<p>In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down one of the most debated questions in entrepreneurship: should you build a business based on passion or on skillset? From there, the crew dives into a no-BS analysis of the best and worst eCommerce business models to start in 2025, looking at the real factors that make or break a brand like margins, returns, customer support demands, marketplace competition, paid advertising performance, and evolving consumer spending trends.<br /></p><p>What you’ll learn:</p><ul><li>The difference between building from passion vs. building from your actual skillset</li><li>The best and worst eCommerce businesses to start in 2025</li><li>Which categories have the strongest margins and repeat potential</li><li>Why some “trendy” product types are a financial and logistical nightmare</li><li>How returns, support, and ad costs are quietly killing certain industries</li><li>Why the founder’s mindset, adaptability, and execution matter more than the idea itself</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>If you’re thinking about launching a brand, pivoting your current business, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the real economics of eCom, this episode is your reality check.</p><p><br /></p><p>_____</p><p><br /></p><p>Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!</p><p><br /></p><p>Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email &amp; SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at <a href="https://www.omnisend.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.omnisend.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at <a href="https://www.TryKintsugi.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.TryKintsugi.com</a></p><p>Particl — the competitive intelligence platform built for eCommerce brands. Track real sales, inventory, and pricing across thousands of products to see what’s selling, who’s winning, and where to move next. Get started at <a href="https://www.particl.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.particl.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Subscribe at <a href="https://asompod.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://asompod.com</a><br />___</p><p><br /></p><p>00:00 Teaser Trailer</p><p>00:30 Welcome to the ASOM Pod</p><p>01:08 Meet the Hosts</p><p>02:08 Game Time: Best and Worst eCommerce Businesses to Start</p><p>03:52 High Margin eCommerce Categories</p><p>05:45 Low Margin eCommerce Categories</p><p>11:59 Marketplace Competition: Best and Worst Businesses</p><p>21:45 Paid Advertising: Best and Worst Categories</p><p>24:50 The Challenge of Selling Tumblers</p><p>25:16 Returns and Customer Support Insights</p><p>29:26 Trends in Consumer Spending</p><p>33:09 Best and Worst eCommerce Business Models</p><p>39:23 The Importance of the Founder in Business Success</p><p>41:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts</p><p>___</p><p><br /></p><p>Follow us on:</p><p>X: https://x.com/TheAsomPod</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasompod</p><p>TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theasompod</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasompod/</p><p><br /></p><p>Contact us at [email protected] for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>#asompod #businesspodcast #businessinsider #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #ecommercepodcast #ecommerce #ecommercebusiness #ecom #dtc #dtcpodcast #ecommercetips</p>