Michael Ting is the Head of Revenue at Jaxxon, a large and growing men's jewelry ecommerce business. Reach out to Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltinggt/ and on X at https://x.com/michaelandeggie.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
Jordan Menard is the co-founder of Instant Hydration (https://instanthydration.com). Watch Jordan argue with me on X at https://x.com/jordanhaswings.
Link to "Natural CAC" episode referenced here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AixptvPq3abChpFIjiYos?si=HTFHAYnLRpa-xHbToIPXeA
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
Edward Wimmer IV is the CEO of RoadID Brands. Visit his brands at https://roadid.com and https://dogid.com, and soon, https://rackrabbit.com. Use the code AndrewFaris20 for 20% off at RoadID and DogID.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
WORKSPACE6
Workspace6 is a private community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators and executives. Join for just $1 for your first month and no annual commitments at https://workspace6.io.
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Most eCommerce founders are being sold a fantasy about AI — instant efficiency, zero friction, unlimited growth. The truth? For most operators, implementing AI creates new layers of complexity before it delivers real results.
In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down how his agency, AJF Growth, is actually integrating AI into their creative process — from scripting and ad generation to process design and client delivery. You’ll hear the unfiltered reality of what’s working, what’s breaking, and what every operator should know before betting their systems on automation.
If you lead a 7–9 figure brand or agency and are trying to scale profitably in the age of AI, this conversation will save you months of frustration. Learn how to think like an engineer about context, process, and adoption — so you can turn AI from a shiny object into a real advantage.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:11 - The Complications of A.I.
00:04:10 - AI First Processes
00:08:41 - Using The Tools To Scale Creatives
00:12:48 - A.I. Tool Updates & Changing Brands
00:18:56 - How To Get People To Use AI Properly
00:21:14 - Adoption of AI Long Term
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Kareem Elgendy is the CEO of Veiled, a multiple 8-figure apparel brand running at 15% EBITDA selling modest clothing primarily for Muslim women. If you're interested in working with Kareem's incubator and/or 3PL, visit https://ynkincubator.com.
//
Most eCommerce brands plateau at $1-3M because they chase growth without fixing unit economics. Kareem L. Gendi, CEO of Veiled, did the opposite — and now runs an 8-figure brand with a 10.68 MER and 40% penetration of his target market. In this episode, you'll learn how a bootstrapped modest apparel brand cracked profitability at scale through ruthless focus on contribution margin, supply chain innovation (including 90-day payment terms from Chinese manufacturers), and strategic retail expansion.
This isn't theory — it's the playbook from a founder who survived crushing inventory debt and emerged with a business throwing off real profit.
If you're stuck between growth and cash flow, this conversation will rewire how you think about scaling. Kareem breaks down the exact moment they stopped relying on gut and started using data to drive merchandising decisions, how they negotiated payment terms that changed their cash position overnight, and why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the next frontier for DTC brands. You'll also hear about their 3PL and incubator model for operators who want to leverage Veiled's infrastructure. This is essential listening for founders running 7-9 figure brands who are tired of burning cash to hit revenue targets that don't matter.
Key Takeaways:
- Market penetration strategies for niche audiences
- Unit economics that actually drive profitability
- Supply chain negotiation tactics
- How to scale bootstrapped brands without dilution
- Retail expansion done right
- GEO and the future of search optimization
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:07 - What Is Veiled?
00:04:11 - Product Variability
00:07:55 - Cultural Values & Marketing Strategy
00:10:34 - Veiled IS A Profit Monster
00:16:45 - Investing In OpEx
00:20:21 - Veiled’s Top Notch Logistics Strategy
00:23:33 - Looking Into The Data
00:31:57 - Outsourcing Marketing Needs
00:36:14 - Lowering Shipping Costs
00:40:13 - Profitability Hacks
00:46:50 - Wins & Losses With Supply Chain
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Taylor Holiday is the Founder and CEO at Common Thread Collective. Follow Taylor on X at https://x.com/taylorholiday.
