The Modern Supply Chain

The same DTC strategy that prints cash in one category can drown another in inventory risk. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig sits down with Jon Blair , Founder of Free to Grow CFO and former COO and CFO at Guardian Bikes . Jon breaks down the three common DTC models: high-LTV consumables, high-SKU apparel, and durable goods with little repeat purchase. Each one carries its own cash flow trap, and knowing which model you're running determines everything else about how you should manage growth. He also explains how to make risk-adjusted growth bets, why profitable brands can still run short on cash, and why lower unit costs do not always lead to better financial outcomes. In this episode, you'll learn: How the three DTC models scale differently The hidden costs behind changing suppliers How AI could change financial decision-making for DTC brands Highlights (00:00) Meet Jon Blair (04:45) Why growing brands lose sight of cash flow and profitability (06:19) The three DTC growth models and their risks (11:13) How profitable brands can still run out of cash (13:22) Financial warning signs in the data (16:00) What to consider before changing suppliers (20:35) Negotiating vendor terms (26:16) Make smarter inventory bets as you scale (30:15) How AI will make DTC brands leaner Resources : Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathon-albert-blair/ Free to Grow CFO's website: https://www.freetogrowcfo.com/

Every e-commerce founder knows supply chain decisions directly affect the bottom line. The harder part is knowing which choices protect margin, free up cash, and reduce inventory risk. In this special episode, Izzy Rosenzweig brings together e-commerce founders, operators, and supply chain experts who have made these decisions at scale. Nik Sharma , Taylor Holiday , Brian Berger , Darwish Gani , Isaac Hetzroni , Travis Wright , and Aaron Alpeter break down the inventory, fulfillment, and quality control decisions you can apply to protect margin and scale into new markets. In this episode, you'll learn: How top operators balance cost, speed, and flexibility Supply chain costs that quietly erode margins How to expand globally without overstocking Highlights (00:00) Where e-commerce brands lose margin (01:26) Profitable growth requires cash flow (03:05) Making smarter inventory bets with your capital (09:19) Expanding globally without trapping inventory (13:31) This is why you never skip quality control (18:31) Testing products faster and investing in winners (20:35) Why profitable supply chains matter for an exit Resources : Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Nik’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrniksharma/ Taylor’s LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322 Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-berger-7101aa/ Darwish’s LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/darwish-gani Isaac’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-hetzroni/ Travis’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wright-travis/ Aaron’s LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/aaron-alpeter

The wrong inventory strategy can slow down a growing brand. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig sits down with Brian Berger , Founder and CEO of Mack Weldon , to discuss how inventory decisions shape supply chain resilience. Brian shares how he built a diversified manufacturing network, managed inventory risk, and created a supply chain that could adapt as the brand expanded. Learn how to make smarter inventory bets, balance cash flow with product availability, and reduce supply chain risk as your business grows. In this episode, you'll learn: How to build flexibility into your supply chain before problems happen Why product expansion requires more than just customer demand Why omnichannel matters when building a sustainable consumer brand Highlights (00:00) Meet Brian Berger (05:16) Going all in on entrepreneurship (09:25) How D2C shifted from growth to profitability (13:06) Building a diversified supply chain (15:06) Managing product expansion and inventory risk (18:06) How flexible materials shorten lead times (20:36) Locking prices during tariff uncertainty (25:03) Brian's advice for future founders Resources : Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-berger-7101aa/ Mack Weldon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mack-weldon/ Mack Weldon's website: https://mackweldon.com/

Even a great factory can't fix bad product design. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig talks to Henrik Johansson , Co-Founder and President of Gembah , to discuss what it takes to prepare a product for manufacturing. Henrik shares how thoughtful product development, technical documentation, and early collaboration with manufacturers help brands avoid costly mistakes and bring better products to market. If you're launching a physical product, this episode provides a blueprint for getting product development right before production starts. In this episode, you'll learn: What founders can do before manufacturing to set their products up for success How prototypes should be used throughout the product development process How to structure factory relationships so you own your product design Highlights (00:00) Meet Henrik Johansson (05:04) What is a good tech pack? (09:03) Sampling problems aren't about bad factories (11:37) The factory conversation brands skip (16:54) Factories should be partners, not vendors (20:05) Where AI can't be trusted with tech packs (23:58) How to spot your next product Resources : Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Henrik's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hjohansson/ Gembah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gembah-inc/ Gembah's website: https://gembah.com/

