How to start an ecommerce brand and what strategy to focus on with Jay Davis (Founder of Pillow Cube, Cold Case Ice Cream, & Creatably)

Jay Davis, Founder of Pillow Cube, Cold Case Ice Cream, & Creatably, joins Retention Chronicles to discuss where to start when founding an ecommerce brand. Jay has had a vast background in marketing and he focuses on one thing - what’s not going to change in 10 years, and how he can focus on that.  Jay and Mariah talk about how easy it is to get caught up in marketing trends even if they might not be the best thing for your business. Making the (wrongful) assumption that traditional marketing of the past isn't as effective as our current age of digital marketing can lead to massive missed growth opportunities. After founding many brands, Jay’s biggest advice to other founders of products is to know your finances and if people will want your product. Jay shares his favorite test to run with friends and family to see if they enjoy a new product. We don’t want to spoil the details, but it’s one of those moments where you’ll reframe how you’re going about your customer testing. He also gives insight into some of his favorite customer retention plays. Jay also discusses 2024 macroeconomics of the ecommerce industry and what founders should be cautious about.  This podcast is sponsored by Malomo, a leading shipment and order tracking platform for Shopify and Shopify Plus ecommerce brands.  To see what your personalized mockup of branded order tracking and transactional email/SMS would look like, fill out this form & we’ll send your free design right to your inbox! Episode Timestamps: 1:46 Entrepreneurship, marketing, and business growth. 3:58 Viral marketing strategies and industry changes. 6:33 Marketing trends and social media platforms. 10:57 Marketing trends and the importance of connecting with people. 15:30 Entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance. 19:48 Product development and market research. 25:38 Entrepreneurship, business growth, and scaling. 31:36 Entrepreneurship, business growth, and work-life balance.  38:02 Customer retention strategies and brand development.  Summary43:12 Entrepreneurship, marketing, and customer retention.