The retail and e-commerce landscape thrives on connection, collaboration, and community. When over 1,000 brands come together under one roof, the energy is electric and the opportunities are endless.
Here’s a reflection on what made The Lead such an exceptional event and why partnerships in the retail space matter more than ever.
Scale and Impact of The Lead
1,000+ brands under one roof is POWERFUL. 🏋️⚡🔥 What an incredible two days at The Lead!
It’s been an honor to have had Cart Basel as an official partner of The Lead, and I speak for both Ben Hirsch and myself when I say it’s a proud moment to know that we, even ever so slightly, helped contribute to its success.
Global Community Building
Global community building in retail, e-commerce, DTC, and Shopify is no easy task, and it’s been a blast sharing our communities and resources.
A round of applause to the dynamic duo of Kim Fox and Raymond Gnesin.
Your passion while pulling off this massive event was palpable—it’s been a pleasure working with you both for the last few months.
Bravo to Noah Gellman for putting together an amazing team and hosting the best event I’ve been to in NYC so far this year.
Conclusion
Events like The Lead remind us that the retail and e-commerce industry is built on relationships, shared knowledge, and collective growth.
When brands, partners, and organizers come together with genuine passion and purpose, the result is something truly powerful.
Here’s to more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the thriving global retail community.
Keeping event attendees fully engaged has become both an art and a science.
Through my experience hosting Cart Basel and interviewing industry leaders on the Heartfelt Event Show, I’ve discovered that the formula for audience engagement remains constant across different formats and audiences.
The key lies in creating what I call ‘lean-in moments’ – those pivotal instances when attendees become fully present and invested in the experience.
The Three Pillars of Audience Engagement
Here are three key pillars.
Find GIVING Speakers
Just because someone has an impressive title, a resume and lists of accomplishments doesn’t make them a good presenter.
An audience can tell if a keynote, round table, or fireside chat is an ego trip for the speaker.
Find speakers that want to engage, give to, and connect with the audience for a purpose bigger than themselves, not just to share how impressive their life story is.
The difference between a self-serving presentation and a genuinely valuable one is immediately apparent to audiences.
They can sense when a speaker is there to serve versus when they’re there to be served. Prioritizing speakers who come with a giving mindset transforms the entire dynamic of your event.
Harness the Power of ENERGY
Participating at an event is a big commitment, and the days can be long. One way to combat fatigue is to find ways to get the audience moving around.
A true expert, like Aaron Spivak, knows how to make it enjoyable, push healthy boundaries, and extract the best energy from the crowd.
Energy management isn’t just about keeping people awake – it’s about creating an environment where engagement feels natural and sustainable throughout the event.
When you successfully manage the room’s energy, you create a foundation for deeper connection and learning.
Make the Presentation Interactive
Slides are a great way to educate the audience, but make sure to ask engaging questions that make your audience think.
Beyond setting time at the end of a keynote for Q&A, engage your audience by finding ways to include their opinions and thoughts in your presentation.
No one did this better than Alex Fedotoff and Mark Builds Brands.
True interactivity goes beyond traditional Q&A sessions. It involves weaving audience participation into the fabric of the presentation itself, making attendees active contributors rather than passive recipients of information.
The Investment Factor
If you can stimulate both the physical and intellectual side of your audience, they will feel INVESTED in the presentation and will be LOCKED IN.
This dual engagement creates a powerful psychological state where attendees become stakeholders in the experience rather than mere observers.
Conclusion
Creating lean-in moments isn’t about flashy production or celebrity speakers – it’s about understanding the fundamental human need for connection, energy, and engagement.
By focusing on giving speakers, managing energy effectively, and fostering genuine interactivity, event organizers can transform any gathering into a memorable and impactful experience.
The formula may be simple, but its execution requires intentionality and practice. When done right, these lean-in moments become the difference between an event people attend and an event people remember.
In a world where digital connections often replace genuine relationships, Adam Connors has rediscovered the transformative power of breaking bread together.
As the Founder and CEO of NetWorkWise, Adam is a renowned social architect and super-connector who has built his reputation on opening doors others find impossible.
Through his signature event series “More Than Just a Lunch,” Adam has created intimate weekly gatherings in New York City and Hoboken, NJ.
The series brings together carefully selected high-achievers who understand that true networking transcends business card exchanges.
In this episode of Heartfelt Event Show, Adam explores how these curated lunch experiences are redefining professional relationship-building by creating spaces where vulnerability meets ambition, and where the ancient art of conversation becomes a catalyst for both personal growth and business acceleration.
