avatar

315 | Building a Lasting Ecommerce Brand | with Heather Florio

Honest Ecommerce
Honest Ecommerce
Episode • Feb 3, • 28m

Heather Florio is the second-generation owner and CEO of Desert Harvest, a company pioneering sustainable solutions in pelvic and sexual health. Recognized by Authority Magazine as one of the Top 50 Women in Wellness and featured in Forbes as a top woman in business, Heather has spent over 30 years driving innovation in the industry.

Under her leadership, Desert Harvest has transformed pelvic healthcare, funding medical research, launching science-backed products, and advocating for those suffering in silence. As a pelvic health specialist and "Sexpert," Heather shares her expertise globally, speaking on panels and at conferences to raise awareness about chronic pelvic health issues.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

  • [00:14] Intro
  • [01:09] Developing products that align with brand mission
  • [01:30] Identifying market gaps through personal experience
  • [03:26] Building a business where people find their niche
  • [04:53] Following Ecommerce industry shifts to stay ahead
  • [06:45] Partnering with nonprofits for awareness 
  • [08:57] Evolving a brand’s online presence over decades
  • [10:35] Selling online before Ecommerce platforms existed
  • [12:00] Struggling with early web design tools 
  • [13:59] Navigating regulatory changes in Ecommerce
  • [15:28] Episode sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems 
  • [18:40] Using AI for customer acquisition & targeting
  • [20:18] Optimizing for AI-driven recommendations
  • [21:10] Adapting to AI-driven consumer research
  • [25:41] Building consumer trust through education
  • [27:01] Creating a brand connection that lasts

Resources:

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!