1/7/26

Episode Summary

In this episode, host Scott Austin appears as a guest on the Day in a Canoe Podcast, hosted by Nathan Mersereau. They discuss Scott’s personal and professional journey, including his early life growing up in Connecticut, his decade in the U.S. Coast Guard, 12 years at Microsoft, and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. Scott also talks about his work with Shopify brands through the JadePuma agency and shares his perspective on technology—especially AI—and how he uses it effectively while being mindful of its limitations. The conversation highlights broader themes of true wealth, curiosity, relationships, and lifelong learning rather than focusing solely on ecommerce topics.

Show Links

• Day in a Canoe Podcasts - https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/day-in-a-canoe-podcasts
• Badgezilla - https://apps.shopify.com/badgezilla

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-176-day-in-a-canoe-podcast

12/24/25

Episode Summary

Guest & Topic

• Host Scott Austin brings on attorney Brenda Pagliaro to explain ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance as it applies to e-commerce websites, especially Shopify stores.

Key Points

• ADA compliance requirements are complex and evolving, and many store owners are confused about what they must do to make their sites accessible. 
• Pagliaro outlines background on the ADA, how accessibility regulations are interpreted for websites, and why online stores often get targeted with demand letters and lawsuits. 
• There is no guaranteed way to prevent getting sued; the focus should be on mitigating risk by implementing accessibility practices, documentation, processes, and using tools (like accessibility apps), though none are a silver bullet. 
• Many cases settle before court, but even settlements and legal defense can be costly for small stores. 

Practical Takeaways

• Ecommerce site owners should take ADA compliance seriously, proactively prepare for potential claims, and combine accessibility tools with internal policies and ongoing review to reduce legal risk.

Show Links

• Brenda Pagliaro - [email protected] or [email protected]
• Brand-It! Calendar - https://apps.shopify.com/brand-it-calendar

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-175-talking-ada-compliance-with-an-attorney

12/10/25

Episode Summary

🎙️ What the episode is about

• The episode is actually the host — Scott Austin of JadePuma — being interviewed on another podcast, where he reflects on running a Shopify-focused agency, his career journey, and what it takes to build a sustainable ecommerce business.
• Scott describes how JadePuma serves mostly smaller or early-stage Shopify stores — founders and small teams, rather than big brands. He emphasizes his preference to work directly with decision-makers.

🔎 Key Themes & Lessons

• Running a Shopify-only agency — Scott explains why he chose to focus exclusively on Shopify (vs. other platforms or marketplaces): because Shopify offers flexibility, control over your storefront, and strong infrastructure.
• Consistency and work ethic over “overnight success” — He warns against the “get-rich-quick” narratives. According to Scott, building a successful ecommerce business — or agency — takes persistent effort, long hours, and gradual progression.
• The hardest part is often customer acquisition and growth scaling — Scott says that while product creation or building the website/platform may seem hard, finding customers (and then retaining them) is the real, ongoing challenge.
• One flexible theme + repeatable processes = scalability across niches — He claims that using a single well-known theme (in his case a “Flex” theme) and mastering it lets him quickly deploy stores across various industries, without needing different themes for each niche.
• Growth comes from cumulative daily effort, not shortcuts — He shares a real client example whose revenue multiplied ~20× over a few years. The key: sticking with a plan, iterating consistently — even when progress seems slow — instead of chasing quick wins or marketing hype.

✅ Main Takeaway

Scott’s core message: building a Shopify-based business (or agency) is “hard work.” It’s not glamorous or immediate success. It requires discipline, consistency, honest effort over the long haul. There are no shortcuts — but with steady execution, small wins compound over time.

Show Links

- Badgezilla: https://apps.shopify.com/badgezilla

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-174-this-shopify-stuff-is-hard-work

11/26/25

Episode Summary

Episode 173 covers how Shopify merchants use discount codes and why unique, single-use codes often outperform public sitewide codes. The guests share data from 162,000 discount sets, showing that 20% off is the most common offer, followed by 10%. They explain that public codes get shared widely and can hurt margins, while unique codes work better for welcome flows, win-backs, affiliates, and targeted campaigns. The episode emphasizes disciplined discount management, avoiding over-discounting, and using strategic offers like gift-with-purchase when appropriate.

Show Links 

• Discount Code Report - http://seguno.com/unique-discount-code-benchmarks 
• Cara - [email protected] 
• Becky - [email protected] 

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-173-discount-codes-in-shopify

11/12/25

Episode Summary

Host Scott Austin interviews his business partner Charles Swayne about how app-development for Shopify has matured—especially via the newer “extension only” app model released in 2023.  They cover the differences between public apps, private apps, and extension-only apps, and share real-world examples of how these new capabilities are being used to solve client problems more cost-effectively.

Show Links 

• Charles Swayne - https://jadepuma.com/charles
• Linear Shopping Experiences - https://apps.shopify.com/linear-shopping-experience

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-172-shopify-app-development-just-got-easier

10/29/25

Episode Summary

Scott Austin reviews three real Shopify stores and shares practical insights on what makes a store effective — and where many fall short. He looks at design, navigation, product presentation, branding, and storytelling, highlighting simple changes that can improve trust, clarity, and conversion. It’s a hands-on episode full of actionable tips for anyone who wants to make their Shopify store look better and sell more.

