The Story of a Brand

Mend - Closing the Gap Between Healing and Nutrition Oct 25, 2024

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Eziah Syed, Co-founder and CEO of MEND, to talk about his inspiring journey and mission to revolutionize healthcare through nutrition.

Eziah shared deeply personal stories that fueled his passion for creating a brand focused on healing, both physically and emotionally. We dive into the innovative approach MEND is taking by merging clinical nutrition with behavioral science and the enormous impact it's having on patients, athletes, and the healthcare industry as a whole.

We also explore some of the biggest challenges in healthcare today, why prevention is critical, and how MEND gives doctors new tools to improve outcomes.

Plus, Eziah shares insights on balancing innovation with execution, the importance of micro-habits for personal wellness, and his thoughts on staying mission-driven.

Key Moments:

* The personal story behind MEND’s mission to revolutionize healing

* How MEND’s clinical-grade products are transforming patient recovery

* The gap in traditional medicine and the role of nutrition in healing

* Insights into balancing innovation with operational discipline in startups

* The importance of micro-habits for personal wellness and resilience

Join us in listening to this powerful episode and discover how MEND is reshaping the future of healthcare!

For more on Mend, visit: https://mend.me/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

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Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

The Peachie Spoon - The Blood Sugar-Friendly Protein Powder Oct 11, 2024

In today’s episode, Ramon Vela interviews Meredith Mann, the Founder of The Peachie Spoon. We discussed her journey of creating her health-conscious brand and how she turned a personal wellness breakthrough into a thriving business.

From managing blood sugar through balanced smoothies to launching her own protein powder, Meredith shared the passion and intention behind everything she creates. Her story of overcoming health struggles and her dedication to helping others “feel their best” made this an inspiring conversation.

Meredith also opened up about developing her protein powder, ensuring it’s free from unnecessary fillers while maintaining great taste and quality. Her approach to wellness is refreshing—focusing on nourishing the body without obsession and making healthy living easy for everyone.

Whether you're interested in health, entrepreneurship, or simply want to feel better, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Key moments from the interview:

* Meredith’s personal wellness journey and how it led to creating The Peachie Spoon

* How balancing blood sugar with protein-packed smoothies changed her life

* The importance of creating products with integrity and transparency

* Challenges and lessons learned in developing her protein powder

* Tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with food and simplifying wellness

Whether you're interested in health, entrepreneurship, or simply want to feel better, you won’t want to miss this episode.

For more on The Peachie Spoon, visit: https://thepeachiespoon.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

Augmentum Media - Build Authentic Influencer Partnerships That Drive Results Oct 10, 2024

In today’s episode, Ramon Vela interviews Aditya Mahapatra and Sambhav Chadha, Co-Founders of Augmentum Media. We revisited their incredible journey of building a digital marketing agency specializing in health and wellness brand influencer programs.

It was fascinating to catch up with them two years after our initial conversation and see how much they’ve evolved. We dove deep into the challenges and strategies behind influencer marketing, especially in the health and wellness space.

Aditya and Sambhav have developed a unique approach to influencer seeding, affiliate marketing, and paid partnerships. They are focused on driving genuine, authentic collaborations that yield tangible results for brands. Their passion for health and wellness and expertise in the influencer landscape make for an inspiring listen.

Key moments from the interview:

* The importance of building authentic, long-term relationships with influencers

* How influencer seeding helps brands find the right ambassadors for their products

* Scaling from seeding to affiliate programs to boost brand awareness and customer acquisition

* Why performance influencer marketing is the future of the industry

* Tips for leveraging influencer marketing to reduce costs in paid media

Join us for this insightful episode as Aditya and Sambhav share their experiences, strategies, and predictions for the future of influencer marketing in the health and wellness sector!

For more on Augmentum Media, visit: https://www.augmentum-media.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for listeners of The Story of a Brand Podcast. Start today! Visit the link above.

Strategic Brand Investments - From Ideas to Action: Mastering Brand Execution Oct 09, 2024

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, interviews Eric Malka, Co-founder of The Art of Shaving and now leading Strategic Brand Investments.

Eric’s journey from starting a small business to building an iconic brand is filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and brand leaders alike. His insights on intellectual property, execution, and grit will leave you ready to take your business to the next level.

In our conversation, Eric shares practical advice on building a brand with long-term value, staying close to your customers, and the challenges of scaling a business. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone!

Key Moments:

* The importance of building intellectual property for creating lasting brand value.

* Why execution is critical and how to turn great ideas into actionable steps.

* The role of grit and resilience in overcoming obstacles on the path to success.

* How Eric used his brand’s retail store as a customer lab to gain insights and grow the brand.

* The difference between being prudent and risk-averse as an entrepreneur.

Join us for this inspiring conversation and discover actionable insights that can help you grow and strengthen your brand!

For more on Strategic Brand Investments, visit: https://www.strategicbrandinvestments.com/

To purchase his new book, “On the Razor's Edge: The Story of The Art of Shaving,” visit Amazon.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Celliant - The Power of Infrared-emitting Textiles Oct 08, 2024

In today’s episode, Ramon Vela interviews Seth Casden, Co-founder and CEO of Celliant and Hologenix, LLC, the makers of Celliant. Seth's journey involves perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering belief in his vision.

We dive deep into the fascinating world of infrared-emitting textiles and explore how this technology can enhance performance, recovery, and even improve sleep.

In this episode, Seth and I discuss not only the groundbreaking science behind Celliant's technology, but he opens up about the challenges of building a new market and the lessons learned from over 20 years of commitment to making a difference.

Whether you're interested in how infrared works, are curious about what it takes to stay motivated for over two decades, or just want to hear about an inspiring founder's journey, you won't want to miss this one.

Key Moments:

* Seth shares a powerful story of resilience when Celliant almost had to close its doors in 2015 and how an investor's belief helped them continue.

* A deep dive into the science of infrared-emitting textiles and how they enhance circulation, energy levels, and recovery.

* The importance of staying committed and the mindset required for pushing through tough times as an entrepreneur.

* Seth's thoughts on balancing family life while pursuing a high-risk entrepreneurial venture.

* How Celliant focused on partnerships with leading brands rather than creating its own consumer brand.

Join us as we explore Seth's journey, the technology that powers Celliant, and the lessons that apply to anyone striving to make an impact. Listen in and let Seth's story inspire you to keep pushing, no matter the obstacles!

For more on Celliant, visit: https://celliant.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

BDBC - Unlocking the Power of Affiliate-Driven Content Oct 03, 2024

In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brad Bennett, the founder of BDBC.

Brad’s company operates in the fascinating space of PR and affiliate marketing, helping brands not only secure valuable press placements but also track real, measurable results from these efforts.

We explore what it takes to succeed in this industry, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and how affiliate marketing has transformed the digital publishing landscape.

Here are some of the key moments from our conversation:

* Brad shares the importance of gratitude and resilience in entrepreneurship, emphasizing how he navigated imposter syndrome.

* We discuss how BDBC blends PR with affiliate marketing to drive direct sales for clients while maintaining authentic brand representation.

* Brad explains the shift in editorial decisions, where content is often driven by monetization strategies rather than pure editorial interests.

* He highlights the importance of setting realistic client expectations and ensuring transparency in PR efforts.

* We explore how affiliate marketing is essential for brands seeking coverage in today's digital landscape, especially in top-tier publications.

Join us in listening to this insightful episode and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving PR and marketing industry.

For more on BDBC, visit: https://bdbc.co/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret is shared by fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

Compartes - Behind the Art & Business of Handcrafted Chocolate Oct 01, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I sit down with Jonathan Grahm, the creative force behind Compartes, the artisanal chocolate brand beloved by celebrities and foodies alike.

With over 75 years of history, Compartes has evolved into a unique combination of craftsmanship and artistry, delivering bold flavors like avocado toast chocolate bars and decadent truffles. Jonathan shares the journey of revamping his family business, turning it into a modern-day sensation while staying true to traditional chocolate-making techniques.

We dive deep into Jonathan’s passion for innovation, how he brings LA’s vibrant culture into every chocolate bar, and what it’s like being an artist in the world of chocolate. Whether creating a unique Diwali collection or crafting chocolates for the Oscars, Jonathan’s story is one of creativity, dedication, and love for his craft.

Key Moments:

* The Visit from Mindy Grossman: How a meeting with the CEO of HSN helped catapult Compartes to new heights.

* Innovation in Every Bite: Jonathan’s passion for creating unique flavors like avocado toast and coffee-donut bars.

* The Heart of the Business: Why Jonathan is hands-on in everything from chocolate-making to shipping orders.

* Slow and Steady Wins the Race: How Jonathan’s “slow and steady” approach to business has helped him navigate challenges and build a thriving brand.

* Corporate Gifting Revolution: The game-changing success of customized chocolates for brands like Louis Vuitton and American Airlines.

Join us in listening to this fascinating conversation with a true chocolate visionary!

For more on Compartes, visit: https://compartes.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for listeners of The Story of a Brand Podcast. Start today! Visit the link above.

Good Clean Love - Unlocking the Secrets of Vaginal Health and Wellness Sep 26, 2024

Today, Rose Hamilton, founder of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Wendy Strgar, the founder of Good Clean Love—a brand leading the charge in women’s health innovation.

Wendy’s passion for women’s wellness is truly inspiring, and she shared some groundbreaking insights on how vaginal health is intricately linked to overall well-being. Our conversation touched on everything from the importance of the vaginal microbiome to the challenges women face in getting proper care.

In this episode, Wendy opens up about her journey, the inspiration behind Good Clean Love, and the innovative steps her company is taking to improve diagnostics and treatment options for women.

Whether you’re in the consumer goods industry or simply interested in women’s health, this episode is packed with valuable information and actionable insights that you won’t want to miss.

**Key Moments:**

- Wendy explains the critical role of the vaginal microbiome and its connection to overall health.

- Discussion on why so many women are misdiagnosed with vaginal health issues and how this can be improved.

- Insight into how Good Clean Love is pioneering safer, more effective products for women’s health.

- The innovative work of Vaginal Biome Science, Wendy’s spin-off company, and its impact on diagnostics.

- Wendy’s advice for consumer brand decision-makers on how to better serve women’s health needs.

Join us in listening to this eye-opening episode and discover how you can make a difference in women’s health and wellness. Let’s dive into this important conversation!

For more on Good Clean Love, visit: https://goodcleanlove.com/

For more on Vaginal Biome Science, visit: https://www.vaginalbiomescience.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Skinfix - Healing Skin, Changing Lives Sep 22, 2024

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy Gordinier, the incredible founder of Skinfix.

We dive deep into her journey of taking a century-old balm formula and transforming it into a brand that not only heals but also changes lives. Amy’s passion for creating products backed by clinical efficacy and sustainability shines through, making Skinfix a brand you can trust.

From the challenges of entrepreneurship to building a brand that balances both clean and clinical formulas, Amy shares her inspiring story of growth, resilience, and commitment to skin health.

Here’s what you’ll learn from this insightful conversation:

* How Amy’s passion for clean, clinically-backed skincare led to Skinfix’s success.

* The importance of clinical trials and dermatologists backing in proving the efficacy of products.

* The challenges and triumphs of transitioning from founder to CEO and how Amy embraced professional leadership for growth.

* Why sustainability is a core value for Skinfix and how it’s recognized as a "Planet Aware" brand at Sephora.

* The significance of slow and steady growth in building a brand with longevity.

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this engaging episode and learning how Skinfix continues to make waves in the beauty industry by prioritizing skin health and sustainability!

For more on Skinfix, visit: https://skinfix.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What is the secret shared by fast-growing Health & Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a complimentary "influencer strategy plan session" that you own whether you utilize Augmentum or use in-house. Visit our unique link above.

Habitat Partners - What Investors Want: Building a Fundable Brand Sep 20, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, Ramon Vela speaks with Daniel Faierman, Partner at Habitat Partners and former PepsiCo executive.

Daniel shares insights on what makes a successful CPG business, from strong gross margins to product and value proposition differentiation. He also dives deep into the challenges entrepreneurs face today and how Habitat Partners is helping brands thrive despite market pressures. His expertise in the industry's operational and investment sides offers valuable advice for startups and established brands alike.

Key Takeaways:

* The importance of gross margins in the early stages of a CPG business

* Why a differentiated product and value proposition is critical to success

* How Habitat Partners provides strategic value through Red Antler, their creative agency roots

* Balancing growth and profitability in today’s challenging economic environment

* Daniel’s advice for entrepreneurs: creativity, cashflow management, and knowing when to pivot

Join us in listening to this insightful conversation with Daniel Faierman!

For more on Habitat Partners, visit: https://www.habitatpartners.co/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline US - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Patchology - The Power of Emotional Connection in Beauty Sep 18, 2024

In this episode, I chat with Chris Hobson, the founder of Patchology and CEO of Rare Beauty Brands.

Chris shares his journey from launching Patchology with a focus on innovative skincare solutions to expanding his vision with Rare Beauty Brands. His entrepreneurial wisdom and insights into building successful beauty brands offer a wealth of knowledge for anyone navigating the CPG space.

Chris discusses how Patchology evolved from a tech-driven idea to a beloved brand that delivers moments of joy through self-care. He also dives into the challenges of blending creativity with discipline in building a brand and how listening to consumers shaped Patchology’s growth. His reflections on entrepreneurship are truly inspiring.

Key Takeaways:

- How Patchology’s focus shifted from functional benefits to emotional connections with customers

- The importance of blending discipline with creativity in brand building

- How Patchology adapted during the pandemic to grow its direct-to-consumer business

- The value of testing new ideas through direct customer interactions

- Chris’s passion for mentoring through the Lift Beauty Accelerator

Join us in listening to this insightful conversation with Chris Hobson!

For more on Patchology, visit: https://www.patchology.com/

For more on Rare Beauty Brands, visit: https://rarebeautybrands.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

Brez - The Healthier Alternative to Social Drinking Sep 13, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I sit down with Aaron Nosbisch, founder and CEO of Brez, to explore the incredible journey behind his innovative cannabis beverage brand.

Aaron opens up about the challenges and triumphs of building a product that provides an enjoyable, alcohol-free alternative and delivers on a mission to help people feel good without the usual downsides. His insights into entrepreneurship, wellness, and the power of making meaningful connections are inspiring and relatable for anyone navigating their own journey.

We also explore Aaron’s personal story of perseverance, where he reflects on the importance of support networks, the entrepreneurial hustle, and how gratitude has shaped his life and business. Whether you’re curious about the cannabis beverage industry or looking for ways to foster a healthy, balanced lifestyle, Aaron’s thoughtful perspective is sure to resonate.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Aaron shares how his wife’s words of affirmation helped him through moments of self-doubt and stress.

- Insight into the challenges of marketing cannabis products in an industry with many advertising roadblocks.

- The unique journey of scaling Brez as a direct-to-consumer cannabis beverage brand, offering a healthier alternative to alcohol.

- A look at the powerful role of lion’s mane and other ingredients in Brez, making it a smarter, social drink option.

- Aaron’s deep reflections on why feeling good doesn’t have to come with negative consequences and how Brez changes how we think about social drinking.

Join us in listening to this episode and discover how Aaron is changing the game with Brez, offering a new way to relax, connect, and feel good without compromise.

For more on Brez, visit: https://www.drinkbrez.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Supergut - The Science of Gut Health: Building a Healthier You Sep 11, 2024

In this insightful episode, Rose Hamilton, founder of Compass Rose Ventures, welcomes back Marc Washington, the brilliant founder and CEO of Supergut, a gut health nutrition company revolutionizing the wellness space.

Marc shares the deeply personal motivation behind Supergut and his mission to create science-backed, functional nutrition products that improve gut health, help with appetite control, and promote overall metabolic well-being.

His journey from being a health and wellness executive to a passionate entrepreneur is both inspiring and informative as he dives into the challenges and triumphs of building a brand that is both functional and enjoyable.

We also explore the fascinating connection between gut health and the body’s natural ability to produce satiety hormones like GLP-1. Marc explains how Supergut offers a natural, prebiotic-packed solution to help consumers stay healthier without relying on pharmaceuticals.

Whether you’re interested in nutrition, health innovation, or entrepreneurship, Marc’s insights will leave you thinking about your gut health in a whole new way!

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Marc’s personal story of loss and how it ignited his passion to create Supergut. The science behind prebiotics and how they naturally enhance gut health and metabolic function.

- How the “Ozempic era” opened doors for Supergut to educate consumers about GLP-1 hormones.

- The importance of taste and convenience in making Supergut a sustainable part of consumers’ lives.

- Marc’s advice on resilience and perseverance for entrepreneurs building impactful brands.

Join us for this enlightening episode with Marc Washington as we explore the science of gut health, the power of functional nutrition, and the journey of entrepreneurship. You won't want to miss it!

For more on Supergut, visit: https://www.supergut.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What is the secret shared by fast-growing Health & Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a complimentary "influencer strategy plan session" that you own whether you utilize Augmentum or use in-house. Visit our unique link above.

Anyday - Turning Your Microwave into a Gourmet Kitchen Tool Aug 27, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I have an inspiring conversation with Steph Chen, the Founder of Anyday.

Steph shared the incredible journey behind Anyday’s innovative cookware that transforms how we think about microwave cooking.

From her experience working at Eat Just to collaborating with renowned chefs like David Chang, Steph's passion for food and convenience shines through in her groundbreaking product, making cooking faster, healthier, and easier.

Steph opened up about the challenges of launching Anyday, including the skepticism around microwave cooking and the importance of conviction in her vision. She also shared insightful lessons learned as an entrepreneur, offering valuable advice for anyone looking to turn their passion into a thriving business.

This episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom for food enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Steph shares how her previous experiences shaped her journey to creating Anyday.

- The moment Steph discovered the potential of microwave cooking and turned it into a business opportunity.

- The challenges of building consumer trust in a new product category.

- Collaborating with David Chang on how it influenced Anyday’s success.

- Steph’s advice on conviction, leadership, and empowering your team.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Steph Chen, as she takes us through her entrepreneurial journey and the innovations behind Anyday. Whether you're curious about microwave cooking or looking for inspiration as a business owner, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!

For more on Anyday, visit: https://cookanyday.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗣𝗚 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, or Build brand communities and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline USA - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Commando - How Commando Redefined Intimate Apparel Aug 13, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I interview Kerry O’Brien, CEO, Founder, Head Designer, and the visionary behind Commando.

Kerry shared her journey from working in corporate communications to revolutionizing the intimate apparel industry with her innovative approach to fabrics and design. We discussed how her Vermont roots and entrepreneurial spirit shaped her path, leading her to create a brand that prioritizes comfort, confidence, and quality above all.

In this interview, she opens up about the challenges she faced in bringing Commando to life, including the early struggles of introducing her ideas to the market and the bold decisions that helped the brand grow into a beloved name in fashion.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Kerry shares how her Vermont upbringing and corporate background influenced the creation of Commando.

- The pivotal moment when she decided to leave her corporate job after September 11th to pursue her passion for fashion.

- The innovative approach to fabrics that sets Commando apart in the intimate apparel industry.

- The challenges of launching a brand in a highly competitive market and how she overcame them.

- Kerry’s advice for entrepreneurs: the importance of asking for help and staying true to your vision.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Kerry O’Brien as she shares her entrepreneurial journey, offering lessons and inspiration to anyone looking to turn their passion into a successful business.

Don’t miss out on this fascinating conversation!

For more on Commando, visit: https://www.wearcommando.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

HexClad - Gordon Ramsay’s Favorite: The Story of HexClad & Danny Winer Aug 08, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I had an incredible conversation with Danny Winer, Co-Founder and CEO of Hexclad.

Danny shared the remarkable journey of Hexclad, from the innovative idea of creating hybrid cookware to becoming a leading brand in the kitchenware industry. We explored his challenges, the importance of perseverance, and the unique technology behind Hexclad's products, which make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

Danny's story is one of resilience, innovation, and passion for cooking. He opened up about the pivotal moments that shaped Hexclad, including his partnership with Gordon Ramsay and the shift from a failing juicer business to the successful launch of Hexclad.

Key Moments:

- Danny discusses the transition from a failing juicer business to founding Hexclad.

- The unique hybrid technology that sets Hexclad cookware apart from the competition.

- The importance of vertical integration in maintaining product quality and innovation.

- Insights into the partnership with Gordon Ramsay and its impact on Hexclad's growth.

- Danny's advice for entrepreneurs on handling failures and pivoting towards success.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Danny Winer as he shares the story behind Hexclad and offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to innovate and succeed in their business ventures. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation!

For more on HexClad, visit: https://hexclad.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline USA - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

HexClad - Gordon Ramsay’s Favorite: The Story of HexClad & Danny Winer Aug 08, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I had an incredible conversation with Danny Winer, Co-Founder and CEO of Hexclad.

Danny shared the remarkable journey of Hexclad, from the innovative idea of creating hybrid cookware to becoming a leading brand in the kitchenware industry. We explored his challenges, the importance of perseverance, and the unique technology behind Hexclad's products, which make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

Danny's story is one of resilience, innovation, and passion for cooking. He opened up about the pivotal moments that shaped Hexclad, including his partnership with Gordon Ramsay and the shift from a failing juicer business to the successful launch of Hexclad.

Key Moments:

- Danny discusses the transition from a failing juicer business to founding Hexclad.

- The unique hybrid technology that sets Hexclad cookware apart from the competition.

- The importance of vertical integration in maintaining product quality and innovation.

- Insights into the partnership with Gordon Ramsay and its impact on Hexclad's growth.

- Danny's advice for entrepreneurs on handling failures and pivoting towards success.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Danny Winer as he shares the story behind Hexclad and offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to innovate and succeed in their business ventures. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation!

For more on HexClad, visit: https://hexclad.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline USA - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Fresh Press Farms - Pioneering Sustainable, Heart Healthy Olive Oil Aug 06, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I interview Ciriaco Chavez, Director of Agriculture and Innovation, and Fredric Lebourg, CEO of Fresh Press Farms.

In this episode, we delve into Fresh Press Farms' incredible journey, exploring their innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and their passion for producing high-quality olive oil and other products.

We discuss the challenges they faced in growing olive trees in Georgia's unique climate, the importance of vertical integration, and their commitment to sustainability. Fredric and Ciriaco share insightful stories about the growth of their business, the development of new products like Sunflower oil and Peach Cider Vinegar, and their vision for the future of Fresh Press Farms.

Key Moments in the Interview:

- The innovative methods used to grow olives sustainably in Georgia's climate.

- The importance of vertical integration in maintaining product quality and trust.

- The development and benefits of their high polyphenol "Pure Gold" olive oil.

- Insights into their new product, peach cider vinegar, and its market impact.

- The exciting news about expanding into 5,000 stores, including a new chain in Minnesota.

Join us in listening to this enlightening episode and get inspired by the passion and dedication behind Fresh Press Farms.

For more on Fresh Press Farms, visit: https://freshpressfarms.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

Heali Medical - Fast-Acting Relief: Inside Heali Medical's Innovations Aug 02, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, I interview Heather Sloan and Enwei Li, the innovative co-founders of Heali Medical. They shared their journey of creating Heali patches, a product born out of their combined expertise in chiropractic care and Chinese medicine.

Heather and Enwei discussed the challenges they faced in bringing their unique product to market, the lessons they learned along the way, and the role of magnesium in their formulations.

They also highlighted the importance of market awareness and the support of a strong community in their entrepreneurial journey.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in health, wellness, and innovative product development.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Heather shares the story of how Floyd Mayweather’s positive feedback boosted their confidence in Heali patches.

- The duo explains the critical role of magnesium in their products for pain relief and recovery.

- Enwei discusses the influence of Chinese medicine on their product design and the integration of natural ingredients.

- Heather and Enwei talk about the specific challenges of market awareness and the importance of community support.

- Insights into their new product developments focused on women’s health and their exciting partnership with Walmart.

Join me, Ramon Vela, Heather Sloan, and Enwei Li as we explore the science and passion behind Heali Medical.

Whether you’re an athlete, an expecting mother, or someone seeking natural pain relief solutions, this conversation is a must-listen!

For more on Heali Medical, visit: https://www.healimedical.com/en-us

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What is the secret shared by fast-growing Health & Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a complimentary 30-minute "influencer strategy plan session." Visit our unique link above.

Rebalance Health - Secrets to Better Sleep and Hormone Balance Aug 01, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I interview Justin Hai, the visionary Founder and CEO of Rebalance Health.

Justin shares the compelling story of how a personal health crisis involving his wife led him to explore the intricate connections between cortisol, sleep, and overall well-being.

His journey from understanding cortisol’s impact on health to developing a groundbreaking product that addresses these issues is truly inspiring. Justin's insights into how modern lifestyles disrupt our natural rhythms and the role technology plays in this disruption are both eye-opening and practical.

Justin’s approach to health is holistic, focusing not just on products but on lifestyle changes that can significantly improve quality of life. This episode is packed with valuable information, whether you're struggling with sleep, managing stress, or looking for natural ways to balance your hormones.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Justin shares the personal story of his wife's illness and how it inspired the creation of Rebalance Health.

- The critical role cortisol plays in our sleep cycles and overall health.

- Insights into the 104-women study and the remarkable results regarding menopause symptoms.

- The impact of technology on our natural circadian rhythms and how to mitigate its effects.

- Practical advice on achieving uninterrupted sleep and the importance of lifestyle changes alongside using Rebalance Health products.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Justin Hai, as we discuss the science behind cortisol and its profound effects on health. Discover how Rebalance Health can help you achieve better sleep and a more balanced life. Whether you’re dealing with menopause, stress, or just looking to improve your overall well-being, this conversation is a must-listen!

For more on Rebalance Health, visit: https://rebalancehealth.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit link above.

Shopline USA - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Clutch Affiliate - Unlocking the Secrets of Affiliate Marketing Jul 31, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, I interview Kim Biddle, the dynamic Co-founder of Clutch Affiliate.

Kim brings a wealth of experience and a refreshing perspective on affiliate marketing, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. We delved into her journey from influencer marketing to founding Clutch Affiliate and her passion for creating genuine, value-driven relationships with her clients.

Kim’s approach to affiliate marketing is rooted in authenticity and community-building. She emphasizes the importance of having a solid, user-friendly website before launching an affiliate program and the need for realistic expectations regarding the timeline and effort required for success.

Her philosophy is all about nurturing relationships and ensuring that every step taken adds real value to the client's business. This episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking insights that can help entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey.

Key Moments in the Podcast:

- Kim shares her personal journey from influencer marketing to Co-founding Clutch Affiliate.

- The difference between influencers and affiliates and how these roles can overlap.

- Essential steps for starting an affiliate program, including the importance of a seamless customer journey.

- The value of micro-influencers and why their captive audiences are often more effective.

- How to determine if affiliate marketing is the right strategy for your business and realistic expectations for outcomes.

Join me, Ramon Vela, and Kim Biddle as we discuss the nuances of affiliate marketing. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, Kim’s insights are sure to provide valuable guidance.

For more on Clutch Affiliate, visit: https://www.clutchaffiliate.co/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

A Bar Above - Elevating the Art of Cocktails with AI Jul 24, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, host Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, interviews Julia Tunstall, the Co-founder and CEO of A Bar Above.

Julia shares her fascinating journey of building a company dedicated to the art of cocktails, from the early days of education and content creation to the successful launch of their premium barware line.

Throughout the conversation, Julia offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and the strategic use of AI in business.

Julia and her husband, Chris, started A Bar Above with a passion for craft cocktails and a mission to make high-quality bartending education accessible to everyone. Their story is one of perseverance, creativity, and community engagement. Julia's experience and wisdom inspire listeners and provide practical advice for navigating the challenges of building a brand.

Highlights from the Episode:

- The Genesis of A Bar Above: How Julia and Chris turned their passion for cocktails into a thriving business offering education, social media content, and premium barware.

- Chris's Journey: From a craps dealer in Vegas to a craft bartender and co-founder of A Bar Above, Chris's unique path and dedication to the craft of bartending.

- Community and Partnerships: The importance of community engagement and strategic partnerships in growing a brand.

- Innovative Use of AI: Julia's creative approach to integrating AI into their workflow, from generating product designs to enhancing team collaboration.

- Product Development: The role of AI in brainstorming and iterating new product designs for A Bar Above's premium barware line.

- Balancing Work and Family: Julia's insights on managing a growing business and a family, including the benefits of having a supportive partner and involving their children in the business.

Join us as we explore Julia Tunstall's journey with A Bar Above and gain valuable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and the art of cocktails.

Don't miss this engaging and informative episode filled with practical advice and inspiring stories. Listen now and elevate your understanding of what it takes to build a successful brand in the ever-evolving world of business.

For more on A Bar Above, visit: https://abarabove.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗣𝗚 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, or Build brand communities and more. Visit link above.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Curology - Tailored Treatments for Healthier Skin and Hair Jul 17, 2024

In today’s episode, host Ramon Vela dives into a fascinating conversation with Heather Wallace, CEO of Curology. Heather shares her journey, and the incredible work Curology is doing in the skincare industry.

From customized prescription skincare to expanding into hair loss treatments, Curology is transforming how we approach skincare with a blend of telehealth and personalized products.

This episode is packed with insights into the challenges and triumphs of running a rapidly growing company in a competitive market.

Heather also discusses the importance of having a strong team, maintaining a clear vision, and the power of mentorship in her career. Her passion for providing effective, clinically proven skincare solutions shines through in our conversation. Whether you're a skincare enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Key Moments:

- Heather shares advice from her mentor that shaped her career and leadership style.

- The transition of Curology from a DTC brand to an omni-channel approach.

- How Curology’s customized treatments provide superior acne, anti-aging, and hair loss results.

- Clinical data and personalized care are essential in Curology’s product offerings.

- Curology’s community program provides subsidized skincare to those in need.

Join us in listening to this episode as we explore Curology's innovative approaches to improving skin health and confidence for people everywhere. You won’t want to miss this enlightening and engaging conversation!

For more on Curology, visit: https://curology.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Okendo - Transforming Customers into Super Fans Jul 16, 2024

In today’s episode, host Ramon Vela has an insightful conversation with Adena Merabi, Okendo's Partnership Team Lead.

Adena shares Okendo's exciting journey from its early days to becoming a powerhouse in the e-commerce tech space.

We discuss the importance of customer reviews, zero-party data, and how Okendo is helping brands create better customer experiences.

Adena also illuminates the challenges brands face today, the importance of building a solid tech stack, and how partnerships play a crucial role in Okendo's success.

Whether you’re a brand looking to enhance your customer interactions or an entrepreneur interested in the latest e-commerce trends, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Key Moments:

- Adena’s journey to Okendo and the mentorship that shaped her path.

- The rapid growth of Okendo and the new products they’ve launched.

- Strategies for collecting zero-party data and why it’s crucial in today’s market.

- How Okendo’s integrated suite of products helps brands increase customer lifetime value.

- The vital role of partnerships in Okendo’s success and the unique aspects of their partner program.

Join us in listening to this episode as we explore the dynamic world of Okendo and discover how they are empowering brands to turn customers into super fans.

For more on Okendo, visit: https://okendo.io/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 – Increase the lifetime value of customers, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent & omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, or Build brand communities and more.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

AION - Navigating Capital: Strategies for Brand Growth Jul 12, 2024

Welcome to another episode of The Story of a Brand Show!

Today, host Ramon Vela brings you a fantastic conversation with Carly Spatt, Head of Business Development, and Jim Shehigian, Senior Vice President and Credit Department Business Head at AION.

In this episode, we dive into the crucial role of financial support for emerging brands, especially during challenging economic times. Carly and Jim share their insights on how AION helps brands navigate the complex world of financing, providing invaluable advice for founders and entrepreneurs.

We discuss everything from the importance of planning for success to the specific financial tools that can help businesses grow without giving up equity too early.

This episode is packed with practical tips and inspirational moments that you won't want to miss.

Key Moments:

- Jim's remarkable story of early career mentorship and its lasting impact on his professional journey.

- Carly’s passion for supporting small entrepreneurs and her journey into the CPG industry.

- Insights into the current market trends and the challenges brands face in securing capital.

- Detailed explanation of AION’s flexible financing options and how they support brand growth.

- Advice on preparing for financial success and the importance of having accurate financial records.

Join us as we explore the incredible work Carly and Jim are doing at AION to support brands in their journey toward success.

For more on AION, visit: https://www.aionfi.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose Ventures is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Gel - For Brands Expanding Internationally Jul 11, 2024

In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand, host Ramon Vela interviews Patricio Fuentes, the founder of Gel.

Patricio shares his fascinating journey in the world of consumer packaged goods (CPG) design, and we dive deep into the insights he’s gained from working with domestic and international brands.

This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for anyone interested in the CPG space. From discussing the latest trends at Expo West to exploring the unique challenges and opportunities of entering the U.S. market, this episode offers something for everyone.

Key Moments:

- Patricio’s reflections on Expo West and the exciting trends he observed in the CPG industry.

- The critical importance of understanding your audience and maintaining authenticity in branding.

- Insights into the challenges and strategies for international brands entering the U.S. market.

- Patricio’s views on the future of CPG and the promising trends he’s looking forward to.

- The role of gratitude and family support in Patricio’s entrepreneurial journey.

Join us in listening to this episode as we explore Patricio Fuentes' incredible journey and his invaluable insights into the CPG world. You won’t want to miss this engaging and informative conversation!

For more on Gel, visit: https://gelcomm.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

GoodSkin Clinics - A European Approach to a Healthier You Jul 11, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, Ramon Vela interviews Lisa Goodman, Founder of GoodSkin Clinics.

Lisa shares her unique journey as a “reluctant entrepreneur” who, despite initial hesitations, has built a successful business grounded in a European methodology for skin treatments.

Lisa’s passion for patient care and holistic medical approach to aesthetics shine through in our conversation. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of running a business, the importance of mental wellness, and the profound impact of a supportive team.

She also discusses her philosophy on personalized treatments, the significance of proper diagnosis, and how GoodSkin Clinics stands out in the crowded aesthetic industry.

Key Moments:

- Lisa describes her transition from a part-time endeavor to building GoodSkin Clinics and the role her team played in this growth.

- The eye-opening experience Lisa had in Europe that transformed her approach to aesthetic treatments.

- The critical importance of diagnosis in providing long-term, effective skincare solutions.

- Insights into how GoodSkin Clinics integrates mental wellness into their patient care.

- The challenges of fighting against the marketing of quick fixes and educating clients on holistic, long-term treatments.

Join us in listening to this episode as we explore Lisa Goodman's remarkable journey and discover how GoodSkin Clinics is redefining beauty with a touch of European elegance and medical expertise. You won’t want to miss this inspiring and informative conversation!

For more on GoodSkin Clinics, visit: https://www.goodskinclinics.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Reap & Glow - Exceptional Botanical Science. Notable 7-Day Results Jun 27, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Jeff Avila, Co-founder of Reap and Glow, about innovative skincare.

Jeff reminisces about his mentorship under the legendary Jay Patrick at Alacer. Hear firsthand how Jay’s pioneering product development strategies shaped Jeff’s impressive 25-year career in the industry.

Jeff passionately shares his commitment to working directly with ethical growers, particularly in Colombia and Costa Rica, harnessing the incredible antioxidant properties of coffee fruit for skin care.

We also delve into the complexities and rewards of market innovation, as Jeff emphasizes the importance of unique products backed by rigorous clinical data. Learn about their groundbreaking collaborations for encapsulated hyaluronic acid and safety testing, ensuring every product delivers on its promise.

Explore Reap and Glow’s fantastic range of affordable and effective products, including a coffee-fruit antioxidant cleanser, a Turmeric peptide-firming and smoothing serum with Ayurvedic complex ingredients, and a soon-to-be-released deep hydrating rejuvenation cream.

From Jeff’s transition from science to entrepreneurship to overcoming sales challenges, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom.

Tune in now and embark on a journey of scientific rigor, sustainable beauty, and entrepreneurial spirit with Jeff Avila.

For more on Reap & Glow, visit: https://reapandglow.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Antelope - Building a Resilient and Sustainable Pet CPG Brand Jun 26, 2024

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, interviews Wendy Wen, Founder and CEO of Antelope, and explores the strategic approach behind the company's success in acquiring and scaling natural pet CPG brands.

Wendy Wen shares valuable insights on building a resilient and sustainable business in the competitive pet market.

Key Points Covered:

* Strategic Acquisitions and Quality Control:

* Navigating Market Challenges:

* Traits of Successful Founders:

* Sustainable Growth Strategies:

* Organizational Growth and Remote Work:

* Personal Well-Being and Self-Care:

* Investment and Financial Strategies:

* Entrepreneurial Insights:

* Happiness and Personal Growth:

Join us as we unpack the various elements that contributed to Antelope's success and gain insights into building a brand that resonates with consumers while fostering sustainable and innovative practices in the Pet industry.

For more on Antelope, visit: https://www.antelopepets.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Lemon Perfect - The Road to Selling 100 Million Bottles and Beyond Jun 25, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Lemon Perfect's founder and CEO Yanni Hufnagel.

He takes us through the evolution of his innovative beverage company, from the early days of securing investor support to achieving the remarkable milestone of selling nearly 100 million bottles!

He candidly discusses the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, shedding light on the vital role of persistence, competitive stamina, and strategic decision-making in driving growth.

Yanni also celebrates the unwavering dedication of his amazing team, whose efforts have been instrumental in expanding Lemon Perfect in a fiercely competitive market.

Yanni also opens up about his leadership journey, sharing moments of doubt and triumph, and emphasizes the health benefits of Lemon Perfect – a zero-sugar, calorie-free, sodium-free beverage enriched with organic lemons.

Discover how Lemon Perfect is changing the game by offering a delicious, healthy alternative to sugary drinks, and explore the variety of flavors now available at national retailers.

For more on Lemon Perfect, visit: https://lemonperfect.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Hest - Dreaming Up Better Ways to Sleep Outdoors & Everywhere! Jun 21, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela dives into the inspiring entrepreneurial journey of Aaron Ambuske, Founder of Hest.

Eight years ago, Aaron set out to revolutionize outdoor sleeping solutions by creating products that bring the comfort of home mattresses to the great outdoors.

Supported by family, investors, mentors, and friends, Aaron navigated startup challenges to develop innovative products.

He started by targeting the premium car camper market, which capitalized on trends like increased outdoor activities and the digital nomad lifestyle, solidifying its market position.

Aaron placed a strong emphasis on design and sustainability, ensuring user satisfaction and eco-friendly practices through careful material choices, product longevity, and sustainable packaging.

The company's product range includes foamy camp pads, versatile travel pillows, and innovative comforters with unique features like a foot box to prevent sliding. Engaging with the community and promoting the mental health benefits of nature, Hest enhances customer experiences by focusing on sleep quality, temperature regulation, practicality, and exceptional customer service.

Join us as Aaron Embuskey takes us through Hest’s journey of creating high-quality outdoor products that ensure a comfortable and restful night’s sleep, no matter where your adventures take you.

For more on Hest, visit: https://hest.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Chirp - The World's Simplest Back Pain Relief Jun 20, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, host Ramon Vela interviews Tate Stock, Chirp's innovative founder and CEO.

Tate shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, from creating the first Chirp wheel out of sewer pipes to overcoming early business challenges with family support.

They discuss how Chirp transitioned from a yoga prop to a leading back pain relief product, resulting in explosive growth and a successful appearance on Shark Tank.

Tate’s story highlights the importance of gratitude, perseverance, and innovative thinking in building a successful brand.

Tune in to learn about the evolution of Chirp and its impact on the wellness industry.

For more on Chirp, visit: https://gochirp.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

GoodPop - Good Pops with a Good Purpose Jun 18, 2024

Welcome to this inspiring episode of “The Story of a Brand,” in which Ramon Vela explores the heartfelt journey of Daniel Goetz, the visionary founder of GoodPop.

In this episode, Daniel recounts his experiences, highlighting how believing in others and helping without expecting anything in return can create a ripple effect of positivity and open doors to unexpected opportunities.

Daniel advocates for the power of kindness, resilience, and self-awareness through personal and family anecdotes, showing us how these values can sustain entrepreneurs through the inevitable challenges of building a business.

Daniel’s story is not just about creating healthier, low-sugar, dairy-free, and gluten-free products; it’s about setting higher standards in the consumer packaged goods industry.

We’ll discuss the significance of feedback, advice, and emotional detachment in decision-making, learning from failures, and the role of storytelling in self-perception.

With accolades such as B Corp certification, GoodPop is a brand committed to social impact, ethical practices, and sustainability.

Discover why you should consider incorporating these delicious, healthier options.

For more on GoodPop, visit: https://goodpop.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

OKOKO Cosmétiques Inc - A Formula For Each Skin Type Jun 12, 2024

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, dives deep into the inspiring journey of Oyéta Kokoroko, the founder of OKOKO Cosmétiques, who transformed her personal struggles with acne into a flourishing natural skincare brand.

We explore how she navigated the beauty industry without prior experience, leveraging unique products, strategic marketing, and community support to build her brand.

Key themes:

* Founder’s Inspiration and Brand Creation * Growth Strategies * Marketing and Customer Engagement * Brand Building and Storytelling * Sustainability and Innovation * Mentorship and Community * Global Expansion

Join us as we unpack the various elements that contributed to OKOKO Cosmétiques' success and gain insights into building a brand that resonates with consumers while fostering sustainable and innovative practices in the beauty industry.

For more on OKOKO Cosmétiques Inc., visit: https://okokocosmetiques.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Digioh - How Digioh is Transforming E-commerce Marketing Jun 11, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela sits down with Allison Kelly, Chief Revenue Officer, and Blake Imperl, Vice President of Marketing for Digioh, to explore the intricate layers of career development, personal growth, and the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce marketing.

Specializing in direct-to-consumer marketing for brands on Shopify and other platforms, Digioh helps high-revenue clients optimize their tech stacks. As a self-funded company, Digioh offers transparent, honest, and stable solutions free from external pressures.

Join us for this enlightening conversation as Allison and Blake from Digioh share their insights and experiences, offering valuable lessons for career development and strategic e-commerce marketing.

Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

For more on Digioh, visit: https://www.Digioh.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Roar - It's Hydration With a Lot More Jun 10, 2024

In this episode, host Ramon Vela sits down with Roly Nesi, Founder of Roar Organic, to explore the remarkable journey behind the brand.

Roly shares personal stories of gratitude, the challenges of starting a beverage company, and the pivotal moments that shaped Roar Organic into a leading hydration solution.

Discover the inspiration behind their innovative flavors, the importance of team dynamics, and the unique approach to staying relevant in a competitive market.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a fan of delicious, functional beverages, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Tune in to learn more about the story of a brand making waves in the beverage industry.

For more on Roar Organic, visit: https://roarorganic.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Grow Together - Navigating Parenthood and Relationships Jun 07, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Co-founders Aaron Steinberg, MA, PCC, and Jessica Trouillaud of Grow Together.

Grow Together is on a mission to normalize the struggles relationships face in parenthood and give couples the tools to overcome them, emerging stronger on the other side.

The platform has two virtual courses - one for couples entering parenthood and one for couples already in the thick of it - and a new digital guide focused solely on the largest marital problem in parenthood - the division of roles and responsibilities.

* They advocate for normalizing discussions about post-parenthood relationship dynamics, noting the lack of societal resources for this transition.

* Utilizing teamwork and emotional connections, focusing on balancing organizational tasks and emotional bonds in relationships.

* They stress the importance of combining empathy with effective task allocation to address underlying emotional issues.

* They encourage listeners to invest in relationships, seek support, and utilize available guides and courses to strengthen connections.

Join us as we discuss relationships, parenthood, entrepreneurship, and more!

For more on Grow Together, visit: https://www.thegrowtogetherco.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Hostage Tape - Don’t Be Held Hostage by Bad Sleep Jun 05, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela sits down with Alex Neist, the founder of Hostage Tape, for an insightful conversation that explores themes of gratitude, upbringing, personal growth, and the health benefits of nasal breathing.

The dialogue is rich with personal anecdotes, life lessons, and expert advice, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, self-improvement, and wellness.

Key Themes:

* Gratitude and Positive Impressions:

* Influence of Upbringing:

* Journey of Personal Growth:

* Self-Realization and Accountability:

* Health Benefits of Nasal Breathing:

* Branding and Storytelling:

Join us to hear Alex’s full journey and the inspiring stories that shaped Hostage Tape.

For more on Hostage Tape, visit: https://HostageTape.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Mad Rabbit - From Shark Tank to Tattoo Titans Jun 04, 2024

In this engaging episode of “The Story of a Brand,” Ramon Vela is joined by Selom Agbitor, Co-founder of Mad Rabbit, a revolutionary brand in the tattoo care industry.

Selom shares the inspiring journey of Mad Rabbit, from its humble beginnings in college to becoming a renowned name after their Shark Tank success.

The episode delves into the pivotal role of customer feedback in product development, the challenges of managing inventory, and the necessity of adaptability, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The brand offers 11 tattoo care products, including soothing gel, sunscreen, balm, lotion, body wash, tattoo glide, repair patches, and numbing cream, with plans to expand into piercing care.

Their big focus is community building through social media and supporting tattoo artists. Selom also shares insights on future product launches.

Join us for this insightful episode, in which Selom Agbitor illuminates the fascinating world of tattoo care and entrepreneurship.

For more on Mad Rabbit, visit: https://www.madrabbit.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Wildling - Embracing Holistic Beauty with Wildling Jun 04, 2024

In this insightful episode, host Ramon Vela engages with founders Jill Munson, Britta Plug, and Gianna De La Torre of Wildling, a pioneering holistic beauty brand, to explore the myriad facets of their brand.

We discussed gratitude, customer testimonials, exciting new product launches, and Wildling’s dedication to creating beauty rituals that nurture skin and emotional well-being through ancient practices and natural ingredients.

Key Highlights:

* The founders share heartfelt stories of positive customer feedback.

* Emphasis on the significance of building strong customer relationships and community.

* Introducing innovative products such as the Starnectar Jelly Cleanser and Moonbounce Plumping Moisturizer.

* Detailed discussion on the use of natural ingredients and the influence of astrology in product formulation.

* Exploration of facial Gua Sha tools and their benefits.

* Incorporation of moonstone crystals and a reflexology spoon for enhanced facial massage techniques.

* Availability of webinars and tutorials to help users understand facial maps and body points.

* Promotion of a holistic self-care approach through guided practices.

* Focus on plant-based ingredients like Sea Fennel and Bio Retinol.

* Importance of customer feedback in refining and developing products.

* Commitment to supporting the skin’s microbiome and integrity.

* Addressing conditions like Rosacea and Eczema with gentle, non-disruptive products.

* Preference for whole plant extracts over essential oils to prevent skin sensitization.

* And more!

Tune in to discover how Wildling is revolutionizing the beauty industry with its holistic approach, ancient wisdom, and commitment to natural ingredients.

Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast or seeking a deeper connection with your self-care rituals, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

For more on Wildling, visit: https://wildling.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Elyse Oleksak - A Shark Ate My Bagel - How We Built Bantam Bagels Jun 03, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, host Ramon Vela interviews Elyse Oleksak, co-founder of Bantam Bagels and author of the new book "A Shark Ate My Bagel - How We Built Bantam Bagels, A Memoir."

Elyse shares the remarkable journey of Bantam Bagels, from a late-night inspiration to a nationally recognized brand.

Ramon and Elyse delve into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, highlighting the critical moments, personal sacrifices, and lessons learned along the way. They discuss the importance of human connection, the power of perseverance, and the necessity of taking risks to achieve control and success in business.

Elyse recounts vivid stories, including a nerve-wracking yet triumphant appearance on Shark Tank and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a burgeoning business.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone who loves a good success story, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways and inspiration.

Don't miss out on this engaging conversation; check out Elyse's book for more in-depth stories and insights.

For more on Elyse Oleksak and her new book, “A Shark Ate My Bagel - How We Built Bantam Bagels, A Memoir,” visit https://howwebuiltbantambagels.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Memo Paris - The Emotional Resonance of Fragrance May 31, 2024

In this inspiring episode, Ramon Vela delves into the entrepreneurial journey of John Molloy, Co-founder and CEO of the renowned fragrance brand Memo Paris.

From a career path initially carved out in banking to becoming a prominent figure in the fashion and fragrance industries, Molloy’s story is a testament to the transformative power of belief and encouragement. Here are the key themes and highlights from our conversation:

A Shift in Path: Discover how Molloy’s university mentor, Nigel, played a crucial role in redirecting his career from banking to the vibrant world of fashion and fragrance.

The Birth of Memo Paris: Learn about the inception of Memo Paris, a brand that has successfully expanded its reach to 60 countries. It offers fragrances that capture the emotional resonance of memories and destinations across the globe.

The Emotional Resonance of Scents: Molloy discusses Memo Paris's unique approach to creating scents that evoke memories and emotions, a concept that gained even more significance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creative Collaborations: Get an inside look at how Memo Paris stands out through its collaborations with poets and perfumers and Molloy’s wife’s significant role in overseeing the brand’s creative direction.

A Fragrance Wardrobe: Explore the concept of fragrances serving as a wardrobe for different moods and occasions and how Memo Paris prioritizes building enduring relationships with its customers.

Join us as John Molloy takes us on a journey through the creation of Memo Paris, the art of fragrance making, and the profound impact that encouragement can have on redirecting one’s career path and life.

For more on Memo Paris, visit: https://us.memoparis.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Masami - Secret to Having Healthy, Manageable, Beautiful Hair May 31, 2024

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, host Ramon Vela interviews Lynn Power, co-founder of Masami, a clean beauty brand focused on hydrating hair care products.

Lynn shares her transition from a successful advertising career, working with major brands like L'Oreal and Clinique, to launching Masami and the Conscious Beauty Collective, a group of clean and sustainable indie beauty and wellness brands currently featured in a pop-up store in Palm Springs, California and around the country.

Lynn also discusses her battle with breast cancer and how running Masami helped her maintain a sense of normalcy and purpose. She emphasizes reprioritizing and maintaining a growth mindset during challenging times.

Lynn explains how Masami’s products, featuring the hero ingredient Mekabu, provide hydration without leaving hair limp or greasy.

She stresses the importance of consumer education about product ingredients and avoiding toxic chemicals found in many mass-market brands.

We ended our conversation discussing the role of small brands like Masami in promoting cleaner, safer beauty products.

For more information, visit Masami’s website at: https://www.lovemasami.com/

Follow the Conscious Beauty Collective on Instagram at @consciousbeautycollectiveshop

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Afia - Transport Your Tastebuds to the Eastern Mediterranean May 29, 2024

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, dives into the heartwarming and motivating story of Farrah Moussallati Sibai, Co-founder and President of Afia Foods.

With no background in the food industry, Farrah embarked on a journey driven by personal challenges and a profound desire to make a difference. From humble beginnings at Texas farmers markets to a successful retail launch, her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, strategic thinking, and a commitment to values.

Farrah Moussallati Sibai’s journey with Afia Foods is more than just a business success story; it’s a narrative about overcoming adversity, embracing community, and remaining steadfast to one’s values. Through her experiences, listeners can find inspiration, practical advice, and the motivation to pursue their dreams, no matter the industry or starting point.

Join us for another deep dive into the stories of entrepreneurs making a difference in their communities and the world.

For more on Afia Foods, visit: https://afiafoods.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Cien Chiles - Adding Flavor to Anything and Everything May 28, 2024

In this episode of "The Story of a Brand," host Ramon Vela interviews Maria Covarrubias, Founder and Culinary Magician of Cien Chiles.

Maria shares her inspiring journey from Guadalajara to becoming an entrepreneur, emphasizing her passion, resilience, and dedication. She discusses the pivotal role of gratitude in her life, highlighting a supportive Whole Foods cashier who believed in her vision.

Maria delves into the challenges and triumphs of building Cien Chiles, emphasizing the importance of non-GMO certification for consumer trust. She describes the creation of her sauces, inspired by family recipes and crafted with wholesome ingredients to complement meals without overpowering them. She offers practical tips for using her sauces in various dishes.

Maria's commitment shines through as she talks about running Cien Chiles with her husband, successfully placing their products in over 200 retailers. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs on patience, steady growth, and building the right partnerships. Visit cienchiles.com for recipes and follow them on social media for updates. This episode celebrates vision, gratitude, and sharing authentic flavors.

For more on Cien Chiles, visit: https://cienchiles.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Scentbird - The Fragrance Destination of the World May 23, 2024

Welcome to our latest episode, in which Ramon Vela delves into Scentbird's fragrant journey, exploring the transformative power of fragrance and the entrepreneurial insights that have driven the brand's success.

Andrei Rebrov, Co-Founder and CTO of Scentbird reflects on the critical support from Murat Aktihanoglu of Entrepreneur Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) during their early days in the US, highlighting the significance of kindness for immigrant entrepreneurs.

In this episode, you’ll also discover how Scentbird has evolved from offering fragrance samples to pioneering a subscription model, enhancing customer engagement through innovative technological integrations.

We'll also explore people's emotional connections with scents and how Scentbird leverages customer data to create personalized fragrance experiences.

Tune in for valuable business advice, fragrance highlights, and insights into the future of Scentbird technology.

For more on Scentbird, visit: https://www.Scentbird.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Elo Health - Ari Tulla on the Future of Health, Authenticity, and the Power of Small Changes May 18, 2024

In this enlightening episode, Ramon Vela dives deep with Ari Tulla, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Elo Health, exploring the evolving landscape of health and wellness and the role of technology in shaping our daily habits.

Here’s what we covered:

* Authenticity in Branding

* Social Media and Transparency

* The Power of Routine

* Overcoming Health Habit Hurdles

* Tech Meets Health

* Medication vs. Natural Methods for Weight Loss

* Market Dynamics and Consumer Preferences

* Elo Health’s Innovations

* Ari’s Personal Health Practices

Whether you’re a health enthusiast, a tech-savvy individual, or simply looking to improve your well-being, this episode offers valuable insights into making healthier choices in our fast-paced world.

Join us as we uncover the trends shaping the future of wellness, guided by one of the industry’s leading voices, Ari Tulla.

For more on Elo Health, visit: https://www.elo.health/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Cerebelly - Give Your Little One a Smarter Start May 16, 2024

In this insightful episode, Ramon Vela delves into the captivating journey of Don Clark, the CEO behind Cerebelly, a trailblazing organic baby food company committed to nurturing cognitive development from infancy.

From his early days in retail at Target to spearheading Cerebelly, Don shares his vision, including how the Whole Foods model inspired him to venture into the organic baby food industry with a strong emphasis on health and cognitive development.

He also discusses Cerebelly’s ambitious plan to revolutionize baby food and foster a healthier future generation through informed nutrition choices.

Tune in to uncover the pivotal moments, challenges, and inspirations that propelled Don to redefine organic nutrition for the younger generation.

For more on Cerebelly, visit: https://cerebelly.com/

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and Shopline USA.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review on Apple and Spotify. Plus, don’t forget to follow us!

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Wildfang - However YOU Want to Show Up in the World, They Got YOU May 14, 2024

In this episode, Ramon Vela dives deep into the heart of Wildfang with its CEO, Emma Mcilroy.

Wildfang, known for its groundbreaking approach to fashion and inclusivity, owes its success to early supporters like soccer icon Megan Rapinoe.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a fashion enthusiast, or someone passionate about inclusivity and sustainability, this conversation with Emma Mcilroy offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and a reminder of the power of community and shared values in creating impactful brands.

Join us for an insider’s view of how Wildfang has navigated the fashion world with resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to making a difference.

For more on Wildfang, visit: https://www.wildfang.com/

For full show notes, visit: https://www.thestoryofabrand.com/

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and Shopline USA.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating, review, and a follow on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Pandia Health - Revolutionizing Women’s Health Through Innovation May 08, 2024

In today’s episode, Rose Hamilton takes a deep dive into the heart of innovation in women’s health with guest Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Pandia Health.

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and Shopline USA.

Launched in 2016, Pandia Health has been at the forefront of revolutionizing access to birth control and is now expanding its horizon to tackle issues in menopause and obesity.

Join us as we explore the journey, challenges, and future of women’s healthcare through the lens of a pioneering company.

Key Themes of Our Episode:

* Pandia Health’s Mission: Discover how Pandia Health is solving the accessibility challenges women face in obtaining birth control, providing not just delivery services but also personalized options and telemedicine consultations.

* Expanding Care to Menopause and Obesity: Understand the company’s future plans to include specialized care in menopause symptoms, osteoporosis risk management, and obesity, emphasizing the importance of personalized healthcare.

* Challenges in Advertising Women’s Health: Hear about the obstacles Pandia Health faces with advertising restrictions on major platforms and how they overcome these through organic SEO, educational content, and strategic partnerships.

* The Role of AI and Marketing in Healthcare: Delve into the significance of AI in marketing, the essential need for trustworthy content, and why diversity in algorithms matters in promoting women’s health effectively.

* Navigating Fundraising and the Startup Ecosystem: Gain insights into the fundraising difficulties women’s health startups face, the advocacy for ethical practices, and the pivotal role of women-led companies in the healthcare sector.

* The Importance of Diversity in Venture Capital: Learn about the push for more diversity in venture capital, the encouragement of women investors, and the support needed for women-founded businesses to thrive.

* Empowerment and Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Dr. Yen shares her message for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing persistence, the value of diverse representation, and seeking support from communities and resources.

Closing Thoughts:

Dr. Sophia Yen’s journey with Pandia Health is about more than creating a company; it’s about fostering a movement toward accessible, personalized, and comprehensive healthcare for women.

By addressing the unique challenges in women’s health, advocating for diversity and ethical practices, and leveraging technology, Pandia Health stands as a beacon of innovation and empowerment.

We hope this episode inspires you to support and advocate for advancements in women’s healthcare.

For more information about Pandia Health and how you can be a part of the change, visit:

https://www.pandiahealth.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating, review, and a follow on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Shopware - Empowering Mid-Market Merchants May 07, 2024

In this enlightening episode, Ramon Vela sits down with Jason Nyhus, General Manager of Shopware, to unravel the intricacies of the e-commerce industry and the unique position Shopware holds within it.

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

Our conversation unveils Shopware's journey from its roots to becoming a beacon for mid-market businesses navigating the e-commerce waters.

We delve into how Shopware’s ethos, architecture, and innovative features set it apart in a competitive landscape and the vision that propels it forward.

Key Highlights:

* The Mentorship Impact: Jason starts by sharing his professional journey, accentuating the influential role a mentor played in his career development.

* Shopware’s Niche Focus: Unlike the broad targeting of platforms like Shopify, Shopware zeroes in on the mid-market segment, offering tailored solutions that address their unique challenges and budget constraints.

* Innovative Architecture and Features: Launched in December 2019, Shopware 6 is the culmination of modern architecture and a robust codebase, backed by significant investments from heavyweights like the Carlyle Group and PayPal. Features like the Digital Sales Room, AI co-pilots, and advanced rule and flow builders highlight Shopware’s commitment to innovation.

* Global Strategy and English First Approach: Despite its German origins, Shopware prioritizes English for its global operations, emphasizing its intention to cater to a worldwide audience with superior support and a transparent pricing model.

* B2B Commerce and Digital Transformation: The episode explores the complexities of B2B commerce, the need for technology to resonate with existing business practices, and how Shopware’s Digital Sales Room is revolutionizing client services in the B2B sphere.

* Contrast with Shopify and the Path Ahead: Jason and Ramon discuss Shopify’s recent strategic shifts, highlighting how Shopware’s approach is distinctly poised to meet the needs of businesses looking for specialized platforms with robust B2B functionalities.

Whether you’re a merchant navigating the e-commerce domain, a technology enthusiast, or someone intrigued by the evolving digital commerce landscape, this episode offers a comprehensive look into what makes Shopware a formidable player in the market.

Tune in to this captivating episode to explore how Shopware is reshaping the future of e-commerce for mid-market merchants and setting new industry standards.

For more on Shopware, visit: https://www.shopware.com/en/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating, review, and a follow on Apple and Spotify.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Nimble.ai - Fully Autonomous 3PL Fulfillment with Robotics and AI May 06, 2024

Welcome to another insightful episode of “The Story of a Brand” podcast. Today, we're talking with Jonathan Briggs, VP of Sales and Solutions at Nimble.ai, about the future of logistics and Nimble’s groundbreaking role in artificial intelligence.

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and Shopline USA.

Hosted by Ramon Vela, this conversation is not just about technology; it’s a journey through personal growth, industry transformation, and the innovative horizon of logistics management.

Main Themes:

* Personal Growth and Gratitude: Jonathan Briggs shares his heartfelt transition story to Quiet Logistics, spotlighting the crucial support from Nick Saunders and the importance of believing in one’s vision. A touching reminder of the power of gratitude in the professional journey.

* The AI Revolution in Logistics: Nimble.ai is at the forefront, transforming warehouse operations with AI-driven robotic systems. Ramon and Jonathan explore how these innovations make item picking and handling processes more efficient and revolutionary.

* Beyond Warehouse Automation: Discover how Nimble.ai’s vision extends to full automation, tackling industry challenges such as labor shortages and enhancing worker satisfaction. Real-world insights from Briggs’ time at UPS highlight the complexities and hurdles in logistics.

* Efficiency and Scalability: The episode delves into how Nimble.ai employs closed-access grid systems, real-time reporting, and robotics to boost warehouse efficiency and scalability, especially during peak periods.

* Data-Driven Decisions and Sustainability: Learn about the strategic use of data in managing business cycles, consumer behavior analysis, and the company’s commitment to sustainability through recycling, reducing transportation distances, and optimizing packaging.

* Regulatory Impacts and Space Optimization: The conversation touches on navigating regulatory landscapes, optimizing warehouse space, and the strategic use of robotics for growth and efficiency.

* Innovative Strategies for Future Growth: Briggs discusses future plans around customer acquisition, revenue growth, and leveraging technology to solve industry challenges, including the “warehouse within a warehouse” concept for enhanced brand specificity.

* Human Element and Partnership: A vital takeaway is the critical role of human involvement in technology and the essence of being a good business partner. Nimble.ai’s structured planning and execution underscore their approach to logistics.

Join us on “The Story of a Brand” as we uncover the pivotal role of AI in logistics with Jonathan Briggs of Nimble.ai and get inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving industry.

Call-to-Action

Jonathan invites brands to explore how Nimble.ai can revolutionize their logistics and find a competitive edge in direct-to-consumer and e-commerce operations.

For more on Nimble.ai, visit: https://www.nimble.ai/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review and give us a follow on Apple Podcast.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Womaness - Keeping Women Unstoppable May 01, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this inspiring episode, Rose Hamilton dives into the remarkable journey of Sally Mueller, the visionary founder of Womaness, a pioneering brand in the menopause market.

From her early days at Target to the bold leap of leaving in 2010 and stepping into the entrepreneurial world, Sally shares the challenges and triumphs of creating a brand dedicated to women experiencing menopause.

Here are the main themes of this episode:

* The Genesis of Womaness: Sally Mueller recounts her career transition from Target to entrepreneurship, driven by a quest to find suitable products for perimenopause symptoms. Discover how Womaness was born out of frustration and a clear vision to fill a significant gap in the market.

* A Focus on Menopause: Explore Womaness's core mission, which centers on educating and inspiring women in their late forties and fifties. Learn about the brand’s commitment to addressing the often-ignored needs of this demographic with a comprehensive range of products focused on skin, body, supplements, and sexual wellness, excluding weight gain solutions.

* Navigating Marketing Challenges: Hear about the initial hurdles in marketing menopause-related products and how Womaness evolved its messaging towards promoting healthy aging. Find out how this strategic pivot helped them expand their reach to retail giants like Ulta Beauty and Amazon.

* Omnichannel Approach: Sally emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer preferences across different shopping platforms and the strategic move to an omnichannel approach. This segment offers valuable insights into adapting marketing and sales strategies to meet the needs of their target demographic.

* Talent and Culture: Learn about the critical role of hiring versatile talents who are not only a cultural fit but can also grow with the company. Sally shares her thoughts on the importance of engagement and alignment in building a successful team.

* Digital Revolution in Marketing: Delve into the impact of digital transformation on marketing strategies, especially in a crowded market like beauty and skincare. Sally discusses the challenges and opportunities of standing out and educating consumers about new product categories.

* The Long Game: Reflecting on the journey, Sally discusses the necessity of a long-term strategy to meet evolving consumer demands. She also shares personal insights on balancing her roles as a mother and a business owner, highlighting the importance of delegation, prioritizing sleep, and building a strong network for business growth.

Sally Mueller’s journey with Womaness is a testament to the power of vision, adaptability, and perseverance in the entrepreneurial world.

By addressing the underserved needs of women going through menopause, Womaness not only offers innovative solutions but also leads the way in breaking taboos and fostering a community of education and support.

Call to Action:

Tune in to this episode for an inspiring deep dive into Sally Mueller’s entrepreneurial spirit, the innovative approach of Womaness, and the future of women’s wellness.

For more on Womaness, visit: https://womaness.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Small Co Capital - Building & Funding a Brand with Afif Ghannoum Apr 25, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this illuminating episode of “The Story of a Brand,” Ramon Vela sits down with entrepreneur Afif Ghannoum to delve into his journey of founding and scaling businesses, with a keen focus on his ventures, BIOHM Health and Small Co Capital.

Through Afif’s experiences, we explore the multifaceted challenges of entrepreneurship, particularly around the crucial aspect of raising capital.

Here’s what you can expect from this deep dive:

* Entrepreneurial Insight: Afif shares his journey, shedding light on the hurdles and triumphs of building a business from the ground up. His story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit, showcasing resilience and strategic thinking.

* Investor Relationships: The conversation underscores the significance of building trust with investors. Afif emphasizes that beyond a compelling business idea, investors must believe in the entrepreneur themselves. This segment offers valuable advice on cultivating these critical relationships.

* Leadership Transitions: A pivotal moment in any company’s growth is recognizing when to initiate leadership changes. Afif discusses his decision to bring in new leadership at BIOHM to catalyze growth, offering insights into the process of finding the right people for specific roles and the importance of timing in leadership transitions.

* Alternative Funding Options: Delving into the realm of financing, Afif presents a compelling case for considering alternative funding methods, such as revenue-based funding. He outlines the advantages of these options over traditional venture capital, including no personal guarantees and minimized dilution.

* Strategic Financing Decisions: Entrepreneurs face a complex landscape of funding mechanisms. Afif advises carefully weighing the cost of capital, the implications of personal guarantees, and the agility in accessing funds. He also highlights the importance of aligning interests with funding partners and navigating the intricacies of different funding avenues.

* Pitfalls and Opportunities: The discussion critically examines the challenges of working with funding brokers, the risks associated with speculative ventures, and the strategic management of capital. Afif’s insights into prudent capital management are invaluable for entrepreneurs leveraging opportunities effectively.

* The Value of Relationships and Advice: Beyond funding, Afif talks about the significance of building robust business relationships and the role of strategic advice during the funding process. He also touches upon the importance of due diligence and the unique challenges entrepreneurs face in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or intrigued by the intricacies of building and funding a business, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and strategies from Afif Ghannoum’s entrepreneurial adventure.

Join us as we uncover the lessons, challenges, and successes that define the entrepreneurial spirit.

For more on Small Co Capital, visit: https://smallcocapital.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review and give us a follow on Apple Podcast.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

NOA Home - The Art of Bootstrapping Apr 24, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this inspiring episode, Ramon Vela explores the entrepreneurial journey of Jeremy Kopeck, Co-Founder and CEO of NOA Home. Kopeck shares his story of growing a $50,000 investment into a remarkable $23 million revenue over four years.

It’s a tale that underscores the essence of entrepreneurship, including the critical importance of trust, risk-taking, and the undeniable power of human connections.

Join us as we explore the highs and lows of building a brand that’s as much about family values as it is about offering quality, artisanal products to the market.

Main Themes:

* The Foundation of Trust and Integrity: Learn how a partnership based on shared vision and integrity was pivotal during a typhoon-induced crisis, setting a precedent for the company’s ethos.

* Personal Commitment and Brand Ethos: Discover the significance behind the name NOA Home and how it reflects the company’s dedication to comfort, quality, and family.

* Overcoming Challenges through Resilience: Jeremy discusses facing and overcoming challenges, including supply chain disruptions and the pandemic, focusing on resilience and maintaining core values.

* The Art of Bootstrapping: A Deep Dive into How NOA Home Achieved Significant Growth without External Investors, highlighting the effectiveness of financial management and market understanding.

* A Customer-Centric Approach: This paper provides insights into the importance of direct feedback and exceptional customer service and their role in refining NOA Home’s offerings.

* Future Plans and Expansion: Exciting details on expanding the product line with American-made items and growing the ambassador program to reinforce the brand’s commitment to quality and community.

* A Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Jeremy shares words of encouragement for future entrepreneurs, emphasizing perseverance, a customer-centric approach, and the importance of holding onto one’s values.

About NOA Home:

NOA Home has emerged as a leading name in the B2C industry, known for its artisanal products, storytelling approach to customer engagement, and unwavering commitment to quality and community.

From overcoming natural disasters to navigating the complexities of market dynamics, NOA Home’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved with hard work, dedication, and an unrelenting focus on what truly matters.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or simply someone who appreciates a success story, this episode offers valuable insights into the realities of starting and scaling a business today.

Tune in to learn, be inspired, and find the spark you need to start your journey of resilience and success.

For more on NOA Home, visit: https://www.noahome.com/us/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review and give us a follow on Apple Podcast.

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Digital Stronghold - Where Men’s Interest Brands Go to Thrive Apr 18, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

Welcome to another enlightening episode in which Ramon Vela dives deep into the journey of Mike Mahar, a visionary entrepreneur and partner at Digital Stronghold.

The Digital Stronghold is a multi-brand platform supporting leading digitally native men’s apparel, accessories, and grooming brands in accelerating their growth.

Mike shares his fascinating career trajectory, valuable insights from his tenure with Taylor Stitch, and current endeavors shaping the future of men’s interest brands.

Below are the key highlights of our conversation:

* Gratitude and Reflecting on a Mentor’s Impact Mike reflects on the impact of a high school teacher who influenced his passion for business and entrepreneurship.

* Taylor Stitch Update Post-Pandemic Update on Taylor Stitch post-pandemic, focusing on product development, customer needs, and business strategies.

* Introduction to Digital Stronghold Introduction to Digital Stronghold, a holding company for men’s interest brands, and its vision to acquire profitable brands.

* Consumer-Centric Approach of Digital Stronghold Discuss how Digital Stronghold aims to enhance the consumer experience by supporting founders and improving operational efficiency.

* Evaluating Apparel Brands for Investment Learn about the key criteria Digital Stronghold uses to evaluate apparel brands for investment, including financial benchmarks and customer retention rates.

* Embracing Niche Brands Discover the value Digital Stronghold places on niche brands that focus on building a dedicated customer base, like the success story of Boston Scally in their portfolio.

* Supporting Acquired Brands Explore the comprehensive support Digital Stronghold provides to acquired brands post-deal, covering areas such as finance, digital optimization, marketing, and logistics.

* Inclusivity in Brand Acquisition Understand Digital Stronghold’s openness to brands with diverse product lines, including gender-neutral options, and how they assess brands for investment opportunities.

* Navigating Challenges in Brand Acquisition Delve into the challenges Digital Stronghold faces in finding and acquiring brands, including the impact of market dynamics and the importance of knowing your customer for successful paid media strategies.

Call-to-Action: Mike encourages interested brand founders in the men’s interest space to connect for potential investment opportunities.

For more on Digital Stronghold, visit: https://thedigitalstronghold.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Troop - Superfood Mushrooms in a Gummy! Apr 18, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this inspiring episode, Ramon Vela dives into the fascinating world of entrepreneurship with a unique twist – mushrooms.

His guests, Co-Founders Stephanie Moyal and Jake Mellman, are the innovative minds behind Troop, a company reshaping how we view and consume mushrooms.

Their story is not just about mushrooms; it’s a tale of resilience, innovation, and the power of a robust support system.

Main Themes:

* The Birth of Troop During Challenging Times: Discover how Stephanie and Jake embarked on their entrepreneurial journey amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, transforming their mushroom passion into a thriving business.

* Gratitude and Support: The founders emphasize the crucial roles of gratitude, family support, and self-belief in navigating the ups and downs of starting a new venture. They share anecdotes highlighting how these elements were instrumental in their success.

* Demystifying Mushrooms: Stephanie and Jake discuss their mission to make mushrooms more appealing and accessible through innovative products like gummies. They delve into the challenges and rewards of educating the public about mushrooms' health benefits and potential, aiming to destigmatize this versatile ingredient.

* Sustainability and Quality: Learn about Troop’s commitment to sustainability, from choosing eco-friendly packaging to sourcing premium mushrooms. The founders detail the meticulous research and development process that goes into creating their unique mushroom gummies, including custom molds that embody the essence of their brand.

* Education and Networking: The importance of continuous learning, networking, and strategic planning for budding entrepreneurs. Stephanie and Jake share valuable insights into how they navigated the complexities of product development and market introduction with no prior experience in the mushroom industry.

* Health Benefits and Applications: The conversation also covers mushrooms' potential health benefits, from digestive support to mental health and immune system enhancement. The founders discuss their approach to product development, focusing on vegan-friendly, potent extracts made through a triple extraction method.

* Looking Forward: As Troop grows, Stephanie and Jake reflect on their journey and plans. They highlight the importance of quality, consumer education, and expanding their product line to include offerings with immune-boosting and stress-reducing properties.

Closing Thoughts:

Stephanie and Jake’s journey with Troop is a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and the impact of reimagining traditional ingredients for modern consumers. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, health, and wellness or looking for inspiration.

Remember to check out Troop’s mushroom gummies and other products by visiting Trytroop.com and learning more about how they’re changing the health and wellness industry game.

For more on Troop, visit: https://trytroop.com/

For our listeners, a 20% discount for Troop, use promo code: Ramon20

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Franne Golde - Franne Golde’s Journey from Songwriting to Fashion Innovation Apr 16, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

Welcome to today’s episode, in which Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, discusses the fascinating journey of Franne Golde, Founder and CEO of Franne Golde and a former songwriter who danced her way into the fashion industry and established a thriving specialty retail brand.

Franne Golde is a women's apparel brand that created the "Magic" Pants and other figure-flattering basics for the office or wherever life takes you.

She is a former songwriter who turned her love for fashion into a thriving business.

In this interview, we explored:

- How her roots in music influenced her entrepreneurial path

- The accidental start of her fashion journey with a school boutique fundraiser and how it blossomed into a full-fledged clothing line.

- Discovering a unique fabric led to creating a game-changing pair of pants.

- Overcoming manufacturing hurdles with the help of personal connections.

- Franne’s belief in commitment and how the universe conspires to assist dedicated people.

- Her strategy in using online marketing, personal outreach, and referrals over traditional advertising.

- A serendipitous endorsement from Oprah Winfrey’s stylist, propelling her “magic pants” into the limelight.

- Addressing the challenges of balancing marketing expenses and adapting to market changes.

- The importance of in-person interactions and maintaining a personal touch within a converted recording studio space.

- And so much more...

For entrepreneurs and dreamers alike, Franne’s journey offers inspiration and practical insights into navigating the business world and successfully shifting from one career to another.

Additional Information:

For listeners who want to experience the comfort and style of Franne’s “magic pants” for themselves or to connect with her brand, visit:

https://www.frannegolde.com/

Listens get 20% off their next full-priced order. Use promo code STORY.

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose offer “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Brightland - For the Love of Food & Cooking Apr 10, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this enlightening episode, Ramon Vela takes a deep dive into the world of food and beverage with Aishwarya Iyer, Founder, CEO, and visionary behind Brightland.

Join us as we uncover the passion, challenges, and innovative strategies behind building a brand that’s as much about quality and sustainability as it is about its products.

Brightland makes artfully crafted ingredients to help pour on a little bit of the good life. Best known for our iconic olive oils, we source all our products directly from small, family farms in California and Hawaii.

Key Highlights:

Entrepreneurial Well-being: Aishwarya discusses the role of gratitude and meditation in managing the stress of entrepreneurship, offering listeners a glimpse into the daily practices that keep her grounded.

The Genesis of Brightland: Learn about Aishwarya’s journey to starting Brightland, inspired by the health benefits of olive oil and a commitment to transparency, quality, and sustainability.

Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges: From handling disappointment and uncertainty to the significance of self-compassion, Aishwarya shares her hurdles and how she’s overcome them.

Behind the Scenes of Product Creation: Get an insider look at Brightland’s meticulous approach to creating its products, which involves prioritizing quality over cost, working closely with family-owned farms, and adopting a unique vinegar production method.

The Art of Olive Oil: Explore the parallels between olive oil and wine. Aishwarya provides expert advice on storing, tasting, and even incorporating olive oil into your coffee for an extra health boost.

Brightland’s Products: Delve into the world of Brightland’s oils, vinegar, and honey, learning about the importance of quality sourcing, innovative blends, and the brand’s plans for retail expansion and education on olive oil’s health benefits.

Conclusion:

Aishwarya Iyer’s journey with Brightland is a testament to what passion, resilience, and a focus on quality can achieve in the entrepreneurial world.

Whether you’re a food enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone curious about incorporating healthier options into your lifestyle, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Tune in to discover the heart and soul behind Brightland and find a new appreciation for the humble olive oil in your kitchen.

For more on Brightland, visit: https://brightland.co/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Fly By Jing - Expanding Palates and Minds Apr 09, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this episode of “The Story of a Brand,” Ramon Vela delves into the compelling story of Jing Gao, Founder, CEO, and visionary behind the modern Chinese food brand Fly by Jing.

From the brand’s humble beginnings to its place on the shelves of major retailers, Gao’s journey is a narrative of personal and professional evolution, marked by leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to authenticity.

Join us as we explore:

Personal Growth and Leadership Jing shares insights on personal growth, self-acceptance, and the evolving role of a CEO in empowering and supporting the team, emphasizing the importance of inner fulfillment and team alignment.

Managing Team Dynamics The discussion focuses on the challenges of managing a growing team. It explores the shift in dynamics and structures as a company expands and highlights the importance of adaptability and cultural alignment.

Employee Growth and Company Culture The conversation delves into the significance of supporting employee self-actualization and holistic growth, emphasizing the role of a company in fostering individual development and creating a positive, inclusive culture.

Unveiling the Purpose Statement Discover the purpose behind the brand’s creation and how it evolved over the years, focusing on evolving culture through taste and expanding consciousness.

Inspiration and Inception of the Company Explore the founder’s journey from China to the US, identifying gaps in the natural food market and misconceptions surrounding Chinese cuisine, which led to the company's launch.

Validation and Growth Learn how a successful Kickstarter campaign validated the demand for the brand’s products, leading to scaling up operations and a significant shift in the ethnic food landscape.

Measuring Success and Impact Understand the metrics and markers of success for the brand, including reshaping the grocery store's ethnic aisle, inspiring other founders, and gaining recognition from retailers and investors.

Future Vision and Expansion Explore the brand’s aspirations to become a household name and a ubiquitous condiment, aiming to evolve culture through taste further and broaden its reach beyond Asian cuisine.

Exploring Culinary Diversity and Flavor Sensations Delve into the importance of diverse flavors and culinary experiences, highlighting the role of sauces in enhancing plant-based meals and exploring the uniqueness of different ethnic cuisines.

Product Introduction and Recommendations Introducing the brand’s flagship products and offering recommendations for first-time customers, emphasizing flavor balance, versatility, and the sensory experience the products provide.

Join us as Jing Gao shares her inspirational journey with Fly by Jing, offering valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and the power of staying true to one’s mission.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a food enthusiast, or someone interested in personal and professional development dynamics, this episode promises to be an enlightening exploration of what it takes to build a brand that transcends boundaries and challenges conventions.

For more on Fly By Jing, visit: https://flybyjing.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Keyspan - The Journey to a Healthier Future with Nate Taylor Apr 05, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this captivating episode of “The Story of a Brand,” Ramon Vela interviews Nate Taylor, CEO and Founder of Keyspan, about the transformative potential of personalized healthcare.

It’s an episode packed with insights, ideas, and inspiration for anyone looking to navigate the changing landscapes of health and wellness in the 21st century.

Join us as we explore:

* Discover Nate’s personal health journey, which led him to question traditional healthcare practices. He now focuses on prevention and addressing underlying health issues rather than relying on quick fixes or medications.

* Learn about Keyspan’s mission to provide personalized health coaching, lifestyle changes, and AI-powered solutions to help individuals optimize their health span, focusing on prevention and behavior change.

* Delve into the concept of health span versus life span, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the quality of life by focusing on health and well-being rather than just increasing the number of years lived.

* Nate Taylor discusses the historical exclusion of women in medical studies and the importance of considering female biology in healthcare. He also highlights Keyspan’s approach to testing additional biomarkers for women.

* Nate Taylor shares his perspective on medications like Ozempic and emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying behavioral reasons for health issues instead of relying on temporary fixes. He also explores the significance of behavior change, diet, and exercise in long-lasting health outcomes.

* The discussion shifts towards the concept of Medicine 3.0 and the role of Keyspan in preventive healthcare. They delve into the partnership between Keyspan and healthcare providers in managing wellness and preventing health issues.

* Nate Taylor shares his personal journey with Keyspan, from signing up for the program to undergoing blood tests and the subsequent steps in the process. Nate provides insights into the user experience and expectations of engaging with Keyspan’s platform.

* The importance of community support in health and wellness is highlighted, emphasizing the role of Keyspan’s community in fostering connections among members. He explores the benefits of sharing experiences, struggles, and victories within a supportive community.

* Nate Taylor encourages listeners to explore Keyspan's offerings and take proactive steps toward their health and well-being. He emphasizes the significance of utilizing data, personalized advice, and community support for holistic health management.

Join us on this enlightening journey with Nate Taylor as we explore the intersection of career innovation, AI’s role in our professional lives, and the transformative power of proactive healthcare.

For more on Keyspan, visit: https://getkeyspan.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

TryNow - How "Try Before You Buy" Is Shaping the Future of Online Shopping Apr 03, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this episode, Ramon Vela dives into the burgeoning e-commerce strategy of “try before you buy” with Benjamin Davis, Founder, and CEO of TryNow. TryNow reshapes online shopping and drives brand loyalty and sales.

We unpack the significance of this approach, its impact on consumer confidence, and how it’s becoming an antidote to the challenges posed by inflation and changing consumer behaviors.

Join us as we explore:

* We start with Benjamin Davis, the founder and CEO of Try Now, sharing his gratitude towards an investor, Ryan, who saw potential in the idea and its execution. It tells how visionary support can bring transformative business models to life.

* Delving into the evolving consumer expectation to “try before you buy,” a shift from traditional online shopping habits. We discuss how this trend fosters a new level of trust and confidence among online shoppers, particularly in an era of price sensitivity and the pursuit of value.

* Discover how offering trials before purchase can significantly uplift brand conversion rates. By targeting hesitant shoppers and increasing consumer confidence, brands can drive incremental sales without immediately resorting to discounts.

* From a wine company that lets customers sample at home to a boot company thriving on a direct-to-consumer model, we highlight varied examples of how this strategy is successfully implemented across different sectors.

* Learn how the “try before you buy” approach is helping businesses cope with inflationary pressures by focusing on customer-centricity, maintaining product quality, and efficiently managing return rates.

* For companies, especially those on Shopify, integrating this model into their returns flow can lead to operational efficiency. We discuss the importance of this integration and how it benefits retailers and consumers.

* We explore how this trend is particularly impactful in the apparel industry, where fit and personal preference play significant roles in purchase decisions.

TryNow facilitates trial experiences, proving that adopting such strategies can improve the retail experience and profitability.

Tune in to this conversation to understand how this innovative approach revolutionizes our online shopping experiences.

For more on TryNow, visit: https://www.trynow.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

HUM Nutrition - Vitamins to to Support You at Every Stage of Life Apr 02, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

Join Ramon Vela for this special episode featuring Walter Faulstroh, CEO and Co-Founder of HUM Nutrition.

HUM’s mission is to help everyone look and feel their absolute best. Combining the exact, pure, and potent nutrients for visible, life-changing results, each unique formula starts with beauty from within. Each formula is made with clinically proven non-GMO, gluten-free, and sustainably sourced ingredients for great results.

Key Points Discussed:

* We discuss the powerful message from Walter Faulstroh, CEO of HUM Nutrition, about the intersection of gratitude, personal health challenges, and innovative wellness solutions.

* Hum Nutrition's core focus is enhancing overall well-being by addressing key areas such as skin, digestive, mental health, and well-being for women’s health.

* The company offers personalized services like online consultations and quizzes tailored to individual health needs.

* Faulstroh sheds light on the often-overlooked psychological effects of acne, exacerbated during the pandemic.

* Emphasis on using clean ingredients in products and sustainable practices in packaging to promote consumer and environmental health.

* Discuss how HUM Nutrition navigated supply chain disruptions and factory shutdowns by being agile and collaborative.

* The platform’s tailored approach to product selection helps those with specific health conditions or those managing medication interactions.

* A commitment to affordable pricing, proper ingredient use for glucose management, and ensuring product quality through extensive testing and verification.

* Walter Faulstroh’s guarantee on the efficacy and safety of HUM Nutrition’s products.

* Faulstroh advocates for managing stress through kindness to oneself and the importance of maintaining overall health.

Call to Action:

Visit the HUM Nutrition website for additional resources, take a health quiz, and have the opportunity to consult a nutrition expert.

For more on HUM Nutrition, visit: https://www.humnutrition.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Doughlicious, The London Dough Co - Kathryn Bricken’s Rise to Cookie Dough Queen with Doughlicious Apr 02, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this episode, our host, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose, interviews Kathryn Bricken, CEO and Founder of Doughlicious - The London Dough Co.

Doughlicious - The London Dough Co. is an award-winning dough company that uses all-natural ingredients, is gluten-free and offers many dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

All our products are produced in the UK using the finest ingredients, including free-range eggs, organic cane, and coconut sugars, and no artificial additives or preservatives.

Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:

* Her personal story and how her pregnancy momentarily paused her culinary endeavors and how she reignited her passion for baking.

* How Doughlicous blossomed into a full-fledged business.

* Growing from a home kitchen operation to requiring a larger manufacturing space, and how they diversified their product line with innovative offerings like cookie dough and gelato bites.

* Kathryn’s strategic pivot from direct-to-consumer sales to focusing on retail distribution catapulted the brand toward international fame.

* How she addresses the challenges and opportunities of marketing with social media and influencers in today’s digital landscape.

* You’ll also hear about the importance of personal involvement and authenticity in representing a brand.

* And why we should celebrate the notion that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams,

* And so much more!!!

Join Rose Hamilton for this inspiring conversation with Kathryn Bricken, which is a testament to the power of following your dreams and the sweet taste of success that comes with dedication and hard work.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a visionary who turned her passion for dessert into a thriving business.

For more on Doughlicious - The London Dough Co., visit: https://doughlicious.co.uk/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose offer “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

BodyHealth - How Uri Minkoff is Reframing People’s Relationship With Nutrition Mar 30, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

Today, we have a special episode featuring Uri Minkoff, the co-founder of BodyHealth, who shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the health and nutrition sector.

With a focus on quality and purity of ingredients, BodyHealth products are crafted to help you achieve and maintain optimum health and vitality. Specifically, the BodyHealth objective is to educate others on improving and maintaining their bodies' condition and provide them with the products needed to do that.

Touted by world-class performance athletes and patients in some of the most desperate conditions, Dr. Minkoff's formulations continue to spread for one simple reason: They Work.

Key Points Discussed:

* His decision to pursue entrepreneurship over further education

* Uri discusses the significant impact his father had on his career path

* The conversation highlights how parental support can be instrumental in recognizing and nurturing children’s talents

* Minkoff stresses the importance of passion and authenticity in achieving success

* He underscores the need for entrepreneurs to understand finance to make informed decisions that align with their passions

* Uri’s strategies for maintaining a connection with the business’s original vision

* He delves into the importance of product offering, timing, customer base, and a strong value proposition

* How Minkoff led BodyHealth to expand its reach beyond its initial offerings

* The refocus on health and nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth of the product line

* The commitment to “life-changing nutrition” and creating products tailored to specific patient needs

* The strategy behind producing content that educates and products that address particular health concerns

* Minkoff emphasizes the importance of building a community and the value of peer-to-peer connections

* He advocates for sharing personal health experiences and the impact it can have on others

* The push for personalized diets and exercise routines

* Finding health experts or programs that resonate on an individual level

* Uri teases potential changes in the market due to new drug developments affecting the snack food industry

* The expected move towards healthier brands and what that could mean for entrepreneurs in the health sector

We hope Uri’s story motivates you to pursue your passions with authenticity and a clear vision.

For more on BodyHealth, visit: https://bodyhealth.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Crow Canyon Home - An Entrepreneur’s Journey to Revitalizing a Classic - The Resurgence of Enamelware at Crow Canyon Home Mar 29, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands.

In this episode, Ramon Vela delves into the fascinating world of entrepreneurship and business revitalization with Cara Barde, the CEO and Owner of Crow Canyon Home.

Join us as we unpack Cara’s inspiring journey and explore the strategies that transformed a struggling company into a thriving enterprise.

Crow Canyon Home offers the largest selection of enamelware items, colors, and patterns in the U.S. – timeless good looks and enduring quality, which are true classics for collectors and homemakers alike.

Key Points Discussed:

* Cara Barde’s background and the pivotal role her father played in shaping her business acumen.

* How Cara transitioned from the dotcom industry to purchasing an existing business, recognizing the potential in acquiring a company from retiring owners.

* The critical importance of seller financing and conducting a comprehensive due diligence process before making an acquisition.

* Cara’s love for the creative aspects of the housewares industry and her vision for merging two businesses into one.

* Strategies Cara employed to modernize the business image, upgrade technology, and improve operations.

* Insights into Cara’s approach to due diligence and negotiation, with a focus on financial analysis, customer diversity, and the value of strong partner relationships.

* How Cara tapped into the revitalization of enamelware, securing significant orders from major retailers and collaborating with iconic brands.

* A glimpse into Crow Canyon Home’s success as a remote company, including an executive living van life in Mexico.

* The strong brand and product range of Crow Canyon Home, and a sneak peek at upcoming product launches and sales strategies.

* How she shifted marketing tactics from traditional wholesale and trade shows to modern approaches like social media and influencer partnerships.

* Leveraging user-generated content to appeal to different demographics, from Gen X to millennials.

* Cara Barde reiterates the enduring charm of enamelware, its sustainable aspects, and the balance of staying on-trend while offering timeless styles.

* Crow Canyon Home’s products, such as its non-breakable dinnerware and tumblers, are practical and durable, encouraging repeat purchases.

* How enamelware stands the test of time against other materials like glass and porcelain, maintaining its relevance in today’s market.

And more…

Don’t miss this episode, filled with invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike.

Cara Barde’s journey is not just about the resurgence of a product line but also a testament to the power of strategic thinking, creative marketing, and the relentless pursuit of growth and innovation.

For more on Crow Canyon Home, visit: https://crowcanyonhome.com/

Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

ALOHA - A Business Built for the Greater Good Mar 22, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Brad Charron, CEO of ALOHA.

ALOHA is an employee-owned and operated company committed to making the healthiest, best-tasting plant-based protein products on the planet.

ALOHA’s product portfolio includes protein bars, drinks, and powders that taste as good as they are for you, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice taste for nutrition.

USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, Stevia & Sugar Alcohol-Free; all ALOHA products are sustainably sourced and thoughtfully packaged with deep respect for people and the environment.

Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:

* Brad shares his journey to joining ALOHA and the importance of gratitude in his leadership style.

* Discover how Brad turned struggling companies into success stories by concentrating on their core competencies.

* Learn how Hawaiian culture inspires Brad’s business ethos, focusing on humility and community involvement.

* Get inspired by ALOHA’s dedication to giving back and Brad’s personal commitment to nonprofit work.

* Brad discusses ALOHA’s efforts to ensure its business is sustainable and accountable, with an array of certifications, such as B Corp, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, Stevia & Sugar Alcohol-Free, backing its claims.

* Hear about how ALOHA aligns its products with consumer needs, emphasizing the importance of organic, made-in-the-USA, and climate-neutral products, all while delivering nutritional value.

* Explore ALOHA’s straightforward strategy to convey the true value of their health and wellness products to consumers.

Join Ramon Vela for this inspiring conversation where we dive deep with Brad Sharon, the CEO of Aloha, a brand that’s not just making waves with its health-focused products but also setting a benchmark for sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Don’t forget to visit aloha.com to explore their range of healthy, sustainable products and learn more about their commitment to positive change.

For more on ALOHA, visit: https://aloha.com/

Remember to follow The Story of a Brand Show for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Mason Dixie Foods - Food that Resonates with Your Soul Mar 21, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Ayeshah Abuelhiga, Founder & CEO of Mason Dixie Foods. Mason Dixie was created to provide fresh, fast, and affordable Southern comfort food to the masses.

Their original solution was perfecting the biscuit – making them with hormone-free dairy, real butter, and no preservatives. Through grassroots support, smart growth and investment, and growing demand, you can now find them nationwide.

Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:

* Ayeshah shares the genesis of Mason Dixie Foods and how a successful Kickstarter campaign for biscuits tapped into people's emotional connection with food and created a groundswell of demand.

* The role of a mentor in Ayeshah’s journey, who saw her potential and helped to pave the way for her success.

* Ayeshah opens up about the challenges of her upbringing and how they shaped her drive and approach to business.

* Learn how Ayeshah leveraged community support and social media to amplify her business’s reach and create a loyal customer base.

* Ayeshah discusses the challenges of resource scarcity, the importance of being flexible, and the perseverance required to scale a business and secure partnerships with major retailers.

* She highlights how Mason Dixie Foods isn’t just a business but a positive force in the community, creating partnerships that extend its reach and ethos.

* How Ayeshah’s approach goes beyond selling food; it’s about crafting an experience that resonates with the soul.

Join Ramon Vela for this inspiring conversation with Ayeshah Abuelhiga, where we learn that the right mix of passion, resilience, and community support can lead to delicious success.

Don’t forget to check out Mason Dixie Foods and experience the comfort of their clean-label food firsthand!

For more on Mason Dixie Foods, visit: https://masondixiefoods.com/

Remember to follow The Story of a Brand Show for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

BookShop.org - How to Keep Your Local Book Stores Alive! Mar 14, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

In this episode, we interview Andy Hunter, Founder and CEO of BookShop.org. Bookshop is an online bookstore that aims to financially support local, independent bookstores.

Bookshop is also a BCorp - a corporation dedicated to the public good. By design, they give away over 80% of their profit margin to stores and affiliates of stores: publications, authors, and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books!

Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:

* Andy’s passion for helping local bookstores thrive in the digital age through Bookshop.org.

* He discussed how he struggled to secure investment and the need for champions like Morgan Entrekin who believe in an entrepreneur’s vision and abilities.

* The importance of merging different disciplines and skills to create unique and impactful work in the business world.

* A discussion on how artificial intelligence might reshape the job market and the ever-growing importance of critical thinking skills.

* The struggle for small businesses to survive in the shadow of giants like Amazon and the detrimental effects of anti-competitive practices.

* Overcoming the challenges of limited budgets and the ever-changing social media landscape to reach customers effectively.

* How Bookshop.org’s model of connecting customers to local bookstores and handling logistics has led to profitability that supports the community.

* The platform’s expansion through organic growth, media attention, and the power of storytelling.

* The call for conscious consumerism that prioritizes community and local businesses.

* Supporting local businesses as an act of community-building and resistance against market monopolies is important.

* Encouragement for listeners to choose platforms that align with their values, like Bookshop.org.

Call to Action:

* Visit Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore.

* Share the episode with friends and family to spread awareness about the importance of local bookstores.

* Join the conversation on social media using #SupportLocalBookstores.

Join Ramon Vela and Andy Hunter as we break down the inside story of Tonal on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BookShop.org, visit: https://bookshop.org/

Remember to follow the show for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of business and wellness.

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/

Compass Rose works with founders and executive teams to help identify issues and opportunities and work with you to operationalize the brand so you can grow and scale profitably, raise funds, innovate, and more. Visit for more information.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

Tonal - The Home Gym Designed with You in Mind Mar 12, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

In this episode, Ramon Vela interviews Ian Yung, Senior VP of Revenue at Tonal. We take you on a journey through Ian’s career shift from the automotive industry to the cutting edge of fitness technology.

Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:

* His transition from a traditional industry to a fast-paced tech environment and the lessons learned along the way.

* How understanding your customer’s needs is pivotal in creating meaningful connections and successful business strategies.

* Tonal’s digital weight training system and how Ian likens it to Apple’s ecosystem

* How Tonal uses data to tailor resistance and provide a personalized workout experience.

* Why resistance training is the cornerstone for long-term health management.

* How Tonal is revolutionizing this space with data-driven insights.

* How investing in one’s physical health early to reap benefits in later years.

* How Tonal caters to performance-oriented individuals through its suite of features like data analytics, community support, scientific coaching, and personalized resistance training

* And so much more!

Join Ramon Vela and Ian Yung as we break down the inside story of Tonal on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tonal, visit: https://www.tonal.com/

Remember to follow the show for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of business and wellness.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/

Compass Rose works with founders and executive teams to help identify issues and opportunities and work with you to operationalize the brand so you can grow and scale profitably, raise funds, innovate, and more. Visit for more information.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

ChromaDex - The Foundation of Healthy Aging and Cellular Health Feb 07, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

Today, host Ramon Vela interviews Rob Fried, CEO of ChromaDex and maker of Tru Niagen®.

ChromaDex is the global authority on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), focusing on the science of healthy aging.

The ChromaDex team, including world-renowned scientists, works with independent investigators from esteemed universities and research institutions around the globe to uncover the full potential of NAD+. A vital coenzyme found in every cell of the human body, NAD+ declines with age and exposure to other everyday stressors, making NAD+ a contributor to age-related changes in health and vitality.

ChromaDex is the innovator behind Tru Niagen®, its growing suite of clinically proven, top-selling NAD+ boosting supplements helping people transform the way they age worldwide.

Setting the benchmark as the gold standard in scientific rigor, quality, and transparency, Tru Niagen features patented nicotinamide riboside (NR), the most efficient and superior quality NAD+ boosting supplements available. Tru Niagen is backed by two Nobel Prize Winners, 30+ human clinical studies, and 300+ published scientific studies, and has been accepted by the world’s most rigorous regulatory bodies.

Highlights:

* His history in the entertainment business and producing movies

* Business lessons, including his “Principles of Success: CHE and ACE”

* What does Tru Niagen® do?

* How NAD is vital for mitochondrial function and energy metabolism

* The main ingredient in Tru Niagen®

* Why NAD is fundamental to life

* How Tru Niagen® enables the body to do what it's supposed to do

* The applications for Tru Niagen®

* When to take Tru Niagen®

* Healthspan versus lifespan?

* Vitamins versus Tru Niagen®? What gives your cells actual energy?

* When do your NAD levels increase after taking Tru Niagen®?

* Rob's personal experience with taking the supplement Tru Niagen®

* What people are saying about Tru Niagen®

* How to know if Tru Niagen® is working

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Rob Fried as we break down the inside story of ChromaDex on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ChromaDex, visit: https://www.chromadex.com/

For more information on Tru Niagen®, visit: https://www.truniagen.com/

Discount code: If you want to sample Tru Niagen 300mg 30 count subscription, you can get a 15% discount here. Simply use promo code: RAMON15

Or Click Here

https://www.truniagen.com/truniagen-300mg/?utm_source=Story+of+a+Brand&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Interview&utm_term=truniagen

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

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Today’s Sponsors:

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

Oobli - Revolutionizing Food and Beverage with Sweet Proteins Feb 01, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

Today, host Ramon Vela interviews Jason Ryder, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Oobli. Oobli makes seriously sweet proteins changing the world, one bite at a time.

Sweetness from protein—not sugar—is the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for! They’re good for your body and the planet, but their fantastic taste will keep you coming back. It’s gut-friendly, diabetic-friendly, all flavor, no compromise win we all deserve.

Try their NEW Sweet Tea with only 7 grams of sugar—no weird stuff.

Highlights:

* Jason's Gratitude Story

* Climate, Food, and Health are joined at the hip

* Jason’t Aha moment when he realized his mission in life

* What are Sweet Proteins?

* Why aren't more people using Sweet Proteins?

* Why did you choose beverages, and what other products are coming?

* Connecting the Climate to our sugar problem.

* How can we solve problems across climate, food, and health when we're sick?

* Are Sweet Proteins and your products diabetic-friendly?

* Building a consumer-facing company has been more challenging than the science

* A review of the sweet teas and chocolates available from Oobli

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Jason Ryder as we break down the inside story of Oobli on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Oobli, visit: https://oobli.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

The NOW - Reconnect Through the Healing Benefits of Massage Jan 27, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

Today, Ramon Vela interviews Gara Post, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The NOW. The NOW, a new concept massage boutique, has quickly become LA's hottest new wellness destination for locals and globe-trotting influencers alike.

The NOW reinvents the way people think about and experience massages by creating a luxury service in an accessible and affordable manner in an inspiring environment.

Highlights:

* The NOW gives you the gift of presence

* Live in the now is one of their brand truths

* The origin story of The Now

* The Now decides to Franchise

* Opening their first location during the pandemic

* Guest experience is critical, so you have to love people

* Ramon: Testimonial about The NOW

* Reconnect through the healing benefits of massage

* Massages could help with emotional tension as well

* Benefits of the Copper Brush

* The NOW 5 Star experience

* The Journey room and aha moment

* How their partnerships build brand awareness.

* How people can become a The NOW Franchise

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Gara Post as we break down the inside story of The NOW on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The NOW, visit: https://thenowmassage.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

myPocketCFO - What Founders Should Know About Financials Jan 25, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands

Today, host Ramon Vela interviews Alice Zhang, Founder of myPocketCFO. myPocketCFO is the new intelligent finance management platform for growing eCommerce and omnichannel consumer brands.

It delivers real-time auto-bookkeeping, analytics, monthly reconciliation, and CFO advice all in one place.

Unlike traditional accounting firms that charge by the hour and deliver siloed services, myPocketCFO ingests all your transactional data daily to automatically generate financial statements that allow you to collaborate with business partners to make critical decisions at a straightforward subscription price.

Highlights:

* Her Gratitude Story

* Why, if you don't understand the numbers, you're doomed

* Jeff Bezos's quote on business cycles as waves

* Economic Forecast for the 2024-2025 calendar year

* Talking interest rates, commercial real estate refinancing, rolling recessions

* Investor's Advice for Founders

* For Founders, why it's time to focus on “value creation”

* Value creation Explained

* What is Accumulated Return or Discounted Cash Flow?

* Cost of Capital and Resetting Your Thinking Around Resources

* The Cost of Capital Concept Explained

* Financial concepts and metrics startup brands should use to measure Value

* Using Growth and "Traction" as Financial Metrics for Startups

* Explaining the Efficiency of Capital and Marketing Efficiency Return

* Why Numbers Should Carry Meaning for Founders

* Your Financials Tell The Life Story of Your Brand

* Founders should ask, “What does my ideal P&L look like?

* Case Study: How you reverse engineer your P&L

* And SO. MUCH. MORE

Join Ramon Vela and Alice Zhang as we break down the inside story of myPocketCFO on The Story of a Brand.

For more on myPocketCFO, visit: https://www.mypocketcfo.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsor:

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

The Vitamin Shoppe - Understand the Customer and The Technology Will Follow Jan 22, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL - The Influencer OS

Join host Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, as she sits down with Andrew Laudato, Chief Operating Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe, to discuss the fascinating evolution from a technologist to a retail leader.

In this episode, we’ll discover the innovative strategies The Vitamin Shoppe is employing to navigate the retail landscape amidst technological advances and evolving consumer behaviors.

Key Themes:

Customer-Centric Philosophy:

* Andrew emphasizes the critical importance of always putting the customer first.

* Discussion on adopting a multi-channel retail approach to serve customers where they are.

Embracing Technological Partnerships:

* Insight into The Vitamin Shop’s partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash to improve accessibility and convenience for customers.

* Leveraging technology for efficient supply chain management.

Education and Employee Training:

* The company’s commitment to educating customers about its products.

* Importance of thorough training for employees to maintain a consistent and knowledgeable shopping experience.

Personalized Marketing and Data Privacy:

* The balance between using customer data for personalized marketing and ensuring privacy and security.

Sustainable and Quality-Focused Industry Practices:

* Discussion on the vitamin industry’s focus on sustainability and quality.

* How The Vitamin Shop aligns with environmentally conscious practices.

Career Development Insights:

* Andrew advises pursuing varied experiences and passions before settling into a career path.

* Retail as a foundation for developing management and leadership skills.

The Concept of Composable Commerce:

* Explore The Vitamin Shop’s move towards “composable commerce” and its implications.

* The challenges and uncertainties of long-term planning in a rapidly changing retail environment.

Episode Highlights:

* Andrew’s personal career journey and lessons learned transitioning from tech to retail.

* How multi-channel retailing and online platforms are revolutionizing the shopping experience.

* The importance of training and knowledge in empowering employees and satisfying customers.

* A deep dive into how personalization and privacy intersect in modern marketing practices.

* Insights into the future of retail and how to prepare for shifts in the industry.

Call to Action:

Andrew Laudato encourages listeners to consider how technology and consumer habits shape a brand’s shopping experiences and the importance of sustainability and quality in product choices.

Thank you for tuning in to our latest episode.

Remember to subscribe to “The Story of a Brand Show” on your favorite podcast player for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest trends in consumer brands, retail, and beyond!

For more on The Vitamin Shoppe, visit: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

David to Goliath - Dream Like a Giant. Fight Like an Underdog Jan 16, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.

Today, Ramon Vela interviews Nigel Thomas, Founder of David to Goliath. A newsletter that documents his comeback from near suicide to building a 100,000 community in public and interviewing the best underdogs of this generation.

Highlights:

* Gratitude Story: 100,000 in revenue

* Some people never accomplish their life's mission or goal

* Nigel's mission & purpose

* Life is About Constant Practice

* Nigel: Struggling with a Purpose is how we find happiness - Part 1

* Nigel: Struggling with a Purpose is how we find happiness - Part 2

* Learning from others Who Have Experience

* Why community is the solution to the problem

* Overcoming your fears starts with gratitude

* Running at 6 am to fight depression

* Dark Knight Rises, making the jump away from fear, and why David to Goliath Newsletter exist

* And so much more

Join Ramon Vela and Nigel Thomas as we break down the inside story of David to Goliath on The Story of a Brand.

For more on David to Goliath, visit: https://davidtogoliath.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

Alvies - Welcome to the Boot Party! Jan 13, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.

Today, host Rose Hamilton, Founder and Principal Advisor of Compass Rose Ventures interviews Alvie Faulkenbery IV, Founder and El Presidente of Alvies.

They are on a mission to make boots and flip-flops your footwear of choice. They believe with a good pair of each, you can go almost anywhere and do almost anything.

In this episode, we dive deeply into lessons learned from building the brand from start-up to scale… in the competitive footwear category.

We’ll discover how the customer experience has been vital to growing Alvies as a mission-based brand – both online and experiential.

Highlights:

* Driven by customer experience, Alvies places a great emphasis on capturing customer information and carefully managing channels of distribution, which was learned very early in the business

* Alvie shares how he’s kept just the right balance of people, processes, and systems to allow the mission and quality to scale as the company grows

* The secret of marketing success lies in building partnerships with artists and collaborations that introduce the Alvies name to new customers. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and word of mouth to grow the business.

* Alvie reveals the latest expansion for the brand through Boot Parties, taking the airstream concept on the road to bring boots to people for special events like bachelor parties, birthday parties, and more

* Highlighting the importance of leveraging other categories like hospitality to find innovative ways to build the customer experience

* How Alvie manages the balance between work and life as a busy entrepreneur who is leading a business through growth

* Learn some key takeaways from 2023 that Alvie is excited to take into 2024 and more!

Join Rose Hamilton and Alvie Faulkenbery IV as we break down the inside story of Alvies on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Alvies, visit: https://www.alvies.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

Exciting Plans and Changes in 2024 for The Story of a Brand! Jan 10, 2024

Today, we have a special episode. We announce and discuss our “New Strategic Alliance” with Compass Rose Ventures!

I’m joined by Rose Hamilton, Founder and Principal Advisor of Compass Rose.

We discuss the challenges facing brands in 2024, how this strategic alliance addresses those challenges, and other changes to The Story of a Brand Show.

Highlights:

* Why Compass Rose Ventures

* What’s stopping brands from moving forward

* The SWAT Team approach

* Taking a holistic view of a brand

* The two reasons why I started the show

* Making 1 + 1 = more than 2

* Getting the fundamentals right

* Brands: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

* Seeking clarity in decision-making

* Growing from Founder to CEO

* Communication as a driver of a brand’s growth

* Why mission-based brands build from within

* And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Rose Hamilton as we break down the inside story of The Story of a Brand in 2024.

For more on Compass Rose Ventures, visit: https://compassroseventures.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

Partner Series: Retencity - Retention is the Heart of Your Brand’s Growth Jan 04, 2024

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.

Today, in our partner series feature, our host, Ramon Vela, interviews Andrew Christison, Co-Founder of Retencity.

Retencity works closely with eCommerce, retail, and mobile app brands to build purposeful lifecycle programs that stand out. Whether email + SMS, onsite list growth, push, in-app messaging, or all of the above, they manage programs for optimal ongoing growth.

Retencity has also pledged a portion of its revenues and equity towards the planet and collective good.

Highlights:

* Andrew’s Gratitude Story

* Deciding That Now Was the Best Time to Start An Agency.

* Learning From His Work With Large Brands

* Why Onsite List Growth Is So Important!

* How Retencity Helps Brands With List Growth

* How Privacy Concerns Changed Email & Digital Marketing

* How to Market Effectively In A World Full of Privacy Regulations

* Email Tactics for Brands Part 1

* Email Tactics for Brands Part 2

* How Retencity is Unique in the Email Agency World

* How to Turn Your Current Tech into Your Brand's Superpower

* Why It's So Hard for Brands to Run Email Strategy & Programs

* Email or SMS? Which One Should You Ask For First?

* How Retencity is Addressing Societal Problems With 1 Percent For The Planet

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Christison as we break down the inside story of Retencity on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Retencity, visit: https://www.retencity.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

Partner Series: Finaloop - The Financially Intelligent Founder Dec 11, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.

Today, in our partner series feature, our guest host, Rose Hamilton, Founder and Principal Advisor for Compass Rose Ventures, interviews Lio Pinchevski, Founder and CEO of Finaloop.

Finaloop reconciles all financials in real-time, providing e-commerce and DTC brands flawless books, optimized tax returns, and actionable insights 24/7 with 100% accuracy.

They replace your accounting software, integrations, bookkeeper, and tax CPA, so you stop wasting your precious time and money, make smarter decisions, and handle taxes on time.

Highlights:

* One of the most significant barriers to effectively running an e-commerce business

* Running performance marketing without numbers is like running blind

* What should your marketing agency be asking you?

* Beyond ROAS, what other vital numbers should you expect from your agency?

* Why is ROAS not the only metric to manage marketing campaigns:

* How do you best manage your agency’s accountability?

* Why are finance and accounting different, and why can’t the same person do it all?

* Why and when should you hire a fractional CFO or in-house CFO, and at what milestones?

* What does a sound accounting process look like?

* What's the secret to getting 100% accuracy and no month-end close? How is it always reconciled?

* How to speed up due diligence for an acquisition

* Advice to other founders about Financial and Marketing IQ

Join Rose Hamilton and Lio Pinchevski as we break down the inside story of Finaloop on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Finaloop, visit: https://www.finaloop.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

Mother Science - From Melody to Molecules: The Mother Science Skincare Breakthrough Dec 05, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io and SARAL.

In this episode, we interview Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger and Mike Einziger, Co-Founders of Mother Science.

Mother Science is a biotech beauty brand creating next-generation skincare solutions. They believe in pushing the boundaries of skincare with cutting-edge science, beginning with their never-before-used ingredient, Malassezin. Born out of curiosity and a passion for science, they aim to build a community inspired by learning and innovation.

Highlights:

* The co-founders share a personal story about their father’s stroke and how an experimental treatment saved his life

* Highlighted the importance of gratitude and mentorship in their tech ventures

* How they transitioned from being musicians to biotech entrepreneurs

* Finding satisfaction in addressing real-world needs through their business

* Comparing the “flow” in learning and business development to being on stage as musicians

* Why courage is needed to innovate and overcome fears, especially when taking action

* Overview: Developing a molecular “hero serum” with a molecule called Malassezin

* How they discovered a treatment for hyperpigmentation

* Why no one had discovered the Malassezin before

* Addressing the true challenge of innovation in the beauty space

* The benefits of Malassezin as a potent antioxidant and its efficacy in clinical trials.

* How the facial serum is designed for dark spots but is versatile for use on any body part

* How Dr. Pearl Grimes, a skin pigmentation expert, tested the serum on herself and Mike and conducted biopsies to understand its safety and efficacy.

* A review of where to go and where to buy

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger, and Mike Einziger as we break down the inside story of Mother Science on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mother Science, visit: https://motherscience.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Pinsy - The Shape of Success: Pinsy’s Pioneering Vision for Shapewear Nov 30, 2023

This episode is brought to you by WAIR and SARAL.

In this episode, we interview Ratchel Pinlac, Founder and CEO of Pinsy.

Pinsy Shapewear is redefining and pioneering the Shapewear Made to be Seen category. In a world saturated with Shapewear companies aiming to hide a woman's body, Pinsy is changing the conversation and building shaping technology that marries body positivity with a vision of shapewear-as-outerwear.

Featured in Harpers Bazaar and Instyle Magazine as the #1 Shapewear Bodysuit, #1 Shapewear Bodysuit for Plus Size women, as well as the Top Bridal Shapewear by Forbes. Pinsy Shapewear applies an innovative, performance-driven, technical, and fashion-led approach to the Women's Shapewear market.

Highlights:

- Share personal stories about immigrant parents and the sacrifices they make

- Why Pinsy is set to change the shapewear industry

- How Rachel’s childhood experiences and societal pressures motivated her to create the brand

- Entrepreneurial challenges, such as finding experts in product development and suitable factories

- Financial aspects of starting a business, including why you should save before starting a business

- The misconceptions about transitioning from a corporate job to entrepreneurship

- How Pinsy’s shapewear can also serve as a bra, underwear, and bodysuit

- Why Pinsy aims to add value to women’s lives by reducing the need to buy multiple separate items

- The brand’s philosophy: to support and accentuate the body, not just slim it down

- How Pinsy’s features, like adjustable straps and bust support show the brand’s attention to detail

- Where to start with Pinsy? The solid hourglass bodysuits is recommended for new customers

- Pinsy’s new collection, which focuses on enhancing the waist, is mentioned.

- Plans for the brand including adding more colors and lace styles

- Why the brand is considering expanding into new product categories within the shaping market

- And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Ratchel Pinlac, as we break down the inside story of Pinsy on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pinsy, visit: https://wearpinsy.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

WAIR - A Must-Have Tool for Apparel Brands: https://www.getwair.com/

This sizing experience IS the difference for shoppers who find a brand that utilizes WAIR to communicate sizing for them. Now, with just a few simple questions, customers have an accurate recommendation based on their unique body shape to support them throughout their shopping session. To provide this service to your shoppers, request a demo at https://www.getwair.com/

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Hardworking Gentlemen - The Power of Authentic Branding: Hardworking Gentlemen's Storytelling Approach Nov 27, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy and SARAL.

In this episode, we interview Reid Ryan, Founder and CEO, and Mark Mclean, COO of Hardworking Gentlemen.

Hardworking Gentlemen (HWG) is built on authenticity. They make natural and sustainable essentials that men can feel good about using daily.

All Hardworking Gentlemen's products are packaged in 100% recycled, biodegradable materials. Unlike much of the grooming industry, HWG strives to never use raw plastics.

Highlights:

- Gratitude story, including becoming fathers and caring for their children

- Their motivation to become successful entrepreneurs is to help others

- The challenges and motivations behind creating a brand for men's grooming products

- Their emphasis on non-toxic solutions and eco-friendly packaging

- Why research and improvement in ingredients and packaging is so important to them

- Discussing the challenges faced by brands marketing natural products, such as misleading marketing and lack of FDA regulation

- How the company pivoted to online sales during the pandemic

- Why their videos with themselves have been critical to their success online

- How Inventory management is a recurring challenge

- The investment from friends and family and reinvestment of profits back into the business

- Why authenticity and storytelling are essential in the brand's messaging

- Discussing financial controls and coping with work-related stress

- Review of their grooming products for men, emphasizing simplicity and empowerment

- The Importance of education in men's skincare and products

- And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Reid Ryan, and Mark Mclean as we break down the inside story of Hardworking Gentlemen on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hardworking Gentlemen, visit: https://www.hardworkinggentlemen.com/

Exclusively for The Story of a Brand listeners:

Get 20% off, use Promo Code: THESTORYOFABRAND20

(can't be combined with other offers)

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a no-credit card 21-day trial. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Gardenuity - The Power of Gardening and Wellness with Donna Letier Nov 27, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.

In this episode, we interview Donna Spafford Letier, CEO and Co-Founder of Gardenuity, a company dedicated to making gardening accessible to everyone and promoting well-being.

Gardenuity offers various garden kits on its website and provides wellness programs that incorporate gardening experiences. We also explored the importance of self-care, and Donna discussed the need for self-care as an entrepreneur, mother, and wife.

Highlights:

- We discuss gratitude and positive reframing

- Why we should separate our personal life from business when facing challenges

- How they recognized the lack of customization in gardening and developed technology for personalized planting choices

- Exploring the increased interest in gardening during the pandemic and its wellness benefits

- How Gardenuity offers wellness programs using gardening experiences and various garden kits on its website

- Donna highlights the connection between gardening and reduced anxiety and depression

- The benefits of Gardenuity's approach to promoting well-being through gardening experiences

- How gardening and entrepreneurship are similar

- Advice for other founders

- Advice for those going through a difficult time

- And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Donna Spafford Letier as we break down the inside story of Gardenuity on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gardenuity, visit: https://gardenuity.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link to receive the offer:

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Sunday - Transforming Lawns and Lives Through Empowerment and Sustainability Nov 21, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy and SARAL.

In this episode, we interview Coulter Lewis, CEO and Founder of Sunday, a brand that helps you grow, mow, and care for your yard in ways that are better for people, pets, and the planet.

