Add To Cart

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, founders of the successful home and personal care brand al.ive body.  Alisa and Lysandra started the brand in 2020 just as COVID hit Australia and today they have 50 product lines, 750 stockists and an estimated 2024 turnover of $22 million. 

Links from the episode:

al.ive body

From Building on The Block to Brand Building with al.ive body Founders | #360

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-hosts: Alisa and Lysandra from al.ive body

Born and raised in South Australia by a resilient single mother, Alisa and Lysandra Fraser were instilled with a strong work ethic and an unyielding determination from an early age.  The Block unveiled their hidden talent for interior design and enabled them to establish Alisa & Lysandra Interiors. In 2020, they boldly launched al.ive body, a personal care brand, driven by their quest for soap that complements their design projects. Within 3 years, al.ive body expanded to include home care and baby products, surpassing expectations.

You can contact Alisa at LinkedIn

You can contact Lysandra at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Sabri Suby, the founder and head of growth at digital marketing agency King Kong, author of ‘Sell Like Crazy’ and investor on TV show Shark Tank Australia.  Sabri launched King Kong in 2014 as a $50 venture from his bedroom in Byron Bay. The now global business is one of Australia’s fastest growing companies and was valued at $72m last year.  In this chat Sabri shares the metrics that matter most and how to use them, tips on when and when not to use an agency like his, his minimum GP and AOVs for ecommerce businesses he’s involved in and the brand that gave him the best unboxing experience of his life. We even get to go behind the scenes in a Shark Tank deal he did with one of our previous Add To Cart guests.

Links from the episode:

King Kong

Condoms and Quiz Shows: The Get Down Story | #218

Last Crumb

Shopify Plus (sponsored)

Signet (sponsored)

Questions answered:

• How do I know when I should use a marketing agency as opposed to doing it myself?
• Which three metrics are the most important?
• What are your tips for getting great results using ChatGPT?

This episode was brought to you by…  

Shopify Plus

Signet

About your co-host: Sabri Suby from King Kong

Sabri Suby is the founder and head of growth at Australia’s fastest-growing full-service digital marketing agency King Kong, author of international bestseller Sell Like Crazy and one of five investors on the 2023 season of Shark Tank Australia, a globally recognised entrepreneurial reality TV show.  Sabri launched his business, King Kong, in 2014 as a $50 venture from his bedroom in Australia’s Byron Bay. The business has since grown to become a 90-strong global empire. King Kong was valued at an estimated $50m in 2021, prior to rolling out globally, and it was later valued at $72m in 2023 following 2 years of substantial growth. 

You can contact Sabri at LinkedIn

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout someone who likens himself to a popular eighties TV character.  Didn’t we all aspire to be Magnum PI Uncle Jesse from Full House at some point? I ended up more like Norm from Cheers - I’m showing my age now.  We’re talking to another smart, resourceful problem solver - just like Macgyver - there you go, did you get it right?  My guest is Matthew Pezzimenti, Founder and Director of Conversion Kings.  Since 2014, they’ve been working on Conversion Rate Optimisation processes for leading Australian and International brands like Koala, StyleTread and Woolworths.   Now Matt may not have a highly gelled mullet or a roll of duct tape in his back pocket, but he does know a hell of alot about creating CRO solutions to fix the problems your eCommerce business might be having.

Links from the episode:

Conversion Kings

Unlocking Conversion Rate Optimization with Conversion Kings | #358

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-host: Matthew Pezzimenti from Conversion Kings

Matt is an accomplished Conversion Rate Optimisation expert and the visionary behind Conversion Kings. With a burning passion for crafting extraordinary online experiences that translate into tangible revenue, Matt takes immense pride in delivering top-notch optimisation services tailored just for you! As the founder, his mission revolves around enlightening and empowering individuals from all walks of life about the power of Optimisation while establishing a dependable and scalable optimisation process.  Beyond his role in elevating Conversion Kings to a renowned global agency, Matt is affectionately known as the "Conversion King" among peers and clients alike, owing to his unwavering dedication to the captivating realm of optimisation. Join us in exploring the wonderful world of optimisation with this exceptional speaker and thought leader.

You can contact Matt at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023 was a jam packed year of conversations packed with gold nuggets of wisdom to help our ecommerce businesses. In this special episode, we’re sharing the best bits of conversations from 2023 that have a special place in our hearts.  It’s an opportunity for you to hear a little bit of the gold you may have missed, all in one place.

Alice Williams from Ovira: The Most Followed Aussie Brand on Tik Tok | #276

Alice Williams is the founder of Ovira, a period pain relief device. In this chat you’ll hear all about how Alice built the brand and how her and the team got to 6m TikTok followers.

Eugene Cheng from Sneaker Laundry: World’s Wealthiest Shoe Shiner | #305

This episode is the first from Add to Cart’s co-host Jo Anne Hui MIller, who joined us in 2023.   Eugene Cheng is an ex-lawyer who’s now known as Australia’s wealthiest shoe shiner after founding Sneaker Laundry, which offers sneaker cleaning products as well as services, both online and in-store. Eugene shares how he sees the relationship between ecommerce and bricks and mortar and he gets into the detail of the radical re-brand he’s right in the middle of.

Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan from Clothing The Gaps: Mob At Heart | #337

Part of the Voice series we released ahead of the referendum back in October, in this chat, you’ll hear from Clothing The Gaps co-founders Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan. We hear about their battle with the American clothing giant Gap, how being receptive to an avalanche of DMs increased their sales and their take on how acknowledgements of country done right, can make all the difference.

Andrew Lipp from EQL: The Psychology of Hype Drops | #292

Andrew Lipp is the CEO and Co-Founder of EQL (that’s E-Q-L pronounced Equal). A former sneakerhead who felt the pain of missing out more than once and, with the help of two former Google colleagues, decided to create a solution.  EQL is an end-to-end platform built for retailers to reliably sell the most in-demand products to more customers, and get more value out of every launch by facilitating site reliability, accurate payments, scam prevention and helping to ensure a level playing field for customers.  We get insights from Andrew on how to manage the chaotic conditions of an ecommerce hype drop and some of the crazy things that get sold in this way…bottled Cheeto dust anyone?

Thanks for tuning in this year! We’ll see you soon to kick off 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang, old friends and Co founders of Paire - P A I R E - a sock brand that is all about comfort and sustainability.  The pals set about reinventing sock functionality to address frustrating experiences with smelly, sweaty, slippy foot underwear and the results have bagged them five star reviews, angel investment and revenue doubling year on year.  Their range has now expanded to include t-shirts, towels and loungewear.

Links from the episode:

 Innovating in the Textile Industry: How Paire is Redefining Comfort and Sustainability | #356  

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-hosts: Nathan Yun from Paire

Nathan possesses a diverse background in the film industry, having served as Jackie Chan's assistant, and later excelling in business, startup marketing and branding. Witnessing the exploitation during a research trip to India fueled his passion for sustainable fashion. Nathan's creativity and determination, coupled with his eye for responsible business practices, have been instrumental in the success of Paire's revolutionary clothing line.

You can contact Nathan at LinkedIn

Rex Zhang from Paire

Rex comes from a family that has been running textile factories for over 40 years. He is a textile expert with extensive knowledge of fabric technology and materials science. Drawing from Rex's expertise and dedication, Paire introduced Supreme CoolBlend, a game-changing thread blending Merino wool and cotton. Rex's commitment to sustainable innovation has propelled Paire's mission to revolutionise the fashion industry, creating environmentally friendly and incredibly comfortable clothing.

You can contact Rex at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The people have spoken! After another massive year at Add To Cart, it’s time to share with you the top three most downloaded episodes of 2023. We’ve pulled the best parts of these ecommerce chats in this special episode. But if you just want to know who won the popularity contest, here you go, in reverse order...

3.

Simon Beard From Culture Kings: Thrifty Customers, Tight Retailers and Artificial Intelligence | #318

Simon Beard, co-founder of Culture Kings, one of the most exciting retail brands Australia has ever seen.. From a stall at the Carrara markets to a $600m valuation in 2021, and a successful partial exit, one of the biggest private retail acquisitions in Australia's history.   The episode explores the findings that came out of Shopify’s Australian Retail Report published back in July, but we get some really cool insights from Simon on loyalty, AI and looking after the team.

2.

Erica Berchtold from The Iconic: Pushing the Limits of eCommerce | #261

Erica is one of the most influential leaders in the retail landscape and she is also Add to Cart’s most requested guest.  At the time of this chat, Erica was CEO of The Iconic, Australia’s very own online fashion powerhouse, committed to customer and at the forefront of technology and innovation.  Despatching from a 28,000sqm fulfilment centre in Sydney, with almost a thousand staff, they continue to redefine the future of retail in Australia and New Zealand. We hear how Erica stays connected to customers, the secrets to an 8 minute delivery turnaround - from order placed to ready to ship, and the achievement she’s most proud of.

1.

Davie Fogarty from The Oodie: The Fad That Stuck Around | #271

Davie Fogarty is founder of The Oodie.  His product, the original oversized wearable blanket, turned his last $500 into a 250 million dollar business and now sits inside The Davie Group alongside Pupnaps, ZoeTech and Australian Furniture Warehouse.  You  may have seen him as a judge on Shark Tank this year too. Davie’s story is a real rags to riches tale - he had some hard times and more than a few failures before hitting the jackpot with The Oodie.  In this conversation he shares practical takeaways on product selection, trend spotting and how he manages stress.

We hope you enjoy a look back on the most popular episodes of 2023. We’ll see you soon for new episodes in 2024!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Melissa Drennan, CEO of Green Friday, a business born from a desire to disrupt retail consumerism on behalf of the planet. Starting in 2021 with an inaugural event which ran at the same time as the Black Friday - Cyber Monday period featuring 23 partners, they’ve grown to now host 260 brands - people like Michael Hill, Salvos Stores and Frank Green.  They have an engaged customer base of 12,000 and continue their mission to educate and inspire consumers to buy better. 

