Add To Cart: Australia’s eCommerce Show – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Serene Lim, the mind behind Gellae (the gel nail stickers that make salon-quality nails achievable at home) and Cup 49  (bubble tea kits that bring café indulgence to your kitchen). Hear how Serene took Gellae to seven figures in its first year, racked up 400 million TikTok views, and landed her gel nail stickers on the shelves of 165 Boots stores across the UK and Ireland. We learn about how she crafts data-driven content strategies, addresses real customer pain points in creative ways, and how she bootstrapped her expansion without taking on outside investment. Serene also offers insights on balancing creativity with calculated risk-taking to achieve sustainable growth.

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

About your guest:

Coming from a non-business background and a family that faced challenges during their first decade in Australia, Serene Lim has defied the odds to bootstrap and scale two thriving eCommerce brands. As the sole founder, she led Gellae, her DIY gel nail sticker brand, to seven-figure success within its first year, amassing over 400 million organic views on social media. This rapid momentum caught the attention of Boots, which now stocks Gellae in 165 stores across the UK and Ireland. Serene is also the founder of Cup 49, a DIY bubble tea kit brand that allows tea lovers to recreate their favourite drinks at home. Both brands focus on addressing real-world frustrations with affordable, convenient solutions. When she’s not building brands, Serene is a massive foodie who loves travelling, bunnies, and all things miniature.

About your host:

Nathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and a leading eCommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you:

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Checkout episode, we sit down with Jethro Marks, co-founder of The Nile, to uncover personal insights behind this pioneering ecom giant. Jethro shares his thoughts on disruptive platforms like Temu, his admiration for the logistics mastery of Dan Murphy’s and the critical role Google’s BigQuery is playing in powering The Nile. He also reflects on how balancing innovation with consistency has fed into the brand’s long-term success amidst the ever-changing ecom landscape.

Check out our full-length interview with Jethro Marks here:

How Jethro Marks is Transforming The Nile into a Leading Aussie Online Bookstore | #454 

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

About your guest:

Jethro Marks is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Nile, one of Australia's pioneering pure-play online retailers. With over 15 years of experience in eCommerce, Jethro has been there since the start with co-founder Mark Taylor, taking the enterprise from a living room with two guys and a computer to a global operation across Australia, New Zealand, the US, and UK, offering over 40 million products. A former Director of NORA, he is also a Non-Executive Director at DroneShield (ASX: DRO).

About your host:

Nathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and a leading ecommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we chat with Darren Kawalsky, Chief Commercial Officer at Deliver in Person, and Hakan (Hawk) Steele, Partnerships & Sales Manager at Starshipit, about transforming last-mile delivery into a loyalty driver. Darren shares how Deliver in Person’s focus on reliability and  99.6% on-time rate—helps brands build trust from the doorstep and beyond. Hawk discusses Starshipit’s integration with Deliver in Person and how their real-time tracking and branded updates keep customers informed, while reducing support calls. Together, they discuss game-changing return options, like Deliver in Person’s “wait-and-try” service, and explore why the last mile is far more than just logistics.

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

About your guests:

Darren Kawalsky has over 25 years of experience spanning startups, scaleups,  through to multi-billion-dollar global corporations. As a 3x Founder, Corporate Executive, & Advisor, he has a unique 360 degree perspective, with deep expertise across Retail, eCommerce (B2C & B2B), FMCG, Consulting, Logistics, Technology & AI. During his career, he’s worked closely with some of the largest, high-profile, elusive & fastest growing brands like Amazon, eBay, LVMH Group, JD.com, Samsonite, Kogan, IKEA & many more.

Hakan (Hawk) Steele is Starshipit's Sales & Partnership Manager and has over 11 years of experience in logistics, working with hundreds of retail businesses including Showpo, Meshki, Lorna Jane and Billabong, to streamline their shipping and fulfilment operations as they scale. As a founder of a small business himself, Hawk understands many of the challenges SMEs face today. With a proven track record in both operational excellence and strategic development, he thrives on delivering innovative solutions that propel business success.