Highlights:

- Coulter shares his perspective on the importance of gratitude and meditation in coping with life's challenges

- Overview and origin story of Sunday, a company that provides digitally enabled experiences for lawn care

- Explaining the motivation behind creating Sunday and homeowners' frustration in maintaining their lawns

- Why Sunday aims to empower customers through guidance and support

- Discussing the negative environmental and health impacts of current lawn care practices are highlighted

- Why Coulter believes in transforming neighborhoods through knowledge and tools

- How to make land suitable for families and the environment

- And so much more!

Join Ramon Vela and Coulter Lewis as we break down the inside story of Sunday on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sunday, visit: https://www.getsunday.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a no-credit card 21-day trial. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

MitoQ - Unlock the Power of Cellular Health and a Healthier You Nov 21, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io and Rebuy.

In this episode, we interview Mahara Inglis, the CEO of MitoQ, a New Zealand-based company at the forefront of the cellular health movement.

MitoQ is uniquely designed to target cell stress, helping you unlock more energy, faster exercise recovery, and healthier aging - empowering you to embrace life on your terms.

Highlights:

* MitoQ's challenges during the pandemic and supply chain difficulties

* Discussion on the MitoQ core product, a patented molecule that improves cellular health and offers various benefits

* Benefits of cellular-level supplements and the positive feedback for a recently launched product for adrenal health

* His personal experiences regarding improved energy levels, focus, and calmness while taking the supplement were shared

* Why they’re Aiming to become a leader in the cellular health category

* Their focus on adrenal, blood sugar, heart, liver, eye, and joint health

* Engaging people in conversations about cellular health and offering tailored products.

* Societal trend towards longevity and the potential for cells to regenerate

* Emphasis on a holistic approach to health

* MitoQ's dedication to healthy aging and cardiovascular health, particularly in women

* The importance of educating consumers about the product's science and human benefits Join Ramon Vela and Mahara Inglis as we break down the inside story of MitoQ on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MitoQ, visit: https://www.mitoq.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a no-credit card 21-day trial. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Grio - Building Strong Parent-Child Bonds with Grio Baby Bottles Nov 18, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Reviews, Nimble, and SARAL.

In this podcast episode, we interview Dara Chike-obi, President and Co-Founder of Grio, a brand that seeks to revolutionize early childhood experiences and support parents through innovative products.

Highlights

* Grio baby bottles are redesigned with input from professionals to promote cognitive development and emotional bonding

* Grio offers interchangeable sensory enhancing bases to engage children and support their development

* Her journey into motherhood and the isolation she felt

* How her personal life motivated her to pursue business school and ultimately led to the creation of Grio

* How the company aims to address the lack of postpartum support and societal expectations faced by busy mothers

* The importance of involving both parents in child care and building strong bonds

* The need for solutions that allow parents to rely on their community for support

* The lack of postpartum support and societal expectations busy mothers face

* Why parental involvement and community support are essential for building strong bonds

* Why Grio focuses on promoting bonding without distractions

* Why collaboration with mom groups and nonprofits has yielded positive feedback

* Why she plans to raise awareness and educate people about Grio's products

Join Ramon Vela and Dara Chike-obi as we break down the inside story of Grio on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Grio, visit: https://griobaby.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

Nimble.ai: https://www.nimble.ai/

Do you need to reduce your fulfillment costs to remain competitive? Switch to Nimble's fulfillment services and SAVE! Visit Nimble for more, and please let them know you heard it on The Story of a Brand Show.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

NeuroGum and Mints - Fueling Your Focus: The Story of Neuro Nov 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy and SARAL.

In this episode, we delve into personal relationships, shared values, and the fascinating concept of biohacking with Kent Yoshimura, the Co-founder and CEO of NeuroGum and Mints. We’ll also discover how these elements are vital to the Neuro’s business growth and success.

Highlights:

* NeuroGum and Mints, a company driven by the power of human connections, places great importance on alignment and vision.

* Kent reveals how they have developed accessible biohacking products, specifically NeuroGum and Mints, that offer sustained energy and focus.

* The secret behind their success lies in a unique blend of caffeine and L-theanine, supplemented by energy-boosting B vitamins.

* Moreover, these products cater to various dietary needs, being vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free, and utilizing monk fruit as a natural sweetener.

* Kent also discusses a range of other products designed to enhance mood, relieve stress, and promote good sleep.

* Highlighting the crucial role of sleep in overall health, mental well-being, and gut health, he shares insightful information on the importance of prioritizing restful nights.

* How kindness towards one another is emphasized as a crucial aspect in business and personal relationships.

Join Ramon Vela and Kent Yoshimura as we break down the inside story of NeuroGum & Mints on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NeuroGum and Mints, visit: https://neurogum.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a no-credit card 21-day trial. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The SARAL Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

Saint Art - Clothes that Maximize Expression, Minimize Impact Nov 07, 2023

This episode is brought to you by WAIR and Tidio.

Today, we interviewed Caroline Gogolak, Founder and CEO of Saint Art. Saint Art is New Your Street Style for everyone.

This new form of American sportswear is easy, effortless, and luxe by addressing the cadence of our everyday. The collection reads as a juxtaposition - masculine and feminine, romantic and sporty.

Highlights:

* Her Gratitude Story

* What she learned from ballet and how it helped shape the person she is today

* Being obsessed with clothes and how they make you feel and look

* She sets aside ballet, finds a new identity, and realizes that she loves to sell clothes

* Faced with either an MBA or Entrepreneurship, she chose to found Carbon38, and what she learned from that experience

* Her time at SoulCycle: what she learned, such as how to focus on operations and managing a more significant business

* Finding time during COVID to start thinking about ideas and deciding to jump back into entrepreneurship again with her newfound knowledge and, most importantly, jump back into fashion

* The ethos of Saint Art and the new of American sportswear

* What is the promise of the brand

* How operational efficiencies allow Saint Art to compete on a fast fashion level but with much less risk and more sustainable

* Review of designs and line

* Advice for founders

Join Ramon Vela and Caroline Gogolak as we break down the inside story of Saint Art on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Saint Art, visit: https://saintartnewyork.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

WAIR - A Recommended Tool for Apparel Brands: https://www.getwair.com/

This sizing experience IS the difference for shoppers who find a brand that utilizes WAIR to communicate sizing for them. Now, with just a few simple questions, customers have an accurate recommendation based on their unique body shape to support them throughout their shopping session. The stats don't lie. Most brands will see an immediate increase in conversions upon installation.

To provide this service to your shoppers, visit WAIR and request a demo.

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link to receive the offer.

Willa’s Oat Milk - Innovative, Nutritious, and Delicious! Nov 01, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io and Nimble.

Today, we interview Christina Dorr Drake, Co-Founder and CEO of Willa’s Oat Milk. Willa's Organic Oat Milk is on a mission to change the plant-based milk category for good and forever.

Willa's uses real, organic ingredients to create deliciously smooth oat milk.

Highlights:

* Her Gratitude Story

* What Walter Robb, former CEO of Whole Foods, saw in Willas

* How and why her Grandmother came up with Willa's Recipe

* The Willa's Mission

* Why some other brands aren't as healthy as they claim, and why Willa's is different

* Lesson: Taking the risk of being the first

* Not just an alternative to milk but something nutritious

* Why their chocolate milk is so good, how they honor the single source Peruvian cacao, how they work with indigenous farmers, and why that is so important

* Building a brand that lives its values, is congruent with its values, and can sustain itself.

* Challenges, pandemic, being omnichannel, and how that helps

* What trust means to Willa's

* The Innovation Christina is Seeing from Smaller Brands

* Review of the recipe and main products

* Innovation is an opportunity to include partners in the ideation process

Join Ramon Vela and Christina Dorr Drake as we break down the inside story of Willa’s on The Story of a Brand.

Visit Here to Get 20% off Your Order: https://willaskitchen.com/discount/RAMON20

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Visit my special link to receive the offer.

Nimble.ai: https://www.nimble.ai/

Do you need to reduce your fulfillment costs to remain competitive? Switch to Nimble's fulfillment services and SAVE! Visit Nimble for more, and please let them know you heard it on The Story of a Brand Show.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my special link to receive the offer.

Vdriven - Cash is the Lifeblood of a CPG Brand Oct 19, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Vdriven, Tidio, and SARAL.

Today, we interview Luke Abbott, Founder and CEO of Vdriven. Vdriven is a CPG agency dedicated to helping forward-thinking leaders in the natural food space realize their potential and accelerate their growth.

Their mission is to democratize the natural industry by coming alongside you, providing guidance and support as you navigate the complex retail landscape.

Highlights:

* His Gratitude Story

* Story: why encouragement is the biggest gift you can give

* Why it’s hard to see clearly when you’re stressed and anxious

* Advice Luke would give to someone struggling

* Welcome fear and then let it pass and why fear is not the enemy

* Advice: understanding your financials is crucial

* How he bought a 30 million dollar company using the law of attraction

* Lesson: commit to something and be true to your values

* Lesson: using mentorship and coaching to help you scale your brand

* Why you should hire people who are smarter than you are

* Challenges in the market and solutions

* Priority: focus on financials, cash position, and COGS

* Solution: focus on where you spend money and be open to doing things differently

* Is now a good time to start a CPG brand?

* The Emerging Brand as Hypothesis strategy

* How Vdriven helps brand, their free masterclasses, and ideal client

* Parting words: don’t be afraid to ask for help

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Luke Abbott as we break down the inside story of Vdriven on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Vdriven, visit: https://www.vdriven.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

VDriven - A Partner to CPG brands: https://www.vdriven.com/

Are unauthorized distributor deductions hurting your bottom line and cash flow? Over the last three years, Vdriven recovered over $1 million in erroneous deductions from distributors. Vdriven supports brands with an array of services to accelerate sustainable growth, including deduction management. Use the link above to learn more and schedule a call.

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my special link.

Quiet Punch - Boxing is the Gateway Drug to Training Oct 08, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy, Reviews.io, and SARAL.

Today, we interview Brian Pedone, CEO of Quiet Punch. Quiet Punch is the most affordable and all-inclusive home boxing solution available. Their platform tracks performance, connects users, and dramatically increases engagement.

Their mission is to “make boxing and combat sports accessible to all regardless of their living situation.”

Highlights:

* His gratitude story: a father who helped him with boxing.

* Starting a boxing club in College

* He started a gym for high schoolers and did coding to pay the bills.

* Moving to Manhattan and making money doing corporate training (boxing)

* Boxing is the Gateway Drug to Training

* Changing the connotation of training

* How he came up with the Quiet Punch idea

* How he started mass marketing the product, Part 1 (The infomercial)

* Lesson: Don't give your idea to someone else; do it yourself.

* Getting the money for his first 1000 units.

* How he started getting orders with a trending video

* Capturing emails and building his FB followers

* Hard lessons: selling at a loss, letting the patent expire, and not caring about margins.

* Life lesson: do not wait until you’re retired to do what you want

* His Shark Tank Story and Lessons Learned.

* Almost doing a deal with Damon John

* Big Lesson: it's better to be balanced than to get too high or too low and then crash

* Overview of Quiet Punch: what it is, how it fits on the door, how people use it

* Conducting a study on how boxing helps people 65 and older with their cognitive health

* Why he isn't offering a subscription

* His deal with Everlast to getting into retail.

* Gamification: challenging others online

* Review of Quiet Punch exercise programs

* And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Brian Pedone as we break down the inside story of Quiet Punch on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Quiet Punch, visit: https://quietpunch.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso

Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a a no-credit card 21-day trial.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you, offer weekly check-ins, and 1:1 consulting until you succeed.

First Light Whiskey - Smooth Coffee-flavored Whiskey for Everyone Sep 26, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Saral and Vdriven.

In today’s episode, we interview Ryan Espi, Co-Founder & CEO of First Light Whiskey. First Light Whiskey is a smooth, coffee-flavored whiskey that can be enjoyed neat, on ice, or mixed into your favorite cocktail.

It’s made with naturally gluten-free 99% corn whiskey, real coffee extract, and raw blue agave — crafted with love on the coast of Southern California.

Highlights include:

* His Gratitude Story

* What his mentor taught him: “All Boats Rise.”

* What he took for granted about his parents

* Taking the Van Wilder path in college

* The lesson he learned from his design firm

* How did he get started with First Light, and why

* How his hobbies and passion make him a better version of himself

* Deciding what type of company they wanted to build

* Overview and challenges of the alcohol industry

* Breaking down the First Light recipe

* Why they want people to have a First Light moment: How they named the brand

* Internal challenges as a manager and leader

* Advice for founders

* Launching a D2C offer

* What he’s proud of about the brand

Join Ramon Vela and Ryan Espi as we break down the inside story of First Light Whiskey on The Story of a Brand.

For more on First Light Whiskey, visit: https://www.firstlightwhiskey.com/

Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s sponsors:

Vdriven - A Partner to CPG brands: https://www.vdriven.com/

Are unauthorized distributor deductions hurting your bottom line and cash flow? Vdriven has recovered over $1 million in erroneous deductions from distributors. Vdriven supports brands with deduction management and an array of services to accelerate sustainable growth. Schedule a call today.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon

SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.

Tidio - The Democratization of AI Customer Service for SMBs Sep 23, 2023

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & Tidio.

In today’s episode, we interview Vytautas Juskevicius, Chief Marketing Officer at Tidio. Their suite of live chat, chatbots, helpdesk tools, and AI solutions enables brands of all sizes to offer quick and qualitative support and create real connections with your consumers so you can drive the business forward.

In this episode, we discuss:

* His Gratitude Story

* How marketing can bring value to the customer

* The future of marketing and marketing roles

* How AI will impact the field of marketing

* Who is Tidio - an overview

* What role will AI play in customer service

* Lyro and why it’s important to get AI right for their customers

* How Lyro works for customers

* How Tidio’s full suite of products helps brands

* Tidio is turning customer service into a revenue generator

* The democratization of AI customer service for SMBs

* Criteria for becoming a Tidio customer

* How Tidio works with Partners

* What does Tidio do that makes him so proud? Hint: It’s their customer service

Join Ramon Vela and Vytautas Juskevicius as we break down the inside story of Tidio on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tidio, visit: http://www.tidio.com/story

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

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Today’s sponsors:

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon

SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.

Open Water - The Most Sustainable Bottled Water in the World Sep 11, 2023

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & WAIR.

“Almost every week we hear about there being plastic particles found in the deepest trenches of the ocean, on the highest mountains, in our blood, which is really, really scary. So people are more and more aware of this plastic problem and are actively looking for solutions to cut plastic out of their lives.”

In today’s episode, we interview Nicole Doucet, Co-Founder & CEO and Jess Page, Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer of Open Water. Open Water is an ultra-purified, electrolyte-packed canned water in BPA-free aluminum packaging. Is it recyclable? Check. Climate Neutral? You bet. Plus, they encourage you to fill up at the tap whenever possible, really.

Highlights:

* Their Gratitude Story

* How did they come up with the idea and what was the motivator?

* Why is buying bottled water such a stupid idea?

* How and why did they decide to use aluminum packaging?

* Were they entrepreneurs looking for an idea or was it an idea looking for an entrepreneur to take it forward?

* How they overcame challenges such as the widespread use of plastics

* The difficulties in getting the business off the ground

* The 3 ways they tried to get ahead of the challenges

* Why they stayed away from retail in the early days

* Their advice for founders including, get a co-founder

* Their huge mistake in naming the brand and what they recommend to others

* What was it about not having a label on the can that was really important to them?

* How are they building a business with sustainable practices as well?

* What they are really proud of about the brand & business

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Nicole Doucet, and Jess Page as we break down the inside story of Open Water on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Open Water, visit: https://drinkopenwater.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s sponsors:

Sendlane - Email & SMS Tool for Brands: https://storybrandgift.com

Get a step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane. Go to my special link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon

SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.

WAIR, Tool for Apparel Brands: https://www.getwair.com/

With just a few simple questions, customers have an accurate recommendation based on their unique body shape that will support them throughout their shopping session. The stats don't lie, most brands will see an immediate increase in conversions upon installation. Want to provide this service to your shoppers, visit and request a demo.

Endangered Species Chocolate - Chocolate Bars that Do Good, Better! Sep 07, 2023

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & Tidio.

In today’s episode, we interview Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC). ESC is passionate about redeeming typical business practices into “doing good, better” with the hope of leaving a positive and lasting ripple in their wake.

They are on a mission to seed joy through abundant giving by donating 10% of net profits to impactful conservation organizations and initiatives. Since 2016, over $3,100,000 has been donated.

Highlights:

* His Gratitude Story

* Mission-based brands have a magnetic force around them

* Why mission-based brands should focus on providing an exceptional customer experience

* How to keep the mission front and center with employees and customers

* Why do they name their chocolate bars based on the endangered animal and not the ingredients?

* How they use packaging to further the mission

* Conservation is hard work and why they donate 10% of profits to these organizations

* Curt describes the values of the company

* What is he most proud of about Endangered Species Chocolate?

* Is there a secret sauce to the longevity of a consumer brand?

* A breakdown of ingredients and products

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Curt Vander Meer as we break down the inside story of Endangered Species Chocolate on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Endangered Species Chocolate, visit: https://www.chocolatebar.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

Today’s sponsors:

Sendlane - Email & SMS Tool for Brands: https://storybrandgift.com

Get a step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane. Go to my special link.

SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon

SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.

Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story

My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link.

Chia Smash - The Delicious Superfood Jam Sep 06, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy.

In today’s episode, we interview Anna Peck and Steve Ford, both Co-Founders of Chia Smash.

Chia Smash is a superfood jam that's good for you, your tastebuds & the planet. No added sugar, packed with superfoods and made using 'imperfect' fruits.

In this episode, we discuss:

* What they’re grateful for

* Overview and origin story of the brand (and their meeting at Blue Apron)

* What a summer job at seventeen taught Steve about entrepreneurship

* The impact that upbringing and health were for Anna in starting the brand

* Why Chia and what is it about Chia Smash that makes it different from the rest

* How they overcame challenges in naming the product

* What activities worked for them in getting the product to retailers

* Advice for other founders who are building a CPG brand

* Why it’s okay to not have everything figured out

* What to do when you have trouble with co-packers and suppliers

* A breakdown of their product including their different flavors

* What is upcycling and why do they use it (plus how it is sustainable)

* And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Anna Peck and Steve Ford as we break down the inside story of Chia Smash on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chia Smash, visit: https://chiasmash.com/

Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy Engine.

It’s easier than ever to set up an online store these days. But, creating personalized shopping experiences for every customer? That’s the hard part.

Using proprietary technology, industry-leading integrations, and fully-customizable merchandising, Rebuy gives you the power to create personalized experiences for every shopper.

Boost your order values, increase conversions, and accelerate your business with Rebuy.

Visit https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso today for a no-credit card 21-day trial.

UNICORN A TOP Product - Making the Pivot from D2C to B2B Aug 22, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io & Nimble.

In today’s episode, we interview Co-CEO’s Denielle (Verdi) Finkelstein and Thyme Sullivan of UNICORN A TOP Product. UNICORN is the enchanting period product company revolutionizing the industry with their magical, innovative solutions.

Their one-of-a-kind dispensers, designed for every stall in businesses, offer unparalleled dignity and convenience. Their sleek, easy-to-install acrylic dispensers showcase their delightful unicorn mascot cartridges, elevating the experience.

Highlights:

* Building a brand in the traditional way

* Taking a good hard look at the numbers and where it was leading them

* Having tough conversations with their investors

* Deciding to pivot from Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) to Business-to-Business (B2B)

* Beta testing their new vision with JP Morgan Chase - Story with Jamie Dimon

* Planning the re-brand, pausing social media, and filming a LinkedIn series documentary

* Why the re-brand and new focus is all about scaling their original mission of supporting women and ending period poverty

* Why the “Fun Factor” is so important to them?

* What these founders are grateful for

* Where to buy - using Amazon for individual purchases

* Raising a third round of funding

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Denielle (Verdi) Finkelstein and Thyme Sullivan as we break down the inside story of UNICORN on The Story of a Brand.

For more on UNICORN, visit: https://www.magicaldopamine.com/

Original Interview with TOPs - The Organic Project

TOP - Period Products for Girls, Moms, and Mother Earth - Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-of-a-brand/id1435740265?i=1000477642067

TOP - New Standard in Feminine Hygiene Care - Part 2 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-of-a-brand/id1435740265?i=1000477790389

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

Today’s Sponsors:

Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

Nimble: https://www.nimble.ai/

FORIA - Pleasure & Connection Are At The Heart of Wellbeing Aug 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane & SARAL.

In today’s episode, we interview Jon Brandon, Co-Founder & CEO of FORIA. FORIA is a lifestyle brand on a mission to support lifelong pleasure and sexual wellbeing. Foria’s all-natural, organic and award-winning formulas support a woman’s most intimate needs.

In 2014, FORIA literally created the category for plant-based women’s sexual support, with a revolutionary cannabis based topical designed to enhance pleasure.

Since then, they’ve been setting the standards in the plant-based sexual wellness space and they've expanded our clean, innovative and highly effective botanical formulations to support healthy intimate experiences across every stage of her life.

Highlights:

* Why he’s grateful for his parents

* The Taboo around sexual wellness products

* Reducing the society’s stigma

* Why we’re the most stressed and anxious society in history

* How we’ve weaponized distraction

* Why you can market sexual wellness products for men but not for women

* Describing his why and motivation when things get tough

* How his divorce transformed him

* Foria’s key pivot and product evolution

* Why they are launching products around “Phase of life”

* How his customer has changed and grown

* A product review breakdown

* And much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Jon Brandon as we break down the inside story of FORIA on The Story of a Brand.

For more on FORIA, visit: https://www.foriawellness.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

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This episode is brought to you by SARAL

As a founder, have you always wanted to start an influencer program but never got around to it? That’s because doing the entire process can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re new to it and have limited budgets.

SARAL helps you solve these problems. They offer the simplest influencer marketing tool in the world. You can find untapped influencers, automate outreach, and build relationships at scale using their platform.

For an ecommerce brand, it’s like having an unfair advantage.

SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link at https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Arthur Gallego - Pride Marketing in 2023 & Will it Change in 2024? Jul 07, 2023

How does your brand, your message and mission fit in support of Pride Month and LGBTQ culture and issues in 2023 and how are the controversies with Bud Light and other brands affecting how or whether you support in 2024?

Today, we interview Arthur Gallego, Founder & CEO of Gallego & Co. Marketing Consultants and pop culture expert.

In this special “brand strategy” episode, we discuss pride month and the latest controversies with Bud Light + Dylan Mulvaney, Nike, Target, Cracker Barrel, Starbucks, and Google. Highlights:

* How long will Bud Light be dealing with the current controversy

* The commercialization of Pride Month

* Why many brands are terrified about taking a stand

* Why the impact of how large brands react will be seen in 2024

* Brands and Risk Tolerance

* Advice for brands around Pride Month support

* Why you should spend your energy and resources on the customers who love and support you

Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego as we break down “Pride month, brands, and the latest controversies” on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Arthur Gallego and Gallego & Co. Marketing Consultants, visit: https://www.gallegoandco.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

GF Jules - Voted #1 Certified Gluten-Free Flour by Consumers! Jul 04, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jules says, "GF Jules is a premium baking mix and flour company, and everything we do is gluten-free. From the foundation, everything has always been a hundred percent gluten-free. We also have tried to address other people's food allergy needs as well. So we've always broadened the foundational mix line and flour line so it's been vegan, kosher, and nut free. And we have become one of the first baking mix and flour companies in the country to be certified top nine allergen free as well. So we've tried to be inclusive in what we can bring to families who have different dietary needs."

Today, we interview Jules Shepard, Founder & CEO of GF Jules. GF Jules is the #1 gluten-free flour and baking mixes company in the US.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for

* An overview of GF Jules

* Why it started with her diagnosis of Celiac disease

* The story of how her partners shut her out of the business

* Restarting again both personally and professionally with GF Jules

* Why her competitor is the only person she trusts in the CPG Industry

* Her big lessons learned in business, partnerships, and trusting people

* How you can be nice yet aggressive and ferocious when needed

* Why her story is a story of integrity

* Her focus is on her ideal customers

* A review of products, flour, mixes and what you can do with them

* And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Jules Shepard as we break down the inside story of GF Jules on The Story of a Brand.

For more on GF Jules, visit: https://gfjules.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Our primary sponsor, Sendlane, has a gift for you. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Umamicart - Celebrating Asian American Culture & Cuisine Jun 25, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Andrea says, “I always grew up with that sense of otherness and this sense that people looked down on Chinese cuisine and they thought of it as unhealthy or oily or this and that. And it was like, well, I eat this food at home. It's amazing. Like, it's so diverse. So I think that was something always that bothered me…”

Today, we interview Andrea Xu, Co-Founder & CEO of Umamicart. Umamicart is an online grocery store delivering hundreds of your favorite Asian products and ingredients.

Their carefully curated selection includes both traditional staples and up-and-coming Asian-American owned brands. Umamicart delivers an online grocery shopping experience that highlights and celebrates the endlessly diverse, unique, and ever-evolving Asian American culture and cuisine.

Highlights:

* What she’s grateful for (her family, her sister, and growing up in Spain) * Why investors initially did not like her idea * How she felt a sense of otherness as a child * Why she created Umamicart and what she hopes to change * Learnings from being a new mom and entrepreneur * Why Asian foods have a right to evolve as other foods do * A review of Umamicart Collab products * Criteria for brands who want to be on Umamicart * What she is most proud of about the brand * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Andrea Xu as we break down the inside story of Umamicart on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Umamicart, visit: https://umamicart.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Varos - Compare YOUR Marketing Performance to Competitors Jun 24, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Yarden says, “I'm never worried about competitors too much because when you do something and it's so in the weeds that you're like, no one is gonna do this. It's just so nuanced. But the customers really care about the nuances.”

Today, we interview Yarden Shaked, CEO of Varos. Varos is the largest e-commerce & Saas data co-op in the world.

See how your performance stacks up against your competitors: Compare KPIs anonymously and securely with companies in the same vertical and spend level as yours.

Highlights:

* What he’s grateful for * The Sunk Cost Fallacy and why a lot of startups fall for it * Overview of Varos * What problems do they solve for brands, agencies, SaaS companies? * Why they solve for the nuances (of data) * A look at their fundraising experience and advice for other founders * How are agencies, brands, and SaaS companies using Varos? * Breakdowns of platforms, onboarding, and future of Varos * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Yarden Shaked as we break down the inside story of Varos on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Varos, visit: https://www.varos.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Backroom - Your Brand is a Vehicle to Fulfill Your Legacy Jun 22, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kara says, “We don't work with a type of company, we work with a type of person… The ones who want to grow on a revenue level, but the growth in the revenue is more of a means to an end, which is to have impact, create something, change something, improve something. Their business is a vehicle for them to fulfill a legacy or a destiny in their lives.”

Today, we interview Kara Redman, Founder & CEO of Backroom. Backroom is a brand strategy and performance marketing agency.

They've helped both startup and global clients reposition, 3x growth, launch, exit, raise up to $9M in funding, build measurable brand equity, merge, acquire, and exit.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for

* The finite nature of life (we get existential on this topic)

* Overview and origin of Backroom

* The foundational branding elements that every brand should do

* Building community and why it’s so hard

* Insights and advice for brands owners and founders

* What kinds of companies or individuals does Backroom work with?

* How they work with brands

* Are the needs of larger brands different from small or midsize brands

* Last words (this is deep)

* And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kara Redman as we break down the inside story of Backroom on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Backroom, visit: https://www.backroom.io/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Compass Rose Ventures - Turning CPG Founder's Anxiety into Agility Jun 13, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Rose says, “Let's go in and stress test your ability to scale. That's step one. Because you may think you have it all buttoned up, but really we like to sit at the intersection of the vision, the action that you're doing, and the motion and the momentum you're actually creating. And are they all aligned, and are they going to allow you to grow and scale?”

Today, we interview Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures. The Compass Rose Ventures team brings 20+ years of experience in growing consumer brands from concept to successful exits.

They are dedicated to helping CPG founders and investors launch, optimize, and scale brands offering just the right balance of insight, experience, rigor and hands-on support.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Her origin story and background * Her experience at Pet360 and Vitamin Shoppe * The challenges that brands face today * The cure for rising customer acquisition cost: Community * Why she believes that founders need a “Fierce Bias Towards Action” * Her advice for brand founders and operators * Why strategy is about making the right choices * Why the first thing she does when working with brands is a “Stress Test” * Who she works and what that engagement looks like * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Rose Hamilton as we break down the inside story of Compass Rose Ventures on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Compass Rose Ventures, visit: https://compassroseventures.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Bucket of Bread - Unleash Your Inner Baker Jun 13, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Chris says, “I figured I should make something that just goes back to basics and gives people something a little better than ingredients go.”

Today, we interview Chris Wysong, Owner & Founder of Bucket of Bread. Bucket of Bread provides baking mixes that are made with certified organic ingredients, preservative-free, vegan-friendly, and super easy to prepare.

Add lukewarm water to the recyclable bucket, mix, and you'll end up with dough that can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. This gives you complete flexibility to make a variety of baked goods. You can make garlic knots, pizzas, cinnamon buns, breadsticks, pretzels, bagels, naan, doughnuts, or even more with recipes available on our website.

Bucket of Bread is also Veteran-owned and shares profits with charities fighting food insecurity and combating hunger in America.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * How he got started with baking * Baking bread with Iraqis and being a veteran-owned business * Why it’s like a meal prep kit * A breakdown of ingredients, including no dairy, preservatives, fat, or egg * The charitable side of the business or why he does what he does * His goals as a business: 500 online sales per month * Why he has more than the bottom dollar in mind

Join Ramon Vela and Chris Wysong as we break down the inside story of Bucket of Bread on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bucket of Bread, visit: https://bucketofbread.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

GOOD PLANeT FOODS - No Compromise on Melt, Flavor, Texture! Jun 10, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

David says, “Our head of R&D is continuously working day by day. Yes, we have new products coming, but we’re always trying to figure out how to make that melt better. How to find a better ingredient. How to make the stretch better. We're all about innovation, quality, and improvement, nonstop.”

Today, we interview David Israel, Founder & CEO of GOOD PLANeT FOODS. Their goal is to bring you the true experience and joy of cheese, with plant-based offerings that are GOOD for you and good for the PLANeT!

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * His personal story - Incarceration, second chances and more… * Lesson’s he’s learned on how to overcome personal tragedies * The story of his first snack company * How he got into plant-based cheeses with the help of his Sister-in-law * How and why they created a better plant-based cheese * Getting people to lean into plant-based cheese because of the message * Why this time and this brand is more than about money; It’s about doing the right thing * New product that’s going to revolutionize the industry (coming out July/August 2023) * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and David Israel as we break down the inside story of GOOD PLANeT FOODS on The Story of a Brand.

For more on GOOD PLANeT FOODS, visit: https://goodplanetfoods.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

REVIEWS.io - Empowering Brands, Agencies, and Tech Partners Jun 06, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Our friends at Review.io are giving my listeners 20% Off the Lifetime of Any Plan. Use the following link: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

Today, we interview Joe Fox, Global VP of Partnerships and Joe Santillan, Regional Growth Manager of REVIEWS.io. REVIEWS.io is a powerful review collection and management tool that helps businesses grow their online reputation.

We discussed:

* What they’re grateful for * What trend they are seeing in the market * How REVIEWS.io works with multiple channels * Why you should audit your tech stack more frequently * How they work with agencies and tech partners * What sets them apart from competitors? * Onboarding from a brand's perspective * What is their vision for the future? * Integrations like Rebuy Engine, Gorgias, and Dotdigital * What other platform they work with * Future Product Launches * Advice and insights around user generated content * Case studies and customer success stories * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Joe Fox and Joe Santillan as we break down the inside story of REVIEWS.io on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Reviews.io, visit: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

BRC Imagination Arts - Storytelling that Transforms the Audience Jun 01, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Christian says, “often the authentic story is sitting there, but often as well, agencies or the marketing team may be afraid to go there but we push to go. That's the interesting thing. That's what's going to connect the audience because it's a genuine real conversation.”

Today, we interview Christian Lachel, Chief Creative Officer for BRC Imagination Arts. BRC Imagination Arts is a full-service, strategic design and production company that translates brand and cultural stories into transformative human experiences.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview and Ethos for BRC * Why great brand experiences start with the heart of the audience * If you have a unique message to tell, does the customer really want to hear it? * Case studies on how they have created transformative experiences * How they grew out of Disney’s Imagineering * Always look for a great storyteller * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Christian Lachel as we break down the inside story of BRC Imagination Arts on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BRC Imagination Arts, visit: https://www.brcweb.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Brandjectory - Where CPG Brands Grow from Seed to Series A May 30, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Thomas says, “The biggest thing we offer in all is the mentoring platform. We have a platform called The Orbit, because we're launching into space all together. And the orbit is mentoring and coaching from investors and industry experts. And we have industry experts in there who cover every aspect of CPG.”

Today, we interview Thomas Malengo, Co-Founder of Brandjectory. Brandjectory guides early-stage CPG brands to be investor-ready faster and smarter, with a robust network, structured process, and expert resources.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * How he got started in the consumer brand world * How investors and consumers look at brands * What are investors focused on? * Advice for the Founders of consumer brands * How to make sure you know who your customers are? * The two parts of Brandjectory and how they help brands * What brands are ideal for joining Brandjectory * How to validate or qualify your product idea in the marketplace * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Thomas Malengo as we break down the inside story of Brandjectory on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Brandjectory, visit: https://www.brandjectorynow.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Forij - Functional Granola that Delivers Serious Brain Power May 27, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Parker says, “we're really focused on cognitive health. Some of these mushrooms can have really incredible, really impressive medicinal value for basically maintaining really clean and positive cognitive health, but also helping improve cognitive health. So whether it is memory or mental energy like processing capability. On a fundamental level, they're really helping your central nervous system, primarily in your brain, to prune and also grow your neurons. So it's almost acting as like neural food.”

Today, we interview Parker Olsen, Founder of Forij. Forij is loaded with brain nutrients, their functional granola delivers serious brain power. And their taste is award-winning; all without any of the high sugar or fake ingredients.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * Revisiting Parker’s personal why and what drives him * Experiencing “ego death” and learning that the “obstacle is truly the way” * Challenges of the brand including margin erosion, less capital expenditures, debt capital, economies of scale, and making a pivot * A breakdown of the new product - functional granola bars and their ingredients & flavors * His blog and the hundreds of articles on mushroom, brain health, and all the other benefits * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Parker Olsen as we break down the inside story of Forij on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Forij, visit: https://www.forij.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Nutrisense - The Education and Accountability Tool May 18, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Today, we interview Dan Zavorotny, Co-Founder & COO of Nutrisense. Nutrisense is a platform focused on improving metabolic health. Their mission is to help anybody discover and reach their health potential.

Their members discover the perfect diet for their unique bodies by tracking key metabolic markers in real-time. They leverage powerful hardware (CGM, Ketone Meters, etc), software, and a team of expert dietitians to enable lasting behavior change.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * How mentors help you reduce your failure when you’re a startup * Why experience gives you pattern recognition (and what is it) * How layoff should occur and why should hire slowly * Why you should hire failed founders * Overview and origin of Nutrisense * Why this mission is important to Dan and why he wanted to do something for the world * How he started selling * How they started to scale quickly (brief story of how their revenue grew) * The three parts of Nutrisense: analytics, glucose monitor and health practitioners * Why so much of the world is pre-diabetic * Why if you want to know who you are and what works for you ~ see the data * The difference between Nutrisense and Fitbit * Advice, make sure you want to change * It’s really an education & accountability tool * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Dan Zavorotny as we break down the inside story of Nutrisense on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nutrisense, visit: https://www.nutrisense.io/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

NoBull Burger - The Best Veggie Burgers I’ve Ever Tasted! May 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Elizabeth says, “At the end of the day, one of the things that we take so much pride in is, this is not a meat imitator. This is just a whole food, real food, veggie burger. And everything in there are ingredients from the earth, not from a lab.”

Today, we interview Elizabeth Raymond, Co-Founder of NoBull Burger. NoBull Burger, is the TRUE veggieburger, and is a handcrafted, 100% plant-based veggieburger that takes pride in using premium ingredients to make an exceptionally tasting, whole-food veggieburgers.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Origin Story and Overview of NoBull Burger and their values * Their biggest challenges in past and present * Advice for other CPG founders * Their focus on Mental Health * Their personal story with Mental Health and how they use the brand as a platform to help others * Understanding your self worth as a founder of a CPG brand * The state of nutritional psychology and how NoBull Burger fits in * A breakdown of ingredients and products * Where to buy this amazing product (Ramon’s words) * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Elizabeth Raymond as we break down the inside story of No Bull Burger on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NoBull Burger, visit: https://nobullburger.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Higher Dose - Helping YOU Get High Naturally May 16, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Lauren says, “we built rituals around our wellness tech to really amplify the benefits of the wellness tech and create an amazing experience for people at home that they want to do over and over again because the more you do it, the more benefits you're gonna get, the better you're gonna feel.”

Today, we interview Lauren Berlingeri, Co-Founder of Higher Dose. Higher Dose cultivates the hottest at-home wellness tools using nature-inspired technologies to release a DOSE of feel-good chemicals — AKA, Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins — that elevate your mood, promote a healthy glow, support long-term health benefits, and lift your spirit.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * How her raising her kids is more challenging than business * Her health issues and how it impacted her life and business * Lauren’s background and overview of Higher Dose * Creating content for longevity, her YouTube series * Developing rituals for people to do at home * Why people want a sauna experience at home & launching the Sauna Blanket * Benefits of Sauna for your health and engaging your “healing state” * How to use and clean your sauna blanket * The benefits of red light therapy * Solving what their customers are asking for * Adopting a healthy lifestyle through rituals * Her favorite bio-hacks * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Lauren Berlingeri as we break down the inside story of Higher Dose on The Story of a Brand.

For a 15% off Higher Dose products, use STORY15

For more on Higher Dose, visit: https://higherdose.com/

Their YouTube series, Biohack-Hers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtt3Vc8Sfqz2rWmxlkgDdcqUJp4fkWY1v

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Before - Meet Men's Health Best Toothpaste - 2023 Grooming Awards May 16, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Steve and Jamie say, “Your mouth health is directly connected to your gut and mind health. Especially your gut. You have people spending a ton of money on probiotics and if they're not taking care of their mouth health, they could be completely out of balance.”

Today, we interview Steve Thorp and Jamie Collins, Co-Founders of Before. Before is a custom dentist-approved formula made with clean ingredients and packaged in a 100% recyclable plant-based tube.

We discussed:

* What they are grateful for * The idea, origin, and overview of Before * The opportunity in oral care and wellness * What both founders never expected on their entrepreneurial journey * Why accessibility and price point are important to them * Avoiding the petroleum and aluminum lining that competitors use in their tubes * Their focus on clean ingredients, sustainability and plant-based * How gut health and oral health are connected * The 2023 Men’s Health Winner for Best Tooth Paste * A breakdown of their products * Advice for other Founders * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Steve Thorp and Jamie Collins as we break down the inside story of Before on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Before, visit: https://beforecompany.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

True Classic - Giving Their Customers Confidence May 09, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Ryan says, “Care more about humans. And as much as you think, you care. It's not even close to where you should be. That's what I would say. I think everyone needs to take a very long look at what they're in business for. If you're in business for profits and cash, then you'll never gonna realize the profits and cash that you actually want, because you're just gonna be thinking about yourself.”

Today, we interview Ryan Bartlett, Co-Founder & CEO of True Classic. At True Classic they get it, everybody makes shirts, but not every body is shaped the same. That’s where True Classic comes in. True Classic makes everyday essentials for every type of person. Premium high-quality basics with no gimmicks.

We discussed:

* What’s he grateful for * How his health concerns changed his life * Asking himself is he raising good humans (about his kids) * Overview and origin of True Classic * Why entrepreneurs need to get used to failing * Think about how you are serving and adding value to the customer * Why, when starting out in business, don’t spend a lot of money * How analysis can cause paralysis * A dark time in the business * Why forecasting is the number one most important thing in business * Advice for other founders * Dealing with family life, your spouse or partner when you’re an entrepreneur * Their upcoming line of women’s clothing * Why their clothing gives their customers confidence

Join Ramon Vela and Ryan Bartlett as we break down the inside story of True Classic on The Story of a Brand.

For more on True Classic, visit: https://www.trueclassictees.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Veracity Selfcare - Healthy, Balanced Life on the Inside and Out May 09, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Allie says, “we're exposed to we're exposed to 85,000 chemicals that disrupt our health and hormones. And this is not allowing your body to heal itself, take care of itself, and create this sort of homeostasis that is, a healthy, balanced life that you feel from the inside and see on the outside.”

Today, we interview Allie Egan, Founder & CEO of Veracity Selfcare. Veracity creates a personal selfcare experience based on real data about your hormones and other bio-factors that impact your skin and your health.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * An overview and origin story for Veracity * Why she is so passionate about this brand: her story * What are hormones, why they’re amazing and why they could be unbalanced * Why doctors are not checking hormone levels * How to get hormones back in balance * Why you need to stop using hormone disruptors (in many products we use) * Their test for general hormonal health * What are the most common issues they see in women * Breakdown of Veracity products including ingredients * Their consultation for hormonal health * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Allie Egan as we break down the inside story of Veracity Selfcare on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Veracity Selfcare, visit: https://veracityselfcare.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Yais Thai - Bringing Bold Thai Flavors Right to Your Home May 05, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Leland says, “So the authenticity piece, obviously that's really core and central to our brand. One thing that I'm proud of myself and Sarah for doing and holding true to remaining authentic. Because, earlier on when we were trying to raise capital and got a lot of pushbacks on, is Thai a large enough section in the grocery store? Is the market large enough for that? And a lot of investors And other folks pushed us to try to, do something that was more Pan-Asian… and that's not central to our brand.”

Today, we interview Leland Copenhagen, Co-founder of Yais Thai. Created to bring Thai flavors into American households with the twist of a cap. Inspired by his Yai (translation: grandma) and mom's sense of ease in the kitchen, they want to share the joy of connecting over a delicious meal with everyone!

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * An overview and origin story of Yais Thai * Seeing the opportunity with heritage products * How the consumer is driving demand for authentic foods * Marriage and running a brand with your spouse * How he handles the mental and emotional aspects of running a brand * A breakdown of the Yais Thai products, including ingredients * Why glass jars? * What are Leland’s favorite sauces (currently) * What he’s most proud of about the brand * Where to buy * and so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Leland Copenhagen as we break down the inside story of Yais Thai on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Yais Thai, visit: https://www.yaisthai.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

BEAM, Be Amazing - Eat Up This Thing Called Life! May 04, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Michael says, “We also have a nutritionist, a formula, a flavorist on staff that most brands don't have. And then the next layer is we get to manufacture the product. We control that process, so we have disclosure, we have control into all of that. There's no middleman. That allows us to make the top of the line product with no middleman, no surcharge, no upcharge. We're offering premium formulas, incredible flavors and experiences for market price.”

Today, we interview Michael Yewdell, President of BEAM - Be Amazing. BEAM’s mission is to create superior supplement products. How do they guarantee this? By controlling the entire process. From sourcing and importing the raw ingredients, to an in-house flavor team, down to the manufacturing and production of the final product. They do it all.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * His personal story, his diagnosis & fight with cancer * What keeps him going every day * How cancer changed his life and fueled his mission and products with BEAM * How the owning the entire manufacturing process gives them an edge * A review of new products and customer feedback * Their philanthropic initiatives including raising money for cancer research and funding 500 plus hours of therapy * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Yewdell as we break down the inside story of BEAM - Be Amazing on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BEAM - Be Amazing, visit: https://youcanbeam.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Barefaced - Skincare Formulated for Results May 04, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jordan says, “My goal is to be evergreen. We use evidence backed research when we're doing any of our formulations. So we can offer someone a medical grade experience, kind of in-office consult, from the comfort of their own couch.”

Today, we interview Jordan Harper, Found, CEO, and Nurse Practitioner of Barefaced.

Barefaced® is a direct to consumer skincare brand dedicated to building relationships, confidence, and knowledge through healthy, beautiful skin. Offering only a rigorously curated collection of skincare products, Barefaced® is the home for those seeking the confidence and calm that comes with fresh, vibrant, healthy skin.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Raising kids as an entrepreneur * How to live a life of intention * Overview of Barefaced and origin story * Her experience of working with doctors, patients, and giving injections * Why her primary mission is to educate * Caution: there is no miracle one product that solves everything, so don’t get fooled * Why other brands release so many products * Ingredient and formulation philosophy; a breakdown of Barefaced products * Where to start? Start with her blog. * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Jordan Harper as we break down the inside story of Barefaced on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Barefaced, visit: https://www.barefaced.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Droplette - Improving Your Skin from Within Apr 30, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Madhavi says, “we've started trying to design products where you see the result very quickly after one use.Things like lip pluming or blemish treatments, because you'll see results after a single use. And that's a way of positively reinforcing the use of our device because you're delighted by the results.”

Today, we interview Madhavi Gavini, CEO of Droplette. Droplette is a technology company revolutionizing the skincare industry with its breakthrough device. The Droplette device and capsules use our enhanced aerosol technology to deliver active ingredients under the skin - where they can actually work.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * An overview and origin of the brand * Discovering that for skin treatments, there is a delivery problem * How treatments get on your skin (usually) * What is “diffusion” * Being a start up founder and mathematician * The challenges with brand building * Droplette’s big picture vision * Wanting to be a tech platform for other brands * The challenge of getting people to change behavior * New product versions and formulations coming out soon! * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Madhavi Gavini as we break down the inside story of Droplette on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Droplette, visit: https://droplette.io/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Rodeo - Consumers Don't Want a Subscription? Apr 30, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Ben says, “the goal is not a subscription. The goal is for a customer to buy repeatedly, and sometimes a subscription is the right mechanism for that, but for many people, it's not. And so what you need is to have a series of different tools that enable you to meet the person where they are and then the right way for them to consume.”

Today, we interview Ben Fisher, Co-founder & CEO of Rodeo. Rodeo is a consumer-centric subscription platform for challenger CPG brands. Consumers *don't* want a subscription. They *want* your product, when they need it. With Rodeo, you can turn transactional customers into subscribers with a bespoke platform that offers "middle ground" flexibility tuned to your customer’s buying patterns & products.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * His discussion on entrepreneurship, the pressures, anxiety * Ketamine therapy and was it helpful * How to achieve Zen like performance * A different perspective on what it means to be a high achiever * His morning routine - a break down * The pressure to perform * An overview of Rodeo * What’s a flexible subscription * The challenges to implementing a subscription program * How to work with Rode: who is a customer, onboarding, etc. * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Ben Fisher as we break down the inside story of Rodeo on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rodeo, visit: https://hey.rodeo/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Good Journey - Delicious Better-for-You Donuts Apr 25, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kristoffer says, “one thing that I'm practicing right now is distinguishing between fear and intuition. Because sometimes that gut feeling isn't necessarily intuition, it's your fear speaking or it's oh no, not this again. And so now it's like paying attention. If I am being present to whatever's happening in me internally and knowing when it's fear speaking.

Today, we interview Kristoffer Quiaoit, Founder & CEO of Good Journey. Good Journey creates delicious donuts with magical macros 🍩. 3g Net Carbs and 1g sugar. They are made with wholesome ingredients like almonds and soluble tapioca fiber and are naturally sweetened.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * Closing his first business and how it affected him * Carrying armor and building a wall from feeling emotions * Why comparison is the thief of joy * How to recover from bankruptcy, closing a brand, and finding yourself again * Avoiding playing it small and overcoming imposter syndrome * Why entrepreneurs struggle with “not being enough” * Understanding the difference between “fear and intuition” * Why he stopped drinking alcohol * Having self-compassion for yourself * Starting fresh with Good Journey * Creating a delicious donut * Lessons learned that he is now applying to his brand, Good Journey * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kristoffer Quiaoit as we break down the inside story of Good Journey on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Good Journey, visit: https://www.goodjourneyfoods.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Rare Circles - Turn Community Engagement into Revenue Apr 25, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Ethan says, “Truthfully, any space can, because what we're talking about when we think about a community-based brand, we're really thinking about a set of values, right? A set of interests that people have been, may be into. They could be into cars, they could be into fitness, they could be into renovation. There's people that are passionate about it and want to talk about it. And so I would say it can be done in every single space. There are spaces where it's a more natural fit, but it can be done any where.”

Today, we interview Ethan Song, Founder & CEO of RareCircles. RareCircles is a membership and experiential loyalty platform, powering the world's best communities.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * His previous brand, Frank & Oak, and how it informed his new venture * What worked in the early days of Frank & Oak around community? * The challenges of building community and why more brands aren’t doing so * What is the easiest way to build communities * A walk through the RareCircles platform and what it does * Who do they work and how to onboard? * Why building a community can fit with any sector and brand * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Ethan Song as we break down the inside story of RareCircles on The Story of a Brand.

For more on RareCircles, visit: https://www.rarecircles.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Your Super - You Can Take Control of Your Health Apr 25, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Michael says, “If you are eating more clean three to five days in a row, you're gonna feel a major difference. Three to five days, that's it. You don't have to do it for years and years. It’s obviously better. You're gonna feel better. Just doing it for three to five days, you're gonna feel a major difference. You're gonna feel lighter, you're gonna feel less bloated. You're gonna feel more clear, more productive, more energy. And that's what it is. That's what true health is about, feeling your best.”

Today, we interview Michael Kuech, Co-founder of Your Super. Their mission is to make the world a healthier and happier place by providing natural, organic, and delicious products. Their mixes include Superfoods which are plant-based foods that contain high amounts of micronutrients, minerals and vitamins.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * He tells us about his Cancer diagnosis and how he recovered * Why 50% of Cancers are diet related and what to do about it * How to make a connection between what you eat and how you fee * Their book: Your Super Life: 100+ Delicious, Plant-Based Recipes Made with Nature's Most Powerful Superfoods * How to super charge your meals and the power of Detoxing * Why they want to be a vehicle for change * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Kuech as we break down the inside story of Your Super on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Your Super, visit: https://yoursuper.com/

Get the "Your Super Life book" at your favorite bookstore: Barnes & Noble, Booksamllion, Target, Amazon, Walmart, etc.

Follow them on IG on @kristelandmichael and @yoursuperfoods.

Learn more on kristelandmichael.com and yoursuper.com.

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Tiege Hanley, Inc. - The Voice for Uncomplicated Skincare Apr 14, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kelley says, “I was just astounded. What guy is educated enough about skincare to understand what these products are? There's nobody that I know in America that is in my sphere of friends or business people that would understand any of this, and I sure didn't. But big cosmetic companies really thought that they could market skincare to men how they market for women. And it just didn’t work out very well. That’s why Tiege has been so successful. Our tagline is Uncomplicated Skincare for men.”

Today, we interview Kelley Thornton, Founder & CEO of Tiege Hanley, Inc. Tiege Hanley is an uncomplicated skin care company for men, with the sole mission of taking out the guesswork by giving you every product you need and nothing you don’t. The products are not only high quality but are affordable as well.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * The difficulties of building a business and lessons learned: Purchase Point story * What is entrepreneurship PTSD? * How he’s applied previous lessons learned to Tiege * Building a voice in the market * Spotting cultural changes to find a market opportunity * Break down of ingredients and COGS * Why they produce their own products and why it’s a competitive advantage * How their recycling efforts cost them more money but worth it * What the future holds for Tiege, including TV spots * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kelley Thornton as we break down the inside story of Tiege Hanley, Inc. on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tiege Hanley, Inc. and to get a 30% discount, visit: https://tiege.com/storyofabrand

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Chelsea & Rachel Co. - An Agency Obsessed with Helping Brands Apr 14, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Chelsea says, “I think what we're seeing is everybody's looking at every area for ways to tighten their budget and their marketing dollars. And what is exciting about what's possible with D2C is you're still seeing this pushback into stores, but those that have invested well into D2C, realizes it influences the store purchase.”

Today, we interview Chelsea Jones, Co-founder of Chelsea & Rachel Co. One of only five woman-owned Shopify-Plus Preferred Partners in the world, Chelsea & Rachel, Co has a proven track record of delivering increased sales for eCommerce clients.

Focused on consumer food and wellness brands, Chelsea & Rachel, Co., is quickly leading the path on UX/UI design and custom Shopify development for enterprise brands looking to make a significant impact.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Her origin story and overview of Chelsea & Rachel * What to do when you feel stuck * How do you raise kids when you’re a mom and entrepreneur? * The big trends in the market * Current challenges faced by brands and solutions * What’s working and what’s not working * What type of brands does she work with * Why everything starts with strategy * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Chelsea Jones as we break down the inside story of Chelsea & Rachel Co. on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chelsea & Rachel Co., visit: https://chelseaandrachel.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Perky Plant - Filled with Good Food for Your Plant Apr 14, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Liz says, “Perky plant is a hundred percent organic fertilizer in an easy-to-use shaker bottle for house plants. So picture your spice jars that are sitting in your kitchen right now but full of organic fertilizer for those house plants. You can just put it on your counter, put it on your shelf next to your plant, and it's a reminder to feed your plant and keep it healthy.”

Today, we interview Liz Murphy, Co-founder & CEO of Perky Plant. Perky Plant is a plant food additive made of organic, water-soluble nutrients and bio-stimulants that make your plants as Perky as can be. Perky Plant comes in an easy-to-use shaker bottle that makes watering fun!

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Working & learning for established entrepreneurs * The road from intern to Co-founder & CEO * Attending college and running a brand: how she manages the hustle * Identifying the market opportunity * Overview and mission of Perky Plant * Working with influencers * Advice for college students * Last words on mental health and plants * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Liz Murphy as we break down the inside story of Perky Plant on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perky Plant, visit: https://perkyplant.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

BROC SHOT - The Beauty & Wellness Product that Really Works! Apr 08, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Gracia & Benjamin say, “from a skin perspective, most people think of skin as something that they should treat from a topical standpoint. Skin is our largest organ. Our gut is really the place where every single health practitioner, every human, everybody should focus first.”

Today, we interview Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver, Co-founders at BROC SHOT. BROC SHOT is a daily shot for beauty, body + brain powered by a certified broccoli sprout powder formula that the TGA (Australia’s version of the FDA has even approved) as a medicine.

BROC SHOT contains broccoli sprouts which contain the highest amount of the active compound, sulforaphane, of any vegetable–50-100x more than mature broccoli. Sulforaphane is clinically proven to fight free radicals that cause cell damage and premature aging, detoxify the body from pollutants, stabilize and strengthen the gut barrier to enhance immunity and normalize bowels, and improve and support brain function.

We discussed:

* What they are grateful for * The problem with many products: “bit of science, lots of marketing” * Sulforaphane: The magical compound and what it does * The 3 key functions of BROC SHOT: Gut health, inflammation, detoxification * Why you need to take it - Ramon’s story * How cooking broccoli kills the Sulforaphane and sprouts are the way to go * Why beauty starts in the gut? * Collagen vs protein vs multivitamin vs sulforaphane * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver as we break down the inside story of BROC SHOT on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BROC SHOT, visit: https://brocshot.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

MUNICIPAL - A Community of Self-made, Unstoppable People Apr 08, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Harry says, “I think the part about the company that really excites me is the things that we have done to provide resources and experiences for people to fulfill their full potential. We launched a mentoring program last year. Our goal is to personally one-on-one mentor, thousands of people, where we're providing them with one-on-one connection with outsiders, experts, mentors to help them overcome whatever’s getting in their way of achieving what they want to achieve.”

Today, we interview Harry Arnett, Co-founder & CEO of MUNICIPAL. MUNICIPAL was created to inspire, build & showcase a community of self-made, unstoppable people.

Simply put, MUNICIPAL is a mindset. It pushes you to make big things happen. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. Commit to your dream. Put in the reps. And be unstoppable.

Co-founded by Mark Wahlberg, the Sport Utility Gear they create will give you the comfort, style and versatility that you need to pursue your full potential.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * Deciding to be an entrepreneur * Wanting the brand to be much more than a transaction * Mark Wahlberg and the brand ethos: be unstoppable & make big things happen in your life * His background and origin story * Redefining how people see and experience comfort * Their focus: clothing that says something about you * Their mentoring program and turning their ethos into reality * A breakdown of the materials and men’s and women’s line * What’s he most proud of about the brand? * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Harry Arnett as we break down the inside story of MUNICIPAL on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MUNICIPAL, visit: https://municipal.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Another Tomorrow - The Next Evolution in Sustainable Fashion Apr 08, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Today, we interview Vanessa Barboni Hallik, Founder & CEO of Another Tomorrow. Another Tomorrow launched in January 2020 and are an end-to-end sustainable luxury ready-to-wear collection and platform.

They have a transparency initiative that will ensure each of its products, particularly its articles of clothing, come with a tag equipped with a QR code. This QR code links customers to a product ID page that offers transparency on the history of the product. This includes the manufacturing location, shipping process, material composition, and more. Another Tomorrow believes that transparency is key in the fashion industry, and that this partnership is an excellent way to both gain trust with customers and inform them of its business practices.

Another Tomorrow also launched a resale program, aimed at, in part, at reducing production of new clothes, which from their point of view, is the only way that resale can help fashion to reduce its overall environmental footprint.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Her transition from Financier to Fashion * Why fashion was ripe for transformation * Fashion’s problems the sustainability * Values that guide the brand: Animal, Human, & Environmental Welfare * Transparency and their Providence Journey * Treating Clothing as an Asset * Embracing Re-commerce as a way to produce less * A breakdown of materials used * Their Fashion * And the future of Another Tomororw

Join Ramon Vela and Vanessa Barboni Hallik as we break down the inside story of Another Tomorrow on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Another Tomorrow, visit: https://anothertomorrow.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

LIFEAID Beverage - The Entrepreneur's Guide to Mindset Mar 30, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Aaron says, “My wife always reminds me that things always work out. I know that viscerally, I've lived that. I think as entrepreneurs, we get so deep in the weeds and the stress of the business and how many people are counting on us from our employees or investors, our customers that we forget that. It might have been Tony Robbins, that said everything always works out and if it hasn't worked out yet, it hasn't reached its full resolution. Life is not happening to us. We're not victims of external circumstance. Life is happening for us.”

Today, we interview Aaron Hinde, President and Co-founder at LIFEAID Beverage. LIFEAID’s focus is on great tasting, wellness enhancing, and functionally driven supplement products. LIFEAID Beverage Co. has become a trusted brand among athletes, health-conscious and performance-minded consumers.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * His financial collapse in 2008’s Real Estate recession * Reframing your thoughts * The role of attitude and effort in our success * Why life is simple: make better decisions * What is negative soft talk, negative loops, and how to flip it to the affirmative * Breaking down the concept of the A.T.M. (Alignment. Trajectory, and Momentum) of life * How to build and keep momentum: “keep doing the little things” * Breakdown of beverage products including FITAID Energy + Sports Recovery

Join Ramon Vela and Aaron Hinde as we break down the inside story of LIFEAID Beverage on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LIFEAID Beverage, visit: https://www.lifeaidbevco.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

MachForty - Real-world Experience Not Theoretical Ideas Mar 29, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Forest says, “...most of the agencies are just pretty bad. I hate to say that, but they are. You know, folks are spending way too much or they're getting someone way too junior or it's an agency that pretends to be good at everything, but they're really great at just one or two things. And so we're helping [our clients] kind of cut through all the clutter and make sure that they have the right stack.”

Today, we interview Forest Bronzan and Scott Briggs, Partners at MachForty. MachForty helps ambitious companies solve complex problems and be best-in-class. Their active team has been operators, founders, and growers who have built and exited some of the most innovative brands in their class.

They approach problems with real-world experience rather than theoretical ideas and bring this operational excellence to serve Fast-Growth to Enterprise Brands.

We discussed:

* What they are both grateful for * Scott’s and Forest story: from how they built their business to their exits * Why you should focus on the company, not on the exit (sounds counterintuitive but it works) * The false myth of retiring after an exit * Why most agencies are bad * Why they want to roll up their sleeves again and help Fast Growth to Enterprise Brands * What’s working and not working for brands * Why they see opportunity with text & SMS and email but with data * Who they work with and how and how they can add value * Last words: why you need to take care of your partner (spouse, loved one, etc)

Join Ramon Vela, Forest Bronzan and Scott Briggs as we break down the inside story of MachForty on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MachForty, visit: https://www.machforty.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Mustard Made - Old School Lockers Made Pretty + Practical Mar 27, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Becca and Jess say, “It is the utility. They are so practical and I love the idea that you should have things in your home that serve a purpose and that you believe to be beautiful. And to me I still have the original locker that I literally picked up off the side of the street because it's a reminder of the beauty that I saw in this rusty old banged up locker that really needed a lot of love to make it practical… it's got a story, it's got history and metal furniture ages gracefully, you know, whereas something that's made out of MDF if it gets wet or it gets soggy the edging peel off it.”

Today, we interview Becca Stern and Jess Gray, Co-Founders of Mustard Made. Mustard Made has reimagined old school lockers to make them pretty + practical for your home, work space + kids' rooms. They’re here to make life a little more tidy.

Mustard Made was founded by Becca and Jess, two sisters living on opposite sides of the world who always had the dream of building a business together.

We discussed:

* What they are both grateful for * What they were doing before the brand * What was it about lockers that excited them enough to start the brand * The power of the brand’s vision * The multiple challenges faced by the brand including packaging, fire on boats, Suez Canal, sandstorms, typhoons and more * Their secret for getting through hardships ~ not being surprised when things happen (expectation & acceptance) * Their story of launching in America * Putting “problem solving” as your job description as an entrepreneur * Supply Chain issues and why they now add in buffers to delivery dates * A review of their product: lockers and more… * The challenges of scaling the business * Their 3 core values * Why it’s important to define who you are and who you want to be * As the business grows, so should you as an entrepreneur

Join Ramon Vela, Becca Stern and Jess Gray as we break down the inside story of Mustard Made on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mustard Made, visit: https://www.mustardmade.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Unbound Merino - Where You can Live Life on Your Own Terms Mar 23, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Dan says, “If I weren't the co-founder of this company, I would be a customer because… we make products that cater to people just like me and we try to convey through the ethos of our brand the messaging that life could be lived on your own terms. And that makes it easy to relate to our customers and have thoughtful and effective marketing that appeals to them. I sometimes feel like when we're writing ads, we're writing them for me.”

Today, we interview Dan Demsky, Co-founder & CEO of Unbound Merino. Unbound Merino is stylish, simple Merino wool apparel that can be worn for weeks or even months without ever needing to be washed. That means you can ditch the enormous suitcase, because all you'll need is your carry-on. We've created travel essentials that will bring out the true minimalist in you.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * Traveling, doing the interview from Mexico * His thoughts, as CEO, on remote work and productivity * How the pandemic and lack of travel impacted the brand and what they did about it * How the pandemic made them savvier, stronger, more profitable * The best places to manufacture outside of China (why China is no longer the least expensive) * Why having investors is like having a boss (and why they don’t have any) * The simplicity of e-commerce model and why it suits them * Their brand ethos: life can be lived on your own terms * Introducing a line for Women * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Dan Demsky as we break down the inside story of Unbound Merino on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Unbound Merino, visit: https://unboundmerino.com/

Listen to his past episode where we go into more of the founding story:

Part 1 - Unbound Merino - The Everyday High-Performance Clothing https://sites.libsyn.com/119400/unbound-merino-the-everyday-high-performance-clothing

Part 2 - Unbound Merino - Do the Work. Momentum will Follow. https://sites.libsyn.com/119400/unbound-merino-do-the-work-momentum-will-follow

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

The Tasting Alliance - The Oscars of the Wine & Spirits Industry Mar 22, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The Tasting Alliance competitions are considered the most influential for a reason. They have elevated the reputation of thousands of brands, and represent the ultimate curator for the world’s best wine and spirits. Receiving a medal from the organization is a critical next step for any producer to earn recognition in the industry.

Today, we interview Amanda Blue, President & COO of The Tasting Alliance. The Tasting Alliance is the ultimate resource for the best in wine and spirits. Hundreds of their judges have spent hours evaluating every product on their site so you don’t have to.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * How her father was an editor at Bon Appétit Magazine * Overview and origin of The Tasting Alliance * How The Tasting Alliance Process works and why it’s the Oscars of the Booze industry * Why young brands can see an increase in sales by 10x when winning an award * The events including San Francisco World Spirits Competition * What consumers will find at the Top Shelf gala, including masterclasses * Adding new categories including ready to drink, no & low alcohol and more * The benefits for a brand beyond winning awards * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Amanda Blue as we break down the inside story of The Tasting Alliance on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Tasting Alliance, visit: https://thetastingalliance.com/events/12123/

Purchase tickets for their TOP SHELF event before March 31st and receive a discount, promo code: TA20

Visit The Tasting Alliance e-commerce partner: https://www.reservebar.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Good Dye Young - A Safe and Inclusive Community Mar 21, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Brian says, “I just hope that [hair and color] could be the catalyst of a conversation that becomes a friendship that becomes more. Maybe it saves someone's life because they didn't feel alone that day.”

Today, we interview Brian O’Connor, Co-founder of Good Dye Young. Good Dye Young was created by Hayley Williams, lead singer of the Grammy Award winning band Paramore, and her longtime hair stylist and makeup artist, Brian O’Connor.

Good Dye Young cultivates a safe and inclusive community that values vibrant self-expression and creativity. They also make bad ass hair products.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * How he met his co-founder Hayley Williams and their relationship * How & why they started the brand * Brian’s origins including growing up in a broken home, experiencing loneliness, depression, shame, and finding safe harbor with his grandparents * His “bag of ash” idea and how he wants to leave the world with something bigger * Why he is passionate about Good Die Young being a place for every body, every shape, size, color, and walk of life * Building a family and creative, safe space and how hair/color could be a gateway to a human connection * Giving people a DIY-at-home experience * A review of products, where to buy, and so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Brian O’Connor as we break down the inside story of Good Dye Young on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Good Dye Young, visit: https://gooddyeyoung.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Digital Detox - Experience Life in the Moment Mar 20, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Forest says, “68% of us pretend to check stuff (on phones) in order to avoid talking to people. 20% reported checking their phone while having sex. I don't know how it's possible, but okay? That's just bonkers. Talk about a lack of meaningful connection and intimacy. I think something like 47% reported phone use in their relationship being one of the top two causes of fights.”

Today, we interview Forest Bronzan, Partner at Digital Detox. Digital Detox provides the skills to help you slowly bring your life and phone use back into balance—so technology can help you be a better parent and friend and partner and colleague.

As they say at Digital Detox, you deserve to feel better physically and mentally. To experience life in the moment. And to take back control of your time.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for * An overview and origin of Digital Detox * In memoriam: The story of Levi Felix, Founder of Digital Detox and Friend * How Forest became involved with Digital Detox * Stats and the emotional and physical impact that technology can have on our lives * What you can do to bring balance into your life (and not let technology control your life) * Why Digital Detox is not Anti-technology * Tips that you can use in your daily life to minimize the impact of technology * Parenting and technology * The wildly popular Digital Detox Newsletter and what you can expect from it and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Forest Bronzan as we break down the inside story of Digital Detox on The Story of a Brand.

Learn about Digital Detox and sign up for the newsletter at https://www.digitaldetox.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Bro Dough - You’re Supposed to Eat this Raw! Mar 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Erica says, “it's safe to eat raw, there's less sugar, there's added protein. It's a healthier version of a snack that's normally not vegan, but ours is plant-based... so you have health-conscious consumers who exercise or look for cleaner ingredients, who wouldn't really normally eat the Pillsbury stuff that's on the shelf... and kids love it too.”

Today, we interview Erica Rankin, Founder & Chief Everything at Bro Dough. The best part of Bro Dough is that you are SUPPOSED to eat their cookie dough raw!

Bro Dough is a is a healthier way to indulge in your favorite childhood treat. Low in sugar, 100% plant-based, and only quality ingredients. With added protein, Bro Dough is perfect for that post workout snack, or afternoon treat you can feel good eating.

We discussed:

Who and what she’s grateful for
The origin, overview, and the Why for Bro Dough Brand
How she started creating “better for you” versions of snacks in her kitchen
What strategies have helped her cope with the harsh entrepreneurial journey
Erica’s morning routine and how she sets herself up for success
Her New Year’s Eve routine that starts her year
The Bro Dough Formula
Why pivoting has been an important strategy for her
Her answer to what the title of her memoir would be and what mine would be
Where it’s available, where to buy and so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Erica Rankin as we break down the inside story of Bro Dough on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bro Dough, visit: https://brodough.ca/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Big Bluff Ranch - Working w/Nature to Produce Delicious chicken Mar 16, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Tyler says, “We are pasture raised. So our chickens are out on our pastures with movable hoops with free access to the outside. They get to run out in the sun. They get to eat grass and dig bugs… their pituitary glands are right, their vitamin D levels are right. We are raising chickens the way they are meant to be raised; the way their genetics and instincts are set up. And so that quality of life translates into the quality of the chicken.”

Today, we interview Tyler Dawley, Head Chicken Wrangler at Big Bluff Ranch. Big Bluff Ranch is dedicated to regenerative agriculture and farming practices. They raise healthy organic chicken and help protect, preserve, improve, and sustain the land for future generations.

We discussed:

* What he’s grateful for: finding his life’s calling * How Big Bluff Ranch grabs your soul and is like a spiritual connection to the land * The origin of the ranch, including how his parents met (this is a great story!) * How listeners can experience a digital detox and beautiful lake at his ranch * What is pasture raised chickens and why it’s how chickens are supposed to be raised * Why they take land stewardship, holistic management, and regenerative farming seriously * Why “quality of life translates to the quality of the chicken?” * Why there is a disconnect between consumers, food and the land * Why your food dollars matter and why the food we eat affects the environment

Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Dawley as we break down the inside story of Big Bluff Ranch on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Big Bluff Ranch, visit: https://www.bigbluffranch.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Erenzia - The Beauty Of Being Latina Mar 11, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alina and Vanessa say, “when people talk about let's represent Latinos, especially from a female standpoint, the first thing you see is that there's this belief that the average Latina is the sex pot. And I'm sorry to use this word because it's an awful word to use, but not every woman that is Latina walks around with, you know, her boobs out and her butt up to here and this and this and that...”

Today, we interview Alina Gonzalez and Vanessa Ramos, Co-founders at Erenzia Beauty. Erenzia Beauty is a brand with a mission and purpose, born out of the ideal that all women deserve better beauty. And, at the center of it all, a celebration of the Latina woman–her allure, beauty and unique essence blending generations of deeply rooted traditions with modern-day life.

We discussed:

*What they are grateful for *The origin and overview of Erenzia Beauty * How can brands provide more representation and dispel sexual stereotypes? * How its not about vanity but about “self confidence” * Why “Latinos” can’t be lumped together and why we’re complex * The difficulties of raising capital and their personal experience * The vision for their brand * Their “Amigas Program” affiliate model and why this is also about financial empowerment * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Alina Gonzalez and Vanessa Ramos as we break down the inside story of Erenzia Beauty on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Erenzia Beauty, visit: https://erenziabeauty.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

UME - The Perfect Purple Potion For Your Bar Mar 09, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jennifer says, “we've intentionally branded it in a really weird, unique and magical way. If you explore our website and look at the bottle, it really stands out. We wanted to evoke a potion or, or magical feeling. And the product itself is incredibly versatile. It is not only delicious on its own, you can pair with pretty much anything: whiskey, tequila, gin, vodka, sparkling wine, even some beers. And it makes these products taste better. And from my perspective, it elevates every kind of drink that it's put into, whether it's a simple cocktail or just drinking it on ice or mixing it in a really complex cocktail.”

Today, we interview Jennifer Toyzer, Founder & CEO of UME. UME is a delightfully tart, mildly sweet plum spirit featuring a show-stopping royal purple hue. It’s made from all-natural plums, grapes, & black cherries, with hints of green apple and lemon. It has 17% ABV, gluten-free, with half the sugar of similar apéritifs and is produced responsibly in California.

We discussed:

* What she’s grateful for * Encouragement to other founders * Overview and origin of UME * Launching during COVID and the supply issues they experienced * Getting validation from the industry * Review of the product, including ingredients, history, and working with a mixologist * Why UME is like a magical potion and condiment for your bar * Advice for founders and dreamers building a business * And more…

Join Ramon V ela and Jennifer Toyzer as we break down the inside story of UME on The Story of a Brand.

For more on UME, visit: https://www.drinkume.com/

Try some by using this promo code: STORYOFAPOTION10

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Arthur Gallego - Accelerators, Entrepreneurship, and Expo West! Mar 03, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Arthur says, “I think part of the entrepreneurial journey in our country is that everyone thinks it is so damn easy. The success stories we’ve read about. The billion dollar exits that are so far and few between. I think it's disillusioning when they see that, because this is a blood, sweat and tears industry to build something.”

Today, we interview Arthur Gallego, CEO of Gallego & Co Marketing and a 2023 SKU Mentor. Arthur is the preeminent Food & Beverage marketing expert and has worked with clients such as OLIPOP, Health-Ade Kombucha, Vita Coco, Flow Spring Water, LifeAid, BulletProof 360, CANN, Hop WTR, Chomps, Vervet and more.

We discussed 3 major topics: 1) Why an Accelerator?, 2) Entrepreneurial Psychology, and 3) What to look at Expo West 2023

* What is SKU? * Difference between incubator and accelerator * What Arthur likes about SKU * The SKU 2023 Track * SKU vetting process * What makes a good accelerator? * What the SKU process looks like? * Entrepreneurship Psychology, including single mindedness, Shark Tank Affect and more * How to become more emotionally aware as an entrepreneur * Going to Expo West 2023 * Trends to look for at Expo West and in Food & Beverage * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego as we break down the inside story of Gallego & Co Marketing and a 2023 SKU Mentor on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gallego & Co., visit: https://www.gallegoandco.com/ For more on SKU, visit: https://sku.is/

For more on Natural Products Expo West, visit: https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Blue Kazoo - Elevating Puzzles to Whole New Stratosphere Mar 01, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Darin says, “really one of the best jigsaw puzzles on the market and really elevating it to be unilaterally the best product on the market. And really creating a whole new stratosphere within this category. And it's a category that's very ancient. It's been around in its current form for hundreds of years and in some basic form for thousands of years. And to be able to continue to innovate and elevate on something that’s old is a special project.”

Today, we interview Darin Hardy, President & CEO of Blue Kazoo. Blue Kazoo is a premium jigsaw puzzle company that focuses on a few favorite 1,000-piece puzzles at a time, artfully designed and conscientiously crafted.

We discuss:

*We he’s grateful for * Overview and origin of the Blue Kazoo * Does being in the military give you special insight to building a brand? * Blue Kazoo’s success during the pandemic * His vision for the business * What makes Blue Kazoo different from other puzzles on the market * Why we learn most from our failures * His lessons from his previous experience at the Nasty Gal brand * How to turn customers into fans * Working with artist to produce unique puzzles * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Darin Hardy as we break down the inside story of Blue Kazoo on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Blue Kazoo, visit: https://bluekazoo.games/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

The Sorority Nutritionist - The Hot & Healthy Method Feb 23, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Lauren says, “Me teaching you a healthy meal is not gonna save you. A diet by itself can't save you. You have to understand how to fuel your body, manage your stress, really understand how to cope with life as it happens. You can't talk about nutrition and you can't talk about even entrepreneurship without talking about mindset.”

Today, we interview Lauren Hubert, Registered Dietician, Founder, and CEO of The Sorority Nutritionist. The Sorority Nutritionist.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * An overview and origin of the brand * Her philosophy around diet, including food first, exercise second, habits, and dealing with stress. Why your mindset is so important and why being hard on yourself is the biggest challenge. * Why your eating habits are a hot mess * Her Hot and Healthy Method explained * Advice to entrepreneurs such as you need to be “relentlessly” yourself * What type of foods should you eat * What fast-food places are good place to eat to stay on your diet * Why we make weight-loss emotional * Who she works with and why

Join Ramon Vela and Lauren Hubert as we break down the inside story of The Sorority Nutritionist on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Sorority Nutritionist, visit: https://thesororitynutritionist.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

ieró Beauty - Honoring the Beautiful Radiance that is YOU Feb 22, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Nick says, “And ieró comes from my roots and goes all the way back to ancient Greek. And ieró means sacred or eros. So sacred and ancient Greek. And for me and for all of us at the brand ieró, sacred means YOU. It's our homage to you and that authentic, beautiful light that you radiate out into the world every moment of the day. And to be cognizant of that. We're honoring you and we're empowering you, as we want to honor ourselves and empower ourselves with the same thing. It's that divine spark. It's that beautiful radiance that comes out and ricochets out into the universe.”

Today, we interview Nick Gavrelis, Founder & CEO of Iero Beauty. ieró Beauty is a dazzling, clean, high-vibrational beauty and lifestyle brand.

They believe in amplifying positivity, encouraging authentic self-expression and nurturing the unique well-being of each person. Their holistic, multi-sensorial products and experiences nourish your whole self not just your skin.

We discuss:

* What he is grateful for? * Overview and origin of the brand * Why choosing the name of the brand was an important part of the brand journey * Nick’s philosophy around beauty and our sacred selves * His motivations in business and life * The lessons learned from working at Pretty Pretty * How caring for his mother who suffered from dementia impacted his brand & life * Ingredient and product philosophy including crystal extracts * Going to Italy and how he started with “hybrid” skincare ~ blending skin care and makeup * Product review including self care and self beauty and giving you greater radiance * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Nick Gavrelis as we break down the inside story of ieró Beauty on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ieró Beauty, visit: https://ierobeauty.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Nest - Expanding Economic Opportunity through Craft Feb 21, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Rebecca says, “The message is to be deliberate about your shopping. And I think for many people that can feel really overwhelming because we live in a world of fast fashion and fast consumption. My advice is to bite off things that feel manageable. For example, one year I made a commitment that every gift I bought for the entire year was going to be handmade. So maybe I can't afford to buy every single piece of clothing for my growing seven-year-old handmade or ethical, but I can make these commitments and purchase small and purchase from makers in ways that are meaningful.”

Today, we interview Rebecca Van Bergen, Executive Director & Founder of Nest. Nest supports artisan communities worldwide with business development programming designed to strengthen their operations and position them for long-term success.

In partnership with brands, philanthropists, and their network of over 2,000 artisan businesses, their proven approach locks the potential of craft-based employment to advance gender and economic equity.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Nest * Is artisanship dying? And why crafts are in danger * Crafts, the creator economy, and women * Advice for social entrepreneurs * Case studies of artisans and the results of the program * Where to shop to support artisans including the Nest Label * Why it’s free to join the Guild * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Rebecca Van Bergen as we break down the inside story of Nest on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nest, visit: https://www.buildanest.org/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

JARS By Dani - Give Jars & Cakes. Make friends. Simple. Feb 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Dani says, "many people are putting desserts in jars now, but nothing looks like mine. Because it's labor intensive. They are hard to make. It is difficult. This is not an easy company to figure out how to scale, but I didn't want to compromise on the product. I wanted it to look this way, and I wanted to taste this way."

Today, we interview Dani Beckerman, Founder of JARS By Dani. Jars by Dani started when founder Dani Beckerman wanted to share her love for baking. She came across a mason jar in a craft store and was driven to develop the next new dessert obsession. Something delicious and beautiful—that looked as good as it tasted. So she experimented with recipes until successfully creating her signature line of jars.

Join Ramon Vela and Dani Beckerman as we break down the inside story of JARS by Dani on The Story of a Brand.

For more on JARS By Dani, visit: https://www.jarsbydani.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

PetPlate - Human-grade Food, Personalized for Your Dog Feb 15, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Renaldo says, “we actually put heart and soul into every product that we develop. And again, we think about this as if we were making a product specifically for our dog in our kitchen. In the same way, you would make food for your child or your spouse. That's how we want you to feel. That's the type of quality we want you to expect. And that’s what you're getting from PetPlate on every product you buy from us.”

Today, we interview Renaldo Webb, Founder of PetPlate. PetPlate has had a simple mission: make better food for dogs so they can live longer, healthier, happier lives with their families.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for including his time on Shark Tank * The lessons learned from appearing on Shark Tank * Why your consumers want to know that they are building something special with you * Advice to raising capital for People of Color * His background as a consultant * His “lightbulb” moment * The story of his dog suffering from IBS * The PetPlat mission and approach * Why 60% of pets are obese and 50% of dogs get cancer * Why PetPlate is human-grade quality food * Why they make food the same way (and love) you make for your kids and family

Join Ramon Vela and Renaldo Webb as we break down the inside story of PetPlate on The Story of a Brand.

For more on PetPlate, visit: https://www.petplate.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Pulse - The Comfort You Deserve Feb 11, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Amy says, “every element of building this product, whether in the device or in the consumable side, or in the formulations itself and your packaging, every detail, is something we're extremely proud of, that we've really looked at every detail to say, how can we integrate to make one really amazing experience for what whomever our consumer base is.”

Today, we interview Amy Buckalter, Founder of Pulse. Pulse™ is the first-ever touchless personal lubricant warmer and dispenser. Gone are the days of messy, sticky, cold tubes and bottles of lubricant. Pulse’s patent pending heating technology warms your lubricant to the ideal temperature.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * How she approaches raising funds and meeting with investors * The vision and transformative nature of the brand * The Pulse Vision explained * Hiring a PhD to survey women and their issues and needs * The biases she confronted with investors * Why 54% of purchases are from Men * Review of their product development and design * Why many lubricants are harmful and what they do differently * How their formulations have FDA approval * Their secret sauce and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Amy Buckalter as we break down the inside story of Pulse on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pulse, visit: https://lovemypulse.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Sunshine Botanicals - The Skin Whisperer Feb 10, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Emily says, “it blew my mind. So my brain started to integrate all of these things. I could still do the skin treatments, but not with the tools that most people know. I'm an alternative to Botox surgery, lasers and invasive procedures because I know that there are many roads to Rome. There are different ways to arrive at a solution.”

Today, we interview Emily Fritchey, Founder & CEO of Sunshine Botanicals. Sunshine Botanicals believes in clinical skincare from a botanical perspective. They create effective, transformative products sourced straight from Mother Nature.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Why, foremost, the Sunshine story is a love story * Why her approach is an alternative to evasive procedures * How she works with cancer patients (and discusses her own skin cancer) * Advice for dealing with skin issues and where they should begin * What is wild crafting and why she uses this ancient art form * Simple things men can do to take of their skin * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Fritchey as we break down the inside story of Sunshine Botanicals on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sunshine Botanicals, visit: https://www.sunshinebotanicals.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Quinn - Be Better, Do Better Snacks Feb 08, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kristy says, “the mission that I've been on is how can we deliver the best food safely to our consumers? And some of that's organic, and some of that's conventional, but that conventional is the reduction of pesticides. How do we reduce pesticides? How do we reduce synthetics and inputs into our soil? How do we clean up waterways? What are our actions doing to meet all of that? And that was where we came up with this Be better, do better initiative.”

Today, we interview Kristy Lewis, Founder of Quinn. Quinn is on a mission to shake up the food industry by reinventing snacks, using crazy delicious and intentionally sourced real ingredients, with a dedication to doing things better every step along the way.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview, origin, and evolution of Quinn * The origins of the Farm to Bag initiative * The secret to Quinn’s longevity * How microwave popcorn put them on the map * Advice for founders of Food & Beverage brands * Why less than 99% of food is grown organically? * The Be Better, Do Better initiative * How Whole Foods has been a great partner

Join Ramon Vela and Kristy Lewis as we break down the inside story of Quinn on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Quinn, visit: https://quinnsnacks.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Luminous - Supply Chain Platform Specifically for E-commerce Feb 04, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jared says, “we get in line with how e-commerce companies implement tools and what I mean by that is, we don't say, here's luminous, fit all of it in here. We instead say, what is going to work best for you? We have a purchase order tool and an inventory and a warehouse management tool. There is a B2B portal and an invoicing tool. And we can also connect to any tool that you currently use.”

Today, we interview Jared Ward, Founder & CEO of Luminous. Luminous is an all-in-one platform that allows you to manage your entire e-commerce supply chain from one place.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Luminous * The problems he saw as an e-commerce operator including forecasting, google sheets, organization, and more * The problem that data auditing solves, hint: your data is dirty * Trends with omni-channel and e-commerce brands * Advice for founders and operators * Why complexity is the culprit * Review of the Luminous platform and modules * Onboarding and implementation * And how to know if Luminous is right for your brand

Join Ramon Vela and Jared Ward as we break down the inside story of Luminous on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Luminous, visit: https://www.joinluminous.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Vervet - Bartender-made Cocktails with Unique Taste & Flavors Feb 04, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Tuan compares their brand to hospitality. He says, “hospitality, at its best, provides a culinary and guest experience that just captures the imagination of the guest. It becomes memorable. You broaden their palette, and you really inspire them to know more. And suddenly they ask questions. Where did this flavor come from? What culture? Where did you source this? What farm? That really goes to what drives you to actually work in the industry and be able to share.”

Today, we interview Tuan Lee, Founder of Vervet. Vervet is a Los Angeles-based woman & minority-owned cocktail company that’s dedicated to making clean draft drinks from the best products and flavors California offers. They use plant-based preservatives, no lab-made flavors, real ingredients, and BPA lining free can, makes what Vervet makes better for you.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful for his immigrant parents and their courage * Overview and origin of Vervet * The hospitality background of the founders and why it informs the brand ethos * A word on the amazing achievements of the Asian American community and tragedies * Their Bar Napkin origin story * Why building a brand is a solutions game * Hospitality style drinks, unique flavors, fresh ingredients no synthetic after taste * Why they push back against the status quo way * Making their own bitters and tonics from scratch * Product review including a “clear Bloody Mary” and sake cocktails * Advice to Founders * Why they may be the only brand using plant-based preservatives * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Tuan Lee as we break down the inside story of Vervet on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Vervet, visit: https://drinkvervet.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Wolf Project- Thinking Big about Men’s Skincare Feb 03, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Francesco says, “I believe being an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding things. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. And it's by far the hardest. I like to think of launching your brand or company as being in front of a mirror where all of your strengths are amplified, but all of your weaknesses are amplified as well.”

Today, we interview Francesco Urso, Founder of Wolf Project. Wolf Project is a brand of skin care for men, with the ambition of transforming the way men take care of their skin. They work with beauty experts in Korea to merge Swiss rigor and Korean know-how.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful for his wife * Mental health and entrepreneurship and why it needs more attention * Different ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, including journaling * A forecast and predictions for Skincare brands in 2023: What will it look like * How D2C brands are no longer laughing at large conglomerate brands * What 2022 looked like and lessons learned * Strategy differences between what he did in 2023 vs 2022 * How his thinking has evolved and why he believes you need to think bigger * Breakdown of products, including why they start by making products they would use * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Francesco Urso as we break down the inside story of Wolf Project on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wolf Project, visit: https://wolfproject.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Fresh Bellies - Adventurous Snacking Starts Here Feb 02, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Saskia says, “we make everything from toddler snacks to preschool snacks and adult snacks, and we season each of them with herbs and spices that you typically find in Latin American kitchens. So our goal really is to innovate in a space where you traditionally find either really sweet or really salty products, or run-of-the-mill flavors like barbecue, ranch and Cheddar. Instead, we're coming in with something unique that is just not offered today.”

Today, we interview Saskia Sorrosa, Founder & CEO of Fresh Bellies. Fresh Bellies is creating a new generation of healthful, adventurous eaters. Made with whole, non-GMO and Kosher ingredients, Fresh Bellies products never mask vegetables or fruits with added sugars and feature flavors never seen in the kid aisle.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Her background working with the NBA and her motivations for starting Fresh Bellies * How they develop recipes and make the snack at scale * Her biggest challenges in building the brand * The brand’s recipe philosophy and her focus on clean simple ingredients * Why parents are seeking alternatives to what is in the snack isle * The future of the brand and upcoming new products and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Saskia Sorrosa as we break down the inside story of Fresh Bellies on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fresh Bellies, visit: https://freshbellies.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Fount - The Future of Health & Performance is Here Feb 01, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Andrew says, “when I say that 19 out of 20 people can go to Australia or Tokyo or Europe and sleep well their first night, that's totally different from what’s happening in the market. We want to deliver that level of effectiveness to people. And the way we do that is this unique model that's a hybrid of high-end coaching, consulting and product development. And sure, it makes it more difficult, but I will do this right and I will this into existence no matter the market conditions, no matter what happens. Because this is my mission and I can't not do it.”

Today, we interview Andrew Herr, Founder & CEO of Fount . Fount applies their expertise from optimizing the minds and bodies of US Navy Seals, professional sports teams, and leading business executives to design programs custom-tailored to anybody and any lifestyle so you can achieve your goals.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Fount * His work running human performance for Navy Seals * Conclusions for everyone based on his work with elite military units * Understanding an individual’s peak state * FlyKitt: their unique guaranteed to eliminate jet lag * Why customization makes your results and performance go faster * The Mission and why he will see it happen no matter what * Advice for other entrepreneurs * Advice on how to improve your sleep results * How to use wearable technology effectively * Meeting people where they are and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Herr as we break down the inside story of Fount on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fount, visit: https://www.fount.bio/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Kevin’s Natural Foods - Helping People Eat Healthy Jan 27, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kevin says, “we set up this program where all of our employees are shareholders. They come to work and have a culture of ownership, and everybody is engaged and behind the mission. So we haven't had the labor problems that you've seen over the last year or two. And that's been a blessing for us.”

Today, we interview Kevin McCray, Co-founder & President of Kevin’s Natural Foods. Kevin’s Natural Foods is on a mission is to empower even the busiest people to eat clean without sacrificing flavor.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness practice and what he’s grateful for * The mission of Kevin’s Natural Foods * Overview and origin story, including the story of his autoimmune challenges * What is Sous vide cooking and its impact on the brand’s strategy? * How their location in the central valley of California is a competitive advantage * Their goal of using premium ingredients without the high prices * Why their employee shareholder program is a blessing for them * Advice for other Founders, including manufacturing and retailers * Their recipe philosophy and how to cook their meals at home? * A breakdown of their meals and where to buy * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kevin McCray as we break down the inside story of Kevin’s Natural Foods on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kevin’s Natural Foods, visit: https://www.kevinsnaturalfoods.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

StereoType - Be Authentic to Who You Are Jan 21, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Elizabeth says, “Why isn't she wearing dresses? Why doesn't she like pink? Why isn't he wearing dinosaur shirts? For me it became very personal, and it became a calling because it didn't feel right to me that my children were being labeled in a way that was not authentic to who they are and the way they want to express themselves.”

Today, we interview Elizabeth Brunner, Founder & CEO of StereoType. StereoType is a line of kids clothing that envisions a new world free from limits on expression and joy. Neither gender-neutral nor unisex, StereoType breaks down boundaries and blends these ideas together to create fun and functional clothing to support a child’s own unique style.

We discuss:

* Who she is grateful for * Origin and Overview of StereoType * Advice for Parents and why both kids and parents can change and grow * The Story of Elizabeth’s Son * How She came up with the name * What is the mission of the brand * How she is involves the kids in the brand and made them co-founders * The difference between gender-neutral and Blended Fashion * Advice for founders who build disruptive mission-based brands * Review of clothing line * And why you need to give yourself and kids space to be themselves

Join Ramon Vela and Elizabeth Brunner as we break down the inside story of StereoType on The Story of a Brand.

For more on StereoType, visit: https://stereotypekids.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stereotypekidsofficial/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-brunner-of-stereotype/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/stereotypellc/ https://www.facebook.com/StereoTypeKids

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

The Pharmacy Lab - Customizing and Personalizing Care Jan 20, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Serina says, “a compounding pharmacy is a specialty sector of a drugstore where we make compounded prescriptions. A compounded prescription is a prescription item where the pharmacist has to either mix or combine several ingredients to make a very individualized product for the customer. We could do products that use prescription ingredients and we can also use different ingredients like nutritional supplements or natural things that don't have to be a prescription drug. Basically, we're customizing and personalizing care.”

Today, we interview Serina Hanlon, the Owner of The Pharmacy Lab. The Pharmacy Lab is a Compounding Pharmacy specializing in non-sterile compounds. Their expertise is in the realm of creating and helping you personalize medications that would not otherwise be commercially available.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of The Pharmacy Lab * How she supports small businesses by promoting their products * What a compounding pharmacy is and how it can help you * The difference between a commercial and compounding pharmacy * How burn out affected her decision to start her own business * Advice to other entrepreneurs * How The Pharmacy Lab gets to know their clients, including a medical review * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Serina Hanlon as we break down the inside story of Arey on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Pharmacy Lab, visit: https://www.thepharmacylab.ca/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Arey - A Proactive Science-driven Approach to Graying Hair Jan 20, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Allison and Jay say, “There's up to 236 genes that cause hair loss, but there's only one gene identified that causes gray hair. It is not all genetics. It's about 30% genetics. So there are a lot of other factors that affect gray hair. Our focus is on the vitamins and mineral deficiencies in the body with our supplement. Educating people on this process that literally affects every single person is also a big focus of the brand. It's a vast market and we want to offer a cleaner, better for you alternative than what currently exists."

Today, we interview Allison Conrad, Co-Founder & CEO and Jay Small Co-Founder & Product Officers at Arey. A proactive and science-driven system for slowing and even re-pigmenting gray hair.

We discuss:

* What they are grateful for * Overview and origin of Arey * How and why people get gray hair * Why coloring your hair is not an option for many people * Why coloring your hair may cause more gray hair * Genetics, chemical exposure, free radicals, acute stress and more * What can you do now if you’re going gray? * How Arey helps even if you are over 30% gray * Review and breakdown of Arey products, including how to apply * How the scalp ages and its link to lymphatic systems * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Allison Conrad and Jay Small as we break down the inside story of Arey on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Arey, visit: https://areygrey.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Chili Chews - It’s a Rollercoaster of Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Jan 17, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The Chili Chews team says, “we describe our candy as sweet, sour, and spicy, all in a single bite. But what's interesting about it is it's like a rollercoaster. So you're getting one flavor at a time, but it's all culminating into this basically savory experience that you can't put down. I don't want to use the word addicting, but once you have one, it's very hard not to have two or three or four after that.”

Today, we interview Vicken Kejejian, Shant Reganyan, Emilio D’Angelo, Elya D’Angelo, Co-Founders of Chili Chews. Chili Chews is a gourmet candy company taking your tastebuds on a rollercoaster! With roots in Southern California, the company took its love for spicy candy and developed a modern twist on the classics we all love most.

We discuss:

* What they are grateful for * The origins and overview of Chili Chews * Facing a fork in the road on whether to go all-in into the business * How their growth happened, including using paid ads, selling D2C and moving into retail * Why they want to be a household name and brand * How they are building awareness of their brand * Breaking down the Chili Chews experience * Their plans for 2023 * What they are most proud of * Advice for Founders * Interpersonal relationship - How they work together * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Vicken Kejejian, Shant Reganyan, Emilio D’Angelo, and Elya D’Angelo as we break down the inside story of Chili Chews on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chili Chews, visit: https://chilichews.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Goodbuy - Making Conscious Shopping Easier Online Jan 13, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Cara says, “there's been a fundamental shift in society, right? We now know that people are thinking differently about where their money goes. They want to have the planet in mind, or their own values in mind. They might be vegan or a woman who's thinking about like how to empower other women. Or they are from a minority community. Bottom-line, where I put my dollars matter. And this has motivated my co-founder and I, much like a lot of other millennial moms with all the spending power in their homes.”

Today, we interview Cara Oppenheimer, Co-Founder of Goodbuy. Goodbuy is a chrome browser extension and website that’s on a mission to make shopping “feel good” by making conscious shopping easier online for consumers looking to shop their values and support small businesses.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * The problems and challenges with shopping online * Overview and origins of the brand * Why it matters where you spend your dollars * The shift in the online consumer mindset * Why consumers want to feel heroic again * There website, chrome extension, and how it all works * How small businesses get on Goodbuy - It’s Free! * Why all consumers should install the Goodbuy chrome extension on the computers * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Cara Oppenheimer as we break down the inside story of Goodbuy on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Goodbuy, visit: https://www.trygoodbuy.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Win Brands Group - Challenges & Opportunities in 2023 Jan 12, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kyle says, “Founders have a superpower. There's a reason they've gotten a brand to a certain size. Usually, that superpower has to do with product and product creation. Unfortunately, a lot of the CEOs and founders end up getting caught up in a lot of things that they're not good at. It's not their background, it's not their experience. And so if they're unable to invest the capital to buy a genuine expert in that area of business, let's say in wholesale, then they're really left exposed. They may get the orders because they're great salespeople. But when you get that order, then you gotta place the product, then it's gotta sell through. There's a lot to deal with.”

Today, we interview Kyle Widrick, Founder & CEO of Win Brands Group. Win is a modern holding company that specializes in buying and building brands that matter.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview of Win Brands Group * A look back to 2022 and COVID * What brands have been through in the last few years * A forecast of the 2023 environment for brands * His focus on 2023 and why profit is the ultimate leverage * The 3Ps of of wholesale and being successful in retail * The opportunities in 2023 * A review of their portfolio including Qalo, Gravity, Love Your Mellon * The Win Brands Group criteria for acquiring a consumer brand * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kyle Widrick as we break down the inside story of Win Brands Group on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Win Brands Group, visit: https://www.winbg.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Limerick - For Moms, Parents, and Companies that Care Jan 11, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kristina says “when a company offers our program for new parents to employees and the spouses of employees, it speaks volumes about the culture of that company and shows that they really care about their employees and, and want the best for them. In the end, when an employee takes advantage of our services, they're that much better employee when they return because employees no longer have to choose between having a family or having a career.”

Today, we interview Kristina Harris, Operations Manager of Limerick. Limerick promotes healthy families by providing researched based breastfeeding information and products to families.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Limerick * Why she inspired the birth of the company * The reasons for the company’s longevity * How a company shows it cares for its employees * Breast pump breakdown, including features * The airport story and other customer examples * Limerick for consumers and Limerick for business - a breakdown * Post partem depression, anxiety, OCD and more * What services provide they provide?

Join Ramon Vela and Kristina Harris as we break down the inside story of Limerick on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Limerick, visit: https://limerickinc.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Open - The Mindfulness Studio Jan 09, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Raed says “people arrive at open and they have an experience that gives them a taste and an understanding of where this can go… Maybe five minutes every morning and you get to choose. Maybe you engage with meditation every morning or breath work every morning, or movement. And as you build the momentum, Open builds the momentum within you… And you're not alone in this journey, you're doing this with your friends and with a broader community of Open practitioners and hopefully over time, that journey looks like one that is unique and individual to you.”

Today, we interview Raed Khawaja Co-founder & CEO of Open. Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful * Overview and origin of Open * Why promote mindfulness? * His personal journey and what’s going on in the world * Writing a plan for the next 10 years of your life * Why we should have learned this as children? * Why do people try to avoid los? * How people can train for resilience * What does the journey with Open look like? * Their studio in Venice, California * Last word: “call that presence that mad you feel great”

Join Ramon Vela and Raed Khawaja as we break down the inside story of Open on The Story of a Brand.

For 30 days free of Open visit: www.withopen.com/STORYOFABRAND

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Ammunition - Above Function & Purpose is Emotional Connection Jan 06, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Robert says, “we surround ourself with objects that we gravitate towards. We define our ourselves by the things we buy, put on our body, drive, what we live in, what we use. And so that emotional relationship that people have with things has always fascinated me. And, ultimately, that's why I get paid is that we try to and move above function and purpose, which is very important, and get to that layer of emotional connection and desirability that people have with things. That drives a lot of my work and the work of my team here.”

Today, we interview Robert Brunner, Founder & Creative Director of Ammunition. Ammunition is a design studio dedicated to bringing products and services that matter to market.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness practice and who he’s grateful for? * An overview and origin of the Ammunition * His upbringing, caught between an engineer father and an artist mother * Why the relationship between people and things has fascinated him * Why everything we do is defined by product designers and their designs * The story of Beats by Dre * The challenges to designing a great product * Why something new and innovative is expensive * A teaser on his second book currently being worked on * Why risk should not be a four letter word * The reinvention of everyday things * What market areas are ripe for innovative products * Last words and how to work with him

Join Ramon Vela and Robert Brunner as we break down the inside story of Ammunition on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ammunition, visit: https://ammunitiongroup.com/

Checkout his book: Do You Matter? How Great Design Will Make People Love Your Company, by Robert Brunner

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Dos Amigas - Authentic Mexican Food Delivered to Your Home Jan 06, 2023

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Liz and Erica say, “we are very grateful for how this community and this country have welcomed us. The opportunity here is real. We have talked about how important it is to share a piece of our culture. We are neighbors, yet so many people have not really tried authentic Mexican food. Usually when they think of Mexican food, they think of the fast-food chains. So we are very committed to not only providing authentic Mexican food but sharing a piece of our culture through food.”

Today, we interview Liz Gonzales Lara and Erica Arteaga, Co-founder of Dos Amigas. Dos Amigas is a woman and minority-owned business specializing in authentic Mexican food delivery to homes and businesses throughout Metro Denver.

We discuss:

* Why they are so grateful * Overview and origin of the brand * How they got started during the pandemic * The challenges they face with logistics, recipes, and getting the word out * Why they joined an accelerator program and how it helped them * Sharing a piece of their culture * What makes them proud about running Dos Amigas? * Why they must get a stamp of approval from their mother * Plans for the future, including expanding regions and possibly retail * Advice for other founders * New products and where to buy

Join Ramon Vela, Liz Gonzales Lara and Erica Arteaga as we break down the inside story of Dos Amigas on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dos Amigas, visit: https://dosamigas.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

TUYYO Foods - Fresh New Take on Latin American Favorites Dec 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Stefanie says, "nowadays people are thinking about their health and are looking to make changes, and incremental changes are totally fine too. It is like our Agua Fresca. It will not be totally sugar free, but it will not have the dyes and the artificial ingredients that you find in other brands. This is an incremental change that you can make and still have something that's enjoyable."

Today, we interview Stefanie Garcia Turner, Founder of TUYYO Foods. TUYYO Foods is a modern line of Latin American foods and beverages made with real ingredients. Their current products consist of powdered Aguas Frescas (“fresh waters” a staple in many cultures, traditionally made by blending fresh fruit, water, and sugar together) and Cafecito- instant Colombian coffees.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Her background working at Whole Food Brands and helping brands get into retail * Her background in working with celebrity CPG brands * Why she is bootstrapping the brand * Her advice for Founders including accounting, managing inventory, channels, and more… * A review of her products, including ingredients, how to consume them, and her future plans * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Stefanie Garcia Turner as we break down the inside story of TUYYO Foods on The Story of a Brand.

For more on TUYYO Foods, visit: https://tuyyofoods.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

BLOCK Training - Train to play. Play for life. Dec 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kit says, “the core demographic for us are people in their 30s who understand that in order to keep moving as they want to move and feel as great as they can, they have to do the right things. They have got to train in a way which is going to keep them safe, improve every aspect of their performance and obviously have a bit of fun along the way.”

Today, we interview Kit Hawkins, CEO and Founder of BLOCK Training. BLOCK Training is an athletic training system that helps you perform at your best while reducing the risk of injury. Created by NBA legend Steve Nash and his team of world-class sport performance coaches. It’s now available for athletes of any age and ability.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful for his wife and the mindfulness knowledge she shared with him * Advice for other founders on using mindfulness * How mindfulness helped his business * An overview of BLOCK Training and its origins with Steve Nash * His background in the music industry and entertainment * How he met Steve Nash and how the training developed * The BLOCK Training customer - who are they * A review and breakdown of the BLOCK method and philosophy * How the program works and is there equipment needed * Why it’s science and evidence based * How they will help you make working out and health a habit * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and kit Hawkins as we break down the inside story of BLOCK Training on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BLOCK Training, visit: https://blocktraining.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Plants By People - Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Life Dec 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jing says, “Plants By People was founded in the thick of COVID when we were all feeling vulnerable in the face of the unknown virus. So we launched this line of organic fruit and botanical beverage blends as a wellness boosting alternative to tea, coffee, and ready to drink beverages. They're packed with naturally healthy ingredients with super food adaptogens and low sugar, so we also support diabetic and low sugar lifestyles.”

Today, we interview Jing Dipiero, Founder & CEO of Plants By People. Plants By People is a woman-owned plant-based food and beverage brand that brings ancient plant medicine to life with modern health science.

Their tasty and transformational plant-powered wellness tonics incorporate superfoods and adaptogens into your day in an easy and ethical way, bringing you a bit more energy, and a bit more joy.

We discuss:

* Why she’s grateful for her husband * An overview of Plants By People brand * How she learned about herbal medicines and its focus on the whole individual * Her focus on functional ingredients, including botanicals * Breakdown of the different products, their ingredients and benefits * The various ways to use the products, including a use case study from her kids * And much, much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Jing Dipiero as we break down the inside story of Plants By People on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Plants By People, visit: https://www.plantsbypeople.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Ettitude - Clean Bamboo is the Fabric of Our Future Dec 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kat and Phoebe say, “So I think the new breed of sustainable brands is starting to be more performance focused and strive for a reasonable price point. Then they add on the sustainable side of things. This makes it easier for consumers to switch. And I think that’s why more and more consumer are switching. Hopefully, we’re helping to bring about that change and help establish that sustainable products are actually better products, more premium products with better performance.”

Today, we interview Kat Dey, Co-founder and President and Phoebe Yu, Founder & CEO at Ettitude. Ettitude is a fabric innovation and lifestyle brand making the world's softest, most sustainable materials with their proprietary CleanBamboo™.

We discuss:

* What they are grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Why they are eco focused * Their patented technology as a competitive advantage * Ettitude’s high rating as a B-Corp * Why Bamboo and why it outperforms other fabrics * The benefits of bamboo such as better sleep and anti-microbial * Why cotton is bad for the environment and consumers * A review of their products, including bedding as their flagship product * Other fabrics, including Vegan Cashmere * Corporate gifting and their Oeko-Tex standard certification, which keeps your baby safe * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela, Kat Dey, and Phoebe Yu as we break down the inside story of Ettitude on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ettitude, visit: https://www.ettitude.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Divya’s - Discover the Foods that Nourish and Energize You Dec 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Divya says, “if you're not fully digesting your food, that semidigested food, Ayurveda explains, clogs your system. It causes all kinds of blockages in the body, and then this leads to disease. So being a healthy vegetarian to me is really selecting the food that you can fully digest so that it can energize you and nourish you deeply.”

Today, we interview Divya Alter, Co-founder of Divya’s. Whether it’s through their master classes, restaurant, or products, Divya’s offer plant-based cooking for joy and health, rooted in Ayurveda.

We discuss:

* Why she’s grateful for her husband * How she learned about Ayurveda * Her journey with an autoimmune disease * What is Ayurvedic cooking? * Why ultra processed foods lowers the intelligence of the body * The body's ability to heal itself * Why healing begins with self-awareness * What is Kitchari? * The six states of food * A review and explanation of her 5 masterclasses * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Divya Alter as we break down the inside story of Divya’s on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Divya’s visit: https://divyas.com/

Divya's Book: Joy of Balance - An Ayurvedic Guide to Cooking with Healing Ingredients: 80 Plant-Based Recipes

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Luna Bay - Life is Short, Seize the Bay! Dec 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Bridget says, “when I started Luna Bay, it was never about money. It was what we were creating. We had an idea, and we wanted to build something meaningful, make opportunities, make an excellent product and be a champion for a cleaner, better alcohol and disrupt the space and just keep moving in this direction and see what would happen.”

Today, we interview Bridget Connelly, CEO of Luna Bay Booch. Luna Bay Booch is the first and only female founded, female run hard kombucha company in the United States. It was born out of a desire to make a change in the alcohol industry and to brew something better for people and the planet.

We discuss:

* Who and what she’s grateful for * Why she chose to be an entrepreneur * What is hard Kombucha? * Where they launched and why * Why she feels defeated and why * What she would do differently * Deciding where to implement resources * Who is her customer? * The consumer is getting smarter * Building the Luna Bay Booch community * What she’s proud of that you won’t find on the can or website * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Bridget Connelly as we break down the inside story of Luna Bay Booch on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Luna Bay Booch, visit: https://lunabaybooch.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

POM POM Skateboards - Encouraging Everyone to Get Out There Dec 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Sarah and Roger say, “but honestly, having a mission and purpose driven brand means so, so much to us. Especially in this day and age when there's so many products out there. We’re absolutely trying to create something much more than a physical product.”

Today, we interview Sarah and Roger Cameron, Co-Founders of POM POM Skateboards. POM POM Skateboards is a brand that transcends boundaries by providing a platform for children, in particular girls, to fall in love with the wonderful sport of skateboarding.

We discuss:

* Their gratefulness for each other * How they make their marriage work: laughter and communication * Overview and origins of the two brands: POM POM Skateboards and Magical Go-Go * Starting in 2008 during a recession * Advice about doing business during a recession * How it started because Sarah didn’t see girls/women represented in skateboarding and snowboarding * The mission of the brand * Why POM POM resonates with kids and parents * Where to buy?

Join Ramon Vela and Sarah & Roger Cameron as we break down the inside story of POM POM Skateboards on The Story of a Brand.

For more on POM POM Skateboards, visit: https://pompomskateboards.com/ For more on Magical Go-Go, visit: https://magicalgogo.bigcartel.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Supergut - Gut Health Boosts Weight Loss, Immunity and More! Dec 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Marc says, "what we're doing at Super Gut is creating functional foods that nourish not just you and your body but that literally nourish your gut. We packed them with specific nutrients that we refer to as resistance starch. It has prebiotic fiber, which means it is very effective at feeding those microbes in your gut that keep us healthy."

Today, we interview Marc Washington, Founder and CEO of Supergut. Supergut is a clinically validated, delicious real-food product brand including shakes, snack bars, and more, that balance the gut microbiome to improve quality of life.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Being asked to be the CEO of a 4.5 billion company * Overview of Supergut * Developing the itch to be a founder * His sister and inspiration for the brand * The state of the union for the gut microbiome * Impact on the overall health related to the gut * Scientifically proven connection to physical and mental health * Why the gut is like the second brain * An overview of the products * Why it’s a personal goal to help communities of color get healthy

Join Ramon Vela and Marc Washington as we break down the inside story of Supergut on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Supergut, visit: https://www.supergut.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

SupportZebra - Consumer Brand KPIs You Should Track Dec 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Daniel says, “We mainly support e-commerce and fast growing SaaS clients in North America. We provide their customer support, technical support, back office support, and whatever support they need and that they could outsource that eats up their time. That's what we help them with.”

Today, we interview Daniel Viduya, Head of Growth at SupportZebra. SupportZebra implements custom BPO SaaS E-commerce outsourcing solutions so you spend less time on tech support tickets.

We discuss:

* What he is grateful for * Overview of SupportZebra * 3 Trends driving outsourced customer support * Why brands don’t have KPIs set up? * KPIs consumer brands should track * Things hampering growth * How to get over the hurdle of outsourcing (if you are reluctant) * Factors for choosing an outsource partner * Example of customer service success * How they act as a consultant as well * Why they see themselves as part of your team * Bottom-line: it’s about bandwidth, expertise, growth, and scalability * The secret sauce revealed * Get free advice and no pitching and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel Viduya as we break down the inside story of SupportZebra on The Story of a Brand.

For more on SupportZebra, visit: https://supportzebra.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Black Dahlia - Manifest a Mood with Hemp-infused Artisanal Products Dec 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Dan says, “Our north star is, how do we help our customers improve their wellness not only individually, but the community as well? How do we create the best products to support and provide balance for our customers? Doing that means considering every ingredient in our products? What can we get rid of, and how can we make them as simple as possible?”

Today, we interview Dan Young, Founder and CEO of Black Dahlia. Black Dahlia is committed to groundbreaking science, ethically sourced botanicals, and conscientious craftsmanship. Through their innovative collaborations with leading scientists, artisans and makers, they create inspired hemp-infused products that deliver quality, efficacy and serenity.

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Our discussion about tough challenges and how they ultimately help you grow * Overview and origin of Black Dahlia brand * How their goal is to create an ecosystem of artisanal wellness products * Why they don’t see other CBD products as competitors but main stream brands instead * What is their north star and how it drives them * What challenges they faced creating their unique products * Why they create products that they love for themselves * A review of their products including lollipops, Bonbons, candles, aroma/fragrances and more

Join Ramon Vela and Dan Young as we break down the inside story of Black Dahlia on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Black Dahlia, visit: https://blackdahlia.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Cardon - The Perfect Gift for Men is Healthy Skin Dec 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jaqueline and Narae say, “Cardon is a men's personal care brand that focuses on men's specific concerns, such as shaving irritation. And our products and formulas are all backed by Korean innovation and research and development. That's our secret sauce. Korean skincare is about a decade ahead of the rest of the world, so they have already developed some really amazing formulas that are clean, non-toxic, and very affordable. And so we’re able to leverage all of that technology and bring it to the U.S. and develop our products really focused around meeting where guys are.”

Today, we interview Jacqueline Oak and Narae Chung, Co-founders of Cardon. Cardon is your one-stop-shop for men’s personal care routine, from showering to shaving and beyond. Their cactus-based products soothe irritated skin and gently moisturize and give it the boost it needs.

We discuss:

* How they kept each other accountable when launching the brand * Why they lean on South Korean innovation and R&D * What they see as the opportunity in men’s skincare and why * How they help their customers develop new habits * Why it took the 18 months to develop their innovative 2 in 1 sunscreen and moisturizer * Why providing quality and an affordable price point is critical for them * What Skin concerns do they address: acne, hair loss, skin, dark circles, and more… * How they’ve created a line of products that grow with you * Why they conducted their own clinical research study with their own products * Their commitment to quality

Join Ramon Vela, Jacqueline Oak and Narae Chung as we break down the inside story of Cardon on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cardon, visit: https://cardonskin.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Dojo Labs - Unleash Energy and Focus! Dec 05, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Laura says, “a nootropic is anything that really enhances your brain function. Caffeine itself is a nootropic. Cordyceps are a nootropic because they help with mental performance and fighting fatigue. There are a lot of natural ingredients that help your brain, whether it's boosting brain cells or blood flow to that brain, reducing inflammation. You'll often hear about a nootropic stack, which is when somebody combines these different ingredients that they create on their own for their own concoction. We've taken the guesswork out of it, so this is like your 101. If you're new to nootropics, our item is a great entry point to really help you unleash that focus and energy.”

Today, we interview Laura Brooks, Co-founder of Dojo Labs. Dojo Labs provides health-focused, naturally sourced, non-habit forming supplements where energy and nootropics fuel your mental performance.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her mentors throughout her life * Overview and origin of Dojo Labs * Why coffee and energy drinks just don’t cut it for energy * Nootropics, what is it and why they use them * How to reach flow states * Their unique patent * The benefits of caffeine * Why they use tinctures * Their launch with GNC * How she experienced burnout and how she dealt with it * Advice for other founders * Their vision of the future

Join Ramon Vela and Laura Brooks as we break down the inside story of Dojo Labs on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dojo Labs, visit: https://shopdojolabs.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Elmore Pedals - Become the Musician YOU Always Wanted to Be Dec 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

James says, “when you feel that something's possible, you have this spark. I want people to understand that. That moment happens time and time again when you're using Elmore Pedals. That's the thing we build into the product: that moment of belief and that spark, every time you hit the button to rewind or to pause, it's that spark, that moment of belief that you can learn an instrument.”

Today, we interview James Levin, Founder of Elmore Pedal Company. Elmore Pedal Company offers music student control of their online video lessons without ever taking their hands off their instrument.

We discuss:

* Gratefulness for his wife, who believed in him * Overview and origin story of Elmore Pedal Company * His love of music and his late start in learning to play guitar * His example of Rhys John Stygal, a 14-year-old guitar student who used Elmore to master licks * How Duane Allman inspired him * How he ended up working with Jack White from White Stripes * How the pedal works * Why anyone learning an instrument can use it and other use cases * Why he wants people to believe they learn at any age and why he wants to create joy in the world! * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and James Levin as we break down the inside story of Elmore Pedal Company on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Elmore Pedal Company, visit: https://elmorepedals.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

The Ritual Tea Company - Efficient Weight Loss and Body Detox Dec 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Anna says, “intermittent fasting is the cheapest and the easiest way to get healthier, to get rid of excessive weight, to get more energy, to get sick less, and not have to get take medications. It's like the cheapest and the easiest way to take care of your health.”

Today, we interview Anna Chernitskaya, Founder & CEO of The Ritual Tea Company. The Ritual Tea Company helps people get rid of excess pounds with zero effort while feeling full of energy for an active life.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview of the brand and origin story * How her father’s passing helped her learn the value of rituals * How therapy played a part in inspiring the brand * What makes her tea special? * Her recommendation of the book “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb” * How to do an intermittent Fast * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Anna Chernitskaya as we break down the inside story of The Ritual Tea Company on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Ritual Tea Company, visit: https://theritualteacompany.myshopify.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Silk and Sonder - Unlock a Happier, Healthier You Nov 29, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Meha says, "Silk and Sonder is a guided self-care and self-help program and community designed to reduce anxiety and stress and help individuals thrive across all areas of their lives. So what that means is that is proactive part analog, part digital tool that helps you discover who you are and takes you from where you are today to where you want to go."

Today, we interview Meha Agrawal, Founder & CEO of Silk and Sonder. Silk and Sonder is a guided self-care and mental wellness program and community designed to help individuals live a more productive, fulfilling, and positive life.

Inspired by positive psychology, bullet journaling, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, Silk & Sonder’s monthly wellness planners, daily audio programming, and private community offer a holistic solution to elevate emotional health.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Silk and Sonder * People are waking up anxious and stressed * Why it’s like journaling but with action * The magic of Silk and Sonder: accountability, and more * What are the biggest issues people are dealing with * Using the free app * Where to start in your journey with Silk and Sonder * What’s ahead for Silk and Sonder

Join Ramon Vela and Meha Agrawal as we break down the inside story of Silk and Sonder on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Silk and Sonder, visit: https://www.silkandsonder.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Beyond Microgreens - Easily Add Vegetables to Your Diet Nov 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Stephen says, “Through the power and magic of photosynthesis, plants eat light. That's their food source. They need water, soil, and light. So we're feeding our plants light from the sun. They turn this light into vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Which means, when you eat these plants, you are filling yourself up with that light and all the good things like vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. So that’s why I’m so passionate about what we’re doing at Beyond Microgreens.”

