314: Getting Help Vs. Going It Alone

314: Getting Help Vs. Going It Alone

Author: Susan Bradley: E-commerce Expert April 7, 2026 Duration: 39:42

Bergen Anderson is the founder of Lila Barn Clothing — a Chicago-based brand making bold, colorful clothing for kids and adults who love adventure. She's been in business for 14 years, runs a physical storefront, and recently built a small production team so she can finally focus on the design work she loves most. In this episode, Bergen shares the full story of her journey: from a costly paid ads experiment that left her at a loss, to the foundational work that 10x'd her Black Friday results and transformed her email marketing from an afterthought into a revenue engine.

In this episode you'll learn:

  • Why paid ads can actually hurt your business 

  • How Bergen took her email revenue from under 10% of sales to 30% 

  • Why a few focused coaching calls delivered a higher return than months of agency work 

  • How to know when you're actually ready to layer paid ads into your marketing

If you've ever wondered whether you're spending money in the right places, or felt like your marketing is costing more than it's returning, this episode is for you.

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Susan Bradley has spent years navigating the twists and turns of online retail, and in The Ecommerce Roadmap, she shares that hard-won expertise directly with you. This isn't about vague theory; it's a practical guide built from the ground up for Shopify store owners who are tired of guesswork. Each episode pulls back the curtain on real stores, dissecting what actually moves the needle for growth and profitability. You'll hear a data-driven blend of overarching strategy and the specific, actionable tactics you can implement immediately. The focus is always on building a business with predictable, profitable sales, not just fleeting traffic. As an e-commerce expert, Susan structures every conversation to cut through the noise, offering clear direction whether you're just starting out or looking to scale an established brand. Tune into this podcast for honest conversations that feel like consulting with a trusted advisor, all aimed at providing you with a reliable map for your unique journey in online commerce.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Ecommerce Roadmap
Podcast Episodes
321: How To Get Your First Sale From Meta Ads In 90 Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
If you've ever run an ad campaign on Facebook or Instagram, and walked away feeling like it would have been more productive to just light that money on fire…I have really, really good news for you. You're wrong! This wee…
320: She Started With $4K And A Dream [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:37
If you've figured out how to get sales using just your grit, determination, and possibly sheer force of will…you may be in or approaching a state of burnout. The messy middle can feel draining and endless, but this week…
319: The Real Reason You Feel Busy But Stuck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:46
There's a point many store owners reach where they've been working so hard for so long, that they begin to suspect that the light at the end of the tunnel is just…never going to appear. It's a terrible feeling. In this e…
318: Why More Sales Isn't Fixing Your (ecommerce) Cash Flow Problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:56
Have you ever sat down at the end of a rough month, exhausted, head in your hands, and thought… Is it even worth it? Am I ever going to get to the point where I make an income that is aligned with all the work I do? If t…
317: This Artist Narrowed Her Focus, And Quadrupled Her Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
If you're an artist who's ever wondered if your brain just wasn't built for business ownership, this episode is a great demonstration of how all creatives can grow a successful business online. Victoria Mlady of Victoria…
316: Website Compliance: How To Protect Your Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:06
In the last few months, three members of our community — store owners just like you and me — have faced lawsuits over website compliance. So I sat down with my favorite lawyer, Tannia Ospina, to talk about what you actua…
315: Brandon doubled his sales AND cut ad spend by 90% [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
Brandon Love is the founder of Bewilderment.com — a fragrance and art studio in Columbus, Ohio. He started the business at 17 and is now in his 11th year. When tariffs hit last year and his Facebook ad performance collap…
312. Do this and 2x your next Product Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
If you're like most store owners I talk to, you probably put a ton of time into finding the perfect product, invest in inventory, get excited about having something new to offer… and then the results are a little underwh…