Cash is king, period. In this episode, the operators get real about why cash flow matters more than your P&L, EBITDA, or vanity revenue numbers. They share their worst "cash crunch" war stories, like pushing payroll or having to choose between buying inventory and paying taxes. To prove a hard lesson: even profitable businesses go bankrupt all the time. You'll learn the backward-sounding truth of e-commerce: rapid growth bleeds cash, while slowing down can actually fill your bank account. They get into the weeds on risky trend-based inventory, and how to get your suppliers to finance your growth by trading margin for better terms. They also cover the real cost of equity (why you should probably just take the money) and why you need a serious finance team and audits long before you ever think about selling.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:03:07 - Worst Cash Crunch Moments00:18:26 - How Growth & Inventory Type Affect Cash Flow00:34:50 - Tactical Ways to Protect Cash00:46:26 - The Truth About Equity Financing01:03:27 - Partnership, Paranoia, and Playing the Leverage GamePowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/
Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.https://9ops.co/channelsJoin hosts Matt Bertulli and Jason Panzer to experience the journey of Yariv Citron, Co-Founder & CMO of MAËLYS. After leaving law school, Yariv faced the crushing decision to shut down his first business. Yet, he emerged resilient, venturing into the fiercely competitive beauty industry with a bold vision to “break the feed” and redefine body care.Born from a hero product, the Booty Lift and Firm Mask, Yariv and his co-founders took a daring leap, securing personal loans to fund their dream and launch MAËLYS with a mega-influencer campaign centered on Khloe Kardashian. This bold move not only expanded their audience but also solidified MAËLYS as a brand that challenges norms and empowers women with innovative, clinically proven solutions.Today, the company is on track to achieve $150-200 million in annual revenue while maintaining profitability. Discover how personal setbacks became the foundation for extraordinary success, and learn the tactics behind MAËLYS’ rapid growth. This episode is essential listening for anyone looking to understand the grit, innovation, and determination required to build a disruptive brand.
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E137: Wholesale has the potential to ruin your business
In this episode, the Operators dive deep into omnichannel strategy, starting with the lingering debate: should your brand be on Amazon? The hosts break down the pros of incrementality and meeting customers where they are. Versus the cons of price wars, channel conflict, and the platform's brand-unfriendly nature.The discussion then shifts to the high-stakes game of wholesale, weighing the relative safety of the "Big Three" (Costco, Target, Walmart) against the serious financial risks of smaller retailers going bankrupt.Finally, the squad debates the ultimate omnichannel play: opening your own physical stores. They explore the potential for unique customer experiences and domestic supply chain advantages versus the immense complexity, high costs, and low success rate for digitally-native brands.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:16:55 - "Is it Good For My Brand?" Amazon Debate00:33:30 - The Risks of Wholesale00:43:45 - Is Being in Big Stores Worth It?00:56:51 - The Case for Owned RetailPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/
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Operators Titans E005: Peak 21 (with President Roman Khan)
Brought to you by Applovin. Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits.https://9operators.com/applovinFounder anxiety. Sleepless nights. Standing on the brink of bankruptcy. Anyone who’s put their own chip on the table knows just how painful leading a brand can be. What if it wasn’t just one brand, but a portfolio of companies?Join hosts Matthew Bertulli and Jason Panzer as they explore Roman Khan’s journey from staring into the abyss to building a holdco of multiple +$100M brands as the president of Peak 21.Discover the challenges + triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of distribution over product, and Roman’s unique approach to scaling brands like Raycon, Linjer, Nutrition Kitchen, and more. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and brutally honest inspiration.00:00 – The Titanic Moment: Facing Bankruptcy02:46 – Learning From Failure and Founder Anxiety04:20 – From Finance to Rocket Internet06:09 – Starting Linjer: The $20K Kickstarter Gamble07:56 – Pivoting to Jewelry and Early Wins11:25 – Turning 40: Wealth, Purpose & Gratitude15:26 – The Raycon Story: A $14M Playbook for Growth25:55 – How to Buy and Scale Companies the Smart Way39:00 – Leading Teams: Radical Accountability & Execution47:00 – Marketing Deep Dive: Meta, AppLovin & the Future of Growth01:05:00 – AI, Creativity & The Next Era of E-commerce01:22:00 – TITANS 10: Rapid-Fire Founder Insights
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E136: What Top CEOs Do When They Miss Their Numbers
In this episode, the Operators dive deep into the realities of business planning and what happens when things inevitably go off track. They discuss the necessity of formalizing operations as you scale, using frameworks like EOS for quarterly planning and setting OKRs. The hosts share tough lessons on why forecasts are always wrong , the three main reasons plans fail (bad goals, poor execution, or market forces), and the critical growth levers for scaling: brand awareness, new products, and international expansion. They also cover the intense financial discipline required when taking on bank debt and managing covenants , the importance of managing shareholder expectations versus reality , and the best strategies for communicating bad news to your team—like "going ugly early" while always providing hope.Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:19:49 Breaking Down Our Quarterly Planning Process00:33:40 Top Down vs Bottoms Up Strategy00:49:09 A Tough Lesson in Tripping Bank Covenants01:03:53 How to Deliver Bad NewsPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_moreSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here:https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:https://9operators.com/
In the world of eCommerce, a legendary WhatsApp group is rumoured to hold the secrets to unimaginable success. The catch? You must have nine figures in revenue to gain entry. The worlds biggest brands have denied its existence for years, until now. Three titans known as "Operators" are leaking the secret contents in an effort to share its wealth of knowledge with people like you.
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