The AI Opportunities Ecommerce Owners Are Missing With Eric Bidinger [Ep.223]

AI can write your product descriptions, generate ad creative, and answer customer questions. But those might not be the most valuable uses of AI for ecommerce. In this episode, we sit down with Eric Bidinger, co-founder and CEO of Luca AI, a tool that uses AI to analyze business data and help entrepreneurs identify opportunities to improve their businesses. We explore where AI is actually making a difference for online businesses and where the hype is getting ahead of reality. One of the biggest opportunities is hidden inside the less exciting parts of running a business.  The goal isn't simply to use AI to generate more data. It's to turn that data into better decisions. AI can analyze huge amounts of business data to uncover operational inefficiencies, pricing opportunities, inventory problems, and other areas where money is being left on the table. We also discuss how AI could change the way ecommerce businesses think about growth capital, why smaller operational improvements can have a major impact on profitability, and what entrepreneurs should be paying attention to as AI continues to evolve. If you're looking for new ways to unlock growth or simply want to optimize your business, this episode is packed with useful information. Topics discussed in this episode: 02:32 - The origins of Luca AI and what the software does 06:55 - Where AI is useful vs. where it's still hype  11:41 - Using AI for the less obvious parts of ecommerce  18:41 - Debt, equity, and other ways to finance growth  21:25 - How AI can identify opportunities you aren't looking for  31:29 - The problem with AI hallucinations and business data  38:25 - How technical do modern founders need to be? 40:41 - How to balance AI data with out-of-the-box thinking 43:28 - Creating a competitive advantage when everyone has AI    Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Luca AI Eric's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to optimize and grow your business using AI.

International expansion can unlock significant growth for an ecommerce business. It can also create a lot of expensive problems if you move too quickly. In this episode, Greg Elfrink sits down with Andy Hooper, CEO of Expandly, an ecommerce fulfillment and logistics platform, to discuss what it really takes to scale an ecommerce business internationally.  They discuss how to approach international expansion, including choosing the right markets, preparing the business operationally, and navigating the logistics and compliance challenges that come with selling internationally. The conversation also covers some of the common mistakes businesses make when expanding, as well as how founders can think about international growth without creating unnecessary complexity. Greg and Andy also discuss acquisitions and investing in ecommerce service businesses, including what makes a business attractive to buyers and the challenges that can come with integrating acquisitions. Whether you're considering taking your ecommerce business into new markets or exploring acquisitions as a growth strategy, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has experience on both sides of the equation. Topics discussed in this episode: 02:39 - From flipping products on eBay to 8-figure international domination 10:23 - Andy's advice for US entrepreneurs wanting to expand to the EU 21:04 - The costs entrepreneurs often overlook when expanding internationally 27:57 - The logistics of international expansion 36:15 - Why Andy built a portfolio of service businesses   38:44 - The processes Andy uses to effectively manage his portfolio of businesses 42:31 - Andy's advice on using acquisitions as a growth channel 45:50 - Andy's OATS business integration framework 49:48 - Why Andy rolled his main business into his acquisition, Expandly Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Expandly Andy's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to expand your ecommerce business internationally.

Starting a podcast is easy. Building one that actually helps your business is a different story. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with Jim Barton, founder of Growth Podcasting, to break down what founders should really expect from podcasting. Jim explains why podcasts are often better at building trust than generating traffic, and how businesses can use them to warm up prospects, support sales conversations, and build relationships with potential clients and partners. They also get into one of the biggest questions facing podcasters today: should your podcast be on YouTube? Jim explains why simply uploading an interview to YouTube isn't enough, and what you need to change if you want to compete for YouTube's audience. Jim shares practical advice for getting started without expensive equipment or a complicated production setup, as well as what makes a good episode, how much preparation you really need, and where AI can help without taking the human element out of the content. If you're considering starting a podcast for your business, or already have one that isn't getting the results you want, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you rethink your approach. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:49 - Why Jim is so bullish on podcasting 09:11 - Should you start a podcast for your business? 14:54 - How to use your podcast to hit your business goals 17:37 - The pros and cons of publishing your podcast on YouTube 23:14 - How much production value you need if you're just getting started 26:43 - Are podcasts a suitable option for all businesses? 32:26 - How to get people to discover your podcast 40:59 - The prep that goes into making a good podcast episode 44:12 - What separates a bad podcast episode from a good one? Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Growth Podcasting Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to get the most out of your business podcast.