Today, we interview Stephen Cowan, Founder of Beyond Microgreens. Beyond Microgreens is a US-based startup promoting health and wellness through Microgreens.

Microgreens are super nutrient-dense baby vegetables harvested at the peak of their nutritional density in the 2nd phase in the plant’s life, or around 10-14 days old. The plant never has more nutrients, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants than at its Microgreens phase!

We discuss:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview and origin story of Beyond Microgreens * What soil depletion has done to our vegetables * Why he feels the plants are in charge and he is their humble servant * Boulder as the silicon valley of natural products * The science behind Microgreens * Why Microgreens are so good for many illnesses and the elderly too * Full transparency and why it’s so important * And much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Stephen Cowan as we break down the inside story of Beyond Microgreens on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beyond Microgreens, visit: https://beyondmicrogreens.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Lake & Skye - Fragrance as a Force for Wellness Nov 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Courtney says, “we're really intentional about everything we do. We don't just launch a product to launch a product. We do it with a lot of thought behind it. Lots of inspiration. We put a lot into our packaging and into our ingredients. I tried to do things from that mindset and intention before we launch things into the world. That’s what it means to me to be a modern and conscious brand.”

Today, we interview Courtney Somer, CEO & Founder of Lake & Skye. Lake & Skye is a modern and conscious beauty brand focused on long lasting, uplifting scents as wellness, made with transparent ingredients.

We discuss:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Lake & Skye * Her health issues and journey as a seeker * Why she considers the brand “intentional” * Trends with scent, fragrance, and aroma * How to choose the right scent * Which form factor do people choose * How they work with their fragrance house * Most curious trend: People are making their own scent * Advice for founders, including challenges * Unforeseen challenges from getting into retailers, scheduling meetings, and legal issues * Why she sees her biggest challenges as a course correction from the universe * Why it’s the gift that people give themselves * A review of products * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Courtney Somer as we break down the inside story of Lake & Skye on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Lake & Skye, visit: https://www.lakeandskye.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Wildling - Natural Alternatives, Effective and Time Tested Nov 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

They say, “we really expanded based on the principles of nature ultimately being our guide. We look too plants and stones. We take our stone and plant medicine seriously, and also how we align with the cosmos and seek to connect people with a more mindful beauty practice that helps with the way they look, but also their mind, body, and soul. And that's really our driving force, offering natural alternatives that are really effective and time tested.”

Today, we interview the Co-founders of Wildling, Jill Munson, Gianna de la Torre, and Britta Plug. Along with being leading Gua Sha experts, Wildling is also a farm-to-face organic and fair-trade beauty line. Their products are full of botanical and wild foraged plants. All staple ingredients in their potent facial serums and detoxifying tonics.

We discuss:

* What they are grateful for * An overview of the brand and origin story * Being a leader in Gua Sha * Why they take a holistic view * What is stone and plant medicine? * Why they look to the stars for guidance in their product recipes * The integrity that goes into their products * The concept of Skin Longevity and why it’s important * Aging, rest and regeneration from the inside out * A review of products * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Jill Munson, Gianna de la Torre, and Britta Plug, as we break down the inside story of Wildling on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wildling, visit: https://wildling.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

MINNIDIP - The Very First Designer Inflatable Pool Nov 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Emily says, “MINNIDIPP is the very first designer inflatable pool. So that means that it was the first to market modern, on trend, adult friendly pools that feature patterns that are really fun and festive and not the sad blue pool covered in cartoons for little ones. So, really taking a design approach to reinvent the classic inflatable pool.”

Today, we interview Emily Vaca, Founder & CEO of MINNIDIP. MINNIDIP is the original, first ever modern inflatable pool.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her husband and his support * Overview and origin of MINNIDIP * Why no one was doing pools like MINNIDIP * How they became a top selling product at Target * Why their goal is to make it affordable * Entrepreneurial lessons such as being ready to pivot, how to assess what you need now, control what you can and accept that some things are going to be really hard * How she overcame the struggles with business operations * Why she views every season of design as a “fashion collection” * What’s coming up next * Where to buy?

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Vaca, as we break down the inside story of MINNIDIP on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MINNIDIP, visit: https://www.minnidip.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Univer.se - Bring Your Website Vision to Life (No coding required) Nov 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Joseph says, “Universe is an app on your phone that allows you to build a totally custom website in minutes with no technical skill or capital required. And you can make any kind of website. But more often than not, people are making website for their new brands. So if you are an upstart fashion designer or you make ceramics or you are a baker, you now have a tool that allows you to bring that brand into the world to shape a presence online that looks exactly like your creative vision.”

He goes on to say, “It also allows you to facilitate commerce. So we built our own commerce engine that is far easier to use than any other tool. It's completely mobile first, so you can do it entirely on your phone. You can build an inventory, transact and ship goods all from our service. So it's a website builder, but really it's a business in a box.”

Today, we interview Joseph Cohen, Founder & CEO of Univer.se. Univer.se is the first website builder and commerce platform built for mobile devices.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful * Creating something from nothing is overcoming inertia * Overview of the app and origin story * Why it’s more like a business in a box * Inspired by Snapchat and Instagram * Building a platform for the iPhone generation * How do you empower and encourage people to create? * Why it’s like Internet Legos * How it works, code blocks and support * Case studies of brands that have launched on Univer.se * Why influencers love it and why it’s unlike any tool on the market * Why the world needs creators

Join Ramon Vela and Joseph Cohen, as we break down the inside story of Univer.se on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Univer.se, visit: https://univer.se/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Get Joy - Feed Your Dog as if They were Family Nov 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Tom says, “we didn't want to create a company just to be in the pet space. I wanted to create a company that really affected the lives of people and the animals inside the home through great fresh nutrition. And I knew if we could do that brick by brick, by bringing amazing, fresh nutrition both in fresh meals that we cook here in our kitchens, or our freeze-dried raw, or our organ treats. If we brought great nutrition to these animals who give us nothing but love and care for us all the time, then I knew we could make the household actually a better house, a better environment because people are living a healthier life.”

Today we interview Tom Arrix, Founder and CEO of Get Joy. Get Joy’s holistic dog wellness experience offers fresh full meals, Fresh Freeze-Dried full meals fresh toppers or mix-ins, Freeze Dried Organ Treats, chews including 100% all natural bully sticks and naturally shed Elk + Deer Antlers.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his family * The concept of the Fox Hole and why they use it internally * Overview of the brand and origin story * Story about his dog with lymphoma and how the doctor influenced him * Process foods and dog nutrition * Why his team is so important to the brand and mission * Breakdown of Get Joy recipes * What does their customer avatar look like? * Their focus on dog gut health and why it’s crucial * Discuss on new and future products including telehealth, supplements * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Tom Arrix, as we break down the inside story of Get Joy on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Get Joy, visit: https://getjoyfood.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Belgian Boys - Deliciousness Baked In Nov 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Anouck says, "Is there something important about making them in Belgium? I think the importance is about quality. And right now we are achieving this quality in Europe. We, as a brand, have decided on behalf of the consumer to never lower our quality. That is something that our brand stands for. I don't know if our consumer knows where our products are made? They buy it because it tastes delicious. It's better quality and the fact that it's made in Belgium is added value."

Today we interview Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys. Belgian Boys is a Woman Owned brand, with a majority female workforce that produces delights for every time of day, from breakfast to dessert, all made in Europe for sharing worldwide.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her brother who helped with mindfulness * Overview and origin of the brand * Learning from mistakes * Why they make their product in Belgium * How they broke through the competition * Their journey with retailers * Advice for other founders, including dealing with naysayers, ask for advice, learn from tough experiences * New products and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Anouck Gotlib, as we break down the inside story of Belgian Boys on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Belgian Boys, visit: https://www.belgianboys.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Walden - A Gym for the Meditative Mind Nov 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Eddie says, “it’s like going to gym, a gym for your mind. And in the beginning, no one enjoys exercising when they first start. Obviously, there are a few exceptions, but the same is true with meditation. It's really, really freaking hard to develop a meditation practice. But once you do, and once you're doing it, you sort of get runners high and it becomes this sort of beautiful practice and you have a beautiful relationship with your cushion or your bench because you're sitting on it for so long.”

Today we interview Eddie Cohen, Founder of Walden. Walden creates products to inspire ritual, encourage the present moment, and honor tactility. Their products help create space for the self.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful * The story of his 10 day meditation retreat and what he learned * Arriving at a fork in the road with his career * An overview of the brand and the difficulty in launching * Product philosophy and the story behind the Candle clock * Product reviews including meditation cushion, bench, essential oils, aromas, and timer * His thoughts on meditation apps like calm * Plans for the future * How has meditation helped him * Why design is so important to him * Building a brand from an idea * Quite hours and rituals * Why gratefulness is so important

Join Ramon Vela and Eddie Cohen, as we break down the inside story of Walden on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Walden, visit: https://walden.us/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

UNiTE Food - Using Food as an Instrument of Inclusion Nov 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Clara says, “taste is paramount in terms macros or nutrition content. For me, it's always been about being under 200 calories, 10 grams of protein, high fiber. All the things that a nutritionist would tell you to look for because my product has to do a job. It's not just a fun snack. Even though it is fun and it's fun to eat, it has to actually keep you full. It has to get you through mid afternoon slump or get you from breakfast to lunch and keep you full.”

Today we interview Clara Paye, Founder of UNiTE Food. Their mission is to UNiTE people using food as an instrument of inclusion. They make globally inspired flavors with wholesome, gluten-free ingredients and superfoods for a nourishing, high-protein snack.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her media exposure when they launched * Her experience launching the brand during the pandemic * How she went from plumbing to Food & Beverage * The origins of the brand * Her lessons learned in launching a retail brand * Her retail partner strategy * An overview of her products, including flavors and recipe philosophy * How her bars are a tool for wellness and more * Why she believes that wellness can be profitable * Advice for founders of food & beverage brands * What Clara’s most proud * Her struggles with ADD * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Clara Paye, as we break down the inside story of UNiTE Food on The Story of a Brand.

For more on UNiTE Food, visit: https://unitefood.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

FightCamp - Where Fitness Has Never Been More Fun Nov 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Khalil says, "we're looking for people to be engaged and excited about their fitness lifestyle & wellness. If people can make it into a lifestyle where it transcends what happens within that hour that they work out and becomes part of their identity, this is where we see people stick with our fitness routine for a very long time."

Today we interview Khalil Zahar, Co-Founder & CEO of FightCamp. FightCamp delivers the most exhilarating and effective form of home fitness through interactive boxing workouts, streamed to your device on demand.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his parents for how they raised him * Overview of the brand & mission * The first iteration of their company, including how they originally worked with professional and Olympic athletes and their pivot to the consumer market * Challenges in moving to a consumer model * Providing a path for people to get better fitness instructions and results * Why they want to introduce people to boxing culture * Misconceptions with boxing workouts and why it works your full body * The future of FightCamp, including a system that tracks other exercises * Their community on Facebook

Join Ramon Vela and Khalil Zahar, as we break down the inside story of FightCamp on The Story of a Brand.

For more on FightCamp, visit: https://joinfightcamp.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Corso - Carbon Offsets + Shipping Protection for Shopify Brands Nov 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Paul says, “for us shipping protection is a white glove experience that you as a consumer can add at the checkout level to your cart that helps protect you against lost, theft, damage, basically anything that could happen in transit, but also offset 100% of the carbon that's associated with your order.”

Today we interview Paul Bartholomew, Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer. Corso provides carbon offsets + shipping protection to Shopify brands.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his wife * Overview and origins of Corso and why they are merchant focused * Why post-purchase is so vital * How brands can be more sustainable * Trends that they see in the market, including sustainability, outsourcing, and more * Advice for entrepreneurs, including trusting your team * Advice on growth * How Corso works with brands, including onboarding, fees * Their new upcoming suite of products

Join Ramon Vela and Paul Bartholomew, as we break down the inside story of Corso on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Corso, visit: https://www.corso.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

QPilot - How to Create a Better Subscription Program Nov 08, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Matthew says, “regardless of your industry, if you’re thinking about subscriptions or if you're already doing subscription, you should, think about and collecting data on these two things: one, what people like or don't like and two, the reason people subscribe and why people cancel. Understanding those two components is critical because they can influence each other immensely.”

Today we interview Matthew Holman, Co-founder & Head of Growth for QPilot. QPilot unleashes Scheduled Shopping like Subscribe and Save or Automated Replenishment to work with any platform and any customer experience.

In this episode, we’re given trends & insights and strategic and tactical best practices that you can use right away to enhance and grow your subscriptions. We also cover some growth advice for other SaaS companies.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his opportunity to join QPilot * Overview and origin story of company * SaaS growth advice, including building with the customer * Trend and insights in subscription, including growth, popularity, and fatigue * Best practices including what data you should collect, flexibility, LTV, and how you should approach problems with your subscription strategy * People subscribe because they love your product, but why do they cancel? Hint: customer experience. * How long, on average, do people stick around? * Why they prefer percentage versus usage fee * Their launch checklist * How to prepare for a subscription strategy * Why they don’t like the term subscription instead they like “Scheduled Orders” * How to work with QPilot

Join Ramon Vela and Matthew Holman, as we break down the inside story of QPilot on The Story of a Brand.

For more on QPilot, visit: https://qpilot.cloud/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Vitafive - The World of CPG According to Nik Hall Nov 05, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Nick says, “this is how I look at Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG). CPG is incredibly difficult. We all know it. Everyone that's in it know’s it's really, really difficult. You’ve got business-to-business (B2B). The brand to the retailer. You got business-to-consumer (B2C) sales, which is direct to consumer, Amazon, anything like that. And then you have B-to-B2C.

He goes on to say, “So when you sell to Sprouts or Kroger or Target or whatever it may be, how do you then get a consumer product off of the shelf? Yes, you've sold it to Target. Target is now buying your inventory, but if consumers don’t buy it, you're going to have to pay for it again. You're going to have to buy it back with less of an expiration date and so on. That's where it gets really, really difficult.”

In today's interview, we have a return guest and friend of the show (episodes #383/384), Nik Hall, Founder of Vitafive. Vitafive is on a mission is to provide high-quality, benefit-based supplements in eco-friendly packaging!

In this episode, we’re given a behind the scenes look at the products we love to buy, whether it’s online or at a retailer, and the challenging environment entrepreneurs face bringing products to market.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his wife * Overview & update of Vitafive * How retail has changed * Why he believes in selling more to less retail stores * Why you should not do consignment * How to start with retail, including starting local and test * How to get more sales through retail * Why channel strategy is critical * Growth versus profitability * Advice to CPG founders, including pricing strategies and if you don’t think you can do it, don’t! * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Nik Hall, as we break down the inside story of Vitafive on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Vitafive, visit: https://vitafive.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Made By Gather - Where Everything is Made with Intention Nov 04, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Shae says, “I'm a big believer in product being the priority. I think brand is really important but people respond to product. So we started by developing products and creating something that was unique.”

Shae also says of his partner Drew Barrymore, “her unique point of view as she called it was creating the Apple for women in the kitchen —- simplistic design and unique use of materials and colors. She really pushed us to step outside of the norm.”

Today we interview Shae Hong, Founder & CEO of Made By Gather. Made By Gather makes small kitchen appliances and kitchenware for the modern consumer aspiring to make their kitchen a more special place.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness as a 22-year-old startup founder * Origin and overview of the brand * A review of their brands Bella, Beautiful, Crux and the significance of each brand * How they brought a unique design esthetic to Kitchenware * Why strategic plan is so crucial to scaling a business, including a breakdown of the process * Why product is the priority above the brand * Their partnership with Drew Barrymore and creating the “Apple for Women in the Kitchen” * Their concept of Humans and the Helm and what it means to the consumer * How you grow from Founder to CEO (lessons learned) * Why you should continually invest in the team and why you should build a team for where you want to go * Why kitchenware should be like having art in your home * Where to buy, partnerships, and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Shae Hong, as we break down the inside story of Made By Gather on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Made By Gather, visit: https://madebygather.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

WAIR - Blazing a Path to Sizeless Commerce Nov 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Greg says, “one of the biggest challenges with apparel based e-commerce is that you can't try it on. But then you have a whole slew of reverse logistics issues because customers are likely going to try something on and then return it, try something on and return, right? Which is not very good for the company. For example, abandonment is 35 percent based on sizing. Returns are in the 50 plus percentages based on size and fit related reasons and something like 82 percent of all inbound chat requests are for size and fit. It’s a tremendous problem across the board.”

Today we interview Greg Moore, Founder & CEO of WAIR. WAIR is inventing Sizeless Commerce. WAIR developed a product and size recommendation solution where they predict the body dimensions of the shoppers and align them with a custom recommendation algorithm built for each product.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his parents and family * How Rhone was his very first customer * Why sizing is the problem to solve for apparel companies? * Why brands don’t know the size and body dimensions of their customers * The origins of WAIR and what they do * Trends in the apparel industry * Advice for SaaS founders * Their vision of “Sizeless Commerce” * Best practices for brands in apparel * Customer Success story * How they do size mapping * Their onboarding and implementation process and why there’s no real maintenance * Who makes an ideal customer? * Why they like to work with brands with a sustainability focus * Last words for listeners

Join Ramon Vela and Greg Moore, as we break down the inside story of WAIR on The Story of a Brand.

For more on WAIR, visit: https://www.getwair.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Poplinen - Everyday Essentials Made in Sustainable Fabrics Oct 31, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Desiree says, “I am my customer. I’m that millennial who is shopping for myself or my partner for my home, wanting to introduce products that are better for me, that are better for the environment. I think the best thing we've done is really listen to our customers and see what it is they want next or make more of what they love and basically that's how we've grown.”

Today we interview Desiree Gaitan-Buchanan, Founder Poplinen. Poplinen is a size-inclusive, American-made clothing brand dedicated to making better fitting, beautiful, timeless tops for women. Poplinen is a member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of all sales to Step Up, a non-profit that propels teen girls living or going to school in under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, and career-focused.

We discuss:

* Gratefulness for her pattern maker * Overview of Poplinen * Why she is willing to suffer for her passions * How she learned on the go * Why she considers herself her customer * How she supports size inclusivity * Challenges in business, including starting small, incubator, imposter syndrome, and more * What she has sacrificed for growing the company * The Poplinen Design Philosophy * Why they drop 3 items per season * Review of materials * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Desiree Gaitan-Buchanan, as we break down the inside story of Poplinen on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Poplinen, visit: https://www.poplinen.co/

***When you visit Poplinen, promo code SOB20 for 20% off our entire store****

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Alphawell Brands - Acquiring, Scaling Health & Wellness Brands Oct 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alexej says, “most margins are compressing because supply chain costs are going up, raw material prices are going up, and other factors are going up because of inflation in other areas. What you see is that a lot of the bigger brands are struggling. So when we look at brands, we look at smaller brands. Why? On top of all the issues you have for bigger brands, you don't actually have a big universe of buyers for smaller brands. So we are one of the few buyers out there.”

Today we interview Alexej Pikovsky, Co-founder & CEO of Alphawell Brands. Alphawell Brands is a global acquisition and incubation platform with a health & wellness focus.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his parents, who left Ukraine for a better life * Discussion and explanation of acquisitions, multiples and how they view them * How brands are to dependent on paid media for growth * Their operating framework * Description of their brands including 96North & Alpha Green * Advice for brand founders, including why many brands are dead and just don’t know it yet * Why they start with positioning * Why they have a 100 step process when they acquire a company * What areas of health & wellness are they interested in * How to prepare for an exit * Their criteria for acquisition * Why selling a brand takes time * Last words: Look at this as a marathon and adopt a long-term mindset

Join Ramon Vela and Alexej Pikovsky, as we break down the inside story of Alphawell Brands on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Alphawell Brands, visit: https://alphawellbrands.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Ronda’s Fine Foods - Stepping into Your Purpose Oct 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Ronda says, “So Romesco originated in the 15th century in northern Spain. So it has been around for a very long time. There's no one particular recipe for Romesco, much like Mexico has a variety of salsas. We make our Romesco with California almonds, roasted red pepper, garlic, tomato, spices, olive oil and a little red wine vinegar. It is an all natural, low carb, gluten-free product. It's vegan, vegetarian as well.”

Today we interview Ronda Catherine Brittian, Co-founder of Ronda’s Fine Foods. Ronda’s Fine Foods is a Petaluma, CA based woman and minority-owned family business, focused on creating unique, small batch, gourmet food items to inspire the discerning home chef.

Besides discussing products, we do a thorough analysis of her story. From going back to school, later in life, to become a neuro trauma nurse. To losing her mother, father and grandfather at the same time her marriage was ending. She struggled to support 3 children but learned some valuable lessons which she shares in this episode.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her family and her partner, Steve * Being in your 50s and not wanting to live in regret * Being okay with failure * Losing her father, mother, grandfather and marriage - Her origin story * Starting over as a single mother * Why you never win the war by running away from the battle * A review of her award-winning Romesco, including ingredients * Advice for other Founders, including don’t put boulders on your path * Where to buy her Romesco * New products launching soon

Join Ramon Vela and Ronda Catherine Brittian, as we break down the inside story of Ronda’s Fine Foods on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ronda’s Fine Foods, visit: https://rondasfinefoods.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Wove - Custom Rings that You Can Try Before You Buy Oct 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Andrew says, "people know Wove for being the only engagement ring company that builds custom replica rings for our couples to try on at home. Our couples design, try on and purchase their engagement rings without ever having to leave their home. And I think what's surprising to most people is that the replica ring isn't just a plastic ring that you try on, it looks and feels indistinguishable from the final ring."

Today we interview Andrew Wolgemuth, Co-founder & CEO of Wove. Wove is a custom engagement ring company that provides replica rings for at-home try-on. Wove matches clients with their own expert jewelry designer over video chat to design their one-of-a-kind ring.

Andrew says that Wove uses the same manufacturing process for their replica rings as they do for the real ring. They use non-precious metals and imitation diamonds to create the replica rings, so you feel confident knowing you’re buying the right ring. Plus, there’s one more hidden benefit that I believe to be the best thing about this process. You get to keep that replica ring as your travel ring or adventure ring.

We discuss:

* Andrew’s gratefulness for his wife’s support * Wove Origin story, which starts with two Army Rangers in Afghanistan * 70% of couples buy their ring together * How he grew up in the Jewelry business and lessons learned * Why they are a mix of tech startup and master artisan * A breakdown of their customer process * How customers get their own master craftsperson to work with * Challenges and advice for other entrepreneurs * How everything is made with “just-in-time” manufacturing * Why it’s important that their customer feels seen and heard * Why his team is his competitive advantage * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Wolgemuth, as we break down the inside story of Wove on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wove, visit: https://wovemade.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Eighth Day - Speaking the Language of Skin Oct 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Dr. Anthony Nakhla says, “your skin has its own code or its own language where the cells communicate to one another. So when there's a wound, it's trying to heal itself. With the products we developed, we say that we speak the language of skin. Meaning that we use ingredients that are not foreign, but are native to skin cells that stimulate your cells towards healing and repair and renewal.”

Today we interview Dr. Antony Nakhla, Founder of Eighth Day. Eighth Day products are infused with Peptide-Rich Plasma®, a patent-pending, biologically active blend of ingredients and clinically tested delivery system, formulated by Dr. Nakhla to give you, easily, the best skin of your life.

We discuss:

* Overview and Origins of the brand Eighth Day * Their product focus and goal, including focusing on ingredients * Why they are bridging the gap between skincare and surgery * Why you should think of skin issues as “wounded skin” * Clinical versus non-clinical and why it’s important to know the difference * Their product philosophy * Why a brand should be more than storytelling but scientifically sound * Advice for other founders * Breakdown of products * And much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Antony Nakhla, as we break down the inside story of Eighth Day on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Eighth Day, visit: https://eighthdayskin.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Wacoal America - The Right Bra Changes How You Look and Feel Oct 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Miryha says, “there are a lot of brands that have entered the market and have been founded by marketers instead of product designers or innovators. They identify a consumer pain point and decide they are going to enter the market and solve that problem."

She continues, “but in reality, all they have is a great marketing angle and a product that ultimately doesn't deliver. It's attributed to them not having the infrastructure and the design team and the quality teams, et cetera, et cetera, who know how to make that type of product. At Wacoal, we own the entire process.”

Today we interview Miryha Fantegrossi, SVP of Merchandising and Design for Wacoal America. Wacoal is a premium bra brand that believes that wearing the right bra can change a woman’s look and her outlook. Fit, quality, comfort and craftsmanship are what we know them for. We have a lively discussion about the origins of Wacoal, why she loves the industry, the design process at Wacoal, and how they are partnering with Susan G. Komen® for a Fit for the Cure where they already donated millions for a breast cancer cure. Please visit their site for more info on how you can help with the cure for breast cancer.

Topics include:

* Miryha’s gratefulness for her first internship and for her current role at Wacoal * Why she loves the industry * The Wacoal Origin story * The secret to the Wacoal longevity * How their fit consultants work with retail sales people * Why having their own manufacturing is a competitive advantage * The Wacoal “Aha Moment” * The Wacoal design process breakdown and why their designers are both creative and technical * The Size & Shape equation and why it is so crucial to success * How they make products that will last * Where to begin on the Wacoal journey * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Miryha Fantegrossi as we break down the inside story of Wacoal America on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wacoal, visit: https://www.wacoal-america.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or fewer to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Ilinel Food Company - Affordable Wellness Oct 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Harry says, “I started this company called Ilinel Food Company, which in the Mayan language means the plants that nurture us. I wanted to pay homage to that ancient tradition of food and go going back to Mother Earth, which means going back to fruits, vegetables, and a simpler way of life we had many thousands of years ago. That's our roots and our mission.”

Today, we interview Harry Lewis, Founder of Ilinel Food Company and the maker of Casa Verde. Casa Verde is your one-stop for nutritious, ready-to-eat authentic plant-based Latin food for every occasion.

We discuss so many topics, including a powerful story of gratefulness, homelessness, breaking-free and following your dreams. founder advice for food & beverage brands, to the health benefits of their products, Casa Verde and others. Topics include:

* His gratefulness for the person who gave him courage to break free * Overview of the brand, including the roots, meaning of the name, and his mission * Why he got into food * Why he wants to represent Latin America culture through food * His concept of Affordable Wellness and why it’s important * How the product is shelf stable for 18 months without preservatives? * Why, if everyone eats well, everyone prospers * Why it’s important to have a diverse team * Breakdown of the Casa Verde products * His distribution strategy and availability around the country * Advice for other Food & Beverage founders * Why the donate meals * Why he loves his team

Join Ramon Vela and Harry Lewis as we break down the inside story of Ilinel Food Company, the maker of Casa Verde on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ilinel Food Company and the maker of Casa Verde, visit: https://eatcasaverde.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Momentous - You Earn Trust by Doing Hard Things First Oct 20, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jeff says, “when we set out to create this company, we decided we were going to build a brand at the forefront of high performance. And that doesn't mean just building a supplement brand or a product brand. That means building a brand with real differentiated things. In other words, doing the hard things first.”

Today, they serve a broad range of consumers. Basically, their consumer is anybody who's looking for that continuous pursuit of optimization. Someone who says every day, “How do I get better mindset, body, whatever that may be?”

In this episode, we interview Jeff Byers, Co-Founder and CEO of Momentous. Momentous is a human performance company dedicated to creating no-compromise products and tools that support the endless improvement of personal performance. They’ve won 8 defense contracts for innovation. They work with over 200 pro and college teams and have worked with the best scientist in the country to develop their products.

We discuss so many topics, including:

* Jeff’s gratefulness for his college injury and what he learned from the experience * His take on what defines us as human beings: our challenges * Having the humility to ask for help * Who is Momentous the brand and who are its consumers * Why it was crucial for them to do the hard things first when building the brand * Why this it’s unheard and important that they have won 8 defense contracts for innovation and work with over 200 pro and college teams * How do people choose the right products? * Advice for entrepreneurs, including why the inability to learn fast can kill you * His origin story and how does brand and a person stay authentic * Creating a systematic approach for consumers * What’s important for consumers to know about optimization

Join Ramon Vela and Jeff Byers as we break down the inside story of Momentous on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Momentous, visit: https://www.livemomentous.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Kokada - The Number One Coconut Spread in Their Category Oct 20, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Breanna and Jared say, “what makes us special is we're really the only coconut spread being sold in our category, which is the nut butter and seed butter category except we are peanut free, which is so important right now, a lot of schools aren't allowing peanuts, and we are gluten-free, refined sugar-free and organic.”

Today we interview Breanna Atkinson and Jared Golestani, Co-founders of Kokada. Kokada is an iconic coconut spread that’s completely peanut-free, gluten-free, made with natural ingredients and refined sugar-free. It’s the first sugar and nut-free alternative coconut spread.

We discuss so many topics, including founder advice for food & beverage brands, the health benefits of their product, Kokada and more. Other topic include:

* Jared’s gratefulness for a general manager at an early retailer * Breanna’s gratefulness for a mentor at a previous job * Overview of the brand * Their origins as athletes and how it started the brand * The health benefits of Kokada * How they first sold their product in farmer’s markets * Advice for entrepreneurs, including how long it takes to grow a brand * How they marketed and grew their brand with one product * Last words of advice for founders of food & beverage brands

Join Ramon Vela, Breanna Atkinson, and Jared Golestani as we break down the inside story of Kokada on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kokada, visit: https://kokada.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Keto Krisp by CanDo - Everyone Has a CanDo Story Oct 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Adam says, “And that's really what this entire platform is all about. Yes, we're always going to be focused on taste and texture, cause that's the most important thing. A lot of brands choose to focus on macronutrients. I believe macros are incredibly important. But what we believe here at CanDo is it's got to taste great.”

He stresses, “We are sticklers on taste. We are sticklers on texture. We are sticklers on ingredients and we, if we can make it taste good and it's a little better for you, it's a win-win for everybody.”

Today we talked with Adam Bremen, Founder of Keto Krisp by CanDo. CanDo (makers of Keto Krisp) is driven by a mission to inspire and empower a community of doers, dreamers and believers to live a healthier, more-fulfilling lifestyle, every day. They make gluten-free, low carb, low sugar, Keto Krisp keto bars that are a delicious blend of healthy fat, protein, and energy to fuel your day. We have a lively discussion about life, challenges, overcoming obstacles, great tasting keto bars and the true mission of CanDo.

Topics include:

* His gratefulness for his family * Why everyone has a CanDo story * For Adam, love is at the center * How their focus is on taste and texture * The origin story / his story * How they got in their first retailer * Why you have to be an advocate for the things you care about * Why this is a platform for sharing the CanDo philosophy * Why they are a consumer focused company first, a product company, second * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, as we break down the inside story of Keto Krisp by CanDo, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Keto Krisp by CanDo, visit: https://tastecando.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or fewer to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Cerebelly - Baby Food with 16 Key Brain-Supporting Nutrients Oct 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Nick says, "Teresa Purzner, his sister and Co-founder, went to the grocery store and was shocked to find that you could not get over three or four of the 16 nutrients scientifically crucial to supporting brain growth in children in store-bought baby food."

He stresses, “I think it’s important to note that it wasn't three or four missing ingredients in any pouch. It's that 12 or 13 of these 16 nutrients were completely absent from any baby food you could buy at a grocery store.”

Today we interview Nick Langan, Co-founder of Cerebelly. This brand, developed by practicing neurosurgeons, offers organic baby food packed with 16 key brain-supporting nutrients that support how their brain and body grow.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for founding the brand with his sister * How it’s like to work with siblings within a business * The cognitive function in babies * How the brand started * His Co-founders background in neuroscience and working with cancer treatments * Three things crucial for development: genes, love, and nutrition * Uncovering the 16 nutrients for brain health * The unique manufacturing process of Cerebelly * The crucial window for a baby's brain development * Why nutrition is 100% in your control * Nutrients breakdown * The Whole Food Story * Advice for entrepreneurs including having a mission, always do the right thing, and more * Why price point is important * And much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Nick Langan as we break down the inside story of Cerebelly on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cerebelly, visit: https://cerebelly.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Raw Sugar - Clean Affordable Products that Make You Feel Better Oct 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Donda and Michael say, “We are really taking the granola out of naturals and mainstreaming it at an affordable price point that speaks to all people, all genders, all age groups. And it we made it inclusive. Because you, you're not inclusive if you only can speak to a small segment of people that can pay for products that we know make us feel better. And that really was the aha moment.”

Today we interview Michael Marquis, CEO and Donda Mullis, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Raw Sugar. Raw Sugar is an aspirational lifestyle brand on a mission to promote clean and healthy living through products that are affordable, accessible, and good for the body and the soul.

We discuss the origin of the brand, business operations, ingredients, the mission and values and, most interesting, how they make clean, effective products affordable and accessible to all consumers.

* Michael’s gratitude toward his family, daughters, and their support * The wisdom & lessons from Donda’s hard experience with family * Overview of the brand and their “clean for all” mission * Their focus on products that make you feel better * The Secret to building brand affordable and accessible to all consumers * Why price point and great products keep people buying * Why you must have an aligned set of values internally and externally * One of their biggest launches: Raw Sugar Kids launch * Their Raw Sugar Deodorant line * Where consumers should start their journey with Raw Sugar * Why brands need to authentically listen to their audiences * Parting thoughts: Do what you love and Don’t follow profits, follow purpose

Join Ramon Vela, Michael Marquis and Donda Mullis as we break down the inside story of Raw Sugar on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Raw Sugar, visit: https://rawsugarliving.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

INK+ALLOY - Effortlessly Cool Accessories Oct 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Gretchen says, “We're a woman's accessory company. We like to say that we are effortlessly cool accessories. When you're struggling with what to wear, it might be just a white t-shirt and jeans and you can put on these bright, colorful earrings or bracelets and it just transforms you and feels great.”

They also work with Commit to Change, an organization that educates young girls in India’s impoverished communities, where they are targeting to educate over a 1000 young girls. Gretchen says, “they have shown that if you educate a young girl, she grows up, and she is more likely to give back to her family and lift so many more people out of poverty. It makes us feel like we're really making an impact.”

Today we interview Gretchen Hollingsworth, Founder and CEO of INK+ALLOY. INK+ALLOY is a woman-owned accessory brand created to inspire and empower the spirit of wonder and exploration. They handcraft colorful glass seed beads and upcycled brass into pieces that evoke a bohemian vibe that is modern, unique, and effortlessly cool.

We discuss:

* Her gratitude for second chances * What she learned from her previous experience building a successful brand * Advice for women entrepreneurs including make sure you’re part of the business, not just design or creative and be the person you want to be * What INK+ALLOY represent to Gretchen: second chance and joy * Overview of the brand * Origin of the brand concept * Why it’s critical that you surround yourself with friends * What are you proud of about the INK+ALLOY that is not emphasized on the website or social media? * Why she works with boutiques and why she supports small businesses * Where does a person start their journey with INK+ALLOY * What inspires their designs? * Why they are BOHO style and what that means? * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Gretchen Hollingsworth as we break down the inside story of INK+ALLOY on The Story of a Brand.

For more on INK+ALLOY, visit: https://inkalloy.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Fresh Prints - A Culture Obsessed with Customer Experience Oct 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jolijt and Jacob say, “we focused on creating a culture where everyone's aligned that we were going to sacrifice everything for the customer experience period. End of discussion… We even barred conversations about competitors in company discussions. Because if we weren’t talking about whether it makes a customer's life better, then it shouldn’t be in the discussion. It's about what we can do for our customers.”

Today we interview Jolijt Tamanaha, Co-founder and VP of Growth and Jacob Goodman, Co-founder and VP of Sales, at Fresh Prints. Fresh Prints provide custom apparel and promotional products to Student Groups, Greek Organizations, University Administrations, Intramural Teams, and individuals. They also have a division that works with businesses.

We cover a lot of topics from sacrifice, building a culture, the entrepreneurial mindset, growing a business, operating as if you’re never going to raise funding, hiring missionaries, and creating a great customer experience.

* Why they're grateful for the employees and teams’ dedication to the business * Why they run as a meritocracy * The origins of the brand * Entrepreneurship and the search for the perfect business * The Four things they focused on when growing the business * Why they’re obsessed with customer experience and not raising money * How they're powered by campaign managers * How training and support are their biggest challenges * Their two sets of customers: collegiate customers and businesses * What’s next for Fresh Prints * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Jolijt Tamanaha and Jacob Goodman as we break down the inside story of Fresh Prints on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fresh Prints, visit: https://www.freshprints.com

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Aktiv - Timeless Classic Clothing Built to Endure and Last Oct 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Nate says, "that's where the Scandinavian companies just shine. They are so focused on the utility of the garment. There is a saying, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. And that is as close to a motto for Norway, Sweden, and Denmark as you can get."

Today we interview Nate Axvig, Co-founder of Aktiv. Aktiv represents clothing that is built to endure and last. It is your view of the durable, functional designs of Scandinavia. Timeless Classics.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for starting the business with his wife and the support his friends and family gave him * Overview of the brand * Origin of the brand: what led up to starting the brand * Starting the brand and testing the concept over the web * Focusing on well made, classic clothing * Why there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing * How they fared during the pandemic * Why they opened a physical store * Their primary material: Wool * Plans for Aktiv

Join Ramon Vela and Nate Axvig as we break down the inside story of StoryFile on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aktiv, visit: https://aktivstyle.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Levitate Foundry - Your Brand's Full Service Digital Team Oct 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

In today’s episode, we interview Jessica Pelligra, Senior Vice-President of Marketing at Levitate Foundry. Levitate foundry is an e-commerce agency. They are the largest female founded Shopify partner agency and provide end-to-end digital marketing across vast industries.

Although Levitate Foundry works with lots of companies, their sweet spot are direct -to-consumer brands where they do everything from new brand launch, media buying, growth consulting, lifestyle marketing, organic search and social, design, and more.

In our conversation, we discuss everything from gratefulness to list growth, giveaways, videos and most critically, what brands can do right now (holiday season) and what strategies work all year round to grow the business. This episode is spilling over with amazing insights with some incredible detail instructions, including:

* Her gratefulness towards Steph Liu for getting her back in the game * Paid media and why you have to stay nimble * How platform changes are affecting paid media strategies * List growth initiative for holidays and all year around * What offers work best? * How and why you should add a VIP offer * Video strategies and why people are prone to spend after watching videos * Using giveaways * Knowing what your BFCM offer is early on

Note: Jessica shares detailed slides during the episode. If you’d like a copy of these slides, go to https://levitatefoundry.com/consult/ and mention Ramon Vela.

Join Ramon Vela and Jessica Pelligra, as we break down the inside story of Levitate Foundry, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Levitate Foundry, visit: https://levitatefoundry.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Affable.ai - Use AI to Find the Best Influencer for Your Brand Oct 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“We noticed a trend that commerce was moving from search to social. Meaning, people were buying more and more off, scrolling through Instagram and watching YouTube. And so we asked ourselves, if this trend holds true, then how do we enable every single brand, no matter how small or big they are, no matter where they are in the world, to drive revenue and performance via micro influencers, influencers, celebrities on YouTube, Instagram, and the whole creator economy. That’s how Affable.ai was born.”

In today’s episode, we interview Nisarg Shah, Co-founder & CEO at Affable.ai. The Affable.ai platform allows brands to discover, engage and measure social media influencers through artificial intelligence algorithms that profile influencers and their audience across social media such as Instagram, YouTube, twitter, Facebook, etc.

We discussed everything from trends in the market, being a Saas entrepreneur, best practices in influencer marketing, how the Affable.ai platform works for brands, and more.

* The gratefulness he feels for his team * The origin story of Affable * Trend #1 - Why commerce is moving from search to social * What will brands need to support new trends in ecommerce * Nsarg’s eureka moment * Trend #2 - Why brands are thinking of influencers as affiliates * Why more and more of brand’s marketing spend is going toward influencer channels * Why influencers signify trust * The Four Influencer Marketing Best Practices brands should implement * The features of the Affable.ai platform * Future plans

Join Ramon Vela and Nisarg Shah, as we break down the inside story of Affable.ai on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Affable.ai, visit: https://www.affable.ai/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Fresh Sends - Where People Feel Seen, Known, and Loved Oct 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Ty and Jesse say, “We started with flowers, so we ship flowers nationwide. And, we focus on really the simplicity and the heart behind sending a gift, the gesture of it. We are planning on launching other non-perishable gifting products later this year, which is really exciting. It's been so fun to see how, how our product resonates with our consumer and really focusing on how can we foster authentic connections and help people feel seen, known, and loved through our products. That's the mission of it.”

Today we talked with Ty Hiss and Jesse Hiss, Co-founders at Fresh Sends. Fresh Sends is building a go-to gifting brand that delivers products you and your recipient will love with an experience that’s unmatched. They’ve renamed gifting, and it’s called sending.

We discussed topics from becoming entrepreneurs to building a go-to-gifting brand, and the lessons learned along the way. Topics include:

* Their gratefulness towards their family and the support given in their entrepreneurial journey * Why they started the brand? * Why the business took off right away * Why it’s important to them that the brand stands for something * Lesson #1 - You never know who you meet in college * Lesson #2 - Don’t get trapped in analysis paralysis * Their mission of helping people feel seen, heard, and loved * Why their partnerships are so important to them * The tremendous opportunity in business-to-business * Advice for entrepreneurs including play the long game, don’t overthink things, and don’t be afraid to ask for help * Their goal of buying flowers in 5 clicks or less * Review of current and future products * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Ty Hiss and Jesse Hiss as we break down the inside story of Fresh Sends, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fresh Sends, visit: https://freshsends.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Fila Manila - A Filipino Simmer Sauce for Everyone Oct 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jakes recounts the opportunity he saw in consumer packaged goods, “If Filipinos are such a big part of the community, then how come when I go to the major supermarkets and groceries in U.S., there's no Filipino food on the shelf at all. It's like we're almost kind of relegated to that dusty corner of the Asian section where you have these MSG packets and things like that.”

He continues, “So I just saw this huge disconnect because I saw a lot of things happening at pop culture about Filipino cuisine, a lot of Filipino celebrities popping up, and it kind of seemed like the right time to introduce Filipino food.”

Today we talked with Jake Deleon, Founder of Fila Manila. Fila Manila offers a range of Authentic Filipino simmer sauces inspired by the rich flavors of the Philippine Islands.

We discussed topics from becoming entrepreneurs, failed startup and the lessons learned and building the #1 Filipino food brand in the USA. Topics include:

* His gratefulness for his previous startup experience and the lessons learned * Why food and beverage is such a special category to be in * The story of how and why his first startup shutdown * What is Fila Manila? * Origin story of brand * His biggest fear and why it benefits the consumer * Why there aren’t more Filipino brands in U.S. market and why representing Filipino culture is so important to him and the brand * Advice for Founders on price points, product value and ingredients * Why he accepts and loves the idea of Fila Manila representing Filipino culture * What is Filipino cuisine? * Where to start in your journey with Fila Manila

Join Ramon Vela and Jake Deleon as we break down the inside story of Fila Manila, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fila Manila, visit: https://filamanila.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Normatec by Hyperice - The Science of Feeling Your Best! Oct 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Gilad says, “We're not just applying the science of warm up, refresh and recovery to athletes but to weekend warriors and average people. People who may never have thought that they should look at what we’re doing at Hyperice. Maybe someone who thought I'm just gonna grow old slowly, and it is what it is. Instead, we’re giving them an option and reason to reevaluate what's possible. Showing them they can continue to do the things they enjoy and feel really fantastic while doing them.”

Today we interview Gilad Jacobs, Chief Innovation Officer at Hyperice, Inc., and Founder of Normatec Recovery. Normatec by Hyperice uses dynamic air compression to create a restorative massage that is shown to increase circulation and help you warm up, recover, and feel refreshed faster. It’s made for professional athletes and consumers alike.

We discuss:

* Origin story: the story of a brilliant woman, scientist, and mother * Exclusive: The Israel Mop Story * How Normatec was originally only a medical device company * How his mother prepared him for business * His mother’s sage career advice * How he started in sports with “two Normatec machines and $5,000” * How it started with the University of Florida * How athletes discovered they could use Normatec for both recovery and pre-performance * Meeting the founder of Hyperice * How Normatec works with consumers and weekend warriors * Review of products, including Normatec Go and Core * How, where, and when to get started with Normatec by Hyperice

Join Ramon Vela and Gilad Jacobs as we break down the inside story of Normatec by Hyperice on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Normatec by Hyperice, visit: https://hyperice.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Talia di Napoli - Most Delicious & Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Oct 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Edouard says, “our mission is to be stay brand ambassadors of Naples and we will not change that. And if I have to have lower profitability because I am using the best ingredients, I will do that. And if I have to stay in Naples and pay astronomical ocean freight, which is what is happening now with the logistical crisis, I will do that. I want to go to bed at night and know that I am making an authentic Neapolitan pizza, period. Otherwise I will do something else.”

Today we interview Edouard Freda, Founder & CEO of Talia di Napoli. Tali di Napoli offers people authentic Neapolitan pizza - made in Italy, by master pizzaiolos, using local, all-natural ingredients.

Edouard’s approach to making the high quality pizza is rare in the frozen pizza market. He says “it's not a very capitalistic approach because when we pick ingredients, we go by taste and not buy price. And that's a mistake, if you ask any buyer. However, when we try the ingredients and we fall in love with them, and we look at the price, we're like, Oh, wow that's four times what we thought but we're ready to pay for the quality.”

We discuss:

* Grateful for the family business and the trust they place on him * Overview of the brand * How he got started * The opportunity they saw in the market * Why they want to bring Naples to the world * Breakdown of their model from craftsmanship to quality control to their unique freezing process * Why following the Neapolitan Pizza Guide is so critical to them * What he means by the “sleeping pizza” * Why their approach is not aggressively capitalistic * The story of the Margherita pizza * How they choose their local ingredients * Review of the products

Join Ramon Vela and Edouard Freda as we break down the inside story of Talia di Napoli on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Talia di Napoli, visit: https://www.taliadinapoli.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Averr Aglow - You Deserve to Look & Feel Amazing Oct 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Camille and Levi say, “What does it do for the individual? What is the problem we solving? When we first started talking to chemists, they would say don't put so much energy and effort into your formula, because people only stick to a skincare routine for about six months, and then they jump. And we were like, why? It’s because they are paying for something they're not getting, so they move on looking for something better.”

They go on to say, “We think, if you focus your energy on solving a genuine problem, then why would customers go anywhere else?

Today we talked with Camille Chulick and Levi Chulick, Founders of Averr Aglow. Averr Aglow is a brand that offers natural skin care products to help achieve clear, nourished, and radiant skin by using the best ingredients, vitamins, and minerals..

We discussed topics from becoming entrepreneurs to building a skincare brand, and the lessons learned. Topics include:

* Why they are grateful for their parents * What they would if they had kids * An overview of Averr Aglow * Why they look for patterns of success in business and you should too * Why they think you should bet on yourself * If you want to be an entrepreneur, combine a problem to solve and passion * How their research led them to more than just a product business * How Acne works * Where they find their ingredients * Why they prefer the term “healthy aging” versus Anti-aging * Why people jump from skincare to skincare routine and what they do differently * A review of their products

Join Ramon Vela, Camille Chulick and Levi Chulick as we break down the inside story of Averr Aglow, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Averr Aglow, visit: https://averraglow.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

StoryFile - Capture a Loved One's Story with Video that talks back Oct 04, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Heather says, “the difference with StoryFile is you're not just leaving a video message. You can actually ask questions and the image can have a conversation with you. It’s something you just have to see for yourself.”

Today we interview Heather Maio-Smith, Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer for StoryFile. StoryFile is truly a unique platform. It will sound like it came straight out of a Star Trek or Watchmen movie like.

StoryFile records an immersive interactive video interview for yourself or a loved one so that future generations can ask questions, converse, and interact with the person being recorded. There is also a tremendous opportunity for businesses as well.

We discuss:

* How she is highly grateful to her husband, who left his established career to support her in her dream. * Overview of a video that talks back * Why capture the story of a loved one? * Giving people the ability to leave their legacy * Asking questions you didn’t have time to ask * The difference between StoryFile and regular video * How to choose the right questions to ask * Why Everyone has a story to tell * The opportunities for business * Letting the CEO answer questions from dozens, hundreds, or thousands of employees * How can a StoryFile can help the athletes with their coaching in sports? * The mechanics for using StoryFile?

Join Ramon Vela and Heather Maio-Smith as we break down the inside story of StoryFile on The Story of a Brand.

For more on StoryFile, visit: https://storyfile.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Bev - She's Stronger than She Looks, Like Most Women Sep 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alix says, “I think we're probably the only alcohol company that encourages people to do Dry January and not drink our product. We even have a system in place where people can pause their subscription if they're taking a break. I would imagine for most alcohol product companies, this approach is highly unusual. But I believe that because of encouraging Dry January and the other things we discussed, we've been able to build a vast community of brand ambassadors.”

Today we interview Alix Peabody, Founder and CEO of Bev. Bev makes premium canned wine made from California grapes, with zero sugar, in 6 fizzy varieties. They are on a mission to empower women in business and beyond starting with their women-led team and wine “Made By Chicks”.

We discussed a lot of things today, including:

* Alix’s gratefulness practice * Her experience as a survivor of sexual assault * Gratitude for the mentorship of an ex-boss * Advice for women who have gone through a similar experience * How they strive to turn social situations and gender dynamics in to a positive environment * A brand that is unapologetically feminine * Changing the industry from the inside and operating from a position of strength * The origin story * Throwing a party to pay for her medical expenses * Why it was important that the wine be zero-sugar * Having a brand before the company was born * Why Bev is like taking the company’s vision and putting into a can * Rundown of “Old Dude” campaign * How they partner with LGBTQ youth organization, Way Out * Review of Bev flavors * First Federally approved zero-sugar canned wine * Their National Bar Safety program * The challenge of being a growing female-led company in a male dominated industry * What the younger Alix would tell her older self * Advice for other entrepreneurs * How she got turned down 386 times

Join Ramon Vela and Alix Peabody as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bev, visit: https://drinkbev.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Sanzo - Traditional Asian Flavors with a Modern Taste Sep 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Sandro says, “A lot of what I'd seen in the grocery aisles were Asian-inspired beverages I loved from childhood, but they filled these beverages with a lot of sugar preservatives. And the labels hadn't been updated in 20 or 30 years. These were beverages I couldn't drink anymore, because I'd learned more about health and wellness and the impact of a high-sugar diet on your health, but they were still flavors that I wanted to like experience in my life.”

Today we talked with Sandro Roco, Founder and CEO of Sanzo. Sanzo is the first Asian-inspired sparkling water brand with real fruit flavors and no added sugar. Their vision is to create a bridge between traditional Asian flavors and modern taste.

We discussed so many topics, from the product to building a consumer packaged goods brand, and the lessons he learned from his previous startup, including:

* Reflections on their 3rd year anniversary * Grateful for a job at an early startup and the experience and trust he received * Learning from other entrepreneurs with more experience * How he invests in and develops employees in a growing startup * Why culture building is part of employee development * A 360 overview of the brand * Why Sanzo is a manifestation of his own self-actualization journey * The uniqueness of the Sanzo beverage * Why Sanzo is really about representation * Why there hasn’t be a brand like Sanzo before * The value of attractive packaging for the consumer and retailer * The secret of Sanzo’s early success with retailers * What’s something about Sanzo that consumers don’t know * Why legacy is so important for Sandro * The simple elegance of their ingredients: real fruit and sparkling water * A walk through the Sanzo flavors * Inspiration for aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs

Join Ramon Vela and Sandro Roco as we break down the inside story of Sanzo, on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sanzo, visit: https://drinksanzo.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or fewer to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

BigCommerce - Giving Brands of All Sizes a Unique Advantage Sep 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

“BigCommerce is an eCommerce platform that helps the world's brand create extraordinary eCommerce sites so that they can put their best brand and user experience forward, serve their consumers and, and grow through eCommerce,” says Brent Bellm.

In today’s episode, we interview Brent Bellm, CEO and Sharon Gee, Vice President, Revenue Growth and GM Omnichannel Partnerships at BigCommerce. We discuss everything from their biggest differentiator to their headless commerce initiative to how they are helping brands sell more through 3rd party channels.

In our wide-ranging interview, we discuss a variety of topics, including:

20:49 - Brent’s gratitude toward a customer (New Chapter) 23:36 - Sharon’s gratitude for the career opportunities for woman at BigCommerce 26:03 - BigCommerce’s culture of diversity and opportunity 28:58 - How they help brands present the best version of themselves (with examples) 30:47 - The BigCommerce Differentiator: Open Commerce 33:41 - How BigCommerce supports brands of all sizes, including small brands 35:48 - BigCommerce on Headless Commerce 39:42 - BigCommerce on Multi-storefront Inventory 43:43 - Two problems BigCommerce Solves with Multi-Location Inventory 46:18 - The unique advantage of Omnichannel brands that work with BigCommerce 49:15 - The secret sauce of Omnichannel brands 50:59 - How BigCommerce facilitates more sales, revenue and data from 3rd Party Ad sites 53:13 - How BigCommerce partners with Amazon to help brands Part 1 54:55 - How BigCommerce partners with Amazon to help brands Part 2 56:55 - How to determine your personality type as an Omnichannel brand 59:58 - Examples of omnichannel brand personalities 1:02:31 - BigCommerce end-of-year plans and beyond 1:05:48 - Thoughts on recession, B2B, B2C, and e-commerce revenue data

Join Ramon Vela and Brent Bellm and Sharon Gee as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BigCommerce, visit: https://www.bigcommerce.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Ember - Where Every Single Sip is Perfect for You Sep 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Clay Alexander says, “I feel like all majorly successful entrepreneurs would not be where they are without help along the way. It's just not possible. You need advice and guidance. When I was building Ember, and Ember is now one of the fastest growing companies in the world, it was just an idea in my head. I was running up against brick wall after brick wall of like, wait a minute, how do I get past this hurdle?”

Today’s episode is a roller coaster ride-like discussion of how Clay Alexander, Founder & CEO of Ember Technologies, grew Ember from zero to over $100 million in revenues in less than five years. The interview encompasses hard-won entrepreneurial lessons and a guided tour of why the Ember products are so beloved.

We discussed:

19:08 - Clay’s gratefulness for his mentor, Norman Kahn 23:22 - Successful entrepreneurs' network to find the help they need 26:26 - Founders must realize their strengths and weaknesses 27:57 - How to use networking to attract influencers and celebrities to your mission 32:14 - Clay’s trade secret: always involve family 34:21 - The amazing results of direct mail 36:08 - Inspired by Beats by Dre 38:42 - Getting the designer of Beats by Dre to work with Ember 40:45 - Product invention - It all started with scrambled eggs 45:03 - Bootstrapping a software & hardware product takes millions 46:05 - How he raised Ember’s first Series A funds 47:26 - Formula for making a new product cool 49:52 - How to identify a market and product opportunity 53:26 - How Clay and team got into Starbucks 58:43 - The single biggest needle mover for Ember and any brand 1:01:12 - How to hire and interview at a fast-growing consumer brand 1:03:05 - Your job as a founder during the hiring process 1:06:09 - Learn to pull back as a founder and trust the people you hire 1:08:34 - Using the Ember Temperature Control technology in healthcare to save lives 1:14:49 - The words first warming baby bottle 1:20:02 - The big Ember value proposition 1:21:47 - Ember: So simple your grandmother could work it

Join Ramon Vela and Clay Alexander as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ember Technologies, visit: https://ember.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Babyation - The Breast Pump that Completely Changes the Game Sep 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Shouldn't a breast pump be as elegant as an iPhone and quiet as a Prius? This questions both angered Samantha and motivated her. She also thought, “why hadn’t someone already invented this?”

For the unfamiliar, breast pumps are loud and bulky. It basically forces women to hide if they're lucky in a lactation room, but more often in a bathroom or a supply closet.

Samantha explains, “there is a tell - tell noise that it makes. They are essentially a hard plastic funnel connected to a baby bottle that hangs off the breast.” And she reminds us, "it’s based on technology that was used for dairy cows that is decades old."

In today's episode, we interview Samantha Rudolph, Co-founder and CEO of Babyation. Babyation creates a space where women can navigate breastfeeding and pumping with care, support, and products designed for their holistic needs. The pumps feature sound reduction, data logging, mobile device integration, and breast shields.

We have discussed topic such as

* Grateful for an early review from a customer which helped in validating her 6 years of hard work and dedication in bringing the product to market * How the little things in business help validate the purpose of the brand. * What does Babyation do? * The pressures, stigma, and prejudices that mothers face in our society * Why the lack of innovation for breast pumps? * Why no one has created this before? * How did this product actually come into the market? * Advice for entrepreneurs * What’s better a software or hardware business * How the app works and why it’s so cool * The special features of the Babyation products? * Innovation: You can lie down when you use the breast pump! * What did other breast pumps fail to do? * The ultimate result of Babyation: liberating women * Their give back program

Join Ramon Vela and Samantha Rudolph as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Babyation, visit: https://babyation.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Matriarchy Build - Like Telehealth but for DIY Projects Sep 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Where do you go to find a female plumber? That was the “aha” moment when the founders of Matriarchy Build thought, “wouldn’t it be cool to create a community and a resource for people looking for female plumbers, electricians and contractors?” They figured if this was something they wanted, perhaps other women might want this too.

In today’s episode, we interview Gabriella Ainslie and Lacey Soslow, Co-founders of Matriarchy Build. Matriarchy Build creates a space to talk with a diverse group of women about renovation, design and DIY projects. Think of it as “telehealth but for DIY” where women (and everyone else) could get honest advice and feedback and feel empowered to get their home project done.

In today's episode, we discussed:

* Gratefulness for experiencing the tough moments of their life, because those experiences have turned into some great unforgettable lesson which empowered them later on * How they got the idea for the brand and why the brand exists * How Lacey and Gabriella met * How networking, in the beginning, was challenging * How this company is not just selling a particular service,they are selling trust * What were the most challenging parts for them before establishing this brand? * Their advice for their younger selves? * How a consumer uses their service and platform * How a pro applies to work on the platform * Their future vision * What projects they handle?

Join Ramon Vela and Gabriella Ainslie and Lacey Soslow, Co-Founders of Matriarchy Build as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Matriarchy Build, visit: https://matriarchybuild.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Kosmo’s Q - One Bite is All it Takes Sep 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

As Darian Khosravi Says, you are an accumulation of all good and bad decisions you have made. Some will give you prosperity and some lead you to failure. He’s a firm believer that if he’s going to fail, he’s going to fail fast and often because he knows it’s going to get him closer to the solution.

In today's episode, we interview Darian Khosravi, President and CEO of Kosmo’s Q as he explains his vision behind his Barbeque brand, Kosmo’s Q. Kosmo’s Q is recreating the food we eat at home by enhancing the flavor it already has. Darian or Kosmo, as his friends call him, strongly asserts that “What you’re gonna learn by eating a steak with Kosmo's Q is that it will ruin your experience of eating steak made with anything else.”

We have discussed different topics in today's episode these are-

* How he is grateful to a lady at the hospital who has always shown him love, compassion and kindness toward Darian in a certain period of his life, when he had nothing much to be grateful for * His spiritual experience behind the decision to start the brand * What the Kosmo's Q brand is all about * What is Competition Barbeque? * His view on leadership * How he discovered his superpower and how it changed his life * How the company started with two products * How he risked his own money * How, in the beginning, other people saw him as a threat * How if you want to learn about barbeque jump on the Kosmo's Q youtube channel * What is the meaning behind the brand name ‘Kosmo's Q * The Three F’s in life (Family, Finances and Freedom) * Why you have to make your dreams a reality (or at least try) * The best gift items on Kosmo’s Q website

Join Ramon Vela and Darian Khosravi, CEO of Kosmo’s Q as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kosmo’s Q, visit: https://kosmosq.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

African Coffee Club - Coffee with a Conscience Sep 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

As Mukurima Muriuki says, “as long as you have the willpower and then you get the opportunity, then you can always make your dreams come true.”

Farming is a noble profession, but unfortunately, many farmers who grow the coffee that we so much enjoy do not get fairly compensated. As Mukurima contends, this is really shameful in our society that the people who are feeding us are not getting enough simply because they don't have enough power and opportunity in our society.

In today's episode Mukurima Muriuki, Co-founder of African Coffee Club. African Coffee Club is a renowned coffee brand, ensuring that coffee farmers in Africa get their fair share of the profits. This brand’s focus isn’t ensuring optimal profits, instead, they are working to develop a system where the farmers can get fairly paid for their services.

In our interview, we discussed many topics:

* Grateful to Country America, how this country is providing opportunity to immigrants, so that can pursue their dream. * How a single crop of coffee generates millions of revenue worldwide. * Why African Coffee Club brand was established? * History behind coffee production and how they striving to overcome the challenges rooted in norms and values of the society. * What happens in a traditional auction process and how African Coffee Club changed the system for farmer’s good * How people's behavior and philosophy about coffee has changed over the years. * How buying African Coffee Club can directly help the farmers. * How every region of Africa produces coffee with different flavors. * How this brand helps the children of farmers in Africa find their future purpose in life. * The best products African Coffee Club * The meaning behind the name ‘Kenya’ * The gift sets and how they contain coffees from 8 different regions * How you can choose coffees based on morning, afternoon or evening time. * The perks of being a subscriber * Future vision of the brand. * Message for women listeners

Join Ramon Vela and Mukurima Muriuki as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on African Coffee Club, visit: https://www.africancoffeeclub.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Twice - Healthy Mouth is a Healthy Self Sep 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

As Cody and Julian say, “The oral microbiome is the second largest in the body and it's all about the balance of good and bad bacteria. It's about a homeostatic environment. And the reason for that is that the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body.”

In today’s episode, we interview Cody Levine and Julian Levine, Co-Founders of Twice. TWICE is a holistic oral health system that combines cutting-edge science and clean ingredients for better mouth body balance.

We discussed numerous topics, all of which are fascinating:

* Gratefulness for a dental mission that propelled their lives in a new direction * Why the smile is so powerful * How their mission came before the products * How does Twice help the oral microbiome, explanation * Advice for entrepreneurs * How Lenny Kravitz works with the brand * Do the products individually or as a system or platform * The future and how Twice is bringing the next frontier of holistic health and wellness

Join Ramon Vela and Cody Levine and Julian Levine, Co-Founders of Twice as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Twice, visit: https://www.smiletwice.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Branzio Watches - Entrepreneurship & The Mental Marathon Aug 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

When asked, “what’s the secret of success for Branzio,” Ronnie says, “I'll reply with the quote that's been on my mind since my school days and it’s three words: NEVER GIVE IN. And I'll take you through a couple of scenarios where the business almost folded and when I say folded, it was basically, there was no way I was able to come out of it.”

This is the struggle that every entrepreneur goes through and it takes its toll. Ronnie shares how he took his stress and anxiety out through alcohol. And how he now credits his sobriety, physical health, and mental health to the changes he made. “I have clarity like never before,” says Ronnie,

In today’s episode, we interview Ronnie Teja, Founder of Branzio, an eight-figure, bootstrapped, cash-profitable watch brand that designs various styles as well as color schemes, to be worn all day, every day, regardless of the situation.

We discuss numerous topics both personal and business topics all of which are fascinating.

* His gratefulness for his mother and for winning the “golden ticket” * The difference in mentality, entrepreneurship, and opportunity in other countries * What is the tall poppy syndrome * Who is Branzio Watches * Why founders should expect to grow their brands for at least 10 years * The keys to success * Two stories of when the business almost went under * What sobriety has done for him * How he escaped the emotional roller coaster of anxiety and stress * An overview of Branzio Watches and what makes them special

Join Ramon Vela and Ronnie Teja as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Branzio, visit: https://branzio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

ATWATER - Men’s Simple Skincare Routine Aug 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Chris Salgardo says, “So for me, it started with creating the right formulas, creating a packaging journey that would make it easy for him and picking the right partners, where he can find the product, his proximity is important. And then just making sure that these products are gonna deliver.”

In today’s interview, we talk to Chris Salgardo, Founder & CEO of ATWATER. ATWATER avoids harsh, abrasive treatments by making products that are clean, non-toxic formulas with powerful active ingredients that promote healthier skin day after day.

ATWATER also meets clean beauty standards in formulations, the skincare products are fragrance-free, and the brand is made in the USA from globally sourced materials.

In this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics. We discuss:

* His gratitude for a mentor that changed his life * The Catalyst for starting ATWATER * Why the concept of putting customers at the center and not products have served him well in his career * Why brightening is at the foundation of ATWATER formulations * Advice for entrepreneurs like why this is the hardest gig of his life, staying focused, and why there are no free lunches * Product line overview * How to use the products * Future products and where to buy

Join Ramon Vela and Chris Salgardo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ATWATER, visit: https://www.atwaterskin.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

All Citizens - This Underwear is Life Changing Aug 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Daniel says, “I don't want to create a brand, slap a logo on it, create an aesthetic, and then sell it. I wanted to create a product that was much better than what was available on the market by solving all the common problems that guys have. And then see if I could offer it at a much more accessible price point. That was the Genesis of all citizens.”

In today’s interview, we talk to Daniel Charbonnet, Founder of All Citizens, a direct consumer menswear brand with a mission to democratize comfort, durability, and high performance at an accessible price point.

In this interview, we cover a wide range of topics. We discuss:

* Gratitude toward his wife for supporting his entrepreneurial journey * What type of underwear do men wear most? * Men’s everyday problems with underwear * Why finding the right underwear is life-changing for men? * What are the three categories for consumers * Advice for entrepreneurs * How he made and sold his first pair of underwear to a stranger * Why it’s more than just business for Daniel as he describes the All Citizen’s charitable initiatives * And so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel Charbonnet as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on All Citizens, visit: https://allcitizens.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Baby Bathwater Institute- Looking for Good Humans Aug 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Michael Lovitch says, “The biggest difference between other entrepreneur groups and us is that we bet on kindness, generosity, and being fun, not success. We're not success junkies. We are looking for people we're going to want to grow old with. We're looking for our friends. That's the biggest difference between what we're doing and others. We look for good humans over how badass they are in business”.

In today’s episode, we talk to Michael Lovitch, Founding Partner of Baby Bathwater Institute, a selective membership community for entrepreneurs that is part music festival, part business forum, and 100% unique and fun.

In this interview, we cover a wide range of topics. We discuss:

* There’s no "one way" of doing entrepreneurship * Know yourself and what type of person you are * Hire for your weakness, and don’t hesitate to pay a good recruiter * Don’t grow for growth's sake * Don’t wait for the miracle of an exit. Cash flow along the way and invest * Hire a coach in the early days * Invest in venture capital but never take it * What’s a Baby Bathwater event look like * Why it’s transformative * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Lovitch as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Baby Bathwater Institute, visit: https://babybathwater.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

ESW Beauty - Clean Beauty Skincare Inspired by Healthy Living Aug 14, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

ESW Beauty is clean beauty skincare inspired by healthy living that features a line of raw juice-inspired sheet masks, says Elina Wang, Co-founder and CEO of ESW Beauty.

That line features masks with kale, spinach, broccoli, and apples.

"It's just like you're putting a light green juice on your skin, and that's great for anti-aging," Elina says.

Other facial tools are inspired by pineapple, strawberries, cream, and various teas.

"I love tea," Elina says. "It's my favorite self-care beverage when I want to drink something after a long day to decompress. And this is how these facial tools make me feel."

Elina says her entrepreneurship was inspired by her mother, who did lots of import/export work with garments.

"I would always see her being very passionate and talking about what she's working on and traveling all the time and just being inspiring," she says. "That's something I always looked up to and knew I wanted to do in the future."

Elina got into the green juice space during college when she found that consuming Whole Foods - including plenty of juices - helped stomach flare-ups, which had begun in high school. When she decided to create a brand, she combined her passion for healthy living with her love for skincare.

She advises other entrepreneurs who struggle with mixing business demands with their personal lives: Strive for balance. Find out what makes you whole, and be sure that's part of the work-life equation.

In this episode, Elina talks about:

* Gratitude to store owners who have given her so much positive feedback at trade shows over the past few years. * An overview of the ESW Beauty brand, including its line of juice-inspired face masks. * How fresh juice and teas came to be the inspiration behind facial masks. * How health problems in high school and college led her into the whole food space. * Her mom's reaction to the business. * Advice for entrepreneurs who are romantically involved with their business partners. * What she would tell her younger self. * How to use the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Elina Wang as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ESW Beauty, visit: https://eswbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Charlie’s Table - Artisanal Gluten-Free Pasta Everyone Loves Aug 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Charlie's Table is the non-gluten pasta made for everyone at the table, says David Landay, CEO and Co-founder of Charlie's Table, an artisanal food brand that started with gluten-free, non-GMO fresh pasta.

The pasta creator owned an Italian restaurant in New York City when he discovered he was gluten-sensitive. He and a chef spent 18 months creating a gluten-free pasta that would be so good that nobody would know the difference.

The pasta is more than gluten-free - it's also peanut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, GMO-free, and Keto-friendly.

David says he creates things because that's what he loves to do.

"I see things differently than other people - I'm aware of that," he says. "That's what's led to doing things, as I say, that people are doing. But if you think that way, I don't want to run anything. I want to start it. I leave organizations after I start them. Other people are good at running them. That's not what turns me on."

Plans for Charlie's Table include making a new flour for restaurants to help create healthier pasta.

In this episode, David talks about:

* An overview of Charlie's Table and gratitude to the man who inspired the name. * How the brand developed its original pasta product. * The effect COVID had on the brand, particularly given the supply chain issues. * The brand's charitable mission. * David’s history is working with nonprofits and Broadway Cares. * Why he'd instead start a business than run one. * Where to find the pasta now?

Join Ramon Vela and David Landay as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Charlie’s Table, visit: https://charliestable.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Origin - Elevating the Standard of Care for Women Aug 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Origin offers physical therapy for the pelvic floor and whole body, focusing on women in every stage of life, says Origin CEO and Co-founder Carine Carmy.

"We focus on treating women and individuals with vaginal anatomy, and that's a deep expertise we've built, given the systemic gender bias in medicine and some of the very common but pretty overlooked issues that impact women throughout our lives, things like painful sex, incontinence, birth recovery, and issues around menopause," she says.

Carine says she's "one of the crazy people" who love starting businesses repeatedly - Origin is her fifth startup, but the first with her in the CEO role.

"I call it 'Type 2 Fun,' where we like to do tough things like climbing mountains and starting companies, and you get that peak at the end," she says. "But there's a lot of pain and fun along the way."

Carine started in the health care consulting business but transitioned to marketing. After getting married and traveling back and forth constantly between jobs and her husband, she began to develop some chronic health issues. Other female friends shared similar problems - none of which seemed helped by traditional medical interventions. It turned out that physical therapy finally helped and thus was born the idea of Origin.

Carine has words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs considering opening new businesses.

"Honestly, just put one foot in front of the other," she says. "If you're an entrepreneur, you probably can solve different types of problems. You're resourceful. You know when to ask for help, when to figure things out on your own, and that you'll get through it and that it just gets easier, and you gain that muscle over time."

Origin's vision remains to "elevate the standard of care for women and people with vaginal anatomy around the country," Carine says. "We want to make sure pelvic floor therapy is accessible to patients through every stage of life and to all populations, to women, to men, to pediatric patients, because these issues are chronic, they're pervasive."

In this episode, Carine talks about:

* Gratitude to a previous career coach who taught her it's okay not to ask for permission anymore. * An overview of Origin. * How her career began in health care at a large management consulting firm. * Never losing her love of marketing because it ties to the brand to the people people who show up every day. * Her memories of when she began to break down from the stress of her health issues. * Why there's a medical gap in treating women's health issues. * The mechanics of the pelvic floor. * How therapy can help with common female issues. * Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * Navigating the health care business during a pandemic. * The difference between physical and virtual office visits. * The company's expansion plans.

Join Ramon Vela and Carine Carmy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Origin, visit: https://www.theoriginway.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Verbal+Visual - The Ultimate DTC Guide to Sustainability Aug 09, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

How do Consumer Brands increase revenues while decreasing their negative environmental impacts? That’s CEO and Founder Anshey Bhatia’s big concern and the main subject of his latest guide, “The Ultimate DTC Guide to Sustainability.”

In today’s episode, we discuss Anshey and his team’s sustainability mission at Verbal+Visual, an agency that designs, builds, and grows digital flagships for thoughtful brands.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Why they love working with mission-driven brands * Verbal+Visual’s sustainability journey and goals * Where should brands start their sustainability journey * The low-hanging fruit of sustainability * What role does “re-commerce” play in a brand’s business model * Sustainability and the supply chain * How authentic sustainability missions drive trust with consumers * Examples of sustainable brands * Why B-corp certification is worth the effort * Where to download the Sustainability Guide for Free

Join Ramon Vela and Anshey Bhatia as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Verbal+Visual, visit: https://www.verbalplusvisual.com/

The URL for the sustainability guide is: https://verbalplusvisual.com/sustainability

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Skinny Butcher - Plant Poultry that Tastes the Same Aug 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“We don't want to first and foremost say we're plant-based. We want to say we taste good and there's no sacrifice between us and say an animal protein chicken nugget”, says Dave Zilko, Co-founder of Skinny Butcher, a Plant-based poultry brand that offers breakthrough Soy-Free and Palm Oil Free Plant-Based Proteins that win on branding and taste profile.

The story of Skinny Butcher starts decades ago with Garden Fresh Gourmet, a brand Dave and his previous co-founder took from zero to 100 million and eventually sold to Campbell Soups for nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

In today’s episode, Dave breaks down the product & flavor philosophy, the sustainability focus, the marketing and branding strategy, and the innovative tactics he uses to launch and distribute the Skinny Butcher to consumers everywhere. Dave also shares many of the entrepreneurial practices, strategies, and concepts, found in his book, “Irrational Persistence,” which made his first company a huge success.

In this feature, we discuss:

* How to find a great product and market * What makes a great food and beverage brand * Why does he think you should sell your company, not the product * Whether you should manufacturer your own product or outsource * Advice to other Entrepreneurs * Why founders should not fear the recession * Why the Skinny Butcher competes on branding and Flavor profile * Why he's offering Skinny Butcher in both retail and virtual kitchens

Join Ramon Vela and Dave Zilko as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Skinny Butcher, visit: https://skinnybutcher.com/

Interesting in his book, “Irrational Persistence: Seven Secrets That Turned a Bankrupt Startup Into a $231,000,000 Business,” you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CXT4JMU/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_1RH79VDXQKSRZPVDR89S

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Lure - The Inner Beauty Brand Aug 04, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

It all started with Lure, Co-Founder Monica Reese's experience with her dad, a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD and Alcoholism. “I grew up in quite a chaotic situation…I was always nervous and very anxious,” says Monica. That’s when she turned to CBD, “It changed my life. I felt more patient. I was more present for my children because I could take it, and the nerves were gone, but I was still very present.”

In today’s feature, we talk to Monica Reese, Summer Rice, and Kara Kelly, Co-founders of Lure. This brand produces premium domestically and organically grown hemp-based products designed for women and which men can enjoy too.

With each having a unique story of how CBD impacted their lives, they realized they could help other women too. Whether as moms or caregivers for aging parents, executives, or entrepreneurs, “it's hard to take time out for yourself,” and Lure was created to bring just a little calm to a chaotic life while still being present.

In this feature, we discuss:

* Their gratefulness for each other, investors, and their community of women * Why they chose the business * Their “non-negotiables” in the business and products ingredients * The social justice aspect of the brand * Advice for entrepreneurs * How the products work * Breakdown of the product line * How they choose which products to produce Plans, including upcoming products * Why they chose the name “Lure”

Join Ramon Vela and Monica Reese as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Lure, visit: https://thelurelife.com/

***Here's a gift from Lure for my listeners, Get 20% off the Relief Stick. Just use promo code THESTORYOFABRAND***

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Dalci - Crave-Worthy Desserts that are Better for You Jul 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The food and beverage space is enjoying a lot of "glamorization" right now, says Najwa Khan, Founder, and CEO of Dalci, a brand that makes crave-worthy desserts that are better for you. But all that sexy growth comes with many sacrifices, especially in your personal life.

"It's going to be quite painful in the sense where you are giving up a lot of your personal life, your time, time with your family, time with your friends," she says.

She says the best way to get through the tough times is by having a mission and believing in it.

Another piece of advice: Don't assume that any brand can be omnichannel, DTC, or just retail.

"There are a plethora of channels to sell on in a food and food and beverage, particularly with food," she says.

Najwa says it took about a year to determine the recipes for the first product. She spent the time testing recipes in a commercial kitchen while getting feedback and tweaking. She put the product on the website before it was ready and was stunned to get 150 orders in the first 24 hours.

"I just kept making and making it until the brownies like were the brownies similar to what you see today," she says. "And I remember my husband and I stayed up all night till seven in the morning packaging and sealing to get these orders out to these first 150 people."

The company's mission - while currently focused on sweets - is "transferrable," she says. Plant-based options are the No. 1 request from customers, but that's a challenge because Dalci won't use egg substitutes. The company is also working on breakfast sweets.

In Part 2, Najwa talks about:

- Advice for other entrepreneurs - The variety of channels open to food and beverage brands. - A closer look at the product. - The stress of filling the first 150 orders. - What makes their brownies different? - Plans include plant-based items and breakfast products. - Where you can find Dalci products.

Join Ramon Vela and Najwa Khan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dalci, visit: https://www.dalci.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Dalci - The Better for You Dessert Option Jul 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Dalci isn't a diet dessert, or dessert alternative, says Founder and CEO Najwa Khan. Dalci is trying to educate consumers about ingredients and provide a "better for you" option.

"One core ethos is that we don't want to fit into a diet, she says. We're not a diet brand. We're not trying to help people have restrictive eating. We're trying to do the opposite: educate consumers about ingredients, why we choose the eight ingredients we currently do, and why we're not trying to do a low calorie, high protein keto brownie."

Najwa has her hands deep in the business, pitching in to handle baking duties and customer service - even after hours and on the weekends.

"I love what we do, and I love that people love our brownies," she says. "So, yes, I'm irrationally at the kitchen every day. I was even there on Saturday. I'm not going to lie - baking, producing, tasting. I've been doing that to get this company to the next stage."

Najwa says the brand's inspiration came from "personal annoyance." She was constantly complaining about packaged foods while at the same time going through a series of health challenges. Friends recommended she try eating holistically. Additional research led her to conclude that food she thought was healthy was anything but healthy. She began preparing clean meals for herself but was miserable because she couldn't find a clean dessert. After learning to make her brownies, she was on the road to creating Dalci.

In Part 1, Najwa talks about:

- Gratitude to three former colleagues who helped her get experience working in a tech company. - An overview of the brand. - Her hands-on approach to running the business. - How health issues led her to discover clean eating. - The lack of clean desserts.

Join Ramon Vela and Najwa Khan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dalci, visit: https://www.dalci.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Social Chat - Relevant Content that Consumers Love! Jul 29, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Using Social Chat is easy - it's a one-click install on a Shopify store or embedding a widget to get started, says Social Chat Founder Frost Li.

"Usually, the customers can start using it within the same week once they already have the content prepared," Frost says.

Making the content itself is usually something the brand tackles, but the nice thing about live shopping events is that the content creates itself, she says. And this type of content usually has a much higher conversion rate.

Brand identity is critical for consistent sales engagement, Frost says.

Frost says that one recent client had a 66 percent higher purchase rate when using Social Chat. Live shopping sessions and widgets also lead to a higher average order value. One client reports order values were up 260 percent after a live shopping session.

"We just give users the relevant content they like, and they purchase - way more, and they come back way more," Frost says.

Future plans include concierge features and sales representatives that can take one-on-one appointments.

In Part 2, Frost talks about:

* How the onboarding process works. * The beauty of using live shopping events as content. * The importance of brand identity. * Results recent clients are reporting. * How machine learning works. * Future services that are in the works. * Other available integrations.

Join Ramon Vela and Frost Li as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Social Chat, visit: https://socialchat.ai/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Social Chat - Fostering Conversations between Brands & Consumers Jul 29, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Many times, it's not fun to shop online. And it's not easy for brands to tell their stories to online shoppers. Filling those gaps is the mission of Social Chat, a service that tries to foster a natural conversation between brands and their customers.

Social Chat Founder Frost Li used her experience in commerce marketing to guide her in forming this new brand. The reason behind it was simple.

"It's like when you walk into the store if you only ask one question, and that's it, you don't get the whole picture," she says.

Frost says her experience has taught her that what consumers want most is not necessarily a discount, but they want to learn more about the product.

"We always set a coupon for all these live shopping sessions and video sessions with customers, and we found out more than half of the customers don't even use the coupon," she says. "They were convinced by the authentic content and conversation they had with the brand. It's information- and knowledge-driven, which is beautiful and surprising to me."

Frost shares the story of one brand selling anti-aging cream that wasn't using influencers. Instead, they shared the testimonial of a loyal customer during a live shopping event. His story was touching and reached new consumers.

"I feel that genuine like interactive moment convinced the users better than any form of beautiful advertising," she says.

Such live shopping events are conducted directly on the brand's website, enabling one-click shopping. After the event, the video goes into a library for future viewers.

"It's super easy to shop without any distraction during the life of the video experience," Frost says. "All the user behaviors would enable the site to provide more personalized recommendations and content as they shop in the future."

In Part 1, Frost talks about:

* Gratitude for her friends and clients for looking to her for ways to connect with customers. * An overview of the brand. * How she used her experience in commerce marketing to form Social Chat. * The value of a coupon vs. content. * A story about a customer's feedback and how that helped spread the brand's message. * How Live shopping events work.

Join Ramon Vela and Frost Li as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Social Chat, visit: https://socialchat.ai/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Beauty Beez - One-Stop Shop for Black Girl Beauty Jul 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Brittney Ogike's goal in creating Beauty Beez was to alleviate all the pain points she experienced as a person of color shopping in beauty stores. That includes the design of the space, the organization of products, and access to an employee who understands a consumer's unique needs.

"Customer service is my top priority," Brittney says. "Typically, going into a beauty supply store, you're not greeted - you essentially have to fend for yourself. ... I wanted to make sure that our sales associates and our team members in the store are very knowledgeable about the unique characteristics of textured hair or melanin skin. So you'll come into our store and shop with a sales associate with the knowledge and skills to understand what you need."

Along with customer service, the clean skincare and clean beauty brands are concepts dear to Brittney and on her mind as new products are developed.

"There's been this huge influx of clean beauty brands, clean skincare, clean makeup," she says. "I'd love to see more clean haircare innovation because I think that's the trend. Our culture and community are becoming more educated thanks to brands and stores like us on what's in their beauty products."

One goal still in the works is to create a seamless omnichannel experience, Brittney says.

"When a customer walks in, I want the customer in Texas or New York to have that same experience when shopping online," she says. "Some things are launching soon that will help mimic that experience."

Brittney has this advice for fellow entrepreneurs who are just starting their brands.

"Just tap into your network," she says. Ask for help. Don't be afraid to talk about your idea, she says.

In Part 2, Brittney talks about:

* Why it's challenging to start a brand as a person of color. * Tackling the pain points of beauty shopping. * The importance of customer service. * The importance of avoiding harmful ingredients. * A tour of the brand's website. * The need to create an omnichannel experience. * Plans, including implementation of a forum for feedback. * Advice for other entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Brittney Ogike as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beauty Beez, visit: https://beautybeez.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Beauty Beez - Where Women of Color Feel Celebrated Jul 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Brittney Ogike was transitioning from a career in sports management when she noticed local beauty supply stores had significant gaps regarding the variety and quality of beauty products for women of color. She decided her next play was to fill that gap, so she founded Beauty Beez.

"These local little indie retailers that sell ethnic beauty products sell hair care for curly hair, textured hair, kinky hair - they sell limited skin care options for people with black and brown skin and then makeup offerings that are a little bit more inclusive than what you would find at a Sephora or an Ulta," Brittney says. "However, the products were limited. The products' efficacy was also very limited, and the experience was not a great experience. And I'm like, why do I feel so dissatisfied when I leave the local beauty's beauty supply?"

Even the big beauty giants like Ulta and Sephora weren't selling the niche products Brittney needed.

"We just set out on a mission to create that space where women of color can feel celebrated in a world full of beauty, dedicated specifically to our unique needs," she says.

One of the first big surprises Brittney found was that the beauty space is male-dominated. That's where her experience in sports management paid off.

"It's an industry that's catered towards women, but men - specifically white men - are a lot of the decision-makers and the CEOs and the founders," she says. "So it wasn't a big transition dealing with men in sports, then going around and dealing with men and beauty."

Times are changing, though, Brittney says, with more women founders in the beauty business.

"I think that's why there's been such a renaissance in beauty because we're seeing founders and beauty from all walks of life," she says. "I think it speaks to us women as consumers finding pain points and then finding solutions for them."

The COVID pandemic caused the brand to shut its doors for a few months, but its e-commerce site flourished.

"It was booming while our store was closed, and once we were able to open the store back up, we still had tons of foot traffic," she says. "I think the Black Lives Matter movement created that during that time. That had a tailwind effect on our business. We garnered much support from our community and attention from the national media as a whole."

In Part 1, Brittney talks about:

* Gratitude to her family and husband for their around-the-clock support. * An overview of the brand * How she pivoted from a sports management career to the beauty space. * The gap in products at many beauty stores. * The renaissance in beauty. * How she created the brand. * How COVID affected the company. * How the Black Lives Matter movement affected the brand.

Join Ramon Vela and Brittney Ogike as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beauty Beez, visit: https://beautybeez.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Perfy - Low-Sugar Soda that's Focused on Brain Health. Jul 27, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Part of Vasa Martinez's strategy when forming Perfy was recognizing what he was good at and what he needed help with, he says. His company makes low-sugar soda that's focused on brain health.

"The first thing I did once I was in the right place as I found the right R&D group," Vasa says. "Once R&D came along, they advised which groups of ops I should chat with. I chose the one that I wanted to work with the most. I learned a lot along the way."

As for other entrepreneurs considering starting a new brand, Vasa offers this advice: "If it's not something that you can live, breathe and sleep every single day for an unknown amount of time - essentially the rest of your life - don't do it."

Likewise, those just doing it for the money should also reconsider that plan. And conversely, Vasa says to be prepared to lose it all.

"I've got a decade of experience - I know my weaknesses, I know my strengths," he says. "I'm going to hire for my weaknesses, and I will hire for my strengths when the time is right. It's just not the first hire that I'm going to make because at some point, there will be smarter people than me, and my job is to hire smarter people and let them do the jobs."

The brand's tagline is "for a happy you or a happy brain."

"That's a fun way of saying that, hey, this is a soda that's low sugar and good for the brain," he says. There are many gut health drinks, and I saw an opportunity based on one."

Perfy's plans include a new flavor, "Dr. Perfy" - a take on Dr. Pepper.

In Part 2, Vasa talks about:

* How he focused on marketing and found help with R&D and ops. * Hiring people smarter than he is. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * Why it's important not to start a brand for the money. * A tour of the Perfy website. * A closer look at the products. * An explanation of metabolic health. * Where to find the soda.

Join Ramon Vela and Vasa Martinez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perfy, visit: https://drinkperfy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Perfy - Diabetics and Fitness Industry People Love this Soda Jul 27, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

The goal at Perfy is to bridge the gap between unhealthy food and healthier substitutes, says Vasa Martinez, Founder and CEO of Perfy, a low-sugar soda brand focused on brain health.

"The early reviews of Perfy from diabetics and folks in the fitness industry, which I call two of the highest detractors of soda - they can't tell the difference, and they love it," Vasa says.

The spark to create the Perfy soda came from a bout of depression that Vasa was going through in 2015, which led him to stop exercising and spend too many hours at work.

"I think human nature is to find some connection with other people," Vasa says. "People want to connect. And my goal with Perfy is, hey, soda might not be for you, Perfy might not be for you, and the flavors might not. Whatever it may be, I might not be for you. But the idea behind it is if you can create a connection with others and others know that there's a real human behind the brand."

In Part 1, Vasa talks about:

* Gratitude for the appreciation and feedback from the brand's consumers. * An overview of the brand. * Early reviews of the soda. * How his depression led to the creation of the brand. * The product's essential ingredients. * The importance of personal connection.

Join Ramon Vela and Vasa Martinez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perfy, visit: https://drinkperfy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Flourish Plant - Cultivating Growth in Spaces that Matter Most Jul 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

When starting a new brand, entrepreneurs need to trust their vision - particularly when working closely with partners, say Flourish Plant Co-founders Kate Ferguson and Lila Sullivan.

Kate and Lila were friends in high school who reconnected after college. The idea of forming a business together was soon floated.

"We want what's best for the business, and we're going to treat each other with kindness and compassion as we get there, but always trust that our instincts are the right ones," Lila says. "That's when you know that you found the right business partner and the right idea to chase."

Learning your partner's strengths is also critical, Kate says.

"I think a piece of advice is to recognize the strengths in your business partner and show them deference or rely on them when you know it's a strength of theirs," she says. "We both have our intuitions, we both have our own gut feelings, and two of us are running this business. But there are times when our guts might tell us different things. But when it's something that I've trusted Lila with, I'm going to go with her gut instinct and not my own."

In Part 2, Kate and Lila talk about:

* Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * The history of the friendship between the two partners. * How they dealt with investors who didn't believe in the plan. * Learning each other's strengths. * Trusting intuition. * Plant recommendations for newbies. * How to determine a plant's health. * A tour of the brand's website. * A sneak peek at a new product just launched. * Where to find the products.

Join Ramon Vela, Kate Ferguson, and Lila Sullivan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Flourish Plant, visit: https://flourishplant.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes or less to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Flourish Plant - Your Go-to-Resource for Plants Jul 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

People filling their homes with beautiful plants need the right product to care for them. That's the goal of Flourish Plant, say Co-founders Kate Ferguson and Lila Sullivan.

"We want to be your one-stop shop, your go-to resource that will help anyone from the beginner to those with several plants in their home to be able to enjoy taking care of their plants and have the resources to do so," Lila says.

One of the company's taglines is "cultivating growth in the spaces that matter most," Kate says. Plants should be an essential part of people's lives.

"Nature has all sorts of healing benefits, as we know, being able to bring those things into your home and then watch growth happen," Kate says.

The pair say they started Flourish because they didn't feel like they had the products they needed to take good care of their plants. Existing products are too chemical-based, they say.

"We wanted a completely organic product, so we were working with the development team and scientists to develop a product that was not only organic but also sustainable," Kate says. "To feel good about having it in your home, you could feel good about using it."

The ideal customers for Flourish are plant owners who want to buy products aligned with their needs and values.

"Our customer is nurturing and caring, and they are eager to see the plants in their home as more than just a decorative tool," Kate says.

In Part 1, Kate and Lila talk about:

* Gratitude for the support and friendship the partners offer each other. * An overview of the brand. * The importance of plants in the household. * Why there's a gap in the market for an organic solution. * The brand's ideal customer. * The innovation behind the brand's ideas. * The synergy between plant health and personal/emotional health.

Join Ramon Vela, Kate Ferguson, and Lila Sullivan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Flourish Plant, visit: https://flourishplant.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Naturally Serious - Filled with Super Clean Ingredients Jul 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Making sure their products had "no bad ingredients" was so crucial to Naturally Serious Co-Founders Sarah McNamara and Rochelle Jacobs that they turned BAD into an acronym.

It stands for "banned, ambiguous or debatable," Rochelle says.

"We didn't want to have any of those ingredients that were being second-guessed or that in some country wasn't allowed," Rochelle says. "As the list of clean ingredients continues to expand of what's not and what is, we're never worried because our products are super clean ingredients."

The entire product line was developed to eliminate the complications of shopping for skincare products.

"We wanted straightforward formulas," Sarah says.

Future products include a Vitamin C serum, which will be released in August.

The co-founders have some words of wisdom for fellow entrepreneurs.

"What I've learned for all the entrepreneurs coming up: do what you love, love what you do, and figure out a way because you're not going to be satisfied in your life if you don't," Rochelle says. "And it does trickle down to all aspects of life."

In Part 2, Sarah and Rochelle talk about:

* The importance of BAD ingredients. * The ingredients that are key to their products. * A tour of the brand's website and products. * New products and upcoming releases. * Advice for new entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela, Sarah McNamara, and Rochelle Jacobs as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Naturally Serious, visit: https://www.naturallyseriousskin.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Naturally Serious - Sephora Quality Skincare Jul 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The mission at Naturally Serious is to provide skincare products that take the guesswork out of the equation - particularly for consumers who are always on the go.

Co-founders Sarah McNamara and Rochelle Jacobs say their partnership is the key to their success.

"We divide and conquer," Rochelle says. "Our skill sets have a lot of similar strengths."

Keeping its products easy to use, really effective, and not too expensive all help the brand as well, they say.

"We want to take the guesswork out of the product assortment and come up with a line that would work for women just like us on the go, whether they're a new mom or an overworked mom, whatever it was," Rochelle says. "The thing that was so beautiful about how this line came together is that it's not only good for people on the go like we are, but it's great for those entering the skincare market for the first time and just so overwhelmed by all the different choices."

The pair credit their relationship with Sephora for helping Naturally Serious stand out in a saturated market.

"Sephora is the largest beauty retailer in the world where we currently sell Naturally Serious, and they've been our partner all the way along," Sarah says. "They have so much rigor around the process of product selection. They look at every single item or product within their stores and demand incredible high level, efficacious products that perform."

Among their challenges are managing the price, developing the right marketing mix, and delivering clean, natural products.

"Rochelle and I are very passionate about the quality of the formula, what's in it, how it performs, it's packaging - all of those issues," Sarah says. Rochelle adds that some products took up to 20 iterations before they were approved.

Rochelle says that the COVID pandemic was an additional - and unexpected - challenge because it meant the brand's in-store presence became obsolete.

One big difference for Naturally Serious is that the brand owns and operates its manufacturing facility - an unusual asset for a newer brand. Rochelle says that the facility has been around since 1999, allowing the brand access to experienced chemists who could understand the company's vision.

"Getting the benefits for it has been phenomenal, and I think because the quality that we're fully in control of, the innovation that we're in control of can't be met by somebody new entering the market," Rochelle says. "We're not getting leftovers. We're innovating."

In Part 1, Sarah and Rochelle talk about:

* Gratitude for each other's support in their business and personal lives. * An overview of the brand and their parallel personal lives. * The importance of their relationship with Sephora. * The challenges of the "clean beauty" space. * The effect of the COVID pandemic on the brand. * The advantage to owning a manufacturing facility.

Join Ramon Vela, Sarah McNamara, and Rochelle Jacobs as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Naturally Serious, visit: https://www.naturallyseriousskin.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

HOBO Bags - Inspire a Life of Creativity, Joy, and Self-expression Jul 20, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The bag you carry is an extension of yourself, says Koren Ray, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at HOBO Bags, a female-founded, family-run brand that makes leather goods.

"I think we're drawn to the broken-in, the well-loved, the familiar," Koren says. "There's a certain comfort and beauty to those things that are possessions that carry our history and have that beautiful character. Made-to-last is an important message today for consumers."

Koren believes that during these COVID times, consumers are tightening up and focusing on the "nuts and bolts" of consumer goods. Despite that, HOBO decided to continue its strategy of creativity in design.

"That's our model: color, creativity, inspiration, self-expression, ways to help women pick a bag that helps them express their style," she says. "We felt like during these challenging times; we're going to go for it. We will introduce color, prints, and new materials to our icons. And those are the bags that have just resonated with our loyalists."

It's not that HOBO doesn't follow trends - "We are absolutely tuned in," Koren says - but more time is spent finding the brand's expression and filling in what's missing in the marketplace.

"While we're keeping our finger on the pulse of trend, we have discussions about what's happened, what else is happening in the world, what are people doing that's different than what they were doing maybe last season or last year," she says.

With 30 years in the business, HOBO has an archive of styles to refer back to because, as she says, everything comes back around again.

"One of our fundamental values in our code is perfect it today, better it tomorrow," she says.

Koren has some words of wisdom for fellow entrepreneurs.

"I do believe it's essential very early on to figure out what you're fighting for - what is it that you have that the world just can't live without or what is it that makes it special or different or unique, and don't compromise that vision, whatever it might be," she says.

In addition, she recommends against cutting corners - an easy but bad habit for any new entrepreneur.

"I think in the end, when you compromise is when you start to lose the integrity of the vision and the power and the passion that is going to make your product and brand successful," she says.

In Part 2, Koren talks about:

* Why consumers are drawn to broken-in bags. * The continued emphasis on creativity during the COVID era. * The design process. * The importance of color. * The testing process. * Launch process and monthly releases. * Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * A tour of the website. * The partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Join Ramon Vela and Koren Ray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HOBO Bags, visit: https://www.hobobags.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

HOBO Bags - Bags that Only Get Better with Use Jul 20, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

HOBO Bags doesn't follow trends; instead, they design leather bags with purpose and an eye on their ultimate use, says Koren Ray, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at HOBO Bags, a female-founded, family-run brand that makes leather goods.

"We make leather goods, and we're committed to making leather goods that only get better with use," Koren says. "That's why we design products with pockets for planning and plotting and everywhere you need to go. But I think the other key to HOBO is that we do believe that we can use our craft to inspire a life of creativity, joy, and self-expression."

The name of the brand itself is a nod to the company's code, she says.

"We were inspired by the original American Hobos who traveled out of necessity for work and shared a value system based on kindness, responsibility, and hard work," Koren says. "So that code has informed many of the decisions and things we've done over the 30 years."

HOBO got its start before the Internet boom days, so it began as a wholesale company that sold to small retail stores around the country.

"We went to trade shows all over the country in our beat-up van with our homemade trade show booth," Koren says. "Eventually, the Nordstrom buyer stumbled upon our booth, and my mother, being the amazing visionary she is, stepped out into the aisle and said, 'Do you carry leather goods?” She was then able to get an amazing conversation going with the Nordstrom buyer. That was kind of our big break."

To this day, HOBO doesn't have a vast marketing machine, Koren says.

"We are in the business to make products that we love, that we're proud of, that women enjoy, that are creative and innovative and interesting and fun and colorful," Koren says. "The products speak for themselves ultimately, and the consumer is voting with her wallet that this is a brand she believes in that she will invest in. And that just makes us so, so proud and inspired to keep going."

In Part 1, Koren talks about:

* Gratitude to her mother for sharing her values and financial support. * An overview of the brand. * How HOBO's bags are unique. * What inspired the name HOBO Bags. * How the company spread the word on its products in the pre-Internet days. * The big break with Nordstrom. * The brand's approach to marketing.

Join Ramon Vela and Koren Ray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HOBO Bags, visit: https://www.hobobags.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Retail Reworks - Helping Brands Do Good Business Jul 20, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Retail Reworks exists to help companies do good business, say Mike Kitko and Brian Adams, co-founders of the brand that offers complete return solutions for DTC sellers and retailers.

"At the end of the day, we want to help you do good business," Brian says. "Good business means making the best financial decisions with what you've done. We're trying to help you turn $1 into $2, not $1 into 50 cents.

Mike says that Retail Reworks' ideal customer is the brand with thousands of monthly returns, but they have programs for smaller volume returns. He says two categories that don't work as well in the return system are perishables and furniture.

"We deal with many brands and different scenarios," Mike says. "We've seen nearly everything, and we know how to make a program work that allows you to make good business decisions."

In Part 2, Brian and Mike talk about:

* The mission of helping brands do good business.

* The brand's ideal customer.

* The onboarding process.

* Which brands don't work as well in the return space.

Join Ramon Vela, Mike Kitko, and Brian Adams as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Retail Reworks, visit: https://retailreworks.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Retail Reworks - Unsung Heroes of Consumer Brand World Jul 20, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Retail Reworks' mission is to make DTC and retail brands happy while making the planet a better place. That's the goal of its complete return solutions, say Mike Kitko and Brian Adams, Co-founders of Retail Reworks.

"We're problem solvers in a variety of ways for direct-to-consumer brands and retailers through a variety of channels, returns, management - complete return solutions is what we call it," Mike says. "Our goal is to keep stuff out of the landfill."

Brian started the recycling business in Texas, a company that recycled tires and plastic. The labor costs required to run the business effectively were so high that he opened himself up to other ways his experience could help a brand.

He says the fashion retail business seemed to be a good target because it faced similar hurdles. The profitability of retail is based on how they handle reverse logistics.

"We help that brand manage that process," Brian says.

Mike says that could mean anything from replacing a zipper on a pair of pants to replacing tickets and tags or even cleaning the product.

Brian says that Retail Reworks can get about 95 percent of returned items back to retailers in a condition where they can resell them.

The bottom line for Retail Reworks is making three people happy: the retailer, the customer, and the planet.

"We've got to make Earth happy - 15 percent of the landfills are dominated by fast fashion and clothing consumption," Brian says.

In Part 1, Brian and Mike talk about:

* Mike's gratitude to Brian for taking a chance on him and letting him help start the company. Brian's gratitude for having people work with him instead of for him.

* An overview of the company.

* Their background in the recycling business.

* Why the retail returns business is so huge.

* The ins and outs of reverse logistics.

Join Ramon Vela, Mike Kitko, and Brian Adams as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Retail Reworks, visit: https://retailreworks.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright, guys, here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

GEM - Meet Your Daily Nutrition In One Bite Jul 13, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

When coming up with its bites, GEM chose not to focus on a single medical angle but instead incorporates multiple ways of determining the best daily nutritional needs, says Sara Cullen, the Founder and CEO of GEM.

For Sara, it’s required that suppliers and farmers are non-GMO even if they're not officially registered for that designation.

"We make sure they still follow those practices, even if they're not certified as that, that they don't have any extra fillers, that they're extracting the vitamins, minerals in a holistic way, that they're grass certified, generally regarded as safe, so they're FDA approved," Sara says.

Another key to GEM's success is its community, which is particularly strong on Facebook. Sara says the brand doesn't market to this group; instead, it provides a platform where people can maintain an open conversation.

"That's what this community now is - a place where people can go to feel safe, to share their own stories and ask people, what are they doing? What are some tips and tricks on how they can help with this ailment or a hack that they have for X, Y and Z," she says. "It's beautiful to see this sort of transformation over time."

Sara gained business experience through an entrepreneurial fellowship and began a CBD beverage brand in 2016. The experience taught her what to do - and what not to do - setting the stage for the GEM brand. It also gave her access to a network of people she could lean on.

To fellow entrepreneurs, she offers this advice: Focus on building the right team for your brand. Ultimately, the team is more important than fundraising.

For now, GEM's immediate future goals are to continue to improve the products and promote the future of food as medicine.

In Part 2, Sara talks about:

* A rundown of GEM's products. * The need to use responsible suppliers and farmers. * The importance of consulting with your community. * Her business background. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * The necessity of good team building. * A closer look at the product flavors. * Where to find the products.

Join Ramon Vela and Sara Cullen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on GEM, visit: https://www.dailygem.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

GEM - It’s Like Nutritional Insurance for Your Health Jul 13, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Food is medicine - that's the philosophy at GEM, a brand that turns vitamins and minerals into "essential bites," says Sara Cullen, the Founder and CEO of GEM.

"Our bite is made from whole foods. Our vitamins and minerals are derived from whole foods. We use sustainable plant-based ingredients like algae. It's a completely vegan product," Sara says. "These are, of course, trends and tailwinds - people looking for healthier natural alternatives. But it's not just a trend. It is here to stay. Food is here to stay. And this food is medicine is needed for not only our human health but our planetary health as well."

Sara's journey to starting a brand began in her early 20s when she began having chronic inflammation and digestion issues. Supplements weren't of much help because they contained binding ingredients she was sensitive to, so she started creating her concoctions, beginning with spirulina.

"It's nature's original multivitamin," she says. "It's the first thing that originated on our earth, believe it or not, three and a half billion years ago. And I started using that along with other superfoods and creating my smoothie routines in the morning that were expensive and time-consuming but made me feel amazing."

At first, Sara didn't realize her efforts were heading toward creating a new multivitamin. She brought in science advisors who helped tweak the product, started a Facebook group for feedback, and the demand grew.

Part of the demand for the GEM bite is the ongoing trend of micronutrient deficiency in today's population.

"Our food supply is like our soil - it's not what it was 20 years ago, and apple today is just not as nutrient-dense as an apple 50 years ago," Sara says. "We do need to fill the gaps in our diets."

Sara calls GEM bits the "nutritional insurance" consumers need in their diet. The bites are plant-based, wheat-free, gluten-free, and have no added sugar. Still, the majority of GEM's customer base is not vegan.

In Part 1, Sara talks about:

* Gratitude to her team at work for their silliness in stepping outside their comfort zones and handling new challenges. * An overview of the brand. * The importance of food as medicine. * How health problems led her to research better supplements. * The trend of micronutrient deficiency. * The brand's customer base.

Join Ramon Vela and Sara Cullen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on GEM, visit: https://www.dailygem.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Mara Beauty - Simple Way to Cleanse, Treat and Hydrate Jul 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Allison McNamara's background with makeup artists, celebrities, and influencers helped create an instant demand for her Mara line of clean skincare products when they launched.

"I'm impressed that people were buying it and loving it," she says. "Much of that's from my background and the relationships I had before launching the brand."

Based on her experiences so far, Allison has words of wisdom for fellow entrepreneurs who might be considering starting a new brand.

"I believe you go through everything because you need to go through it, and you learn from it," she says. "Everything will happen in due time, and you're going to be presented with the opportunities you're ready for."

Mara's products themselves are gender- and carbon-neutral. It's also a skincare line that doesn't require many steps.

"Everything fits into one of three categories: cleanse, treat and hydrate," Allison says.

Details about future product launches are closely held secrets, but Allison says they will likely do something in the treatment and body categories.

In Part 2, Allison talks about:

* How her background helped initial marketing efforts. * The target audience of Mara. * How people find out about the brand. * Advice for fellow entrepreneurs * A closer look at Mara products. * A tour of the Mara website. * Where consumers can find the products.

Join Ramon Vela and Allison McNamara as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mara, visit: https://themarabeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Mara Beauty - Award-Winning Skincare Jul 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The television and entertainment business seems an unlikely place to lead to a career in skincare products, but it suited Allison McNamara, Founder of Mara, just fine.

"My background as a television host taught me the skill of not getting nervous," Allison says. "I also think there's beauty in ignorance - I had no idea how hard it would be. If you are shown how difficult something is, maybe you wouldn't go through it. So because I had that kind of shield from the beginning, I never hesitated towards launching a brand."

Allison said it was interviewing the Ulta Beauty executives at a trade convention that first got the idea of a skincare line into her head. Her hometown - the coastal town of Palos Verdes - provided the ocean angle and inspiration for turning to algae as the "clean" ingredient in the skincare formula.

"I say that in air quotes because everyone's got a different definition of clean," she says. "But I wanted to do something that felt very transparent and authentic but also had good-for-you ingredients."

Mara began work on five products, ultimately launched with a single one. The strategy was to have the other ideas ready to go when the time was right.

"The big thing that I took away from being on the other side, on the media side, is that you always want newness to talk about," she says. "We focus on two launches a year, and to do that, I wanted to ensure I had the formulas lined up to launch."

Rather than researching the market for the right initial product, Allison says she decided she was the "target customer" and went with the product she wanted to use - Universal Face Oil.

"I have this storytelling kind of side to me - I knew that there was going to be a compelling way to share this with our customers," she says. "Luckily, people love the concept too."

In Part 1, Allison talks about:

* Gratitude to a friend who introduced her to a huge buyer. * An overview of the Mara brand. * Her background in journalism and entertainment and how she transitioned into the beauty space. * The connection between the ocean and the skincare formula. * Her launch strategy.

Join Ramon Vela and Allison McNamara as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mara, visit: https://themarabeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

CANN - Give up the Alcohol, Not the Buzz Jul 12, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

The world's No. 1 global THC beverage was birthed from "a place of inexperience," says CANN Co-founder Luke Anderson.

"It was birthed from a place of inexperience, both from an inexperience with cannabis and inexperience with startups and having my hands on it," Luke says. "But it's encouraging because it means that anybody can do it. Anybody can start a company as long as they're ruthless about resource allocation and focused on their activities and how much value they're bringing in."

Luke was a consultant at a management consulting firm, coaching companies on how to innovate when an "a ha" moment struck.

"I kind of started feeling this a little bit of imposter syndrome," he says. "Why am I teaching people how to innovate and behave like a startup when I've never actually been an operator at a startup myself?"

A heavy drinker at the time, Luke had a friend in Colorado who was witnessing that state's cannabis legalization movement. Together, they had the skills to bring CANN to market.

"When you are growing a business and you're relentlessly focused on the outcomes, you have your head down, and you just keep sprinting. ... We're continuing to put our foot on the gas and just go, go, go because the people keep telling us to and they're voting with their dollar," he says. "I remember celebrating our 100,000 can. I remember celebrating our 1 million can. And now that we're at 10 (million), it does feel like this is a real thing and not just a dream."

One of the keys to the beverage's success is the flavor, Luke says, which comes from picking the best possible ingredients. That means lavender from Switzerland, agave nectar from Mexico, and lemons from Italy.

More flavors and lighter sugar drinks are in the works, Luke says. Seasonal flavors also are available. The brand also launched its first music video campaign with an original song.

In Part 2, Luke talks about:

* The inspiration for starting the brand. * A rundown of the products. * The importance of quality ingredients. * Upcoming releases and seasonal flavors.

Join Ramon Vela and Luke Anderson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CANN, visit: https://www.drinkcann.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

CANN - For People Who Want to Drink Less Alcohol Jul 12, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Luke Anderson, Co-founder of CANN, believes people are falling out of love with alcohol. That's why he's touting a TCH beverage that provides a bit of the buzz without the hangover.

CANN is an alcohol substitute with a micro-dose of the active cannabinoid that provides a safer high, Luke says.

"Overall, if you incorporate it into your lifestyle, either as a full-scale alcohol substitute or a way to displace unwanted alcohol consumption, it is easier to exist and have a healthy relationship with alcohol or enjoy this idea of taking the edge off socially without as much guilt and as many harmful effects," he says.

Luke says consumer feedback on the beverage has been largely positive, but the beverage still faces hurdles because federal regulations make it challenging to buy. The price point - $4 a drink - also holds some potential customers back.

The customer base is cross-generational and gender-neutral, Luke says. It's a beverage for people who want to drink less alcohol.

Luke says the brand had hoped that federal legalization of the cannabinoid would have happened during President Biden's administration but realizes that other more urgent priorities have emerged and could delay that for several more years.

"We're figuring out how in an unpredictable regulatory timeline do we continue to grow and continue to be the No. 1 beverage," he says. "I'm still incredibly bullish on what we're doing. And I think that our company is just as valuable as ever, if not more so, because of our ability to execute in ways that other people won't be able to and the ability for us to get resources that other people won't be able to find."

In Part 1, Luke talks about:

* Gratitude to his mom for her unwavering support.

* An overview of the brand.

* Feedback from consumers.

* The difficulties in distributing the beverage.

* A closer look at the customer base.

* Navigating federal regulatory timelines.

Join Ramon Vela and Luke Anderson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CANN, visit: https://www.drinkcann.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Daysie - No Preservatives, Just Natural Ingredients Jul 09, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

As the founder of a not-so-simple syrup brand, Daysie's Tara Pate has some simple advice for fellow entrepreneurs starting brands.

The first? Get legal representation.

"I think that sometimes can be overlooked because if you say the word lawyer, there's a hefty price tag," she says. "But the consequence of not having that person behind you is an even heftier price tag. Going through things like a trademark of a name or if you're creating a food and beverage product, you're going to spend a lot of money on the creation of a label for your product. And it's always, I think, the best advice to have a lawyer make sure that they're looking over all those claims that you're making."

Another piece of advice: Have a Plan B and a Plan C regarding suppliers and supply chain. That's a challenge Daysie faced when sourcing the right glass for its syrups.

"Even though you've secured your one manufacturer or supplier already, have plan B behind you so that if you get that call from Whole Foods or whomever, you're able to scale at the growth that you want to," she says.

Finally, expect the unexpected.

"Everything is going to cost ten times more than you think it's going to cost, and it's going to cost, and then it's going to take ten times longer than you ever expected - that's the truth," she says.

Daysie is a public benefit company, Tara says, aiming to increase access to capital for female entrepreneurs in the CPG business. It's part of Tara's goal to get Daysie its B Corp certification.

"It's at the core founding of Daysie - the want to do better business," she says. "I'm going to create a better business with hopes that one day as the team grows and my social and carbon footprint grows, I can make those good choices and then get that B Corp certification."

Focusing on the company's products, Tara says the goal was to use taste-forward ingredients. No preservatives are used - just natural ingredients.

"I wanted it to be something that the current market of consumers understood," she says. "I didn't bring vanilla to the world and say, taste this incredible ingredient. But I said I'm going to make something better."

In Part 2, Tara talks about:

* Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * The importance of legal representation. * Expecting the unexpected. * The importance of being a public benefit company. * The pursuit of B Corp certification. * A rundown of the products. * A tour of the Daysie website. * Where to find the brand on social media.

Join Ramon Vela and Tara Pate as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Daysie, visit: https://enjoydaysie.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Daysie - Not So Simple Syrup Inspired by Whole Foods Jul 09, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

The not-so-simple syrups of Daysie were born because a similar product couldn't be found, says Tara Pate, Founder of Daysie.

During the COVID pandemic, Tara built an at-home coffee bar but needed some flavored syrups to make her favorite drinks. She wasn't impressed by the products she found on Amazon and couldn't find anything fitting the bill at the local Whole Foods.

"Honestly, down that rabbit hole, I went thinking backward like if I could create a product that Whole Foods would carry on their shelves because of the ingredient integrity, then perhaps I was on to something," she says.

Tara says her experience in CPG was a big help in creating the brand, from understanding the legal ramifications to building a community. Still, other challenges were awaiting her.

"I had no idea how to bring a product to America from scratch, and I had no idea about fulfillment and FDA regulations and what it means to be certified organic," she says. "So while I had one piece of the pie that I felt really confident in, there were nine out of 10 other pieces that I was completely lost in."

A one-piece that she struggled with was COVID-related. Tara initially launched Daysie as an e-commerce brand. Now that grocery stores and retailers are reopening, she's having to connect with brick-and-mortar establishments to become more omnichannel.

Tara says she also hopes that consumers find other uses for syrups other than coffee. She has seen social posts of people using it to make desserts, cocktails, and cocktails.

In Part 1, Tara talks about:

* Gratitude to her husband for his support. * An overview of the brand. * How she came about the idea for the new brand. * Early challenges. * The effect of the pandemic. * Other uses for the syrups.

Join Ramon Vela and Tara Pate as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Daysie, visit: https://enjoydaysie.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Le Mini Macaron - Why People Connect to this Brand Jul 08, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Product development - not community engagement - was the priority when Le Mini Macaron started in 2015. However, things began to shift as Christina Kao, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Le Mini Macaron, the at-home gel nail brand, felt a community growing within her customer base.

"I thought, who are these people so engaged that they are coming back ten times to buy?" Christina says. "I saw one name buying seven times around the holidays and shipping it to seven different addresses as gifts. So I thought, this is amazing."

In 2019 and 2020, the brand doubled down on social media, and it has paid off with more than 142,000 followers now on Instagram - many of those followers joining in the past 18 months.

"Why do people buy brands? It's that emotional love," she says. "Today, everybody's launching brands. Everybody's a founder. There are so many options on the market that I think the evolution of the consumer goods business is “what else are you offering to people?” And it's that human side. It's that emotional love and attachment."

Recently, Le Mini Macaron began a launch with Target, appearing in 500 stores as of February. Christina says the relationship brings additional credibility to the brand.

In Part 2, Christina talks about:

* Building a community around the brand. * Doubling down on social media. * The attraction to a brand. * A tour of the website. * A rundown of the products. * Where consumers can find the products.

Join Ramon Vela and Christina Kao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Le Mini Macaron, visit: https://www.leminimacaron.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Le Mini Macaron - Love, Nails, and Community Jul 08, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

The pandemic might have been catastrophic to many businesses and brands, but Le Mini Macaron, an at-home gel nail brand, saw its business explode. Christina Kao, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Le Mini Macaron, says the stay-at-home era was an unexpected benefit.

"People who used to go to the salon, and salons were closed," she says. "People were doing Zoom calls. They wanted their nails to look good from the waist up…We were very fortunate that we had a boom in the business."

Christina says that the brand began selling nail products and accessories and evolved through distributors, retailers, and sales channels. Though she didn't have any prior experience in the beauty space, her partner did. Together, they worked through early mistakes, including pricing. Through consumer feedback, Le Mini Macaron could tweak its approach, grow distribution channels and expand.

Another unusual aspect of the brand's start was that her co-founder was also her boyfriend. Although this has since changed, the pair still work together today.

"We deeply trust each other," Christina says. "We've had a pretty good outcome. I think we very much respect each other. We are aligned in terms of how we want to grow the business. We consider each other family because we've just known each other for so long."

She offers these words of advice for other couples considering starting a business together.

"You need to think about this carefully because it is going to be a tough ride," she says. "There will be power struggles. There will be communication challenges."

In Part 1, Christina talks about:

* Gratitude to her partners, friends and family members for their support. * An overview of the brand. * How the pandemic impacted the brand. * The brand's evolution over the years. * Early mistakes. * Her relationship with the brand's co-founder. * Advice for couples considering starting a business together. * The attraction of great nails.

Join Ramon Vela and Christina Kao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Le Mini Macaron, visit: https://www.leminimacaron.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Exponent Beauty - Innovation that Truly Works Jul 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Liz Whitman has been in the beauty industry for 15 years - as an entrepreneur, investor, and executive - but her "ah-ha" moment for her latest brand came when she was getting a facial.

The Founder and CEO of Exponent Beauty, a self-activated skincare system designed to deliver peak potency with each dose, was president of Red Door by Elizabeth Arden when a long-time aesthetician was bringing her up to speed on products and protocols.

"She spent a lot of time telling me why, as part of our protocols, we mixed masks and serums and treatments fresh before applying them to guests," she says. "I'm sitting there, my eyes are closed. ... And I go to the next logical question: if that's true, then how effective can pre-mixed retail products actually be?"

Fast forward through a move to the West Coast and lab research that confirmed her suspicion that a skin-care solution was needed.

"It's wonderful to come up with something wildly innovative that truly works," she says.

