In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul discuss why business owners don't need to rely on discounts to increase sales. They emphasize that discounts can undermine profit margins and train customers to wait for sales. Instead, they introduce the BUS framework—Bonuses, Urgency, and Scarcity—as more effective strategies. They explain how adding bonuses, creating urgency, and establishing scarcity can make offers more appealing without affecting profitability. The episode provides practical examples and encourages listeners to test these tactics in their own promotions.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

Membership Waitlist

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:34 The Myth of Discounts for Sales

01:10 The Downside of Frequent Discounts

03:49 Introducing the BUS Framework

04:31 Using Bonuses to Add Value

08:23 Creating Urgency Without Sleaze

13:04 Leveraging Scarcity Effectively

14:00 Limited Edition Products and Scarcity

15:49 Combining Bonuses, Urgency, and Scarcity

16:54 The Value of Free Gifts

18:58 Overcoming Product Perfectionism

23:02 Challenge: Run a Promotion Without Discounts

25:42 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul dive deep into Shopify's Summer 2025 updates, highlighting over 150 new features. They focus on the top five features that are most beneficial for standard Shopify users, including the new Horizon themes, AI-generated content blocks, enhanced Sidekick and campaign tracking tools, and the AI-powered knowledge base app. The hosts provide practical advice on transitioning to Horizon themes, utilizing AI tools, and leveraging the new campaign tracking for better sales insights. They emphasize the importance of these updates in helping small to medium-sized businesses grow efficiently without major investments. Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to make the most of these Shopify enhancements.

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:33 Exciting Shopify Summer 2025 Updates

02:17 Deep Dive into Horizon Themes

10:21 AI-Generated Star Blocks: A Game Changer

14:17 Meet the Smarter Sidekick

17:55 Navigating Shopify's Interface Changes

18:08 Facebook Ads Interface Challenges

19:07 Shopify Campaign Tracking Features

24:28 AI Powered Knowledge Base App

30:32 Shopify Plans and Themes

34:07 Conclusion and Resources

In the final episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast series on moving beyond marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul explore advanced strategies to scale your handmade business on your own terms. The episode covers how to increase average order value through upsells, cross-sells, bundles, and free shipping thresholds, and how to encourage repeat customers with actionable follow-up techniques and collection launches. Additionally, the hosts discuss ways to automate and streamline processes, such as email marketing and order fulfilment, to save time and boost profitability. They conclude with tips on leveraging flash sales to attract new customers and sustain growth.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:36 Introduction to Scaling Your Handmade Business

01:52 Increasing Your Average Order Value

10:54 Boosting Repeat Customers

19:30 Automating and Streamlining for Efficiency

27:02 Flash Sales and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul dive into the power of email marketing for creative product-based businesses. They discuss why email is more effective than social media for driving sales, how to grow your email list without being annoying, essential email sequences for all businesses, and tips for writing effective emails. They also provide actionable insights on leveraging automated email sequences, including welcome sequences, abandoned cart sequences, and post-purchase sequences, to boost sales and build lasting customer relationships. Whether you're new to email marketing or looking to refine your strategy, this episode offers valuable advice to help you grow your business on your own terms.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

Membership Waitlist

00:00 Introduction to Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:36 Series Overview: Moving from Marketplaces to Your Own Site

01:15 The Power of Email Marketing

01:43 Why Email Outperforms Social Media

07:19 Growing Your Email List Effectively

13:24 Must-Have Email Sequences for Your Business

18:20 Post-Purchase Email Strategies

21:25 Tips for Sending Effective Newsletters

28:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul delve into effective strategies for driving traffic to your store without relying on paid ads. They discuss the importance of leveraging organic traffic sources, such as social media, Pinterest, Google SEO, and email marketing. The hosts emphasize quality over quantity in social media posts, the long-term benefits of SEO, and the unique advantages Pinterest offers as a hybrid social/search platform. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help creative product-based business owners grow their ventures sustainably and effectively.

00:00 Introduction to Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:32 Episode Introduction: Driving Traffic Without Ads

01:13 The Four Buckets of Traffic

02:59 Best Organic Traffic Sources for Handmade Businesses

03:26 Why Avoid Paid Ads?

05:05 Focus on Pinterest for Long-Term Traffic

12:05 Google Search and SEO Strategies

16:24 Effective Social Media Strategies Without Burnout

23:12 The Importance of Email Marketing

24:46 Conclusion and Next Week's Preview

Join hosts Andrew George and Melissa Pikul in this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast as they discuss the importance of expanding handmade businesses beyond Etsy. They explain the hidden downsides of relying solely on Etsy, such as not owning your audience, high fees, arbitrary policy changes, and competition. Andrew and Melissa advocate for transitioning to platforms like Shopify, which offer lower fees and greater control over customer data and brand experience. Listen in for practical strategies on setting up a high-converting website, driving traffic organically, utilizing email marketing, and scaling your business sustainably. Subscribe for more actionable insights and real-life stories from successful business owners and experts.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab

00:31 Why You Need to Expand Beyond Etsy

02:05 Hidden Downsides of Relying on Etsy

11:48 Benefits of Having Your Own Website

24:48 How to Transition from Etsy to Your Own Website

26:34 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode of the Product Growth Lab podcast, Andrew and Melissa discuss strategies and insights for maximizing the effectiveness of email marketing in 2023. They emphasize the importance of analytics for focusing efforts and understanding traffic sources. They bring attention to the significance of sending regular emails, segmentation, maintaining a good sender reputation, and employing automation. The conversation includes tips on using platforms like Klaviyo, the role of AI in email content, and best practices for ensuring email deliverability. They wrap up by motivating listeners to experiment with flash sales and encouraging community engagement for more personalized support.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:40 Technical Difficulties and Podcast Beginnings

01:25 Importance of Reviews and Analytics

03:49 Email Marketing Strategies for 2025

08:10 Automation and Optimization in Email Marketing

17:57 Segmentation and Reputation Management

30:46 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Offers

In the first episode of 2025, Andrew George and Melissa Pikul discuss emerging trends in the e-commerce industry. They dive into the role of AI in business, the rise of live shopping experiences, and the importance of sustainability. They also explore subscription models, local and micro-community marketing, and the benefits and challenges of multi-channel sales strategies. This episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips for creative product-based business owners looking to grow their businesses in the coming year.

Resources Mentioned:

Facebook Group

Flash Sale in a Snap Workbook

Membership Waitlist

00:00 Welcome to the Product Growth Lab Podcast

00:35 2025 Trends and Opportunities for E-commerce

01:20 The Impact of AI on Business

05:45 Live Shopping Experiences

10:23 Sustainability in Business

12:44 Subscriptions and Membership Models

17:41 Localized and Micro Community Marketing

19:49 Multi-Channel Sales Strategies

27:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts