Pit Viper: These Shades Print Money The Unofficial Shopify podcast

59:57

Watch on YouTube Shopify unveiled a sweeping AI-first vision at Editions.dev 2025, and it's got their partners buzzing. In this episode, we go beyond the keynote to bring you on-the-ground reactions from developers, partners, and skeptics alike. Featuring interviews with: Anne Thomas (Design Packs) Ezra Firestone (Zipify) Jamil Bhuya (Otherhalf Studio) Karl Meisterheim (Liquid Weekly) We dig into: Horizon's AI-generated blocks Shopify’s global product catalog push The looming idea of a multi-store global cart Some call it the future of commerce. We call it required listening. Sponsors Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Viralsweep – Create sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways Links Shopify Editions Summer '25 Editions.dev Related Resources Will Premium Themes Get Horizon Blocks? (ed.codes) TUSP Facebook Group Post Understanding Shopify Catalog API (Sherocommerce) Liquid Weekly For more unfiltered Shopify wisdom: kurtelster.com paulreda.com ethercycle.com Help the show Ask a question in The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group Leave a review Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
How BRĒZ Built a $28M Better-For-You Buzz Brand on Shopify 37:27

12 days ago37:27

37:27

What if your Shopify brand could sell 16 million cans and hit $28M in its first full year? Aaron Nosbisch did just that with BRĒZ, a microdose drink brand that taps into the decline of alcohol, the rise of wellness, and a smarter ecommerce playbook. In this episode, he breaks down the entire journey—from ignored category to household name. Show Links Aaron Nosbisch: https://twitter.com/AaronJNosbisch BRĒZ: https://drinkbrez.com Lucyd: https://www.wearelucyd.com Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Viralsweep – Create sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways. Work with Kurt: Grow your Shopify store: https://ethercycle.com/apply Join the newsletter: https://kurtelster.com/ Subscribe for more Shopify founder stories.…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
How a BOGO Deal Bootstrapped Neven Eyewear to Millions 51:42

19 days ago51:42

51:42

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fXKVcwl8FS8 How a BOGO Deal Bootstrapped Neven Eyewear to Millions Jonathan Strauss lost a $500 pair of sunglasses jet skiing—and turned that wipeout into Neven Eyewear. What began as a desperate liquidation promo turned into a DTC breakthrough. In this episode, Strauss reveals how a buy-one-get-two offer saved his brand, what’s changed with Meta ads, and why scaling a bootstrapped Shopify store takes more grit than cash. Learn: Why BOGO x3 worked when nothing else did How Neven ships worldwide with no VC money The backend tech powering their crazy offer What most brands get wrong about Meta ads Sponsored by: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Address Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costs Links: Neven Eyewear → neveneyewear.com Sight for Sound → neveneyewear.com/pages/sight-for-sound Judge.me Reviews → apps.shopify.com/judgeme Glasson 360 Viewer → apps.shopify.com/glasson Shopify → shopify.com…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
SEO in 2025: What Still Works for Shopify 50:39

26 days ago50:39

50:39

Still trying to crack the SEO code in 2025? Jeff Oxford has worked on 300+ eCommerce sites, and he’s here to share what actually works for Shopify merchants now. From why your $300 product may be killing your rankings to how AI tools can scale your SEO ops, Jeff cuts through the noise. This episode delivers a tactical, no-fluff breakdown of SEO strategy in a search landscape increasingly shaped by AI, user behavior, and smarter content. Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels: zipify.com/KURT Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify: cleverific.com/unofficial Address Validator – Reduce delivery address errors: addressvalidator.com Links & Resources: Jeff Oxford – 180marketing.com Kurt Elster – kurtelster.com Tools & Services Mentioned: Ahrefs Claude (Anthropic) Google Search Console Replit ScreenshotOne API Shopify Ubersuggest Work With Kurt: Apply to work with Kurt: ethercycle.com/apply See our client success stories: ethercycle.com/work Get my newsletter: kurtelster.com…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
Meta’s AI Ads Engine Explained (Andromeda + ASC) 45:02

