How a Failed Store Led to a $25M E-commerce Exit | Jay Neyer of Lantern Sol

In this episode of Talk Commerce, host Brent Peterson sits down with Jay Neyer, founder of Lantern Sol and successful e-commerce entrepreneur. From his humble beginnings as an accounting and philosophy graduate to building and selling a $25M e-commerce business, Jay shares his remarkable journey in the Shopify ecosystem.

Jay's story is a testament to persistence and authenticity in the digital commerce space. After leaving a corporate career that left him literally crying on his drive home, he taught himself to code and ventured into e-commerce. Despite his first store's only sale coming from his partner's brother, Jay persisted. This determination eventually led to co-founding a fitness product company that scaled to $25M in revenue before a successful exit.

Now as the founder of Lantern Sol, Jay and his team have built over 500 websites generating more than $113M in online sales. His unique approach combines technical expertise with authentic branding, emphasizing the power of genuine connections in today's digital marketplace.

Key insights from this episode include the rise of influencer marketing, innovative landing page strategies, and why authenticity is the ultimate differentiator in e-commerce. Jay also shares his perspective on the evolution of the Shopify ecosystem and how businesses can leverage micro-influencers for significant growth.

As a bonus, discover how Jay's diverse interests in languages (speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Arabic, and Greek) and music have contributed to his unique approach to business success.

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction and Background
2:12 - From Accounting to E-commerce
4:39 - The Journey to $25M
8:01 - Key Marketing Trends
10:20 - The Future of E-commerce
13:40 - SEO and Content Strategy
15:11 - AI Impact on E-commerce
17:23 - Black Friday Predictions
19:36 - Landing Page Optimization
21:31 - Agency Differentiation
24:08 - Closing Thoughts

Connect with Jay Neyer:
Website: https://lanternsol.com

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