- The Sellout Newsletter
- Posts
- 💰The eCommerce Tech I Wish I’d Started With
💰The eCommerce Tech I Wish I’d Started With
If I Could Start Again, Here’s What I’d Use
Hello Sellouts!
I'm writing this from London, where my passport is currently held ransom by the US Consulate waiting for processing. Fun times, right? Just another day in the life of building a business from the ground up.
It’s funny how this whole waiting game reminds me of the early days in e-commerce — you feel like you’re constantly taking one step forward, two steps back. But then, out of nowhere, things start to click, and those early efforts pay off in a big way.
If you're in that early stage, this week’s newsletter is made for you. If you're already past it, even better — go check out last week’s edition where I dive into your Cyber Week email strategy.
I’ll see you stateside soon 🇺🇸,
Luke
When I started my first ecommerce business, I had no idea what I was doing.
I had a product idea, a brand name, and knew I needed a website.
But beyond that? I was lost.
I ended up signing up for WooCommerce, Mailchimp, WordPress, and some random fulfillment software.
Big mistake.
Now, after using countless tools, I’m here to save you from making the same mistakes.
Here’s the tech stack I wish I had from day one.
💰 #1 Shopify – The Seemingly Obvious Choice
Yes, Shopify is the "duh" choice, but for good reason.
It’s the backbone of so many successful ecommerce brands because it makes selling online effortless.
Shopify’s checkout process is something customers already trust, and its endless range of integrations grows with your business.
One of the most underrated features? Free design templates.
I’ve seen brands pulling in millions with nothing more than Shopify’s built-in themes. No need for a custom-coded site to start making money.
But beware, costs can creep up. As your store scales, you’ll likely need more apps and custom features, which can increase expenses.
That said, starting with Shopify’s out-of-the-box solution is a no-brainer.
Hire a designer for hero graphics, load up your products, and get selling.
And yes, the dopamine rush from hearing the Shopify 'Ka-ching!' sound never gets old.
📩 #2 Klaviyo – The Email Beast That Prints Money
If Shopify powers your store, Klaviyo is what keeps the revenue flowing.
Klaviyo isn’t just for sending email campaigns – it’s an ecomm automation machine. The beauty of Klaviyo is in the email flows that run on autopilot, personalized in real time based on your customers’ actions.
Set up a win-back flow that re-engages customers who haven’t bought in 60 days. Or an abandoned cart flow that sends dynamic discounts based on cart size. Klaviyo integrates directly with Shopify, so adding personalized products to emails is crazy easy to set up.
For example, if a customer views a certain product on your site but doesn’t buy, that item can automatically appear in their next email. It’s like having a personal assistant doing your follow-ups.
Sure, sending email campaigns is important, but automating these flows is where the real money comes from. It keeps your store working 24/7– earning you money when you’re asleep.
📊 Triple Whale: Your Data Command Center
Data attribution is boring but absolutely critical if you want to scale profitably.
Looking at sales data directly in Facebook or Google Ads? Amateur hour.
That’s how you end up overspending and misattributing sales.
Triple Whale changes the game by pulling all your data from Facebook, Google, Shopify, and Klaviyo into one real-time dashboard.
Instead of bouncing between platforms, you get a single source of truth for your marketing efforts.
Here’s where it really shines: Triple Whale handles multi-touch attribution. That means you don’t have to rely on last-click data.
You get the full picture.
Maybe that Facebook ad planted the seed, but your email campaign closed the sale.
Now you can see the entire customer journey.
Once you know where your sales are really coming from, you can reallocate spend to the most profitable channels and campaigns. It’s a data-driven marketer’s dream.
🛒 Rebuy: Boost Your AOV with Upsells
Post-purchase upsells are one of the most powerful tools in e-commerce. And Rebuy makes them even better.
When a customer completes a purchase, they’re still in a buying mindset.
This is the perfect opportunity to suggest complementary products without requiring them to re-enter payment details.
This simple step boosts your average order value (AOV) with minimal effort.
Rather than offering generic suggestions, Rebuy tailors product recommendations based on customer behavior and purchase history.
For example, if a customer buys a high-end razor, Rebuy can automatically suggest a discounted shaving cream right after checkout.
These upsells often convert at impressive rates, sometimes between 10-15%.
They could be the difference between breaking even and making a serious profit.
📲 Postscript: The SMS Powerhouse
Email is a revenue driver, but SMS? It’s a direct line to your customers’ attention.
Postscript is my go-to tool for SMS marketing. With open rates over 90%, it’s the perfect way to reach customers quickly and effectively.
Just like Klaviyo, you can automate targeted messages based on customer behavior.
For example, send an SMS for an abandoned cart before your email flow kicks in. Or hit up your VIP customers with early access to sales.
Postscript simplifies sending personalized, engaging messages that build loyalty and encourage repeat business.
The real magic happens when you combine SMS and email for a powerful 1-2 punch.
Together, they gently nudge customers to complete their purchases faster and more frequently.
The Stack I Should’ve Started With
Like I mentioned, when I started, I was basically throwing darts at random tools, hoping something would stick.
Spoiler: it didn’t.
But you? You’ve got the winning formula.
Shopify to keep things running smoothly, Klaviyo to send emails that magically turn into money, Triple Whale to tell you which ads are actually worth it, Rebuy to boost your AOV like a pro, and Postscript to hit your customers with SMS they’ll actually read.
With your tech stack now on autopilot, you can sit back and sip coffee while your competitors are still Googling 'best ecommerce tools.'
Who knew building an (online) empire could be this fun?
Luke
P.S looking to outsource your Google Ads management? Check out minded.studio, a better, stress-free way to grow your revenue through Google Search & Shopping ads.
Finally:
• Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up
• Want to get your business into The Sellout? Let’s Talk
• Did I miss something? Let me know at [email protected]