Inspired Insider With Dr. Jeremy Weisz | Ecommerce Interviews | Entrepreneurship | Inspirational Stories | Business Lessons

Today we have Sadie Scheffer founder of Bread SRSLY, it’s the Bay area's first gluten-free sourdough bread company. The company began late in 2011 after a bout of gluten-free sourdough experiments in Sadie's home kitchen. The bread is free of any gluten, eggs, dairy, soy, sugar, tree nuts, peanuts, potatoes and some other things I am missing....but I am sure it is not free of good taste! She began to send 40, 60, 100 loaves out into the world, delivered by ladies on bikes. Most weeks she biked 100 miles plus to get the bread out. They are now found in stores all over California and have expanded into Arizona and Idaho including some regional Whole Foods and Safeways. Production has gone from her home kitchen to their 6th commercial kitchen. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Sadie Scheffer. [2:55] Sadie talks about designing new packaging. [8:15] Getting certified gluten-free from the National Celiac Association. [10:30] A low moment in business for Sadie. [14:15] Mile

Today we have Nathan Hirsch Co-Founder of FreeeUp which is a marketplace connecting business owners with the top 1% of freelancers in ecommerce, digital marketing, web development, and much more. They have helped companies like Payability, Sharkk and many ecommerce companies with staffing needs. Over the past 15 years, Nathan has built several successful multi-million dollar businesses. In 2006, he founded his first online venture out of a college dorm room, selling and buying student textbooks and he was able to scale his ecommerce business, bootstrapping from a $20 investment to over $30 million of sales on Amazon across a 6 year period while serving over 10,000 customers. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:10] Jeremy introduces his guest, Nathan Hirsch. [2:45] Nathan talks about his time at Firestone and how it impacted him. [5:10] How FreeeUp works to make clients and workers happy. [6:30] What did Nathan learn from watching his mother? [7:50] Nathan talks about his desire to become an entrepreneu

Today we have Jon Olafsson, co-founder of Icelandic Water Holdings. He has spent the last 30 years building successful companies from the ground up and transforming them into industry leaders and he has done this in a variety of fields including entertainment, media, construction and many more. Jon started to build a media and broadcasting portfolio when he founded Skifan, Iceland’s largest music recording and distribution company with distributing rights for a variety of music and film companies such as Sony, Universal, Warner Music, Columbia Pictures, Miramax, 20th Century Fox and more. Jon co-founded the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), before moving into television in 1990, when he took over the Icelandic Television Corporation (ITC). In 1999, Jon merged all of his companies (Skifan and IBC) under one umbrella to form Northern Lights Communications, Inc. (NLC) – Olafsson served as chairman until November 2003 when he sold everything and stepped down to co-found Icelandic Water Holdings with his s

Albert Swantner is an award-winning maker. With a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a software background, he is able to create products bridging these disciplines. Albert has led projects with companies like Adidas, FOX, Charity Miles, Moxxly, Socrative, and his own angel-funded startup Sway Water, among others. His work has earned companies like Charity Miles a Webby and an SXSW Interactive award, and his work has been covered by Wired UK, The Today Show, Forbes and Fast Company. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:10] Jeremy introduces his guest, Albert Swantner. [2:30] Albert talks about working with Adidas and Derrick Rose. [5:50] Working with startups and helping to flesh out creative ideas. [9:00] Albert talks about utilizing AI. [11:00] How the work varies for Albert and his team. [15:30] What led Albert to start Sway Water? [17:30] Some of the first Sway Water flavors and the marketing process. [20:00] Albert talks about getting his product into stores and his logo design. [24:30]

Michael Eldridge is the founder of Safety Glasses USA. His experience as a U.S. Marine veteran, auto mechanic and assembly line technician amplified the importance of vision safety. In 2000, he turned his knowledge into one of the internet's most popular companies for protective eyewear. They have grown to 20+ employees and have supplied protective eyewear and safety equipment to hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers around the world. In 2012, Michael started an online community forum for people interested in EDC (Every Day Carry) called EDC Planet. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Michael Eldridge. [2:00] Michael shares some lessons he learned as a Marine. [9:00] What is EDC? [11:30] A low moment in business for Michael. [13:00] Milestones and proud moments along the way. [14:30] Take care of your customer or someone else will! In this episode… Did you know that one of the most important aspects of running a healthy business is providing the best customer s

