E-commerce Trends Archives

Building E-commerce Success: Insights from Lantern Sol Founder Jay Neyer

April 1, 2025 Brent W. Peterson

As the host of Talk Commerce, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jay Neyer, founder of Lantern Sol and a true e-commerce success story. From his humble beginnings as an accounting student to building and selling a $25 million e-commerce business, Jay’s journey offers valuable insights for anyone in the digital commerce space.

From Philosophy to Profit: An Entrepreneur’s Journey

Jay’s story begins unusually – with a degree in accounting and philosophy. After realizing corporate life wasn’t his calling (literally crying on his drive home from work), he made a pivotal decision to learn coding and web development. This led him into the Shopify ecosystem, where he’s now helped build over 500 websites generating more than $113 million in online sales.

The Power of Persistence in E-commerce

One of the most striking insights from my conversation with Jay was his emphasis on persistence. “As long as you have that stubborn bullheaded mentality of just running through wall after wall after wall, it’s impossible to fail,” he shared. His first venture saw zero sales initially, but this experience laid the groundwork for his later success – building a fitness product company from zero to $25 million over seven years.

The Age of Influencers: A New Marketing Paradigm

Let me share something fascinating that Jay revealed about current e-commerce trends. While everyone’s talking about AI, Jay emphasized we’re in “the age of influencers.” His agency has found remarkable success with what he calls “whitelisting” – running the same ad content through both brand pages and influencer accounts. The key insight? Even micro-influencers with just 1,000-2,000 followers can drive significant results.

Landing Page Innovation: The Future of Conversion

One strategy that particularly caught my attention was Jay’s approach to landing pages. His team creates hyper-specific pages that maintain consistency between ad content and landing page experience, especially when working with influencers. This attention to detail in the customer journey has proven to be a game-changer for their clients.

Authenticity: The Ultimate Differentiator

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway from our conversation was Jay’s emphasis on authentic branding. In a space where many are tempted to simply copy successful competitors, Jay advocates for finding and maintaining your true authentic voice. This philosophy has not only shaped his client work but also his personal approach to business, combining his diverse interests in languages, music, and entrepreneurship.

As someone who’s been in the e-commerce space for years, I found Jay’s insights both refreshing and practical. His journey from an accounting student to a successful e-commerce entrepreneur and agency founder demonstrates that success in this field isn’t just about technical knowledge – it’s about persistence, authenticity, and the ability to evolve with the changing digital landscape.

Want to hear more of Jay’s insights? Listen to the full episode of Talk Commerce to dive deeper into his strategies for e-commerce success.

Listen to more episodes about digital transformation here

Business Buzzwords 2025: AI Agents Lead Digital Revolution as Fast Follow Strategy Dominates

February 17, 2025 susanmakolea

The latest analysis of business buzzwords reveals AI agents as 2025’s fastest-growing term, while fast follow strategy leads with 423.3 million mentions. Discover how these trends are reshaping e-commerce and digital business landscapes.

[Live from ShopTalk] The Struggle of Mid-Market Merchants in E-Commerce with Jason Nyhus

March 26, 2024March 26, 2024 Brent W. Peterson

Defining the Mid-Market Merchant

Jason eloquently described the mid-market merchant as a business that doesn’t quite fit into the standard SMB or enterprise categories. These merchants often have complex use cases and unique needs that aren’t easily met by one-size-fits-all solutions. As someone who has worked with numerous mid-market businesses, I can attest to the importance of finding a platform that offers the flexibility and customization required to address their specific challenges.

One of the most significant issues mid-market merchants face is the dominance of big software companies in the e-commerce space. As Jason pointed out, these companies often prioritize their own profit motives over the needs of individual merchants. The result? A homogenized e-commerce experience that lacks the differentiation and customization many mid-market brands rely on to stand out in a crowded market.

I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating it can be for merchants to feel forced into a box, unable to tailor their online presence to their unique brand identity. This is where open-source platforms like Shopware shine, offering the freedom and flexibility to create truly distinctive e-commerce experiences.

The Importance of Adaptability and Customization

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, adaptability has become a crucial factor in the success of mid-market merchants. Jason emphasized the significance of choosing a platform that allows for easy customization and integration with emerging technologies like AI.

In my experience, the ability to modify and own your code is a game-changer for mid-market businesses. It allows them to create tailored experiences that align with their brand and business processes, rather than being constrained by the limitations of a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution.

Final Thoughts

My conversation with Jason Nyhus at Shop Talk was an eye-opening exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing mid-market merchants in the e-commerce world. By understanding the unique needs of these businesses and embracing adaptable, customizable solutions, we can help them navigate the complexities of online retail and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

If you’d like to learn more about Jason’s insights and the innovative solutions Shopware offers for mid-market merchants, be sure to check out the full podcast episode. And as always, keep the conversation going by sharing your own experiences and strategies for success in the comments below.

Unlocking Loyalty: A Revolutionary Guide to Turning Returns into Remarkable Rewards with Tobi Buxhoidt

February 2, 2024August 15, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

In this insightful episode of Talk Commerce, Brent Peterson invites Tobi Buxhoidt, the co-founder of ParcelLab, a leading Operations Experience Management platform. Boasting a rich background in logistical operations and a passion for streamlining the customer experience, Tobi shares forward-thinking insights on the role of post-sales customer interactions in brand success.

Born in Germany and based out of Boston, Tobi describes how ParcelLab operates internationally with several offices worldwide. The platform aims to revolutionize the way brands engage with their customers with data-driven experiences, which he believes can create a notable difference in their relationships with their customers. A large part of the discussion revolves around the role of returns in customer satisfaction.

Tobi emphasizes the necessity of a digitalized, tailored, and customer-centric returns process with varying approaches depending on the customer and the product. He cites examples from fashion brand Chico’s and electronics company Bose to illustrate the practical application of this approach.

Tobi also touches upon the common assumption that returns should be free. While he understands this reasoning, he reveals intriguing data suggesting that about half of consumers are open to paying for returns depending on the context. Finally, Tobi gives a glimpse into the future of e-commerce in 2023, where he predicts a significant shift from customer acquisition to enhancing customer lifetime value.

He suggests that brands focus on engaging their customers during the entire post-purchase journey, which he claims is critical for customer retention and building lasting relationships. Tobi invites interested listeners to engage with ParcelLab further through its website, www.parcellab.com. Leveraging his experience and expertise, Tobi aims to help businesses excel in the post-purchase landscape, turning the seemingly mundane process of returns and operational moments into moments of joy.

Find Tobi Buxhoidt on LinkedIn for more insights and engagements.

More podcasts about Commerce

E-commerce Trends