The Challenge
As a beloved Melbourne-based running specialty store with two retail locations, Sole Motive faced the critical challenge of transforming its business model. The goal was to evolve from a primarily brick-and-mortar operation into a dominant e-commerce powerhouse, capable of serving customers across Australia, New Zealand, and the globe. They needed a sophisticated digital advertising strategy that could not only drive profitable online sales but also establish their online store as the primary, scalable engine for future growth.
The AHK Solution
We implemented a multi-layered, data-first strategy designed to build a self-sustaining growth flywheel.
Foundational Tracking: We began by establishing a gold-standard tracking infrastructure, including a robust Conversion API setup. This ensured every ad dollar and conversion was tracked with precision, providing a clear, reliable picture of performance from day one.
Integrated Ad Strategy: We developed a two-pronged ad approach: "always-on" campaigns to maintain consistent market presence and high-impact promotional campaigns for key sales events. This was powered by a close collaboration with Sole Motive's internal team to produce authentic creative, supplemented by high-quality supplier assets.
Intelligent Audience Management: The core of our strategy was a deep integration between their e-commerce platform (Shopify), CRM (Klaviyo), and ad platforms (Google & Meta). We automated the real-time sync of customer lists, which allowed us to:
- Build Powerful Lookalike Audiences: We used their most valuable customer segments—like VIPs and repeat buyers—to create hyper-effective lookalike audiences. This allowed us to find new customers who behaved just like their best ones, dramatically increasing ad efficiency.
- Maximize Budget with Dynamic Exclusions: We created dynamic exclusion lists that automatically prevented ads from being shown to recent purchasers. This simple but powerful tactic stopped wasted ad spend and ensured the budget was always focused on acquiring new customers or re-engaging those ready to buy again.
The Results
The integrated approach transformed Sole Motive's business, cementing their online channel as the cornerstone of their operations.
- >20x ROAS on special campaigns and major sales events.
- Maintained a high "TEENS" ROAS on all evergreen, "always-on" campaigns.
- E-commerce Dominance: The online channel successfully outgrew two physical retail stores to become the primary sales channel for the entire business.
- Global Expansion: Scaled the business from a Melbourne-centric retailer to a brand serving customers across Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the world.