eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection

Steve Hutt | Shopify Expert | eCommerce Expert
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eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection. I’m Steve Hutt, your experienced guide and host, here to help you unlock real, sustainable growth for your Shopify store by blending the best of automation with the power of authentic customer relationships. Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has been the weekly pit-stop for ambitious DTC founders and marketers. With over 1.5 million downloads and 400+ episodes, this show is your trusted resource for: - Proven Shopify strategies, apps, and best practices that drive measurable results - Digital marketing tactics and retention playbooks that balance AI with genuine human touch - Real-world founder stories and lessons learned from my own journey and 400+ interviews with industry leaders - Deep dives into emerging tech (AI, AR/VR, automation) and how to use it without losing your brand’s soul - Operations, logistics, and customer experience solutions that reduce overwhelm and foster loyalty Each week, I sit down with Shopify partners, marketing experts, and successful store owners who share what’s actually working right now—no fluff, just actionable, battle-tested strategies. Whether you’re launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, you’ll walk away from every episode with at least one practical idea you can implement immediately. Ready to thrive in today’s fast-paced ecommerce world—growing smarter, not just faster? Hit subscribe and join thousands of merchants building customer-centric, future-proof brands with eCommerce Fastlane. Let’s unlock your store’s true potential—together. Steve Hutt x-Shopify - DTC Founder - Podcast Host Website: eCommerceFastlane.com Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt X: x.com/stevenhutt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecommercefastlane Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com

  1. 5D AGO

    Real Time Conversational Commerce: How Brands Are Using AI To Power Real Time Conversations With Customers

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! Today, we’re spotlighting a marketing channel that’s quietly dominating Europe, Australia, and beyond—but is still underused in North America: WhatsApp marketing. While most Shopify brands are stuck battling expensive Facebook ads and crowded email inboxes, a new frontier is emerging that offers 80–90% open rates and instant, conversational engagement. To break down this opportunity, I’m joined by Jeremy Horowitz, CEO of CocoAI. Jeremy’s background in private equity, Shopify app acquisitions, and international DTC growth gives him a unique vantage point on why WhatsApp is poised to become the next big wave for Shopify merchants—especially as brands look to expand internationally and leverage AI-powered automation. If you’re ready to move beyond traditional channels and tap into a high-value, conversational approach to commerce, this episode is your playbook for getting started.   Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    28 min

  2. JUL 1

    Cracking The AI Commerce Code: Tanner Larsson On Making Your Brand Unmissable

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! A fundamental shift is underway in how customers discover and purchase products, and most Shopify merchants are unaware of it. The days of relying solely on Google search are numbered as consumers increasingly turn to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for buying advice. But here’s the problem: 80-90% of Shopify stores are currently invisible to these AI platforms. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on this new “AI Commerce” with a true industry insider. My guest is Tanner Larson, CEO of Built to Scale and author of the wildly popular book, E-commerce Evolved. Tanner has spent the last year working behind closed doors in the AI Commerce beta programs for major AI platforms, giving him a front-row seat to the biggest disruption since the smartphone. If you’ve ever wondered why your store isn’t getting recommended by AI, Tanner explains that it’s not an SEO problem—it’s an infrastructure problem. This episode is a masterclass on how to fix that visibility gap and position your brand for the $47.6 billion revenue shift that’s happening right now. Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    1h 8m

  3. JUN 24

    How This CEO Turned 25,000 Customers Into Just 2 Support Agents (The Revolutionary Communication System)

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! If you’re running a Shopify store, you know the pain of email overload, endless internal threads, and the chaos that comes with managing customer conversations across multiple channels. Today, we’re tackling “inbox chaos” head-on with a tool designed to unify your team’s communication, streamline support, and bring true context-awareness to every customer interaction. Joining me is Philippe Lehoux, co-founder and CEO of Missive—a collaborative communication platform trusted by over 25,000 teams worldwide. Philippe’s spent the last decade obsessing over how to break down the silos between internal and external communication, and his platform is now a go-to for Shopify merchants who want to turn their service side from a cost center into a profit center. Whether you’re a solo founder drowning in emails or a fast-growing brand scaling your support team, you’ll hear actionable strategies to reduce context switching, leverage AI for smarter workflows, and create a seamless customer experience that drives loyalty and growth.   Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    41 min

