Getting to know us
In 2020, we (Christian and I) committed to being more proactive.
Proactive in sharing more.
More information that can add value and help people.
Information ranging from market insights, eCommerce trends to watch, and info about us so you can get to know us better.
Where it all started (the backstory)
Christian is the Founder and former CEO of one of the largest, most dominant online retailers called Build.com.
We met in 2006, long before Friedland Enterprises existed.
That means we’ve known each other for nearly 15 years (wow, time flies).
In 2006, he was giving an electrifying motivational speech to a bunch of college students and I was one of them.
He had just sold his company and was inspiring (or scaring) the next wave of entrepreneurs and operators. I found him and his speech motivational, but then again, I think anyone who’s an entrepreneur is wired *a bit* differently.
Between 2006 and 2019
As one of the first-movers in eCommerce for home improvement in the late ’90s, Christian grew the company from a 100% bootstrapped business in his apartment doing $50,000 per month (and profitable) into the American giant it is today under Ferguson’s ownership.
Between 2006 and 2019, while Christian was growing Build.com, I worked in investment banking in San Francisco after college, cut my teeth in software sales, then joined various startups as an operating executive to help them raise capital and scale. We remained in contact, invested in a business together, I ran and sold one of his companies, and we ultimately reconvened.
At the end of 2019, I made the tough decision to end an 8-month work sabbatical to join Christian to help grow Friedland Enterprises which was already a successful and growing eCommerce advisory firm.
What is Friedland Enterprises
A group of industry experts who help companies sell online and use new technology to successfully grow their businesses and produce more profit.
After leaving Build.com in 2016 Christian was approached by many of the largest home improvement brands in America to run their eCommerce divisions — companies that, collectively, account for a majority of the products that make up your home.
For a successful entrepreneur, having a boss can be challenging, so the next best option was for Christian to advise the companies that wanted to employ him as an external advisor to the ownership groups, CEOs, and eCommerce execs.
Friedland Enterprises was born.
As individuals
Work is a passion for both Christian and myself.
If you ask a pro athlete if they could play their chosen sport forever, many would say ‘yes.’
Christian is no different.
As a consummate hard-charging entrepreneur with boundless energy, Christian doesn’t have a “neutral” gear — there is top gear, then there is Christian’s extra gear. He loves taking on challenging projects where his expertise and experience can transform companies while getting to work with amazing people.
It’s that simple.
As for myself, I seek challenges most people shy away from, growth, and adventure. My fuel tank is never empty and my default speed is 200mph. I love the adventure of solving challenging problems that have an impact and I also value working with amazing people.
It’s that simple.
