Ecomm Breakthrough

A step-by-step system for turning product samples into dependable creator partnerships. Five creator stages map how people progress from unresponsive to evangelists. Practical tactics include gamified onboarding, targeted ad boosts to amplify creator videos, and clear team roles to scale a relationship-driven affiliate program.

In this episode, Josh interviews Amy Wees, CEO of Amazing at Home E-commerce Consulting. Amy shares her expertise in product development, sourcing, and sales, emphasizing the benefits of diversifying manufacturing—particularly sourcing from Mexico as an alternative to China. She discusses Mexico’s advantages in cost, quality, and logistics, and highlights common mistakes sellers make, such as not knowing their numbers or lacking supplier contracts. Amy stresses the importance of understanding unit economics, building strong supplier relationships, and differentiating products to succeed in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape.Chapters:Introduction to Amy Wees and Amazing at Home (00:00:00)Amy Wees is introduced as CEO of Amazing at Home, specializing in private label product launches and e-commerce consulting.Why Source from Mexico? (00:00:28)Amy discusses the importance of diversifying manufacturing, highlighting Mexico’s advantages over China for sourcing and supply chain.Mexico’s Manufacturing Capabilities (00:02:04)Explains Mexico’s strengths in injection molding, electronics, labor costs, and free trade agreements compared to China.Evolving Supply Chains and Workforce Trends (00:03:25)Describes changes in China’s workforce, supply chain challenges, and the need for businesses to adapt and evolve.Discovering and Building Trade Shows in Mexico (00:05:35)Amy shares her journey in exploring Mexican factories and starting a multi-category trade show for sourcing.Common Seller Mistakes: Not Knowing the Numbers (00:07:34)Amy identifies the main mistake sellers make: not understanding their costs, margins, and unit economics.Protecting Supply Chains and Supplier Relationships (00:10:12)Emphasizes the importance of contracts, vetting suppliers, and protecting products from being copied.Josh’s Key Takeaways for Sellers (00:12:16)Josh summarizes three action items: know your numbers, build strong supplier relationships, and differentiate your products.How to Connect with Amy Wees (00:16:35)Amy offers a free listing review and shares how listeners can contact her for e-commerce advice.Podcast Closing (00:17:05)Josh thanks Amy for joining the podcast.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  "Amazing at Home": "00:00:00"  "Alibaba": "00:08:59"  "Free Listing Review": "00:16:35"  Books and Resources  "Seller Accountant": "00:12:16"  Key Takeaways  "Understanding Your Numbers": "00:12:16"  "Supplier Relationships": "00:14:37"  "Market Evaluation": "00:15:57"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today I'm super excited to introduce you to Amy Wees. Amy is the CEO of Amazing at Home E-commerce consulting, a world renowned company that has helped thousands of brands launch private label products on Amazon and beyond. Amy's knowledge in product development, sourcing, marketing and sales have enabled her to help countless entrepreneurs develop their own successful businesses. So welcome to the show, Amy.Amy 00:00:25  Thank you for having me, Josh. I'm so excited to be here.Josh 00:00:28  I love what you talked about in terms of, you know, diversifying your risk with manufacturing and supply chain, and you've been able to find a lot of that in Mexico. So why don't you tell us more about Mexico? Why have you been so invested lately into, you know, sourcing from Mexico?Amy 00:00:49  Well, you know, it's really we used to go to China all the time. You can go twice a year during canton fair times. And and I still sourced from China. I, I love my manufacturers in China. They're wonderful people. They're very efficient.Amy 00:01:04  Really great. So I don't think that there's anything wrong with China. But at the end of the day, one of the biggest things that all of us have to realize is that we have options and, and that, you know, we don't ever whether it comes to only selling on Amazon, putting your eggs all in that one sales channel basket or only using FBA. What happened during the pandemic? Everybody who is only using FBA, their stuff got stranded. Meanwhile, we tripled our sales because we were able to merchant fulfill. so that's that's, you know, a huge learning thing. And so many people are learning that the restock limits, we talked about that, you know, like, hey, maybe we need to start digging more into these other sales channels so that we are able to drive more traffic to Amazon and have even greater restock limits now that things are changing. Right. so I think it's important to never put all your eggs in one basket and to always know what your your options are.Amy 00:02:04  And so Mexico was a natural, solution. Potential solution. If we look at injection molding and manufacturing around the world. Mexico's number two in injection will be right behind China. So, you know, when we look at even electronics, Latin America is just as high in electronics manufacturing as China is. And a lot of people don't realize that. One of our speakers on the Mexico trip, he's he's an engineer and he specializes in helping electronics companies move their supply chain from China to Mexico. big companies like Seagate have completely moved manufacturing to Mexico. Chinese factories, major factories in China are now reopening new facilities in Mexico. Why? It makes sense, right? It makes sense. You've got free trade. As long as your product is 70%, produced in Mexico. You've got the free trade. So that's a wonderful opportunity there. You actually have lower labor costs in Mexico than you do in China. China labor costs have risen. and you have a highly educated and motivated workforce in Mexico, which that is also changing in China quite a bit.Amy 00:03:25  We're all finding with our factories and, you know, talking with my factory owners, every year after Chinese New Year, a lot of their employees do not return. It's very hard for them because e-commerce has really taken off in China. And so a lot of these, you know, it used to be you can walk through a factory in China a few years ago, and they didn't have, you know, they didn't sell it in e-commerce. Nowadays, that's nearly impossible to find a factory that doesn't sell. And so the workforce is evolving in China, and it's causing some, some issues in terms of supply chain, not only for labour. for quality control, you know, so there's even the Chinese are looking for alternatives to different places to open up factories and things like that. So I think that all of us have to evolve. We look at any company that does not evolve with the times what we find. You know, we look at like the toys R us stories and we look at, you know, the top 50 retailers in the United States of America.Amy 00:04:30  Also on the e-commerce websites. So it's very important for us to pay attention and make sure that we're looking at, okay, what's next. And also when we look at, you know, how many. Issues did we have with, with, ports being backed up and with our. With our supply chain just being at a complete stoppage. and we were all talking about men. For Q4 this last year. You better get your stuff in by August, because there's no way the October timeframe is dead. because there was so much, you know, caught back up and everything prior to this Q4. So this year it was a little bit better. We had some catch up, but we really need to be paying attention. And so for me, I'm right here in San Antonio, Texas. I traveled to Mexico a lot. I love Mexico, and I always see all these things,...

Today’s guest is someone our audience already knows and respects — and I’m excited to have him back on the show. Kevin King is not just a veteran Amazon seller… he’s one of the most connected and influential figures in the entire Amazon ecosystem. He’s been selling online for decades, has built and exited multiple brands, and continues to operate in the trenches — not from theory, but from real-world execution. When Kevin speaks, it’s not just his own experience — it’s insights gathered from the top 1% of sellers globally. So if you’re a 7-figure or 8 figure seller looking to break into the next level, you’re about to hear from someone who has a front-row seat to what the best in the world are actually doing right now. Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Current state and future of e-commerce for seven-figure sellersImpact of AI on e-commerce operations and marketingDecline of traditional private label Amazon business modelRise of social commerce platforms, particularly TikTok ShopImportance of building authentic brands and customer relationshipsNetworking opportunities at events like Market MastersChallenges sellers face, including confusion and fear about the futureNecessity of adapting to new technologies and automation toolsStrategies for effective sourcing and increasing profit marginsThe significance of prioritizing efforts and focusing on specific channels for growthIn this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews veteran Amazon seller Kevin King about the future of e-commerce for established seven-figure sellers. They discuss the growing impact of AI, the decline of traditional private label models, and the rise of social commerce platforms like TikTok. Kevin emphasizes the importance of building real brands, leveraging automation, and focusing on human relationships with creators. The episode also highlights actionable strategies for scaling, the value of strong systems, and Kevin’s upcoming Market Masters event for networking and learning.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:1. Focus on What Matters MostDon’t chase every new tool, channel, or strategy. Pick the highest-priority opportunity, focus your resources on it, and scale it before moving to the next.2. Build and Document SystemsGrowth requires clear systems and processes. Whether tasks are done by humans or AI, success depends on how well you document and structure the workflow.3. Hire Smart People to Run the SystemsAI alone won’t build a $100M brand. You need talented leaders who can design, manage, and improve systems while using AI as a tool to enhance results.