In this Natural Products Expo West 2019 session chock-full of insights and experience, join moderator Betsy Gillette, a long-time UNFI veteran currently with Synergy Sales Consulting Group, for an in-depth e-commerce strategy discussion featuring Mike Mackay, brand manager of Bobo’s; Kevin McCarthy, CEO of Unreal; and Sarah Bird, CEO of Bhakti Chai.

Molly McCahan

March 27, 2019

2 Min Read
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“It’s very surprising for me how slow especially the food industry has been to embrace this [e-commerce] versus how quickly the consumer is changing—and has changed—the way that they shop.”

—Kevin McCarthy, CEO, Unreal

Part 1: Meet the panel, brand e-commerce stats

Highlights:

  • Discover each company’s online sales strategy and its path to market.

  • Get current and forecasted brand e-commerce stats.

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Part 2: Business and supply chain complexities as a natural brand grows

Highlights:

  • Mike Mackay: It’s an ever-evolving balance between your in-house capabilities and your agency partners.

  • Kevin McCarthy: It’s very important to have a single person on your team dedicated to e-commerce. 

  • Sarah Bird: We rely heavily on agencies at this juncture: one for the branded website, one for Amazon.

  • Mackay: Managing consumer expectation is key. Fulfillment has the challenge to make delivery faster. 

  • McCarthy: We always lead with taste. It’s a main tenet of our brand, but it poses e-commerce fulfillment challenges. 

  • Bird: What are the right pack configurations to maximize our Amazon ring?

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Part 3: E-commerce vs. brick-and-mortar strategy, retail questions

Highlights:

  • McCarthy: People are willing to spend a bit more online but you can be priced out of the category. 

  • Bird discusses how to drive awareness and trial: Start on Amazon, then come to brand site. 

  • Mackay: MAP pricing and maintaining price integrity. 

  • McCarthy talks using success in e-commerce to drive more distribution when it comes to larger national retailers.

  • Bird: We need to make sure our distributors aren’t selling to Amazon and undercutting us.

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Part 4: Marketing efforts for customer acquisition, biggest surprises in the e-commerce cycle

Highlights:

  • Mackay: The return on mobile ad spend is rising. 

  • Mackay: Sample and trial is still the bread and butter: “Bars in bellies” is the biggest thing we’re focused on.

  • McCarthy: A test-and-learn approach: How do we make our community as active and passionate a part of our brand as possible? 

  • Bird explains how to use the Gleam tool for e-newsletter success. 

  • Amazon is such a dynamic platform, you need to be able to be nimble. 

This session—Fueling Sales in an Omnichannel World: Digital and eCommerce Strategy Panel--Making it Work—was recorded at Natural Products Expo West 2019.

About the Author(s)

Molly McCahan

Molly McCahan is a freelance writer.

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