Today we have the co-founder of Easyship, Tommaso Tamburnotti. He started the company with Augustin Ceyrac and Paul Lugagne Delpon. Easyship is a Hong Kong-based ecommerce platform that aims to simplify logistics for small to medium-sized ecommerce sellers to help them become globally competitive. Easyship works with more than 100 couriers and provides visibility on international shipping regulations, taxes and duties from one account. They have a team of 38 people in four offices around the world and are used by over 15,000 businesses. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:35] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Tommaso Tamburnotti. [3:30] What is needed to take your brand global? [5:00] How Easyship helps ecommerce businesses. [10:30] Pain points Tommaso and his team addressed when they started Easyship. [13:30] Tommaso talks about his family and childhood. [15:30] Should ecommerce brands get on Lazada? [19:00] Following the data and incorporating ecommerce platforms along the way. [22:30] Tommaso talks about w

Today we have CEO and founder of Inflow, Mike Belasco. Inflow is a national provider of cutting-edge ecommerce inbound marketing and search engine optimization services including conversion optimization and paid search marketing. Inflow works hard to provide clients with unique and valuable positioning strategies that drive bottom-line results.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Jeremy introduces his guest, Mike Belasco. [1:20] How Inflow helps ecommerce sellers. [2:30] Common mistakes that ecommerce leaders are making. [4:30] Mike shares a case study that stands out. [8:00] How can Inflow help with SEO optimization? [9:30] Who should use Inflow? What are some success stories? [12:00] Inflow’s popular services and why Mike started Inflow. [14:00] How does Mike keep a healthy team environment at Inflow? [17:00] Core values at Inflow. [18:20] Asking for help and learning from coaches. [20:20] Milestones reached along the way. In this episode… What does it take to create a holistic ecommerce market

Today we have Eddie Levine co-founder of a wholesale ecommerce and brand management company which he started in 2012 with his business partner Greg Gilpin. They have created a multi-million-dollar ecommerce operation in a short period of time and specialize in purchasing products directly from manufacturers, distributors and brand owners and warehouse them all under their own roof and sell on various channels. If he were not busy enough he has an information and consulting arm of his ecommerce business found at WholesaleBreakthrough.com where he teaches others how to tap into the business opportunity. In his limited free time, he also is Director of Operations for the non-profit Laughs for the Troops which helps raise funds to help increase awareness of traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:20] Jeremy introduces his guest, Eddie Levine. [3:00] Eddie talks about early struggles in business. [5:30] Challenges for brands that want to get into ecommerce. [9:00] Surprising

Today we have Dylan Whitman co-founder of BV Accel - full name Brand Value Accelerator (BVAccel). They are one of the fastest growing Shopify focused agencies in the world. Acquisition + Conversion + Retention which are the three pillars of their ecommerce philosophy and when you go to their site BVAccel.com that is front and center. They provide disruptive ecommerce strategy and implementation and have served high-growth brands including MVMT Watches, Red Bull, Mizzen and Main, Bark Thins, and many more. BVAccel is headquartered in San Diego, California with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Columbus and Mexico and Melbourne. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:30] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dylan Whitman. [2:50] Dylan talks about his favorite Shopify apps. [9:30] Why did Dylan decide to focus on solving retention difficulties? [18:30] The future of ecommerce is automation! [20:30] Some helpful subscription apps. [24:30] Where is ecommerce tech going? [27:00] Dylan talks about email service platform

Today we have the co-founder of Easyship, Tommaso Tamburnotti. He started the company with Augustin Ceyrac and Paul Lugagne Delpon. Easyship is a Hong Kong-based ecommerce platform that aims to simplify logistics for small to medium-sized ecommerce sellers to help them become globally competitive. Easyship works with more than 100 couriers and provides visibility on international shipping regulations, taxes, and duties from one account. They have a team of 38 people in four offices around the world and are used by over 15,000 businesses.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:35] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Tommaso Tamburnotti. [3:15] The decision to spend big on a domain name and plans for the future. [5:00] Were some markets harder to get started in than others? [7:30] The lowest moment in business for Tommaso. [10:45] The proudest moment for Tommaso so far. In this episode… What does it take to help ecommerce businesses expand into new markets? How does an organization help other businesses expand whi

