Welcome back to PalletSide Chat! Peak season was a wild ride, and now that we're into 2023, it's time to look at how far we've come in the past year. In our previous episode, our hosts went over the big topics when prepping for peak – so this week, let’s reflect on what worked (and didn't!)
The topics we cover are:
Finally, Alex answers a listener’s question about how he got his skincare brand, BlackWolf Nation, onto retail shelves. And his answer isn’t quite what you expect!
So, what are you waiting for? Tune into the brand new episode of our podcast, PalletSide Chat!
PalletSide Chat is where you get the real scoop on launching, growing, and scaling D2C brands and 3PL operations. It doesn't matter if you're a first-time founder or an experienced veteran; we'll unpack stories, lessons, and mistakes that are part of the journey.
Your co-hosts are Alex Lewkowict (Co-Founder of Black Wolf Nation and COO of One23 Fulfillment) and Dan Van Meer (VP of Marketing at ShipHero).
If you have comments or suggestions, let us know by emailing us at podcast@shiphero.com.
In this episode of PalletSide Chat, Dan Van Meer and Alex Lewkowict discuss a few things they're thinking about as they look toward 2023, particularly how to get creative with product optimization. In today's business environment, it is easy to lose sight of the things that you have control over. This is especially true in uncertain times when there are so many question marks about the future of eCommerce and the supply chain. Nevertheless, Alex and Dan have discovered that the key to success lies in focusing on the micro-level actions you can control. So, what are some of these controllable factors?
PalletSide Chat is where you get the real scoop on launching, growing, and scaling D2C brands and 3PL operations. It doesn't matter if you're a first-time founder or an experienced veteran, we'll unpack stories, lessons, and mistakes that are part of the journey.
Your co-hosts are Alex Lewkowict (Co-Founder of Black Wolf Nation and COO of One23 Fulfillment) and Dan Van Meer (VP of Marketing at ShipHero).
If you have comments or suggestions, let us know by emailing us at podcast@shiphero.com.
Shipping rates may be skyrocketing, but that doesn't mean your eCommerce business has to suffer. In our PalletSide Chat Podcast episode with ShipHero, COO Maggie Barnett brought together Brett Tepper from ModKat and Rich Brewer from Boutique Brands to discuss practical solutions for keeping costs low and customers happy.
They cover everything from optimizing fulfillment processes to utilizing technology effectively. Tune in for the tips and tricks these experts have gleaned from their own experiences running successful eCommerce businesses in an ever-changing landscape. Don't let rising shipping rates hinder your success.
PalletSide Chat is where you get the real scoop on what it takes to launch, grow, and scale D2C brands and 3PL operations. It doesn't matter if you're a first-time founder or an experienced veteran, we'll unpack stories, lessons and mistakes that are part of the journey.
Your co-hosts are Alex Lewkowict (Co-Founder of Black Wolf Nation and COO of One23 Fulfillment) and Dan Van Meer (VP of Marketing at ShipHero).
If you have comments or suggestions, let us know by emailing us at podcast@shiphero.com.
Have you ever had a million-dollar idea but didn't know where to start? Look no further than PalletSide Chat's interview with Evan Johansen, CEO, and founder of Auri. At 22 years old, Johansen is already a serial entrepreneur and has some valuable insight into marketing strategies for startups. In this chat with hosts Dan Van Meer and Alex Lewkowict, Johansen shares how he turned his mushroom gummy idea into a booming business. He proves that with hard work and some clever marketing strategies, your dreams can become tangible successes. In this podcast you will: Learn how to market your startup like a pro, Identify social media strategies that work, Utilize advertising tactics to control ad spend, + Turn your dreams into tangible successes.
Are your peak season jitters starting to set in? Never fear - here at PalletSide Chat, we have your back! Today we're chatting about the "wild west" that is peak season, and practical things you can do now to set yourself up for success as the orders start streaming in. At the end of this episode, Alex shares the "peak-est" peak season moment he's experienced so far...and it's worth the wait. We'll also chat through: - Prep work that sets the table for peak season success - Why success during peak starts in January - Hiring and motivating your warehouse team - Delivering great customer experiences
Ever wonder what life would be like if you were the co-founder of a men's skincare DTC brand, as well as a high-touch 3PL? That may be oddly specific, but in the inaugural episode of PalletSide Chat we're unpacking that journey with Alex Lewkowict, who has done both as Co-Founder of Black Wolf Nation and One23 Fulfillment. Alex shares about:
PalletSide Chat, brought to you by ShipHero, is your source for the real goods on what it takes to launch, grow, and scale D2C brands and 3PL operations. Whether you're a first-time founder or a grizzled veteran with multiple exits under your belt, we'll unpack the stories, lessons and mistakes that are a part of the journey. Your co-hosts are Alex Lewkowict (Co-Founder of Black Wolf Nation and COO of One23 Fulfillment) and Dan Van Meer (VP of Marketing at ShipHero).
