Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
James Marks and Jennifer Yates
In each episode, we order a product from the same brand, meticulously analyzing both the front and back end of placing an order. We then reverse engineer the storage, logistics, and packaging details to evaluate every step of its journey right to our doorsteps. And if we return a package, we'll dive into that process as well.
Welcome to Unboxing Ecommerce, the brainchild of two longtime friends and entrepreneurs, James Marks and Jennifer Yates. We met over 20 years ago while running our own brick-and-mortar businesses, and today, we're combining our expertise to dissect and understand the online shopping and shipping experience.
Join us for a comprehensive, 360-degree view of ecommerce. Whether you're an industry professional, an ecomm enthusiast, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, we've got you covered.
Episodes drop every other Tuesday. Let's get to that box!
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Top 10 Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Tracksmith with Blair Beckwith
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
11/19/24 • 58 min
On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Tracksmith with special guest, Blair Beckwith. Blair has been working in the commerce enablement space for more than a decade. He got his start building the Shopify App Store. Today, he leads growth at Mantle, a company that powers back office and growth tooling for commerce enablement software companies.
Why Tracksmith?
Blair discovered Tracksmith while working with a reviews platform and was immediately drawn to their aesthetic and approach to running culture. Unlike the typical neon-heavy running gear, Tracksmith's understated, classic New England-inspired design stood out, embodying a vintage track team vibe.
Tracksmith: www.tracksmith.com
Research included these sources
- Tracksmith: www.tracksmith.com/pages/about
- Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/katiebaron/2022/10/11/tracksmith-expands-how-americas-most-intellectual-running-brand-is-closing-cult-status
- Outside: www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/run/tracksmith-running-brand-business-profile
- Crunchbase: www.crunchbase.com/organization/tracksmith
- Pitchbook: www.pitchbook.com/profiles/company/65264-59#overview
- Tracksmith Fellowship: www.tracksmith.com/pages/tracksmith-fellowship-program
- Tracksmith Fellowship Recipient, Dinée Dorame: www.groundedpod.com/about/
Curated Technology List
- DatoCMS: www.datocms.com
- MNTN: www.mountain.com
- JustUno: www.justuno.com
Other Sites mentioned
- How To Pronounce: www.howtopronounce.com/luke-scheybeler
- Unlocking the Customer Value Chain: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562858/unlocking-the-customer-value-chain-by-thales-s-teixeira-with-greg-piechota/
Connect with Blair:
www.heymantle.com
www.linkedin.com/in/blairbeckwith
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Hugimals World with Christina Vanacore
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
10/22/24 • 39 min
On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Hugimals World with special guest, Christina Vanacore. Christina is a Certified Launch and Business Strategist, who provides launch strategy, identifies hidden opportunities for growth, and helps increase revenue and profits through strategic planning. She has covered everything from product development to marketing and sales strategies to help start and grow businesses and increase revenue and profits.
Why Hugimals?
Christina chose Hugimals because since their launch in 2022, they have seen tremendous success and have received incredible press and collaborations but at the time of choosing the brand was a DTC only brand which she personally finds intriquing.
Hugimals World: www.hugimalsworld.com
Research included these sources
- Hugimals World: www.hugimalsworld.com/pages/company
- Mojo Nation: www.mojo-nation.com/marina-khidekel-on-the-origins-of-her-award-winning-weighted-plush-range-hugimals
- Time Magazine: www.time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6228865/hugimals
- The Wie Suite: www.thewiesuite.com/post/marina-khidekel-founder-of-hugimals-on-how-to-launch-a-company
Curated Technology List
- Faire: www.faire.com
- Zigpoll: www.zigpoll.com
Other Sites mentioned
- Deep Touch Pressure: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5612681
- Benefits of Deep Touch Pressure: www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-deep-pressure-stimulation
- Hugimals on QVC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK3OxTRcheY
- Joyful Heart Foundation: www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
- Ryder's unboxing experience study: https://www.ryder.com/en-us/insights/white-papers/e-comm/2024-ryder-e-commerce-consumer-study
- J2K Logistics: https://j2kfun-gistics.com
Connect with Christina:
www.theproductdoula.com
www.instagram.com/theproductdoula
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Skratch Labs with Amanda Hofman
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
06/18/24 • 46 min
This week James and Jennifer order from Skratch Labs with special guest, Amanda Hofman, the Co-Founder and CEO of Go To Market. Go To Market is a woman-owned branded merchandise business looking to revolutionize the way the world handles swag. Before Go To Market, Amanda was the Founder and CEO of Urban Girl Squad, the premier social networking group for women in their 20s and 30s in NYC.
