BusinessEntrepreneurshipExplicit

The Sourcing Gals

Erin Souder and Jackie Hutson

From idea to inventory 📦 Your trusted guides for sourcing, manufacturing, and scaling your product overseas. Hosted by industry experts Erin and Jackie, we help female founders launch product-based businesses without the overwhelm using our proven Smart Start Method™.

Each week, we break down:
✦ Sourcing strategies that save you time and money
✦ Manufacturing insights from real-world experience
✦ Profit-boosting tactics for product brands
✦ Founder stories and unfiltered lessons learned

Ready to Dig in Further? https://www.thesourcinggals.com/social

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27 episodes
weekly
Avg 33 min
English

Episodes 27

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#80
Yesterday · 38 min
Episode 80: How We Built Our Offshore Team (And What AI Still Can't Replace)
You're doing the editing, the emails, the social posts, the store outreach... and the actual business is waiting. In this episode of The Sourcing Gals, Erin and Jackie break down how they built a team of offshore employees who edit this podcast, run their social media, design jewelry, and support their brands. They cover what it really costs, how they find and vet people with a paid test project, what goes in the job agreement, and which roles AI has started to replace (and which ones it hasn't). If you're stretched thin and wondering whether offshore help could work for your product business, this episode walks you through the whole process from search to first paycheck.
#79
September 23 · 32 min
Episode 79: Overwhelmed? Here Are the Tools That'll Actually Save You
Recorded live from a hotel room in LA — on a tripod improvised from a roly suitcase, an upside-down trash can, and a loafer with a protein bar stuffed inside — Jackie and Erin break down every AI tool currently running their business and how differently they each use them. They cover Asana, Claude, Gemini, and more, plus how they each personally manage founder overwhelm, before revealing the real reason they're in LA: Accio (the Alibaba-owned AI sourcing tool they talk about constantly) flew them out to help build an official Sourcing Gals branded skill inside the platform.
#78
September 16 · 24 min
Episode 78: You Got the Retail PO — Now the Real Work Begins
You landed the retail PO — congrats, now the real work starts. Erin and Jackie break down what's buried in the fine print (payment terms, marketing allowances, compliance, delivery windows, chargebacks, markdown dollars, returns) and why a good sales rep can pay for itself. If you're about to fulfill your first retail PO, this is the heads-up nobody gives you before you sign.
#77
September 9 · 29 min
Episode 77: What Do We Actually Do? Pulling Back the Curtain on The Sourcing Gals
After years of talking about clients "in air quotes" without ever really explaining what they do day to day, Jackie and Erin finally pull back the curtain. They walk through every service The Sourcing Gals actually offers — from Launch (for founders with an idea who haven't gone to market yet) to Gold Glove (full-service product development through PO and delivery) to their B2B and fractional sales work with established brands — and share real client stories, including one who chose to stay small on purpose and one who wasn't ready for Gold Glove yet. They also open up about the team they've quietly built behind the two of them.
#76
September 2 · 26 min
Episode 76: "The Founder Trap: Designing for You, Not Your Customer"
Most product ideas start as a personal problem the founder needed solved — which is exactly what makes "design for your customer, not yourself" so hard to actually do. Erin and Jackie dig into the founder trap of building for your own taste instead of the market you're trying to serve, using real examples from their own brands, their Abercrombie days, and founders inside their Founders Circle. They cover how to separate brand vision from personal preference, how to filter real customer feedback from loud outliers, and how one founder's willingness to let go of her original vision turned into her biggest opportunity yet.
#75
August 26 · 29 min
Episode 75: You're Sold Out. So Why Are You Broke?
Your product is selling. The orders are coming in. So why does your bank account not show it? Erin and Jackie break down the retail math founders skip past in year one — the real difference between revenue and margin, everything that actually belongs in your true cost of goods, and why "sold out" and "profitable" are two completely different things. They also get into how much of your margin should go to marketing, why the reorder trap catches so many product founders off guard, and the one book they think every founder should read before their next production run.
#74
August 19 · 23 min
Episode 74: Manifesting Isn't Woo-Woo When You Run a Business — Here's Proof
We’re getting a little woo-woo on you in this episode. ✨ We’re talking manifestation, big dreams, trusting the universe, and what it actually looks like to work toward the things you want — even when you have absolutely no idea how they’re going to happen.
#73
August 12 · 24 min
Episode 73: Competitive Patterning: The Research Most Founders Skip (And Shouldn't)
