The Shopify Growth Show

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 product-market fit.If you want a real-time blueprint for scaling a Shopify brand in a red-ocean category, this is it.Key Topics Covered:Why “shut up and listen” was step one post-acquisitionAOV > ROAS: The case for bundling and upsellsHow they’re balancing paid media and scrappy growthTheir ad creative testing process (30+ angles)SEO, seasonality, and what they’re betting on long-termFollow The Shopify Growth Show for more build-in-public breakdowns like this. Real playbooks, no fluff.             Resources:The Shopify Growth SchoolNeat WebsiteJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)

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 product iteration.If you’re trying to build a differentiated Shopify brand, this episode is packed with tactical gold.Key Topics Covered:Launching on Kickstarter: strategy, messaging, and momentumEngineering product-market fit from real pain pointsWhy Ministry of Supply doubled down on performance materialsGrowing a fashion brand with DTC + retailCEO-level shifts: what Aman had to learn (and unlearn)If you’re building a Shopify brand that solves a real problem — follow The Shopify Growth Show for weekly founder playbooks and tactical episodes.Resources:Aman AdvaniMinistry of SupplyJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth Show

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 brand in a competitive space, this is a blueprint in niche ownership and brand discipline.Key Topics Covered:The mindset shift from side hustle to full-time founderBuilding a resilient supply chain as a bootstrapped brandUsing rejection to sharpen focus and fuel growthBranding lessons from a founder-led businessThe role of military discipline in running a lean Shopify brand  Resources:Shopify Growth SchoolGrowth Marketing OS (Operating System) GrowthHitJim Huffman websiteJim's LinkedinJim's Twitter

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 scrappy product-market fit testing to the growth inflection Shark Tank created. If you’re growing a Shopify brand, this one’s a blueprint.Topics We Cover:The “hair loss” moment that launched Kreyol EssenceHow to get traction with zero ad budgetCommunity-first growth: what actually worksWhat a Shark Tank feature does for traffic, retail, and teamNavigating growth when your brand outpaces your opsResources:Yve-Car MomperousseYve-Car on InstagramKreyol EssenceJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook

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 for Shopify founders ready to get serious about messaging, differentiation, and the real reasons customers buy.Key Topics Covered:Why your brand pitch likely isn’t working (and how to fix it)Two frameworks to improve your positioning todaySpeaking to 3 customer types: informed, afflicted, and obliviousCase studies: Spanx, Truvani, Adam Shoes, Rocket Money & moreReal examples from GrowthHit and Neat Apparel’s positioning playbookLearn live from Shopify experts. Join our biweekly AI-powered growth sessions - free for founders and marketers - https://shopifygrowthschool.com/ Resources:Shopify Growth SchoolGrowth Marketing OS (Operating System) GrowthHitJim Huffman websiteJim's LinkedinJim's Twitter Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

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 about what actually drives conversions in 2025 — and how founders can stop wasting money and start scaling with authenticity.Key Topics CoveredWhy UGC outperforms professional ads in today’s marketThe overlooked value of product seeding (and how to do it right)How to build a content machine that fuels both ads and organic growthWhy creative freedom often leads to better results than tight scriptsThe truth about influencers, follower counts, and what really matters Resources:Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

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 you’re chasing sustainable demand - not just viral traffic - this episode unpacks the real playbook behind a Shopify growth moment.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODEThe 4-part launch formula that drove immediate sell-throughHow to create urgency without discountsWhat broke behind the scenes (and how we fixed it)The unexpected upside of a sold-out storeWhy every brand needs a “sold out” contingency planResources:GrowthHitJim Huffman websiteJim's LinkedinJim's TwitterThe Sold-Out PlaybookAdditional episodes you might enjoy:From concept to $24M in 2 years 🤑 - The Shopify Growth Show (#1)Launching a Brand From Idea to Product with Liz Long - The Shopify Growth Show (#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 trends, the importance of specialized products, and effective inventory management strategies. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in the e-commerce and manufacturing spaces. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODEStarting a Brand: The Initial StepsDesigning Your Product: Key ConsiderationsFinding the Right Factory and Supply ChainBudgeting and Cost ManagementNavigating Production and Quality ControlChoosing Manufacturing LocationsManaging Inventory and Cash FlowFinal Mile: Shipping and FulfillmentExploring Current Trends in Fashion and Product SpecializationThe Rise of the Drop Model and Its ChallengesLiz's Journey: From Reusable Shopping Bags to Product AcceleratorThe Transition to Nearshore and Its ImpactBalancing Work and Family: Liz's Personal InsightsConclusion and Final ThoughtsResources:Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook  Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

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 building a data-driven business during one of the most demanding periods of her life, and how AI, science, and personal insight helped reshape the future of skincare.Key Topics Covered:How AI and data are transforming skincareThe Skin Genome Project explainedNavigating Y Combinator while pregnantBuilding a business model rooted in scienceLiving the “Love your job, live your life” mindsetResources:ProvenJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

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 follow the journey with us in this new direction!