Sourcing products has always been one of the most complex parts of building an e-commerce brand. Between finding factories, creating tech packs, and managing supplier relationships, the process is still surprisingly manual. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig talks to Anthony Sardain , Founder and CEO of Cavela . Anthony breaks down why sourcing has remained manual for so long, and how AI is starting to change that. He explains what it could mean for brands to move from idea to finished product faster than ever. In this episode, you'll learn: Why sourcing is fundamentally a data and coordination problem How AI can help brands move from idea to production faster What the future of "prompt to product" manufacturing could look like Highlights: (00:00) Meet Anthony Sardain (04:17) Why sourcing is a data problem (05:20) How AI creates better product specs (12:04) The future of prompt-to-physical product (16:20) Why Alibaba is being replaced by AI-powered sourcing (24:04) How AI could change physical product creation Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Anthony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sardain/ Cavela’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cavela/ Cavela’s website: https://cavela.com/

Everyone loves a growth story, but investors bet on businesses that actually make money. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig talks to Aaron Alpeter , Founder and CEO of Izba Group . They discuss how clear operations, smart planning, and supply chain decisions make a fast-growing brand profitable and attractive to investors. Aaron explains why the right processes, sourcing, and inventory strategies are what really prepare a DTC brand for funding or acquisition. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why profitable brands treat supply chain as a financial asset How to build operational processes that scale with your business What acquirers look for in modern e-commerce brands Highlights: (00:00) Meet Aaron Alpeter (04:28) The operational blind spot holding brands back (08:03) What to look for when choosing a manufacturer (13:58) The right time to bring in operational expertise (18:14) Lessons from major brand acquisitions (26:59) How AI will change e-commerce buying behavior (31:22) The best advice for founders just getting started Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-alpeter/ Izba Group: https://izba.co/

Every e-commerce brand wants to use AI. But most brands are still running on fragmented data, disconnected tools, and dashboards that only tell part of the story. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig talks to Maxx Blank , Co-Founder and COO of Triple Whale . They discuss why modern brands need structured data, how AI is changing the way operators run their businesses, and why the future of e-commerce will belong to lean teams using autonomous systems. If you’re building an e-commerce brand, this episode is a look at what the next generation of commerce infrastructure will require. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why agentic AI is only as good as your data How healthy ecommerce brands think about profitability today Why smaller teams will scale further with AI tools Highlights: (00:00) Meet Maxx Blank (09:52) The idea behind Triple Whale (14:45) Why profitable growth matters more than ever (18:25) Attribution, customer journeys, and better data (20:13) Why AI needs structured data (22:17) How AI agents will execute ecommerce workflows (24:10) From dashboards to autonomous operators (26:43) What ecommerce teams will look like in the future Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Maxx’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxx-blank-8886a421a/ Maxx’s Email: maxx@triplewhale.com Triple Whale’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/triple-whale/ Triple Whale’s Website: https://www.triplewhale.com/

Sourcing from Alibaba is a great starting point for most e-commerce founders. But how do you know when you’ve outgrown it? In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig talks to Isaac Hetzroni , a.k.a. The Sourcing Guy and Founder of Imprint Genius . They discuss how modern brands should think about sourcing as they scale. Isaac explains when it makes sense to work with sourcing agents, how brands should think about factory specialization, and how to build a supply chain that can support long-term growth. If you’re building a DTC brand, this episode is a playbook for scaling beyond your first supplier. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why factory specialization matters as brands scale The biggest sourcing mistakes ecommerce brands make Why quality control is a worthwhile investment for your brand Highlights: (00:00) Meet Isaac Hetzroni (06:49) Alibaba basics and when to graduate (13:53) Trading companies and scaling product lines (19:51) Quality control for every order (25:33) Diversifying beyond China (32:16) Robots and local manufacturing Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Isaac’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-hetzroni/ Isaac’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesourcingguy/ Isaac’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEWoTnbF33eQUFDFo0dckQ Imprint Genius’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imprintgenius/

Scaling an e-commerce business isn’t easy, and knowing where to focus can make all the difference. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig is joined by Travis Wright , Chief Product Officer at Ecommerce Equation , to discuss scaling strategies that drive profitability. Travis shares her experience working with top brands and explains how the right supply chain and marketing strategies lead to sustainable growth. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to scale your e-commerce brand without losing control Why aligning marketing and supply chain operations is crucial for profitability The best ways to balance cash flow and growth for long-term success Highlights: (00:00) Meet Travis Wright (05:12) Small MOQs to unlock faster growth (11:05) Tailored programs for businesses at every stage (17:46) In-house vs. agency marketing (21:41) Inventory lessons every founder must know (26:06) AI creative testing tools (28:44) When and why to expand your brand globally (36:29) AI’s role in e-commerce over the next 5 years Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Travis’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wright-travis/ Travis’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisecommerceequation/ Ecommerce Equation’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecommerceequation/ Jay Wright’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaywrightofficial/

