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 identities, and discovering the power of community for product-based founders.
We share behind-the-scenes stories from our first full year of podcasting, the transition from corporate careers into entrepreneurship, and how listening to our audience helped us uncover a major gap in the product sourcing and manufacturing space.
In This Episode, We Cover:
What it really took to build and sustain a podcast and business in year one
The emotional and professional “shedding” that defined this year (the Year of the Snake)
Letting go of corporate conditioning, scarcity thinking, and self-doubt
Why community became the most important—and unexpected—part of our work
How founders supporting founders accelerates clarity and confidence
What’s next as we move into the Year of the Horse, focused on momentum and purposeful growth
From Shedding to Momentum
This year mirrored the energy of the Snake—not breaking, but growing.
As we look ahead to the Horse, we’re shifting into forward motion, courage, and building together instead of alone.
That realization led us to our next chapter.
🤍 Introducing: The Founder’s Circle
We’re excited to announce the launch of The Founder’s Circle, a private Facebook community for product-based founders.
Inside the community:
-Monthly live Q&A calls with us
-Access to templates, scripts, and practical tools
-Ongoing discussion and support throughout the month
-A space for founders at all stages to learn from and support one another
🗓 Doors open January 1
🎤 First live Q&A: January 28
Link to Manifesting Episode of Dear Gabby
A Final Note
If you’re building a product-based business and feeling stuck, uncertain, or alone—this episode is your reminder that clarity comes faster in community. Thank you for being part of our journey this year. We can’t wait to build what’s next—with you.
In this special Q&A episode, Erin and Jackie tackle the most common (and most confusing) questions from product founders—like what to send factories, how to evaluate quotes, and when a product is truly ready for production. Get straight answers and insider tips every maker needs to hear.
In this episode of The Sourcing Gals, Erin and Jackie sit down with Amanda Rango, founder of ARD Fashion Consulting, to talk about what it really takes to build a fashion brand that’s thoughtful, strategic, and built to last.
Amanda brings a rare blend of creative direction and operational clarity to the fashion industry, helping founders move from idea to execution with intention. Together, we dive into the early decisions that shape a brand’s future—from positioning and development to scaling sustainably without losing your vision.
This conversation is especially helpful for product-based founders who feel overwhelmed by the number of decisions they’re “supposed” to get right early on—and want reassurance that clarity, not perfection, is what actually moves the needle.
How to think strategically about brand and product from day one
Common mistakes fashion founders make early—and how to avoid them
Why clarity and systems matter more than chasing trends
How founders can set themselves up for sustainable growth
The importance of aligning product, brand, and business goals
ARD Fashion Consulting Website: https://ard-consulting.com
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @ardfashionconsulting
Connect on LinkedIn: Amanda Rango
ARD Fashion Founders Checklist (mentioned in the episode)
3-Month The Sourcing Gals Intensive:
👉 https://www.thesourcinggals.com/offers/orBsjA79/checkout
Amanda Rango is the founder of ARD Fashion Consulting, where she helps emerging and established fashion brands build with purpose, structure, and long-term vision. Her work bridges creativity and strategy—guiding founders through brand development, product decisions, and operational clarity so they can grow confidently and sustainably.
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 build it into your pricing, and why Amazon’s model doesn’t work for every brand. Learn smart strategies for protecting profits while keeping customers happy.
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 or after the product is finalized? In this episode, we break down how packaging fits into the development timeline, what to prioritize early, and how to avoid costly missteps.
This week, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our whirlwind 36-hour trip to Washington, DC—an event that cracked open our perspectives, completely shifted our business strategy, and reminded us why getting in the right room changes everything.We share what it was really like to walk into a summit filled with powerhouse women—authors, founders, coaches, athletes, creators, and media leaders—and what we learned from being surrounded by women who are building multi-hyphenate, multi-revenue-stream lives on purpose. We get into the curated dinners (the highlight!), the uncomfortable-but-worth-it moments, the breakthroughs on thinking way bigger, and the unexpected clarity we each walked away with.We also talk about:• The exact question that cracked open Erin’s direction• Why women entrepreneurs should stop downplaying big dreams• The mindset shifts we’re making after being told directly, “You’re not thinking big enough”• Why you should go to the event even when it feels inconvenient, expensive, or premature• The subtle art of being in rooms where everyone is operating at a higher level• How this summit is shaping the future of The Sourcing GalsLinks We Mentioned (as promised):Keri Croft’s podcast episodeOur newsletter sign-upM.M. LaFleur If you’re building something, dreaming about something, or convincing yourself you’re “not ready” yet… this episode is your nudge to go bigger, think bolder, and get in the room where your next level lives.
Everyone says, “Launch online!”—but is e-commerce really the best first move for product founders? In this episode, we challenge the idea that you have to start with a website. We’ll explore when it makes sense to go big with e-commerce, and when testing, wholesale, or pop-ups might be smarter for your bottom line.
Enjoy 10% off Accio.com with code THESOURCINGGALS
Launching and scaling a product-based business takes capital—but where do you find it? In this episode, we explore funding strategies from business bank accounts like Mercury to crowdfunding platforms, credit cards, grants for women-owned businesses, and more.
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 launching Motette, her top-rated children’s pajama brand, and shares how offshore teams through Atlas Row are helping founders grow smarter without burning out. Packed with actionable advice and real-world stories, this episode will inspire you to think differently about scaling.
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 break down what lab dips are, why brands request them, and the trade-offs of creating custom colors versus sticking with stock options.
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 running solo, she shares what worked, what didn’t, and why she ultimately chose to close shop. It’s a candid, real-world founder story about balancing creativity, growth, and sustainability.
Trademark and IP attorney Nuzayra Haque joins us to demystify the legal side of building a product-based business. From patents and trademarks to contracts and red flags with overseas manufacturers, she breaks down what founders really need to know—without the legal jargon. Whether you’re just starting or ready to scale, this episode will help you protect what you’ve worked so hard to build.
Most founders waste thousands because they start in the wrong place. In this episode, we reveal the 3 biggest early mistakes that sabotage product success — and how to avoid them with the insider foundations big brands never skip.
👉 Join The Smart Start Method and turn your idea into a profit-ready plan in just 4 weeks. Limited time: $67 (regular $97).
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’re seeing in the market, and how product founders can stay inspired and on-trend—without chasing every fad.
In this episode, we sit down with Carlyn Bushman—former corporate executive turned serial entrepreneur and founder of POP Academy. Carlyn shares her journey of building businesses from the ground up, the most common mistakes she sees women make when starting out, and her best advice for creating sustainable revenue streams. If you’re ready to step into your passion and grow smarter, this conversation is for you.
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 lessons we’ve learned from building product-based businesses from scratch. If you want a real-world look at what it’s like to launch and grow a brand—this is it.
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 myths, mindset shifts, and practical lessons we wish more founders understood before diving into product-based businesses. Real talk, hard truths, and a lot of encouragement—because knowing what to expect makes all the difference.
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 factory banquets we’ll never forget, this episode is packed with our funniest, most cringe-worthy moments from years in the industry. Tune in for a lighthearted look at the very real side of product development.
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 shows, share behind-the-scenes moments from walking the show floor, and reflect on how far The Sourcing Gals podcast has come in such a short time. From big stages to big wins, this is a celebration of growth, grit, and the incredible community that’s been building around us.
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 remotely—plus red flags to watch out for and questions to ask before committing. Learn how to build trust, request samples, and start relationships the smart way, no airfare required.