In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Lou Rice and Ben Stainlay, the creative minds behind Strapsicle, the Kindle accessory that’s won over Shark Tank investors and taken BookTok by storm. With backgrounds in creative direction and project management for top brands like CommBank and Woolies, Lou and Ben have transformed Strapsicle into a seven-figure business in just two years. They share how they built a loyal community of readers, how their Amazon-first strategy helped them reach...

In this Checkout episode of Add To Cart, we dive into the personal side of Gai Le Roy, CEO of IAB Australia. Gai shares some fun and surprising insights, including the story behind the weirdest thing she’s ever bought online—a pantomime playbook that unexpectedly sparked joy.  She talks about the retailers that inspire her, the sustainability efforts of Harris Farm and unique shopping experiences in Japan. Gai also discusses the simple yet vital tech tool she relies on daily, her favourite...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we sit down with Adam Furness, Managing Director of Impact.com APAC, and Roger Lee, Head of Digital Marketing at Brand Collective. To take a look at the future of partnership strategies. Adam discusses how partnerships are transforming the growth of global brands like Uber, Airbnb, and Canva by automating and scaling collaboration with influencers, affiliates, and more—driving as much as 30% of total revenue for some brands. They discuss why brands are trading...

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Lauren French, the brains behind Motto Fashions 2.0. While this Australian brand has been around for over 40 years, Lauren has successfully transformed the family business into an absolute digital powerhouse. She shares how the pandemic forced her to pivot from bricks-and-mortar stores to daily live-stream fashion shows, a move that helped the brand go on to make more than $5 million in revenue in 2021— five times more than in 2019! Lauren...

In this Checkout episode, we chat to Anaita Szarkar from Hero Packaging as she bears all  about the realities of scaling a business as she sets her sights on cracking the US market. From her bizarre purchase of a haunted talking doll to mastering SEMrush for tracking organic growth, Anaita offers an honest and practical look into the world of business, personal branding, and customer experience. She name-drops the brands that inspire her, including Nakey, FAYT the Label and Jolie Skin, and...

We sit down with Liam Millward, Co-Founder and CEO of Instant, and Sean Meyer, Founder of Leelo Active. Liam shares his journey from starting his first business at 13 to leading Instant, a tech company revolutionising ecom with automated engagement solutions. He reveals how Instant Audiences is helping brands like Stax, Oxford, FAYT The Label and Toys R Us maximise revenue by turning anonymous visitors into paying customers. Sean, a passionate advocate for Instant, shares how the platform has...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Phil Leahy, founder of MedCart and the brains behind Retail Global, one of the world’s leading e-commerce event platforms. Phil shares his journey from being eBay’s top seller to building a thriving medical marketplace. He reflects on the challenges of managing a marketplace, the importance of customer service, and the lessons learned from vetting sellers. Phil also discusses the evolving role of marketplaces in Australia and the impact of global...

In this checkout chat, Nathan sits down with Jared and Jimmy from Plant with Willow, a tech startup helping people keep their houseplants alive. From Jared’s love for Google Home and his must-read The Way of Kings, to Jimmy’s obsession with his custom-built PC and love of the High Performance podcast, the duo share their passion for tech, books, and building a fun, dynamic team culture. The pair express admiration for plant care brand We the Wild and the seamless customer experience of...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Jethro Marks, co-founder of The Nile, one of Australia’s longest-running online retailers. Starting out with just a computer, a living room and a few thousand dollars, Jethro has built The Nile into a global platform, shipping millions of products across 120 countries. Jethro shares how The Nile’s focus has shifted to becoming the leading online bookstore in Australia and New Zealand, and why staying plugged into global trends through events like...

In this Checkout episode, we chat with Hamish, co-founder of OrderEditing, a post-purchase app that allows customers to amend their orders after checkout. Hamish talks about his admiration for UK brand Represent Clo and their incredible community engagement and his reliance on HubSpot for managing email follow-ups. An advocate for mental health and going to therapy, with Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb on his CR list. Hamish opens up balancing high-growth with a personal...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Keira Rumble, the founder of Krumbled Foods and the brains behind Aussie wellness brands Beauty Bites, Mini + Me and Habitual Beauty. Keira shares her journey from hand-rolling protein balls in her Bondi kitchen to building a thriving multi-brand business. She talks about how she hustled her way into 60 cafés, the tough lessons she learned protecting her IP and how getting hands-on with Meta ads has sparked massive growth for her brands. She also...