  4. JUN 17

    Breaking Into Billion-Dollar Markets: Clean Boss vs. The Cleaning Giants

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! Today, we’re diving into the world of challenger brands and what it really takes to break into—and win—in a market dominated by legacy giants. If you’ve ever walked down the cleaning aisle, you know it’s ruled by “Big Clean”—massive CPG players with decades of brand equity. But what happens when a new player, powered by celebrity founders and a mission-driven approach, decides to shake things up? Enter Clean Boss, a botanical cleaning brand co-founded by Joy Mangano (yes, the Miracle Mop inventor and inspiration for the movie “Joy”) and global superstar Pitbull. To unpack their journey, I’m joined by Nevin Jethmalani, Chief Digital Officer. Nevin’s got a front-row seat to what it takes to build a brand from scratch, leverage star power, and scale across DTC, Amazon, Walmart, and beyond. Whether you’re up against entrenched competitors or just looking for ways to stand out in a crowded market, you’ll hear actionable strategies for profitable acquisition, omnichannel growth, and building a business that lasts beyond the celebrity spotlight.   Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    37 min

  5. JUN 10

    Unlocking Shopify Summer Editions 2025: Retail Innovations With Ray Reddy

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! I’m Steve Hutt, and today we’re diving into Shopify’s Summer Editions 2025—also known as the “Horizons” release. If you’re new to Editions, here’s the quick scoop: every six months, Shopify rolls out a huge batch of updates—this summer’s release features over 150 enhancements spanning the entire platform. It’s their way of showcasing what’s new, what’s improved, and how they’re helping merchants like you stay ahead in today’s ever-evolving retail landscape. Even in our digital-first world, 80% of commerce still happens in-store. Yet, so many brands are stuck juggling disconnected systems and clunky middleware. That’s why this year’s completely reimagined Shopify POS—version 10—caught my attention. It’s not just a facelift; it’s a full transformation of what unified commerce can look like, packed with features designed to supercharge your retail journey and finally bridge the gap between online and in-person selling. To unpack the details, I’m joined by Ray Reddy, Shopify’s VP of Product for Retail. Ray’s got a front-row seat to the evolution of omnichannel, and he’s here to share how POS 10 is unlocking new levels of efficiency, customization, and customer experience for brands of all sizes. Whether you’re running a single pop-up or hundreds of stores, you’ll hear firsthand how these updates can help you reduce friction, elevate your in-store game, and get a true 360-degree view of your customer.   Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    28 min

  6. JUN 3

    How This Shopify Expert Built A $1M+ Etsy Store Without Ads (Free Traffic Secrets)

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane! I'm Steve Hutt, and today we're diving into something that honestly blew my mind during our conversation. Picture this: 95 million active buyers actively searching for unique products, built-in traffic you don't have to pay for, and a platform where most successful sellers never touch ads. Sounds too good to be true? That's exactly what I thought about Etsy before talking with today's guest. I'm chatting with Dylan Jahraus, who built a million-dollar Etsy shop, then pivoted to teaching others how to do the same. She's the founder of The Ultimate Etsy Ecourse and created etSEO, an AI tool that takes the guesswork out of Etsy SEO. But here's what really caught my attention—Dylan shows Shopify store owners how to use Etsy as their secret weapon for free traffic and customer research. If you've been burning cash on ads or struggling to find new customers, this conversation might just change how you think about growing your business. Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    46 min

  7. MAY 27

    How One Star Drop Kills 50% Of Sales: Amazon Review Removal Secrets With Danan Coleman

    Welcome back to eCommerce Fastlane. I'm your host, Steve Hutt. Ever felt like negative Amazon reviews are sabotaging your hard-earned sales, or that your product listings are quietly losing ground without you even knowing? You're not alone. In today's landscape, managing your brand's reputation across both Shopify and Amazon is more critical—and more complex—than ever. I'm excited to welcome Danan Coleman, CEO of eCom Triage, to the show. Danan's been in the trenches since 2010, helping brands crack the code on legitimate Amazon review removal and proactive catalog monitoring. If you've ever wondered whether you can actually get unfair reviews taken down (without breaking Amazon's rules), or how to safeguard your listings from costly, hidden issues, this episode is for you. You'll discover the exact process Danan uses to remove 5-15% of negative reviews and how even a tiny star rating drop can slash your sales by up to 50%. What You'll Learn Amazon Review Removal Secrets: The truth about getting negative reviews removed (yes, it's possible!) and how star rating drops from 4.3 to 4.2 can slash sales by 50%.Bulletproof Listing Strategy: How to build Amazon listings that convert, plus catalog monitoring to catch costly issues before they hurt your bottom line.Real Results & Protection: Case studies of brands that 5x'd sales velocity, plus proactive steps every Shopify merchant should take to defend their brand on Amazon.Amazon Ads Reality Check: Danan's honest take on when (and if) you should invest in Amazon's advertising ecosystem.Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    40 min