//
This episode is a candid operator-to-operator breakdown with Taylor Holiday: how to structure a real partnership (50/50 vs 51/49), when and why to keep control, and the practical protections that matter: buyback rights, vesting, and incentive design. We cover how equity should reflect the actual working relationship and why “growth is the CEO’s job” when profit requires coordinating revenue, margin, inventory, and media (not just a “head of growth”).
We also dig into today’s Meta reality: marketplace CAC, spend/efficiency cliffs, and why bid caps exist (and when they don’t solve strategy). We contrast “explore vs expand” as a creative system, discuss whether LLMs can pre-score ad winners, and map org design so new lines (e.g., women’s) don’t get starved by near-term KPIs. Plus: why LinkedIn may print more B2B money than Twitter, and how to build a differentiated “coaching tree” instead of copy-paste agency positioning.
If you’re an eCommerce operator under margin pressure who still needs to grow, this is a sharp hour on equity, incentives, and scalable acquisition.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:09 - Taylor Coaches Andrew On His Equity Deal
00:03:43 - Measuring A Partners Value In A Business
00:09:09 - Common Concerns From Taylor
00:20:14 - Hot Take On Peter Thiel & Creating A Monopoly
00:25:43 - Growth Strategy Discussion - Market Taker
00:34:36 - Competing With The Big Dogs In Paid Ads
00:38:15 - Type of Team At CTC
00:44:04 - The Parenting Metaphor
00:59:08 - Bound Maximizers With Ads
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Sunil Agrawal is the founder and CEO of VGL Group, a $400 million holding company that includes Shop LC, a $240 million/year brand. Reach out to Sunil at sunil@vglgroup.com if you want to work with him.
//
How do you scale a publicly traded, $400M holding company while keeping margins healthy and brand trust intact?
Sunil Agrawal (CEO, VGL Group / Shop LC) breaks down the real playbook: a “deep discount” value strategy that doesn’t nuke brand equity, a vertical advantage with 60% in-house manufacturing in India, and a TV-first engine transitioning to DTC with disciplined Meta and OTT investment. We get specific on pricing architecture (e.g., “everything under $10” days), how value perception feeds LTV, and when a premium assortment can coexist with promotion without eroding positioning.
For operators, this episode is a masterclass in scale mechanics and leadership: setting a goal of $500k–$1M/month per brand on Meta (and how to learn enough to hire well), allocating ~$250k/month to OTT while TV still performs, and building an org that executes—RSUs for 250 leaders, formal training hours, succession planning, and a bureaucracy-free culture built on continual learning. If you’re wrestling with profitable growth, discount anxiety, or the TV to DTC bridge, this is an hour that will sharpen your roadmap.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:47 - Breaking Down Shop LC
00:05:45 - Setting The Right Expectations For A $400M Holding Company
00:08:24 - Significance of a “TV First” Brand
00:09:36 - Deep Discount Model
00:17:05 - Marketing Strategy For All Shop LC Brands
00:24:28 - Importance of Owning The Manufacturing & Sourcing
00:25:57 - Sunil Pinpoints This Key To Success
00:36:55 - Learning Opportunities & Work Conferences
00:39:35 - Importance of Learning & Information
00:42:16 - Goal Setting For Each Brand
00:45:41 - Why DTC Didn’t Work At First
00:47:02 - Successful Team = Successful Business
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
What if the biggest risk to your brand isn’t competition or CPMs - it's how you define success?
In this episode, Andrew walks through a practical framework for setting reasonable, operator-grade goals using EOS (10-year → 3-year → 1-year → quarterly), then pressure-testing those goals against your real constraints: product pipeline, supply chain, hiring, onboarding, and P&L design. We dig into why “rocket ship” thinking so often creates chaos: over-hiring, over-buying inventory, and chasing vanity targets - and how durable brands actually grow: methodically, with clear success criteria and a bias toward profitability.