In today’s Checkout episode, we’re joined by founding partner of Kelly+Partners, Danny Chiha, who shares his unique insights into the world of e-commerce accounting. Danny opens up about his surprising lack of online shopping habits, his admiration for clients like Vic Gigliotti from Muscle Republic and Geedup Co founder Jake Paco, and how the ecom platform Gorgias transformed customer service for his wife’s business, The Little Homie. He also shares his thoughts on managing teams, and why...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Adam Bouris, co-founder of WHO IS ELIJAH, the Aussie fragrance brand making waves globally. Adam shares the wild story behind their brand name, how they got into David Jones in just five days and the bold decision to cut down from 800 wholesalers to just a few key players like Sephora. Adam shares his plans to expand the brand globally, the role of free samples in their marketing strategy, and how Adam manages both business and family life as he...

In this checkout episode, we sit down with Hannah Neumann, CMO of Hey Bud, to dive into her personal experiences with ecommerce and marketing. Hannah shares her love for quirky Temu gadgets, the innovative collaboration between Oroton and July, and how Notion keeps her creative ideas organised. We hear Hannah’s top podcast recommendations, including  The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett and Grace Beverly's Working Hard, Hardly Working and learn more about Hey Bud’s exciting growth...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Justin Williams, Chief Customer Officer at black.ai, a revolutionary Aussie startup using AI to revolutionise retail security and customer insights. Justin dives into how black.ai helps big name retailers such as Walmart, turn traditional CCTV systems into powerful tools for preventing theft, enhancing customer experiences and providing real-time data. He also shares his thoughts on maintaining privacy in an increasingly data-driven world, the...

In today’s Checkout episode, we are joined by Aaron Woolf, founder of Trendii, a platform revolutionising the way we shop by integrating product recommendations into digital content. Aaron shares an interesting purchase of a mysterious shoe cleaning paste from Instagram and discusses his admiration for retailers like Incu and Farfetch and highlights the tech he relies on to run his business. He shares some sources of inspiration including Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE and The...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat to Erin Williamson (CMO) and Damien Smith (CTO) of Paramount Retail, the company behind leading online alcohol brands BoozeBud and Barrel & Batch. They discuss how they’ve transformed their business by simplifying operations and are introducing next-day delivery. The duo also shares their strategy behind launching physical BottleStop stores, focusing on convenience over brand exposure. With insights on streamlining tech, improving customer...

In this checkout episode, Kerryn and Aaron Langer, founders of Arms of Eve, an Australian jewellery brand, share how they balance the demands of running a business as a couple. We dive into their weirdest online purchases (including an inflatable unicorn and a device for escaping submerged cars!), and why Mecca is their favourite retailer. Kerryn and Aaron also share their essential tech tools, their favourite podcast, and what they believe is the future of retail. Links from the...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we sit down with Gai Le Roy, CEO of IAB Australia, to explore the shifting landscape of retail and digital media in Australia. Gai shares her insights on how Amazon's rapid growth is redefining consumer expectations, the importance of preparing for upcoming Privacy Act reforms, and the impact of the juniorisation of the workforce in the advertising industry. With over 25 years of experience, Gai provides practical advice for retailers on how to stay competitive...

In this Checkout episode, Stacey Hollands, founder of Lust Minerals, gives us a glimpse into her personal life and shares some quirky, fun insights. From buying donkeys online to her dual life as a beauty entrepreneur and farm owner, Stacey’s unique lifestyle shines through. She also reveals the retailers that inspire her, the tech tools she can’t live without, and the books that have shaped her business philosophy. Links from the episode: Delivering Happiness on Amazon: A must-read on...

In this episode of Add To Cart, Nathan Bush revisits two of the most popular guests from last year: Simon Beard, co-founder and former CEO of Culture Kings, and Hannah Udina from Shopify. They dive into the latest retail and e-commerce trends for 2024, exploring everything from the importance of mastering ad accounts to the power of omni-channel experiences. Simon and Hannah share practical insights on how to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, discussing new tools like Shopify’s YouTube...

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Anaita Sarkar, the Co founder of Hero Packaging and author of "Sell Anything Online." Anaita is a self confessed marketing and ecomm nerd with a massive Tik Tok following and a refreshing way of looking at life that only comes when you’ve had a few wins and a few bumps and bruises along the way. She’s been an accountant, a consultant, an ecom founder of Olivia & Co, a B2B founder for Hero Packaging, mentor, coach, lecturer, social media...

Around 14 years ago, armed with a background in design and advertising and a man-crush on Stephen Fry, Jesse began a journey to popularise critical thinking, reason and understanding for the greater good. It started with a Creative Commons poster and deck of cards, grew into a crowd funded offering and is now a SaaS platform and a framework for businesses to harness the benefits of higher order thinking - backed by some of the internet’s biggest thinkers such as the founder of Duck Duck Go...

In this episode of Add to Cart, we dive into the world of tech-driven plant care with Jared Carlin and James Shamim, the founders of Plant With Willow. What started as a solution to a common household problem - keeping plants alive - has grown into a thriving business with a global reach. From a successful Kickstarter campaign to a strategic partnership with Bunnings, Jared and James share the innovative journey of Plant With Willow, a startup that combines hardware, software, and a passion...