Today we have Amit Bivas, Head of Marketing at Optimove. In addition to serving as a key member of Optimove’s management team, Amit is a seasoned marketing executive with extensive experience planning, developing and executing B2B and B2C marketing strategies from the ground up. Optimove’s mission is to help marketers drive measurable growth by autonomously transforming customer data into actionable insights, which then power thoughtful customer communications, at scale. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Amit Bivas joins the podcast to talk about Optimove. [2:45] How did Optimove get off the ground? [5:00] Who is the ideal client for Optimove? [8:30] Customer success stories. [10:00] Amit talks about partnering with Stitch Fix and onboarding new clients. [12:30] What is it like operating an international business? In this episode… Is there a role for relationship marketing in the ecommerce industry? Would you say that your organization engages in relationship marketing? What if there was a way t

Today we have Dylan Whitman co-founder of BV Accel - full name Brand Value Accelerator (BVAccel). They are one of the fastest growing Shopify focused agencies in the world. Acquisition + Conversion + Retention which are the three pillars of their ecommerce philosophy and when you go to their site BVAccel.com that is front and center. They provide disruptive ecommerce strategy and implementation and have served high-growth brands including MVMT Watches, Red Bull, Mizzen and Main, Bark Thins, and many more. BVAccel is headquartered in San Diego, California with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Columbus and Mexico and Melbourne. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:10] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dylan Whitman. [2:30] Dylan talks about the importance of retention. [4:30] What can BV Accel do to help with acquisitions? [7:00] Who are the best fit clients for BV Accel? [10:30] Why many ecommerce businesses struggle with Shopify. [14:30] The lowest point in business for Dylan. [16:00] Landing the first big

Today we have Steve Denner, the co-founder and COO of Adestra. Adestra is an email and marketing automation platform that helps companies take people through a customer journey to give them exactly what they want. They make a distinction that it is a software and a service. I see why because all of the customer videos about Adestra talk about their high touch approach with dedicated account managers. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:30] Jeremy introduces his guest, Steve Denner. [2:30] Steve talks about the internet landscape in 2004 and the opportunity he saw. [5:45] Where did the idea for Adestra come from? [9:30] Challenges faced along the way. [11:30] Popular features for Adestra starting out. [17:30] How Steve’s team serves their clients. [23:30] Incorporating customer feedback. [27:00] Why it’s important to hire the right people. What is Scrum Methodology? [30:00] Steve talks about developing an automation suite. [34:30] How are people using Steve’s heat mapping tool? [39:00] Steve talks about

Today we have Tom Montgomery, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Chubbies Shorts. Chubbies is the most radical shorts company on the planet: an irreverent lifestyle brand focused on revolutionizing the shorts industry. The company revolves around a customer service-focused business model offering free three-day shipping, free returns, social advertising campaigns, and dedicated human customer service lines. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Tom Montgomery joins the podcast to talk about his company, Chubbies. [4:00] What was the first version of Chubbies Shorts like? [6:00] Tom talks about the creative process and surprising products that took off. [8:00] How Tom and his team are innovating when it comes to social media engagement. [9:45] Challenging moments in the business so far. [12:00] Building a healthy team environment with good values and transparency. [15:00] Lessons learned along the way. In this episode… When was the last time your company conducted an audit of its social media

Today we have Oscar Sachs, co-founder and CEO of Salesfloor. Oscar is an operations and process guy with strong focus and strategic thinking, mixed with the creativity and determination of an entrepreneur. Specifically, Oscar specializes in strategy, process, retail, ecommerce, digital media, and business startups. Salesfloor is on a mission to unlock the power of today’s omnichannel sales associate by connecting them with shoppers online and in-store. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:50] Oscar Sachs joins the podcast to talk about his company, Sales Floor. [2:30] Customer success stories. [4:00] Where did the idea for Sales Floor come from? [5:50] Milestones along the way. [6:40] Incorporating customer feedback. [8:00] Oscar talks about the research he and his team have been working on. In this episode… Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could have a sales associate help you from the comfort of your own home? Can you imagine how helpful that would be? When will this knowledgeable role get updated for t

