Happy Thursday!

In 5 minutes, you'll be learning about the following:

1. ​ElevenLabs – Cloning My Voice Using AI to Create Content on Autopilot
2. ​The Collection Page Hack That Makes You Forget You’re Shopping
3. ​​Ugly Ads, Big Results: Why Polished Creatives Are Killing Your ROAS [EVENT]
4. ​The #1 Mistake DTC Brands Make? They Gamble On Inventory Before They Know What’ll Sell.
5. Why This Founder Said “No” to Shark Tank Money and Still Built a 7-Figure Brand

What did everyone enjoy last week?

The most clicked link was ... The Shopify Growth School​

Jim Huffman, GrowthHit & Neat Apparel CEO
​(Want a friend? Let's connect on Twitter or LinkedIn)

​AI In Marketing: How 155 CMOs Are Actually Using AI in Marketing​

The wins, the misses, and the big bets marketers are making with AI in 2025.

A new State of AI in Marketing survey asked 155 senior marketers, directors, and CMOs how they’re using AI right now.

These aren’t just side experiments - these are the tools and tactics shaping multi-million-dollar campaigns.

Here’s what stood out:

• ChatGPT still leads the pack - Most marketers say it’s boosted their efficiency, but the smart teams aren’t relying on just one tool. They’re building AI “stacks” by combining ChatGPT with tools like Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and Canva AI to cover everything from writing to visuals. Think toolbox, not silver bullet.
• Content is the first big win - The clearest results so far are in content creation, optimization, and idea generation. AI isn’t replacing creative teams—it’s helping them work faster and break through creative roadblocks.
• AI saves time, not strategy - The biggest gain has been getting hours back to focus on higher-value work like campaign planning, research, and testing.
• Quality is still a hurdle - Many marketers say AI outputs can be off-brand or inaccurate. A strong editor and clear brand voice are still non-negotiable.
• Trust is the top concern - The biggest worry isn’t job loss - it’s AI-generated misinformation damaging brand credibility. In marketing, trust is currency.

The through-line? AI is a force multiplier, not a magic wand. It can make you faster. It can help you ship more. But without human oversight, creative direction, and a clear strategy, it won’t automatically make your marketing better.

👉 Get the full report here​

​Ready to Unlock Peak Focus?​

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Whether you're coding, creating, or crushing your to-do list, scientifically-optimized audio can help you find your flow state faster and stay there longer.

It’s what elite minds use to go from focused... to unstoppable.

→ Improve productivity, block out distractions

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→ ADHD mode for brains that need extra stimulation

→ Try it free for 14 days and unlock your next level

👉 Try it now and get focused in minutes​

​We're Looking for 10 Shopify Stores Ready to Scale with AI​

Work 1-on-1 with GrowthHit’s team to uncover what’s blocking sales, launch AI-powered growth tactics, and scale fast - risk-free.

Trying to break through that next revenue ceiling? Want to add $100K+ in sales before the end of the year?

We’re opening up 10 spots for our August AI Growth Sprint - an 8-week program built to help Shopify brands scale smarter using real AI-backed strategies.

This isn’t a course. It’s not a DIY YouTube rabbit hole. And it’s not some vague “done-for-you” offer that leaves you guessing.

You’ll work directly with the GrowthHit team - the same crew that scaled Neat Apparel, our sweat-proof Shopify brand, to 7 figures in 12 months. We’ve done this across 150+ DTC brands and now we’re handing you the playbook.

Expect AI-powered email flows, high-converting landing pages, smarter ad creative, and a step-by-step plan tailored to your brand.

You should apply if:

• You’re doing at least $10K/month on Shopify
• You’ve got consistent traffic (organic or paid)
• You’re ready to make bold, high-impact changes
• You’re open to coaching and want real traction
• You’re willing to share your numbers so we can get to work

And yes - there’s a 100% money-back guarantee. If you show up, implement, and don’t see results, you get your money back. No drama.

👉 Only 10 brands will be accepted into the August cohort. Apply here if you want in.

​ElevenLabs – Cloning My Voice Using AI to Create Content on Autopilot​

​

From “Jim talking into a mic” to “Jim talking anywhere, anytime, without me lifting a finger.”

