The Power of Focus: How Neve’s Bees Grew by Doing Less, Better – with Julie Macken
Julie Macken is the Deputy Queen Bee of Neve’s Bees a family business turning the produce of their bee hives and local beekeepers into products that are now certified 100% natural. Founded in 2017, they switched focus to eCommerce in 2021. They now sell via their WooCommerce store, wholesale, and a couple of events, and have now reached £100,000 a year and have just sold their 80,000th product. She shares how focusing on what truly works — and saying no to what doesn’t — helped her turn a local gifting brand into a six-figure sustainable skincare business. Hear how she refined her eCommerce strategy, built a lean but powerful team, and is now leading a mission to make the skincare industry more honest and eco-friendly. It’s always a treat when a past guest returns, and Julie’s comeback episode is packed with even more insights you can apply immediately to grow smarter and operate more sustainably.Hit PLAY to hear: 💡 The simple shift that helped Neve’s Bees double down on what really drives sales 🐝 Why splitting one brand into two strategies unlocked major eCommerce growth 💬 How Julie turned sustainability into a standout marketing story (not just a value) ⚙️ The key roles she outsourced — and how it boosted profits and freed up her time 🛍️ The brand placement mistake that nearly hurt their image — and how they fixed it 🌍 Julie’s bold mission to take on the skincare industry’s “ultra-processed” problem Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:32] Skincare Definition: Face vs Body [06:39] Skin Care eCommerce Revolution [12:17] "Skincare Website Revamp Focus" [16:09] Finding Income Through Quick Solutions [17:27] Small Business Operations Explained [22:23] "Pure Ingredients, No Water" [23:13] Skincare Industry Reform Needed [27:32] Listen to Julie’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/571 ---
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What Would You Do as Head of eCommerce tasked with massively improving operational efficiency? – with Jaime Hill
In this WWYD episode, eCommerce Director Jaime Hill – whose career spans Monsoon, FatFace, Jack Wills, Oak Furnitureland, Hurtigruten, and more – joins host Chloe Thomas to share how she’d approach one of the biggest challenges facing eCommerce leaders today. Jaime dives into where to start, how to prioritise quick wins vs. long-term impact, and why real efficiency begins with your people, not your processes. Expect practical ideas, real-world examples, and plenty of inspiration for anyone trying to do more with less. Hit PLAY to hear: 🎯 How Jaime would tackle a “make us more efficient” brief as Head of eCommerce 🧠 Why your team (not your tech stack) is the first place to look for efficiency gains 💸 Smart ways to shift ad spend between SEO, paid search, and social without hurting results ⚙️ How a 2-week payments project boosted conversions in Germany by 35% 🤝 The simple cross-team conversations that can save you time, money, and stress 🌱 A quick sustainability win: the one website check that can cut your carbon footprint Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:59] Streamlining Operations and Team Efficiency [06:47] Team Optimization and Process Review [13:09] Prioritizing Efficiency in Evolving Industries [14:15] Optimizing Spend and Data Accuracy [19:58] Improving Processes Through Experimentation [21:44] Breaking Silos Through Communication [23:31] Listen to Jaime’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/570---
Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits
Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info
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From Bedroom Startup to £15 Million: The Cheeky Panda Story with Chris Forbes
Chris Forbes is the co-founder at Cheeky Panda, leading the bamboo revolution selling toilet paper, period products, kitchen roll and more. Founded in 2016 they now sell via multiple international Shopify sites, and a plethora of wholesale and marketplace locations. Turnover is now £15,000,000 a year, and did I mention they’re a B Corp? In this episode, Chris Forbes reveals how The Cheeky Panda turned a bold eco idea into a £15M brand loved by customers and retailers alike. From smart scaling moves to making sustainability fun, Chris shares the mindset and marketing strategies behind their incredible growth. Hit PLAY to hear: 🚀 How The Cheeky Panda grew from a bedroom idea to a £15M sustainable brand 🧠 Chris Forbes’ biggest lesson: what to focus on (and what to outsource) when scaling 🌿 Why sustainability alone isn’t a USP anymore — and what actually sells now 😂 How a giant panda costume helped them win fans and supermarket deals 🛒 The secret behind their omnichannel growth across Shopify, Tesco, and more 💡 What it really takes to turn purpose into profit — and stay ahead of the competition Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:24] "Sustainable Innovation with Purpose" [07:36] Expanding Bamboo Product Range [12:01] Supermarkets Prioritizing Sustainable Suppliers [13:47] Pricing and Quality Drive Success [16:12] "Cheeky Panda: Fun & Friendly" [21:14] Channel Strategies: Pros and Challenges [22:36] Listen to Chris’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/569---
Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits
Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info
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Growing a Fashion Brand: Lavender Hill’s Approach to PR, Sustainability, and Profitability with Isobel Ridley
Isobel Ridley is the founder at Lavender Hill, a women’s fashion brand focused on ethically made luxurious staples. Founded in 2013 then now sell exclusively via their Shopify store, turning over around £500,000 a year. In this episode, Isobel shares how she built a profitable, sustainable fashion brand by focusing on what works—core products, smart use of AI, and old-school PR that still delivers. Hit PLAY to hear: 💡 How focusing on fewer products made Lavender Hill more profitable 🧠 The clever ways Isobel uses AI (including ChatGPT!) to run her store smarter 🛍️ Why she ditched 3PLs and still fulfills every order in-house ✂️ The surprising reason she cut product lines and boosted brand value 📰 How traditional PR still drives sales in a digital-first world 🔍 The data-driven mindset behind every major business decision she’s made Key timestamps to dive straight in: [04:50] "Sustainability Over Excess Colors" [07:03] In-House Operations Over 3PL [10:40] "Shifting PR: Magazines to Influencers" [14:25] Early Struggles of a Business [18:05] "Adapting Strategies for Profitability" [21:17] Listen to Isobel’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/568 ---
Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits
Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info
Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify.
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How MUD Jeans Built the World’s First Circular Denim Brand — and What eCommerce Can Learn from It
Bert van Son is the founder at MUD Jeans, the first and only circular jeans company in the world. Founded in 2012 they’ve been a BCorp since 2013. Selling via their Shopify store, their own store in Amsterdam, and over 250 stockists across Europe. In this episode, Bert shares how MUD Jeans is redefining what it means to be a sustainable fashion brand — from leasing jeans to turning old denim into new. Get ready to learn how circular design, smart eCommerce strategy, and genuine purpose can work together to build a brand that lasts. Hit PLAY to hear: 👖 How Mud Jeans turns old denim into brand-new jeans — and makes it profitable 🌍 Why sustainability alone won’t sell (and what really drives customers to buy) 🔄 The smart circular model that keeps customers coming back 💡 How mindset-based segmentation helps Mud Jeans target the right audience ⚙️ The surprising tool helping them sell secondhand jeans online 🚫 Why ultra-fast fashion is hurting us all — and what eCommerce brands can do differently Key timestamps to dive straight in: [03:51] "Intern Turnover and Inspiration" [08:22] Leisure Jeans: A Global Sensation [13:23] Customer Sustainability Segments [15:55] Fast Fashion's Economic Impact [17:21] Tech Hubris & Brexit Concerns [18:44] Listen to Bert’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/567---
Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits
Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info
Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify.
Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://ecmp.info/sponsorAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Trying to work out how to acquire more customers? Need to improve customer retention? Or just looking for some reassurance you’re on the right track? That’s what the eCommerce MasterPlan is here for. Every week we interview an e-Commerce business person (owner, manager or marketer) with a fascinating insight into successful online retailing. Their business might be a UK mail order retailer, an online-only store from Australia, or a brick and clicks business from the USA – but every one of them is doing something we can all learn from. Many of our guests are using Shopify & Klaviyo, but we also have guests using Wix, Bigcommerce, Woocommerce, Omnisend and Magento. So you're sure to find an episode that directly helps YOU.Listen for advice on what to do next, the reassurance you’re heading in the right direction and all the inspiration you need to grow your eCommerce business without losing your life in the process!
Ireland