Throwback: The Secret Weapon of Business Acquisitions

In this Throwback episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews serial entrepreneur Roland Frasier on scaling ecommerce businesses from seven to eight figures and beyond. Roland shares actionable strategies around business acquisitions, including seven key categories: competitors, media, teams, products, affiliates, supply chain, and intellectual property. He explains how acquiring proven assets—rather than building from scratch—can accelerate growth, reduce costs, and expand market reach. The conversation also covers practical tips on systematizing operations and quick profit wins, providing high-level insights for ambitious business owners ready to break through growth plateaus.

Chapters:
Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00)
Host introduces Roland Frazier and outlines the focus on acquisitions, strategic relationships, and marketing for scaling ecommerce.

Why Acquisitions Matter (00:00:54)
Roland explains why acquisitions are a key strategy for successful business growth, especially for scaling quickly.

Seven Categories of Acquisitions: Horizontal Integration (00:01:05)
Discussion of acquiring competitors (horizontal integration) as a way to double business size instantly.

Acquiring Media Assets (00:02:09)
Explains the value of acquiring media channels (blogs, newsletters, podcasts, social groups) to own customer attention.

Owning vs. Renting Media (00:03:16)
Benefits of owning media versus renting, including control over messaging and customer access.

Types of Media Acquisitions (00:04:17)
Covers various media types to acquire, including blogs, Amazon listings, and social media groups.

Micro-Influencers and Small Media Deals (00:06:26)
How small media assets, often run by micro-influencers, can be acquired affordably for business growth.

Acquiring Teams and Infrastructure (00:07:15)
Introduction to "aqua hiring"—acquiring companies for their teams and operational infrastructure.

Acquiring Products, Services, and Affiliates (00:07:32)
Strategies for acquiring complementary products, services, and even affiliates to boost sales and margins.

Supply Chain and Distribution Acquisitions (00:08:28)
Explains acquiring suppliers, distributors, and other value chain participants to capture more profit.

Acquiring Intellectual Property (00:10:15)
Discusses licensing or acquiring intellectual property to innovate and expand product offerings.

Summary of Seven Acquisition Categories (00:10:27)
Roland summarizes the seven main acquisition categories and the vast opportunities within each.

Actionable Takeaways for Listeners (00:12:01)
Host recaps three actionable steps: identify acquisition targets, raise prices/negotiate terms, and create SOPs.

Book Recommendation: Black Box Thinking (00:13:34)
Roland recommends "Black Box Thinking" and shares its impact on his business mindset.

Where to Find Roland Frazier (00:14:51)
Roland shares where listeners can connect with him, his challenge, podcast, and social media.

Episode Wrap-Up (00:15:25)
Host thanks Roland and closes the episode.

Links and Mentions:

Tools and Websites 
Get Epic Challenge
Epic Network
Business Lunch Podcast

Books 
Black Box Thinking

Social Media Links 
Roland Fraiser on LinkedIn

Transcript:

Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast where I interview the top business leaders in eCommerce. I'm your host, Josh Hadley. Today I'm speaking with Roland Frasier, a serial entrepreneur. And we will be talki