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comBillion Dollar Seller SummitASM (Amazing Selling Machine)Helium 10 Freedom TicketShopifyTikTokEcom Mastery AIOpen ClawClaudeChatGPTWooCommerceCopyCoderUpwork/FiverrAndrew EricksonSpecial Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInAlex Hormozi on LinkedInRyan DeissPerry Belcher on LinkedInDan KennedyRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastEpisode SponsorThis episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started my business in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then email me at josh@ecommbreakthrough.com and in your subject line say “strategy audit” for the chance to win a $10,000 comprehensive business strategy audit at no cost!Transcript AreaKevin King 00:00:00  And there is no it's not like ranking in Google in the old way of backlinks where you rank. And basically you can if you type in podcast microphones and you're in Dallas, you can see pretty much the same results as I see down here in Austin with AI, my past search history and your past search history changes that completely. So no, there is no ranking in AI. It's being the answer for what questions people asking to be in the authority.MC 00:00:22  Welcome to the E-com Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:36  Do you want to know what's wor...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares hard-won lessons on the power of focus in scaling an ecommerce business. Drawing from personal experience and mastermind insights, Josh reveals five key things he’s saying “no” to—like low-volume product launches, unprofitable SKUs, and distracting sales channels. He emphasizes prioritizing high-impact opportunities, leveraging top-performing creators, and resisting shiny new trends like AI experiments. Josh’s disciplined approach highlights how saying “no” to distractions enables entrepreneurs to concentrate resources on what truly drives sustainable, exponential growth.Links and Mentions:Business Influencers & References"Alex Hormozi": "00:02:01"E-commerce Platforms & Tools"Amazon": "00:04:43""Shopify": "00:06:31""TikTok Shop": "00:06:31""Amazon Marketplace": "00:20:16""OpenClaw": "00:23:05""Vibe Coding": "00:23:05"Frameworks & Systems"Momentum Matrix": "00:08:26""Buckets for Product Management": "00:08:26"Business Concepts & Strategies"Hitting Singles vs. Home Runs": "00:04:43""Total Addressable Market (TAM)": "00:06:31""Lifetime Value Potential": "00:20:16""Operational Complexity": "00:21:14"Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction to Business FocusJosh emphasizes prioritization, focus, and the importance of saying "no" in business strategy.00:01:03 Lessons from Mastermind EventsInsights from recent mastermind groups; entrepreneurs struggle with shiny object syndrome and diversifying too soon.00:02:58 The Power of Doubling DownAdvice to focus on one business for greater success, rather than splitting attention across multiple ventures.00:04:43 Saying No to Small Product LaunchesJosh now rejects launching products with small markets, focusing only on those with large total addressable markets.00:07:25 Prioritizing High-Impact SKUsNo longer trying to scale all 1600+ SKUs; products are categorized by impact and focus is on top performers.00:08:26 Product Momentum Matrix ExplainedBreakdown of four product buckets: sunset, maintenance, profit engines, and brand-defining SKUs.00:15:09 Focusing on Brand-Defining ProductsTeam spends most time on a few top SKUs that align with brand vision and have high growth potential.00:17:05 Saying No to Low Leverage Sales ChannelsRejecting channels like Temu, Shein, Walmart, and some international expansions due to low scalability and complexity.00:18:12 Sales Channel Momentum MatrixSales channels are categorized; focus is on scalable, high-leverage channels like Amazon, TikTok Shop, and Shopify.00:22:11 Rejecting AI DistractionsJosh avoids spending time on AI trends unless they directly drive business growth; team uses AI only for specific use cases.00:26:56 Focusing on Top-Performing CreatorsNo longer catering to all 5000 creators; focus is on the top 5% who drive 95% of TikTok Shop revenue.00:28:03 Conclusion: Focus Over DistractionReiterates the importance of focus and systems for scaling, and invites listeners to share the episode.TranscriptJosh Hadley 00:00:00  I will promise you like 99 times out of 100. The person who doubles down in one single business is going to have far greater returns and success than the entrepreneur that thinks they're going to split their time and diversify themselves across multiple different business units. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. In today's episode, I'm going to be sharing with you guys exactly what I'm saying no to. In my business right now, that is one of the most important things as it relates to business strategy as a whole. I think that business strategy is less. These are the things that I am doing, and it's much more about these are the things that I am specifically not doing in my business and why business strategy is ultimately, hey, there are 1,000,001 different opportunities, but there are limited resources.Josh Hadley 00:01:03  And so really it's prioritizing which of those million and one opportunities do I actually want to take on with my limited time, resources and ability to be able to go execute? Because in general, if you want to see something really succeed, you've got to put some significant amount of time and energy and thought process behind it. So today I'm going to be sharing the five things that I'm saying no to in my own business. And I'm sharing this after coming off of the heels of three different events that I've attended within the last two weeks. So over the last two weeks I've attended a few different mastermind groups, some with e-commerce specific people involved and others with just kind of general entrepreneurs who are all over seven figure sellers. So here are some of like the takeaways. And I heard this over and over again at multiple events. I continue to hear people that they already have a successful busines...

