Blues Brothers Podcast

In this podcast episode, Nathan discusses the prevalent issue of the 'death spiral' that many e-commerce brands are facing in 2024. He explains how rising customer acquisition costs, coupled with a reliance on returning customers, can mask underlying financial problems. The conversation delves into the importance of cohort analysis, understanding customer acquisition costs, and the

In this episode, Nathan and Josh Tay discuss the importance of accountability in agency relationships, the challenges of forecasting retention and sales, and the necessity of setting realistic goals. They delve into financial transparency, especially during Black Friday, and the impact of offer structures on consumer behaviour. The conversation highlights the significance of profit

In this episode, Nathan and Val dive into a P&L teardown of a business that operates multiple D2C brands. They discuss the importance of accurately structuring the P&L to understand the business's activities and potential to generate profit. They highlight the need to separate and track components of net revenue, such as gross revenue, discounts, returns, and shipping colle

In this episode, Nathan shares nine lessons learned from working with brands and running a digital marketing agency. The lessons include the importance of cost of delivery, marketing, and operational efficiency, the value of omni-channel distribution for brands approaching $10 million, the ability to fix P&L exports in accounting software, the effectiveness of Meta (Facebook) a

In this episode, Nathan and Valentin dive into a real P&L and discuss the importance of understanding accounting principles and how to read a P&L. They highlight the limitations of a basic P&L structure and the need for a more comprehensive breakdown of revenue and costs. They discuss the impact of discounts and refunds on the business's profitability and the importance

In this episode, Nathan and Josh discuss the incremental revenue available through email and SMS marketing. They emphasise that while email and SMS are important communication channels, the true drivers of retention and revenue are merchandising and operations. They explore the concept of purchase intent and how it affects the effectiveness of email and SMS campaigns. They also del

In this episode, Nathan discusses 10 brutal truths of e-commerce for DTC brand owners. The first truth is that reducing ad spend is not the solution to higher operating expenses. Understanding how the P&L works and the flow of revenue is crucial. The second truth is that most accounts are either overspending or underspending, and finding the right balance is key. Attribution te

In this episode, Nathan and Caden discuss various topics related to Google Ads and agency land. Caden shares his background in marketing and how he got into the digital marketing industry. They dive into the concept of Google's Performance Max and its purpose in reducing the barrier of entry for small businesses. They also discuss the challenges and limitations of using Performance

Carla Penn-Kahn shares her experience in the e-commerce space, from working in investments at Credit Suisse to starting her own e-commerce businesses. She discusses the challenges of launching perishables by delivery when delivery was primarily for letters, and the operational complexities involved. The conversation then shifts to the importance of financial operations and unit eco

In this podcast episode, Nathan and Val discuss the topic of 3PLs (third-party logistics providers). They cover the factors to consider when deciding whether to use a 3PL, such as cost, volume, and customer service. They also explore the differences between in-house fulfillment and outsourcing to a 3PL, and the considerations for brands with low volume and high ticket products. Val