eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection
Steve Hutt | Shopify and eCommerce Expert
Running a Shopify store? You already know success isn't about finding the right app—it's about knowing which strategies actually work at your specific stage of growth.
I'm Steve Hutt, and I've lived every level of the ecommerce journey—from eBay Power Seller shipping products myself to Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with the teams at Tentree, Dr. Squatch, Bulletproof Coffee, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, MUD/WTR, Bokksu, and many more.
Here's what makes this podcast different: I've been on both sides of the table.
6+ years working inside Shopify gave me access to what's coming before most merchants know it exists. Building and scaling my own businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination—insider access plus real operator experience—gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.
Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 420 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I sit down with operators, developers, and experts who share what's actually moving the needle right now—not theory, but patterns I've seen work consistently across dozens of brands at multiple stages.
Whether you're launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, every episode gives you stage-aware strategies you can implement this week. We cover Shopify apps and best practices, digital marketing and retention tactics, AI and automation tools, as well as operations and logistics that reduce overwhelm while building lasting customer loyalty.
You'll discover how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique, and you'll hear real founder stories—including lessons from my own journey and insights from 400+ industry leaders who've been exactly where you are.
This isn't content for content's sake. It's the insight you'd get sitting at a mastermind table with someone who's succeeded at every level, helped hundreds of others do the same, and has the pattern recognition to show you what actually works at your current stage.
Ready to grow smarter, not just faster? Join 30,000+ merchants in the eCommerce Fastlane community through our podcast, newsletter, blog, and forthcoming book "Thriving with Shopify."
Steve Hutt
DTC Founder | Podcast Host
Find Us Online
Website: eCommerceFastlane.com
Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt
X: x.com/stevenhutt
Instagram: instagram.com/ecommercefastlane
Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com
I'm Steve Hutt, and I've lived every level of the ecommerce journey—from eBay Power Seller shipping products myself to Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with the teams at Tentree, Dr. Squatch, Bulletproof Coffee, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, MUD/WTR, Bokksu, and many more.
Here's what makes this podcast different: I've been on both sides of the table.
6+ years working inside Shopify gave me access to what's coming before most merchants know it exists. Building and scaling my own businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination—insider access plus real operator experience—gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.
Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 420 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I sit down with operators, developers, and experts who share what's actually moving the needle right now—not theory, but patterns I've seen work consistently across dozens of brands at multiple stages.
Whether you're launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, every episode gives you stage-aware strategies you can implement this week. We cover Shopify apps and best practices, digital marketing and retention tactics, AI and automation tools, as well as operations and logistics that reduce overwhelm while building lasting customer loyalty.
You'll discover how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique, and you'll hear real founder stories—including lessons from my own journey and insights from 400+ industry leaders who've been exactly where you are.
This isn't content for content's sake. It's the insight you'd get sitting at a mastermind table with someone who's succeeded at every level, helped hundreds of others do the same, and has the pattern recognition to show you what actually works at your current stage.
Ready to grow smarter, not just faster? Join 30,000+ merchants in the eCommerce Fastlane community through our podcast, newsletter, blog, and forthcoming book "Thriving with Shopify."
Steve Hutt
DTC Founder | Podcast Host
Find Us Online
Website: eCommerceFastlane.com
Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt
X: x.com/stevenhutt
Instagram: instagram.com/ecommercefastlane
Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 7, 2025 • 33min
From Paid Ads To Owned Audiences: DTC Growth Strategies With Newsletter Monetization
Today's episode explores a critical shift in how scaling Shopify brands can build deeper, more profitable customer relationships.As digital ad costs climb heading into Q4—with BFCM just around the corner—too many brands waste budget competing in noisy landscapes, ignoring an untapped resource for ongoing engagement and conversion: owned audiences through branded newsletters.Most DTC brands still rely solely on transactional email flows from ESPs like Klaviyo, Omnisend, or Mailchimp—abandoned carts, promotional blasts, order confirmations. But newsletters offer something fundamentally different: a direct line to engaged subscribers who actually want to hear from the brand, enabling thought leadership and relationship-building beyond the transactional nature of traditional email marketing.What if launching premium branded newsletters that drive organic growth, monetize audiences, and integrate seamlessly with Shopify didn't require expensive engineering or platform lock-in?Today's guest, Moshe Zippel, Senior Lead of Advertising Success at Beehiiv, breaks down how modern newsletter platforms give DTC brands an unfair advantage. As a Beehiiv customer myself, I've seen firsthand how the platform makes it incredibly easy to launch beautiful branded newsletters. Moshe shares the most actionable strategies—from automating subscriber growth through partner recommendations to activating Beehiiv's in-platform ad network—for building owned lists, driving engagement, and monetizing communities outside the "ad-taxed world" of Google, Facebook, and random-interruption advertising. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 30, 2025 • 34min
The New Sourcing Formula: How AI-Powered Strategies Slash Costs and Tariff Risks for Shopify Brands