About your host:

Nathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and a leading ecommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you:

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Teresa Sperti, founder and director of advisory firm, Arktic Fox, specialists in digital, eCommerce & capability development.  Teresa’s background leading digital transformations at retailers like Coles and Officeworks led her to start the business that works with clients such as Bunnings, Bega and Carpet Court.  In this chat, Teresa shares her simple but effective framework for business casing, how to get the best out of your technology partners - dos and don'ts style.  She also talks us through the government changes to the privacy act and the impacts on businesses - you don’t want to miss that.

Links from the episode:

Arktic Fox

Shopify Plus (sponsored)

Questions answered

• How do merchants get the best out of their technology partners?
• What are the most frequently overlooked costs of technology implementation?
• How will the government's changes to the privacy act affect businesses?

This episode was brought to you by…  

Shopify Plus

Signet

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add to Cart 

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

About your co-host: Teresa Sperti from Arktic Fox

Teresa Sperti is a  highly seasoned and regarded digital and eCommerce leader with over 20 years’ experience working with and  for leading brands including Coles, Officeworks and World Vision amongst others.  Since establishing Arktic Fox four years ago, Teresa and her team have been partnering with leading brands and scale up retailers and CPG | FMCG brands to drive eCommerce adoption and capability build, to enable better utilisation of data to enhance experience and deliver better omnichannel experiences and supported brands to utilise and invest in tech to underpin their strategy.

You can contact Teresa at LinkedIn

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, founders of the successful home and personal care brand al.ive body.  Alisa and Lysandra started the brand in 2020 just as COVID hit Australia and today they have 50 product lines, 750 stockists and an estimated 2024 turnover of $22 million. 

Links from the episode:

al.ive body

From Building on The Block to Brand Building with al.ive body Founders | #360

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-hosts: Alisa and Lysandra from al.ive body

Born and raised in South Australia by a resilient single mother, Alisa and Lysandra Fraser were instilled with a strong work ethic and an unyielding determination from an early age.  The Block unveiled their hidden talent for interior design and enabled them to establish Alisa & Lysandra Interiors. In 2020, they boldly launched al.ive body, a personal care brand, driven by their quest for soap that complements their design projects. Within 3 years, al.ive body expanded to include home care and baby products, surpassing expectations.

You can contact Alisa at LinkedIn

You can contact Lysandra at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Sabri Suby, the founder and head of growth at digital marketing agency King Kong, author of ‘Sell Like Crazy’ and investor on TV show Shark Tank Australia.  Sabri launched King Kong in 2014 as a $50 venture from his bedroom in Byron Bay. The now global business is one of Australia’s fastest growing companies and was valued at $72m last year.  In this chat Sabri shares the metrics that matter most and how to use them, tips on when and when not to use an agency like his, his minimum GP and AOVs for ecommerce businesses he’s involved in and the brand that gave him the best unboxing experience of his life. We even get to go behind the scenes in a Shark Tank deal he did with one of our previous Add To Cart guests.

Links from the episode:

King Kong

Condoms and Quiz Shows: The Get Down Story | #218

Last Crumb

Shopify Plus (sponsored)

Signet (sponsored)

Questions answered:

• How do I know when I should use a marketing agency as opposed to doing it myself?
• Which three metrics are the most important?
• What are your tips for getting great results using ChatGPT?

This episode was brought to you by…  

Shopify Plus

Signet

About your co-host: Sabri Suby from King Kong

Sabri Suby is the founder and head of growth at Australia’s fastest-growing full-service digital marketing agency King Kong, author of international bestseller Sell Like Crazy and one of five investors on the 2023 season of Shark Tank Australia, a globally recognised entrepreneurial reality TV show.  Sabri launched his business, King Kong, in 2014 as a $50 venture from his bedroom in Australia’s Byron Bay. The business has since grown to become a 90-strong global empire. King Kong was valued at an estimated $50m in 2021, prior to rolling out globally, and it was later valued at $72m in 2023 following 2 years of substantial growth. 