In a world where VC meetings are known for their stern boardrooms and serious pitches, Noah Obstfeld is breaking down barriers by introducing an unexpected element: comedy.
As the founder of Pitch Roast Live, Noah has created a groundbreaking event format that merges the high-stakes world of startup funding with the disarming power of stand-up comedy, creating what he calls a “Shark Tank meets Kill Tony” experience.
Drawing from his background in private equity and VC partnerships, Noah recognized that authentic connections often happen when people let their guard down – and nothing accomplishes this quite like shared laughter.
In this episode of Heartfelt Event Show, Noah will explore how Pitch Roast Live is revolutionizing the traditional pitch meeting by bringing real startups, real investors, and real comedians together in a space where vulnerability becomes an asset and humor breaks down the rigid walls of business formality.
Discover how this innovative and memorable format of events is fundamentally changing how entrepreneurs and investors connect in ways that traditional meetings never could.
Viewing the Cart Basel highlight reel may cause severe FOMO, uncontrollable Ecom daydreams, and an irresistible urge to mark your calendar for 2025.
From passionate entrepreneurs to industry veterans, the event created an environment rich with opportunities for collaboration and growth.
If you didn’t attend last month in Miami, proceed with envy at your own risk.
Featured Attendees
Aramis Estrella — New York-based e-commerce entrepreneur who made the journey specifically for Cart Basel, exemplifying the draw of this transformative event.
Margarita Schneider — Co-founder of Elite ECOM Academy, who started her journey in dropshipping in 2018 and has since generated over $40 million in online sales. Now dedicated to teaching others how to scale their dropshipping stores profitably.
Barbara Jacques — CEO of JAK Skincare, pioneering the first vegan and sustainable skincare line specifically formulated for women of color.
Anis Barakat — CEO of AKA Digital Business Solutions, bringing expertise in digital transformation and e-commerce solutions.
“Being an E-commerce entrepreneur is an incredibly lonely experience… You sit in your house, you sit in your office, you think of things, you find your warehouse, you do everything digitally and there’s nobody around. And there’s especially nobody around that owns a brand just like you do.”
This is precisely why Cart Basel has become such a crucial gathering point for the e-commerce community.
The incredible atmosphere and professional production of the event wouldn’t have been possible without the talented Eilish Wertheimer and The Slingshot Guys, who ensured every moment was captured and presented beautifully.
Looking ahead to 2025, Cart Basel promises to once again bring together the brightest minds in e-commerce.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience in Miami, where the future of online retail takes shape through collaboration, innovation, and community.
Mark your calendars for 2025: this is one event you won’t want to miss.
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to save someone’s life? Not as a doctor or an emergency responder, but as an ordinary person who made one simple choice?
This is the story of how a routine cheek swab during my lunch break turned into a journey that would change both my life and of a 10-year-old boy I had never met.
Unexpected Match
Five years ago, I swabbed with DKMS while at work at Edison Home Care in Brooklyn NY.
I knew it was a nice thing to do and to be honest I figured I wouldn’t actually ever be a match.
A late morning phone call in February 2021 made my heart stop. I WAS A MATCH.
As the coordinator on the phone spoke to me explaining the situation, all I could do was prepare myself for the inevitable question I was about to be asked:
“Would you like to donate?”
I was sure my heart stopped beating for the first 10 seconds.
Then I had an incredible emotional switch. I was excited, overwhelmed with happiness that I was able to do a good deed.
Smiling proudly with my registered donor ID card
The Preparation
To be very honest, the preparations for the donation in the week leading up to the procedure was very painful.
My stem cell count had to be multiplied so I could give the extra cells to the donor.
To help my body stimulate the new cell stem growth, I was given two injections of filgrastim a day.
As my cell count grew, my bones felt like they were exploding from all the pressure inside of them.
D-day
Finally, D-day arrived.
I walked the halls of the hospital being treated like a celebrity and my head was held up higher than ever.
I finally made it to the donation chair, got my last round of injections and had the IN/OUT lines inserted into my arms.
All I could do was smile!
I had a six hour day ahead of me, but knowing that someone was getting a second chance at life and that the extra stem cells will FINALLY leave my body, I was filled with relief.
I spent most of the time watching Pokémon videos on YouTube and making a few phone calls to friends.
Two hours into the donation, my nurse came in and informed me that my stem cell count wasn’t as strong as they originally anticipated, and that in order to have a successful transplant, I would need to come in for a second day of transplant.
They gave me the option to back out. However, turning back was out of the question for me. I gave my word–there was a person relying on me.