Liz has some words of wisdom she's gained after her career as an entrepreneur.

"In some ways, I envy first-time founders on the emotional front because not knowing what's ahead is somewhat amazing - you have no fear whatsoever," she says.

Liz offers these tactical suggestions to would-be entrepreneurs.

"There are tons of people willing to give advice and feedback and share learnings, and it's never been easier than it is today to just get in touch with pretty much anyone through the Internet (and) through various social platforms," she says. "Don't be precious about your idea. Kick it around...Ask them what they like about it, etc. And that's really important and very hard to do. And I think this is in life in general, not just with entrepreneurship, but you have to create a safe space for real feedback."

As for the future, Liz says to expect the unexpected from her brand.

"I think you can fully expect that anything coming out of Exponent will be a think-outside-the-jar approach to new product development."

In Part 2, Liz talks about:

* Her background in the beauty industry. * The "ah-ha" moment for her new brand. * The four phases of development for Exponent Beauty. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * Her continued attraction to starting new brands. * A guide to the brand's website and products. * The importance of establishing consumer trust.

Join Ramon Vela and Liz Whitman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Exponent Beauty, visit: https://exponentbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Exponent Beauty - Why Skincare Has an Aging Problem Jul 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Exponent Beauty wanted to provide the best clinical results with their skin-care line, so even the packaging is the result of two years of research and development, says Liz Whitman, Founder,, and CEO of Exponent Beauty, a self-activated skincare system designed to deliver peak potency with each dose.

"I feel like beauty trails the food industry but lags by about a decade," Liz says. "If you think about this movement towards fresh foods and made-yourself, anti-pre-packaged, watered down, bottled up things - that's exactly what we're doing right in skin care. We're saying there's a reason why these ingredients are great. They're active ingredients. They're very fragile. And if they're pre-mixed, watered down, and bottled up for 18 months on a shelf before you take it home, it's just not going to be as beneficial as making sure you're mixing it fresh."

Liz says maintaining the integrity of active ingredients is paramount in clinical skin care.

"Our point is, even if you put in the optimal amount of active ingredients into a liquid form at the time of manufacture, you're going to see that degrade very rapidly," she says. "We're working to change that."

Liz says she took the top-selling products on the market and sent them to a lab to determine the concentration of active ingredients.

"Within eight weeks ... those products lost 40 percent of their active ingredient concentration on average," she says. "That's why we have introduced this line of powders that you then mix because when it's in powder form, it is protected from that degradation."

Of the three years of R&D before Exponent Beauty launched, two-thirds of the time was spent on the dispenser and packaging.

"Formulating with powders is not an easy endeavor, right? Because what we're trying to do is to get to part a powder and a liquid to mix quickly into something that you want to put on your face," she says. "Kudos to our product development and chemistry teams for figuring that out."

In Part 1, Liz talks about:

* Gratitude to her first supplier - her grandmother - Who supported her when she had her first business idea in third grade. * An overview of the brand. * Feedback so far to the brand's products. * How the food and skin-care industries are similar. * Testing for active ingredient degradation. * The advantages of mixing your products fresh vs. traditional storage. * Why the packaging design is so important.

Join Ramon Vela and Liz Whitman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Exponent Beauty, visit: https://exponentbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Wunderkeks - Cookies Made in the Kitchen, Not a Factory Jul 05, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

A chance encounter with a rock star helped Luis Gramajo and Hans Schrei, Co-founders of Wunderkeks, a chance to give back to the LGBTQ community.

Dan Reynolds, the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, found the brand on Instagram and ordered cookies. Once Hans and Luis found out, they reached out to the singer to tell him their story. Wunderkeks ended up partnering with Dan and donating $1 per dozen cookies sold to his charity Love Loud, which builds safe houses and offers counseling to the LGBTQ community.

The initial reaction was more negative than they expected - a lot of hate emails and messages followed from customers who didn't know the pair was gay. Eventually, the tone turned more positive.

Customers now connect with the brand's message and mission.

"We don't sell cookies - we sell an experience, and it's kind of like a self-care type of thing because you need to enjoy your cookies," Luis says.

The cookies are individually packaged and delivered as a dozen in a pink box. They're meant to be conversation-starters and shared, Hans, says.

"Who's not going to start a conversation with the right food - with cookies involved?" He says. "We believe that it's imperative not only that you share the product, but you share the message."

In Part 2, Luis and Hans talk about:

* The beginnings of collaboration with the charity Love Loud. * The feedback from the LGBTQ partnership. * The need for safe spaces. * Customer feedback on the brand's mission. * A rundown of the cookies. * The product's "loud" packaging. * Where to find the brand on social media and how to join their community.

Join Ramon Vela and Hans Schrei as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wunderkeks, visit: https://wunderkeks.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Wunderkeks - Like Grandma Used to Make, Really! Jul 05, 2022

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Baking cookies for the holidays as a family tradition impressed friends so much that it became a business, says Hans Schrei, Co-founder of Wunderkeks, a brand that bakes and ships cookies nationwide.

Hans looks back at that time as stressful because the business grew too fast. Thankfully help arrived with the arrival of his co-founder Luis Gramajo.

The pair met via the Tinder dating app in their native Guatemala. Luis, who had a photography business at the time, saw the potential in Wunderkeks but also could tell Hans was struggling.

"I immediately thought he was exhausted and needed some help," Luis says. "Thankfully, with photography, my hours were very flexible. ... He trusted me, and we started working together very well. ... We didn't force anything to happen, but we started noticing that his strengths and my strengths were very different, and they complimented each other."

Wunderkeks got started in farmers' markets, which provided the two with all the customer feedback they needed.

"You had direct contact with your customers, and you can do lots of market research," Luis says. "You can ask them what flavors they want, what product size... they can even look at them."

The brand started in 2019, but ironically, the COVID pandemic triggered the fastest growth. The pair was poised to have a pop-up store at South by Southwest in Austin, but the event was canceled at the last minute because of the lockdown. The cookies were already made, so Hans and Luis pivoted and promoted it all social. Thanks to retweets, orders came flying in.

The pair says they learned early on that the key to success was focusing on one product and doing it well.

"We like to ask people, okay, let's try this cookie and tell me if it's the best chocolate chip cookie you've ever had," Hans says. "Then we're like, Oh, my God, I give you that one. It's delicious."

In Part 1, Luis and Hans talk about:

* Gratitude for the support they gave each other when creating the business. * How they met via a dating app. * How their complementary skills helped. * The pros of using farmers' markets. * How a canceled pop-up store helped trigger growth. * The focus on a single product.

Join Ramon Vela and Hans Schrei as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wunderkeks, visit: https://wunderkeks.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

Alright guys here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary Sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to driving more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is normally a $500 package but for our listeners it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat in to their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

Success Cards - Be Your Own Business Coach Jul 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Success Cards are so new that right now, the primary marketplace for them is via Etsy, says John Uke, the brand's Creator and Founder.

"Etsy has a much more esoteric audience," John says. "I could see this being very big for business gifts. It's hard to shop for people, and you don't want to buy somebody's book because they're probably not going to take the time to read the whole thing. But this is very beautiful. It's on your desk. They'll be reminded of you. It's very approachable. It's beneficial, whether you are a new entrepreneur or a veteran."

John says his original thought was that the cards would benefit those starting a business most. He's discovered that all levels of entrepreneurs are using them.

The cards were designed during the COVID lockdown, giving John more time to work on the project. Future projects include increasing distortion for the cards. John is also planning a people-matching brand and a tool to work on creating and joining networks.

In Part 2, John talks about:

* Why the cards are selling on Etsy. * The attraction and similarities to Tarot cards. * The organization of the card topics. * Future plans unrelated to Success Cards. * Plans for increased distribution. * Mulling over ideas for future decks of cards.

Join Ramon Vela and John Uke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Success Cards, visit: https://success.cards

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Success Cards - Plan, Manage, & Grow Your Business Jul 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Gold foil, a magnetic flip box, and beautifully crafted designs. It might sound like a collector's deck of superhero souvenirs, but it's 101 cards with prompts to plan, manage and grow a business, says John Uke, Creator, and Founder of Success Cards.

"All of them have different unique illustrations relevant to different lenses through which you can analyze your business," John says.

He says that one critical limiting factor to growing a business is the ability to ask the right questions. The best-known thinkers - philosophers, professors, and coaches - spend most of their time asking questions.

"I've just spent hours on every card compiling the best questions relevant to so many facets of business that you might not even comprehend or think to look at, and that questions within those facets that you might not ask yourself," John says.

Growing a brand as an entrepreneur is second nature to John, who grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. His undergraduate work in college was also focused on entrepreneurship. After school, at a coding boot camp, he came across a deck of cards called "The Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses." He was hooked and realized the need for a business-oriented set of cards.

"I've done a lot of different things in my life, but I think this is the best idea I've ever had, and it's not so complicated," he says. "It's just taking something that existed for gaming and being like, Why doesn't this exist for business?"

One of the challenges of creating the deck is ending the process at 101 items.

"At first, it was challenging getting up to 101, and then it was challenging reducing it to 101, where it has a painful process to decide what are we cutting out and what order do we put all these things in?" John says.

In Part 1, John talks about:

* Gratitude for the freedom he enjoys, something that's come into greater focus with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. * A 100-foot overview of his brand. * His background in entrepreneurship. * How a game design card deck caught his attention. * A look at some of the cards.

Join Ramon Vela and John Uke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Success Cards, visit: https://success.cards

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Hammitt - Why People Love Hammitt Bags Jun 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Entrepreneurs wanting to build a brand that's going to last should make as many decisions as possible based not on a first-order principle but a second-order principle, says Tony Drockton, the Founder and "Chief Cheerleader" of Hammitt, a brand that focuses on luxury handbags and small leather accessories.

"A first-order principle is 'I do this, and this is what happens.' A second-order principle is 'I do this. This is what happens. And then, later on, this is the result of that happening, the long-term effects," Tony says.

He says that many handbags in America are made with the first-order principle.

"Second-order principle is the luxury brands of Europe," he says. "That's what Hammitt is built upon. ... It's a longer-term play for us to build something that never falls apart and breaks down. But what it does is it builds that long-term trust so that they have more and more of their friends and more of our bags in their closet."

Hammitt has been in business for 15 years; a longevity Tony attributes to editing.

"I think for any entrepreneur, the secret to longevity is saying no - a lot," he says. "The secret to a great brand in fashion is to edit, edit, edit. ... Believe it or not, we are five times larger than we were just four years ago in size, and our collections are half the size of what they were."

Despite the downturn in the economy, Tony sees nothing but sunshine ahead for his brand.

"I feel secure. (Hammitt) was built during the worst of times. This is our time," he says. "This is when a brand like Hammitt becomes the staple because we're not luxury. We're not so gaudy that people would be embarrassed to wear it when going through recessionary or tough times."

In Part 2, Tony talks about:

* The thought processes of first-order principle and second-order principle. * How quality affects the relationship with retailers. * A closer look at Hammitt's products. * The production and design process. * Why editing is essential to longevity. * Why the downturn in the company might not hurt Hammitt. * Where to find the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Tony Drockton as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hammitt, visit: https://www.hammitt.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Hammitt - Focus is on the Customer Brand Experience Jun 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Hammitt is on a mission to become the most outstanding new luxury handbag brand coming from the United States, says Tony Drockton, the company's Founder and "Chief Cheerleader."

"Our simple philosophy is that we build the most beautiful, luxurious product that also incorporates the highest level of functionality so that we're the go-to handbag or accessory that our fans will carry when they travel when they go out for some coffee with friends, when they go to the office or for the evening to have a little fun," Tony says.

The brand is 15 years old and is now carried in more than 950 retail stores around the country, along with two of its locations in Southern California. (A third is about to open.)

Tony says he moved to SoCal from Ohio with the goal of incorporating his love of art, architecture, and entrepreneurship.

"The fashion industry just fit," he says.

In Manhattan Beach, he was introduced to a fashion designer looking for an investor.

"I fell in love with her designs, spoke to some people in the community that also loved them," he says. "I thought, let's just do this thing."

Tony says fear and failure are vital parts of an entrepreneur's life - it's just how you deal with them.

"If you choose the life of an entrepreneur - everyone needs to understand - you choose to fail," he says. "Nobody really can call themselves an entrepreneur if it's successful the first time they do something. That's just luck."

The key is turning the fear of failure into positive energy.

"The purpose of fear - going back to the earliest times - was fight or flight. It was to make you aware of a danger of a predator," he says. "As an entrepreneur, the danger of the predator can come in many ways, and the fear to me, that's the battery. That's the charge that keeps us all moving."

For Hammitt, Tony says the factor that has set the brand apart is the focus on the brand experience.

"We want everyone to walk away from meeting Hammitt, touching a Hammitt bag, encountering a Hammitt fan - just really understanding what we're all about and what we're all about is we're this little brand out of Hermosa Beach, California."

In Part 1, Tony talks about:

* Gratitude for a Father's Day gift from his young son years ago that he still displays today. * The company focuses on building the brand one relationship at a time. * His background in art, architecture, and entrepreneurship. * How to stare down fear and failure. * The focus on the brand experience. * Why making a high-quality product is better for the environment.

Join Ramon Vela and Tony Drockton as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hammitt, visit: https://www.hammitt.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Seattle Chocolate - They’re like Thank You Bars Perfect for Gifting Jun 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

At Seattle Chocolate, the mission is the elevate the dialog around chocolate, says Jean Thompson, Owner, and CEO. Part of that mission is also helping the community.

To that end, the company gives its product to food banks. Chocolate, Jeans reminds us, is a plant-based food that's high in antioxidants.

"If we could use the power of our category to empower our consumers, to help their neighbors in their time of need, it felt really good, and it has felt so good for the past ten years to do that to the point where we've now added a built-in mission for chocolate," Jean says.

Seattle Chocolate likes to think of its products as "thank-you bars." With gift-giving in mind, the brand spends a lot on design to help set it apart from the competition.

Other considerations at Seattle Chocolate are ensuring the ingredients are clean and non-GMO. They're often vegan and locally sourced as much as possible.

Jean says that the company's Jcoco brand is more of an "origin" chocolate.

Inspiration for the various flavors comes from everyone and anyone at the company and often is inspired by travel and destinations. Flavors also change for the seasons and holidays.

In Part 2, Jean talks about:

* A rundown of the brand's products. * The difference between truffles and chocolate bars. * The company's charitable efforts. * Why chocolate is a healthy food in some ways. * The emphasis on package design. * Why the company partners with Girls Inc. * A look at the ingredients. * Where to find the products.

Join Ramon Vela and Jean Thompson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Seattle Chocolate, visit: https://www.seattlechocolate.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Seattle Chocolate - Every Bite Gives Back to Girls, Inc. Jun 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

It took an earthquake to turn Jean Thompson, an investor at Seattle Chocolate, into the company's owner.

In 2001, an earthquake hit the Seattle area, leveling the building that Seattle Chocolate was renting. The building was condemned, so suddenly, the company needed significant investment to buy and prep another building to make its confections. Thompson went from investor and owner. Shortly afterward, the company's CEO resigned, and the company was entirely in her hands.

"I luckily was so naive as to how difficult it would be and how steep the learning curve would be that I just thought, 'It's a great product, and I love chocolate,' and I'd gotten a little bit of a taste for it, so I decided to try running it myself," she says. "And that was 20 years ago."

The key to surviving any challenge is figuring out your brand's trajectory and having patience with yourself, Jean says.

"I forget the silly ballplayer or coach who said, 'We didn't lose - we just needed more innings,'" she says. "I thought about that many times because it’s the long runway that allows you to work through all the difficulties."

Surviving a competitive environment can seem like a massive jigsaw puzzle year after year.

"If you give yourself enough time, ultimately, somehow, miraculously, it seems to work," she says. "Or at least that was the case as I look back on my 20 years."

In Part 1, Jean talks about:

* Gratitude for the support and hard work from the people who work at Seattle Chocolate. * An overview of the two brands - Seattle Chocolate and Jcoco. * How an earthquake changed her role in the company. * The challenges of running the company without a marketing background or business degree. * The case for patience and perseverance.

Join Ramon Vela and Jean Thompson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Seattle Chocolate, visit: https://www.seattlechocolate.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Saral - Six-Step Strategy for Influencer Marketing Jun 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Brands just getting started with influencer campaigns don't necessarily need to budget a ton of funds toward the cause, says Yash Chavan, Founder of Saral, a tool designed to help emerging DTC brands build profitable influencer marketing campaigns.

Yash offers a six-step strategy for getting started, beginning with coming up with three to five core hashtags. Start by searching for related hashtags on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Then using those hashtags, find influencers with a following of between 3000 and 20,000. From those, scale your list down to 100 influencers. Email the prospects - don't DM them because those messages get buried, Yash says.

Make your pitch a personal one - don't copy and paste a message, he says. Be specific in your request. Pitch your product. Offer an affiliate deal. Send them the product. And then track the results.

"Everything's done for free: Email is free. Prospecting is free. Talking to them is free. Zoom is free," Yash says. "The barrier for entry is literally in your head. So get out of your head and start executing."

When Yash began building Saral, he talked with dozens of e-commerce founders along with influencer marketers, and everyone said they wanted the same thing - a platform. While Yash says all brands can use the Saral platform, emerging brands are the focus for now.

"We want to build for those and grow with those," says Yash, who's had a passion for early brands.

"One of my first jobs was at an early-stage startup. I was, I think, the fifth or the sixth employee there," he says. "A brand is more human. You relate to the founder, you relate to the team, to the message of the brand. So I think it's an exciting market for me personally."

Yash has words of wisdom for entrepreneurs like himself and those building a brand.

"Stop waiting for help or funding ... God helps those who help themselves," he says. "If you're an e-commerce company, you first need to go to your customers. See if there's a need for it. See if you can validate the same outcome without building a tool or without building a brand out of it. But then just start with the small steps, and you'll eventually compound that into something much bigger."

In Part 2, Yash talks about:

* Six steps to starting a social influencer program. * What parts of a social influencer program can be done for free. * Why building relationships with influencers will yield oversized results. * What the onboarding process is like. * Advice to fellow entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Yash Chavan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Saral, visit: https://www.getsaral.com/

If you want to get more best practices around influencer marketing, Yash is offering a “Free ebook” for listeners: https://offers.getsaral.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Saral - Influencer Marketing Tool for Emerging Brands Jun 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Saral is an influencer marketing tool that can find any influencer's email as long as they're on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, says Yash Chavan, Founder of Saral. It's designed to help emerging DTC brands build profitable influencer marketing campaigns while avoiding losing money on traditional social media campaigns.

Before founding Saral, Yash worked as a growth consultant guiding product-oriented brands. As part of that work, he also found success in helping execute influencer marketing programs.

"I'm a marketer at heart, so I want to help other marketers and founders who want to do marketing and make influencer marketing easier for them," he says.

Truth be told, Yash says he's not comfortable with the term "influencer."

"If I become dictator, I'll just remove the word influencer from everybody's dictionaries because I hate the word influencer," he says. "It has a connotation of the kind of person who is just famous on Instagram for posting hollow content or something like that."

Yash prefers the terms "creator" and "ambassador" because it better describes the action of creating content focused on a brand.

He says that keeping track of creators is a tough chore, and existing tools in the market are expensive. Plus, the current tools privatized transactions over relationships.

"Saral is right now the only tool on the market that puts the relationship front and center as opposed to the transaction of it," Yash says. "I like to call it relationship-focused influencer marketing, where you look at the creator as a person first and not just like a one-time salesperson."

Yash insists that small brands can do influencer marketing similar to more prominent brands. It's an essential tool because traditional practices - like Facebook ads - no longer have the same impact.

"(If) Facebook was working as well as it was in 2016, 2017, then we won't be having this conversation," he says. "But I think because these bad ads and cheap clicks are now no longer cheap, people have to look at these other, more organic, more human forms of marketing. And that is why influencer marketing is shining."

In Part 1, Yash talks about:

* Gratitude to the Internet for providing him access and opportunities from his home in Mumbai, India. * An overview of the Saral influencer marketing tool. * His background as a growth consultant. * The difference between an influencer and an ambassador. * Why the need for a tool like Saral. * The downfall of Facebook ads.

Join Ramon Vela and Yash Chavan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Saral, visit: https://www.getsaral.com/

If you want to get more best practices around influencer marketing, Yash is offering a “Free ebook” for listeners: https://offers.getsaral.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Abbott NYC - Fragrances Inspired by Beautiful Destinations Jun 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Know one knows better than yourself what your brand or business is about, says Jose Alvarez, Co-founder of Abbott NYC, a company that makes clean fragrances inspired by beautiful destinations.

"I think the most powerful brands are authentic," Jose says. "In today's world, a lot of that authenticity comes from the founders and their beliefs and values."

Jose recalls the highs and lows of the brand's launch, calling it an "emotional rollercoaster." Meditation proved to be the key to coping with the pressure.

"I meditate in the mornings every day," he says. "I have a journal where I journal different thoughts, different ideas. I think having a co-founder or even a person you trust is advantageous. They can bounce ideas off. I found that that's helpful."

Forward momentum - "action" - is one of the most important things not only in business but in life in general, Jose says.

"It's quite easy to just stay in your head and get down on things," he says. "But nothing gets done in the world, your life, or your business if you don't take action."

Abbott NYC began with four fragrances: Mojave, Telluride, Sequoia, and The Cape. Jose says he likes to focus on a memory for a specific location when coming up with the scents. It can take three to six months to develop a new fragrance.

In Part 2, Jose talks about:

* Advice for fellow entrepreneurs starting a brand. * The importance of staying even-keeled. * How meditation helped with the stress of the startup. * The importance of having a trusted friend or co-founder to bounce ideas off of. * A look at the brand's products. * The process of creating a scent.

Join Ramon Vela and Jose Alvarez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Abbott NYC, visit: https://abbottnyc.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Abbott NYC - Fragrances that Transports You to the Natural World Jun 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Jose Alvarez, Co-founder of Abbott NYC, started the brand because he believes nature is healing. The company makes clean fragrances inspired by beautiful destinations.

"Urban life is very stressful, and nature provides an escape for us to reconnect with ourselves," Jose says. "I also believe in the power of fragrances to transport you to a particular place, a memory, and I think we've all experienced that. When you do experience it, it's something very visceral, something very emotional. So I wanted to start a line of fragrances that transports you to the natural world."

Jose grew up in Nicaragua, surrounded by what he calls "very virgin nature." He fell in love with beaches and surfing in his home country. When he moved to New York City, he found that he came to miss nature, so he began traveling across the country and fell in love with the natural destinations around the U.S.

"All these destinations that I fell in love with ended up being the inspiration behind each one of our fragrances," he says. "I also wanted to ensure that we were protecting it - leaving Mother Earth in a better place than without it. So the first thing we did was ensure that all of our ingredients are sustainable."

For example, for the brand's sandalwood scent, a green synthetic ingredient is used instead of actual sandalwood, a tree that takes a long time to grow. Likewise, recyclable parts of grapefruit are used for the brand's Montecito scent. Even the products' glass containers and boxes are recyclable.

Another Abbott commitment is to avoid any ingredient that could adversely affect consumers.

"This means no parabens, no phthalates, no hormone disruptors, no carcinogens," he says. "If you look at most perfume ingredient lists, they'll just put all the perfume in alcohol. We list our full list of ingredients. We believe consumers should know what they're putting on their skins."

The idea for the fragrance line began with his travels. Jose and his co-founder Michael Pass used trips to escape their high-pressure careers. A shared passion for fragrances led them to connect the dots.

In Part 1, Jose talks about:

* Gratitude to his first boss out of college, which gave him a shot working on Wall Street even though he lacked the traditional Ivy League credentials. * Our emotional connection to nature. * His childhood in Nicaragua and how moving to New York changed his perspective. * How he fell in love with natural destinations around the United States. * The need to make products with sustainable ingredients. * The brand's work with charities. * The need to make scents unisex. * How he and his co-founder turned travel into a brand. * How their career success to date helped them gain an advantage with potential investors. * How he re-engaged the creative side of his energy.

Join Ramon Vela and Jose Alvarez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Abbott NYC, visit: https://abbottnyc.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Rosy Wellness - Sexual Wellness Solution We All Deserve Jun 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The Rosy Wellness app is a "safe space" that can create a personalized journey for each woman on her sexual health path, says Dr. Lyndsey Harper, the brand's Founder and CEO.

"We have a library of personalized and curated content waiting for you," Lyndsey says. "If you are suffering from infertility, if you're pregnant, if you're a postpartum menopausal in the middle of life like I am, you're taking care of your kids, your professional life, and your long-term relationships. We create a personalized sexual health journey for each of our users, and sexual health, the way we define it, is not a problem to be solved. We bring all those resources together in one safe space, one convenient platform so that women can access whatever resource they need during their specific life, moment or journey."

The most frequent users of Rosy are women in the late 30s or early 40s when sex has fallen to the wayside, Lyndsey says.

"They might come to their physician describing low sexual desire, which is the No. 1 complaint of women when it comes to sexual health - 38 percent of women say that they have low sexual desire," she says. "We have resources from sex therapists that have created a bunch of resources for us to help women reprioritize sex and desire."

Putting these resources on a smartphone app is a significant component of Rosy's mission - to meet women where they are. The app is free to download. Users are welcomed and then are invited to take a 27-question quiz to help build their journey inside the platform. Access to experts, doctors, and therapists is available, as well as a library of erotica - an evidence-based tool for sexual dysfunction, Lyndsey says. Individual coaching also is available.

Lyndsey offers some words of wisdom to would-be entrepreneurs considering a new venture: Have the big picture in mind. Write it down. Repeat it. Also, don't let the big work ahead intimidate you on a daily basis.

"Just move on past it and keep going," she says.

In Part 2, Lyndsey talks about:

* The ideal consumer for the Rosy app. * The resources available via the app. * The No. 1 issue users say they face. * How the app works. * What the user experience is like. * Advice to fellow entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Lyndsey Harper as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rosy Wellness, visit: https://meetrosy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Rosy Wellness - The Taboo and Stigma of Sexual Wellness Jun 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Getting women's health out from under the radar - that's one of the missions of Rosy Wellness, an app offering women a holistic approach to sexual health and wellness, says Dr. Lyndsey Harper, the brand's Founder and CEO.

"The fact of the matter is, for the most part, medicine has been led by men in the past," Lyndsey says. "Women as physicians and health care consumers are standing up and saying, ‘ this whole experience was not designed for me. I have vast medical health needs that are not being met.' And how do we start to look at those when it comes to women's sexual health specifically?"

Lyndsey's path to Rosy began after college during her medical residency when she learned what OB-GYNs did and continued into private practice, where she and her patients developed strong bonds that evolved into conversations about sexual health.

"I wasn't even asking my patients about their sexual health because I didn't have any resources," she says. "Even if they had said, yes, I have a sexual health problem, I didn't know what to do with that. That wasn't part of my training."

The worst part is the unnecessary shame and isolation the patients were feeling, Lyndsey says. About 43 percent of women have a sexual problem, but nobody was talking about it.

The answer, Lyndsey felt, was to create a platform that could educate women and get them in contact with the necessary resources - as soon as possible.

"It's been so exciting to watch that all unfold, but I'm still as mad today as I was when I started, so there's still a lot of work to be done," she says.

The topic continues to have a taboo feel to it, she says.

"One thing that I think that we've been able to do successfully - and I hope to do really at scale for the world - is to position women's sexual health as not seedy as not some dark part of the Internet where you're going to be erasing your Google search," she says. Women's sexual health should be part of women's health - just as it is for men.

"We can talk about it as physicians, we can get it covered by insurers, we can advertise effectively on all the platforms that we need to advertise on, and we can get physicians trained," she says. "I think it takes a lot of that shame and lack of certainty away from the conversation and can position it in a more weighty, meaningful, and legitimate light."

In Part 1, Lyndsey talks about:

* Gratitude to her former partners at a medical practice who gave her encouragement and support when she left to form her brand. * Why medical research has traditionally revolved around male participants. * Women's growing role in addressing modern health problems. * Her path to women's sexual health as a space. * The need to get help, information, and resources to women ASAP. * The struggle to remove stigmas from the women's sexual health space.

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Lyndsey Harper as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rosy Wellness, visit: https://meetrosy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

BelliWelli - For the Low FODMAP, Plant-based, Gluten-free Diet Jun 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

It's a mix of ingredients - and omission of others - that go into the products from BelliWelli, including cutting down on short-chain carbs that are poorly digested, says Katie Wilson, Co-founder of BelliWelli, a brand that makes snack bars for those who suffer from digestive issues.

Katie says that making the products compatible with the Low FODMAP diet and plant-based and gluten-free are the top three goals.

"I knew that if we could achieve all three, I could look you in the eye and tell you you will have this bar, and you will not suffer gut consequences later," she says.

Katie says the products aren't gimmicky - there is no hero ingredient. There's a base dough into which new flavors, fruits, and chips are added. She adds that some ingredients - like caramel - aren't on the Low FODMAP diet, so that's not a flavor the brand can offer.

To that end, the brand has both taste testers and gut testers.

"If 20 people can't stomach it right with sensitive guts, we can't launch that product because that's part of the promise," she says.

The brand's core flavors as of today are lemonade, chocolate, cinnamon swirl, fudge, brownie, birthday cake, and a blueberry muffin. Some additional flavors are exclusive items; once they sell out, they don't always come back.

In Part 2, Katie talks about:

* The composition of the brand's products. * Why some flavors, such as caramel, aren't options for BelliWelli. * The lack of a big "hero ingredient." * The need for gut testers. * The core set of flavors. * A tour of the website. * Where you can find the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Katie Wilson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BelliWelli, visit: https://belliwelli.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

BelliWelli - Delicious Products for the Gut-Challenged Community Jun 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

BelliWelli makes snack bars and treats that are safe for those with stomach or digestion issues, says Katie Wilson, Co-founder of BelliWelli.

Stomach issues are more common than most people think, Katie says.

"My favorite thing to say to anyone is go ask five people in your life willing to be kind of honest with you if they suffer from daily gut issues or gut issues, period, and you will be shocked," she says. "It's going to be at least four out of five. I can promise you that."

Katie's career didn't begin in the food marketplace or anything related to digestive health. Instead, she developed gut issues during her career path working for matchmaking companies. Traditional treatments didn't help, so she turned to help in Facebook groups and found tens of thousands of people just like her. Eventually, her husband came to the rescue and hired a food scientist and dietician who were charged with developing the perfect IBS-friendly chocolate chip cookie. A brand was born.

"It seems like we found the right product at the right time and the right community," Katie says.

Katie says many of the critical decisions have come from the gut-challenged community, including the name of the business, the brand's tagline, and every flavor that BelliWelli has launched to date.

"I tend to think of our customers like friends. I never find myself using the word customer," she says. "I think of them in terms of how would I treat my best friend?. Every customer deserves to be treated that way."

In Part 1, Katie talks about:

* Gratitude to three executives at Nordstrom, including the CEO, who took 30 minutes to go over an idea that Katie pitched them when she was working there as a teenager. * A 100-foot overview of the BelliWelli brand. * Her career background. * How her gut issues began and her reaction to traditional treatments. * The development of the brand's first cookie. * How the community plays an essential role in many brands’ decisions.

Join Ramon Vela and Katie Wilson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BelliWelli, visit: https://belliwelli.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

TBJ Gourmet - Bacon Jam for Every Occasion! Jun 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Upcycling is a crucial business practice at TBJ Gourmet, a specialty food brand that makes spreadable bacon jam its claim to fame.

"I would say the majority of food companies that are doing upcycling started doing it because they were on a mission to help combat climate change or save the planet," Michael Oraschewsky says. "For me and TBG, it started as a way to reduce costs."

Pork belly is cut into pretty, uniform shapes when used as bacon for consumers. That leaves out the odd piece here and there - just as tasty when it's cooked but not as appealing in looks as traditional bacon. Those pieces get used for bacon jam,

"I would argue that that pork is probably the first upcycled animal to be domesticated to eat things that we didn't want to eat and turn it into delicious, delicious meat," Michael says.

For TBJ Gourmet, it's just an economic mindset but an environmentalist mindset that makes upcycling an essential part of the brand's strategy.

"For me, it was always more than just the climate battle because I was raised not to waste food," Michael says. "My grandparents on my dad's side were raised in Europe during the wars in the 20th century. They were often times with very little or no food. My grandfather always told us this story about how his most memorable birthday gift was a farmer who gave him an egg that he was working for. He gave him an egg, and he shared it with his mom and his sisters. And his mom made a meringue out of the white and then got the yolk, and they enjoyed the meringue from this one egg. So we weren't allowed to waste food."

Michael says TBJ's finances got through the COVID pandemic just fine. Though restaurants were closed, the brand's CPG side performed exceptionally well. He expects sales to climb more as in-person family celebrations resume during the coming holidays.

For now, TBJ Gourmet's product line is anchored by three bacon jams: classic, sweet chili, and black peppercorn. A reserve line includes additional flavors, including maple bacon jam, honey habanero bacon jam, and balsamic fig bacon jam. A tomato jam provides a non-meat option. Future variations are coming soon.

In Part 2, Michael talks about:

* Why the company turned to upcycling. * The story behind his mission not to waste food. * How the COVID pandemic affected the company. * The importance of community and social media. * A rundown of the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Oraschewsky as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on TBJ Gourmet, visit: https://tbjgourmet.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

TBJ Gourmet - Everything Taste Better with Bacon Jam! Jun 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

If everything tastes better with bacon, then things must really hit another level with bacon jam. That's the mission of TBJ Gourmet, a specialty food brand that makes spreadable bacon jam its claim to fame.

Michael Oraschewsky, the brand's CEO (he calls himself the chief executive boor), says bacon jam is made of bacon, caramelized onions, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. It's sweet and savory, so it has many applications, from burgers and sandwiches to crackers and charcuterie boards.

"People are already putting bacon on burgers - that's familiar - and they're already putting condiments that have a sweet and acidic nature, like ketchup on burgers," Michael says. "That this flavor profile is combined into one awesome condiment or spread already made sense to people, but now it's crazy. We see people putting it on pan-seared scallops instead of wrapping them in bacon or putting it on deviled eggs and exploring the space."

It turns out the bacon jam came almost by accident. A while back, Michael owned a restaurant that had a catering job canceled at the last minute. The bacon for the event was already cooked, so his future business partner suggested turning it into jam - a product he made for tailgate parties. Customers loved it from the start and wanted it in jars. A brand was born.

"Relatively soon after that, we were selling more bacon jam than I was selling anything else at the restaurant," he says. "So that's the genesis of the company."

The brand's founders started with pre-sales on Kickstarter and quickly sold 13,000 units before anyone had sampled the product. They took the bacon jam on the road to bacon festivals around the country and found similar hot demand. The feedback at a Hughe Christmas market in Philadelphia confirmed they were onto something big.

"It was there that we realized it was beyond just the bacon love of it - there was a foodie component," Michael says. "People weren't just saying, I'm buying this for my uncle because he loves bacon. They were saying, " Oh, my son's a chef, he's going to love this."

From there, things moved fast, Michael says. The company found an angel investor and then searched for a USDA facility for production. The brand was featured on QVC. It was selling 8,000 units a minute and quickly sold out. The product is available in about 6,500 stories across the U.S. and Canada.

In Part 1, Michael talks about:

* Gratitude to his wife for taking on the responsibility of home-schooling children during the COVID lockdown. * Why the bacon jam works as a condiment - because it combines sweet and savory elements that are already familiar. * How the idea for bacon jam came about. * The initial and unexpectedly high demand for the product.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Oraschewsky as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on TBJ Gourmet, visit: https://tbjgourmet.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

A Blue Egg Corporation - Brand for the Allergen-aware Consumer Jun 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

One of the mantras of Robin Wilson, chairman and founder of A Blue Egg Corporation, is asking people when they last washed their pillows.

With Blue Egg's brands in the clean home product space, it's a question that's important to get across to customers, she says.

"They're so embarrassed - the average answer was six years," Robin says. "That's drool dander. If you put oils on your hair and have a pet sleeping in your bed, anything you can imagine is on that dirty pillow that now weighs more than when you bought it."

In 2015, she published a book on home health called "Clean Design: Wellness for Your Lifestyle." Another book is in the works.

Robin's company also has a social justice campaign called Project Lilac that supplies bed sheets to safe houses or shelters for victims of domestic violence.

"That's just a simple gesture that can put someone on the road to believing in themselves again," she says.

The company's mission is to be an affordable luxury brand for the allergen-aware consumer.

"You don't have to have allergies to get our product," she says. "It's something you can get, though, if you want to prevent and protect yourself because it's woven at a 0.5 micron. So bedbugs and dust mites can't penetrate through the fabric, so it's almost like a tech play on sheets and sheeting."

When sharing wisdom, Robin first cautions about how life advice is dispensed.

"I want to remind people that anyone who gives you advice, often it's from their perspective," she says. "You should take a piece from this and a piece from that and make it your piece. Make it your vision."

What Robin hopes will happen soon is that we'll emerge from the pandemic and get back to the basics of coming together as a community, especially when it comes to socializing with friends and mentors.

"Have people in your life who are connectors," she says. "Those people get great joy from telling and talking to all their friends and saying, do you know about? Did you know about? And make sure there are a few people like that in your world because they will tell everybody what you're doing and why it's so great."

In Part 2, Robin talks about:

* The importance of pillow health. * The words of wisdom in her book. * Her brand's social justice campaign - Project Lilac. * Where you can find Clean Design Home products. * Why sleep is so vital to your health. * The perils of taking just one person's advice. * The importance of socializing with connectors.

Join Ramon Vela and Robin Wilson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on A Blue Egg Corporation, visit: https://ablueegg.com/

For her book, “Clean Design: Wellness for Your Lifestyle,” visit Amazon.

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

A Blue Egg Corporation - From Asthma to Creating a Global Brand Jun 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The COVID pandemic caused a lot of people to feel trapped at home, putting a lot more focus on the needs inside a house. That's where A Blue Egg Corporation comes in, says Robin Wilson, chairman and founder of the holding company for real estate, design, and licensing.

Robin's childhood was spent fighting off a slew of allergies, a challenging situation that she'd later use to her advantage in her career. After starting in the corporate world, she shifted to real estate development and project management.

Robin says she's found resilience and empathy through a network of friends who offer constant reassuring words.

"Don't look at other people - run your race," she says. "Set a goal for yourself. Whatever that goal may be, it may be that you don't want to have any debt in one year. It may be that you want to have enough money to go on a vacation or have a certain amount of money in your bank account if that is your goal. Work toward your goal."

In Part 1, Robin talks about:

* Gratitude to his friends and family who invested in his company and trusted him to use the money wisely. * How her childhood allergies affected her career path. * Why she pivoted into real estate. * Why "resilience" and "empathy" are keywords to her.

Join Ramon Vela and Robin Wilson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For her book, “Clean Design: Wellness for Your Lifestyle,” visit Amazon.

For more on A Blue Egg Corporation, visit: https://ablueegg.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Thrive Natural Care - A Vision that Inspires Consumers Jun 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Alex McIntosh, co-founder and CEO of Thrive Natural Care, has three big pieces of advice for fellow entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams.

The first is to know yourself and what makes you tick.

"It's beneficial as an entrepreneur and a leader if you have a good idea of what is important to you," Alex says. "I think at the end of the day, if you're going to take the risk of building a company, it needs to be something in a space that you care about beyond just an intellectual thing or even a financial opportunity because it is so hard."

His second suggestion is to find and invest in good people.

"I think one of the things I've learned is as good as my ideas might be or as hard as I'm willing to work or as lucky as I might be on something, my success in large part is determined by how passionate the people are around me and how much they believe that what they're doing is meaningful for their purposes and to their ends," he says.

Lastly, Alex says don't do anything without a vision that can inspire others.

"I think doing something on a scale that matters is very compelling to people for meaning in their lives," he says. "If you can give them something to plug into, it does make a difference."

The common thread through Thrive's products is the super plant ingredients. Alex worked with ecologists, botanists, and skincare experts for several years to choose from thousands of plants in Costa Rica. Ultimately, Alex wanted the ingredients to have an oil or extract that was good for skin but also comes from a plant not widely known to avoid clutter in the competitive skincare business. But just as important, the plant needed to be native and play a critical role in the health of the place where it's grown.

"Our model was to go places that were eroded and degraded or smallholder farmers had land and to replant these native plants and then to grow them in an extraordinary way that we would now call regenerative farming," he says. "This makes them much more potent and pure."

Despite all the hard work and thought toward regenerative farming, the product's price point is reasonable - between $12 and $30.

Ultimately, the goals of Thrive are to provide super plant skin care for better skin health and to grow those product ingredients in a way that consumers will be proud to support.

In Part 2, Alex talks about:

* Words of wisdom and advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * A look at the brand's products. * How the products were developed and the mission behind the development. * Why shaving oil gives you a better shave than foam. * The danger of chemical sunscreens. * Where consumers can buy Thrive's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex McIntosh as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Thrive Natural Care, visit: https://thrivecare.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Thrive Natural Care - Good for the Skin and the Planet Jun 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Super plants that are good for your skin and the environment - are the key ingredients to the skincare products of Thrive Natural Care, says Alex McIntosh, co-founder and CEO.

"It's not only the plant ingredients themselves, and not only the special way we grow them, but those things combined help people look better and have a beautiful business model because all the places we're working, the land is coming back to life intentionally and the farmers' lives are being boosted both the livelihoods and the health of the farmers," Alex says. "I'm not arrogant enough to say it's my business model or even Thrive's business model, but it's this idea that we can design products intentionally that have this impact, and it applies to many, many other sectors, whether it's mining or agriculture or fisheries or timber."

Alex says the spark for Thrive came from two inspirations. First, he had long suffered from sensitive skin and wasn't satisfied with available skincare products. Second, his career with a large CPG company, where his role as a sustainability director led him to believe businesses needed to aim higher in protecting the environment.

"I'm not the one who invented regenerative business or regenerative agriculture, but we were the first to intentionally build an entire business, at least in our segment in beauty and personal care, which is a huge global industry, the first ones that intentionally started this way," Alex says.

Being on the front lines of pulling together investors with Thrive's mission has been "fun," Alex says.

"There were times where I didn't throw in the towel, but I was looking to see where it was in case I needed to throw in the towel and kind of grab it and say, that's it," he says. "But fortunately, because of a lot of hard work and sacrifice by the folks on my team and others, it has come together, and it all makes sense now, which is the cool part about it."

In Part 1, Alex talks about:

* Gratitude to two team members and a Costa Rican farmer who formed a bond that became the seed of his whole business. * Why the production of the plants is as important as the ingredients they contain. * His inspiration for Thrive. * The larger-than-imagined challenge to pull together the brand's vision.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex McIntosh as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Thrive Natural Care, visit: https://thrivecare.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Kulala - Create the Right Sleep Environment for You and Baby Jun 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Baby nightlights sold online often project blue light, but that's not the right hue to keep someone asleep, says Sofia Axelrod, Founder and Chief Science Officer of Solaria Systems, which makes the Kulala Land brand of baby lights.

"We know from science that blue light activates our inner clock and tells us that it's daytime and suppresses sleep," Sofia says. Instead, based on her experience in labs, Sofia knew that red light helps keep subjects from waking up.

"So I bought a bunch of red light bulbs ... I noticed it made me sleep here at night, and then when my baby was born, it helped her learn what is daytime and nighttime because her body learned it," she says.

Today's electronic devices - particularly our phones - all emit light. Light tells your body it's not time to be tired. It promotes the release of hormones that trigger wakefulness. The solution isn't to turn off all the lights, Sofia says, instead just turn on the right lights.

"It's just a light - it's so simple," Sofia says. "That's why I got so obsessed with this idea because it's relatively easy to implement."

It's also important to know that there's no one answer for how much sleep a person needs. Though the average is eight hours, the answer comes on a bell curve, Sofia says. Your genetics and age primarily determine it. She says that once you figure out your daily sleep need, don't change it.

Using the Kulala lamp the right way is essential, Sofia says. That's where the app comes in.

"The app is basically like the wing woman to the Kulala lamp," she says. "It will tell you how to use the lamp most efficiently. It will tell to give you all the right schedules for your baby. And it will say, okay, now you turn on the lamp. Now it's time for the bedtime routine. And that's when it can be efficient and efficacious to help your baby fall asleep."

Future plans for the company include lamps for the whole family and businesses. The lamp would help improve your mood and production.

"I see a lot of potential to improve people's lives in an easy, effective, and safe way," she says. "I am focused on building something that just works out of the box and will improve your life."

In Part 2, Sofia talks about:

* The difference between blue and red lights at night. * How she initially experimented with red lights at home. * How light affects your body. * How to figure out your sleep need. * How the Kulala lamp works. * Future product plans.

Join Ramon Vela and Sofia Axelrod as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kulala Land, visit: https://kulalaland.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Kulala - Finally, Parents & Baby Get a Good Night’s Sleep Jun 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

"If the baby doesn't sleep, nobody sleeps." That's the challenge that faced Kulala, a brand that creates sleep solutions for the baby and the whole family.

Sofia Axelrod, Founder and Chief Science Officer of Solaria Systems (parent company of Kulala), had insomnia for much of her early life. Her struggles led her to study behavioral science, where she researched the fundamentals of sleep.

How Babies Sleep: The Gentle, Science-Based Method to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

"I wrote a book about it, and the book has been a big success in many countries," Sofia says. "I thought, what else can I do? ... I started a company developing lighting and other technologies to help us sleep better."

The brand aimed at helping babies sleep is Kulala - a word meaning "sleep" in Swahili. Ultimately the company - Solaris Systems - will create other products to help adults sleep better.

"It's hard to quantify how much sleep you should be getting," Sofia says. "There's a lot of messaging around that that seems contradictory. The good news is that we have many answers from a scientific perspective. And that's why I started a company."

According to Sofia, about 60 percent of Americans report they don't sleep well some of the time and over a longer time, sleep deprivation can make you sick by increasing your risk for diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and more.

Sleeping pills - a traditional and easy-to-obtain approach - will cause people to get tired and fall asleep, but she says they don't leave you well-rested.

"Ultimately, that's where I have specific thoughts and a specific method and priorities of what's important and what's not important," she says.

In Part 1, Sofia talks about:

* Gratitude to New York City for providing the right environment for her to thrive in her career, * Her early struggles with insomnia influenced her career path. * How sleep deprivation affects a person. * Why sleeping pills aren't the cure. * The differing schools of thought about baby sleep. * The importance of recognizing your total daily sleep needs.

Join Ramon Vela and Sofia Axelrod as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kulala Land, visit: https://kulalaland.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Youthforia - Life's Messy, but Your Makeup Isn't Jun 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The journey of an entrepreneur should be personal and unique to the person with the vision, says Fiona Chan, founder of Youthforia, a brand that creates makeup products that are so good for your skin that you can sleep in it.

"When I look back to even the last 15 years of my life, I've never actually followed the path that I thought I was supposed to follow," Fiona says. "And that's always done well for me. So I always tell people to remember that their experiences are unique, and that's a strength, and no one can ever take that away from you."

One of Fiona and Youthforia's early challenges was the lack of a marketing plan.

"I think in the early days, the challenge is always brand awareness," she says. "It's very interesting spending a whole year in silence, just working on the brand. You launch it, and you're like, wow, nobody knows about it."

Organic social media turned out to be the brand's early plan - along with finding out how to create ads and content on Facebook and TikTok.

"I was definitely not a content creator," she says. "I was not ready for any of it. But now it's a bigger part of my day, something that I just do regularly and enjoy."

Customer feedback has been quite positive - particularly from those who struggled with other makeup brands.

"I have some customers telling me that it has completely just fixed their skin, which is incredible feedback," she says. "This is always something I've wanted to do, just like the idea that makeup can improve your skin."

Ultimately, it all comes down to the brand's tagline: "Life's messy, but your makeup isn't."

In Part 2, Fiona talks about:

* How confidence in her vision guided her journey. * What it was like launching with no marketing plan. * How she grew to become a social media content producer. * The value of educational content. * Feedback from customers. * A rundown of the brand's hero products. * A look at the ingredients involved. * The brand's ambassador program. * Where you can find the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Fiona Chan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Youthforia, visit: https://youthforia.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Youthforia - Makeup So Good For Your Skin, You Can Sleep in It Jun 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Don’t sleep with your makeup on. That’s what you’ve been told. They say it will irritate your skin but if that’s the case, why wear it at all? It took a brand named Youthforia to manufacture makeup so good for your skin that you can sleep with it on.

Fiona Chan, the founder of Youthforia, says she had sensitive skin growing up, and it was difficult to find makeup that didn't cause allergic reactions. Part of the problem was that she was sleeping in her makeup - something that's generally discouraged by skincare manufacturers.

"I just couldn't understand why we just kind of accept that as consumers," Fiona says. "I want makeup where if I wear it at any time of the day, I don't have to worry."

Part of the solution was creating products with better ingredients, she says. It turns out a lot of skin products are made of fossil fuels, while other products contain more plastic than the actual containers, she says.

"I kind of decided to reformulate everything that we had already developed to create things that are bio-based," Fiona says. "That was incredibly challenging because no one had been doing it. That skillset didn't exist."

The mission became to find a formulator who understood her vision.

"For me, it was just finding the right people that understood what I was trying to accomplish. People who believed it could be done and that we could make these skincare make-up hybrids and for me, putting my skin out there and testing it in a very rigorous way," she says.

Fiona didn't have a background in the skincare marketplace - she worked in enterprise software. But her career took her to some of the most polluted cities in the world - places where her makeup at the time wouldn't offer any protection.

Though the experience helped bring her vision for a new kind of skincare info focus, she also had to deal with skeptics who couldn't comprehend the shift in her career path.

"When you're deciding to become an entrepreneur, I think you'll always get that feedback," she says. "When people tell you that feedback, I'm sure it comes from a good place. They just want you not to fail or to do well. But I just didn't listen to any of it."

In Part 1, Fiona talks about:

* Gratitude to her husband for his support and help as the brand was born - even trying on the products as he slept. * How her sensitive skin sparked the idea for a sleep-friendly product line. * Why bio-based products are better than petrol-based products. * The challenge to find a formulator who understood her vision and requirements. * How her previous career created a path into the skincare marketplace. * Dealing with skeptics.

Join Ramon Vela and Fiona Chan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Youthforia, visit: https://youthforia.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Elo Health - Personalized Supplements, Guidance, & Results Jun 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Getting started with Elo Health's first product was a challenge that took two years to accomplish, says Ari Tulla, CEO and co-founder of the smart nutrition brand.

"It took us a year to test the product before we knew if it worked," Ari says. "Every time you do something new, you're paving the unknowns. You are with a machete in the jungle. There's no pathway, and you don't know where you will end up."

He says the supplement market is enormous, with Americans spending $60 billion each year. Elo Health's niche involves blood biomarker testing, which hadn't been done at home before.

The brand still faces some tall hurdles, including consumer anxiety about finger pricks and even overcoming the mixed messages from the media on which foods are good and bad for you.

Ari has words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs considering a jump into the preventative health market space.

"Don't jump into oblivion without any security, but start doing what you hope to do," he says. "If you procrastinate, it won't help. Take a step in the right direction, and then you take another one, and things will happen."

In Part 2, Ari talks about:

* The challenges of building the first product. * How the brand decided to stand out in the marketplace. * The fear factor of finger pricks. * Overcoming faulty food news reporting. * Advice for other health care entrepreneurs. * How to get started on the Elo Health website.

Join Ramon Vela and Ari Tulla as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Elo Health, visit: https://www.elo.health/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Elo Health - Smart Nutrition Specifically Formulated for You Jun 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

We understand smartphones, smartwatches, and even smart homes, but what exactly is smart nutrition? That's the quest for Elo Health, a company that uses the latest technology to provide personalized and proactive supplements.

Elo utilizes the blood from finger pricks that consumers do at home and analyzes it along with other data from wearable devices, says Ari Tulla, CEO, and co-founder of Elo Health.

He says three trends have helped make the idea of smart nutrition possible: the advent of wearable devices, the normalization of at-home testing during the COVID pandemic, and the surge of home delivery systems.

"It's been an interesting few years to build a new company in this space that is so connected to this whole pandemic that we've been all facing," Ari says.

Ari's interest and advocacy in preventive health date back about 20 years, when his wife was battling a thyroid tumor. After exploring methods of boosting her immune system, Ari says they discovered that nutrition was the key to healing.

"I decided to spend the next 30 years in my life to build health care companies and try to help people with these big problems like accessing care," he says. "I became a real believer in this idea as food is medicine. Food can also be poison, making us sick, but it can also heal us."

In Part 1, Ari talks about:

* Gratitude for being involved in several good ideas and for having supporters around him. * An explanation of the brand. * The trends that allowed for her brand to begin and grow. * How his wife's health struggles sparked an interest in nutrition.

Join Ramon Vela and Ari Tulla as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Elo Health, visit: https://www.elo.health/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Rising acquisition costs and the return to in-store shopping have eCommerce marketers double-clicking on their retention strategy.

Now more than ever, brands need to focus on lifetime value. Yotpo is proud to announce Yotpo Subscriptions on Shopify, making retention easy and affordable for growing brands.

Take 8 minutes, or less, to add a recurring revenue channel to your business.

Download Yotpo Subscriptions from the Shopify App Store today https://apps.shopify.com/yotpo-subscription

Methodology - High-quality, Fully Cooked Meals for Busy People Jun 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Methodology wants its consumers to feel creative, artistic, and proud when preparing its meal kits, says Julie Nguyen, founder of the meal prep service designed with sustainable ingredients and packaging.

"We don't want to create a completely soulless experience where you're just popping something hideous into a microwave, and it's purely functional," Julie says. "There should be an artistry to it."

Methodology's meals are delivered in glass jars, a decision that Julie says came for several reasons.

"I want people to open (the refrigerator) up and be able to see all of the beautiful rainbow-colored foods that are going to help you feel amazing today, and they're going to taste yummy," she says. "Also, glass jars are amazing at keeping food really, really fresh."

The same care and dedication go into the food's ingredients too.

"It's all about using whole, unprocessed foods, she says. "We don't have any gluten. We don't have any refined flours. We don't use any wheat. We don't use refined sugars. Basically (we) avoid refined carbohydrates. We don't use dairy because so many people don't realize they have food sensitivities to dairy until they stop eating it."

That mission can have its challenges, Julie says. Because of the meals' costs, providing value is paramount.

"From the moment people get to the website to the moment they've eaten their last bite of food and are returning the jars to us, it needs to be seamless," she says. "To do something so complicated in a seamless way - in a world that's very labor-intensive - we've had to build custom proprietary technology that makes the lives of our chefs and warehouse workers easier."

Future plans at Methodology include developing curated food experiences designed for "health milestones," she says. Those could consist of an upcoming wedding, a new baby, a relationship change, and more. The curated meals would be more targeted with specific goals.

"There is no right one way to eat, but there are different ways you can eat more effectively based on different goals," Julie says. "I want to take Methodology to the next level where it's very targeted based on what you want to achieve with nutrition."

In Part 2, Julie talks about:

* The artistry of meal prep. * Why the meals are presented in glass jars. * Why the meal kits are dairy-free. * The challenges of providing value in a labor-intensive space. * The debate over the meals' cost. * Future business plans, including curated meal experiences. * Words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Nguyen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Methodology, visit: https://www.gomethodology.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Methodology - Healthy Food You’ll Look Forward to Eating Jun 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Julie Nguyen thinks food should be beautiful and comforting - and not something you should dread. That's why she co-founded Methodology, a healthy delicious meal prep service designed with sustainable ingredients and packaging that's so creative and beautiful that it could be called artistic.

Raised by immigrant parents from Vietnam, Julie was expected to go to college and do anything but work in the food industry. She studied economics at Stanford but was dogged by health problems in her 20s that she later determined to be related to her diet.

"I was just shocked by all of this," she says. "I changed my diet. My health completely turned around. I got off all my prescription drugs. I just became this happy, healthy, vibrant person sleeping well and feeling good. And it was just by changing my diet and doing nothing else."

Still, it was a burden to prep healthy meals each week.

"It was 6 hours every Sunday after already working a 60- to 80-hour workweek," she says. "So I had been doing that for years, and I just thought there has to be a better way."

Julie considers junk food the real competition of Methodology.

"I want people eating Methodology instead of eating food loaded with sugar and excess fat and refined carbohydrates," she says. "The junk food industry, the snack industry - they're very good at making food fun. So I have to be as good as they are if I'm going to get people to make the decision to eat Methodology."

It's a mission that doesn't yet have the full support of her parents, she says.

"My mom still isn't supportive," Julie says. "She still wishes I worked at a Google or a Facebook or went back to a bank again and had a more stable, normal job that doesn't put so much pressure and stress on me because yeah, it's a demanding job."

Julie credits her circle of friends for their support and understanding. Some friends have even invested in the business.

"I just think there's almost no way I can live my dream life unless I were willing to be okay with people not understanding me," she says.

Those people have also been there for her when seemingly impossible challenges arise.

"I'm just kind of used to this idea that problems will constantly pop up," she says. "We will not initially know the answer to these problems, but we will eventually figure it out. And that's what being a co-founder is like. There's no playbook for it."

In Part 1, Julie talks about:

* Gratitude to her co-founder for allowing her the freedom to work remotely from around the world for a year. * How her family's history in Vietnam affected her career path. * How health problems led her to make changes in her diet. * Why she considers junk food makers her real competition. * The different levels of support from friends vs. her family.

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Nguyen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Methodology, visit: https://www.gomethodology.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Troubadour - Creating Beautiful, Durable, Long-Lasting Bags Jun 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Making the best bag possible is the most thoughtful way to make a bag last a long time, says Abel Samet, co-founder of Troubadour, a brand that makes sustainable bags and accessories that work professionally.

"We provide repairs for life on all of our products," Abel says. "I think a big part of sustainability is making sure we're as a society buying products, creating products that last for a long time to minimize what is getting thrown out every day, every month, every year."

The focus on sustainability is part of the company ethos and culture, Abel says, whether it's in the design group, customer service, or operations.

"People joining our team are really talented," he says. "They want to be here. They're excited about the mission and what we're doing together."

That strategy goes to the investor level, too, Abel says.

"I think the investor for us understands building a brand, making great products," he says. "Many of our investors are entrepreneurs themselves, and they understand we are playing the long game, and I'd rather make less margin and have a customer who is super delighted with that product."

Troubadour sold its first bag in 2013, and the resulting years have provided Abel with some words of wisdom for entrepreneurs in the same shoes.

"Be true to yourself and your journey," he says. "You need to decide what's important, and you are welcome to pick a different path from what we've picked. I think we tried to be true to ourselves in creating bags that are great for our customers and are great for the planet, and we don't need to compromise on either front."

In Part 2, Abel talks about:

* How a long-lasting design helps sustainability. * The company's ethos and culture. * How the team was built. * The brand's investors and their attitude toward the long game. * The brand's original start with leather bags and how it evolved into their current products. * Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * A rundown of Troubadour's bags.

Join Ramon Vela and Abel Samet as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Troubadour, visit: https://www.troubadourgoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Troubadour - Word-of-Mouth Drives this Bag’s Popularity Jun 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

When building the Troubadour brand, the focus has always been on the bag, says Abel Samet, co-founder of the company that makes sustainable bags and accessories that work professionally.

"You see some companies with their first hundred hires, 90 of them will be marketing in some way," Abel says. "We focus our team around how do we create the best possible products we can and how do we create a feedback loop that means the products are getting better and accelerating at a much, much faster rate than companies or us at a different parallel universe where we weren't focusing on that."

In other words, customers do the marketing - via word of mouth - for Troubadour, Abel says.

"To be honest, some of this is trial and error," he says. "There are a number of influencers that love the brand, and that's great to see. But ultimately, every time somebody buys from us...a question we always ask is, How did you hear about us? And far and away, the most common response is, I have this friend that just loves your stuff and won't stop talking about it."

Because the bag's design is paramount, many factors figure into the process, Abel says. That includes inspiration from architecture, nature, and elements of the European design movement in the 19th and 20th centuries. But there's also a strong eye to how the bag will be utilized.

"We want to focus on lightweight because you're going to put things in the bag, it's going to get heavy, but you certainly don't want the bag itself to be heavy before you put it on," he says. "I think your bag is your office on the go in many ways."

Sustainability and product recycling are important aspects too.

"I think we're focused on how can we create products that are not downgrading the materials through use and so specifically trying to remove polyurethane as much as possible," Abel says.

In Part 1, Abel talks about:

* Gratitude toward his parents. * A 100-foot overview of the Troubadour brand. * Why Troubadour focuses on the product instead of the PR. * The power of word-of-mouth advertising. * What philosophies go into the design of the bag. * Why sustainability is vital in the design process.

Join Ramon Vela and Abel Samet as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Troubadour, visit: https://www.troubadourgoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

CHKP Foods - A Chickpea-based Yogurt Masterpiece Jun 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

When it comes to judging whether your life and career are going in the right direction, Noam Sharon, co-founder of CHKP Foods, believes in "The Elevator Test."

"When you step out of the elevator and the office in the morning, if you don't feel good with it: Stop it. Nothing is worth it," Noam says.

It's not about "reinventing yourself," he says. Instead, it's about knowing when to ask, "What's next?"

For Noam, leaving corporate law for the chickpea business was his "next" move. It wasn't as radical of a move as it may sound - growing up in the Middle East, hummus was an essential part of his diet.

Chickpea is a grain legume - one that thrives on very little water but still contains a vast amount of nutrients.

"It's a masterpiece - it's an art creation," Noam says. "We found a protein with excellent functionality, great taste and texture, and very versatile. No wonder we were so excited about experimenting with it."

Right now, the focus of CHKP Foods is on chickpea-based yogurt. Other products - not necessarily dairy alternative products - are in the pipeline too.

Current SKUs are three flavored yogurts - strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry. He says the flavors were chosen with the American market - and tastebuds - in mind. (Unflavored yogurts are a much better market segment in Europe and the Middle East, Noam says.)

In Part 2, Noam talks about:

* Advice for entrepreneurs who get into the game a little later in life. * The background of chickpea in the Middle Eastern diet. * The nutrient makeup of a chickpea. * Current products and future product lines. * Plans for expansion.

Join Ramon Vela and Noam Sharon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CHKP Foods, visit: https://chkpfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

CHKP Foods - Creating Food People Love to Eat Jun 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Can a simple Chickpea be a "hero" ingredient? It is to CHKP Foods, a new brand that recently launched chickpea protein-based foods in the Northeast market, says Noam Sharon, company co-founder.

"We started experimenting, and we were overwhelmed because we found it really to be a unique, innovative, versatile, high-quality ingredient," Noam says. "Then we started thinking if this ingredient is going to the market and if it's so good and so much better than the current supply and the current offering, it's going to play the first chair. It's going to sit in the front seat row. Why not us?"

Noam was a corporate and securities lawyer in Israel and had no experience in the food business before he began working on the idea that would become CHKP Foods. The first several years were spent in a lab, focusing on dairy alternatives - an ideal use for chickpeas, Noam says.

Noam insists there's a level of "playfulness" to CHKP's strategies.

"It's a game - it's a game about creating food that people would love to eat," Noam says. "I think few things are more satisfying professionally than doing that."

Noam says he knew when the playfulness - or call it joy - was gone from his legal career, it was time to move on to something more playful. Now, with CHKP Foods, he feels like he's in the right place again. The evolution was brought into tighter focus with the COVID pandemic.

"The 'Big Resignation' shouldn't come as a big surprise because people were exposed to different kinds of thinking," he says. "They were exposed to what it means being at home with their children, for example, or with their life partners. And it's not surprising that so many people found new things, new content, and new meanings in this new, unexplored reality...Structures are being thoroughly shaken right now - and I don't think it's all for the worst."

Part of that transition is a new emphasis on plant-based foods - a movement that benefits CHKP Foods and its mission.

"We're creating availability," Noam says. "We create an accessibility for this ingredient through a new and exciting and surprising segue."

In Part 1, Noam talks about:

* Gratitude to a friend and longtime client who believed in his vision and became the brand's first investor. * How he came to embrace chickpeas as a hero ingredient. * The initial R&D process at the lab to explore its use as a dairy alternative. * Why his career path switched from law to food technology. * How the COVID pandemic affected economic and social structures.

Join Ramon Vela and Noam Sharon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CHKP Foods, visit: https://chkpfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Augmentum Influencer Solutions - Authenticity & Enthusiasm May 31, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Aditya Mahapatra and Sambhav Chadha say their youth is a challenge as they work on building the Augmentum Influencer Solutions brand. The co-founders say finding the time to balance their personal and business tasks is just "part of the journey."

"We've just worked hard to ensure we know our priorities and give ourselves enough time to switch off," Aditya says.

The co-founders say they're passionate about working with brands of all sizes and budgets. The process - regardless of size - usually begins the same: Finding out all they can about the brand and what the brand is looking for. It's that enthusiasm that's the critical component of influencer marketing.

"Authentic excitement is impossible to disguise," Aditya says. "It's also impossible to fake. It's why influencer marketing works because people trust people."

The pair has several tips for those looking to work with influencer marketing. The first is recognizing your existing customer base. If you don't understand your base, you can't properly sign on brand ambassadors, Aditya says.

Also, don't forget to consider micro-influencers.

"This is the year of micro-influencers," Sambhav says. "By this, I mean content creators with between 1K and 50K followers on Instagram. Typically what you find with the micro-influencers they've got high engagement rates. Their audience interacts closely with them. Their audience is passionate about watching what the micro-influencers do. It's more of a close-knit community feeling, and you're just more likely to buy products when you've got that close feeling within a community."

In Part 2, Aditya and Sambhav talk about:

* The challenges of balancing school, sports, and the brand. * Navigating social media and screening influencers. * The process of working with brands. * Why influencer marketing works. * Their general process of working with clients. * Tips for getting started with influencer marketing. * The micro-influencer trend. * The brand's plans for the next six months.

Join Ramon Vela, Aditya Mahapatra, and Sambhav Chadha as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Augmentum Influencer Solutions, visit: https://augmentumis.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Augmentum Influencer Solutions - For Health & Wellness Brands May 31, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Aditya Mahapatra and Sambhav Chadha have combined their lifelong obsession with fitness with their love for influencer marketing to build an influencer marketing agency that works exclusively with health and wellness brands.

"We met playing cricket when we were only 13 years old," Sambhav says. "We wanted to play higher levels, so we focused on health and wellness. And from that experience, we grew to be passionate about recovery and nutrition and diet, which puts us in a great place to work with similar brands."

The two friends co-founded Augmentum Influencer Solutions last year. They credit their young age with giving them a competitive advantage among marketing agencies.

"We're growing up right now with the next generation of buyers - the next generation where a lot of products are being catered to at the moment," Aditya says. "That and also starting this business at such a young age shows our passion. And I think that comes across to brands whenever we're talking to them."

They say a significant aspect of their youthful advance is understanding social media's evolution.

"What we're seeing nowadays is a shift away from more traditional forms of social media," Sambhav says. "The younger generation is growing up with TikTok and Instagram. There's been a big shift away from traditional platforms like Facebook."

The pair's focus on health and wellness comes at an opportune time as the global focus has centered on these topics.

"We're seeing now a massive shift towards living healthier lives, whether it's turning towards vegetarianism or veganism," Sambhav says. "(But) there are no influencer marketing agencies that dedicate their work only to health and wellness brands. The issue this creates for brands is they want someone who understands their vision, and they want someone passionate about what they're trying to achieve. And who better than two health-obsessed individuals to do this for them?"

In Part 1, Aditya and Sambhav talk about:

* Gratitude to friends and family for their support. * The beginning of their friendship playing cricket. * How they're using their youth as an advantage. * Their take on social media shifts. * Why their health and wellness niche is well-timed.

Join Ramon Vela, Aditya Mahapatra, and Sambhav Chadha as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Augmentum Influencer Solutions, visit: https://augmentumis.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

ARMRA - One of the Only Actual Superfoods on the Planet May 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Want some unusual advice? Dr. Sarah Rahal, MD, Founder and CEO of ARMRA, offers this: "Don't believe everything you think about yourself."

"I'd considered myself up to this point to be quite a risk-averse person," says Dr. Rahal, whose brand leverages the ancient superfood colostrum. "I've never done anything other than medicine. ... (but) at the end of the day ... I'm just a problem solver."

Ultimately, Dr. Rahal says, she believes so much in her colostrum brand because she's put so much of herself into it.

"I have so much integrity around the thought I put into the product because I was developing a product for myself," she says. "I use the same product."

The product itself is in powder form, and the serving size is only half a teaspoon.

"There is no such thing as taking too much, so at least one serving a day is needed because we live in the modern era," she says. "We're under constant assault from these environmental threats, so the barrier is almost always being damaged."

The product is tasteless and can be added to any liquid that's not hot. (A blood orange flavor is also available.)

An additional advantage of colostrum is that it can replace other dietary supplements. It replaces the need for other immune supplements and probiotics. It can also replace collagen, Dr. Rahal says.

In Part 2, Dr. Rahal talks about:

* Advice for other doctors/entrepreneurs wanting to start a brand. * Why she has such a strong belief in her product. * The story behind the brand name ARMRA. * A closer look at the product and its recommended use. * How colostrum works. * What products can colostrum replace among dietary supplements. * Where to buy the product.

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Sarah Rahal as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ARMRA, visit: https://tryarmra.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

ARMRA - Restoring Balance to the Immune System May 30, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Can a food produced for breastfeeding be utilized to protect people of all ages? That's the mission of ARMRA, a business that leverages the ancient superfood colostrum.

Dr. Sarah Rahal, MD, Founder and CEO of ARMRA, is a conventionally trained, double board-certified pediatric neurologist with a sub-specialty in pain and chronic headaches in children. She ran a busy practice on New York's Upper East Side at an academic institution. With a background in functional medicine and environmental health, she brought a holistic framework to her practice.

Frustrated by traditional medical practice approaches to children with chronic disease diagnoses, Dr. Rahal set out on her own to find some answers. Her research led her to colostrum, a thick, rich, yellow fluid produced during the first moments of breastfeeding.

Traditionally known as an "immunization shot" for babies, colostrum could also improve immune barriers in all ages, Dr. Rahal says. Eventually, her team created a technology that uses cows as a source for colostrum that could then be used as a superfood.

"It does look like medicine, and it is confusing to understand exactly how it works," Dr. Rahal says. "I think we're seeing some cultural trends move in this direction. But I think up until now, it's been a very confusing product for people to wrap their heads around. It does this and this and this and this and this. It just does so many things. It's hard to figure out what to use it for."

That's one mission of ARMRA - providing education and thought leadership to change the paradigm in the talk about immune health.

"We're in a society of inflammation," Dr. Rahal says. "What we need to do is restore balance to the immune system. And this that's exactly how this product works and how colostrum was designed to work."

In Part 1, Dr. Rahal talks about:

* Gratitude for her best friend and her support over her vision. * Her journey from a regular medical practice to a specialized one-on-one approach with patients. * The importance of colostrum. * Why the product has been underutilized to date. * The need to protect yourself from the toxins of the modern world.

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Sarah Rahal, MD as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ARMRA, visit: https://tryarmra.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Manmade - The DTC Men’s Essentials Brand May 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

When you have a story to tell, you have the show things behind the scenes, says Anthony Ciavirella, co-founder of Manmade, a men's essentials brand.

To that end, much of the development process at Manmade was documented via social media.

"All these little things that we have to learn throughout the process of why modal felt so good and why we used it - we documented, and we showed," he says. "It's not easy to start a brand not always W's. And sometimes the L's that you take will bring you to a W later on, and it's a and you want to be able to showcase the wins and showcase the losses as well because they're necessary evil to go through them."

One of the most significant tools Manmade discovered was TikTok.

"TikTok is magic," Anthony says. "It's undervalued attention. And then on the ad side, we saw some huge success because it's super underpriced, and helped us grow."

Anthony has words of wisdom for other would-be entrepreneurs considering a jump into the e-commerce world.

"Go for it. You got one life," he says. "There are so many things that can stop someone from doing it. And if that's the case right, you can do your 9 to 5 job, but then at night don't watch TV, take those two or three hours and do your research, create your business plan. ... You need to manifest your future."

In Part 2, Anthony talks about:

* The importance of being transparent during the development process. * Why they chose the fabric they did vs. more popular options such as polyester or cotton. * The value of TikTok. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * The absolute necessity of planning. * The importance of having the support of significant others. * The downsides to being your own boss. * A rundown of the products.

Join Ramon Vela and Anthony Ciavirella as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manmade, visit: https://manmadebrand.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Manmade - The Essentials Men Need without the BS May 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

The folks at Manmade aren't fashionistas - they just know the essential needs of their male customers, says Anthony Ciavirella, co-founder of Manmade.

Right now, that comes in the form of boxer briefs and low-cut socks - simple but relatable, Anthony says.

"We're not huge designer brands. ... It's simplicity. We're always going to go with simple colors," Anthony says. "We're about providing men with the essentials they need without the BS. ... It's why you got four guys to quit their finance careers to go deep into this project and build this brand."

Manmade teams up four long-time friends living out their careers in the corporate finance world. Though they each enjoyed success in their jobs, there was a mutual entrepreneurial spirit among them.

The spark for Manmade came from an uncomfortable summer day in a cabin, where the four friends were brainstorming ideas for a new business. The conversation turned to their uncomfortable underwear, and a brand was soon born.

"We did a bunch of research. We ordered every underwear on the market you could think of. We tried on underwear almost daily," he says. Eventually, the group came across Modal fabric, a super absorbent but breathable fabric derived from the beech tree.

"I remember clearly putting on this modal boxer brief and being like, wow, this fabric is amazing. But it was expensive," he says. The search was on for an affordable solution.

Fast-forward 10 months, 34 fabric samples, and 34 iterations, Manmade found a manufacturer in Sri Lanka that fit the bill.

Though Manmade's partners were confident in their product, they realized they were still four finance guys with little or no business building a brand, Anthony says. To that end, they decided to focus on being able to educate and entertain.

"Those are the two facets that we wanted to make sure that we target, and that's exactly why people would follow us or listen to our story or listen to our brand or want to know more about our brand," he says.

In Part 1, Anthony talks about:

* Gratitude to his business partners for their daily support. * The simplicity of Manmade's mission. * The origin of the brand. * The quest to find a product and an affordable but comfortable set of underwear. * The challenge of building a brand from scratch.

Join Ramon Vela and Anthony Ciavirella as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manmade, visit: https://manmadebrand.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Freshé Meals - Small, Convenient, and 100% Sustainable Seafood May 25, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The ideal for selling tins of fish-based meals came during a visit to Portugal and its sardine canneries, says Henry Lovejoy, Owner and Co-founder of Freshé Meals.

"Portugal is not that big, but we took 11 days and drove 2,000 miles, so we zigzagged the country about the size of Indiana and went to a dozen sardine canneries looking for the perfect sardine and the perfect cannery to work with," Henry says. "At the end of one meeting, they said, you have a little extra time. We have a new concept. We would love your feedback. And they brought out tins with sardines in them. But there was also olive oil and beans and spices and all in this easy, open serving tin. And we'd been looking for an opportunity."

The biggest challenge, Henry says, was overcoming people's perception of canned food.

"I grew up with lousy canned food in the supermarket," he says. "When you travel to Europe, there are some premium quality canned fish. It's a completely different culture."

A celebrity chef was hired, and work began on global recipes. Meals were tweaked over many months. The mission is to use 100 percent certified sustainable seafood. Work has already started next on shrimp recipes.

Henry offers this advice for other entrepreneurs pursuing opportunities.

"You have to follow your heart - if you don't have passion, you don't have energy," he says. "We've been doing this for 23 years now, and our commitment to sustainability is what keeps me coming into the office every day. "

In Part 2, Henry talks about:

* The inspiration behind Freshé Meals. * The misperceptions of canned food. * The sourcing of ingredients and how Freshé sticks to sustainable seafood. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * A closer look at Freshé's current products. * Where to find Freshé's meals.

Join Ramon Vela and Henry Lovejoy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Freshé Meals, visit: https://freshemeals.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Freshé Meals - High Protein Meals with an International Taste May 25, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Providing a high-quality and fresh seafood meal in a tin for consumption at home - that's the goal of Freshé Meals, says owner and co-founder Henry Lovejoy.

"The majority of Americans eat their seafood when they're out," Henry says. "There is a fear factor in the U.S. with cooking fish and how to prepare it. And that's the solution that we're trying to bring with Freshé."

Henry says many vegetarians are adding fish to their diets these days. Freshé offers meals with a more international taste.

"We've got recipes from Morocco and Spain and France and Thailand and Italy, so you can go on an adventure as you eat the meals," he says. "And they're super portable. They're an easy-open dinner."

Freshé Meals are designed to be eaten on the go or at your home office, Henry says.

"Half of the meals eaten in the United States now or eaten on the road and alone, and people are eating five-plus meals a day, smaller meals," he says. "This fits that format for what people are looking for."

Henry says his love of seafood and the ocean goes back to his childhood.

"When I was a young boy, I couldn't wait for Sunday dinner to be over to go watch the Jacques Cousteau special every Sunday night," he says. "I was inspired by his shows and discovering the oceans are 72 percent of our planet, but we don't know what's going on out there or under the surface."

After college, Henry got involved in the seafood industry, exporting lobster to Europe and Asia. Visiting markets worldwide exposed Henry and his business partner/wife to sustainability issues.

In Part 1, Henry talks about:

* Gratitude toward the marine conversation community for helping to bring sustainable seafood to consumers. * The trend of adding seafood to the diet. * The convenience of the brand's meals include easy to eat while traveling. * His career journey and how he got involved with seafood sustainability. * The complexities of the global seafood industry.

Join Ramon Vela and Henry Lovejoy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Freshé Meals, visit: https://freshemeals.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Aqua ViTea - Vermont-Made Kombucha May 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

"Everybody's kombucha is a little bit different," says Jeff Weaber, Founder and CEO of Aqua ViTea, but essentially the product is made from just four ingredients - water, a yeast/bacteria culture, tea, and sugar.

Though it might sound similar to manufacturing a beer or wine, it's the microorganisms in kombucha that make everyone's version taste different, Jeff says.

"We've been honing our process for quite a while, and we're going to have a much softer flavor because of the process we've developed," he says.

Part of the challenge at Aqua ViTea is removing the alcohol. Jeff says that the final product is under the non-alcoholic limit of 0.5 percent. That being said, the liquid also has plenty of health benefits.

"The gut microbiome is just one aspect of kombucha, but it's teeming with probiotics," Jeff says. "There are different organic amino acids that all help contribute one puzzle piece or more to how your body's functioning. So all these stresses that your body is constantly being bombarded with need support, and kombucha just so happens to have so many different microorganisms that it's supporting you on many different levels."

Jeff has words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs, starting with this: "You've got to stick to your guns and focus on the passion that lit the fire, to begin with," he says.

"If you get to a place where you start chasing innovation in other directions to try to stay current with the market, you're now following trends instead of setting them," he says. "As soon as you change direction and start following someone else's passion, you will get washed up."

It's the passion that gets you through the hard times, he says.

"One of the hardest things you're constantly facing is ... you want to bring people to your vision," he says. "It is very, very challenging. So you got to take a step back and realize and have some patience. We like to say that bad habits are hard to break, but good habits are easy to make for us. And that's what we are trying to do here."

In Part 2, Jeff talks about:

* How kombucha is made. * The challenge of removing the alcohol. * The health benefits of kombucha. * Advice for fellow entrepreneurs. * The current reach of Aqua ViTea and its future expansion plans. * A rundown of Aqua ViTea's flavors. * The importance of having an open mind about kombucha.

Join Ramon Vela and Jeff Weaber as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aqua ViTea, visit: https://aquavitea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Aqua ViTea - From Brewing Beer to Kombucha Tea May 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

From brewing beer to kombucha tea - that's the unlikely journey for Jeff Weaber, Founder and CEO of Aqua ViTea.

Jeff says he and his wife - a practitioner of naturopathy - discovered the benefits of kombucha just as the tea was beginning to take off.

"At the time, it was going to be maybe a sort of cottage industry on-farm production product," he says. "I mean, it was going to be a brand, but I didn't imagine that it was going to go much outside our county, let alone sweep across the country."

Jeff says he began selling the product - and educating consumers about kombucha - at farmers' markets in Oregon. It turns out that meeting the growing demand was quite a challenge.

"We're scaling up a product that has never been scaled up before," he says. "People are making it one-gallon jars with their house. We were making 20-gallon batches, and that alone was daunting enough. Figuring that out, finding the space, figuring out how to control the environment, doing all these things that hadn't been done before."

A side issue that Jeff and his team hadn't anticipated was the packing. The beverage was traditionally sold in packaged glass jars or cans. It wasn't environmentally responsible, so Jeff knew he had to find a better solution.

"We decided to launch our products in stores through a self-standing aerator - a fountain - as we called it, where people could bring their growlers back week after week and fill up their growlers and take it home," he says. "When it's empty, they take it back and fill it up again. And that's what caused the pull for us. That's what caused the stores to start calling."

Early in the brand's history, Aqua ViTea didn't get much help from competitors building the category.

"Unfortunately, early on, a few companies that got started, none of them were talking to each other," Jeff says. "They all had a kind of competitive edge cultivated in the industry early on."

Jeff says that attitude seems to have evolved now, with more companies embracing the mission of pushing kombucha to help replace soft drinks on the store shelves.

In Part 1, Jeff talks about:

* Gratitude toward his first boss for believing in him. * How he and his wife came to drink kombucha. * How crowds at farmers' markets helped launch the business. * The challenging logistics of making the product. * The side issue of responsible packaging. * The mission to replace soft drinks.

Join Ramon Vela and Jeff Weaber as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aqua ViTea, visit: https://aquavitea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Base - Determine What’s Healthy for You May 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

The beauty of the entrepreneurial journey is its light and dark moments, says Lola Priego, founder and CEO of Base, a brand that helps develop nutritional and lifestyle plans for customers.

Calendar planning and "managing your burn" are two strategies Lola recommends.

"You have to manage your burn efficiently, revenue, and losses," she says. Right. And then, whether you're VC-backed or profitable, the financials are essential. And that's something that you as a CEO or founder cannot fully outsource."

She says that the fear of fundraising is another common challenge, but you must face it.

"There's no way to do fundraising without fear," Lola says. "People who say that they love fundraising, I understand that (but) I think they are lying if they are not scared."

For those getting started with Base, the website offers an interactive quiz to help focus on a health goal. The quiz results will help determine what tests and lab work are recommended. Base would then provide recommendations based on the results of those tests.

"It is not a one-size-fits-all," Lola says. "Even though our recommendations come from clinical trials supervised by nutritionists and doctors, sometimes certain bodies just do not respond to certain changes the same way."

Base offers other packages geared toward those who feel that "everything is off," Lola says.

"It gives them hope that there's something that they could do to improve those levels and therefore improve those symptoms," she says.

In Part 2, Lola talks about:

* Advice for other entrepreneurs considering a startup. * Understanding and conquering the fear of fundraising. * The story of a colleague at Base who struggled with work anxiety. * How the Base system works. * Why testing isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

Join Ramon Vela and Lola Priego as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Base, visit: https://get-base.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Base - Identify Issues with Diet, Sleep, Stress, and Fatigue May 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Consumers want to be in the driver's seat of their health. That's the goal of Base, a brand that offers blood testing, creates nutrition and lifestyle plans, and even creates weekly grocery lists for its customers, says Lola Priego, Founder and CEO.

"There's a really powerful technology that is helping connect people, but then when you look at health and wellness, where is all of that personal personalization?" Lola says.

Base doesn't sell nutritional supplements. Instead, it offers recommendations for the top-ranked items. Because Base is integrated with Amazon, they don't make revenue from that transaction, Lola says.

Lola says the vision for Base came from her personal experience at age 27 when she was experiencing chronic fatigue and brain fog while working as an engineer at Instagram. Because she had a year of medical school under her belt, she asked her doctor to run specific blood tests to see if she could get to the bottom of the problem. The tests revealed she had a severe deficiency in Vitamin B12 and folate.

Ultimately, she developed a nutritional and lifestyle plan to fix those levels. Lola would eventually quit her engineering job to pursue a startup with a medical device company, which gave her a good look at how labs work.

"Pushing lab technology forward in a medical device forward was not solving or bridging that gap that I was seeing between science and consumers," she says. "After realizing that, that's when I went on to found Base."

In Part 1, Lola talks about:

* Gratitude for an acquisition offer she got this week, which showed that others appreciate how she sees the industry and her mission. * An overview of how Base was conceived. * Why Base doesn't sell health supplements but only recommends them. * How her health problems gave her the vision for Base. * The experience she gained at a medical device startup.

Join Ramon Vela and Lola Priego as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Base, visit: https://get-base.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ) - Dumplings So Good They’re Grandma Approved May 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

One of the advantages of being both a retail and DTC brand is getting immediate feedback, say, Jen Liao and Caleb Wang, co-founders of XCJ or Xiao Chi Jie, a brick-and-mortar restaurant and DTC purveyor of Chinese street food.

"We take the learnings of the restaurant side and apply it to the DTC side, which I think is fairly unique," Caleb says. "You talk to customers. We actively do that on the DTC side as well."

Still, the change between producing food at a restaurant and preparing food for a customer to cook at home is substantial.

"When you're in a restaurant, you have a trained chef cooking the product ... (but) when you send it to customers' homes, there are varying levels of experience, there are varying levels of equipment," Caleb says. "You have to design a product to withstand those variabilities."

Future plans include a product that would be plant-based or vegetable-forward dumplings. Barbecue skewers will be launched soon.

As for availability, some retailers have reached out to the brand, but with production constraints, that's something that will need to wait.

Offering advice to other entrepreneurs, Jen says adaptability and perseverance remain two essential qualities to embrace. Still, the "guiding star" remains the customer.

"It is about the customer experience and ensuring that they're enjoying it," she says. There's a fit there in terms of product-market fit, and we can deliver a fantastic experience every time to them. I think that's what we are striving for in everything we're doing."

In Part 2, Jen and Caleb talk about:

* The differences and similarities between running retail and DTC sides simultaneously. * The challenges of designing the same product for a restaurant and home chefs. * Shipping and feedback issues. * How to make an authentic product for a new audience. * An explanation of their products and how to prepare them.

Join Ramon Vela, Jen Liao, and Caleb Wang as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Xiao Chi Jie, visit: https://thexcj.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ)- Chinese "Street Food” Direct to Your Door May 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Xiao Chi Jie - shortened sometimes to XCJ for convenience - is Chinese for "Street Food Avenue," an apt name for the brand that began as a dumpling restaurant only to expand to e-commerce during COVID, say co-founders Jen Liao and Caleb Wang.

The venture was a brainstorming session about getting the street food they loved in China to the United States.

"The original intention was a larger food hall in either Seattle or San Francisco, where we could have our favorite foods," Jen says. "It was born out of a selfish desire for us to be able to go eat those all the time. ... And not until COVID did we start to do more of the DTC frozen products. And that was born out of COVID circumstances."

Business plummeted 95 percent when COVID hit, Caleb says.

"You don't want to see your passion project go under, or you don't want to furlough employees," Caleb says."So we had the idea, what if we decide to ship soup dumplings locally? This seems like something that people might want. And so, we started setting up the infrastructure. It turns out there was a lot of demand for that, and then kind of one step led to another."

The venture was quite different than the pair - now married - had in the start. Jen was in San Francisco working in health tech; Caleb was in New York working in finance. When the restaurant opened in Seattle, a third partner and the chef were the only day-to-day workers at the store.

The pair says they also understood the risks of how the business relationship could impact their personal relationship.

"Early on, we already had felt like our relationship was long term, and so there was some trust there that this wasn't going to be a total risk going into business together necessarily," Jen says. "It probably also helps that we had other partners involved, so it wasn't just the two of us working on it and accountable to each other."

In Part 1, Jen and Caleb talk about:

* Gratitude for family and friends who helped out at the start of the business when they underestimated the customer volume. * The genesis of the idea for Chinese street food in the U.S. * How the idea expanded to DTC during COVID. * Their original career paths. * How their personal relationship affected the business relationship and vice versa. * How Caleb's family history in restaurants and startups helped ease many anxieties over the venture.

Join Ramon Vela, Jen Liao, and Caleb Wang as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Xiao Chi Jie, visit: https://thexcj.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Figlia - A Beautifully Balanced Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo May 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Starting a new brand - particularly a very small brand - can be pretty isolating. So determination and vision are keys to success, says Lily Geiger, founder of Figlia, a non-alcoholic cocktail with no added sugar or preservatives.

"I think by starting small and growing in a healthy and organic way, we are not only able to connect with our consumers and to talk to these customers and answer every message and take the time to meet some of these people in person," Lily says.

Other keys to success: Have a thick skin. Keep going. Believe in yourself. Believe in your messaging.

"Just be selective and kind of put your blinders up sometimes and just like block out the haters and the people with unsolicited advice," she says.

For Figlia, it took about a year to craft the drinks it offers. It needed to look sophisticated and appealing, but also it had to taste like something special.

One of the final missing pieces to the recipe puzzle was clove, generally used as a cooking spice.

Aside from the drinks, Figlia also works with organizations to support families and addicts. Figlia also works with environmentally protective causes such as 1% for the Planet.

Future plans include creating a single-serving drink.

In Part 2, Lily talks about:

* The challenges of creating a startup brand. * The values of vision and determination. * Advice for others starting a brand. * How the drink recipes were concocted. * The brand's charitable efforts. * The background of some Figlia drink recipes. * How to navigate the brand's website.

Join Ramon Vela and Lily Geiger as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Figlia, visit: https://drinkfiglia.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Figlia - For Social Moments You Want to Remember May 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Lily Geiger combined an early entrepreneurial spirit with the isolating feeling of having an alcoholic parent to develop her brand of non-alcoholic beverages - Figlia.

The premium non-alcoholic space might be super new and incredibly niche, but it's also trending up - particularly in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.

"I don't see this trend stopping," says Lily, Figlia's founder. "I only see it moving up and expanding and having the market consist of all these options for people who don't drink, not just because they are an addict, but just because they just have chosen not to drink. And I think the health and wellness industry is bigger than life, and this also falls into that. So it's pretty incredible."

Drinking has become a bit of a litmus test when it comes to networking and company hours. Lily says that the reluctance to share a drink can look confusing to some people.

"There's a lot of bonding that goes around drinking," she says. "You're sharing a drink, and if you don't order something and the other person is, I think they start to feel guilty ... I think it's tricky, but I do see that changing."

One way to change the situation is to offer a drink that looks good and tastes great, she says.

The COVID pandemic - and the binge drinking that happened during the shutdown - probably also got people to rethink their drinking habits.

"I think especially with drinking, it affects your mental state," Lily says. "We have so much to rethink in this world with obviously COVID, but with the state of the world and everything going on, why not take a second? I think it's imperative."

In Part 1, Lily talks about:

* Gratitude for a teammate and friend who provides emotional and professional support. * How she was inspired to create a brand in the non-alcoholic drink marketspace. * Why the future of this drink market space looks bright. * The stigma associated with not drinking during social occasions and how to overcome that. * How drinking affects your mental state. * How COVID impacted people's drinking habits.

Join Ramon Vela and Lily Geiger as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Figlia, visit: https://drinkfiglia.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Kroma Wellness - Give Your Body a 5-Day Reset May 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Entrepreneurs can't be afraid to ask for advice and lean on others, says Lisa Odenweller, CEO of Kroma Wellness, a brand that creates and ships clean-eating foods and wellness products.

"I do ask for help, and I get involved, and I have mentors and advisors, and some people are for business things, some things are on personal things," Lisa says. "I have a walk that I do with one of my advisors, and we don't talk about how to scale the company. We talk about how do I be a leader, a powerful leader, or what are the other challenges that I face?"

As for advice for other entrepreneurs struggling in a crisis or rebuilding from ground zero, Lisa says there's not one specific answer or strategy to get back on your feet.

"I think you have to continue to know where your North Star is," she says. "You have to know what it is that is going to light you up."

Put another way: You don't always know the final result, but you need to know the direction.

"I love it when people ask me, where is your business in five years?" Lisa says. "I don't even like the question. I understand what we're building, but there's so much happening in an accelerated time frame that I can tell you where I think we might be. But I mean, it's that's a long time."

Lisa says she was catapulted into the world of superfoods about 15 years ago after reading about them in "Oprah" magazine.

"I remember the articles vividly because I read them, and I was like, what are these, and how do I learn about them? And it was before they were a thing," she says. "So I just started to like order all of them and try to figure out and learn about them. And I simultaneously was going to nutrition school, so it was already sort of in me that I wanted to learn more about food as medicine. But then, of course, these superfoods took it to the next level, and I started to heal myself and some of my hormonal challenges through these superfoods."

Kroma Wellness launched with 19 products, Lisa says, which wasn't an easy thing to do. For those just getting started, Kroma has a 5-day reset and a 1-day reset.

In Part 2, Lisa talks about:

* The need to ask for help and mentor others. * Advice for those rebuilding from a crisis or ground zero. * The difference between knowing the final result and knowing the right direction. And eventually, you need a plan. * How she discovered and embraced superfoods. * A rundown of the various products and programs.

Join Ramon Vela and Lisa Odenweller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kroma Wellness, visit: https://kromawellness.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Kroma Wellness - An Opportunity to Nourish Your Body May 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Lisa Odenweller, CEO of Kroma Wellness, has been on a life mission over the past 13 years to simplify the path to wellness with products that make you feel good.

Kroma offers a variety of non-perishable items - lattes, broths, nut butter, porridge - but right now, they're best known for their first-day lifestyle reset.

"We don't use the word cleanse ... it's an opportunity to nourish your body," Lisa says. "Our differentiator is that it's focused on nourishment over deprivation and starvation. It's an abundant amount of beautiful superfoods that just helps you feel and look great."

Kroma aims to take the mystery out of wellness with the philosophy that every new habit builds on itself.

"If you are a big coffee drinker, for example, and you drink eight cups a day, and you convert to having one cup of matcha with all the collagen and stuff, that's a win, right?" Lisa says. "And that leads to another win and another healthier habit."

Lisa's career has included multiple wellness brands, including the Beaming chain of cafes in California. Lisa says that the challenges posed by previous ventures have been a great teacher.

"I've always had this philosophy that even when you're going through tough things, whether it's a divorce, loss of a job, loss of a company injury, whatever it might be, there is a gift in it," she says. "And it's even when you don't know what that may be in the moment."

Fear is a fact with entrepreneurship - it either fuels or cripples you, Lisa says.

"I don't think that entrepreneurship is for most people," she says. "As much as I'm a firm believer in following your dreams, I don't think it's for the faint of heart."

In Part 1, Lisa talks about:

* Gratitude for an encouraging message from Gwyneth Paltrow. * An overview of Korma's products and five-day reset program. * The lessons to be learned from facing obstacles. * The challenges she faces opening a cafe brand while going through a divorce as a mother of three. * Facing the fears of entrepreneurship. * How she had an entrepreneurial mind even earlier working for large companies.

Join Ramon Vela and Lisa Odenweller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kroma Wellness, visit: https://kromawellness.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Willamette Valley Pie Co. - Pause and Enjoy Life with a Slice of Pie May 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Ever since he has a teenager, Austin Kelly has been in love with the food industry, says the CEO of Willamette Valley Pie Company, a family- and farmer-owned dessert and pie maker based in Oregon.

"I've always worked in food," Austin says. "My first job when I was 15 was actually out harvesting cherries in a cherry orchard that would eventually go into other products like pies. So that's how I originally got started, got connected with another local farm, and was just fascinated by the industry behind the food. It's not something that people generally talk about when you're going to school. I mean, all you hear about is tech and finance and maybe marketing or apparel, but no one talks about food. And yet it's this trillion-dollar industry that all of us interact with."

There's much more to the pie business than picking berries and baking pastries. Wild swings in the weather can affect harvests, for starters.

"There were a lot of moving pieces to it," Austin says. "Last year, we had a really large heatwave hit the Pacific Northwest, and it wiped out half of the berry crop. And so it was really difficult to source. Berries had a big impact on our blackberries and raspberries here in the Pacific Northwest. And so, we do partner with growers in other regions and try to create contingency plans to mitigate those things as much as we can. But there's a lot of moving factors when you factor in the weather and harvest."

Still, the "purpose" of Willamette Pie drives the company to push through the challenges.

"We live in a culture that's really fast-paced, and everything's moving quickly," Austin says. "To be able to produce and sell and share a product with people that encourage them to pause for a minute and just enjoy. Life is a special thing, and we're blessed to make it here."

That being said, it's essential for brands to continue to innovate, he says. To that end, Willamette has been sitting down with customers and hearing what they want. That led to a rebrand unveiled a few months ago and a new line of items, including the first non-GMO cream pies on the market.

"All that came from listening to our customers and what they want," he says. "But really on a large scale philosophically, we talk about we don't talk about followers and likes and just customers. We refer to it like anybody who consumes our product is part of our family."

In Part 1, Austin talks about:

* Gratitude for his wife's support at home and with his career. * His lifelong dedication to the food industry. * The challenges of a food business based on weather and harvests. * The results of a recent rebranding. * The company's charity and fundraising efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

Join Ramon Vela and Austin Kelly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Willamette Valley Pie Company, visit: https://www.wvpie.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Willamette Valley Pie Co. - Artisan, Handcrafted Pies May 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Willamette Valley Pie Company thinks of its products as a "better-for-you dessert, says CEO Austin Kelly.

"We encourage people to enjoy dessert - it's a special moment," Austin says. "But we want to provide the best offering we can. And so we're committed to using only the cleanest label ingredients and non-GMO verified products. ... We've taken the approach that we want to make it as close to homemade as possible."

As for advice to other entrepreneurs starting a brand, Austin says "Do what they love first ... grow a brand and product they really believe in and do it for the long term."

If you focus on the long term instead of growth, you won't sacrifice quality, Austin says.

"I think there's a lot of folks that get caught up in just growing quickly," he says. "But there are trade-offs for that. And so I would just encourage people go with the speed that's right for your brand and your company and enjoy the ride because life's way too short to not enjoy what you're doing."

For those trying Willamette's products for the first time, Austin recommends the fruit pies - the core of the brand. His personal favorite is the caramel apple pie. Cream pies - a newer product - were designed to be removed from the freezer, thawed for a few hours and served. They're meant for those who don't have time to bake a pie at home.

Willamette's future categories include more top-shelf options - essentially becoming an artisan, handcrafted brand.

Austin says he's particularly proud of his brand's workforce and their dedication.

"There's a ton of blood, sweat and tears and hard work that goes into making all of this stuff possible," he says.

In Part 2, Austin talks about:

* The goal of making products as homemade and simple as possible. * Advice for other entrepreneurs. * The trade-off between speed and quality. * A rundown of the desserts offered. * Future categories to be pursued. * Trends in the business, particularly transparency. * Examples of his team's dedication to the brand. * Where you can find Willamette's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Austin Kelly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Willamette Valley Pie Company, visit: https://www.wvpie.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Betterly - Work with the Best-of-the-Best in Digital Marketing May 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Betterly is all about marrying two concepts that don't traditionally live together - the marketplace and community, says Alex Bocquet, founder of Betterly, a freelance marketplace for digital marketers in the U.S.

"One of my favorite things about working in an agency was the community - the camaraderie between all of the people who worked with me," Alex says. "And certainly when I started to freelance more and left my old agency job, I lost that sense because I started to distance myself not in the Slack channel anymore."

The ideal customer for Betterly's services is the traditional "bread and butter" e-commerce brand that sells an actual product - a CPG brand, Alex says.

"Now, that's not to say that it's the only thing they're able to do," Alex says. "I think lead generation is also a big one, whether it's directly through a funnel for your sales team to go and close or whether it's an app in-store. It's anything direct to consumer that's trackable. We can make sense of a cost from the freelancer and its marketing versus the tangible return on that investment."

As for the typical revenue of a customer, Alex says it's usually between a pre-revenue startup situation to an eight-figure brand.

"These are the brands that either don't want to sign up for an expensive, long-term commitment agency, or they're simply brands that are also seasonal," he says. "There are seasonal brands that come to the pipeline that just want to use a freelancer for three months without the commitment."

As for trends in the freelance marketing space, Alex says he still sees many e-commerce brands that don't have an SMS funnel setup. Another trend is the proliferation in the use of TikTok. Brands seem unable to repurpose content or use influencers on TikTok effectively.

In Part 2, Alex talks about:

* The joy of community. * What the ideal customer is for Betterly. * Why a company would prefer a short-term freelancer to a full-time staff person. * What onboarding is like. * The current "low-hanging fruit" of the freelance marketing space.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Bocquet as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Betterly, visit: https://betterly.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Betterly - Marketplace for Brands. Community for Freelancers. May 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Betterly is in the business of hooking up quality freelance digital marketers with brands that are struggling to hire qualified professionals, says Alex Bocquet, founder of Betterly.

"Hiring full time has its own set of issues and certainly hiring an agency as well," Alex says. "But essentially what we do is empower the freelance community to find high-paying gigs with companies that are growing with amazing products that they can have an actual impact."

Still, it's more of an online community than a matchmaking service.

"We're not just a freelance marketplace," Alex says. "We've created a community where all of our freelancers get to interact with each other, exchange the best tips and tricks, the latest hacks that you can leverage for your TikTok ad campaigns (and) your Facebook ad campaigns. ... No one else can access this community unless they're vetted better marketers. And the beauty of it is that they teach each other."

Freelancers in the Betterly community get support, too, particularly in the form of tools and licenses they probably can't afford on their own.

Support is also available in the form of work-life balance. Meditation and yoga workshops are available, and freelancers are encouraged to take care of their health.

"I think that if I can provide all of those benefits for my freelancers if there is a healthy platform to operate in, I will retain them longer," Alex says.

Alex's background is unique too. He left France for the U.S. after high school to pursue a career in marketing. He would learn English here, attend college and begin working in the industry.

In Part 1, Alex talks about:

* Gratitude to the employer who first believed in him and offered him his first job after college. * His background began in France and continued to the United States to learn English and marketing. * How Betterly works. * How Betterly's vetted community works for teaching each other. * What resources are available to their freelancers.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Bocquet as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Betterly, visit: https://betterly.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Mercury - For Startups Embracing the Digital Lifestyle May 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The fully digital workplace environment - maybe once a far-off dream for entrepreneurs - came into being quick with the start of the COVID pandemic, says Travis Price, E-commerce Growth Lead of Mercury, a company providing financial services to digitally native startups.

It's a trend that has helped Mercury grow.

"Not only are we seeing a lot of - quote-unquote - digital nomads who have had aspirations to build a business and live sort of that digital lifestyle, sign up for Mercury," he says, but we're also seeing companies that are operating remotely and have distributed teams leverage Mercury as well."

To that end, Mercury is working on growing out various verticals that can provide value and have a strong product-market fit. That's in addition to the core products that focus on services that traditional banks haven't thought about.

As for the future of banking, Travis says Mercury is building more capital products.

"Every business needs capital," he says. "We want to make that process of obtaining capital a lot easier and a lot cheaper."

Travis offers these words of wisdom for would-be startup entrepreneurs.

"Persistence pays," he says. "In the early days, months, and even years of starting your business, it will be extremely difficult and stressful. There are going to be times when you want to quit. But persistence pays if you truly believe in the product or service you're building, the team you're building, the value you're providing to people. It's going to work out."

In Part 2, Travis talks about:

* The effect of COVID on the digital workplace. * Building out verticals to provide value and strong product-market fit. * The trend of holding companies raising capital to buy e-commerce brands and the challenges of that trend. * Capital, crypto,, and personal banking are three areas that Mercury will focus on in the future. * How the onboarding process works. * Advice for new entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Travis Price as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mercury, visit: https://mercury.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Mercury - The Banking Stack for Startups & Brands May 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

To serve as a niche to startup entrepreneurs and provide an alternative to incumbent banking institutions - that's the mission of Mercury, says Travis Price, e-commerce growth lead for the company.

"One of the reasons I switched my e-commerce business banking over to Mercury is that I was fed up with going into a Wells Fargo branch once a week to send an international wire," Travis says. "It took 30 minutes to an hour out of my day. I'd have to sit there, wait for a teller to go through the paperwork and all the wire transfer details, and pay $45 for that wire to go through. And, at the end of the day, with technology, you can remove all of those steps that have become so cumbersome to entrepreneurs who just want to move fast and not waste time."

Travis started e-commerce, selling a Christmas stocking that dispensed wine. The product went viral and sold out its first order of 15,000 units in six days.

"Through that experience, I learned everything from product prototyping, manufacturing, supply chain, marketing, sales, and eventually an exit to a larger corporation," he says.

That experience as a founder serves Travis well at Mercury, creating empathy and understanding with startup entrepreneurs.

He says that Mercury's services also cater to international entrepreneurs, allowing people to be "nomads" and operate from anywhere in the world.

In Part 1, Travis talks about:

* Gratitude for a cousin who invested a large financial investment in his first business. * An explanation of Mercury's services and programs. * His background in business before joining Mercury. * How Mercury can help business owners outside the U.S. open accounts here.

Join Ramon Vela and Travis Price as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mercury, visit: https://mercury.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Realea Skincare - A Super Healer for the Skin May 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Realea's line of skincare products began with the Aurora balm, a "super healer" that works on eczema, psoriasis, wound healing, scar tissue reduction, and other unexpected skin issues, says Nick Grossenbacher, co-founder and head of product at the brand.

It was a problem pregnancy and difficult delivery that Nick's wife endured that inspired the balm's creation.

"My wife had an emergency cesarean section, and I immediately went home and created a balm for her to use on her incision site," Nick explains. "And she was using it every day, and her wound healed very fast, faster than the doctors expected it to. And she also has virtually no C-section scar. And that to me was a major moment and kind of coming to the sense that I need to do this work."

Growing the brand from that one balm, Realea wanted to create a link of skincare products that provided everything needed for skincare and the tissues deeper than the skin.

To that end, Tenebris turned out to be the product for beneath the skin. Meridiem is the brand's whole body moisturizer. Imber is a face mist. Astrum is a liquid face oil.

In Part 2, Nick talks about:

* How his wife's pregnancy complications led to the formation of the Aurora balm. * An explanation of the uses of Aurora. * A rundown of the brand's other products.

Join Ramon Vela and Nick Grossenbacher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Realea, visit: https://realea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Realea Skincare - Where Nature is Our Guide May 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Realea is a skincare brand rooted in the traditions of medicinal alchemy, but focused on using plant-based products and some materials produced by animals, says Nick Grossenbacher, co-founder and Head of Product at the brand.

"There's a phrase in alchemy, which is 'Let nature be your guide,' or 'The alchemist follows in the footsteps of nature," Nick says. "If you go back far enough at a certain point, what became the modern pharmaceutical industry and what is now this kind of alternative practice of modern alchemy have a common origin."

To that end, Realea's products have a foot in nature's history and modern ingredients. Three of Realea's five products, for example, use oil of egg yolk, which is rich in retinol, a vital vitamin supplement.

Other active ingredients in Realea's products have similarly unique, historical connections to alchemy.

In Part 1, Nick talks about:

* Gratitude toward his landlord, who believed in his vision and became one of the company's first investors. * His unusual career path as a Ph.D. student studying pre-modern systems of medicine. * An explanation of alchemy. * Why substances produced by animals are so important. * The importance of retinol and its possible sources.

Join Ramon Vela and Nick Grossenbacher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Realea, visit: https://realea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Global Wired Advisors - Want to sell? Know Your SKU Economics. May 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

When looking at brands to work with, Global Wired Advisors managing partner Chris Shipferling says he prefers to work with those who understand their numbers.

"That's a best practice," Chris says. "You know, make sure you understand what's driving the profitability by understanding SKU economics."

Chris says that it's essential for brands looking for investors or investment bankers to know their options.

In Part 2, Chris talks about:

* The pros and cons of in-house manufacturing. * The need for brands to understand skew economics. * The difference between working with individual investors and an investment bank. * What's the onboarding process like with his firm.

Join Ramon Vela and Chris Shipferling as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Global Wire Advisors, visit: https://www.globalwiredadvisors.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Global Wired Advisors - Investment Bank for Digital-first Brands May 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Global Wired Advisors is an investment bank that focuses on digital-first brands in the consumer product marketplace, says managing partner Chris Shipferling.

"I'm not trying to sell aerospace businesses or agriculture businesses or manufacturing companies," Chris says. "We only sell consumer products. That's it, specifically digital-first. So every day we wake up, and we're only talking to an audience interested in these types of companies."

With the current state of the economy and interest rates rising, the baby, pet, toy, home, and kitchen categories are likely to experience a slowdown, Chris predicts.

In Part 1, Chris talks about:

* Gratitude toward his first boss who saw potential in the college graduate with no business experience.

* An explanation of Global Wired Advisors' business and how they differ from other investment banks.

* An analysis of the current economy and likely slowdowns and areas for potential expansion.

Join Ramon Vela and Chris Shipferling as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Global Wire Advisors, visit: https://www.globalwiredadvisors.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Weatherman Umbrella - They Only Make Great Umbrellas May 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

The customer experience is paramount to long-term success, says Tyler Kupper, chief revenue officer, and partner of Weatherman Umbrella. That's especially true with high-profile partnerships that have global TV exposure.

"The worst thing in the world is you're on global TV using a Weatherman, and it flips backward," Tyler says. "That doesn't look good for anyone."

Among the brand's partners are the U.S. Ryder Cup team, the President's Cup team, and the Olympic team.

"When the best players in the world are using our products, they have to hold up," he says. "It's been the partnerships for us have been an absolute game-changer. It validates who we are; it validates our product, our team, and everything we stand for."

The Weatherman protects not only from rain but also from the sun. The brand's golf umbrellas offer UPF 50-plus protection.

One piece of advice Tyler offers to fellow entrepreneurs: is the value of samples. In a day when cold e-mails fill inboxes, a nice package with a handwritten note sets a better tone.

"If you're selling a physical product, send the product out with a handwritten note, and you're going to see crazy success," he says.

In Part 2, Tyler talks about:

* The importance of the customer experience. * The value of corporate partnerships and a rundown of some of the biggest names they're working with. * An upcoming deal with a Formula One racing team. * The power of offering samples. * A discussion of the brand's various products. * A design intended for Mother's Day products.

Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Kupper as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Weatherman Umbrella, visit: https://www.weathermanumbrella.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Weatherman Umbrella - The Yeti of Umbrellas May 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Weatherman Umbrella wants to be the "Yeti for umbrellas," says Tyler Kupper, chief revenue officer, and partner of the brand.

"We're trying to disrupt this category that's never had a high quality, durable product," Tyler says.

The brand's "green perspective" is to create a product that lasts a lifetime. To that end, the company's return rate is 0.1 percent, he says.

Tyler's career path took some unlikely turns along the way. After college, he began working in the sports and media entertainment field but had trouble making ends meet. On the side, he launched a company that delivered and set up Christmas trees. After doing a national TV pitch one day, a weatherman pulled him aside and asked for his help creating a high-quality umbrella.

The pair broke apart hundreds of umbrellas to uncover their weak spots. Improvements with the Weatherman Umbrella model include a better rubber grip, reinforced ribs, and reflective piping along the entire umbrella to improve visibility.

Aside from the product's lifespan, sustainability is a primary goal of the brand, Tyler says. That means using cardboard instead of plastic with packaging.

"Some of these decisions are tough to make, but they're the right decisions," he says. "It will give that consumer some more confidence to invest in the product."

In Part 1, Tyler talks about:

* Gratitude for a high school soccer coach for instilling values into him. * His perspective on creating a "green" product. * His career path and story of helping create the brand. * The process of creating a new umbrella. * How the umbrella is marketed. * The focus on sustainability.

Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Kupper as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Weatherman Umbrella, visit: https://www.weathermanumbrella.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Treet - The Power of Resale Now Available for Brands May 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

One of the first challenges for Treet was to "sell the thing before you build the thing," says co-founder and CEO Jake Disraeli.

He explains that the goal was to sell a feature - and get feedback from the people who will be using it - before actually building the feature.

"We're cautious before we invest in new projects or new lines of business to test things before we go the long mile of creating those things," Jake says.

The best performers for resale usually have a few things in common, Jake says. They tend to be DTC-leaning. Also, they've been in business for a couple of years, so there's plenty of inventory available. Lastly, an ideal resale candidate would have average order values of $50 or above.

"Kidswear is one of the fastest-growing categories in resale, and I think the reason is pretty obvious - kids grow out of their clothes, so let's make sure that they can be passed on," he says.

Treet's loyalty numbers have been noteworthy. Most customers choose credit instead of cash for their items and then return to spend even more at the retailer.

"Customers are spending about 2 to 3 times more than their credit when redeeming it on the main site," Jake says. "That's part of why we haven't lost a brand yet. It's this idea that it's becoming more than just a sustainability initiative for brands. It is quite valuable when it comes to loyalty and bringing customers back into the fold."

In Part 2, Jake talks about: * The need for testing and feedback before committing to the final build of a new feature. * Why you should obsession over the problem you're solving. * An explanation about how the Treet system works. * What the ideal resale candidate looks like. * Which pieces of article perform best in resale. * Feedback from the resale community.

Join Ramon Vela and Jake Disraeli as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Treet, visit: https://www.treet.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Treet - Reach More Customers through Resale May 06, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Sustainability is a goal many companies covet, but it's difficult and pricey. Treet's goal is to help brands be more sustainable and circular and increase customer lifetime value, and loyalty through resale, says co-founder and CEO Jake Disraeli.

"We take on the burden of support and logistics and shipping and things like that so the brands can focus on what they do and have a path to be more sustainable through resale," Jake says.

Interestingly, Jake majored in entrepreneurship in college and initially planned to join a large consulting firm upon graduation rather than create a new business.

"I was young and inexperienced and (thought) my chances of succeeding as an entrepreneur would be reduced if I didn't have any more real-world experience," Jake says. A college professor talked him into staying at the college to head up the school's entrepreneurship program.

"That was the first decision where I prioritized my happiness and what I wanted to do with my life over my immediate financial income," he says. He says the experience taught him a good lesson.

"I think that what I would recommend is carefully making decisions based on what you think the greater good is long term and what's going to open up the most doors for you later on, whether that's going immediately into entrepreneurship or whether it is taking a job at a company that you can hone in your skill sets and do entrepreneurship afterward," he says.

At Treet, Jake says the company's goal is to find a way to make sustainability work and access new customers, boost revenue and increase loyalty.

"We're like the beneficiaries of this new conscious consumerism movement and resale where these customers want brands to be more sustainable, but it's tough to do overnight," Jake says. "And so with Treat, they can do it overnight or at least one component of it. We're cautious about saying that resale does not make you a, quote, sustainable brand, but it does help, and it makes you more sustainable."

He says that makes Treet a player in the "extension of life" business.

In Part 1, Jake talks about: * Gratitude for a college professor who encouraged him to stay at the school and head up its entrepreneurship program. * Lessons learned when making career decisions. * The economics and side benefits of sustainability. * The company's first few launches.

Join Ramon Vela and Jake Disraeli as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Treet, visit: https://www.treet.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

CatSpring Yaupon - A Natural Refreshing Pick Me Up May 04, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Education is the most expensive piece of marketing, says Abianne Falla, co-founder of CatSpring Yaupon, a brand that cultivates and roasts farm-fresh yaupon. That's why her company set up to be an ingredient supplier first so that other brands could share the onus of education.

"The more forms you see it on the shelf that Whole Foods, the more it will be familiar to a customer," Abianne says. "And each of these brands will be focusing on different things like the regenerative, organic or the local sourcing or the taste or the health benefits."

Another challenge is the duality of the company, she says. She's a farmer and a manufacturer, which requires some unusual and unexpected steps along the way.

When it comes to starting a business, it's important to realize there can be more than one possible answer to any question. Even good answers have flip sides, too, says Abianne.

"The best advice I got was to just focus on asking the best questions you can at each step and with the intention to kind of narrowing that region of darkness," she says.

CatSpring's products work with three different preparation methods. A new product - a dehydrated concentrate in crystal form - just launched. It can be rehydrated with hot or cold water.

In Part 2, Abianne talks about:

* Why her company focuses on being a producer first. * Why education is the company's largest challenge. * Advice for other entrepreneurs starting a brand. * How her career started as a CPA served her once she shifted to community development. * A review of the company's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Abianne Falla as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CatSpring Yaupon, visit: https://catspringtea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

CatSpring Yaupon - America’s Forgotten Caffeinated Tea Plant May 04, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Did you know there's only one caffeinated plant native to North America? Yaupon is the only domestic source - "it's Texan for tea," says Abianne Falla, co-founder of CatSpring Yaupon, a brand that cultivates and roasts farm-fresh yaupon.

CatSpring Yaupon is more than a beverage, though, says Abianne. The company is "a platform for dignified employment opportunities in our rural community through our harvesting and packaging and production facility," she says.

The company sells the item via e-commerce and sells it to other companies, including kombucha brewers, energy drink makers, restaurants, hotels, and bars.

The product itself has a fascinating history. Yaupon traditionally flourishes along the Gulf Coast and partway up the East Coast. Virtually every indigenous community had a tradition of using it, with historical references going as far back as 1542. Ultimately its use waned as Native Americans were forced to relocate, and British traders pushed the use of imported tea. It wasn't until a bad drought devastated Texas in 2011 that attention turned back to the very resilient yaupon still prospering in the state.

At the same time, studies from the University of Florida and Texas A&M University uncovered the caffeine content of the shrub and its health benefits.

"It's hard - it's nuanced - especially in light of the indigenous history. How do we pay respect to the centuries and millennia of the people that drank this and then were wholly eradicated?" she says. "There's no tradition in our rural community. ... Our family was from the Cherokee, the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. And so while that's part of our family, the yaupon wasn't part of the tradition...so there's a lot of nuances that come into sharing in a respectful way."

In Part 1, Abianne talks about:

* Gratitude for a blacksmith shop owner who converted his shop into a production facility, allowing CatSpring Yaupon to overcome early challenges and create deeper ties to its community. * A background and history of yaupon. * The health benefits of the shrub. * How she and her family grew to think of the plant as a possible source of employment. * The challenge of revitalizing the use of the product in a respectful way.

Join Ramon Vela and Abianne Falla as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CatSpring Yaupon, visit: https://catspringtea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Dermadry - It’s Like Being a Prisoner in Your Own Body May 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

If you're going to make mistakes, you better learn from them, says Mathieu Mireault, co-founder and marketing director of Dermadry, a brand that sells a tap water iontophoresis device designed for home treatment.

