The Sourcing Gals
Episodes
Episode 52: The 3 Rooms That Can Change Your Business and Your Life
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately thought, I don’t belong here?In this episode, Erin and Jackie explore the idea that the rooms you c...
Episode 51: When to Pick Up the Phone with Your Manufacturer
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders default to email for efficiency—and it works for day-to-day operations. But written communication keeps relationships transactional, w...
Episode 50: Build a Brand or License Your Idea? The Decision Framework
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most product founders assume they need to build a full brand around their idea—Instagram handle, website, inventory management, the works. But if yo...
Episode 49: When to Push Back on Factory Pricing (And When Not To)
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders fight over nickels at 500 units—but that aggressive negotiation could cost them thousands when they land their first wholesale account...
Episode 48: 10 Books That Completely Changed How We Build & Scale Businesses
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most product-based founders read business books but don't apply them strategically. Erin and Jackie share how specific books transformed their man...
Episode 47: How to Name Your Product Business
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders agonize over their brand name for months—but they're asking the wrong questions. The real issue isn't finding a "perfect&...
Episode 46: The Inventory Strategy That Saves Founders $10K+
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"Buying every SKU at the same MOQ—that's not your strategy. That's a vendor constraint." [03:57]Most product founders think hittin...
Episode 45: Why Factories “Get It Wrong” (and How to Speak Their Language)
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down one of the most overlooked reasons products go wrong in manufacturing: communication. Drawing from decades...
Episode 44: Inside SOURCING: How Founders Find the Right Factory Faster
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 43: $40K Nearshoring Mistake? The Truth About US vs Overseas Manufacturing
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many founders struggle with choosing between overseas and nearshore manufacturing without understanding the real tradeoffs. The "made in USA"...
Episode 42: When Good Products Go Bad: $20K Quality Issues That Tank Your Brand
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Quality issues can devastate even the most carefully planned product launches, costing founders thousands in remakes, shipping expedites, and lost sal...
Episode 41: From Finding Our People to Building a Movement: Our Year in Review & What’s Next
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special year-end episode of The Sourcing Gals, we reflect on what this past year has truly been about—building our business, shedding old id...
Episode 40: Product Sourcing Q&A: Real Questions Every Founder Should Be Asking
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Q&A episode, Erin and Jackie tackle the most common (and most confusing) questions from product founders—like what to send facto...
Episode 39: Are You Really Ready to Launch That Apparel Line? What Founders Get Wrong (and How to Fix It) with Amanda Rango
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 38: Free Shipping Strategy: When It Helps—and When It Hurts Your Product Business
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Free shipping can be a customer magnet—or a margin killer. In this episode, Erin and Jackie unpack when offering free shipping makes sense, how to b...
Episode 37: Product vs Packaging
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Packaging isn’t just a pretty box—it’s part of the product experience. But when you’re developing something new, should packaging come first o...
Episode 36: Think Bigger: What Happens When You Get in the Right Room
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast ScheduleThis week, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our whirlwind 36-hour trip to Washington, DC—an event that cracked open our persp...
Episode 35: Go Big or Go Home
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone says, “Launch online!”—but is e-commerce really the best first move for product founders? In this episode, we challenge the idea that y...
Episode 34: Show Me the Money: Funding Options for Product Founders
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Launching and scaling a product-based business takes capital—but where do you find it? In this episode, we explore funding strategies from business ...
Episode 33: Scaling Smarter with Samantha Gold: How Offshore Teams Transform Product Businesses
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From CEO to founder, Samantha Gold knows what it takes to scale a brand with both creativity and efficiency. She takes us behind the scenes of launchi...
Episode 32: Lab Dips & Custom Colors
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing colors for your product isn’t just fun—it’s a critical decision that impacts cost, lead time, and consistency. In this episode, we brea...
Episode 31: How We Built Our Own Brands: Behind the Scenes of Earnest HomeHow We Built Our Own Brands: Behind the Scenes of Earnest Home
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Erin takes us behind the scenes of her home goods brand, Earnest Home Co. From the early spark of inspiration to the challenges of ru...
Episode 30: IP Law - what you need to know!
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trademark and IP attorney Nuzayra Haque joins us to demystify the legal side of building a product-based business. From patents and trademarks to cont...
Episode 29: It’s here! Your fast-track to sourcing confidence
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most founders waste thousands because they start in the wrong place. In this episode, we reveal the 3 biggest early mistakes that sabotage product suc...
Episode 28: Style Trends We’re Loving: What’s Inspiring Us in Product Design Right Now
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What colors, textures, materials, and styles are catching our eye this season? In this episode, we chat about what’s inspiring us right now, what we...
Episode 27: Carlyn Bushman: On Turning Passion into Profit
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Carlyn Bushman—former corporate executive turned serial entrepreneur and founder of POP Academy. Carlyn shares her...
Episode 26: How We Built Our Own Brands: Behind the Scenes of Piper & Mint
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of our own product brands. We share what worked, what didn’t, the pivots we made along the way, and the les...
