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

My guest on today's episode is John Chao, the CEO from Segments. They are an ecommerce analytics platform that helps Shopify brands uncover hidden revenue potential with automated segmentation. Many Shopify brands are under-utilizing their customer data today and aren’t able to effectively draw insights to create revenue-generating customer segments to help improve marketing ROI. You’ll learn today about how the Segments Platform offers pre-built, data intelligent segmentation and insights right-out-of-the-box. You get 1-click sync to your email marketing platform or build winning Facebook audiences and retargeting with Google.Let’s jump in and learn more about these important and actionable insights that you can take advantage of today!What You Will Learn Today…How to find hidden revenue potential with automated, profit-driving customer segments.How to get instant clarity on your key performance metrics across acquisition, activation, retention, and churn.How to map the customer journey for different segments and buyer types to understand timing, products, and device usage.Uncover upsell and cross-sell opportunities with product combos that increase repeat purchases and CLV.Links And Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeSegments <- exclusive 30-day free trialSegments Shopify AppKlaviyoPushOwlSMSBumpReConvertThank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing to listen to the show and for supporting the podcast. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.I would also be so grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show in iTunes. They’re extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and I read each and every one personally!New Strategies Each Week To Help You Build And Scale Lifetime Customer Loyalty. SUBSCRIBE HERE!Being an entrepreneur is a life of learning. All it would take is a new idea, strategy, Shopify app, or marketing platform to be the next thing you need to drive more revenue and lifetime loyalty for your Shopify store. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify and don’t miss a single episode!Proudly Sponsored By JustunoJustuno is an AI visitor conversion platform that provides intelligent lead captures, personalized website messaging, and actionable insights that help e-commerce businesses turn website clicks into customers. Learn more about how Justuno integrates with your e-commerce platform, ESP, SMS provider, and more to unify and maximize your marketing personalization efforts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Notes

My guest on today's episode is John Chao, the CEO from Segments. They are an ecommerce analytics platform that helps Shopify brands uncover hidden revenue potential with automated segmentation. 
Many Shopify brands are under-utilizing their customer data today and aren’t able to effectively draw insights to create revenue-generating customer segments to help improve marketing ROI. 
You’ll learn today about how the Segments Platform offers pre-built, data intelligent segmentation and insights right-out-of-the-box. You get 1-click sync to your email marketing platform or build winning Facebook audiences and retargeting with Google.
Let’s jump in and learn more about these important and actionable insights that you can take advantage of today!
What You Will Learn Today…
  • How to find hidden revenue potential with automated, profit-driving customer segments.
  • How to get instant clarity on your key performance metrics across acquisition, activation, retention, and churn.
  • How to map the customer journey for different segments and buyer types to understand timing, products, and device usage.
  • Uncover upsell and cross-sell opportunities with product combos that increase repeat purchases and CLV.
Links And Resources Mentioned In This Episode
Thank You For Listening
I really appreciate you choosing to listen to the show and for supporting the podcast. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
I would also be so grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show in iTunes. They’re extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and I read each and every one personally!
New Strategies Each Week To Help You Build And Scale Lifetime Customer Loyalty. SUBSCRIBE HERE!
Being an entrepreneur is a life of learning. All it would take is a new idea, strategy, Shopify app, or marketing platform to be the next thing you need to drive more revenue and lifetime loyalty for your Shopify store. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify and don’t miss a single episode!
Proudly Sponsored By Justuno
Justuno is an AI visitor conversion platform that provides intelligent lead captures, personalized website messaging, and actionable insights that help e-commerce businesses turn website clicks into customers. Learn more about how Justuno integrates with your e-commerce platform, ESP, SMS provider, and more to unify and maximize your marketing personalization efforts. 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Running a Shopify store? You already know success isn't about finding the right app—it's about knowing which strategies actually work at your specific stage of growth.

I'm Steve Hutt, and I've lived every level of the ecommerce journey. From eBay Power Seller shipping products from my garage, to co-founding and scaling VisionPros.com (an optical DTC startup) through to a successful exit, then spending 6+ years as a Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with teams at Tentree, Dr. Squatch, Bulletproof Coffee, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, MUD/WTR, Bokksu, and many more.

Here's what makes this podcast different: I've been on both sides of the table.

6+ years working inside Shopify gave me access to what's coming before most merchants know it exists. Building, scaling, and successfully exiting my own ecommerce businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination of insider access plus real operator experience gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

Since 2018, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 430 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I chat with operators, developers, and experts who share what's actually moving the needle right now—not theory, but patterns I've seen work consistently across dozens of brands at multiple stages.

Whether you're launching your first store or scaling past seven figures, every episode gives you stage-aware strategies you can implement this week. We dig into Shopify apps, digital marketing, retention tactics, AI tools, and the operational stuff that actually reduces overwhelm—while building customer loyalty that lasts.

You'll learn how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique. You'll also hear real founder stories, including lessons from my own journey building and exiting a DTC brand, plus insights from guests across 430+ episodes who've been exactly where you are.

This isn't content for content's sake. It's what you'd get sitting at a mastermind table with someone who's built, scaled, and exited—and helped hundreds of others do the same.

Ready to grow smarter, not just faster? Join thousands of founders and marketers in the eCommerce Fastlane community through our podcast, newsletter, blog, and forthcoming book "Thriving with Shopify."

Steve Hutt
DTC Founder | Podcast Host

Find Us Online
Website: eCommerceFastlane.com
Newsletter: FastlaneInsider.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shutt
X: x.com/stevenhutt
Instagram: instagram.com/ecommercefastlane
Email: steve@ecommercefastlane.com