"Make sure that you're ready for some hardship because the hardships are there as an entrepreneur," Mathieu says. "But you need those hardships to become a better person, become a better entrepreneur, and learn."

One of the keys to success for Dermadry was getting doctors on board to help reduce any perceived risks.

"People who want to buy an iontophoresis machine have probably never heard of it - the concept of putting your hands, feet, or underarms near water and electricity in most cases sounds completely crazy," he says. "So we needed to have doctors say, 'You know what? Not only is it not crazy, but it's very, very effective.' "

To that end, making the interaction with the customer as productive and straightforward as possible is also critical. That includes 24/7 customer support.

Ultimately, in the future, Dermadry would like people to think of their device as competition to deodorants. That means becoming more mainstream.

"We would love to be a household item because everybody would need to have there is always these moments where even though you don't have excessive sweating, you have a big conference, you had a big date, and you would like not to sweat during those moments," he says.

In Part 2, Mathieu talks about:

* Advice for other entrepreneurs creating a new brand. * The inevitability of hardships and the need to learn from them. * The brand's marketing mission is to reduce perceived risk. * How the interaction with a customer works. * The brand's future goal is to become a household item. * The difference between the brand's three products.

Join Ramon Vela and Mathieu Mireault as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dermadry, visit: https://dermadry.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Dermadry - A Treatment for Excessive Sweating May 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

A high school friend's struggle with excessively sweaty feet and hands provided the spark that created Dermadry, says Mathieu Mireault, co-founder and marketing director of the brand that sells a tap water iontophoresis device designed for home treatment.

"When he told me that 'Hey, I have the solution where I put my hands in water and electricity, and I don't sweat anymore,' I was astounded, and I was even more blown away when he told me that he went from being very, very sweaty to being completely dry," Mathieu says.

It turns out that about 5 percent of the general population deal with excessive sweating. Dermadry has helped more than 100,000 people globally with the condition.

"If we knew how hard it was initially, we probably would have never started the company," Mathieu says. The team originally planned to have the device on the market in six months. After several six-month extensions, ultimately, they finished it in three years.

The motivation to continue the quest in that development period was knowing the product would help many people.

"When you do something that inspires and helps other people, it's almost as good as a salary, just the feeling of purpose that you get from all that, that it is such an amazing motivator and a driver in a company," he says.

In Part 1, Mathieu talks about:

* Gratitude for his family not standing in the way of his dream to become an entrepreneur. * The inspiration behind the creation of Dermadry. * Stories from satisfied customers who used the machine to change their lives or help enjoy a special moment. * The delays his team encountered in creating the device and getting it to market. * The motivation to push through the darkest days of development.

Join Ramon Vela and Mathieu Mireault as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dermadry, visit: https://dermadry.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Pulp + Wire - Overcoming Fear in Uncertain Times May 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Tackling fear is essential both in a career and a personal life, says Taja Dockendorf, founder and creative director of Pulp + Wire, a consumer packaging firm focusing on natural and organic CPG brands.

"Fear can be debilitating, and it can stop you right in your tracks and stop growth," Taja says. "For each person, you have your journey to decipher what your fear and your triggers are, and then what your modality is to find to pull yourself out of it."

Taking on the weight of the world is not healthy, she says. We should be mindful and generous but give up on the idea that we can fix everything.

"There's a heaviness to fear, and there's a lightness when you have a solution," she says. "It's about finding that balance that makes you the best version of yourself."

Likewise, for her company, a foundation roadmap is needed. That map consists of strategy, market research, understanding the audience, beautiful design, and taking it all to market.

"The way we work with our clients, they're all different," she says. "We do take a very customized approach to some of our brands. Some come to us needing a name, and we start with naming, which is the hardest."

These days, Pulp + Wire works with startups and pre-launch companies, and much larger established brands.

"Wherever I can be a resource to my brands, I bring it," she says.

For the future, Taja says she's focused on "thought leadership."

"It's everything I've learned over the years between my team, the ups and the downs, how we work, the culture that I'm creating for my team," she says. "I've got an amazing team, and they're very capable, and I trust them intrinsically and 100 percent. So being able to give me the space to help promote them and get projects out there and do thought leadership is like their way of giving back to me too."

In Part 2, Taja talks about:

* The debilitating cycle of fear. * Suggestions on maintaining the best version of yourself, be it a hot shower or a good night's sleep. * How her company has succeeded thanks to focusing on the elements of a good roadmap. * The steps of the process when working with a client. * The difference between working with startups and more prominent, older brands. * Her future with thought leadership.

Join Ramon Vela and Taja Dockendorf as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pulp + Wire, visit: https://pulpandwire.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

Episode brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Pulp + Wire - There's a Solution for Everything May 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Nothing about the career journey of Taja Dockendorf has been clear-cut. The founder and creative director of Pulp + Wire originally wanted to be a designer but didn't want to be pushed to the side when strategy conversations took place.

Today, Taja runs one of the fastest-growing, 100 percent woman-owned consumer packaging firms, focusing on natural and organic CPG brands.

"I wanted a seat at the table being the account manager, being the strategist, being able to flex those skills and learn about myself," she says. "It's about having that conversation and having the hard conversations so that we can drive to the solution necessary to see them grow. ... We're not just thinking about what is today in a brand and a package. We're thinking about what's three years going to look like, what is five years look like?"

Pulp + Wire's formula is similar to its approach to CPG and product packaging - it's about creating a relationship between the brand and the consumer.

"That's been my founding principle for the company - no matter how hard things are, no matter how difficult it becomes, there is always a solution," Taja says. "Sometimes, the trick to a good business is getting the client in on that solution sooner than later."

Taja talks about the "universal energy" needed to make the process work at optimal levels with a client.

"You have to be excited about what you do," she says. "If you're not passionate about it and you don't bring a level of kinetic energy to the project, the client will know that, and the brand's ultimately going to suffer, and the work you do will suffer because it's going to feel lackluster."

Taja says she gets a lot of inspiration from her husband, a classically trained chef and a Reiki master. She credits him for reinforcing the idea that there's a solution for everything once you remove fear from your life.

In Part 1, Taja talks about:

* Gratitude toward a pair of long-time clients and her husband being a stay-at-home dad while pursuing her career. * Her unlikely career path as a would-be industrial designer for the automobile industry. * The advantages of having a team where strategy is a conversation with everyone along the creative process. * The relationship between a brand and a customer. * The inspiration her husband provides to her and their children.

Join Ramon Vela and Taja Dockendorf as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pulp + Wire, visit: https://pulpandwire.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

Episode brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

AmourCBD - Making the Best and Safest CBD Product Possible Apr 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Ed Donnelly started AmourCBD without a price point or even a budget in mind. The brand's founder says his only thought was to make the best and safest product possible.

"I had the belief that if I made the absolute best and communicated the safety and the quality and tried to price it as best, I would get a certain group of customers - the intelligent buyer or the safe buyer - (and) they will buy it without hesitation," Ed says.

The result is a simple website with just five products and news and testimonials.

"The opportunity for the cream is tremendous, and we have barely started to scratch the surface," he says. "So I'm not letting people run off to develop a patch ... I'm not running off to put CBD in shampoo or pet formulations ... I'm not launching them because I want the cream to be successful. It's that important. People needed that badly."

Ed advises fellow entrepreneurs to form strong, personal relationships with suppliers as critical of an overall strategy.

"I had a personal relationship with them, and they knew how important their company was to me and that we weren't going to leave them for a penny or two or a buck or two," he says. "Those were the people who, when times get tough, I could pick up the phone and call them and ask them to partner with me."

Another tip he offers: To have a viable business, make sure you're taking care of your employees. When costs rise, don't pass it along to the consumer incrementally.

Ed's final piece of wisdom: Context and perspective.

"I don't have any problems in business. I have challenges, but there are no problems," he says. Ed explains he's had two real problems: Sept. 11, when his brother - a fireman - was killed at the World Trade Center. And his granddaughter's health journey.

"Those were problems," Ed says. "Amour is an opportunity."

In Part 2, Ed talks about: * His strategy concerning the costs of the product at its inception. * A tour of the brand's website. * The critical importance of the brand's cream product. * Advice for other entrepreneurs considering starting up brands. * His strategy on passing on the cost of rising prices to consumers. * His perspective on putting things in context. * Why his granddaughter's health struggles remain an inspiration for him personally and professionally.

Join Ramon Vela and Ed Donnelly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on AmourCBD, visit: https://amourcbd.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

AmourCBD - CBD with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval Apr 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

CBD products aren't new, but a brand offering an FDA-registered version of the pain relief solution is, says Ed Donnelly, founder of AmourCBD.

"We are the only CBD company with the combination of lidocaine and CBD 200 milligrams of CBD. It is the Good Housekeeping seal of approval," Ed says. "It gives people - the consumers - the comfort."

AmourCBD uses its website and a PR effort to get the message out to educate customers on the differences in quality among CBD products.

"We just try to get the word out one user at a time -one publication at a time," he says.

AmourCBD's cream is the brand's banner product, used for pain relief for sore elbows, sore hands, and sore backs. Other offerings include drops, dummies, and other delivery systems. They're mainly used for anxiety. But to be clear, consumers can't get high from CBD.

"If someone's trying to use it recreationally, they're barking up the wrong tree," Ed says.

Other active ingredients in AmourCBD's products are skincare soothers and lidocaine, which delivers the CBD to the intended destination.

In Part 1, Ed talks about: * Gratitude for the continued health of his granddaughter, who's had to endure two heart transplants. * The difference between cheaper CBD products and AmourCBD products. * What does FDA registration mean, and what is the difference between registration and FDA approval. * How AmourCBD uses its website and a PR group to spread its message. * An explanation of the brand's products.

Join Ramon Vela and Ed Donnelly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on AmourCBD, visit: https://amourcbd.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Somos - Dispelling the Myth that Mexican food is Unhealthy Apr 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Part of the mission of Somos is to dispel the idea that Mexican food is unhealthy, says Miguel Leal, Founder and CEO of the Mexican food brand.

"You know those yellow fluorescent tacos don't exist," Miguel says. "Mexican food was 100 percent plant-based before the Spanish Conquest era in Mexico. They are the ones that brought a lot of the animal protein that is used now in Mexican food."

Instead, authentic Mexican food is full of vegetables, legumes, and grains.

"That's why we launched first with plant-based, gluten-free, non-GMO because we wanted to completely turn over that misconception and show that Mexican food can be authentic, delicious, and also healthy and convenient," he says.

Another Somos objective is to feature regional cuisines. One of the first products is chilaquiles, a popular dish that best resembles breakfast nachos.

Miguel's life-long obsession with food began growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, where his family would journey to Texas to do grocery shopping. Fascinated by the number of choices in the stores, he began a career with big food companies after college. He fell in love with the CPG community in 2009. Being from a family of entrepreneurs, he made the next natural step to try starting a brand.

"If I had any regrets, it's that we didn't do it sooner," he says.

Somos combines online sales with retail sales as part of its strategy.

"I think we could do this company for 20, 30, 50 years and still have new things that we can bring into the market because Mexican cuisine and culture are so rich," Miguel says.

In Part 2, Miguel talks about:

* The difference between Mexican food in America and Mexican food in Mexico. * The popularity of chilaquiles. * How he came to love the CPG marketplace and community. * A tour of the brand's website. * An explanation of the brand's products. * The meaning of the name "Somos."

Join Ramon Vela and Miguel Leal as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Somos, visit: https://eatsomos.com/

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, now through May 5th, all SOMOS meal kits on eatsomos.com – including the Cinco de Mayo Taco Kit – are 50% off with code CELEBRATECINCO at checkout.

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Somos - Mexican Food that’s Plant-based, Non-GMO, Gluten-free Apr 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Somos is on a mission to bring the best of Mexican food to the world, says Miguel Leal, Founder and CEO of Somos.

Authentic, contemporary Mexican cuisine is no stranger to restaurants - particularly in larger cities - but it's missing from store shelves, Miguel explains. That frustration led to the creation of Somos.

"I think there are great brands that do a really good job marketing Tex-Mex and Cal-Mex foods on the shelf," Miguel says. "And then there are other great brands that do a good value proposition for Mexican food. But we didn't see any brands that represented it the way we want it to come through on the shelf."

That vision was plant-based, non-GMO, gluten-free with simple ingredients and strong nutritional values, he says. The challenge was that the supply chain for those items didn't exist in Mexico.

"I almost feel like we were starting from scratch, and it took a lot of trust on our suppliers and our family farms, on our manufacturing partners to believe in this project," he says.

Once the products were initially created, Somos pushed its customers for as much feedback as possible to get the items as perfect as possible.

"Probably my favorite piece of feedback has been from people who have received our boxes, people that have tried our product have told me this reminds me a lot of what my grandma used to send me from Mexico," Miguel says.

The COVID pandemic caused several issues to the startup of the brand, Miguel says, as the founders were unable to have face-to-face meetings with suppliers and retailers - a vital strategy considering the brand's mission to sail uncharted waters.

In Part 1, Miguel talks about:

* Gratitude for symbols of support and love his family gave him before he married. * The mission of Somos. * The disconnect between Mexican food in restaurants and on grocery shelves. * The challenge of finding the right ingredients through a reliable supply chain. * How the COVID pandemic affected the business. * How the Mexican labor market has helped on the supply chain side.

Join Ramon Vela and Miguel Leal as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Somos, visit: https://eatsomos.com/

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, now through May 5th, all SOMOS meal kits on eatsomos.com – including the Cinco de Mayo Taco Kit – are 50% off with code CELEBRATECINCO at checkout.

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Spicewell - Consume Vitamins and Nutrients with Your Food Apr 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

An essential key to success in the CPG marketplace is being disciplined and knowing which audience you're speaking to, says Raina Kumra, founder of Spicewell, a nutrient-dense salt, and pepper brand.

For Spicewell, the ideal customer is the person responsible for the household nutrition, she says.

"At the end of the day, we're not a supplement - we are a food - but we are a nutritious, nutrient-dense food," Raina says.

It took more than 30 attempts to find a recipe that worked for Spicewell. Raina used her two children as tasters along the way, eventually finding a blend they enjoyed.

That blend includes plenty of organic vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms. Each provides vitamins and nutrients that are better absorbed when consumed with food.

Raina says reviews and social sharing are critical as a new small business owner. Likewise, salt and pepper are only the beginning for Spicewell. Other seasoning mixes are planned, including a taco seasoning with an even greater vitamin profile.

Her words of wisdom to fellow entrepreneurs going through the stress of growing a brand: "Just take a deep breath, eat as healthy as you can today, and drink a lot of water."

In Part 2, Raina talks about:

* Advice for other brand owners considering creating a new product. * How to communicate with different audiences. * Why moms are the prime constituent. * Why vitamins and nutrients are best absorbed during meals rather than in pill form. * The importance of turmeric. * A short tour of the brand's website. * The importance of dealing with stress and anxiety.

Join Ramon Vela and Raina Kumra as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Spicewell, visit: https://thespicewell.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Spicewell - The World's First Nutrient-dense Salt & Pepper Brand Apr 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Spicewell is the world's first nutrient-dense salt and pepper brand, but it took a series of family health emergencies to spark the idea, says Raina Kumra, founder.

Her husband underwent complicated knee surgery and returned home only to have her kids get into a severe bike accident the next day, resulting in a broken collarbone for her daughter. A woman whose career was spent mainly in the tech sector was suddenly a full-time at-home caregiver.

"I grew up Indian in an Indian household where we use a lot of herbs and spices whenever there's an ailment in your body," Raina explains. "I took some of that ancient knowledge that I remember my grandma passing down. I know that if you have kale and spinach and broccoli, it will help your body heal tendons and muscles and bones. I powdered it. I put it in my daughter's smoothies. I put it everywhere. I gave them every possible opportunity. Every bite that went into their bodies was an opportunity to heal them. And so that is what Spice Well was born out of."

The strategy worked, and her family recovered much faster than expected.

"As a mom, you're always hiding vegetables in their food," she says. "And I was like, 'Well if I can do it for a 5-year-old, what could I do for the rest of the American population who is not eating properly?' "

Turmeric proved to be the key ingredient, so Spicewell added it to its salt and pepper products. It's better absorbed when ingested two or three times a day with meals.

"If you use your salt and pepper every day after eight weeks, you start to feel an effect around your inflammation levels, around feeling brain fog, things like that," Raina says. "These things need to build up in your system. You can't just have one golden latte and be un-inflamed."

The COVID pandemic changed the company's original trajectory, as ingredient prices and shipping costs varied dramatically from week to week. Now that Spicewell is on its third production run, Raina hopes to enjoy better economics so prices can remain affordable.

"I think the more people who buy it, eventually we will be able to get the product down," she says. "But, you know, a large food conglomerate is only focused on the cogs. They're not focused on your health. They might put a lot of healthy tag lines on the label, but the ingredients are still the cheapest that they can find. And we were very particular about where are things came from."

In Part 1, Raina talks about:

* Gratitude for a doctor who guided her and eventually joined her company's advisory board. * The unlikely journey of becoming an at-home caregiver and helping her family recover using nutrient-dense foods. * How turmeric can help with inflammation, mainly when consumed multiple times a day. * How the COVID pandemic affected the startup of the brand. * The thoroughness of testing and selection of ingredients.

Join Ramon Vela and Raina Kumra as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Spicewell, visit: https://thespicewell.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Better Snack. Better You. - A Snack Your Family Will Love Apr 25, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Challenges, road bumps, and opportunities are just part of owning a business, but if you have a desire and vision, you'll make it through, says Michele Revivo, founder of Spudniks and Better Snack Better You.

"You don't need to sweat the small stuff because if things don't happen, ultimately it's for the best," she says. "Just look at opportunities, take whatever opportunity, give it your 100 percent all, give it your 100 percent effort with anything you do. But if it doesn't work out. Be happy with it and know that it's for the best and move on."

The COVID pandemic sparked one such opportunity. Michele wanted to create a snack that was high in Vitamin D, which is known for boosting the immune system. She trademarked Better Snack Better You as the vehicle for this high-nutrient brand.

Likewise, Michele has a similar passion for Spudniks - her snack brand before beginning Better Snack Better You. The idea was to create a snack that could create memories for a family.

"It's building memories while you're enjoying Sputnik's - it's building memories with your family and friends while enjoying your snacks," Michele says. "Everybody loves to snack. We wanted to build a family brand that resonates with everyone."

Likewise, her words of wisdom for fellow entrepreneurs are also family-based.

"Life is all about balance," she says. "Don't be focused on one thing so much."

In Part 2, Michele talks about:

* Her advice for fellow entrepreneurs when facing challenges and opportunities. * How the COVID pandemic sparked the idea to great a snack that had nutrients to help the body's immune system. * A rundown of the ingredients and nutrients in the Better Snack Better You products. * The reaction her kids have to the new snacks. * Her work with the Comfort Bears charity. * Why building memories is an essential goal with Spudniks. * The importance of work-life balance.

Join Ramon Vela and Michele Revivo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Better Snack. Better You., visit: https://www.bettersnackbetteryou.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

The episode brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Better Snack. Better You. - A High Nutrient Functional Snack Apr 25, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Popcorn and kettle chips might seem like familiar snack items, but how Spudniks and Better Snack Better You approach them makes a difference, says Michele Revivo, founder of the two brands.

"They obviously both have the popcorn and kettle chips product, but they are very different," Michele says. "Building memories with your family is what Spudniks is all about. ... Better Snack Better You was my dream about two and a half years ago. I wanted to create a better for you snack line for my children because we are kosher and Better Snack Better You is a high nutrient functional snack line."

Michele and her husband's journey into the snack world took some unlikely turns. The couple began in the vending business before adding snack catering to their services. They found almost immediate success selling kettle chips that are warmed and seasoned fresh at each event and kiosk.

When her husband decided to begin practicing the Jewish Sabbath, they had to change their business model because that involved eschewing work on a Saturday - typically the busiest day of the work for their business. They shifted away from retail into manufacturing - a space where they could better control the hours they worked.

"We put it in God's hands," Michele says. "Essentially, whatever was going to happen with our path or career path at that point was going to happen. And we ultimately knew it was going to be for the best."

In Part 1, Michele talks about:

* Gratitude for her husband for being her life partner and business partner for 19 years. * The difference between the Spudniks and Better Snacks Better You products. * The journey of growing from an events company into a snack food manufacturing company. * Why the risks didn't feel as much as a leap of faith, but rather as their destiny.

Join Ramon Vela and Michele Revivo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Better Snack. Better You., visit: https://www.bettersnackbetteryou.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

Episode brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

BeKoherent - Personal Care that’s Good for you & the Earth Apr 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

A regenerative process is a cerebral or even holistic way of maintaining soil health - a key concept BeKoherent's mission says Adriana Henao, co-founder of that personal care brand that focuses on offering cruelty-free, vegan products.

That process goes straight to BeKoherent's products, particularly the beauty bars that are compostable and fully biodegradable, Adriana says.

That mission goes for the packaging, which is also biodegradable and safe for the human body and the planet.

"We want our customers to feel the connections," Adriana says. "We are part of a whole."

In Part 2, Adriana talks about:

* The necessity of the "regenerative process" is a concept that applies to the human body as much as it does to the planet and the soil. * The importance of the manufacturing and packaging of BeKoherent's products. * Why the Amazon rainforest is the current focus of the company. * The company's current products include a shampoo and conditioner bar. * Plans are to add facial cleansers, kid-friendly items, and lotions to the product line. * Why using these "natural products" instead of traditional beauty products will take some transition and adjustment for some consumers.

Join Ramon Vela and Adriana Henao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BeKoherent, visit: https://bekoherent.world/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

BeKoherent - Focusing on Effective & Plastic-Free Personal Care Apr 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

BeKoherent's priority is to work with the entire supply chain to protect biodiversity, says Adriana Henao, co-founder of BeKoherent, a personal care brand that is focusing on offering cruelty-free, vegan products that are produced in a sustainable and biodegradable way.

"I strongly believe that collaboration can play a serious role in civilizing the health of the planet and ensuring more equitable sharing of wealth - if we put our minds and money to doing so," Adriana says.

The passion of Adriana and BeKoherent is a reduction in waste by focusing on plastic-free personal care products.

To that end, part of the brand's mission is to promote and develop education and public-private partnerships about health and food security in disadvantaged communities among different cultures.

In Part 1, Adriana talks about:

* Gratefulness for her husband's belief in the company and the faith he has in her direction. * How entrepreneurship is a skill she's still learning. * How her growing family helped sparked her passion for safer personal care products. * Her journey into entrepreneurship and how branding and sourcing guided her.

Join Ramon Vela and Adriana Henao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BeKoherent, visit: https://bekoherent.world/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Before the Butcher - Wow! This is Made from Plants! Apr 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

When consumers try food products, they have expectations about taste, says Danny O'Malley, president and founder of Before the Butcher, a brand that produces plant-based proteins that are gluten-free and non-GMO Project Certified.

"You have an expectation before you even try it that it's going to be good, right? Because if it isn't, you're not going to get it again," he says. "So when companies like mine are creating products from plants to mimic an animal-based protein like pulled pork, our job is to create a texture and flavor that is so similar that you say, 'Hey, wow ... this is made out of plants!' And that is the coolest thing to happen to somebody."

The nutritional content of a product is essential too. Many competing products have a high level of sodium, Danny says. Before the Butcher's burger has about half the sodium, though those competitors are now lowering their levels too - likely based on customer feedback.

"We look at that every time we create a product today - how do we reduce the sodium? How do we make these products as healthy as we can?" Danny says. "Because these products, and I know this is hard for some people to grasp, are processed. We can't make a burger out of plants without processing it. But for all those naysayers out there: Your beef burger? That's processed, too."

Tackling the affordability issue of meat-based products is another challenge for companies like Before the Butcher. The fact is that it's not cheap to make these products, Danny says.

"The meat industry, the dairy industry, they get subsidized by the government to keep prices at a certain level. We don't," he says.

To that end, Before the Butcher created a product called "Mainstream," which is intended to be a more affordable plant-based burger.

"The difficult problem today is we all know we're in a very strong inflationary period," he says. "It's extremely expensive to move these products across the country. Freight is through the roof. The ingredients coming to us are more expensive today than a couple of years ago. So we're trying to hold the line and not raise our prices."

As for advice he would give to others starting up a brand, Danny says the key is to distinguish yourself.

"Do something clearly different from your competitors," he says. "Our push was to offer greater variety, better nutrition at a more affordable price. And we've been able to create our niche area where we could attract the consumer and the retailers for our products."

In Part 2, Danny talks about:

* Why taste and texture are both critical in their products. * The importance put on nutritional content - particularly sodium levels. * The topic of obesity and plant-based foods' role in helping control that. * The affordability issue with plant-based meat alternatives. * Advice for other entrepreneurs starting up a new brand or facing competing behemoths. * A tour of the brand's website.

Join Ramon Vela and Danny O'Malley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Before the Butcher, visit: https://btbfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Before the Butcher - So Good, You Can't Tell the Difference Apr 22, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

"Before the Butcher" really is a name that sticks out when a consumer first sees it. That's the intent, says Danny O'Malley, president and founder of Before the Butcher, a brand that produces plant-based proteins that are gluten-free and non-GMO Project Certified.

"The name came from the thought process that before you go to the butcher for an animal-based product," Danny says. "You'll think about our company and the plant-based products that mimic the animal-based products you like."

The brand features a variety of plant-based burgers, including ones that resemble and taste like beef, chicken, turkey, and even breakfast sausage. Before the Butcher also offers ground mixes that taste like Italian sausage and chorizo. Chunk products are also available.

"The big difference is ours are 100 percent plant-based," Danny says, "so we're offering something healthier for you and your body and healthier for our planet and healthier for the animals that aren't slaughtered when you're eating them."

Danny's journey began during his time working for a food service distributor. A salesman for Beyond Meat - a leader and innovator in plant-based meat - visited and got him interested in the product space. A few weeks later, he found himself hired to handle sales in the western half of the country.

"The hard thing about working for a startup then, especially in plant-based meats, was nobody knew what we were doing," Danny says. "Back then, I spend most of my time educating - not selling the product- but just talking to people and educating them that we were mimicking animal-based proteins because that's the largest consumer audience for any type of food product."

Thankfully, the conversation about how meat affects the environment and the planet isn't new. After talking to retailers and grocery stores, Danny realized the interest extended beyond a simple beef burger replacement, so he began pondering starting his own company.

"It's almost five years now - I can't believe how fast it's gone," he says. "But now, as I look back, you know, I was one of the early adopters of these types of products in the industry, and I like to consider myself one of the leaders and innovators in plant-based meats because I've been there and done that, I get it. And we're always trying to improve what we do daily."

In Part 1, Danny talks about:

* Gratitude for a close friend who got him involved in the plant-based burger space. * The story behind the brand's name. * The unlikely path he traveled as he joined the plant-based food space. * Why education is the first step when selling plant-based meats. * How the lack of variety in then-available products sparked the idea for him to create his own company. * The key to success so far: When you consume Before the Butcher products and add it to comfort-food recipes, you can't tell the difference.

Join Ramon Vela and Danny O'Malley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Before the Butcher, visit: https://btbfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Henné Organics - Manufacturing Integrity & Purpose of Ingredients Apr 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Manufacturing integrity and purpose of ingredients are critical to the mission of Henné Organics, says Laura Xiao, Founder and CEO.

"We just cut out all the BS and all the fillers," Laura says. "Any product we have, if you see an ingredient on the list, serves a specific purpose. It's not just there to fill things up."

Keeping the manufacturing in-house also helps Henné spot issues with production the same day - a big advantage for a brand that promises to "talk the talk" and "walk the walk," Laura says.

"We say that we're organic - we don't throw that word around. We get the certification," she says. "And that was not fun to get in the beginning because we were bootstrapping, and that was just a cost that is difficult to pay for when you haven't even sold one unit yet."

Likewise, Henné Organics' work ethics and the trust they require of their suppliers also guide who they choose to support in the charity world.

"There are so many fantastic charities out there, but there are also some that the money is not going toward the cause," Laura says. "I am thankful enough to have friends and people in my life who have shared their experiences with me ... the good, the bad, the ugly."

The brand's website features products mainly focused on lip care packaged in black to lend them a luxurious look.

Laura says planning is essential when advising other entrepreneurs considering starting their brands, but action is critical.

"At least from my experience, all the biggest things that have happened with our business, whether that be positive or negative, I've not seen coming," she says. "I know that scares some people who are planners. ... But this is typically how life works, and a great example of that is COVID. I don't think anyone saw that coming and did not realize to the extent that it would happen."

To that end, it's best to take a few baby steps every day, she says. And be open to shifting and emerging opportunities.

"It might not be something that is packaged in it with a big red bow on your doorstep," Laura says. "It's never smooth sailing - it's always a roller coaster. ... Sometimes it's not enjoyable. That's very true. I was very stressed the first two years, more so than I think I've maybe I don't know if certain times, probably more so than I've ever been in my life, but I don't regret it."

In Part 2, Laura talks about:

* The rationale behind the ingredients used in their products. * The pros and cons of outsourcing. * The need to hire people who want to feel like part of a family. * Her quest to find a charity or cause to partner with long-term. * A tour of the brand's website. * Her advice for others starting a brand.

Join Ramon Vela and Laura Xiao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Henné Organics, visit: https://henneorganics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Henné Organics - Skincare with a Scandinavian Twist Apr 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

An organic lip care and skincare brand with a Scandinavian twist? That's the goal of Henné Organics, says Laura Xiao, Founder and CEO.

"Sweden is a very big part of my life," Laura explains. "Not only is my husband Swedish, but I used to live there pre-COVID...I became very inspired by many aspects of Swedish culture, especially the love and affinity for nature and simplifying things."

To that end, Henné products feature a "less is more" design that is Scandinavian inspired. Ingredients are pared down as well.

"The time spent in Sweden also helped me become very interested in not just de-cluttering but focusing on very high quality," Laura says.

She traces her interest in organic products to her college days, studying broadcast journalism. An assignment to cover a tomato farm taught her the true meaning - and value - of organic products.

Her move to Sweden - and then to New Zealand with her husband - caused Laura to focus on quality over quantity. A subsequent move to Las Vegas - and its famously dry climate - introduced the couple to problems with their lips cracking and thus was born the need to create a better lip balm.

Henné considered outsourcing the production of products, but visits to possible manufacturers turned out results that weren't up to standard, so Laura and her husband decided to build and staff their facility.

"We started hiring, in the beginning, it was just one employee, and then it continued from there," Laura says. "We still don't have a huge team these days because even up until this point, the bulk of our line is lip products. I think people are often kind of shocked at how many units we can produce because I always remind them like one tiny little lip product is far smaller than a giant bottle of body lotion or dish soap."

In Part 1, Laura talks about:

* Gratitude to her husband for being her "rock" during her career. * How spending time in Sweden has impacted her design and product ingredients philosophy. * The journey of creating the brand's first product. * The dissatisfaction of dealing with outside manufacturers and how that led them to build their facility.

Join Ramon Vela and Laura Xiao as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Henné Organics, visit: https://henneorganics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Travel Cat - The Number One Cat Travel Brand Apr 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Like nearly every other business, Travel Cat was impacted by the COVID pandemic, says Emily Miethner, co-founder of the brand. But having a solid business foundation and a good handle on numbers helped guide the company through it.

"We've always had good margins and ... so as things got more difficult and challenging, we had the margin, and we understood the numbers to see how the supply chain issues and mostly the shipping costs were going to affect us to help us make decisions of 'Are we going to airship this or are we going to sell out?' That was a decision I think many people have to make," she said.

Another strategy move: Focusing on community building and other "unpaid" efforts to market the brand. This coming month, Travel Cat is hosting a three-hour virtual "summit" to discuss cat health, cat travel, and how to build your social media accounts.

Travel Cat itself uses its own social media channels to promote the excitement of cat ownership.

"It's exciting for people to get featured on our blog or on our Instagram account, which now has almost 60,000 followers," Emily says. "We have a series called Travel Cat Tuesday where we're highlighting one of the members of our community. So yeah, it's amazing to give a platform for people to get highlighted when they like your brand."

The social strategy has created a very engaged group of customers.

"There's some magic to seeing customers become friends because you connect to them somehow, whether that was through Instagram or a feedback session or having them be a speaker at an event," she says. "It's helpful when you have a good mission and what your product is doing is positively changing people's lives."

The brand's goal is to continue to build its product line to find all the supplies you'd need to travel with a cat.

"We want to continue solidifying our place as the No. 1 cat travel brand," Emily says. "We're mainly in the U.S. and Canada, but we're working on getting distribution and getting into retail customer retail stores in the U.S. and across the world."

In Part 2, Emily talks about:

* How Travel Cat tweaked operations to get through the COVID era. * Why the brand is doubling down on community building and unpaid marketing options. * The brand's "ladder of engagement." * How Travel Cat approaches its own social media channels, which they use to create excitement between pet owners and their products. * How engagement creates loyalty. * How a road trip between New York and Florida fueled ideas for future products. * A new shipping platform that can ship anywhere in the country in two days.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Miethner as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Travel Cat, visit: https://yourcatbackpack.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

You can easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience you want with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

And you can keep growing with Mercury, whether you’re meeting investors, mentors, and other founders through Mercury Raise DTC, or getting matched with the right financing options for your business with Mercury Capital.

*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Travel Cat - The Cat People Brand Apr 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Travel Cat aims to change the perceptions of having a cat and how cat parents can safely explore the great outdoors with products like backpacks and harnesses, says Emily Miethner, co-founder of the brand.

Emily and her husband brought complementary business skills to the founding of Travel Cat - she with organic marketing while he handled paid marketing.

"We became cat people ourselves on a whim unexpectedly when we rescued a kitten from a family member's backyard," she says. "We realized that there are two big things. ... People think, you know, cats are easy, they sleep all day. But, to have a healthy cat, they need stimulation, enrichment, and movement...and the other thing we noticed is a lack of cat-focused brands. You know, there are so many brands out there that provide products where they're meant for dogs first."

For Travel Cat, it's not just about the products - education is a big piece of the brand's formula, Emily says.

"We're providing the education around doing more with your cat and the community around the joys of being a cat person through our influencer program, through participating in events in person before COVID, and hopefully now that things are settling down post-COVID," she says. "But we've also been hosting virtual events for the past year and a half. So the community, the focus on cats, that's always been our huge focus."

When she co-founded Travel Cat, part of Emily's realization was that cat ownership is growing faster than dog ownership. Yet, pet supply retailers - still likely acting on stereotypes of finicky cats - have been slow to offer quality products for felines.

"We find that with our product, people are becoming more and more serious about their pets and treating them like family," Emily says. "We have people who might regularly shop at Walmart, but they're willing to drop the money on quality products for their cat, maybe not themselves, so we have a pretty broad range of customers that our products appeal to."

Travel Cat's two most popular products are the "Fat Cat Backpack," which holds cats up to 25 pounds, and its "True Adventurer" harness and leash set.

In Part 1, Emily talks about: * Gratitude toward a colleague she met in a networking group who helped Emily before her first pet trade show. * How she and her husband - the other co-founder - married their strengths to make the brand work. * The unlikely impetus that led them into the cat care market. * Why the company focuses on community as well as products. * The surge in cat ownership and the struggle to get retailers to offer more cat-related products.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Miethner as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Travel Cat, visit: https://yourcatbackpack.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

Episode brought to you by Mercury.

Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.

Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.

Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team-management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.

Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.

Visit mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand

Loomly - Show Up as Authentic as Possible Apr 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The social media industry changes constantly, says Katelyn Sorensen, CEO of Loomly and Sendible, two social media management platforms. So education and collaboration are critical for her brands to stay agile.

"Just two weeks ago, a brand new feature came out on Instagram API, and everyone was rushing to be the first," Katelyn says. "I think that Loomly and Sendible were both in the top five or six to release that."

Loomly and Sendible are similar platforms, but they have different audiences. Loomly is targeted toward brands and companies. Sendible is designed for agencies.

Two trends in social media worth highlighting are the increasing importance of video and "authentic connection," Katelyn says.

"How do you not just use ads…when you're coming up with ads using real content, highlighting things customers say about you or highlighting members of your team and showing who you are as a brand," she explains. "That's something that I think, especially during the last two years with COVID, that people have been craving - that one-on-one connection. How do you create that as a brand and show up as authentic as possible?"

Content continues to be king in social media. That's why Loomly works with customers with post ideas and provides hashtag monitoring and trending so they can point out topics that people are searching for right now.

Sendible, on the other hand, is built for agencies - a business-to-business solution. To that end, it includes features such as bulk management and brand customization.

Approaching new social channels is another advantage of using a management platform like Loomly and Sendible.

"It is essential to understand how the different channels work for you and at least give them a try and see if it works," Katelyn says. "There are some things that are a bit of a no-brainer - TikTok just shared that they just had a billion users, faster than any other social platform before them. Loomly was the first social media management platform to have indirect TikTok scheduling."

Katelyn urges brands not just to tell their story but also to respond to what people are sharing. Engagement with customers is the ultimate goal.

In Part 2, Katelyn talks about:

* Why agility is a critical skill in the social media industry. * The difference audiences for Loomly and Sendible. * The growing importance of video and authentic connection in social media. * The challenges of creating and organizing content. * Sendible's services and how it differs from Loomly. * How to approach new social mediums.

Join Ramon Vela and Katelyn Sorensen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Loomly, visit: https://www.loomly.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Loomly - The Storytelling Platform Apr 19, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

How do you best tell your story on social media? That's the goal of Loomly and Sendible, two social media management platforms that allow you to manage all your different channels from one place.

The platforms are led by CEO Katelyn Sorensen, who cut her teeth in software testing after college before setting out into sales and marketing and then management.

"I did lead generation - so cold calling for over four years - and you build a bit of a tough skin doing that," Katelyn says. "I learned a ton talking to people, understanding what they were looking for."

For those looking for lessons from her success, Katelyn recommends two things. First, participate fully and approach all projects with curiosity. Second, ask for what you want - especially if you're a woman. That doesn't mean you'll get it right away.

"That doesn't mean that you'll get it right away," she adds. But ask yourself how you get there. Where are the gaps? What do you need to work on?

"It all allows you to understand what you need to do to exceed expectations and deliver value," she says.

Likewise, the skills needed to be a great leader aren't exclusive to any particular gender. A phenomenal leader should hit and exceed goals and drive value for customers, Katelyn says. Having tough conversations is part of the winning strategy, and as a society, that quality is typically associated with males.

"There's a shift for all leaders to move away from that, and there are degrees to which our society accepts that," she says. "I think it's cool to have the opportunity to show that I can be successful, that women can be successful ... and driving the same results that maybe take a different tactic."

In Part 1, Katelyn talks about:

* Gratitude toward a boss for believing in her potential and encouraging her to advance at the company. * How her career path took some unusual stops on her way to becoming a CEO. * How cold-calling helped her better understand what people are looking for. * Advice for those seeking a path forward in their careers. * Why being a great leader isn't determined by gender.

Join Ramon Vela and Katelyn Sorensen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Loomly, visit: https://www.loomly.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

HighKey - The Low Sugar Snack You’ll Crave Apr 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Getting HighKey's products in people's mouths is driving the velocity of the brand's success online, says Joe Ens, CEO of the brand that creates snacks low in carbs and sugar.

HighKey had the No. 1 chocolate chip cookie on Amazon within the first several months. That incredible customer loyalty helped sales explode in grocery retailers when HighKey's products hit their shelves.

"At one of the largest national retailers, we accounted for 53 percent of their better-for-you growth the year we entered," Joe says. "That's a wonderful story to get to sell behind because now we can show up to a retailer and say, 'Look here, it's the most loyal brand in the world.' "

Joe spent the first few decades of his career with a Fortune 200 big food company, but he wanted to break free and build something new.

"The wonderful thing about my experience that I'm very fortunate and grateful for is that I've got that fundamental training in a large food company. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I've been able to transfer it to the startup world because of my orientation," Joe says. "Living on that razor's edge is a different thing. The decisiveness, the agility, the way you move. It's not for everybody."

These days, HighKey has 11 different flavors - with the chocolate chip being the preeminent product - but they've entered the cracker market and mini treat space.

Joe's advice to other startup entrepreneurs isn't complicated: Do your hard work upfront and make sure you have a business model that you can scale.

"For those that think they have that internal intestinal fortitude, bet on yourself and go for it," he says. "If you're not comfortable, you can find somebody who's done it, and you can partner with them and bring them something that they don't have. But it's still the same decision. It's a decision to bet on yourself."

In Part 2, Joe talks about:

* How HighKey leveraged the online market space first before tackling the retail space. * The strategic questions on where to present their snacks on retail shelves. * How the company has built on its early success in the retail space. * How he transferred the skills and fundamentals he learned working for a big food company and used them to help build HighKey. * Why he calls his career change "Project Timberlake" (and eventually "Project Jay-Z.") * HighKey's continued plans to expand its retail footprint. * How the brand tackled the pandemic and economic downturns. * Advice for other entrepreneurs considering startup brands.

Join Ramon Vela and Joe Ens as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HighKey, visit: https://highkey.com/

For more on the Institute for Mindful Leadership, visit: https://instituteformindfulleadership.org/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

HighKey - The Seismic Shift in the American Diet Apr 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

HighKey's mission is to drive sugar out of the American diet, says Joe Ens, CEO of the brand that creates snacks that are low in carbs and sugar but taste as good as the original treats.

"There is a seismic shift that's going on on the American diet where people, whether it be because of biotechnology, wearing a watch, wearing a ring or even a glucose monitor, I think they are now starting to realize how much sugar is not hidden maliciously but embedded within their food," Joe says.

The reality is that people realize consuming too much sugar has had real consequences over the past few decades.

"It's not political for us. We're a sassy brand. We're kind of light-hearted. We don't take ourselves too seriously," he says. "We just want to make sure people have the options to make better choices."

The tale of HighKey is culinary-inspired, Joe says. One of the company's co-founders ran a James Beard Award-winning restaurant and had the background to find just the right balance of natural sweeteners - like monk fruit, stevia,, and erythritol and other ingredients that proved key to baking their goods.

These days, competitors are beginning to catch up on the no-sugar campaign. But that's not necessarily bad news for HighKey. The brand can now approach manufacturing partners more quickly than in the early days.

In Part 1, Joe talks about:

* His appreciation for the person who introduced him to the power of gratitude and the role gratitude plays in becoming a successful entrepreneur. * The brand's goal for 2025 is to drive 10 million pounds of sugar out of the American diet. * Why taste is so important in the natural food space. * The culinary inspiration behind the company's formation. * The brand vision is to be the leader in low-sugar snacking.

Join Ramon Vela and Joe Ens as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HighKey, visit: https://highkey.com/

For more on the Institute for Mindful Leadership, visit: https://instituteformindfulleadership.org/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Beia Beauty - Skincare with a Sexual Wellness Component Apr 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Launching a beauty brand can be overwhelming and expensive, so Beia Beauty decided to focus on a single "hero product," says Brittany Lo, the brand's founder and CEO.

"I luckily had a few mentors, and one of them she said, like, 'I would rather see you put all your energy and effort in creating one amazing product versus you spending all this extra money and time on, say like five products where maybe four of them will be fine and only one will be good because you still don't know who your true customer is,'" Brittany says.

After talking to her hair and makeup clients, Brittany decided the product should be a daily hydrating setting mist.

"It does seem random where there's no sex piece involved in it, but that was very deliberate, knowing that we needed people to feel comfortable talking about our brand or product," she says. "And once they loved the quality of our ingredients and the packaging, we could launch these new skincare products with this sexual wellness component."

The hydrating mist received great support right from its launch, thanks to a glowing review in "Cosmopolitan" magazine. With that victory under the belt, Beia is moving faster into the sexual wellness part of its brand. Refresh wipes are the first of those products.

"Our whole initiative for this year is starting to have more conversations around this category because no matter who you are or where you come from, most people do have sex," Brittany says. "So why is it this shady, dirty thing that no one likes to talk about? ... It's all about being relatable and lighthearted and playful and having some fun as we talk about it more."

With the pandemic, people realize they have more time to take care of their bodies and skin. The result: The sexual wellness space has grown by triple digits.

"I just think that the level of education will expand for all of body care, intimate care, and ingestible health as well," she says. "And I'm excited about that because it shows that we are investing in ourselves more and more, which means the transparency of ingredients is becoming more readily available for consumers to educate themselves on."

Her advice for entrepreneurs who embark on similar journeys: "You're going to hit road bumps, you're going to have challenges, and it's going to feel like it's never going to work out. ... My coach always said, 'How do you eat a watermelon, bite by, by bite, by bite?' Don't focus on that end goal. What's that next step? One step to get you a little closer to that goal and just focus on that."

In Part 2, Brittany talks about:

* How she came to decide on Beia's first product. * The testing and research regime in the development of Beia's products. * The joy of the success of the first product - a hydrating mist - thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations. * How her brand approaches the sexual wellness conversation - by making people feel more comfortable talking about the category. * The company's priority is to build communities. * The next product coming up: a body and intimacy serum. * Advice for other entrepreneurs who are considering a change in direction.

Join Ramon Vela and Brittany Lo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beia Beauty, visit: https://beiabeauty.com/

Note: The Story of a Brand listeners get a 20% discount with "Ramon20"

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Beia Beauty - Making Women Feel Comfortable in Their Skin Apr 13, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Beia Beauty's ultimate mission is to make women feel comfortable in their skin as it relates to their sexual being and physical beauty, says Brittany Lo, the brand's founder and CEO.

It's a mission Brittany has been on since the second grade when she first told her father she wanted to have her own beauty company. She started her first company - offering hair and makeup services for weddings and events - straight out of college.

"My bigger vision has always been (a) product," she says. "But as we all know, there are a lot of beauty brands out there, and I wanted to take the time to figure out where is the white space and where can I thrive in that industry? And so I thought the best place to figure it out was creating a product or a service company where I was constantly talking to women and understanding their pain points to then figure out what this next step would look like."

Brittany found some exciting synergies between perceived beauty and pain points from these discussions with other women.

"It's all about feeling comfortable in your skin, right? So whether that is getting intimate or using beauty products or taking care of your body by eating healthy, feeling comfortable correlates very strongly with your confidence level," she says.

The COVID pandemic - when weddings and events were suddenly postponed indefinitely - caused Brittany to switch her focus from a service-first company to a product-based brand.

"As traumatic as it was, it has been a turning point in my life," she says.

In Part 1, Brittany talks about:

* Gratitude for a sixth-grade teacher who first gave her hope in pursuing a career in business. * When she got her initial inspiration for starting a skincare brand. * How the anxieties associated with the dating scene in New York City drove her direction. * How using her mother's makeup at a very early age changed her confidence. * The COVID pandemic's effect on her original service-oriented business and her subsequent shift to Beia. * How she leveraged her team of hairstylists and makeup artists - and their experience in skincare products - to help with market research for Beia.

Join Ramon Vela and Brittany Lo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beia Beauty, visit: https://beiabeauty.com/

Note: The Story of a Brand listeners get a 20% discount with "Ramon20"

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

WashBar - Making Pet Parent’s Lives Easier Apr 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

WashBar's product is a soap bar, says Louise Knight, owner of the New Zealand-based brand that produces all-natural skin and coat care products for pets.

Unlike liquid dog shampoos, WashBar isn't poured onto a dog's coat - it's used with water to create a lather. It's also easier to hold so a pet parent can clean all the hard-to-reach areas on a dog.

"It's just a generally more enjoyable experience for everybody," says Louise. "That's something that we were interested in, making people's lives a little bit easier so they can get on and get out and enjoy their walks with the dog and throw the stick or throw the ball or whatever it is the dog's into."

To that end, all the ingredients used in WashBar are safe, non-toxic, and human-grade. The brand's relatively new website takes the time to explain the soap's components. It also features blogs that answer common questions from pet parents.

Future plans include the development of a gentle wash bar, which is intended for use on younger dogs and puppies.

Something not in her plans: returning to the corporate world.

"Sometimes you look at other people, and you think they've got it all or everything's all the boxes are checked, and everything appears perfect," she says. "Nothing is perfect ... we've all got our challenges. But if you dive into the bits (and) pieces of your life that you're good at ... there are a lot of benefits. You'll get a lot of love."

In Part 2, Louise talks about:

* How the bar of soap is designed mainly for dogs. * Why the customer base is so strong in New Zealand and her desire to grow a similar community in the United States. * Taking a tour through the website, which is relatively new. * The brand's various products, including a beeswax-based balm. * Advice for others on the entrepreneurship journey.

Join Ramon Vela and Louise Knight as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on WashBar, visit: https://washbar.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Ecommerce founders from around the world use Mercury for FDIC-insured U.S. bank accounts, with no visit to a physical bank branch is required.

Get physical & virtual debit cards, domestic & international wires, and integrations with essential payment processors, from Amazon to Shopify to Etsy and more. Plus, access the best-fit financing for your company with Mercury Capital, available just for Mercury customers.

Apply from anywhere in minutes and receive $100 when you make your first deposit. All banking services provided by banking partner Evolve Bank and Trust."

Growth-accelerating products for startups, ecommerce stores, angel investors, & more. Visit https://mercury.com/storyofabrand

WashBar - Healthy Dog Soap with No “Nasty” Ingredients Apr 12, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Mercury

The ultimate endpoint for WashBar is a great relationship between a dog and a pet parent, says Louise Knight, owner of the New Zealand-based brand that produces all-natural skin and coat care products for pets.

That endpoint didn't come without an unusual journey, Louise says. Her career began as a consumer goods marketer before taking time off to raise her children. She and her husband planned to start this business venture together, but he got another full-time opportunity just days before they took over the brand.

"I liken it to standing on a clifftop and wondering whether you jump off ... is the parachute going to open?" says Louise. "How's it going to end? You don't know until you take the risk and you jump."

One of the ways she minimized the initial risks was by outsourcing specific tasks to experts.

"I think that's probably been my biggest learning," she says. "My first year of the business, I tried to do everything myself - (it) didn't work."

The product itself has "no nasties," as Louise calls them. That means no fragrances, no sulfates, no parabens. Instead, WashBar uses some unique ingredients native to New Zealand to help ease itchiness.

"The very best part of my day is talking to people who have a problem with their dog's skin and wondering how to fix it," she says. "Every story is different (but) they just want one thing. They want the dogs to be comfortable, and they want them to be able to get out and enjoy life and have their daily adventures."

In Part 1, Louise talks about:

* Gratitude for her husband's support and encouragement. * The unlikely journey she took to becoming the brand's owner. * How she feels energized talking about her business. * Why she outsourced many of the business's aspects at the start. * How she equates her skincare regime with her dog's care. * The fun of talking up New Zealand and its products to pet parents worldwide.

Join Ramon Vela and Louise Knight as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on WashBar, visit: https://washbar.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Mercury

Ecommerce founders from around the world use Mercury for FDIC-insured U.S. bank accounts, with no visit to a physical bank branch is required.

Get physical & virtual debit cards, domestic & international wires, and integrations with essential payment processors, from Amazon to Shopify to Etsy and more. Plus, access the best-fit financing for your company with Mercury Capital, available just for Mercury customers.

Apply from anywhere in minutes and receive $100 when you make your first deposit. All banking services provided by banking partner Evolve Bank and Trust."

Growth-accelerating products for startups, ecommerce stores, angel investors, & more. Visit https://mercury.com/storyofabrand

Shaker & Spoon - The Chemistry Set for Adults Apr 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Not to denigrate other subscription services, but Shaker & Spoon isn't just "stuff in a box," insist co-founders Anna Gorovoy and Mike Milyavsky. There's passion, a knowledge base, an online community, and the recipe and ingredients.

Early feedback to the box called it "a chemistry set for adults," Anna says.

"People will stick with you if it's wonderful, if the cocktails are inventive, if everything is exciting and delicious," Anna says. "We've also always focused on the customer experience and aimed to go above and beyond in terms of the support that we provide to anyone who is contacting us, who needs anything, whether it's a problem with their package or just some mixology advice, you know, we're there."

Anna says that listening to what people want seems so simple, but it's critical.

Shaker & Spoon was a "bootstrap" company from the beginning, so how they spend money to advertise the brand is critical, Mike says because you're essentially paying someone to visit your storefront or website.

"Your store needs to be ready," Mike says. "Your product needs to be ready. Your customer experience needs to be ready before you invite the traffic in...these are lessons you learn when you have no money."

Shaker & Spoon isn't in retail stores yet, but it's a strategy that could come into plan. First up is a product aimed at the bar industry.

Recently, the brand did a large fundraiser with proceeds donated to charities in war-torn Ukraine. Both Anna and Mike are from families that fled from the former Soviet Union. It's an experience that they translate into their business lives.

"I sometimes think when you're fearful about things, it's a great example to put things in context," Anna says. "I mean, we love what we do, we do this business, and so forth. And we take the risk, and there's obviously a downside potential. But, you know, it pales in comparison to the kind of bravery (of) coming to a whole new country...it does put stuff in context, right?"

In Part 2, Anna and Mike talk about: * What sets Shaker & Spoon apart from other subscription services. * How the brand has generated and cultivated its fan base. * Capturing the right audience for the website. * How to take a tour of the brand's website. * Future plans for a product for the bar industry, which has been reaching out to the brand to feature its cocktails. * The brand's footprint on social media. * The co-founders' thoughts on the Ukraine war - Mike and Anna are refugees from the former Soviet Union.

Join Ramon Vela, Anna Gorovoy and Mike Milyavsky as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Shaker & Spoon, visit: https://shakerandspoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Shaker & Spoon - The Blue Apron for Cocktails Apr 11, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Shaker & Spoon aims to be the closest translation between the best craft cocktails globally and people's homes. The brand, an e-commerce subscription box service featuring cocktail recipes and ingredients, was co-founded by Anna Gorovoy and Mike Milyavsky.

The brand has an elevator pitch: "Blue Apron for cocktails."

"We work with really great award-winning bartenders to create original recipes for our box, so you're getting something special and exclusive," Anna says.

As Anna calls it, Shaker & Spoon's "360 experience" includes music playlists, food pairings from bartenders, and even virtual happy hours.

"It's not just the box - I like to say that it's a whole lifestyle," Anna says. "We have a community Facebook group, 16,000 members and growing that is just hopping every day. ... I'm proud of what we're doing because it brings a lot of joy to people."

From an entrepreneurship point of view, both Anna and Mike had previous experience running businesses. Still, they craved the opportunity to create a physical product inspired by the craft cocktail scene.

The partners quickly realized that the brand shouldn't provide the actual alcohol - the red tape and varying liquor laws are too challenging.

"Anybody can get a bottle of vodka or whiskey," Mike says. "What we (do) is to showcase what a spirit can do."

In Part 1, Anna and Mike talk about:

* Gratitude for the small business community in New York. * Why the brand is "Blue Apron for cocktails." The box supplies the recipes and ingredients - the customer recreates the cocktails at home. * How the COVID pandemic helped fuel the brand's growth. * How the Facebook community is also a vital part of the brand's identity. * Members coordinated a Zoom meet-up event in 2021 with groups meeting up in person or online across the country. * How the company worked with hospitals and other essential businesses during the pandemic to provide support. * Why community and connection are at the brand's core, sharing a story about a Florida member who traveled up the East Coast and met fellow members along the way. * Why the brand doesn't provide the actual alcohol but instead the focus is on the recipe and ingredients.

Join Ramon Vela, Anna Gorovoy and Mike Milyavsky as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Shaker & Spoon, visit: https://shakerandspoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Hiyo - Sneaking Health and Wellness into the Social Setting Apr 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Everything at Hiyo is based on creating a happy, calming customer experience - including the reaction to just seeing the beverage's can, says George Youmans, chief revenue officer and co-founder of Hiyo.

Of course, part of that experience is the beverage itself, which features light, fruit-forward flavors, and a bubbly drink.

"We wanted it to be just delightful and flavorful where we kind of like sneakily put in all this healthy stuff so that you didn't know," George says. That includes organic adaptogens like ashwagandha and cordyceps, natural nootropics like lion’s mane and l-theanine, and functional botanicals like ginger and turmeric.

"We're sneaking health and wellness into the social setting," George says. "Don't tell anybody, but that's what we're trying to do."

Plans for the next year include rolling out a retail presence, though California and Texas will be the first markets, for now, George says. The success there will determine when a national rollout could happen.

The product's ingredients and price point are also constantly under examination.

"We want to be a drink that makes it easier for people to drink less," George says. "If we go hyper uber premium all the time, we're going to price out a lot of people. And that's not in line with what I want to do."

George says entrepreneurship is about solving problems like this, which excites him each morning.

"How lucky am I, right?" George says.

In Part 2, George talks about:

* The brand's strategy of mixing fruity flavors with healthy ingredients. * Why the beverage includes cordyceps instead of caffeine. * The brand's mission is to bring health and wellness into the social setting. * Why the company's target consumer is anyone trying to drink less. * Hilo's retail market plan for the following year. * Why the brand's price point makes it a premium drink at this time, but why the ultimate goal is to create a drink that everyone can enjoy.

Join Ramon Vela and George Youmans as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hiyo, visit: https://drinkhiyo.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Hiyo - A Healthier Way to Unwind Apr 07, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Hiyo is a "healthier way to unwind," says George Youmans, chief revenue officer and co-founder of the brand. It's a 12-ounce bubbly, fruit-forward seltzer designed to relieve stress, boost moods, and provide an alternative to alcohol.

"Our whole intention was to make it easier to drink a little bit less and hopefully change the way the world drinks," George says.

Discovering that the available non-alcoholic drinks of the day were unsatisfying, George and his partner decided to create a product with both delicious flavors and a mood-boosting component.

"So many people are looking for that when they're cracking open a beer or a nice glass of wine - they're looking to unwind a little bit," George says. "We wanted to provide that feeling to a certain degree, but from healthy, functional ingredients. So it's not apples to apples - like it's not an inebriating drink by any means, but it is something that can kind of take off the edge a little bit."

George says one phenomenon that may have helped the brand was the global pandemic. Often when alcohol abuse rises, the COVID shutdown also causes some people to re-examine their relationship with alcohol and re-prioritize their health and productivity.

On the flip side, the current inflationary economy could challenge the premium beverage market. Still, George says he feels discretionary spending will likely impact clothing and travel budgets before affecting the health food space.

One key to the brand's success is a more laid-back approach to marketing.

"People don't want to be sold to," George says. "I don't think brands give your consumers enough credit, and people will get there on their own."

In Part 1, George talks about:

* Gratitude for his parents' encouragement and financial support in starting Hiyo. * How having family members hospitalized for alcohol-related issues sparked the idea for the product. * How the COVID pandemic positioned the brand as a healthy alternative to alcohol abuse. * Why the brand's marketing hasn't been as challenging as expected. * Other challenges include supply chain issues, expensive ingredients, and a more competitive marketplace. * How the brand's youth has also helped in the DTC space. * His reluctance to use Facebook and Instagram as marketing tools. * The strategies of where to spend your bandwidth as an early-stage brand.

Join Ramon Vela and George Youmans as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hiyo, visit: https://drinkhiyo.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Wag Tantrum - Healthy Dog Food Equals Preventative Care Apr 05, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Not every dog food on the market is poorly made, but there are so many different levels of quality that pet owners can get quickly confused, says Barbara Marshall, founder of Wag Tantrum, an all-organic, human-grade dog food company.

Besides water, the most essential ingredient in a dog's diet is protein, Barbara says. Carbohydrates and vegetables are essential too.

"Remember protein," she says. "Our dogs are carnivores."

Wag Tantrum's recipes include ingredients that cost a bit more than other dog food brands, but that's keeping in line with the company's mission to offer human-grade food.

"In for a penny, in for a pound," Barbara says about the company's investment in organic ingredients. "Help us disrupt an industry that's not feeding our dogs up to par with what they should be getting. We need all the help we can get. And it only helps you in the long run because your animal is going to be healthier."

In Part 2, Barbara talks about:

* The importance of protein and carbs in a dog's diet. * How superfoods such as quinoa play a role in Wag Tantrum's recipes. * Why the brand chose white-meat chicken and other premium ingredients over cheaper cuts in its recipes. * The happy stories the brand has received from consumers. * How dog food can be preventative care. * Walking a consumer through the brand's website. * The brand's social footprint.

Join Ramon Vela and Barbara Marshall as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wag Tantrum, visit: https://wagtantrum.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Wag Tantrum - Disrupting the Dog Food World with Healthy Food Apr 05, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Dog food that's safe and healthy enough for humans to eat? That's what Wag Tantrum is offering its customers, says Barbara Marshall, founder of the all-organic, human-grade dog food company.

"You can truly, truly eat it if you want to ... and if you do, I'm really going to suggest some hot sauce because it's a little on the bland side, but it's actually good, and it's good for you," Barbara says.

Barbara worked for ten years with her seven dogs on recipes that would make their lives healthier and happier.

"We need to be part of a change. We need to disrupt the dog food world," she says. "We need to help our pets get healthier. And we need to work with breeders to tell them the importance of good food so they can start reading these dogs that have a better chance at life."

Right now, in the U.S., 52 percent of dogs are overweight, and 80 percent of dogs over the age of 10 are diagnosed with cancer. That can be changed with a better diet, Barbara says.

Barbara says that getting their dog food to the consumer proved more difficult than expected, but starting the company small did help.

In Part 1, Barbara talks about:

* Gratitude for her family's support and encouragement. * How working with a company known for supplying custom-made vitamins to physicians was key to the company's mission. * How she got inspiration from her boxer puppy who had stage two cancer. * Why 52 percent of dogs are considered overweight in the U.S. * How getting the product to the market was difficult and expensive. * How finding the right partners proved key to getting off the ground. * Her surprise over the lack of regulation in the dog food space.

Join Ramon Vela and Barbara Marshall as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wag Tantrum, visit: https://wagtantrum.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

HydraPak - Focused on Hydration Mar 31, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane and Mercury.

Starting HydraPak in the wake of the 9-11 tragedy might have given the business an added bump, says Matt Lyon, president, and CEO of the hydration brand for athletes.

"All things considered, if you're trying to start a business and in the middle of an expansion and everybody's running around doing everything they can, you've got to do everything just to get their attention," Matt says. "Trying to do it when things are slow, and people have stopped, and they're standing there, and they're looking around, that's the great time to get their attention and a great time introducing them to something new."

The lightbulb moment, Matt says, was when he realized that backpack manufacturers already made great products - they just didn't understand the hydration and plumbing side. Partnering up to help solve that problem was the open door they needed to find.

"Water always boils down to something simple, right? It's you don't want to spend too much weight on it. You don't want to spend too much time. You've got to clean it. So simple things always work better," Matt says. And so when you boil it down to these simple elements, it's usually just one or two things that really work better for what you're doing versus something else. And yeah, you can get by with something else. You could get but, but it's those one or two features that really can make your experience better. So I'd say I start with the question, What are you doing? What are you using it for? And probably make something just for you.

In Part 2, Matt talks about:

* How great businesses can be born during recessions and downtimes. * How focusing on hydration solutions helped drive innovations in HydraPak's products. * Sticking to their guns despite initial resistance from brands made all the difference. * Why he enjoys talking to athletes at consumer events and professional athletes at larger companies. * How the brand's focus has allowed them to specialize over time.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Lyon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HydraPak, visit: https://hydrapak.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Ecommerce founders worldwide use Mercury for FDIC-insured U.S. bank accounts, with no visit to a physical bank branch is required.

Get physical & virtual debit cards, domestic & international wires, and integrations with essential payment processors, from Amazon to Shopify to Etsy and more. Plus, access the best-fit financing for your company with Mercury Capital, available just for Mercury customers.

Apply from anywhere in minutes and receive $100 when you make your first deposit. All banking services provided by banking partner Evolve Bank and Trust."

Growth-accelerating products for startups, ecommerce stores, angel investors, & more. Visit https://mercury.com/storyofabrand

HydraPak - The Courage to Be Innovative Mar 31, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane and Mercury.

HydraPak is a performance hydration brand focused on hikers, bikers, and cyclists says president and CEO Matt Lyon. The company, which has three brands, has been around for 20 years.

"I don't know if we would have made it if we were a VC model because the first five years were pretty rough," Matt says. "But what that really taught us was figuring out what we did uniquely and where we brought value to the table. And I always say figure out what people desire, and you have to get in between, what they desire and what the solution is."

HydraPak has three brands: hydration reservoirs, bicycle bottles, and effervescent cleaning tablets (for cleaning steel bottles).

Much of HydraPak's success is due to the long-term relationships with suppliers, employees, and customers. That goes for the competition too.

"The people I was competing with on day one are still the companies I'm competing with today," Matt says. "So as much as we innovate and do new things, it's been a very consistent marketplace. We've just been fortunate to grow from being a start-up to being one of the significant players in this space."

An early challenge that faced HydraPak was the pressure to produce products similar to market leaders. Matt says it was his instinct toward differentiation that allowed HydraPak to survive ultimately.

In Part 1, Matt talks about:

* Gratitude toward his father for inspiring the idea to start a company and continued support. * Why the brand wasn't a good fit with the venture capital business model. * The focus of the company's three brands. * The consistency of the marketplace. * How the company's launch came right after the Sept. 11 tragedies and how it became a good time for him to start a business. * How he temporarily turned his back on his instinct to focus on differentiation in the beginning days of the company. * How his involvement in the company helped through his involvement as a runner and cyclist. * The effect of the COVID pandemic on HydraPak.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Lyon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on HydraPak, visit: https://hydrapak.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is brought to you by Mercury.

Ecommerce founders worldwide use Mercury for FDIC-insured U.S. bank accounts, where no visit to a physical bank branch is required.

Get physical & virtual debit cards, domestic & international wires, and integrations with essential payment processors, from Amazon to Shopify to Etsy and more. Plus, access the best-fit financing for your company with Mercury Capital, available just for Mercury customers.

Apply from anywhere in minutes and receive $100 when you make your first deposit. All banking services provided by banking partner Evolve Bank and Trust."

Growth-accelerating products for startups, ecommerce stores, angel investors, & more. Visit https://mercury.com/storyofabrand

Banish - Let the Results Speak for Themselves Mar 29, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Speaking to her customers is a passion and critical element of the brand, says Daisy Jing, founder and CEO of Banish, the skincare brand that focuses on acne treatment.

"I'm constantly talking (to customers). We call them our soldiers. I'm constantly talking to them because, you know, in skincare, there are a million different products, right? There are a million different needs," Daisy says. "I want to make sure that we're close to our customers and giving them what they actually need."

Another essential facet of Banish's business plan is the number of products produced. They have launched seven products in nine years of business because each new product takes years to develop.

"Of course, it would help revenue if we had more products to sell," Daisy says. "But if you have acne, you can't use ten different products. You have to stick with the basics."

As a small business, throwing millions of dollars on a marketing plan isn't in the cards, Daisy says, so she focuses on creating the best products with the best ingredients. Let the results speak for themselves.

In Part 2, Daisy talks about:

* Her need to stay in constant touch with the brand's customers. * The nuances of skincare products that consumers don't know. * The story behind the formulation of Banish's sunscreen product. * How sticking to fewer products helps the brand and its customers. * Why people don't focus on the right metrics when shopping for skincare. * How and why the brand's community focuses on people's stories. * Where to start on the Banish website.

Join Ramon Vela and Daisy Jing as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Banish, visit: https://banish.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Banish - It's Not How You Look, It's How You Feel Mar 29, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Banish is on a mission to make every person feel confident - with or without acne, says Daisy Jing, Founder and CEO of the skincare brand.

"When I had my experience with acne, I felt like I needed to hide," Daisy says. "I couldn't leave my house. I had to wear ten layers of makeup. But our mission is to make everyone feel confident about who they are, regardless of their skin condition."

Daisy's journey began in college when she started recording YouTube videos reviewing various skincare products. She found that she had developed a loyal following and then began formulating products on her own. Banish essentially started when she started shipping those products out to followers.

"There wasn't like a huge business plan ... I had intentions of going to med school, all of that. I just wanted to help people with their problems. I solved mine. I wanted to help others," Daisy says. "And that's how Banish was born."

Her advice to others is just starting a brand: Take it one step at a time, and don't be distracted by things that don't help your business. Focus on the basics of business.

In Part 1, Daisy talks about:

* Gratitude toward one of her earliest hires. * Her experience of having acne since the third grade. * Why it's not the way you look that matters; it's how you feel that's important. * Her company's philosophy about social media. * How her YouTube reviews of skincare products sparked the idea for the brand. * The discouragement she got from those around her when first dreaming up the brand.

Join Ramon Vela and Daisy Jing as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Banish, visit: https://banish.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Evvy - Helping Women Advocate for their Health Mar 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Evvy is trying to rebuild the relationship between their members and the health care system, says Priyanka Jain, co-founder of CEO of Evvy. To that end, the brand uses "health coaches" who are trained to help patients better understand the results of their vaginal health tests.

"A lot of what we do is help people advocate for themselves," Priyanka says. "I think, unfortunately, a lot of our members have disengaged from the health care system. I think they feel burned...and we very much are trying to educate women with the information and the research that they can then bring to their provider to have a much more educated and productive conversation."

In order to create the much-needed community behind the brand, Evvy has invested heavily in building up content across different types of social media, she says.

Evvy's team includes a wide range of experts, doctors, and professionals in the company's ranks and on the board.

"We always say one of our values is leveraging each other's superpowers," Priyanka says. In addition, Priyanka and her co-founder work with 45 other founders in the women's health space.

In Part 2, Priyanka talks about:

* The disconnect between women and the health care system. * How community and education are integral parts of the Evvy solution. * The challenges of starting up Evvy because people didn't understand that they're not a "life stage company" and are instead focused on everyone who has a vagina at any stage of their lives. That being said, Evvy serves anyone over the age of 18. * Why it's essential to bring health care expertise to the table. * Her strong belief in collaboration, including academic and clinical collaboration. * Where to start on the company's website and how to access information.

Join Ramon Vela and Priyanka Jain as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Evvy, visit: https://www.evvy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Evvy - The Science of Women's Health Mar 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

There is so much unknown about the female body - particularly how disease manifests itself in the female body, says Priyanka Jain, co-founder of CEO of Evvy. That's why her brand is focused on discovering and leveraging "biomarkers" to better understand the science of female health.

"Unfortunately for most of history, we only studied middle-aged, mid-sized white men, and we assumed that women were small men," Priyanka says. "(It) turns out there is more to the story, and our goal at Evvy is to find out what those other stories are."

In 2020, women, were diagnosed four years later than men across 770 diseases. That's partly because most of the metrics are based on middle-aged, mid-sized men. Priyanka hopes Evvy can be part of the solution that changes those percentages.

She mentions that the vaginal microbiome is the cause of common conditions in women's health, including yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis.

To begin the journey to better health awareness, Evvy offers vaginal health tests that can be used at home. The patient uses a cotton swab and then sends back to a lab for testing. That's the start of the educational experience, Priyanka says.

In Part 1, Priyanka talks about:

* Gratitude for the support and encouragement from her co-founder Laine Bruzek. * The continued challenges facing female health care. * Her lifelong passion for making life better for women, whether in health care, education, leadership programs, and more. * Helping to solve the problem starts with giving people with vaginas access to information on their bodies. * Explaining the importance of the vaginal microbiome. * Why throwing a "bomb" of antibiotics at common vaginal issues isn't the right medical solution.

Join Ramon Vela and Priyanka Jain as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Evvy, visit: https://www.evvy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Heart Soul Heat - An Uncomplicated, Raw, Beautiful Thing Mar 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Reinvention can be brought about by major external forces or through an inner need to change, says Raoul Benavides, founder of Heart Soul Heat.

Raoul's career path - and his reinvention - has included stints as a photographer, record store owner, and now the founder of a brand that makes spicy hot honey.

"Sometimes you go one way, and you exhaust something, and then you find a need for something else, and you reinvent yourself to the left or the right," he says. "There I was."

Heart Soul Heat's ghost honey is "uncomplicated ... a raw, beautiful thing," Raoul says. He uses it on fried foods, pizza, even ice cream.

In Part 2, Raoul talks about:

* The joy of self-awareness in his career. * How failure shows things in a different and important light. * How his honey is an "accessible" way of bringing culture to people who aren't foodies. * Future products include a couple of plant-based products, including possibly spicy candies.

Join Ramon Vela and Raoul Benavides as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heart Soul Heat, visit: https://heartsoulheat.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Heart Soul Heat - The Recipe for DTC Happiness Mar 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

There's "a beauty" to starting a company with one product, says Raoul Benavides, founder of Heart Soul Heat, a brand that makes DTC spicy hot honey.

"The direct-to-consumer space is difficult enough already, and I'm excited that I have the wonderful idea of starting with one product and making the mistakes and watching it grow," Raoul says.

Right now, that product is an American-made, ghost pepper-infused raw honey.

"I'm not driven by money because I know that money will follow where my happiness is," Raoul says. "For me, it's taken me so long to figure out my recipe for happiness. And now that I found it..there are no other gears but my own."

For Raoul, the arena of e-commerce comes down to two things: creativity and vulnerability. The challenge is: What can you do with what you have?

In Part 1, Raoul talks about:

* Gratefulness for the mentors who have guided him along his path in entrepreneurship. * Why he's happy to start his company with just one product. * How his journey revolves around his happiness and not the money. * The closer you are to your product, the more vulnerable you are. And that's a good thing. * The zen of Walt Whitman's philosophy of "containing multitudes" - you can be two or three things simultaneously. * The joy of reinvention and clarity.

Join Ramon Vela and Raoul Benavides as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heart Soul Heat, visit: https://heartsoulheat.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Horatio - Customer Service Trends Impacting Brands Mar 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Aside from serving as a trusted ally to their clients, Horatio also makes it a point to give back to the community in the Dominican Republic, says Jose Herrera, CEO and co-founder of the omnichannel customer support and back-office outsourcing company.

The company's year-round initiative is called Horatio Cares, and it includes tree revitalization projects and food and clothing drives.

"We have a team of over 800 employees, and they all can voluntarily participate in the initiatives that are closer to their hearts," Jose says. In addition, Horatio's clients donate items for the community.

As for working with new clients, Jose says working on the tone of voice for communicating with customers is a top priority. After implementation is complete, only then is a full team hired to service the brand.

"Our model works very well with any company," Jose says.

In Part 2, Jose talks about:

* The company's community service initiative, Horatio Cares. * The implementation timeline and process for new clients. * The importance of tone of voice when creating social channels. * Why teams are completed dedicated to every brand. * Apparel, food and beverage, and crypto are just a few industries Horatio commonly works with. * The most significant trend we can expect is the continued proliferation of channels through which customers can reach you. * Advice for those starting a brand, including reliance on a network of people willing to help. * Listening to your team and resisting the urge to micromanage.

Join Ramon Vela and Jose Herrera as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hire Horatio, visit: https://hirehoratio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Horatio - Do What You Do Best. Hire Horatio for the Rest Mar 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Horatio's company motto is: "Do what you do best and Hire Horatio to do the rest," says Jose Herrera, CEO and Co-Founder of the omnichannel customer support and back-office outsourcing company, Horatio.

It's an appropriate motto because the company's name is based on William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," in which Horatio was Hamlet's only trusted friend, Jose says.

The idea for starting Horatio came as Jose and his co-founders discovered that the outsourcing industry is geared towards telecommunication and large enterprises - not startups and small businesses.

One unexpected factor in the company's development was the acceleration of e-commerce due to the pandemic. As Horatio adjusted its strategy, the company's leaders found the same business models worked for other faster-growing industries.

In Part 1, Jose talks about:

* His gratitude for the inspiration a speaker provided during his MBA studies. * How growing up in the Dominican Republic inspired his passion for working with quality talent. * How the COVID pandemic affected the company's strategy. * Why the Horatio model provides fully dedicated teams for every brand they work with. * How the talent pool in the Dominican Republic has a strong background in customer support for the U.S. market.

Join Ramon Vela and Jose Herrera as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hire Horatio, visit: https://hirehoratio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Blue Circle Foods - Standards that are Above the Rest Mar 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

To make sure everyone has a chance to have seafood in their diet, that's what Blue Circle Foods emphasizes. In the second part, Nina Damato, Product Director of Blue Circle Foods, talks about the absence of certified organic seafood in the US.

Blue Circle Foods institutes its standards in the seafood industry that go way beyond current standards. They sell products like Happy Fish, delicious smoked salmon, and many other products at reasonable prices. They will also launch salmon burgers and sausages in the coming days.

Nina mentions that cold storage has become a hindrance in foods like seafood. The brands are on a mission to make seafood accessible, convenient, and thoughtful.

Here she talked about:

* Absence of certified organic seafood in the US * Blue Circle Foods creating its’ own standards * Supply challenges and big players * Products at Blue Circle Foods * Where they sell * New products * Their mission

Join Ramon Vela and Nina Damato as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Blue Circle Foods, visit: https://bluecirclefoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Blue Circle Foods - Your Trusted Seafood Source Mar 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Your trusted seafood source - that's Blue Circle Foods. Today we have Nina Damato, Product Director of Blue Circle Foods, a sustainable seafood company.

Blue Circle Foods brings sustainably sourced seafood to consumers. They are making seafood preparation less intimidating through their innovative packaging. They work with certification bodies, farmers, and fishers to bring quality, easy to cook, and organic seafood.

Nina grew up in an entrepreneurial environment. Her uncle, dad, and mom started Blue Circle Foods because they wanted to motivate people to try organic seafood. She is a part of a brand that believes in being transparent.

In the first part, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * How they are dealing with challenges around seafood * Sustainability in seafood * How they deal with general trends like meat * What opportunity her uncle, dad, and mom saw in the seafood industry

Join Ramon Vela and Nina Damato as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Blue Circle Foods, visit: https://bluecirclefoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Guide Beauty - Makeup Applied with Confidence Mar 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

I wanted the forms to be so beautiful, and I wanted the formulas to be clean and vegan, and cruelty-free,” says Terri Bryant, founder of Guide Beauty, talking about her products

In part 2, she talks about the WHO’s mathematical model vs. societal model regarding disability. We also listen to her analyzing the design flaws in the products she cannot use. She also explains the importance of including more people in the design process to foster inclusiveness.

Later, Terri humorously explains the joke regarding applying eyeliner and how her eyeliner applicator makes applying eyeliner easier. No matter what technique someone uses, the products have built-in stability and will work perfectly when applying eyeliner.

She also talks about:

* Inclusive design and societal model of disability * How her tools help you with applying makeup * She walks us through her hero product * Focusing on the form and functionality of her products * Brief about the design changes and her product’s USP

Join Ramon Vela and Terri Bryant as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Guide Beauty, visit: https://www.guidebeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Guide Beauty - Solving for Exclusion Mar 17, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“A great way to design is to look for exclusion and solve for it on a personal level...that solve will actually make it better for the whole,” says Terri Bryant, founder of Guide Beauty.

Terri has been in the beauty industry for the last 25 years. She started as a makeup artist and spent the previous 20+ developing artistry and education programs for companies like DIOR, Jose Maria.

Five years back, she started having problems doing her own makeup. Later, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's and lost the ability to work as a professional makeup artist.

That day, Guide Beauty was born. Her goal was to create makeup and tools to get back into the game. Somewhere along the way, she made a prototype for herself. But it ended up helping others apply makeup easily.

She also talked about :

* How she changed her perspective after being diagnosed with Parkinson * Turning a burden into a gift. * How her brand embraces radical inclusivity * Inclusivity helps brands create better products * Introduction of universal designs for her products

Join Ramon Vela and Terri Bryant as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Guide Beauty, visit: https://www.guidebeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Grande Cosmetics - There is No Later. There is Only Now. Mar 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

There is no later; there’s only now - that's what Alicia thinks about the path to achieving success. In the second part, Alicia Grande, Founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics, talks about her experience building the business through trade shows.

She then advised new entrepreneurs to make products that work and be authentic. According to her, being passionate and having grit and patience are essential. She also tells us to never get comfortable.

Alicia continued putting money in marketing even after partnering with big retailers like Sephora and Amazon. She has a background in marketing and has worked as a salesperson before starting Grande Cosmetics. Her brand provides cosmetics that are safe, efficacious, and priced right.

She talked about:

* How to work Trade shows * Advice for new entrepreneurs * Why do people repurchase their products * Getting into Sephora * Her background * Products by Grande Cosmetics * Affiliate program * Her last advice

Join Ramon Vela and Alicia Grande as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Grande Cosmetics, visit: https://grandecosmetics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Grande Cosmetics - Treat People How You Want to Be Treated Mar 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Treat people how you want to be treated - that's Alicia's motto. Today we have Alicia Grande, Founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics, a cosmetic brand.

Alicia comes from a cosmetic background. She was obsessed with beauty enhancement when she started Grande Cosmetics in 2008. To her, authenticity is a big thing in business. She also feels strongly about giving the consumer lots of value for their money.

She also cares for her employees. She has a personal relationship with employees, which is why the brand has a considerable retention rate of 97 percent. According to her, there should be no room for negativity in business. At Grande Cosmetics, nobody is suppressed, employees are encouraged, and their talent is valued.

In the first half, she talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * How she got started * How she manages culture within the business * Building Grande Cosmetics community * Serum market and product efficacy

Join Ramon Vela and Alicia Grande as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Grande Cosmetics, visit: https://grandecosmetics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Rebuy Engine - Create Intelligent Shopping Experiences Mar 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

To create intelligent shopping experiences - that's the mission of Rebuy. In the second part, John Erck, Co-Founder and CEO of Rebuy Engine, says that they build things when either there’s demand or when "new dreams arise."

Empathy, hard work, and respect are the company's values. For onboarding with Rebuy, brands don't need a vast product catalog. Brands with only one product or less than 50 sales can try their free plans. What's important is getting started by allowing their intelligent engine to learn from buyers' behaviors.

Rebuy has experience in working with names like partners like Attentive, and many more. Currently, the brand is building out a suite of high-performing, high-converting landing pages that have specific use cases.

He talked about:

* Criteria set by Rebuy * AI and its predictions * Brand's onboarding process * Apps Rebuy works with * Their next evolution * Place to dream

Join Ramon Vela and John Erck as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rebuy Engine, visit: https://rebuyengine.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Rebuy Engine - Personalizing Every Customer Interaction Mar 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

We personalize every customer interaction - that's how Rebuy enriches online stores. Today we have John Erck, Co-Founder and CEO of Rebuy Engine, an e-commerce personalization engine.

John had experience with Shopify and app development. But he wanted to build something new, so he and his co-founder came up with the idea for Rebuy. A personalization and recommendation engine that helps transform an online store from a basic online store into an intelligent, data-driven one.

This engine gives intelligent product recommendations to customers just like the experience big players such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon provide to their consumers. According to John, at Rebuy, everybody gets to refine the leader in themselves.

In the first part, he talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Democratizing personalization technology * Example of Netflix and YouTube * What led him to Rebuy * His Shopify experience * His motivation for Rebuy

Join Ramon Vela and John Erck as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rebuy Engine, visit: https://rebuyengine.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Needed - A Complete Prenatal Nutrition Plan Mar 08, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo and Ordergroove.

Helping our customers better understand their needs is the mission of Needed. In the second part, Julie Sawaya - Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Needed, says that they are not just about profit. The brand wants to benefit people, too, and that's why it offers testing for omega and vitamin D deficiencies.

Julie mentions that entrepreneurship is one intense journey that requires you to live and breathe your mission. She also advises you to fully believe in your idea.

Needed is a brand that is a one-stop destination where one meets all her nutrition needs around the pregnancy stage. They have customized nutrition plans. They will also introduce a gummy version of nutritional supplements in the future.

Here he talked about:

* Data-centric products * Testing offered by Needed * Advice for entrepreneurs * Products and plans from Needed * Recommendation for new customers * What's coming up next

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Sawaya as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Needed, visit: https://thisisneeded.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Needed - Helping Women Meet their Optimal Nutritional Needs Mar 08, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo and Ordergroove.

Helping women meet their optimal nutrition needs is what Julie is passionate about. Today we have Julie Sawaya - Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Needed, a perinatal nutrition company.

Julie had a career in finance and investing. She had been a nutrition enthusiast forever. She and Ryan, her co-founder, noticed a gap in the prenatal vitamin industry. They saw that most prenatal vitamins were not designed to nourish women optimally.

So, they stepped in. Needed is a brand that was started with the foundation of “understanding what is needed.” They are a company that offers optimal nutritional supplements, education, and a community for women and men.

In the first part, she talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * What compelled her for starting this business * What's missing in prenatal * Example of Choline * Research and the research gap * Plant-based nutrition

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Sawaya as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Needed, visit: https://thisisneeded.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Sendlane - The Good Partner Ripple Effect Mar 05, 2022

When thinking of partnerships, don't be too narrow, cautions Andrew Christison, vice president of strategic partnerships at Sendlane. Good partners do more than provide leads; they can give knowledge and insider information.

Sendlane is focused on the e-commerce customer experience, Andrew says. That means more personalized marketing, better timing, better testing, and better delivery. All that can yield exponential rewards.

Many of the most successful companies Andrew and Sendlane have worked with focus on "conscious capitalism," focusing on sustainability. Customers today care more about the backstories and look for value alignment.

In Part 2, Andrew talks about:

* How Steve Jobs and Apple succeeded with partner and product development. * Why improving customer experience should be a mission. * Good partnerships can create a ripple effect. * Why consumers look for value alignment. * The application of the Parthenon theory in business. * Make sure you explore every avenue that can become a pillar for your business. * Future plans, including coupling working with agencies across the board for different service lines.

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Christison as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sendlane, visit: https://www.sendlane.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Sendlane - Building Partnership Karma Mar 05, 2022

A partner program is an "interconnectedness of ecosystems," says Andrew Christison, vice president of strategic partnerships at Sendlane, an email and SMS marketing automation platform for e-merchants.

Andrew has been in the e-commerce and marketing ecosystem for 8 1/2 years, getting started at an email marketing agency. He moved to Sendlane six months ago "to work with kind of the heart and soul of the industry in every phase of the world in which we're kind of seeing the rise of the merchant class."

"I believe that the pie can always be bigger. We can all be successful," Andrew says. "I think everybody is going through their own hero's journey in life and especially merchants, founders, marketers, and startups and small organizations…So when I'm thinking about how I'm building an ecosystem or how to grow an ecosystem, or how to be strategic across the board, it always makes sense to lead with generosity in every way, shape, and form."

Andrew says the more you know, the more you can advise and help people.

In Part 1, Andrew talks about:

* Gratitude toward his mother for encouraging him to be a better public speaker. * How communication has become the foundation of his career. * What makes for a good partner. * The context and perspective he has gained from working with businesses that had sound fundamentals but also have pushed their business and industry forward. * Why the pie getting bigger is better for everyone. * How being generous to others builds reciprocity and karma.

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Christison as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sendlane, visit: https://www.sendlane.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Wings & Arrow - Authenticity in the Beverage Space Mar 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

When Josh Landan, founder of holding company Wings & Arrow, began looking at possible new beverages in the alcohol space, he wanted to put his own spin on things.

"I'm kind of thinking about why I should just do my own that I can be excited about and get everybody else excited about," he says. "Wow, can I make this product better? How can I make it taste different? And how could I position our brand to have a little bit more authenticity and feeling behind it?"

Authenticity, indeed, along with personal ownership, is a critical part of Josh's strategy.

"I still do the Instagram. And I speak about our products and interact with folks like it's me ..." he says. "It's the only real marketing that we do, and you know, I want people to hear it in my voice."

Wings & Arrow is the holding company for Ashland Seltzer and Villager Spirits. Other brands are coming soon, Josh says, as the company tries to hit all the "beyond beer" categories in the United States.

"Most people never push themselves into the deep end ... it's a scary deal," Josh says. "But that's part of the reason I think that's probably the biggest reason why I was able to raise $3 million for Saint Archer right away ... People believe in that passion, and they trust it."

In Part 2, Josh talks about:

* The influence locally crafted beer had on his business decisions. * The decision to handle marketing himself, so it sounds authentic. * His desire to find a cleaner version of competing hard seltzers, which Josh believes have a particular aftertaste. * The need for a large staff of alcohol business veterans to make progress. * How the infrastructure is in place for new brands - the distributors and retailers are all in place. * How people's trust in his vision fueled investments. * There's no formula for product development. It's a matter of customer connection, price point, and finding something different than everything else out there.

Join Ramon Vela and Josh Landan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wings & Arrow, visit: https://www.wingsandarrowllc.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Wings & Arrow - The Premier “Beyond Beer” Beverage Holding Co. Mar 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The goal of Wings & Arrow is to build an LLC brand house worth of brands that are the premier "beyond beer" beverage categories in the country, says Josh Landan, founder of the holding company.

It's been an unusual journey, says Josh, who insists he's not a brewer and knows nothing about beer. Instead, his career was filming documentaries specializing in making surf films.

Josh says that developing Saint Archer as a brand helped him develop into a leader who wasn't motivated by money, Josh says.

"You don't know if you're motivated by the money until you have the money, right?" Josh says. "If you want to keep going and creating and building new businesses, well, then you're you're an entrepreneur."

In that same regard, Josh says he doesn't believe in the concept of work-life balance. "You want to tell everyone you're an entrepreneur? This never turns off," Josh says. "That's just what it takes. ... I don't need a work-life balance."

In Part 1, Josh talks about:

* Gratitude toward his mother and wife for their support and encouragement. * The "craziness" of creating separate businesses, capital raises, and employees for his different brands. * Creating a group of brands in the alcohol business is relatively uncommon. * How becoming a part of the tight-knit community of surfing and skating industries gave him the confidence to tackle the beverage business. * How Saint Archer developed his leadership skills. * His feelings on "work-life balance" and how it works for entrepreneurs. * His opinion on the difference between an employee, a business owner, and an entrepreneur.

Join Ramon Vela and Josh Landan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wings & Arrow, visit: https://www.wingsandarrowllc.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Take My Face Off - Let Me Introduce You to the Mitty Mar 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Amanda McIntosh, the founder of Take My Face Off, says that at the beginning of developing her product, the key to getting good feedback is giving testers enough information to imagine the final product.

Other early hurdles included finding a producer, answering questions from retailers, and learning the industry terms, she says.

"I was a very, very lucky person who did some very brash things," Amanda says.

The entire experience taught her this: If you don't have a lot of buzz behind your brand, retailers won't have an incentive to make sure your launch is successful.

"I think it is a rude awakening for a lot of small brands to realize that just because you get into a retailer does not mean you've made it - far from it," she says.

In Part 2, Amanda talks about:

* How she struggled to test her product because colleagues couldn't envision the idea. * How an early breakthrough with a Sephora representative became a great lesson learned. * Why retail buyers are "deers in the headlights" right now. * Why small brands are in for a rude awakening when dealing with retailers. * The difference in customer acquisition cost in retail vs. your website. * Why some people giving advice are giving out outdated information. * Why testing the products to ensure they're genuinely green is essential. * Future plans, including waterless and powder-based products.

Join Ramon Vela and Amanda McIntosh as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Take My Face Off, visit: https://www.takemyfaceoff.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Take My Face Off - Your New Daily Face Washing Routine Mar 03, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The daily face washing routine - either using washcloths, facial wipes, or cotton balls - has become a "straight-up environmental disaster," says Amanda McIntosh, founder of Take My Face Off. So she decided to find a product that does it better.

"I actually don't like to guilt people into using my products. I like my people to use my products because they're delightful, and they're just better," Amanda says. "But there's something I'd like to tell people. There's a golden rule of being green. It's so complicated, and it changes so fast, but one thing is true any time you can use something multiple times instead of using a disposable, that is always better."

Developing the Take My Face Off product was another challenge because fabric manufacturers couldn't understand Amanda's needs. In the end, it would take experimenting with hundreds of fabric samples, sizes, and shapes to find the right solution.

In Part 1, Amanda talks about:

* Gratefulness for the support from her husband. * How her background in performing led her to explore the facial cleaning product space. * Why facial wipes - even those labeled eco-friendly - are a big problem. * Why disposable products aren't green. * The beauty space is challenging for a green product - it's a crowded space, and people are very loyal to their products. * Why cotton balls are suitable for absorption but not for cleaning.* In developing her product, she bought hundreds of "weird fabrics" to put through the tests.

Join Ramon Vela and Amanda McIntosh as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Take My Face Off, visit: https://www.takemyfaceoff.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Force of Nature - Clean the Messes Skip the Toxics Mar 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Entrepreneurs considering a startup should first make sure the economics of their business model work under different conditions, says Melissa Lush, Co-Founder of Force of Nature. Then "test, test, test" to make sure you're right.

Part of the success of Force of Nature's product is that it cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects, Melissa says. And it works on any counter surface, stainless steel appliance, and even rugs.

The COVID pandemic was "very interesting," Melissa says, because of the array of businesses that began using their products because it's a "do-it-yourself" option that could be shipped. But once they realized the other benefits, companies couldn't go back to their old cleaning process.

In Part 2, Melissa talks about:

* Her joy of mentoring fellow entrepreneurs through the startup process. * How the Force of Nature appliance works. * The space and shipping savings you get when one cleaning product can handle multiple chores. * Video is an essential first tool for educating potential customers. * The pandemic opened up new verticals in the business. It was an unexpected opportunity.

Join Ramon Vela and Melissa Lush as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Force of Nature, visit: https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Force of Nature - Non-Toxic Cleaner as Effective as Bleach Mar 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Force of Nature's mission is to put an end to toxic cleaning chemicals and single-use plastic bottles says co-founder Melissa Lush. To replace those, Force of Nature uses an appliance that converts saltwater and vinegar into a multipurpose cleaner that kills 99.9 percent of germs.

A head injury her son had in kindergarten sparked the idea for the business. A nurse used an antimicrobial on his forehead to accelerate his healing, and when Melissa took a closer look at the product, she saw it was made with electrolyzed water.

Melissa says that using the appliance - about the size of a wine bottle - is as easy as making coffee. "We wanted to make it as easy as making coffee because we knew that if you were going to make a habit change, it has to be an easy habit to pick up and keep."

The COVID pandemic helped raise awareness concerning cleaning chemicals. But skeptics still are a struggle to convert.

In Part 1, Melissa talks about:

* Gratitude for her husband's steady, unwavering support at the business. * The concept of electrolyzed water - using an electric current to change the chemical composition of salt in water. * The need for a safe cleaning but an affordable application also available in a planet-friendly container. * The challenge of educating potential consumers, which requires a habit change. * Why parents are easier to educate on Force of Nature's products than other consumers. * Why daily exposure to regular cleaning chemicals is as dangerous to your lungs as smoking cigarettes.

Join Ramon Vela and Melissa Lush as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Force of Nature, visit: https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Manifest Commerce - Helping Brands with Sustainable Options Feb 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Helping to convert a brand to more sustainable business practices starts with green warehousing practices, says George Wojciechowski and Jen Root, co-founders of Manifest Commerce.

"There are sustainable alternatives every step of the way, even down to end of life with upcycling and re-commerce," Jen says.

The process of converting a supply chain to a sustainable format is "comprehensive," George says, but the important thing is "to just start."

In Part 2, Jen and George talk about:

* How plastics can be used to recreate things ten times over. * How maritime partnerships can help with lowering carbon footprints. * The start of "shared truckloads," which works like carpooling for your inventory. * Despite the company's noble mission, it's still essential to be competitive in price and "hit the slots" that e-commerce business owners need. * Building a sustainable business from the ground up is essential. It's hard to pivot when you're going 100 miles per hour.

Join Ramon Vela, Jen Root and George Wojciechowski as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manifest Commerce, visit: https://manifestcommerce.io

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Manifest Commerce - Why E-commerce is Unsustainable, Today Feb 26, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Co-founders George Wojciechowski and Jen Root want to make merchants' lives easier. To that end, they started Manifest Commerce, which provides e-commerce merchants direct to consumer and omnichannel fulfillment for their e-commerce products.

"We ship everything from apparel to cosmetics to nutraceuticals to toys and video games, and we do it in a sustainable, carbon-neutral way," George says.

The goal is to look at everything from a sustainable angle with no additional cost to the merchant's bottom line, says Jen.

"It is inevitable that e-commerce moves in this direction," George says. "The current state of e-commerce is unsustainable."

In Part 1, Jen and George talk about:

* Gratefulness for having a partner for support when starting their venture. * How they took their knowledge of the fulfillment business and reimagined every step from a sustainable-first perspective. * The challenge isn't finding sustainable products - the challenge is finding sustainable fulfillment. * The importance of the 18-35 category of consumers who tend to be more socially and environmentally responsible. * How the COVID pandemic exploded the e-commerce business in terms of sales and strains in the supply chain. * The attraction of founding Manifest Commerce was to do something significant with our careers, George says. * The creation of "impact pages" lets companies share their good deeds by sharing the news with their communities.

Join Ramon Vela, Jen Root and George Wojciechowski as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manifest Commerce, visit: https://manifestcommerce.io

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Golde - Making Wellness Easy and Fun for Anyone Feb 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

The mission of Golde is to make wellness easy and fun for everyone, says Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-Founder and CEO.

"Our products are all different superfood blends and powders that you can use to boost your daily routine, whether you're adding them into your morning coffee or your smoothie, or even doing a superfood face mask," she says.

Trinity believes there's a real balance to bringing superfoods to a new audience while making sure that consumers know that these are incredible superfoods that have been used for, in some cases, thousands of years.

Keeping the ingredient list short and simple is a guiding philosophy at Golde, Trinity says. Using their products should be enjoyable and sort of a ritual.

In Part 1, Trinity talks about:

* Gratitude toward the first investor and her belief in the brand. * How superfoods went from a niche to mainstream in the past few years. * The COVID pandemic accelerated the superfoods trend. * As the superfood market grows, there's a challenge to make sure you're communicating as a brand. * How to determine the quality of matcha. * The brand philosophy is to make wellness easy and fun.

Join Ramon Vela and Trinity Mouzon Wofford as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Golde, visit: https://golde.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Golde - Put Yourself in Your Customer's Shoes Feb 24, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Put yourself in your customer's shoes as you're building a brand. What problem are you solving for them? How are you making their lives easier or better? As a founder, you need to empathize with the consumer's journey, says Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-Founder and CEO of Golde.

When it comes to deciding on accepting outside investments, Trinity says Golde's decision to go it on their own for the first three years was a "special advantage."

"There's something very special about knowing that you have nothing to work with," she says. "And the only thing that there is, is you and your partner trying to figure out a creative way to get in front of people. And I think that is what allowed us to build such a strong foundation of a brand in the early days. You know, we had to do it from the heart because there just wasn't anything else to tap into then."

Thankfully, Golde had amassed enough of a following by the time of the COVID pandemic that the business wasn't impacted too much.

"People needed something to do," Trinity says. "They needed something to make themselves feel good, and they needed something to occupy the time. And so suddenly, the idea of making your matcha latte at home or doing a superfood face mask made a whole lot of sense to people."

In Part 2, Trinity talks about:

* Starting the business at a young age played to her advantage because she was optimistic and naive about everything. * The decision to take on outside investments. * The impact of the COVID pandemic on Golde. * Leading with the story of who the co-founders are and what they're all about helps the brand connect with the customers. * People want to be "in the orbit of Golde" because of its story and its community. * How the wellness market industry as it was didn't appeal to her. It didn't speak to her.

Join Ramon Vela and Trinity Mouzon Wofford as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Golde, visit: https://golde.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Solely - Uncompromising Product Vision Feb 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Launching a new product is difficult and a path full of obstacles, says Simón Sacal, co-founder and CEO at Solely Inc. That's why prospective entrepreneurs must have uncompromising and straightforward answers about how this product is needed by consumers.

Mango, one of the most consumed fruits globally, provided Solely with the perfect product to launch through vertical integration. That system involves working with the farmers right through the manufacturers.

Another unique product Solely recently launched is gummies made with just fruit and Vitamin C.

"We're offering whole, whole product, and people are liking them," Simón says. "And there's a need for those types of products in the market, and we're very excited and very honored to be chosen by people to take home."

In Part 2, Simón talks about:

* Advice for entrepreneurs considering developing a new product. * The advantages of vertical integration. * The need to invent new processes and machinery to accomplish the desired final product. * Aside from Soley's fruit products, they also have a dried spaghetti squash pasta that's shelf-stable. * Future plans include expanding the current Solely categories. Two completely different new lines are also in the works. * Why the clean food movement has been aided by the millennial generation, who have more access to information. * Why the hardest thing to do is make something simple.

Join Ramon Vela and Simón Sacal as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Solely, visit: https://solely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Solely - Food that is Indulgent, Clean, and Fairly Priced Feb 23, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Food is very indulgent, but it can also be bright and made with clean ingredients, says Simón Sacal, Co-Founder and CEO at Solely Inc. It should also be fairly priced, he adds.

One of the company's first products was a fruit jerky, which was a completely different product at the time. It immediately grabbed the attention of Whole Foods 365.

The idea for a sustainable fruit product came out of their supply chain logistical challenges in Mexico.

"It's impossible to create an entirely different product without a completely different process, and it's impossible to have a completely different process unless you make it or have someone that can make the machines," Simón says.

In Part 1, Simón talks about:

* The early support the brand got from Whole Foods 365. * His company's history with food technology and the resulting products. * Solely's lunchbox program in Latin America provides healthy and affordable fruits for children. * The unique challenges of launching a new food product in Mexico. * How it's difficult to grow fast without considerable expenses.

Join Ramon Vela and Simón Sacal as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Solely, visit: https://solely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Matt Edmundson - Business Tactics Change, but Principles Don't. Feb 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

The world has changed "massively" because of the COVID pandemic, says Matt Edmundson, Host of the eCommerce Podcast and Founder & CEO of Aurion Digital. But the principles of business remain the same: Connect with your consumers, communicate with them, and use that to determine when you need to pivot.

Did too many businesses rush to digital too quickly during the pandemic? Matt thinks so. Keep it simple, but serve your customer, he advises. The solution isn't always to convert 100 percent to digital.

One principle to always follow is simply this: The customer wants to be communicated with. Communicating with a customer - the tactic needed - changes over time. Matt says it could be SMS, email, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Be prepared to change the tactic, but not the principle.

In Part 2, Matt talks about:

* How to look at your business from the point of view of your customers. * Don't overcomplicate your pivots. * Business tactics change, but principles don't. * Why a company like Peloton didn't learn the lesson of communicating with customers. * How his eCommerce podcast has connected him with people from around the industry. It opens doors that he didn't know existed. * Podcasts take time to get results. Be patient but remain dedicated. * What e-commerce products interest him most. * Digital is a world that changes every 18 months. To succeed, prioritize and simplify.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Edmundson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Matt Edmundson, visit: https://auriondigital.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Matt Edmundson - Become so Good that They Can't Ignore You Feb 21, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

E-commerce is a passion for Matt Edmundson, who’s been involved with the Internet since the late '90s when he wrote his first website as a side hustle. Today, he continues to work in e-commerce as the Host of the eCommerce Podcast and the Founder and CEO of Aurion Digital.

Matt says that he always had the desire to be in business for himself from an early age. A stint of volunteer work reinforced that idea and showed him the world was bigger than one person.

He says that the early days - beginning his career writing websites - was "more by accident than design," but that didn't diminish his thirst to run his own business.

If you want to get started in entrepreneurship, go work for someone for free for three to six months, Matt says. Get some skin in the game.

In Part 1, Matt talks about:

* As an entrepreneur, it's essential to keep your family - even your kids - informed of dramatic changes or surprises in your business. * How his drive to work for himself began at an early age. * His start in the health spa industry. * Why millennials struggle in the workplace. * The chicken-and-the-egg argument over the phrase "Find your passion, and you'll never have to work another day in your life."

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Edmundson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Matt Edmundson, visit: https://auriondigital.com /

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Zuzi - Real Coffee, Real Spirits, Real Dreams Come True Feb 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Zuzi began with just one flavor for two reasons: to prove the market was there, and because the resources weren't there yet for further options, say Oscar De la Peña and Ana Victoria De la Garza, the company's co-founders.

Looking back at the startup's early days, Oscar says in hindsight, he'd have done more research. But reaching the proper government departments with their questions was a challenge during the COVID shutdown era.

The couple's overall philosophy through Zuzi's creation has been this: Time is going to pass anyway, so you might as well start something now.

In Part 2, Ana Victoria and Oscar talk about:

* How rules governing spirit sales guided Zuzi in early manufacturing decisions. * The need to have the right questions to get the right answers. * The need for persistence in getting approval from agencies. * The attitude of "start today," don't put off your dreams. * How cold-calling was their go-to sales strategy at the start. * Their push with social media and influencers. * Their future plans include adding seasonal flavors and other product lines that aren't necessarily coffee-based.

Join Ramon Vela, Ana Victoria De la Garza and Oscar De la Peña as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zuzi, visit: https://www.drinkzuzi.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Zuzi - Talking Directly to Coffee Lovers Feb 18, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Oscar De la Peña and Ana Victoria De la Garza wanted to make a hard beverage brand that "talked directly to coffee lovers" because they didn't see anything like it on the market. Their quest led them to become co-founders of Zuzi.

The husband and wife team had been working comfortable corporate jobs and were pondering buying a house but couldn't shake the itch of starting a project on their own. The idea of an espresso martini was the idea that stuck with them.

Within hours of signing a contract to buy that home, they changed their minds and devoted the funds instead toward their new business idea.

Zuzi debuted just as the economy slowed down due to the COVID pandemic. Manufacturers were focused on making hand sanitizer and weren't interested in helping a startup with their project. That was a bump in the road.

In Part 1, Ana Victoria and Oscar talk about:

* Their gratitude for the support they've gotten from friends and family. * How they changed gears from safe careers in the corporate world to pursue their entrepreneurial dream. * How Oscar's journey from Mexico to college in the U.S. influenced and inspired the direction of their careers. * Embracing the risk of leaving behind fixed salaries for something they always wanted to do. * The challenge of creating a startup product at the dawn of the COVID pandemic.

Join Ramon Vela, Ana Victoria De la Garza and Oscar De la Peña as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zuzi, visit: https://www.drinkzuzi.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Mother Raw - Super Pure, Clean, and Organic Feb 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Why should salad dressing always be served on the side, ponders Kristi Knowles, CEO of Mother Raw. If it's super pure, clean, and organic, you should pour it on freely.

Mother Raw's products are versatile and don't fit into a single category. A dip can be a spread or a dressing and the other way around.

Kristi says there's a supportive network among entrepreneurs in the natural food and beauty space - rather than a competition - because the common goal is making a positive impact.

In Part 2, Kristi talks about:

* How condiments can be a great way to transition to a plant-based diet. * Entrepreneurs can avoid mistakes if they're part of a network of like-minded supporters rather than competitors. * Her company's priority in the COVID pandemic was delivering 100 percent service levels. * The importance of controlling manufacturing from start to finish. * The freedom of beginning the company without needing millions of dollars from investors. * The value of getting the right certifications for the products. * Take the product seriously so the consumer can have fun. * Ask yourself, "what unique thing can I do today to make an impact."

Join Ramon Vela and Kristi Knowles as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mother Raw, visit: https://motherraw.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Mother Raw - Putting Good on Good Feb 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Mother Raw was born from a simple idea - "why can't your salad dressing be as healthy as the salad," says CEO Kristi Knowles. That's why the company's motto is "Put good on good."

Kristi wanted to use the company's focus on nutrition and wellness to impact the larger population and environment.

Coping with fear is a common challenge for entrepreneurs, Kristi says, and she certainly felt it as someone moving from a large corporate environment to a smaller operation. But what helped her push through was the support she got from others around her.

In Part 1, she talks about:

* Her support from her own "Fab Five," a group of female business executives in the food manufacturing industry. * How it makes more sense to eat a plant-based diet - whether for health, animal welfare, or sustainability. * Her entrance to the company was initially intended to help extend the brand. * How belief in Mother Raw's product and mission provided the necessary "belief" to overcome any fears. * How her diet evolved from plant-based to vegetarian to vegan.

Join Ramon Vela and Kristi Knowles as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mother Raw, visit: https://motherraw.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

The Vegan Knife - The Best Taste-Testers are Kids Feb 16, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The best taste-testers are kids, says Julie Butcher, Founder and Owner of The Vegan Knife, because they're honest about what they like and dislike. When she won kids over with her recipes, Julie knew she was on the right track.

Bakeries began using The Vegan Knife's mixes and repacking them under their name, but Julie says she didn't mind. On the contrary, she was happy more people were enjoying the treats. Plus, it helped diversity the business.

Julie says she hopes her products change people's lives for the better by allowing them to enjoy treats they couldn't previously eat.

In Part 2, Julie talks about:

* How test-tasting at farmer's markets and grocery stores helped product development. * Her expansion from DTC to retail helped the company survive the COVID pandemic. * When bakeries began using the company's product under their name * Dealing with commercial bakeries was a challenge because of their professional equipment. * Diversification into the B2B side was an accident. * How her teenage son and his friends unknowingly became taste-testers. * Her company's inclusion in Forbes list of top entrepreneurs. * The importance of believing in yourself and your product. It's not a cliche. * Be very insistent on looking at your product run and improving it. * Future plans, including a pancake mix and a chocolate donut recipe.

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Butcher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Vegan Knife, visit: https://theveganknife.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

The Vegan Knife - You Can’t Tell They are Vegan Feb 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

The Vegan Knife offers vegan, allergy-friendly baking mixes designed to taste just like the cakes and cupcakes you originally remember, says Julie Butcher, Founder and Owner.

The company's baking products also are easy to use: No mixer is required - just three ingredients and a whisk or spatula.

The Vegan Knife got its start at a farmer's market in Florida, where Julie would sell the completed baked goods. Demand from tourists, who wanted to make the same products back home, led to the creation of the mixes.

In Part 1, Julie talks about:

* The impact of being one of 10 winners of The Stacy's Rise Project. * How her health problems led to a diagnosis that she couldn't tolerate gluten, dairy, or shellfish. * The struggle to find food she could still eat led her to create her recipes. * How the company started selling baked goods at a local farmer's market, where demand from tourists led her to create mixes. * Her mission is to make her mixes "all-inclusive" in terms of allergies, dairy, and gluten.

Join Ramon Vela and Julie Butcher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Vegan Knife, visit: https://theveganknife.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Stuga - Designed to Last a Lifetime Feb 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

According to Marc Bacher, Founder and CEO, consumers looking for hard floor options will find on Stuga's website a curated collection of products free of harsh chemicals and designed to last a lifetime.

Marc says that talking to customers every day is "such a fun part of the journey" for Stuga. That conversation allows for learning on both the homeowner's and Stuga's, making it an integral part of their company's success.

Because Stuga's market share is still small, the room for growth is tremendous and hasn't been affected by changes in the housing market, Marc says.

In Part 2, Marc talks about:

* Converting retail customers into online customers. * With a growing e-commerce model at work, business wasn't harmed during the COVID pandemic. * The company's focus is to deliver solutions that make consumers happy and solve their problems. * How hard work and dedication to their business model are designed to outlast larger competitors. * The challenges of supply and logistics. * Using European solutions as inspiration.

Join Ramon Vela and Marc Bacher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Stuga, visit: https://stugastudio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Stuga - The Wonderfully Artistic Attribute of Hardwood Floors Feb 15, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Stuga Studio's mission is to simplify and beautify the process of buying a hardwood floor, says Marc Bacher, the company's Founder and CEO.

Stuga provides a direct-to-consumer solution for home-improvement shoppers. Marc says there's a wonderfully artistic attribute to wood - it's so much more than a building product.

Marc got an early start in the hardwood business, working for a Swedish company but later decided he'd instead pursue an e-commerce opportunity than grow with the existing brand. That sparked the creation of Stuga Studio.

In Part 1, Marc talks about:

* The need to be grateful to customers. * The artistic sense of Stuga's brands. * How living in Scandinavia changed his perspective on life, happiness, and design. * The attraction of working directly with consumers. * Having a conversation with your potential customers. * The opportunity to take the inherently confusing flooring factors and simplify them for consumers.

Join Ramon Vela and Marc Bacher as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Stuga, visit: https://stugastudio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

PYT Beauty - The Struggle to Make Clean Beauty Affordable Feb 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

It took more than two years to develop PYT's first clean beauty product, says Co-Founder and CEO Mary Schulman. Potential manufacturing partners told them the products they wanted couldn't be made at the prices they wanted.

Mary says that perseverance and a commitment to PYT Beauty's mission got the company the products and investors that were a good fit.

Finding the right distributors was the key to success as well, Mary says. Ulta, Macy's, Credo, and Target all aligned with PYT Beauty's values, which made them great partners.

PYT's mission to remain moderately priced offers a student discount program aligned with Student Beans to make its products more affordable.

In Part 2, Mary talks about:

* The struggle of pursuing clean packaging. * How pushing back on potential partners is critical to staying true to a mission. * Lessons learned in her snack food company proved compatible with her new venture. * Work with influencers who love your brand. It's more authentic. * Beauty is a saturated industry, so you need to stay true to your particular mission. * Her company's "hero" products. * Why it's essential to be "present in the moment."

Join Ramon Vela and Mary Schulman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on PYT Beauty, visit: https://pytbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

PYT Beauty - Clean Beauty that’s Effective and Affordable Feb 14, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

PYT Beauty's mission is to provide "clean" beauty products at a fair price, says Mary Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO. This would allow everybody to access products free of toxic ingredients without busting the budget.

That mission now includes product packaging made with post-consumer recycled plastic and bio-based sugar cane.

However, changing your life and career from a stable and high-paying job to something you love is a challenge, Mary says. She urges entrepreneurs to research and not just assume the grass is always greener in a new industry.

In Part 1, Mary talks about:

* How she transitioned from a finance career into starting a natural snack food company. * Her daughter's first look at the makeup in her purse sparked the idea of PYT Beauty. * What reason drives the consumer to switch to "clean" products. * The challenge to leave a stable career to do what you love. * How to learn from uncomfortable situations. * The grass isn't always greener.

Join Ramon Vela and Mary Schulman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on PYT Beauty, visit: https://pytbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

BlueBird Provisions - Delicious Organic Bone Broth Powder Feb 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Connor Meakin, the Founder of Bluebird Provisions, thought his company would "crush it" sales-wise when the pandemic hit, but instead, business slowed to a trickle.

When there's an empty shelf of a food product, the food producer is often the last to know. There are so many uphill issues with wholesale and retail stories that upstart brands must cope with, Connor says.

In Part 2, Connor discusses:

* How a startup food producer's lack of resources can hurt retail sales. * The product's taste was the most challenging part of developing the dehydrated version of the product. * The importance of having good partners from a food science perspective. * How powdered products were easier to get into the U.S. market than liquid products. * The challenges of being a startup include being forced to change the company's name in 30 days.

Join Ramon Vela and Connor Meakin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BlueBird Provisions, visit: https://bluebirdprovisions.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

BlueBird Provisions - Bone Broth Born From a Running Injury Feb 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Connor Meakin, Founder of Bluebird Provisions, is a bone broth enthusiast and a self-described "health food kind of nut," which explains his passion for Bluebird's products.

Connor discovered the health qualities of bone broth after suffering a devastating foot injury in 2016. The broth's protein and amino acid composition proved to be a much-needed healing solution to his health troubles. When he discovered bone broth was hard to come by, he decided to make his own and sell it.

Today, Bluebird has a line of certified organic liquid bone broth and a new lineup of instant bone broth powder.

In Part 1, Connor discusses:

* How his athletic injury sparked a discovery of a little-known food product. * How a longtime battle with anxiety and depression led him to become a more balanced human being. * The importance of developing a "toolbox" of strategies to deal with personal and professional challenges. * How the pandemic caused a near standstill in retail sales, forcing Bluebird to pivot to online DTC sales. * The challenges of developing a shelf-stable version of the product. * The discovery that the DTC version of the product also helped retail reception.

Join Ramon Vela and Connor Meakin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BlueBird Provisions, visit: https://bluebirdprovisions.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Art of Sucre - Creativity is Truly Endless Feb 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Designing a gourmet cotton candy product is more technical than the consumer probably thinks, says Art of Sucre Founder and CEO Emily Harpel. It took a design team to work out the candy's fluffiness, packaging, and consistency.

"Creativity is truly endless" when it comes to product options, says Emily. Art of Sucre began with six original flavors and has grown to feature dozens more, including seasonal ones.

For now, Art of Sucre is a DTC brand, but Emily hopes that strategy will evolve in the near future as the pandemic fades.

In Part 2, Emily talks about:

* How freeing it is as an entrepreneur when you let go of what other people say. * Her joy of corporate gifting opportunities. * Overcoming her initial discomfort working with social media. * How her determination to try her idea - to take the first step - was the most challenging but satisfying lesson.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Harpel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Art of Sucre, visit: https://artofsucre.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Art of Sucre - Not Your Average Cotton Candy Maker Feb 10, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Art of Sucre isn't any average cotton candy maker, says Founder and CEO Emily Harpel. The Ohio-based company offers flavors such as watermelon, bourbon, pina colada, and "glitter bombs" - tiny fluffs of cotton candy dropped into drinks to reveal edible glitter inside.

The idea of making cotton candy came to Emily as she was planning her wedding. She wanted a food-based party favor that was truly unique and was disappointed by the options she found online.

Emily got her start with event planning, and the customer service experience she gained there helped her when it came time to launch an online store for her product.

In Part 1, Emily talks about:

* How as you get older, it becomes more difficult to take chances with your career. * Why she passed on graduate school to pursue this business. * How she used the pandemic as an opportunity to redesign the product's packaging. * Her start in event planning and how that helped launch Art of Sucre. * How her product is not only a dessert but an experience. * The unexpected reaction her husband had to her business idea.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Harpel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Art of Sucre, visit: https://artofsucre.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

The Scrummy Sweets Company - Only the Best Ingredients Feb 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

In part 2, Siouxie Boshoff, also known as the Gummy Queen, Founder & CEO of Scrummy Sweets, talks about how some organic gummy bear brands add 2-3 spoonfuls of sugar in their products.

Siouxie shared the difficulty she goes through to source organic ingredients like Non-GMO gelatin from Europe and how she refuses to buy ingredients from China.

She and her husband developed their bestseller vegan caramel gummies with coconut cream. She laments that they went through a challenging but enlightening journey when finding and working with manufacturers. But, in the end, even manufacturers appreciated Siouxie's insistence on using specific ingredients.

