eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection - podcast cover

eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection

Steve Hutt | Shopify Expert | eCommerce Expertecommercefastlane.com
Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection. I’m Steve Hutt, your experienced guide and host, here to help you unlock real, sustainable growth for your Shopify store by blending the best of automation with the power of authentic customer relationships. Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has been the weekly pit-stop for ambitious DTC founders and marketers. With over 1.5 million downloads and 400+ episodes, this show is your trusted resource for: - Proven Shopify strategies, apps, and best practices that drive measurable results - Digital marketing tactics and retention playbooks that balance AI with genuine human touch - Real-world founder stories and lessons learned from my own journey and 400+ interviews with industry leaders - Deep dives into emerging tech (AI, AR/VR, automation) and how to use it without losing your brand’s soul - Operations, logistics, and customer experience solutions that reduce overwhelm and foster loyalty Each week, I sit down with Shopify partners, marketing experts, and successful store owners who share what’s actually working right now—no fluff, just actionable, battle-tested strategies. Whether you’re launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, you’ll walk away from every episode with at least one practical idea you can implement immediately. Ready to thrive in today’s fast-paced ecommerce world—growing smarter, not just faster? Hit subscribe and join thousands of merchants building customer-centric, future-proof brands with eCommerce Fastlane. Let’s unlock your store’s true potential—together. Steve Hutt x-Shopify - DTC Founder - Podcast Host Website: eCommerceFastlane.com Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt X: x.com/stevenhutt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecommercefastlane Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com
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Episodes

How This CEO Turned 25,000 Customers Into Just 2 Support Agents (The Revolutionary Communication System)

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...

Jun 24, 202541 minSeason 8Ep. 406

Breaking Into Billion-Dollar Markets: Clean Boss vs. The Cleaning Giants

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 ...

Jun 17, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 405

Unlocking Shopify Summer Editions 2025: Retail Innovations With Ray Reddy

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. Ev...

Jun 10, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 404

How This Shopify Expert Built A $1M+ Etsy Store Without Ads (Free Traffic Secrets)

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 shop...

Jun 03, 202546 minSeason 8Ep. 403

How One Star Drop Kills 50% Of Sales: Amazon Review Removal Secrets With Danan Coleman

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 ...

May 27, 202540 minSeason 8Ep. 402

Beyond Discounts: The Clienteling Strategies That Boost Customer Retention & Lifetime Value

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...

May 20, 202543 minSeason 8Ep. 401

Navigating Tariffs And Supply Chain Chaos: A Shopify Merchant's Survival Guide

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...

May 13, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 400

Shopify Growth Unlocked: The Data Solution That Boosts Revenue

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 Tate...

Apr 30, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 398

Omnichannel Growth & Retention: Future-Proofing Your Shopify Brand

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. Den...

Apr 22, 202545 minSeason 8Ep. 397

Advanced Facebook Ads: Manual Over-Bidding, Intra-Day Scaling And Algorithm Hacks

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...

Apr 16, 202545 minSeason 8Ep. 396

From Confusion To Clarity: How Ecommerce Brands Can Trust Their Data

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...

Apr 09, 202550 minSeason 8Ep. 395

Your Shipping Costs Are Eating Your Margins! Learn How To Cut Your FedEx & UPS Expenses

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 categories...

Apr 01, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 394

Scaling Beyond Ads: How Everflow's Partner Marketing Platform Boosts Affiliate Revenue for Shopify Merchants

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...

Mar 21, 202546 minSeason 8Ep. 393

The Best Way To Run Facebook And Google Ads In 2025

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 BarkBox...

Mar 11, 202544 minSeason 8Ep. 392

Gamify Your Emails: How Stripo’s Interactive Marketing Boosts Conversions By 220%

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 ...

Mar 05, 202531 minSeason 8Ep. 391

PR Secrets: How To Land Major Media Coverage Without An Agency

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. ...

Feb 27, 202530 minSeason 8Ep. 390

Marketing Agency Selection: A Data-Driven Approach For eCommerce Brands

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...

Feb 26, 202529 minSeason 8Ep. 389

Klaviyo’s Game-Changing B2C CRM: Transforming Customer Relationships With Jake Cohen

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 empowe...

Feb 20, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 388

Stop Losing Anonymous Traffic: AI Retargeting For Shopify Stores

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...

