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Operators Newsletter

Get weekly guidance from the world’s greatest nine-figure executives, ecommerce marketers, and DTC-content creators. The minds behind Ridge, HexClad, Simple Modern, Lomi, Pela Case, Jones Road Beauty & more — curated by Aaron Orendorff.

Black Friday Checklists: Something Like 25 Tips + 14 More
Featured Post

Black Friday Checklists ~25 + 14 Tips

You’re going to hate me for this, but we’re … 16 days from Q4 74 days from Black Friday <100 days from Xmas cut-offs Thankfully, today’s newsletter is equal parts jump-start to your holiday planning and final checks on what you’re cooking. 🎁 Connor MacDonald with 25 (or something) Black Friday tips 💰 Cody Plofker adds 14 more tips to fill your funnel right now 🙌 Connor Rolain shares how you can create a “yes” ladder 📅 Mike Manheimer gives you a 60-day playbook + calendar 🤓 Aaron Orendorff...

Operators Black Friday Online Event

Today’s the (BIG) Day We’re going live with the Operators Black Friday Online Event in just a few hours! To help you make the most of our time together, two things. First, it’s not too late to submit your questions for the (1) leadership, (2) marketing, or (3) finance sessions. Hit reply right now if you’ve got one! Second, here’s the agenda with links to join every keynote, Q&A booth, training, lightning panel, and the closer. All times are EST … 1–2pm (EST): Black Friday Keynotes...

Why Most Brands Stall at 8-Figures & What to Do About It

This email isn’t for everyone. If you’re happily leading a 6, 7, or 8-figure brand with zero desire to smash the $100M+ barrier, that’s awesome. And this one isn’t for you. But if you’re struggling with stalled growth, if you’ve got lofty goals, or if you feel lost — good news. Today, special guest (fan favorite) Cherene Aubert will guide you stage by stage, channel by channel through … Why most brands won’t hit nine-figures and what you can do about it. That’s not all. Cody Plofker invites...

What Is “Brand”? Checklist, Metrics, and Being the Best

This one is all about the big, bad, and bewildering “b” word … Brand 🤑 Sean Frank on the only three metrics that define a brand 🏆 Mike Beckham asks what makes your brand the “best“ ✅ Matt Bertiulli shares his 8-part brand health checklist Plus, Cody Plofker reveals the two things he’s focused on, Mike Manheimer explains channel > checkbox, and the top-five headlines from this week in consumer news. Did you know? We’re hosting the Operators Black Friday Webinar on Sep 12. You, me, and 25+ DTC...

Simple Productivity Framework by a CEO and for Executive Leaders

We’ve all been there. It’s the end of a day, a week, a month. Your calendar was packed. You’re burnt on both ends. Busy doesn’t begin to describe it. And yet, you’re haunted by a sickening feeling + one question. What did I really get done? For leaders, executives, and especially CEOs … productivity isn’t just elusive. It can be outright crushing. Good news. Today that ends. 🏆 Matt Bertulli shares his productivity framework for founders 📊 Connor MacDonald on the one metric he (CMO) cares...

The Single Greatest Practice as CEO: Clarity, Speed, Results & Morale

🏆 Cody Plofker on the single greatest thing he’s done as CEO 💸 Connor MacDonald shows you how to unlock profit pre-Q4 😍 Sarah Levinger on why truly great marketing is about “us” 📈 Connor Rolain with dead-simple ways to increase list growth 🗞️ Top five headlines from this week in consumer (DTC) news 🤫 Plus an invitation to present at our next Operators event Connor MacDonald CMO, Ridge Unlock Post-Purchase Profits Before Black Friday Hits At Ridge, we don’t wait until Q4 to prep for Q4. When...

The World Needs More of You & You Need New Ad Channels

💪 Sean Frank on why the world needs more of you 📊 Connor Rolain with AOV and upsell benchmarks 💀 Mehtab Bhogal how to keep new ad channels alive 🤑 Mike Manheimer wants to get you ready for Q4 🗞️ Top five headlines from this week in consumer news Mike Manheimer Postscript, CCO Leaving Yotpo? We’ll Get You SMS-Ready Well Before Q4 Yotpo is exiting the SMS and email business to focus on reviews, loyalty, and UGC. Here are my thoughts … It was a really tough week for customers of Yotpo SMS and...

Selling Your DTC Brand: Everything You Need to Know

Finally, it’s here. Months in the making — over a decade if you count his years as a banker, lawyer, and now president of HexClad … Everything you need to know about selling your brand. 🤑 Jason Panzer shares the five keys on how to sell an ecommerce business 🛍️ Cody Plofker reveals Jones Road and True Classic’s net-new growth unlock 🗞️ Top five headlines from this week in consumer news + three free resources Oh, and a bonus that’s almost gone. Cody Plofker CEO, Jones Road Beauty $500M Brand...

21 Questions to Answer Before You Sell Your Ecommerce Business

You want to sell your brand. Maybe not today. Maybe not in total. Or maybe, an outright exit the moment the money’s right … is exactly what you want. Regardless, selling is the dream. It’s validation. It’s freedom. It’s how you create generational wealth. That’s why today … We’re sharing the first of two insider playbooks on how to sell your brand. And that’s not all. 🤑 Matthew Bertulli guides you through 21 questions every founder needs to answer ✈️ Jason Panzer with an international and...

How to Run Meetings That Get Stuff Done + Template

No room for a clever introduction. 💩 Tyson Drake with a step-by-step template for meetings that get [stuff] done 💰 Cody Plofker reveals how Jones Road is driving incremental, new customers 📊 Connor MacDonald on the most critical thing DTCs “don’t know they’re doing” 🤩 Connor Rolain pulls back the curtain on celebrities x creating brand loyalty 🗞️ Top five headlines in consumer news with executive summaries and links With a bonus + teaser at the end … Cody Plofker CEO, Jones Road Beauty Meta &...