Sourcing a new product shouldn’t feel like a midnight scavenger hunt across time zones.Yet most Shopify founders still juggle endless email threads, clunky spreadsheets, and “good-enough” quotes that quietly erode their margins.Today’s guest, Anthony Sardain, says there’s a saner way. He created Cavela, the first fully automated, AI-powered virtual sourcing agent that taps more than 200 000 vetted factories in 40 countries and routinely shaves an average of 37% off unit costs—all while handling negotiation, quality checks, and certification audits for you. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 23, 2025 • 54min
Stop Flying Blind: How Top DTC Brands Use 5-Forces Attribution to Scale Profitably Through Q4
Every Shopify brand scaling beyond seven figures faces the same maddening challenge: where is your ad spend actually working?You're pouring budget into Facebook, Google, TikTok, email campaigns, and a dozen other channels—but thanks to iOS updates and platform-biased reporting, you're essentially flying blind. Worse yet, many brands are unknowingly doubling down on channels that are bleeding money while cutting budgets from their most profitable campaigns.Scott Desgrosseilliers, Founder and CEO of Wicked Reports, has spent over a decade solving exactly this problem. His marketing attribution platform has helped household names like Cheech & Chong and Neil Patel's NP Digital transition from guesswork to data-driven growth.In today's episode, Scott shares his journey from helping a lobster company crack Facebook attribution to developing the Five Forces framework—a systematic approach that turns attribution chaos into actionable growth strategies. You'll discover how to identify which campaigns deserve more budget, which ones are silently sabotaging your growth, and how to build measurement systems that actually support your marketing strategy.If you've ever questioned whether your attribution data is telling the real story, this conversation will change how you think about measuring and scaling your DTC brand.Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 16, 2025 • 39min
From $70+ CAC to Profitable LTV: Klaviyo VP Shows How Top Shopify Brands Build Lasting Customer Relationships
Today's episode deconstructs the challenges that are keeping DTC founders up at night in 2025: collapsing ad returns, scattered customer journeys, and the fragmented tech stacks blocking profitable growth for Shopify brands.As email, SMS, WhatsApp, and paid social blend into an omnichannel jungle, most teams are stuck juggling disconnected dashboards, siloed point solutions, and a never-ending battle to stitch fragmented data into real clarity. The result? Wasted spend, missed opportunities, and shaky customer relationships heading into Q4.What if you could unify data—across every customer touchpoint—and finally orchestrate journeys based on real channel preferences, personalized timing, and actionable AI? Klaviyo’s latest innovations are rewriting the playbook on connected marketing, with groundbreaking features like Channel Affinity AI, a unified Campaign Builder, and identity resolution for truly 1:1 experiences.Today’s guest, Jen Kessler, VP of Product at Klaviyo and veteran of Twilio and Segment, demonstrates how leading brands—from Mattel to emerging midmarket DTC stars—are leveraging unified data, real-time segmentation, and predictive analytics to scale retention, maximize LTV, and crush holiday chaos. If you’re running on disjointed tools, point solutions, or basic flows, you’ll discover the clear steps to evolve—without breaking what’s already working. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 12, 2025 • 41min
How This AI Sales Assistant Converts 58% Of Shopify Visitors Before They Bounce (2,000+ Stores Can't Be Wrong)
Are last-minute customer doubts quietly sabotaging your Shopify store's conversion rate—even when your products shine and ad spend pays off?If abandoned carts and stalled sales feel all too familiar, this episode unlocks fresh, practical strategies for bridging the final gap between "add to cart" and "buy now."My guest today is Luca Borreani, co-founder and CMO of ZipChat AI—an agentic commerce platform that gives brands the power to instantly engage high-intent visitors, answer questions in real time, and gently nudge hesitant shoppers through to checkout. Luca's credentials run deep: he's scaled fast-growth startups, orchestrated successful exits, and won backing from investors like Sequoia Capital and Jason Calacanis. ZipChat is already trusted by thousands of Shopify stores to deliver smart, conversational experiences right at the crucial moment—when customers are deciding whether to stay or bounce. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 9, 2025 • 36min
Shopify Shipping's Game-Changing Launch: What Every Merchant Needs to Know Before BFCM 2025
Today's episode tackles one of the biggest operational headaches facing Shopify merchants: the shipping and fulfillment maze that's quietly crushing margins and customer loyalty.From new brands shipping their first 10 orders to established companies managing 10,000+ daily shipments, merchants are drowning in carrier complexity, hidden costs, and rising customer expectations. The post-purchase experience has become make-or-break for retention—yet most brands are cobbling together fragmented solutions that create more problems than they solve.What if there was a better way? What if you could transform shipping from a necessary evil into a competitive advantage that actually drives repeat purchases and customer delight?In this episode, I'm joined by Vibhor Chhabra, Director of Product for Shipping and Taxes at Shopify. Vibhor and his team have just launched major upgrades to Shopify Shipping that are already transforming how millions of merchants handle fulfillment. We're talking new carrier partnerships, built-in address validation, delivery predictions, automatic insurance coverage, and an expanded Shopify Fulfillment Network with world-class 3PL partners.This isn't just about buying labels anymore—it's about creating an end-to-end fulfillment strategy that reduces your operational overhead while boosting customer satisfaction and lifetime value. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Sep 2, 2025 • 43min
$100M Ad Spend Secrets: How to Scale DTC Brands 230% With Full Funnel Marketing
Bobby Palmieri, co-founder and CEO of Lilo Social, dives into the secrets of scaling DTC brands with a sharp focus on full-funnel marketing. He highlights the detrimental effects of fragmented marketing systems and offers strategies for unifying efforts to boost profitability. The conversation covers the vital role of creative development, emphasizing emotional resonance and the integration of AI to optimize campaigns. Bobby also addresses creative fatigue and customer retention, showcasing how tailored content can elevate brand engagement and drive lifetime value.