Show Links 

Stores reviewed:

• YumEarth - https://yumearth.com/products/organic-fruit-snacks-variety-box
• Truly Good Foods - https://shop.trulygoodfoods.com/products/berry-good-120-pack-1-5oz-mini-snack-bags
• Ella's Flats - https://ellasflats.com/products/ellas-flats-everything-snack-packs

• Badgezilla - https://apps.shopify.com/badgezilla 

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-171-lets-review-some-shopify-stores

10/15/25

Episode Summary

The host, Scott Austin, interviews filmmaker Jake Isham on how to use video as a storytelling tool for brands and e-commerce stores.

💡 Key Takeaways

Why video matters for e-commerce & brand building

• Jake argues that video is one of the strongest ways to convey brand identity, build trust, and engage audiences — especially because good video content can attract attention in a crowded space. 

What makes a video “great”

• Uniqueness and visual hooks are crucial to grab attention. 
• Use storytelling over just listing specs — focus on the problem your product solves and the emotions around it. 
• Speak your customer’s language. Use their words when describing their pain points or needs. 

Experimentation is key

• You might not know up front which video concept will “stick,” so try multiple versions and see what resonates. 

Practical advice for smaller brands / DIYers

• Many small brands start using just their phone and free editing software. 
• Be realistic about the time investment needed for shooting, editing, and refining video work. 
• Distribute videos broadly: YouTube is emphasized (as the 2nd largest search engine) and has SEO benefits beyond just a video channel. 

Show Links 

• Website - https://www.jakeisham.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeisham/
• Brand-It! Calendar - https://apps.shopify.com/brand-it-calendar 

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-170-storytelling-with-video

10/1/25

Episode Summary

The episode stresses that video content is essential for Shopify brands—without it, you risk being invisible. Guest Sonja from Partly Sunny Projects shows how authentic, consistent TikTok videos (often cross-posted to Instagram and YouTube Shorts) build brand identity and engagement.

Key points:

• Video differentiates your brand when products are commoditized.
• Consistency beats perfection—Sonja made thousands of trial videos before finding her rhythm.
• Keep it simple—a phone and in-app editing are enough.
• Focus on engagement and branding, not just hard sales or vanity metrics.

Takeaway: Start making videos now. Authenticity and persistence matter more than polish.

Show Links 

• Partly Sunny Projects - https://partlysunnyprojects.com/ 
• Badgezilla - https://apps.shopify.com/badgezilla 

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-169-create-videos-or-fail 

9/17/25 - Episode 168

Episode Summary

See how Shopify store owners can use custom theme code to add missing features or enhance their store’s functionality. Host Scott Austin shares real client examples from recent projects to demonstrate small but impactful theme edits—like hiding product photos, making product forms full-width, and customizing experiences when using product options apps. The episode emphasizes that while themes are flexible, adding custom code can efficiently and cost-effectively address unique business needs. 

Show Links 

Pom-Bell

• https://pombells.com/products/build-your-own 

Tee Box Dice 

• https://teeboxdice.com/

Emerson Knives

• https://www.emersonknives.com/products/cqc-7b

Pilot Test Charts

• https://pilottestcharts.com/products/rec-test-chart-long-beach 

Bixby Chocolate

• https://bixbychocolate.com/products/bixby-chocolate-advent-calendar

Scorpion Percussion

• https://scorpionpercussion.com/pages/drumsticks
• https://scorpionpercussion.com/products/your-band-work-shirt

Linear Shopping Experiences

• https://apps.shopify.com/linear-shopping-experience

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-168-diy-shopify-add-missing-features-with-theme-code 

9/3/25 - Episode 167

Episode Summary

This episode explores Google’s NotebookLM as a “source-grounded” AI assistant that turns your own docs, URLs, videos, and transcripts into actionable insights—useful for Shopify brands that need synthesis over generic brainstorming. Scott contrasts NotebookLM with general chatbots, then shows real-world uses (client “second-brain” notebooks, podcast topic gap analysis, and a property manual knowledge base). He closes with eight ecommerce applications (from competitive intel to FAQs and content repurposing) and a reminder to treat AI as a powerful tool in a human-driven workflow. 

Quick takeaways:
- What it is: an AI note-taking/analysis tool that only cites your provided sources, reducing hallucinations. 
- Real examples: memory cache for client work, podcast gap analysis, and support answers for a short-term rental. 
- Shopify uses: competitive research, support knowledge base, SEO/content strategy, market research, product copy, FAQs, and content repurposing. 
- Mindset: don’t treat AI like an employee—use it as a tool and keep human judgment in the loop.

Show Links 

• Notebook LM - https://notebooklm.google.com/
• Notebook LM Podcast of Notebook LM Research - https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-167-notebook-lm-an-ai-assistant-for-shopify-success#auto-podcast
• Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/app
• Google Workspace - https://workspace.google.com/
• Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/
• Flex Theme Sections - https://apps.shopify.com/flex-theme-sections

Transcript & Video

https://jadepuma.com/blogs/the-shopify-solutions-podcast/episode-167-notebook-lm-an-ai-assistant-for-shopify-success