Amazon sellers are being forced to rethink how they build and grow their businesses. From stricter listing requirements to AI-powered shopping and new international opportunities, the rules are changing quickly.  On this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with Jana Krekic, founder of YLT Translations and Seller Lingo, to discuss what's changing across Amazon and where sellers should be paying attention.  They cover Amazon's stricter listing requirements, shorter titles, supplement compliance, and what these changes mean for sellers who have relied on older optimization strategies. They also dive into AI and Amazon search, including Rufus and Alexa, and how sellers may need to structure their listings so AI can better understand and recommend their products. The conversation then moves beyond the US, with Jana sharing her perspective on international expansion, localization, and overlooked markets. She explains why simply translating a listing isn't enough and why some markets can offer opportunities that sellers may not be looking for. If you sell on Amazon, are thinking about expanding internationally, or want to understand where the platform is heading, this episode is worth a listen. Topics Discussed in this episode: 04:03 - Why Amazon has gotten stricter with their listing requirements 11:59 - Amazon's crackdown on supplement regulations 17:37 - How Amazon has changed for sellers over the last five years 25:03 - The risks of using AI to translate your listings  36:32 - How important is your listing copy in the age of AI? 42:39 - When to consider international Amazon expansion  51:22 - Cultural translation for different markets Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter YLT Translations SellerLingo Smart Scout Helium 10 Data Dive Sit back, grab a coffee, and get the latest update on Amazon's listing requirements across different countries.  

Amazon sellers have spent years optimizing for keywords and traditional search. That is still important, but the way customers discover products on Amazon is changing quickly. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, we sit down with Jon Tilley, founder of ZonGuru, to unpack Amazon's latest AI developments and what they mean for sellers. Amazon has moved away from Rufus and is doubling down on Alexa for Shopping, alongside its newer Cosmo algorithm. Instead of simply returning search results, Amazon can now use conversations, customer profiles, product data, and recommendations to help shoppers make decisions. For sellers, this creates a new layer of optimization. We discuss why keywords still matter, but why sellers also need to think about the questions customers ask, how their products are used, who they are best suited for, and which products they complement. Jon also explains why simply asking ChatGPT or Claude to rewrite a listing is not enough, how first-party Amazon data can improve AI optimization, and why sellers need to balance AI readability with human conversion. We also look at the wider implications of AI for Amazon sellers, agencies, and omnichannel growth. If you want to understand where Amazon is heading and how to adapt your business before these changes become mainstream, this episode is worth a listen. Topics Discussed in this episode: 04:11 - Why Amazon is doubling down on Alexa and what that means for sellers 08:57 - Keywords vs. conversational search  14:48 - How to maximize your AI visibility on Amazon 17:43 - Understanding Cosmo's product knowledge graph  25:19 - The biggest AI optimization mistakes sellers make  27:52 - The opportunities AI unlocks for Amazon sellers 31:59 - How quickly AI optimization can impact performance  38:21 - How Amazon sellers are using AI beyond product discovery  41:00 - AI, agencies, and the changing service model  43:33 - Is AI killing agencies or helping them thrive? Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter ZonGuru's AI Readiness Report ZonGuru's Helix Jon's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to improve your AI visibility on Amazon.

