The Sourcing Gals

Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson
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From idea to inventory 📦 Your trusted guides for sourcing, manufacturing, and scaling your product overseas. Hosted by industry experts Erin and Jackie, we help female founders launch product-based businesses without the overwhelm using our proven Smart Start Method™. Each week, we break down: ✦ Sourcing strategies that save you time and money ✦ Manufacturing insights from real-world experience ✦ Profit-boosting tactics for product brands ✦ Founder stories and unfiltered lessons learned Ready to Dig in Further? https://www.thesourcinggals.com/social

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Episode 47: How to Name Your Product Business

    Most founders agonize over their brand name for months—but they're asking the wrong questions. The real issue isn't finding a "perfect" name; it's understanding the difference between naming a hero product versus a brand with multiple SKUs, and knowing which barriers (domains, handles, trademarks) actually matter. Jackie and Erin break down the exact framework they used to name brands at Abercrombie & Fitch and their own companies—including the names they almost launched with and why they changed course.

    28 min

  2. 4 FEB

    Episode 46: The Inventory Strategy That Saves Founders $10K+

    "Buying every SKU at the same MOQ—that's not your strategy. That's a vendor constraint." [03:57] Most product founders think hitting MOQ on every item is the safest path. But Mary Wiegand, who spent 10+ years managing inventory at Target, Tiffany & Co., and Victoria's Secret, reveals why this approach creates lumpy inventory and cash flow problems. In this episode, she breaks down the three lead times you're probably missing, the safety stock formula that prevents panic orders, and why tracking revenue instead of unit velocity is costing you money. If you've ever run out of stock during a promotion or air-freighted inventory because you miscalculated timing, this conversation will change how you plan. Why buying every SKU to the same MOQ creates inventory you can't sell [03:57]The three lead times you must track: fabric, production, and transit [09:35]How to calculate safety stock buffers without over-ordering [20:26]Why realistic lead times beat "best case scenario" planning every time [08:03]Why unit velocity per SKU matters more than total revenue [10:49]How to track trends using the last 2-4 weeks of sales data [10:49]The marketing inputs that affect demand: ads, influencers, events [11:59]Why carrying promotional spikes forward destroys cash flow [16:50]How to adjust size curves based on actual sales (not assumptions) [22:31]Why tank tops sold smaller sizes than other styles—and what that reveals [22:31]When it's okay to consciously choose an out-of-stock period [08:50]The replenishment log that tells you when to reorder before you run out [30:21]Inventory Planning Starter Kit Boon’s Inventory Planning Starter Kit is a beginner-friendly toolkit for early-stage retail brands, designed to help founders plan inventory, track cash flow, and place smarter orders — without expensive software or a finance background. Normally $179, Sourcing Gals listeners get $50 off with code SOURCINGGALS. https://boon-llc.com/starter-kit 02:58 - What inventory management actually means for product founders 03:57 - The biggest mistake: buying every SKU at MOQ 08:03 - The three lead times most founders miss 09:35 - How to calculate realistic reorder timing 10:49 - Why unit velocity beats revenue tracking 11:59 - Marketing inputs that affect your demand forecast 16:50 - Why promotional spikes shouldn't carry forward 20:26 - Safety stock vs. lead time buffers explained 22:31 - Adjusting size curves based on real sales data 24:11 - Inventory management is like going to the gym 30:21 - The five Excel tools in Boon's Starter Kit 🎯 JOIN THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE ($27/mo): Go beyond the podcast. Get direct access to Jackie and Erin, dive deeper on every episode, and connect with founders who are actively building apparel and accessories brands. 👉 https://www.thesourcinggals.com/founders-circle 🧭 FIND YOUR PATH: Take the Founder Type Quiz to discover your custom roadmap 👉 https://www.thesourcinggals.com/The-Smart-Start-Method 📚 Enroll in Our Smarter Sourcing Course (the system we used to launch 100s of products) 👉 https://www.thesourcinggals.com/smarter-sourcing 👭 ABOUT THE SOURCING GALS: We spent 40+ years launching products at Abercrombie & Fitch, BaubleBar, and other billion-dollar retailers. Now we're giving you the exact tools, factory connections, and negotiation scripts we used—without the $100K agency price tag. How to Build a Smarter Initial Buy StrategyThe Metrics That Actually Drive Inventory DecisionsMaking Adjustments When Reality Hits Your PlanChapter Timestamps:

    33 min

  3. 28 JAN

    Episode 45: Why Factories “Get It Wrong” (and How to Speak Their Language)

    In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down one of the most overlooked reasons products go wrong in manufacturing: communication. Drawing from decades of hands-on sourcing experience, they explain why most factory issues aren’t production failures — they’re messaging failures — and how founders can dramatically improve outcomes by communicating with clarity, structure, and intention. You’ll learn how to work effectively with overseas factories across time zones and language barriers, how to give feedback that actually gets executed, and when it’s worth hopping on a call instead of sending yet another email. If you’ve ever thought, “That’s not what I asked for” when a sample arrived — this episode is for you. Why over 50% of factory mistakes stem from miscommunication, not capabilityHow written communication (email, WhatsApp, WeChat) changes meaning across culturesWhy factories execute what you say — not what you meanThe importance of one email per day and keeping everything in a single threadHow filler words like “try” and “just” create confusionUsing bullet points, color-coded replies, and visuals to eliminate ambiguityHow to give sample feedback that’s clear, actionable, and respectfulWhen to pick up the phone (or jump on WeChat) to save days of back-and-forthCultural nuances in communication styles across regionsWhy consistency and documentation protect both you and the factory“Factories don’t fail you — communication does.”“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.Key Topics CoveredMemorable Takeaways Check out Accio – Source your product with the power of AI Enjoy 10% off Accio.com with code THESOURCINGGALS The Founder's Circle – 🎯 JOIN THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE ($27/mo): Go beyond the podcast. Get direct access to Jackie and Erin, dive deeper on every episode, and connect with founders who are actively building apparel and accessories brands. 👉 https://www.thesourcinggals.com/founders-circle Community Mention

