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Running a Shopify store is never easy — but turning it into a fast-growing brand that thrives year-round? That takes strategy, creativity, and a lot of consistency.
In this episode of Winning With Shopify, host Nick sits down with Jonnie from Toast’d, the mastermind behind a brand that’s redefining how Shopify entrepreneurs approach growth. From humble beginnings to a 40% year-over-year revenue increase, Jonnie’s story is packed with insights that every business owner can learn from.
Building Momentum: Timing Is Everything
When it comes to eCommerce, timing can be the difference between a good month and your biggest quarter ever. Jonnie dives deep into how early preparation for major events like Black Friday and Valentine’s Day gave Toast’d a major advantage.
He explains how the team starts planning months ahead — aligning ads, inventory, and content — to build steady excitement before the shopping rush. “You can’t wait until everyone’s shouting ‘sale’,” Jonnie says. “You need to be there before they start listening.”
Creativity That Connects
For Toast’d, creativity isn’t just about clever visuals or catchy taglines — it’s about finding ways to connect with customers emotionally. The brand took simple ideas like gift cards and fire pit kits and turned them into thoughtful, shareable products that resonate with people.
Jonnie emphasizes that customers don’t just buy products; they buy moments, stories, and the feeling behind them. “Our best marketing comes from our customers,” he says. “If you create something worth talking about, your audience will spread the word for you.”
Adapting to Every Season
Every brand faces seasonal highs and lows, but Toast’d has learned how to make each season work. Jonnie shares how analyzing sales trends, adjusting offers, and rotating marketing messages help keep the business fresh all year long.
Instead of treating slower months as downtime, Toast’d uses them to test new product ideas, improve customer experience, and explore future opportunities — like wholesale partnerships and international expansion.
Putting the Customer First
Jonnie credits much of Toast’d’s success to truly understanding their audience. From how they shop to what inspires them, every decision is guided by customer feedback and engagement. “When you listen to your customers, they’ll tell you how to grow,” he says.
The result? A loyal community that not only loves the brand but advocates for it — helping Toast’d turn one-time buyers into long-term fans.
Lessons Worth Toasting To
By the end of the episode, Jonnie leaves listeners with five powerful lessons every Shopify entrepreneur should remember:
Plan ahead. Success favors the prepared.
Launch early. Don’t wait for the crowd to start buying.
Keep it creative. Stand out with authenticity, not noise.
Stay flexible. Seasons change — your strategy should too.
Put people first. Customers grow brands, not products.
Check out the full podcast here.
This episode was brought to you by Nick Trueman, Director of PPC & SEO Agency, Spec Digital.