Erin and Jackie break down competitive patterning — the systematic, research-driven version of "comp shopping" that was basically their entire job as retail merchandising interns. They walk through how to actually do it (price points, product buckets, materials, construction, and the "aspirational tier" one step above your brand), how AI now gives you a research roadmap before you even walk into the mall, and why finding a competitor who's already doing your idea is information, not a reason to quit.
#72
August 5 · 29 min
Episode 72: The Real Way to Search Alibaba (You're Probably Doing It Wrong)
Erin and Jackie record their first episode from their new podcast studio and dig into the AI tool they say they use multiple times a week: Accio, an AI sourcing assistant built on top of Alibaba. They walk through exactly how they prompt it — from a bare-bones "find me a hair clip vendor" search to a hyper-specific children's-jewelry material spec — and share a real client example where a quick Accio search turned up matching factories at a tenth of the cost of a longtime vendor's quote.
#71
July 29 · 34 min
Episode 71: How to Negotiate MOQs & FOB Pricing Like a Pro
You finally get a quote from a factory... and then the sticker shock hits. The MOQ is higher than you expected. The price doesn't fit your margin. Now what? In this episode, Erin and Jackie answer a listener's question and break down exactly how they negotiate minimum order quantities (MOQs) and FOB pricing with factories every single day. They explain what drives factory minimums, when it's worth paying more for a smaller order, how to uncover the real reason behind a quote, and why asking the right questions can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your product. Whether you're preparing for your first production run or looking to improve your margins as you scale, this episode gives you practical negotiation strategies you can start using immediately.
#70
July 22 · 33 min
Episode 70: Less Is More: The Secret to Better Factory Communication
Think more detail equals better samples? Think again. One of the biggest mistakes founders make during product development is overwhelming their factory with too much information too soon. While it feels like you're being thorough, it often has the opposite effect—slower development, missed priorities, and more sample rounds. In this episode, Erin and Jackie explain why simplifying your communication actually speeds up product development. They share the systems they've developed over 20+ years of working with overseas factories, including how to prioritize feedback, structure revision rounds, and communicate in a way factories can actually execute. If you're currently developing a product—or getting ready to—this episode could save you months of frustration.
#69
July 15 · 39 min
Episode 69: The Biggest Manufacturing Myths (That Are Costing Founders Money)
Is China always the cheapest place to manufacture? Will factories steal your idea? Should you always order the minimum quantity? If you've spent any time researching manufacturing online, you've probably heard advice that sounds convincing—but isn't always true. In this episode, Erin and Jackie play a round of Manufacturing Mythbusters, breaking down some of the biggest misconceptions founders hear about product development, sourcing, sampling, and overseas manufacturing. From production timelines to factory relationships, they explain what actually happens behind the scenes and how understanding these myths can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
#68
July 8 · 39 min
Episode 68: The Rise of Live Selling (And Why Founders Can't Ignore It)
Live selling isn't the future. It's already here. Fresh off three appearances on QVC—including one show where products sold at nearly $7,000 per minute—Jackie shares what she learned from selling live on national television and why founders of every size should be paying attention. From TikTok Shop and Instagram Live to Whatnot, Facebook Live, and QVC, Erin and Jackie break down why authentic, founder-led selling is outperforming polished marketing—and how even brand-new businesses can start building an audience today. If you've been waiting until your product is "perfect" before showing up online, this episode may change your mind.
#67
July 1 · 36 min
Episode 67: The REAL First Step to Launching a Physical Product
Most founders think their next step is finding a manufacturer. It's usually not. In this episode, Erin and Jackie introduce LAUNCH—The Sourcing Gals' strategic planning framework that helps founders validate, position, and prepare their products before spending thousands of dollars on manufacturing. Using decades of experience in retail product development, sourcing, and merchandising, they walk through the six pillars every product-based business should define before placing its first purchase order. If you've ever wondered whether you're truly ready to manufacture—or why some brands scale while others stall—this episode is for you.
#66
June 24 · 50 min
Episode 66: The Sourcing Crash Course: What We Wish Every Product Brand Knew About Sourcing
