Email marketing is dead. In this episode, Richard sits down with Emilia Święcicka, Strategic Partnership Manager at Intuit Mailchimp, for an engaging and insightful chat about how email marketing is evolving in the world of eCommerce & how it is simply not dead.

Emilia walks us through her journey, from starting out on the agency side to leading strategic partnerships at Mailchimp, where she helps brands and agencies unlock the full potential of email, SMS and CRM strategies.

They explore how Mailchimp has grown from a tool focused on small businesses into a powerful platform supporting mid-market and enterprise eCommerce brands, thanks to Intuit’s investment in automation, AI, advanced reporting and localised support.

They also break down why email is still one of the highest-ROI marketing channels, how to use data to drive smarter campaigns and the exciting ways AI is streamlining workflows and boosting performance.

Emilia shares practical tips on building customer loyalty, the value of strong brand storytelling, and clever ways to grow your list, like pop-ups and quizzes that actually work.

Whether you're running a fast-growing eCommerce store or just starting to refine your marketing strategy, this episode is full of actionable ideas to help you create better customer journeys and drive meaningful growth.

Listen to the full podcast right now!

Topics Covered

00:25 – Origin of partnership: Met at a platform conference years ago, collaborated on events, with Mailchimp evolving from SMB focus to mid-market and eCommerce under Intuit

03:43 – Mailchimp's growth under Intuit: Enhanced features, automation, and global support for businesses of all sizes

07:56 – Retention and LTV: Key for multi-7-figure brands; focus on creative ads and retention flows to boost profitability

13:00 – Pre-purchase research tips: Check About Us pages, reviews and social media for brand credibility

14:46 – Smart tactics: Discover lesser-known strategies using rich, diverse customer data

17:59 – Testing culture: Bigger brands embrace experimentation; even small tweaks (e.g., pop-ups) can drive conversions

22:33 – Mailchimp strengths: Trusted platform with strong deliverability and domain authentication infrastructure

25:55 – Case study – The Biker Company: Boosted ROI using Mailchimp features after switching ESPs

28:44 – SMS + Email: Combining both channels strategically enhances results

30:41 – Intuit vision: QuickBooks + Mailchimp integration to streamline operations and improve business outcomes

In this episode, Richard sits down with Nick Altimore, a seasoned link building strategist and Director at SirLinksalot, to explore one of the most underutilised yet powerful growth levers in eCommerce, link building.

Together, they break down what actually works in today’s SEO landscape, starting with foundational techniques like "pillow links" and moving into advanced tactics such as 301 redirects, digital PR and some unconventional strategies you probably haven’t tried yet.

Nick brings real-world case studies to the table, sharing hard-earned insights on how to scale link building efforts effectively. He offers candid advice on when to outsource, when to keep it in-house, and how to make that call based on your business stage and goals.

They also dive into competitive link analysis, uncovering how to identify and bridge link gaps and how to stay one step ahead of ever-evolving search algorithms.

Whether you’re running a multi-million-pound e-commerce operation or just launching your first store, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways, expert-level guidance, and future-focused tips to help you boost authority, drive qualified traffic and climb the search rankings with confidence.

Topics Covered

00:23 - eCommerce growth, link building insights

05:49 - Link building strategy for eCommerce

07:05 - Foundational link building essentials

11:07 - Longevity SEO strategies

14:18 - Domain flipping with expired sites

17:31 - Domain value in link building

22:03 - Honest business budgeting advice

25:29 - Steady revenue builds business success

27:20 - Expert link building for eCommerce

29:41 - Deep dive analysis in eCommerce

35:49 - Realistic SEO budget planning

36:40 Holistic approach to ranking success

39:52 - Exploring parasite SEO and trends

43:47 - Link building lessons from viral success

49:20 - Consistent content strategy key

51:44 - Reluctant approach to link disavows

53:34 - SEO's resilience and future outlook

57:38 - Book recommendation

This podcast episode is a special one and let us tell you why!

Richard sits down with the powerhouse sisters and Co-Founders of Pretty Lavish, Samantha and Stephanie Frost. From humble beginnings as a spare-bedroom side hustle, Pretty Lavish has blossomed into a global contemporary occasion wear brand, backed by a growing team of nearly 50 and thousands of loyal customers.

Tune in to hear how Samantha’s fashion buying expertise and Stephanie’s finance background combined to turn a £500 test order into an international favourite, all while embracing slow fashion principles in a fast fashion world.

The sisters share candid stories about their organic growth journey, from launching on Shopify, navigating early tech mishaps and living at home to re-invest everything back into the business, to surviving a major setback when their first collection appeared on a rival’s site before they had even received stock.

You’ll also get practical insights into how Pretty Lavish is staying ahead: leveraging year-long design cycles, exploring the rise of rentals and resale in fashion, building community through real-world events and embracing automation and AI to scale smartly. Plus, discover advice for Founders, the power of family resilience and their bold vision for US expansion.

Whether you’re interested in eCommerce strategies, building a sustainable brand or just love a good Founder story, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable tips you won’t want to miss.

Hit subscribe and join us for this honest and practical journey behind the scenes of one of the UK’s most exciting fashion brands.

Topics Covered

00:32 - How an early exposure to business, low barriers to entry and the opportunity to scale via social media shaped the journey of Pretty Lavish

06:16 - Decided to focus full-time on the business for six months after traveling, resulting in increased momentum and rewards

07:10 - Samantha’s initial efforts led to rewards, highlighting input-output correlation. A transition from a supportive corporate job to full-time involved reduced workdays, easing the change and maintaining financial ties through contracted work, as it took years before we paid ourselves.

11:36 - eCommerce challenges, platform investments and adapting to changes like social selling and the rise of secondhand buying

13:40 - Encouraging versatile fashion use and exploring social selling trends on platforms like TikTok

17:16 - Steph discussed the significance of brand days in fostering team culture and aligning company vision

21:38 - Success came from not following the conventional route in growing the fashion business

25:47 - Businesses always face challenges, requiring a solution-driven mindset. Early issues included learning from contract inadequacies when a manufacturer released designs to another brand

29:11 - The focus is on improving efficiency through automation and AI, with objectives set for 2025 to streamline processes and enhance product placement using advanced commerce tools

32:52 - Leveraging automated content adjustments and operational strategies offers significant advantages, especially for early adopters

35:48 - How they work together and compliment each other with different strengths

37:27 - Focus on community events and building brand immersion, while preparing for international expansion through foundational automation and tech investments

40:29 - Book recommendation