Vietnam is quickly emerging as a top sourcing destination for DTC brands — and for good reason. Jim Kennemer , founder of Cosmo Sourcing , explains why DTC brands should consider Vietnam, how it compares to China, and the competitive advantages it offers. With years of hands-on experience, Jim shares success stories from brands that have thrived in Vietnam and offers practical advice on how to get started in the country. In this episode, you’ll learn: The key differences between sourcing in Vietnam and China The importance of tech packs in speeding up production timelines How to overcome the challenges of sourcing in Vietnam Highlights: (00:00) Meet Jim Kennemer (03:07) China vs. Vietnam, the core differences (08:48) The best product categories for Vietnam sourcing (10:35) How Vietnamese factories have evolved (14:14) Common sourcing mistakes (18:21) AI and tech packs pitfalls Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jckennemer/ Jim’s Email: jim@cosmosourcing.com Cosmo Sourcing’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosmosourcing/

E-commerce is always shifting. But one thing’s for sure, it’s no longer about growing at any cost. It’s about building a business that scales smartly and stays profitable. In this episode of The Modern Supply Chain, Taylor Holiday , CEO of Common Thread Collective , shares how modern DTC brands are evolving with AI, optimizing their P&L, and taking a fresh approach to growth. Get ready for a discussion about the future of profitable e-commerce and what brands need to do to thrive today. In this episode, you’ll learn: How AI is transforming everything from marketing to supply chains Why brands must focus on cash flow to ensure long-term success The critical role of flexible, agile supply chains in scaling profitably Highlights: (00:00) Meet Taylor Holiday (01:26) The death of the “growth at all costs” mentality (05:47) Prioritizing profitability over top-line growth (13:12) Flexible supply chains are key to sustainable growth (16:38) The game-changing role of AI in e-commerce (27:29) Is the future of e-commerce deflationary? (39:28) Predictions for e-commerce in the next 5 years Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Taylor’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322/ Taylor’s X: https://x.com/TaylorHoliday Common Thread Collective: https://commonthreadco.com/

Is your e-commerce brand ready to expand globally? It might be easier than you think. In today’s episode of The Modern Supply Chain, we sit down with Darwish Gani , founder and CEO of OpenBorder , a platform that helps brands navigate the complexities of international tax, duties, and compliance. Darwish shares insights on simplifying global expansion, reducing overhead, and scaling your brand with minimal risk. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to make international sales a growth lever for your e-commerce brand The biggest mistakes e-commerce brands make when expanding globally The surprising benefits of simplifying cross-border logistics and compliance Highlights: (00:00) Meet Darwish Gani (01:23) Darwish’s journey from e-commerce to OpenBorder (04:02) The role of international sales in scaling your brand (06:54) How to scale your business globally without increasing CAC (10:34) The shift from traditional to digital-first global expansion (13:11) Localization strategies for global brands (17:22) How OpenBorder simplifies tax and regulatory compliance (20:11) Why global expansion is essential for the future of e-commerce (22:44) Darwish’s prediction for global e-commerce in the next five years Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Darwish Gani's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darwish-gani/ OpenBorder’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openborderglobal/ Darwish Gani's E-mail: darwish@openborder.com

The world of direct-to-consumer brands is evolving rapidly. The question is no longer how to launch a brand, but how to scale one efficiently. In today’s episode of The Modern Supply Chain, we sit down with Nik Sharma , founder and CEO of Sharma Brands and widely known as the “DTC Guy.” Nik shares how modern e-commerce brands are adapting to new realities around AI, lean teams, rising costs, and changing growth strategies. In this episode, you’ll learn: How successful DTC brands scale from $1M to $100M Why performance marketing alone isn’t enough to grow in today’s market How AI and lean teams are reshaping the future of e-commerce Highlights: (00:00) Meet Nik Sharma (01:34) How Nik became known as the “DTC Guy” (05:49) The evolution of digital growth channels in e-commerce (07:10) Why modern brands are becoming leaner and more efficient (09:51) The hidden costs that destroy e-commerce profitability (11:54) Why many brands struggle between $5M and $10M in revenue (15:35) The shift from performance marketing to brand storytelling (17:56) What “performance branding” means for modern brands (23:11) How tariffs impacted brand operations (31:29) Predictions for the future of e-commerce brands Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Nik Sharma’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrniksharma/ Nik Sharma on X: https://twitter.com/mrsharma Sharma Brands: https://www.sharmabrands.com/