I couldn’t let my recipient be subjected to news so devastating it could leave a person hopeless.
The choice was obvious. I finished the first transplant and returned home having to rest-up and prepare for another day.
I felt a bit deflated, but more committed than ever.
Day Two
My second day of the donation was challenging.
All the excitement and hope I held behind my smile on day one wasn’t enough to shield me from the pain and discomfort. I just wanted to get it over with.
After being unhooked from the apheresis machine, and finishing my post procedure monitoring, I proudly held up my bag of fresh stem cells.
My smile and excitement resurfaced and I felt a tidal wave of emotion.
My donation was on its way to a 10-year-old boy in need of a life-saving transplant.
Recovery and Reflection
Between the prep, transplants and recovery, I was out of commission for three weeks.
Although I had pain and a lot of discomfort.
“I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN. “
My Story
From the day I agreed to donate, I contemplated if I should tell people.
Would it be arrogant of me to tell people that I may save someone’s life?
Would I develop a superhero complex?
Would this donation become about me and not the patient fighting for his life?
I realized that if my story could inspire even just one person to swab and sign up to be a registered donor, it would be worth it.
I don’t know if I’ll ever meet my recipient, but I sure hope I do. Knowing that I gave someone a second chance at life has fundamentally changed the way I see the world.
You don’t need to be a hero to save a life, all you gotta do is swab.
To learn more about becoming a potential stem cell donor CLICK HERE
Last week I hosted a hugely successful event in Miami for founders, executives, and dropshippers.
It was called Cart Basel. I’ll tell you about it, what the agenda was, show you photos, and more.
Two-Day Extravaganza
The event was split into two incredible days with different focuses.
On day one, we had over 65 dropshippers come together to share their experiences and insights.
Day two brought in more than 35 brands, creating a perfect mix of industry players.
The Numbers
The caliber of attendees blew me away. We had businesses representing over $1.5 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in the room.
That’s not just impressive – it’s absolutely mind-blowing for an inaugural event.
Location
We chose Miami as our backdrop, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
The energy of the city matched our event’s vibe perfectly.
The beautiful setting really helped facilitate networking and created an atmosphere where people wanted to connect and share.
Knowledge Sharing & Networking
What made Cart Basel special wasn’t just the numbers – it was the genuine value everyone got from being there.
People were openly sharing their experiences, strategies, and insights. The conversations happening in every corner were incredible.
Unexpected Wins
The event’s success carried over even after it officially ended. I ended up signing a major client as a direct result of the connections made at Cart Basel. It was the perfect way to close out the week.
I have to share something exciting that just happened in my cold email journey. As someone who’s deeply passionate about email outreach, I recently got early access to Smartlead’s new mobile app.
This might not sound like a big deal to most people, but for someone who’s usually late to the party with new tech, being among the first users feels pretty special.
Over the past year, I’ve been running massive email campaigns, sending up to 15,000 cold emails daily. My target audience? Shopify brand founders and marketers.
It’s been quite a ride, and I’ve learned a ton along the way.
What is Smartlead?
Working with such high-volume email campaigns comes with its challenges. You need reliable tools, consistent delivery, and a way to manage everything without losing your mind. That’s where Smartlead.ai came in and changed everything for me.
For those who aren’t familiar, Smartlead.ai is a cold email automation platform that handles everything from email warm-up to delivery optimization. What makes it stand out is its ability to manage multiple email accounts, handle smart inbox rotation, and provide detailed analytics on campaign performance – all while maintaining high deliverability rates.
Their platform made handling these large-scale campaigns actually manageable. I especially love their email warm-up feature, which gradually increases sending volume to maintain good sender reputation. Plus, their dynamic rotation system ensures your emails don’t get flagged as spam, which is crucial when you’re sending thousands of emails daily.
The Impact on My Business
The results have been incredible. The platform has been the single biggest difference-maker in my outreach efforts. It’s streamlined my workflow and helped me reach more potential clients than I ever thought possible. And now, with their mobile app, I can manage everything on the go.
Full Disclosure
I want to be completely transparent here – I have zero affiliation with Smartlead. I’m not getting paid to say any of this, and I don’t get any perks for sharing my experience. I’m just a very satisfied customer who’s excited about what their tools have helped me achieve.
Looking Ahead
For anyone interested in cold email outreach, especially at scale, I can’t emphasize enough how much of a game-changer good tools can be.
Getting in early on their mobile app feels like being part of something special, and I’m genuinely excited to see how it will further improve my workflow.