5 weeks ago45:02

45:02

Also available on YouTube: youtu.be/m9YTxRsosJA Meta just rewrote the Facebook ads playbook—and Shopify merchants need to catch up. In this episode of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast , ad strategist Kurt Bullock (Produce Dept) breaks down how Meta’s new AI-driven ad system, Andromeda , is reshaping targeting, delivery, and scale. From embeddings and vectors to Advantage+ campaigns and creative testing, this is the update your ad strategy needs. Whether you’re running Facebook ads yourself or just trying to understand what your agency’s talking about, this episode gives you the clarity—and tactics—to keep up. Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Address Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costs Links & Resources: Free Resource: Creative Angle Questions + Testing Framework Kurt Bullock: @KurtBullock on Twitter Produce Dept: https://www.producedept.co Kurt Elster: https://kurtelster.com Meta Ads Manager: https://www.facebook.com/business/tools/ads-manager Shopify Meta Channel: https://www.shopify.com/facebook-instagram Work with Kurt: Apply to work with Kurt: https://ethercycle.com/apply Join the newsletter: https://kurtelster.com…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
How Bamboo Socks Built a B2B Empire on Faire 43:46

6 weeks ago43:46

43:46

Also available on YouTube: youtu.be/l8ANgFlZK0Y It started with a sock. A turtle sock. That led to a Shopify store, a wholesale boom, and—accidentally—an agency. In this episode, Lucy Jeffrey shares how she turned Bare Kind from a seasonal side hustle into one of Faire’s fastest-growing brands. She walks us through surviving seasonality, scaling through B2B, ditching paid ads, and launching a service business that helps other brands win on Faire. A story about survival, strategy, and what happens when your Q4 makes or breaks you. Topics Discussed: Growing a DTC sock brand from scratch Why Faire became a game changer Turning content into a client acquisition machine Balancing two businesses and one marriage Why sustainability isn’t selling anymore—and what is Turning off Meta ads (and doing better without them) Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Address Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costs Links: Bare Kind Candid Founders Candid Founders YouTube Faire on Shopify Help Faire Shopify App Lucy on LinkedIn…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
How TikTok & Sidekick Helped Sell Out a Skincare Brand 40:40

7 weeks ago40:40

40:40

Also available on YouTube: youtu.be/Pi20dFaHoVg Ben Attwood left agency life to create a men’s skincare brand he actually wanted to use. With no investors, no marketing budget, and no prior product experience, he built Clubhouse Skin using TikTok, Shopify, and a lot of trial and error. In this episode, Ben shares how he: Sold out his first product run—twice Built a loyal customer base by building in public Used Shopify Sidekick to find superfans and boost conversions Leveraged AI to do what agencies charge thousands for Landed in retail by rallying his TikTok followers Whether you're launching a product, bootstrapping a brand, or curious about real-world uses of AI in ecommerce, this one’s packed with practical takeaways. Show Links: Clubhouse Skin Clubhouse Skin TikTok Instagram Shopify Shopify Magic Getting started with Sidekick Shopify Newsroom: AI helped these founders fast-track their way to first sale Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Boost AI Search & Filter – Collection filtering + smart search Subscribe for weekly interviews with Shopify founders and experts.…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
How Smart Brands Win Top-of-Funnel in 2025 49:08

8 weeks ago49:08

49:08

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XXSr4Po30oY Paid ads are busted. SEO is back but weirder. Gen Z isn’t using Google. What now? VC Smriti Jayaraman pulls back the curtain on the Shopify brands building futuristic funnels today. We’re talking AI quizzes, voice search, digital oracles, and tech that reads your face to guess your shirt size. It’s strange. It’s smart. And it works. 💡 What We Cover: Why AI search is reshaping ecommerce—and how to rank in it How Shopify brands are using gamified funnels to capture attention What to know about AI influencers, personalized merchandising, and site search Why your brand needs to think like a membership club, not a subscription box Real tech examples from Corazon Capital’s portfolio 💸 Sponsors Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Viralsweep – Create sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways 🔗 Links Smriti Jayaraman BoldVoice iAsk.ai Laws of Motion Perplexity Corazon Capital 🎯 Work With Me Want me to grow your Shopify store? Apply here See what we’ve done for other merchants: View portfolio Get my free newsletter for Shopify insights: Join here 🎧 The Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster. Subscribe for weekly interviews with Shopify entrepreneurs and experts.…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
700K YouTube Subs to Shopify Sales 47:05

