Sean Wendt is the founder of dtcmvp. dtcmvp connects shopify partners with leaders at established brands. From intros to insights, they handle everything: you reach your ideal audience, build a better product, and attract more brands.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:30] Understanding prospects’ rejection
• [05:48] Defining the role of outbound sales reps
• [10:54] Crafting a strong offer for your outreach
• [12:29] Callouts
• [12:39] Increasing discovery with paid consultations
• [15:00] Aligning solutions with existing goals
• [21:51] Determining the right time to scale outreach
• [24:39] Designing workflows around busy calendars

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Shopify's Modern Expert Network dtcmvp.com
• Follow Sean Wendt linkedin.com/in/seanwendt

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Gustavo Cardona is VP of Technology at Levain Bakery, where he leads IT infrastructure and data strategy to bridge innovative technology with the operational reality of a craft-focused, omnichannel retail business.

He's responsible for building Levain's enterprise systems, including integrating Toast, NetSuite, and CrunchTime into a unified data platform, migrating the organization to real-time reporting with Tableau, and developing a multi-year technology roadmap. Gustavo's approach focuses on what he calls the "adoption challenge"—ensuring technology actually gets used rather than just implemented.

He's currently leading Levain's Emerging Tech Strategy with a focus on operational efficiency, product innovation, and decision intelligence through responsible AI governance.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [02:35] Networking with peers at conferences
• [06:10] Sponsor: Klaviyo
• [08:17] Leveraging past experience in a new role
• [11:36] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [13:36] Cultivating adaptability and resourcefulness
• [15:54] Identifying bottlenecks in daily operations
• [19:29] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [20:41] Identifying team pain points on the ground
• [23:17] Callouts
• [23:27] Keeping a human in the loop for AI tools
• [27:51] Making your product the hero instead of tech

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• New York City's Most Famous Cookies levainbakery.com/
• Follow Gustavo Cardona linkedin.com/in/cardonagustavo
• Migrate and grow more klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our expertselectriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Xander Shepherd is the co-founder of Artet, a brand that is changing the way we gather, toast, and experience cocktail culture. Rooted in tradition with a modern twist, Artet was founded by two brothers, and their cousin who wanted to create an alcohol-free alternative that blends sophisticated mixology with nuanced botanical flavors.

With its amaro-inspired aperitif and a selection of elevated canned spritzes, Artet offers a hemp-derived Delta-9 THC-infused experience that is both refined and approachable—perfect for those seeking an NA option to savor at the table amongst family and friends.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [02:17] Finding Ecommerce ideas in daily life
• [05:48] Experimenting in small, safe spaces
• [10:29] Sponsor: Migrate
• [12:27] Reshaping customer perspectives
• [18:22] Callouts
• [18:32] Navigating customer purchase friction
• [21:11] Presenting your product as opportunity
• [25:05] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [27:05] Navigating state-by-state THC rules
• [31:50] Protecting customers with age checks
• [36:22] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [37:31] Setting high standards for the industry
• [47:10] Connecting customers to buying paths

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• The original THC aperitif artet.com/
• Follow Xander Shepherd linkedin.com/in/xandershepherd/
• Migrate and grow more klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Scott Dancy is the founder and CEO of Azuna, a fast-growing challenger brand in at-home odor elimination. Since launching in 2019, Scott has scaled Azuna into a serious category disruptor. Prior to launching Azuna, Scott built, scaled, and sold several companies across cybersecurity, staffing, and energy - with curiosity as his fuel.

During the dot-com boom, Scott was the youngest member of the cybersecurity board, working directly with the Attorney General to navigate the rapidly changing early years of the internet. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and resides in Buffalo, NY where Azuna is based.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:47] Tripling revenue by solving everyday problems
• [03:00] Reinvesting profits to outlast competitions
• [05:25] Sponsor: Klaviyo
• [07:32] Learning from mistakes at every stage
• [12:23] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [14:23] Building LTV when first orders barely profit
• [17:02] Grinding to millions without ever going viral
• [20:14] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [21:22] Learning when to keep things in-house
• [23:27] Calllouts
• [23:37] Building equity culture across your whole team
• [23:05] Creating a team culture people refuse to leave

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Naturally effective odor eliminators azunafresh.com/
• Follow Scott Dancy linkedin.com/in/scott-dancy-189542200
• Get your free demo klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Cleo is the Co-Founder of Barrière and also serves as the brand’s CEO and brand-lead. Before starting Barrière with her Co-Founder, Alexa Adams, in 2020, Cleo had over a decade of experience in corporate fashion and styling.

