Samantha Murray, Education Strategy Manager, Shopify

Samantha currently manages Shopify's education program, bringing together her background in marketing and business operations and her passion for teaching. She has extensive experience in enterprise e-commerce, having previously worked for Shopify Plus where she worked with some of the largest and most profitable brands on the platform.

"The Future of Online Shopping"

Katie Wilson has been at Google for over 12 years and is the Head of Ecommerce, Southwest for Google Customer Solutions. Her team partners with some of the largest & fastest growing businesses to leverage Google advertising platforms & technology to meet their business objectives. In her prior roles at Google she has worked as an Account Executive on some of our largest retail partners and helped launch Google Pay with merchants. Prior to Google, Katie has worked for LVMH’s eCommerce site and a boutique media agency for nonprofits.

Hear from the Founders of HeadhunterSurf.com, SandCloud.com & Other Local Business Owners

A 30 Year overnight success is one way to put it - the Founders of this La Jolla based sunscreen company share their ups and downs and new commitment to E-commerce. Other successful Southern California area E-commerce companies will also share their valuable insights that you can't afford to miss!

Customers are the most important asset to any business, so how can you ensure your customers stick with you for the long-term? In this breakout session, you will learn how to communicate your brand and reach your ideal customers throughout the entire customer lifecycle. From acquiring new customers with effective content marketing, SEO and paid ads, to conversion and retention strategies that can increase your customer lifetime value, you'll learn how to optimize your online store and increase your bottom line.

E-commerce isn't easy. If you've ever tried starting a business, you know the struggle. What are you going to sell? How will you build a brand? How are you going to drive traffic and sales? Fortunately, other entrepreneurs like you have already been there. They've gone through the same struggles already, which means you don't have to. They've seen what works and what doesn't, so you don't have to guess.

You will learn why you should consider selling online through Shopify. A Shopify expert will show you how simple it is to get online with Shopify.

The Story of a Brand Podcast is a show focused on e-commerce brands and the entrepreneurs, products, and customers that make up the brand. We believe that people want to buy from authentic Brands they love, admire, and to whom they feel community. Whether it’s how the brand obsesses over the customer experience or how they design or manufacturer their product or their stance on social issues. Our show attempts to illustrate the “Why” people connect to the Brands they love and perhaps just as important, how the Brand connects the customer to the world around them.

Find THE STORY OF A BRAND PODCAST on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play