How Better For You Snacks Stays Competitive by Exploring New Apps Through app store research
For DTC-focused brands competing in the kids' snacks market, staying ahead of the curve means constantly evaluating new tools and technologies. For Mark Collis, founder of Scout Organic, participating in app store research has become a practical way to discover innovative apps, connect with the Shopify ecosystem, and get paid while doing it.
"Solid conversation, good insights, and someone who actually listens. It always helps when the subject is relevant to the stuff we're working on at the moment."
We speek with
Mark Collis, Owner at Skout Organic
Why I joined as a participant
Mark's motivation for joining app store research was straightforward: curiosity and opportunity. Having spent eight years on Shopify with a major DTC push since 2019, he understood that the app landscape was constantly evolving. But like many pragmatic entrepreneurs, he had questions before committing time.
What he wanted to know before jumping in was direct and honest: "How real was it? How much selling would there be?" These are the right questions – questions that reveal Mark's skepticism and desire to avoid both time-wasters and high-pressure sales calls disguised as research.
The answer he found? Real enough. Legitimate enough. And valuable enough to keep showing up.
"It's always fun to learn about new apps and see what else is out there. Making a couple of bucks to do that was a plus."
The experience so far
Mark's description of his experience cuts through the noise: "It's been great, from time to time you get people trying to sell you, but I've also found some great apps and met some cool people working on interesting things."
Notice what he's highlighting: balance. Yes, there's occasional sales activity. But the legitimate product conversations and the genuinely interesting people working on solutions outweigh the noise. That's a realistic, experienced operator's perspective.
For Mark, a "worth it" call comes down to fundamentals:
This last point matters. When a researcher or entrepreneur brings solutions aligned with what Scout Organic is actively solving for, the conversation isn't theoretical; it's immediately applicable. Mark isn't interested in abstract discussions about future roadmaps; he wants tools he can evaluate and potentially implement.
Mark participates at a sustainable pace: roughly one call every 10 days. That's about three calls per month – enough to stay connected to what's happening in the Shopify ecosystem without creating friction with his core business responsibilities. It's not a major commitment, but it's consistent engagement.
Mark has discovered several apps through app store research that he and his team continue to use. While he doesn't name them all explicitly in his feedback, the fact that discoveries are converting to actual software in his tech stack is the strongest validation possible. He's not just collecting contacts or getting paid for the sake of it – he's evaluating solutions and adopting the ones that deliver value.
"Solid conversation, good insights, and someone who actually listens. It always helps when the subject is relevant to the stuff we're working on at the moment."
Other reasons to join
Mark identifies two core benefits that make app store research worthwhile for Shopify operators:
1. Discover New Tools Before Competitors
In a fast-moving DTC space, finding emerging apps and solutions early creates a competitive edge. Scout Organic has already added several tools to their stack as a result, proving that discovery isn't theoretical – it's directly impacting how they operate.
2. Gain Unfiltered Insights from the Shopify Ecosystem
Beyond individual apps, Mark values the insights that come from conversations with developers, founders, and operators across the Shopify world. These conversations reveal patterns, trends, and emerging challenges intelligence that doesn't surface from marketing blogs or app reviews.
"Finding new things and the insights from all of these people in the shopify ecosystem"
3. Get Paid to Stay Informed
Unlike most professional development or market research, app store research actually compensates participants fairly. Mark's pragmatic take: if you're going to invest time learning what's new in the Shopify world, you might as well earn while doing it.
"If you use Shopify it helps you to stay informed on what people are working on and the different tech out there. Also you get paid to do that."
Closing thoughts
Mark's experience with app store research exemplifies the practical value proposition of the platform. He's not looking for grand consulting opportunities or life-changing relationships (though those can happen). He's looking for tools that work, conversations that matter, and a realistic way to stay current with what's building in the Shopify ecosystem.
And he's found all three.
Scout Organic has discovered apps that are now part of their core tech stack. Mark has met people working on genuinely interesting solutions. And every 10 days or so, he spends an hour or two in a conversation that's informative, occasionally interesting, and always compensated.
For a founder running a DTC brand in a competitive space, that's exactly the kind of valuable-but-not-all-consuming opportunity that fits into real life.