Building a successful eCommerce business is one thing. Building one that can grow without you is something else entirely. That's easier said than done. Many founders eventually become the biggest bottleneck in their own business, making it harder to scale, step away, or create a valuable long-term asset.  In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with entrepreneur and investor Steve Rolle, whose businesses have generated more than $100 million in combined sales.Steve shares the lessons he learned growing a side hustle into a thriving eCommerce business by solving real customer problems, building systems that scale, and creating repeatable processes instead of chasing the latest trends.  Steve explains why your day job can be the best training ground for entrepreneurship, how to know when you've become the bottleneck, and what it takes to build a team that can operate without the founder being involved in every decision. He also shares the hard-earned lessons from acquiring an Amazon business through Empire Flippers, including why buyers need to look beyond the numbers and understand the knowledge and experience that often leave with the founder.  Whether you're thinking about starting an online business, growing the one you already have, or buying an existing company, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you build a business that's designed to last. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:49 - Steve's journey from the military to over $100M in ecom sales 05:30 - How Steve grew his business to $100M 09:00 - Why your job can be the best apprenticeship for entrepreneurship  16:40 - Building systems instead of building founder dependency  21:57 - Why Steve chose not to sell his business and instead professionalized it  27:36 - Hiring leaders: growing talent vs. hiring experienced executives  38:08 - Lessons Steve learned through a failed business acquisition Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Steve's website The Future You Choose by Steve Rolle Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to build a scalable business that runs without the founder.  

For years, growing an eCommerce business followed the same growth playbook: run ads, optimize your website, and send as much traffic to your store as possible.  But that's starting to change. More and more shoppers are discovering products through creators rather than traditional ads, and platforms like TikTok Shop are changing the way people buy online. Instead of relying solely on paid advertising, brands now have the opportunity to get hundreds or even thousands of creators talking about and selling their products. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with Jordan West, founder of Social Commerce Club and host of the Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast, to talk about why he believes social commerce is the next big thing in eCommerce. Jordan breaks down how TikTok Shop works, why it's so different from Amazon and traditional Shopify stores, and how coordinated creator campaigns can create a powerful halo effect across Shopify stores, Amazon, and even retail. Greg and Jordan also dive into what it takes to build a successful eCommerce business, from understanding your numbers and improving your margins to choosing the right growth channels and building a team that can scale with the business. Whether you sell on TikTok Shop, Amazon, Shopify, or you're simply looking for your next growth opportunity, you'll walk away from this episode with practical ideas you can apply to your own business. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:00 - From losing everything to finding success through social commerce 11:36 - The mechanics of how TikTok Shop actually works  16:18 - The "halo effect" and how TikTok Shop drives sales across Amazon and Shopify  20:12 - How brands find and work with creators  22:00 - Jordan's "Blitz Methodology" for launching products on TikTok Shop  37:41 - Social SEO is about to take off 41:28 - Affiliate commissions, incentives, and getting started on TikTok Shop  43:37 - The types of products that work on TikTok Shop 45:08 - Jordan's advice for doubling or tripling an eCommerce business  52:40 - Scaling an agency, hiring A-players, and building the right culture Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Social Commerce Club Jordan's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to scale your ecommerce business using social commerce on TikTok Shop!

Entrepreneurship isn't a linear path. Some entrepreneurs spend decades building a single business. Others buy, grow, and sell businesses repeatedly. Some focus on building a portfolio of businesses. And then there are entrepreneurs who take it a step further. After years of acquiring and operating online businesses, Mike Swigunski is now building Dividends, an investment platform designed to give everyday investors exposure to cash-flowing online businesses. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Mike joins Greg to discuss his journey from employee #4 at Empire Flippers to acquisition entrepreneur, investor, and now fund manager.They explore how the online business acquisition market has evolved, what makes a business worth buying in today's environment, and why recurring revenue businesses continue to attract investor attention. They also dive into AI's impact on acquisitions, the realities of operating a portfolio of businesses, and the opportunities Mike sees in making online business investing more accessible to a wider audience. Whether you're thinking about buying a business, investing in digital assets, or simply curious about where the acquisition market is headed, this episode is packed with practical insights and lessons from someone who has spent years operating in the space.  Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:14 - Mike's journey from Empire Flippers to starting his own fund 07:46 - How the online business acquisition market has changed over the last 10 years 12:25 - An overview of what Mike's AI investing platform does 20:12 - Why Mike created his own fund instead of privately acquiring businesses  33:07 - SaaS, AI, and building defensible business moats  37:11 - How Mike plans to manage the businesses in his fund  41:58 - How Mike is funding his acquisitions and deal structures  46:19 - Sourcing deals and building an acquisition pipeline  48:31 - Mike's exit strategy and what investors get when the businesses sell Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Dividends WeFunder page Dividends Capital site Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to invest in cash-flowing online businesses without having to buy one yourself.

