Challenges facing agencies and brands in the e-commerce world. From the impact of app usage on website performance to the importance of ethical business practices, we explore the secrets to success.



In this episode, Jordan West and Ben Sharf, co-founder of Platter, they get into the challenges and misalignments in the e-commerce industry, particularly in relation to app usage, pricing, and improving cost-effectiveness for brand owners. Ben shares his perspective on ethical agency practices and the unique solutions offered by Platter to address these industry issues.



Listen and learn in this episode!



Key takeaways from this episode:

• The discussion highlights misalignments between development agencies and brand owners, particularly regarding app usage, pricing, and improving cost-effectiveness for brand owners.
• There's a need to simplify app functionality to debunk the myth that building a high-converting storefront is expensive and time-consuming and to address the issue of brands getting stuck with too many apps, support teams, and high monthly expenses.
• Touches on potential partnership opportunities and investment offers, highlighting the strategy of creating a shared back office for mundane tasks and enabling agencies to exit at a higher multiple by being part of the roll together.
• Emphasizes the importance of agencies focusing on education, integrity, and efficiency in their operations, and providing cost-effective and transparent solutions for brands.

Recommended Tools/App:

Clay: https://clay.earth/

Rebuy: https://www.rebuyengine.com/

Today’s Guest:
Ben Sharf is the co-founder of Platter, a company offering a theme and app bundle with white-glove implementation to enhance profitability on Shopify storefronts. During the episode, Ben expresses frustration with agencies moving brands to Headless architecture to control operations and profit without considering ethics. He advocates for ethical agency practices, stating that Platter focuses on education, integrity, and efficiency.



Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Subsummit - led by Christopher George, Co-Founder and CEO, is the hub for subscription commerce enthusiasts. Christopher's entrepreneurial expertise, showcased through successful ventures like Gentleman’s Box, fuels SubSummit's mission.


He shares valuable insights at e-commerce conferences nationwide and inspires aspiring entrepreneurs through guest lectures and mentorship programs. SubSummit embodies Christopher's dedication to empowering the subscription commerce community.


SubSummit is the world's largest gathering for DTC subscription and membership brands. It brings together industry leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore the booming 2-trillion-dollar subscription industry. Whether you're already involved or looking to join, SubSummit is your go-to event for networking and learning in this thriving sector.


Learn more here: Subsummit

The realization of what truly matters in life, highlighting the shift in priorities toward simplicity, spending time with family, and maintaining a strict sleep schedule to avoid burnout.

In this episode, Jordan West and James Pieper brings us an eye-opening conversation. They dive deep into the topic of burnout and its impact on work habits and personal life. James shares his experiences in managing a successful ecommerce business, his journey from selling fabric online to building a thriving Shopify store, and the challenges he faced along the way.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Both Jordan West and James Pieper share their experiences in developing sustainable work habits, including the significance of routines, set schedules, and time management to maintain work-life balance and avoid burnout.
• The speakers discuss strategies for managing stress and coping with difficult situations in business. They emphasize the need for resilience, problem-solving skills, and staying calm under pressure, drawing on personal experiences to illustrate these points.
• The importance of strategic business management and implementing sustainable practices to avoid urgency and burnout, as demonstrated through discussions on prioritizing non-urgent but important activities and effectively managing stress and pressure.
• The consideration of alternative approaches to business optimization and the potential for future discussions to explore differing opinions and experiences in specific areas, such as Facebook ads targeting and bid caps.

Recommended Playbook/App:

Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/

7 habits: https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/

Today’s Guest:

James Pieper is the owner of a beloved quilt store that provides raw materials for creating beautiful, handmade quilts. He believes in the power of creating something with love and giving it as a gift to someone special. He sees his store as a place that helps customers make something that will be cherished forever. With a passion for quilting and a dedication to providing quality fabric, James Pieper is known in the community as a supportive and enthusiastic advocate for the art of quilting.

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers:

In this episode's sponsor is Subsummit - led by Christopher George, Co-Founder and CEO, is the hub for subscription commerce enthusiasts. Christopher's entrepreneurial expertise, showcased through successful ventures like Gentleman’s Box, fuels SubSummit's mission.


He shares valuable insights at e-commerce conferences nationwide and inspires aspiring entrepreneurs through guest lectures and mentorship programs. SubSummit embodies Christopher's dedication to empowering the subscription commerce community.


SubSummit is the world's largest gathering for DTC subscription and membership brands. It brings together industry leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore the booming 2-trillion-dollar subscription industry. Whether you're already involved or looking to join, SubSummit is your go-to event for networking and learning in this thriving sector.


Learn more here: Subsummit

Planning engaging and informative content, promoting the live stream, engaging with the audience, showcasing products naturally, avoiding being overly salesy, and offering exclusive deals are crucial for success on TikTok Live.

In this episode, Jordan West shares his insights on the potential of TikTok live shopping and provides tips and best practices for effectively using this platform to engage with audiences and showcase products. Jordan brings his expertise to the forefront, offering valuable advice for leveraging TikTok Shop Live to drive business success.

Listen and learn in this episode!

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Emphasizes the tremendous opportunity to make easy money by utilizing TikTok Shop Live Selling to promote your brand and product, with the potential to earn up to $1,000 an hour.
• TikTok Live Shopping offers real-time engagement with the audience, enabling instant purchases, and showcasing products in an authentic, unscripted manner, which helps in building trust and credibility.
• It's essential to continuously improve by learning what works, getting better, and cutting out dead spots, ultimately leading to better live streams and more effective product promotion.
• One does not need to be a Gen Z TikTok hero to succeed. Anyone, regardless of age or experience with TikTok, can leverage live streams to promote their products and reach a wider audience.

Recommended Tools/App:

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

Growth Plan: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

Million Dollar Offers: www.upgrowthcommerce.com/grow

In this episode's sponsor is Subsummit - led by Christopher George, Co-Founder and CEO, is the hub for subscription commerce enthusiasts. Christopher's entrepreneurial expertise, showcased through successful ventures like Gentleman’s Box, fuels SubSummit's mission.


He shares valuable insights at e-commerce conferences nationwide and inspires aspiring entrepreneurs through guest lectures and mentorship programs. SubSummit embodies Christopher's dedication to empowering the subscription commerce community.


SubSummit is the world's largest gathering for DTC subscription and membership brands. It brings together industry leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore the booming 2-trillion-dollar subscription industry. Whether you're already involved or looking to join, SubSummit is your go-to event for networking and learning in this thriving sector.


Learn more here: Subsummit