E-Commerce Sparring

Your Thinking Partner for E-Commerce

Ongoing strategic support, not one-off consulting. We tackle challenges together, pressure-test ideas, and sharpen your decision-making – with an experienced partner in your corner.

E-Commerce Sparring - Strategic Exchange
Sparring conversation between two people
The Concept

What is E-Commerce Sparring?

Sparring goes beyond consulting or coaching – it's an ongoing, peer-to-peer dialogue.

In sports, a sparring partner helps you improve – not by fighting for you, but by training alongside you. E-commerce sparring works the same way: regular sessions where we work through your challenges together, stress-test ideas, and think through decisions before you make them.

Unlike a one-off audit or workshop, I stay in your corner. I get to know your business, your backstory, your goals – which means I can jump in faster and more effectively when new questions come up.

Want to kick things off with a deep dive? An E-Commerce Workshop is perfect for that – then we transition seamlessly into ongoing sparring.

  • Conversation, Not Lectures. We find solutions together through structured dialogue.
  • Ongoing, Not One-Off. Regular sessions build momentum and depth.
  • True Partnership. You know your business; I bring the outside perspective.
Typical Topics

What We Talk About

Sparring covers whatever's on your plate right now – from big-picture strategy to hands-on operational decisions.

Strategy & Direction

Where should your e-commerce business go next? What big decisions are on the horizon? We think through your options and their trade-offs.

  • Business Model Development
  • Market Positioning
  • Growth Strategy

Technology & Systems

E-commerce platform, ERP, PIM – before you commit, let's talk through the options. I'm vendor-neutral, so you get unbiased advice.

  • System Selection
  • Architecture Decisions
  • Vendor Evaluation

Operations & Processes

Fulfillment, customer service, returns – where are the bottlenecks? We dig into the pain points and map out solutions.

  • Process Optimization
  • Automation
  • Scaling Roadmaps
  • Team Structures

Marketing & Growth

Which channels are actually working? Where should your budget go? We review your marketing strategy and dig into the numbers.

  • Channel Strategy
  • Budget Allocation
  • Performance Review

Team & Organization

Hiring, team building, agency management – the people side of e-commerce. Often overlooked, always critical. For bigger initiatives, check out Project Management.

  • Team Development
  • Hiring Strategy
  • Vendor Management
  • Org Design

The best decisions don't happen in a vacuum – they come from real conversation. A good thinking partner asks the right questions, then actually listens.

Werner Strauch E-Commerce Advisor
How It Works

A Clear Framework for Real Partnership

2-4

Calls per Month

based on your needs

60-90

Minutes

per session

3

Months

minimum commitment

from 1,500

per Month

plus VAT

The Process

How Sparring Works

A straightforward process – from first chat to ongoing collaboration.

Schritt 01

Intro Call

A free 30-minute call to see if we're a good fit. Do we click? Is there enough to work on together?

Free 30 Minutes No commitment
Schritt 02

Kickoff Session

We start with a longer deep-dive: I learn your business inside out, you walk me through current challenges, and we identify focus areas.

90-120 Minutes Business Deep Dive Priority Setting
Schritt 03

Regular Sessions

Every 1-2 weeks, we meet for 60-90 minutes. You bring the agenda, we work through it together.

Scheduled Sessions Flexible Agenda Video or Phone
Schritt 04

Async Support

Between sessions, reach me via email or Slack. Quick questions, quick input – no extra meetings needed.

Email & Chat Fast Turnaround Included in Retainer
The Difference

What Changes With a Thinking Partner

Most founders and e-commerce leaders make big calls alone. A sparring partner changes that.

Going It Alone

  • Making decisions in a vacuum
  • Blind spots you can't see yourself
  • Important issues keep slipping
  • The same problems keep coming back
  • Second-guessing strategic calls

With a Partner

  • Sharper decisions through real dialogue
  • An experienced outside eye catches what you miss
  • Scheduled sessions keep you accountable
  • Structured approach stops issues from recurring
  • Confidence in your decisions, backed by reflection
FAQ

Questions About Sparring

Got more questions? Reach out anytime.

01

How is sparring different from consulting?

Traditional consulting is project-based: you have a problem, I hand you a solution. Sparring is ongoing and conversational. I don't give you ready-made answers – I help you think through decisions and come to better conclusions yourself. It's about the process, not just the output.

02

Who is sparring right for?

Sparring works best for founders, CEOs, and e-commerce leaders who regularly face strategic decisions and want a trusted sounding board. My typical clients are CEOs, heads of e-commerce, or founders scaling their online businesses.

03

How often do we meet?

Usually 2-4 times per month, depending on what you need. Most clients start with weekly calls, then shift to every other week once things settle. We can adjust the cadence anytime – it flexes with your workload.

04

What does sparring cost?

Sparring starts at EUR 1,500 per month (plus VAT) for 2 sessions. Need more? There are packages with 4 sessions and extended async support. The minimum commitment is 3 months.

05

Can I reach you between sessions?

Absolutely. Async support is baked into the retainer. Fire off quick questions via email or Slack anytime, or prep topics for our next call. For bigger discussions, we schedule a session.

06

What does a typical session look like?

You bring whatever's on your mind. We prioritize together, then work through it systematically. I ask questions, offer perspective, and we develop approaches together. We wrap up with clear decisions and next steps.

07

What if I need to reschedule?

Life happens. Reschedule up to 24 hours in advance, no questions asked. Unused sessions roll over to the next month – I'm big on flexibility.

08

Can I cancel anytime?

After the initial 3 months, you can cancel with one month's notice. I'm not interested in locking anyone in – if sparring stops adding value, we wrap it up. That said, many partnerships evolve into deeper project work over time.

Ready for a Thinking Partner?

Let's spend 30 minutes figuring out if sparring is the right fit. No strings attached.

Rather send an email first? contact@wernerstrauch.com