Episodes

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! A fundamental shift is underway in how customers discover and purchase products, and most Shopify merchants are unaware of it. The days of relying solely on Google search are numbered as consumers increasingly turn to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for buying advice. But here’s the problem: 80-90% of Shopify stores are currently invisible to these AI platforms. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on this new “AI Commerce” with a true i...

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! If you’re running a Shopify store, you know the pain of email overload, endless internal threads, and the chaos that comes with managing customer conversations across multiple channels. Today, we’re tackling “inbox chaos” head-on with a tool designed to unify your team’s communication, streamline support, and bring true context-awareness to every customer interaction. Joining me is Philippe Lehoux, co-founder and CEO of Missive—a collaborative communication p...

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! Today, we’re diving into the world of challenger brands and what it really takes to break into—and win—in a market dominated by legacy giants. If you’ve ever walked down the cleaning aisle, you know it’s ruled by “Big Clean”—massive CPG players with decades of brand equity. But what happens when a new player, powered by celebrity founders and a mission-driven approach, decides to shake things up? Enter Clean Boss, a botanical cleaning brand co-founded by Joy M...

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! I’m Steve Hutt, and today we’re diving into Shopify’s Summer Editions 2025—also known as the “Horizons” release. If you’re new to Editions, here’s the quick scoop: every six months, Shopify rolls out a huge batch of updates—this summer’s release features over 150 enhancements spanning the entire platform. It’s their way of showcasing what’s new, what’s improved, and how they’re helping merchants like you stay ahead in today’s ever-evolving retail landscape. E...

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! I'm Steve Hutt, and today we're diving into something that honestly blew my mind during our conversation. Picture this: 95 million active buyers actively searching for unique products, built-in traffic you don't have to pay for, and a platform where most successful sellers never touch ads. Sounds too good to be true? That's exactly what I thought about Etsy before talking with today's guest. I'm chatting with Dylan Jahraus, who built a million-dollar Etsy sho...

Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane. I'm your host, Steve Hutt. Ever felt like negative Amazon reviews are sabotaging your hard-earned sales, or that your product listings are quietly losing ground without you even knowing? You're not alone. In today's landscape, managing your brand's reputation across both Shopify and Amazon is more critical—and more complex—than ever. I'm excited to welcome Danan Coleman, CEO of eCom Triage, to the show. Danan's been in the trenches since 2010, helping brands...

Ever wondered how to truly bridge the gap between your Shopify store and your retail locations? Or maybe you’ve heard the term “clienteling” tossed around by big brands and wondered if it’s just for luxury retailers, or if it can actually move the needle for your business, too? If you’re looking to drive more foot traffic, boost repeat purchases, and finally unify your online and offline experiences, today’s episode is for you. I’m thrilled to welcome back Leigh, co-founder of Endear, for a deep...

Are tariffs and supply chain chaos keeping you up at night? Not sure how to forecast inventory or manage cash flow when every shipment from China seems to come with a new surprise fee? If you’re a Shopify merchant importing from overseas, you’ve probably felt the sting of trade wars, unpredictable costs, and the pressure to deliver a seamless customer experience-without draining your bank account. You’re definitely not alone. Today’s DTC reality is throwing curveballs at every direct-to-consumer...

Are you drowning in marketing data from too many platforms? Feeling uncertain about where your ad dollars are actually driving results, especially after the iOS 14 tracking shakeup? Maybe you suspect wasted spend but can’t pinpoint exactly where or why? You’re definitely not alone. Many Shopify merchants grapple with fragmented data, inaccurate attribution, and the frustration of making marketing decisions based on guesswork rather than clear insights. That’s why I’m thrilled to have Gurami Ta...

Are you feeling like your Shopify brand could be doing more—maybe you’re struggling to connect the dots between your channels, or you know you’re not getting the most out of your existing customers? You’re not alone. So many brands sense there’s untapped growth, but with commerce evolving so quickly, it’s tough to know what to prioritize or how to fill those expertise gaps. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Dennis Yao, co-founder of The Other Group and my former lead at Shopify, to the show. De...

Are you frustrated by unpredictable ROAS and rising Facebook ad costs that make scaling your Shopify brand feel impossible? You’re definitely not alone. Many brands see their first customer acquisition barely break even—or even lose money—forcing them to rely on retention just to stay afloat. In this episode, I’m joined by Manel Gomez, CEO and founder of Meta Scaling Accelerator. Since 2016, Manel has managed over $25 million in Facebook ad spend, helping e-commerce brands break through the nois...

Are conflicting data points between Shopify and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) undermining your marketing decisions? You’re not alone—and it’s likely costing your business more than you realize. Many Shopify brands struggle to establish a reliable source of truth for their marketing performance, leading to wasted ad spend, inaccurate reporting, and missed growth opportunities. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Lauer, a marketing intelligence expert specializing in Google Analytics, data warehousi...