Why Skratch Labs?
Skratch sends THE BEST extra goodies with every order -- really weirdo stickers and sometimes a handwritten note!
Skratch Labs: www.skratchlabs.comResearch included these sources:
- Skratch Labs: https://www.skratchlabs.com/pages/about-us
- Leeds School of Business Newsletter: https://www.colorado.edu/business/deming/news/2023/01/26/alumni-spotlight-how-skratch-labs-sports-drinks-are-key-success-not-only-athletes-founder#:~:text=Give-,Alumni%20Spotlight%3A%20How%20Skratch%20Labs'%20Sports%20Drinks%20are%20the%20Key,but%20for%20Founder%20Allen%20Lim
- Aaron Foster Designs: https://aaronfoster.myshopify.com/pages/about-us
- RocketReach: https://rocketreach.co/skratch-labs-profile_b5e0e6d3f42e69c9
- Pitchbook: https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/122270-86#funding
- BFG: https://www.bfgpartners.com/
- Denver Channel 7 ABC: https://www.denver7.com/news/in-good-company/boulders-skratch-labs-cafe-builds-elite-sports-nutrition-into-comfort-food-menu
Skratch Lab's selected tech:
- Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/
- Gorgias: https://www.gorgias.com/
- Klayvio: https://www.klaviyo.com/
- Judge Me: https://judge.me/
Mentioned in the episode:
- What percentage of businesses fail? https://clarifycapital.com/blog/what-percentage-of-businesses-fail
- Tidio: https://www.tidio.com/
Connect with Amanda:
www.gotomarket.studio
www.instagram.com/gotomarketstudio
www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoldfinehofman/
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Summer Fridays with Jeff Kaiden
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
04/23/24 • 51 min
James, Jennifer, and their guest Jeff Kaiden (Capacity, LLC) order Summer Fridays' hero product and then some.
Research included these sources:
- Summer Fridays: https://summerfridays.com/pages/about
- Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/how-summer-fridays-founders-went-from-online-to-in-stores-162786373733
- Pitchbook: https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/267885-01#investors
- The Industry.Beauty: https://theindustry.beauty/the_directory/summer-fridays/
- Zoominfo: https://www.zoominfo.com/c/summer-fridays-llc/446220785
- CBInsights: https://www.cbinsights.com/company/summer-fridays
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviaperez/2022/04/22/the-best-entrepreneurial-lessons-from-summer-fridays-founders-marianna-hewitt-and-lauren-gores-ireland/?sh=506941152df5
Curated Technology List
- Attentive, https://www.attentive.com/ An AI marketing platform to create hyper-personalized SMS and email
- Zendesk, https://www.zendesk.com/ Customer experience solution
- Keras, https://keras.io/ Machine learning developer tool used as a recommendation model
- UserWay, https://userway.org/ Helping websites comply with ADA law and conform with WCAG guidelines
- Route, https://route.com/ Keeps tabs on deliveries
Appreciation to our special guest:
Jeff Kaiden, Founder & CEO of Capacity, LLC
Capacity, LLC: Fulfillment (retail, ecomm, international), plus kitting, assembly, and gift wrap.
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Cometeer Coffee with Cody Berenson
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
05/07/24 • 47 min
James, Jennifer, and their guest Cody Berenson (Siddhi Capital) order Cometeer Coffee and are captured by its specialness.
Why Cometeer Coffee? A Food/Beverage Operator thought this disruptive product delivered in an unconventional way would present an interesting exploration into supply chain, packaging, and logistics.
Research included these sources:
- Cometeer Coffee: https://cometeer.com/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cometeer_Coffee and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Howell_(entrepreneur)
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2023/01/30/cometeer-coffee-pods-layoffs-ceo-switch/
Sites Mentioned:
- Impact of the Cold Chain on Sustainability
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/01/27/expanding-global-cold-chains-effective-adaptation-or-dangerous-contribution-to-climate-change/ - Cake Mix, Eggs and Marketing
https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/pop-culture/article/cake-mix-history - Return Address ships from LBA
https://lbalogistics.com/home/ - Packaging from Pratt Industries
https://www.pratt.com/products/
Appreciation to our special guest:
Cody Berenson, VP of Operations and Services at Siddhi Capital
Siddhi Capital: Growth equity firm investing in food tech and emerging CPG brands in food and beverage.
