This past week at Commerce Roundtable was one to remember! Not only was it my first event with this group, but it was also my first time in Miami.
If you’re in eCommerce, this community is a must—not just for the knowledge, but for the genuine, down-to-earth founders who show up to these events.
I’ll keep it brief and entertaining—here’s a quick look at my time at Commerce Roundtable, no boring stuff, promise!
Founder Conversations & Workshops:
Jimmy and Shack brought together a powerhouse lineup of founders and industry leaders to highlight not just what’s working, but also what’s not.
From an industry-disrupting social tonic brand to a media network some are calling “the new Meta,” this lineup kept everyone guessing and scribbling notes throughout the entire event (at least my notebook is definitely packed).
P.S. I’m terrible at taking photos in the moment, so I borrowed a few from Twitter to share below.
The CEO to COO Partnership:
Featuring Aaron (CEO) & Dan (COO) of BREZ, Moderated by Shack.
BREZ – One of the fastest-growing CPG beverage companies, is a force big alcohol should fear.
COOs don’t often get the mic at big conferences. CEOs talk big vision, but COOs are the ones who turn those ideas into reality—and their opinions rarely take center stage. This discussion was crucial in showcasing how the CEO and COO work together to bring that vision to life.
Shack got Aaron and Dan talking—not just about goal-setting, but about how Dan takes these bold visions and breaks them into actionable steps, and communicating them to every department.
With these three leading the charge, it’s clear why BREZ has achieved so much success.
Key Takeaways:
- Small, actionable steps are the key to achieving big visions.
- The CEO casts the vision; the COO breaks it down and delegates.
- 99% of startup challenges are new—accept it, roll with the punches.
All Channels or No Channel:
Featuring Will Nitze, Founder/CEO of IQBAR & Brandon Monaghan, Co-Founder of Javvy Coffee Company.
Both Will and Brandon run successful CPG brands, but their business models couldn’t be more different — Let me explain.
Javvy prefers to hire internally, keeping roles in-house instead of outsourcing to freelancers and agencies.
IQBAR, on the other hand, leans heavily on outsourcing. This keeps their internal team lean while giving them the flexibility to pivot between providers.
It’s wild to see how two businesses, with completely different approaches, can both thrive in competitive markets.
If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: there’s no single “battle-tested” way to run a business. Stick to your guns and don’t change your vision based on someone else’s playbook.
The Key to Subscription:
Featuring Bryan Starck – Founder of 100 Celsius.
Bryan, a returning speaker to Commerce Roundtable, shared powerful insights on how to increase and retain subscribers for your brand.
Focusing on your take rate is key for increasing reliable and recurring revenue for your brand.
Did you know that 70% of new subscribers come on the first order? This means you need to capitalize on the first purchase and showcase the benefits of your subscription rather than a 1 off buy.
5 Key Steps to Increase Subscription Take Rate:
- Default to Subscribe & Save, not a One-Time Purchase.
- Address objections upfront to reduce subscription anxiety:
- “Cancel anytime in 1 minute”
- “Fresh Product”
- “Fast Shipping”
- The Offer: Start with a higher first-time discount, then offer a lower recurring monthly discount.
- EX: 20% off your first month, 10% off every order after.
- Offer multiple subscription options—customers love feeling empowered by choice.
- Implement the “middle offer looks better” principle by having 3 offers available.
- Visual loss is a game-changer:
- Show customers what they’ll miss out on if they don’t subscribe. Whether it’s free shipping, exclusive products, or even cash savings, make that loss tangible.
The Journey
This blog isn’t just about the lessons learned from these amazing business leaders, it’s also about reflecting on the journey that led me to this conference.
Going into the roundtable, I had no clue what to expect. All I knew was that I wanted to be in that room with people doing innovative, cool things.
Yes, I learned a TON about different perspectives, strategies, and even how to giveaway a Simi Tractor. But honestly, the best part was meeting the people behind the brands I see every day.
The room was real and welcoming—not the snobby, gatekeeping vibe that often comes with other industries.
But the best story? The journey to get to the event. When you’re working with a low budget, you become a pro at scrappy planning & execution.
The Plan
Miami is EXPENSIVE—especially for a young guy like me.
To make it work, I set out to build the cheapest trip possible, but still enjoy my first time in Miami.
Long story short, I got scrappy and managed to pay less than $500 for the whole trip (shoutout to credit card rewards points).
If you’re on a budget and want to ball on the cheap, here are a few tips:
- Credit Card Rewards Points:
After 3 Google searches for “best credit cards for rewards,” I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card—and I would highly recommend it.
No, this isn’t financial advice, but those points saved me $600! That covered about half of the trip.
- Book Spirit:
Don’t overpack! Stick to a backpack, and you’ll save big.
Honestly, I don’t get why Spirit gets such a bad rep. The flight attendants were nice, the flights were on time, and I even landed early.
If you love free water or sodi pop, don’t go for the cheapest ticket.
- Hostels:
Never count out a good 10-person hostel when you’re on a budget.
The downside? The snoring. But hey, you get what you pay for.
Also, bring a lock! All good hostels have lockers for your stuff, so lock it up when you head out.
For the best hostels, I swear by HostelWorld. They make the booking process super easy.
In the end, this cost me $150 for 3 nights. Total steal for Miami!
- Uber:
Uber can be pricey, but it’s essential when you can’t rent a car… Why do I have to be 20?
Here’s the hack: DON’T prebook an Uber weeks or days in advance, especially in a big city.
Prebooking can cost you 60-80% more!
When I planned this trip, Uber quoted me $65 for a 15-mile ride. I called their bluff. When I landed, I checked the app, and boom—it was only $35 and 7 minutes away.
Photo Montage:
At This Point In Time:
Age: 20
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Job: Southern Tide