She was inspired to leave the corporate world and start Barrière to offer a chic, yet medically-effective masking option to customers during the global pandemic. This led her and Alexa to expanding the brand into transdermal supplement patches, as inspired by her own issues with nutritional deficiencies.

Before starting Barrière, Cleo’s most recent professional roles included Brand Manager at Moda Operandi and Director of Special Projects at Saks Fifth Avenue, where she led brand, marketing, and e-commerce strategy for these top fashion destinations.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [02:19] Finding inspiration from personal pain points
• [05:04] Sponsor: Klaviyo
• [07:03] Setting your own standards when regulations fall short
• [10:26] Avoiding the one-size-fits-all trap in product design
• [12:16] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [14:15] Seeding products to spark word-of-mouth online
• [16:18] Choosing product confidence over paid promotion
• [18:35] Measuring the long-term return on free samples
• [20:07] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [21:16] Thinking creatively when marketing funds run dry
• [22:48] Callouts
• [22:58] Owning customer relationships through websites

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Wear your vitamins mybarriere.com/
• Follow Cleo Davis-Urman linkedin.com/in/cleo-davis-urman-91928322/
• Get your free demo klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews.

Gloria Chou’s untraditional, proven approach has helped small businesses across industries earn over a billion organic views and land features in outlets like Forbes, Vogue, Oprah Daily, BuzzFeed and Business Insider —all without pay-to-play.

Named the #1 small business PR expert by ChatGPT and Al search, she's leading the charge in helping overlooked founders dominate visibility—not just in the press, but in Al search results that drive discovery and trust.

Is there a guest (or two!) that you'd like to hear on our podcast in the future? Will think about this and let you know!

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:00] Navigating the shift from old SEO
• [02:37] Discovering free brand featuring ways
• [06:21] Understanding why PR tips a trust signal
• [09:34] Callouts
• [10:44] Seeing how backlinks offer great publicity
• [12:29] Repurposing wins into long-term content
• [16:11] Using 3 prompts for an effective pitch
• [19:10] Writing subject lines that journalists open
• [23:20] Building PR foundations before competitors

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Be found for the work you do gloriachoupr.com/
• Follow Gloria Chou linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Samantha Diamond and Breanna Hughes are Co-Founders of Bird&Be, the fertility brand providing evidence-backed, comprehensive at-home tests and supplements for both partners at every stage of the fertility journey.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:31] Turning a diagnosis into a mission
• [03:23] Becoming your product's success story
• [04:44] Callouts
• [04:54] Finding focus groups with limited budgets
• [07:37] Sponsor: Klaviyo
• [09:44] Letting research reverse product roadmaps
• [13:41] Building trust through science-backed content
• [15:12] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [17:12] Sharing vulnerable stories for customer loyalty
• [18:36] Tapping nice creators to amplify early content
• [21:41] Seeing early signals of product-market fit
• [23:49] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [25:00] Letting word of mouth unlock B2B strategies
• [27:17] Allowing your data do the selling for you
• [30:16] Expanding impact to underserved customers

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Doctor-formulated prenatals, fertility supplements, & tests birdandbe.com/
• Follow Sam Diamond ca.linkedin.com/in/samantha-diamond-1484a718
• Follow Breanna Hughes ca.linkedin.com/in/breannahughes
• Get your free demo klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Russell Breuer is the Founder and CEO of Spot & Tango, an innovative pet health and wellness brand that provides dogs with high quality, human grade meals, delivered direct-to-consumer.

Russell was inspired by his dog, Jack, to create the company, which now has over $100+ million in annual revenue and has sold over 120 million meals since inception. Prior to Spot & Tango, Russell worked in private equity and held leadership positions at BerchWood Partners, Zephyr Management, and Nash & Co Capital in London.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:43] Starting a venture as a side gig first
• [03:55] Sponsor: Migrate
• [05:54] Using free channels to find first users
• [06:56] Iterating platforms as the business grows
• [08:24] Starting local before scaling distribution
• [10:47] Sponsor: Intelligems
• [12:47] Failing fast to find what actually works
• [15:06] Aligning growth speed to profitability goals
• [18:08] Sponsor: Electric Eye
• [19:17] Building innovative products to scale
• [21:39] Callouts
• [21:48] Learning scaling operations the hard way
• [23:38] Recognizing that success is never a one-man show

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Healthy, fresh dog food delivery service spotandtango.com/
• Follow Russell Breuer linkedin.com/in/russell-breuer-0b3b57
• Migrate and grow more klaviyo.com/honest
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!