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

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jill Liliedahl, Business Development Manager from Inventory Planner. It’s an incredible time and money optimizing solution that puts you in charge of your inventory. Sales forecasting does sound sexy but it helps to anticipate your customer demand and it’s a way to see what trends are happening in your business.You can view all of your sales trends and inventory needs in one place. Control what products to replenish at each warehouse and for all sales channels and marketplaces. Powerful insights put you in control of your inventory. It even helps you to identify overstock to help you free up needed cash by clearing out stock that is not moving.The Inventory Planner platform will allow you to take the necessary time to review your store’s inventory data, compare product lines, brands, and suppliers to see financial trends in your business.What You Will Learn Today…How sales forecasting can help your businessWhat makes a good forecastLearn how to handle forecasting for multiple sales channels or locationsHow seasonality can affect sales forecastingConsiderations when dealing with several different suppliersHow the 80-20 rule applies to inventory planning and demand Links And Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeInventory PlannerInventory Planner Shopify AppSitStayUltimate Guide To Inventory PlanningMVMT Watches Case StudyThank 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 everyone personally!Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. All it could take is a new idea, Shopify app, or marketing tactic to be the next big thing you need to drive more traffic, revenue, and lifetime loyalty for your Shopify store.^^ GROW & SCALE YOUR SHOPIFY BRAND BY SUBSCRIBING ABOVE ^^Episode SponsorThis episode was brought to you by Omnisend, makers of sophisticated omnichannel marketing automation tools for sales-driven Shopify brands that have outgrown generic email marketing platforms. Engage your customers and boost your sales with dynamic emails, text messages, web push notifications, Facebook Messenger, and retargeting ads on Facebook and Google – all from one platform.Try Omnisend for free for 14 days. Check them out at Omnisend.com and use the code “fastlane” when you signup to get an extra 50% off for the first 3 months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Notes

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jill Liliedahl, Business Development Manager from Inventory Planner. It’s an incredible time and money optimizing solution that puts you in charge of your inventory. Sales forecasting does sound sexy but it helps to anticipate your customer demand and it’s a way to see what trends are happening in your business.


You can view all of your sales trends and inventory needs in one place. Control what products to replenish at each warehouse and for all sales channels and marketplaces. Powerful insights put you in control of your inventory. It even helps you to identify overstock to help you free up needed cash by clearing out stock that is not moving.


The Inventory Planner platform will allow you to take the necessary time to review your store’s inventory data, compare product lines, brands, and suppliers to see financial trends in your business.

What You Will Learn Today…

  • How sales forecasting can help your business
  • What makes a good forecast
  • Learn how to handle forecasting for multiple sales channels or locations
  • How seasonality can affect sales forecasting
  • Considerations when dealing with several different suppliers
  • How the 80-20 rule applies to inventory planning and demand

 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 everyone personally!


Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcher, or Spotify. All it could take is a new idea, Shopify app, or marketing tactic to be the next big thing you need to drive more traffic, revenue, and lifetime loyalty for your Shopify store.

^^ GROW & SCALE YOUR SHOPIFY BRAND BY SUBSCRIBING ABOVE ^^

Episode Sponsor

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend, makers of sophisticated omnichannel marketing automation tools for sales-driven Shopify brands that have outgrown generic email marketing platforms. Engage your customers and boost your sales with dynamic emails, text messages, web push notifications, Facebook Messenger, and retargeting ads on Facebook and Google – all from one platform.


Try Omnisend for free for 14 days. Check them out at Omnisend.com and use the code “fastlane” when you signup to get an extra 50% off for the first 3 months.



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 myself to Shopify Merchant Success Manager helping 100+ brands from startup to enterprise scale, including working with the 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 and scaling my own businesses taught me what actually works when your money and reputation are on the line. That combination—insider access plus real operator experience—gives you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

Since 2016, eCommerce Fastlane has delivered over 420 episodes and more than 2 million downloads to ambitious Shopify founders and marketers. Every week, I sit down 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 cover Shopify apps and best practices, digital marketing and retention tactics, AI and automation tools, as well as operations and logistics that reduce overwhelm while building lasting customer loyalty.

You'll discover how to leverage emerging tech without losing what makes your brand unique, and you'll hear real founder stories—including lessons from my own journey and insights from 400+ industry leaders who've been exactly where you are.

This isn't content for content's sake. It's the insight you'd get sitting at a mastermind table with someone who's succeeded at every level, helped hundreds of others do the same, and has the pattern recognition to show you what actually works at your current stage.

Ready to grow smarter, not just faster? Join 30,000+ merchants 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