EP65: How to Avoid the Most Expensive Mistakes First-Time eCommerce Founders Make

In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Direct of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down the most expensive mistakes first-time founders make when trying to take their eCommerce dreams from “side hustle” to scalable business. From the messy realities of handling fulfillment yourself (yes, shipping nightmares are real) to the dangers of over-ordering inventory that ends up sitting in your garage, they share the hard-earned lessons most entrepreneurs wish they’d heard sooner.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why handling fulfillment wrong is the fastest way to stall growth.
• How to avoid the cash-flow killer of over-ordering inventory.
• When (and when not) to think about retail.
• The numbers you must know before you scale.
• The hiring mistakes that drain time, money, and morale.
• Why compliance and legal issues can’t be an afterthought.
• The value of a strong network and mentors to keep you sane.
• How to stay resilient when resistance is at its highest.

Whether you’re sketching your first product idea on a napkin or already wrestling with suppliers, this episode is a must listen.

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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 via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

LiveRecover — Live Agents for eCommerce — Get more out of your revenue strategy with real-time SMS engagement and sales recovery for higher ROI. Learn more at https://www.LiveRecover.com

Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com

Subscribe at https://asompod.com

Come hang out with us IRL - https://commerceroundtable.com

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00:00 Teaser Trailer

02:43 Intro to The ASOM Pod

06:56 Debating Gary Vee’s Influence and Strategy

16:16 Four Pillars of a Successful eCommerce Business

27:06 Pre-Launch Strategies

27:27 Executing the Launch

28:40 Building Hype and Engagement

29:37 Leveraging Community and Affiliates

32:47 Soft Launch and Testing

42:32 Technical Stack Essentials

48:04 Post-Launch Optimization

51:24 Scaling Your Business

57:00 Final Advice and Conclusion

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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:a

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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