Aug 26, 2025 • 42min
From Founder Mode To Self-Managing Teams: Breaking Through Seven-Figure Growth Ceilings
Today’s episode pulls back the curtain on the “dirty secret” stalling growth for scaling Shopify brands: operational complexity and founder bottlenecks.If hitting $2M–$5M+ in revenue has brought chaos, team misalignment, and burnout, this conversation is the wake-up call—and antidote—you need. We’re diving into the practical playbook for building a self-managing organization that breaks through the ceiling and unlocks sustainable scale.My guest is Leon van der Laan, founder of Remode Company, architect of the REMODE leadership framework, and trusted coach to 7–8 figure eCommerce founders across Europe. Leon has spent years helping DTC leaders escape “founder mode,” implement clarity-driven systems, and build companies that thrive independent of their constant oversight.Leon’s approach isn’t about more hustle—it’s about deploying a proven four-pillar framework that activates intrinsic motivation, sets meaningful goals, creates crystal-clear accountability, and operationalizes high-leverage execution. Whether you’re battling burnout, stagnant growth, or struggling to build an A-player team culture, this episode gives you the roadmap to transform complexity into lasting growth. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Aug 19, 2025 • 47min
The $30K+ Monthly SEO Strategy: How Plugin AI Gets Shopify Stores Ranking in ChatGPT & Google's AI Results
Today's episode pulls back the curtain on one of the highest ROI strategies for Shopify brands: AI-powered SEO and organic growth.If you're watching 98% of your paid traffic slip away before converting while acquisition costs keep climbing, this episode is your wake-up call. We're diving into the new playbook for driving organic reach that actually moves the needle.My guest is Mike Simmons, CEO of Plug In Useful, whose SEO and site speed solutions power over 30,000 Shopify stores. He's a builder and operator living on the front lines of traffic acquisition for direct-to-consumer brands.Plugin Useful's suite goes beyond "best practice" checklists. We're talking actionable recommendations, specialized keyword analysis, bulk content optimization, and tracking that shows if your SEO changes actually work. Mike shares why native solutions like Shopify Magic leave money on the table, and reveals overlooked strategies like leveraging collection pages and schema markup. Plus, his take on how AI tools like Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews are changing the game.Whether you're a founder, marketer prepping for Q4, or operator fighting complexity, this episode gives you clarity and tools to own your organic growth.Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
Aug 12, 2025 • 53min
Why Unilever Moved 50% Of Ad Budget To Micro-Influencers (And How Shopify Brands Can Copy This)
Today, we're diving into one of the most powerful—yet often misunderstood—strategies for Shopify brands: micro-influencer marketing.If you're tired of celebrity endorsements that feel inauthentic and paid ads with questionable ROI, this episode is for you. We're exploring how authentic voices, strategic product seeding, and user-generated content can actually supercharge your growth while reducing those brutal acquisition costs we all know too well.My guest is William Gasner, Co-founder and CMO of Stack Influence—a marketplace that's connected brands with over 11 million vetted micro and nano creators. But here's what makes William different: he's not just talking theory. He's a six-time founder who's scaled multiple seven-figure Shopify businesses before building the platform he wished existed when he was in the trenches.Stack Influence isn't your typical SaaS database where you're left to figure things out. It's a living, two-sided marketplace that automates hundreds—sometimes thousands—of collaborations monthly. Think of it as where "give a product, get a post" is just the beginning.William shares some eye-opening insights, like why major brands such as Unilever are shifting 50% of their budgets away from traditional Meta and Google ads toward influencer tactics. More importantly for most of you listening, he explains why smaller brands often see their best ROI from curated, genuine recommendations rather than big-money sponsorships.We break down how social platforms are evolving, why content now matters more than follower count for reach, and how Stack Influence's unique "pay for outcome" model actually guarantees results—while most platforms only offer hope.Whether you're scaling your Shopify brand and thinking about Q4 strategy, or you're a founder just launching your first product, this episode gives you a tactical roadmap to build real trust, amplify word-of-mouth marketing, and extract maximum value from every UGC asset—not just for social, but across your ads, website, and retention strategies. Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us here or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.TwitterLinkedInFacebookFor more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog.
