The Shopify Solutions Podcast

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, a...

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-effective...

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 se...

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...

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 o...

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 t...

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 pr...

8/20/25 - Episode 166

Episode Summary

TL;DR Summary

Small brands should delay ad spend until product-market fit is proven (around 100 sales). Focus on Google and Meta ads, understanding the difference between search-driven intent and interruption-based discovery. Video ads are essential and can be created cheaply and reused across platforms. Expect technical setup hurdles with ad platforms, but the payoff is worthwhile. Fina...

8/13/25 - Episode 165

Episode Summary

In this episode, Scott Austin speaks with Sean McCarthy from Customers.ai, a customer acquisition expert, to explore how eCommerce brands can significantly grow revenue through paid ads. They present a case study of a brand that scaled from $90K to $250K in monthly revenue within months through a strategic, data-driven advertising approach.

Key Takeaways:

• Customer Acquisitio...

7/30/25 - Episode 164

Episode Summary

Stacey Blood of Blue Shark Journey explains how his brand builds customer loyalty by educating aquarium owners through personalized journeys via SMS and WhatsApp. Instead of relying on discounts, they deliver timely, helpful content based on the customer’s tank setup. This approach creates trust, boosts retention, and achieves high engagement with zero unsubscribes—ideal for p...

7/16/25 - Episode 163

Episode Summary

Scott Austin talks with Nikita Vakrushev from Aspekt about using SMS marketing for Shopify stores. Nikita explains how SMS can boost email revenue by up to 20%, and shares when and how brands should get started—starting with collecting consent and adding SMS to flows before launching campaigns. They discuss best practices, legal opt-in rules, and why Klaviyo is a solid all-in...

7/2/25 - Episode 162

Episode Summary

Host Scott Austin shares a special episode where he is interviewed on the Firing the Man podcast. Scott, the founder of Jade Puma—a Shopify-focused agency based in San Diego—discusses his extensive experience in e-commerce, having worked with businesses ranging from startups to large enterprises. He emphasizes that the success of e-commerce ventures is largely determined by the...

6/18/25 - Episode 161

Episode Summary

Scott Austin interviews Tanner Larsson to explore how AI is transforming e-commerce. They discuss how traditional SEO strategies are being disrupted by AI-driven search tools like ChatGPT, and what that means for Shopify store owners. Tanner shares insights on adapting content strategies, staying relevant in AI-generated results, and preparing for the future of shopping where...

6/4/25 - Episode 160

Episode Summary

​​​​​Host Scott Austin welcomes Alex Rossman, founder of Rossman Media, to explore the potential of TikTok Shop for Shopify merchants. Rossman, whose agency specializes in social media strategies for e-commerce brands, shares insights from his direct collaboration with TikTok, including beta testing and strategy development for TikTok Shop. The discussion covers the fundamental...

5/21/25 - Episode 159

Episode Summary

​​​​​In this episode, host Scott Austin delves into the nuanced process of selecting a brand name and corresponding domain. He emphasizes that there's no universal formula for this task, highlighting the importance of creativity and personal judgment.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Early Naming: Establishing a brand name early can transform an abstract idea into a tangible...

5/7/25 - Episode 158

Episode Summary

In Episode 158 of The Shopify Solutions Podcast, host Scott Austin speaks with Jake Levin from Inflection Growth about the evolving landscape of marketing attribution, particularly in light of changes to cookie tracking and privacy regulations.​

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding Cookies: The discussion begins with a breakdown of first-party and third-party cookies, explain...

4/23/25 - Episode 157

Episode Summary

​​In Episode 157 of the Shopify Solutions Podcast, Dylan Lam from Omirank discusses using quiz funnels to boost Shopify store conversions by up to 50%.  Quizzes build trust by asking strategic questions and recommending products based on customer responses.

Key points:
- Focus on the quiz goal first (conversion vs. expertise).
- Track quiz step completion rates.
- B...

4/9/25 - Episode 156

Episode Summary

​​In Episode 156 of the Shopify Solutions Podcast, Scott Austin discusses the strategic advantages of integrating subscription models into Shopify stores to build recurring revenue. He explains how subscriptions can enhance customer lifetime value, improve cash flow, and simplify inventory management. Additionally, subscriptions offer convenience for customers by automating reg...

3/26/25 - Episode 155

Episode Summary

​In Episode 155 of the Shopify Solutions Podcast, host Scott Austin discusses leveraging Shopify's blogging functionality to enhance SEO and drive traffic to your store. He acknowledges the evolving landscape of SEO in 2025, with AI's growing influence, yet emphasizes that SEO remains a valuable strategy. Boehm shares data from his clients, noting that while some exp...