9 weeks ago47:05

47:05

Her fans call her "The Queen of Air Fryers." She gave away recipes. Her fans demanded a cookbook. One $15 PDF later, Cathy Yoder had a 5-figure launch weekend—and she hasn't looked back. With over 700K subscribers, Cathy built a content-powered Shopify business that turns viewers into superfans (and customers). In this episode, Cathy breaks down: How to use YouTube as your #1 lead-gen channel Building products based on comment section gold What flopped, what worked, and why done > perfect Integrating YouTube with Shopify for seamless sales If you're a creator, a merchant, or both—this is the funnel playbook you've been waiting for. Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Boost AI Search & Filter – AI-powered search that converts Work with Kurt: Grow your Shopify store with me → ethercycle.com/apply See how we help stores grow → ethercycle.com/work Get my Shopify newsletter → kurtelster.com…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
Pit Viper: These Shades Print Money 43:58

10 weeks ago43:58

43:58

Pit Viper isn’t for everyone. And that might be the secret to its success. It starts with a guy on a ski trip. His sunglasses break. So, naturally, he walks into a military surplus store, finds an old pair of ballistic glasses from the early 90s, and thinks, these are perfect. Fast forward a few years, and those surplus shades—once traded for beers and ski lifts—have turned into Pit Viper , a brand worth millions. But here’s the question: how do you build a business that doesn’t just sell sunglasses, but sells attitude ? A brand that’s loud, weird, and completely unignorable? Today on the show: Chris Garcin, CEO of Pit Viper , explains how they took what should have been a joke and turned it into a cult phenomenon . Links & Resources 🔗 Shop Pit Viper: www.pitviper.com 🎧 More stories like this: The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Work With Kurt 🚀 Want to grow your Shopify store? We help brands like yours increase conversions, improve UX, and drive more sales. 📩 Let’s talk: ethercycle.com/apply 🛠️ See how I’ve helped other brands: ethercycle.com/work 💡 Join my newsletter for no-BS ecommerce insights: kurtelster.com Connect with Kurt: 💬 Twitter: @kurtinc 📩 Newsletter: kurtelster.com Sponsors: 📈 Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels 🔥 Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify 📬 Viralsweep – Create sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways. 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on iTunes—it helps more Shopify merchants find the show!…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
Shopify Dev AMA: Store Spying, AI Tools, and Trends 39:58

11 weeks ago39:58

39:58

Two Shopify Partners get real in an AMA packed with listener questions. Store spying tricks, AI fails, bold 2025 predictions, a garage full of jacked-up cars, and a sneak peek at their next app. What you’ll learn: How to spy on Shopify stores using public endpoints and browser tools What’s broken (and what’s promising) in Shopify’s new AI tools How devs actually use ChatGPT to write Shopify code Email marketing best practices, including double opt-in insights A look behind the scenes at a new Shopify app in development Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels: http://zipify.com/KURT Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify: https://cleverific.com/unofficial Viralsweep – Run sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways: https://www.viralsweep.com/ Show Links: Liquid Weekly: https://liquidweekly.com/ Editions.dev: https://editions.dev/pages/editions-dev Tactical Baby Gear: https://tacticalbabygear.com/ Shopify AI Store Setup Tool: https://changelog.shopify.com/posts/ai-store-generator-tool Copy All URLs Chrome Extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/copy-all-urls/djdmadneanknadilpjiknlnanaolmbfk?hl=en Store Leads: https://storeleads.app/reports/shopify Work with Kurt: Grow your Shopify store with me → https://ethercycle.com/apply See our client results → https://ethercycle.com/work Join my newsletter → https://kurtelster.com/…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
Lady Gaga’s on Shopify: Go Behind the Build 31:00