In this episode, host Josh interviews Tyler Jefcoat, founder of The Seller Roundtable, about financial strategies for Amazon and e-commerce sellers. Tyler explains key metrics like COGS, Amazon fees, and advertising costs, and shares actionable tips on optimizing profit margins, managing inventory, and preparing for business exits. He emphasizes the importance of accurate accounting, SKU-level analysis, and disciplined habits for long-term success. The discussion also covers useful tools and resources, including Merchant Spring and the book "Atomic Habits." Listeners gain practical advice to build more profitable and acquisition-ready e-commerce businesses.Chapters:Introduction to Tyler Jefcoat and Seller Accountant (00:00:00)Tyler’s background, experience, and introduction to his work with e-commerce sellers.Key Financial Metrics for Amazon Sellers (00:00:38)Breakdown of revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), Amazon fees, and advertising expenses.Profit Margins and Targets for Sellers (00:01:44)Discussion of ideal net profit margins, advertising spend, and benchmarks for healthy Amazon businesses.Net Profit Margin Benchmarks and Market Trends (00:03:59)Analysis of average net profit margins, market headwinds, and acquisition readiness.Preparing for Exit: Case Study and Best Practices (00:05:01)Advice and case study on preparing for business exit, including accounting and inventory management.Return on Capital and Product Portfolio Analysis (00:06:54)Explanation of return on capital, product-level profitability, and portfolio optimization.FBA Fees and SKU-Level Analysis (00:10:18)Importance of monitoring Amazon FBA fees, SKU-level analysis, and correcting fulfillment fee errors.Automating FBA Fee Audits (00:11:45)Discussion on automating FBA fee audits and best practices for large catalogs.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:12:59)Summary of three key actions: solid accounting, SKU-level profitability, and price testing.Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits (00:15:40)Tyler recommends "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and discusses its impact.Favorite Software Tool: Merchant Spring (00:16:46)Recommendation and overview of Merchant Spring for multi-channel sales integration.Closing Remarks and Contact Info (00:17:28)Final thoughts, recommendation to contact Tyler, and episode wrap-up.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  "Merchant Spring": "00:16:46"Books  "Atomic Habits by James Clear": "00:15:49"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Tyler Jefcoat. Tyler is the founder and CEO of Stellar Accountant, where he exercises his passion for helping sellers maximize their businesses. Tyler provides financial coaching for sellers totaling more than 100 million per year in e-commerce sales. Tyler also leads the Sellers Roundtable, an exclusive mastermind group for seven and eight figure sellers. Before founding Seller Accountant, Tyler was the co-founder and managing partner for Care to Continue, a home health care company that grew from 0 to 100 employees in four years. So, Tyler, welcome to the show.Tyler 00:00:36  All right, Josh, thanks for having me.Josh 00:00:38  So you have your top line revenue. The next thing we have is you're going to have your cost of goods sold, right? So with your cost of goods sold, you said the average is about 30 to 35% is what you're seeing right now.Tyler 00:00:52  And this kind of landed cost. So if you kind of think about what it costs you to satisfy your Chinese Po and then do the duties freight into the states, I think.Tyler 00:01:01  Across the board, we're seeing literally pretty close to a third 33, 34%.Josh 00:01:05  So if you're below 30% or so, that's a good indication then. Right. Okay. Looking good. All right then next you have your Amazon fees that are going to come up. Right. And I think I'm going to split these up with the advertising separate. So what is your Amazon fees that your 15% commission plus the pick and pack. All that goes into the Amazon ecosystem. You're saying 30 to 35% is what you're seeing there. Is that right?Tyler 00:01:34  To keep the numbers easy is probably another third. So you got about a third in your unit cost to Google. You got about a third and normal Amazon fees.Josh 00:01:44  okay. Cool. And then so all