You’ll learn how to translate vision into numbers; why returning-customer mix lowers CAC% over time; how to engineer margin through supplier work (terms, lead times, BOM interrogation); and when to seize moments without over-leveraging. Real operator cases—Born Primitive, Simple Modern, Natural Dog Company, CTC—illustrate why steady compounding beats aggressive targets that break systems. If you want a calmer calendar and a fatter P&L, this is the playbook.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:06 - Using EOS As a Framework
00:04:10 - What Is Motivating You & Your Goals (For Your Business)
00:07:42 - How Can Your Vision Be A Constraint?
00:09:01 - Examples of Great Brands
00:16:16 - Andrew defines a Rocketship Business
00:19:10 - Good Businesses Build Steady Overtime
00:25:31 - The Secret Sauce Brands Are Using To Grow
00:28:33 - Maximizing Key Moments
00:30:34 - P&L Design
00:32:53 - Don’t Let The Promise of A.I. Fool You
00:34:49 - Goals for AJF Growth
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Patrick Coddou is my business partner & COO at AJF Growth. He previously built, operated, and in 2022 exited Supply, a men's grooming business he co-founded with his wife. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.
//
Most brands don’t have a creative problem—they have a process problem. In this episode, Andrew and AJF Growth COO Patrick Kadu break down how to operationalize creative so it consistently drives profit. We cover why the message is the asset, how to build a database of messages per brand, and how to bolt on a “hook library” that accelerates iteration without bloating your stack.
We also dig into Sora 2 (AI video) as a practical tool for 3–5 second hooks—where it works, where it fails, and how to deploy it without derailing your team. You’ll hear how we separate Explore vs. Expand in paid social, resist tool proliferation, and turn ideas into a repeatable process clients can trust. If you care about speed, clarity, and profitable growth (not just flashy toolS) then this is your operator’s guide.
What you’ll learn:
- A message-first framework that scales creative and protects margins
- How to stand up a “hook library” and plug it into weekly cadences
- When AI video (Sora 2) is ROI-positive for paid hooks—and when it isn’t
- The agency principle: performance + trust beats everything
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:58 - Open AI & Sora 2
00:09:05 - Using AI For Content Creation For Your Brand
00:16:19 - Does Your Marketing Clients Want You To Do This?
00:19:54 - Ad Inspiration & Using Other User Content
00:22:50 - Explore & Expand
00:28:39 - Process Oriented Attack For Creatives
00:35:00 - Writing a Hook Strategy
00:39:04 - Will Meta Dox My Ad?
00:43:23 - Repeatable Process & Implementation
00:54:22 - 2 Key Aspects For Good Client Relationships
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
//
Dan Carnat is the Co-founder and CEO of Fiera Cosmetics, a mid 8-figure cosmetics brand founded in 2020.
//
What happens when a fast-growing DTC brand pushes price testing too far? Dan Carnat, CEO and co-founder of Fiera Cosmetics, breaks down the actual impact of pricing on conversion, acquisition, andmost importantly: reorder rates and LTV.
We dig into why a $40 customer is fundamentally different from a $16 customer, how “cheap growth” distorted channel signals and buyer mix, and why Fiera reversed course by introducing a higher-priced, improved SKU while protecting existing demand.We also unpack a pragmatic attribution stack for operators who care about truth over dashboards: platform numbers as a directional input, MMM for hypothesis generation, and incrementality tests for validation, including how Meta campaigns created measurable halo on Amazon even when the product wasn’t listed there.
Dan details Fiera’s “reality testing” process for new products (closing the loop between 5-star lovers and 1-star detractors), the operational cadence required to ship 20+ products in development without eroding trust, and supply-chain tradeoffs in a color-heavy category.
