Becoming A Strong eCommerce Financial Operator

Blues Brothers Podcast

In this conversation, Nathan and Thomas (from StoreHero) discuss the importance of contribution margin in e-commerce businesses and the shift away from relying solely on ROAS as a metric. They also delve into the impact of operational issues on marketing performance and the need for businesses to understand their true gross margin and operational expenses. Thomas emphasises the importance of building a lean team and aligning revenue goals with profitability. They conclude by highlighting the need for business owners to identify profitability red flags. This conversation explores the importance of understanding unit economics and profitability in e-commerce businesses. It emphasizes the need for e-commerce business owners to have a clear understanding of their breakeven point and profitability goals. The conversation also highlights the shift towards a more financial-focused approach in e-commerce, where agencies and brands are starting to prioritize financial metrics and contribution margin. Additionally, the conversation discusses the role of omni-channel retailing and the potential benefits of retail partnerships for e-commerce brands. It also addresses the challenges faced by online retailers with tight profit margins and the importance of accurately calculating gross margin. Overall, the conversation predicts that contribution margin will become a more widely discussed metric in the e-commerce industry.
Takeaways

• Contribution margin is a crucial metric for ecommerce businesses as it provides a real-time gauge of profitability.
• The shift away from ROAS as the primary metric is driven by changes in attribution, privacy concerns, and the need for a more comprehensive view of business success.
• Operational issues, such as high operating expenses and inefficient processes, can significantly impact marketing performance and overall profitability.
• Business owners should prioritize understanding their true gross margin and operational expenses to make informed decisions and avoid overinflated teams.
• Identifying profitability red flags, such as low contribution margin or high operating expenses, is essential for sustainable growth and success. E-commerce business owners need to have a clear understanding of their unit economics and profitability goals.
• There is a shift towards a more financial-focused approach in e-commerce, with agencies and brands prioritizing financial metrics and contribution margin.
• Omni-channel retailing can provide benefits for e-commerce brands, including increased brand recognition and social proofing.
• Online retailers with tight profit margins need to accurately calculate their gross margin and consider factors such as transaction fees, shipping costs, and fulfillment fees.
• Contribution margin is predicted to become a more widely discussed metric in the e-commerce industry.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:12 The Importance of Contribution Margin
08:07 The Shift Away from ROAS
13:39 Understanding Gross Margin and Operational Expenses
26:19 Operational Issues vs Marketing Issues
28:36 Identifying Profitability Red Flags
29:34 Understanding Unit Economics and Profitability
35:03 The Financial Challenges of E-commerce Business Owners
37:27 The Shift Towards Financial Operations in E-commerce
41:40 The Importance of Gross Margin and Financial Metrics
46:21 The Role of Omni-Channel Retailing in E-commerce
52:00 Managing Tight Margins in Online Retailing
55:13 The Rise of Contribution Margin as a Key Metric