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Milk Makeup with Tyler DeLarm
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
09/24/24 • 52 min
On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Milk Makeup with special guest, Tyler DeLarm. Tyler, Head of Demand Generation at Undigital, is a seasoned business leader and marketing consultant with a reputation for guiding successful teams with optimistic kindness. His unique combination of expertise in brand positioning, organizational behavior, and demand generation has been instrumental in adding millions of dollars in annual revenue to multiple companies.
Why Milk Makeup?
Tyler chose Milk Makeup because their unboxing experience score was a 7.5 of 10 on Undigital’s guidelines. That is a great score and he believes they have a good story.
Milk Makeup: www.milkmakeup.com
Research included these sources
- Milk Makeup: www.milkmakeup.com/pages/about-us
- Milk Group: www.milkgroup.com
- Wikipedia: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_Makeup
- VMagazine: www.vmagazine.com/article/milk-makeup-founders-on-the-brands-next-chapter
Curated Technology List
- Shopify: www.shopify.com
- Narvar: www.corp.narvar.com
- Geolocation: www.apps.shopify.com/geolocation
- Orbe: www.apps.shopify.com/orbe
- Recharge: www.apps.shopify.com/subscription-payments
- Eye Return: www.eyereturnmarketing.com
- Yieldify: www.yieldify.com
- Wunderkind: www.wunderkind.co
Other Sites mentioned
- How musical training affects cognitive development: rhythm, reward and other modulating variables: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3957486
Connect with Tyler:
www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdelarm
www.undigital.com
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Vida Bars with Luisa Salcedo
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
10/08/24 • 43 min
On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Vida Bars with special guest, Luisa Salcedo. Luisa is a seasoned Fractional COO with over a decade of experience in Operations. She specializes in helping purpose-driven CEOs by implementing operational strategies that eliminate chaos, boost revenue, and empower leaders to innovate and thrive. Throughout her career, she has successfully distributed $3 billion in inventory across CPG and e-commerce, working with major retailers like Costco and Kroger.
Why Vida Bars?
Luisa chose Vida Bars because they offer a sustainable product, they are Latina owned, and she's been very impressed with their seamless e-commerce experience.
Vida Bars: www.thevidabars.com
Research included these sources
- Vida Bars: www.thevidabars.com/pages/about-us
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vidabars/about
- Made in OK: www.madeinoklahoma.net/producer/vida-bars
- Retail Boss: www.retailboss.co/interview-ana-nunez-founder-vida-bars
Curated Technology List
- Shopify: www.shopify.com
- Revenue Hunt: www.revenuehunt.com
- Wholesale Guerilla: www.apps.shopify.com/wholesale-gorilla
- Smile: www.smile.io
- Tolstoy: www.gotolstoy.com/ecommerce
Other Sites mentioned
- Biden-Harris Administration Cracking Down on De Minimis Shipments: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/13/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-protect-american-consumers-workers-and-businesses-by-cracking-down-on-de-minimis-shipments-with-unsafe-unfairly-traded-products/
- Lighthouse Score: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse/performance/performance-scoring
- The Body Keeps the Score: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Keeps_the_Score
- Monique Benoit on Unboxing Ecommerce Ep 18
- Mary Wiegand on Unboxing Ecommerce Ep 16
Connect with Luisa:
www.linkedin.com/in/luisasalcedo
www.theefficiencymaven.com
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Magic Spoon with Maggie Barnett, Esq
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
11/05/24 • 54 min
On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Magic Spoon with special guest, Maggie Barnett, Esq. Maggie is the COO of ShipHero, overseeing operational, legal, managerial, and administrative procedures. She also founded ShipHero Fulfillment (LVK) in 2019, growing it to over $80M in revenue.
Why Magic Spoon?
Maggie chose Magic Spoon because she wanted a healthy cereal option that still offered the nostalgic experience of traditional sugary cereals. Inside the episode there is a twist on why she chose this brand specifically.
