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Clarity

Branden Moskwa

nadimo.com

As an expert in the retail space, I empower DTC brand owners to navigate their business with confidence and clarity so they can make informed business decisions and can step away assured of a smoothly running business.

Founder of nadimo.com
eCommerce Futurist - IBM
Top 10 Best Businesses - SBBC
Business Excellence Awards - Finalist
theguardian.com Small Business Leader of the Year - Nominee

$16.67/min

17

17 Calls

13

13 Reviews

27 minutes
Avg. call

eCommerce Web development Conversion Optimization Conversion Rate Optimization Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) E-commerce Website Development Integration Ecommerce Strategy Online Retail

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Processes are an essential component of your systems! They are also dependent on your business and your people - you need to find what works for your specific situation so that everyone is on board and things run smoothly.

Tech and Tools for Your Systems

A lot of the time, we blame our staff for some of the things we encounter throughout the daily grind as CEOs or leaders, but often the problem may reside elsewhere. The right technology and tools are imperative for support your people and your processes so things run more efficiently.

Building a solid system in your business is like crafting the perfect Lego tower – it all hinges on that sturdy foundation. So, imagine your five-year-old self, eagerly stacking those colorful blocks. The key? Three essential building blocks: people, processes, and technology. Your team? They're the backbone, the ones who shape those crucial processes. And let's not forget about the tech and tools – they're like the secret sauce, maximizing efficiency and supporting your team every step of the way. But here's the kicker – just like that inevitable rogue Lego piece waiting to ambush your unsuspecting foot, if you build it wrong the tower will fall and the worst kind of pain will be inflicted, right?

Finding and Keeping good people is HARD, it's more important than ever to have happy employees. It's more than just keeping them happy—it's about unlocking their potential.

You get more efficiency and productivity by aligning employees with their area of genius and empowering them. When people work in their area of genius, they enjoy what they're doing, feel valued and appreciated, and become part of the mission.

Ultimately, happy employees are more efficient, productive, and committed to staying longer. In today's competitive landscape, retaining talent is crucial. Let's focus on empowering our teams and nurturing a culture of growth and fulfillment.

eCommerce Futurist, Expert and Influencer

Was a guest VIP Futurist for IBM Amplify, have appeared on multiple podcast including the latest featuring conversion tips.

A few of these can be heard here:

From visitor to buyer, what are the best website conversion tips: http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=45705808

How do I determine my company valuation: http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=45045916

How do you drive leads through social networking?
http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=44846859

Answers 13
Reviews 13

Answers

Branden Moskwa answered

What apps do you recommend for time tracking, accounting & project management?

I have found that you don't want to over complicate things and try and keep things as simple as needed. Freshbooks is a great option for basic bookkeeping, has timetracking and some level of project mgt. I have not used the timetracking and PM tools within it as of yet so I cannot comment too much, but it does have the foundational components you are looking for.

In regards to PM software, this can also get overcomplicated in a hurry. Try using something like Trello, its free and is simple to use. I know that others LOVE Basecamp, but I am still not onboard as of yet. The other best thought on PM software is that if your using it to track others work progress, to learn the tools the developer likes, that way you are assured buy in.

I have a broad scope of experience with CRM and PM software and it really comes down to what you require, and to avoid over complicating things.

Just my thoughts.
- Branden
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Branden Moskwa, B.ASBE, CAPM
Entrepreneur | Founder and Advisor
Email: brandenmoskwa@gmail.com
Phone: (206) 801-1778
Web: Moskwa.ca | Nadimo.com | @bmoskwa

TheGuardian.com - Small Business Leader of the Year Nominee
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Project Management

Time Management

Web development

Branden Moskwa answered

Is it unwise for an entrepreneur to sign a non-disclosure agreement?

Just my thoughts...
I have been involved in entrepreneurial endeavors for many years and HATE NDA's. While I understand the importance, most people want you to sign them because they think they have the next best thing! Truth is, I keep my secrets close and will not share them with anyone that I don't trust or only trust if they sign an NDA. NDA's are important in longer term contracts and when working deep in the daily operations of the organization of which whom you are working with, and NEED to protect both parties. That said, they are only as strong as your pockets are deep when it comes to legal standing and there should be a level of trust established prior to sharing information that may be detrimental if in the wrong hands.

I will sign NDA's if it is a requirement in doing business and feel the relationship requires one, however, if it does, I really search my gut as to if it is a relationship that I want to be in long term and if what I am signing is two sided and would we both feel fine moving forward without one.

I have purchased businesses on handshakes and feel you really need to trust your gut and work with people you can trust.

Again, just my thoughts.
-Branden

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Entrepreneurship

Legal Advice

Legal Assistance

Branden Moskwa answered

Do I really need to use Magento for my marketplace?

ROR is a completely different code base than PHP (That which Magento runs on. I suspect what you are experiencing is that there are far more developers comfortable with PHP than there are with ROR and ROR resources can be a little more costly. That said, depending on how much work you have had done with your ROR site, and the platform you are running it on, for example if the site is actually running on a hosted solution like Shopify, there is alot less customization you can do. That said, Magento is extremly customizable, but can also be tricky to learn if you don't have a team behind you that is willing to train you or fix issues as they arise. That said to, not all extensions are compatable, so I might suggest that you find a good ROR resource to review your code and advise as to the costs to make the improvements you need, then find a reliable resource for PHP Magento and see what it would cost to rebuild there. By all means I can always assist, so let me know if you needed anything else on that.

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Magento

eCommerce

Ruby on Rails

Branden Moskwa answered

How much would it cost to set up a small vendor-based eCommerce website like a mini Alibaba, Elance, or Upwork?

I would have to agree with Brian on this answer, that determining the features you need to meet your markets needs is the first place to start. Providing you with a black and white answer is very difficult without having more specific specs. I would be happy to sit down and review everything with you and help you determine the needed features, the nice to haves, and estimated costs associated with each. There are a number of different directions you can go in even the initial development and hosting etc, which would effect even your ongoing costs. Send me a message if you would like to discuss further, as I am quite certain I can assist you in determining your early stage needs and send you in a direction that will help you out. WITHOUT costing you an arm and a leg just to get your feet wet and test out your concept.

Take care.
-Branden
nadimo.com

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eCommerce

Website Development

Website Monetization

Branden Moskwa answered

I run a startup course and want my students to set up a landing page but without the monthly recurring cost. Is there a one-time fee Wordpress theme?

You might want to try unbounce.com they have a free version that has their branding on it but allows for the use of most features and if its for a course then when they are done they can upgrade if they wanted to get rid of the branding. Just a thought take a look. Might be easier to setup then WP for some students,and built more specifically for landing page conversions.

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MVP

Lean startup

Early Stage Startup

Branden Moskwa answered

I need to set up a membership site for recipes but am hoping to do it with existing plugins in Wordpress, using a little customizing. Suggestions?

I'll be starting dev on an existing blog that will be moving to a membership based model. LEAN BUDGET, I will be giving this one a try. It may be worth a look, not a lot of reviews, but still 4.5 out of 5 stars rating.

Custom User Registration Form Builder
https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-registration-form-builder-with-submission-manager/

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WordPress Development

WordPress

Business Development

Branden Moskwa answered

I don't know how to code, but I have some ideas for a new product. How can i proceed?

I would not try and code these ideas yourself. You may be able to find a developer that would work with you if they believe in the ideas, but that means you have to give up equity, and run the risk that they are not as passionate about the concepts as yourself. I would suggest you start reaching out to smaller development firms with your concepts and meet with people in the industry to bounce both the concepts and the approach off of. You will more than likely have to find some initial funding or partnership arrangement that can get you to a MVP, (Minimal Viable Product) that you can then start promoting and marketing to build some cashflow, or further investor interest, depending on the concepts and direction you wish to grow.

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Software Development

New Business Development

MVP

Branden Moskwa answered

What are the pros and cons of building an app versus a responsive website as an MVP?

I can provide you with my thoughts, they are a little one sided but I feel, for good reason. While everybody believes they have the next best idea not everything even great ideas take off. Thus the whole concept of the MVP. Get something out there get people using it, start generating revenues and then invest further. It is my opinion that because the responsively designed website can reach a higher audience, ie everyone with the internet, mobile or otherwise this is the best direction for 90% of MVP's.

The thought here for me, is simple. Build it once. With an App, you will have to build for the given platform(s) iOS as well as Android, unless you wanted to test it on a smaller segment then focus on just one, probably iOS. But then don't forget that this will only work on mobile devices, and because it is an app built for a platform that is constantly changing you too will need to upgrade the app, in some cases just to keep it alive, rather than focusing on enhancements that your user/customer is looking for.

Those are just a few of my thoughts, the other is that building an app will need the involvement of a different developer base and to do it correctly will probably increase your overall costs to get your MVP to market.

In the end, I would say build something that is accessible to a wider reach then once its proven its viability start rolling out the iPhone and android apps. (I am pretty sure Clarity itself is a case in point of website before app development).

Hope this helps.

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Product Design

Product Strategy

Product Development

Branden Moskwa answered

What are the best project management softwares out there?

Basecamp is a highly used and often recommended product, but too be honest, I have found Asana to really handle the basics well. That said, if you are looking for something more robust with build in gannt charting etc, then I would not recommend it. It is a super simple solution however, that can be used by a vast array of skill sets, and can also be shared with clients so that they can monitor easily and comment on questions if needed. I am also looking to integrate it with SLACK for the purposes of increased communications, but quite honestly for a simple solution to managing tasks and project deadlines, assigning to various individuals and even forwarding emails straight into the system to add as a task, its a nice solution.

