The Sourcing Gals

Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 3D AGO

    Episode 51: When to Pick Up the Phone with Your Manufacturer

    Most founders default to email for efficiency—and it works for day-to-day operations. But written communication keeps relationships transactional, while voice builds the trust and rapport that gets you through challenges and unlocks better terms. This episode breaks down exactly when to pick up the phone with your manufacturer, how to use calls strategically (not constantly), and what you can achieve when you shift from transactional to relational. If you've been hesitant to call because you're not quick on your feet, Erin shares why that's actually okay—and when it's worth doing it anyway.

    33 min

  2. MAR 4

    Episode 50: Build a Brand or License Your Idea? The Decision Framework

    Most product founders assume they need to build a full brand around their idea—Instagram handle, website, inventory management, the works. But if you've developed patented technology or a proprietary component, there's another path: licensing your IP to established brands with existing distribution channels. This approach lets you leverage your invention without the overhead of building a consumer-facing business. The key is understanding when licensing makes sense and how to structure deals that protect your technology while creating ongoing royalty streams.

    31 min

  3. FEB 25

    Episode 49: When to Push Back on Factory Pricing (And When Not To)

    Most founders fight over nickels at 500 units—but that aggressive negotiation could cost them thousands when they land their first wholesale account. The truth is, factories are investing in you at low MOQs, absorbing sample fees and setup costs with the hope you'll scale. Push too hard too early, and you'll burn your trump card when you actually need it. This episode breaks down exactly when to negotiate pricing and when to hold back—based on decades of experience launching products at Abercrombie & Fitch and working with factories worldwide.

    37 min

  4. FEB 18

    Episode 48: 10 Books That Completely Changed How We Build & Scale Businesses

    Most product-based founders read business books but don't apply them strategically. Erin and Jackie share how specific books transformed their manufacturing approach, client relationships, and daily operations—from hiring offshore help for the cost of a Starbucks to structuring businesses for scale. These aren't theoretical concepts; they're frameworks both founders actively use to avoid costly mistakes and build sustainable brands.

    43 min

  5. FEB 11

    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

  6. FEB 4

    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

  7. JAN 28

    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

  8. JAN 21

    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
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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
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson
  • Show Website
    The Sourcing Gals