AJ Industries Book a call

Operator-led ecommerce consulting

I build operators,
not dependence.

I help ecommerce brands build profitable, scalable businesses without becoming dependent on agencies. Built from scratch to 300,000+ units sold, $5.5M+ in revenue, and 300+ retail stores including big-box.

I'm not a consultant who used to run a brand. I still do.

Ashley Sutton, founder of AJ Industries

The gap I sit in

Most ecom consultants fall in two buckets.

Agency operators

They execute paid ads, build sites, run email. They never teach you. You stay dependent.

Theorists & coaches

They teach frameworks and run masterminds. Most have never built a real brand past $1M, and certainly not into retail.

AJ Industries

Still building today. 300,000+ units sold, $5.5M+ in revenue, 300+ retail doors. I do the work with you, then teach you to do it without me.

Build · Scale · Hire · Ship · Sell · Stock · Forecast · Negotiate · Operate · Systemise ·
Build · Scale · Hire · Ship · Sell · Stock · Forecast · Negotiate · Operate · Systemise ·

Why AJI

Seven things almost no other consultant can credibly claim.

01

Still building, today

The Standard Squeeze isn't a past success. It's running right now across AU, USA, B2B, and big-box retail. Every tactic I recommend, I'm using this week.

02

300+ retail doors, including big-box

Most ecom consultants have never pitched a retail buyer or read a SAP-generated purchase order. I've done both. The Standard Squeeze is in BCF, one of Australia's largest specialty outdoor retailers.

03

Two countries, one operator

AU and USA Shopify stores, Meta ad accounts, and 3PL operations running simultaneously. International isn't a theory I'll consult on — it's already running.

04

Builder, not just buyer

Custom Shopify locator (replaced a SaaS subscription). Custom FAQ system. Custom invoice generator. Automated Meta ads agents in AU and USA. Daily profitability dashboard with real per-order economics. Most brands burn $2–5k/month on SaaS for things they barely understand. I'll teach you when to build, buy, or skip.

05

AI-native operator

I use Claude Code, custom MCPs, and automated workflows daily across content, customer service, ads, and reporting. Most agencies are still doing this work manually and charging you for the hours. Working with me, you get the head start.

06

Unit economics, deeply

I know my freight is $16.23 per order, pick/pack is $2.81, and exactly what COGS each SKU costs landed. Most brands flatline at $1–3M because they don't. The first 30 days will surface what your real margin actually is.

07

Family-team validated

My wife Carly runs customer service inside the same brand using documented voice rules and templates I built. "Make you not need me" isn't aspirational — it's a process I already proved on myself.

Services

Four tiers. Spots are capped on purpose.

90-day minimum on the first two tiers, 6-month minimum on the top two. After that, month-to-month or quarterly. No multi-year lockups.

Foundations

8 spots

Pre-launch to $20k/month brands

$1,250 AUD / month
  • 1 × 60-min strategy call per month
  • Full Shopify audit + 90-day roadmap in week 1
  • Async support, 48-hour response
  • Templates: product page, ad copy, welcome flow, SOPs
  • 1 ad account audit (Meta or Google) in first 30 days

Outcome: At 90 days: a Shopify store you understand and edit yourself, a working welcome flow, one paid channel running, and clarity on real margin per product.

Book a fit call

Growth Partner

5 spots

$20k–$150k/month brands hitting the agency wall

$3,000 AUD / month
  • Weekly 45-min call
  • Hands-on Shopify guidance & app stack audit
  • Paid ads: structure, creative direction, hiring guidance
  • CRO and funnel walkthroughs
  • Hiring roadmap for your first ops/marketing/CS role
  • Slack support (business hours AEST, 4-hour replies)

Outcome: At 90 days: a clean app stack, a documented ad structure you (or your in-house buyer) can run, a hiring plan in motion, and measurable lift in AOV or conversion.

Book a fit call

Scale & Systems

3 spots

$150k–$500k+/month brands at the operations cliff

$6,500 AUD / month
  • Weekly strategic + fortnightly tactical calls
  • Unlimited Loom reviews across site, ads, email, ops
  • Deep involvement in offer design, pricing, retail
  • Inventory and cashflow guidance
  • Org design, role scorecards, hiring structure
  • Direct Slack + WhatsApp during business hours

Outcome: At 6 months: an org chart that lets you take a week off, inventory and cashflow planning that doesn't surprise you, and at least one new sales channel opened.

Book a fit call

Operator Access

2 spots · application required

High-revenue brands wanting an embedded second brain

$12,000 AUD / month (or $6k base + 1–3% revenue share)
  • Direct phone & WhatsApp incl. evenings/weekends (within reason)
  • Multiple calls per week, on-demand
  • Strategic involvement: hiring, raising, M&A, retail, international
  • Board-level perspective on major decisions
  • Network access: agencies, lawyers, accountants, retail buyers, 3PL
  • Quarterly in-person day if geography allows

Outcome: At 12 months: a business that runs without you in the inbox daily, a leadership team you trust with sub-$100k decisions, a growth thesis you can defend.

Book a fit call

Not ready for a retainer?

One-off Diagnostic Audit ($497 AUD). Credited to your first month if you sign on within 30 days.

Book the audit

Receipts

Real numbers from a brand that's still scaling.

300k+

Units of product sold to date

$5.5M+

AUD lifetime revenue across DTC, wholesale, retail

300+

Retail doors including BCF big-box

Black Friday 2024

30 minutes. $100k+ revenue.

431 active carts, 424 in checkout, and 373 purchases in a ten-minute window. The Standard Squeeze, live Shopify dashboard.

This is what an actual peak ecom moment looks like — the kind of throughput most consultants have never personally managed.

Black Friday 2024 Shopify dashboard

Client word

"Ash helped me get started and actually taught me how to make and edit my Shopify store myself. That's the foundation I built the business on."

Sarah, founder of Cookies AU

Questions

Things people ask before booking.

How is this different from an agency? +
Agencies execute. I teach you to execute, or to hire and manage someone who does. You'll come out of an engagement with skills, systems, and team — not just a retainer renewal.
Do you do the work or teach me to do the work? +
Both, but the bias is teaching. I'll do hands-on work in your Shopify, your ad account, your email tool. But every time, I show you how, so your next decision doesn't need me.
Why limited spots? +
Quality. I cap each tier so I can actually be useful. Once a tier is full, there's a waitlist.
What if I don't have a Shopify store yet? +
The Foundations tier is built for you. We'll have a working store live within the first 30 days.
Do you take equity? +
Rarely, and only at Operator Access tier. Default is cash. Equity is a conversation we'd have after months of working together, not a marketing pitch.
How long are engagements? +
90 days minimum for Foundations and Growth Partner, 6 months for Scale & Systems and Operator Access. After that, month-to-month or quarterly. No multi-year lockups.
What if it's not working? +
After the minimum, we part ways with no hard feelings. I'd rather you tell me early than carry a retainer that isn't working.

Ready to stop relying on agencies?

Book a free 20-minute discovery call. I'll tell you honestly which tier fits, or whether you're better off doing something else.

Book a call