Ever wish you could be in ten places at once - recording a podcast, narrating a video, reading an ad script - without actually doing it?

That’s exactly what we’ve been playing with using ElevenLabs.

This AI tool lets you create a hyper-realistic clone of your voice.

We fed it some of my own recordings and now it can generate “Jim” saying just about anything - as long as we give it a script - without me having to re-record or spend hours in post-production.

The coolest part? We used it to make an avatar voice version of me, so we can instantly create podcasts, sales videos, and narrated content without scheduling studio time.

No mic checks. No retakes. No “Oops, let’s try that again.”

And yes - you can hear it for yourself.

We’ve included a short video above so you can see (and hear) this tech in action. It’s… weirdly good. Almost unsettling. It’s me… but future me. AI Jim.

Takeaway for Shopify brands:

This isn’t just a “cool AI party trick.” For store owners and marketers, it’s a chance to scale brand voice in ways that were impossible before:

• Product videos: Narrate your catalog without spending weeks recording.
• Personalized campaigns: Send thousands of unique customer messages that sound like you.
• Rapid ad testing: Swap in new scripts to test offers, while keeping the same trusted voice.
• Evergreen content: Train your AI voice once and use it for tutorials, FAQs, or onboarding for years.

The kicker: you still own the creative direction - you write the words, AI does the talking.

Think of it as hiring a clone who works 24/7 and never loses their voice.

n the video, I also talk about The 7-Figure Shopify Blueprint and yep, we’re giving it away for free, along with access to the full class I taught.

📘 Get the complete playbook here → growthhit.com/7-figure-shopify-blueprint​

🎓 Check out the class here → shopifygrowthschool.com/class/how-to-scale-idea-to-7-figures​

​Meet GARY: The AI Dashboard That Thinks Like a Growth Marketer​

The Shopify AI Dashboard that knows your numbers, talks strategy, and helps you figure out what to do next.

We were tired of staring at five dashboards and still not knowing what to test, fix, or scale.

So we built GARY - The AI Dashboard

It pulls in all your data - Shopify, Meta, Google Ads, Klaviyo and actually understands it.

But here’s the magic: you can talk to it. Ask why your CAC jumped. Ask what’s holding back conversion. Ask what to do next. And GARY answers - like a strategist who’s already looked at your store, knows your numbers, and isn’t afraid to give direction.

It doesn’t just report. It thinks.

It flags inventory issues before you sell out. It analyzes every review and spits out customer insights, ad angles, and email subject lines.

It compares your metrics to industry benchmarks. It even remembers what your team said in the last growth meeting and turns it into to-dos.

We’ve been using it on our Shopify brand Neat Apparel and testing it with a few clients. And yeah - it’s a game changer.

GARY is still in beta. But if you want to stop guessing and start scaling smarter, we’re opening up a waitlist.

This is the dashboard we wish we had years ago. So we built it. Now we’re letting a few more people in.

👉 Join the waitlist here​

​The Newsletter That’s Turning 1M+ Pros into AI Power Users​

AI won’t replace you. But the person who knows how to use AI will.

And here's how to stay ahead with AI:

1- ​Sign up​ for Superhuman AI. The AI newsletter read by 1M+ pros.

2- Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day.

3- Become 10X more productive using AI.

​​Join 1 million pros and start learning AI​

​The Collection Page Hack That Makes You Forget You’re Shopping​

How Oh Polly made browsing feel like a cinematic brand experience, not a product grid.

You know how most product listing pages feel - static, disconnected, and transactional?

​Oh Polly just threw that playbook out the window. Instead of isolated product tiles, their collection page is alive with motion. Each model is filmed in the exact same setting, with the same lighting and background, moving naturally as if they’re part of one long, continuous scene.

Scroll down and it feels like you’re watching a live photoshoot unfold right on the page. It’s not just seamless - it’s hypnotic.

This works because it transforms shopping into an experience. The consistency in framing tricks your brain into seeing all the products as part of a bigger story. The movement keeps you engaged, and the subtle continuity between clips makes you want to see what’s next.

You’re not just browsing - you’re immersed.

The takeaway for Shopify brands:

This isn’t about fancy tech - it’s about creative direction that sells.

Oh Polly took a standard ecommerce grid and made it feel premium just by controlling the shoot environment and thinking about flow.

