Josh Orr

I help brick and mortar retailers launch/grow online. Founder @ Capital Commerce. Tweets on Retail, eCom, + Entrepreneurship, and Spurs basketball.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

@soundslikecanoe @codyplof You’re wrong, Patrick. It was SEO… people googling “AG1 alternative” all the way to a billion dollars

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

@soundslikecanoe When can we expect a “Don’t know how to use GitHub? I didn’t either and now make 19 trillion/year. Comment XANGA and I’ll send you the prompts”?

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

@maverickecom Agent

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

@TommiPedruzzi Ai

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

@mikefutia Meta

[Ryan Deiss @ryandeiss]

I understand why people think AI will make workers less valuable.

...but allow me to offer an entrepreneur's perspective.

(As opposed to the douchebag, scarcity-minded media/economist perspective.)

When AI increases productivity, the value of the person using it goes UP…not down.

If I have an ad campaign delivering a 300% return on ad spend, I don't think "How can I spend less?" I think "How can I spend MORE?"

The same is true for human capital.

Entrepreneurs get this because we're abundance-minded.

We create something from nothing and call it Tuesday.

Economists don't get this because they're scarcity-minded. They literally believe all resources are finite, so a new technology must replace an older one.

It's never worked that way.

The pessimists look smart in the short term, but it's the optimists who get rich in the long term.

Don't listen to the doomsdayers.

Treat AI like the productivity gift that it is, and double down on the PEOPLE who are willing and able to use it.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Retailers, if you’re just here to sell products, you’re missing the point.

Anyone can sell on Amazon. Story-driven brands go deeper, they connect products to real moments in their customers’ lives. Stop chasing transactions and start creating connection.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Is your website talking about you, or your customer?

Your customer doesn’t visit to learn about your story. They come to feel understood. Talk less about who you are and more about what they’re experiencing. Your brand doesn’t need to be louder, it needs to be relatable.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Feeling stretched thin across every platform? You’re not alone.

Most retailers post everywhere but stand out nowhere. The goal isn’t to be everywhere, it’s to be effective somewhere. Focus where your customers engage because depth beats width every time.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

What you focus on grows.

When your mind fixates on what you don’t want (mistakes, problems, fears), that’s exactly what you attract. Shift your focus toward what you do want. Feed your brain direction, not doubt. Focus creates momentum. Make sure yours points forward.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Retailers, your visuals might look good, but do they inspire anyone?

The strongest brands don’t just show what they sell. They show who their customer wants to be. When your imagery reflects aspiration, not just reality, you stop selling products and start shaping identity.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Your email list might be the most powerful thing you own.

Every other platform can change the rules overnight, Google, Meta, TikTok. But your list? That’s yours. It’s the one channel you control. Build it, nurture it, protect it. Control the connection, not just the clicks.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Retailers, when someone lands on your site, do they instantly feel, “This is for me”?

Your imagery should reflect who your customer wants to be, and your copy should sound like their thoughts. When people feel seen, they don’t just shop, they stay.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Want to boost your online visibility? Start with the basics most people skip.

You don’t need a full SEO overhaul, just optimize your homepage, key collections, and top products. Clarity beats complexity. Sometimes growth isn’t about more, it’s about smarter.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

The goal of your email isn’t to sell, it’s to get opened.

Before anyone clicks “buy,” they have to click open. Your subject line is the front door to their attention. Use curiosity, personality, and value. Great emails don’t start with selling, they start with connection.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Retailers, your products aren’t the story, your customer is.

The strongest brands don’t lead with what they sell, they lead with who they serve. When your content reflects your customer’s life, you stop selling products and start building connection. Lead with people.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Are you letting UPS decide your content plan?

Many retailers post whatever shows up in the latest shipment. But new arrivals aren’t a strategy. In-store, you start with the customer, not yourself. Your marketing should too. Less “look what we got,” more “we see you.”

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Here’s the truth: you’re probably not emailing enough.

Sending one email a month, or even one a week, leaves connection and sales on the table. Going into Q4, inboxes will be packed. Consistency isn’t spam, it’s how you stay top of mind when others are competing for attention.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Your customer isn’t you, and that changes everything.

You might think email is annoying, but they don’t. They love your brand, they just hate bad email. Send value, not noise. Done right, email becomes one of the most effective tools to grow your business.

[Josh Orr @joshorr]

Retailers, how clearly can you answer this: What do you sell, and who do you sell it to?

As AI shifts how people shop, clarity has never mattered more. The brands that know exactly who they serve and why will be the ones showing up. In the age of AI, clarity is your edge.