  8. MAY 20

    Beyond Discounts: The Clienteling Strategies That Boost Customer Retention & Lifetime Value

    Ever wondered how to truly bridge the gap between your Shopify store and your retail locations? Or maybe you’ve heard the term “clienteling” tossed around by big brands and wondered if it’s just for luxury retailers, or if it can actually move the needle for your business, too? If you’re looking to drive more foot traffic, boost repeat purchases, and finally unify your online and offline experiences, today’s episode is for you. I’m thrilled to welcome back Leigh, co-founder of Endear, for a deep dive into the modern world of clienteling. Leigh has been in the trenches since before the pandemic, helping brands like Glossier, Allbirds, and Untuckit unlock the real potential of their retail stores by connecting them with their ecommerce data. Today, we’re unpacking how Endear is reimagining clienteling for the omnichannel era-making it scalable, data-driven, and accessible for every Shopify merchant ready to elevate their customer experience. What You'll Learn Clienteling Demystified: What it really means (spoiler: it’s not just for luxury) and how modern brands are using it to drive sales through genuine relationships.The Omnichannel Advantage: Why unifying your online and offline data is the secret sauce for higher conversion rates, lower returns, and raving fans.CRM as Your Retail Superpower: How Endear’s Shopify-native CRM gives your store associates actionable insights-turning every interaction into a revenue opportunity.Automated, Yet Personal: Practical tactics for scaling thank you notes, VIP outreach, and post-purchase campaigns-without losing the human touch.Driving Foot Traffic (and Revenue): Proven strategies to get your online shoppers into your stores and maximize their lifetime value.Attribution That Makes Sense: How to finally track which messages, associates, and campaigns are actually moving the needle-in store and online.Appointments, Reimagined: Why Endear’s new appointments feature is tailor-made for retail, and how it’s driving 90%+ conversion rates for in-store visits.Scaling Smarter: Lessons from brands like Psycho Bunny and Eleventy on building a culture of relationship-driven selling (and how to templatize what works).  Check out his YouTube channel here for more 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.

    43 min
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4.9
out of 5
211 Ratings

About

Welcome to eCommerce Fastlane: Shopify Growth Strategies—Where AI Efficiency Meets Human Connection. I’m Steve Hutt, your experienced guide and host, here to help you unlock real, sustainable growth for your Shopify store by blending the best of automation with the power of authentic customer relationships. Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has been the weekly pit-stop for ambitious DTC founders and marketers. With over 1.5 million downloads and 400+ episodes, this show is your trusted resource for: - Proven Shopify strategies, apps, and best practices that drive measurable results - Digital marketing tactics and retention playbooks that balance AI with genuine human touch - Real-world founder stories and lessons learned from my own journey and 400+ interviews with industry leaders - Deep dives into emerging tech (AI, AR/VR, automation) and how to use it without losing your brand’s soul - Operations, logistics, and customer experience solutions that reduce overwhelm and foster loyalty Each week, I sit down with Shopify partners, marketing experts, and successful store owners who share what’s actually working right now—no fluff, just actionable, battle-tested strategies. Whether you’re launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, you’ll walk away from every episode with at least one practical idea you can implement immediately. Ready to thrive in today’s fast-paced ecommerce world—growing smarter, not just faster? Hit subscribe and join thousands of merchants building customer-centric, future-proof brands with eCommerce Fastlane. Let’s unlock your store’s true potential—together. Steve Hutt x-Shopify - DTC Founder - Podcast Host Website: eCommerceFastlane.com Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt X: x.com/stevenhutt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecommercefastlane Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com

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