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Project Management

Software Project Management

Collaboration

Branden Moskwa answered

Recommendations for a clothing fulfillment house that can do printed shirts and sweaters for women in Canada and USA?

These guys are based out of LA, but the offer shipping to Canada, and have hear great things about them. In fact some very interesting Canadian success stories have come via starting with them.

www.theprintful.com

They can be integrated into your woo commerce site (aka a Wordpress blog) or a number of various eCommerce platforms like Magento, Bigcommerce and Shopify. I am not sure how easy or if there is a direct integration with Etsy shops however they may be worth a look.

Hope that helps.

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Online Retail

eCommerce

Branden Moskwa answered

Who can best help my programmer and I come up with an actual completion date for our website?

This is not an a typical issue and rather common within the industry. I may be able to help but here are a few things to consider.

1. Changes to scope and scope creep will certainly add time to a project, so hammer down the scope of work moving forward and allow for no further change requests. Ad the on as a phase2 after the first items ade acoplished.

2. An itemized list is good, but need to start with the objective then break it down into stories, or tasks acompanied by time estimates. Each should bd no bigger than 4 hours and if it is break it down further.

3. Figure out dependancies, what needs to happen before the next can start, a before b kinda thing.

4. Then sit down together and really figure out what you can get done on a weekly basis. Some call these iterations sprints but regardless the name jt will help hou figure acurate timelines.

5. Lastly Allow for error! So there are all sorts of numeric formulas to calculate estimating overages, I lkke to do it one of two ways. First if the developers tend to be overly optimistic or have underestimated before, i DOUBLE the time, yes DOUBLE IT, otherwise I go with 30 - 50% increase. So 10 weeks becomes 13 - 15.

Just my thoughts,
Branden

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Consulting

Programming

Backend Development

Reviews

Our call with Branden was very insightful. Branden helped us identify the plugins we should use to build our desired checkout flow with Apple Pay. He then followed up with even more ideas after the call.

Once again, thanks a lot for your time, Branden!

Diana Bugai Source: Clarity

Excellent insight, and helped us narrow down what type of ecommerce companies we were going after. Thanks Branden!

Adam Robinson Source: Clarity

Branden has an uncanny ability to read people, and his insight into the inner workings of any office surroundings makes him an invaluable asset to any organization. Branden tells it the way it is, and is very forthright and honest. His integrity is refreshing, and it's been a pleasure working with Branden and I look forward to working with him into the future. His future potential is limitless, and his enthusiasm is appreciated.

Tyler Key Source: LinkedIn

Branden had been the project manager on a number of projects we have worked on together. He has always provided honest and clear communications, not always easy given the the complex nature of some of the work we have executed on, combined with the remote nature of our working environments and cultural difference. Branden is a consumate professional and integral to the success of our mutual client projects, I look forward to working together on many further projects.

Harihara Prabhu Source: LinkedIn

I want to commend Branden not only on creating a great website for my agency but for his patience and tolerance of my slowness to do my part of this project. Branden has work with me on the phone and unlike many designers has appreciated that my time is really booked up and getting in to do the things I need to do are not happening at the speed that would really be appreciated by most designers. He works with you and is 100% the professional. I will be sending anyone I know who is in the insurance business to him for design. Thanks Branden

Kathryn Miller Source: LinkedIn

Branden is an amazing individual and likely one of the best people I have ever worked with. Very patient and skilled. Great people skills. You won't be disappointed with the quality of service you will get from Branden. Thank you for your valued friendship and all the best in your future. A SHINING star.

Brian Walker Source: LinkedIn

Branden is both professional and approachable and works well at extracting the truth in complex environments and in creating order in ICT environments where it is lacking. In addition he was able to extract value for our client in a stressful environment. A true Professional who "works well at all levels" and is not afraid of rolling up his sleeves to get the project delivered and to meet clients moving expectations. I look forward to working with Branden in the future and have no problem recommending him for any role!

Rick Morcom Source: LinkedIn

Branden worked with Penetanguishene on the implementation of a meeting management system. Branden is very good at listening to customer needs and providing guidance on what inevitably is a longer and more time consuming process which is ongoing and ever evolving.

Eleanor Rath CMO Source: LinkedIn

Branden is keen on details and is excellent at project management. He's able to focus on long term goals and keep chipping away at them daily while keeping organized and on top of what priorities need doing next.

Aaron Lefkowitz Source: LinkedIn

I actively worked with Branden during the summer of 2007 to implement software to create a paperless agenda for Council and staff. With Branden's knowledge and expertise we were successful in completing this goal by November 2007. During this entire process we established an excellent rapport and I was confident that Branden would assist and guide me with training as well as establishing best practices. Branden's approach and professionalism were outstanding.

Dianne Wilson Source: LinkedIn

Highly recommend Branden as he alway took excellence care of his clients (branch employees) at Trimac. He is very professional and a pleasure to work with.

Mark Petersen Source: LinkedIn

Member since January 2014