In this Checkout episode, we chat with Damien Smith, CTO of Paramount Retail, the tech leader behind brands like BoozeBud and Barrel & Batch. Damien shares one of his more unusual online buys, sings the praises of small skateboard retailer brand Kick Push and highlights Good Strategy/Bad Strategy and the Manager Tools podcast as sources of practical, no-nonsense advice for leaders. He also explains how Asana keeps his team in sync across locations, highlights Shopify as crucial for powering Paramount’s e-commerce presence and gives his insights on juggling the demands of leadership with personal growth.

Check out our full-length interview with Damien Smith here:

Reinventing BoozeBud: Inside Paramount Retail’s Push to Transform Alcohol Retail | #446

About our guests:

With over 25 years of experience, Damien Smith is a bit of a Swiss Army knife in business and technology. After founding an IT services company in the late 90s, he eventually became CIO at SurfStitch in 2013. Immersed in analytics and eCommerce, he later held key roles at MTB Direct before joining BoozeBud as CTO in 2022. Damien now drives tech innovation at Paramount Retail, overseeing BoozeBud and helping transform the online alcohol retail landscape.

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 special Best of 2024 episode of Add To Cart, we revisit five of Nathan’s standout conversations from across the year. We revisit insights from Profit Peak’s Carla Penn-Kahn and David Kahn, who unlocked a 20% profit boost for their multi-brand sneaker empire using real-time data and Adore Beauty’s Dan Ferguson, who uses psychology to build customer loyalty through innovative dual funnels. We recap wisdom on nudges and sludges from behavioural economics expert Sonia Friedrich and learn how Adam Bouris from WHO IS ELIJAH has mastered bold, strategic wholesale cuts to power global expansion. We also revisit Anaita Sarkar, from Hero Packaging, retention strategies and the "magic bucket" concept that turned satisfied customers into vocal advocates.

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

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 Elena Chirich, the visionary behind MiniBoss Business School’s Aussie chapter. With a background in leading transformation projects for global giants like Virgin and Deloitte, Elena now focuses on shaping the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. She shares the science behind fostering creativity in kids, the power of early failure, and how mentorship from industry leaders, like Simon Beard of Culture Kings and Mike Thompson of Nude by Nature, sets MiniBoss apart. From big-picture insights to practical takeaways, this episode explores how MiniBoss is preparing young minds for a rapidly changing world.

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

About your guest:

Elena is an education innovator and owner of the Australian branches of the international MiniBoss Business School, where she empowers young entrepreneurs as young as 6 with essential business and life skills. After a successful 20-year career in IT with companies like HP, Virgin and Deloitte, she left the corporate world to champion student-centered, real-life education that builds confidence and a growth mindset in kids. Elena is passionate about supporting the next generation and has opened branches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and continues to offer the program online since launching it during COVID.

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 Phil Leahy, founder of MedCart and the visionary behind Retail Global, a leading e-commerce event platform. Phil shares his most unexpected online buy – a house purchased sight unseen – and praises Julie Mathers from Flora & Fauna for her exceptional approach to e-commerce. He discusses the importance of tools like SearchSpring in boosting MedCart's performance and highlights his go-to podcast, The Jason & Scot Show, for marketplace insights. Phil also reflects on the challenges of managing MedCart’s growth in a competitive market, all while maintaining his tropical garden!

Check out our full-length interview with Phil Leahy here:

From eBay to Medical Marketplace: How Phil Leahy is Shaking Up Healthcare E-Commerce with MedCart | #456

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

About your guest:

Phil Leahy’s journey began in 2007 when he became eBay Australia’s #1 seller with his business, Entertainment House. From there, Phil went on to shape the industry by founding Retail Global Events, bringing retailers together to spark innovative conversations and drive growth. After selling Retail Global to Maropost in 2022, Phil made a bold return to eCommerce with MedCart Marketplace, now Australia’s leading medical marketplace, providing crucial medical supplies to businesses, consumers, and government bodies. Beyond business, Phil’s passion for giving back has been evident through his Frontliners initiative, which has raised over $1 million for charities and delivered $3 million in products and services to support 140,000 healthcare workers across Australia.

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

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

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’re joined by Mike Rhodes, the Founder and Main Ideas Guy at Mike Rhodes Ideas. With a career spanning four successful business exits, including WebSavvy—an agency named one of Google’s Top 18 globally—Mike shares how focusing on problem-solving and innovation has driven his success. He reveals the power of his PMAX scripts, which are helping brands like UNICEF, Helly Hansen and The Body Shop uncover hidden ad spend opportunities. From reshaping ad strategies to preparing for AI’s game-changing impact on search, Mike delivers insights every eCommerce professional needs to hear.

This episode was brought to you by:

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus

About your guest:

Mike is the Founder and Main Ideas Guy at Mike Rhodes Ideas, helping businesses and marketers stay ahead with cutting-edge strategies, tools and insights. He has built and sold four businesses, including WebSavvy, which was one of Australia’s largest independent agencies for over a decade and was recognised by Google in 2018 as one of their Top 18 agencies worldwide. A sought-after speaker, Mike has delivered keynotes at over 100 events globally and co-authored The Ultimate Guide to Google Ads, the world’s best-selling book on the subject. These days, you’re likely to find him walking his daughters to school, experimenting with AI innovations, or carving through forest trails on his mountain bike.

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.