What makes it brilliant?

👉 It blends creative direction with conversion strategy.

👉 It turns shopping into storytelling.

👉 And it proves you don’t need a “campaign” to deliver a premium experience.

You can do the same by filming product shots in one consistent setting, matching backgrounds and lighting, and using short, looping video clips.

Done right, your PLP doesn’t just show products - it builds a vibe, tells a story, and makes customers want to stick around long enough to buy.

​The #1 Mistake DTC Brands Make? They Gamble On Inventory Before They Know What’ll Sell.​

​We acquired Neat, a sweat-proof apparel Shopify brand, in September 2023, and we’ve been documenting every win, fail, and lesson along the way here.​

We just launched 2 new Henleys with zero inventory risk. Here’s how we let customers fund the launch.

Most brands lose money before their product even ships.

Why?

They bet big on inventory before knowing what customers actually want.

This week, we launched 2 Henleys - Stone Grey & Smokey Taupe​

And took zero inventory risk.

How?

We put them on pre-order.

Pre-orders aren’t just about cash flow. They’re about:

• Knowing demand before ordering
• Creating urgency with a real scarcity trigger
• Letting customers fund your inventory
• Avoiding dead stock purgatory

In other words: more revenue, less risk.

If you’re building a brand and launching new products without pre-orders, you’re playing DTC roulette.

​The 5-Minute Newsletter That Makes Business Make Sense​

News you’ll actually want to read before your coffee gets cold.

Business news doesn't have to be dry.

​Morning Brew gives you the biggest stories in business, tech, and finance with quick wit and zero fluff.

Over 4 million professionals read it every morning because it keeps them informed, entertained, and ahead of the curve.

No jargon. No long reads. Just smart news that fits your day.

👉 Sign up free and see why everyone’s obsessed.​

​Ugly Ads, Big Results: Why Polished Creatives Are Killing Your ROAS​

Why your worst-looking ad might be your best-performing one.

Let’s talk about the ad you’re embarrassed to test.

You know the one.

• ✅ It’s a bit pixelated
• ✅ The lighting sucks
• ✅ It looks like a Craigslist photo shoot

…And yet it might crush it while your ‘best’ creative flops.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: your brand aesthetic might be getting in the way of growth.

In this class, we’ll break down why agility beats perfection when it comes to paid social and how the smartest Shopify brands are learning to flex their visual standards to win.

We’ll cover:

• Why cost-per-share might be more important than ROAS
• How UGC-style, “low-effort” ads outperform your brand-polished masterpieces
• The signals Meta’s algorithm sees (that you don’t)
• Real campaigns where ugly = undefeated
• How to rewire your creative mindset to stop cutting winners too soon

If you’re a founder or growth marketer stuck in the “brand trap,” this session will show you how to break free and scale smarter.

When:

• September 3, 12:00PM PT / 3:00PM ET

👉 Sign Up For Free Here​

​Why This Founder Said “No” to Shark Tank Money and Still Built a 7-Figure Brand ​

Would you turn down funding after being featured on Shark Tank? Eric Bandholz did.

In this episode, he breaks down how Beardbrand became one of the most iconic DTC companies 0 built on freedom, grit, and a wild Reddit strategy.

Jim talks with Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, about the raw, real story of building a DTC cult brand from scratch. Eric shares how he turned a niche grooming obsession into a 7-figure business - without funding, with help from Reddit, and by staying fiercely true to his values. It’s a founder story that throws out the rulebook.
​
​Key Topics Covered:

• Why school nearly derailed his founder path
• The power of community-led growth
• How Reddit became his early traction channel
• Getting featured on Shark Tank (and what happened next)
• Bootstrapping lessons and the real gift of staying lean
• Product expansion done right
• Why building a network is your secret growth weapon

If you believe in the power of community, conviction, and scrappy marketing - you’ll love this episode.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

​Let’s Fix What’s Blocking Your Growth​

• My Agency - GrowthHit​
• AI Growth Strategies to Sell More On Shopify - GrowthSchool​
• The Sold-Out Shopify Playbook - Get the product​
• Podcast - The Shopify Growth Show​
• Proven AI Prompts for Your Shopify Success - Get the library​
• My Book: The Growth Marketer's Playbook​

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