The truth about Alibaba and modern sourcing with Isaac Hetzroni

The truth about Alibaba and modern sourcing with Isaac Hetzroni

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/] talks to Isaac Hetzroni [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-hetzroni/], a.k.a. The Sourcing Guy and Founder of Imprint Genius [https://www.linkedin.com/company/imprintgenius/]. 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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/]Isaac’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-hetzroni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-hetzroni/]  Isaac’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesourcingguy/ [https://www.instagram.com/thesourcingguy/]  Isaac’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEWoTnbF33eQUFDFo0dckQ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEWoTnbF33eQUFDFo0dckQ]  Imprint Genius’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imprintgenius/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/imprintgenius/]

Inventory, ad spend, and what it takes to scale a DTC brand with Travis Wright

Scaling an e-commerce business isn’t easy, and knowing where to focus can make all the difference.  In this episode, Izzy Rosenzweig [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/] is joined by Travis Wright [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wright-travis/], Chief Product Officer at Ecommerce Equation [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/]Travis’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wright-travis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wright-travis/]  Travis’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisecommerceequation/ [https://www.instagram.com/travisecommerceequation/]  Ecommerce Equation’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecommerceequation/ [https://www.instagram.com/ecommerceequation/]  Jay Wright’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaywrightofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/jaywrightofficial/]

The rise of Vietnam as a manufacturing hub for e-commerce

Vietnam is quickly emerging as a top sourcing destination for DTC brands — and for good reason.  Jim Kennemer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jckennemer/], founder of Cosmo Sourcing [https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosmosourcing/], 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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/]Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jckennemer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jckennemer/]  Jim’s Email: jim@cosmosourcing.com [jim@cosmosourcing.com]  Cosmo Sourcing’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosmosourcing/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosmosourcing/]

Why profitable businesses still end up cash poor with Taylor Holiday

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322/], CEO of Common Thread Collective [https://www.linkedin.com/company/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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/]Taylor’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-holiday-a169b322/]  Taylor’s X: https://x.com/TaylorHoliday [https://x.com/TaylorHoliday] Common Thread Collective: https://commonthreadco.com/ [https://commonthreadco.com/]

Simplifying global expansion for e-commerce brands with Darwish Gani

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darwish-gani/], founder and CEO of OpenBorder [https://www.openborder.com/], 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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-rosenzweig-13653846/] Darwish Gani's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darwish-gani/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darwish-gani/]  OpenBorder’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openborderglobal/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/openborderglobal/]  Darwish Gani's E-mail: darwish@openborder.com [darwish@openborder.com]