Logistics is deceptively simple until it breaks. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig speaks with Matt Hertz , CEO & Founder at Third Person , a 3PL matchmaking business that connects brands with logistics providers. They dive into the trends shaping the logistics industry in 2026, the forces driving these changes, such as tariffs and regulations, and what the smartest brands are doing to find the right supply chain and logistics partners. In this episode, you'll learn: How to choose the right 3PL partner to fuel your brand’s growth How the 3PL landscape has changed What sets brands apart from established players How to plan and future-proof your e-commerce brand Highlights: (00:00) Meet Matt Hertz (05:37) Choosing the right 3PL partner (12:06) Smart brands and what helped them grow (13:04) Trends to watch out for in the logistics landscape (16:06) The future of logistics and 3PL Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hertz/ Third Person LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirdpersonco/ Third Person website: https://www.thirdperson.co

Customer experience in the DTC space has evolved. By leveraging both AI precision and human care, CX can drive retention at scale. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig speaks with Eli Weiss , VP for Advocacy at Yotpo and an experienced CX leader across various DTC brands, about what is currently driving results in customer experience. They break down how brands can leverage feedback to optimize their products, what e-commerce brands can learn about CX from the hospitality industry, and why the most valuable CX moments are often human, targeted, and rare. In this episode, you'll learn: How to separate real customer signal from noise A strategic approach to creating memorable moments for customers How the best loyalty programs personalize and optimize customer behavior over time Highlights: (00:00) Meet Eli Weiss (05:30) Why brands need to look at their feedback loops (09:58) How AI is transforming CX (13:20) Unreasonable hospitality and the human touch (20:27) Creating nuanced loyalty programs (22:17) A strategic approach to balancing CAC and LTV (27:09) Building an authentic brand that stands out Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Jeremy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliweisss/ Yotpo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yotpo/ Yotpo website: http://www.yotpo.com/

Every e-commerce owner wants to scale their business, with many hoping to eventually sell. But not everyone understands why their P&L is important to making their business sustainable and sellable. In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig sits down with Jeremy Horowitz , of Let's Buy a Biz! , to talk about financial literacy for DTC businesses. Jeremy shares the key elements of financial management that many e-commerce founders miss, especially when it comes to scaling from $1M to $10M. He breaks down how owners can keep their cash flow from getting stuck, how to do a thorough P&L report, and what buyers look for when acquiring a DTC business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why business owners should start with just one hero product What growing DTC businesses should include in their P&L Why owners should look at their P&L before pulling money from the business Highlights: (00:00) Meet Izzy Rosenzweig (01:12) Meet Jeremy Horowitz (02:35) What DTC owners need to know about planning their exit (04:12) The key to scaling up to your first 10 million (07:05) The importance of knowing your P&L inside out (14:25) Growing your tech brand sustainably (18:23) What business buyers want to see in your P&L (19:48) A demonstration of a mock fashion brand’s P&L (23:26) A cash flow model for the modern supply chain (27:12) Comparing a traditional supply chain model and a modern supply chain model (37:39) What global growth will look like for DTC brands in the next five years Resources: Izzy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/ Jeremy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhorowitz1/ Let’s Buy a Biz! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/let-s-buy-a-biz/ Let’s Buy a Biz! website: https://www.letsbuyabiz.xyz/ Jeremy’s sample P&L: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18yiRetZ4pJ4DwwOMx_KmmU2NElQdJIZ_LJutA6k1Vmg/edit?gid=0#gid=0 Traditional supply chain vs. modern supply chain model: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TjfI-A4-hPmLglrpKtvadFJ90yKT_PUD/edit?gid=1345608080#gid=1345608080

Over the last 50 years, supply chain logistics have transformed dramatically. From local production and high manufacturing costs, the most successful brands have turned to tech-powered fulfillment solutions that respond to demand faster for much less. But not all businesses have unlocked the advantages of agile supply chains. This is The Modern Supply Chain, the show where we break down the modern supply chain strategies that help e-commerce brands shift from struggling to meet revenue goals to growing their business fast. Each episode, we’ll chat with industry experts who will help give you the tools and insights to take control of your supply chain. Just smarter, faster ways to keep your business moving.