If you’re navigating margin pressure, price strategy, channel diversification (including performance-driven affiliates), or product-market fit at scale, this episode will give you concrete frameworks you can implement immediately.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:29 - What Went Wrong With Price Testing?
00:08:12 - Making Mistakes Can Reveal Truth About Business
00:10:02 - Unit Economics In Your Business
00:11:20 - Introducing A New Product with High Price Point
00:19:38 - Product Development Process
00:23:56 - Dan’s Fitness Goals & Growth Hacks
00:25:03 - Operations & Supply Chain For Fiera
00:33:36 - Where Is The Value In A Cosmetics Business?
00:35:58 - Rebranding
00:39:02 - What Makes Dan Sleep At Night???
00:41:52 - Highlight of Incrementally Testing
00:44:08 - Complexity of Lead Attribution
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
Most brands feel the Meta ceiling: spend more, ROAS drops—cut spend, volume collapses. In this episode, we unpack why that happens and how to scale profitably by understanding your natural CAC, the Meta auction mechanics, and the non-linear trade-off between efficiency and volume. You’ll learn how CPMs reflect marketplace equilibrium, why “two-to-one ROAS” shows up at scale, and what actually moves results: estimated action rate, post-click profit optimization, and business design that supports volume.
We walk through a practical playbook: identify your current natural CAC; use higher-quality, message-market-fit creative to penetrate deeper at the same bid; optimize profit per click (upsells, offers, bundles, pricing tests); explore new audiences/angles; ship new products to unlock fresh demand; and engineer the P&L (opex, supply chain terms, staffing, capital) so you can win more auctions without burning margin.
If you run a 7–9 figure brand and care about scaling with profitability, this is the meta-ads episode that pays for itself. What you’ll take away:
• How Meta’s auction actually prices your customer and why CAC “settles.”
• The marginal frontier concept and why scale/efficiency is non-linear.
• The levers that raise volume without wrecking contribution margin: creative EAR, profit-per-click tests, LTV expansion, and capitalization strategy.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:44 - What Is Natural CAC?
00:04:40 - High Volume Meta Ads
00:05:41 - Your Brands Natural Customer
00:08:10 - Breaking Down How Ad Auctions Work
00:12:21 - Why Meta CPM’s Have Gone Up
00:17:35 - The Value of a Specific Search Term
00:20:51 - The Importance of a Strong LTV
00:25:06 - How To Win At Cost Thresholds?
00:35:42 - Lowering Your OpEx
00:37:58 - The Best Brands DO THIS
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify
//
Colin McGuire is the co-founder of Boomn and the CEO of Glimmr. Follow Colin on X at https://x.com/colinvmcguire.
//
TikTok views don’t always equal profit—but they can unlock massive growth. In this episode, Colin McGuire of Glimmer breaks down how 40 million TikTok views in 96 days turned a small haircare brand into a cultural force that landed on shelves at Target and beyond.
Colin explains why TikTok Shop is rarely a profit engine on its own, but how it can serve as a break-even growth flywheel that fuels cultural relevance, media coverage, and retail buyer interest.
You’ll learn the exact tactics Glimmer used: affiliate seeding, influencer bursts, GMV Max amplification, and micro-influencer flywheels - to engineer virality and parlay it into retail expansion.
If you’re an eCommerce operator weighing where to invest next, this conversation reveals how TikTok Shop impacts not just DTC revenue, but also Meta performance, Amazon sales, and long-term retail strategy. It’s a candid look at the tradeoffs between profitability, virality, and sustained brand growth.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:00 - How I Grew Glimmr
00:07:01 - Importance of Community For Beauty Products
00:10:06 - The Impact of TikTok Viewership
00:17:55 - When The Revenue Doesn’t Match The Views
00:22:23 - The Issues With TikTok Shop
00:27:07 - Ad Tactics vs Brand
00:33:41 - Selling Products In Target
00:35:57 - Colin Breaks Down His TikTok Strategy
00:44:21 - Using Affiliate Influencers For Awareness
00:48:19 - Let Your Product Speak For Itself
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify
//Sean Agatep is the cofounder and COO of Vincero, an 8-figure men's accessories brand, and Tidal, a global staffing agency connecting you with great global talent. Learn more about Vincero at http://vincerocollective.com/.
