Get 15% off at Proud Poppy with code ATCPOD – ends 11:59pm, 31 Jan.
Scaling an ecommerce brand always sounds tidy when it’s reduced to a revenue number. But anyone who’s been inside a fast-growing business knows the truth looks very different. Stock decisions that age badly. Cashflow stress that hits fast. And moments where the “next smart move” isn’t obvious at all.
In today’s episode, Nathan sits down with Tara McKeon, Founder of Proud Poppy, to unpack what really happens when a fashion ecommerce brand scales to $20M. From near-miss moments that threatened the business, to the decisions that helped pull it back from the edge, Tara shares a refreshingly honest take on growth, leadership, and why community ended up being Proud Poppy’s most powerful advantage.
It’s a conversation that strips away the highlight reel and gets into the parts of ecommerce growth most founders quietly wrestle with.
I want to look back and be Proud Poppy. I don’t want to be Sh*tty Poppy.
Tara McKeon | Founder and CEO
Image from Ragtrader
Today, we’re discussing…
- What scaling to $20M really costs in stock, cashflow and operational pressure
- Why community mattered more than paid media when things got tough
- The risks of international expansion when timing doesn’t cooperate
- How transparency with customers can strengthen trust instead of damaging it
- Which “nice-to-have” ecommerce tools get cut first under pressure
- What founders should think about before committing to stores, warehouses and long-term overheads
Chapters
3:06 The Birth of Proud Poppy: A Personal Journey
7:00 Inclusivity in Fashion: Beyond Size
11:16 A Sh*t Year for Proud Poppy
17:54 Turning the Business Around: A Trip to China
21:36 Community as The Heart of Proud Poppy
25:19 Scaling the Business: Maintaining the Brand’s Essence
28:47 Personalising the Shopping Experience
31:55 AI Models: The Future of Representation in Fashion?
38:20 Navigating Online Feedback
42:36 The Next 12 Months: Clarity And Community
Join us!
Come behind the scenes with Add To Cart Community: Join our crew of ecommerce operators chasing growth, sharing wins, and staying sharp with deep dives, live events and no-BS inspiration.
