Ecommerce Conversations
Long-running weekly podcast from Practical Ecommerce, hosted by entrepreneur Eric Bandholz. Each episode features candid interviews with ecommerce founders and executives about launching, growing, and sustaining online businesses – covering customer acquisition, marketing tactics, conversion optimization, logistics, tools, funding, and more. New episodes every Friday.
2 Bootstrapped D2C Brands, 1 CEO
In this episode, Eric Bandholz sits down with serial D2C founder Eric (last name not given) to discuss the contrasting dynamics of his two bootstrapped brands: Brio, a durable men’s grooming tool, and Oli, a consumable oral‑care line. They explore the challenges of turning a one‑time, high‑ticket product into repeat revenue versus the advantages of low‑ticket, replenishable items that drive higher customer lifetime value. The conversation also delves into how to balance focus with side projects, using rapid, low‑risk product experiments to discover hidden hero products—like Oli’s fluoride‑free toothpaste—and the importance of listening to customer feedback to iterate quickly. Finally, they share practical tactics for building a subscription model that minimizes churn by delivering a product customers need daily.
Ecommerce Investor on Turnaround Tactics (Encore)
In this episode, Eric Bandholz talks with Maytab, co‑founder of Cardo Ventures, about how they locate, evaluate, and turn around distressed e‑commerce brands. Maytab explains their focus on businesses that can be trimmed to a manageable size—typically $15‑20 million in revenue—and...
Inside Beardbrand's Expansion Plan
In this solo episode, Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, outlines the brand’s post‑crisis growth plan after years of legal battles, tax liens, and a $1 million loss. He explains that the traditional beard‑care market has plateaued and become a red‑ocean, prompting...
Surviving D2C's Boom and Bust
In this episode of E‑Commerce Conversations, Chris Richard, co‑founder of the DTC luxury footwear brand Koyo, walks host Eric Bandles through a decade of building, scaling, and exiting a direct‑to‑consumer shoe company. He explains how early capital raises (totaling about...
Iris Founder Talks AI-Powered Finance
In this episode, Eric Bandholz chats with Drew, founder and CEO of Iris Finance, about how AI agents are reshaping e‑commerce finance and operations. Drew explains Iris’s data‑infrastructure platform that centralizes information from Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, QuickBooks and more, then...
EcomFuel Founder on 2026 Industry Trends
In this episode, Andrew, founder of the EcomFuel community, breaks down the 2026 E-commerce Trends report based on surveys of 300 mid‑to‑large DTC brands. The four headline findings are: massive AI adoption with no clear financial edge yet; Amazon’s share...
My Ideal Second Business
In this solo episode of E‑Commerce Conversations, host Eric Banholz explores the concept of running a second business—often a low‑maintenance, high‑margin venture that provides freedom while the primary e‑commerce brand continues to grow. He outlines the ideal characteristics of such...
Ditch the Discount, Says Brand Marketer
In this episode, host Eric Banholz chats with e‑commerce strategist Shireen, known as the "D2C queen," about moving beyond deep discounting to smarter offer strategies. Shireen shares how AI agents can automate tasks without forcing new habits, and emphasizes that...
How Vessi Sells Waterproof Shoes
In this episode, Vessi’s Director of E‑commerce, Ray, explains how the D2C waterproof sneaker brand grew from a Kickstarter launch to double‑digit annual growth by focusing on a lightweight, breathable Diamond‑knit technology and a community‑first marketing strategy. He highlights the...
From Teacher to Fashion Brand Founder
In this episode, former middle‑school teacher Nazrin Jafari shares how she pivoted during the pandemic to launch Mixed, a Brooklyn‑based, print‑forward fashion brand. She discusses her organic Instagram‑first sales approach, the challenges of inventory, pre‑orders, and returns, and how she...
Beardbrand's Top Ecommerce Tools in 2026
In this solo episode, Beardbrand founder Eric Bandholz walks listeners through his 18 favorite ecommerce tools for 2026, covering everything from core site infrastructure to marketing automation, operations, and creative production. He explains why each platform—ranging from Shopify Plus and...
M&A Advisor on Ecommerce Valuations
In this episode, Frank Kosarek, co‑founder of the M&A marketplace BizPort and former head of acquisitions for a major ecommerce aggregator, explains how ecommerce business valuations have shifted toward discretionary earnings and recurring revenue models like subscriptions. He outlines the...
DIY Approach Fuels Craft Cocktail Brand
Chris Harrison recounts how he and two high‑school friends turned a single pot of cocktail syrup into Liber & Co., now producing 1,500‑gallon batches sold globally to bars, restaurants, and consumers. He explains the brand’s DIY, learn‑by‑doing culture, from sourcing...
Protein Bar Founder Thrives in a Crowded Field (Encore)
Will Nitze, founder and CEO of IQBAR, explains how his plant‑based, low‑sugar protein bar succeeded by targeting uncompetitive niches and clear labeling, launching via a $75,000 Kickstarter seven years ago. He expands on scaling the business, adding complementary products like...