right. So at this point we have 66% right of our revenue going to Cogs in Amazon. And so what you're saying is that the last remaining portion for that POG number that you were talking about is your advertising expense specifically on Amazon. So with your advertising expense, you said ideally you want to be between that 20% to 25%, you know, net gross margin, including the advertising costs in there.Josh 00:02:16  So that means you're going to be needing to sit around somewhere between 15 to 20%. Correct.Tyler 00:02:22  So if we if you think about it, we've got it split into thirds, a third in cogs, a third name is on fee. So we've got 33 points left. I can spend between, you know, roughly 10% on tacos in that model. Let's assume that your cost of goods sold model. Then I'm really going to. So so right. Take another 10% away for ads. That leaves me with a 23% P&G or post advertising gross profit. And I would say that's a really good target. Like, again, I would rather aim for 25 and hit 23 than really flirt with 20 constantly. But yes. So that would be that would be a fairly prototypical private label or kind of brand building seller on Amazon is third, Amazon fees. Third product cogs are about a dime, about ten points going to tacos. And then I've got 22, 23, 24% after ads that I can put towards my overhead.Tyler 00:03:08  And mama wants a boat, you know, whatever it is, that's the money I want.Josh 00:03:12  Makes sense. Makes sense. So with that, and then the other thing you mentioned is, hey, if you have really good cost of goods sold, right, you know, you might be 10 to 20%, right? Well, then you could ramp up your advertising spend. Right. So you can kind of offset those things, but the more profitable you are, the better. Like you said, some people were 30 to 35% that were really getting some premiums, with all the acquisitions that were going on. So this is awesome. This gives us a lot to think about and great targets to shoot towards, especially like net profit margin. You said, you know, ten is kind of the average. You said, right. 15 means that you're really good. You know looking good. You're a good candidate to be acquired. Is that correct?Tyler 00:03:59  Yes. And honestly, coming out of like 2022, I would actually say that, you know, 10% was actually probably pretty good because we did see a lot of headwinds.Tyler 00:04:09  So give your give yourself some grace. Like if you're looking at your piano right now, you know, here in the middle of 2020 and you're like, well, boy, I got 5% last year, I must be dead. That actually might be more normal than you think it is. But don't don't think that that's going to be normal forever. I think we are we're, we're we're continuing to want to see the market get better and we want to we work too hard and we risk too much to take a 2% profit margin for too long. And so getting a 10% is really crucial. And then I think if you're going to exit, getting it closer to that 15% net profit. Yeah.Josh 00:04:38  Awesome, awesome super valuable content. Tyler thanks again. All right. So with that, let's talk about maybe some of the levers that people can be pulling, you know, as they prepar...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Julia Rubien and Nicolette Brunetti of Amie, a TikTok agency for beauty brands. They discuss effective affiliate marketing strategies on TikTok Shop, emphasizing the importance of strong shop operations, community building, and data-driven content. The conversation covers commission structures, contests, retainers, and creator engagement, highlighting the need for strategic planning and long-term investment. Key takeaways include selling the affiliate first, nurturing a supportive community, and ensuring operational readiness before scaling. The episode offers actionable insights for brands aiming to succeed on TikTok Shop.