She also talks about:

* Brand building * More deep dive into her being inflexible * Integrity with the product * New product releases * Health benefits and ingredients of Scrummy Gummies

Join Ramon Vela and Siouxie Boshoff as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Scrummy Sweets, visit: https://scrummysweets.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

The Scrummy Sweets Company - Won’t Believe They’re Sugarless Feb 09, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

In part 1, we have Siouxie Boshoff, also known as the Gummy Queen, Founder & CEO of Scrummy Sweets.

Siouxie had a very successful career of 20 years as CEO of a digital marketing company. Due to a health condition, she preferred to follow a ketogenic lifestyle. But she longed for sweets, and they had to follow her dietary restrictions.

In 2020, she iterated her gummy recipe 64 times and struck gold with her guilt-free snack. Her 12 years grandson loved the gummy bears and said, “There's no way these don't have sugar.” She and her husband knew they were on to something since kids are generally transparent about their taste.

She also talked about :

* Figuring out what is important to people * Talking to a lot of people about creating a snack brand * Being inflexible with quality of ingredients * How to turn an idea into a business * Persistence

Join Ramon Vela and Siouxie Boshoff as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Scrummy Sweets, visit: https://scrummysweets.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Mavely - Earn Income by Talking about Your Favorite Brands Feb 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

“To help them with brand awareness, content, and customer acquisition” that's what Mavely does for brands. In part 2, Peggy O'Flaherty, Co-Founder of Mavely, mentions they enable brands to widen their distribution channel.

Mavely allows individuals to earn additional income by talking about their favorite brands on social media and essentially paying people for being micro-influencer. Peggy highlights that they are not an agency instead of a platform.

The Mavely platform is open for brands from beauty, lifestyle, cookware, food, and other various industries.

She discusses:

* Earning additional income * Made In Cookware * Absence of multi-level marketing company * How brands get involved with Mavely * Brands testing new channels * How individuals get started * Everyday influencers * How integration works * Brand criteria

Join Ramon Vela and Peggy O'Flaherty as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mavely, visit: https://www.joinmavely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Mavely - Build, Launch, and Manage your Social Sales Team Feb 02, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

“Leveraging technology and communities of women for good” are themes that have run through Peggy’s life. In part 1, we have Peggy O'Flaherty, Co-Founder of Mavely, a brand that helps connect brands to the everyday consumer & micro-influencer.

Peggy is a mother of 5 children. She was entrepreneurial from a very young age. She has started four companies in the past 14 years, including Mavely. Her past companies include a coaching business, community building for churches, and a skincare brand for women.

She started Mavely with two ideas. First, to help D2C brands acquire customers at a lower cost. Second, to help people looking to tap into the gig economy. She advises entrepreneurs to understand the number and the need for their products.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * Companies she started * Origin of her entrepreneurial spirit * What lessons she has learned

Join Ramon Vela and Peggy O'Flaherty as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mavely, visit: https://www.joinmavely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Coa - Good Relationships Can Heal the Mind Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“Help people explore what's underneath those initial feelings,” that's what Coa's self-awareness classes do. In part 2, Alexa Meyer, Co-Founder of Coa, says that they help people understand their own biases and the origin of those biases.

Alexa graduated with a degree in psychology and business and consumer behavior. She was fascinated by mental health and therapy from a young age. Before Coa, she and her co-founder Emily started mental health pop-ups gyms across the country.

After the pop-ups' success, they launched Coa. Coa is a brand that believes having good relationships with others can help heal the mind. The brand also partners with employers who want to look after their employees' mental health.

She discusses:

* Definition of self-awareness * Why did she enter the mental health space * Imposter syndrome and lack of confidence * Coa's course offerings * What makes therapy effective * Employers utilizing Coa

Join Ramon Vela and Alexa Meyer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Coa, visit: https://www.joincoa.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Coa - The Gym for Mental Health Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“To help you be as proactive about mental health as you are physical fitness,” that's the mission of Coa. In part 1, we have Alexa Meyer, Co-Founder of Coa, a gym for mental health.

Coa believes that in mental health, no one strategy fits all. That's why they offer a variety of emotional fitness classes, therapies, and a community to help strengthen people.

According to Alexa, self-awareness, empathy, mindfulness, curiosity, play, resilience, and community are 7 traits of mental health. She believes that in the next 100 years, we will see vast improvements in the mental health space, more than what we’ve seen in the last 100 years.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Common mental health issues * Mental health tools and self-awareness * Future of mental health space * 7 traits of emotional fitness

Join Ramon Vela and Alexa Meyer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Coa, visit: https://www.joincoa.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Hope Fragrances - 10 Leading Symptoms of Depression Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

“Awareness leads to information which leads to knowledge,” that's what Audrey believes. In part 2, Audrey Gruss, Founder & President of Hope Fragrances & Chair of Hope for Depression Research Foundation, continues talking about raising awareness about depression.

She mentions the "10 leading symptoms of depression" and the "4 pillars of good mental health." According to Audrey, 50 percent of depressed people don't go for treatment. Most of them may not even realize that they are depressed.

Audrey wants to help the world suffering from depression and all the related major depressive disorders. She believes people are vulnerable in these difficult times. She advises people to follow a good diet, sleep, exercise, and meditation for mindfulness in life.

She discusses:

* 10 leading symptoms of depression * Raising awareness * Suicide and vulnerability of people * Creativity and depression's relation * 4 pillars of good mental health

Join Ramon Vela and Audrey Gruss as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hope Fragrances, visit: https://hopefragrances.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Hope Fragrances - A Fragrance that Gives Back Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

“A fragrance that is giving back,” that's Hope Fragrances. In part 1, we have Audrey Gruss, Founder & President of Hope Fragrances & Chair of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation.

Audrey grew up watching her mother suffer from depression and nervous breakdowns. Fifteen years ago, she started Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) in her honor. HDRF has evolved into the leading depression research organization in the US. The foundation's success is due to its focus on collaborations.

Her depressed mother loved fragrances and used them to uplift her spirit. Audrey wanted to share the same uplifting fragrance with others while finding a way to fund her foundation. So, she started Hope Fragrances. To Audrey, doing for others gives a tremendous sense of well-being. Hope Fragrances give 100% of profits to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation.

She discusses:

* Gratitude * Overview of the brand * Bringing a new anti-depressant product to market * Creating Hope Fragrances * Their products and packaging * Major Depressive Disorders * Giving back to humanity * Essence and connection

Join Ramon Vela and Audrey Gruss as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hope Fragrances, visit: https://hopefragrances.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Silatha - The Women's Meditation App Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

“Happiness is a choice,” says Veroniek. In part 2, Veroniek Vermeulen, Founder of Silatha, a meditation app for women, says one should enjoy every moment in life.

According to her, practices such as meditation, journaling, and being in a community can help women feel confident and comfortable with themselves and their power. Veroniek believes that women will always have different identities at different stages of their life.

To her, worrying too much can be a source of suffering in life. In her journey, Neurologist Viktor Frankl has been an inspiration, especially in his theory where he says 'between stimulus and response, there is a space.' She acknowledges the power to choose a response.

She discusses:

* Practice that can help women * Expectations from women * Gender biases in society * Worries and pain in life * Enjoying every moment * Neurologist Viktor Frankl * Great resignation * Positivity in pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Veroniek Vermeulen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Silatha, visit: https://silatha.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Silatha - When She Rises, Our Whole Society Rises Feb 01, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

Veroniek believes that “When she rises, our whole society rises.” In part 1, we have Veroniek Vermeulen, Founder of Silatha, a meditation app for women.

Veroniek has a background in engineering and marketing. Nine years ago, she felt unhappy with her life. After a friend's suggestion, she went on a meditation journey which changed her. Through meditation, she felt happier and realized her true goals in life. She decided to help other women with a meditation app built and designed specifically for women.

Silatha is a meditation app that liberates women through all life stages such as pregnancy, becoming a new mom, menopause, and so on. Her app is not just a meditation app but a community as well. According to her, everyone benefits when women can be in their full power.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of Silatha * Special anchor technique * Her motivation * Customer feedback * How they help women * Incorporating meditation * Imposter syndrome

Join Ramon Vela and Veroniek Vermeulen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Silatha, visit: https://silatha.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

FASHINNOVATION - Have a Mission, Be Persistent in Your Journey Jan 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“There's a lot more good in this world than there is bad,” says Jordana and asks people to focus on the positive. In part 2, Jordana Guimaraes, Co-Founder of Fashinnovation, continues talking about how communication can help you in your business and personal life.

Jordana’s new book “It Can Be You: Humanizing Homelessness” strives to humanize homelessness by telling stories about how people became homeless.

She simply reaches out to founders and other people regarding attaining speakers for her events through direct cold email. According to her, Founders & CEOs are entrepreneurial, mission-driven people who love to listen if approached with a great business idea. She believes having a mission and persistence in your journey are vital.

She discusses:

* Jordana and her husband through hard times * Wine talks * The NYLON project * The premise behind her book * Events coming up * How she reaches out to people * Being persistent

Join Ramon Vela and Jordana Guimaraes as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fahinnovation, visit: https://fashinnovation.nyc/

For more on her book, “It Can Be You: Humanizing Homelessness,” visit Amazon.

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

FASHINNOVATION - Fostering Innovation in the Fashion Industry Jan 28, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

In part 1, we have Jordana Guimaraes, Co-Founder of Fashinnovation, a global platform that boosts innovation in the fashion industry.

Jordana, with her husband, started Fashinnovation with a mission to democratize the fashion industry. According to her, the industry, by and large, has ignored sustainability, inclusiveness, and innovation best practices found in other sectors. However, things are slowly changing for the better thanks to her Worldwide Talks 6th Edition, the world's biggest fashion and innovation event, held on February 3, 2022.

She never went to college, or neither has a background in fashion. But her purpose of inspiring and helping others has kept her going on this path. Jordana emphasizes staying open and allowing the mind to travel. To her, this practice has enabled her to find solutions.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Previous fashion innovation summit * Approaching NASA, Formula One, Mark Cuban * Ideas from different people * What motivates her * Her purpose in life * Her Me Time practice * Communication

Join Ramon Vela and Jordana Guimaraes as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fashinnovation, visit: https://fashinnovation.nyc/

For more on her book, “It Can Be You: Humanizing Homelessness” visit Amazon.

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

BILLY Footwear - Unlike Any Shoe Out There Jan 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

“The more relationships we make, the more value we can add,” that's the mission statement of BILLY Footwear. In part 2, Billy Price, Co-Founder of BILLY Footwear, mentions that they want to continue meeting the needs of consumers. For instance, they’d like to focus on building good relations on the B2B side, too, with retail partners.

Billy reconnected with Darin in 2011. Before starting the brand in 2012, they raised capital and planned to use the money to grow the business. However, early on, they met with a manufacturing disaster. And while it was terrible, they learned and continued.

Billy advises that you should not get discouraged or think of quitting in such a circumstance. Instead, be passionate about your business and keep building your network.

Here he talked about:

* Unique functionality * Their time in business * Where to find BILLY Footwear * First silhouette in the sports category * Extra-wide shoes * His advice for others * Thoughts on overcoming challenges

Join Ramon Vela and Billy Price as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BILLY Footwear, visit: https://billyfootwear.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

BILLY Footwear - From Injury to Innovative Shoe Jan 27, 2022

This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

Cast that net as big as possible - tells Billy about entering the shoe space. Today we have Billy Price, Co-Founder of BILLY Footwear, a footwear brand.

Billy has a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for over 16 years. When Billy was 18 years old, he had a spinal cord injury. He felt his life was over as he lost his ability to move and enjoy the active lifestyle he loved. But his family and friends encouraged him to get through dark times.

Sometime later, he met his old friend, Darin Donaldson, who introduced him to entrepreneurship and his shoe company. Billy came up with the idea of adding zippers to shoes. This universal and convenient shoe design eventually led him to BILLY Footwear.

He discussed:

* Gratefulness * His strategy for recovery * Finding a mentor * Denial and plan to get back * His education and career * Journey to BILLY Footwear * Their target market * Fashion and Function

Join Ramon Vela and Billy Price as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BILLY Footwear, visit: https://billyfootwear.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Aquamar Inc - Making Great Protein Accessible to Everyone Jan 26, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Sendlane**

“To make protein accessible to people” that's the mission of Aquamar. In part 2, Daryl Gormley, CEO of Aquamar Inc, tells us that he believes everyone deserves access to good food and protein.

This is why the brand provides healthy, protein-rich food at an affordable price. Interestingly, Daryl also mentions that the company is on its way to launching a plant-based seafood platform for consumers. They are also working on other innovations for the upcoming year.

They are also improving Surimi, a fish paste used by individuals and commercial kitchens. According to him, the seafood industry or Surimi products have not evolved much despite being around for long.

In part 2, he discusses:

* Plant-based seafood platform * Access to good food * Their Surimi innovation or products * Where to get Aquamar products * Their partners or retailers * His final message

Join Ramon Vela and Daryl Gormley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aquamar, visit: https://www.aquamarseafood.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Aquamar Inc - Seafood Sourced Sustainably Jan 26, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Sendlane**

“We can help people make small steps,” that's Aquamar's belief in sustainability as they can help bring change to the seafood industry. In part 1, we have Daryl Gormley, CEO of Aquamar Inc, a seafood product brand.

Daryl has been in the food industry for more than 30 years. Throughout his career, he has worked in categories such as meat, coffee, bakeries, etc. Working in the food industry has always seemed like a privilege to him because food and food access are critical to our civilization. However, he also realized that there was a lack of innovation.

That's when he joined Aquamar. Aquamar is a seafood brand that is "not" vertically integrated, unlike the rest of the industry. Which is the reason why Aquamar can source from sustainable sources worldwide, and choose the best on behalf of the consumer.

He discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His background * Aquamar's structure * Lack of innovation in the industry * Reason for fish * Difference between fish and meat * Concern about the planet * Innovative perspective * Plant-based seafood

Join Ramon Vela and Daryl Gormley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aquamar, visit: https://www.aquamarseafood.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Owen's Craft Mixers - The Authentic Craft Mixers Jan 25, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove**

“If you're true to yourself in your form, that's going to shine through in your product,” says Josh. In part 2, Josh Miller, Co-Founder and President of Owen's Craft Mixers, talks about authenticity, which is impossible to fake as the customer is too intelligent.

That's why he decided not to sell his product until he felt that the product quality was promising. According to him, Owen's Craft Mixers keeps its customers in mind while creating products. And while it may be challenging to choose the right Owen’s Cocktail or Mocktail, he suggests going with your gut, and you won’t be wrong.

He discusses:

* Lessons learned at Tesla * Reality of authenticity * Being customer-centric * His systematic approach * Their website and flavors * GoPuff’s service

Join Ramon Vela and Josh Miller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Owen’s Craft Mixers, visit: https://owensmixers.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story

Owen's Craft Mixers - Stubborn about Quality Jan 25, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove**

“Simplicity but with quality of ingredients” that's the idea behind Owen's Craft Mixers. In part 1, we have Josh Miller, Co-Founder and President of Owen's Craft Mixers, a premium all-natural cocktail mixer brand.

Josh started his career as an intern at Honest Tea and Tesla Motors. He later worked at Sir Kensington's for some time. During that time, Josh saw an opportunity in the CPG world. In 2016, he started Owen's Craft Mixers along with his brother-in-law. It's a brand that uses no artificial sweeteners or fructose corn syrup. Their ingredients include real juice and just pure cane sugar.

He discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * When people support them * His career and mental attitude * Variables involved in cocktails * How they got the name “Owen” * Their recipe philosophy

Join Ramon Vela and Josh Miller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Owen’s Craft Mixers, visit: https://owensmixers.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen to your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Olive & June - You Have to Want it More than Anything Jan 21, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by CommerceFocused Media and Yotpo**

“You have to want it more than anything” according to Sarah, that's the reality of entrepreneurship. In part 2, Sarah Gibson Tuttle, Founder and CEO of Olive & June, says that it's vital to have the grit, hustle, and the "burning desire" to start a business.

Sarah says that the brand's image embodies the founder's personality. In her case, she has two personalities, but mostly she believes she’s a giver. She likes to support people around her. She's loyal and also dedicated at the same time.

Sarah suggests that newcomers to the brand first try their Mani System. Lastly, the brand is inclusive, and their community is open to everyone, including men who love self-care.

She talked about:

* Their special products * Olive & June logo * Two sides of her personality * Her advice or words of wisdom * Manicure system * Community and free shipping * Men & manicures

Join Ramon Vela and Sarah Gibson Tuttle as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Olive & June, Visit: https://oliveandjune.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Olive & June - Beautiful Nails for Everyone! Jan 21, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by CommerceFocused Media and Yotpo**

“Beautiful nails for everyone” that's the mission for Olive & June. In part 1, we have Sarah Gibson Tuttle, Founder and CEO of Olive & June, a beauty brand, revolutionizing the At-Home Manicure.

Olive & June started as a nail salon in Los Angeles. Sarah wanted to bring salon-quality manicures at home, so she came up with The Mani System. Her brand essentially has democratized the nail salon experience.

She calls manicure - a zen experience because, according to her, a manicure sparks joy in people. Sarah believes making people feel good is her love language. That's why her brand has a great relationship with consumers and other brands.

In the first part, she talked about:

* Gratefulness towards her brand director * Overview of the brand * The Mani System * Manicure, a zen experience * Partnering with the right retailers * Being an inclusive brand * Relationship with other brands * Message for customers

Join Ramon Vela and Sarah Gibson Tuttle as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Olive & June, Visit: https://oliveandjune.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

KlipTrio - The First-ever Patented 3 in 1 Pet Nail Trimmer Jan 19, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Yotpo**

“If I don't know something, I will educate myself” - tells Alexandre. In part 2, Alexandre Contreras, Founder & Inventor of KlipTrio, a first-ever patented 3 in 1 pet nail trimmer with an integrated stainless steel nail file & disposable styptic powder cartridge, talks about how he started his journey with education and persistence.

It took him 4 times to get patents and 6 years to design KlipTrio. He never lost hope through the never-ending bureaucratic process. Plus, his experience in the veterinarian world, proved to be a critical factor in creating an innovative product.

Alexandre wants KlipTrio and disposable styptic cartridges to be the standard in the veterinary profession. He also wants to mark the 6th of October as 'National Trim Your Pet’s Nail Day'. According to him, every entrepreneur encounters people who don't believe in them. He did meet such people but his family's support kept him going.

He discusses:

* His goal * R&D phase * Doubters in his journey * Marketing plans * National trim your pets nail day * His charity organization

Join Ramon Vela and Alexandre Contreras as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on KlipTrio, visit: https://kliptrio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

KlipTrio - Be Persistent and Chase it Above All Else Jan 18, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Yotpo**

“Be persistent and chase it above all means,” says Alexandre. In part 1, we have Alexandre Contreras, Founder & Inventor of KlipTrio, a first-ever patented 3 in 1 pet nail trimmer with an integrated stainless steel nail file & disposable styptic powder cartridge.

At the beginning of his career, at the age of 18, Alexandre experienced disappointment, but that didn't stop him. He wanted to be a veterinary technician from childhood, and he eventually became one. In his time as a technician, he saw that even technicians make errors while trimming the nails of pets, and the process for doing so was inefficient and potentially hazardous.

So, he decided to develop a safer, faster, and more hygienic way of trimming nails & applying styptic powder to an animal's injured nail.

In part 1, he discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His background * Disappointment at the age of 18 * What kept him going * His two lightbulb moments * Chasing U.S. utility patents

Join Ramon Vela and Alexandre Contreras as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on KlipTrio, visit: https://kliptrio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

NOWATCH - The worlds first Aware-able Jan 18, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Sendlane**

In part 2, Timothee Manschot and Hylke Muntinga, Co-Founders of NOWATCH, say that “you need to get everything out of today because nobody knows what's going to happen tomorrow.”

It's more about encouraging people to explore their senses. The brand doesn't want to add one more screen to your life. According to them, it’s essential to have a plan to make technology work for you, not on you.

They partnered with Philips Biosensing. Philips was so pleased with NOWATCH's approach and application of their technology sensors to wearables that they licensed their products to them. Their wearable will be available in the coming spring.

In part 2, they discussed:

* What do in a moment of stress * Their Mobile application * Coaching ability * Power of gratefulness * Partnership with Philips

Join Ramon Vela, Timothee Manschot, and Hylke Muntinga as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nowatch, visit: https://nowatch.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

NOWATCH - The Time is NOW Jan 18, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Sendlane**

“To help every human get more from each moment in life,” that's the thought behind NOWATCH. In part 1, we have Timothee Manschot and Hylke Muntinga, Co-Founders of NOWATCH, the first wearable that helps you actively predict and manage stress by giving you insight into your cortisol levels.

It all started four years ago when Hylke received the bad news that he had a genetic disease that would cause him to go blind. The doctors aren't certain of when blindness will occur, only that it will happen.

During this time, Hlyke and Timothee had long talks about living and being "present." They wondered if they could help people see time in a new way. That's when they launched NOWATCH, a wearable technology built to help you develop a new relationship with technology and yourself.

NOWATCH products are a combination of state-of-the-art technology with ancient gemstones.

In part 1, they discuss:

* Gratefulness * Hylke's story * Overview of the company * Society and mental health * NOWATCH products

Join Ramon Vela, Timothee Manschot, and Hylke Muntinga as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nowatch, visit: https://nowatch.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Kiramoon - Good Skin. Better Mood. Jan 18, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove**

“Find other entrepreneurs that are willing to talk to you,” advises Lindsey in part 2. Lindsey Martin, Founder and CEO of Kiramoon, shares that her products are vegan, gluten-free, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free.

She mentions that the brand's customers are millennials and Gen Z's. According to her, surrounding yourself with people who are smart as well as generous is essential. Her brand not only preaches joy but also has a community giving program.

Lindsey recommends newcomers to start with their Silky Rinse Cleanser and Moon Globes. In the future, Kiramoon will also be developing fun and exciting functional tools and accessories. Here she discusses:

* Kiramoon's incredible formula * Their customer base * Advice for other entrepreneurs * Concept of plus equal minus * Skincare products and tools * What is coming next at Kiramoon * Message for customers

Join Ramon Vela and Lindsey Martin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiramoon, visit: https://www.kiramoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Kiramoon - To Inspire Joy and Self-Care Jan 17, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove**

“To inspire joy and self-care” that's the mission of Kiramoon. In part 1, we have Lindsey Martin, Founder and CEO of Kiramoon, an Austin-based skincare brand encompassing joy and advocating for mental health awareness with skin-loving ingredients.

While working as a software sales executive, manager, director, Lindsey fell in love with business but still felt that something was missing. She felt the pull to put all her hard-won experience towards building her own business. Being in love with skincare from an early age, Lindsey knew this would be the area of her focus. So, she launched Kiramoon, a brand that pairs joy, happiness, and cuteness concepts with great formulas.

At Kiramoon, it’s not just great skincare products, but diversity’s at the forefront too. According to Lindsey, customer acquisition and brand awareness are tough, especially for new businesses. In her journey, her background in software sales helped her in problem-solving and other aspects of the brand.

In the first part, she discussed:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her career * Why Kiramoon * Difference between entrepreneurship & sales * What was her motivation * Her vision

Join Ramon Vela and Lindsey Martin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiramoon, visit: https://www.kiramoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Carro - To Help Brands and Small Businesses Grow Jan 15, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Yotpo**

“To help brands and small businesses grow” that's the mission of Carro. In part 2, David Perry, Founder and CEO of Carro, posits that in a way, brands are influencers, and influencers are brands.

David has a background in engineering and the video gaming industry. He believes that there's room for innovation in every industry. To him, the business world is filled with friction. He mentions their cross-brand bundling offering that helps make a bundle of products from different brands.

Later, he also mentions that PayPal is an investor and why companies like PayPal invest: Carro is helping businesses grow. Brands can apply to Carro as a supplier as well as a retailer.

He discusses:

* Cross brand bundling * What made him stop and think * Room for innovation * Business friction * Investors and commerce enablement * Betting on Shopify * How to get started with Carro * Supporting customers * Words of wisdom

Join Ramon Vela and David Perry as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Carro, Visit: https://getcarro.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Carro - Sell More Together Jan 14, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Yotpo**

“Sell more together,” that's the tagline as well as the idea behind Carro. In part 1, we have David Perry, Founder and CEO of Carro, a brand that helps other brands build out their offering.

David is originally from Northern Ireland. He explains that collaboration between brands and between brands and influencers leads to more traffic and attention. According to him, influencers make the mistake of not reading the marketplace. He advises that they must own their stores, customers and build their collection.

Carro is a company that fulfills the needs of the actual shoppers. To Carro, influencers should be considered a retailer who sells products. He also believes that influencers and brands can be tastemakers in their markets.

In part 1, he discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Who's an influencer 2.0 * How Carro technology works * Collaboration, curating, and marketplace * Affiliate links these days * Tastemaker influencers

Join Ramon Vela and David Perry as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Carro, Visit: https://getcarro.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Fruit Street - Take Control of Your Health! Jan 14, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Yotpo**

It’s easier to continue when you have conviction around a social goal, says Laurence. In part 2, Laurence Girard, Founder & CEO of Fruit Street, talks about his conviction in scientific concepts and desire to pursue the business through its various iterations.

According to him, sometimes, when a business fails, it’s not the team or the product or you, but instead, it’s the timing that matters in business. Laurence then speaks about their program where they offer 26 classes that cover different topics such as diet, sleep, cooking, bad food choices, etc.

He remarks that their program is more like a lifestyle improvement program. Fruit Street relies on 3 different channels: the employer's health plan, consumers, and treating patients in the physician network.

He talked about:

* What kept him going * Timing matters too * How to get started with Fruit Street * Their 3 different channels * Lifestyle improvement program * Joining the program

Join Ramon Vela and Laurence Girard as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fruit Street, visit: https://fruitstreet.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Fruit Street - 88 million American adults are Pre-Diabetic Jan 14, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Yotpo**

“The most powerful thing you can do is maintain a healthy diet” that's what Laurence recommends. In part 1, we have Laurence Girard, Founder & CEO of Fruit Street, a developer of digital diabetes prevention and weight loss programs.

During a college internship at a healthcare facility, Laurence had an intense experience with an overweight diabetic patient who passed away. This experience led him to Fruit Street. Fruit Street's program is designed to help people with pre-diabetes avoid developing type two diabetes. According to Laurence, approximately 88 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don't know they have it.

That's why he advises taking their risk quiz and then a blood test along with a hemoglobin A1C test. There's a need to raise awareness amongst the public and physicians.

He discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * How to identify pre-diabetes * Challenges around pre-diabetes * His motivation behind the brand * Impact of diet & lifestyle * Dean Ornish's books * What's different about Fruit Street * Being CDC endorsed

Join Ramon Vela and Laurence Girard as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fruit Street, visit: https://fruitstreet.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Bestowe Gifting - Love, Celebrate, Gift Jan 13, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Sendlane**

“Giving gifts is important” that's the reminder from Bestowe Gifting to people and corporations. In part 2, Catherine Weis, Founder of Bestowe Gifting, says that giving gifts reminds people that someone is looking out for them.

Since her childhood, Catherine has been into artisanship. According to her, Artisans gravitate towards visual mediums like Pinterest and Instagram, so they also have a featured artisan page on their site.

She partners with event planners and companies like Forbes, Google, Netflix, and others. They provide gifting services for baby showers, weddings, homes, holidays, wellness, thank you’s, and employees.

She discusses:

* Traits she looks for in Artisans * What artisans gravitate towards * Their artisan page * Their custom gifting service * Partnership with event planners * Bestowe Gifting's collection * Being sustainable

Join Ramon Vela and Catherine Weis as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bestowe Gifting, visit: https://bestowegifting.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Bestowe Gifting - Gifting that Supports Small-Batch Artisans Jan 13, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Sendlane**

“We support small-batch artisans, local businesses, and a sustainable economy,” that's what makes Bestowe Gifting unique. In part 1, we have Catherine Weis, Founder of Bestowe Gifting, a high-end curated gifting brand that makes gifting effortless.

Catherine had a background in graphic design. She had been in marketing and e-commerce for over 20 years. She was always a content creator who loved helping others. That's why ten years ago, she started a blog along with her friends to support local artisans.

Later, the blog’s success led her to launch her brand, Bestowe Gifting. She offers customized gifting for individuals and businesses.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Who is Bestowe Gifting * What motivated her * Her background and blog * Her passion for creating * The rabbit hole of her business * Putting together a gifting box * Shift during the pandemic * Their criteria for choosing Artisans

Join Ramon Vela and Catherine Weis as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bestowe Gifting, visit: https://bestowegifting.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

incrEDIBLE Eats - Be the Change that You Want to See Jan 12, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Ordergroove**

“We have to be the change that we want to see,” says Dinesh. In part 2, Dinesh Tadepalli, Co-Founder of incrEDIBLE Eats, remarks on the value of happiness instead of valuing success.

He mentions that he does not fear failure because he enjoys his journey. It is the passion that keeps him going and not the money. Dinesh then tells of his trick of diverting his fears when he thinks about spending money in place of making money.

Dinesh doesn’t believe in the concept of quick sales or quick money. According to him, steady growth is a perfect fit if you have long-term goals. His brand also has a goal of replacing 100 million cutlery by 2050.

He discussed:

* Happiness and success * Fear of failure * His indirect help * Making product gluten-free * The vicious cycle between company and people * Their products * Introducing Sporks * Partnerships * The Brand's goal

Join Ramon Vela and Dinesh Tadepalli as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on incrEDIBLE eats, visit: https://incrediblespoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

incrEDIBLE Eats - Spoons that are Eco-Friendly and Edible Jan 12, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Ordergroove**

“Happiness is within you,” that's a life lesson Dinesh has learned. In part 1, we have Dinesh Tadepalli, Co-Founder of incrEDIBLE eats, a brand on a mission to reduce and replace single-use plastic cutlery with edible cutlery.

Dinesh came to the US in 2007 to do a master's in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California. After visiting an ice cream shop, Dinesh was appalled when he noticed a trash can container filled with plastic spoons used once and thrown away.

This was when he decided to study alternatives for plastic, and he soon came across edible spoons. His passion and concern for people and the planet grew seeds of entrepreneurship in his mind, and he decided to launch incrEdible Eats. His brand makes edible cutlery that is natural and GMO-free. It can stay up to 30 minutes in a hot soup or cold dessert.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * His background * His light bulb moment * How we intake microplastics * Compostable cutlery cycle * Machinery for edible cutlery * Challenges besides technology * 3 C's of a product

Join Ramon Vela and Dinesh Tadepalli as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on incrEDIBLE Eats, visit: https://incrediblespoon.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Uncapped - Smart Money for Smart Founders Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Yotpo**

“To be the smartest money that a founder could get” that's an Uncapped goal. In part 2, Asher Ismail, Co-Founder of Uncapped, mentions that they look for the right data and story on a brand.

Uncapped is a perfect fit if a company has 10K sales per month and has been around for six months. The brand works in many categories, focusing on e-commerce fashion brands.

Asher gave the example of a brand called Hunter & Gather, which reached new heights with the right funding. According to him, the pandemic has accelerated e-commerce penetration and the shifting buying habits among consumers. It has become easier to open an e-commerce shop, but it's challenging to find a unique space in the market.

He talked about:

* What customers can expect * Uncapped revenue & category criteria * Hunter and gather case study * Where they work * New trends * Fundraising preparation

Join Ramon Vela and Asher Ismail as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Uncapped, Visit: https://www.weareuncapped.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

* This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Uncapped - Fast, Flexible Funding for E-commerce Brands Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Yotpo**

“Fast, flexible funding to e-commerce businesses” that's what Uncapped provides. In part 1, Asher Ismail, Co-Founder of Uncapped, a revenue-based finance provider.

Asher has a background in startups. This gave him first-hand experience of startups’ challenges with business funding. Uncapped is founder-friendly and doesn’t think founders should give up equity to fund their growth. Their service is not just fast but fair and transparent.

Currently, Uncapped is available in 22 countries around the world. They provide equity and interest-free investments from 10K up to 5 million. According to him, real success as an entrepreneur is building a profitable business. As an exercise, he advises entrepreneurs to think about how they would grow their business without money.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His experience with funding * Advice for entrepreneurs raising money * His first business * Being entrepreneurial

Join Ramon Vela and Asher Ismail as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Uncapped, Visit: https://www.weareuncapped.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

* This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Auralie - Curating What People Want Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Yotpo**

“Curate what people want” that's the Auralie goal. In part 2, Tessa Jennifer, Founder of Aurelie tells you can never be 100% sure in her job but learning from mistakes makes you better.

She studies brands and picks individual styles beforehand. Tessa shares stories about customers who come to them not just because of clothes but also their values. Auralie’s blog also features creative people in the industry.

She suggests going to the new arrivals section of their website for fresh styles. They also have a list of designers and best-selling collections for every week. Auralie started with clothing and jewelry. Right now, they are expanding to shoes, too. Being on social channels like Instagram and Pinterest helped them reach more customers.

Here she talked about:

* How she chooses cloth pieces * Auralie's values * Building a community * Opportunity to expand * How she got the word out at the start

Join Ramon Vela and Tessa Jennifer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Auralie, visit: https://auraliestudio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Auralie - Working to End Fast Fashion Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Yotpo**

“To help women find confidence in their true selves,” that's the mission behind Auralie. In part 1, we have Tessa Jennifer, Founder of Auralie, a multi-brand retailer.

Tessa worked in fast fashion but soon realized the harm that fast fashion had on the environment and other areas. According to her, most people don’t understand what damage is caused by fast fashion. So Tessa launched a platform where women can choose clothing from slow fashion brands.

She carefully chooses brands. Tessa checks the source, quality, and treatment of employees of the brands she carries before deciding to carry them. She is inclined to support women-owned brands.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Fast fashion and slow fashion * Lack of knowledge * Her criteria for brands

Join Ramon Vela and Tessa Jennifer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Auralie, visit: https://auraliestudio.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

Waterdrop - Drink More Water Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Sendlane**

Something for everybody - that's the ambition of Waterdrop. In part 2, Martin Donald Murray, Founder and CEO of Waterdrop, talks about raising money.

According to Martin, it's essential to be careful while spending marketing money when you are short on budget. He believes there's always more than one way of doing things. The brand's core products include micro drinks extracted from fruits and plants.

Their products have no sugar, have great ingredients, and are a great way to drink more water. They are not a supplement but use the benefits of fruit instead. Waterdrop is trying to broaden its product portfolio to cater to a broader audience. The company will continue to launch in the states, bigger cities and venture into new technology.

He talked about:

* How he did the funding * Values that Waterdrop had * Waterdrop products and development * Benefits of Waterdrop * Who is their primary customer * Upcoming plans

Join Ramon Vela, and Martin Donald Murray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Waterdrop, visit: https://www.waterdrop.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Waterdrop - Changing the Way We Consume Water Jan 04, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, and Sendlane**

“Change the way we consume beverages” that's the Waterdrop mission. In part 1, we have Martin Donald Murray, Founder and CEO of Waterdrop, a Vienna-based beverage company.

Martin believes drinking more water and refraining from buying bottled drinks is the simplest way to a healthy life. He had always found the beverage industry compelling. But what drove him to quit his management consulting career: changing the way consumers consume and purchase beverages.

Martin began working on Waterdrop around 2016 after he completed his MBA in Singapore. According to him, an entrepreneur should be rational and not be bothered by what other people think. In his opinion, it's better to make an amazing product and be proud of it.

In the first part, he talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * His background and motivation for the brand * Production timeline * Conviction for business * Customer feedback

Join Ramon Vela, and Martin Donald Murray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Waterdrop, visit: https://www.waterdrop.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

OCTO - Truly a GameChanger Jan 03, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Ordergroove**

“Truly a GameChanger,” says Natasha about their newest product. In part 2, Natasha Duwin and Tobias Franoszek, Co-Founders and CEO of OCTO, tell us that safety, effectiveness, and reusability are the main focus areas for OCTO.

According to Natasha, a fundamentally good mask will be necessary for everybody into the foreseeable future. With current masks, people face difficulty breathing, communicating, and many more problems. Therefore, having a mask that addresses these problems and can be worn daily will be essential.

They mention their latest product innovation called Halo is extremely comfortable, weightless, and necessary in the coming times.

They talked about:

* What's unique about OCTO * Issues their products solve * Thoughts on the need for better masks * Masks for athletic activities * Where to find OCTO * Product innovation

Join Ramon Vela, Natasha Duwin, and Tobias Franoszek as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on OCTO, visit: https://octosafety.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

OCTO - Masks that are Safe, Effective, & Reusable Jan 03, 2022

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Ordergroove**

“Respiratory protection that is safe, effective, reusable, and tough” that's what OCTO creates. In part 1, we have Natasha Duwin and Tobias Franoszek, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of OCTO, a safety device brand.

Both Natasha and Tobias had experience starting, building, and selling companies in the software space. They saw an opportunity for OCTO respiratory masks (ORM) after coming across the government's initiative for the SARS outbreak. They initially planned to launch their first product in 2020, but the pandemic pushed their product prototype timeline to 2021. Undeterred, they found a way to manufacture masks themselves.

OCTO gives a significant discount to frontline workers, janitors, delivery drivers, and many more. OCTO Respiratory Mask’s reuse aspect makes them different from other brands.

They discussed:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Their background * Why OCTO * Feedback during pandemic * Supply chain issues * Similarities to Software Development * Lessons learned

Join Ramon Vela, Natasha Duwin, and Tobias Franoszek as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on OCTO, visit: https://octosafety.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

TrueFire Studios - Serving 3+ Million Musicians Dec 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, and Ordergroove**

“Rigidity is the enemy of creativity,” tells Owen. In part 2, Owen Grover, CEO of TrueFire Studios, mentions the essential differences between their YouTube presence and their education platforms.

TrueFire Studio's educators are introduced through word of mouth or referral. They have a team dedicated to artist relations as well. According to Owen, the key to TrueFire’s success is showing up every day, doing right by artists, doing right by students, and having a passion for helping.

He discusses:

* Artist work landing pages * YouTube solution * Brand constellation strategy * Sense of sweet spot * How musicians can start working * Who's potentially a good teacher * Marketing activities

Join Ramon Vela and Owen Grover as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on TrueFire Studios, visit: https://www.truefirestudios.com/brands

Only for our listeners: STORY50 for 50% off your first purchase at TrueFire.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

TrueFire Studios - Self-Actualize Yourself Through Music! Dec 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, and Ordergroove**

“Democratizing music education” that's the mission of TrueFire Studios. In part 1, we have Owen Grover, CEO of TrueFire Studios, an alliance of the world's leading online music education companies.

Owen has been focused on the intersection of music and technology for over 20 years. Today, TrueFire Studios makes it convenient for students, musicians/educators, and their partners in the musical instruments and manufacturing space. They provide anytime, anywhere, and affordable access to music education.

He discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Music and the self-actualization business * Helping musicians monetize * Convenience wins * Their four platforms and portfolio

Join Ramon Vela and Owen Grover as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on TrueFire Studios, visit: https://www.truefirestudios.com/brands

Only for our listeners: STORY50 for 50% off your first purchase at TrueFire.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

Kiddy Crawler - Launching with Passion & Determination Dec 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, and, Sendlane**

“Celebrate your progress.” In part 2, Stacey Kohler, CEO and Founder of Kiddy Crawler, tells about the history and re-launch of the Crawligator.

According to her, if you have the idea, passion, and determination, you can make anything happen. The revived Crawligator now has a utility patent and an improved design as per safety standards. Her research and testing for the Crawligator toy took almost three years.

When launching a new business or product, she usually gets the idea after identifying a problem, like Crawligator's case. Stacey advises joining an industry or product association when starting your business. Kiddy Crawler is already selling in 13 countries now. All overwhelmingly great feedback from parents and doctors helps her keep going.

She talked about:

* History of Crawligator * Patent and original name * Research around Crawligator * Her inspiration * Product and awards * Their angel investor * Feedback from parents * Sub-categories

Join Ramon Vela, and Stacey Kohler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiddy Crawler, visit: https://www.thecrawligator.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

Kiddy Crawler - Experience and Creativity Win Every Time Dec 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, and, Sendlane**

“Enhances healthy infant development” that's what the “Crawligator” from Kiddy Crawler does. In part 1, we have Stacey Kohler, CEO and Founder of Kiddy Crawler, an infant development toymaker.

As a teen, Stacey had started her first business in the earthmoving business, where she worked in heavy equipment operations and material processing applications. To her, experience is priceless. And she used this experience in earthmoving and an inventor's mentality to invent the first sandbag machine that was invaluable during floods.

Stacey feels she always had a creative ability. After becoming a grandma, she noticed that her grandchild (and other kids) were not getting enough tummy and crawling time crucial to a child’s development. She remembered a developmental mobility device for infants called the Crawligator from the 60s and 70s. Stacey went on a search for the Crawligator to help her granddaughter. This search eventually led her to revive the Crawligator and relaunch it for a new generation of children.

In the first part, she talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * What motivated her to start dirt business * Her sandbag machine * Reviving Crawligator

Join Ramon Vela and Stacey Kohler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiddy Crawler, visit: https://www.thecrawligator.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

LTVplus - Quality of Customer Interactions Matters More than Quantity Dec 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergroove, and CartText**

In part 2, GQ Fu, Co-Founder of LTVplus mentions that the “quality of customer interaction” matters more than quantity.

According to him, technology can help in speeding things up but it doesn't necessarily enhance quality. He suggested that companies should go for a personalized recovery approach, especially for subscriptions. Collating trends and capturing customer feedback insights has helped provide more value to LTVplus clients.

Omnichannel customer outsourcing and failed payment recovery service are two main services offered by LTVplus. The company is in the process of catering to different kinds of brands. LTVplus's onboarding process lasts up to a month to ensure quality.

GQ discusses:

* Trends around customer interaction * Personalized recovery approach * Working with brands * Criteria for brands * Onboarding process at LTVplus * Key insights and trends * Upcoming events

Join Ramon Vela and GQ Fu as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LTVplus, visit: https://www.ltvplus.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

LTVplus - Rid the World of Bad Customer Experiences Dec 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergroove, and CartText**

“Rid the world of bad customer experiences” that's the LTVplus mission. In part 1, we have GQ Fu, Co-Founder of LTVplus, a fully remote customer service outsourcing company.

GQ lives in Ukraine. He worked as a customer success manager for two SaaS companies before LTVplus. He and David Henzel, his Co-Founder, came up with the idea for a live chat outsourcing business. That business gradually evolved to what LTVplus is today; built out of the needs of their clients.

LTVplus started as a remote startup because the company wanted the ability to hire talents from around the globe. It supports SaaS and E-commerce brands. According to GQ, having an already remote setup helped them during the pandemic.

In the first part, he talked about:

* Gratefulness * Brand Overview * Benefits of working remotely * His background * Their motivation * Focus on Brands and Saas businesses * Live person & personalization

Join Ramon Vela and GQ Fu as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LTVplus, visit: https://www.ltvplus.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Kosterina - Health, Beauty from the Inside and Out Dec 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Health and beauty from the inside and out” that's what Kosterina is all about, says Katina Mountanos, Founder and CEO of Kosterina.

Here are some things Katina shares in part 2 of this feature: consuming dark chocolate and olive oil together can amplify antioxidant properties. Sauces and olive oil are great for those looking to incorporate more vegetables. Kosterina plans to continue building its four main categories: olive oil and vinegar, dark chocolate, freshly baked goods, and skincare.

Katina says that extra virgin olive oil is the healthiest oil. The brand sees vegetable and canola oil as its enemy because it's highly processed, causes inflammation, and can bring harm to the body.

She discusses:

* Olive oil flavors * Dark chocolate balsamic vinegar * Their product lines * Enhancing the plant-based diet * What's coming next * New product category * Marketing standpoint * Problems with vegetable oil * Global supply chain

Join Ramon Vela and Katina Mountanos as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kosterina, visit: https://www.kosterina.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Kosterina - The Blue Zone Lifestyle Dec 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“To create a blue zone in every household” that's Kosterina's mission. In part 1, we have Katina Mountanos, Founder and CEO of Kosterina, a multi-faceted wellness brand.

Katina started her career in investment banking and then went to graduate school for business. She worked at L'Oreal, two different e-commerce startups, and then launched her first startup. Katina's family is from Greece, where one of the most popular Greek extra virgin olive oil varieties is produced.

She was frustrated that she couldn’t find great-tasting olive oil in the United States, like in Greece. So she decided to educate consumers on how great olive oil should taste by launching Kosterina. The brand is centered around the blue zone lifestyle such as health, longevity, community, and stress-free life. Their products have high antioxidant extra virgin olive oil from Greece. She believes holding on to conviction is essential.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Concept of blue zone * Tips for a lifestyle change * Her background * Launching Kosterina * Work experience * Challenges and the biggest lessons * Being a parent

Join Ramon Vela and Katina Mountanos as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kosterina, visit: https://www.kosterina.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Yotpo - Great brands are Built on Happy Customers Dec 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergroove, Repeat, and CartText**

“No one knows what they're doing; they’re all just figuring it out,” that's the best career advice Rosa has ever received. In part 2, Rosa Hu, Vice President of Product Marketing for Yotpo, mentions their Amazing Women in E-Commerce program that recognizes visionary women in the industry.

Rosa has learned to be fearless. She advises people to go for their dream job, connect with people, be persistent, leave toxicity and find the right people to work and grow with.

Yotpo specializes in strengthening and retaining relationships between a brand and its customers. The company believes customers' loyalty is earned and reviewers are a brand's best value differentiator.

She discusses:

* Yotpo’s amazing women in e-commerce program * Lessons learned * Yotpo’s offerings * Example of reviewers * Products that work together * Retaining relationships with customers * Customer criteria * What onboarding looks like * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Rosa Hu as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Yotpo, visit: https://www.yotpo.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Yotpo - Strengthening the Bond Between Brand & Customer Dec 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergroove, Repeat, and CartText**

“Helping brands bring customers back to purchase again and again” that's the Yotpo goal. In part 1, we have Rosa Hu, Vice-President of Product Marketing for Yotpo, an e-commerce marketing platform.

Rosa comes from a first-generation immigrant family. She grew up inspired by her father doing different jobs and running his own business. She graduated from Wellesley College and then got into tech and start-ups. She started pursuing her passion in marketing tech and worked with multiple large e-commerce platforms. Rosa worked at SAP for six years before Yotpo.

To Rosa, it's all about “the people around you.” She says that Yotpo helps strengthen relationships between brands and consumers through engagement, community advocacy, and retention. Their values of diversity and inclusion align with her and with their customers.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Company Overview * Her background * Work experience * Career advice * Being raised by immigrant parents

Join Ramon Vela and Rosa Hu as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Yotpo, visit: https://www.yotpo.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

LYS Beauty - Inclusive. Clean. Cruelty-Free and 100% Vegan Dec 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, Gorgias, and Attentive**

In part 2, CEO Tisha Thompson mentions that LYS Beauty is a cruelty-free brand. She also mentions that LYS Beauty is the first African-American Clean Beauty Brand sold on Sephora.

The brand has an average price point of $20, whereas most clean brands charge double or more. Tisha's experience has been a tremendous help in launching her clean beauty brand.

The company goes extra steps to respect the skin and provide the best ingredients. They include ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, and Ashwagandha. Tisha mentions that they have won the Allure Best of Beauty Award this year.

She discusses:

* Generational wealth gap & access * Affordability of products * Making clean products is a choice * Company's philosophy * LYS Beauty products * Allure Best of Beauty Award

Join Ramon Vela and Tisha Thompson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LYS Beauty, visit: https://lysbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

LYS Beauty - Love Yourself Dec 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Love yourself” that's what the LYS in LYS Beauty stands for. In part 1, we have Tisha Thompson, CEO of LYS Beauty, a clean beauty brand.

Tisha has loved makeup since a young age. She went to college and studied accounting to make her parents proud. But her passion was makeup & beauty products. Coincidentally she started working in the accounting department of a beauty company where she found herself more drawn towards the marketing side of things.

She also felt frustrated due to a lack of representation in the industry. Tisha wanted to diversify the clean beauty space, so she created LYS Beauty early in 2019. According to her, it's important to embrace yourself, collaborate, be good to others, and your confidence should come without compromise.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * Her motivation drivers

Join Ramon Vela and Tisha Thompson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LYS Beauty, visit: https://lysbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Alpyn Beauty - Hydrate, Nourish, and Help Skin Flourish Dec 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Finding new plants that hydrate, nourish, and help skin flourish” is what sets Alpyn Beauty apart from others. In part 2, Kendra Kolb Butler, Founder of Alpyn Beauty, continues talking about their ingredients.

As per Kendra, hydration is the key to good skin, and that's why everyone should start with a good moisturizer. She advises that going from thinnest to thickest when using skincare products is suitable for the skin. According to her, great skincare products can be fun because you can see the difference right away.

The brand's skincare products are built for rough environments. During the pandemic, Shutting down stores helped Kendra focus on the brand’s products more. She also suggests that it's hard to find balance in life, and it’s worth it to follow your dreams and passion.

She talked about:

* Baseline for skin * Shutting stores down * Alpyn Beauty products * Introducing new plants * Educating customers * Balancing life

Join Ramon Vela and Kendra Kolb Butler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Alpyn Beauty, visit: https://alpynbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Alpyn Beauty - Plants that Preserve & Protect Your Skin Dec 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Listen to your inner voice,” advises Kendra. In part 1, we have Kendra Kolb Butler, Founder of Alpyn Beauty, a sustainable, plant-based skincare brand.

Kendra has a 20-year long beauty industry career. She moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from New York six years ago. Initially, she started a store in the town to keep herself abreast of the skincare space. She soon realized that the climate dried people’s skin, hers included.

Despite having products from big brands, customers kept having dry skin issues. That was when she noticed that some local plants seem to flourish and look nourished and hydrated even in the dry climate. Kendra began learning about these wild plants, and now, these plants have become the special sauce for Alpyn Beauty and its customers.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Why she started * Her background * Not feeling fulfilled * Her advice for founders * Putting products together * Her ingredients

Join Ramon Vela and Kendra Kolb Butler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Alpyn Beauty, visit: https://alpynbeauty.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

ReserveBar - Serving Consumers in a Frictionless Fashion Dec 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

”A massive category growth opportunity” that's what ReserveBar's technology and platform is creating. In part 2, Derek Correia, President of ReserveBar, and Lindsay Held, CEO and Co-Founder of ReserveBar, mentions the brand serves the consumers in a very logical and frictionless fashion.

According to Derek, having better control over a branded experience from beginning to end is powerful for the industry and retail partners. Retailers benefit from ReserveBar because things are easier. Plus, they help bring revenue into retailers.

The ReserveBar platform provides sales to retailers and brands and offers valuable data while connecting consumers to the brand. ReserveBar is also a route to market for emerging brands such as craft brands and brands coming from marginalized communities. To be an agent of change is exciting to them. Content and education are great strategies that will continue.

They discussed:

* How ReserveBar works * Highlights from the brand * Game changer for consumers * Route to market for ReserveBar * Proliferation of ideas * Message for customers

Join Ramon Vela, Derek Correia, and Lindsay Held as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Reservebar, visit: https://www.reservebar.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

ReserveBar - Good Spirits. Delivered. Dec 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Yotpo, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

In part 1, we have Derek Correia, President of ReserveBar and Lindsay Held, CEO and Co-Founder of ReserveBar, an eCommerce leader in rare, luxury, and ultra-premium spirits, specializing in customization, personalization, and innovative gifting.

Derek was a struggling entrepreneur when he met Lindsay. Lindsay brought him on to ReserveBar because of his great ideas and perspective. Derek is not just fueled by problem-solving but passion as well. It kept him going in his previous business failed.

When things were at their worst, Lindsay fell into a deep depression but relying on his brother, Co-Founder, and support network helped him. According to Lindsay, people don't fail; businesses fail, that's why it should not be taken personally.

ReserveBar was started when Diageo, the largest producer in the spirit industry, looked for a marketing partner to create an eCommerce website around 2011. The brand successfully pitched to Diageo and got its first partnership signed. And the rest is history.

In the first half, they talked about:

* Gratefulness * Experiences that brought them together * Derek's mindset * Lindsay's recommendation to founders * How they started ReserveBar

Join Ramon Vela, Derek Correia, and Lindsay Held as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Reservebar, visit: https://www.reservebar.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

MamaSezz - Making a Plant-based Diet Easy & Affordable Dec 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergoove, Repeat, and CartText** “To help take the stress out of eating plant-based” that's the goal of MamaSezz. In part 2, Meg Donahue, Co-Founder of MamaSezz, gives more insights into the brand. MamaSezz does high-level manufacturing and designs its products itself. Meg's past experiences enabled her to build an efficient economic model. They have great relationships with suppliers, farmers, vendors, and customers. The brand wants to make replacing unhealthy diets with plant-based diets easier for buyers. It aims to help people at an affordable price. The company yearns to give people life energy while reducing pressure on the environment. MamaSezz is ready to launch its two new no sugar cookies and superfoods in the coming months. She discusses: * How products are made * Need for consistency * MamaSezz programs * Their cookies and superfood Join Ramon Vela and Meg Donahue as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand. For more on MamaSezz, visit: https://www.mamasezz.com/ Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify. * OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX. MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing. They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel. They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit. Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance. The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO. For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand * This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove. It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering... That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue. From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story. Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/ * This episode is also brought to you by CartText. Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates? Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed. One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done. To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/ * This episode was brought to you by Repeat. Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love. Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber. Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts. The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers. To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

MamaSezz - Healing People and the Planet Dec 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ordergoove, Repeat, and CartText**

“Fresh whole food plant-based products direct to customers nationwide” that's what MamaSezz delivers to customers. In part 1, we have Meg Donahue, Co-Founder of MamaSezz, a whole food plant-based meal delivery company.

Meg began studying heart diseases when her mother suffered congestive heart failure. She came across a whole food plant-based diet. Following such a diet helped her mother recover from her illness. Meg herself started following the same diet and noticed positive impacts for herself.

Meg’s partner Lisa had a large food company in the past. This background helped them with MamaSezz. Healing people and the planet has always been the company's mission. They had a detox program, and they also have a donation program. The brand provides whole food, plant-based fresh meals of the highest quality.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * How the brand started * Aligning with values in business

Join Ramon Vela and Meg Donahue as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MamaSezz, visit: https://www.mamasezz.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by Ordergroove.

It’s time to let your customers enjoy the products they love without the friction of reordering...

That’s why innovative brands like Peet’s Coffee and Il Makiage rely on Ordergroove’s subscription solution to build long-lasting relationships that drive recurring revenue.

From enrollment incentives to churn-fighting AI, Ordergroove gives your business the tools it needs to be a subscription success story.

Book a demo today and receive 2-months off your contract. Visit https://www.ordergroove.com/story/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Sendlane - Customer Success is Their Super Power Dec 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, DRVE, ShoppingGives, and CartLoop**

“Customer service is one of our Superpowers,” says Jimmy. In part 2, Jimmy Kim, CEO and Co-Founder of Sendlane, says debt is not horrible when used to save a brand from giving away control.

Brands need to figure out their customers’ interests. People interested in the brand's mission will continue to engage even though they may not be making a purchase. According to him, today, customers want to know about the story, see content, and be in a community.

He advises brands to test and try many creative things to retain and acquire customers while staying committed. Making sure the right emails to the right people are sent is important. Providing brands the ability to have several store instances (base feature), having a great customer success team, easy use, and building out their infrastructure are Sendlane’s Superpowers.

He discusses:

* Advise around debt * Recommendation for growth * About Sendlane * Sendlane Superpowers * Their ideal customer

Join Ramon Vela and Jimmy Kim as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sendlane, Visit: https://www.sendlane.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Sendlane - Driving Great Customer Experiences Dec 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRIVE, and CartLoop**

“Help drive great customer experiences for our customers” that's Sendlane. In part 1, we have Jimmy Kim, CEO and Co-Founder of Sendlane, an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform that helps hundreds of DTC brands tighten their existing customer relationships.

Jimmy grew up watching and being inspired by his entrepreneurial father. He started his career in a car business where he learned about finance, sales, and running a team. He pivoted to digital marketing around 2008 with the help of a friend. Then he started his first company which was focused on content creation.

Jimmy sees helping create a great customer experience as his mission. He advises brands to find what works for them with the right people. As for other advice for brands, Jimmy suggests that brands should think about raising money after they know exactly how they are going to scale their business.

Here he talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Family background * His career before Sendlane * Recommendation for making the shift * Criteria for raising funds

Join Ramon Vela and Jimmy Kim as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sendlane, Visit: https://www.sendlane.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for“The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Fairy Glow Mother - Not Selling Products. Selling Results. Dec 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“The game is to be sold, not to be told” remarks Hadiyah while talking about her experiences seeking out mentors. In part 2, Hadiyah Daché, Founder and CEO of Fairy Glow Mother mentioned that business can be hard for people of color when lacking the access to resources.

The approach of reading a lot of trade publications, skincare research, and figuring out who the “behind-the-scenes people” are and reaching out have proved beneficial for her. As for products she focuses on results instead of just selling products.

Most beauty businesses fail within 18 months, and the majority don't even see more than fifty thousand dollars annual revenue. According to her, it’s all about math. Hadiyah calculated everything at the beginning which kept her going. She advises people to do the math and find a local mentor.

She talked about:

* Being a founder and person of color * What was her approach * Her advice for businesses * Successful people * Favorite rappers * Products

Join Ramon Vela and Hadiyah Daché as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fairy Glow Mother, visit: https://fairyglowmother.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Fairy Glow Mother - The Skincare Brand with Magical Powers Dec 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Good fortune to your skin,” that's what Fairy Glow Mother does to your skin. In part 1, we have Hadiyah Daché, Founder and CEO of Fairy Glow Mother, a budding skincare empire based in Oakland, California.

Hadiyah had worked in tech and marketing in the past, but she felt bored. She got on to the beauty industry by starting a part-time skincare studio in 2018. Her studio specializes in treating acne, hyperpigmentation, and transition.

But in 2020, the pandemic led her to quit her full-time job and take her beauty services studio as a full-time job. The name 'Fairy Glow Mother' came to her randomly in the middle of the night. While the pandemic is tragic, she feels it provided the motivation and environment to get her skincare products jumpstarted.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her motivation * Becoming a business owner * Building community * How she named the brand

Join Ramon Vela and Hadiyah Daché as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fairy Glow Mother, visit: https://fairyglowmother.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Nopalera - You Are Their Wildest Dream Dec 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Surround yourself with people that believe in possibility,” says Sandra Velasquez, Founder of Nopalera. In part 2, she suggests that small brands should believe in their value and the value of their product and not worry about high pricing.

Sandra advises founders and potential founders not to take advice from people who are not attempting to live out their dreams. She also mentions her association with Credo Beauty. She had to follow strict rules to be one of the clean beauty brands they carry.

She wanted to avoid using too many ingredients and be environment-conscious while making her products. Presently, the brand has three cactus-based soaps and a unique package design that has helped spread its message.

She discusses:

* Undervaluing oneself * Plus equal minus * Partnering with Credo Beauty * Helping the community * Nopalera products * Their unique package design * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Sandra Velasquez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nopalera, visit: https://nopalera.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Nopalera - A Mexican Botanical Bath & Body Line Dec 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“To raise the cultural perception of the value of Mexican goods” that's the purpose behind Nopalera. In part 1, we have Sandra Velasquez, Founder of Nopalera, a Mexican botanical bath, and body line.

Sandra went to a music school, led a band called Pistolera (see them on NPR’s Tiny Desk), and has been a musician her entire life. After losing her day job, she came to realize that she could continue her mission of sharing her culture not just through music but through launching a consumer brand. To her, building muscles to deal with rejection helped her in making this switch.

The brand launched in the middle of the pandemic. It's not just to promote and elevate Mexican products but also to help the Latino community. She also mentions that access to capital and the right mindset is necessary for business.

She talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * Her turning point * What holds people back

Join Ramon Vela and Sandra Velasquez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nopalera, visit: https://nopalera.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Noodelist - Premium Plant-Based Instant Noodles Dec 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“It's progress over perfection,” that's a valuable lesson that Thuong learned from a mentor. In part 2, Thuong Tan, Founder and CEO of Noodelist, says everything happens for a reason.

The pandemic forced her to learn every single step involved in developing instant noodles. While this was difficult, she now advises everyone to take the opportunity to understand each step in the process like she did; the experience is invaluable. Another piece of advice, just get your product out as soon as possible because there is no such thing as perfect.

Thuong wanted her products to be sustainable, low in sodium, nutritious, flavorful, full of protein, and fiber-rich. She appreciates the instant noodles due to their quickness. She hopes to empower people with her noodles. The brand is planning to launch a gluten-free version as well.

She discusses:

* Why everything happens for a reason * Experience in pandemic * Advice for other entrepreneurs * Products and her suggestions * Super plant flavor * Empowering people

Join Ramon Vela and Thuong Tan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Noodelist, visit: https://www.noodelist.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Noodelist - A Bowl of Instant Happiness Dec 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Sendlane, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“A bowl of instant happiness,” that's Noodelist. In part 1, we have Thuong Tan, Founder and CEO of Noodelist, a plant-based instant noodles brand.

Thuong grew up in Finland. She worked for the Finnish government by helping Finnish companies enter the US market. She got the idea for Noodelist while doing her MBA in luxury branding. She also wanted to do something for her family and friends who loved instant noodles but avoided them due to unhealthy aspects.

The brand was born to make noodles healthier. She decided to switch the harmful ingredients that competitors were offering to healthier ones.

According to her, whatever you are doing starts with your passion. She believes her asset is her network. The brand launched in the middle of the pandemic; this was scary, but being brave enough to leave her comfort zone worked out for her.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Her background * Noodeliest idea * Her taste testers * Being an entrepreneur

Join Ramon Vela and Thuong Tan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Noodelist, visit: https://www.noodelist.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Sendlane.

If all DTC companies were forced to turn off Facebook ads, they'd be dead on arrival. Why is that?

They over-invest in paid acquisition and under-invest in retention.

Luckily, Sendlane makes it easy to solve this problem. Sendlane is an E-Commerce Customer Experience Platform helping hundreds of DTC brands to tighten their existing customer relationships.

Sendlane automates personalized customer experiences through Welcome and Abandoned Cart workflows, SMS, Deep Data Integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, multi-store functionality, and much more.

Plus, they don't stand for lazy customer support. Their San-Diego-based team has an average 1-minute response time from a live human, making sure you never get stuck in a chat queue ever again.

Curious about how Sendlane can help your DTC brand grow? Schedule a demo with a Specialist. Visit https://www.sendlane.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit https://www.storeya.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Perelel Health - We’re in it Together Dec 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“It's not all on you and we’re in it together,” that's the message Perelel Health has for women feeling pressure from society. In part 2, Victoria Thain Gioia, Co-Founder of Perelel Heath says they are a mission-driven brand that wants to be experts in supplements for women.

Community is two-way communication that gives space to members to have conversations. The brand has a conception support pack for the first, second, and third trimesters. They pair different ingredients just like how they pair vitamin C with Iron.

Perelel Health has a multi-pack for both women as well as men. According to Victoria, women kind of lose their identity after becoming moms. So, the brand wants to continue supporting women wherever they are through their products.

She talked about:

* Their mission and donation * Building community * Perelel Health products * Pressure on men * Identity of being a mom

Join Ramon Vela and Victoria Thain Gioia as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perelel Health, visit: https://perelelhealth.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Perelel Health - Supporting a Women’s Reproductive Life Dec 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“To support women throughout their reproductive life,” says Victoria. Today we have Victoria Thain Gioia, Co-Founder of Perelel Health, a women's health company.

What motivated her to start Perelel was her pregnancy. She learned that her daughter would be born with a cleft lip. Her doctor's found the defect was associated with a folic-acid deficiency early in her pregnancy that was not addressed with her one-size-fits-all prenatal vitamin. So she came together with her co-founder Alex to start Perelel Health. Both of them wanted to create a credible brand that supports women.

They started during the pandemic with strict requirements and a strong vision of what they would include in their products.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Alex and her Background * Using folic acid * Methylated folate * Biggest challenges for the brand * Brand pillars

Join Ramon Vela and Victoria Thain Gioia as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perelel Health, visit: https://perelelhealth.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Cocacao - Simply Decadent with a Clear Conscience Dec 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“To provide decadent taste, healthy ingredients, and a clear conscience” that's the mission behind Cocacao. In part 2, Michele Davis, Co-Founder of Cocacao mentions the pandemic's effect on business. Cocacao did a rebranding, brought new packaging, and an overall new look.

The brand is not trying to be a meal replacement or functional bar but just great-tasting chocolate made with healthy ingredients. Their base ingredients include organic virgin coconut oil, coconut nectar, and cacao powder. The texture of Cocacao makes it stand out from other products. Michele says that the company is building across the country and stabilizing for now.

Start surrounding yourself with a nice networking group of people with experience, connection, and willingness to share knowledge. She advises that it's hard without a community.

She discusses:

* How pandemic affected them * Advice for 50 years old * What's different about Cocacao * Ingredients and flavors * Their mission * Chocolate recommendation

Join Ramon Vela and Michele Davis as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cocacao, visit: https://cocacao.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Cocacao - Death, Divorce, and Chocolate Dec 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Just a rich, decadent chocolate dessert that happens to be vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and certified organic” that's Cocacao. Today we have Michele Davis, Co-Founder of Cocacao, a chocolate brand.

Michele has a background in accounting, while her husband Jeffrey has worked in restaurant and project management. Michele's husband went on a restricted diet, so he came up with chocolates that fit everybody's dietary lifestyles. Cocacao creates chocolate with only three to five simple ingredients.

Having a positive attitude and visualizing good things kept them moving after experiencing tragic events in their lives. Michele recommends that new founders learn to network, talk to people, ask questions, and, whenever possible, talk face-to-face to get customer feedback.

In the first half, she talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Death, Divorce, and Chocolate - The origin story * What motivated them * How to face hurdles

Join Ramon Vela and Michele Davis as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cocacao, visit: https://cocacao.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Norma Kamali - You Have to Love Yourself First Nov 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“You have to love yourself first,” says Norma about self-love. In part 2, Norma Kamali, owner of apparel, skincare, and design lines and author of 'I am Invincible,’ says, “One needs to take care of yourself by having a healthy lifestyle and respecting yourself.”

To her, vulnerability is a secret which one needs to let out and set insecurities free. She also discusses questioning herself why she couldn't save her brother and dealing with vulnerability. And about love, she says it's not about age, it’s when you are ready, you’ll find your soulmate, which she did in her 60s.

Sleep, meditation, making your bed, eating better, and exercising relieve stress and restore us. She doesn't want to age gracefully but instead with power. Norma mentions there are things people are good at. However, learning things you feel less powerful about is another kind of power that entrepreneurs need.

She talked about:

* Her brother's story and vulnerability * Opening up to people * Tips on self-love * Aging with power * Message for entrepreneurs

Join Ramon Vela and Norma Kamali as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Norma Kamali, visit: https://normakamali.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Norma Kamali - How to Be Invincible, a Guide for Women Nov 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“To share this incredible amount of experience,” that's Norma's big purpose. In part 1, we have Norma Kamali, owner of apparel, skincare and design lines and author of 'I am Invincible'. The whole idea behind her book is a “how-to” for women on how to be invincible throughout the decades of their life.

Norma was shy and introverted but dealing with ups and downs changed her. Life is full of the next lessons that give us strength. According to her, “aging with power” is an extraordinary experience. She uses her stories to connect with people.

Some of her advice includes: somebody who treats you well is fantastic and is someone you should treasure. Everybody feels like an imposter when you do something for the first time in your 20s and 30s.

She discusses:

* Gratefulness * Sharing experiences * Summarizing her book * Engaging people with stories * Insights from book

Join Ramon Vela and Norma Kamali as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Norma Kamali, visit: https://normakamali.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Heirloom Amalgam - Made with Love. Made to Last. Nov 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRIVE, and CartLoop**

In part 2, Scott and Amy Burr, Co-Founders of Heirloom Amalgam, talked about the initial idea for the company. They wanted their company or products to be casual, comfortable, easy to wash, wear, and carefree.

The brand keeps in mind the concept of interchangeability within pieces when releasing every new collection. It takes products that are not conventionally stylish and, with their magic wand, turns them stylish. To Heirloom Amalgam, product quality is more important than margin.

Scott advises new businesses that people will surely make mistakes, but it's essential to keep going. According to him, one should not take anything less than what one expects. Scott and Amy say their brand's journey is not just about the brand but theirs too.

They talked about:

* The idea behind the brand * Finding restraint * Lessons learned * Motorcycle jackets * What's coming next

Join Ramon Vela, Scott, and Amy Burr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heirloom Amalgam, Visit: https://heirloomamalgam.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Heirloom Amalgam - Timeless Designs Made Domestically Nov 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRIVE, and CartLoop**

“A domestic brand producing domestic products,” that's a goal for Heirloom Amalgam. In part 1, we have Scott and Amy Burr, Co-Founders of Heirloom Amalgam, a fashion brand.

Scott has been a vintage collector for about 10 years. He initially started his career in the hospitality industry. In 2014, he switched to the footwear industry. Scott and Amy saw an opportunity in New York, so they moved from Mississippi. For them traveling has always opened a new world, whether in fashion or style or both.

During the pandemic, Scott started focusing on building Heirloom Amalgam along with Amy. Heirloom means something with 'value,’ whereas Amalgam means a 'blend.’ Hence, the brand wants to make valuable things that blend different periods.

They talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Meaning of Heirloom Amalgam * What pushed them * What clothing means to them

Join Ramon Vela, Scott, and Amy Burr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heirloom Amalgam, Visit: https://heirloomamalgam.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Realea Skincare - Skincare is Healthcare Nov 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“It’s the right thing to do.” Realea believes that upcycling and being sustainable is the right thing to do since recycling is an intense process with a heavy carbon footprint.

In part 2, Crispin Clarke, Co-Founder and CEO of Realea Skincare, mentions that the brand brings three kingdoms - plant, mineral, and animal kingdoms together with their products.

According to Crispin, consciousness is an ingredient that affects products. They use specific ceramic labels, glass, and lids in their containers to make the products sustainable. The brand also has a return program for customers, which gives them $50 store credits for purchases and even membership. He further mentioned the company's official launch scheduled on cyber Monday, November 29.

He discusses:

* Handcrafted nature of products * Alchemy and consciousness * The Brand and sustainability * Return program and upcycling * Upcoming launch

Join Ramon Vela and Crispin Clarke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Realea , visit: https://realea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Realea Skincare - Everyone Has a Royal Soul Nov 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Beauty and healing” that's Realea. In part 1, we have Crispin Clarke, Co-Founder and CEO of Realea Skincare, a hundred percent natural skincare brand.

Crispin worked to promote nonviolence as a strength before Co-Founding a digital health and pet program. After meeting his co-founder, Nick, he formed Realea as a value-driven public benefit corporation. Relea is an acronym derived in part from their company Rare Earth Alchemy. They loved the use of the word alchemy since it is considered by many to be a “royal art.” Crispin and his co-founder also believe that everybody has a royal soul.

The brand has natural, effective, handcrafted, and sustainable products. It is bringing the knowledge and secrets of nature to people. According to him, beauty and healing are inextricably connected. We all have beauty, but it glows only through health and wellness.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His background * The philosophy behind the Brand & Name * The idea of beauty and healing

Join Ramon Vela and Crispin Clarke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Realea, visit: https://realea.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Phyla - The Importance of the Microbiome & Skincare Nov 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“We're hitting the root cause and nothing else” that's how Phyla addresses acne issues. In part 2, Yug Varma, Founder and CEO of Phyla, says if you are stripping the skin of natural oil, the skin turns dry and changes.

According to him, we cannot live without our microbiome and vice versa. He advises being minimalist, paying attention to ingredients, and staying hydrated for healthy skin regarding skincare. In old age, people don't have as much acne, which is still an unanswered question.

Yug mentions that Phyla's products are gentle, microbiome friendly, and reduce not just acne but redness as well as irritation. They have 3 products - gel cleanser, serum, and moisturizer for dry skin. The brand is also coming up with smaller packaging, international shipping, and even plans for additional products.

He talked about:

* Causes of harmful bacteria on the skin * The Microbiome * What's good for your skin * Phyla products * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Yug Varma as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Phyla, visit: https://phylabiotics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Phyla - A Unique, Innovative, and Powerful Acne Solution Nov 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Killing the bad bacteria without harming any of the good, unrelated bacteria” that's Phyla's biotechnology. In part 1, Yug Varma, Founder and CEO of Phyla, a brand that is bringing unique, innovative, and powerful biotechnology to skincare.

Yug is a scientist, a microbiologist, and a bacterial geneticist. He got his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and also a postdoc in microbiome research from UCSF. After studying the microbiome for 11 years, he saw a lack of innovation for acne problems despite being common. So, he wanted to fill that white space by bringing his technology to market.

Phyla started as a biotechnology company, heavily investing in basic R&D to develop an acne-solving product. According to him, current solutions kill bad as well as good bacteria.

In the first half, he talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why he started * His background * Approaching investors * Shift in science

Join Ramon Vela and Yug Varma as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Phyla, visit: https://phylabiotics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Air & Anchor - Being Authentic with Customers Nov 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Let's not make this one hour ruin the other twenty-three” that's the philosophy that the founders of Air & Anchor a build into their jewelry design. In part 2, Rachel and Omar Ajaj, Co-Founders of Air & Anchor, mention they try strive to be transparent while telling their stories to people.

One of underlying things that people don't see when looking at a brand is the work it takes to get to product made. According to them, a brand needs to share with the customer all the extra things a brand does in the backend for that consumer.

Also, the brand always tries to create products that they themselves love while following up with the customer for feedback. In their design strategy, Omar and Rachel first sketch down pieces then give them to artisans who further carve and create the jewelry.

They discuss:

* Being authentic with customers * The philosophy around the jewelry * Designing and manufacturing process * Air & Anchor charms * What next

Join Ramon Vela, Rachel, and Omar Ajaj as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Air and Anchor, visit: https://airandanchor.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Air & Anchor - Life’s Little Moments Nov 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“A brand that is about life's little moments” that's what Air & Anchor strives to be. In part 1, we have Rachel and Omar Ajaj, Co-Founders of Air & Anchor, a lifestyle brand.

They launched the brand as a way to take a moment of gratitude from their fast-paced lives. Omar comes from an international distribution background, Rachel has a background in design and product development. Air & Anchor was their leap of faith and a modern twist to Rachel's family history and business.

The brand is passionate about crafting unique pieces for people. It's moreover trying to keep craftsmanship alive and supporting the community. According to them, constantly looking for the next best thing, product functionality, understanding things take time, and belief are essential lessons for founders.

In the first half, they talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Their background * Why Air & Anchor * Difficulty they faced * Getting the word out in pandemic * Lesson learned

Join Ramon Vela, Rachel, and Omar Ajaj as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Air and Anchor, visit: https://airandanchor.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

West & Willow - Collaboration over Competition Nov 17, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Collaboration over competition will always win” that's what keeps Ben focused on what's truly important. In part 2, Ben Lebowitz, Founder and CEO of West & Willow, mentions the beginning of the brand when he lacked experience and people were directly copying his brand.

Ben built fundamentals that competitors could not replicate. Since the beginning, his laser-like focus has been on making amazing modern pet portraits. As per him, there's an opportunity in eCommerce for everyone.

Having someone hanging one of West & Willow's portraits in their home is what inspires Ben. The brand is exploring new routes and mediums too.

Here he talks about:

* Building fundamentals * Thoughts on the pet market * West & Willow website * Different requests for portraits * His laser-like focus * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Ben Lebowitz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on West & Willow, visit: https://westandwillow.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

West & Willow - Differentiate through Brand Building Nov 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“What I can do differently, I'm going to do it right away” that's Ben’s approach to differentiating his brand. In part 1, we have Ben Lebowitz, Founder and CEO of West & Willow, a brand that creates custom pet portraits.

Ben has worked in advertising, specifically in social media and digital marketing, for a little less than ten years, and five years ago, he decided to quit his full-time job. He was fascinated by a print-on-demand video that he came across through YouTube. Later, he experienced his light bulb moment when his mom drew a charcoal portrait for his dog.

West & Willow had identical competitors, so Ben hired PR, SEO, and media agencies to differentiate his company. According to him, the only way to differentiate is through building a brand.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Where was he before West & Willow * His light bulb moment * Low barrier of entry business model * How to differentiate

Join Ramon Vela and Ben Lebowitz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on West & Willow, visit: https://westandwillow.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

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*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

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Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

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The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

True Places - Comfortable, Durable, and Portable Nov 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Sticking to what you really want to stand for,” Nelson and Bem say. In part 2, Nelson Warley and Ben Knepler, Co-Founders of True Places, mentioned that the opportunity to build something around the pandemic environment was meaningful to them.

The thought of regretting not following their dreams triggered both of them. They spent time talking to people and gathering feedback on product ideas as they were developing their products. Their products, such as folding chairs, are comfortable and portable, unlike traditional chairs.

They never intended to solely be a chair company from the start but plan on a wide range of products. Nelson and Ben want to upgrade a lot of other products in the future.

Here they talked about:

* Why they chose their startup idea * Designing your life * True Places products * What's coming next * Their advice for others

Join Ramon Vela, Nelson Warley and Ben Knepler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on True Places, visit: https://trueplaces.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

True Places - Creating Comfort for the Modern Outdoors Nov 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“To create comfort for the modern outdoors” that's the True Places goal. In part 1, we have Nelson Warley and Ben Knepler, both Co-Founders of True Places, a new direct-to-consumer startup.

Ben and Nelson meet while working together in consumer packaged goods. To build a brand from scratch while connecting with people was an energizing thought that led them to True Places.

They started working full-time on the brand before the pandemic. According to them, figuring out the supply chain and manufacturing during the pandemic was very challenging for the brand. But the business was fortunate to come out at that time.

In the first half, they talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * How does covid affect them * What was compelling about their idea

Join Ramon Vela, Nelson Warley, and Ben Knepler as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on True Places, visit: https://trueplaces.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Kidfresh - Healthier, Tastier, and Convenient for Parents Nov 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Healthier, tastier, and more convenient for parents” that's how Kidfresh is reinventing kids' favorite foods. In part 2, Mathias Cohen, Founder of Kidfresh, mentioned their two starting points.

The brand's nutritional charter was the bible that gave them a clear direction while developing recipes. Kids interact with food differently, so Mathias started from what kids already love, turned them healthier, and kept them delicious. He also worked on making food convenient for parents.

However, he does acknowledge Kidfresh is not a replacement for a homemade meal; instead, it's an alternative. Parents should understand and be aware that food has an impact on children's behavior. Chicken nuggets, meatballs, waffles, mac & cheese are their primary products consisting of protein and a blend of vegetables.

He talked about:

* Foundation & Philosophy of brand * Kidfresh, the alternative * Their products * The science around food and children * New products

Join Ramon Vela and Mathias Cohen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kidfresh, Visit: https://www.kidfresh.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Kidfresh - Finally, Better-For-Your-Food that Your Kids Will Love Nov 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“The leading brand of better-for-you frozen kids foods,” says Matt. Today we have Mathias Cohen, Founder of Kidfresh, a natural food company.

After being blessed with children, Mathias realized the challenge and need for better food products for kids. He started working in his kitchen while continuing work in management and consulting.

Finding ways to have kids eat better foods day in and day out became his passion. In the beginning, the brand was launched as a kids food mini-market in January 2007. Kidfresh's products are designed with clean ingredients that both kids and parents love.

According to him, you should be open and willing to pivot when necessary because it helped them get the opportunity to sell outside their brick & mortar store. Stick with your values, don't be afraid to dare, and go and find your yes.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why Kidfresh * His first steps * What were the calculations * Lessons learned

Join Ramon Vela and Mathias Cohen as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kidfresh, Visit: https://www.kidfresh.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Wake Up Water - Anytime Energy. Anytime Hydration. Nov 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Energy and hydration any time” that's what gravitates the younger generation towards Wake Up Water. In part 2, Tyler Dooley, Founder and CEO of Wake Up Water, adds that their product also helps with hangovers.

Lemon, orange, and coconut are their winning flavors after testing dozens of flavors. They are still testing out new flavors. The brand also wants to focus on immunity, amino acids, probiotics, and other additional functionality in the near future.

He suggests that driving traffic to the site is difficult so it's best to use Amazon to acquire more customers. People on Amazon are shopping with a purpose; that’s why being on Amazon helps grow the business.

The company is focusing on increasing reach organically, building community, and establishing in the right way with the right partners.

He talked about:

* Flavors at Wake Up Water * Product functionality * Recommendation on Amazon * Combating privacy, cookies, and performance marketing * The Next 6 months

Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Dooley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wake Up Water, visit: https://drinkwakeupwater.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Wake Up Water - Better Fuel for a Better You Nov 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“A better for you energy drink,” that's what Wake Up Water makes. In part 1, we have Tyler Dooley, Founder and CEO of Wake Up Water, a beverage company.

Tyler always wanted to run his own business and had an interest in wellness, food, and beverage. To avoid artificial ingredients, he set out to create a better-for-you drink while working at a tech company.

Wake Up Water was initially launched in a bottled version before covid. During covid, he redesigned the product into a more convenient pack. Now, the brand puts natural caffeine, B vitamins, and electrolytes in a versatile stick pack.

They took a DTC model instead of retail stores. To him, it's all about getting out of your comfort zone, doing it right away, and calculating the worst possibility.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why Wake Up Water * New model * His background * Entrepreneurial advice

Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Dooley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wake Up Water, visit: https://drinkwakeupwater.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Gather Brands - How to Get into a Retailer Nov 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Brands that are female-founded, natural, innovative, and have some sort of mission towards sustainability,” that's who Gather Brands aligns with. In part 2, Mia Medina, Founder and CEO of Gather Brands, continue with her advice.

According to her, make sure you've got your pricing dialed down before launching, and whenever you raise funds, double it from what you think you need. Through her experience, she has learned a lot about what not to do. When getting into a retailer, be prepared, do your homework on the retailer and distributor and keep in mind that the sales cycle is a long process.

Gather Brands works with startups as well as established brands. It's their goal to bring founders in front of buyers.

In this episode, she talks about:

* Her advice to brands; * Suggestions on expansion; * How brands should prepare; * Their brand preference; * Process; and * Her message to women founders.

Join Ramon Vela and Mia Medina as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gather Brands, visit: https://gatherbrands.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Gather Brands - Working with Women in CPG Nov 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“More than just a broker,'' Mia says. Today we have Mia Medina, Founder and CEO of Gather Brands, a sales consulting company.

Mia started in the mountain biking industry and then switched to the natural product industry. She learned a lot about food services, regional, national accounts, and much more while working at companies like Acosta and Odwalla over 20 years of her career.

She also worked at her own soda and home delivery food company for some time. In August 2020, Mia founded Gather Brands to work with female founders and women-run companies in the CPG industry. She offers a holistic approach to people based on her experience.

In part 2, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Her background * What's the intention behind the company * Advice for brands

Join Ramon Vela and Mia Medina as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gather Brands, visit: https://gatherbrands.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Killer Creamery - Permission to Eat Ice Cream Nov 09, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“We're not trying to change people's habits; instead, we’re bringing new science innovation ingredients and making it delicious and better-for-you at the same time,” says Louis. In part 2, Louis Armstrong, Founder of Killer Creamery, makes ice cream better, healthier, nostalgic, delicious, and fun ice cream treats.

Louis mentions that initially, they added protein to the recipe and targeted gyms. Their ice creams are functional, all-natural, and have zero sugar, opening them to the keto community. So, they also launched a keto-centric line of products and became the first keto ice cream in the grocery stores.

Killer Creamery includes medium-chain triglycerides or MCT oil that is a source of good fat. The company is focusing on the ice cream category by bringing new flavors and form factors such as ice cream sandwiches.

He talked about:

* The functionality of their products * Original target market * Keto community * MCT oil * Prebiotic fiber ingredients * Where to find Killer Creamery

Join Ramon Vela and Louis Armstrong as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Killer Creamery, visit: https://killercreamery.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Killer Creamery - Try Delicious, Sugar-Free Ice Cream Nov 08, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Giving people value through ice cream” that's what Killer Creamery does. Today we have Louis Armstrong, Founder of Killer Creamery, a whole natural zero sugar ice cream company.

Louis attended the University of Idaho and got a degree in food science. He acquired experience in R&D, quality assurance, and dairy operations. Initially, he wanted job security, but in his heart, he had always wanted to start a business of his own.

To him, manufacturing, co-packing, general supply chain, and generating sales were challenging, but something he expected and could handle. However, the length of the funding cycle and how difficult it was, was indeed the most challenging part of the startup journey for Louis. He advises entrepreneurs to have a clear vision for their business or don't do it.

In part 1, he discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His background * What led him to start * His “cold water in your face” movement * Advice for others * Thinking negatively when planning

Join Ramon Vela and Louis Armstrong as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Killer Creamery, visit: https://killercreamery.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Zumaeta Group - Scaling the Brand Message Nov 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“You're trading on your belief in the story,” says Ginger when asked about the brand story. In part 2, Ginger Zumaeta, CEO and Founder of Zumaeta Group, tells us that there's no hard and fast rule regarding the connection between the founder and the brand. Eventually, all brands develop a life of their own.

Sharing the story you do have and getting everyone on board is an essential part of the culture which the Zumaeta Group helps with. There's a need for support systems such as messaging architecture. The way you engage with existing customers, partners, prospects, and media must be told with the same story.

Ginger explains that one cannot be known for everything or help everybody through her example of milk in different varieties.

She discusses:

* Founder and brand story * Her recommendation for companies * Communicating to the same person at different life stages * Scaling the message * Her book

Join Ramon Vela and Ginger Zumaeta as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zumaeta Group, visit: https://www.zumaetagroup.com/homepage

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Zumaeta Group - Connect with Consumers through Stories Nov 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Helping brands position and communicate big ideas” that's what the Zumaeta Group does. Today we have Ginger Zumaeta, CEO and founder of Zumaeta Group, a brand strategy firm.

Ginger started as a receptionist in a media company in New York. Then she got into research which she later switched to marketing, media, and communication at different companies before Zumaeta Group. Along the way, she earned accolades, a strong network, and even an Emmy.

Keeping your brand story simple, clear, and direct is important. According to Ginger, the story depends on the people one is interacting with. Be authentic instead of complicated since complex things disconnect people. Creating emotions is easier with stories, so Founders should focus on perfecting their storytelling skills.

In the first half, she talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * The formula for telling the story * Brand should be authentic

Join Ramon Vela and Ginger Zumaeta as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zumaeta Group, visit: https://www.zumaetagroup.com/homepage

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Petal - Inspired by Ancient Elixirs and Good for the Body Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“We're trying to replace the sweetness you find in other beverages” says Candace since people love their sweets. In part 2, Candice Crane, Founder and CEO and Aaron Crane, Co-Founder of Petal mentions botanicals are ancient elixirs that are good for the body.

Petal is clean, organic, caffeine-free, it can be versatile because you can enjoy it any time of day. Ingredients like extracts from botanicals, fruits, herbs, and slightly sweetened petals set Petal apart from other beverages. Candice and Aaron perfected their batch by listening to consumers and introducing new flavors.

The brand was mostly a grocery channel at the start of the pandemic. However, their direct-to-consumer website took off after its launch in covid times. Lastly, Candice advises people to be persistent when dealing with challenges.

They talked about:

* Ingredients * How botanicals are incorporated * Their best sellers * Difficulty in pandemic * Where to Buy * Candice's advice

Join Ramon Vela, Candice Crane, and Aaron Crane as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Petal, Visit: https://drinkpetal.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Petal - Try this Flower Flavored Drink Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Raise your vibe” that's been Petal’s tagline and what it so beautifully illustrates on everything from it’s artwork, ingredients, and aromas. In part 1, we have Candice Crane, Founder and CEO and Aaron Crane, Co-founder of Petal, a beverage brand that provides caffeine-free uplifting refreshments.

She was inspired by craft sodas but they were high in fructose corn syrup and sugar. So, she decided to make certified organic, low sugar, and low-calorie beverages.

According to her, the beverage industry is extremely competitive that's why she's creating a new category of sparkling botanicals since botanicals are beautiful and uplifting with herbal ingredients. Being a woman entrepreneur in beverages is hard because in many ways it is still an “old-boys” club but she’s so grateful for her husband's support.

They talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why Petal * Challenges as a woman entrepreneur

Join Ramon Vela, Candice Crane, and Aaron Crane as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Petal, Visit: https://drinkpetal.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Curiosity Lab - Spreading inclusivity and empathy through storytelling Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“It’s a really easy way to show your values,” that's what Michael thinks about their conversation about their card deck. In part 2, Michael Tennant, Founder of Curiosity Lab, mentions their different card decks. He remarks that their happy hour edition is best for starters.

According to Michael, intuition is a cousin of empathy. Curiosity Lab is working with many leaders on spreading empathy across several areas as well as organizations. The brand is also starting its first meaningful content initiative. An article and video series called Driving Change from the Inside will be out on November 4th and should be available when this feature is published.

Curiosity Lab works with DNI-focused companies that genuinely want to create a safe space for all its employees.

He talks about:

* Spreading empathy * Being aware of emotions * Their card decks * Their workshops * Criteria for companies * Where to start * Curiosity Lab's guidelines

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Tennant as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Curiosity Lab, visit: https://www.curiositylab.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Curiosity Lab - Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Creating work that advocates for a more inclusive and empathetic world” that's what Curiosity Lab is dedicated to bringing into the world. Today we have Michael Tennant, Founder of Curiosity Lab, a product content and experience company.

Michael spent 15 years in media and advertising. In 2017, he left traditional advertising due to family problems and presidential elections. He decided to create the Curiosity Lab as he wanted to deliver something meaningful to people.

He came up with three values for Curiosity Lab: curiosity, compassion, and connection. The values helped the brand in channelizing its energy. Resources, as well as experience, were the biggest challenges in their journey. Michael believes that his willingness to admit his wrongdoings is his superpower.

In part 1, he discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His motivating factor * What were the challenges * His development model * Superpower

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Tennant as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Curiosity Lab, visit: https://www.curiositylab.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as an up to a 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Humble Brands - Why Your Body Will Love It Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“For many consumers, Humble has become their scent..that's been exciting” says Jeff. In the second half, Jeff Shardell, Founder and CEO of Humble Brands mentions the ingredients as well as their source.

For Humble Brands, getting adoption in retail stores was the biggest challenge aside from production in the company’s early days. Convincing people to join, giving equity, and making them believe in the brand was part of their success.

There's a transition between when you switch from past toxic deodorants to new or natural ones. According to him, our body knows what's good and what's not. Jeff also mentions their discovery kit where people can get their deodorants in travel size and discover what connects with them. The brand has launched lip balm, soaps, and even plans to launch house cleaning products.

He talked about:

* Early challenges * Lessons on growing organically * Keeping culture alive * Production process * Transitioning period * Their products * Product ingredients

Join Ramon Vela and Jeff Shardell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Humble Brands, visit: https://humblebrands.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Humble Brands - Creating Products that are Good For You Nov 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Creating products that are good for you” that's the mission of Humble Brands. Today we have Jeff Shardell, Founder and CEO of Humble Brands, a brand that makes health and beautifully scented personal care products.

Jeff worked in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area for most of his career. He wanted to detoxify his life and make a change. Interestingly, Jeff became a tornado chaser which led him to New Mexico. It was in New Mexico, where he started Humble Brands about six years ago after reading about the toxicities of deodorants.

The brand uses a simple set of ingredients, super safe ingredients as well as sustainable packaging. At present, there's a fundamental change happening in the CPG world due to the rising demand for natural and sustainable products.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why Humble Brands * Thoughts on Tornado Chasing * Why deodorants * The challenges of business

Join Ramon Vela and Jeff Shardell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Humble Brands, visit: https://humblebrands.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Hubs Peanuts - Using Your Brand to Revitalize a Community Nov 03, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Business can be part of the solution for revitalizing and rebranding a community” that's what Marshall thinks. In part 2, Marshall Rabil, Director of Sales and Third-Generation owner of Hubs Peanuts, talks about how being a healthy food company helped them during the pandemic.

According to Marshall, peanuts are the perfect night food option too. Hubs Peanuts are pioneers of blister fried cooking. They use just four ingredients, namely peanuts, salt, oil, and water. They follow a simple process for their recipe. He says that the brand is different from other brands because it's also a manufacturer.

Here he talks about:

* Snacking habits during the pandemic * Hubs Peanuts recipe * What's unique about them * Product recommendation * Their subscription service * New partnerships

Join Ramon Vela and Marshall Rabil as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hubs Peanuts, visit: https://www.hubspeanuts.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Hubs Peanuts - If There was a Luxury Brand of Peanuts Nov 03, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“If there's such a thing as a luxury brand in peanuts, it would be Hubs,” says Marshall. Today we have Marshall Rabil, Director of sales and Third-Generation owner of Hubs Peanuts, a Virginia peanuts brand.

Marshall's grandmother used to make blister fried peanuts which are peanuts boiled and then fried. His grandparents started the Hubbard Peanut Company from their home way back in 1954.

Peanuts are a simple and overlooked, inexpensive food source for essential nutrients and minerals. The original plant-based food that’s great for vegans and vegetarians looking for a great source of protein.

He says that business has always been challenging. He also mentions the problems like hurricanes and storms, which damage crops. That's why making sure the harvest is solid is key to the brand.

In the first part, he talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * What were the challenges * Plant-based perspective * Hubs Peanuts quality

Join Ramon Vela and Marshall Rabil as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hubs Peanuts, visit: https://www.hubspeanuts.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

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*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

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Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

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Jones Soda - Where Customers are Part of the Brand Nov 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Encourage our consumers to come in and be a part of developing the brand identity” that's what makes Jones Soda different from other brands. Today we have Mark Murray - President and CEO of Jones Soda, a soda company in the craft beverage category.

Jones Soda was initially started in Canada 25 years ago. The brand is known for its authenticity, innovation, creativity, and fun across America. He doesn't just love the brand but its people too. According to him, it is essential to put the right people in the organization, build the right culture and bring the right attitude to work.

During the pandemic, the company took its labels to a whole new level by including the message of hope and unsung heroes.

In part 1, he talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Pandemic time * Doing what he loves * Advice for bringing people

Join Ramon Vela and Mark Murray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Jones Soda, visit: https://www.jonessoda.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

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Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Jones Soda - The Power of the Brand is its People Nov 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“All rowing toward the same thing, this is the power,” says Mark during the interview. In the second half, Mark Murray, President and CEO of Jones Soda, mentions that he believes in the power of strategic planning for brands and, with that, alignment. According to him, the magic of a brand’s success is people and their contribution towards a goal.

Jones Soda uses high-end ingredients. Their number one craft soda has all-natural flavors and colors. Based on customer feedback, they rewrote their mission statement to become a people's craft soda.

They are a very unique, innovative, and disciplined brand. Mark also mentions their extremely unique Turkey and Gravy soda.

He talked about:

* Recommendations for a young brand * Inviting customers to be part of the brand identity * What is craft soda * Keeping a youthful rebellious attitude * My Jones

Join Ramon Vela and Mark Murray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Jones Soda, visit: https://www.jonessoda.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Zolt - Where Plant-Powered Function Meets Flavor Nov 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“A new box of wellness for consumers” - that's Zolt. In the second half, Ani Collum and Douglas Siegel, Co-Founders of Zolt, mention that their brand is based on plants, functionality, and nutraceuticals.

According to Ani, avoiding white label products helped Zolt in differentiating from other companies. The consumption of Zolt's products depends on the functional needs of individuals. Their variety packs are best sellers.

For now, Ani and Douglas are focusing on their distribution strategy and customer feedback. The brand doesn't sacrifice well-being because of cost and donates 1% of its sales to the National Young Farmers Coalition. This organization empowers farmers with non-traditional resources like technology. Douglas advises businesses to own their brand, formulation and knows their sourcing.

They talked about:

* Understanding customers * Ingredient profile * Choosing form factor * Suggestion for people * Products line * What future looks like * National Young Farmers Coalition

Join Ramon Vela, Ani Collum, and Douglas Siegel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zolt, visit: https://heyzolt.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Zolt - Focusing on Mood, Mind, and Body Nov 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Mood, mind, and body” are the areas that Zolt's products look to affect. Today we have Ani Collum and Douglas Siegel, Co-Founders of Zolt, a wellness brand in the plant-powered beverage space.

Ani was psychology and Spanish major in college. She has a background in retail, consulting as well as marketing. For Douglas, he had a background in alcohol distribution and food science. They connected through a mutual friend, and interestingly, they started the brand, having only met via zoom.

Douglas used to look for ways to reach a state of 'zen,' and that's when he thought of the word 'jolt.’ Combining these two words resulted in the brand's name 'Zolt.’ The brand combines plants with science to bring people full-body wellness. Their biggest challenge in launching the brand was pivoting their distribution strategy.

They talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Name 'Zolt' * How they met * Challenges

Join Ramon Vela, Ani Collum, and Douglas Siegel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zolt, visit: https://heyzolt.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for” “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Gemist - Creating Jewelry that Feels Unique to You Oct 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“To create jewelry that feels unique to them,” that's the opportunity that Gemist offers to its consumers. In the second part, Madeline Fraser, CEO and Founder of Gemist, shares that being a woman in business is challenging.

The brand focuses on bridal jewelry, engagement rings, and bracelets because jewelry has stories to tell. It tries to give the best prices for the best quality pieces. Gemist is a flexible, fun, and vibrant experience. Customers can even work with designers and stylists to create custom pieces too.

Madeline mentions that they are continuing to listen to customers’ feedback and then innovating through technology. According to her, it's all about clarity, passion, joy as well as believing in your team.

She discusses:

* Managing emotions * Their jewelry collection * What Gemist offers * Technology development * Concept of customer experience * Other industries * Holiday boxes

Join Ramon Vela and Madeline Fraser as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gemist, visit: https://www.gemist.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Gemist - Fail Fast, fix Fast, and Learn Fast Oct 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Building technology to make something easier for consumers” have been Madeline's strength and career. Today we have Madeline Fraser, CEO and Founder of Gemist, the first platform that allows consumers to design jewelry online beautifully and easily.

Madeline graduated in Fine Arts from George Washington University. Her very first interior design company was ZOOM Interiors. Later she became obsessed with jewelry design which led her to Gemist. The jewelry industry is dominated mainly by family-owned businesses. She saw an opportunity after realizing only 10% of the jewelry industry is digital.

She has always been creative with a desire to do what she loves. Fail fast, fix fast, and learn fast have been stepping stones to her success. Feedback is important, while ego and letting fear takeover are problems.

She talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Building a digital business * Her background * First companies * Lessons learned

Join Ramon Vela and Madeline Fraser as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gemist, visit: https://www.gemist.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Nutty Scoopz - Tasty and Functional Peanut Butter Dips Oct 28, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“So I can stay healthy, and so others can stay healthy” that's why Tina prefers healthy ingredients in her products. In the second part, Tina Parks, Founder and Creator of Nutty Scoopz speaks about her products that contain natural sweeteners, no preservatives, low calorie, and clean ingredients.

She launched the company back on November 1st of 2020 as a subscription box because of the pandemic. As of now, people don't need to buy these subscriptions; they can buy directly with Nutty Scoopz.

Nutty Scoopz comes in 3 different flavors which are not just tasty but functional too. Tina wanted to develop more variety for her brand. That's why she is on the verge of introducing a sugar-free sea salt caramel, collaborating, and planning to launch a new nut butter flavor too.

In part 1, she discusses:

* Shelf life * Functional snack food * Product line * Why call peanut butter dip * New flavors * Subscription box

Join Ramon Vela, and Tina Parks as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nutty Scoopz, visit: http://www.nuttyscoopz.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Nutty Scoopz - A Healthier Snack Oct 28, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“To regain the independence that I had” was Tina's motive behind Nutty Scoopz. Today we have Tina Parks, Founder and Creator of Nutty Scoopz, a brand that makes sugar-free peanut butter dips.

Tina was in nursing for 20 years. In 2017, due to her neck surgery, she was unable to continue her work. However, she always wanted to be independent, which eventually led her to create Nutty Scoopz. The healthcare setting is focused on taking care of others, and she applies that concept to the Nutty Scoops and customers. Plus, you have to be adaptable in healthcare, and like healthcare, a business startup can be overwhelming.

She advises new entrepreneurs to get a business mentor and surround themselves with a good team. Equipment and involving a co-packer are essential for her from a scalability standpoint.

In part 1, she discusses:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background * How she started Nutty Scoopz * Comparing healthcare * Her advice

Join Ramon Vela and Tina Parks as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nutty Scoopz, visit: http://www.nuttyscoopz.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Haven's Kitchen - Making You Feel Good about Cooking Oct 27, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

In the second half of this feature, Alison Cayne, Founder of Haven's Kitchen, says that what’s important to them is getting something on the table that you feel really good about.

According to Alison, she won’t sacrifice the quality and taste of the sauces and use cheaper ingredients. Lately, Haven's Kitchen received a logo update, package color changes, and QR codes too.

The brand makes sure that it's adding value to the world, not just taking resources from the world. That's why it donates 1% of its profits. They want to be a part of the solution and effect positive change.

She talks about:

* Adding value to the world * Challenges for a brand * The perfect product * Their flavors * Refreshed Haven's Kitchen

Join Ramon Vela and Alison Cayne as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Haven's Kitchen, visit: https://havenskitchen.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Haven's Kitchen - The Building Block of Flavor Oct 26, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Flavor building blocks” that's how Alison Cayne, Founder describes Haven's Kitchen. In today’s show, we feature Haven’s Kitchen, a food producer brand that makes sauces. Alison did her master's in the food system and sustainability. In 2012, she started Haven's Kitchen as a cooking school to help people cook. Later, the brand launched its sauces. According to Alison, home cooking is good for personal health, family, community, and the environment.

She has pulled valuable business lessons from sustainability by understanding the connection between cooking and sustainability. She further shares her view on New York, which she believes is the heart of the country that will once again thrive.

In part 1, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * What were the challenges * Changes in the pandemic * Thriving New York City

Join Ramon Vela and Alison Cayne as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Haven's Kitchen, visit: https://havenskitchen.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

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*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Seiler Tucker - Grow Your Brand with a Seller’s Mindset Oct 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“You have to start wherever you’re at,” advises Michelle to business owners. In the second part, Michelle Seiler Tucker, Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker says that people, product, process, proprietary, patrons, and profit are most important.

Buyers buy synergistic assets, so selling a business is all about synergies and bringing the right buyer to the table. She also mentions LOI or Letter of Intent which is a starting point of a deal.

Business owners make the mistake of working in the business, not on the business. They don’t plan an exit, build a solid infrastructure, sellable assets, or hire the right people.

Michelle says that startups are not risky; instead, existing businesses are. Lack of aim and innovation leads to bankruptcy. Companies that make things easier for customers will have the edge.

She talked about:

* Determining buyers requirement * Letter of Intent * Business mistakes * Example of Amazon * McDonald’s process * Who they work with

Join Ramon Vela and Michelle Seiler Tucker as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Seiler Tucker, visit: http://www.seilertucker.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Seiler Tucker - The Exit Rich Strategy for D2C Founders Oct 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“We specialize in buying, selling, fixing, and growing companies,” tells Michelle. Today we have Michelle Seiler Tucker, Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker, a company specializing in working with founders to sell their businesses.

Michelle has been in the merger and acquisition industry for around 20 years, and over the period, she has sold over thousands of businesses while writing three books. She quotes the statistic that 80% of businesses cannot sell because the owners aren’t focusing on building a sellable asset. Problem-solving, as well as entrepreneurship, have always been a part of her personality.

She advises people to focus on what they can change. In part 1, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Her journey * Starting at Xerox company * Succeeding in a male-dominated industry * Her advice * Plan for the Sale

Join Ramon Vela and Michelle Seiler Tucker as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Seiler Tucker, visit: http://www.seilertucker.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Kindred Bravely - Designed for Moms by Moms Oct 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

It’s important to the founders that “She (mothers and mothers-to-be) see themselves when they're shopping on Kindred Bravely.” In the second part, Deeanne and Garret Akerson, Co-Founders and CEOs of Kindred Bravely, mention it's always on their radar to bring more diverse models of different sizes and skin tones. So, they have hundreds of distinct styles for varied occasions for women and mothers.

The brand has created a community via social media that is very encouraging, positive, grateful, and generous. Making apparel more comfortable, useful, and beautiful are three guiding premises in the designing process for Kindred Bravely.

They talked about:

* Their team members * Building community * What customers see * Design philosophy * Variety at Kindred Bravely * New program

Join Ramon Vela, Deeanne, and Garret Akerson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kindred Bravely, visit: https://www.kindredbravely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Kindred Bravely - Practical & Stylish Nursing & Maternity Apparel Oct 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Making clothes that are comfortable, useful, and stylish for mothers and mothers-to-be” that’s Kindred Bravely’s focus. Today we have Deeanne and Garret Akerson, Co-Founders and CEOs of Kindred Bravely, a nursing and maternity brand.

In 2015, Garret ran a boutique agency when he decided to enter the eCommerce and DTC space with Deeanne’ss idea of serving women in their nursing and maternity journey. According to Deeanne, maternity and breastfeeding apparel that is designed authentically for women has been overlooked.

Since the beginning, the brand has been on a mission to create comfort and community for women. In 2018, Kindred Bravely opened a warehouse which was a difficult task. Their other biggest challenges were managing inventory as well as cash. They remarked this year was more challenging than Covid.

In the first half, they talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Why Kindred Bravely * What were the challenges

Join Ramon Vela, Deeanne, and Garret Akerson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kindred Bravely, visit: https://www.kindredbravely.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first two months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Immi - A Healthy Ramen for Every Body Oct 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

In the second part, we have Kevin Chanthasiriphan and Kevin Lee, Co-Founders of Immi, a better-for-you Asian Food brand, as they relay that the pandemic environment was favorable for their product, the global supply was a hurdle for them.

Both quit their jobs in May of 2019. They launched their first product in January of this year. They even wished to launch early since the pandemic slowed down their product development.

The brand has swapped carbs and preservatives with protein and plant fiber. There is 35% less sodium in their noodles, and it can be adjusted by how much of the soup packets one uses.

They talked about:

* Official launch dates * Shipment in pandemic * Wished for an early launch * Immi noodles' specialty * Hidden details * Diabetes-friendly product * Their family's reaction * Feedback from customers * Are they plant-based * What's next

Join Ramon Vela, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, and Kevin Lee as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Immi, visit: https://immieats.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Immi - A Better-For-You Asian-American Food Brand Oct 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Sharing with people the food experiences that we experienced growing up” was one of the motivations behind Immi. Today we have Kevin Chanthasiriphan and Kevin Lee, Co-Founders of Immi, a better-for-you Asian-American food brand.

Kevin Lee and Kevin Chanthasiriphan met as co-workers while working as product managers in the tech industry. They ate lunch together and bonded over noodles since noodles were a food they fondly remembered from their childhoods. Kevin Chanthasiriphan later worked in healthcare and Facebook, whereas Kevin Lee moved to an early-stage venture firm.

When they decided to start their journey in entrepreneurship, they chose to do a better-for-you brand with Asian flavors after noticing that there were high rates of chronic health conditions in their families and within the larger population.

Before launching, they tested 200 different recipes, made a landing page, and built an audience. Immi has no refined carbohydrates, low carbs, high protein, fiber and has reinvented ramen with modern ingredients.

They talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Their background * Why Immi * What's unique about Immi Ramen * Feeling prepared * Demand testing * Pre-Launch Landing page marketing

Join Ramon Vela, Kevin Chanthasiriphan, and Kevin Lee as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Immi, visit: https://immieats.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/sob/

Tia Lupita Foods - It Started with a Family Recipe for Hot Sauce Oct 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Progress, not perfection” is Hector’s mantra which suggests that there will always be mistakes you can learn from. In part 2, Hector Saldivar, Founder and CEO of Tia Lupita Foods, mentions that if you have a solution to a problem, then you should go for it.

In the beginning, Hector had many challenges starting the brand, but his biggest challenge was getting his mom's blessing to use her much-sought-after recipe for hot sauce. He also found difficulty in finding the right co-packer for products.

He also discusses their other line of products, such as tortilla chips. As he mentions in the interview, you must keep on evolving, pivoting, and learning. Sustainability and helping to reduce carbon footprint is a big deal to the brand. According to him, they want to continue innovating in various ways, such as using “upcycling” to help consumers and the planet.

He talks about:

* Biggest challenges * Lessons learned * Their products * Tortilla chips * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Hector Saldivar as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tia Lupita Foods, visit: https://tialupitafoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Tia Lupita Foods - A Better For You Mexican-Inspired Food Brand Oct 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“A better for you Mexican-inspired food brand,” says Hector. Today we have Hector Saldivar, Founder and CEO of Tia Lupita Foods, a Mexican food, and beverage brand.

Hector came to the US about 16 years ago and worked in the consumer packaged goods space. He worked with companies like Nestle and Diamond Foods. He saw a white space when brands were losing authenticity by including artificial ingredients, preservatives, sodium, dull flavorings, and overall, lacking innovations.

He wanted to bring a breath of fresh air, so he started Tia Lupita Foods with his mom's much-sought-after hot sauce recipe. The brand uses clean, simple ingredients. It's also leading the way in terms of using Cactus as an alternative functional, sustainable ingredient.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * What led him to Tia Lupita * Starting his own thing * Hot sauce recipe

Join Ramon Vela and Hector Saldivar as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tia Lupita Foods, visit: https://tialupitafoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Crafted Society - A Luxury Sneaker Subscription Oct 20, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“To use the power of transparent craftsmanship to inspire, empower and educate the next generation” that's the purpose of Crafted Society. In the second part, Martin Johnston, Founder of Crafted Society, mentions plans for opening and closing their subscription program.

Martin advises people never to give up, never doubt themselves, keep persevering, plugging away, and be determined. According to him, one should look at things from a constructive perspective instead of a critical perspective. He also mentions that it's important to embrace customers.

Crafted Society wants to make a difference to protect its 500 artisans’ partners. The brand also donates 1% of its turnover to people in need. Subscription model, ethics, full transparency is the beauty of Crafted Society.

He talks about:

* Opening and closing of the subscription * Advice for others * Products and subscription model * Club membership access * Support they provide * Innovations

Join Ramon Vela and Martin Johnston as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Crafted Society, visit: https://www.craftedsociety.com/ Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Crafted Society - The Power of Transparent Craftmanship Oct 19, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Promote and champion the people that are producing our products” that's what Crafted Society does. Today we have Martin Johnston, Founder of Crafted Society.

Martin worked in the luxury industry with well-known global labels. He's familiar with footwear, bags, and accessories. However, he wanted more. As Martin says in the interview, “if you don't go out and build your dream, someone else is going to hire you to build their dream. So with his family’s support and his wife by his side, he started his brand in November 2015.

It's the first pure luxury player to introduce a sneaker subscription and a club membership. The brand understands the struggles of makers. During the pandemic, the store closure, regulations, as well as order cancellations were tough for them. So, they came up with subscriptions to help the artisans that make their products survive and thrive.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Preserving a crafted society * Experience in pandemic * Subscription

Join Ramon Vela and Martin Johnston as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Crafted Society, visit: https://www.craftedsociety.com/ Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Heywell - Making Wellness Simple and Accessible Oct 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Making wellness simple and accessible” that's the Heywell goal. In part 2, Ashley Selman, Co-Founder of Heywell, explains that they spent a lot of time developing the mission before developing the product before developing the product.

The brand wanted to develop something good for you, approachable, tastes good and can work into your life too. It was also important that they support other businesses especially women-owned businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry.

Heywell believes in making sure that ingredients are efficacious while still be delicious tasting. Their beverages are a great alternative to an alcohol-free occasion. Ashley says that living a wellness life is important, and her brand is a perfect sidekick for people in pursuit of a healthy life.

She talks about:

* Community * Product line * Different flavors * Deciding on focus areas * Their mission * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Ashley Selman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heywell, visit: https://livingheywell.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Heywell - An Invitation to Wellness Oct 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“A simple invitation to wellness” that's Heywell. Today we have Ashley Selman, Co-Founder of Heywell, a line of sparkling adaptogenic drinks that helps meet the demands of modern life.

Ashley comes from the beverage industry. She had worked in marketing for a global beer manufacturer along with her co-founder Britt Dougherty. They left their jobs to start Heywell. The brand provides support for immunity, stress, natural energy, and focus. The company also gives 1% of its sales to nonprofits.

According to Ashley, running a business is a learning curve, but she loves that she's in control of it. She advises other business owners to be open-minded, flexible, passionate and committed to their business. Pivoting and going direct to consumers helped Heywell in the pandemic.

In part 1, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why Heywell * The Brand's mission * The reality of starting a business * Lessons learned

Join Ramon Vela and Ashley Selman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Heywell, visit: https://livingheywell.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode and the Show are sponsored by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Octane AI - Why Brands Should Capture Zero-Party Data Oct 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“You have to do it sooner than later,” says Ben Parr, who is the president and co-founder of Octane AI, “because every day you're not collecting data, you’re missing an opportunity.” In the second half of this Feature, he continues that not all brands are using zero-party data. According to him, capturing zero-party data will be better for the brands but also the consumer.

He mentions that zero-party data is optional information that the consumer willingly provides to a company that could then be used to improve the user experience. Ben also explains that any brand can use their products; however, there will be a different experience depending on size. He suggests that when starting, first, begin collecting data by setting a conversational pop-up. Next, ask for an email and then recommend products.

Ben advises that you're only as strong as the team since he's grateful to his co-founder. When it comes to building a product, he believes that one should be embarrassed by the first version but continue testing, learning, and talking to more customers to improve the product. Lastly, taking a break is essential as well.

He talks about:

* Their products * Customer criteria * What onboarding looks like * His recommendation * Challenges of joining a tech firm for a journalist * Advice for entrepreneurs

Join Ramon Vela and Ben Parr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Octane AI, visit: https://www.octaneai.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Octane AI - Brands, Own Your Data. Own Your Growth Oct 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

”The best at data collection for Shopify brands,” says Ben Parr. Today we have Ben Parr, President and Co-Founder of Octane AI, a zero-party data marketing platform for e-commerce brands, especially Shopify brands.

Ben was Editor-at-Large for Mashable in the past. He wrote a book called “Captivology: The Science of Capturing People's Attention.” For him, entrepreneurship was always on his mind, and it was just a matter of working on ideas.

He explains that Octane doesn't just collect data but leverage that data for deep personalization too. He also mentions that the Shopify ecosystem has completely exploded due to pandemic and consumer trends. He predicts that there will be a new class of eCommerce brands, lots of unpredictability; innovation; more competition between Shopify and Amazon.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * His background * Entrepreneurship * Challenges for the consumers * Trends in industry * Who's using zero-party data?

Join Ramon Vela and Ben Parr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Octane AI, visit: https://www.octaneai.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This Show is sponsored by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Element Apothec - Building a Community, Not Just Products Oct 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“To build a community and not just be a product company” that's a goal for Element Apothec. In the second part of this feature, Davina Kaonohi, CEO and Co-Founder of Element Apothec, continues speaking about the products that make people’s lives better.

Davina mentions that they will never use the fourteen hundred ingredients banned in Europe, Canada, and Japan as part of their product development process. The brand has quizzes, blogs, and has questions that Dr. Swathi for making educational videos to educate customers.

According to Davina, people are always looking for a community and alternative strategies & products to calm stress which Element Apothec provides. They aim at bringing their products from the kitchen to the world.

She talks about:

* Why CBD market * Their product categories * Verified and safe ingredients * Answering consumer questions * Investor programs at Element Apothec * New products and launches * Recommendation for anxiety

Join Ramon Vela and Davina Kaonohi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Element Apothec, visit: https://elementapothec.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Element Apothec - Improving the Quality of People’s Lives Oct 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“We’re focused on improving the quality of our customers’ lives,” says Davina. Today we have Davina Kaonohi, CEO and Co-Founder of Element Apothec, a wellness brand.

Davina’s Aunt had a knack for creating products at home designed to heal herself and her loved ones. Davina used to do consulting for startups and e-commerce companies. So when her Aunt wanted to help other people by selling her products online, Davina built the website. Eventually, her Aunt wanted to turn the home-based business into a business able to scale, so Davina took the reins.

Marketing was always a challenge for the brand, but what helped was their focus on product quality, manufacturing, and building trust with the customer.

In part 1, she talks about:

* The Support she received * Overview of the brand * Her background * Her aunt and her remedies * The biggest challenges * Their marketing strategy * Building an ethical brand * Their manufacturing process

Join Ramon Vela and Davina Kaonohi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Element Apothec, visit: https://elementapothec.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Desert Harvest - Potent, Powerful, and Pure Oct 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

In the second half of the Feature, Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest, continues with what the brand did to maintain the emotional, mental health problems in the pandemic. The brand thought of ways to keep staff feeling connected, engaged, and healthy.

Heather says in regards to product development, Desert Harvest does a lot of research and works with doctors worldwide. Besides providing quality ingredients, products, and freshness to customers, the brand also has a compassionate assistance program for customers as well.

Then she mentions her book named “The Musculoskeletal Mystery,” which is about pelvic floor dysfunction.

She talks about:

* Benefits of their products * Sexual lubricants * Her book * Why aloe vera is beneficial * Their CBD * Last thoughts * New products and restorative tattoos

Join Ramon Vela and Heather Florio as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Desert Harvest, https://www.desertharvest.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

Desert Harvest - The Power of Aloe Vera Oct 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“Catering to different health care needs” that's why Desert Harvest works with doctors from all over the world. Today we have Heather Florio, the CEO of Desert Harvest, a brand that has been manufacturing nutritional supplements and skincare products for consumer health needs for over 28 years.

In 1993, Heather's parents started Desert Harvest because her aunt was suffering from Interstitial cystitis. She used aloe vera and had promising results. So, her parents decided to create a safe, concentrated version of the Aloe Vera formula.

During the pandemic, the brand had to change its entire model. They experienced an ingredient shortage, made hand sanitizers, and shipping challenges, but they kept going.

She talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Founding of Desert Harvest * Her mother’s example * How they made aloe vera safe * Challenges in pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Heather Florio as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Desert Harvest, https://www.desertharvest.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

Agni - It’s Like a Multi-vitamin in Food Form Oct 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Something tangible for women” that's what Agni has created. In the second part, Miriam Cruz and Astrid Schanz-Garbassi, Co-Founders of Agni, speak about limited research around women's health.

