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/