The final episode of our season of entrepreneurship! We've spoken with 10 entrepreneurs who have launched 10+ products that are thriving in the marketplace today. We've learned a lot about what it feels like to make and sell and ship a product in this world. Here's a recap of the objects we've covered:
Special thanks to Maria Level at Footprint Forward for giving us perspective and analysis of each product.
We meet Rich Gonzalez and talk about his patented double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel smoking apparatus (for totally legal recreational smoking activities). How do 20 years of retail work experience in grocery and housewares help an entrepreneur design, make, ship, and market products in a brand new industry?
If you are looking for a gorgeous, innovative, cold-water, maximum flavor smoking apparatus by Rich, go to https://chill.store/
We meet Erica Rankin and talk about her delicious, better-for-you vegan cookie dough brand. How does a psychology major launch a cookie dough brand without any prior entrepreneurial experience?
If you are in Canada and are looking for a healthy sweet treat: https://brodough.ca/
We meet Chioma and Uchenna, two sisters who founded a thriving brand that sells African-made fashion, apparel, jewelry, and beauty products. They went from pop-up shops to NYC billboards, pivoting their company from in-person events to addictive social-posting during the pandemic. How do they turn social content into brand loyalty? What lessons did they learn along their journey?
Buy their products here: https://www.ceeceesclosetnyc.com/
We meet Nick O'Brien, a zoom graduate from Vanderbilt University who co-founded a phone case company while in Covid quarantine. How does a new college graduate start a product business from scratch in the middle of a global pandemic? Get inspired and learn how you can set up a Shopfiy site, find a manufacturing parter, and maybe get your product featured on Good Morning America.
Buy Nick's product here: https://getalloi.com/
We're talking with the one and only Anna Dee — the Professional Goddess, the Bosslady, Dildo Dealer, Pitbull mom and a million other titles, like warehouse owner, business founder, and teacher. Find out how this self-taught entrepreneur began her journey selling handmade items on Etsy. How did that little venture turn into 5 active businesses?
Get Anna's gear here: https://alienoutfitters.com/
We get out of the way and hand the mic to our guests - it's the Objects B Side!
Today we're handing the mic to Yong-Soo Chung from Urban EDC so he can his story, from Wall Street to coding school to test-selling headphones on Amazon. This is a great pep talk for any listener who is active on Instagram but doesn't know how to turn that activity into a business.
Our most glamorous episode ever! Meet an executive of a 3rd generation retail jewelry company whose bold leadership grew her family business from $3M annual revenue to over $20M. How did she do that? This same leader then dramatically pivoted her business model by launching a direct-to-consumer brand that sold exclusively online. Why did she do that? The answer to both questions comes from her ability to read the market and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.
Our guest: Stefanie Taylor
Her companies:
https://www.gennaroinc.com/
https://www.zaxie.com/
Our most OBJECTIFIED episode ever! Meet an entrepreneur who launched one of the first online stores for the EDC community. EDC stands for 'everyday carry' - it is a reference to the unremarkable items we normally keep in our pockets (like wallets, pens, or lighters). The EDC community finds the best-made versions of these objects, like titanium pens or nickel-plated lighters. To the EDC community, these items can be lifetime possessions of immense value when they are made well. One thing you'll learn in this episode is that the EDC community especially loves KNIVES.
Our guest: Yong-Soo Chung
Companies he founded:
https://urbanedcsupply.com/
https://www.growthjet.com/
https://spottedbyhumphrey.com/
We get out of the way and hand the mic to our guests - it's the Objects B Side! Today we're handing the mic to Nick and Jonathan from Sensor Push so they can give us their backstory, from art school to consultancy to selling their first object on Amazon. This is a great pep talk for any listener who wants to be an entrepreneur but doesn't know what you would make or sell. There is hope for you!
New Season. New Episodes. New Host.
Dropping this month. This is Objects with ShipHero.
Let's do this.
New Season. New Episodes. New Host.
Launching this summer. This is Objects with ShipHero.
Let's do this.