Agni's products are nourishing since, for Miriam and Astrid, the product's efficacy is essential. Even men can take their products because they have thoughtfully combined culinary ingredients. It's kind of like taking a multivitamin in food form.

They don't compromise with integrity, so the brand has partnered with two food scientists and R&D specialists. According to them, digestion is a foundation for all healthy moments. Miriam and Astrid are bringing mindfulness to eating through their brand.

In part 2, they talked about:

* Agni products * Is Agni for men? * Their production process * Product highlights * Consumer education * Next milestone

Join Ramon Vela, Miriam Cruz, and Astrid Schanz-Garbassi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Agni, visit: https://agniforall.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Agni - Changing the Way that People Engage with Food Oct 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Changing the way that people engage with food” that's what Agni does. Today we have Miriam Cruz and Astrid Schanz-Garbassi, Co-Founders of Agni, a food healing company.

They each saw the opportunity for a brand like Agni but from two different perspectives. Astrid was working in healthcare to help patients reduce their dependence on medications, while Miriam had seen from the consumer's side with her health journey. Miriam and Astrid have built the business internally and as a reflection of how they want to see the world.

The brand has a mission to help one hundred million people to heal through food by 2030. But there are challenges. Securing the supply chain has been challenging but nowadays, messaging is more of a challenge to them. Still, the company is passionate about providing solutions for women's health problems.

In part 1, they talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Their backgrounds * Agni teammates * Their challenges * Women's health

Join Ramon Vela, Miriam Cruz, and Astrid Schanz-Garbassi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Agni, visit: https://agniforall.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Mumgry - Natural Nut Butter Made Using Only the Good Stuff Oct 05, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Always be willing to look outward,” suggests Lilian Umurungi-Jung, Founder and Owner of Mumgry. In the second half, she says that knowing when and who to gain support from is vital for your business. One cannot do everything by themselves, so it's essential to release the fear and ask questions.

Mumgry has products with dark chocolate peanut butter and even comes in pistachio flavor. Their products use minimal natural oils and can be taken anywhere without a freezer.

Lilian mentions that their products are suitable for fruits as well as vegetables. It’s important to Lilian that people always get the freshest version of Mumgry products made with only the “good stuff” inside.

She talks about:

* Challenges and lessons learned * What makes their products special * Their dual strategy * Manufacturing process * New products

Join Ramon Vela and Lilian Umurungi-Jung as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mumgry, visit: https://www.mumgry.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Mumgry - When Your Mumgry and Nothing Else Satisfies You Oct 05, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Created out of necessity,” Lilian says the brand saw a need for snacks that were easy to consume and purchase and were made with only “good stuff.” Today we have Lilian Umurungi-Jung, the Founder and owner of Mumgry, a plant-based snack food company.

Lilian used to work at a tech and gaming company during the time she was pregnant in 2018. She found it frustrating not being able to find the right snack for herself at the grocery store. And in one moment of frustration, she uttered the word, “Mumgry” which she later used as the brand's name.

She experimented with nut butter to create a recipe without sugar, salt, and just plant-based. According to Lilian, the plant-based pantry is growing, and there's still a new world of plant-based foods to explore.

She talks about:

* Gratefulness towards her husband * Overview of the brand * Her story behind the word 'Mumgry' * Transitioning to plant-based

Join Ramon Vela and Lilian Umurungi-Jung as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mumgry, visit: https://www.mumgry.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Caddis - On a Mission to Make “Aging Cool” Oct 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“You don't need to be the one doing the creativity,” says Tim. “What's important is the ability to put people together.” In the second part, Tim Parr, Founder and CEO of Caddis, suggests The Longevity Economy by Joseph F. Coughlin.

Tim mentions the massive gap between buyers and the marketing directed to particular groups. He faced complications in his journey due to wrong things existing in the system. He tells Caddis’ goal has always been to create something that influential people can recognize as something different and unique.

In recent times, a lot of people are embracing the age factor, especially women. There's a lot of examples in health and wellness but not much in the eyewear lifestyle category. The brand is coming up with new designs, collaboration, and funding music education in schools.

Here he talks about:

* Huge potential market * Accepting aging * Systemic problem * Caddis products * Creativity * Their website * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Tim Parr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Caddis, visit: https://caddislife.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Caddis - Why You Should Own Your Age Oct 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“To make aging cool,” that's the mission of Caddis. Today we have Tim Parr, the Founder and CEO of Caddis, a corrective eyewear brand.

Tim was a guitar player before starting Caddis, and even before playing music, he worked in brand strategy consulting. He had a bicycle as well as an apparel company. Caddis began as a reading glass company but has evolved into a lifestyle brand on a mission to make “aging cool.”

According to him, raising money was one of the most challenging parts. With the coming of a lead investor, the brand's progress became easier. He mentions that when he realized that they were not in the reading glass business rather the age business where glasses are the door prize. This epiphany was a game-changer for him.

In the first half, he talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * What pushed him * Bluegrass music * Did his creative background helped him * Challenges * Why is lead investor was critical for momentum * Game changer

Join Ramon Vela and Tim Parr as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Caddis, visit: https://caddislife.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

dot.LA - A Community for Tech Startups in Los Angeles Oct 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“It's all about knowing your customer,” says Sam N. Adams, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of dot.LA in the second half of this Feature. He talks about trends in the resurgence of live promotion and subscription box service in LA.

Sam mentions that there have been more opportunities for mom and pop brands since the pandemic. Pandemic has harmed the broader marginalized population, whereas the benefits have gone to the privileged.

As per Sam, it's a very exciting time to be in the startup world. He recommends new founders sign up for their newsletter. He further advises brands to know their buyers and build a community.

He talks about:

* ECommerce trends at LA * Economic standpoint * Social justice and impact around LA * Recommendation for new founders * Lessons he has learned * Upcoming events

Join Ramon Vela and Sam N. Adams as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on dot.LA, visit: https://dot.la/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

dot.LA - Celebrating and Empowering the L.A. Tech Startup Scene Oct 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“To celebrate and empower the L.A. tech startup ecosystem and catalyze innovation” that's the overall mission of dot.LA. Today we have Sam N. Adams, who is Co-Founder and CEO of dot.LA, a career platform for news events and community Los Angeles Tech and startup ecosystem.

LA has been evolving as a fascinating and vibrant hub for startup activity. So, dot.LA saw a need for a media outlet to act as a megaphone for this hub. The platform not only focuses on software but on companies that bring something more modern as well.

According to Sam, the crypto and NFT marketplace is booming currently. As for LA, it lies at the intersection between art and tech.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Diversity in LA * Trends or categories they see * What's exciting for him * Crypto and NFT in LA

Join Ramon Vela and Sam N. Adams as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on dot.LA, visit: https://dot.la/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Adam Bridegan - Lesson from the Pandemic Sep 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“To take the time to invest in ourselves, that's the lesson Adam learned in the pandemic.” In the second half, Adam Bridegan, Co-Founder of Made In, former CMO of Rhone, and Founder of Gaylord says that Covid was a blessing in disguise.

Covid made him think about what he wanted from life, and he even read Dale Carnegie’s “How to Start Living and Stop Worrying.” Implementing a strategy from the book called “stop-loss control” was a light bulb moment for him.

After leaving Rhone, Adam wanted to do things he was not making time for before. So, he went to North Carolina, where he grew up, and met friends he had not seen in years. He helped and gave free advice to entrepreneurs. Eventually, he realized that he wanted a change; he wanted to use his experience and expertise to help other entrepreneurs in their journey. This has turned into his latest endeavor, the formation of Gaylord.

He talks about:

* How Covid was a blessing * His light bulb moment * Lesson from pandemic * What was he thinking * How to see the positives of this experience

Join Ramon Vela and Adam Bridegan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gaylord, visit: Gaylord

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

Adam Bridegan - The Pandemic as a Turning Point Sep 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“To not allow it to change us that will be the biggest mistake in the pandemic,” says Adam. Today we have Adam Bridegan, Co-Founder of Made In, former CMO of Rhone, and Founder of Gaylord.

Adam didn't grow up well off. His parents believed in him and had always encouraged him to give back to the community. Since its founding, Adam has been at Rhone. While there, one of his team members co-founded Made In, a direct-to-consumer brand.

Adam is a father of 3 kids. He has always been busy with work and building things, but Covid coupled with his wife's scare with breast cancer, made him stop and reflect on his life, his children, and the decisions in his life. That's why Adam calls it his turning point.

In part 1, he talks about:

* Gratitude * His life before the pandemic * The pandemic as a turning point * Experience with Covid

Join Ramon Vela and Adam Bridegan as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gaylord, visit: http://gaylord.io

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

DRVE - An Investment Program to Unlock Growth Sep 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“No company is perfect,” says Oliver since there's always something more to do. In the second half, we continue the conversation with Oliver Mauss, Founder of DRVE.

DRVE looks for companies with a stable environment. Oliver mentions that not every company or product fits their program. However, when they find a match, there are various ways that a brand can work with them.

In part 2, Oliver talks about

* How people start working with them * What DRVE looks for * Categories they prefer * Involvement in other areas * When equity is an option * When things don’t work * Category examples * Dealing with partners in the pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Oliver Mauss as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on DRIVE, visit: https://drve.com/pod

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

DRVE - Scaling D2C Brands with Smart Capital and Expertise Sep 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“To stay profitable and generate sales” that's the key for every single company. Today we have Oliver Mauss, Founder of DRVE, a company that provides growth capital to D2C brands and invests as an equity partner.

Oliver studied Computer Science because he originally wanted to be a game developer. Since then, he’s been a part of many startup businesses, investing, and product building for more than 15 years. The idea for DRVE came out of the problems he saw in startups through the years. The brand offers a program that can take care of the challenges of growth for many brands.

According to Oliver, being an investor is hard, and you can't always win. He further advises founders to verify if they can at least make money through sales and then get the right professional partners.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * Requirement for the program to work * His background * Customer led system * Lessons learned * Observations around market

Join Ramon Vela and Oliver Mauss as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on DRIVE, visit: https://drve.com/pod

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Film Gear Club - A Consumer’s Need for Visual Storytelling Sep 30, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“A very visual-oriented world,” that's how the world has changed, as per Kareem. In the second half, Kareem Clarence Lawrence, Founder and CEO of Film Gear Club, emphasizes video-based storytelling.

Kareem tells us that consumers are looking for the behind-the-scenes, vision, future, and value of a company that does well in video. The visual medium helps in making consumers more engaged. He focuses on being a value and tries to inspire other people.

The brand provides access to gear more affordably and solves the problem of finding filmmakers and videographers more consistent work. Kareem mentions a free trial option, loop, and even a community to join at Film Gear Club.

He talks about:

* Need for visual storytelling * How to use the membership and get started * Film Gear Club's job section * Free trial

Join Ramon Vela and Kareem Clarence Lawrence as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Film Gear Club, visit: http://www.filmgearclub.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Film Gear Club - An All-in-One Solution for Content Creators Sep 30, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Today we have Kareem Clarence Lawrence, Founder and CEO of Film Gear Club, a subscription-based video production gear rental house.

Kareem saw a need for a support system after graduating from film school. There’s a gap between the transition from film school where you work with high-quality equipment to working professionally. He wanted to solve this problem, so he started Film Gear Club.

According to him, companies need equipment to get their content out and tell their story. He says that the best way to stand out is to be authentic. For instance, communicating values is essential for every brand, which Film Gear Club helps by giving access and empowering them.

In part 1, he talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Content and vision * Every company is a media company * Being authentic

Join Ramon Vela and Kareem Clarence Lawrence as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Film Gear Club, visit: http://www.filmgearclub.com

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Copper Cow Coffee - Sharing Something Delicious Sep 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Don't be so afraid of risk,” says Debbie Mullin, CEO and Founder of Copper Cow Coffee in the second half. She says she is passionate about sharing something delicious and believes there's no better path for her than this brand.

According to her, it's hard to accept the realization that you don't want something you built momentum for. The struggle she went through in large bureaucratic organizations was her motivator. She loves entrepreneurs because it doesn't matter who you are but rather what you can create and move forward.

Copper Cow Coffee doesn't include any artificial flavors. Their coffee is a blend of both robusta and arabica coffee beans. In the future, Debbie wants to continue making things easier for customers.

In part 2, she talks about:

* Sharing something delicious * Her advice for others * How is her role as a woman * Coffee path * Capturing Vietnamese taste * Feedback of her family * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Debbie Mullin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Copper Cow Coffee, visit: https://coppercowcoffee.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Copper Cow Coffee - A Perfect Vietnamese Style Cup of Coffee Sep 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Becoming an entrepreneur gets easier and easier as you get questions answered,” says Debbie Mullin, CEO and Founder of Copper Cow Coffee, the first premium Vietnamese coffee company in the U.S.

Debbie was raised in California and had a Vietnamese mother. She always wanted to be part of something that could create opportunities. She used to work at the World Bank before Copper Cow Coffee. The flavor of Vietnamese coffee had always been interesting and exciting for her, so she chose to start the brand.

Hyper-focused learning had kept her going in her journey.

She talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Why she started Copper Cow Coffee * What pushed her * Who pushed her back * Support from her mother

Join Ramon Vela and Debbie Mullin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Copper Cow Coffee, visit: https://coppercowcoffee.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Kenny Flowers - Bringing the Vacation to You Sep 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“We can bring the vacation to you,” says Kenny Haisfield, Founder of Kenny Flowers. In part 2, Kenny says it's challenging to commit to a business concept when you are just starting. Figuring out how to do new things is tough.

He spent a year understanding customers, and in this year, production and balancing everything was difficult for him. They design their apparel with customers in mind. Kenny Flowers is 99 percent direct to consumers and has something for both men and women.

Kenny mentions that 2020 was a devastating time, but it helped them to change their perspective. The company moved from apparel just for vacations to apparel that can bring vacations to customers. The Pandemic led them to update their marketing.

He talks about:

* Challenges in early days * Their website * A brand that's around generations to come * Updating marketing * Where to get Kenny Flowers * New categories * His advice

Join Ramon Vela and Kenny Haisfield as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kenny Flowers, visit: https://www.kennyflowers.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Kenny Flowers - A Better, More Modern Hawaiian Shirt Sep 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“A better, more modern Hawaiian shirt”, that's Kenny Flowers. Today we have Kenny Haisfield - founder of Kenny Flowers, a clothing brand that embraces the feeling of vacation every day.

In 2015, Kenny moved to Bali with a dream to create a new version of Hawaiian shirts after quitting his job at IBM. He has an attachment with Bali and shares history with it so he chose this place for his brand. In high school, he even started a nonprofit organization to sponsor teenagers in Bali.

In the early days, he had no business plan or background in fashion design, which he thinks was a blessing as got to talk to many people and think carefully about potential customers.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * What his dad thinks * Did he did any research * How did he choose location * What influenced him to build nonprofit * Experience at IBM

Join Ramon Vela and Kenny Haisfield as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kenny Flowers, visit: https://www.kennyflowers.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story

Whisker - The Pet Brand that Keeps Innovating Sep 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“What's right for the family pet - that's what is important for Whisker all the time,” according to Jacob Zuppke, President and COO of Whisker, previously known as AutoPets. In the second part, he says that it's nice to go through a rebranding, but people won’t notice as much when you don't have anything other than one product.

Whisker's two main products - called Litter-Robot and Feeder-Robot - help by automating the chores. They also have a furniture line that addresses different styles of decors. The brand intends to keep innovating within the pet tech sector while also delivering more refined accessories.

In part 2, he talks about:

* Grabbing the Whisker.com domain * Their Main products * How Litter-Robot works * Do cats like to use it * What’s the visioning for monitoring pet health * New products * How does the App work

Join Ramon Vela and Jacob Zuppke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Whisker, https://hello.whisker.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

Whisker - Providing Endlessly Better Pet Care Sep 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

“To solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents,” that’s the mission of Whisker. Today we have Jacob Zuppke, President and COO of Whisker, previously known as AutoPets, a brand that provides endlessly better pet care.

Jacob interviewed for different ad agencies after graduating from college in 2012. He founded a digital marketing agency called Traffic when he realized he wanted to do something of his own. The agency had fast growth, but Jacob had a desire to go beyond marketing. So, in 2015, he moved to the client-side.

The idea to build a business that could sustain itself was an eye-opener for him. He advises other entrepreneurs to don't be overly data-driven instead use data in the right place.

He talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Where was he before * What drives digital agency owners to create their products * Products combined with marketing strategy * What excited him * Advice for others

Join Ramon Vela and Jacob Zuppke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Whisker, https://hello.whisker.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io/sob

Future Fit Foods - Suppas is a Vessel for Health Sep 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Our foods need to be light in weight but heavy in substance,” says Paloma Lopez, Co-Founder of Future Fit Foods. In the second half, Paloma describes their healthy Suppas and their diverse ingredients. Suppas is a vessel, while Future Fit Foods is an umbrella organization.

The brand tries to be transparent in the sourcing of ingredients. They intend to engage the next generation of food professionals too.

Getting people to try something new or be a part of the change was difficult for Paloma. According to her, the consumer is ready for the change, but industries hold a very tight model. She recommends choosing something you are passionate about as passion can carry you to success.

She talks about:

* Diverse ingredients * What surprised her * Balancing marketing and ingredient cost * Her recommendations to entrepreneurs * Evolving Suppas

Join Ramon Vela and Paloma Lopez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Future Fit Foods, visit: https://www.futurefitfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Future Fit Foods - A Purpose Driven Food Organization. Sep 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“A purpose-driven food organization,” that's what Future Fit Foods is. Today we have Paloma Lopez, co-founder of Future Fit Foods, a brand that provides foods that help restore people's health but also the health of the planet.

Paloma grew up in a business environment where both her parents were entrepreneurs. She started working in the food industry after college. She lived and worked in different countries, regions, and departments at Kellogg's for 15 years. Food innovation, brand management, and sustainability are some of the departments Paloma worked in.

Realizing food has become transactional pushed her to change the design of the existing food industry. Their unique aspect is the design which moves from a linear food system to a circular food system. People around her, her team were game-changers.

She talks about:

* Support she got * Overview of the brand * Her background * What sparked her idea * What are Suppas * Their supply chain

Join Ramon Vela and Paloma Lopez as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Future Fit Foods, visit: https://www.futurefitfoods.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Tolstoy - Make Every Website Visit a Face-to-Face Conversation Sep 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“It’s fun to see sites being humanized for the first time,” says Dov Kaufmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Tolstoy. In the second part, he says that there are no criteria for using their platform as it serves everyone.

From small stores just starting to the biggest brands, their platform supports all company sizes. However, Dov points out that Tolstoy comes in most handy when the website already has traffic. There is no specific setup time or code either. They are strictly a synchronized communication app.

He talks about:

* Criteria for Tolstoy * Conversion tools * Is there any onboarding time * Where to start * Different content for different types of brands * How beauty brands use it * Sites being humanized * Guides and product education

Join Ramon Vela and Dov Kaufmann as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tolstoy, visit: https://www.gotolstoy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Tolstoy - Helping Businesses Tell Better Stories Sep 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“Help businesses tell better stories,” this is the idea behind Tolstoy. Today we have Dov Kaufmann, Co-Founder, and CEO of Tolstoy, a customer video engagement platform.

Dov always wanted to start a company. He studied English literature, so he tried to be an author and even a filmmaker, but he failed miserably in both. Eventually, he launched Tolstoy, which helps brands, retailers connect with their visitors and customers over video. According to Dov, you should keep moving, optimizing, and not let anything stop you.

In the first half, he talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * What pushed him * Did writing and filmmaking skills help him * Suggestions for businesses

Join Ramon Vela and Dov Kaufmann as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tolstoy, visit: https://www.gotolstoy.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Dutch - Access High-Quality Pet Care on Your Terms Sep 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Little things can go a long way,” Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch, in the second half. He understands that how his kids are growing up is different than him, but he wants them to help others too. Joe says the pandemic has forced a change in health care. But he says change can be challenging as well as scary.

For Dutch, pets are an integral part of the family, so the brand is trying to create a convenient way for all pets to access a vet. They focus on dogs and cats with anxiety and allergies. The company is working to offer more solutions while continuing to expand in the U.S.

He talks about:

* How life experiences affect your parenting style * Covid and changes * Consumer Feedback * Focus areas * When they launched * How anxiety manifest itself * What's next * Where are they available * International telemedicine players

Join Ramon Vela and Joe Spector as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dutch, visit: https://www.dutch.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Dutch - Building the First Fully Digital TeleHealth Veterinary Brand Sep 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

To put out a product that consumers will use in their everyday lives - that's been the dream of Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch, the first and so far the only fully digital telehealth veterinary brand.

Joe came to the U.S. with his family when he was 10 years old. He saw entrepreneurship as his calling while studying at business school. So, he spent his time on various startups and even worked as a banker. According to him, the immigrant mentality of being curious and observant played out for him.

The ability to build from nothing has given him freedom as well as confidence. Joe advises people to spend time building the network and observing the industry. He has applied his experience from days at Hims & Hers for building Dutch.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * His background * Advice for others * Being self-aware * Money and confidence

Join Ramon Vela and Joe Spector as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dutch, visit: https://www.dutch.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

RightRice - Deliciously Packed with Protein and Fiber Sep 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

Don’t be afraid to take a really fresh approach. In the second half, Keith Belling, Founder and CEO of RightRice remarks that developing RightRice was harder than Popchips as they wanted vegetables and taste and texture in their rice. It took about 9 months to come up with the perfect blend.

In RightRice's products, 90 percent of the ingredients include vegetables, chickpeas, lentils, and green peas, while less than 10 percent is rice. This makes it healthy and a package of veggie power. Rice can be mixed with anything, so, according to Keith, rice itself has a superpower.

Keith says that creating catchy packaging as well as continuing innovations is essential.

He talks about:

* Developing RightRice Vs. Popchips * Combination of vegetables * Flavors at RightRice * How to cook RightRice * Superpower of rice * How challenging is the market now * Where to find them * Effect of the pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Keith Belling as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on RightRice, visit: https://rightrice.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

RightRice - Rice Packed with the Power of Veggies. Sep 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Just lean in and do it,” says Keith Belling, Founder and CEO of RightRice, a brand that provides healthier and great-tasting rice.

Keith was brought up in an entrepreneurial family. He was especially inspired by his hard-working father, whom he lost at the young age of 16. He originally planned to make a career in real estate law but decided to quit the law firm for business since he loved the entrepreneurial spirit of a coffee shop client he handled.

In the late ‘90s, Keith started an Internet company in San Francisco. After that, he launched Popchips, which is a brand for healthy snacks. Then he finally launched RightRice in February 2019. RightRice brings shelf-stable grain of rice packed with the power of veggies.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * How his father's death affected his entrepreneurial efforts * Overview of the brand * His background * The Better for you theme * Difficulties and success with Popchips * Launch of RightRice

Join Ramon Vela and Keith Belling as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on RightRice, visit: https://rightrice.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Purelife Organics - Healthy People, Healthy Planet Sep 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Healthy people, healthy planet,” that's the mission of Purelife Organics. In the second part, Todd Lamb, Co-Founder of Purelife Organics emphasizes that undisrupted sleep is a huge natural benefit for your health.

For the products, Todd mentions that not all of them are gender-neutral. Todd also wants to make an impact in his lifetime, so he supports reforestation. Purelife Organics sponsors companies and uses drones for a faster reforestation process.

He says that his biggest success was taking the risk to create the brand, while his biggest mistake was not starting it earlier. Purelife Organics launched its first product, Belly Fat Tea in 2016, which eventually officially launched the entire brand in 2018.

Here he talks about:

* Their product line and challenges it addresses * When they officially launched * Supporting reforestation * Biggest success * Biggest mistake * Where to find Purelife Organics

Join Ramon Vela and Todd Lamb as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Purelife Organics, visit: https://purelifeorganics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Purelife Organics - Three Pillars: Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Sep 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

You don’t need a business background if you have a good idea and the passion for pursuing it, so says Todd Lamb, Co-Founder of Purelife Organics, a health and wellness brand.

Todd started his career in the military. He transitioned to the police department and led the SWAT team before starting Purelife Organics. Todd saw his wife suffering from inflammation and difficulty with weight loss. So, he researched herbs and spices to help her.

He utilizes his experience from military days in his entrepreneurial journey too. Being disciplined, communication skills, and dealing with ego are some of the similarities between the two universes. Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are three pillars on which Purelife Organics's mission is built.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * His background * What led him to start the brand * Kinds of catalysts * Military skills in entrepreneurship * Relationship with fear * Three external pillars

Join Ramon Vela and Todd Lamb as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Purelife Organics, visit: https://purelifeorganics.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Three Wishes - Your Wish is Their Command Sep 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

In the second half of our Feature, Margaret Wishingrad, Founder and CEO of Three Wishes, says their mission is to create cereal with less sugar and deliver great taste.

Margaret talks about the challenges of finding the right taste as it's challenging to get something high in protein, and without any grain behind it, to puff and become a cereal. It takes technical knowledge, machinery, hard work, as well as lots of time.

Margaret mentions that in the future, like the present, the brand will continue to build trust and create an exciting community for its consumers.

She speaks on:

* Cereal that's great for children (and Adults) * Where to find Three Wishes * Challenges of taste * What next for the brand * New flavors * How they survived in pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Margaret Wishingrad as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Three Wishes, visit: https://threewishescereal.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Three Wishes - Always Start Your Day with Three Wishes Sep 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“A better-for-you cereal brand,” that's the essence of Three Wishes. Today we have Margaret Wishingrad, Founder and CEO of Three Wishes, a brand that creates low sugar, grain-free, and high protein cereal using minimal clean ingredients.

It all started when they had their son and discovered that “most cereal is just dessert masquerading as breakfast.” Since Margaret and her husband had experience building an ad agency, they asked themselves, “why not make our own.” The rest is history.

She says that parenting helps in business because, in both cases, you have to multitask. Parenting also helps with problem-solving, that's useful for entrepreneurs as well.

In the first half, Margaret talks about:

* Gratefulness towards her husband * What it's like to raise a child * How was her journey * Story of the 'Three Wishes' name * What is grain-free

Join Ramon Vela and Margaret Wishingrad as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Three Wishes, visit: https://threewishescereal.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Single Origin Food Co. - Consumers Love Authenticity Sep 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“Consumers love authenticity,” so Single Origin Food Co., ensures quality to its customers. In the second half of this Feature, Belal El-Banna, CEO and Co-Founder of Single Origin Food Co., also suggests entrepreneurs believe in what they do. He further points out the problem of greenwashing.

He mentions the reasons behind their interest in honey. They wanted to benefit farmers, and that's when they noticed the sugar byproduct. To improve the producer's revenue streams,, they asked them to process this byproduct into something that mimics honey. Being in touch with the farmers allowed them to access age-old expertise and innovation.

Single Origin Food Co. tries to enrich people's lives, and in the future, they are planning to launch their plus range of products.

He talks about:

* How they brought innovation in honey * Suggestions for entrepreneurs * Plans for other products * Factor of taste * Their foundation products * Brand's cooking slab

Join Ramon Vela and Belal El-Banna as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Single Origin Food Co, visit: https://thesofco.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Single Origin Food Co. - World's First Dedicated Single-Origin Food Company Sep 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

“We're the world's first dedicated single-origin food company,” Belal El-Banna, CEO and Co-Founder of Single Origin Food Co.

The idea for the brand came from another co-founder, Colin Carter, when he developed adult epilepsy in his early 40s. He tried to balance up his medication, so he started drinking coffee. Then, in his attempt to find a better cup of coffee he came across single-origin coffee. He liked the single-origin concept so much; it led them to start the company.

Belal says that they don't look at themselves as a “for-profit” instead of more as a fair profit. They want to be transparent and serve the best quality at a reasonable price.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Difficulty in finding farmers * Early days of the company * How they make cost work * Where their products are sold * Challenges in pandemic * Why honey

Join Ramon Vela and Belal El-Banna as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Single Origin Food Co, visit: https://thesofco.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

ShoppingGives - Democratizing Social Impact for Brands Sep 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“Democratizing social impact,” that's the goal of ShoppingGives says Ronny Sage who is the founder and CEO of ShoppingGives. In part 2 of this Feature, he says that it’s taken a lot of tenacity and resilience to build the business. .

According to him, luck looks a lot like planning and preparation. Basically, you get lucky with hard work. He advises other entrepreneurs on a number of different topics like: stop worrying about the people who are going to steal their ideas; prioritize people in the conversation; and don’t let scarcity and paranoia get in their way of progress and success.

He says that the brand is currently working on innovation and planning to expand in the future.

In part 2, he talks about:

* Advice for other entrepreneurs * How to install and get started * Onboarding Checklist * Impact on a business * How they help brands who already have the infrastructure * Their omnichannel and partners

Join Ramon Vela and Ronny Sage as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ShoppingGives, visit: https://shoppinggives.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for ecommerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, Visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

ShoppingGives - The Great Retail Reset Sep 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“To make doing well approachable,” that's the idea behind ShoppingGives. Today we have Ronny Sage, Founder and CEO of ShoppingGives, a social impact commerce platform.

Ronny has always been entrepreneurial and passionate about building a community. At some point, he went to work for an education nonprofit where he noticed a funding problem. Sometime later, he started solidifying his idea for a company or platform to help brands align social impact to bottom-line outcomes.

According to Ronny, 2020 was a great retail reset because there was a shift in the expectations of employees and customers. For Ronny, more people are looking beyond the products and seeing the brand’s stance on any number of social impact issues.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * His early career * Concept behind ShoppingGives * A great retail reset

Join Ramon Vela and Ronny Sage as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ShoppingGives, visit: https://shoppinggives.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: https://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Jojo Shoes - Shoes Designed from Our Hearts to Your Soles Sep 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

Jojo Abolarin designs shoes for powerful, fun, and confident women. In the second half of our interview, the owner and designer of Jojo Shoes shares her marketing journey, which was not as easy as designing shoes.

In the beginning, she nervously marketed her shoes in shoe markets but gained confidence as she sold her first six shoes to a customer. She then realized that she needed help with this business.

Jojo got a lot of help from social media, so she ended up opening a shared store. Her shoes got featured in several magazines that boosted her sales too. She says that she is debating whether to repeat designs or come up with new ones only. Her upcoming designs are for the fall season.

She talks about:

* Road to growing her business * Opening a store * Not repeating designs * Talking design risk * New launches and her plans

Join Ramon Vela and Jojo Abolarin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Jojo Shoes, visit: https://myjojos.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel. They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to http://ecocart.io/sob

Jojo Shoes - Fun, Comfortable and Stylish Shoes Sep 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

Designing fun, comfortable and stylish shoes - that’s the mission of Jojo Shoes. Owner and designer Jojo Abolarin says her challenge finding the right shoes for herself inspired her company.

Raised in Nigeria, Jojo says that education is important for her family and many others in her native country. Though she had an early interest in fashion and shoes, Jojo chose to go to medical school after getting a bachelor's degree in biology. She later earned a master's degree in IT.

In 2017, she started thinking about making shoes cute but comfortable shoes during her time working in Pittsburgh. This thought led her to drawing shoes and eventually transformed into her first design, then her first complete pair of shoes. Then she started designing & making shoes for her family and friends.

In the first half of this Feature, Jojo talks about:

* Gratefulness towards her sister * Overview of the brand * Her years studying medicine and IT * Her early love of shoes and fashion * Finding production companies to help

Join Ramon Vela and Jojo Abolarin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Jojo Shoes, visit: https://myjojos.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel. They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to http://ecocart.io/sob

Renewal Mill - Treats that You and the Planet will Love! Sep 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

Reach for more sustainable options, says Caroline Cotto, COO of Renewal Mill, in the second half of this Feature. She points out that it's essential to educate consumers. In their case, education was a challenge because people had never heard of upcycling. So, she advises other brands to find their community and use collective actions to further momentum.

Caroline gives an account of the timeline of the Renewal Mill. In 2016, the brand was started. In 2018, they commercialized their first ingredient, and last year right before the pandemic, they launched their baking mix. The newest addition is a brownie mix launched in March of 2021.

Renewal Mill wants to continue adding new ingredients to its portfolio. It's always interested in what people want and what's missing in the market.

In part 2, Caroline talks about:

* Advice for those trying to build sustainable brands * Promotion in pandemic * When they launched * Plant-based products * Retails * Video content * Her message

Join Ramon Vela and Caroline Cotto as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Renewal Mill, visit: https://www.renewalmill.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Renewal Mill - A Delicious World-Changing Idea Sep 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

To reduce food waste and fight climate change - that's the mission of Renewal Mill. Today, we feature Caroline Cotto, COO of Renewal Mill, an upcycle food company.

Caroline, Co-founder of Renewal Mill, realized that Wastage was happening across all parts of the supply chain within food manufacturing. This realization was the catalyst for launching the brand. Their vision and mission: “To create a new circular economy of food that closes the loop in today’s current supply chains, keeps valuable nutrition from going to waste, and reduces our impact on the environment.”

In 2019, they helped to start the Upcycling Food Association. Upcycling is making sure that food is put to its best and highest use. She says upcycling allows them to make something out of the excess and byproduct of food manufacturing.

She talked about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Upcycling Defined * How the Co-Founders got the Idea * What got her excited about upcycling * Hurdles with tofu byproduct * The reaction of their partners * Their products

Join Ramon Vela and Caroline Cotto as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Renewal Mill, visit: https://www.renewalmill.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Sloomoo Institute - Discover Your Own “Joy” with Slime Sep 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Large corporations such as Nike, Dell, and Google have discovered their own “joy” with slime, thanks to Sloomoo Institute. In part 2, Karen Robinovitz and Sara Schiller, Co-Founders of Sloomoo Institute, continue with advice for entrepreneurs looking to jump into brand-new marketspaces.

They already had successful careers, and they were in their late 40s when they started Sloomoo Institute. Having past corporate and entrepreneurial experienced helped them in their company's rapid growth too. Today, their brand works with big brands to bring joy.

The brand's name came from the online behavior in 2016 and 2017 when the slime community replaced the vowels in their name with double O’s. So, Karen and Sara came up with 'Sloomoo' by replacing I and E with double Os.

In part 2, Karen and Sara talk about:

* Friendship and business * Separation of responsibilities * Playing with slime * Visual experience * Brand's name * Their location * What's next

Join Ramon Vela, Karen Robinovitz, and Sara Schiller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sloomoo Institute, visit: https://sloomooinstitute.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Sloomoo Institute - Joy, Inclusion, and a Sense of Mental Wellness Sep 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Joy, inclusion, and a sense of mental wellness - all thanks to slime. That's the mission of Sloomoo Institute. In today’s two-part feature, we have Karen Robinovitz and Sara Schiller, Co-Founders of Sloomoo Institute, a sensory playground centered around the slime.

Karen and Sara have been friends for over 13 years. Before Sloomoo Institute, Karen made a career in media while Sara was in business management and hospitality. Slime is a form of therapy that helps in improving focus and triggers imagination. Karen found joy in slime in her difficult times. So, this led her to start this brand with Sara.

From layout to programming, creating a slime factory was hard for them. However, Karen and Sara are not afraid of failing. According to them, entrepreneurs should first build infrastructure, language and decide on a name and visual board for their business.

In part 1 of our interview, Sara and Karen talk about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the company * People's reaction * What connects people * Biggest challenge * Challenging entrepreneurship * Entrepreneurial advice

Join Ramon Vela, Karen Robinovitz, and Sara Schiller as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sloomoo Institute, visit: https://sloomooinstitute.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Cartloop - Democratize Customer Communication for All Brands Sep 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

To democratize customer communication for brands of all sizes across various channels - that's the mission of Cartloop. In the second half of this Feature, Lisa Popovici, Co-Founder of Cartloop, advises other startups that bringing on board the right people is the most important.

She maintains that it's best not to try doing everything by yourself. Then she explains the difference between automated and conversational SMS marketing, a distinction that businesses usually do not know. Automated text is one impersonal text to the entire audience, while conversational text enables communication through its engaging, value-adding, and empathy-driven approach. In Part 2 of this Story of a Brand podcast, Lisa talks about:

* Advice for other startups * How to reach Cartloop * Who is their ideal customer * Process of optimizing your Shopify account * Considering the tone of voice in your messages * Providing best information to shoppers and three plans * Is it better to start with one particular product * What's next for Cartloop * How brands should prepare for holidays

Join Ramon Vela and Lisa Popovici as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CartLoop, visit: https://cartloop.io/story

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Cartloop - Helping Retailers Drive More Revenue Sep 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

Cartloop helps DTC brands and retailers drive more revenue and scale their customer relationships, says Lisa Popovici, Co-Founder of the conversational text marketing platform for Shopify and Shopify Plus brands.

Lisa majored in computer science in high school but decided to study medicine for college. She met her future co-founder Andrei Negrau while studying medicine and got inspired to start her first e-commerce store. Later, her e-commerce journey extended to tech, which also helped them in funding their first startup.

She says the frustration behind abandoned carts and avoiding reliance on external marketing channels were the reasons behind Cartloop. She also discusses the startup scene in Romania and that the startup ecosystem is evolving.

In part 1, Lisa talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her life before Cartloop * Challenge of joining tech * What she learned by studying medicine * Being a startup pioneer in Romania * Early days of Cartloop * SMS as a “personal” channel

Join Ramon Vela and Lisa Popovici as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on CartLoop, visit: https://cartloop.io/story

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at https://www.attentivemobile.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to https://www.gorgias.com/ to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

For Days - Have Everything and Waste Nothing Sep 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“For Day is a model built to scale, striving to be an epicenter for change rather than sitting on the sidelines,” so says Kristy Caylor, Co-Founder & CEO of For Days. In part two of this feature, we discuss choosing the right materials and how that helps guarantee recyclability. That’s why the brand prioritizes organic materials, works with safe, certified dyes, and understands the ethical component.

According to Kristy, there's no perfection. She advises entrepreneurs to think about the bigger picture and break it into little pieces or give themselves near targets to build the bigger picture.

In this episode, Kristy discusses:

* A model built to scale * Navigating every touchpoint * Limitations caused by their model * Designs at For Days * What's next * Efficient business economics * What consumers tell them * Entrepreneurial lessons

Join Ramon Vela and Kristy Caylor as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Four Days, visit: https://fordays.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

For Days - Closed-loop Fashion is Here! Sep 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

“A zero-waste fashion system that rewards the customer,” that’s the goal of For Days, says Kristy Caylor, Co-Founder, and CEO. True to its goal, For Days is the first entirely closed-loop clothing brand.

Kristy has a degree in various fields, including engineering, painting, design, and business. After business school, she entered the fashion industry and worked at Gap Inc., where she learned inside and out the apparel business, supply chain, and mass production issues. She left that company when she saw a need for a new business model that could solve clothing waste. In 2010, she started a brand called Maiyet, which experienced the same wastage problem. She sees “waste generation” as an opportunity.

In part 1 of her talk with The Story of a Brand podcast, Kristy talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Her background in business and the fashion industry * Eliminating clothing waste * Incentivizing right behavior * How the process works * Response from other apparel companies

Join Ramon Vela and Kristy Caylor as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Four Days, visit: https://fordays.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit https://shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

Why not amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Sound good? Let me introduce you to DRVE. DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

They have a unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

For more information, visit https://drve.com/pod/

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks, and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to https://www.cartloop.io/story today

Crafty Counter - Healthy Cooking Doesn’t Need to Be Hard Sep 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce

Provide a variety and diversity of choices - says Hema Reddy, Founder and CEO of Crafty Counter. In part 2, she continues discussing the evolution of their products.

Initially, her products contained both blended chicken and plant-based offerings. However, talking with poultry farmers opened her eyes, and she realized this she needed to change the recipe. From supporting families to impacting the climate and future generations, the brand re-launched with a true plant-based mission last year.

Hema mentions that products are inspired by Mediterranean herbs, seasoning from Africa as well as India. They are launching a new flavor called Classic Italian. In addition, Crafty Counter has a sustainable supply chain, which is problematic because the existing food manufacturing process is not designed for sustainability.

In this episode, Hema discusses:

* Change in the meaning of impact * Coming up with the taste profile * Where to find Crafty Counter products * Sourcing of lentils * New plant-based egg product launch

Join Ramon Vela and Hema Reddy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Crafty Counter, visit: https://www.craftycounter.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by FenixCommerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

Crafty Counter - Making Plant-Based Eating a Wow Experience Sep 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce

To make plant-based eating a wow experience - that's the mission of Crafty Counter. In part 1 of this Feature, we a deep dive interview with Hema Reddy, Founder and CEO of Crafty Counter, a consumer product goods startup.

Hema had a love for learning and growing. So when she worked at IBM for 14 years, she worked in various roles such as software development and business development. Seemingly, everything was perfect but what she yearned for was purpose in her life. This questioning led her to her mission: to bring out balanced food to families across America.

In the beginning, she had three concepts for her brand. She thought of either starting a popcorn-based company, a beverage brand, or a frozen food company. Her advice for new entrepreneurs is to start with an end in mind.

In this episode, Hema talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Where she was before the brand * Why Crafty Counter * Advice for others * Evolution of first products

Join Ramon Vela and Hema Reddy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Crafty Counter, visit: https://www.craftycounter.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel. They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by FenixCommerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/

ELAVI - Energy. Recovery. Youthfulness. Aug 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

A product that is good for you - that's what ELAVI's Co-Founders, Nikki Elliott, and Michelle Razavi, strived to do while starting the brand. In the second part, the partners say they understand each other's recharge points and always put the company first.

Michelle and Nikki choose collagen for their product because it's the protein that declines with age and is ignored in most people’s diets. They wanted to fill this white space. The brand got close to consumers by launching a couple of months before the pandemic. People were prioritizing health so they were open to new things or brands.

Michelle advises businesses to always ask for help, feedback, and better terms, while Nikki emphasizes transparency.

In part 2 of this episode of The Story of a Brand, Nikki and Michelle talk about:

* Their relationship * How they got people excited * What is collagen, and why did they choose it * Antioxidants * Where to get ELAVI * Showing reviews and upcoming activations * Flavors at ELAVI * Their packaging * Message from Michelle and Nikki * New flavors

Join Ramon Vela, Nikki Elliott and Michelle Razavi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ELAVI, visit: https://www.elavi.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit https://www.justuno.com/ramon/ for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

ELAVI - Easy-to-Digest, Functionally Beneficial, On-the-go Snack Aug 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

An elevated energy bite - that's what ELAVI's snacks are. Today we have Nikki Elliott and Michelle Razavi, co-founders of ELAVI, a modern wellness brand.

Nikki and Michelle were fitness instructors juggling corporate jobs and struggled to find good healthy snacks to nourish their bodies. So they launched ELAVI. With ELAVI, they sought to create an easy-to-digest, functionally healthy, and on-the-go snack. They were so confident of their idea, they both put together their grad school money for this brand.

According to them, there is no right or wrong way to bring a product to market. Asking for help, being passionate, and doing research helped them in their journey. They also discuss the idea that their relationship as co-founders is a lot like a marriage.

In part 1 of this The Story of a Brand Feature, Nikki and Michelle talk about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Where they were before * Nourishing high protein energy snack * How they created the prototype * Advice for other entrepreneurs * Being co-founders together

Join Ramon Vela, Nikki Elliott, and Michelle Razavi as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on ELAVI, visit: https://www.elavi.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: http://www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

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Aura Health - Unlocking the Creator Economy in Emotional Health Aug 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Pushing the boundaries of what we can offer to help people find peace - that’s the goal of Aura Health, says Co-Founder and CEO Steve Lee. In the second part, he mentions that every aspect of their application is personalized.

Aura Health is expanding its community, the type of content offered, working with musicians, ASMR artists, and even poets. They want to provide personalized coaching services too. Their primary focus is on direct to the consumer along with creating the best product possible.

Aura Health's audience includes people from all walks of life, including people with very high-stress jobs such as lawyers, entrepreneurs, etc.

In part 2, Steve speaks on:

* Personalization of the app * Providing push to people to create habits * Plans for evolution * Striving to create new experiences * Popular topics at Aura Health * Creating a bigger impact * Plans for the commercial version * Coaches specific to entrepreneurship * Who are the ideal customers * His advice * His mother's thoughts * Response of people around him

Join Ramon Vela and Steve Lee as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aura Health, visit: https://www.aurahealth.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Aura Health - How a Life-Long Mission United Two Brothers Aug 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Today we have Steve Lee, Co-Founder, and CEO of Aura Health, a self-care brand.

Steve built this brand with his brother Daniel because he witnessed their mother's struggle with mental health. The idea behind Aura Health was to combine the power of mindfulness, machine learning, and AI to create effective self-care that works.

In the current environment, thousands of therapists and coaches restrict themselves to offline, one-on-one sessions only. So, Steve decided to encourage therapists and coaches to become content creators. At Aura Health, these creators can upload their content, and the platform will recommend it to different people, who can then connect directly.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Uptick in pandemic * What pushed them * How was the early version of the thesis * Coaching standpoint * Involvement in mental health beforehand * How to use the platform * Visualizing application

Join Ramon Vela and Steve Lee as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aura Health, visit: https://www.aurahealth.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

EcoCart - Giving Consumers Eco-Friendly Options Aug 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

In the second part of this feature, “clever customer experience and optimized eCommerce flow are essential,” says Dane Baker, Co-Founder of EcoCart. According to him, communicating with customers and doing initiatives in conjunction with EcoCart can give better results.

He mentions that bringing solutions to brands was challenging, but brands were convinced because EcoCart boosted conversion rates. EcoCart works with brands of all shapes and sizes. On average, 1 percent to 2 percent of the order value is the cost to make an “order” carbon neutral.

Dane emphasizes that real-time impact counters can create goodwill in the customer's eyes. Through such counters, consumers can align with a brand. It brings about a connection between brand and consumer.

In part 2 of this episode of The Story of a Brand, Dane talks about:

* Challenges EcoCart overcame * The impact of a real-time counter * EcoCart’s ideal customer * How to get started with EcoCart * Metrics they see * Strategies for getting success

Join Ramon Vela and Dane Baker as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on EcoCart, visit: https://ecocart.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

EcoCart - Helping Brands & Consumers Fight Climate Change Aug 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Attentive**

To make the fight against climate change easy, affordable, and accessible by offsetting the carbon footprint of e-commerce - that's the mission of EcoCart. Today’s episode of The Story of a Brand features Dane Baker, Co-Founder of EcoCart, a brand that helps with sustainable shopping and carbon neutral orders.

Dane always viewed entrepreneurship as an amazing vehicle for change. To him, the environment and climate crisis go hand in hand. He started EcoCart with his Co-Founder when they found it complicated and expensive to deliver a sustainable shopping experience to customers.

The brand has developed a technology to calculate and then offset the carbon footprint of e-commerce orders. EcoCart also shows brands the most effective ways to communicate sustainable shopping to their customers. Today EcoCart works with more than 1,500 brands.

He talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Win-win situation * Helping consumers as well as brands * What pushed him * Working with other industries * Plans for point of sale

Join Ramon Vela and Dane Baker as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on EcoCart, visit: https://ecocart.io/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Nightfood - Better, Healthier, Sleep-Friendly Snacks Aug 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

Food is survival, meaning when food is taken care of, one can think about other things. In the second half, Sean Folkson, the CEO of Nightfood, advises people getting into new categories to refrain from putting “going public” into their strategy. It’s just not remotely as easy as one thinks.

In its journey, Nightfood built a team in which some people were pragmatic at first but later changed. Nightfood has a rebate program called “Try it Free” for customers too. The brand has also been endorsed as the official ice cream by American Pregnancy Association in 2020 because ice cream - particularly Nightfood’s brand - was a natural craving.

Next, they are going to be in hotels and supermarkets. They are looking forward to conquering other snack formats as well.

In part 2, Sean talks about:

* Advice for those creating new categories. * Their formulation - what is subtracted and added from their products. * The historical function of food. * The unique flavors - and quirky product names - at Nightfood. * How to find their products. * The upcoming launches at hotel chains.

Join Ramon Vela and Sean Folkson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nightfood, visit: https://nightfood.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for e-commerce brands around the world.

What makes DRVE different is its unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

Amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Visit drve.com/pod

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers, and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to cartloop.io/story today

Nightfood - Defining a New Consumer Food Category Aug 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, ShoppingGives, DRVE, and CartLoop**

Snacks that are better, healthier, and more sleep-friendly have to be something consumers want, and providing those snacks is the mission of Sean Folkson, the CEO of Nightfood, a night snack company.

It took Sean 20 years after college to start Nighttime. He used to be in Internet marketing and was an outsider in the food industry. Sean got the idea for the brand while searching for snack foods suitable for the night on Yahoo. But to get the ball rolling for the business, he needed the spotlight on healthy snacks to also cast a light on how nutrition affects sleep.

Sean says that people like to eat different things at night. So, Nightfood wants to give them a better and healthier version. He mentions that nowadays, there's more awareness about nighttime snacking, and brands like Pepsi and Unilever are giving validation to the premise of Nightfood.

In the first half, Sean talks about:

* Gratefulness. * How the low-carb trend eventually expanded to include other healthy nutrition strategies. *https://nightfood.com/ His eating habits in college and his 20s provided a spark. * How his idea eventually evolved into a publicly-traded company.

Join Ramon Vela and Sean Folkson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nightfood, visit: https://nightfood.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by ShoppingGives.

Looking for an easy way to engage conscious consumers through social impact? ShoppingGives has you covered.

Working with brands like Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, ShoppingGives is helping brands of all sizes give back while boosting customer loyalty and lifetime value.

Get access to native integrations, exclusive donation data, and a fully managed donation process so you can do good while doing well.

To get started on your social impact journey, visit shoppinggives.com/sb.

*

This episode is brought to you by DRVE.

DRVE invests and manages paid marketing for ecommerce brands around the world.

What makes DRVE different is its unique offer of capital, expertise, and data-driven systems to scale online sales.

Amplify your sales with up to fifty thousand dollars per day in ad spend and a team of experts to optimize each paid marketing campaign.

Visit drve.com/pod

*

This episode is brought to you by Cartloop.

If you are looking to grow your Shopify brand beyond automated blasts, you're going to love Cartloop.

Cartloop is the conversational SMS platform built for Shopify and loved by millions of shoppers.

They help hundreds of brands like ShineOn, Schoolyard Snacks and GoodieCo recover more abandoned carts, convert website visitors into shoppers and build customer loyalty, so they come back again and again.

Create a radically better SMS marketing experience, drive more revenue, and start building your SMS community in minutes.

Only for my listeners, get started with Cartloop today and get your first 2 months for free at Cartloop.io/story. That's right. 2 entire months to try conversational SMS marketing for free.

Head to cartloop.io/story today

Uncle Matt's Organic - How to Achieve Organic Success Aug 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

To be consistently great tasting - that's the number one goal of Uncle Matt's every single time. In the second part, Matt McLean, founder of Uncle Matt's Organic, tells that they learned the old-fashioned way through hard work.

The brand became the largest fresh fruit shipper of citrus by convincing growers to transition to organic. But 2014 to 2016 were tough years for them because of citrus greening disease. The business collapsed, leading him to sell the company.

Today, the brand is trying to find methods to cure the greening issue while maintaining its organic mission. Matt says that Uncle Matt's Organic is not just about orange juice.

In part 2, Matt talks about:

* Becoming a huge fresh fruit shipper in addition to juice provider. * What the citrus greening disease is and how it affected his company. * The decision to sell the company. * The myriad of products at Uncle Matt's Organic. * What the secret is to success.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt McLean as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Uncle Matt's Organic, visit: https://www.unclematts.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by FenixCommerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to ecocart.io

Uncle Matt's Organic - Our Goal: Be Consistently Great Tasting Aug 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, FenixCommerce, and EcoCart**

Few people understood the benefits of organic food, but that didn’t deter Matt McLean from pursuing his dream of creating a top-selling organic orange juice brand. Matt is the founder and Chief Uncle at Uncle Matt's Organic, America's No. 1, selling organic orange juice.

Matt grew up in the citrus industry in Florida, where the business was passed on from generation to generation. Determined to make his mark outside of citrus, he went to college to study business, and after graduating, he started an import-export business. But when he saw an opportunity for organic juice in the United States, he couldn’t resist. So, Uncle Matt's Organic was founded in June 1999.

For Matt, finding organic citrus juice in Florida to supply in bulk and manufacturing were the biggest challenges in the beginning. The brand has seen many ups and downs, from starting in the backyard to raising capital and getting sold. But the company was finally repurchased from bankruptcy.

In part 1, Matt talks about:

* Gratefulness for a business mentor who had the patience to guide him through the business’s early days. * Overview of the brand. * Early days of Uncle Matt's. * Challenges in the beginning. * When things went sour with citrus.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt McLean as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Uncle Matt's Organic, visit: https://www.unclematts.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by FenixCommerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out https://fenixcommerce.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by EcoCart.

EcoCart is an e-commerce plugin that encourages checkout by allowing your customers to shop carbon neutral with you.

And we all know that Sustainability is now a driving factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

That’s why the 1,500+ brands that use EcoCart like APL, BarkBox, Ancient Nutrition, and OLIPOP are seeing a massive boost to customer loyalty and engagement as well as up to 20% increase in cart conversion rates.

Get started today. Go to https://ecocart.io/

M.M.LaFleur - Supplying Your Work-to-Weekend Wardrobe Aug 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

The world's a better place when women succeed - that's the motto of M.M.LaFleur, says Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur, Founder and CEO of M.M.LaFleur. In the second half, she describes how circumstances pushed her to start the brand.

The brand creates beautiful designs focused on practical elements through constant conversations with customers and their evolving needs - especially during the pandemic when many women had to find new jobs. M.M.LaFleur makes it a mission to make interview outfits that are practical but professional.

Their 2013 clothing is different from 2017 and still different from 2021 because fashion is constantly changing. When once dresses were the preferred style, today it’s pants and suits.

In part 2, Sarah talks about:

* Taking the “chore” out of fashion shopping. * The company’s approach to creating clothes. * Functionality away from the workplace. * The way the company has harnessed customer interaction as a top strategy.

Join Ramon Vela and Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on M.M. LaFleur, visit: https://mmlafleur.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

M.M.LaFleur - The World's a Better Place When Women Succeed Aug 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

If we have fun, the business will do well, says Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur, Founder, and CEO of M.M.LaFleur, a clothing and personal styling brand for professional women.

Sarah had zero background in fashion and was not even interested in Fashion before starting M.M.LaFleur. Instead, she had a background working for a non-profit in South Africa and a private equity firm in New York. But couldn’t find a passion for her work. That changed when she began visiting the Garment District of New York and learning about the fabric industry.

In her journey, she understood that being a person that motivates a team is an important job. Along with this, she realized the significance of bringing out good energy every day and self-care. Thinking of things that you are grateful for is crucial to stop the negative loop.

In the first part, Sarah talks about:

* Gratefulness. * The role her Japanese mother played in her approach to business. * How she manages the feeling of being grounded, stress, and anxiety. * What pushed her to what she's doing now.

Join Ramon Vela and Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on M.M. LaFleur, visit: https://mmlafleur.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

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Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Whitebox - Giving Brands a Logistics and Fulfillment Advantage Aug 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

To Marcus Startzel of Whitebox, the COVID-19 pandemic was a preview of what the future holds for e-commerce businesses - the sudden emergence of near-ubiquitous choices for consumers to purchase their products. To meet that, the mastery of logistics and fulfillment - and the ability to adapt quickly - are critical skills.

In the second part of the interview with the Whitebox CEO, Marcus continues describing the brand's experience to push towards customer experience enhancement.

Whitebox helps brands so that they can compete with more prominent brands. Marcus says the profitable place for brands to sell is their website, but the challenge is the cost of fulfillment that takes a good percentage of the sales price. Acquisition cost, lifetime value of a customer, and profitability of orders matter to a brand.

Any brand that sells omnichannel eCommerce fits the customer profile of Whitebox. Whitebox wants to evolve modern commerce, empower its partners, and help brands grow sales and lower costs.

In part 2, Marcus talks about:

* Helping brands with fulfillment logistic side. * What they do on the Amazon site. * Whitebox’s customer profile - many of which consider themselves startups despite million-dollar revenues. * His message. * New launches.

Join Ramon Vela and Marcus Startzel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on White, visit: https://whitebox.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Whitebox - Helping Brands Grow and Save Money Aug 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

To help brands grow and save them money - that's the mission of Whitebox. Today we have Marcus Startzel, CEO of Whitebox, an e-commerce technology company.

Whitebox’s roots are founded in helping its customers sell on marketplaces and specifically Amazon. The company thinks of itself as a unique platform to buy and sell but is grounded in a deep level of technology.

Marcus served for five years in the U.S. Navy as a submarine officer after graduation. His Navy experience set a foundation for operation, technology, and engineering for him. The main lesson: Just as with the Navy, where “the boat comes first,” in the world of business, the “company comes first.” Be prepared for challenges.

To Marcus, the element of trust is one of the key empowerments for an organization - be it a family unit or a business.

In part 1, Marcus talks about:

* Gratefulness for this wife, who has provided guidance and support. * Overview of the brand. * The importance of his time working with industry leaders such as Advertising.com and Millennial Media. * Lessons learned during his stint as a U.S. Navy submarine officer and how those lessons should be utilized every day in the corporate world.

Join Ramon Vela and Marcus Startzel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on White, visit: https://whitebox.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand.” Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Consciously - Look Good, Feel Good, and Do Good Aug 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Attentive, and Gorgias**

In the second half, Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy, Founder and CEO of Consciously, begins with the challenges of launching amid a pandemic. There were multiple delays as the supply chain was shut down or operating unpredictably. Tough choices had to be made, but that challenge ultimately became an advantage because it helped Consciously focus on the details.

Maisa says that Consciously has sustainability criteria of eight values of fair trade, vegan, handwork, transparent, women-owned, BIPOC owned, small-batch, and eco friendly. Brands should align with at least two out of the eight values of Consciously. She heartily mentions that most of the brands at Consciously align with at least four values.

Currently, there are about 50 brands on the Consciously website. The focus is on fashion, but Maisa says the company plans to launch several new categories - possibly beauty and home goods. The next big launch will be menswear.

In part 2, Maisa talks about:

* The challenges of product shortages and supply-chain chaos during the pandemic. * The strategy of getting the word out for her business and the success of influencer marketing. * The need to constantly test and evaluate how to reach customers. * Why the brand's website focused on inclusivity. * What product lines will be launched next?

Join Ramon Vela and Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Consciously, visit: https://wearconsciously.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Consciously - A Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Marketplace Aug 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Attentive, and Gorgias**

To foster a sustainable and ethical fashion marketplace - that's the mission of Consciously. Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy, Founder and CEO of Consciously, says it’s her mission to raise awareness of the apparel industry’s long history of exploitation and be a voice for those otherwise unheard.

Maisa's experience in manufacturing in Bangladesh - the second-largest home to apparel manufacturing after China - sparked her interest in sustainability. She saw that nobody was looking out for garment workers, the vast majority of which are female. So, she took the responsibility and created Consciously.

She advises brands to make sure people within the supply chain are paid a living wage. Companies can ask for documentation, talk to workers, use sustainable material, and check factories and conditions. According to her, more demand for sustainable fashion will make it more affordable as well.

In the first half, Maisa talks about:

* Gratefulness for her support system, including her immediate family. * Overview of the brand. * What sparked her idea for Consciously. * Advice for other brands looking for a sustainable marketplace. * What drives the demand for ethical but affordable fashion.

Join Ramon Vela and Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Consciously, visit: https://wearconsciously.co/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Swoon - On A Mission to Reduce Sugar in Society Aug 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

In the second half of this feature, we have Jeniffer Ross and Cristina Ros Blankfein, Co-Founders of Swoon, discussing what they have learned so far in launching their beverage brand. According to them, having the discipline to set a plan and stay focused is essential.

The brand is planning to launch new flavors next spring. Swoon loves to hear from the customers as they care about creating something that people want.

In part 1, they discuss:

* Working on their first business * Entrepreneurial lessons * Fostering personal & business relationships * Their Product lines * Their brand's commercial side * How they use plant-based, monk fruit * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Jeniffer Ross, and Cristina Ros Blankfein as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Swoon, visit: https://www.tasteswoon.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Swoon - Welcome to the Par-Tea! Aug 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Modernizing the classic drink. That's what Swoon does. In the first half of this feature, we have Jeniffer Ross and Cristina Ros Blankfein, Co-Founders of Swoon, a zero sugar beverage brand.

Jennifer and Cristina went to business school together. Jennifer spent most of her life looking for low sugar options as she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at six. Since choices were hard to find, they both saw a void in the market that they could fill by creating Swoon, a brand that makes tasty yet healthy beverages.

During the pandemic, the brand faced challenges, but they kept going by getting creative with their marketing strategies, focusing their efforts online, and going direct to the consumer.

In part 1, they discuss:

* What they are grateful for * Overview of the brand * What pushed them to start Swoon * What they did in pandemic * Working on getting Swoon in new markets * Things they wish they knew before launching their brand

Join Ramon Vela and Jeniffer Ross, and Cristina Ros Blankfein as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Swoon, visit: https://www.tasteswoon.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Attentive - Scale Your SMS Program and Exceed Your Goals Aug 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Attentive, and Gorgias**

“Conversational is a huge component,” tells Brooke Burdge, SVP of marketing and one of the founding team members at Attentive. According to her, brands can engage with their high-value mobile subscribers with relevant and personalized messages and content.

In part 2 of this feature, Brooke emphasizes that they not only innovate around the technology of SMS messaging but also the marketing. Brooke states that it can be intimidating and scary to start with SMS; however, Attentive will help you guide you through the process.

Brooke talks about:

* Innovation in tech and marketing * Sending the right content * Attentive recent acquisitions * Who is their ideal customer * How Attentive works with brands * Attentive and the pandemic lockdown * Tips for new brands * Adding another channel besides email

Join Ramon Vela and Brooke Burdge as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Attentive, visit: https://www.attentivemobile.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Attentive - Engage Mobile Subscribers with Relevant Messages Aug 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Attentive, and Gorgias**

“We are a personalized text messaging platform,” says Brooke. In part 1 of this feature, we interview Brooke Burdge, SVP of Marketing and a member of the founding team at Attentive, a brand that focuses on helping retail and e-commerce brands connect with their audiences directly through SMS messaging.

Brooke has always been drawn to marketing and brands. After college, she started her career at Deloitte. She got exposure to tons of brands which led her to make a move into startups.

Since the early days, the brand 'Franklin' later known as 'Attentive' was focused on text messaging and marketing.

In this episode, Brooke discusses:

* What she’s grateful for * Overview of the brand * Her life before Attentive * Early days of Attentive * How they achieved fast growth * Advice for others * When SaaS startups skip marketing

Join Ramon Vela and Brooke Burdge as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Attentive, visit: https://www.attentivemobile.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Listeners can also search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Attentive.

How do the most innovative companies reach mobile consumers?

Meet Attentive, the text messaging solution trusted by innovative retail & e-commerce brands like CB2, Coach, and thousands of Shopify brands.

On average, Attentive customers see 25x ROI and 18.5% of online revenue driven by SMS. Ready for SMS to become one of your top three revenue channels?

Learn how to get started with your free trial by requesting a demo at attentivemobile.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

The Functional Beverage Group - Helping Other Beverage Brands Aug 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

In the second half of this Feature, we have Shoshauna and Will Routley, Founders of The Functional Beverage Group, continue to discuss how consumers today want convenience and functional products.

Their passion for farming, organic and natural ingredients, and other reasons motivate them to go the extra mile. They also advise other entrepreneurial couples to find their best areas then split tasks accordingly. It's essential to support one another too.

According to them, a brand should focus on branding and marketing along with production. They mention that it's hard to bring products to market in the beverage industry.

In part 2, they discuss:

* The trend of functional products among new consumers * Reasons behind going the extra mile * Advice for couples and entrepreneurs * Their formulation service * Helping other beverage brands grow * New launches

Join Ramon Vela and Shoshauna, and Will Routley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Functional Beverage Group, visit: https://funbevgroup.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Functional Beverage Group - Certified Organic & Functional Aug 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“Sticking to our values, creating natural products, and helping other companies.” In part 1 of this Feature, we have Shoshauna and Will Routley, Founders of The Functional Beverage Group, an umbrella company for their in-house beverages and services to other beverage brands.

The brand started with Healthy Hooch Kombucha and then diversified and created additional natural products. Shoshauna and Will always dreamed of expanding their business to the point where they can support others and positively impact the world, including things like transparency, integrity, and building healthy relationships with people.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * Competitive personalities and running a business * Living your values * Points of alignment of the brand * Using ingredients from their farm * Clean minimal branding * Thrive remedies

Join Ramon Vela and Shoshauna, and Will Routley as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Functional Beverage Group, visit: https://funbevgroup.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

Trade Coffee - Brew Good. Do Good Aug 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

Every order is made from green to brown; that’s why customers get the best at Trade Coffee. In the second half of this feature, Mike Lackman, CEO of Trade Coffee, mentions that striving to understand the customer’s needs, speaking authentically, and creating a sustainable experience have been challenging for them but worth it to earn the customer’s trust.

According to Mike, the brand tries to make a difference by delivering hyper-fresh coffee to each buyer. To make this happen, consumers are asked basic questions in a quiz format that makes recommendations based on their answers.

In part 2, Mike discusses:

* The challenges * How their website works * Digital trust-building * Free shipping for subscribers * Point of alignment for consumers * An absolutely exceptional experience for customers * Their cold brew program

Join Ramon Vela and Mike Lackman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Trade Coffee, visit: https://www.drinktrade.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Trade Coffee - Sustainably Sourced Coffee Delivered Fresh Aug 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CartText**

“We think of ourselves as being in the business of discovering better coffee,” says Mike Lackman, CEO of Trade Coffee. This brand delivers fresh, sustainably sourced coffee monthly from the best roasters in the nation.

Coffee is a huge customer category that almost seems musical to Mike. He joined Trade Coffee due to the relationship, origin, quality of products, and consumers' need for personalized coffee. The brand helps customers discover the perfect experience, and for that, it works with the best roasters. The roasters also benefit too by increased awareness, access to more customers, and increased sales.

Trade Coffee takes every coffee bag very seriously. In this way, they earn trust from their customers, and their customers, in turn, trust them with their next bag of coffee.

In part 1, Mike discusses:

* What he’s grateful for * Overview of the brand * Why he joined Trade Coffee * The value they offer top roasters * How the brand uses data * Criteria for roasters * Opportunities in the industry

Join Ramon Vela and Mike Lackman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Trade Coffee, visit: https://www.drinktrade.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Principle Faucets - Why Foot Pedals Allow You to Save Water Aug 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Something that has the potential to create real positive change,” says Lauren in the second half of this Feature. John Porteous, Matthew Wall, and Lauren Wall, Founders of Principle Faucets, continue talking about their patented kitchen faucet that provides people with instant, responsive control over the water they use.

They now have a full-fledged faucet system and an adapter system that could go with the existing faucet or one of their designs. But their journey was not simple, Lauren was diagnosed with cancer, and Matthew quit his job to pursue their idea.

Foot pedals from Principle Faucets are efficient, water-saving, and ultimately change people’s behavior around water use.

In part 2, we discuss:

* Their patents * The challenges within the journey * Where to get their product * Why now is the best time for their Faucets * What's next

Join Ramon Vela, John Porteous, Matthew & Lauren Wall as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Principle Faucets, visit: https://www.principlefaucets.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Principle Faucets - Evolving the Way People Use Water at the Sink Aug 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Changing how we use water.” In the first half of this Feature, we have John Porteous, Matthew Wall, and Lauren Wall, Founders of Principle Faucets, a kitchen & Bathroom fixture brand focused on providing people with instant, responsive control over the water you use.

Before starting Principle Faucets, Matthew worked in the floral industry. Lauren got into health & wellness and cooking. That's when they used to brainstorm ideas for how to make cooking more hygienic. However, in 2015, a more pressing concern came about, the California water drought. It pushed them to think of ways to save water and eliminate wastage.

Along with their long-time friend John, they came up with the idea of combing a foot pedal, similar to a doctor’s office and the kitchen faucet. They reasoned that it would make cooking more hygienic (with fewer germs) and help with water wastage and conversation issues. Principle Faucets was launched.

In part 1, we discussed:

* What they are grateful for * Overview of the brand * Their life before the brand * Why a foot pedal for the home

Join Ramon Vela, John Porteous, Matthew & Lauren Wall as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Principle Faucets, visit: https://www.principlefaucets.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Nomad Lane - The Last Bag You’ll Ever Need Aug 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Gorgias**

“Just keep on keep on going because something will work out in the end,” says Vanessa to fellow entrepreneurs. In the second half of this Feature, Vanessa Jeswani, Co-Founder of Nomad Lane, talks about their new Origami Tote bag that can be used in 4 different ways. It comes with multiple pockets and everything that one could ever imagine in a tote bag.

She explains their key to raising funds via a crowdfunding campaign. Starting with creating a pre-launch planning page where they collected email addresses. People are interested in seeing who you are, so the brand provides updates about the founder and company journey. By sharing their story, their brand and others can build trust with potential customers.

In part 2, she talks about:

* Introducing her child to the nomad mentality * Their Bento Bags * New Origami Tote Pack * Key to a successful crowdfunding campaign * What's coming up * Thoughts on other categories * Message for fellow entrepreneurs

Join Ramon Vela and Vanessa Jeswani as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nomad Lane, visit: https://nomadlane.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Nomad lane - A Bag that Could Adapt to Any Situation Aug 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Gorgias**

“We craft elevated bags and accessories to keep professionals organized on the go,” tells Vanessa Jeswani, Co-Founder of Nomad Lane, along with her husband, Kish Vasnani. Nomad Lane is a travel bags, and accessories brand previously featured on The Story of a Brand Show.

Travel is the heart of the relationship for this entrepreneur couple. However, like most people, the pandemic forced them to make changes. In lockdown, they moved back to Miami from Bali to be closer to customers & staff. Nomad Lane is also introducing a new 4-in-1 convertible bag called the Origami Convertible Tote.

She talks about:

* Grateful for her husband’s support * Overview of the brand * Surviving 2020 * Her advice for entrepreneurs * The benefits of living in Bali * Running a business while being a wife and mother

Join Ramon Vela and Vanessa Jeswani as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nomad Lane, visit: https://nomadlane.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Korres - Natural, Because Natural Works Best Aug 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Engineering is a way of thinking,” says Lena Korres, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Korres. In part 2 of this Feature, Lena speaks about her practical, problem-solving, and analytical nature since childhood.

Lena describes science as empowering as well as creative. For building a brand, brains don't matter as much as “having a strong stomach.” She advises new entrepreneurs to have faith, clear vision, and be prepared. She calls a brand a sum of the values and the energy of people connected with it.

Korres focuses on discovering new combinations from nature that can be as effective as they are clean. The journey of each product is a full circle starting from the soil, the extraction, molecular research, formulation, design, and then recycling.

In part 2, she talks about:

* Into science since childhood * Her advice for entrepreneurs * Products at Korres * Greek biodiversity * Their production circle * How Korres reached the US

Join Ramon Vela and Lena Korres as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Korres, visit: https://www.korres.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Korres - Greek Beauty is Clean Without Compromise Aug 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“We are creating natural products and doing everything in-house,” tells Lena Korres, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Korres. This Greek brand makes natural beauty products based on homeopathy and biological research.

Even as a young girl, Lena had both a creative as well as an engineer’s mind. Later, after meeting her Co-Founder Giorgos Korres in a homeopathic pharmacy, they decided to start a wholesale business to share their knowledge and the treasures of Greece with the world.

Greece happens to be the richest and most biodiverse landscape in all of Europe, and it is home to 6,000+ plant species – 1,600 of which only grow there. Lena says homeopathic products are entirely natural and safe because it does not treat symptoms. Instead, it treats the root cause.

In part 1 discusses:

* Gratefulness for her family * Overview of the brand * Her early career * Is homeopathic natural? * Trends converging to make Korres successful * Marketing versus efficacious recipes * Why efficacy of the final formula is critical to Korres * How consumers should test a product

Join Ramon Vela and Lena Korres as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Korres, visit: https://www.korres.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Kiya Tomlin - Create Your Own Stories and Learn from Failures Jul 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“The whole concept of the brand is just to be able to feel glamorous but feel comfortable,” says Kiya in the second half of this Feature. Kiya Tomlin, Founder and Owner of “Kiya Tomlin,” shares more advice to business owners such as “don’t be shy about asking questions and be confident.”

She also shares more about the internal battle faced by many entrepreneurs, such as “proving yourself.” Kiya also says that people of color don't have the option to make mistakes and no access to funding, which holds many entrepreneurs of color back.

She mentions that she designs specifically for women between 30 to 65 years of age. In the end, she encourages entrepreneurs to create their stories and learn from failures.

She talks about:

* Her experience with shyness * What's holding back people of color * Her Uptown Sweats design * Describes the brand's website * Who she designs for * Her goal for the future * Upcoming winter collection and her 1st venture with the NFL

Join Ramon Vela and Kiya Tomlin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiya Tomlin, visit: https://www.kiyatomlin.us/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps, just search for The Story of a Brand.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

Kiya Tomlin - Feel Glamorous, Feel Comfortable Fashion Brand Jul 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“There is no perfect time and no perfect opportunity,” says Kiya Tomlin, Founder, and Owner of “Kiya Tomlin,” an apparel and fashion brand.

Kiya’s passion for fashion and design extends to her childhood. For instance, when Kiya was young, she used to dress paper dolls. There was also a surreal-like experience that inspired her love of fashion which she recalls on the show. It had to do with her friend’s mother, who happened to be the singer and cultural icon, Diana Ross.

But no one in the family realized her intense passion for fashion. And Kiya, not having many women of color to emulate in the fashion world, didn’t know how to pursue a career in fashion. So she decided to pursue something else.

Later, with the help of her husband, she was encouraged to start a side hustle, so she decided to start a “custom wedding gowns” business. Soon after that, she attended a fashion design program at the University of Cincinnati, and the rest is history.

In part 1, she discusses:

* Gratitude towards her husband * Overview of the brand * Her background * Why she went to medical school * The challenges and how they turned things around * Her advice for business

Join Ramon Vela and Kiya Tomlin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kiya Tomlin, visit: https://www.kiyatomlin.us/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps, just search for The Story of a Brand.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

Generark - Reliable Solar Generator for the Modern Home Jul 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce**

“Generark can always be ready inside your house, so you don't need to worry about it,” says Anson Liang, the founder and CEO of Generark. In the second part of this Feature, he tells that to get the word out; the brand focuses on eCommerce, marketing on social media, and creating awareness.

He also discusses how their solar generator has two components: a backup battery power station and portable solar panels. They aim to provide essential power for up to 7 days to critical devices.

He also mentions that one big goal is to make their products as affordable for low-income communities as possible. Things such as ramping up production and utilizing a new battery and component will go a long way in cutting costs.

In part 2, he discusses:

* Their Distribution model * Ideal customers * How to use the Generark generator * The demand during summer * Next steps for product * Learning from other industries

Join Ramon Vela and Anson Liang as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Generark, visit: https://generark.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

Generark - A Product for the Modern Home, Friendly and Simple Jul 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce**

To provide affordable and reliable emergency backup solutions to every household in the United States, that's the mission of Generark. In the first part of this episode, we have Anson Liang, Founder and CEO of Generark, a consumer electronics brand.

Anson has a background in computer science and engineering. He got the idea for Generark four years ago when the California wildfires caused a four-day power outage for his family. With a six-month-old baby at home, he experienced first-hand the stress of not being able to store or prepare foods to feed his child when the power was out.

His business idea turned into a reality through connections, putting together a team, finding a manufacturer, and partnerships in the industry. However, early on, there were many challenges, ranging from budgeting for additional product development, forecasting, and inventory.

In part 2, he discusses:

* His Gratitude towards his wife * Overview of the company * The catalyst for starting the brand * His life before Generark * A product for the modern home, friendly and simple * Challenges with hardware

Join Ramon Vela and Anson Liang as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Generark, visit: https://generark.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com.

Hone Health - Helping You Be the Person You’re Meant to Be Jul 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Justuno**

“We're right at the beginning of our journey in terms of what we're building,” tells Saad Alam, Founder and CEO of Hone Health, the country’s fastest-growing and premier men's health clinic.

Customers can go to their website to place orders for at-home tests. They receive a physician consultation with a licensed practitioner along with the test. Saad says that it's a painless and convenient process as possible. Analyzing eight different hormones, 30 minutes audiovisual facetime console, and giving a set of medications is all part of the offering.

Hone Health works with men of all ages; however, most of their customers are men around 39. The ideal client is simply tired of living with the results of low testosterone and wants their life back.

In part of this Feature, we discuss:

* How Hone Health works * Their ideal customers * Measuring testosterone levels * What are the symptoms of low testosterone * Recommendations while going through the program

Join Ramon Vela and Saad Alam as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hone Health, visit: https://honehealth.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Hone Health - Hormone Treatment Made Only for You Jul 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Gorgias, and Justuno**

“When you believe in yourself again, there's just really interesting momentum in your life.” In the first part of this Feature, we have Saad Alam, Founder and CEO of Hone Health, the country’s fastest-growing and premier men's health clinic.

Saad went to business school and worked at various startups. Like many extraordinary immigrants who come to the United States, he wanted to fit in, and in that, he strove to be competitive, athletic, and health-obsessed. But when he turned 35, he faced an unsettling health concern.

He underwent a life-changing hormone optimization process after being diagnosed with low testosterone levels. After this experience, Saad wanted to help other men dealing with the same problem. Saad saw it as more than just a biochemical health problem but also something that impacts a person’s mental health, confidence, and attitude. Because of this, he launched Hone Health.

In this episode, he discusses:

* Gratefulness towards his mother * Overview of the brand * His family background * Education and early career * Why he started Hone Health * His experience with low testosterone

Join Ramon Vela and Saad Alam as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hone Health, visit: https://honehealth.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno.

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to a first-time shopper?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Kahawa 1893 - Rich and Aromatic Flavors, A True Kenyan Coffee Jul 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CarText, Repeat**

“Do it because you're passionate about it; otherwise, you get distracted by one of the other parts of it,” advises Margaret Nyamumbo, Founder of Kahawa 1893. In the second half of this Feature, Margaret says that when women work at these coffee farms, payments are received by male members. So, the brand wants to put money directly in the hands of the women who make up 90% of the labor force.

For this purpose, Kahawa 1893 has set up a women's fund and a fair trade system in which buyers can tip directly to farmers through QR code on the coffee package, and tips will go to the women's fund. Among other things, this fund has given these women the ability to think and dream of a future instead of pure survival.

She speaks on:

* How does a supply chain affect women laborers in Kenya * Tea and varieties of coffee at Kahawa 1893 * Minimums for tipping * Her advice for entrepreneurs * Giving back to the community

Join Ramon Vela and Margaret Nyamumbo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kahawa 1893, visit: https://kahawa1893.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Kahawa 1893 - Empowering Female African Coffee Farmers Jul 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CarText, Repeat**

“With Kahawa 1893, I wanted to celebrate the origins of coffee in Africa and the excellence that we continue to produce,” says Margaret Nyamumbo, Founder of Kahawa 1893, a coffee brand that focused on empowering producers, especially women.

Margaret grew up on a coffee farm started by her grandfather. He was one of the first people to grow coffee when the natives of Kenya were finally allowed to grow coffee. Before that, only white settlers were allowed to grow the export.

Although Margaret worked on Wall Street after completing her MBA from Harvard Business School, she saw an opportunity to do more to help her family and her country. So she worked to start a coffee brand that worked directly with farmers and devised a system to compensate the women who make up more than 90% of the labor force on farms.

Many of the women laborers on these farms are trapped in a system that does not pay them directly, so it is nearly impossible to break the cycle of poverty. Now with Kahawa 1893, coffee drinkers worldwide can enjoy delicious coffee and tip these women directly, even using Bitcoin.

In this episode, she talks about:

* The Gratefulness towards her father * Overview of the brand * What Kahawa 1893 stands for * Her education and career * What pushed and motivated her * Their mission

Join Ramon Vela and Margaret Nyamumbo as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kahawa 1893, visit: https://kahawa1893.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Klugonyx - Bring Your Product Idea to Life! Jul 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit**

In the second part of the Feature, Jason Klug, CEO and Founder of Klugonyx continues talking about the clients and product line. He gives an outline of the sort of companies they work with today.

He loves to work with every type of brand. Jason explains their approach and procedure of working. He further adds details on the development process.

After elaborating on all the phases, he mentions his team in China. He cheerfully says that he believes in his teammates.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Their focus on customer service * What challenges or issues he faced in his journey * What types of brands do they work with * The development process * Their China team * Details about quality standards and sustainability concerns * Why packaging matters * His advice to others

Join Ramon Vela and Jason Klug as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Klugonyx, visit: https://www.klugonyx.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Klugonyx - Helping Founders Bring their Product Ideas to Life Jul 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit**

“From A to Z, at Klugonyx, we help in shaping your product ideas into prototypes.” In the first part of this feature, we sit down with Jason Klug, CEO and Founder of Klugonyx, an industrial design company.

Jason always liked learning about the ins and outs of products from how it is designed to how it is made, which eventually led him to create Klugonyx. The company helps brands, both new and existing, with one of the most significant issues in creating a consumer product brand: product development, production, and supply chain management.

He shares his vision for how he helps brands and founders.

In part 1, we discuss:

* Gratefulness and the support he received * What keeps him going * Overview of the company * The Solution for Founders * His passion since childhood and experience in college * His life before Klugonyx * The Why behind the company

Join Ramon Vela and Jason Klug as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Klugonyx, visit: https://www.klugonyx.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Good Clean Love - We Were Born to Love Jul 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Gorgias**

“We were born to figure out how to love and how we can be lovable,” says Wendy Strgar, Founder and CEO of Good Clean Love. This women-owned consumer brand focuses on revolutionizing sexual health and feminine hygiene.

In part 2, Wendy tells us that it's hard to love people, but it's love that holds everything together. For Wendy, money is decimal, while caring is quantum. Good Clean Love is just going to keep working on behalf of women's health and behalf of this magical, mysterious force of love in the universe.

She talks about:

* How Consumers force change * Moment of reckoning in our culture * Innovation in a fertility lubricant * Their goal of creating effective solutions * Holding business and personal balance * Info on her books and blogs

Join Ramon Vela and Wendy Strgar as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Good Clean Love, visit: https://goodcleanlove.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Good Clean Love - Making Love Organic Jul 26, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Gorgias**

“To expand the experience and awareness of love in the world” is the mission of Good Clean Love. In the first part of this Feature, we have Wendy Strgar, Founder and CEO of Good Clean Love. This women-owned consumer brand focuses on revolutionizing sexual health and feminine hygiene.

In the beginning, Wendy wore all the hats and did it all from her kitchen. She admits she's not a great business person but instead gives credit to the incredible team of women around her. She also never used money as a metric for success or business; instead believes in good energy, karma, and fulfilling her mission.

In this episode, Wendy speaks on: * Gratefulness for her team * Why she started the brand * A Legacy of love * Divers for growth * Why Overnight success is a myth * Traits that helped her be successful * The Early Days * Her business & personal journey

Join Ramon Vela and Wendy Strgar as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Good Clean Love, visit: https://goodcleanlove.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Gorgias.

Did you know that loyal customers are 9x more likely to convert compared to first-time shoppers?

That's why exceptional customer service is so important for your retention & growth. I recommend using Gorgias.

Gorgias combines all your communication channels, including email, SMS, social media, live chat, and phone, into one platform and gives you an organized view of all tickets.

This saves your support team hours per day and makes managing customer orders a breeze.

Go to gorgias.com to book a demo and mention the Story of a Brand podcast for two months free.

Kits.com - Buying Glasses Has Never Been This Easy & Affordable Jul 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce**

Building something more efficient for the customer. In the second part of this Feature, Roger V. Hardy, CEO, and Co-founder of Kits.com, continues the story of why he started Kits.

He saw that nobody was serving the modern customer, the customer who is used to ordering from their phone in minutes. That's why he set out to serve customers with Kits.com and make things a bit more convenient for people.

The brand wants to take out needless friction for customers. Investing in quality, shipping times, convenience to customers, and extensive contact lens inventories have helped grow Kits. Roger tells about their promotion strategy where the first pair of eyeglasses is free with a coupon code.

He speaks on:

* The Opportunity to Serve Customers * What Customers are looking for * The Kits business's differentiator * How Kits’ works * Their own “gigafactory” * Where are they going next

Join Ramon Vela and Roger V. Hardy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kits.com, visit: https://www.kits.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps, just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14%, by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com

Kits.com - Put Customers at the Center of Everything You Do Jul 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and FenixCommerce**

“You're grateful when you're doing something you love,” tells Roger. In the first half of this Feature, we have Roger V. Hardy, CEO, and Co-founder of Kits.com, a brand that provides high-quality eyewear at affordable prices.

Roger's first entrepreneurial job was selling ice cream. But his entrepreneurial journey took off when he built a website and started a company with his sister in 2000. The company grew quickly, but they later sold it. After selling the previous company, they created a small fund investing in real estate and technology.

Focusing on customers and having the right people is necessary for growth. Roger has been hyper-motivated and passionate about his company. He says that it's essential to keep more control through equity and be careful about debt.

He talks about:

* Focus on gratefulness * His early career and entrepreneurial journey * Attributes that helped him to grow * Lessons for other entrepreneurs * His advice for handling challenges * Why he started Kits

Join Ramon Vela and Roger V. Hardy as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kits.com, visit: https://www.kits.com/

Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps, just search for The Story of a Brand. Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14%, by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

Retailers, brands, and online merchants big and small trust FenixCommerce to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience, so why not you.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com

Arrae - Feel Better with Fewer, High-Quality Ingredients Jul 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“There's no better combination than creative and tech,” says Siff. In the second half of this Feature, both Siffat Haider and Nishant Samantray, Co-Founders of Arrae, continue the conversation about their wellness brand and backgrounds.

In 2016, Siff quit her job and started working on her blog and then podcast full time. Siff is a creative and brand-building person, while Nish is analytical and comes from a tech background.

When they decide to create Arrae, they knew that their goal was to have people feel better with fewer, high-quality ingredients.

They discussed:

* Their backgrounds * Working together as a couple and Co-Founders * Tips for people starting a business * Myths around entrepreneurism * Hero products from Arrae * The brand mission * Their brand & product roadmap

Join Ramon Vela and Siff Haider, and Nish Samantray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Arrae, visit: https://www.arrae.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno. (audio ad starts at 00:59, Take 3)

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

Arrae - 100% Natural, Targeted Supplements that Work Jul 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, StoreYa, and Justuno**

“We wanted to create products that would provide relief more immediately,” says Siffat Haider and Nishant Samantray, Co-Founders of Arrae, a 100% natural wellness company.

Nish has worked with startups, and Siff comes from a beauty/influencer background. When they came up with the idea for Arrae, what was necessary for them was that it had to be results-driven, targeted, and efficacious.

Digestion and anxiety are so closely linked that they created holistic solutions called “Bloat” for optimal digestion health and “Calm” for a naturally calming down without feeling drowsy.

During the pandemic, sales did exceptionally well; however, the situation was stressful and tough to navigate. Still, orders from around the world gave them the conviction and validation that their product impacted people’s lives.

They talk about:

* What they are grateful for * Overview of the brand * Problems they experienced * Stress during the pandemic * The thing that gave them conviction & motivation * Their backgrounds before Arrae

Join Ramon Vela and Siff Haider, and Nish Samantray as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Arrae, visit: https://www.arrae.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Justuno. (audio ad starts at 00:59, Take 3)

Worried about hitting your revenue goals this month?

Make the most of your website traffic with Justuno - the #1 CRO tool for thriving e-commerce sites.

Grow your email and SMS lists, show smart product recommendations to increase your average order value, improve return on ad spend, and so much more.

Justuno helps you convert more website visitors into sales.

Visit justuno.com/ramon for a free 14-day trial, one-click install on Shopify, and 15% off with the code RAMON.

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7, delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

MenoLabs - Creating a Support Network for Women in Midlife Jul 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

“It’s sad that we don't have support networks in place for women in midlife,” says Vanessa Ford, Co-Founder of MenoLabs. In the second half of this Feature, she talks about the challenges, stressfulness, and frustration they faced while formulating their products as well as operating during Covid.

Vanessa also talks about their customers and mission. For instance, Menolabs has a 3% return rate and 97% happy consumers. While these numbers are significant from a business perspective, what drives her and the team is their mission.

She gives us a review of two of their prominent probiotic products. She also laments the limited knowledge about menopause that’s provided to doctors during medical school.

In part 2, Vanessa talks about:

* The Brand’s challenges * Success by the Numbers * The negative impact of menopause * Description of their product line * What's the age to try MenoLabs products * How doctor’s view menopause * Her message for women * Moving to retail centers

Join Ramon Vela and MenoLabs as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MenoLabs, visit: https://menolabs.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

MenoLabs - Built by Women for Women Jul 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

“MenoLabs is a company founded to fundamentally change menopause in the United States,” tells Vanessa Ford, Co-Founder of MenoLabs, a brand that provides natural products to relieve menopause symptoms.

Vanessa did doctoral research around cognitive studies and learned about human brains along with storytelling. She pivoted into marketing, nonprofits and then started MenoLabs in 2019 to change women's options for treating menopausal symptoms, which includes the not-so-small task of improving the education and research done on this subject and changing how society views menopause.

Their consumers validate the brand's existence. Interestingly, MenoLabs has operated mainly as a flat organization where they work collaboratively and bring different expertise areas to solve challenges. They iterate, adapt, fail, learn, fail forward, keep on learning, adapting, and make decisions based on data in front of them. In part 1, Vanessa talks about:

* Her gratitude towards her Co-Founder, Danielle Jacobs * Overview of the brand * Why menopause is a Taboo discussion * Effect of menopause from an entrepreneurial standpoint * Why no CEO * Can a collaborative management model work in other areas * Her life before MenoLabs * Danielle Jacobs’ background

Join Ramon Vela and MenoLabs as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MenoLabs, visit: https://menolabs.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

NadaMoo - A Household Name for All Ice Cream Lovers Jul 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

We want to continue to work hard to be that household name for all ice cream lovers,” says Daniel Nicholson, CEO and honorary Founder of NadaMoo. In the second part of this Feature, he says that the brand is committed to an organic supply chain and high-quality ingredients crucial to unlocking taste. Further, he adds that they are aligning themselves with farmers and farming practices.

They want to promote the mindful eating movement and stop consumers’ disconnectivity with where their food comes from by educating them.

Daniel says that NadaMoo wants to increase market presence, maximize distribution, accelerate product sales, work on food services, innovate, move to new categories outside frozen desserts and ultimately add value to customers' lives.

He speaks on:

* Their focus on ingredients * Promoting more than products * NadaMoo website and store locator * Filling flavor gaps * Their plans for the future * Their “No sugar” line

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel Nicholson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NadaMoo, visit: https://nadamoo.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

NadaMoo - The Gateway Drug to a Plant-Based LifeStyle Jul 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Dealing with food is always a labor of love,” says Daniel Nicholson, CEO and honorary Founder of NadaMoo, a dairy-free plant-based frozen dessert brand.

Daniel graduated from the University of Texas in 2007 with a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work for a major energy utility in Spain after graduating. However, it was when he returned from Spain that he uncovered something that would soon be his all-encompassing passion.

It happened when he met the founder of NadaMoo, who was raising capital at that time. Daniel was so taken with the product and the founder that he introduced his family to the founder and they became investors in the company.

In part 1 of this Feature, Daniel talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * His education and early career * How he discovered and joined NadaMoo * The Little product with significant impact * Advice for others like him

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel Nicholson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NadaMoo, visit: https://nadamoo.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

SunDaze - Enjoy SunDaze, “Yourwaze” Jul 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Rockerbox**

“...For our generation, social drinking was loud. It was rambunctious.”

Arthur Gallego, Co-founder and CEO of SunDaze, believes that social drinking has changed from downing shots and chugging beer to a more spiritual experience of socializing, relaxing, and being in the moment.

These changes have led people to look for more in drinks - more functionality, more variety, more options, and so much more.

SunDaze aims to be exactly that and more.

From the fermentation process to being light and refreshing and having a cocktail feel to it, SunDaze aims to give you something new.

In part 2, we discuss:

* Being a founder and how age and experience helps * What are the challenges of being an entrepreneur * How to know if you’re up to the task of being a founder * How entrepreneurship takes sacrifice * What to prepare for as a CEO/founder * How age doesn’t matter for entrepreneurship

Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on SunDaze, visit: https://www.drinksundaze.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

SunDaze - Rethink Your Social Drink with SunDaze Jul 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Rockerbox**

“The way we look at what we drink socially in alcohol has changed significantly. We're at that turning point.”

Arthur Gallego, Co-founder, and CEO of SunDaze, sees the social drinking scene changing. So he decided to give the people what they want: more functionality in their drinks.

Along with Juan Diego Cordón Toledano, Co-founder and the brains behind formulating the fermentation process of SunDaze beverages - they made a new smooth beverage that helps you relax and enjoy your social outing.

In the first part of the Feature, we discuss: * What drove Arthur to go from consulting to being a brand owner * How social drinking is changing and How SunDaze is a part of it * How the pandemic became a blessing * How the pandemic changed the work culture * Explanation of how the fermentation process works * The future of SunDaze * How SunDaze combines alcohol and juice smoothly

Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on SunDaze, visit: https://www.drinksundaze.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

BeefySites - Do Something Your Passionate About Jul 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and StoreYa**

“Do something that you're passionate about,” says Jared Mitchell, Head of eCommerce for Neil Patel and a leader in 3 different companies. In the second half of this Feature, Jared tells us different ways to test a new product, from following trends to joining Facebook groups.

He is passionate and loves inventing and even mentions the government’s R&D tax credit for creating new products.

Jared talks about sales channels needed with an example of how a brand can utilize influencers to drive the brand. He discusses his three critical must-haves, including vision, values, and target customer personas.

Lastly, he prioritizes family and encourages people to write eulogies and epitaphs as a motivation to live a great life.

He speaks on:

* Example of a surfing brand * Building a personal brand * Finalize your value proposition before starting * Getting started with target personas * Social capitalism * Advice for newcomers

Join Ramon Vela and Jared Mitchell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beefysites, visit: https://www.beefysites.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7 delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

BeefySites - Creating a Business that Creates Legacy Jul 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and StoreYa**

“I've always wanted to create a business for myself and my family that creates a legacy,” tells Jared Mitchell, Head of eCommerce for Neil Patel and leads three different companies.

Jared started as a musician and had some early success with a record contract. However, due to the advent of streaming, his dream was short-lived. Soon he was working different jobs, and side hustles to make a living.

But this was just the beginning. Jared’s wife had started a business and soon a brand, and Jared saw an opportunity to learn digital marketing and practice it in a real-world setting with his wife’s new skincare line. Shortly after that, he met Neil Patel, worked with him, and the rest is history.

Jared’s ambition to create a legacy and overcoming his fear gave him the confidence to build his own consulting and coaching business, and now he helps others achieve their dreams.

In part 1, Jared talks about:

* Mentorship * Teaching people to build a brand * Life-changing side hustles * Website for Alana's day spa * His motivation * The Plus-minus relationship * Their discount idea for Alana's skincare business * How to test a new product

Join Ramon Vela and Jared Mitchell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Beefysites, visit: https://www.beefysites.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by StoreYa.

If managing your ads drives you crazy, and you’re all about automating your ecom business, then you have to give StoreYa a try! StoreYa will Launch, Optimize & Scale your ads on Google, Facebook & Instagram...WITHOUT YOU having to do ANYTHING

Their powerful AI will optimize your campaigns 24/7 delivering the best ads to the right customers...

They are a Google & Facebook Partner that supports over 400,000 merchants!

To get started and enjoy a 33% discount for the first month, simply visit www.StoreYa.com/Story

Wellthy - Ethical & Fine, Just Like You Jul 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Honeycomb Credit, and Fenix Commerce**

“The most sustainable thing that you own will be the thing that you already have,” tells Mia Jestina, Founder of Wellthy. In the second half of this Feature, she continues with advice to new entrepreneurs.

Mia says that the secret sauce is that only “you” as only you can make your business successful. Then mentions the kind of jewelry and designs available at Wellthy.

She wants Wellthy products to be worn in a variety of ways because she believes that getting the most out of products is part of sustainability. She does share that it's hard to be fully conflict-free.

Making sustainable fashion much more approachable and affordable is her purpose.

In this episode, Mia tells us:

* Her advice for new entrepreneurs * Wellthy jewelry and the metals used * Hero products from Wellthy * Sustainability is a Buzzword * Conflict free components * The Philosophy of slow fashion

Join Ramon Vela and Mia Caine as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wellthy, visit: https://shopwellthy.co/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14%, by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options, directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

FenixCommerce - the leading AI-powered SaaS platform Retailers trust to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com

Wellthy - Beautiful Things Can Happen in Your Life Jul 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Honeycomb Credit, and Fenix Commerce**

“Even in our darkest moments, beautiful things can happen,” says Mia Jestina, Founder of Wellthy, a brand that makes sustainable jewelry from recycled metals.

In December 2019, Mia had a car accident that required her to undergo two surgeries. Despite her spinal injury and the challenges of the pandemic, she launched her brand. It turns out that her accident brought painful changes in her life. But it also gave her a new focus and led to her a greater sense of self-realization.

Mia says that it may be scary to step out of your comfort zone. So, one needs a strategy to refrain from negative thoughts. She advises entrepreneurs to understand current as well as upcoming landscapes. A growth mindset and business positioning are necessary.

She talks about:

* Why she is grateful to her husband * Overview of the brand * Her spinal injury and pandemic timeline * Experience with painful changes * Her New focus * How a negative loop becomes addicting * Advice for new entrepreneurs

Join Ramon Vela and Mia Caine as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wellthy, visit: https://shopwellthy.co/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Fenix Commerce.

Folks, we all know delivery and shipping are a major pain.

Fortunately, with FenixCommerce, you can now deliver a better customer experience AND improve conversions up to 14% by providing personalized actual delivery dates and options directly on your Webstore.

And post-purchase, stay on top of things with Fenix proactive delivery alerts.

FenixCommerce - the leading AI-powered SaaS platform Retailers trust to optimize the entire order, shipping, and delivery experience.

For more details, check out fenixcommerce.com

Marea Wellness - Cheers to Healthier, Happier Periods! Jul 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

“We're not just selling sugar pills to make you think you feel better,” says Monica Grohne, “the nutrients from Marea will support the symptoms one is experiencing.” In the second half of this Feature, Monica Grohne, Founder and CEO of Marea Wellness, talks about the brand and how she applied for funding multiple times before finally being accepted.

Monica says that nutrition is a long-term play. With consistent intake, about 80% of people have seen a reduction in their symptoms within three months. Those over 18 years of age can consume the product, and the brand has a roadmap to help teens.

She also describes the brand’s membership, where they offer taste samples, a digital workshop series, and educational blogs and recipes.

In part 2, Monica discuss:

* The Brand’s Initial inventory * Breaking down the stigma * Personalized efficacy * Expectations from the product * Effective lifestyle changes * What's next

Join Ramon Vela and Monica Grohne as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Marea Wellness, visit: https://mareawellness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Marea Wellness - How to Take Charge of Your Menstrual Cycle Jul 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

“Dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their menstrual cycles through nutrition and lifestyle changes,” tells Monica. In the first part of this Feature, we have Monica Grohne, Founder and CEO of Marea Wellness, a wellness brand for women.

Monica comes from an e-commerce marketing background. Since nine years of age, she had been struggling with menstruation and extreme mood swings. Monica tried in vain to figure out ways to combat her problems. Doctors suggested she take prescription drugs like antidepressants or birth control to manage hormones, which is not uncommon for doctors.

However, during her search for a more natural solution, she finally came across supplements. The results she received from the supplements were beneficial and, in some instances, drastic. At that point, Monica, knowing that this was a common problem, resigned herself to help others too. Thus, Marea was born.

In part 1, Monica talks about:

* Gratefulness towards her parents * Overview of the brand * Story behind Marea * Her background * Educating the medical system to be more holistic * Early challenges of the brand

Join Ramon Vela and Monica Grohne as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Marea Wellness, visit: https://mareawellness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Clean Cause - Supporting Individuals Recovering from Addiction Jul 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“The beverage tastes better because of the cause,” tells Wes Hurt, Founder of Clean Cause, a beverage brand that gives 50% of profits to support individuals recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.

Wes mentions that big problems require big solutions. In the beginning, they had bottled water then made caffeine products. In either case, purchasing their products makes an impact.

He talks about big companies with no cause just chemicals in a can. Then discusses how the Clean Cause scholarship initiative for sober living is a bridge to help individuals transition back into life.

He discusses:

* Moment of clarity and killing the pain * Looking back at life lessons * Evolutionary timeline * How Localization plays a part in their initiative * Why everyone struggles with addiction * What's next * What is a brand * Where to get Clean Cause

Join Ramon Vela and Wes Hurt as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Clean Cause, visit: https://cleancause.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Clean Cause - The Can with a Plan Jul 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“We've got a can with the plan.” In part 1 of this Feature, we have Wes Hurt, Founder of Clean Cause, a beverage company based in Austin, Texas.

Wes started drinking and drugging 20 years ago and has been to 6 rehabs, psych wards and has nearly died. From being homeless to starting a cupcake business and recovering from his addiction, he shares his road of recovery in this episode.

He also shares how his life experience was the catalyst for starting his brand Clean Cause, which gives 50% of profits to support individuals recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.

Wes talks about:

* The support he received in the early days of the brand * Overview of the brand * What led him to start the brand * His road to recovery * The story of the brand's name * Launching the brand * Struggle with authenticity * The ability to stay calm

Join Ramon Vela and Wes Hurt as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Clean Cause, visit: https://cleancause.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Love Good Fats - Embrace a New Way to Snack Jul 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

Just good fats, lots of good fiber, some protein, and plant-based. In the second half of this Feature, Suzie Yorke, CEO and Founder of Love Good Fats, tells us that she had gotten a sense of the phenomena of hyper-growth and decline for a company as she worked with various CEOs and consulted with some fast-growth companies.

She also mentions a shift in consumers' behavior during the pandemic, which was challenging for them.

Suzie mentions best-selling products such as Peanut Butter Chocolate, Truffle Family, and Chewy Nuts bars here. She reveals that they are working on product innovations too.

In part 2, we discuss:

* Whether she regrets anything * Love Good Fats challenges in the pandemic * The various products at Love Good Fats * The Love Good Fats typical customer * Options that the brand provides to the consumer * What's coming next * Celebrating diversity

Join Ramon Vela and Suzie Yorke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Love Good Fats, visit: https://lovegoodfats.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Love Good Fats - Perfect Combination of Nutrients & Indulgence Jul 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

“When you're launching a brand, it's major surgery because you're starting from scratch,” says Suzie Yorke, CEO and Founder of Love Good Fats, a brand that brings healthy, keto-friendly, low carb, and low sugar snack bars.

Suzie plunged into building her own business at 50 years of age. However, she spent 30 years building brands as a brand assistant, VP marketing, CMO in the dietary supplements and weight loss industry. In 2016, she read a book called 'Big Fat Surprise' while going to the Natural Product Expo, which eventually led to the idea of Love Good Fats.

She mentions entrepreneurship is high risk and not for the faint of heart.

In part 1, Suzie talks about:

* The Support she received * The idea behind Love Good Fats * Her life before the brand * Her transition from executive to entrepreneur * Entrepreneurial skills * Her motivation * The Speed and Scale mantra

Join Ramon Vela and Suzie Yorke as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Love Good Fats, visit: https://lovegoodfats.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Genius Juice - Creamy, Plant-Based Perfection Jul 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“It doesn't matter if you're down; what matters is how you get back up,” says Alex Bayer, Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice. In the first half of this Feature, he talks about the core issues that almost closed the doors of his brand. Issues such as poor cash management, insufficient margin, absence of a strong team and strategic partners were these issues.

Alex also shares advice for entrepreneurs. He talks about the importance of making your business sustainable and knowing your audience. Plus, growing your company at hyper-speed can be great, but there's no need to rush. Persistence got him through challenges in his journey.

He speaks on:

* The Mistakes made * His advice for others * What helped him through difficult times * Details about products & flavors * The new website * His experience with Shark Tank * How people can invest in Genius Juice

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Bayer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Genius Juice, visit: https://geniusjuice.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Genius Juice - Smoothies that Blend the Whole Coconut Jul 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“We're on a mission to bring nutrition to the mainstream,” says Alex Bayer, Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice, a brand that provides clean, healthy, and organic smoothies.

Alex majored in business administration, marketing and minored in graphic design and communication. He joined an insurance company where he worked for seven years. His impulse to grow and find something new led him to a food and beverage company through his mentor. He also went to a nonprofit for a year.

He says that everything else will follow if you pursue what you love to do and believe in it.

In part 1, Alex talks about:

* His supportive mentor * Overview of the company * His educational and work background * Why he started Genius Juice * Why he left working in insurance * The practical and passionate side

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Bayer as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Genius Juice, visit: https://geniusjuice.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Terraseed - Building Sustainable and Ethical Supplements Jul 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

“The energy you're projecting out to the world is the energy you attract in the end,” says María Cebrían Fernández, Founder and CEO of Terraseed. In part 2, she talks about the pandemic, which led to more awareness in health & wellness and environmental impact.

She recommends that one must be aware and embrace the fear always present at the beginning of any business. One needs to convince themselves of the success of the venture and picture the result.

In hard times, building strength and not giving up becomes difficult. In such a situation, María's mantra is to stay focused as well as positive.

In part 2, she talks about:

* Suggestions for those starting mission-driven businesses * Living in Covid times * Her mantra during hard times * The Concept of happiness and points of alignment * Description of Terraseed products * Sustainable and ethical supplements * The Long-term product roadmap * Launch of their new campaign

Join Ramon Vela and María Cebrían Fernández as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Terraseed, visit: https://terraseed.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Terraseed - The Vegan Vitamin on a Mission Jul 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

“Create a product that is respectful with the planet, with the animals, and also with human beings,” says María Cebrían Fernández, Founder and CEO of Terraseed, a brand of nutritional products specifically created for vegans.

María used to feel a shortage of energy and nutrients in her body while going vegan. However, she found that supplements were confusing and a hassle, so she came up with the idea to create multivitamins containing all the nutrients needed for vegans.

It took a year and a half to get to the right product and formula. Plus, for Maria and her team, getting the packaging right in terms of sustainability was just as important as the formula.

We discuss:

* Grateful to her kids * Overview of the brand * Her life before Terraseed * Why she started Terraseed * Her entrepreneurial journey * Thoughts on building and managing a mission-based company * Her participation in the Techstars program

Join Ramon Vela and María Cebrían Fernández as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Terraseed, visit: https://terraseed.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Tequila Casa Dragones - A Passion for Crafting Exceptional Tequila Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“You're flying the plane while you're building the plane; that’s what it’s like to start a business,” says Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, Co-Founder, and CEO of Tequila Casa Dragones in the second half of this Feature.

According to Bertha, humility and constant learning is the only way to move forward. There are no mistakes but opportunities. The true trampoline for growth and nourishment is finding one's passion and staying humble and curious too.

We also discuss how the pandemic was a big challenge and new territory for their business. How Casa Dragones moved to the online world and shifted their focus within retail. And why Casa Dragones introduced new styles of tequila during the pandemic.

In part 2, we discuss:

* What surprised her about Entrepreneurship * Advice for people moving from the corporate world to entrepreneurship * How Tequila is made * What's the difference between Tequilas * How pandemic affected them * An educational platform for the next generation * How her parents empowered her

Join Ramon Vela and Bertha Gonzalez Nieves as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tequila Casa Dragones, visit: https://casadragones.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Tequila Casa Dragones - Part of the Social Fabric of Mexico Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“Tequila is part of the social fabric of Mexico,” says Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, Co-Founder, and CEO of Tequila Casa Dragones, a small batch producer with a passion for crafting exceptional tequila.

Bertha grew up in a family of entrepreneurs in Mexico City. She started venturing at the young age of 13 years. At 20, she was chosen to participate in an ambassador program in Japan representing Mexico. Later, after some initial beverage industry experience, she decided that she wanted to focus on Tequila.

Her motivation to innovate and instill craftsmanship in Casa Dragones is rooted in her love for Mexico and her strong desire to expose the world to Mexican culture.

In part 1, she talks about:

* Gratefulness * Overview of the brand * How they started with a blend of white tequila * Misconceptions around tequila * Her journey before Casa Dragones * Why Casa Dragones is different * Women in the tequila industry

Join Ramon Vela and Bertha Gonzalez Nieves as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tequila Casa Dragones, visit: https://casadragones.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Mighty Kind - Inspiring a Global Community of Kids Who Care Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

"It has been very much about a learning curve and creating safety nets for my mental health," says Nadine while describing her entrepreneurial journey.

In the second part, Nadine Fonseca, Co-founder and CEO of Mighty Kind, mention the various sections of each Issue. For example, they have sections on kindness and section for parents, teachers, caretakers, etc.

Their issues are also an opportunity for teenagers to learn about anti-bias. They are working on a subscription box model along with collaborating and producing an anti-bias school curriculum. She advises parents that they need to be open to learning as well.

In part 2, she talks about:

* The various section of each Issue * Future Plans * The negativity toward anti-bias and social justice education * The challenges within the journey * What parents can do * How to listen to other voices with empathy

Join Ramon Vela and Nadine Fonseca as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mighty Kind, visit: https://mightykindkids.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Mighty Kind - An Anti-Bias Series for Kids Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

“We are striving to bring humanity back into the conversation at a younger age,” says Nadine Fonseca, Co-founder, and CEO of Mighty Kind, an anti-bias education company.

The brand aims to bring a better understanding of anti-bias learning to kids of elementary ages. Nadine grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area with a lot of diversity. She wanted her children to experience the same. This feeling towards her kids pushed Nadine to get started with the brand.

She says surrounding herself with people who understand and love the mission is essential.

In part 1, she talks about:

* How she’s grateful for her daughter * Overview of the brand * Why Bias is a naturally occurring thing that may never go away * Dealing with Imposter syndrome * Her life before Mighty Kind * What pushed her to get started * The Challenges * The different types of content they produce

Join Ramon Vela and Nadine Fonseca as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mighty Kind, visit: https://mightykindkids.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Fill it Forward - Every Time You Reuse, They Give. Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

“Give out something meaningful, like a reasonable bottle or reusable bag,” says Matt Wittek, Founder and CEO of Fill it Forward.

In the second half of this Feature, Matt says that he hopes to inspire more actions. The brand sells products directly to consumers as well as B2B channels. In addition, they sell trackers and support projects through partner programs in 12 different countries.

A donation is made whenever someone uses the tracker. Fill it Forward works with corporate event teams and brands that care about sustainability. Matt says that earlier they used to go by 'Companion,' but they changed the name to 'Fill it Forward' about a year ago.

In part 2, he talks about:

* How to get started with Fill it Forward * How the tracker works * Donation made for every use * Inspired by brands like Fitbit * What companies work with Fill it Forward * The future of Fill it Forward

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Wittek as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fill it Forward, visit: https://www.fillitforward.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Fill it Forward - Inspiring the World to Reuse Jun 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

Fill it Forward exists to help inspire people to reuse. In the first half of this Feature, we have Matt Wittek, Founder and CEO of Fill it Forward, a renewable and environmental brand that created reusable products, technology, and initiatives to reuse.

Matt’s environmental responsibility journey started in college when he tried to convince people to save plastic bags during his college days. He eventually focused his efforts on reuse and sustainability.

He started Fill it Forward in 2012 as a product company. But Matt later realized that what was needed was a process and technology tied to a product.

According to Matt, you have to innovate around “giving” and finding a business model that works.

We discuss:

* Gratitude toward his wife, family, and friends * Overview of the brand * Why the product is not everything * His life before Fill it Forward * Overcoming the early challenges * Leading up to Fill it Forward * Recommendations for mission-based founders * How to Innovate around giving

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Wittek as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Fill it Forward, visit: https://www.fillitforward.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Rockerbox - Optimize Your "Hard to Track" Channels Jun 28, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“It's our job to make the complex simple,” that's precisely what Rockerbox does. In the second half of this Feature, Ron Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Rockerbox, continue the conversation by talking about eCommerce and its focus on Business-to-Consumer (B2C).

According to Ron, if you have clear digital-based conversion goals that you seek to optimize, you’re a perfect fit for Rockerbox. Then he dives into the implementation perspective and explains three stages, including 1) understanding what's happening to customers' properties, 2) adjusting all marketing data, and 3) structuring data to be helpful for clients.

We discuss:

* Who is a fit for Rockerbox * Marketing channels that brands use * How they approach offline channels * Why it’s impossible to be perfect * Ways and examples of using Rockerbox * How channels are tested * How they make the complex simple * A tool that puts everything together * New integration launch

Join Ramon Vela and Ron Jacobson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rockerbox, visit: https://www.rockerbox.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Rockerbox - Single Source of Truth for Brands Jun 28, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

"We support hundreds of direct consumer brands, enabling them to measure their marketing accurately." In the first half of this Feature, we have Ron Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Rockerbox, a platform that provides a single source of truth for marketing performance.

Brands come to Rockerbox when they expand beyond just Facebook and Google and struggle to understand what marketing channel is working and what’s not working.

Interestingly, Rockerbox was Ron’s second business line, and initially, he had planned to build a technology to run efficient programmatic marketing campaigns, which eventually led him to Rockerbox. Ninety-nine percent of Rockerbox customers are brands.

In part 1, we talk about:

* The support he got from the first investor * Overview of the brand * His life before Rockerbox * Do they work with agencies or brands * Lessons learned and challenges faced when building a company * Why attribution is important * Their customer criteria and implementation process

Join Ramon Vela and Ron Jacobson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Rockerbox, visit: https://www.rockerbox.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by MuteSix.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Preflect Ads - Taking Facebook’s Algorithm to the Max Jun 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“We're not reinventing the wheel. We’re just helping merchants take Facebook's targeting algorithm to the max.” That's what Preflect Ads does.

In the second half of this Feature, Brecker Brees, Co-Founder & Head of Business Development at Preflect Ads speaks of audience size, time spent on Facebook, and other inputs that affect their predictions.

According to Brecker, a large percentage of merchants misinterpret Facebook metrics. One issue is how they read the historical sales data.

In addition, Brecker, says they are exploring expanding into Snapchat and Tiktok. He mentions that acquiring customers who come back and buy again and again is a crucial metric they look to improve.

In part 1, we discuss:

* The amount of data needed for prediction * Is the tool suitable for start-ups * Other data sets to be incorporated in the tool * What outputs are to be expected * Their plans for the next six months * The feedback they receive

Join Ramon Vela and Brecker Brees as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Preflect Ads, visit: https://www.preflectads.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the worldâ€™s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they'll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Preflect Ads - How to Find Customers Who Buy Again and Again Jun 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

Helping merchants build better Facebook ad audiences, that's Preflect Ads. In the first half of this Feature, we have Brecker Brees, Co-Founder & Head of Business Development at Preflect, a customer data monetization platform.

He has an e-commerce background. In his college days, he used to think a lot about the intersection of behavioral economics and technology. Brecker saw similarities between digital data and behavioral economics.

Brecker believes that the market needs better forecasting. So they created a tool that was specifically for building better Facebook ad audiences using data.

In part 1, we discussed:

* The support he got from his family * Overview of the company * His background * What's behavioral economics * How their tool helps brands * On-site optimization * Identifying who will repeatedly purchase and one time * The Challenges they face

Join Ramon Vela and Brecker Brees as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Preflect Ads, visit: https://www.preflectads.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the worldâ€™s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they'll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Repeat - The Focus on a Better Reordering Experience Jun 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

I think empathy is a superpower, says Kim Stiefel, Co-Founder of Repeat, as she continues talking about the third challenge for Founders: isolating too much. She advises that community and reaching out for help is essential for Founders.

Repeat shows the whole distribution curve to brands. She says that more data will assist in getting a better position. She explains the Repeat replenishment cards. Kim highlights that they work on upselling costumes to subscriptions.

In part 2, we discuss:

* Challenges continued * The Focus on a better reordering experience * Does Repeat work with companies without subscriptions? * Repeat replenishment cards * What kind of brands work with Repeat

Join Ramon Vela and Kim Stiefel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Repeat, visit: https://www.getrepeat.io/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the worldâ€™s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you'll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Repeat - Easy for Customers to Reorder Products They Love Jun 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

In the first half of this Feature, we have Kim Stiefel, Co-Founder of Repeat, a brand that provides software solutions for consumer packaged goods brands that enable them to turn their one-time buyers into repeat customers.

Through their own experiences, Kim and her co-founder witnessed firsthand how difficult subscriptions can be for the brand. This epiphany led them to find a solution that would be a better experience both for the brand and the customer.

One challenge they faced was launching a technology company without necessarily being technical. She talks about the various ways they tackled this problem and what she suggest to other founders.

In part 1, we discuss:

* Being Grateful * Overview of the brand * Her life before Repeat * Why a small percentage of customers go for subscription * Their three most significant challenges in building Repeat * How to face challenges as a Founder

Join Ramon Vela and Kim Stiefel as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Repeat, visit: https://www.getrepeat.io/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the worldâ€™s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you'll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Vous Vitamin - What Type of Vitamin is Right For You? Jun 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

“To help educate people about vitamin safety,” says Dr. Arielle Levitan and Dr. Romy Block, Co-Founders of Vous Vitamin. In the second half of this Feature, they share how being physicians gives them a unique advantage in the vitamin world and makes them qualified to understand various medical conditions better.

Their supplements are safe, and GMP certified. They mention that people don't understand the proper vitamin dosage. The major issues with supplements are the overdose and deficiency of multivitamins. Secondly, uncertified supplements can be scary too.

They are a boutique-style vitamin curated to your needs based on science. So far, their journey has been challenging and exciting.

Here we discussed:

* Does being a doctor help the Consumer * Problems with supplements * How to use their website * Their upcoming plans * What they don't have and why * Their typical customer * What’s it like going from Doctor to Founder

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Arielle Levitan, and Dr. Romy Block as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Vous Vitamins, visit: https://www.vousvitamin.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Vous Vitamin - Changing the Game with Personalized Vitamins Jun 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Repeat, and CarText**

In the first half of this Feature, we have Dr. Arielle Levitan and Dr. Romy Block, Co-Founders of Vous Vitamin. This brand creates personalized daily multivitamins for your individual needs.

