Scaling a Global Brand to $220K+ MRR From the Ground Up

Building the Ecommerce Platform and CRM System That Took a Company From Nothing

I joined this global photographic manufacturing brand early, when there was no ecommerce platform and no CRM in place. Over three years, I built both, and helped scale the company to $220K+ in monthly recurring revenue.


$220K+ MRR built from zero

Doubled lead generation

Team led across the US, Canada, and Europe


Goals

  • Build a functioning ecommerce platform and CRM from scratch

  • Grow monthly recurring revenue without an established sales team

  • Introduce data-driven retention tracking where none existed

My Leadership & Role

Ecommerce & Systems

  • Built and launched the company's entire ecommerce platform and CRM system

  • Introduced CRM-driven analytics for client lifecycle tracking and retention

Team Leadership

  • Directed creative, marketing, and web teams across the US, Canada, and Europe

What I Did

1. Built the Ecommerce and CRM Foundation

  • Selected and implemented the platform and payment systems

  • Connected CRM data to marketing and retention efforts

2. Directed a Distributed Creative Team

  • Led creative, marketing, and web functions across three countries

  • Built shared processes so the team operated as one unit despite the distance

Results & Impact

  • $220K+ MRR. Scaled from zero.

  • Doubled lead generation. Across the business.

  • Built and led a team across three countries. US, Canada, and Europe.

Key Insights

"Systems only work if the team behind them is aligned. I built both at the same time, on purpose."

  • A CRM is only as good as the retention strategy built around it

  • Distributed teams need shared systems more than they need shared time zones

Anna Johnson

Anna Johnson is a Chief Marketing Officer with 15+ years building marketing functions from zero, across SaaS, B2B, consumer, and lifestyle brands in the US, Canada, and Europe. She specializes in demand generation, brand strategy, and building the systems and teams that make growth repeatable. Based in Portugal, working with companies everywhere.

https://linkedin.com/in/annajohnsonsd
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