Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth

Most brands are chasing “perfect attribution.”That’s the wrong goal.In this episode of the Podcast, Tony sits down with Steve to break down what marketing measurement is actually for — and why accuracy with a capital-T isn’t just impossible, it’s counterproductive.Using the “Royal Cubit” metaphor, they explain why the purpose of measurement isn’t to find universal truth, but to create a shared reality that allows teams to make confident decisions at speed. From contribution margin at the business level to ROAS targets inside ad accounts, this episode walks through how CTC connects the entire measurement stack into a single operating system.They cover:Why platform numbers will never match — and why that’s okayHow MMM and incrementality work together (not against each other)The hidden cost of chasing attribution precisionHow to prioritize incrementality tests that actually move revenueWhy shared metrics matter more than “correct” onesWhat better measurement unlocks for upper-funnel and channel expansion in 2026If you’re responsible for budget allocation, performance efficiency, or explaining results to a CFO, this episode reframes how measurement should work — and what actually matters when the goal is contribution margin, not dashboard perfection.Show Notes:Head to https://www.dash.fi/Or book a call with our Head of Sales here: https://calendly.com/d/ct8f-w59-824/dashfi-x-common-thread-collective-introExplore the PROPHIT System: http://prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have

The last five years of DTC forced brands through extreme conditions—easy money, explosive growth, brutal pullbacks, rising CAC, tariffs, and shrinking consumer demand. In this presentation from the Commerce Roundtable, Taylor Holiday breaks down why those pressures weren’t the end of DTC—but the catalyst for its next evolution.Taylor introduces the “Flow Era”: a new phase where winning brands stop chasing easy growth and instead master cash flow, product-led expansion, operational discipline, and constraint-driven creativity. Drawing on real data, industry trends, and the Born Primitive case study, he explains how the best operators are shifting from ROAS obsession to free cash flow as the true scoreboard.This talk covers:Why “easy” DTC is over—and why that’s a good thingHow capital constraints are reshaping growth strategiesThe shift from revenue → EBITDA → free cash flowWhy better ads won’t save commodity productsHow storytelling, category expansion, and constraints unlock durable growthPractical lessons for operators navigating rising CAC, tariffs, and inventory riskIf you’re an operator, founder, or marketer trying to build a business that actually funds itself, this presentation lays out the mindset and mechanics required to win in the next era of DTC.Show Notes:Head to https://www.dash.fi/Or book a call with our Head of Sales here: https://calendly.com/d/ct8f-w59-824/dashfi-x-common-thread-collective-introExplore the PROPHIT System: http://prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have

In this episode of the Podcast, we break down the three things brands must get right to win in 2026—based on real performance data, post-BFCM learnings, and what top-performing brands are already doing differently.Richard is joined by Luke to unpack the foundational shifts shaping the next era of ecommerce growth. As rising costs, tighter margins, and increased competition redefine the landscape, winning brands aren’t doing more—they’re doing the right things better.We cover:Why system integration is now essential for faster, clearer decision-makingHow creative consolidation (especially UGC-led formats) is driving scalable performanceWhen and how distribution expansion actually works—across platforms, products, and retail channelsThe role of predictability, single-source-of-truth measurement, and profit-first thinking in 2026Why brands that lack operational clarity will struggle to keep up this yearThis episode is a practical playbook for founders, CMOs, and operators looking to move faster, eliminate guesswork, and build durable growth systems heading into 2026.Show Notes:TaxCloud has you covered: https://taxcloud.com/thread/Explore the PROPHIT System: http://prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have

2026 won’t be an evolution of commerce—it will be a reset.In this episode, Taylor and Richard unpack 26 predictions that will reshape commerce in 2026, exploring how AI becomes the foundational layer for shopping, work, creative, media buying, and decision-making itself.This isn’t about tools or tactics. It’s about what happens when machines stop assisting humans—and start replacing human judgment entirely.You’ll hear why:AI isn’t driving traffic to stores—it is the storeCreative strategy, brand standards, and human bias are becoming liabilitiesAutopilot decision systems will outperform human-led teamsMedia buying, inventory, pricing, and PDPs won’t need approval anymoreCommerce is collapsing into a single, intelligent, universal feedIf you’re still planning 2026 with last year’s assumptions, this conversation will challenge everything—from how much content you should produce to whether your website even matters.This episode isn’t prediction-as-content.It’s a warning—and a roadmap.Show Notes:Read the 26 Predictions That Will RESHAPE Commerce In 2026: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/26-predictions-ecommerce-2026TaxCloud has you covered: https://taxcloud.com/thread/Explore the PROPHIT System: http://prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have

Meta’s Andromeda algorithm didn’t just tweak performance it rewired how ads are delivered, scaled, and rewarded.In this episode of the Podcast, we break down insights from 53,000 ads, 147 brands, and $14.5M in BFCM spend to show how Meta now evaluates creative, bidding strategies, and content formats in a post-auction, AI-driven system.You’ll learn:Why creative volume exploded — and why it’s now required to scaleHow different bid strategies attract fundamentally different customersWhy video absorbs spend more efficiently than static adsWhat makes UGC ads more likely to become high-spend winnersHow promo vs evergreen ads actually perform under AndromedaThis isn’t theory or platform guidance — it’s real performance data from Cyber Five, unpacked to help brands understand what Meta rewards now and how to adapt heading into 2026.If you’re scaling paid media and trying to keep up with Meta’s shift from auctions to content delivery, this episode breaks down what changed — and what to do next.Show Notes:TaxCloud has you covered: https://taxcloud.com/thread/Explore the PROPHIT System: http://prophitsystem.comThe Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at [email protected] to ask us any questions you might have