This episode takes me back to the early days of Neat Apparel, when Claudio and I were just getting started. For those who don’t know, Claudio is my business partner on Neat - our sweat-proof Shopify brand and he has one of the most fascinating backgrounds of anyone I’ve ever worked with. He graduated from Stanford at 20. Climbed to the top of Wall Street. Then pivoted into entrepreneurship—first with a soccer brand, and now with me in performance apparel. In this conversation, we talked through ...
Aug 26, 2025•45 min
Would you turn down funding after being featured on Shark Tank? Eric Bandholz did. In this episode, he breaks down how Beardbrand became one of the most iconic DTC companies 0 built on freedom, grit, and a wild Reddit strategy. Jim talks with Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, about the raw, real story of building a DTC cult brand from scratch. Eric shares how he turned a niche grooming obsession into a 7-figure business - without funding, with help from Reddit, and by staying fiercely true t...
Aug 12, 2025•46 min
What if you could build a $25M+ business without raising a single dime? Jesse Pujji has done it - multiple times. From bootstrapping his first agency to launching Gateway X and scaling productized services in the DTC world, Jesse has a blueprint for founders who want to build big without giving away equity. In this episode, he shares how you can do the same. In this episode, Jim sits down with Jesse Pujji (Founder of Gateway X, Co-Founder of Ampush) to break down how he’s built, scaled, and exit...
Aug 05, 2025•57 min
They didn’t just launch a wine brand - they created a whole new category. In this episode, Kendra Kawala shares how Maker Wines went from cold outreach to category leader. Jim talks with Kendra Kawala, co-founder of Maker Wines, about how she turned B2B sales grit into DTC scale. From walking into wine shops cold to managing complex supply chains with 15 wineries, Kendra reveals the realities of launching a new product category — and why going B2B-first gave them an edge most DTC brands miss. TO...
Jul 29, 2025•46 min
It started with a nickname. Then became a joke. And somehow… a 6-figure DTC brand. In this episode, Ryan Rock shares how Fatboy was born and how he turned culture, community, and UGC into a real business. Jim sits down with Ryan Rock to tell the unconventional story behind Fatboy - a brand that started as a laugh between friends and ended up hitting six figures. From pop-up marketing to micro-influencer strategy, Ryan breaks down what it really takes to turn momentum into money (without VC money...
Jul 22, 2025•38 min
What would make someone spend a small fortune on the domain Couch.com? In this episode, Alex Back reveals the real reasons and how it helped him build and sell a 7-figure business. Jim sits down with Alex Back, founder of Couch.com and Apt2b, to unpack the journey of bootstrapping an eCommerce brand and exiting with impact. From domain strategy to traffic growth and earnouts, this is a masterclass in building smart and selling well. Alex doesn’t hold back on what worked, what flopped, and what h...
Jul 15, 2025•45 min
Most brands start online. Robert Nelson did the opposite and it changed everything. He used real-world feedback, military discipline, and pop-up precision to launch a thriving DTC brand. In this episode, Robert Nelson of Just Mystic shares the unconventional path his brand took to gain traction - starting offline with brick-and-mortar and pop-up activations before ever building a Shopify store. With a Marine mindset and data-driven instincts, Robert explains why starting on the ground gave him a...
Jul 08, 2025•48 min
We bought a DTC brand. Now we’re putting it through the GrowthHit wringer. This is the actual strategy we’re using to scale Neat Apparel — and yes, we’re sharing everything. In this solo episode, Jim Huffman shares the full behind-the-scenes growth plan for Neat Apparel — a sweat-proof clothing brand recently acquired by GrowthHit. You’ll hear the exact tactics he’s using to revamp the site, increase AOV, build email flows, and tackle paid ads — all with a bootstrapped budget and a sharp eye on ...
Jun 30, 2025•18 min
Most founders talk about comfort. Aman engineered it. His Shopify brand took a pain point, added performance tech, and scaled to 8-figures. Aman Advani didn’t plan on launching a DTC fashion brand. But after hating his own suits while working in consulting, he co-founded Ministry of Supply - a menswear company built around comfort, performance, and design. In this episode, he breaks down how they launched with a viral Kickstarter, found product-market fit fast, and scaled through relentless prod...
Jun 24, 2025•38 min
No outside funding. No celebrity co-signs. Just grit, discipline, and branding. Bear Handlon built Born Primitive from a single product into a 9-figure eCommerce brand. Born Primitive started as a niche apparel side hustle — now it’s one of the fastest-growing DTC brands in the fitness space. In this episode, founder Bear Handlon shares how he scaled without a dime of VC money, built an operationally lean machine, and turned authenticity into his biggest marketing weapon. If you’re building a br...
