Nate break down where the game is headed.ABOUT THE GUEST – NATE BANKSWho is Nate?Third-gen sock maker running one of the last U.S. sock factoriesBuilt a vertically integrated factory that makes everything in-housePivoted to custom DTC & contract manufacturing to stay aheadAll-in on AI & automation to future-proof his businessIf you’re in DTC, ecommerce, or just love wild business stories, you don’t want to miss this one.Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a text If you’re running a TikTok Shop or working with affiliates, understanding commission structures is critical for maximizing profits. Many brands make costly mistakes when setting commission rates, leading to lost revenue despite high sales. In this episode, Jordan West breaks down the two key commission models—Standard Affiliate Commission (20%) and Shop Ads Commission (5-10%)—and how they impact profitability. Plus, we’ll discuss how to scale your TikTok Shop while keeping ad spend under control. Listen and learn in this episode!Key Takeaways from the EpisodeMaster TikTok Shop Commission Models: Standard Affiliate Commission (20%) rewards organic sales, while Shop Ads Commission (5-10%) ensures ads remain profitable. Setting the wrong rate can destroy margins.Profitability > Revenue: High sales don’t always mean high profits. Running ads without adjusting commissions can leave you with razor-thin margins or even losses.Crunch the Numbers: A $30 product with a 60% margin is profitable with a 20% organic commission but barely breaks even if ads are added without adjusting commissions.Scale with Smart Strategies: Lower your cost per order, test viral-style content, and increase AOV by bundling products and offering exclusive deals for TikTok Shop buyers.Educate and Align with Affiliates: Affiliates need to understand commission structures so they don’t feel cheated. Transparency is key to keeping everyone happy and profitable. Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a textThe world of e-commerce advertising is evolving. Phoenix introduces us to the potential of understanding pre-purchase behaviors, enriching unidentified traffic, and why post-iOS 14.5 represents a chance for clean marketing innovation.In this episode, Jordan West with Phoenix Ha, the visionary behind Ad Beacon. Discover the pivotal strategies that bridge the gap between prepurchase behavior, post-purchase insights, and the true impact of your ads. With experience spanning collaborations with global giants like Nike and Keen, Phoenix delivers profound insights into navigating the challenges brought on by privacy shifts and how to adapt for success in today’s ecommerce landscape.Listen and learn in this episode!Key Takeaways from the Ep:Importance of Accurate Attribution: Post-iOS 14, accurately tracking ad performance is crucial due to discrepancies between reported platform data and actual sales.Impact of iOS 14: Significant changes in data privacy regulations affected advertisers, causing trust issues and financial loss for businesses.Focus on Data Privacy and First-Party Data: Emphasis on adapting to new privacy standards and leveraging first-party data for effective ad measurement.Innovative Solutions by Ad Beacon: Ad Beacon is developing new methods to measure both pre-purchase and purchase behaviors to enhance marketing strategies.Social Commerce and Ad Tech: Emerging platforms like Flip and AppLovin signify innovation in social commerce and ad technology.Reevaluation of Free Trials and Pricing Strategy: The ineffectiveness of free trials and the need to align pricing strategies to ensure client engagement and perceived value.Podcast Guest:Phoenix Ha, She is the brilliant mind behind Ad Beacon, a tool that has been transforming how brands measure their ad success. Phoenix is not just a data geek but a results-driven expert with experience working with numerous brands, including industry giants like Nike, Modelo, and Keen. Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/growGet 5 Offers for 2 Products (10 in total) along with 10 highly engaging tried and true creatives, 30 captivating headlines, descriptions, and ad texts sent to you for only $99. Go to https://www.upgrowthcommerce.com/offer and order now - this offer is only available for a limited time.We love our podcast community and listeners so much that we have decided to offer a free eCommerce Growth Plan for your brand! To learn more and how we can help, click here: upgrowthcommerce.com/growJoin our community and connect with other eCommerce brand owners and marketers!https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretstoscalingpodcast

Send us a textDiscover the importance of focusing on strategies and products that work, rather than chasing every new opportunity. Jordan shares a compelling story about finding gold and resisting the urge to dig elsewhere.In this episode, Jordan West, despite the glamorous perception, Jordan reveals the roller coaster of wins, losses, and the crucial lessons learned along the way. Dive deep as he unpacks the three key lessons for thriving in the ecommerce industry: the power of building a community, the importance of doubling down on what works, and continuously improving your product. Jordan also sheds light on the critical consideration of choosing the right business partners.Listen and learn in this episode!Key takeaways from this episode:Building a Community: Creating a community around your brand is crucial for long-term success. A real community provides constant feedback and engagement among members, which can drive growth and improvement of products. It's more than just followers or email lists; it's about interaction and shared experiences.Doubling Down on What Works: When you find a successful strategy or product, focus on optimizing and scaling it instead of constantly looking for new opportunities. Leveraging existing wins can lead to greater success.Product Focus: The quality of your product is paramount. Continuously improve your products based on feedback and evolving customer needs. Even successful products need ongoing development to maintain their edge in the market.Choosing Business Partners Wisely: Select business partners who are on the same level, share the same drive, and have the capability to help scale a brand. A mismatch in partnership can lead to challenges and is often a critical mistake in business ventures.Community and Human Interaction: With advancements in AI, the value of human interaction and community will become even more pivotal. Building strong community ties can act as a stabilizing force for your brand against external uncertainties.Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Send us a textTikTok shop demands a unique strategy combining creators, viral content, and paid ads. Start by partnering with creators as your sales team, not influencers, and build strong relationships. Avoid mass outreach; focus on meaningful connections with 50 to 100 creators who resonate with your brand. In this episode, Jordan West gets into the challenges faced by many brands on TikTok shop and the strategies to turn setbacks into success. With firsthand experience from his agency, Social Commerce Club, which achieved rapid growth on TikTok shop, Jordan reveals the 3 biggest mistakes brands are making: treating TikTok shop like a marketplace, poor outreach to creators, and focusing on overly polished content.Listen and learn in this episode!Key takeaways from this episode:TikTok Shop as a Unique Channel:Treat TikTok Shop as a performance marketing channel needing a strategy that integrates creators, viral content, and paid ads, unlike Amazon-style marketplaces.Creators as Salespeople:Creators should be seen as salespeople, not just influencers. Building long-term relationships and incentivizing them is crucial.Targeted Creator Outreach:Focus on a small number of aligned creators, ensure ad spend behind their content, and build meaningful partnerships to enhance visibility and engagement.Embracing Authentic Content:Prioritize genuine, amateur-style videos over polished content. Trust creators to represent the brand authentically for better platform performance.Avoiding Common Mistakes:Key errors include treating TikTok Shop like a marketplace, poor creator outreach, and an overemphasis on perfect-looking content.Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow