Introduction
I’m Nathan Baws, an ecommerce business coach. For the last forty-plus years, I’ve started, run, and sold businesses of my own- fifteen of them, to be exact- everything from national supplement brands to restaurants that ended up on Shark Tank. I’ve done the late nights, the cash-flow scares, the wins, and the very public losses.
If you’re reading this, you already know ecommerce here isn’t the same as in the US or UK. Our distances are brutal, our customers expect Afterpay, and Amazon is breathing down everyone’s neck. The good news? Those same differences create openings most overseas “gurus” completely miss. Over the next few minutes I’ll hand you the exact playbook I use with every single client. Take what you need, leave the rest, and if something clicks, reach out. Simple as that.
Key Takeaways:
- Know exactly who your buyer is in Brisbane versus who they are in Broome.
- Ship profitably or die slowly- geography doesn’t negotiate.
- Sell the way Australians buy: transparent, local, and with buy-now-pay-later.
- Build once, automate early, stay lean.
- Protect your energy- burnout is the silent and expensive.
These aren’t slogans. They’re the hard lines I drew in the sand after watching good businesses fold for ignoring them.
The Real State of Ecommerce in Australia Right Now
We’re past AUD 60 billion a year and still climbing fast. Mobile is 60-65 % of all sales. Regional and rural buyers are growing faster than capital cities. Sustainability claims actually move the needle here (unlike a lot of markets where it’s just noise). That’s the opportunity side.
The painful side? Freight to anywhere outside the eastern seaboard eats margin alive. Returns from regional postcodes are double metro rates. And if you’re not on page one for your main search terms, you’re invisible.
As your ecommerce business coach I start every new relationship with a brutally honest audit of where you sit inside this picture. No fluff, no 50-page report- just the handful of levers that will actually change your numbers.
Getting the Foundations Right Before You Spend a Dollar on Ads
I’ve watched too many people burn tens of thousands on Facebook ads while their checkout process is still broken. We don’t do that.
Step 1 – Prove people will pay before you stock a thing
Google Trends + a $29 Shopify starter plan + a simple pre-order page will tell you more in a weekend than six months of “market research”. I walk every client through this exact validation sprint. One Perth student last year turned a $400 test into a $78k first-year store selling sustainable active wear because we proved demand first.
Step 2 – Choose the platform that fits Australia, not Silicon Valley
Shopify with Australian payment gateways and Afterpay/ZIP built in is still my default recommendation for 90 % of clients. BigCommerce if you’re doing serious B2B wholesale alongside D2C. WooCommerce only when you already have a developer on payroll. I’ve used all three at scale- and as an ecommerce business coach, I’ll tell you straight which one saves you grief.
Step 3 – Make trust instant
Clear shipping table (yes, including NT and WA rates), 30-day no-questions returns, and trust badges that aren’t from 2008. Sounds basic. Costs almost nothing. Usually lifts conversion 18-27 % on day one.
Marketing That Actually Works Here
Forget 2020 growth-hacking threads from Reddit. Here’s what still prints money in Australia in late 2025:
- Instagram Reels and TikTok for anything visual or personality-driven (events, fashion, gifts, homewares).
- Email + SMS for everyone else. A simple three-email welcome flow plus cart abandonment still drives 35 %+ of revenue for almost every store I coach.
- Google Shopping + a handful of bottom-funnel search ads for anything with decent search volume and margin (health, baby, tools, pet supplies).
- SEO focused on long-tail questions real Australians type (“best rain jacket for Tasmania winter”, “Afterpay laptops under $1500”).
I build every client their own 90-day marketing calendar tied to the actual Australian retail calendar- EOFY, Father’s Day, Click Frenzy, Black Friday, Boxing Day. Miss those windows at your peril.
Operations – The Part Most “Coaches” Gloss Over
You can have the prettiest store on the internet. If your picking, packing, or customer service is a mess, you’re done.