You’re not alone. Many e-commerce brands are feeling the "margin crunch" as shipping costs skyrocket. Carrier rate hikes, hidden surcharges, and complex contracts can feel like unavoidable profit killers, making it harder to stay competitive and profitable. Today, we’re talking with Michael Moriarty, a strategic partner at Schooley Mitchell, an independent cost reduction consulting firm that has saved businesses over $1 billion. They specialize in uncovering savings in complex expense categorie...

Struggling to Find Marketing Channels That Deliver? Drowning in Rising Ad Costs? There's a Better Way. You're not alone. Many e-commerce brands are feeling the squeeze of rising ad costs and cutthroat competition. Finding profitable ways to reach new customers is getting tougher. Today, we're talking with Michael Cole, the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Everflow, a company behind a powerful partner marketing platform that empowers brands to track and scale their affiliate programs effec...

Are your Facebook and Google ad costs skyrocketing? Feeling like you’re throwing money into a black box with minimal returns? You’re not alone. Today, we’re diving into the trenches of paid advertising with Sam Piliero, the Founder and CEO of The Moonlighters a specialized media buying agency laser-focused on helping Shopify brands conquer Facebook and Google Ads. Sam brings incredible experience to the table, having worked with Gary Vaynerchuk at VaynerMedia and Director of Marketing at BarkBo...

Are your email marketing efforts falling flat? Struggling to create engaging campaigns that actually convert? What if there was a way to make your emails stand out—without spending hours coding or designing? In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Dmytro Kudrenko, the founder and CEO of Stripo, an innovative email design platform helping brands create high-performing emails with ease. Dmytro has revolutionized email marketing by eliminating technical roadblocks, allowing marketers to ...

Are you a Shopify store owner struggling to get noticed in a crowded marketplace? Tired of throwing money at ads with unpredictable results? Have you ever wondered how to get featured in top-tier publications like The New York Times or Vogue without breaking the bank on a costly PR agency? In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Gloria Chou, an award-winning PR strategist and former US diplomat, to unveil her proven framework for landing media coverage and building brand credibility. G...

Are you a Shopify store owner struggling to find the right marketing agency? Have you been burned by agencies that overpromise and underdeliver? Are you lost in a sea of marketing options, unsure where to turn for expert guidance? In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome Behdad Jamshidi (aka “Bee”), founder of CJAM Marketing, to shed light on a critical (and often frustrating) aspect of growing an online business: finding the right marketing partner. Bee, a seasoned marketing connector...

Are you tired of juggling disconnected tools and struggling to gain a complete view of your B2C customers? Do you want to power a new era of growth with smarter customer relationships? In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we welcome back Jake Cohen, VP at Klaviyo, to unveil their latest innovation: Klaviyo B2C CRM, the only customer relationship management platform built specifically for consumer brands. Discover how this all-in-one platform unifies marketing, service, and analytics to empower...

Are anonymous website visitors slipping through your fingers, taking potential revenue with them? Most Shopify stores convert only a small fraction of their traffic, leaving a significant amount of opportunity untapped. In this episode of eCommerce Fastlane, we speak with Francesco Gatti, Co-founder and CEO of OpenSend, about a platform that helps Shopify merchants solve this costly problem. Discover how OpenSend identifies a portion of your unknown website visitors and turns them into actionab...

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane. Today, my guest is Austin Reece, Head of Product Marketing and Revenue Enablement at Gladly. In this episode, we dive deep into how AI-powered customer service is transforming the way brands engage with their customers—before, during, and after a sale. Brands like Nordstrom, Warby Parker, Crate & Barrel, and Rothy’s are using Gladly’s AI-driven customer experience platform to provide faster, more personalized support while improving retention and driving revenue. ...

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane. Today, my guest is Aaron Schwartz, Co-Founder and CEO of Orita. In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of email deliverability and how AI-powered machine learning is transforming how brands connect with their customers. Aaron has been a key player in eCommerce for years, co-founding and leading brands like Passport Shipping and Loop Returns. Now, with Orita, he’s solving a massive problem—helping brands maximize email engagement, increase revenue, and im...

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane. Today my guest is Chad Rubin, Founder and CEO of Profasee. In this episode, we dive deep into the evolving world of Amazon pricing strategy and the powerful role of AI-driven dynamic pricing. Chad has spent nearly 20 years in eCommerce, building and selling multiple businesses, including Skubana and Prosper Show. Now, with Profasee, he’s pioneering a way for brands to maximize profitability on Amazon through AI-powered pricing automation. Here’s what we cover in ...

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane. Today my guest is Michael Sirpilla is the CEO and Co-Founder of Society Brands. In this episode, Michael dives into the unique strategies Society Brands employs to help eCommerce businesses scale and thrive. Over the last few years, Society Brands has acquired 12 companies and achieved over $100M in annual revenue, with the majority coming from Shopify-powered, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. Society Brands’ innovative “Built for Founders by Founders” approach o...