Feb 18, 202543 minSeason 8Ep. 387

AI-Powered Customer Service: How Gladly Helps Brands Like Rothy's Deliver Empathy At Scale

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 reve...

Feb 13, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 386

Helping Brands Drive Profitable Growth With AI Segmentation

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 i...

Feb 11, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 385

Outpriced? Not on Amazon: How AI Dynamic Pricing Gives You the Edge

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...

Feb 04, 202537 minSeason 8Ep. 384

Insights From the CEO of Society Brands, A Leading Tech-Enabled Consumer Products Company

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...

Jan 28, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 383

Delivering Better Customer Experiences Through Integrated Supply Chain

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today my guest is Sean Henry, Co-Founder and CEO of Stord . In this episode, Sean shares how Stord is transforming the logistics and fulfillment landscape for Shopify-powered brands. He dives into the challenges brands face in managing post-purchase experiences and how Stord’s innovative platform eliminates the inefficiencies of fragmented systems. Sean explores the big opportunities for e-commerce brands, including: Leveraging scalable logistics solutions to redu...

Jan 21, 202546 minSeason 8Ep. 382

Breaking Free From The Black Box: Transparent Ad Automation For Ecommerce

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today my guests are Mitsunaga Kikuchi, Founder and CEO of Shirofune , and Rocco Baldassarre, VP of Account Strategy. In this episode, Mitsunaga and Rocco discuss how Shirofune blends human intelligence and automation to optimize digital advertising like never before. We dive into topics like: Simplifying Campaign Management: Automating budgeting, bidding, and performance analysis to save hours of manual work. Overcoming Data Overload: Managing omnichannel campaign...

Jan 14, 202543 minSeason 8Ep. 381

Scaling Video Content At Speed: Inside Airpost.ai’s AI-Powered Platform

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today my guest is John Gargiulo the Co-Founder and CEO of AirPost . In this episode, we explore Airpost’s revolutionary approach to video content creation for Shopify brands. Our conversation delves into: AI-powered video content generation at scale Streamlined social media ad production Professional studio integration with technology Affordable content creation for growing brands Performance-driven creative frameworks Whether you’re a solopreneur, marketing leade...

Jan 07, 202525 minSeason 8Ep. 380

Unboxing Success: How Custom Packaging Drives Customer Loyalty

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today my guest is Philip Akhzar, the visionary founder and CEO of Arka . In this episode, Philip Akhzar, founder of Arka, reveals how his company is revolutionizing ecommerce packaging through AI-powered optimization and sustainable solutions. From transforming post-purchase experiences to implementing cutting-edge warehouse automation, this conversation unpacks the future of ecommerce packaging. Episode Highlights Strategic Innovation Arka connects directly with ...

Dec 20, 202427 minSeason 7Ep. 379

Simplifying Multi-Channel Commerce: How Pipe17 is Revolutionizing Order Operations

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today, my guest is Mo Afshar, the Founder and CEO of Pipe17 . In this episode, we uncover Pipe17’s innovative approach to solving operational complexities for scaling Shopify brands. Our conversation explores: Evolution from basic Shopify operations to unified commerce Strategic implementation of ERP and multi-channel integration AI-powered operational optimization Enterprise-grade solutions for scaling brands Real-world success stories from leading DTC brands Whe...

Dec 11, 202446 minSeason 7Ep. 378

AI-Powered SMS Marketing: How Postscript Is Revolutionizing Customer Engagement

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today, my guest is Mike Manheimer, the Chief Customer Officer of Postscript . In this episode, Mike reveals PostScript’s innovative approach to SMS marketing, highlighting their AI Infinity Testing technology and strategic solutions for Shopify merchants. In our conversation we explore: Evolution from basic SMS blasts to sophisticated AI-powered campaigns Strategic implementation of compliant SMS opt-in processes Integration capabilities with Shopify and other tec...

Dec 11, 202445 minSeason 7Ep. 377

E-commerce Innovation: How Sticker Mule Disrupted Custom Printing

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane . Today, my guest is Anthony Constantino, the Founder and CEO of Sticker Mule . In this episode, Anthony shares his journey of transforming a simple idea into one of the world's most popular custom printing companies. In our conversation, we explore: Building an internet manufacturing company from scratch Leveraging technology to optimize production and delivery Expanding product lines strategically Creating innovative solutions like Sticker Mule Stores Developing u...

Nov 28, 202432 minSeason 7Ep. 376
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