Episode 25: What We Wish More Product Founders Knew: Myths, Mindset Shifts, and Lessons from the Trenches
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If we could sit down with every product founder before they started—this is what we’d tell them. In this candid conversation, we share the biggest...
Episode 24: Fashion Industry Confessions: Real Stories of Sourcing Fails, Factory Drama, and Travel Gone Wrong
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes in the fashion industry? We’re spilling the tea. From sourcing fails to samples gone wrong to fact...
Episode 23: Live from Las Vegas: The Sourcing Gals Take the Stage
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re coming to you straight from Las Vegas! In this special live episode, we recap our experience speaking at one of the biggest fashion trade show...
Episode 22: How to Vet a Factory Without Flying Overseas
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t have to hop on a plane to find a great factory partner. In this episode, we walk you through exactly how to vet and verify factories remot...
Episode 21: Would You Rather: Product Founder Edition — The Fun Side of Sourcing Scenarios
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Viral launch with supply chain delays—or slow and steady growth? Factory ghost mid-order—or redesign your product at the last minute? In this play...
Episode 20: How to Launch a Product Without Burning Through Cash
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you invest in inventory—or validate demand first? In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of pre-selling versus producing up front, ...
Episode 19: When to Walk Away from a Product Idea
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not every product idea should make it to market—and that’s not failure, that’s strategy. In this episode, we talk about how to tell when an idea...
Episode 18: Speak It Into Reality - Why Saying Your Product Idea Out Loud Changes Everything
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever had a product idea so exciting… but kept it to yourself out of fear, doubt, or “what ifs”? In this episode, Erin and Jackie share a surpris...
Episode 17: Back That Math Up - Margin Math You Need to Know to Be Profitable
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s talk profit—because if you’re building a product-based business, you need a lot more than a small markup. In this episode, we break down h...
Episode 16: Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Launch a Product
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve been thinking about launching your own product brand but wondering if the market is too crowded or the timing isn’t right—this episode...
Episode 15: Where in the World? How to Source the Right Product at the Right Price
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that where you source your product is just as important as how you source it? Certain regions of the world specialize in different types ...
Episode 14: How Long Does It Take to Launch a Product? Understanding Real Product Timelines
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How long will this take?!” — you are not alone. Product development is a process with many moving parts, and u...
Episode 13: Get Your Product (Actually) Made with Smarter Sourcing
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on why we built Smarter Sourcing—and why this is the moment for you to finally bring your product ...
Episode 12: Plot Twist: When Life Changes Shift Your Path
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be real—business isn’t built in a vacuum. Life happens. Kids, cross-country moves, burnout, breakups, unexpected inspiration... all of it ...
Episode 11: Let’s Talk Numbers: What It Really Costs to Make a Product
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve got an amazing product idea, but how much is it actually going to cost to bring it to life? In this episode, we break down the real costs beh...
Episode 10: Who’s Your Match? Factory, Maker, Agent, or Mill?
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s giving… sourcing situationship. Let’s find your perfect production partner—without the red flags. Finding the right production partner is...
Episode 9: MOQ Drama: When your dream factory wants more units than you can stomach.
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve found the perfect factory… until they hit you with a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of 5,000 units. Meanwhile, you’re trying to start with ...
Episode 8: The Woo-Woo We Swear By
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the woo-woo tools we actually use in our daily lives and businesses—because sourcing isn’t ju...
Episode 7: Minimums, Margins & MOQ—WTF Does It All Mean?
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this jargon-busting episode of The Sourcing Gals, we break down the terms you’ll hear constantly in sourcing and manufacturing—like MOQ, COGS, ...
Episode 6: Start Small, Scale Smart: Why Less Is More in the Beginning
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Sourcing Gals, we dive into the essential first steps of launching a product-based business—with one big message: you don’t...
Episode 5: Tariffs & Duties — What They Really Mean for Your Product Business
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Sourcing Gals, Erin Souder discusses the complexities of tariffs and duties, their impact on product-based businesses, and stra...
Episode 4: How to Stay Cool (as an Elder Millennial): Navigating Trends in a Fast-Paced Environment
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From understanding your audience’s needs to exploring global influences, Erin and Jackie share insider secrets on staying stylish and ahead of the c...
Episode 3: I Have a Great Idea...Now What?! Your First Steps in Product Development
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have a brilliant product idea but not sure where to start? In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down the essential first steps to turn your inspirat...
Episode 2: Not Sourcerers… Well, Kind Of! WTF is Product Sourcing Anyway—and Why Would It Be Helpful to My Business?
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we demystify the world of sourcing—from finding suppliers to creating products that stand out. We’ll dive into why sourcing isn’...
Episode 1: A Fitch Path Friendship: Forged Between a Moose and a Maniac
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before we becameThe Sourcing Gals, we survived the ultimate crash course in retail: Abercrombie & Fitch HQ. In this episode, we’re pulling back ...
Welcome to The Sourcing Gals Podcast
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to turn your product idea into profit? Tune in to our quick teaser episode to meet Erin and Jackie—your guides to sourcing, manufacturing, and...