You can contact Sabri at LinkedIn

Please contact us if you: 

• Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor 
• Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host 
• Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart better

Email hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout someone who likens himself to a popular eighties TV character.  Didn’t we all aspire to be Magnum PI Uncle Jesse from Full House at some point? I ended up more like Norm from Cheers - I’m showing my age now.  We’re talking to another smart, resourceful problem solver - just like Macgyver - there you go, did you get it right?  My guest is Matthew Pezzimenti, Founder and Director of Conversion Kings.  Since 2014, they’ve been working on Conversion Rate Optimisation processes for leading Australian and International brands like Koala, StyleTread and Woolworths.   Now Matt may not have a highly gelled mullet or a roll of duct tape in his back pocket, but he does know a hell of alot about creating CRO solutions to fix the problems your eCommerce business might be having.

Links from the episode:

Conversion Kings

Unlocking Conversion Rate Optimization with Conversion Kings | #358

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-host: Matthew Pezzimenti from Conversion Kings

Matt is an accomplished Conversion Rate Optimisation expert and the visionary behind Conversion Kings. With a burning passion for crafting extraordinary online experiences that translate into tangible revenue, Matt takes immense pride in delivering top-notch optimisation services tailored just for you! As the founder, his mission revolves around enlightening and empowering individuals from all walks of life about the power of Optimisation while establishing a dependable and scalable optimisation process.  Beyond his role in elevating Conversion Kings to a renowned global agency, Matt is affectionately known as the "Conversion King" among peers and clients alike, owing to his unwavering dedication to the captivating realm of optimisation. Join us in exploring the wonderful world of optimisation with this exceptional speaker and thought leader.

You can contact Matt at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023 was a jam packed year of conversations packed with gold nuggets of wisdom to help our ecommerce businesses. In this special episode, we’re sharing the best bits of conversations from 2023 that have a special place in our hearts.  It’s an opportunity for you to hear a little bit of the gold you may have missed, all in one place.

Alice Williams from Ovira: The Most Followed Aussie Brand on Tik Tok | #276

Alice Williams is the founder of Ovira, a period pain relief device. In this chat you’ll hear all about how Alice built the brand and how her and the team got to 6m TikTok followers.

Eugene Cheng from Sneaker Laundry: World’s Wealthiest Shoe Shiner | #305

This episode is the first from Add to Cart’s co-host Jo Anne Hui MIller, who joined us in 2023.   Eugene Cheng is an ex-lawyer who’s now known as Australia’s wealthiest shoe shiner after founding Sneaker Laundry, which offers sneaker cleaning products as well as services, both online and in-store. Eugene shares how he sees the relationship between ecommerce and bricks and mortar and he gets into the detail of the radical re-brand he’s right in the middle of.

Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan from Clothing The Gaps: Mob At Heart | #337

Part of the Voice series we released ahead of the referendum back in October, in this chat, you’ll hear from Clothing The Gaps co-founders Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan. We hear about their battle with the American clothing giant Gap, how being receptive to an avalanche of DMs increased their sales and their take on how acknowledgements of country done right, can make all the difference.

Andrew Lipp from EQL: The Psychology of Hype Drops | #292

Andrew Lipp is the CEO and Co-Founder of EQL (that’s E-Q-L pronounced Equal). A former sneakerhead who felt the pain of missing out more than once and, with the help of two former Google colleagues, decided to create a solution.  EQL is an end-to-end platform built for retailers to reliably sell the most in-demand products to more customers, and get more value out of every launch by facilitating site reliability, accurate payments, scam prevention and helping to ensure a level playing field for customers.  We get insights from Andrew on how to manage the chaotic conditions of an ecommerce hype drop and some of the crazy things that get sold in this way…bottled Cheeto dust anyone?