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for success on TikTok Shop, particularly in affiliate marketing.Importance of having a multi-faceted approach to affiliate marketing, including acquisition, commission, and engagement.Financial expectations and ROI benchmarks for brands on TikTok Shop.The significance of community building and engagement with affiliates, particularly through platforms like Discord.Effective methods for attracting and nurturing affiliates, including personalized outreach and tailored incentives.The role of content quality and creator effort in driving sales and engagement.Challenges and lessons learned from past affiliate marketing strategies and contests.The necessity of strong shop operations and inventory management before launching affiliate marketing efforts.The importance of hiring skilled team members with expertise in TikTok Shop and affiliate marketing.Long-term investment and strategic patience required for building a successful affiliate ecosystem on TikTok Shop.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Sell the Affiliate First (Not the Product) Shift your mindset: you’re recruiting creators, not just pushing products. Build a compelling commission structure, clear vision, and unique brand positioning so affiliates choose you over higher-paying competitors.Build a Creator Growth Ladder: Design a clear pathway:Start with onboarding + educationAdd retainers to build consistencyIntroduce contests + feedbackIncrease commissions/retainers as GMV growsMake it obvious how creators can level up with you.Fix Operations Before Scaling Affiliates: Before pushing growth:Ensure inventory is stableOptimize listingsSolidify shop operationsDon’t scale affiliate traffic to a backend that can’t support it. Get your foundation right first.Resources mentioned in this episode:"TikTok Shop": "00:00:36""EukaAI": "00:12:28""KaloData": "00:12:29""Reacher": "00:14:36""Fastmoss": "00:16:51""Discord": "00:19:08""GMV (Gross Merchandise Value)": "00:21:19""ChatGPT": "00:43:16""ecombreakthrough.com": "01:01:28"Special Mention(s):Adam “Heist” Runquist on LinkedInKevin King on LinkedInMichael E. Gerber on LinkedInRelated Episode(s):“Cracking the Amazon Code: Learn From Adam Heist’s Brand Scaling Secrets” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Kevin King’s Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans” on the eComm Breakthrough Podcast“Unlocking Entrepreneurial Greatness | Insider Secrets With E-myth Author Michael Gerber” on the eComm Breakthrough PodcastSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started Hadley Designs in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to www.EcommBreakthrough.com (that’s Ecomm with two M’s) to learn more.TranscriptJulia Rubien 00:00:00  I think clients think that sometimes it's as simple as, let's just invite everybody to a target plan, and that's that. And one time I had to write out for clients, like all the different strategies that go into affiliate marketing, and without showing the slide, I'll kind of rattle some off. But to us, we think there's acquisition strategy, there's commission strategy, there's engagement strategy, there's partnership strategy, there's sample strategy, tiering strategy, incentive strategy, event strategy, content strategy. So there's all these different strategies.MC 00:00:36  Welcome to the Ecom Breakthrough podcast. Are you ready to unlock the full potential and growth in your business? You've already crossed seven figures in sales, but the challenge is knowing how to take your business to the next level.Josh Hadley 00:00:50  Do you want to know what's actually working on TikTok shop right now? What are the strategies some of the top brands are implementing in order to grow their shop sells or attract new affiliates. Well, you're going to love today's conversation. Welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast.Josh Hadley 00:01:05  I'm your host, Josh Hadley. I scaled my own brand from 0 to 8 figures in sales, and now my mission is to take it to over nine figures on my jour...

Practical tactics to stretch payment cycles and gain up to 55 days of float using credit cards and billing windows. How to forecast weekly cash flow with a 52-week spreadsheet to spot shortfalls early. Creative payment routes like Melio and Plum to pay suppliers and flip the cash conversion cycle. Actionable steps to avoid predatory loans and scale without outside capital.

Bradley Sutton, Amazon and e-commerce expert who launches products and masters keyword strategy, shares practical tactics. He talks about where to place keywords naturally across listings. He explains fast-indexing fields, seasonal keyword research with Historical Cerebro, new sponsored placements on page one, ad-driven launch tactics, and the value of inventory tools and alerting.

