Category: Business Mindset

Anyone who runs an eCommerce store knows how challenging and expensive it cam be to acquire new customers. That's why it is so important to ensure you are making the most of every contact, interaction and existing customer. In this video review of Gorgias, I offer a walk through of Gorgias' features, how we use […]

One of my favorite books from 2019 was James's Clear’s Atomic Habits, which provides easy to implement suggestions for long-lasting change. If you’d like to make this a year of consistent, incremental improvement in all areas of your life, here are some of my key takeaways:

I LOVE learning new things and deepening my skill set. That’s why I read over 50 books a year, with about 70% of the titles being focussed on business or personal development. It’s one of the best ways to keep my mind nimble while ensuring that I’m constantly growing and applying new ideas. The books […]

If you sell products which are not strongly differentiated in terms of features, or that are available through other sellers in identical or similar form, you are engaged in the reseller / dropshipping ecommerce business model. Advantages of the reseller / dropshipping ecommerce business model. The advantage of the online reseller / dropshipping ecommerce business model is that […]

Successful indie brands transcend the traditional marketing playbook and inspire fanatical loyalty by standing for something that matters. But before your company can stand for something, you've got to answer the question: what do you stand for?

Julie Ellis a co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, one of Canada’s greatest small business success stories. Back in 2002, Julie and her three partners Julie Cole, Cynthia Esp and Tricia Mumby decided they could do better than the scribbles on masking tape that were being passed off as labels to keep track of for kids clothing […]

My wife, Amy launched our e-commerce business nearly 10 years ago. At the time I was running a design and marketing agency so I helped her design our e-commerce business’s initial branding and online presence. As our e-commerce business began to grow significantly and eventually became too much for Amy to manage by herself, I […]

Do you ever have so many tasks to handle that you get stuck on which to prioritise? There is one thing you can always do that is the #1 highest value activity for your business:Selling. Selling is so valuable because it greases the wheels of revenue, which makes everything else possible. It is the lifeblood of your […]

our e-commerce business’s first Diaper bag was a flop. It was actually a sales rep’s suggestion (after she rejected us) that we design a unisex model, which lead to the development of the Charlie Diaper Bag - our first bonafide success. Then, while Amy was standing at a tradeshow with a single $175 diaper bag […]

Whether you're already running your own consumer product brand or are just in the planning phase, the environment has never been better to launch an indie brand - and you’re perfectly positioned to take advantage of the incredible opportunities available to entrepreneurs today.   Why there’s never been a better time to launch an Indie Brand: […]

Despite the abundance of literature on self-acceptance and loving oneself, your most important relationship is NOT with yourself. If you want to be successful in business and in life, you must invest in your relationship with your significant other and achieve success in marriage.  If you happen to work with your partner, as I do, this […]

Mike Paton has spent most of his life  learning from entrepreneurs.  Today, he spends all  his time giving back - as an Author, award-winning Speaker, certified Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Implementer & the Visionary of EOS Worldwide.  Specifically, Paton helps entrepreneurs clarify, simplify and achieve their vision – by mastering the simple concepts and practical […]

When I was running my agency, I remember days when work ground to a halt because of an issue with our internal file server. I also remember trying to work from home while waiting for files to trickle into my computer through a rickety VPN (virtual private network) - then giving up and heading back to the office. […]

I’ve only had one real job in my life and that was over 16 years ago. I consider myself essentially unemployable and I wear it as a badge of pride. But that doesn’t mean I don't work hard and that I have an easy life - quite the opposite. I sometimes get the impression that a […]

Since launching my own business while also working full-time, I’ve had to create a more productive daily routine and lifestyle to ensure I up my game without becoming burnt out or overwhelmed. Rather than feeling exhausted by the change, I’m finding I have more energy and am more productive than I’ve ever been. Here are […]