Share

cover art for Danny Chiha and Natalie McDermott from Kelly+Partners: Knowing Your Numbers in Ecommerce | #425

Add To Cart

Danny Chiha and Natalie McDermott from Kelly+Partners: Knowing Your Numbers in Ecommerce | #425

Season 1, Ep. 425

In this episode of Add To Cart, Danny Chiha and Natalie McDermott join us from Kelly + Partners Accountants, an ASX listed company with branches in Australia and expanding globally.  Danny and Nat are both partners at the Northern Beaches branch in Sydney, working with around 50 ecommerce brands with turnover running from $50,000 to $50m.  In this chat, Danny and Nat share what an ecommerce business baseline gross profit margin should be, the non financial KPI’s you need to be paying attention to and how much you should be spending on marketing. 


Links from the episode:

Kelly+Partners

Deliver In Person (sponsored)

Shopify Plus (sponsored)


Questions answered:

  • With the ecommerce businesses that you work with, what do the successful ones have in common? 
  • What financial metrics are most crucial to track for ecom businesses? 
  • What mistakes do you see ecommerce businesses make most often? 


This episode was brought to you by…  

Deliver In Person

Shopify Plus


About your co-hosts: 


Danny Chiha from Kelly+Partners


Danny has over 10 years business advisory and commercial accounting experience. He commenced his career with four years at Crowe Horwath, started his own successful business, then joined Coca-Cola Amatil as the Financial Accounting Manager where he led a successful team of 17 professionals.  Danny is the founding partner of Kelly+Partners Northern Beaches and also leads Kelly+Partners Startup. He has a real passion for, and specialises in, assisting businesses develop and execute strategies that create business viability.


You can contact Danny at LinkedIn


Natalie McDermott from Kelly+Partners


As a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of experience in the accounting industry, Natalie is  proudly serving as a Partner at Kelly Partners' Northern Beaches office. Her area of specialisation lies in E-commerce accounting and advisory, where she provides valuable insights and strategies to help businesses optimise their financial performance.


You can contact Natalie at LinkedIn

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 443. Stacey Hollands from Lust Minerals | Checkout #443

    08:58||Season 1, Ep. 443
    In this Checkout episode, Stacey Hollands, founder of Lust Minerals, gives us a glimpse into her personal life and shares some quirky, fun insights. From buying donkeys online to her dual life as a beauty entrepreneur and farm owner, Stacey’s unique lifestyle shines through. She also reveals the retailers that inspire her, the tech tools she can’t live without, and the books that have shaped her business philosophy. Links from the episode:Delivering Happiness on Amazon: A must-read on customer service and company culture by Tony Hsieh.Rocket Fuel on Amazon: Essential reading for understanding the roles of visionaries and integrators in business.Sephora Australia: A retailer that inspires Stacey in their brand communication and product presentation.Lust Minerals: Explore their range of products and participate in quizzes and consultations.Lust Minerals Beauty School: Access educational content and free downloads related to skincare and beauty.Stacey Hollands’ Instagram: Follow Stacey for beauty insights and updates from her farm life.Check out our full-length interview with Stacey:From Beauty School to $20 Million Brand: Stacey Hollands’ Journey with Lust Minerals | #429About our guestStacey Hollands is the founder of Lust Minerals, an Australian beauty brand known for its chemical-free, vegan-certified skincare and makeup products. With a background in beauty therapy and a passion for holistic wellness, Stacey built Lust Minerals into a multimillion-dollar business that champions affordable, high-quality products made in Australia.About your hostNathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and an ecommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn or via email.Please contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!
  • 442. Simon Beard and Hannah Udina Return: What’s Shaping Ecommerce in 2024? | #442

