EP37: The Rise and Fall of Subscription Models in eCommerce

In this episode of The ASOM Pod, hosts John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), Bryan McDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride), and Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane) dive deep into the evolution of subscription-based business models in e-commerce. From viral success stories to spectacular failures, they analyze what makes—or breaks—a subscription brand.

The conversation explores major players like HelloFresh, BarkBox, Dollar Shave Club, and FabFitFun, breaking down key factors such as customer retention, churn management, and the importance of transparency in building long-term loyalty. They also discuss the operational and logistical hurdles of running a subscription business, from supply chain complexities to evolving consumer expectations.

What You’ll Learn:

- The key challenges subscription brands face and how to overcome them

- How community building and transparency drive customer retention

- Why some brands (like Dollar Shave Club) scaled successfully while others (like Juicero) failed

- What the future holds for subscription models in a changing e-commerce landscape

Whether you’re an eCommerce founder, marketer, or just a subscription box enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights and lessons.

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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!

Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

Nacelle — Transform your eCommerce store with AI-powered product recommendations that understand your customers’ actual behaviors, not just their purchases. Learn more at https://www.nacelle.com

Workspace6 — The best community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators. Why struggle alone? Other founders have already solved your biggest challenges. Learn more at https://www.workspace6.io

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00:00 Teaser Trailer

00:55 The Vegan Food Debate

03:00 Welcome to The ASOM Pod

05:39 Subscription Trends and Challenges

11:04 The Rise and Fall of Subscription Brands

20:56 HelloFresh: Adapting to Market Changes

26:16 BarkBox: Expanding Through Treats

30:22 Dollar Shave Club: From Viral Success to Corporate

33:42 Shaving Habits and Preferences

34:58 The Juicero Debacle

39:10 FabFitFun's Rise and Challenges

43:50 The Importance of Customer Retention

56:12 Future of Subscription Models

58:22 Guess That Business Game

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Follow Jimmy Kim at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Bryan MacDonald at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad

Follow John Roman at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman

Follow Amer Grozdanic at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic

Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

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