    40 min

  4. 21 JAN

    Episode 44: Inside SOURCING: How Founders Find the Right Factory Faster

    What really happens behind the scenes at a global sourcing trade show — and how can product founders use it to their advantage? In this episode, Erin and Jackie sit down with Pinar Van de Vegt, Head of Sales & Events for Informa Markets, to pull back the curtain on SOURCING by Informa. With over 20 years of experience producing large-scale sourcing and manufacturing events, Pinar shares how founders can confidently attend sourcing shows to meet factories, compare partners, and accelerate their product journey — without needing to exhibit or place an order. This conversation is designed for emerging and growing brands who want real, practical guidance on finding manufacturers, navigating the show floor, and building relationships that actually lead to production success.

    47 min

  5. 14 JAN

    Episode 43: This One Shift Can Change Your Entire Supply Chain

    Many founders struggle with choosing between overseas and nearshore manufacturing without understanding the real tradeoffs. The "made in USA" appeal often leads entrepreneurs to make costly decisions based on emotion rather than economics. Nearshoring offers strategic advantages that go beyond patriotism—from lower minimums to better intellectual property protection—but these benefits come with nuanced trade-offs that most first-time founders miss. Understanding the true economics of where your product is made can be the difference between a sustainable business and a failed launch. Try Nearshored.ai today by clicking here. Don't forget to use coupon code VIP3M25 for 25% off your first three months!

    37 min

  6. 7 JAN

    Episode 42: When Good Products Go Bad: $20K Quality Issues That Tank Your Brand

    Quality issues can devastate even the most carefully planned product launches, costing founders thousands in remakes, shipping expedites, and lost sales. What most first-time entrepreneurs don't realize is that production problems aren't just about bad factories—they're about missing critical checkpoints that professional brands build into every production cycle. The difference between panicking and having a strategic solution isn't luck—it's implementing the same quality assurance systems billion-dollar retailers use before products ever leave the factory.

    36 min

  7. 31/12/2025

    Episode 41: From Finding Our People to Building a Movement: Our Year in Review & What’s Next

    In this special year-end episode of The Sourcing Gals, we reflect on what this past year has truly been about—building our business, shedding old identities, and discovering the power of community for product-based founders. We share behind-the-scenes stories from our first full year of podcasting, the transition from corporate careers into entrepreneurship, and how listening to our audience helped us uncover a major gap in the product sourcing and manufacturing space. In This Episode, We Cover: What it really took to build and sustain a podcast and business in year one The emotional and professional “shedding” that defined this year (the Year of the Snake) Letting go of corporate conditioning, scarcity thinking, and self-doubt Why community became the most important—and unexpected—part of our work How founders supporting founders accelerates clarity and confidence What’s next as we move into the Year of the Horse, focused on momentum and purposeful growth From Shedding to Momentum This year mirrored the energy of the Snake—not breaking, but growing. As we look ahead to the Horse, we’re shifting into forward motion, courage, and building together instead of alone. That realization led us to our next chapter. 🤍 Introducing: The Founder’s Circle We’re excited to announce the launch of The Founder’s Circle, a private Facebook community for product-based founders. Inside the community: -Monthly live Q&A calls with us -Access to templates, scripts, and practical tools -Ongoing discussion and support throughout the month -A space for founders at all stages to learn from and support one another JOIN US TODAY! 🗓 Doors open January 1 🎤 First live Q&A: January 28 Link to Manifesting Episode of Dear Gabby A Final Note If you’re building a product-based business and feeling stuck, uncertain, or alone—this episode is your reminder that clarity comes faster in community. Thank you for being part of our journey this year. We can’t wait to build what’s next—with you.

    41 min

  8. 23/12/2025

    Episode 40: Product Sourcing Q&A: Real Questions Every Founder Should Be Asking

    In this special Q&A episode, Erin and Jackie tackle the most common (and most confusing) questions from product founders—like what to send factories, how to evaluate quotes, and when a product is truly ready for production. Get straight answers and insider tips every maker needs to hear.

    24 min
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About

From idea to inventory 📦 Your trusted guides for sourcing, manufacturing, and scaling your product overseas. Hosted by industry experts Erin and Jackie, we help female founders launch product-based businesses without the overwhelm using our proven Smart Start Method™. Each week, we break down: ✦ Sourcing strategies that save you time and money ✦ Manufacturing insights from real-world experience ✦ Profit-boosting tactics for product brands ✦ Founder stories and unfiltered lessons learned Ready to Dig in Further? https://www.thesourcinggals.com/social

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson
  • Show Website
    The Sourcing Gals