12 weeks ago31:00

31:00

Lady Gaga has a new Shopify site. But this isn’t just a merch store. It’s a stage, a story, a digital home —built to evolve as fast as she does. Her team needed something different. A site that could change overnight and feel as immersive as her albums. So they went headless, partnering with Commerce-UI , a Shopify agency known for pushing boundaries. In this episode, Shopify Partner Michal Klim takes us inside the build: How Hydrogen and Oxygen power a site that never stands still. Why merch sales weren’t the top priority—and what was. Why a “conversion-first” mindset wouldn’t work here—and what did. It’s a story about what happens when a global superstar takes Shopify beyond ecommerce best practices. 🎧 Listen now on The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. The Unofficial Shopify Podcast is made by possible by our sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Address Validator – Reduce delivery address errors & costs Special thanks to our friends at Shopify and to our listeners. Show Links Lady Gaga’s Shopify Store – See the site in action Abracadabra! Building Lady Gaga's magical storefront experience on Hydrogen - Shopify Newsroom article Commerce-UI – The agency behind Lady Gaga’s Shopify site Shopify Hydrogen – Build headless commerce experiences Shopify Oxygen – Deploy Hydrogen storefronts on Shopify’s infrastructure Sanity CMS – Headless CMS used for editorial content Work with Kurt Want to optimize your Shopify store and grow your business? I help Shopify merchants like you increase conversions, streamline operations, and build standout online experiences . Apply to work with me: Ethercycle See how I’ve helped other brands: Recent Client Successes Get my best Shopify insights: Join My Newsletter Let’s make your Shopify store better, faster, and more profitable .…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
The Store That Won March Madness 46:35

13 weeks ago46:35

46:35

Megan Smalley didn’t plan to build a powerhouse ecommerce brand. Scarlet & Gold started as a creative side project—until she got laid off. Fast forward 12 years, and Scarlet & Gold is one of the only women-owned businesses licensed for NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) merch on Shopify. This March, their Shopify sales are up 74.2% year-over-year —with over 53.6% of those sales tied to March Madness merchandise . And here’s the kicker: 69.5% of their basketball sales come from just two NIL deals . So how did she do it? What makes NIL merch so powerful? And what’s it really like running an ecommerce business that lives and dies by game-day hype? That’s what we’re talking about today. 👉 Read more from Shopify’s newsroom: shopify.com/news/march-madness-entrepreneurs Links & Resources 🔗 Check out Scarlet & Gold → scarletandgoldshop.com 🔗 Need custom merch? → scarletandgoldcustom.com 📌 Sponsors: Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify Address Validator – Reduce delivery errors & costs 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube . 💡 Want to grow your Shopify store? Work with Kurt: Apply for a strategy session → ethercycle.com/apply See what we’ve built → ethercycle.com/work Get my best Shopify insights → kurtelster.com 👥 Join Our Private Facebook Group: Connect with other Shopify entrepreneurs → facebook.com/groups/UnofficialShopifyPodcast This is a story about ecommerce, sports, and the weird world of NIL merch. It’s about how one Shopify store turned athlete partnerships into real growth. And it’s about what happens when you take a risk—and it actually works.…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
10 Shopify Mistakes Killing Your Sales 53:14

14 weeks ago53:14

53:14

Are you making one of these Shopify mistakes? If so, you’re losing sales. In this episode, The Unofficial Shopify Podcast host Kurt Elster teams up with Bold Commerce co-founder Jay Myers to reveal the top 10 mistakes that Shopify merchants make—some of which even big brands get wrong. From neglected checkouts to bloated main menus, they share simple, actionable fixes that can boost conversions and keep customers coming back. What You’ll Learn: The #1 checkout mistake that kills trust (and how to fix it in 60 seconds) Why most subscription models fail—and the secret to making them work The overlooked product page changes that increase add-to-cart rates Why your main menu is confusing customers (and how to fix it) How to stop relying on paid ads and build a business that lasts Links & Resources: Bold Commerce – Shopify apps for subscriptions, upsells, and more Subscription Death Curve – Jay Myers' SubSummit Keynote Shopify Markets – Sell globally from a single store Shopify Checkout Customization – How to brand your checkout Klaviyo – Email & SMS marketing for e-commerce Master & Dynamic – Premium headphones with long-form product pages Timbuk2 – Example of great product pages for bags Tactical Baby Gear – Niche brand with strong storytelling Clubhouse – Audio platform that rose to pandemic fame “Jobs to Be Done” (JTBD) – Product innovation concept by Clayton Christensen Seth Godin’s Blog – Marketing insights from Seth Godin Connect with Kurt: 💬 Twitter: @kurtinc 📩 Newsletter: kurtelster.com 🚀 Work with Kurt: ethercycle.com/apply Sponsors: 📈 Zipify – Build high-converting sales funnels 🔥 Cleverific – Smart order editing for Shopify 📬 Viralsweep – Create sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways. 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on iTunes—it helps more Shopify merchants find the show!…

The Unofficial Shopify Podcast

1
Fart-Proof Underwear? This Shopify Brand Says Yes 37:14

15 weeks ago37:14