Honest Ecommerce

Mark Murrell is the founder and operator behind Get Maine Lobster and Black Point Seafood, specializing in scaling premium direct-to-consumer seafood brands with a focus on operational agility, customer loyalty, and brand storytelling. Raised in Maine, Mark turned a love for local seafood into a nationwide business, mastering dock-to-doorstep logistics for live lobster delivery. Since launching in 2010, Mark has served over 500,000 customers, quadrupled his customer base, expanded into new categories like seafood appetizers and select beef, and acquired Maine Lobster Direct to deepen fulfillment capabilities. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Rachael Ray, ESPN, and national campaigns for Chase Bank, alongside collaborations with Momofuku and Geoffrey Zakarian. Rooted in a customer-first, margin-focused mindset, Mark builds brands that balance growth with sustainability. Whether scaling operations or evolving brand experiences, he brings a clear playbook for turning fresh products into loyal communities, efficiently, profitably, and with staying power. In This Conversation We Discuss: * [00:45] Intro * [01:32] Highlighting specialty items for customers * [02:44] Starting a business from personal experience * [03:50] Delivering higher quality through logistics * [04:59] Pitching new ideas with simple outreach * [05:51] Adapting CRM systems for operations * [06:39] Managing growth with limited capacity * [07:47] Balancing two businesses during early growth * [09:07] Surveying customers beyond product feedback * [10:36] Aligning brand identity with buyer emotions * [11:36] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, & Reach * [16:41] Taking risks when the signs are undeniable * [18:43] Launching internal marketing after early growth * [20:21] Redesigning operations for more agility * [22:48] Realizing early sales hide margin problems * [27:26] Blending creativity with structured thinking * [28:29] Building resilience through daily habits Resources: * Subscribe [https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1] to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube * #1 Lobster Delivery Service From Dock To Doorstep getmainelobster.com/ [https://getmainelobster.com/] * Premium Maine lobster and seafood across the U.S. and Canada blackpointseafood.com/ [https://blackpointseafood.com/] * Follow Mark Murrell linkedin.com/in/mainelobster [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mainelobster] * Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect [https://electriceye.io/connect] * Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest [https://socialsnowball.io/honest] * Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ [https://www.portless.com/] * Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest [http://withreach.com/honest].  If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156]. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Brian Anderson is a seasoned CEO and entrepreneur who specializes in scaling high-growth consumer brands and preparing them for profitable exits. With a background that spans fitness, wellness, supplements, outdoor, and travel, Brian has operated in both startup and private equity environments, guiding companies through critical growth and turnaround moments. Over the last decade, Brian has led brands like AG1, Delsey Luggage, MELT Method, and 2XU, while also advising companies such as Pvolve, Moji, and Connecticut Cannabis Company. His leadership has helped generate hundreds of millions in revenue and multiple successful exits. Rooted in a hands-on, operator-first mindset, Brian partners with founders to level up strategy, streamline operations, and build teams that can scale. Whether he’s stepping in full-time or advising from the sidelines, Brian brings a clear playbook for helping founder-led companies hit the next stage of growth, efficiently, profitably, and with the endgame in mind. In This Conversation We Discuss: * [00:43] Intro * [01:09] Focusing on wellness-driven consumer brands * [03:03] Balancing product, ops, and financial reality * [06:05] Delegating better at larger revenue stages * [08:29] Mentoring weak spots before replacing them * [10:22] Licensing major brands to grow fitness revenue * [12:27] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless, & Reach * [17:34] Building credibility through past outcomes * [18:47] Partnering with founders instead of leading solo * [21:25] Positioning your company for a clean exit * [24:08] Guiding founders through the exit process * [26:48] Creating deal structures where everyone wins * [28:43] Getting fractional help without full-time cost Resources: * Subscribe [https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1] to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube * Follow Brian Anderson linkedin.com/in/smallpondgroup [https://www.linkedin.com/in/smallpondgroup] * Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect [https://electriceye.io/connect] * Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest [https://socialsnowball.io/honest] * Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ [https://www.portless.com/] * Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest [http://withreach.com/honest].  If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156]. