In today's episode, we dive into global payments and subscriptions, featuring insights from Melissa Shields, Executive Director of Payments and Strategic Operations at Dotdash Meredith*, Jay Matthews, Director of Global Payments and Subscriptions/Retention at Yahoo, and Melanie Stout, Head of Recurring Services at Optimized Payments.  The trio emphasizes the critical role of detailed analytics in understanding subscriber behavior, and how strategic reporting can drive better decision-making for subscription-based businesses. The conversation covers practical approaches to leveraging data ..read more

On this episode, we welcome Christine Wade, Co-Founder and Consultant of Payment Operations Group, LLC; Mandi Grimm, Director of Fraud Prevention of Etix; and Scott Adams, Founder and CEO of Fraud Deflect and CNPMentors. Together, we explore the complexities of chargeback management and fraud prevention. Each of them shares their expertise as we discuss current challenges and strategies in the industry.   Key Takeaways: (06:22) Discussing the evolving nature of payment operations and its business impact. (12:15) Insights into the latest fraud prevention trends and techniques. (18:40) Expl ..read more

On this episode, we dive into retention and revenue recovery in subscription-based businesses with the help of our guests, Kevin Salerno at Newfold Digital and Kristen Vandendriessche at Optimized Payments.   Key Takeaways: (01:28) The impact of retention in subscription businesses. (03:51) An in-depth look at churn in subscription models, and strategies to manage it effectively. (09:06) Technical causes of involuntary churn and methods to improve payment collection. (16:36) The benefits and necessity of having multiple payment processors for successful payment authorizations. (24:11) Inn ..read more

We’re excited to introduce our new podcast series, Subscription Fundamentals. As the name implies, we will be diving into the essentials of the subscription business, including enrollment, billing, payments, fraud, chargebacks and more. Nick Fredrick will be joined on this series by co-host Josh Mathers, Vice President of Product at Rebar Technology, to guide you through the subscription process from the point at which your customer signs up for your product.     Key Takeaways: (03:24) The absence of formal training in subscription billing and the importance of experience and network ..read more

Join us in a compelling discussion with Brian Kehn, Vice President Operations and Director of Payments at HomeServe USA, and Melanie Stout, Head of Recurring Services at Optimized Payments. We explore essential aspects of subscription payment processing and offer practical insights for businesses in this sector.   Key Takeaways: (03:03) The importance of seamless customer experience in subscription billing. (04:49) The necessity of data management for successful billing. (07:30) Advice for startups on outsourcing payment processing. (12:18) Understanding decline codes in payment processin ..read more

In this episode, we talk with Neil Dudley, Vice President of Pederson’s Natural Farms, about the journey and challenges of transitioning from traditional business models to a direct-to-consumer and subscription-based approach.   Key Takeaways: (02:00) Pederson’s Natural Farms’ shift toward direct-to-consumer sales and subscription models. (3:13) Understanding consumer needs for recurring deliveries. (07:40) Challenges faced in handling perishable goods and finding the right fulfillment partner. (11:07) The significance of subscriptions in building a sustainable customer base and the benef ..read more

Join us on the latest episode as we talk to Kaylin Marcotte, Founder and CEO of JIGGY. Kaylin delves into her journey of creating a puzzle brand with a unique subscription model, blending art and business. Key Takeaways: (05:30) The origins of JIGGY and how personal experiences shaped its business. (10:24) Challenges of introducing a subscription service in the puzzle market. (15:08) Using customer feedback to improve JIGGY's products and services. (21:03) JIGGY's growth and the pursuit of the right partnerships for on-demand, high-quality, personalized puzzle production and fulfillment. (28:4 ..read more

On this episode, we’re joined by John Tabis, Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Bouqs Company. John shares his start-up journey, including the decision to build his technology platform to offer customers a unique and flexible subscription model. Key Takeaways: (16:55) The flexibility of offering adjustable subscription options and the ability to deliver faster have been key to the success of the business. (29:52) Building a robust technology platform in-house was a pivotal decision that allowed for scalability and efficient management of the supply chain. (36:08) The company's expansion ..read more

On this episode, we talk with Sasha Siddhartha, Co-Founder and CTO of Thrive Market, delving into the growth, strategies and technological innovations propelling the e-commerce grocery platform. We discuss the shift in consumer behavior, the emphasis on personalized shopping experiences and how AI and large language models are setting the stage for a revolutionary leap in online retail. Key Takeaways: (03:59) Membership advantages include better cash flow and opportunities for reinvestment. (07:08) Initial funding and marketing from health influencers instead of traditional VCs. (15:06) A memb ..read more

On this episode of Subscriptions: Scaled, we delve into an insightful conversation with Lloyed Lobo, Co-Founder and Board Member of Boast and Co-Founder of Traction. Lloyed sheds light on the immense power of community in business. He talks about how brands evolve and the crucial role of human connections and addresses the nuances of building a community-driven brand. Key Takeaways: [01:30] The importance of concentrating on tasks that spark joy while delegating the ones that don't. [11:00] The significance of proactive outreach: How cold emailing can lead to significant opportunities. [13:45 ..read more