Jun 17, 2025•41 min
She didn’t plan to build a Shopify brand. But a personal problem led to a product, and a product led to an 8-figure company — featured on Shark Tank. Yve-Car Momperousse created Kreyol Essence out of necessity — and scaled it with pure hustle, purpose, and community. From importing castor oil in rum bottles to landing deals with Ulta and Whole Foods, this is a masterclass in bootstrapped brand building. In this episode, Jim dives into the exact moments that helped Kreyol Essence break out — from...
Jun 10, 2025•49 min
Your traffic isn’t the problem. Your ads aren’t broken. Your positioning is off. And that’s why you’re stuck. In this solo episode, Jim Huffman shares a live coaching session that breaks down how to actually fix brand positioning — using case studies from Neat Apparel, GrowthHit, and breakout brands like Rocket Money, Warby Parker, and Figma. You’ll learn how better positioning unlocks conversion rate gains, improves messaging, and becomes the foundation for scalable growth. This is the episode ...
Jun 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1
What if the polished ads you spent thousands on were actually hurting your brand? In this episode, we explore how real, imperfect content is outperforming big-budget campaigns — and why most Shopify founders are still getting it wrong. Jim Huffman sits down with William Gasner, co-founder of Stack Influence, to unpack the real power behind UGC (user-generated content) and why it’s become a secret weapon for smart eCommerce brands. From influencer seeding to ad fatigue, they get brutally honest a...
May 27, 2025•28 min•Ep. 205
We didn’t mean to sell out — but we did. Every. Last. Unit. In this episode, I break down the exact strategy that took our Shopify brand from launch to “sold out” in 30 days — and how you can steal it for your own store. This isn’t a flex. It’s a cautionary (and highly tactical) tale. After selling out of all inventory at our Shopify brand Neat Apparel in under a month, I walk through the step-by-step system that led to the spike, the problems it created, and the lessons learned in the chaos. If...
May 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 2
Liz Long, co-founder of Nearshore.ai, shares her extensive knowledge on transforming innovative ideas into actual products. Liz discusses the critical steps in product design, manufacturing, and supply chain management, offering invaluable tips for startups and established businesses alike. With a background in launching successful brands and an accelerator, Liz provides a wealth of practical advice, from navigating production phases to leveraging global supply chains. She also explores current ...
May 13, 2025•38 min
What if your hardest season became your biggest breakthrough? Ming Zhao built a $24M skincare brand in just 2 years—while pregnant and going through Y Combinator. This isn’t just a startup story. It’s a story of pressure, clarity, and purpose colliding at once. In this raw and revealing episode, Ming Zhao, CEO and co-founder of PROVEN Skincare, shares how she transformed corporate burnout into one of the fastest-growing beauty startups—scaling to $24 million in just 24 months. She opens up about...
May 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 3
You've been asking for it, so we're delivering! The If I Was Starting Today podcast is refocusing our content on the things you've told us you want the most: tips, tricks, and stories to help you grow and succeed you businesses on Shopify. This new direction will see us talking with experts and successful Shopify business operators as well as continuing to deliver tactics, tips and insight used to grow our own channels. Thank you for helping to make this podcast a success and continuing to follo...
May 08, 2025•39 sec•Ep. 204
In this episode, we explore the essential steps to take an idea and grow it to a seven or eight-figure brand, particularly focusing on Shopify and direct-to-consumer markets. Key points include optimizing product offerings, building a strong business model, creating a unique category, investing in conversion rate optimization, leveraging paid and organic traffic, and more. This comprehensive guide is based on years of experience and is packed with actionable insights aimed at helping you build a...
Mar 17, 2025•32 min•Ep. 203
Jim is joined by Craig Swanson as they delve into the world of custom GPTs and their applications. They discuss how to utilize AI for tasks like copywriting and strategy development, and learn about the advancements in AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. They also showcase practical implementations, from setting up knowledge bases to effective prompt engineering. Tune in to see real-world examples of how custom GPTs can enhance productivity and creativity, and get insights on upcoming AI innova...
Mar 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 202
In today's podcast, we dive deep into the journey of high achievers with Sherif Sakr, the CEO and founder of CEOS (Chief Executive Operating System). Sharif shares invaluable insights on how mindfulness can significantly benefit business leaders, emphasizing the importance of being intentional and creating space between stimulus and response. He elaborates on the challenges faced by CEOs managing large teams and offers tactical advice on managing time, focusing on the right tasks, and leading ef...