Links from the episode:

Green Friday

Thank F**k It’s Green Friday: An Antidote To Overconsumption | #349

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-host: Melissa Drennan from Green Friday

Melissa is a retail industry expert with over 20 years of experience in buying and planning across the UK and Australia. She made a name for herself in companies like THE ICONIC and Catch. During her tenure at THE ICONIC, Melissa found her true passion for instigating change within the industry. Witnessing the environmental impact of consumption patterns, she became driven to build more sustainable options and promote a circular model of consumption. As an advocate for sustainable practices, Melissa is constantly seeking innovative and practical solutions to address the challenges the industry faces. Her visionary approach, combined with her deep understanding of retail and her unwavering dedication, makes her a driving force in shaping a more sustainable future.

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Dave Hack and George Brown, co founders of Creator Flow, a platform that connects brands with UGC-style Ad Creators.  The founders saw a gap between those that have a need for social media ad content to be made and those with the talent, experience and availability to make it.  They’ve filled their books with high quality Australian creators and are working with some pretty impressive clients - outfits like Shark Ninja, Who Gives A Crap and The Oodie.  Today, Dave and George get into the detail of exactly what UGC is and how it differs from influencer content.  They share wisdom from both sides of the equation - how to produce great content and the must haves when briefing for UGC.  We also get their predictions on where we’re going to see most future disruption in this space. If you’re keen to try the platform, sign up here https://creatorflow.au with the code ADDTOCART and you’ll get 100 credits, courtesy of Dave and George.

Links from the episode:

Creator Flow

Shopify Plus (sponsored)

Signet (sponsored)

Questions answered:

• What criteria do you have for allowing creators on your platform?
• What are the top tips for creating great UGC?
• How should brands best brief a content creator?

This episode was brought to you by…  

Shopify Plus

Signet

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add to Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on. LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

About your co-hosts: Dave Hack  and George Brown from Creator Flow

Dave Hack and George Brown are the founders of Creator Flow, aiming to make getting user-generated content (UGC) easier than ever before. George’s background in building Washbloc and Dave’s understanding of the struggles faced by freelance creatives have led them to unite their expertise. Together, they help brands connect directly with UGC creators, ensuring a steady supply of engaging content while enabling creators to pursue their passion full-time.

You can contact Dave at LinkedIn

You can contact George at LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Jason and Jessica Pallant, the his and hers of marketing research, a dream team package whose academic take on Ecommerce provides much needed clarity and a fresh perspective. Their recently published paper (aptly titled The NIghtmare Before Christmas) delves into how brands feel about taking on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Pre-Christmas, the lot.  They asked a bunch of retailers to spill the beans on their approaches to the sales in an attempt to work out how to change the race to the bottom for everyone’s benefit. 

Links from the episode:

More Than A Discount: How Retailers Can Win at Pre Christmas Mega Sales | #347

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-hosts: Jason Pallant from RMIT University

Dr Jason Pallant is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University, researching the impact of emerging technologies on customer experience, as well as Director of Knowledge Enablement at The Lumery, where he is leading the development of a new MarTech and CX learning platform. Jason has authored over 20 peer-reviewed academic studies on retail topics ranging from omnichannel retail, augmented reality, showrooming, and data privacy, and regularly shares his research as a featured author for Inside Retail. He is a judge for retail industry awards hosted by Inside Retail and the National Retail Association, and was named on ReThink Retail’s global Top Retail Influencers list for 2023 – the only Australian academic to be included.

You can contact Jason at LinkedIn

Jessica Pallant from Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Jessica Pallant is a Marketing Academic within Swinburne Business School with specific expertise in consumer services, customer experience, and the impacts of emerging technologies. She has a PhD in Marketing focused on the human side of customisation technologies, and has led multiple studies on topics including generative AI, customer experience, retailing, and service innovation which have been published in leading peer-reviewed academic journals.

She shares her expertise with leading organisations in retail and consumer services through commissioned research and consulting projects, and regularly writes for public outlets including Inside Retail and The Conversation.

You can contact Jess at LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Natalie Wakeling, founder of Embody Women. Natalie landed her first editorial spread in Cosmopolitan Magazine in 2000 and since then has worked with every major Australian fashion title, plus-size brand and large retailer.  Her own struggle as a teenager to find cool fashion that actually fit, led her on a crusade for size inclusivity – and in 2006 she launched her own plus size fashion label, Embody Women.  In our chat, Natalie shares the surprising stats of the plus size fashion market, her trust policy with returns and the journey she’s taken to acquisition.

Links from the episode:

Embody Women

Shopify Plus (sponsored)

Signet (sponsored)

Questions answered:

• How is the Australian fashion industry doing when it comes to  inclusive sizing?
• What was it like working as a plus size model for the last 15 years?
• What’s your advice for brands who’d like to explore more inclusive sizing?

This episode was brought to you by…  

Shopify Plus

Signet

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

About your co-host: Natalie Wakeling from Embody Women

Natalie Wakeling is one of Australia’s most well-known plus-size models. Since her first editorial spread for Cosmopolitan Magazine back in 2000, she has been a fierce advocate for body inclusivity in the fashion industry, helping pave the way for some of today’s biggest names in curve fashion.

You can contact Natalie at LinkedIn

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.