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 <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/recommends/cavela/">Cavela</a>, 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 <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/contact/">here</a> or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/stevenhutt">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutt/">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thrivingwithshopify">Facebook</a></li></ul>For more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/">eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog</a>.

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.

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 <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/recommends/cavela/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cavela</a>, 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.&nbsp; Reach out to us! We welcome questions and comments about this episode. Connect with us <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> or through our socials — your feedback is always welcome.<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/stevenhutt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shutt/" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thrivingwithshopify" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a></li></ul>For more ecommerce, marketing, and growth strategies, check out the <a href="https://ecommercefastlane.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">eCommerce Fastlane Insights Blog</a>.&nbsp;

The New Sourcing Formula: How AI-Powered Strategies Slash Costs and Tariff Risks for Shopify Brands

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 from my garage, to co-founding and scaling VisionPros.com (an optical DTC startup) through to a successful exit, then spending 6+ years as a Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with 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, scaling, and successfully exiting my own ecommerce businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination of insider access plus real operator experience gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

Since 2018, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 430 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I chat 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 learn how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique. You'll also hear real founder stories, including lessons from my own journey building and exiting a DTC brand, plus insights from 430+ 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 thousands of founders and marketers 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

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Entrepreneurship

Marketing

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 from my garage, to co-founding and scaling VisionPros.com (an optical DTC startup) through to a successful exit, then spending 6+ years as a Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with 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, scaling, and successfully exiting my own ecommerce businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination of insider access plus real operator experience gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. Since 2018, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 430 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I chat 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 learn how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique. You'll also hear real founder stories, including lessons from my own journey building and exiting a DTC brand, plus insights from 430+ 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 thousands of founders and marketers 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

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 from my garage, to co-founding and scaling VisionPros.com (an optical DTC startup) through to a successful exit, then spending 6+ years as a Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with teams at Tentree, Dr. Squatch, Bulletproof Coffee, Salt &amp; 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, scaling, and successfully exiting my own ecommerce businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination of insider access plus real operator experience gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

Since 2018, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 430 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I chat 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 learn how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique. You'll also hear real founder stories, including lessons from my own journey building and exiting a DTC brand, plus insights from 430+ 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 thousands of founders and marketers 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

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The New Sourcing Formula: How AI-Powered Strategies Slash Costs and Tariff Risks for Shopify Brands

The New Sourcing Formula: How AI-Powered Strategies Slash Costs and Tariff Risks for Shopify Brands

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