//Most founders source from China, but very few have lived inside the supply chain for five years. In this episode, Sean Agatep from Vincero Collective shares how that experience gave him and his partners a deep advantage in manufacturing, supplier relationships, and building a profitable eCommerce brand.
You’ll learn how Vincero grew from a Kickstarter project into an eight-figure accessories business by mastering supply chain complexity, negotiating with dozens of suppliers, and building redundancy that most operators ignore. Sean explains how their time in China shaped decisions around product development, margins, and growth — and why Vincero chose stability and profitability over chasing hyper-growth.
If you’re an eCommerce operator facing margin pressure, struggling with supply chain inefficiencies, or deciding between scaling fast versus building sustainably, this conversation will give you frameworks and hard-earned lessons you won’t find anywhere else.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:02:19 - What Is Vincero?
00:03:36 - Approaching Growth In The Business
00:06:56 - My Team Moved To China
00:13:18 - Supplier Relationships
00:19:17 - Does Supply Chain Differ Between Types of Products?
00:26:21 - Stability = Peace of Mind
00:29:22 - Introducing A New Product To Your Brand
00:35:17 - Brief Dive Into A New Business For Sean
00:41:45 - Acquisition Ambitions
00:45:43 - What Approach To a HoldCo Is Sean Taking?
//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MOVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Pay less for COGS, get shorter lead times, and improve payment terms in your supply chain with help from Move Supply Chain at https://movesupplychain.com.
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
//
Drew Fallon is the founder and CEO of Iris. Learn more about Iris at www.irisfinance.co and follow Drew on X at https://x.com/drewfallon12.
//
Raising money has become almost taboo in the DTC and eCommerce world—but is that mindset actually holding brands back?
In this episode, Andrew sits down with Drew Fallon, CEO of Iris, fresh off a $6.2M seed round. They unpack the hard truths about fundraising, margins, forecasting, and why certain categories (like supplements and gummies) are scaling at lightning speed. Drew brings unique insight from inside the financials of 100+ eCommerce brands, offering perspective few operators ever get to see.
You’ll hear a candid discussion about:
- When raising capital creates real advantage (and when it kills your optionality)
- Why high gross margin is the ultimate cheat code for scale
- The long, overlooked sales cycle for B2B SaaS in eCommerce
- How forecasting and inventory planning can make or break growth
- The capital markets correction and what it means for CPG founders now
If you’re facing margin pressure, considering outside investment, or just want a sharper financial lens on your business, this episode is a masterclass in understanding the numbers that matter.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:15 - Raising Money
00:03:43 - Influencer Marketing In DTC
00:07:40 - Drew’s Onboarding Sales Cycle
00:10:11 - Hiring For Head of Marketing
00:11:17 - The Future Of Iris
00:16:45 - The Up Trend For E-Commerce Brands
00:18:40 - These ARE The Brands That Win
00:27:52 - Drew’s Bucket Analogy
00:31:46 - Make Your Subscription Valuable To Customers
00:37:59 - Make The Case For Fundraising
00:47:27 - Early Growth Equity Funds
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SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Bryan Porter is the Chief Ecommerce Officer at Simple Modern. Follow him on X at https://x.com/jbryanporter and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbryanporter/.
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Simple Modern’s insulated drinkware shouldn’t have worked as a DTC business: low repeat purchase rates, heavy shipping costs, and thin margins. Yet somehow, Bryan Porter and his team took their average order value from $18 to $80—fundamentally reshaping the brand’s unit economics.