Most entrepreneurs don't get it right the first time. In fact, the average founder fails around four times before they land something that really works. What matters isn't avoiding failure, it's what you do to bounce back.In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with entrepreneur and solopreneur mentor Moe Choice for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to rebuild after things fall apart. Moe has built 12 different businesses, lost everything more than once, gone through bankruptcy in Dubai, and had his plans completely disrupted during COVID. But instead of giving up, he doubled down on building a successful business designed around freedom. A big part of the conversation is about why skill alone isn't enough. Moe explains that many talented people stay stuck because they focus too much on improving their craft and not enough on learning how to position, market, and sell it. He also highlights how important focus is. Many solopreneurs jump between tactics, but Moe's breakthrough came when he committed to one channel, LinkedIn outreach, and stuck with it long enough to get genuinely good at it. That consistency became the foundation for rebuilding and eventually scaling his coaching business.  If you're building a business, this episode is a reminder that resilience matters just as much as strategy, and that sustainable success usually comes from simplifying, not complicating. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:38 - Moe's entrepreneurial journey and how he built a $250K business on LinkedIn 07:00 - Why Moe's business in Dubai went from $400K profit to bankruptcy 12:49 - The benefits of creating an American LLC  17:13 - Moe's only regret from his failed Dubai business 21:17 - How Moe built his LinkedIn business coaching company  32:51 - Good enough is better than perfection 37:52 - How Moe helps solopreneurs reach 15K  53:29 - The difference between successful entrepreneurs and those who fail Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Moe's LinkedIn  Moe's Website Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to succeed as a solopreneur!  

What separates great entrepreneurs from everyone else is not avoiding failure. It's their ability to get back up and keep trying new things.Grant Hensel started 10 businesses, watched seven fail, scaled one into a 60-person company, shifted from building businesses to buying them, and recently raised nearly $12 million to back entrepreneurs acquiring small businesses.  In this episode of The Opportunity podcast, Grant joins us to share what separated his successful ventures from the failures and the benefits of buying businesses instead of building them from scratch. One of the keys to success for Grant was finding the right people. He explains that many of his own successes came from partnering with operators who were better suited to run the day-to-day business, while he focused on vision, support, and capital allocation. That philosophy now shapes how his fund evaluates acquisition entrepreneurs. We also dig into how he raised the fund itself, why he believes "boring" businesses can be incredible investments, and the warning signs that immediately kill a deal for him. We also discussed AI's impact on SEO agencies and why Grant believes AI is actually creating new opportunities for digital marketing businesses rather than destroying them. If you're interested in buying businesses, raising capital, or building long-term wealth through acquisitions, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons. Topics Discussed in this episode: 04:12 - What separated Grant's successful businesses from the failures  11:26 - Why Grant switched from building businesses to buying them  13:41 - How Grant found his first acquisition  14:30 - How AI is affecting marketing agencies  17:34 - How the first acquisition was structured   20:03 - The benefits of buying vs building a business 23:23 - Ins and outs of raising a fund 30:28 - Why Grant is sceptical of acquisition synergies  39:52 - How Grant evaluates searchers  46:26 - How Grant raised $12 million for acquisitions Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Main Street Capital Network Grant's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and look behind the scenes of a $12million fund!