Feb 26, 2025•38 min•Ep. 201
In this episode, Jim and Jordan dive deep into creating ads that convert. Starting from asset essentials, they discuss product photography, lifestyle images, and UGC videos. They emphasize the significance of understanding customer personas and value propositions before creating ads. The video covers frameworks for ad testing, the importance of visual variety, and features real-world case studies, including e-commerce and B2B examples.Tune in for insights and strategies to boost your ad performa...
Feb 19, 2025•37 min•Ep. 200
In this live session, Jim delves into the buzzword of the year: AI and its growth potential. We explore 11 AI prompts and tools designed to help businesses grow by working faster and smarter. Jim discusses strategic uses of custom GPTs, text and image generation, video creation, analytics, reporting, and website performance. We also share our experiences, both successes and roadblocks, in implementing these tools at our agency. Learn how these AI innovations can inspire and transform your busine...
Feb 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 199
In this episode, Jim and Jordan dive deep into the essentials of scaling Facebook and Instagram ads effectively, from a budget of $10 a day to $1,000 a day. The discussion covers critical aspects such as product-market fit, optimizing your website for conversions, segmenting ad campaigns, the importance of creative content, and more. Jordan also shares insider tips on managing advertising expectations, understanding conversion events, and a disciplined approach to budget increment. Practical exa...
Jan 22, 2025•41 min•Ep. 198
Join me as I reflect on 2024, discussing the challenges of delegation, business growth, and personal development. I'll share my key takeaways from managing Growth Hit and Neat, including the importance of consistency and overcoming setbacks. Discover my top five mindset drivers, favorite books, and new strategies for achieving goals in 2025. From implementing 'the one thing' daily to planning dad-daughter dates, get inspired to make this year impactful and rewarding! TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S ...
Jan 16, 2025•19 min•Ep. 197
In this episode, we explore 10 powerful leverage points that can transform your business and double your revenue. From optimizing ad creative and pricing strategies to innovative marketing tactics and global expansion, discover actionable insights and real-world case studies that demonstrate the impact of pulling the right levers. Learn how companies like Hotmail, Dollar Shave Club, Airbnb, and others achieved massive success through smart leverage points. Perfect for entrepreneurs and business ...
Jan 08, 2025•25 min•Ep. 196
In this episode, Jim shares a recent webinar he hosted about the critical importance of understanding traffic to achieve aggressive growth goals. Discover the difference between demand capture and demand creation based on your business's seasonality. In this episode Jim provides a step-by-step guide to determine if you have a traffic problem, strategies for diversifying your traffic sources, and methods to determine your customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, and churn rate. Additionally, he...
Dec 18, 2024•45 min•Ep. 195
In this episode, Jim interviews Mike Buckbee, a software and SaaS entrepreneur, to discuss the impact of AI-driven search on SEO and paid search strategies. Mike explains how AI is becoming more dominant in search results, potentially affecting traditional SEO and PPC efforts. They delve into Mike’s latest project, Knowatoa, which helps companies understand their AI search ranking and make informed decisions to improve visibility in AI-driven searches. They also touch on the importance of conten...
Dec 11, 2024•44 min•Ep. 194
In this episode, Jim shares a recent live talk prepared for the launch of the Growth Marketing Operating System—a framework for identifying and overcoming growth blockers. This talk focuses on increasing conversions and improving your conversion rate, tackling common issues such as poor lead generation and low e-commerce sales. Jim delves into strategies like creating urgency, developing activation offers, and using the right offer formula. He also shares examples from successful companies illus...
Nov 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 193
Today Jim is joined by one of the original masterminds of the product led growth strategy, Wes Bush of Productled.com. Wes and Jim get incredibly tactical as they go through step by step on how to decide if product led growth is a good match for your company and how to implement if it is. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE What is Product Led Growth (PLG) Iconic Examples of Product Led Growth Evaluating PLG for Your Business Implementing a Product Led Strategy Identifying Your Ideal User Crafti...
Oct 30, 2024•46 min•Ep. 192
This week, Jim shares an excerpt from a recent live coaching event where he demonstrated how to unblock growth through better and more effective positioning tactics. Jim gets tactical and draws from real life examples through case studies and a look inside Neat Apparel and Growth Hit. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Understanding Positioning Evaluation Effective frameworks Crafting your pitch Targeting different personas Conversion rate optimization Case Studies: Rocket Money, Warby Parker, ...
Oct 17, 2024•27 min•Ep. 191