In this episode, Bryan explains why AOV growth isn’t just a vanity metric, but a lever for profitability when done intentionally. We break down the seven-year journey behind that transformation: bundling strategies that amortize shipping costs, personalization features like embroidery, limited-edition drops that command premium pricing, and product development designed for ecosystem buying.
This conversation also dives into bigger strategic lessons:
When to let Amazon carry single-unit orders, how to structure your site around differentiation, and why broader brand awareness—not just tactical hacks—ultimately drives scalable growth.
If you’re navigating thin margins, testing shipping thresholds, or struggling to profitably scale off Amazon, Bryan’s perspective is both practical and deeply insightful.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:02:24 - Andrew LOVES Oklahoma
00:02:54 - Is AOV The MOST Overrated Metric?
00:06:10 - Margin Profiles For A DTC Brand
00:13:57 - Product Development Process
00:21:17 - Increasing AOV
00:28:15 - The Pillars
00:36:16 - Tiktok Shops
00:45:40 - Let’s Chat About Money
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify.
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Eric Bandholz is the Founder & CEO of Beardbrand and the host of Ecommerce Conversations, which you can find at https://www.practicalecommerce.com/author/eric-bandholz.
Get his "36 Ways To Revive An Ecommerce Business" episode here: https://www.practicalecommerce.com/36-ways-to-revive-an-ecommerce-business.
//
Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, joins the show to talk candidly about rebuilding after losing nearly $1M in cash between 2023–2024. In this episode, Eric shares how Beardbrand plugged its biggest leaks—inventory issues, packaging missteps, and manufacturer misalignment—and why raising prices actually restored trust with customers.
We also dive into deeper questions: what it means to build for freedom instead of an exit, how to sustain motivation after 13 years in the same business, and why work itself can be life-giving. Eric discusses the role of subscription growth, fragrance innovation, and even AI-driven ads in shaping Beardbrand’s next chapter.
If you’re running an eCommerce brand under pressure from margin compression, lawsuits, or scaling hurdles, this conversation offers grounded perspective. You’ll walk away with concrete lessons on pricing, manufacturing strategy, subscription models, and long-term founder psychology.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:01:32 - Erics Big Reveal
00:03:12 - Current State of BeardBrand
00:07:29 - Why Problem Solving Is Key
00:15:03 - Price Changes In Products
00:17:17 - Andrew Opens Up About His Fragrance Brand
00:20:55 - What Goes Into Fragrance Development
00:25:33 - Subscriber Growth
00:34:05 - BearBrand New Productline
00:37:21 - Package Material Sourcing
00:41:09 - Building For Freedom
00:52:09 - Exciting Erik Ideas
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af
//
"How to Solve The Biggest 4 Cost Cap Media Buying Challenges" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG1UU4ihwIA
Cody Plofker Goes DEEP On Meta Media Buying" - https://youtu.be/rEeh1SieNUU?si=25kBcutn0fJCKn40
//
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the most competitive ad buying days of the year—and after 11 years of managing BFCM campaigns ranging from $1K to $1M+ in spend, Andrew has seen what actually works and what wastes money.
This episode breaks down his complete approach to Meta ads for BFCM 2025: from creative strategy to media buying, bid caps, ROAS optimization, forecasting, and how to handle customer behavior shifts like delayed purchasing. You’ll learn why simple “offer-first” creative consistently outperforms over-engineered ads, how to prevent Meta’s bidding algorithm from lagging behind reality, and the right way to balance evergreen vs. sale-specific ads.
If you’re looking to maximize spend efficiency, avoid margin-killing mistakes, and set your brand up for both scale and profitability this holiday season, this guide is the blueprint.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:38 - Key Things For Your Meta Creatives
00:05:00 - Media Buying & Correct Approach
00:11:55 - Value Optimization
00:14:01 - Delay In Purchase Behaviors
00:20:25 - Daily Forecasting
00:22:50 - Hourly Forecasting
00:24:33 - Learn and Take Notes
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY PODCAST FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
INTELLIGEMS
Intelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can make or break Q4, but timing your sale wrong—or structuring your offer poorly—can leave money on the table. In this episode, Andrew Faris breaks down the data that reveals exactly when to launch your sale and why most brands get this wrong.