Magic Spoon: www.magicspoon.com
Research included these sources
- Magic Spoon: www.magicspoon.com/pages/our-story
- Wirecutter: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/magic-spoon-cereal-review
- Yahoo Finance: www.finance.yahoo.com/news/siddhi-capital-raises-135m-invest-111718550.html?guccounter=1
- Crunchbase: www.crunchbase.com/organization/magic-spoon/company_financials
- Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/daveknox/2023/05/10/how-magic-spoon-brought-innovation-to-the-breakfast-table
- Modern Retail: www.modernretail.co/operations/being-everywhere-that-people-buy-and-sell-cereal-how-magic-spoon-went-from-online-only-to-wholesale-in-six-months
- Food Institute: www.foodinstitute.com/focus/85-million-to-the-clearance-bin-is-magic-spoon-done
- Food Business News: www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/23178-magic-spoon-goes-big-in-brick-and-mortar
Curated Technology List
- Segment: www.segment.com
- Malomo: www.gomalomo.com
Other Sites mentioned
- FTID Fraud: www.startops.network/media/startops-guide-to-ftid-fraud
- Offlimits: www.eatofflimits.com
- Allulose versus Monk Fruit: www.thebalancednutritionist.com/allulose-vs-monk-fruit/
Connect with Maggie:
www.shiphero.com
www.linkedin.com/in/maggiembarnett
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Temu
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
04/09/24 • 44 min
James and Jennifer wrap their heads around Temu.
Why Temu? We wanted to understand how this Chinese app came out of nowhwere and its influence on American shoppers.
Research included these sources:
- Temu: https://www.temu.com/about-temu.html
- Time: https://time.com/6243738/temu-app-complaints/
- ZDNet: https://www.zdnet.com/article/is-temu-legit-what-to-know-about-this-wildly-popular-shopping-app/
- NPR: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/14/1230907159/temu-shopping-app-super-bowl-ads
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temu_(marketplace)
Sites Mentioned:
- Lings Cars: https://www.lingscars.com/
- Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/forced-labor/UFLPA
- Center for Humane Technology: https://www.humanetech.com/
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
Bed Bath and Beyond with Michelle Hsiao
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
05/21/24 • 53 min
This week James and Jennifer order from Bed, Bath, and Beyond with special guest, Michelle Hsiao, the CEO and Founder of Revenue Growth Advisors. Michelle brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously led merchandising teams at prestigious companies like Boscov’s, Macy’s, and Gugu Guru. With her extensive background in ecommerce strategy, merchandising, and profitability improvement, Michelle provides invaluable insights into the world of retail and ecommerce.
Why Bed Bath and Beyond?
Michelle was particularly interested in how Overstock has rebranded itself as Bed, Bath, and Beyond. She noted the intrigue in examining how the customer experience has evolved, especially considering Bed, Bath, and Beyond's past reputation for poor ecommerce and digital marketing.
Bed Bath & Beyond: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/
Research included these sources:
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_Bath_%26_Beyond
- CNN Business: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/business/bed-bath-beyond-relaunch/index.html
- Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bed-bath-beyond/company_financials
Bed Bath and Beyond's selected tech:
- Freshworks, https://www.freshworks.com/
- Customer service, IT, and CRM software: Quantcast, https://www.quantcast.com/
- Measurable Outcomes: Sparkpost, now Bird.com
- Personalized interactions on Email, SMS, and WhatsApp: Orita https://www.orita.ai/
- Emails customers actually see: Criteo, https://www.criteo.com/
Mentioned in the episode:
- Cat Shipped to Amazon (It’s ok!) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/29/cat-amazon-box
- Google is disabling cookie tracking for all users by the beginning of 2025
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2024/05/01/the-role-of-googles-privacy-sandbox-in-the-future-of-targeted-ads/?sh=5b8b4f712975
Connect with Michelle:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-hsiao/
Revenue Growth Advisors: https://therevgrowthadvisors.com/
_______________
Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at [email protected]
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________
Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com
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FAQ
How many episodes does Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands have?
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands currently has 27 episodes available.
What topics does Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands cover?
The podcast is about Marketing, Ecommerce, Podcasts, Technology, Ecommerce Marketing and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands?
The episode title 'Cometeer Coffee with Cody Berenson' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands?
The average episode length on Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands is 48 minutes.
How often are episodes of Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands released?
Episodes of Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands?
The first episode of Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands was released on Nov 4, 2023.
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