The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast

Hosted ByTaylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin

2020 transformed the world of ecommerce forever. For the modern DTC brand, the rewards have never been greater. But the waters have also never been choppier, and the way forward has never been more uncertain. So how do you navigate this dangerous new reality? No matter how you do it, you’d better not do it alone. That’s where the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast comes in — join Common Thread Collective’s Taylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin as they bring you guiding insights from across CTC’s portfolio of growing DTC businesses. Whether you need a clear view on the macro issues affecting the world.

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The Ecommerce Playbook | How 2 top-tier strategists actually forecast client growth

September 11, 2025 The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast 00:47:08
The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast
The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast
The Ecommerce Playbook | How 2 top-tier strategists actually forecast client growth
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In this special episode of the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast, Luke Austin takes the reins and brings in two of CTC’s top-performing growth strategists—Lacie Geary and Brian Sakansky—for a deep dive into what it takes to build and execute a forecast with precision.

You’ll get a rare look under the hood at CTC’s Profit System, including how we:

  • Set and execute daily client-level forecasts for revenue, spend, and contribution margin

  • Think about tradeoffs between efficiency vs. volume

  • Use planning tools like the Spend aMER Model, Day-of-Week Effect, and Creative Demand Model

  • Track forecast accuracy by strategist, with Lacie and Brian leading the way

  • Identify and respond to signals in real-time that influence media allocation

  • Use product-level reporting to guide decisions at the SKU and creative level

You’ll hear specific client examples from the home goods and apparel space, plus commentary on how inventory, product mix, and creator content factor into hitting (and sometimes beating) forecasted targets.

Show Notes: