Understanding what your customers are actually thinking is one of the biggest competitive advantages an ecommerce brand can have. But collecting feedback is only half the battle, knowing how to turn that data into better marketing, higher conversions, and smarter business decisions is where the real opportunity begins.

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Jason Zigelbaum, founder and CEO of Zigpoll, one of Shopify's leading zero-party data platforms. After collecting more than 100 million survey responses across thousands of brands, Jason shares how ecommerce businesses can use customer feedback, AI, and survey technology to uncover insights that directly improve their websites, marketing, and customer experience.

You'll hear how Jason:

• Built Zigpoll by listening to how customers naturally used the product and evolving the platform around real demand.
• Helps brands collect actionable customer feedback through post-purchase, on-site, and email surveys.
• Recommends the three survey questions every ecommerce brand should be asking customers.
• Uses AI to analyze thousands of customer responses and uncover trends in minutes instead of days.
• Built and scaled multiple Shopify apps as a solo founder by focusing on distribution and customer feedback.
• Thinks about continuous product improvement by letting customers, not assumptions, guide business decisions.

We also get into the bigger picture:

• Why post-purchase surveys are one of the most valuable tools for improving marketing attribution and customer segmentation.
• How open-ended survey responses uncover customer insights brands never expected.
• Practical ways AI can connect survey data, product reviews, and customer behavior to improve website performance.
• How brands can use customer language to create more effective product pages and advertising.
• Why the best-performing ecommerce brands don't just collect customer feedback—they consistently act on it.
• The importance of choosing the right distribution channel when building a SaaS business from the ground up.
  📊 Whether you're an ecommerce founder, marketer, agency owner, or SaaS builder, Jason shares practical frameworks for turning customer feedback into better decisions, stronger marketing, and faster business growth.

Brands & Mentions:

• Zigpoll
• Shopify
• Klaviyo
• Revio
• Seguno
• Salesforce
• Baremetrics
• Atlassian
• Asics

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jason Zigelbaum & Zigpoll
02:28 Coffee preferences & founder routines
04:23 The problem Zigpoll set out to solve
07:56 Building as a solo founder & landing early customers
10:55 The three survey questions every ecommerce brand should ask
15:30 Real-world examples of survey-driven marketing improvements
17:10 Using surveys to increase website conversion rates
21:05 How AI is transforming customer feedback analysis
25:17 Creative ways brands use surveys beyond post-purchase
29:06 What separates brands that succeed with customer data
33:30 Speed Round
36:30 Where to connect with Jason Zigelbaum

Building meaningful customer relationships at scale sounds impossible—especially in an age of AI, automation, and overflowing inboxes. But what if technology could actually make marketing feel more human?

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with David Wachs, founder and CEO of Handwrytten, the company using robotics and AI to help businesses send authentic handwritten notes at scale. From bootstrapping early startups to creating a category-defining platform used by thousands of businesses, David shares why the future of customer engagement isn't replacing human connection—it's making it easier to create.

You'll hear how David:

• Built Handwrytten by combining robotics, software, and real pens to automate handwritten notes.
• Turned a simple observation about customer appreciation into a scalable SaaS business.
• Landed early enterprise customers by solving a problem that email couldn't.
• Uses automation to enhance personalization instead of replacing it.
• Thinks about customer retention, loyalty, and lifetime value over short-term marketing wins.
• Navigates the rise of AI while keeping authentic human experiences at the center of the business.

We also get into the bigger picture:

• Why handwritten notes consistently outperform digital messages in building customer relationships.
• How brands can stand out in an increasingly automated world.
• The difference between capturing demand and creating lasting customer loyalty.
• Practical ways ecommerce brands can use handwritten notes throughout the customer journey.
• How AI and robotics are reshaping marketing without eliminating the importance of genuine human connection.
• Why the highest-ROI marketing investments often aren't the easiest ones to measure.

✉️ Whether you're an ecommerce founder, marketer, or business owner looking to build stronger customer relationships, David's insights offer a fresh perspective on blending technology with authentic human connection.

Brands & Mentions:

• Handwrytten
• Shopify
• Charleston Coffee Roasters
• Blueland
• Brittany Hodak
• Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates
• BBQ Guys
• Zapier
• Pilot
• Stew Leonard's

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to David Wachs & Handwrytten
02:15 The startup that inspired Handwrytten
04:27 Why handwritten notes still matter in a digital world
06:25 How Handwrytten's robots actually write with real pens
12:54 Building the business & early operations
14:30 Landing the first customers with Google Ads
17:50 Why creating demand is harder than capturing it
20:06 Marketing channels that actually work today
24:01 Personalization vs. gimmicky marketing
29:22 The best ways ecommerce brands use handwritten notes
35:58 Which brands should invest in handwritten marketing?
39:47 AI, automation, and the future of customer engagement
42:20 Speed Round
46:00 Where to connect with David Wachs

What does it take to turn a tiny Ecuadorian snack company into a global brand sold in more than 30 countries? In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Martin Acosta, founder and CEO of Kiwa, to break down how a $24,000 acquisition evolved into an internationally distributed CPG business built on sustainability, direct farmer relationships, and relentless product innovation.

From sourcing nutrient-dense vegetables across South America to manufacturing chips nearly 9,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Martin shares the behind-the-scenes realities of scaling a food company in one of the world’s most competitive retail categories.

You’ll hear how Martin:

• Bought a struggling plantain chip business and transformed it into a global snack brand.
• Built direct trade relationships with farmers across Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.
• Used trade shows as the foundation for landing major retail and private label partnerships.
• Expanded beyond plantain chips into vegetable chips, native Andean potatoes, cassava products, and pet snacks.
• Navigated the shift from branded products into private label manufacturing for large retailers.
• Leveraged high-altitude manufacturing to create a unique chip texture and quality.
• Balanced sustainability, product quality, and scalability while growing internationally.

We also get into the bigger picture:

• Why differentiation matters more than ever in crowded CPG markets.
• The evolution of private label and how it changed the food industry after COVID.
• Lessons learned from scaling too aggressively during the venture capital boom.
• Why trade shows and real human relationships still outperform cold outreach in retail.
• How product innovation trends emerge — and why chasing trends too late can hurt brands.
• The realities of manufacturing, distribution, and scaling globally from South America.
• Why passion and long-term mission alignment are critical when building a consumer brand.

🥔 Whether you’re building a food brand, launching a CPG product, or fascinated by the operational side of global retail, Martin’s story is packed with practical insights on manufacturing, innovation, and standing out in competitive markets.

Brands & Mentions:

• Kiwa
• Walmart
• Costco
• Aldi
• Latam Airlines
• Avianca
• Runa
• Mikuna

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Kiwa & Martin Acosta
02:24 High-altitude manufacturing & sourcing in Ecuador
05:05 Buying a $24K snack business
10:13 Trade shows, distribution & retail growth
15:19 Private label vs. building a brand
20:34 Product innovation & entering the pet category
23:19 Why most CPG brands fail
28:32 Speed round & final thoughts