    55:54||Season 1, Ep. 442
    In this episode of Add To Cart, Nathan Bush revisits two of the most popular guests from last year: Simon Beard, co-founder and former CEO of Culture Kings, and Hannah Udina from Shopify. They dive into the latest retail and e-commerce trends for 2024, exploring everything from the importance of mastering ad accounts to the power of omni-channel experiences. Simon and Hannah share practical insights on how to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, discussing new tools like Shopify’s YouTube integration, the significance of content creation, and the art of crafting the perfect ad hook.Download Shopify’s 2024 Australian Retail Report for free. What you’ll learn in this episode:How Simon Beard’s daily involvement in ad accounts directly correlates with higher profitability and why delegating ads might be costing you money.The exact steps to turn your physical retail stores into content hubs that drive online sales, as demonstrated by Culture Kings.Why the first three seconds of your ad are critical, and Simon’s insider tips on increasing your ad’s hook rate to capture and retain audience attention.About our guestsHannah Udina is a seasoned eCommerce and IT professional with a decade of experience, specialising in Payments and Platforms. At Shopify, Hannah partners with agencies to expand their footprint within the Shopify ecosystem while passionately advocating for women in technology.Simon Beard is the co-founder and former CEO of Culture Kings, a global streetwear brand that grew from a single market stall to a $600 million empire. Known for his innovative approach, Simon is also a seasoned investor and serves on the board of a.k.a Brands.About your hostNathan Bush is the host of the Add To Cart podcast and an ecommerce transformation consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn or via email.Get in touchPlease contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!
  • 441. Real Ecommerce Talk: Success, Failure and Not Giving a F*ck with Anaita Sarkar | #441

    01:00:05||Season 1, Ep. 441
    In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Anaita Sarkar, the Co founder of Hero Packaging and author of "Sell Anything Online." Anaita is a self confessed marketing and ecomm nerd with a massive Tik Tok following and a refreshing way of looking at life that only comes when you’ve had a few wins and a few bumps and bruises along the way. She’s been an accountant, a consultant, an ecom founder of Olivia & Co, a B2B founder for Hero Packaging, mentor, coach, lecturer, social media star and now author.Her main gig, Hero Packaging, started as a solution for Anaita’s previous business, where she was using enormous amounts of plastic to ship her products, and is now a global company that has sold over 35 million compostable mailers and has over 73,000 customers. In this chat, Anaita shares her thoughts on the importance of cash flow management, the pros and cons of working with agencies, and the impact of content creation on brand visibility. Anaita is also extremely candid about a particularly tough time for her own business and how she coped.What you'll learn in this episode: The critical mistake that nearly pushed Hero Packaging into voluntary administration.How customer demands led Hero Packaging to take control of their entire manufacturing process.Anaita’s strategy for maintaining a growth mindset while keeping a close eye on profitability.The surprising approach Anaita takes to social media, and why she ignores follower counts.Links from this episode: Hero Packaging Website. Learn more about Anaita's sustainable packaging solutions and their latest innovations.How to Sell Anything Online on Amazon. Check out Anaita's latest book, a bestseller in the Business category.Marketing ATM Podcast. Listen to Anaita's podcast where she discusses marketing, e-commerce, and business trends.This episode was brought to you by…  Deliver In PersonShopify PlusAbout our guest: Anaita Sarkar, CEO and co-founder of Hero PackagingAnaita Sarkar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Packaging and the author of the Amazon bestseller "How to Sell Anything Online." With a strong presence on TikTok and Instagram, where she shares daily marketing tips with over 340,000 followers, Anaita is also a sought-after keynote speaker and business advisor. She collaborates with global tech giants like Google, TikTok, and Adobe on content marketing strategies and serves as a guest lecturer at Macquarie University and UNSW, inspiring the next generation of marketers and business leaders.
  • 440. Jesse Richardson from Kitted Thinking Tools | Checkout #440

