Business

An ecommerce site is a business. Our Management & Finance category addresses online payments, funding needs, employee issues, merchant profiles, key metrics, multichannel and omnichannel strategies, cross-border analyses, inventory management, accounting topics, sales taxes, and much more.

Shipping & Fulfillment
Daily Drone Deliveries Surpass 2,000 Globally

April 19, 2022 • Sig Ueland

Drone deliveries have taken off. Here is a list of companies leading the advancement, from drone technology and logistics companies to retail brands.
Business
Direct Mail Replaces Facebook for Barbeque Seller

April 15, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Lea Richards launched Pig of the Month, a direct-to-consumer seller of barbeque, in 2010. The company has thrived, with dozens of meat products and outsourced logistics for other merchants.
Finance
The SEC Reins in SPACs, Cryptocurrencies, More

April 15, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan

Massive investments in SPACs, cryptocurrencies, and private companies have caught the attention of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Business
Decision Frameworks Help (Fast-growing) Companies

April 13, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Unilateral decisions by a company founder or manager carry risks. A transparent process involving staff can lead to better outcomes. We explain.
Business
Ecommerce Copywriter on Tactics, Tools, More

April 8, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

High-converting ecommerce copywriting starts with research. That's according to Christopher Silvestri, the founder of Conversion Alchemy, an agency.
Business
Inflation Could Harm DTC and Premium Brands

April 5, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Inflation typically helps brands with lower-priced and essential goods and hurts premium items. Amid a heightened inflation outlook, merchants should scrutinize their product mix and adjust as necessary.
Finance
The SEC Asks Public Companies for Climate Info

April 4, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan

A company's climate risk is increasingly a concern of investors. Proposed regulations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would require environmental disclosures of publicly-traded firms.
Business
Sutro Pivots from Drinking Water to Swimming Pools

April 1, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Ravi Kurani is an engineer who launched Sutro, a water sensor manufacturer, in 2012. His initial go-to-market strategy failed. So he pivoted.
Business
How to Use SUMIF, SUMIFS in Google Sheets

March 30, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Analyzing total site traffic by channel for a specific period can seem daunting. But Google Sheets SUMIF and SUMIFS functions make the process straightforward.
Staffing
‘People Development’ Drives AppSumo to $80 Million in Revenue

March 25, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Ayman Al-Abdullah was CEO of AppSumo from 2015 to 2021. Annual revenue grew from $3 million to $80 million. How, exactly, did he do it?
Business
Are Apparel Brands Achieving Sustainability?

March 22, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan

Apparel companies are among the most environmentally damaging worldwide. But many are making efforts to improve. We cite examples in this piece.
Business
How Merchants Combat Inflation without Raising Prices

March 20, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Inflation could be an opportunity for merchants to improve their businesses. Subscriptions, updated products, new markets, heightened productivity — all are potential alternatives to raising consumer prices.
Business
For Fragrance One, It’s Selling without Smelling

March 18, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Fragrance One is a direct-to-consumer seller of colognes and perfumes — entirely online. Sales are booming despite buyers never smelling the fragrances.
Business
Lessons from 16 Years in Ecommerce

March 17, 2022 • Christopher Dobroth

Christopher Dobroth has worked in ecommerce since 2006. He's held management and operational positions across many industries. Here are his three lessons for success.
Business
Q&A: Anastasia Zhuk, Ukraine Agency Owner

March 13, 2022 • Kerry Murdock

The Whidegroup is an ecommerce agency in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, near Crimea. Its co-owner, Anastasia Zhuk, describes in this interview the war's impact on her business, family, and life.
Business
Fox Rocks on LinkedIn

March 11, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Judi Fox began networking on LinkedIn in 2009. She now, in 2022, has 39,000 followers and advises companies and professionals on marketing strategies for that platform.
Business
How the Ukraine War Impacts Ecommerce

March 10, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Human suffering from the Ukraine war is far more important than economic impacts. Nonetheless, business leaders should contemplate the potential effects on their companies.
Business
Fortnite Maker Pivots to the Creator Economy

March 7, 2022 • Armando Roggio

In acquiring Bandcamp, Epic Games hopes to capitalize on the so-called creator economy, wherein writers, coaches, and others sell their services directly to consumers.
Cross-border Selling
Indonesia, an Overlooked Ecommerce Market

March 6, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan

Indonesia has the fourth largest global population and a sizeable ecommerce economy. Yet Western merchants often overlook the opportunity to sell there.
Business
Stryx, a DTC Brand, Prepares Rollout in Target Stores

March 4, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Stryx is a pioneering direct-to-consumer seller of men's cosmetics. The company is soon to launch its products in 950 Target stores. The decision comes with risks.
Business
February 2022 Top 10: Our Most Popular Posts

February 28, 2022 • PEC Staff

Of the roughly 40 articles we published in February, readers preferred topics related to content marketing, SEO, influencer marketing, and B2B ecommerce — to name a few.
Business
The Fallacy of Data-driven Decisions

February 27, 2022 • Armando Roggio

The notion of data-driven decisions implies the data is perfect and the decision is unaffected by external influences. Neither is true.
Business
Consumers in a Pandemic Need Murphy Beds

February 25, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Lori Wall Beds launched 10 years ago in a garage. Annual revenue now exceeds $10 million. Owner Brenden Marquardt describes going from a side hustle to a thriving direct-to-consumer company.
Business
A Model for Choosing Products to Sell

February 22, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Commodities typically have lower profit margins than manufactured goods or transformational products. For merchants, understanding the difference could determine success or failure.
Business
17 Podcasts for Online Merchants in 2022

February 21, 2022 • Sig Ueland

Since 2011 we've published a periodic rundown of helpful podcasts for ecommerce merchants. Our 2022 update includes shows for new entrepreneurs, seasoned owners, executives, and more.
Business
Apparel Brands Face Environmental Scrutiny

February 20, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan

The global apparel industry is among the most environmentally damaging. Eighty percent of clothing fiber ends up in landfills. Consumers are taking notice.
Business
BK Beauty, Avoiding Facebook, Thrives with Affiliate Marketing

February 18, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Paul Jauregui launched BK Beauty, a direct-to-consumer cosmetics brand, with Lisa, his wife, in 2019. Unlike many DTC brands, BK Beauty does not rely on Facebook advertising.
Business
Solo Brands Founder, Now Wealthy, Reflects

February 11, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Having sold Solo Stove, a company he co-launched in 2010, Spencer Jan reflects on finding meaning amid financial freedom, among other topics.
Shipping & Fulfillment
Materials behind Sustainable Mailers, Boxes

February 8, 2022 • Armando Roggio

Consumers increasingly seek merchants who use sustainable packing and shipping materials. But recyclable or biodegradable products are not equally helpful. We explain.
Business
LiveRecover Founder Sells Company, Buys OrderBump

February 4, 2022 • Eric Bandholz

Dennis Hegstad co-founded LiveRecover, an SMS app, in 2018. He sold the company in 2021. "I became bored," he said. So he purchased OrderBump, a Shopify app for product upsells.