How PopSips Uses Influencer Gifting & AI to Scale Fast
Influencer gifting doesn't have to mean endless DMs and guesswork. Andy, co-founder of PopSips and Passion Tree, shares how his team pairs AI tools with Influencer Gift Form to seed product at scale. If you're a Shopify brand sending product to creators, this one's for you.
From an RV launch to Target shelves
PopSips didn't start with fancy funding or celebrity founders. Andy and his co-founders launched their first brand, Passion Tree, by wrapping an old RV, brewing in their apartment, and hitting liquor stores door-to-door. Fast forward: they landed in Target, scaled their second brand PopSips into 700+ stores, and built a grassroots following by being different. Now they're all-in on influencer gifting as a scalable way to get product into the right hands.
Why seeding beats paid (for a startup)
"If you're a startup, every dollar counts," Andy says. "And paying influencers can feel like a casino bet." Instead of blowing budget on paid campaigns, Andy uses product seeding to let creators experience the product organically — and to identify future paid partners based on real enthusiasm.
The AI + gifting workflow
Here's how the PopSips team sends free product to hundreds of creators without the chaos:
Scrape with AI
They use Bardeen AI to scrape follower lists and build a spreadsheet of potential new influencers.
Automate outreach
Automated email outreach goes out with a link to the Influencer Gift Form.
Let Shopify handle fulfillment
The creator fills out the form, selects their product, and Shopify handles fulfillment. No DMs, no spreadsheets, no asking "what's your address?"
"We're saving so much time and getting product into the hands of creators who are actually excited about it. Some just message us saying 'I loved this!' even if they don't post — those are the ones we remember when it's time to do a real collab."
Seed hundreds of creators without the chaos
One branded link → creators pick a product and enter details → a tracked $0 Shopify order is created automatically. No spreadsheets, no enterprise contract.
Andy's takeaways
- Let go of control — not every gift results in a post, and that's okay.
- Use gifting to test brand resonance — the ones who love it will tell you.
- Automate what you can — time is your most valuable asset.
- Keep it human — personalize outreach when possible.
Want the full playbook? Read the product seeding guide.
Scale gifting like PopSips
Send free products to creators with one branded link — no spreadsheets, no back-and-forth DMs. Free to install.
Install Influencer Gift Form →