    08:45||Season 1, Ep. 440
    Around 14 years ago, armed with a background in design and advertising and a man-crush on Stephen Fry, Jesse began a journey to popularise critical thinking, reason and understanding for the greater good. It started with a Creative Commons poster and deck of cards, grew into a crowd funded offering and is now a SaaS platform and a framework for businesses to harness the benefits of higher order thinking - backed by some of the internet’s biggest thinkers such as the founder of Duck Duck Go and Harvard psychology professors.  Links from the episode:Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom - Book on AI and existential risk: Available at bookstores or online11ElevenLabs - AI-powered voice generationWait But Why - Blog series on AIThe Original Poop Knife - You work this one out. Check out our full-length interview with Jessie: Jesse Richardson from Kitted Thinking Tools: The Power of Critical Thinking | #427About your co-host: Jesse Richardson from Kitted Thinking ToolsStarted as a junior designer, some things happened, now the founder of the non-profit schoolofthought.org that has provided free critical thinking resources to over 30 million people, and technology and ecommerce startup Kitted Thinking Tools. You can contact Jesse at LinkedInAbout your host: Nathan Bush from Add To CartNathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.Please contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!
  • 439. From Kickstarter to Bunnings: Staying Alive with Tech Startup, Plant With Willow | #439

    45:25||Season 1, Ep. 439
    In this episode of Add to Cart, we dive into the world of tech-driven plant care with Jared Carlin and James Shamim, the founders of Plant With Willow. What started as a solution to a common household problem - keeping plants alive - has grown into a thriving business with a global reach. From a successful Kickstarter campaign to a strategic partnership with Bunnings, Jared and James share the innovative journey of Plant With Willow, a startup that combines hardware, software, and a passion for plants. The pair discuss how Plant With Willow went from idea to landing in households all over the world, how they struck up a strategic partnership with Bunnings that goes beyond just stocking their product and the power of customer feedback in building a successful piece of tech.Links from the episode:Plant With WillowThis episode was brought to you by…  Deliver In PersonShopify PlusQuestions answered:With over 51 million sensor readings collected, what surprising or unexpected insights have you discovered about plant care?Who is your typical customer today, and how has your target audience evolved since you first launched?Can you tell us the story behind your retail partnership with Bunnings?About your guests:Jared Carlin from Plant With WillowJared Carlin is a co-founder of Plant with Willow. An innovator by nature, Jared has over 12 years experience in product innovation, leading the identification, incubation and commercialisation of new products and services aligned to strategic innovation focus areas. Jared grew up in Western Australia’s southwest region and is a graduate of Curtin University in Perth.You can contact Jared at LinkedInJames Shamim from Plant With WillowJames is a co-founder of Willow and has a background in business development, commercial, finance and operations across public, private, government and startup. He ventured into tech in 2016 and, prior to co-founding Willow, was part of a Deloitte Fast 50 tech winner. He’s Willow’s English Aussie and a savvy generalist across all business areas.You can contact James at LinkedInPlease contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!
  • 438. Natalie McDermott from Kelly+Partners | Checkout #438

    07:58||Season 1, Ep. 438
  • 437. Post-Purchase Potential: Turning Customer Service into Growth with Hamish McKay | #437

    54:41||Season 1, Ep. 437
    In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Hamish McKay, the Co-founder of Order Editing. Hamish is a whip smart entrepreneur who has taken the ecommerce world by storm with his super fast-growing app that empowers customers to make post-purchase amendments and retailers to upsell post-purchase. Learning his trade creating merchandise for creators such as Mr Beast, Hamish has now expanded his reach globally, helping brands like The Oodi and Sheet Society revolutionise their customer experience.Hamish explains how the sales opportunity does not end as soon as the customer exits the checkout. He shares why we should all be measuring CPT - Cost Per Ticket - as a key metric. And he shares how he uses LinkedIn to tell  his story and create trust before securing the sale. Links from the episode:Order EditingQuestions answered:What role do your interactive website features play in the overall customer journey? How does your Ambassador Hub work? What marketing channels excite you at the moment?This episode was brought to you by…  Deliver In PersonShopify PlusAbout your host: Nathan Bush from Add to Cart Nathan Bush is a director, strategist and advisor. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.About your co-host: Hamish McKay from Order EditingHamish McKay is the Co-founder of Order Editing, the first Shopify app to let customers amend their order after purchase. He founded the company when he was only  22 and working in customer service for a $40M eCom brand. 15 months later and the business has gone from zero to working with 620 merchants like Sheet Society, and $100M brands Represent Clo and The Oodie.You can contact Hamish  at LinkedIn
  • 436. Anastasia Lloyd-Wallis from Retail Doctor Group & Martin Filz from PureProfile | Checkout #436