Josh started his career at American Airlines (AA) and spent 5 years in their MBA leadership development program. Josh’s experience at AA further refined his leadership abilities and strategic decision making skills. While employed at AA Josh and his wife Becca started Hadley Designs. As the CEO of Hadley Designs, Josh led the business to gross $100,000+ in revenue within it’s first year and in 2022 Hadley Designs crossed the eight figure mark, grossing over $10,000,000 in revenue.In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, standing still means falling behind. In a recent episode of the Ecom Breakthrough Podcast, host and eight-figure brand owner Josh Hadley pulls back the curtain on the real struggles and breakthrough strategies that have propelled his business from the brink of collapse to new heights. This episode is a masterclass for e-commerce entrepreneurs looking to scale beyond seven figures, with a special focus on leveraging TikTok Shop, affiliate marketing, and integrated sales funnels across Amazon and Shopify.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Strategies for scaling e-commerce businesses on platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop.Personal experiences of overcoming business challenges, including product failures and financial difficulties.The importance of targeted outreach and building relationships with creators for affiliate marketing.Utilizing TikTok Shop to generate significant gross merchandise volume (GMV) and create viral content.The role of effective sales funnel structures in improving conversion rates and average order value (AOV).Implementing subscription models to create recurring revenue streams.The integration of marketing efforts across TikTok, Shopify, and Amazon to enhance profitability.The significance of product differentiation and niche focus in e-commerce success.The challenges of maintaining profitability on Amazon and strategies to avoid market stagnation.The necessity of hard work and commitment in achieving success in the competitive e-commerce landscape.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares his journey overcoming business setbacks and reveals his proven strategies for scaling e-commerce brands on Amazon, Shopify, and TikTok Shop. He details how he rebuilt his business using TikTok Shop affiliate marketing, building a network of creators, and optimizing sales funnels. Josh emphasizes the importance of creator partnerships, viral content, and subscription models, offering listeners a step-by-step blueprint for driving growth and profitability in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape. He also provides actionable tips and resources for brands seeking to break through stagnation and achieve lasting success.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Target Niche Creators with Email Collection Use tools like Yuka AI to reach out to creators in your specific niche (not spray-and-pray). Before approving samples, collect their email and phone number to build direct relationships off TikTok. Add them to an automated email flow that nurtures engagement and tracks content creation.Require 30 Videos + Usage Rights Upfront Send a creative brief before sample approval and have creators commit to producing 30 videos in 60 days with unlimited usage rights. This gives you permission to repurpose viral content (100K+ views) as Meta ads without asking, and weeds out freebie seekers while maximizing ROI per sample.Turn Amazon Products into High-AOV Shopify Funnels Take viral TikTok videos and run them as Meta ads driving to dedicated landing pages (not your homepage). Bundle products together, add digital exclusives Amazon can't match, include pre-checkout upsells, and offer a subscription club—turning $25 products into $85+ AOV while generating recurring revenue.Resources & Links SectionJosh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTikTok ShopAmazonShopifyChatGPTEuka AIKalodataStreakWooCommerce

In this solo episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares his proven framework for hiring senior leadership in ecommerce. Drawing from personal experience, Josh outlines the costly pitfalls of bad hires and emphasizes the value of securing top 1% talent. He details a structured, three-part interview process focused on track record, culture alignment, and role competence, offering actionable tips for assessing candidates. Josh also discusses the legal and financial implications of hiring, underscoring the importance of systems and focus for business growth. The episode concludes with a call to share and review the podcast.Hiring the wrong person can be a costly "hiring mistake" for any business, impacting your bottom line significantly. This video dives into effective "recruitment" strategies and a robust "hiring process" to help you avoid these pitfalls. Learn about crucial "interview questions" and how to "how to hire" the right talent to propel your e-commerce brand forward. 