Thanks for tuning in this year! We’ll see you soon to kick off 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Add To Cart, we checkout Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang, old friends and Co founders of Paire - P A I R E - a sock brand that is all about comfort and sustainability.  The pals set about reinventing sock functionality to address frustrating experiences with smelly, sweaty, slippy foot underwear and the results have bagged them five star reviews, angel investment and revenue doubling year on year.  Their range has now expanded to include t-shirts, towels and loungewear.

Links from the episode:

 Innovating in the Textile Industry: How Paire is Redefining Comfort and Sustainability | #356  

Questions answered in the podcast:

• What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever bought online? 
• Who is your favourite retailer? 
• Which retail fad do you wish was history?
• Can you recommend a book or podcast that our listeners should immediately get into? 
• Finish this sentence.  The future of retail is… 

About your co-hosts: Nathan Yun from Paire

Nathan possesses a diverse background in the film industry, having served as Jackie Chan's assistant, and later excelling in business, startup marketing and branding. Witnessing the exploitation during a research trip to India fueled his passion for sustainable fashion. Nathan's creativity and determination, coupled with his eye for responsible business practices, have been instrumental in the success of Paire's revolutionary clothing line.

You can contact Nathan at LinkedIn

Rex Zhang from Paire

Rex comes from a family that has been running textile factories for over 40 years. He is a textile expert with extensive knowledge of fabric technology and materials science. Drawing from Rex's expertise and dedication, Paire introduced Supreme CoolBlend, a game-changing thread blending Merino wool and cotton. Rex's commitment to sustainable innovation has propelled Paire's mission to revolutionise the fashion industry, creating environmentally friendly and incredibly comfortable clothing.

You can contact Rex at LinkedIn

About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To Cart

Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The people have spoken! After another massive year at Add To Cart, it’s time to share with you the top three most downloaded episodes of 2023. We’ve pulled the best parts of these ecommerce chats in this special episode. But if you just want to know who won the popularity contest, here you go, in reverse order...

3.

Simon Beard From Culture Kings: Thrifty Customers, Tight Retailers and Artificial Intelligence | #318

Simon Beard, co-founder of Culture Kings, one of the most exciting retail brands Australia has ever seen.. From a stall at the Carrara markets to a $600m valuation in 2021, and a successful partial exit, one of the biggest private retail acquisitions in Australia's history.   The episode explores the findings that came out of Shopify’s Australian Retail Report published back in July, but we get some really cool insights from Simon on loyalty, AI and looking after the team.

2.

Erica Berchtold from The Iconic: Pushing the Limits of eCommerce | #261

Erica is one of the most influential leaders in the retail landscape and she is also Add to Cart’s most requested guest.  At the time of this chat, Erica was CEO of The Iconic, Australia’s very own online fashion powerhouse, committed to customer and at the forefront of technology and innovation.  Despatching from a 28,000sqm fulfilment centre in Sydney, with almost a thousand staff, they continue to redefine the future of retail in Australia and New Zealand. We hear how Erica stays connected to customers, the secrets to an 8 minute delivery turnaround - from order placed to ready to ship, and the achievement she’s most proud of.

1.

Davie Fogarty from The Oodie: The Fad That Stuck Around | #271

Davie Fogarty is founder of The Oodie.  His product, the original oversized wearable blanket, turned his last $500 into a 250 million dollar business and now sits inside The Davie Group alongside Pupnaps, ZoeTech and Australian Furniture Warehouse.  You  may have seen him as a judge on Shark Tank this year too. Davie’s story is a real rags to riches tale - he had some hard times and more than a few failures before hitting the jackpot with The Oodie.  In this conversation he shares practical takeaways on product selection, trend spotting and how he manages stress.

We hope you enjoy a look back on the most popular episodes of 2023. We’ll see you soon for new episodes in 2024!

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