Shopify Happy Hour

Hear from Shopify founders, operators and experts on growth marketing strategies, lessons learned from the trenches, and other nuggets of wisdom shared over a different drink each episode.

Shopify Happy Hour is a business podcast hosted by Dan Cassidy, with 26 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dan Cassidy hosts Shopify Happy Hour, a business show with 26 episodes published.

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  Shopify Happy Hour

  How Jason Zigelbaum Is Helping Brands Double Their Conversion Rate with Zigpoll

  Aug 11, 202637 min

  Understanding what your customers are actually thinking is one of the biggest competitive advantages an ecommerce brand can have. But collecting feedback is only half the battle, knowing how to turn that data into better marketing, higher conversions, and smarter business decisions is where the real opportunity begins. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , Dan sits down with Jason Zigelbaum , founder and CEO of Zigpoll , one of Shopify's leading zero-party data platforms. After collecting more than 100 million survey responses across thousands of brands, Jason shares how ecommerce businesses can use customer feedback, AI, and survey technology to uncover insights that directly improve their websites, marketing, and customer experience. You'll hear how Jason: Built Zigpoll by listening to how customers naturally used the product and evolving the platform around real demand. Helps brands collect actionable customer feedback through post-purchase, on-site, and email surveys. Recommends the three survey questions every ecommerce brand should be asking customers. Uses AI to analyze thousands of customer responses and uncover trends in minutes instead of days. Built and scaled multiple Shopify apps as a solo founder by focusing on distribution and customer feedback. Thinks about continuous product improvement by letting customers, not assumptions, guide business decisions. We also get into the bigger picture: Why post-purchase surveys are one of the most valuable tools for improving marketing attribution and customer segmentation. How open-ended survey responses uncover customer insights brands never expected. Practical ways AI can connect survey data, product reviews, and customer behavior to improve website performance. How brands can use customer language to create more effective product pages and advertising. Why the best-performing ecommerce brands don't just collect customer feedback—they consistently act on it. The importance of choosing the right distribution channel when building a SaaS business from the ground up. Whether you're an ecommerce founder, marketer, agency owner, or SaaS builder, Jason shares practical frameworks for turning customer feedback into better decisions, stronger marketing, and faster business growth. Brands & Mentions: Zigpoll Shopify Klaviyo Revio Seguno Salesforce Baremetrics Atlassian Asics Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jason Zigelbaum & Zigpoll 02:28 Coffee preferences & founder routines 04:23 The problem Zigpoll set out to solve 07:56 Building as a solo founder & landing early customers 10:55 The three survey questions every ecommerce brand should ask 15:30 Real-world examples of survey-driven marketing improvements 17:10 Using surveys to increase website conversion rates 21:05 How AI is transforming customer feedback analysis 25:17 Creative ways brands use surveys beyond post-purchase 29:06 What separates brands that succeed with customer data 33:30 Speed Round 36:30 Where to connect with Jason Zigelbaum

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  Episode #23

  How Martin Acosta Built Kiwa Into a Worldwide Brand From the Andes Mountains

  Jun 12, 202634 minS1

  What does it take to turn a tiny Ecuadorian snack company into a global brand sold in more than 30 countries? In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , Dan sits down with Martin Acosta, founder and CEO of Kiwa, to break down how a $24,000 acquisition evolved into an internationally distributed CPG business built on sustainability, direct farmer relationships, and relentless product innovation. From sourcing nutrient-dense vegetables across South America to manufacturing chips nearly 9,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Martin shares the behind-the-scenes realities of scaling a food company in one of the world’s most competitive retail categories. You’ll hear how Martin: Bought a struggling plantain chip business and transformed it into a global snack brand. Built direct trade relationships with farmers across Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Used trade shows as the foundation for landing major retail and private label partnerships. Expanded beyond plantain chips into vegetable chips, native Andean potatoes, cassava products, and pet snacks. Navigated the shift from branded products into private label manufacturing for large retailers. Leveraged high-altitude manufacturing to create a unique chip texture and quality. Balanced sustainability, product quality, and scalability while growing internationally. We also get into the bigger picture: Why differentiation matters more than ever in crowded CPG markets. The evolution of private label and how it changed the food industry after COVID. Lessons learned from scaling too aggressively during the venture capital boom. Why trade shows and real human relationships still outperform cold outreach in retail. How product innovation trends emerge — and why chasing trends too late can hurt brands. The realities of manufacturing, distribution, and scaling globally from South America. Why passion and long-term mission alignment are critical when building a consumer brand. 🥔 Whether you’re building a food brand, launching a CPG product, or fascinated by the operational side of global retail, Martin’s story is packed with practical insights on manufacturing, innovation, and standing out in competitive markets. Brands & Mentions: Kiwa Walmart Costco Aldi Latam Airlines Avianca Runa Mikuna Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Kiwa & Martin Acosta 02:24 High-altitude manufacturing & sourcing in Ecuador 05:05 Buying a $24K snack business 10:13 Trade shows, distribution & retail growth 15:19 Private label vs. building a brand 20:34 Product innovation & entering the pet category 23:19 Why most CPG brands fail 28:32 Speed round & final thoughts