💥 #BusinessTips #EcommGrowth #HiringSmart #shorts Timestamps:00:00:00 The Pitfalls of Charismatic HiresJosh warns against hiring based on charisma and first impressions, emphasizing the high cost of bad hires.00:00:30 Introduction & Podcast ContextJosh introduces himself, his ecommerce background, and the purpose of the episode: hiring top 1% senior leadership.00:01:59 Early Hiring MistakesJosh shares his initial lack of process, reliance on generic questions, and gut feelings when hiring.00:04:10 The High Cost of a Bad HireBreakdown of the financial, operational, and legal costs associated with hiring the wrong person.00:06:05 Legal and Tax Implications of Remote HiresExplains state-specific legal and tax burdens when hiring remote W-2 employees.00:08:07 The Power of Great HiresDiscusses the transformative impact of hiring the right senior leaders and the compounding effect on business growth.00:09:07 Overview of the Senior Leadership Hiring FrameworkIntroduction to the three-lens framework: track record, culture alignment, and role competence.00:10:03 Track Record of Performance InterviewDetails the first interview: assessing lifelong patterns of achievement, leadership, and initiative.00:11:06 Conducting the Track Record InterviewStep-by-step walkthrough of questions and techniques to uncover a candidate’s career trajectory and motivations.00:13:30 Truth Serum Questions & Reference ChecksHow to use reference-based questions to get honest answers and verify candidate claims.00:17:07 Identifying Top 1% PatternsWhat to look for in high school, college, and career history to spot elite performers.00:23:50 Red Flags and Non-Redemption PolicyWhy you shouldn’t hire candidates with inconsistent success or those seeking a “redemption” opportunity.00:24:49 Culture Alignment InterviewImportance of culture fit, how to structure the interview, and why it’s non-negotiable for senior hires.00:27:40 Core Values Deep DiveExamples of core values (Extreme Ownership, Relentless Innovation, Integrity) and how to probe for real-life demonstrations.00:29:42 Role Competence/Technical InterviewEvaluating if candidates can perform at a high level, think clearly, and bring deep expertise.00:30:40 Metrics and Business Impact QuestionsKey questions to assess if candidates understand how their role drives business results.00:35:25 Case Studies and Test ProjectsHow to design and use practical assignments to verify real-world competence, and tips to prevent AI misuse.00:39:10 Scoring and Rubrics for Test ProjectsThe importance of objective scoring, rubrics, and not advancing candidates who underperform in practical tests.00:40:03 Summary of the Three-Stage FrameworkRecap of the three interview stages and their combined power to identify and hire elite senior leaders.00:42:07 Closing Thoughts and Call to ActionJosh encourages listeners to implement structured hiring, leave reviews, and share the episode with peers.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites"Indeed": "00:05:01""Workable": "00:05:01""ChatGPT": "00:37:15"Books"Who by Jeff Smart and Randy Street": "00:11:06"Videos"Seven Step Hiring Process Video": "00:38:11"Core Values"Extreme Ownership": "00:27:40""Relentless Innovation": "00:28:40""Integrity Above All": "00:29:42"Interview Frameworks"Career Track Record of Success Interview": "00:40:03"Podcast Platforms"Spotify": "00:42:07""Apple Podcasts": "00:42:07"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  And honestly, one of the biggest mistakes that you can make is hiring somebody that is very charismatic, that can talk really eloquently in an interview and come off as though they are really polished and well put together. But then when they actually have to do the work, that's where they fall apart. And at that point it's way too late. You've already incurred some massive expenses in the business once you've actually initiated those hires for your business. Welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. Have you ever made a hire and then 30 days later, regret that decision and realized that you just made a bad hire? And would you like a framework that could increase your odds and success rate of hiring the right person and being confident that you have found top 1% talent? That's what I'm going to be diving into today.Josh Hadley 00:00:58  So today I'm going to be diving into the senior leadership, hiring and interview framework that I use in my own business to be able to assess whether I have a level talent, the top 1% talent, because this is honestly one of the best competitive advantages that you can have in your business, bar none. I don't care what happens with AI, I don't care what happens with the economy. I know that one thing will always exist throughout the entire lifetime of us as humans, and that is the arbitrage opportunity that comes from hiring the right person. The right person can have an outsized, massive ROI better than any stock return that you could possibly have, better than any new sales strategy that you're going to implement. Hiring the right person can provide an infinite ROI for your business. And that's why I'm so adamant about nailing this for my own business. So today, what I want to share with you is really what came over a period of time. First and foremost, my name is Josh Hadley. I am a man of faith.Josh Hadley 00:01:59  I am a husband to a beautiful wife and a father of four. I have also been in the e-commerce game for over a decade, and I'm an eight figure brand owner selling multi millions on multiple channels TikTok shop, Shopify and Amazon. And I am also the host of the number one business strategy podcast for ecommerce, Ecom breakthrough. Today, I'm going to be diving into the problem that I ran into first and foremost. When I began hiring for the first time, I started just jumping on zoom calls wit...