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Kai Davis is the founder of Double Your Ecommerce and KeywordMagic.ai, two platforms helping Shopify merchants unlock sustainable growth through SEO, content, and email marketing. With over a decade of experience in digital strategy, Kai has worked directly with hundreds of Ecommerce businesses, offering fixed-price SEO services and tailored growth playbooks that prioritize results over complexity. Drawing from his deep expertise in search intent, content optimization, and store-level messaging, Kai equips Shopify brands with the tools they need to boost organic revenue, refine collection and product pages, and convert more traffic without overwhelming shoppers. Kai helps merchants rethink underperforming pages, optimize seasonal campaigns, and build resilient marketing systems, so they can grow more by working less. In This Conversation We Discuss:  * [00:43] Intro * [01:14] Introducing what drives real SEO results * [02:46] Building pages around real search demand * [05:44] Starting SEO with product-type collections * [07:22] Using conversational copy to boost SEO * [08:37] Filtering keyword data by page type * [10:43] Recognizing when a term is too competitive * [11:49] Understanding why products convert lower * [13:56] Training custom GPTs for brand-aligned content * [16:29] Drafting faster without losing quality * [17:19] Exporting product data to scale AI writing * [17:53] Building tools to surface keyword insights * [19:54] Understanding your funnel before traffic drops * [22:08] Optimizing for AI-driven shopping behavior * [24:11] Offering hands-on SEO help for time-strapped teams * [25:28] Focusing on what actually moves SEO rankings Resources: * Subscribe [https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1] to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube * SEO Services for DTC Shopify Stores doubleyourecommerce.com/ [https://doubleyourecommerce.com/] * Follow Kai Davis linkedin.com/in/kaisdavis [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaisdavis] If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156]. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jamie Mottram is the President of BreakingT, a real-time licensed sports apparel brand redefining speed and relevance in a saturated sports merchandise market. With deep roots in digital sports media, Jamie brings over two decades of experience from leadership roles at Yahoo, AOL, and Gannett, where he built fan-first platforms like For The Win and helped generate hundreds of millions of monthly views. Leveraging his expertise in content, audience engagement, and digital commerce, Jamie helped scale BreakingT from a side project to an 8-figure business by turning trending sports moments into must-own fan gear, often within hours of a game-changing play. Guided by the belief that fan excitement is the most powerful demand signal, Jamie has led BreakingT through rapid growth by building a responsive supply chain, refining its segmentation and outreach engine, and expanding across DTC, wholesale, and Amazon. In This Conversation We Discuss: * [00:43] Intro * [01:00] Creating products from real-time trends * [01:26] Applying media skills to Ecommerce growth * [02:33] Focusing on traction over profitability * [02:57] Spotting viral moments fans want to wear * [05:29] Launching with digital mockups to test demand * [07:21] Fulfilling retail orders faster with screen print * [08:49] Combining paid, organic, and affiliate for scale * [12:12] Sponsors: Electric Eye, Social Snowball, Portless & Reach * [17:17] Balancing speed between Ecommerce and wholesale * [20:30] Pushing retail to move faster than seasonal cycles * [21:22] Navigating approvals in licensed product drops * [23:05] Realizing Amazon serves a different customer * [23:56] Balancing marketplace growth with brand control * [26:08] Choosing platforms based on product urgency * [28:16] Turning social signals into merch decisions Resources: * Subscribe [https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1] to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube * Real-time licensed sports fan gear, apparel, and t-shirts breakingt.com/ [https://breakingt.com/] * Follow Jamie Mottram linkedin.com/in/jamiemottram [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemottram] * Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect [https://electriceye.io/connect] * Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest [https://socialsnowball.io/honest] * Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ [https://www.portless.com/] * Level up your global sales withreach.com/honest [http://withreach.com/honest].  If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156]. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jon-Mark "JM" Craddock is the CEO of La Matera, a premium direct-to-consumer brand elevating craftsmanship and authenticity in a market crowded by fast fashion. With hands-on expertise in brand building, supply chain management, and Ecommerce growth, JM draws on his experience at high-growth brands like Chubbies, Marine Layer, and Tuckernuck to scale La Matera while preserving its artisanal roots. Driven by the belief that lasting brands are built on quality and meaningful customer connections, JM has led La Matera through a new chapter of growth, refining its identity, strengthening its supply chain, and balancing digital expansion with a commitment to craftsmanship. Under his leadership, La Matera continues to deliver timeless products that honor tradition while thriving in a modern DTC landscape. In This Conversation We Discuss: * [00:42] Intro * [01:09] Building networks through unexpected paths * [04:37] Finding hidden value in early teams * [05:18] Building momentum with new platforms * [06:50] Learning supply chain under real pressure * [09:35] Choosing brands with personal connection * [12:15] Episode Sponsors: Electric Eye, Snowball & Portless * [16:18] Balancing trust and strategy with sellers * [17:48] Answering every deal email immediately * [18:40] Backing deals with personal guarantees * [20:29] Buying businesses to create opportunities * [21:39] Rebuilding brand soul through founder voice * [25:20] Tapping networks to solve real problems * [27:20] Choosing tenacity over easy wins Resources: * Subscribe [https://www.youtube.com/c/HonestEcommerce?sub_confirmation=1] to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube * Collection of meticulously handcrafted leather belts and accessories lamaterashop.com/ [https://lamaterashop.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoroRTbpdSKNaQo4DHKPqXT_MsIBn5jPRQpVZPA9AkYzenjTuD2d] * Follow Jon-Mark Craddock linkedin.com/in/jonmarkcraddock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmarkcraddock] * Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect [https://electriceye.io/connect] * Drive revenue through affiliates & referrals socialsnowball.io/honest [https://socialsnowball.io/honest] * Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/ [https://www.portless.com/] If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1447700156]. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!