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  Episode #22

  Building a Supplement Brand with No Shortcuts and a Lot of Hustle with Zac Curhan

  May 10, 202646 minS1

  Launching a supplement brand is hard enough but building one around clean ingredients, outdoor performance, and spiritual alignment instead of hype and artificial formulas? That’s a very different approach to wellness. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , Dan sits down with Zac Curhan, co-founder of Truwild, a natural supplement brand creating clean hydration, kombucha, and performance products for people who push beyond the gym. From bootstrapping the company with just $5,000 to scaling across Amazon, Shopify, wholesale, and TikTok, Zac shares how intuition, adaptability, and relentless experimentation shaped Truwild into a growing force in the supplement space. You’ll hear how Zac: Built Truwild from scratch with just $5K and reinvested profits to grow the business organically. Created products designed for hikers, surfers, endurance athletes, and outdoor adventurers — not just gym culture. Developed unique formulations using natural caffeine, kombucha powder, electrolytes, amino acids, and functional ingredients. Leveraged customer feedback and surveys to shape future products, flavors, and packaging formats. Pivoted away from underperforming SKUs and learned difficult inventory lessons along the way. Used Amazon as a primary growth engine while strategically narrowing focus across sales channels. Built wholesale relationships through cold calls, product seeding, and direct outreach to independent retailers. Used TikTok seeding campaigns, local events, and brand collaborations to drive organic awareness and traffic. We also get into the bigger picture: Why electrolytes are far more important than most people realize. The realities of building a profitable supplement brand without outside funding. Why customer reviews and social proof are critical in modern e-commerce. How TikTok, Amazon, and organic content now work together in the customer buying journey. Using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and automation systems to streamline operations and decision-making. Zac’s philosophy around meditation, intuition, spirituality, and connecting to a “higher self” for entrepreneurial growth. 🌿 Whether you’re an e-commerce founder, wellness enthusiast, or someone interested in the intersection of business, health, and personal growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons and unconventional insights. Brands & Mentions: Truwild Amazon Shopify Whole Foods GT's Kombucha Red Bull HOKA ChatGPT Claude OpenClaw Rolflex Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Truwild & Its Mission 02:45 Why Electrolytes Matter More Than You Think 05:20 Reinventing Kombucha as a Powder 08:10 Building Truwild with Just $5K 11:00 Early Product Development & Scaling Challenges 13:30 Why Amazon Became the Core Growth Channel 16:20 Organic Marketing, TikTok, & Community Events 19:00 Influencer Seeding & Brand Collaborations 22:15 The Realities of Paid Ads in Supplements 24:00 Wholesale Strategy & Cold Calling Retailers 32:30 Customer Feedback, Product Iteration, & SKU Decisions 35:40 Meditation, Spirituality, & Entrepreneurial Intuition 40:40 Using AI & Automation to Scale E-commerce Operations