What does it actually take to launch a product brand successfully? In this special live episode, Erin and Jackie teach a Founder Crash Course for the Columbus Fashion Alliance's Launch Lab program — a community helping emerging founders turn product ideas into real businesses. Recorded in front of a room full of entrepreneurs, this conversation covers everything from finding manufacturers and building supplier relationships to negotiating costs, planning inventory, setting margins, and avoiding the expensive mistakes that derail so many founders. Along the way, Erin and Jackie answer live audience questions about apparel production, wholesale strategy, overseas manufacturing, Made in USA sourcing, trade shows, quality control, and scaling a product-based business. Whether you're still sitting on an idea or already preparing for your first production run, this episode is packed with practical advice that can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration.
#65
June 17 · 24 min
Episode 65: Before You Build a Prototype, Listen to This
One of the most common things founders say is: "I just need to find a factory to make my prototype." But what if you're not actually ready for a prototype yet? In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down one of the biggest mistakes they see product founders make: jumping into sampling before they've done the foundational work needed to create a successful product. They explain why rushing into prototyping often leads to wasted time, expensive revisions, frustrated factory relationships, and products that miss the mark entirely. If you're in the early stages of product development, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and build a much stronger foundation before you ever send a tech pack to a factory.
#64
June 10 · 43 min
Episode 64: The Mid-Year CEO Check-In: What's Working, What's Not, and What's Next
Half the year is already behind us. Before you jump into Q3 planning, holiday prep, and chasing the next big goal, there's one thing every founder should do first: stop and take inventory. In this episode, Erin and Jackie walk through their own mid-year business review and share the lessons, surprises, wins, and pivots that have shaped the first six months of the year. They discuss the massive shift The Sourcing Gals made from a primarily education-focused business into a fast-growing product development and manufacturing agency, what has worked, what hasn't, and why some of their biggest breakthroughs came from following demand instead of forcing a plan. Whether you're still in the idea stage, actively selling products, or scaling an established brand, this episode will help you reflect, reset, and build a stronger strategy for the second half of the year.
#63
June 3 · 49 min
Episode 63: Packaging That Sells: What Every Founder Gets Wrong
Most founders spend months perfecting their product—and only a few hours thinking about the packaging. That’s backwards. In this episode, Erin and Jackie sit down with packaging expert Kelley of Hidden Path Creative to unpack the role packaging plays in building trust, increasing sales, getting into retail, and creating a memorable customer experience. From direct-to-consumer brands to wholesale-ready products, Kelley shares practical advice on when to start thinking about packaging, how much to invest, what retailers expect, and the biggest mistakes founders make along the way. Whether you're launching your first product or preparing to pitch major retailers, this episode will completely change how you think about packaging.
#62
May 27 · 26 min
Episode 62: What Actually Happens on a China Sourcing Trip
This week, Erin recorded her very first solo episode — live from China. After flying overseas for a fast-moving cosmetic bag project, she takes listeners behind the scenes of what actually happens during a sourcing and product development trip, why proximity matters, and how seeing samples in person can dramatically improve both speed and quality. From factory visits and material selection to sample revisions, market research, and difficult conversations with vendors, this episode pulls back the curtain on how products really get made — and why some projects absolutely benefit from being developed on the ground. She also shares the biggest misconceptions people have about manufacturing in China, the realities of overseas production, and why communication and iteration are such a critical part of the process. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens during a sourcing trip, this episode is your backstage pass.
#61
May 20 · 48 min
Episode 61: How to Actually Get Your Product Into Retail
Most founders think getting into retail is all about finding the buyer. It’s not. In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down what it actually means to be “retail ready” — and why so many products never make it onto shelves, even if the idea itself is good. They walk through the behind-the-scenes process buyers care about most: pricing, margins, packaging, positioning, differentiation, and how your product fits within a retailer’s existing assortment. They also share how founders can strategically position themselves for wholesale growth, avoid common mistakes, and build products that are designed for retail from the very beginning. If your dream is to see your product in stores, this episode is your roadmap.

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