You’ll learn how to:
- Structure BFCM offers that maximize AOV and profit per order.
- Avoid common mistakes around margin erosion and shipping costs.
- Use early November shopping spikes to your advantage.
- Understand why sending more email and SMS is critical, not optional.
- Protect profit if inventory runs low, and why chasing “viral” Black Friday wins usually backfires.
This episode is about helping operators make data informed decisions. It will help operators scale profitably during the busiest season of the year. If you want to enter BFCM with confidence—and avoid the mistakes that drain margins—this episode will give you a clear framework to follow.
//
CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:55 - The Importance of Your Black Friday Offer
00:04:20 - Black Friday Deals WON’T Degrade Your Brand
00:06:34 - Larger AOV Creates Greater Margin Benefit
00:07:45 - Pay Close Attention To Your Margin
00:10:30 - When To Launch Your Black Friday Sale
00:14:25 - Consistency In The Data
00:18:31 - You CAN’T Send Too Many Email
00:21:03 - Inventory Shortages
00:23:06 - DON’T FORCE IT
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
MORE STAFFING
Recruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting https://morestaffing.co/af.
RICHPANEL
Cut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=youtube.
//
Scaling an ecommerce brand today means confronting rising costs, shifting ad platforms, and the hype cycle of new tools like AI. In this episode, Andrew Faris cuts through the noise with six clear, tactical lessons drawn directly from his work with high-growth DTC brands.
You’ll learn why retention advertising is often the most overlooked source of incremental revenue, why Meta remains the most powerful platform for growth despite the complaints, and how AppLovin is emerging as a serious performance channel. Andrew also breaks down why creative success is harder than most founders realize, what the AI “trough of disillusionment” means for operators, and how the right mix of vision and process can transform a business.
If you want practical insights that can help you make smarter ad spend decisions, improve your creative process, and position your brand for sustainable growth, this episode is a must-listen.
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CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:39 - Spend Money On Retention Advertising
00:04:16 - A.I. Delusion
00:08:51 - Related Points For Customers
00:17:51 - META Is Still AWESOME!
00:23:26 - App Lovin
00:26:57 - Bring In The RIGHT Team
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com
BEHIND THE SCENES STUDIO
Work with the same Meta Ads creative production team that Andrew does with Behind The Scenes Studio, a More Staffing sister company: https://www.btsstudio.co/.
FERMAT
Create funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Most ads fail long before they launch—at the concept level. In this episode, we break down the foundational framework behind effective social media advertising. Instead of chasing hacks or production tricks, we get into the real drivers of performance: messaging, hooks, nativeness, and storytelling.
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You’ll learn:
- Why messaging is the “nutrient value” of every ad, and how to craft one that moves the needle.
- How hooks and nativeness work together to capture and keep attention in a feed full of distractions.
- Storytelling frameworks that retain attention and make your message stick.
- How to operationalize ad creation at scale—so great ads aren’t a fluke, but a repeatable process.
- If you’re scaling a brand and battling rising CAC, margin pressure, or creative fatigue, this episode gives you practical insight into how the best ads actually work and how to structure your team to deliver them consistently.
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CHAPTER TITLES:
00:00:13 - Where Ads Go Wrong?
00:01:55 - The Value of Money and Your Product
00:05:16 - Core Messaging For Brand
00:10:14 - Breaking Down Elements of the Ad
00:13:58 - Using Catchy Hooks
00:14:51 - The Principle of Nativeness
00:21:44 - Storytelling
00:25:50 - Hypothetical Best Ad In The Universe
//
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!
//
ADMISSION
Get the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast
//
FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW
X: https://x.com/andrewjfaris
Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.com
Work with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com