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  Episode #21

  How Smearcase Is Building a New Kind of Ice Cream Brand with Joe Rotondo

  Mar 25, 202630 minS1

  Launching a food brand is never easy — but creating an entirely new category like frozen cottage cheese ice cream? That’s a different level of bold. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , Dan sits down with Joe Rotundo, founder of Smearcase, the first and only frozen cottage cheese dessert brand built for people who want indulgence and clean, protein-packed ingredients. From a late-night craving for a healthier dessert to landing on shelves at major retailers, Joe shares how relentless action, rapid iteration, and authentic storytelling helped turn a simple idea into a fast-growing CPG brand. You’ll hear how Joe: Turned a DIY mix of cottage cheese, honey, and fruit into a brand-new product category. Went from idea to market testing in just a few months by prioritizing speed and feedback. Partnered with his sister early on to develop recipes and refine the product. Used real-world validation (not just friends and family) to shape flavors, branding, and positioning. Navigated early production, co-packing, and a 5,000-pint launch strategy. Leveraged trade shows like Fancy Food Show to land meetings with major retailers like Whole Foods and Sprouts. Built momentum through in-person demos, networking, and relationship-first outreach. Embraced a polarizing brand name — and why standing out mattered more than pleasing everyone. We also get into the bigger picture: Why “healthy ice cream” is broken — and how Smearcase is redefining indulgence with real ingredients. The power of relentless execution vs. overthinking in early-stage startups. How founders can validate ideas quickly without overbuilding. Why human relationships still beat cold emails and LinkedIn pitches in CPG. Organic social strategy — and how to create content that actually feels authentic (even if you’re busy or camera-shy). The realities of launching in retail, scaling distribution, and building a brand from scratch. 🍦 Whether you’re a founder, fitness-minded foodie, or someone curious about how new food categories are born, Joe’s story is a masterclass in speed, simplicity, and showing up consistently. Brands & Mentions: Smearcase Whole Foods Sprouts Farmers Market Fancy Food Show Good Culture HY.Q REI Dick's Sporting Goods Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Smearcase 02:00 The “healthy dessert” problem 05:30 From idea to action (June 2023 origin story) 08:45 Validating the product in the real world 12:00 Branding, flavor iteration, and feedback loops 16:20 Breaking into retail & first production run 20:00 Building relationships with buyers 23:00 Organic marketing & content strategy 26:00 Founder mindset and execution philosophy 29:00 Speed round & personal insights 31:00 What’s next for Smearcase

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  Episode #20

  From Family Farm to Grocery Aisles: How Lottie’s Meats Is Elevating the Pork Category

  Dec 10, 202545 minS1

  Launching a CPG brand is always a grind — but reinventing pork sausage with chef-crafted recipes, premium cuts, and a sixth-generation family farm story? That’s a whole new challenge. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , Dan sits down with Cassie Maschhoff , co-founder of Lottie’s Meats , the sister-run brand elevating pork with gourmet sausages and ground blends made from real ingredients, responsible sourcing, and culinary craftsmanship. Cassie shares how she and her sister Chelsea turned family heritage and Michelin-level technique into one of the most exciting new meat brands on the market. You’ll hear how Cassie: Transformed a sixth-generation Illinois family farm legacy into a modern, premium pork brand. Partnered with her chef-trained sister to craft sausages using only pork loin, pork shoulder, and clean, real ingredients. Navigated nine different co-packers to finally find partners who could uphold their exacting standards. Built early traction through restaurant partnerships, farmers markets, pop-ups, and brewery takeovers in Denver. Created cult-favorite products like The Lottie and perfected flavors through years of behind-the-scenes R&D. Balanced the demands of cold-chain logistics, short shelf life, and monthly production while still growing fast. We also get into the bigger picture: Why pork has gotten a bad rap — and how Lottie’s is changing that perception. The operational realities (and chaos) of scaling a perishable food brand. How retail, DTC, and food service each play their own role in Lottie’s growth. Why differentiation, quality, and ironclad non-negotiables matter when working with co-packers. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern food brand — from sourcing to storytelling to scaling in an unforgiving supply chain — this conversation is full of hard-won lessons and real-world strategies. 🍽️ Whether you’re a foodie, a founder, or someone fascinated by how craft brands break through, Cassie’s story is proof that pork can be premium, purposeful, and genuinely delicious again. Brands & Mentions: Scribe Winery Nugget Markets US Foods Get Right’s Bakery Culinary Institute of America Maine Beer Company (“Lunch” IPA) Lottie’s Family Pork Farm Network Shooka Sauce Jennies House Realsy Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lottie's Meats 02:48 Crafting Quality Sausages 05:41 Navigating Co-Packing Challenges 08:48 The Founder's Journey 11:32 Scaling and Distribution Strategies 14:20 Innovative Marketing Approaches 17:25 Product Development and Consumer Feedback 20:07 E-commerce and Digital Marketing Strategies 23:05 Community Engagement and Partnerships 25:59 Speed Round and Personal Insights

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