    15:09||Season 1, Ep. 436
    Welcome to the Checkout, where we dive deeper into the minds of our guests to learn more about their personal experiences and insights. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking two leading figures in consumer research.Anastasia Lloyd-Wallis is a Research and Insights Specialist at Retail Doctor Group. She brings a wealth of knowledge about how emotions and personality traits drive consumer loyalty and is passionate about understanding the unique behaviours of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.Martin Filz, CEO of Pure Profile, is an experienced leader in consumer insights and data analytics. Known for his innovative thinking, Martin is an avid user of AI for generating creative solutions and uncovering valuable insights from data. Join us as we explore Anastasia and Martin's personal take on brands, tech and the retail landscape.Revisit our full-length conversation with our guests: The Dos and Don’ts of Loyalty Schemes with Martin Filz from Pureprofile and Anastasia Lloyd-Wallis from Retail Doctor Group | #421Learn more about Gymshark's innovative retail experience at their London Store.Listen to insightful episodes of the Diary of a CEO podcast.Explore the Blinkist app for book summaries in 15 minutes.Tune into Retail Doctor Group's Future of Retail and Consumer Podcast for the latest retail insights.About your host: Nathan Bush from Add To CartNathan Bush is an ecommerce consultant specialising in digital and ecommerce transformation.. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn or via email.Please contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au
  • 435. Marketing Masterclass: Hannah Neumann on Hey Bud’s Creative Campaigns | #435

    52:03||Season 1, Ep. 435
    In this episode of Add To Cart, we are joined by Hannah Neumann, Head of Marketing at Hey Bud. Hey Bud create skincare products that deliver premium products combining nature and science. Started by three friends in 2019, the brand now has a global customer base in 90+ countries. Hannah has been a part of marketing teams at Styletread and L’Oreal before joining Hey Bud in 2022. In this chat, Hannah shares how Hey Bud focus on creating comprehensive product pages that prioritise customer questions, how they have blended science and fun to craft their distinct tone of voice and their impressive track record in pursuing experimental activations…Swifties may well know what I’m talking about.Links from the episode:Hey BudDeliver In Person (sponsored)Shopify Plus (sponsored)Questions answered:What’s the secret to getting confidence and trust with new customers? How do you decide on a hierarchy of information on your product pages? What’s been your favourite non-traditional activity so far at Hey Bud? This episode was brought to you byDeliver In PersonShopify PlusAbout our guest: Hannah Neumann from Hey BudWith over a decade experience across Australia and the UK working for some of the biggest names in beauty and beauty retail, Hannah is a marketer who is here to push the boundaries of what can be achieved for a brand in this space. Now heading up Marketing for fast growing Aus skincare disruptor Hey Bud Skincare, her focus is on providing customers with a brand experience that feels more like a close friend recommending you something from their beauty shelf, not just another brand trying to convince you they’re bigger + better than the next, when in fact the only thing they have that is bigger is their marketing budget.You can contact Hannah at LinkedInAbout your host: Nathan Bush from Add to Cart Nathan Bush is an ecommerce consultant. He has led eCommerce for businesses with revenue $100m+ and has been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 People in eCommerce four years in a row. You can contact Nathan on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.Please contact us if you: Want to come on board as an Add To Cart sponsor Are interested in joining Add To Cart as a co-host Have any feedback or suggestions on how to make Add To Cart betterEmail hello@addtocart.com.au We look forward to hearing from you!