- Inventory: I teach a simple Google Sheet + Cin7 Core (or DEAR) combo that keeps even one-person operations from overstocking or running out during peaks.
- Fulfilment: ShipStation or Starshipit + contracts with Sendle, Australia Post eParcel, and one backup courier. Anything else is playing with fire.
- Customer service: Gorgias or ReAmaze so you’re not living inside your inbox, plus a returns portal that actually works.
Do these three things right and you can run a million-dollar store with a team of two or three.
Scaling Without Blowing Up
Most businesses die at the $20-30k/month mark because the owner tries to keep doing everything themselves. The ones that survive hand off repeatable tasks and double down on the 20 % that moves the needle.
As an ecommerce business coach, I have a very clear checklist I run every client through when we hit consistent $50k+ months:
- Are your unit economics healthy?
- Is your supply chain diversified?
- Do you have six weeks of operating cash in the bank?
- Are your top three marketing channels profitable without your daily involvement?
Only when those boxes are ticked do we talk about new products, new markets, or hiring.
The Mindset Side (Because Numbers Don’t Fix Everything)
Fifteen businesses taught me that the entrepreneur’s headspace is the ultimate bottleneck. I’m religious about sleep, training, cold exposure, and weekly reviews because I’ve seen what happens when you let those slide. Every client gets my exact morning and weekly routines- no woo-woo, just what keeps me sharp after four decades of this game.
Why Work With an Ecommerce Business Coach?
Simple. You’ll get there faster, with less financial and emotional damage. I’ve already made the expensive mistakes so you don’t have to. One hour with me as an ecommerce business coach usually saves clients months of trial and error- and often tens of thousands in wasted ad spend or inventory.
Conclusion
There’s never been a better time to build an ecommerce business in Australia, but there’s also never been less tolerance for half-measures. Get the foundations right, market where Australians actually hang out, run tight operations, and protect your energy. Do that consistently and the results look after themselves.
If any of this resonates and you’d like to explore what working together looks like, head to https://nathanbaws.com/ and book a call.
FAQs
What exactly does an ecommerce business coach do?
I become your outsourced experienced co-founder. I look at your numbers, your funnel, your operations, and your headspace, then give you the shortest path from where you are to where you want to be. No templates, no group calls- just direct, practical advice from someone who has built and sold Australian ecommerce businesses.
How long does it usually take to see results?
Most clients see clearer direction and their first meaningful wins inside 4-8 weeks. Proper scale (doubling or better) usually lands between 6-18 months depending on starting point and execution speed.
Do you only work with big stores as an ecommerce business coach?
No. I work with brand-new stores and seven-figure businesses alike. The principles are the same; only the numbers change.
What if I’m not technical?
That’s the majority of my clients. We use tools that require zero coding and I’ll either show you exactly what to click or connect you with reliable people who charge fair Australian rates.
How are yiu as an ecommerce business coach different from all the online courses out there?
Courses give you information. Coaching gives you implementation and accountability. You’re not left wondering “does this apply to my situation in Australia?”- we make it apply.
Do you guarantee results?
I guarantee my effort and honesty. If you do the work, the results come. As an ecommerce business coach, I’ve never had a client who followed the plan regret the investment.
What platforms do you recommend in 2025 as an ecommerce business coach?
Shopify for 90 % of consumer brands. BigCommerce is for when you need serious B2B features. Nothing else unless you have a very specific reason.
Can you help with Facebook and Google ads as an ecommerce business coach?
Yes. I build the strategy and either run the accounts myself for the first 60-90 days or oversee your team/agency until the numbers are solid.
What’s the investment to work with you?
Visit https://nathanbaws.com/ and book a call. We’ll look at your situation and I’ll quote a fixed monthly retainer that reflects the value we both agree I can deliver.
Do you take on everyone who applies?
No. I only work with people I’m confident I can genuinely move the needle for, and who are ready to move quickly. If that’s you, let’s talk.