Suresh Dakshina is the President and Co-Founder of Chargeback Gurus. A pioneer in data analytics and industry-specific risk management, he is a certified ecommerce fraud prevention specialist and Certified Payments Professional. He understands first hand the challenges that business owners face, especially when it comes to chargebacks and fraud. Chargeback Gurus exists to help online merchants fight back against costly, time-consuming chargebacks—and win. They have been leading the charge against chargebacks for over 10 years including operating as an online merchant themselves. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Suresh Dakshina joins the podcast to talk about his business, Chargeback Gurus. [2:00] The impact of chargebacks and fraud. [3:30] How Suresh and his team bring on a new client. [5:00] Uncovering internal issues. [6:20] The proudest moment for Suresh with Chargeback Gurus. [7:50] Tips for growing an ecommerce startup. In this episode… How can business leaders like you avoid ecommerce fra

Today we have Joel Gold representing Eye4Fraud. Eye4Fraud screens, verifies and guarantees your online orders so you can sell and ship with confidence. By offloading your orders to Eye4Fraud, you are tapping into the most complete consumer shopping data pool in the world. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Joel Gold joins the podcast to talk about Eye4Fraud. [2:00] Joel shares some customer success stories. [3:30] What led Joel to start the company? What are common causes of fraud? [4:50] Proud moments in business. [5:50] Why ecommerce leaders need fraud prevention services. In this episode… How can business leaders like you make sure that your company is up to date when it comes to fraud prevention? Did you know that by investing in fraud prevention you can end up saving a significant amount of money down the line? It’s true! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from Joel Gold as he shares how Eye4Fraud can help service organizations like yours. In his conversation with Jeremy, Joel

Today we have Mor Lavi, co-founder of Cymbio. Mor is a visionary entrepreneur with a proven track record making innovative ideas into real-life products and services. Cymbio is on a mission to reach optimized symbiosis between brands and retailers. Their aim is to help facilitate true partnerships between brands and retailers. Established in late 2014 by a team of experienced retail, wholesale and technology executives, Cymbio is the technological bridge between brands and retailers enabling new sales opportunities like never before.   Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:35] Mor Lavi joins the podcast to talk about his company, Cymbio. [1:15] What gave Mor the idea for Cymbio? [1:40] Who is the best client for Cymbio? [2:10] Mor’s tip for sellers looking to boost sales. In this episode… What does it take to create an organization that exists to help businesses excel at driving sales and push forward with innovation? Where does a business like this come from? How will they be received in the marketplac

Jai Rawat is a successful serial entrepreneur and an investor, advisor, and mentor to several startups. Jai has over 24 years of industry experience and has a track record and deep passion for creating exceptional online consumer products. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Zinrelo. Jai is also a charter member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and sits on the advisory boards of several companies. He has received several awards and recognition for his contributions. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:45] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Jai Rawat. [1:20] Why did Jai start Zinrelo? [3:00] Where did the name Zinrelo come from? Who is the ideal customer? [5:00] The best practices for companies using Zinrelo. [7:00] Jai talks about his experience with startups. [8:30] Seizing an opportunity to leverage social media. [10:00] Future plans and how to connect with Zinrelo. [11:00] Jai talks about his background and why he came to America. In this episode… How do you jumpstart and breath new life into a date

Jonathan joined BVAccel in 2017 as CEO and is the founder and former CEO of Rocket Code, an eCommerce infrastructure agency focused on strategy and design. Prior to Rocket Code, Jonathan led eCommerce for HOMAGE, and prior to that, served as a technical business analyst and an information architect for Dynamit. Jonathan received a B.S. in Business and Marketing from Miami University. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [0:35] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Jonathan Poma. [2:00] Jon talks about customer success stories. [3:30] Creating solutions that no one thought was possible. [4:30] What led Jon to create Rocket Code? [6:00] What has been the hardest part of business so far? [7:30] Why transparency and vulnerability are so important. [8:30] Mistakes ecommerce businesses are making. [10:00] Who is the ideal Rocket Code client? [11:30] The most unusual client Jonathan has so far. [12:30] Tools that Jon and his team use. [13:30] Building a quality team. [15:00] How to connect with Rocket Code. In this episode