The Human Element in the Age of AI | Ryan Alovis | LensDirect

In 2006, Ryan Alovis started Magazine Discount Center (MDC). Within a few years, Alovis bootstrapped MDC into the largest destination online for consumer magazine subscriptions. In 2016, MDC was acquired by Time Inc. In 2009, with the cash flow MDC was yielding, Alovis was able to purchase LensDirect.com, a struggling online retailer of name-brand contact lenses that was previously owned by his family. Under his leadership, LensDirect.com has grown revenues over 13000%, and has evolved into a leading online retailer of vision care products. LensDirect.com has earned continuous placement in the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the United States, and has been selected as one of the top online retailers by Internet Retailer..In 2012, Alovis co-founded Go Answer, a 24/7 outsourced contact center solution. Originally an answering service, it has blossomed into an award-winning full-service contact center handling tele, web chat, and emails/ticketing for businesses of all shapes and sizes.In 2016, with the proceeds from the MDC sale, Alovis started Pulse Health (formerly known as InTouchMD), a healthcare technology company. Pulse Health's marquee product is the Pulse Engagement Cloud - a powerful cloud-based SaaS platform that helps pharmaceutical companies better reach, engage and understand physicians & patients on an individual level. Pulse Health's client list ranges from emerging biotech to global pharmaceutical companies. In 2016, Pulse Health was selected as the most innovative company in healthcare and in 2018, Pulse Engagement Cloud was selected as the most innovative product in healthcare. The companies have evolved into multi-industry leaders, landing placement in the coveted Inc. 5000, Internet Retailers Top 1000, Long Island Business News’ 40 under 40 and a finalist in the New York Enterprise Small Business Awards. Alovis has been featured in top media outlets including Forbes, Reuters, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, Inc. Magazine, Internet Retailer, and The New York Observer. Alovis’ companies have been the subject of multiple success stories featured in American Express, Microsoft, Trustpilot, UPS, Twilio, and Visa. At the heart of Alovis is his passion for doing good, and has managed to bring that same entrepreneurial energy to his fundraising committee, The Silver Lining Society. This New York based non-profit, which Alovis co-founded in 2006, raises money for Hope & Heroes Pediatric Cancer Fund and has raised nearly a million dollars since inception.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] What is LensDirect.com?[01:58] The early days of Ryan’s Ecom journey[03:00] The “not sexy” businesses are the one that work[04:05] Was Ryan the first one to use subs online?[04:46] Competitors mean that there is a market[05:44] When LensDirect came into the picture[07:24] From mail order to Ecommerce[08:11] Why Ryan bought back LensDirect[10:45] How Go Answer came into the picture[12:05] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[13:02] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[14:19] Sponsor: Retention.com retention.com/honest[15:11] The advantages of human communication[17:26] What’s cooking on LensDirect and Go Answer[19:48] Another amazing brand from Ryan: Pulse Health[20:22] Where to find Ryan’s brands?Resources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeYour one stop shop for all things optical lensdirect.comThe #1 24/7 full service answering service 1888goanswer.comThe industry leader in cloud-based engagement software and services for the life science industry pulsehealth.techConnect with Ryan linkedin.com/in/ryanalovisSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appBook your demo today and get 20% off the annual commitment fee retention.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!