Electric Sauce
About the Company
Electric Sauce was an email marketing micro-agency founded by Sean Gee and Sean Barnett. The company’s primary focus was to help eCommerce businesses retain customers and increase revenue through targeted email marketing campaigns. While small in size, the founders emphasized that their efforts were impactful, with revenues reaching $12,500 monthly and projected to grow to $17,500. Their niche approach to email marketing helped them stand out in a crowded market, especially when their Shopify development work revealed a greater demand for marketing strategies.
The company’s operations were based on minimal overhead, using basic tools such as Carrd for their website and Upwork for client acquisition. They did not have employees but made use of co-working spaces to foster creativity and business networking. Their success largely came from leveraging low-cost online resources, especially free courses from platforms like Klaviyo, and staying focused on providing value to clients.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for Electric Sauce stemmed from both Sean Gee's and Sean Barnett's experiences in different industries, with a mutual desire to work remotely and build something meaningful. Sean Gee worked offshore in oil transportation and started learning web development during his downtime, eventually discovering opportunities in the eCommerce space. His passion for marketing and experience in front-end development laid the groundwork for their email marketing pivot.
Sean Barnett had been working in sales and startups, gaining insights into business operations. His exposure to commercial real estate and entrepreneurial ventures pushed him towards developing new skills during the pandemic. Together, the two Seans saw the potential in helping eCommerce businesses with customer retention, which ultimately shaped the idea for their micro-agency. Their decision to focus on email marketing was a direct response to market demands and their growing expertise in the field.
Creating the Company
In March 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two Seans teamed up to form what would initially be a Shopify development business. However, as they built online stores, they realized the more pressing need was helping these businesses retain their customers through email marketing. They began to pivot towards email marketing services, positioning themselves as specialists who could help brands increase revenue from repeat customers.
To solidify their business, they took advantage of low startup costs, forming an LLC, securing basic business tools, and diving deep into educational resources on email marketing. Their first major breakthrough came when they landed a white-label project through a larger agency, which validated their pricing and business model. This set the stage for scaling their business and focusing on acquiring more high-ticket clients.
Launching the Business
Electric Sauce officially launched in April 2020 with a strong focus on outreach through platforms like Upwork. Their first clients came through this method, including a pivotal white-label contract with a major agency that provided a steady revenue stream. The business operated on a lean budget, with minimal tools required to start, and focused heavily on building expertise in email marketing through free and paid courses.
Their initial services included pricing packages for larger brands and one-time service models for startups. They kept their business processes simple, emphasizing the importance of mastering the fundamentals rather than complicating their operations with unnecessary tools or overhead. Building relationships in a co-working space in Houston also contributed to their growth, as it provided opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs.
Earnings
The company started generating significant revenue within a few months of its launch. By the time they shut down in 2024, Electric Sauce was bringing in $7.5K in monthly revenue, with projections to increase to $17.5K. They achieved this by focusing on high-value clients and providing personalized, data-driven email marketing solutions.
Their pricing strategy ranged from $3,500 to $5,000 per month for brands with substantial monthly revenue, and one-time services for smaller businesses priced between $1,500 and $2,500. Despite closing in 2024, the founders learned valuable lessons about client acquisition, pricing, and managing a remote, lean business model during their time running Electric Sauce.