Arielle specializes in internal medicine, while Romy's specialty is Endocrine and Metabolism. It all started when they noticed how confusing the world of multivitamins was to consumers.

So Arielle and Romy stepped in and came up with a 7-minute online survey on a diet, lifestyle, and health concern that, when completed, provided consumers with personalized vitamins delivered directly to their door.

In the first half, we talked about:

* Gratefulness towards everyone who supported them * Overview of the brand * Coming up with the idea * Bringing Health & Wellness together with needed solutions * The personalized trend in Health & Wellness * How pandemic accelerated their growth

Join Ramon Vela and Dr. Arielle Levitan, and Dr. Romy Block as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Vous Vitamins, visit: https://www.vousvitamin.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Courser - Perfect Blend of Luxury & Performance Jun 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit**

“We wanted a sneaker that would take you through your whole day,” says Michael Petry and Laurie Spiro, co-founders of Courser. They continue the conversation and discuss the trend of investing in wellness and taking care of their bodies.

Their advice for entrepreneurs is that running a business requires hard work, but in the end, it's satisfactory and rewarding too. A positive mental attitude and the ability to wake up excited every day are essential for an entrepreneur. In addition, believing in your vision is critical to one's brand.

We discussed:

* People want something different than Nike and Adidas * Potholes to avoid in the entrepreneurial journey * What's their craftsmanship process and its qualities * Friends and artisans in Italy * Gratitude towards factories and families * Shoes they have for men and women * Their upcoming products

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Petry, and Laurie Spiro as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Courser, visit https://courserworld.com/.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit mutesix.com/storyofabrand. *

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Courser - The Story of Our Obsessive Pursuit Jun 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit**

“Made with superior materials that will last and perform for you,” this is the Courser approach. In this first part of this Feature, we have Michael Petry and Laurie Spiro, co-founders of Courser, a performance and luxury footwear brand.

Michael started as a professional soccer player in England. He worked at Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Prada Sports, and sports and performance drove life for most of his career. Laurie also worked at Ralph Lauren, and they both met there. She traveled a lot during that time and learned about footwear manufacturing and the creation process.

They both knew that there was space between luxury and performance that the more prominent sneaker brands weren’t meeting.

So they worked and research and put together a combination of technology and materials to manufacture the sneakers they envisioned. This is their story.

We discuss:

* What they’re grateful for * The health of the Luxury market * Their background * In sync with the vision * Unexpected challenges * What and how they pitched their idea

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Petry, and Laurie Spiro as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Courser, visit https://courserworld.com/.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit mutesix.com/storyofabrand. *

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Shameless Pets - All about Taste, Nutrition, & Sustainability Jun 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Forum Brands**

“Try to hold on to as much equity in the business,” says Alex Waite, Co-Founder of Shameless Pets, as she talks about ways through which a network, friends, and expertise can help in handling the potholes on the road to business success.

She mentions that many people liked their products more for their taste and nutritional properties than for the upcycling solution. They have everyday treats, soft biscuits, gentle treats, jerky, and eight different flavors for some of the products.

In the second half, she talked about:

* What is her advice to handle business challenges * Gratefulness for another co-founder * Take care of yourself along with your business * How online sales helped during the pandemic * What kind of feedback they receive * What sorts of products are available * Can pets go plant-based? * How the brand changed because of the pandemic

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Waite as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Shameless Pets, visit https://shamelesspets.com/.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit mutesix.com/storyofabrand.

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Shameless Pets - Turning Nutritious Food into Healthy Pet Treats Jun 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Forum Brands**

“All-natural, clean labeled health-supporting fun little treats,” that’s what you’ll get at Shameless Pets.

In the first half of this Feature, we have Alex Waite, Co-Founder of Shameless Pets, a brand that uses a sustainable solution called upcycling that rescues and transforms misfits and surplus food into high-quality treats for your pets.

Alex went to school for human nutrition and food science. She had experience with the R & D department too. She became excited about the ideas and potential related to upcycling and wanted to be part of it.

Besides making delicious treats for your pets, this brand focuses on the consumer experience and environment.

We discussed:

* The support she got from others * Overview of Shameless Pets * The ingredients used in making their product * How food waste needs to be better utilized, managed * Why the Consumer has power (to help the environment) * Where she got the idea for this brand * Her background and entrepreneurship * How she started with nutrition composition * Unexpected experiences and more...

Join Ramon Vela and Alex Waite as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Shameless Pets, visit https://shamelesspets.com/.

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit mutesix.com/storyofabrand.

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Kizik - Finding the Mission in What You are Doing Jun 17, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Honeycomb Credit**

If you can find the mission in what you're doing, it makes all the difference, says Monte Deere, the CEO of Kizik. In the second part of this feature, he shares his experiences at a legal education seminar that eventually inspired him and how the possibility of helping others with this universal hands-free technology led him to this journey.

He says that in business, there are ups and downs. For example, their brand had a difficult time last spring during the pandemic, but Nike's partnership was a success.

He wants his shoes to be accessible to as many people as possible. An outward focus and the ability to reach out and touch a lot of people have been exhilarating.

We talked about:

* What led him to his entrepreneurial journey * Successful partnership with Nike * Hands-Free Lab and technology * Why they wanted their own brand, Kizik * His advice for someone moving to business * Their hero products and new ones

Join Ramon Vela and Monte Deere as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kizik, visit: https://kizik.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Kizik - Shoes, the Way They Always Should Have Been Jun 17, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Honeycomb Credit**

“Shoes the way they always should have been” is the idea behind Kizik. In part 1 of this feature, we have Monte Deere, CEO of Kizik, a brand that provides hands-free shoes.

Kizik also has a parent company called HandsFree Labs. At HandsFree Labs, they create technologies that allow a person to step into shoes without using their hands or tying their shoelaces.

Montee had worked in the legal services industry before he got into the business. However, he was fascinated by his friend Mike's shoe technology and its potential in the multi-billion dollar shoe industry.

In the first half, we discussed the following:

* His gratefulness for Alex, who is the Chief Marketing Officer of the company * Overview of the parent company HandsFree Labs and Kizik * What was his motivation for the brand * His background in the law and service industry * His wife's reaction

Join Ramon Vela and Monte Deere as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kizik, visit: https://kizik.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

OPTE - This May Eliminate the Need for Foundation Jun 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Who doesn't want more radiance in their life,” says Matt Peterson, CEO of OPTE, a skincare brand that is the first all-in-one precision skincare device for hyperpigmentation treatment that instantly corrects, then visibly fades, and prevents dark spots with every use.

Matt tells us more about the concept of radiance and your skin. Mike says, “radiance is determined by how many colors your skin has and how light reflects off it. So as you get older, your skin and your collagen lessen. You're reflecting less light off of it. So that's why when you see a twenty-two-year-old, you're like, oh my God, you look so vibrant. We should be doing everything we can to maintain our radiance.”

He then shares how stressful the product launch was during the pandemic. The pandemic suppressed frequency, but it increased demand because of at-home solutions. However, it creates some challenges on the other end.

We talked about:

* What beauty is really about * Marketing outreach to men for beauty products * What motivated him * His previous jobs * A brand that is built on fact and science * Experience in pandemic * Strategies they use and advice for others

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Peterson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Opte, visit: https://opte.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

OPTE - This May Be the Future of Beauty & Skincare Jun 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“An existing problem that we solved simply and elegantly”- OPTE stands for optimization of the skin. In the first part of this feature, we have Matt Peterson, CEO of OPTE, a skincare brand that is the first all-in-one precision skincare device for hyperpigmentation treatment that instantly corrects, then visibly fades and prevents dark spots with every use.

OPTE scans the skin to find dark spots. Then lays down high-performance, spot-fading optimizing serum treatment. The best thing is that it is suitable for all skin types at the same time.

The brand uses simple and clean ingredients. However, Matt mentions that the most challenging part is getting people to understand precisely who they are and what OPTE does.

In part 1, we discussed:

* Gratefulness towards his boss at Pepsi * Overview of the brand * Description of the world's smallest inkjet printer * Should one need to scan the whole face every day * Does skin color matter * Was the absence of technology his idea * What were the challenges and customer feedback

Join Ramon Vela and Matt Peterson as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Opte, visit: https://opte.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

The Fotini Factor - Best Investment You Can Make Is in Yourself Jun 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“The best investment that you can make is on yourself,” says Fotini Copeland, author, fashion designer, style strategist, personal brand enhancement consultant.

Fotini dresses people to enhance who they are. She understands and listens to her clients. She assesses the current wardrobe before working on it. She focuses on a capsule collection and builds from there. They restore, refresh and renew instead of changing the client's identity.

She points out that her strength is her relationship with the audience and being in front of them.

In part 2, she discusses:

* The most important thing about dressing people * How she enhances who you are * Why visual representation is more than just the garment * How demeanor and visual representation is a pathway to your success * Is it difficult for people to change or step out of the box * How she builds wardrobes * Five things you can do now to enhance your image

Join Ramon Vela and Fotini Copeland as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Fotini Factor, visit: https://thefotinifactor.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

The Fotini Factor - How to Find Your Way in Fashion Jun 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“You need to understand the business before the beautiful fabrics,” says Fotini Copeland, author, fashion designer, style strategist, personal brand enhancement consultant.

In childhood, she used to like making clothes for her dolls. Later, Fotini started with a fashion house in New York City, which later developed into her current business of personal brand enhancement and style strategy. But before that, she worked in the corporate world, which helped her understand and build her business.

Fotini is also an author who has published her journey...so far. In addition, she is a wife, mother, grandmother, and entrepreneur at the same time.

In the first half, she talked about: * Overview of Fotini * Her early career * How Business and fashion go hand in hand * How she jumped into fashion * How she went to Italy to master corsetry * What led her to start her business * Her focus on a strategic curated collection

Join Ramon Vela and Fotini Copeland as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Fotini Factor, visit: https://thefotinifactor.com/

*

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Buddy Brands - Why Founders Need Self-Awareness Jun 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

“Having the self-awareness of what you're good at” is a Trevor Crotts belief. Trevor, the CEO and Founder of Buddy Brands, continues the conversation, in part 2 of this feature, by focusing on the idea of the Unique Selling Proposition, which is about reaching out to the audience and learning what they want.

He mentions that due to gigantic companies, low cost is a challenge for startups. That's why they should focus on other spots where victory is possible. He tells about his agency called Compel Commerce agency and how a good team can help manage many things simultaneously. Furthermore, he suggests that it will give you the freedom to do more if you can work and scale your business.

In the second half, we talked about:

* His tips and advice for entrepreneurs * What are the challenges with USP * How to test USP * Why Low cost is a challenge * How he manages his agency & his brands * How they help other companies * Their credibility standpoint * Do they understand the expectations

Join Ramon Vela and Trevor Crotts as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Buddy Brands, visit: https://www.buddybrands.pet/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Buddy Brands - The Solution-based Pet Company Jun 14, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

Improving the lives of pets through innovation and integrity, that’s the mission of Buddy Brands.

In the first part of this Feature, we sit with Trevor Crotts, CEO and Founder of Buddy Brands, a brand that provides a collection of solution-based pet product companies that solve real problems for pet people.

Trevor started Buddy Brands because he wanted to support his dog, who was expected to live less than ten years. His objective then became to help millions of dogs suffering the same fate.

From the start, people liked their work even though in the beginning they had challenges. The biggest challenge was articulating the value proposition and benefits of their products.

We discussed:

* What is Buddy Brands * The story behind Buddy Rest * The early days of the company * Problems with new products along with their own experience * What were strategies they used to overcome the challenges * Keeping the messaging concise * Mistakes brands make * Focus on USP

Join Ramon Vela and Trevor Crotts as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Buddy Brands, visit: https://www.buddybrands.pet/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Pyrrha - Jewelry for Protection, Love, Empowerment Jun 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Forum Brands**

In the second part of our Feature, we continue our conversation with Wade and Danielle Papin while they talk about the ideology behind their designs. Wade describes their line of jewelry as “An evergreen line.”

Pyrrha doesn’t conform to the latest trends; Pyrrha’s designs are personal. Danielle describes their designs by saying, “There's protection, there's love, there's empowerment.”

That is what Wade and Danielle want their jewelry to be: personal and symbolic.

In part 2, we focus on the designs and the philosophy behind the brand, how they function as a company, and the whole process of making unique jewelry.

We discuss:

* The inspiration behind their designs * How their jewelry is authentic * How their designs have history behind them * How they had difficulty starting their idea * What people say about their jewelry * How their jewelry is imperfect and personal * Pyrrha as a B-Corp * A message to the listeners

Join Ramon Vela and Wade, and Danielle Papin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pyrrha, visit: https://pyrrha.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Pyrrha - Sustainable Jewelry with Meaning Jun 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, CartText, and Forum Brand**

In the first half of this Feature, we meet with Wade and Danielle Papin, Co-Founders of Pyrrha, a brand made from meaning.

Danielle and Wade wanted this brand to be authentic to who they were, and they wanted it to represent something, whether those are feelings, emotions, or a personal meaning. Put another way, anything and everything that makes us human.

That’s why their jewelry is unique and perhaps a little flawed because it’s human.

In part 1, Wade and Danielle share their journey as they reminisce about their past, their struggles and help us understand why Pyrrha is not just a jewelry brand. This is their story.

We discuss:

* An overview of Pyrrha * Their lives before Pyrrha * Quitting their jobs and the birth of Pyrrha * How they juggled business and personal life * Lessons learned from their experience * Their past unbalanced life * How Pyrrha is organically made

Join Ramon Vela and Wade, and Danielle Papin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pyrrha, visit: https://pyrrha.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Cleo and Coco - Keep Going if You Believe in Your Vision Jun 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

The Story of a Brand Show with Ramon Vela Guest: Suzannah Raff, Founder & CEO of Cleo and Coco

In this second part of the episode, Suzannah weaves the story of finding her path, inspirations, and aspirations which ultimately led to the birth of Cleo and Coco.

Suzannah Raff also details Cleo and Coco’s products and expresses herself by sharing the experiences that molded her personally and professionally.

Here are some of the key topics covered in this week’s Part 2 Episode:

* The Early Challenges of Cleo and Coco * Suzannah's Entrepreneurial Experience * How Suzannah Managed to Breakthrough the Brick Walls ahead of Her. * What are the Benefits of Charcoal in Cleo & Coco’s products

Getting the brand off the ground was challenging, but Suzannah kept persevering. For instance, initially, she had trouble finding a manufacturer but eventually found one that she continues to work with today.

As Suzannah mentions, “keep pushing through those brick walls if you believe strongly in your vision.”

Connect with Suzannah Raff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannah-raff-06061027/

Guest Contact Info Website: www.cleoandcoco.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleoandcoconatural/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Cleo and Coco - Authentic Products that are Safe and Effective Jun 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

The Story of a Brand Show with Ramon Vela Guest: Suzannah Raff, Founder & CEO of Cleo and Coco

Suzannah Raff is the founder and CEO of Cleo and Coco. Suzannah is a New York native and mother of four committed to living an authentic life spiritually, physically, and professionally. Over the years, she has earned both a Master’s degree in Business and a Master’s degree in Social Work. Cleo and Coco were born out of a passion for learning more about toxic ingredients, the negative effect on our bodies, and the benefits of plant-based ingredients to create authentic products that are safe and effective. After years of listening, experimenting, teaching, and learning, Cleo and Coco’s next generation of natural was born. Cleo and Coco are an award-winning deodorant combined with natural charcoal, botanicals for protection that lasts all day.

Suzannah was also using a deodorant that she made for herself and realized that a massive shift in this category was about to occur, and Suzannah was sitting on a winning formula. So Suzannah looked for a professional chemist and manufacturer and launched Cleo and Coco.

From the beginning, Suzannah had a clear vision and jumped in and started making the products, learning about the industry, gathering feedback, and growing the brand. Suzannah did a soft launch in 2017. Suzannah went to a lot of beauty shows and spoke to many brands and a lot of consumers and learned that that packaging was vital.

Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: * So, who is Cleo and Coco? * Why did she start the company. * What is her motivation for building Cleo and Coco? * What are the Benefits of Natural Ingredients on a Deodorant. * Other Products that Coco and Cleo offer.

Connect with Suzannah Raff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannah-raff-06061027/

Guest Contact Info Website: www.cleoandcoco.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleoandcoconatural/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Private Label - The Entrepreneur’s Mindset Jun 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

In the second half of this Feature, we go into more details about the book - Fearless Beauty. Mikey Moran, Founder of Private Label Extensions, describes how to be a detective as an entrepreneur in his new book “Fearless Beauty.”

This book is all of Mikey’s mistakes, failures - so that you don’t make them, and the lessons learned on how he turned his failures around and became a successful entrepreneur.

In part 2, we discuss: What inspired Mikey to write the book; How the first half of the book focuses on mindset; How his girlfriend played a part in making this book unique; Mikey’s fight against cancer; How his illness helped him see his business in a new light; How this book has influenced Mikey and others; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Mikey Moran as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Private Label Extensions, visit: https://www.privatelabelextensions.com/

Website - www.hairbusinessblueprint.com Mikey - www.linkedin.com/in/mikeymoran/ Fearless Beauty - www.amazon.com/Fearless-Beauty-Hair-Business-Blueprint/dp/1544520085

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Private Label - How to Push Through and Make Things Happen Jun 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

“We push through, and we don't give up, and we make things happen.” This is what Mikey Moran, Founder of Private Label Extensions and author of Fearless Beauty, says is the entrepreneur’s mindset.

Mikey knows what terrifies entrepreneurs: Fear. Yet, it rarely stops the true entrepreneurs from trying. Still, Mikey knows from first-hand experience what it’s like to fail and then pick yourself up. That is what we learn in today’s episode: how do entrepreneurs recover from failure and go on to succeed. But, of course, we also learn all about his brand and what it stands for, the story of Private Label Extensions.

In part 1, we discuss: How Mikey’s mom supported him; A 100-foot overview of his brand; How Mikey’s first business failed; His journey from failure to his present business; How Mikey started Private Label Extensions; His learning curve and advice; How his business evolved to help others start their own business; Who the company stands for; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Mikey Moran as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Private Label Extensions, visit: https://www.privatelabelextensions.com/

Website - www.hairbusinessblueprint.com Mikey - www.linkedin.com/in/mikeymoran/ Fearless Beauty - www.amazon.com/Fearless-Beauty-Hair-Business-Blueprint/dp/1544520085

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Zenkai Sports - People Want Transparency from Apparel Brands Jun 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Honeycomb Credit**

“People are looking for transparency these days,” as said by Doug Lynch, Co-Founder of Zenkai Sports.

In the second half of this feature, Doug mentions the unique qualities of their products. He highlights that they want to make athletes cooler, and that's why their products repel water. Their brand looks at the performance side as well as sustainability.

He lists out their apparel for both men and women. He then talks about compostable, biodegradable packages that they use. Finally, he speaks of his belief in Kaizen, which is a Japanese philosophy for continuous improvement.

He shares his new plans to form a partnership with Cycling Canada, sending apparel for Tokyo Olympics, NHL officials, and other organizations.

We discuss Unique things about their products; Feedback from customers; Who is their audience; Cotton over synthetic for avoiding skin allergies; Best selling products at Zenkai Sports; What technology they use; Mentions Kaizen philosophy; What are their plans for the future; Need for transparency in present times; Where to find Zenkai Sports; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Doug Lynch as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zenkai Sports, visit: https://zenkaisports.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Zenkai Sports - How Pro Hockey Prepared this Apparel Founder Jun 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Honeycomb**

A new age eco-friendly performance brand - this is Zenkai Sports. In the first part of this feature, we have Doug Lynch, Co-Founder of Zenkai Sports, a twenty-first-century sustainable apparel brand.

Doug completed his high school education and made a career in ice hockey. However, it was after retirement that he had to enter the workforce. During his athlete days, he learned soft skills like teamwork, time management, competitiveness, and so on, which helps him in business today.

But instead of working for others, he wanted to own his destiny, so he was motivated to start Zenkai Sports.

In part 1, we talk about: The support he got from his father; What is Zenkai Sports; His background from the sports side; What brought him to entrepreneurship; How soft skills help in business; Having sheer determination when facing adversity; Why the apparel industry; What his Dad taught him; How they evolved this brand; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Doug Lynch as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Zenkai Sports, visit: https://zenkaisports.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

NotCo - Taste, Experience, & Price are Key to Plant-based Adoption Jun 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

We are changing the world. In the second half, Matias Muchnick - CEO and Founder of NotCo, tells more about his journey and experience. They want to help the environment, the ecosystem, and consumers to make better decisions with their brands.

According to him, the two biggest problems in the plant-based industry are a lack of understanding of food and a wide variety of plant species and their combinations.

Matias mentions that taste, experience, and the price is critical for increased adoption. Then moves to products available along with upcoming launches. Finally, he advises following one's passion.

We discuss: What are the two biggest problems in Plant-based Industry; Discussion about the other Co-founders; Why Consumers want a reason to believe; Why launching in 2017 was outstanding; What the food industry thinks of them; How they are challenging the industry; 3 biggest drivers for customers; What products they have; What are their upcoming products and plans; Message for people starting; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Matias Muchnick as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NotCo, visit: https://notco.com/us/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

NotCo - Bringing Taste & Technology to the Plant-based Revolution Jun 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“Maybe not a revolution by itself, but a revelation to the industry,” as said by Matias Muchnick, the CEO and Founder of NotCo, a food tech company that makes food formulation faster, better, and more accurate than anyone else in the space using AI.

Matias majored in finance and worked in the finance industry before NotCo. Since childhood, he was surrounded by a finance-driven environment and family. Later, he realized his passion for food and wanted to fix the confusion around the industry.

He learned that problems were technology as well as the mindset of the industry that needed to change. So he started NotCo that makes plant-based versions of traditionally animal-based products.

We discussed: The support he got from his mentor; A brief overview of the brand; His background and last company; The reaction of his parents; His thoughts and idea of converging technology with food; Why he moved out of Silicon Valley; Where he decided to use this technology; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Matias Muchnick as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on NotCo, visit: https://notco.com/us/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Givz - Forget Discounts and Engage Customers Like Never Before Jun 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

“The more touches, the better,” Andrew states in the second half of this Feature.

Andrew Forman, Founder and CEO of Givz, tells us the story behind the brand's name. How the previous owner resisted then handed the “Givz” domain and eventually became a fan of the SaaS platform.

According to Andrew, from a marketing standpoint, promoting your Givz program is essential for its success. Pushing it on email and social media sites in the form of ads can help spread the word. Also, key in your promotion strategy is highlighting that your customer has a hand in deciding where their donation goes.

In part 2, we discuss: How the brand got its name; How Givz implemented its idea; The push for an email-based solution; How brand owners can promote; What is the criteria for using the platform; The ultimate personalization tool; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Forman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Givz, visit: https://givz.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Givz - A Brand’s Guide to Selling More by Doing Good Jun 04, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

We as a brand genuinely care about what you care about as a human - is the core of Givz.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Andrew Forman, Founder, and CEO of Givz, a brand that helps companies show they care through an innovative charitable donations SaaS platform.

Andrew was in investment banking for six years. His employer allowed him to work for a non-profit during his spare time. Through this experience, he learned that there was no quick and easy way to send money to charity. He wanted to find a solution to this problem.

Andrew eventually came up with Givz, which is localized and accessible too.

In part 1, we talked about: People he is grateful for; Overview of the brand; How Millennials and Generation Z view charity and brands; How they are sustainable for both planet and brands; Their win-win scenario; What inspired him to start Givz; His background; How they are accessible, localized, and personalized; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Forman as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Givz, visit: https://givz.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Storq - Keeping Expecting Mamas looking & feeling like themselves Jun 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Rockerbox**

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with Courtney Klein and Grace Kapin discussing how Storq functions on a deeper level. Maternity and postpartum are difficult to go through, so customers shape Storq into what it is.

From selecting fabrics to the choice of models, everything is catered to create an appealing atmosphere for pregnant women, making them comfortable and at home.

In part 2 we discuss: Why they spend time perfecting their clothing; How maternity is not a seasonal experience; How their products try to become a permanent solution to problems; How they broke away from traditionally done apparel; How customer feedback helped them shape their brand; How clothes influence people’s feelings; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Courtney Klein, and Grace Kapin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Storq, visit: https://storq.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Storq - Changing the Way People Feel in Maternity Clothes Jun 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Daasity, and Rockerbox**

In the first half of this Feature, we have Courtney Klein and Grace Kapin, the co-founders of Storq, a brand that offers maternity essentials in easy-to-shop bundles that keep expecting mamas looking and feeling like themselves.

Maternity can be an extraordinary time in a woman’s life. It is also one of the most challenging and complicated times of their lives, both mentally and physically.

Clothing is one aspect of the maternity journey that can also affect a mother’s self-esteem and emotional well-being. How you look determines how you feel, which Storq aims to improve with their maternity clothing.

In part 1, we discuss: What Storq is about; How they were inspired to create Storq; Why maternity clothes are important; How Storq comes with a huge responsibility; The evolution of Storq into postpartum; Why they chose to use real pregnant women as models; How they are more than an apparel company; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Courtney Klein, and Grace Kapin as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Storq, visit: https://storq.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

FireCreek Snacks - Exceptional Taste. Clean Ingredients Jun 02, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit*

The thing that fueled our growth was partnerships - the ingredient behind the growth of FireCreeks Snacks.

In the second half of this Feature, Dustin Riechmann, Partner at FireCreek Snacks, tells us about their money-back guarantee and confidence in their products.

He addresses the common problems that entrepreneurs face. The first one is dealing with difficulty while dealing with a diverse audience. Another is educating customers about the difference between their snacks and the ones you might find at your typical gas station counter.

Then he expresses the challenge they faced with their wholesale accounts due to the pandemic. Most of their sales are online, but they want to balance these two.

In this episode, we discuss: Problems faced by entrepreneurs; How they overcome their issues; How pandemic affected the business; The balance between eCommerce and retail sale; Why partnership is beneficial; Podcasts are the most effective way of partnership; Where to find their brand; Kinds of flavors available at FireCreek Snacks; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dustin Riechmann as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on FireCreek Snacks, visit: https://www.firecreeksnacks.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

FireCreek Snacks - A Better For You Snack Company Jun 02, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Honeycomb Credit*

"A better for you protein snack company" is what FireCreek Snacks stands for.

In part 1 of this Feature, we sit down with Dustin Riechmann, partner at FireCreek Snacks, a food brand that makes healthy and tasty snacks.

Dustin had done engineering and worked in digital marketing, content creation, partnerships, and promotions throughout his career.

He came across FireCreek Jerky (later named FireCreek Snacks) while looking for something healthy to eat. With mutual connections, he met Ryan Hansen, who is the President of the brand.

Dustin's background in marketing led him to FireCreek Snacks as Ryan needed help with marketing. According to him, taste, along with health aspects, connect people to a brand.

In this episode, we talk about: Gratitude for his grandfather; Overview of the brand; Where was he before FireCreek Snacks; Why people connect with this brand; Why nutritional facts are important; How taste matters for a food brand; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dustin Riechmann as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on FireCreek Snacks, visit: https://www.firecreeksnacks.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

The Hemp Division - Growing their Own Hemp is Key to Quality Jun 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

In the second half of this Feature, Michael Harney, Co-founder of The Hemp Division, cheerfully talks about Avocado Sunrise and his brother Paul, another Co-founder. He shares the cold beverages that they produce together. He sheds light on the popularity of their products and how people want to try alternatives to alcohol. Then highlights a few leading flavors from Harney & Sons. In part 2, we talked about: The avocado sunrise flavor; Review of their cold drinks division; the popularity of their products; The best tea options from Harney & Sons; How their website provides relevant information related to tea; He mentions the book that he wrote; Recounting 2020; Where buyers can get their products; What new products are coming in 2021 and beyond; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Michael Harney as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Hemp Division, visit: https://thehempdivision.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

The Hemp Division - From Master Tea Blenders to CBD Maestros Jun 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Repeat**

In part 1 of this Feature, we have Michael Harney, Co-founders of The Hemp Division, a sister company of Harney & Sons that brings fine tea and premium CBD to its customers. Michael got involved with the tea due to his father. He and his brother (Paul Harney) decided to start The Hemp Division in 2018. Today he shares his journey, including the difficulties faced and the triumphs enjoyed. We discussed the following: The support he received from his father; Overview of the brand; Their Father’s backstory and the start of the Tea business; Farming and challenges with CBD; How CBD is a competitive advantage; What varieties are available for new consumers; Some details about CBD; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Michael Harney as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on The Hemp Division, visit: https://thehempdivision.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Spread The Love - Maximum Flavor with Minimum Ingredients May 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

In the second half of this Feature, we have Val and Zach Fishbain, Co-Founders of Spread the Love. Val shares how she sees herself not as a leader but rather as being in-service. Zach adds that their company embodies different types of leadership.

According to Zach, a business should consider profitability and hold on to equity. Val says that having a partner keeps you energized. Then they express the good and unique qualities of their peanut butter, Jam, and Granola. They are also planning to introduce honey in the future.

Here’s what we discussed: What is their best virtue; What Val suggests to young minds; Zach's advice for new entrepreneurs; Val's advice for women entrepreneurs; A deep dive into their peanut butter; The vision of the company; Why listening to the customer is essential; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Val, and Zach Fishbain as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Spread the Love, visit: https://spreadthelovefoods.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Spread The Love - The Brand that Started as a Wedding Gift May 31, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

Maximum flavor with minimum ingredients - that's what Spread the Love wants to give its customers.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Val and Zach Fishbain, wife and husband, and Co-Founders of Spread the Love, a food that offers an assortment of clean label nut butter and jams.

Val and Zach unknowingly started their business journey eight years ago when they gave out homemade peanut butter as a wedding gift. Zack comes from a background in marketing and sales, while Val has the vision to create with emotions. Val even left her stable job as a social worker in Los Angeles and devoted all the time to Spread the Love.

In part 1, we talked about: What they are grateful for; Overview of the brand; How the brand was started; Their Entrepreneurial experience before Spread the Love; Why they have the perfect brand name; Realizing this business is more than a side hustle; How they developed the conviction; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Val, and Zach Fishbain as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Spread the Love, visit: https://spreadthelovefoods.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Honeycomb Credit - Say Yes to a Local Founder's Dream May 27, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Honeycomb Credit, and Daasity*

In the second half of this Feature, we once again sit down with George Cook, CEO, and Co-founder of Honeycomb Credit, to explore more ideas around small business funding.

“We set out to democratize fundraising,” – says George. This message resonates with many people and helps make Honeycomb a largely successful crowd-funding platform.

In part 2, we discuss: How Honeycomb guides you in funding your business; What the best practices for promoting a business are; How points of alignment help in appealing to customers; What companies should do to prepare for a campaign; Women-owned and minority-owned businesses; Some myths about crowd-funding; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and George Cook as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Honeycomb Credit, visit: https://www.honeycombcredit.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Honeycomb Credit - The Secret Sauce for Crowdfunding May 27, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Honeycomb Credit, and Daasity*

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with George Cook, CEO and Co-founder of Honeycomb Credit, a debt crowd-funding website where independent business owners can raise capital from their customer base, other business enthusiasts or fans.

“Bringing the community banking model back in a more tech-enabled and scalable way.”

This concept paved the way for George and his partner Ken Martin, Co-founder, to establish Honeycomb Credit. This is their story.

In part 1, we discuss: What made George jump-start Honeycomb; A broad overview of the company; Honeycomb Credit’s pandemic story; Why companies are pulling back from traditional online lenders and banks; What attracted George to the community model of banking; How customers are your best investors; The advantage of crowd-funding versus giving up equity; Why companies see an increase in revenue using this model; Who Honeycomb Credit is for; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and George Cook as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Honeycomb Credit, visit: https://www.honeycombcredit.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Poppilu - Bold on Flavor, Not on Sugar May 27, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Rockerbox, and Repeat**

In the second part, Melanie Kahn, Founder of Poppilu, emphasizes having a network and finding your path and process.

Then the conversation shifts to the feedback and effectiveness of the brand.

She shares her inspiration behind the company’s name. And in the case of Walmart, she recounts the challenges during the shutdown but positives as well.

A startup must be extra conscious about retailers like Walmart and Target. Then she speaks on the changing preferences of consumers.

In part 2, we talk about: What is her special ingredient or way of doing; How the consumer reacts to their brand; Consumer priorities; What is unique about Poppilu; What are the challenges in the pandemic; Why you should prepare for big retailers; What priority she observed among consumers; How despite experience she makes mistakes; What keeps her going; Where she founded Poppilu and their growth idea; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Melanie Kahn as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Poppilu, visit: https://www.poppilu.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Poppilu - How a Pregnancy Craving Birthed a Brand May 27, 2021

*This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Rockerbox, and Repeat**

A kids lemonade brand with great flavor and is healthier at the same time.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Melanie Kahn, founder, and CEO of Poppilu, a brand that makes healthy beverages for kids.

Melanie worked with a big company like Coca-Cola, as well as the challenging startup environment with Fairlife. Today she speaks about her motivation and the experience building Poppilu.

In part 1, she talks about: Who supported and believed in her potential; Overview of her brand; Her early career and experience; Things she learned from entrepreneurship; Why she started the business; How her pregnancy led to the brand idea; What makes Poppilu better than other beverage brands in the same space; How taste is most important; What hardships or challenges she faced; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Melanie Kahn as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Poppilu, visit: https://www.poppilu.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying, and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Wix - The Platform for Online Stores May 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

In the second part of this Feature, Liat Karpel Gurwicz, Head of e-commerce at Wix, delves deep into the Wix platform.

How the platform is designed and what services are provided. We also hear a success story on how Wix analyzes data to help businesses handle their data better.

She explains Wix’s full breadth and comprehensiveness across its platform in terms of e-commerce, and we dive deeper into the story of Wix.

In part 2, we talk about: How Wix’s platform grows with businesses; What are Wix’s goals; Why should someone choose Wix versus all other platforms? How data helps them see trends in e-commerce; Future of Wix in e-commerce; Community of store owners and customers; How Wix is a platform that caters to anyone and everyone; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Liat Karpel Gurwicz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wix, visit: https://www.wix.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Wix - Run and Grow Your E-commerce Business May 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Omnisend**

“The Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute.”

That’s what Liat Karpel Gurwicz, the Head of e-commerce at Wix, has to say about their platform. Wix is a cloud-based website development platform for over 200 million users worldwide today.

Founded in 2006, Wix is one of the oldest and biggest website development platforms catering to a broad and versatile customer base.

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Liat as she breaks down the inner workings of Wix for the audience and tells us the story of Wix.

In part 1, we talk about: Liat’s experience with her mentor; An overview of Wix; Her tech journey of over 15 years; How the pandemic affected their business; How e-commerce has evolved; What business categories does Wix caters to; How user-friendly is Wix; The Wix community of developers and customer support; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Liat Karpel Gurwicz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wix, visit: https://www.wix.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Tea Drops - Tea that's Seamless, Easy, Breezy, and Experiential May 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Repeat**

"Seamless, easy, breezy, and experiential at the same time" - that's what products from Tea Drops strive to be.

In the second half of this Feature, Sashee Chandran, Founder and CEO of Tea Drops shares the sacrifices she’s made to be a DTC brand founder. She shares her experience while making the product and her motive for creating a fun, universal, and accessible tea.

There was a lot of instability at the start of the business. But according to Sashee, high-risk tolerance can be exciting for entrepreneurs. Also, her parents understood and supported her when she gave up her job at eBay for Tea Drops. In part 2, we discussed: Importance of family and relationships in life; How the product is made and works; What was her parent's reaction towards Tea Drops and their favorite products; When she felt it was a “real” business; What are their major products; New launches of the brand; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Sashee Chandran as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tea Drops, visit: https://www.myteadrop.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

* This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Tea Drops - Creating a Magical Tea Moment May 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Repeat**

“Life is about choices”, said Sashee Chandran, Founder and CEO of Tea Drops, an organic tea company that makes an assortment of bagless whole leaf tea. Sashee comes from a very tea-centric household where she grew up appreciating loose leaf tea. During her college years and working days at Silicon Valley, she never came across any convenient yet high-quality loose leaf tea options. She did not like tea bags due to bleaching and plastic. This personal frustration led her to launch Tea Drops. For Sashee, Tea Drops is like a canvas that helps her in expressing herself. In part 1 of this Feature, she talks about: Her gratefulness towards her teacher; Overview of the brand; The inspiration behind Tea Drops; How she brought bath bombs and tea together; What were the challenges at the beginning; Her advice for tackling hurdles; A most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur; What sacrifices she made; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Sashee Chandran as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tea Drops, visit: https://www.myteadrop.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

* This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the most significant part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Ingredients - Radical Transparency. 100% Plant-based. May 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

In the second part of this Feature, Myriam and Eric Malka, Founders of Ingredients, give a brief about promoting health. Eric emphasizes the importance of a fair and honest relationship with the consumer. They explain their production process for producing 100% plant-based and safe products. Then points out the daily exposure to petrochemicals and the harms of the compound. Myriam talks about her interest in chemistry which led her to 'Art of Shaving.’ The products from the wellness company are also genderless. Their target is to deliver high-quality organics. We discuss: What they wanted to create with this brand; What is their manufacturing process; Things included or avoided; What are petrochemicals and their problems; How petrochemicals are invisible; Myriam's background and early career; What products are available; Difference between face cleanser and serum; Genderless products and skincare; What is their plan for future; Where to find their products; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Myriam, and Eric Malka to break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ingredients, visit: https://ingredientswellness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Ingredients - Wellness Starts with Ingredients May 19, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and CartText**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Myriam and Eric Malka, Founders of Ingredients, a one hundred percent plant-based petrochemical-free wellness line of consumer products. Myriam and Eric Malka sold their previous brand named 'Art of Shaving' to Proctor and Gamble. They were always into wellness which led them to start Ingredients. Today the couple will share their experiences and recommendations. In the first half, they discussed: The time when they felt grateful; Overview of the brand; Story of their former brand called 'Art of Shaving'; Experience with Proctor and Gamble; The idea of transparency, purity, and safe; Obsession with ingredients; Their entrepreneurial journey from when they met; What advice they have for people like them; Did they had acquisition in mind; Recommendations to others; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Myriam and Eric Malka as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Ingredients, visit: https://ingredientswellness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more visit https://carttext.com/

Aplós - A Plant-based, Non-Alcoholic Spirit May 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Daasity**

In the second part of this Feature, David Fudge, Co-Founder of Aplós, talks about its advantages and its approaches to get into the industry. Operation and supply were a problem for them during the COVID situation. He mentions that they regularly faced ups and downs. He likes brands with a strong point of view. The reason being, a brand that is a bit polarizing can build a strong connection with the target audience. He advises brands to have a personal connection. David believes that if a brand wants to make an impact, then it must think beyond selling. We discussed: How does it feel like to have a team open to this new perspective; Challenges faced by their disruptive brand; His previous experience and learnings; His advice for new entrepreneurs; Where to find products; How customers get motivated; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and David Fudge as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aplós, visit: https://aplos.world/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Aplós - The Ritual of Drinking but without the Alcohol May 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Daasity**

For the next generation of wellness-minded consumers - Aplós brings plant-based adult beverages to its consumers. In the first part of this Feature, we have David Fudge, Co-Founder of Aplós, a company that provides hemp-infused, non-alcoholic spirits that uplift you without the adverse effects of alcohol. David's first full-time job was at MTV. He is very grateful to them for the experience he gained. For the last 15 years, he’s worked with consumer brands. He launched Aplós in December 2020. He developed a simple yet better alcohol alternative. His team thinks like a consumer and creates things he would want to see in the market. In part 1, we discuss: The support he received from others; What he did before Aplós; Outline of the company; His opinion on alcohol and socializing; Why Millennials are the optimization generation; The ingredients and what’s the meaning of Aplós; Their vision of functional plant-based alcohol alternatives; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and David Fudge as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Aplós, visit: https://aplos.world/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

The Low-Carb Chef - Eat Well, Live Well May 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

Share the knowledge that we hold inside; that’s what Pablo, The Low Carb Chef does. In the second half of this Feature, Pablo Munoz, Co-Founder of The Low-Carb Chef, advises us on facing hardships. A few of the highlights include focusing on your dreams and keep moving forward no matter what. Then Pablo tells about some products as well as ingredients. He also describes flavors from different cultures. He expresses his love for cooking since childhood, mentions his mother and grandmother, who taught him cooking. Pablo says that they want to expand to other parts of the US in the future. He is looking to raise funds from investors. In part 2, we discuss His advice to face difficulties; What types of products they have along with ingredients; Why empanadas are different than patties; How much he loves cooking; How they deliver the products; The current status as a brand; Where people can find the brand; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Pablo Munoz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Low Carb Chef, visit: https://lowcarbchef.ca/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

The Low-Carb Chef - How Keto Changed (Saved) His Life May 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox**

Be happy with yourself - is the core of The Low-Carb Chef. Today we have Pablo Munoz, Founder of The Low-Carb Chef, a food and wellness brand. Pablo has been a chef for over 20 years. In 2018, he started this company as he wanted to do something about his health issues. He became a chef who changed his life through his way of cooking. From depression to diabetes, he overcame a lot. Pablo dived into the Keto Diet, superfoods, health, and nutrition in his journey. Presently, he creates and shares recipes through his Canadian-based brand. We discussed: His gratefulness towards his father; A brief overview of the brand; Why life is a process; Why people want to be healthier in pandemic; His thoughts on letting go and happiness; How he handles challenges in life; Difference between the business owner and chef's work; How entrepreneurship is difficult; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Pablo Munoz as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Low Carb Chef, visit: https://lowcarbchef.ca/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Stratia - Healthy Skin Backed by Science May 12, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ominsend, and CartText**

In the second half of this Feature, Alli Reed, Founder of Stratia, continues discussing the influence that a person can make in the industry.

She shares the idea of looking at smaller steps that keeps her going in life. Then describes such as clean beauty, authenticity, and efficacy which consumer should understand. Essentially, consumers should not take marketing statements at face value.

The high quality of Stratia products has led to a high return customer rate. This clear doubts regarding US cosmetics in consumer's minds.

We discussed: Importance of having an experienced advisor; Why her business depends on skills and not just the mindset; Her analogy for a sustainable path in life; What consumers should keep in mind; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alli Reed as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Stratia, visit: https://www.stratiaskin.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more visit https://carttext.com/

Stratia - Obsessively Researched Skincare May 12, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Ominsend, and CartText**

Effective skin care for everyone - that's the main focus of Stratia. In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Alli Reed, Founder of Stratia, a skincare brand.

Alli was always interested in chemistry, creating formulas, and studying the ingredients. She was new to the beauty industry as well as entrepreneurship. So she started with a skincare blog.

She says that making mistakes is alright because you get to learn from them. Her problem-solving personality helped her in her journey.

In part 1, we discussed the Support she received; Overview of the brand; How she was fascinated by skincare and efficacy; Background in maths and science; How cosmetic companies ignore the biological impact; Her experience while launching Stratia; The challenges; Advice for new entrepreneurs; Realizing the potential of her company; Being independent and having a mentor; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alli Reed as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Stratia, visit: https://www.stratiaskin.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Kegelbell - Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles May 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with Stephanie Grace Schull, PhD., inventor, and Founder of the brand, Kegelbell. It is a brand dedicated to helping women solve the issues surrounding weak pelvic floor muscles and all the side effects they cause.

In the last episode, we went over the importance of Kegelbell, not only for women who use the product but for encouraging a safer educational environment for modern women with questions.

As Stephanie mentions, “women were suffering in silence, and they weren't getting good solutions … the marketplace wasn't providing great solutions because of the silence.”

With inventions like Kegelbell, Stephanie hopes to help create a better society that recognizes all physical needs for women despite any prior stigmatization.

In part 2, we discuss: Making the shift to Direct to Consumer; Breaking societal taboos; Building a community; The future of Kegelbell; Where to reach Kegelbell; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Stephanie as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kegelbell, visit: https://www.kegelbell.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Kegelbell - The Vagina Gym May 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Stephanie Grace Schull, Ph.D., inventor, and founder of Kegelbell. It is a brand dedicated to helping women solve the issues surrounding weak pelvic floor muscles and all the side effects they cause.

After recognizing the issues surrounding feminine health, Stephanie decided that she could no longer wait for others to solve the problem. Hence, she took it upon herself to invent a solution.

Kegelbell is a new type of pelvic floor trainer for women that’s safe to use. As Stephanie mentions in the episode, “We're up to scanning the horizon, saying what needs to be there and isn’t because of market forces, taboo society, business models … what doesn't exist that needs to that will make our lives exponentially better.”

In part 1, we discuss Stephanie’s mentor experience; The 100 Ft Overview of the brand; Changing the societal norms for the modern woman; Applied feminism; Breaking belief systems; Reflecting on societal issues; Changes in the marketplace; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Stephanie as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Kegelbell, visit: https://www.kegelbell.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Chubby Snacks - Not Your Average PB&J May 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Repeat**

In the second half of this Feature, Dillon Ceglio, Founder and CEO of Chubby Snacks, talks about the changes and challenges last year.

He also gives insights into the ingredients used in the snacks. He discussed how difficult it was to achieve the perfect recipe. He balanced the needs of kids and their parents.

While no new products were disclosed during our interview, he did enthusiastically explains his view on trying new things. Then he shares some good advice and guidance for beginner entrepreneurs.

In part 2, we discussed: Information about the products along with the ingredients; The testing and researching process; What they did in the early days of the business; What are the alternatives for sugar; Gives his view on future products; When new products will arrive; His advice for newcomers; What feedback he received; Why constructive criticism is important; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dillon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chubby Snacks, visit: https://www.chubbysnacks.co/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Chubby Snacks - On a Mission to Make Better For You Snacks May 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Repeat**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Dillon Ceglio, Founder and CEO of Chubby Snacks, a plant-based or nut butter and jams company.

Dillon had worked in digital marketing and consultancy when he saw an opportunity to reimagine the PB & J.

Today he talks about how he started Chubby Snacks in 2020 and how both inspiration and difficulties were a part of his journey from day one.

In part 1, we discuss the following: People who supported and believed him; Overview of the brand; How everyone wants to be healthy; How was his early career; The story behind the business; Why they picked PB and J; How relying on workspace helped him; How pandemic affected the company; What trends he noticed in the pandemic; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dillon as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chubby Snacks, visit: https://www.chubbysnacks.co/

*

OUR PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Shabby Chic - Making Shabby Chic Accessible to Everyone May 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox.**

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with author, designer, and entrepreneur Rachel Ashwell.

Originally from England, Rachel Ashwell always had a “shoot at the hip” type of personality. Starting from a small store in Santa Monica, Rachel Ashwell built Shabby Chic into an iconic brand.

As discussed in her books, such as “Rachel Ashwell's Painted Stories: Vintage, Decorating, Thoughts, and Whimsy,” Rachel lives and breathes creative design.

Although not only creative, she also pushes boundaries within the business world. Such as her collaboration with Walmart, where Rachel creates designs that are accessible to everyone.

In part 2, we discuss: Being awestruck with other entrepreneurs; Continuously diffusing your brand through design standpoint; Design collaborations; The importance of being transparent with others; Shabby’s Chics newest clothing lines; The future of Shabby Chic; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Rachel as they break down the inside story on Rachel, the person, and Shabby Chic, the brand.

For more on Shabby Chic, visit: https://www.shabbychic.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Shabby Chic - From Fearless Life to Iconic Brand May 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Rockerbox.**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Rachel Ashwell. Rachel is an author, a creative, and an entrepreneur.

From the fearlessness and fearfulness of growing a brand, Rachel talks about the importance of moving forward and overcoming obstacles.

With her brand Shabby Chic, she exemplifies just that. As a mother and entrepreneur, Rachel created Shabby Chic with a fearless perspective going from start-up to a lifestyle brand that covers everything from vintage furniture to fashionable clothing.

Join Ramon Vela and Rachel as they break down the inside story on Rachel, the person, and Shabby Chic, the brand.

In part 1, we discuss: Rachel’s mentor experience; Talking about entrepreneurial fearlessness; Time management; Following through with your creative vision; Creating a routine that meshes your personal and entrepreneurial lifestyles, and so much more.

For more on Shabby Chic, visit: https://www.shabbychic.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Dig It - Your Blueprint for Success May 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Daasity.**

In the second half of this Feature, Claudia Harvey, founder of Dig It, explains how to use experiences for the next opportunity. She talks about her fearlessness as well as her nervousness.

When she was young, her goal was to make money. So, she keenly observed people who were making money. She got into sales, where her mentors guided her. This and more were a blueprint that helped her realize her ability to influence people and gain valuable experience.

She talks about the need to find something special. Then shares her idea on reconnecting during the pandemic.

We discussed: Unique experiences; Her thoughts on the past; What she learned from her mentors Jack and Ellen; Her blueprint for success; Why niche is important for a company; Her reflections on life in the pandemic; What products they have; Other businesses she is working on; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Claudia as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dig It, visit: https://digitapparel.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Dig It - How to Find Strength, Balance, & Harmony May 06, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix and Daasity.**

Stylish yet very functional and practical - that's what Dig It products are. In the first part of this Feature, we have Claudia Harvey - Founder of Dig It, a brand that provides protective outdoor wear and protective products for women and families.

Claudia had a demanding corporate job. She was a wife and a mother of 3 children, but she wanted more. She decided to move to entrepreneurship after realizing that she would not find what she truly wanted through her corporate life: Strength, Balance, and Harmony.

It took her nearly 10 years to make the transition. She shares how she did it and why it was worth it.

In part 1, we talk about: People who supported her; Overview of the brand; Why she started this business; The need for strength, balance, and harmony in life; Partnership with Dragon's Den; Her suggestion to avoid negativity; What is her advice to people like her who are looking for balance; Took 10 years to change; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Claudia as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Dig It, visit: https://digitapparel.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Manukora - Packed with Amazing Health Properties May 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Rockerbox.**

In the second part of this Feature, Michael Bell, Founder, and CEO of Manukora, talks about efficacy and traceability. He also shares the opportunities that led him to this business.

He lived in New Zealand, where the Manuka tree is available. Then, his family, close friends, and mentor helped direct him on his path. That's why he considers himself fortunate.

Michael mentions some Hero products along with their descriptions. He describes the complicated production process and nature of honey.

In part 2, we discussed: What makes them different from other brands; His advice for people involved in a corporate job; Does he feel lucky; Which are the best selling products; What are the grades in the honey; How honey production is stressful; How they take care of bees; What kind of product is honey; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Bell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manukora, visit: https://manukora.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Manukora - Art of Producing the Purest Mānuka Honey May 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by MuteSix, Omnisend, and Rockerbox.**

Part of your health ritual - that's what Manukora wants their products to be for you. In the first part of this Feature, we have Michael Bell, Founder, and CEO of Manukora, a health and wellness brand that produces Manuka honey and supplements.

Michael worked at an accounting and finance company. While growing up, he learned about nutrition from his family as they were involved in food production. In 2015, he left his job and decided to launch Manukora. Today he is going to talk about his journey and challenges that came along the way.

In the first part of this Feature, we discussed: To whom he grateful; Overview of the brand; Where he was before Manukora; Why he started the business; How finding the right person helped him; What interested people in Manukora; Trends during the pandemic; What struggles he faced in the market; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael Bell as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Manukora, visit: https://manukora.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MUTESIX.

MuteSix is the leading agency in performance marketing.

They have been in this space for nearly eight years, growing and scaling the world’s most recognizable e-commerce brands with breakthrough creative, targeted media buying and data-driven results in every step of the funnel.

They're currently offering listeners a FREE omnichannel marketing audit.

Their team of auditors will perform a deep dive analysis into your current marketing efforts and identify which strategies might be budget wasters and which strategies will improve performance.

The audit covers all digital marketing channels, including Facebook, Google, Email, Amazon, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, Influencer, Programmatic, and Website CRO.

For your free digital marketing consultation, visit: www.mutesix.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

Youtheory - Supplements that Inspire Wellness Apr 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and CartText**

In the second part of this Feature, Darren Rude, CEO and founder of Youtheory tells how collagen helps relieve stress.

He happily explains the joy of making something great. He suggests few collagen categories for beginners.

The conversation moves to the misconception that all collagens are animal-based, which Darren clears up. He characterizes products with their usefulness in solving problems related to immunity, sleep, nails, hair, and many more.

In part 2, we discuss a List of some other interesting products; How customer see results; What is preferable for newcomers to collagen; What are his recommendations for people looking for good health; What he would have done differently; Are they are taking online orders or focusing on retail; Reveals the new weight loss products and where to get them; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela and Darren as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Youtheory, visit: https://www.youtheory.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Youtheory - In Search of the Purest, Most Efficacious Ingredients Apr 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and CartText**

Today we sit down with Darren Rude, CEO & Founder of Youtheory, a brand that provides health & wellness supplements.

Darren came from the food industry and was fascinated by supplements. He saw similarities between what it took to create food and how you manufacture supplements and thought to himself, "I can do that." That was the impetus for starting Youtheory 11 years ago.

Today he describes his journey and the difficulties that arise.

In part 1, we discuss The support he received from his family, friends, and seniors; What is Youtheory; His view on customer feedback; The story behind his inspiration for the company; How they develop the products; Describes what customers look for; What challenges he faced; Reviewing their turmeric-based product; How the demand for immunity influenced business; What is the manufacturing process; and much more. Join Ramon Vela and Darren as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Youtheory, visit: https://www.youtheory.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Calm Strips - A Great Way to Stay Calm Apr 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Repeat**

In the second part of this Feature, Michael Malkin, Founder of Calm Strips, starts by recounting the brand's experience during the pandemic. He then moves on to designing and customization.

They saw a need for solid colors and not just comic themes. That is how he learned to find the right opportunities. He explains the money-back guarantees along with shipping and much more.

Then he shares the new ideas their team is working on. He gives some pieces of advice to other entrepreneurs.

In part 2, we discuss: The Calm Strips designs and customizations; How the company operates along with the offers; How searching for the right opportunities is important; Why does the process work; What are their plans and target for future; What guidance he has for other entrepreneurs; Where people can get Calm Strips; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Calm Strips, visit: https://www.calmstrips.net/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Calm Strips - Take a Bit of Calm with You Everywhere Apr 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Repeat**

Not just any ordinary sticker but textured sensory adhesives- that's what Calm Strips delivers to its customers. In the first part of this feature, we have Michael Malkin - founder of Calm Strips, a brand that helps you reduce fidgeting, regulate restless energy, and increase focus.

Michael worked at Apple for 13 years, but he left in 2020. He wanted to start something of his own, so he decided to launch his own brand. Today he will tell the story behind the brand.

From composing a comic book to running a cookie business, Michael shares his experiences.

In part 1, we addressed these topics: The support he is grateful for; Overview of the brand; Where he was before; Why he started this company; His experience with Apple; Story of his comic book and cookie business; What he did before launching Calm Strips; What reactions they received during the pandemic; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Michael as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Calm Strips, visit: https://www.calmstrips.net/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Bandits Bandanas - Where the Artist Chooses the Charity Apr 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Rockerbox, and CartText**

In the second part of this Feature, Connor Humphreys, Co-founder of Bandits Bandanas, opens with sustainability. He talks about the way people react in the pandemic world to their bandanas.

He shares the experiences of 14 months. He received an amazing and unexpected response. The traffic was pretty good because the mask was in demand.

He then tells us about how the brand is involved in charity and supported important causes such as the George Floyd movement.

He then throws light on the good intentions as well as the supportive nature of the brand. He heartily talks about their new plans along with artists.

We discuss in detail: The feedback during the pandemic; Their own pandemic experience; What you'll find on the website; His thoughts on masks; How helping others is important to them; What new products they want to introduce; What's in the latest spring collection; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Connor as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bandits Bandanas, visit: https://banditsbandanas.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Bandits Bandanas - Wear Your Way. Give Your Way. Apr 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Rockerbox, and CartText**

Better and different, that's what Bandits Bandanas want their products to be. They don't just sell but contribute up to 10% to charity as well.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Connor Humphreys, Co-Founder of Bandits Bandanas, a company delivering 100 percent certified organic bandanas with original designs created by artists from all over the world.

You'll learn how Connor Humphreys quit his job and then moved to Bali. Today he talks about his inspiration for starting the business and how they support the artists' community.

In part 1, we discuss The gratitude he received in his journey; Overview of the brand; The story and the idea behind the company; His wife's background; How localization and charity are done; What was the motivation for him; What things a consumer must know in regards to quality; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Connor as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bandits Bandanas, visit: https://banditsbandanas.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Veldskoen Shoes/Thula Tula - Tradition with a Personal Touch Apr 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Rockerbox, and Honeycomb Credit**

In the second part of this Feature, we discuss the economic and manufacturing aspects of Veldskoen shoes. We also discuss how the brand gives back to the community and also helps in environmental sustainability.

We then move on to their second brand – Thula Tula, which showcases exclusive hand-crafted Lesotho blankets of purely African origin.

This brand started during the pandemic, is very personal to the couple as it is an ode to their daughter and her late grandmother.

Thus, Co-Founders Steve and Angela Watts make it a goal to spread awareness about tradition with a personal touch.

In part 2, we discuss Factory conditions and manufacturing processes of Veldskoen shoes; How they commercialize shoes without changing the traditional craft; How they give back to the people and the environment; Their pandemic experience and the birth of Thula Tula; History of Lesotho blankets; How their proceeds provide for the community; Inspiration behind the naming of the Thula Tula brand; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Steve, and Angela as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Veldskoen Shoes/Thula Tula, visit:

https://www.veldskoenshoes.com/

https://www.thulatula.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that The moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Veldskoen Shoes/Thula Tula - Two Brands, One Couple Apr 23, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Rockerbox, and Honeycomb Credit**

“Upholding the rich craftsmanship of South Africa”– Steve and Angela Watts made this their goal as they co-founded two brands based on South African craft: Thula Tula and Veldskoen Shoes.

As a third-generation South African, Steve has always wanted to find a way to share the traditional crafts of South Africa with the entire world while also giving back to the community.

This is the story of how Angela and Steve took a step towards that goal. In part of one of this Feature, we first break down the Veldskoen shoe brand.

We talk about: The rich cultural history behind Veldskoen shoes; How Steve came up with the brand idea for these shoes; Their experience after Shark Tank; Their early struggle and lesson learned; How the couple balances their work and personal life; Products of Veldskoen shoes and the hero product; and so much more. Join Ramon Vela, Steve, and Angela as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Veldskoen Shoes/Thula Tula, visit:

https://www.veldskoenshoes.com/

https://www.thulatula.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Rockerbox.

We all know that the moment you go beyond advertising on Facebook and Google, things get messy. Rockerbox is here to solve this problem for you.

As you start testing hard-to-track channels like Direct Mail, Linear TV, Podcasts, and OTT, Rockerbox is there to be your single source of marketing truth.

Rockerbox works with leading DTC brands like Tula, Figs, and Tracksmith to help them centralize all of their online/offline marketing spend, de-duplicate conversions, and understand their TRUE CPA & ROAS.

Book a strategy call with one of their attribution experts today, and just for my listeners, they’ll waive your onboarding fee (a $500 value).

Visit https://www.rockerbox.com/storyofabrand

*

This episode is also brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Grace's Goodness - Sip. Nourish. Refresh. Apr 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

In the second part of this feature, Grace Ventura, who is the founder of Grace's Goodness, continues with the story of Beyond Broth and the lessons they learned. She reveals the name change and repositioning of the brand.

She merrily explains the ways through which a brand can learn the needs of the customers. She discusses how her family members assist her in creating new recipes. She then gives some review of the current recipes and her vision of things to come.

In part 2, we discuss Her experience with Beyond Broth; Customer reaction when they used different ingredients; Appreciation during the pandemic; What they added in their recipes; What are the substitutes available; Her view of a healthy life; What you'll find on the website; Where people can find the products; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Grace as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Grace's Goodness, visit: https://gracesgoodness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Grace's Goodness - It's Like Being Hugged from the Inside Out Apr 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

Bringing Loving-kindness into your body - that's what Grace's Goodness wants to deliver with their products. In the first part of this feature, we have Grace Ventura, Founder of Grace's Goodness, a plant-based sipping broths company.

Grace had been working as a health and wellness coach, massage therapist, and yoga teacher for the past 30 years and a mother to six children. Today she shares insights into building a brand as well the challenges of her journey.

In part 1, we discussed: The Support she received; Overview of the brand; Her early career; Her inspiration behind the company; How she started working on the business; What efforts she made at the beginning; What kind of response they received; What is her advice for newcomers; How she would have done things differently if given another chance; Why personal values should stand equal to brand values; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Grace as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Grace's Goodness, visit: https://gracesgoodness.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

Hydrant - Hydration is the Ultimate Atomic Habit Apr 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Omnisend, and Daasity.**

In the second half of this Feature, we have John Sherwin, Co-Founder of Hydrant, sharing how Finding the right people - is important for success.

He talks about his job and how he moved to New York for the company, and how he came across Hydrant's other co-founder.

They took longer than expected, and on top of that, the pandemic has impacted in some way or the other.

He also discusses packaging. Hydrant's products have single-use plastic, which is good for the environment.

In part 2, we ruminate on: How switching to sustainable things can help the environment; What job he did and why he left Silicon Valley; How he meets Jai in the journey; How pandemic affected the business; Places where Hydrant is available; What are the ingredients; How they make their products; What flavors and options consumers get; His advice for the audience; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and John as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hydrant visit: https://www.drinkhydrant.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Hydrant - Where Water Meets Wellness Apr 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend and Daasity.**

Make that change - that's what Hydrant works towards. In the first part of this feature, we have John Sherwin, the Co-founder of Hydrant. Hydrant a health and wellness brand located in New York.

John graduated from the University of Oxford. As a college student, he experienced the effects of dehydration. He became fascinated by the science of hydration, how it worked, and why it was beneficial to the human body and performance.

In this episode, he shares the inspiration for starting Hydrant and how Hydrant's products are made, keeping both hydration and immunity in mind.

In part 1, we discuss: When people supported and believed him; A brief overview of the brand; What kind of feedback they receive in pandemic time; What was the concept behind the company; How were his dehydration experience; His idea and personal experience; What sorts of ingredients the product contains; How one can learn about over-hydration and dehydration; How they maintain sustainability; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and John as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hydrant visit: https://www.drinkhydrant.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Wishbeads - Wear Your Wish Apr 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of this Feature, we’re speaking with Alexa Fischer, founder of Wishbeads. Alexa is an entrepreneur, author, actress, and motivational speaker with the goal to bring positivity into other people’s lives.

Through Wishbeads, people have jewelry that will help them manifest their goals. With each necklace and bracelet is a compartment to keep a written goal hidden in your jewelry.

On the go, no matter where you are, you will have a reminder of your goal until you've accomplished it.

For those who may be skeptical of this, this process uses the practice of manifestation. By building a positive mindset, you're reinforcing your motivational skills, which could then create better outcomes for your personal goals.

As Alexa mentions, “it's one thing to wish and think that it's the stuff of children and blowing out birthday candles. But really, it's our hidden superpower. And with a little identification of what you want and action steps towards what you want, you truly can change your life.”

In part 2, we discuss: Experiencing moments of clarity; Sharing the brand with others; Witnessing your own story, you are your own author; The true impacts of positive thinking; Moving away from fear as an entrepreneur; Where to find Wishbeads; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alexa as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wishbeads, visit: https://www.wishbeads.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Wishbeads - How to identify What You Deeply Desire Apr 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the first part of this feature, we’re manifesting our desire to live our best life.

One of the ways we’re doing that is through Wishbeads. Wishbeads is a jewelry brand created as “a way for people to identify what they deeply desire.”

Whether you’re going through a rocky phase because of COVID or you’re trying something new, a positive mindset is one of the true keys to getting through it.

No matter what it is, you hope to achieve motivation, and confidence comes from positivity. Our guest on the show today, Alexa Fischer, founder of Wishbeads, realized just that.

During her acting career, she realized how important it was to understand other people’s energy while building up your own.

Through Wishbeads, she encourages everyone to build up their own positive energy to help others live their best life.

In part 1, we discuss Alexa’s Mentor experience; Working for a cause; Alexa’s entrepreneurial journey; Identifying the behavior of others; The inspiration behind Wishbeads, COVID Impacts on the brand, and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alexa as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wishbeads, visit: https://www.wishbeads.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Olipop - A Soda with Microbiome Benefits Apr 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat**

In the second part of this Feature, we catch up with Co-Founder David Lester and creative director Tristin Kincaid, as they discuss Olipop as “a healthy alternative to soda” with the main goal of bringing “the benefits of digestive health to a broad audience," and how they've chosen soda as the vehicle to do that.

Since our last Feature with Olipop, the brand has expanded its product to additional markets allowing them to reach new audiences. Olipop could be found in Whole Foods, Kroger, and soon, Target.

Like traditional soda, Olipop is accessible and recreates that nostalgic feeling we all love from the sodas of the past.

Join Ramon Vela, David Lester, and Tristin Kincaid, and learn the inside story of a brand.

In part 2, we discuss: Ways to widen your audience; How to approach your potential customers, Launching in new venues; Hearing feedback about the brand; The future of Olipop marketing, and so much more.

For more on Olipop, visit: https://drinkolipop.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

OLIPOP - A New, Better Alternative to Soda Apr 13, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat**

In the first part of this Feature, we’re reuniting with the brand Olipop. Olipop is a company dedicated to re-innovating soda.

For soda fiends, it's hard to give up name brands no matter how unhealthy it is simply because there's a nostalgia associated with some of the large conglomerate soda brands.

Now Olipop has created a soda that recreates the feeling of classic sodas but without the harm.

With Olipop, you could have a refreshing drink that not only tastes good but contains multiple health benefits, such as helping your digestive system.

Join Ramon Vela to hear how co-founder David Lester, and creative director Tristin Kincaid, are bringing you a new kind of soda.

In part 2, we discuss David and Tristin’s mentor experience; The 100ft overview of Olipop; the Effects of the pandemic on the brand; The direction of the brand for the future, and much more.

For more on Olipop, visit: https://drinkolipop.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Flow Alkaline Spring Water - Water with a Purpose Apr 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity**

In the second part of this Feature, we check back in with the brand, Flow Alkaline Spring Water, and how they’ve been killing it.

Founder and Executive Nicholas Reichenbach shares the new flavors, packaging innovations, and going public with us.

As Flow expands the number of flavors, we could expect new delicious flavors coming soon, such as Meyer Lemon, Blood Orange, and Pomegranate.

Just like all Flow drinks, the new flavors are made with all-natural ingredients and no industrial processing on the water.

Join Ramon Vela and Nicholas and listen to how Flow is changing the water game.

In part 2, we discuss: Becoming more aware of our health and environment; Making the world more sustainable; Why go public; The growth of Flow; Talking about Flow ambassadors; and much more.

For more on Flow Alkaline Spring Water, visit:

https://flowhydration.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Flow Alkaline Spring Water - Good for You Water and Packaging Apr 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity**

For today’s Feature on The Story of a Brand, we’re bringing you a special update from the brand Flow Alkaline Spring Water.

Founder and Executive Chairman, Nicholas Reichenbach, comes on the show today to tell us about Flow's future, its flavors, and their going public transaction.

One of their most important news consists of their strides in recyclable packaging.

As Nicholas mentions in the episode,

“We put it into a Tetra Pak, which is primarily made from plant-based material…our package is actually made from trees and paperboard. We also use plant-based sugarcane to replace plastic for our lid and some of our inner liner. Now we're trying to push the envelope in product innovation to make this at 70 percent compostable today, but one hundred percent recyclable.”

Not only is Flow Alkaline Spring Water good for you, but it’s also good-for-you packaging for the planet.

In part 1, we discuss Nicholas’s mentor experience; How Nicholas found his new CEO; New innovations in recycled packaging; Delving into the flavors of Flow, COVID Impacts, and much more. Join Ramon Vela and Nicholas as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Flow Alkaline Spring Water, visit:

https://flowhydration.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

KBH Jewels - Committed to Beautiful Designs and Mother Earth Apr 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

Your actions do matter is the highlight of the second half of this episode. Now the conversation moves to the impact of product quality on customers.

Kimberly Berry Haisch, the founder of KBH Jewels, speaks of being a founder and raising kids. She talks about conflicts and the importance of having the right spouse.

Then Kimberly shares her ordeals in the pandemic and how the brand suffered due to hacking of their social media accounts. She also sheds light on the brand's prominent products.

In part 2, we discuss: What lessons she learned while being a mother and Founder; How struggles of women are different from men; What things she could have done better in the beginning; What changes happened during the pandemic; How many fluctuations they observed in sales; What she sees for her designs in the future; Popular products of the brand; Her philosophy; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Kimberly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on KBH Jewels, visit: https://www.kbhjewels.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today visit https://www.honeycombcredit.com/brand

KBH Jewels - Sustainable Fine Jewelry Brand Handcrafted in NYC Apr 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Honeycomb Credit**

A sustainable fine jewelry line - this is the motto of KBH Jewels. In the first part of this Feature, we have Kimberly Berry Haisch, CEO and Founder of KBH Jewels, a brand that delivers great designs with sustainability, climate change, and the environment in mind.

Kimberly formerly worked at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and now runs her own jewelry business. Today she talks about her inspiration behind KBH Jewels, along with the difficulties she handled in her path.

She is a mother, wife, and successful entrepreneur. Kimberly tells her story about KBH Jewels.

In part 2, we discuss The support she received; What the inspiration was for starting KBH Jewels; an Overview of the brand; Her early career and experience; What challenges she faced; What motivated her as an entrepreneur; Her advice for newcomers; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Kimberly as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on KBH Jewels, visit: https://www.kbhjewels.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This episode is brought to you by Honeycomb Credit.

With Honeycomb Credit, you can transform your customers into your biggest brand advocates by giving them the chance to lend directly to your growing business.

Brands looking to expand nationally, buy equipment, or launch a new product have used Honeycomb to get the funds they need while engaging their customers in a whole new way.

Learn how to level up your customers today. Visit honeycombcredit.com/brand

Wave Soda - Life is a Journey Full of Waves Apr 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second half of this Feature, Nat Noone, founder, and CEO of Wave Soda, provides an overview of his previous jobs and the experience he gained at other corporations. He talks about the ups and downs in the business world.

Later, he explains how crisis management is critical for an entrepreneur. Then speaks about the flavors available on their website. Nat shows the three different age groups that they focus on while marketing the product.

He also says how packaging attracts the younger generation. Addresses the emotions that even the older generation feels with the brand.

In part 2, we discuss: How it's great to have a good partner and family support; Discussion on the hardships of running a business; How handling a crisis improves a person; Best selling flavors of the brand; How packaging is nostalgic and attractive; Where people can find Wave Soda; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Nate as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wave Soda, visit: https://wavesoda.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Wave Soda - Your New Healthy Soda Replacement Apr 05, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

With an alternative to regular soda, 85% soda water, and 15% fruit juice, we have Nat Noone, founder and CEO of Wave Soda, who brings a mildly caffeinated soda to all the addicts out there who desire a better-for-you soda.

Nat studied entrepreneurship at Boston University. He has 25 years of experience in the business industry.

Today, he will talk about his inspiration behind Wave Soda and what difficulties he faced in his journey.

From setting up fruit stands at college to starting a company, Nat will share the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and Wave Soda's story.

In part 1, we discussed: Who he is the most grateful for? His brief introduction of the brand; What kind of reviews he gets; What his motive was; His early career along with the challenges; What lessons he learned; Why motivators are important to him; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Nate as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wave Soda, visit: https://wavesoda.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

CocoBaba - Natural, Effective Skincare for Moms and Moms-to-Be Apr 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Emma Heming Willis, Founder of CocoBaba.

CocoBaba“ is a natural and effective body care for moms and moms-to-be.” CocoBaba takes all of the beneficial properties of coconut oil and turns it into an effective stretch mark reducing treatment.

With different products such as a body scrub, body oil, and coconut butter mouse, CocoBaba was created to provide a self-care routine for mothers that doesn’t break the bank.

As Emma mentions in this episode, CocoBaba has benefits for more than just mothers, although she stresses the importance of creating a line to give mothers a chance to take a break. After all of the work that moms do, every mother deserves a break for self-care.

In part 2, we discuss: Delving into the ingredients; The miracle of coconut oil; The difference between the product and a jar of coco oil; Supporting all mothers; The future for CocoBaba; Advice for other entrepreneurs; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Emma as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

Now until May 15th, get 20% off your order on CocoBaba.com when you use Code: Ramon20

For more on CocoBaba, visit: https://cocobaba.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

CocoBaba - Every Body Deserves to Be Mothered Apr 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the first part of this Feature, we’re opening up the conversation for all mothers and mothers-to-be.

Whether it’s your first child or you’re a vet, stretch marks are not desirable. With all of the changes to your body, all mothers deserve a product that works and feels good for them.

This is why Emma Heming Willis, Founder, and Creator of CocoBaba, created the brand. After her pregnancy experience, Emma could not find a quality product that helped reduce stretch marks until she tried coconut oil.

“That was my aha moment,” Emma mentions, “I need to come up with a brand” that is “safe but effective.”

In part 1, we discuss Emma’s mentor experience; The 100 Ft Overview of the brand; The inspiration for creating CocoBaba; The importance of creating a health conscience product; Challenges of starting the brand; Overcoming Imposter syndrome; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Emma as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

Now until May 15th, get 20% off your order on CocoBaba.com when you use Code: Ramon20

For more on CocoBaba, visit: https://cocobaba.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

imaware - Better Health Starts with Better Awareness Apr 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity**

In the second part of this Feature, Jani Tuomi, co-founder of imaware, shares more about their initial startup journey. How he faced denial by some doctors while others favored giving patients and consumers more data. He further explains different tests accessible to people.

Jani gives a brief description of their testing with costs. Then elaborates the exploitation dealt by patients due to hospitals' huge profit margin and the current healthcare system in general. He provides his advice for people looking to be healthy.

In part 1, we talk about: Why doctors wanted to control or support; What are the testing options available; How imaware is assisting others; Gives an account of rates for particular testing; How monopolies push the price; What makes their testing cheaper; Why healthcare should be focused on consumers; What is the testing process; What are his recommendations; How they help brands; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jani as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on imaware, visit: https://www.imaware.health/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

imaware - Turning Sick Care into Health Care Apr 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity**

Turning sick care into true health care is the reason why Imaware was established.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Jani Tuomi, co-founder of imaware, a company that provides personalized testing to those who want to empower their health journey.

Jani has worked in the product industry for the past 20 years. Today he talks about how he entered health care and how the platform helps the patients from the comfort of their homes.

From watching a family member suffer from cancer to starting a healthcare company in 2017. Jani shares his story.

In part 1, we discuss: The people he is most grateful for; Overview of his company; Idea behind Imaware; Jani explains the early test of Rheumatoid Arthritis; How to track the efficacy of supplements; What are the trends and challenges during the pandemic; What problems they faced at the beginning; What encourages him and his team; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jani as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on imaware, visit: https://www.imaware.health/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Lettuce Grow - Farmstand to Table Mar 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of this Feature, Jacob Pechenik, founder and CEO of Lettuce Grow, elaborates on the work he's done before the launch. He explains in detail how finding a perfect manufacturer can be challenging but can facilitate growth.

According to him, having a sound relationship with customers and the environment helped a lot.

He mentions a few pieces of advice for people looking to start a business. Then he listed out some popular products along with preferable sizes.

He also gives information on varieties of plants and customer service and, later, a quick description of upcoming products.

In part 2, we discuss: How the brand was built; His advice for newcomers; What are the prominent products; What are the offered varieties and plans; How they handle queries operation in new seasons; How much is the expansion of products and locations; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jacob as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Lettuce Grow, visit: https://www.lettucegrow.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Lettuce Grow - Planting a Garden is to Be Optimistic Mar 30, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

Planting a garden is to be optimistic - reconnecting humans with nature. That's what Lettuce Grow works towards.

In the first part of this Feature, we have Jacob Pechenik, founder and CEO of Lettuce Grow, a sustainable food company that facilitates farming at home without a green thumb.

Jacob has been a food expert since 2017. In this episode, he will talk about his inspiration for Lettuce Grow and how the brand influences multiple lives.

From running a trading firm to film production and finally moving to the food and organic farming industry. Jacob speaks about his journey and experiences so far.

In part 2, we talk about: How much support and feedback they receive; A quick introduction of his brand; How pandemic impacted the uniqueness; What was his motivation for organic farming; He tells about his early career; How did people react and complications; How much time he invested; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jacob as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Lettuce Grow, visit: https://www.lettucegrow.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

R.E.D.D. - Products Packed with Functional Benefits Mar 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat**

In the second part of this Feature, Emma Fuerst Frelinghuysen, CEO of R.E.D.D., dives into the brand's intricacies, from their products, business outlook, and much more.

Emma talks enthusiastically about why plant-based food is making an impact and changing the food industry.

She speaks passionately about Alden Blease, the founder of R.E.D.D., and how he formulates the products. She also breaks down the products and how the complex formulation strives towards a tastier yet healthier snacking alternative.

So, join Ramon Vela and Emma and learn about how healthy plant-based food is now available on the go with R.E.D.D. Bar.

In part 2, we discuss: How the pandemic affected the brand; How the snack bars are made tasty; How R.E.D.D. is healthier than other snack bars; How plant-based food is making an impact; Words for young entrepreneurs out there; How R.E.D.D. is improving and upgrading; How social media helped the business; and so much more.

For more on R.E.D.D., visit: https://www.reddbar.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

R.E.D.D. - Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered Mar 29, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat**

Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered – this is what R.E.D.D. stands for, literally and metaphorically.

In the first part of this feature, we sit down with Emma Fuerst Frelinghuysen, CEO of R.E.D.D., a brand providing plant-based nutrition in a radiantly delicious way.

Emma is a food and beverage expert with 15 years of experience under her belt. Today she talks about how R.E.D.D. allowed her to achieve her passion for working with what she loves – food and marketing.

From being an economics major to being a business graduate to being a CEO, Emma shares her story.

In part 1, we discuss The experience that made her grateful; A brief introduction to her brand; How Emma rebelled to follow her passion in early life; How she got into public relations and business; Her previous work experiences; How she realized her true passion; What got her into healthy food; What drew Emma to REDD; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Emma as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on R.E.D.D., visit: https://www.reddbar.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Read The Ingredients - Your Complete Unsweetened Breakfast Mar 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Daasity**

In the second part of this Feature, we learn about the marketing activities that Read The Ingredients Co-Founders Micheal and Bobbi Giudicelli had to do, such as in-store demos and advertising.

These demos gave them valuable feedback that helped them move the brand forward. For instance, they made chocolate favored (sugar-free) loaves that exactly matched the average American breakfast calorie.

Read The Ingredients are a certified gluten-free brand that primarily focuses on authentic and unique products that keep individuals healthy. Knowing the ingredients of what you are going to eat is indeed a value that their customers value.

In Part 2, we discuss The main objective behind the name Read The ingredients; The idea behind founding the brand; The manufacturing process behind the loaf; Customer satisfaction; The teamwork between Bobbi and Michael; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Bobbi, and Michael as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Read The Ingredients, visit: https://rtifoods.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Read The Ingredients - More than a Bar, a Plant-Based Meal Mar 27, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency, Forum Brands, and Daasity**

In the first part of this Feature, Bobbi and Michael Giudicelli, both co-founders and mother and son, straightway jump into describing their brand, Read the Ingredients.

Read the ingredients is a brand for those that want to know what is in their food. It is especially centered around clean eating, gluten-free, plant-based, and low sugar products.

Eating healthy has been a concern among people; thus, Read The Ingredients was born. This is the product a person can take on their busy schedules and feel good that they are staying healthy.

In part 1, we discuss Bobbi and Michael's story, how they started together; The Harmful effects of gluten and sugar in the diet; Avoiding bars among people; The story of her personal problem with sweets; The alarming rate of being healthy; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Bobbi, and Michael as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Read The Ingredients, visit: https://rtifoods.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Red Clay - Do Yourself a Flavor with this Hot Sauce Mar 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

Molly Fienning's journey with building the Red Clay Hot Sauce brand has been challenging, with the difficulty of finding a cold press facility, meeting tight deadlines, scaling up with manufacturers, and much more.

Plus, they used old Bourbon barrels to get the authentic juice flavor out of the pepper. Which makes it seem more like pepper juice than hot sauce, and people love it with Avocado or steamed oysters.

But in the end, hard work pays off, and now, Red Clay has become one of the most wanted hot sauce brands.

In part 2, we discuss Molly's first brand - Babiators; Teamwork for building the success of Red Clay; How customers became brand advocates; The secret recipe; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Molly as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Red Clay, visit: https://redclayhotsauce.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Red Clay Hot Sauce - The Red Clay Changes You Mar 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the first part of this Feature, the CEO and Co-Founder of Red Clay Hot Sauce, Molly Fienning, shares the stories of her cold-pressed barrel-aged hot sauce and raw hot honey brand.

Based in South Carolina, Red Clay had for years given the patrons of Chef Geoff Rhyne's oyster bar a near-divine taste experience.

So much so that it compelled customers to steal it from restaurant tables and Oyster bars.

Soon thereafter, Molly had been one of those patrons who got hooked and thus was born this flavorful hot sauce brand.

In part 1, we discuss Molly's entrepreneur life before Red Clay; Inspiration from Sir Kensington's example; The idea behind hot sauce making; How Jeff, her husband, was a constant support to her in building the brand; and so much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Molly as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Red Clay, visit: https://redclayhotsauce.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Keho Life - Yummy Real Food Savory Snack Bites Mar 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the second part of this Feature, we dive deep into what makes Keho Life new, innovative and healthy. We go into details about the products and their constitution.

Tekla Back, Founder of Keho Life, made it her mission and goal to help people switch to healthy diets after seeing how problematic obesity has become.

Find out how she built Keho from the ground up with the help of knowledge, passion, and research. Thus, Keho is "food packaged, not packaged food." This is the story of Keho - the brand that believes in collaboration, not competition.

In the second part, we address: How obesity is becoming an epidemic; What the Covid-19 pandemic taught us in terms of food; Advice and lessons for young founders; Competition in the market; The products itself and their structural breakdown; Why Keho is one of a kind; What the website offers and plans; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Tekla as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Keho Life, visit: https://keho.life/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/.

Keho Life - It's a Lifestyle Not a Company Mar 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

“It is a lifestyle, not a company” – this is how Tekla Back, the founder of Keho Life, describes her brand.

Starting as a master calorie counter back in her coxswain days, Tekla soon discovered the keto diet and became obsessed with it.

Tekla came from a personal space of wanting a proper healthy pescatarian meal without the hassles of cooking.

Being a physicist, she could not help but indulge in formulating the innovative concept of savory snack bites, which finally gave birth to – Keho.

In the first part, we talk about: How her mentor became her partner; How she brought in the world’s first savory snack bite; What makes Keho products novel; Tekla’s early life and career; How she was introduced to ketogenic diet; Discussion on what exactly is a keto diet; How she went from being a reluctant entrepreneur to a founder; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Tekla as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Keho Life, visit: https://keho.life/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/.

Bobbie - You Shouldn't Feel Guilty about Baby Formula Mar 22, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

In the second part of this Feature, we’re breaking the mold with Laura Modi, CEO, and Co-Founder of Bobbie.

Laura and her co-founder, Sara Hardy, created Bobbie as a way to produce a healthy, organic baby formula for all mothers.

As they break the stigma against baby formula, Laura and Sara also do all they can to support women, no matter the situation.

With each sale of their product, they donate to non-profit organizations to help make formula affordable and accessible to every mother.

Not only does Bobbie help make a difference for mothers, but Bobbie also helps to perfect recipes to help give your baby all of the nutrients that they need.

All in all, as Laura mentions in the episode, “whatever you are feeding your child, they are going to be great. And you are going to be great and you've made the right decision, and no matter what you choose to feed your child, you shouldn't feel guilty.”

In part 2, we discuss Supporting mother entrepreneurs; Setting future generations up for success; Where to reach Bobbie; The ingredients included in Bobbie; Perfecting the recipe. Join Ramon Vela and Laura as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bobbie, visit: https://hibobbie.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to better understand critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Bobbie - Breaking the Stigma of Baby Formula Mar 22, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Laura Modi, CEO, and Bobbie's co-founder. Bobbie is dedicated to creating a better-for-you organic infant formula.

As Laura mentions in the episode, Bobbie wasn’t exactly a brand she always imagined growing, but it’s extremely personal.

Formula is one of the “only substitutes to breast milk and the only way to feed your child if you are unable to breastfeed.” Not only is formula one of the only substitutes, but Formula also holds a large stigma in the world of becoming a parent.

As a woman becomes a mother, breastfeeding is largely highlighted as one of the biggest ways to bond with your child, but what happens if you can't breastfeed? This is why Laura created Bobbie.

In part 1, we discuss Laura’s mentor experience; The hundred-foot overview of Bobbie; Breaking stigmas; Taking the dive into building a brand; Being a founder and a mother, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Laura as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Bobbie, visit: https://hibobbie.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Blake's Seed Based - #SeedYourPassion Mar 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with Blake Sorensen. Since the initial release in 2018, Blake and his team at Blake’s Seed Based have dedicated their time to perfecting the best recipes for snacks that are allergy-friendly.

As “seed-based” means their products are free from ingredients such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, and sesame.

Products from Blake’s Seed Based range from different types of snack bars to rice crispy treats.

Whether you’re a child or an adult with allergies, Blake’s Seed Based has a quality allergy-friendly snack for you.

In part 2, we discuss: The nutritional benefit; The different types of snacks; What seed-based mean in terms of the products; Going through the ingredients in the products; A healthier snack alternative for anybody, Where to find Blake’s Seed Based.

Join Ramon Vela and Blake as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Blake's Seed Based, visit:

https://www.blakesseedbased.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Blake's Seed Based - Healthy, Taste Great, and Allergy Friendly Mar 17, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Blake Sorensen, founder of Blake’s Seed Based. After growing up with a severe allergy, Blake was aware of the different ways in which allergies could affect everyday life.

As Blake mentions in the episode, one of the biggest reasons “why we started” is that “they’re free of all major food allergens.” Now for those who want a convenient snack without worrying about allergens, Blake Seed Based offers a solution for you.

In part 2, we discuss Blake’s mentor experience; The 100 Ft overview of Blake’s Seed Based; Blake’s journey to founding Blake’s; The biggest challenges when starting the brand; Funding through Kickstarter; The importance of understanding the economics of food and beverage.

Join Ramon Vela and Blake as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Blake's Seed Based, visit: https://www.blakesseedbased.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Wayflyer - A Source of Funds and Insights for E-commerce Brands Mar 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with Aidan Corbett, CEO, and Co-founder of Wayflyer. Aiden and his co-founder, Jack Pierse, created Wayflyer to help start-up e-commerce brands to reach their full potential.

As Aiden mentions, “We try and be as supportive to the e-commerce brand as possible by giving them a quick decision, hopefully, a quick injection of cash.”

Along with that “quick injection of cash,” Wayflyer also provides free analytics to help your company succeed. Through Wayflyer, not only are you obtaining the funds you need to help your brand grow, but you’re also gaining access as an e-commerce brand to quality analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t.

In part 1, we discuss Pandemic impacts on the economy; What Wayflyer does for its customers; Creating a good alignment between brand and customer; The impact of a changing digital market; Social media analysis; What Wayflyer looks for in a brand; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Aidan as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wayflyer, visit: https://www.wayflyer.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Wayflyer - Revenue-based Financing for E-commerce Brands Mar 16, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Aidan Corbett, CEO, and Co-founder of Wayflyer. As Aiden tells us about his own entrepreneurial journey, building a company isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to cash flow.

Before Wayflyer, Aiden started two other startups, The Kubicle and Conjura. The Kubicle was a workplace education brand, while the other is an analytics consultancy.

Using his experience, Aiden then created Wayflyer. Wayflyer is a brand dedicated to helping businesses grow. They help bring funds to e-commerce brands along with free analytics to help advance your company.

In part 1, we discuss Aiden’s mentor experience; The hundred-foot overview of the brand; Succeeding on your third try; The importance of distribution; Advice for other entrepreneurs, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Aidan as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wayflyer, visit: https://www.wayflyer.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Pala Eyewear - Ethical and Sustainable Sunglasses Mar 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the second part of this Feature, John Pritchard, Founder of Pala Eyewear, shares why he believes it is important to be authentic and keep transparency in his business.

He set up his factory initially in China, but due to some policies that he wanted to achieve, he had to shift his factory to Italy. He says that working in Microsoft enhanced his entrepreneurial skills and helped prepare him for Pala. He also shares that he has learned a lot from his mistakes in five years.

He also worked with TerraCycle on a program to request old frames from customers and recycle them.

In part 2, we talk about: How he connects with the audience; Challenges he faced due to soil degradation; About his long-term vision to help these communities in various ways; Setting up a vision center in Zambia; Perks of working in Italy; Why he left Microsoft; What motivates him to keep going; Working with TerraCycle on a program to recycle old frames from customers; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and John as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pala, visit: https://www.palaeyewear.com/ *

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Pala Eyewear - Making an Impact with Sunglasses Mar 15, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the first part of this Feature, John Pritchard, Founder of Pala Eyewear, tells us about his vision for creating social impact in Africa through his eyewear.

He used to work in Microsoft before, but he visited Africa, where he got to know the people and challenges they face and thus decided to start the business based on charity.

He also tells how he got the motivation to start and uses biodegradable waste to make eyewear.

He tells us that eye care has been a massive challenge in Africa, and people can’t afford costly treatment and glasses.

In Part 1, we talk about: The motivation behind starting Pala Eyewear; Early days challenges faced; Challenges to connect with the customers; People’s rigid mentality towards the product; High competition and low budget; About the ingredients used in making the frames; Making use of discarded water sachet as recycled plastic waste; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and John as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Pala, visit: https://www.palaeyewear.com/ *

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Comrad - Socks with Benefits Mar 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the second part of this Feature we delve deep into the science behind compression socks and how they work.

Andrew Ferenci, Founder and CEO of Comrad, also goes into details about his main products. He breaks down his products' composition and gives a transparent view of what his products truly entail.

He goes into detail about how the future entails an amalgamation of the health and apparel industry. Find out how Comrad plans to evolve and become more than socks with benefits.

In part 2, we talk about; The misconceptions about compression socks; How compression socks are beneficial for everyone; The science of compression; How weighted blankets also work on compression therapy; How the apparel industry is changing; What are the main products, and the science behind their creation; Future plans for the company; Advice for upcoming young entrepreneurs.

Join Ramon Vela and Andrew as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Comrad, visit: https://www.comradsocks.com/ *

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Comrad - From Software to Socks Mar 11, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Andrew Ferenci, Founder and CEO of Comrad, who started as your standard lemonade stand entrepreneur.

Starting from his parent's garage to selling businesses to becoming a product manager – find out how Andrew found his passion in the thrilling art of entrepreneurship.

Coming from a family of public servants, Andrew set out in search of his own way of supporting people. Andrews’s extensive search led him to swollen feet and ultimately to his calling – stylized compression socks.

From software to socks, this is his story.

In part 1, we talk about: His mentor experience; a Broad overview of his brand; Andrew’s early entrepreneurial career; His family’s influence on his outlook of life; How compression socks became his calling; How the pandemic became a valuable learning experience, and opportunity; How a donation campaign helped Comrad make a mark in peoples’ hearts; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Grace as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Comrad, visit: https://www.comradsocks.com/ *

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Equilibria - An Obsession with Quality & Efficacy Mar 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

Quality and consistency are the two major factors that Equilibria values the most.

In the second part, we sit back down with Coco Meers, CEO & Co-founder, and Marcy Capron-Vermillion, CPO & Co-founder, delve deep into Equilibria's service and how their service benefits women from different generations.

Learn about some great insights on how they ensure the highest quality of their service, starting from the genetics till the time the product is prepared.

In part 2, we talk about: How CBD is therapeutic for a woman’s wellbeing; How they partner with farms and participate in the supply chain process to ensure quality; The future of women in health care; Who are their customers? How the data-driven approach has changed the game; Advice for new entrepreneurs; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela, Coco, and Marcy as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Equilibria, visit: https://myeq.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Equilibria - Restoring Balance to the Lives of Women Mar 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

It all started with Marcy's 30th birthday. While she was still recovering from her kayaking accident, she experienced the miraculous benefits of using CBD, which one of her close relatives gifted on her birthday.

After that, she spent a lot of time educating herself and other women about the benefits of CBD. However, one sentiment she heard over and over again stayed with her. Women would tell her that "they had run out of options in their health and recovery, and they were frustrated."

Coco Meers, CEO and Co-founder, and Marcy Capron-Vermillion, CPO and Co-founder of Equilibria, share their journey in building a brand to empower women and help them achieve their wellness goals with CBD.

Their mission, to restore balance in the lives of women.

In Part 1, we talk about: Broad Overview of the brand; How they got the idea to start their own brand; How Equilibria is different from other brands; How they personalize every service; The deep insights from their quality control process.

Join Ramon Vela, Coco, and Marcy as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Equilibria, visit: https://myeq.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Daasity - Helping Merchants Unlock Data-driven Growth Mar 10, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of the Feature, we sit back with Dan LeBlanc, Co-Founder and CEO at Daasity. We find out how being data-driven helps you save hours of your precious time and how it helps you unlock and gain valuable insight into your business.

We'll also learn about what Daasity truly entails, its plans, and how simple raw data combined from your various platforms can transform your business.

In part 2, we talk about: How they capture and combine data from different selling platforms; What makes Daasity unique? How they unify all the data and give a compact data analysis; Flexibility and optimization of the database analytics platform; Brand stories of Daasity and what brands Daasity is for; How Daasity unlocks information and gives insight; How the team is working on an amazing new method of segmentation, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dan as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Daasity, visit: https://www.daasity.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Daasity - Helping Brands Become Data Driven Mar 09, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In a world where numbers speak the ultimate truth, Dan LeBlanc, the co-founder of Daasity, has made it his mission to help brands become data-driven.

After spending a significant amount of time in e-commerce, Dan wanted to get merchants out of their spreadsheet nightmare. With Daasity – an amazing data analytics platform, he made it possible.

From sitting behind a corporate desk to being an innovator and starting his own SaaS company, here is Dan’s story:

In part 1, we talk about: How Daasity wants to help and educate merchants to be data-driven; Motivation behind the creation of Daasity; How him leaving his e-commerce life was a blessing; Challenges in the early days of business; Lessons they took from their corporate careers about large companies; What merchants should be truly thinking about in terms of data; The six-pack of e-commerce; How to deal with high-value customers; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dan as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Daasity, visit: https://www.daasity.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Nixie - Why Organic Matters Mar 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In part 2 of this Feature, we sit back down with Nicole Dawes, Founder, and CEO of Nixie Sparkling Water, a certified organic, deliciously flavored sparkling water without synthetic mystery ingredients brand.

We talk about the hardships one faces to create a brand. She also discusses her father's journey in building Cape Cod Potato Chips company and how her mother had an organic food store. She says this is why she decided to set up a food and beverage brand of her own.

She aimed to bring fresh botanical teas to customers for a healthier life choice. She describes the health benefits of every drink of her brand.

In part 2, we talked about: A broad overview of the brand; The inspiration behind organic beverage brands, the Story of the team working at Nixie; The journey of starting with only 7 flavors, Ending with optimism.

Join Ramon Vela and Nicole as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nixie, visit: https://www.drinknixie.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Nixie - The Making of a CPG Founder Mar 08, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the first part of this Feature, Nicole Dawes, Founder, and CEO of Nixie Sparkling Water, a certified organic, deliciously flavored sparkling water without synthetic mystery ingredients. Previously, Nicole and her husband, Peter Dawes, founded Late July Organic Snacks.

We begin by talking about the pandemic's effects on our families, and she tells about how her son has been a constant friend to her. She also expresses sorrow at the same time as her son has left for college.

Then we talk about her parents and family. Her family had an Italian-Irish mixture. They were crazy hippies and always lived in joy. Her love for organic foods came from her mother. Her mother had always supported her and her dreams.

In part 1, we talk about; Our kids and how they were supported in achieving their dreams; Fun moments with her son; About the craziness of parenthood; Family rules and issues; Her school life; The inspiration of organic food from her mother; Problems of starting a brand.

Join Ramon Vela and Nicole as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Nixie, visit: https://www.drinknixie.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Mystic Mondays - How to Walk Your Own Path Mar 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

“My intention with creating Mystic Monday's tarot was really to build a better relationship with yourself,” Grace mentions on our latest episode of The Story of a Brand.

CEO and Founder of Mystic Mondays, Grace Duong, tells us about her own explorations with tarot. She describes her passion for offering an accessible version to others.

As Grace designs Mystic Monday’s tarot deck for the modern person, she’s also created a companion tarot app for your phone designed to give you tarot readings on the go. Through the app, you could draw cards, learn from resources, save journal entries, and so much more to give the everyday person access to spirituality.

In part 2, we learn about Talking about Dreams and Doers; Grace’s upbringing; Paving and walking your own path; Building a better relationship with yourself; Tarot decks and guidebooks; Tarot deck app for everyday use; The future of Mystic Mondays; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Grace as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mystic Mondays and information on her Kickstarter campaign, visit: https://mysticmondays.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Mystic Mondays - Listen to Your Own Intuition Mar 07, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Grace Duong, Founder of Mystic Mondays. The pandemic's trauma has unmasked the frailty of life and has many people asking themselves if where they are in life or what they do, is where they should be.

Grace's focus is on self-reflection. Grace highlights the positive advantages of looking inwards with Mystic Mondays.

As she mentions in today’s episode, “the purpose of the Mystic Monday's app is to really turn inwards and use technology in a way where you can reflect and access your inner world.”

Mystic Mondays produce tarot cards for the modern mystic. Each card is designed with vibrant colors to encourage you to take a moment and reflect.

In part 2, we learn about The 100 Foot overview of Mystic Mondays; Grace’s spiritual journey and awareness; Using a Kickstarter for funding; Normalizing internal reflection during a pandemic; Detoxing through tarot, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Grace as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mystic Mondays, visit: https://mysticmondays.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Go Buddha - Plant-Based Meals Accessbile to Everyone Mar 05, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

You aren’t what you eat, but in reality, you really are. In the second part of this Feature, Joshua Ingraham, founder of Go Buddha, tells us about the positive effects of switching to a more plant-based diet.

Until the recent trend to plant-based diets, the large conglomerates controlled a lot of what we ate. With sugars and fatty foods it’s ingrained into our everyday lives.

This is why Joshua founded Go Buddha. No longer does eating healthy have to a huge investment. With prepped meals shipped to your doorstep within 15 hours, plant-based meals don’t have to be a hassle either.

Not only is it convenient, but Joshua and his team work hard to make their food affordable. Health shouldn’t be exclusive, and neither is Go Buddha.

In Part 2, we hear about Taking the first steps to eat better; The positive effects of a healthier diet; Creating the recipes for Go Buddha; Reinventing an accessible meal service; the brand's future, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Joshua as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Go Buddha, visit: https://gobuddhameals.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Go Buddha - Healthy Food Can Be Affordable Mar 05, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

In part 1 of this Feature, we sit down with Joshua Ingraham, who truly practices what he teaches. Chef Joshua Ingraham is the founder of Go Buddha, a plant-based food service dedicated to making affordable and accessible plant-based meals.

Starting as a Chef in Cleveland sports arenas, Joshua recalls cooking lots and lots of hot dogs, but he realized his love for a plant-based diet after gaining a second chance.

As Joshua mentions in the interview, plant-based doesn’t always mean going vegetarian or vegan. Go Buddha can be used to supplement your usual diet with a plant-based break.

“It’s about making a mindful and conscious decision about food and just the environment around food.”

In Part 1, we hear about Joshua’s mentor experience; The 100 ft overview of Go Buddha; Normalizing plant-based food; Breaking the cycle and retraining your taste for natural foods; Cleansing your body of media and sugar, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Joshua as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Go Buddha, visit: https://gobuddhameals.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Fourlaps - One of GQ’s Favorite Athletic Apparel Brands Mar 03, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Daniel Shapiro, CEO, and Founder of Fourlaps. Fourlaps is a quality athletic apparel brand made to be just as fashionable as it is comfortable.

With tons of experience with major fashion brands and a love for working out, Daniel realized what he wanted in an athletic brand and decided that he had the perfect way to do it.

Now Daniel runs Fourlaps, a brand dedicated to giving customers the best athletic experience without jeopardizing their everyday look.

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel as they breakdown the inside story on one of GQ’s favorite athletic apparel brands on The Story of a Brand.

In Part 2, we hear Reaching a high point with GQ; COVID impacts the brand and marketing strategy; Moving past obstacles; Integrating sustainability into activewear; Creating athletic clothing with highly functional fabrics; The future of Fourlaps; and much more.

For more on Fourlaps, visit: https://www.fourlaps.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Fourlaps - Don't Sacrifice Appearance in Athletic Clothing Mar 02, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In part 1 of this Feature, we’re looking past the logos and into the quality of the product. Today, our guest, Daniel Shapiro, CEO and Founder of Fourlaps, tells us how he created his own independent athletic wear company.

Starting his journey within different companies, Daniel took his experience of apparel and entrepreneurship to create Fourlaps.

As Daniel mentions in the interview, there was initially a “lack of really good functional athletic apparel for men.” Instead of the “neon stitched lines running in every direction,” men don’t have to sacrifice appearance to have quality athletic clothing.

With Fourlaps, each customer could own well-crafted apparel made to withstand your performance and keep you comfortable.

Join Ramon Vela and Daniel as they breakdown the inside story on one of GQ’s favorite athletic apparel brands on The Story of a Brand.

In Part 1, we hear about Daniel’s mentor experience; The hundred-foot overview of the brand, Daniel’s journey to creating Fourlaps; Knowing your shoppers; Learning from your past; Finding the perfect supplier; and much more.

For more on Fourlaps, visit: https://www.fourlaps.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Forij - Restoring Your Body’s Natural Balance Mar 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Parker Olson, founder of Forij. Forij creates natural granola made to bring the experience of foraging to your own kitchen.

The granola utilizes multiple ingredients such as almonds, walnuts, naked sprouted oats, pepita seeds, and so much more. Although, one of the ingredients that Forij highlights is their use of functional mushrooms.

Functional mushrooms aid physical and mental health for the human body. Not only is Forij good for the body, but it also pursues sustainability practices and partners with certified B corporations to work with.

Join Ramon Vela and Parker as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

In Part 2, we hear about Sustaining your mental energy; Advice for future entrepreneurs; Delving into the different products at Forij; Perfecting the recipes; Benefits of the mushrooms; Where to find Forij, and more.

For more on Forij, visit: https://www.forij.co/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Forij - Functional Mushroom Brand That Bites Mar 01, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the first part of this feature, we find Parker Olson, Founder & CEO of Forij, conducting an impromptu focus group on his brand's name while on a Flight. It's just the kind of crazy stunt Parker, a wildly passionate founder, is known for.

Forij is actually the phonetic spelling of “forage.” Forage being searching for your own provisions, specifically in the wilderness. It’s a lifestyle that highlights independence and the knowledge of understanding where your food comes from.

Forij is a brand that takes this independence and knowledge and ships it right to your front door.

In Part 1, we hear about Parker’s mentor experience; The high level of Forji; Doing a test group on the airplane; Perfecting sustainability; Working with functional mushrooms; Moving past obstacles.

Join Ramon Vela and Parker as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Forij, visit: https://www.forij.co/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Omnisend - Increase Sales, but Not the Workload Feb 25, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Rytis Lauris, CEO, and Co-founder of Omnisend, an e-commerce-tailored email & SMS marketing automation platform built to help nimble e-commerce teams drive more revenue without increasing their workload.

Through Omnisend, companies could utilize their tools to reach the customer behind the screen. With push notifications, SMS, templates, landing pages, Pop-Ups, and more, Omnisend creates an easy-to-use experience through a single platform to allow companies to market themselves to the best of their ability.

In part 2, we discuss Focusing on your consumer group, Prioritize your goals, Case studies, What brands can expect when using Omnisend, What brands should be using Omnisend, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Rytis as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Omnisend, visit: https://www.omnisend.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Omnisend - Email & SMS Has Never Been So Easy Feb 24, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Rytis Lauris, Co-Founder, and CEO of Omnisend, an e-commerce-tailored email & SMS marketing automation platform built to help nimble e-commerce teams drive more revenue without increasing their workload.

Rytis gives us a candid look into his journey to building the number one email & SMS e-commerce platform. He talks about his past startups, his failures, and the lessons he learned from them.

As Rytis mentions, "And I'm not afraid of the word failure myself. And I'm really happy with sharing my failure stories because I think it's the most important thing to anyone who's just starting their business or writing and may be facing some difficulties. So my advice would be to learn from your failures and not to repeat the same mistakes."

In part 2, we learn about his early startups, how attending a seminar for young entrepreneurs changed his life, his book recommendations, his advice for SaaS entrepreneurs and other founders, and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Rytis as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Omnisend, visit: https://www.omnisend.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Cusa Tea & Coffee - Convenience. Taste. Clean Ingredients. Feb 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

For most coffee lovers, instant coffee is rarely the first choice unless it’s needed. Although with Cusa Tea & Coffee, this might not always be the case.

As the world’s first premium instant coffee and tea company, Jim and his team are on a mission to change how the world thinks of instant by creating an award-winning product.

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Jim Lamancusa, Founder of Cusa Tea & Coffee, to discuss his brand. As Jim mentioned on the show, Cusa was created to bring premium, barista-made drinks to every customer with convenience.

“So no more boiling water waiting to stir up a tea bag over steaming the tea bag, then trying to find somebody somewhere to throw this wet, soggy tea bag after you're done with it or using your coffee maker, and then it sits on that pot and gets burned.”

In part 1, Jim discusses Working through your companies biggest challenges; Destigmatizing instant coffee; Changing your marketing strategies to build your purchase rate; Building a positive image for the brand; Reducing waste with instant tea and coffee; Getting into the different tea and coffee categories; Delving into the ingredients; The future of Cusa; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jim as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cusa Tea & Coffee, visit: https://www.drinkcusa.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Cusa Tea & Coffee - How Cusa is Reinventing Tea & Coffee Feb 22, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

With nearly all his funds gone and unable to perfect the process for making his instant Teas, Jim was about to give up. Fortunately, while casually glancing over the ingredients table for his wife’s face mask as he brushed his teeth, Jim stumbled onto the key to perfecting his process.

With his newfound appreciation for botanical extraction, Jim was able to perfect the process to create instant tea and coffee as well.

In part 1 of this Feature, we talk to Jim Lamancusa, Founder of Cusa Tea & Coffee. As an avid tea drinker and backpacker, Jim wanted a convenient way to carry his tea without worrying about harmful waste. With Cusa instant tea, anyone could enjoy a quality cup of tea any time and any place.

Tune in today to hear how Jim perfected your favorite teas and coffees into an instantaneous experience.

In part 1, Jim discusses Jim’s mentor experience; The 100 Ft Overview of the brand; The beginning of Jim’s love for tea; Discovering the need for instant tea; Perfecting instant coffee and tea; Composting tea and coffee; Packaging the product; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Jim as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Cusa Tea & Coffee, visit: https://www.drinkcusa.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Sacred Serve - Giving the People What They Need Feb 21, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands**

In the second part of this feature, Kailey Donewald, founder and CEO of Sacred Serve, talks about sustainability across her business. Shipping a frozen product sustainably comes with a world of problems. However, Kailey never lets her business destroy her personal ideals.

She reflects on the scarcity of non-meat products on the market in the early 2000s. As the market adapts and becomes more inclusive, brands like Sacred Serve can flourish. Kailey believes that innovation is an important part of connecting people with dietary restrictions with products that they can eat and enjoy.

Her next phase involves including her customers and getting feedback. She believes that businesses should have a two-way conversation with people and see what they can change about their products.

In part 2, we learn about the evolution of the market, how sustainability works in a business, and the next steps for Sacred Serve.

Join Ramon Vela and Kailey as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sacred Serve, visit: https://www.sacredserve.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Sacred Serve - The Power of Food Feb 20, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the first part of this feature, we hear from Kailey Donewald, founder and CEO of Sacred Serve. Sacred Serve makes organic gelato that comes from coconut milk, medicinal products, and superfoods.

Kailey was feeling rundown from her day job and decided to take some time and visit an ashram in India and travel to Bali. While in Bali, she learned about mental health and was introduced to a food cleanse.

With a better diet, Kailey felt mentally and spiritually stronger. She realized that she wants to help people get healthier but on a larger scale, and that’s how Sacred Serve was started.

She never viewed herself as an entrepreneur, but she learned as she went. She outlines the early struggles and difficulties in starting her business.

In Part 1, we hear about starting a business, Kailey’s background, and how Sacred Serve all started.

Join Ramon Vela and Kailey as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Sacred Serve, visit: https://www.sacredserve.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonian, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Art of Tea - Making the Perfect Cup of Tea Feb 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the second part of this feature, Steve Schwartz, the CEO of Art of Tea, compares tea to wine. The grapes that go into the wine are meticulously sourced and grown, yet the leaves that go into tea don’t have the same backstory.

Art of Tea uses the idea of specifically-selected leaves to go into each drink. Steve outlines some of the cooking processes that result in different tastes and some of the harvesting techniques used.

Even the size of the leaves has a huge impact on the final taste. Steve shows his experience by diving into the specifics and science behind making tea, giving us a better understanding of this magical process.

In part 2, we learn about the intricacies of sourcing and preparing tea leaves, the science behind making tea, and why it all matters.

Join Ramon Vela and Steve as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Art of Tea, visit: https://www.artoftea.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Art of Tea - A Backpack and a Mission Feb 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.**

In the first part of this feature, we hear from Steve Schwartz, the CEO of Art of Tea. Art of Tea is an importer and blender of organic and specialty teas.

It all started when Steve saved up his money, got a backpack, and took time throughout the world. His goal was to learn more about the best teas on the planet. As his research continued, he realized that he needed to turn this passion into a career.

He talks about his mother getting sick and passing away and the influence she had on his life. Steve describes what it means to visit a sick person and ultimately explains how tea can be viewed the same way.

In Part 1, we hear about Steve’s story, why tea is so important to him, and the early days of Art of Tea.

Join Ramon Vela and Steve as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Art of Tea, visit: https://www.artoftea.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit signup.getrepeat.io.

Retrospec - Passion in Motion Feb 18, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the second part of this feature, Ely Khakshouri, the CEO of Retrospec, talks about nostalgia. He remarks that some products are sold simply because of the nostalgic nature of the product. This is his inspiration to create high-performance items that pay homage to their old-school predecessors.

Retrospec is built on the idea of injecting all of their products with the same personality.

Ely mentions that some of the design ideas come from polls or posts on Instagram. He allows fans of his brand to help shape the future products of Retrospec.

He also discusses that his brand is built around his own passions. He has a love for outdoor activities and an affinity for old-school stylings.

In part 2, we learn about the power of nostalgia, how some design considerations are made, and how Ely’s company revolves around his own passions.

Join Ramon Vela and Ely as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Retrospec, visit: https://retrospec.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Retrospec - Making Bucks with Bikes Feb 17, 2021

**This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.**

In the first part of this feature, we hear from Ely Khakshouri, the CEO of Retrospec. Retrospec is a brand that creates products for outdoor hobbies like bicycles, paddleboards, skateboards, and more.

Ely discusses how many people are glued to their technology and digital forms of entertainment – the focus is moving away from outdoor hobbies, and he believes that’s poor for people’s mental health and socialization. To do something about it, Retrospec was born.

In college, Ely would convert old bikes at yard sales into working bikes with very little work. 20 dollars and a little elbow grease could turn into close to a thousand dollars.

He found out how to make his own bikes and would give them to local sellers. That’s when he realized the incredible demand for his product.

In Part 1, we hear about the birth of Retrospec and learn more about Ely’s background.

Join Ramon Vela and Ely as they breakdown the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Retrospec, visit: https://retrospec.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

For a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels, visit:

https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Devereux – The Play More, Complain Less Brand Feb 17, 2021

** This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and TryNow. **

In the second part of this feature, Will and Robert Brunner, brothers and co-founders of Devereux, talk about their focus. They want to create a brand that’s affordable, functional, aesthetic, and stylish.

They mention that you don’t need to golf every day to wear golf apparel every day.

The brothers outline the design considerations when they put together a new piece of apparel. Their business is built around producing clothes that they would personally wear.

They keep referring back to their father and how they would dress and draw inspiration from him. After all, Devereux is intended to be a brand that any generation of man would be proud to wear.

In part 2, we learn about design considerations, the influence behind Devereux, and what big of a role the co-founders’ father played in the inspiration.

Join Ramon Vela, Will, and Robert as they discuss Devereux on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Devereux, visit: https://dvrxthreads.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Devereux - The Tale of Devereux Feb 16, 2021

** This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and TryNow. **

In the first part of this feature, we hear from Will and Robert Brunner, Devereux brothers and co-founders. Devereux is a modern direct-to-consumer golf apparel company that helps you save money without sacrificing quality.

Their father was a golfer, and the brothers grew up with respect for the sport. When they later decided to get into the apparel business, golfing was a clear choice.

Will and Robert had no previous experience launching an apparel brand, so there were many struggles in the beginning. They outline some of their tactics that they used to get started.

Since they didn’t have previous experience, they had a great ability to adapt and grow as the industry shifted.

In Part 1, we hear about the struggles of starting a business, building a network, and searching for the right people.

Join Ramon Vela, Will, and Robert as they discuss Devereux on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Devereux, visit: https://dvrxthreads.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct-to-consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands, delivering month-over-month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Ten to One Rum - A Rum that Raises the Bar Feb 15, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

Growing up in the Caribbean, Marc was surrounded by a beautiful culture. As he mentions in the episode, “remember when we thought this whole thing was like pirates on plantations and the kitschy, kitschy bullshit or whatever. Now, all of a sudden, we have this more progressive, more celebratory, more authentic view of what it's meant to be.”

That’s what Ten to One Rum ultimately is. As their site says, “it’s rum reimagined,” but it’s also a culture reimagined. It’s an opportunity to indulge in a premium beverage and appreciate the real Caribbean and not the one you see in the movies.

Marc’s vision “builds bridges to consumers” in all categories, “one that leverages the beauty of the broader Caribbean” and has it “unfold into the final product.” Drinking Ten to One isn’t just enjoying a quality drink, but it’s a reflection on Marc’s passion for rum and his home.

Tune in and listen to Ramon Vela and Marc Farell, Founder & CEO of Ten to One Rum, discuss the beauty of Caribbean rum.

In part 1, Marc discusses Perfecting the rum recipe; Elevated but not exclusive; Breaking down the Three Core Mixers of Ten to One; Impacts of the pandemic on the company and switching to e-commerce; Keeping advertisements authentic; Delving into the different kinds of Ten to One rums; Where to reach and buy Ten to One; and much more.

Want to give it taste? Use promo code STORY15

For more on Ten to One Rum, visit: https://www.tentoonerum.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better, data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

Ten to One Rum - Rum So Good it's Melodic Feb 15, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Daasity.

Whether it’s celebrating a day in the sun or enjoying a drink by the fire, add to any experience with a glass of Ten to One Rum.

As Marc mentions, Ten to One Rum is an “elevated brand not exclusive.” With Ten to One Rum, “there aren’t velvet ropes around the brand,” making it the perfect drink for any occasion.

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Marc Farrell, CEO and Founder of Ten to One Rum. After starting his first business in the 2000s, Marc learned the importance of learning from first-time failures. Hard work is a big part of creating the brand, but so is timing and perseverance. It’s the vision, and the passion to keep going that helped make his company a successful up and coming brand in the premium spirit space.

Listen in today to hear Ramon Vela and Marc discuss how and why Ten to One Rum was created.

In part 1, Marc discusses His Mentor experience; The 100 ft overview of Ten to One; Marc’s journey through Harvard Business school; The importance of learning from first time failure; When starting a business, timing matters; Building trust in your team; The inspiration for creating Ten to One; and much more.

Want to give it taste? Use promo code STORY15

For more on Ten to One Rum, visit: https://www.tentoonerum.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Get a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Visit https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Daasity.

Daasity provides a single view of your Sales and Marketing data to identify the channels, and products, that are performing the best -- so you can make better data-empowered decisions.

In minutes, unify all of your sales and marketing data to understand better critical growth metrics like LTV, ROAS, and profit margin by product.

Join 1,400 Shopify and Shopify Plus brands like Rothy’s, Who Gives A Crap, Kopari, and MVMT Watches, who are all growing faster with better insights.

Get started today with over 130 pre-built Reports.

Schedule a free call with an Ecommerce Strategist today. Visit Daasity.com/story

FarmHouse Fresh - Deliciously Grown Skincare Feb 12, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.

In the second part of this Feature, we sit down with Shannon and Delia McLinden from the brand FarmHouse Fresh (FHF). After creating her first company, Summer Soles, Shannon realized a love for business and a passion for inventing.

As Shannon mentions in the episode, “I almost feel like we're all inventors. I mean, in some form or fashion, everything is born from a challenge that we have or a problem we have or something we want to fix.”

Through this desire to solve a problem, Shannon merged a passion for skincare and awareness for nature to form FarmHouse Fresh. Not only does FarmHouse Fresh take care of human needs, but they also do a lot for the rescue animals on their very own farm.

As a wellness brand, FHF indeed provides living proof of their positive contribution to others as their skincare line profits go into their Fresh animal sanctuary.

Tune in and join Ramon Vela to hear more about how your purchase with FarmHouse Fresh could save animals.

In part 2, Shannon and Delia discuss COVID impacts on the company; Advancing your social media marketing skills; Building a community within your industry; Delving into their homegrown organic ingredients; Future product developments; Where to reach FHF; and much more.

For more on FarmHouse Fresh, visit: https://farmhousefreshgoods.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Farmhouse Fresh - They Grow so Your Skin Glows Feb 12, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.

As consumers, we want to purchase a product that not only is good but does good as well. With Farmhouse Fresh, their product does just that.

Homegrown on their farm in McKinney, Texas, Shannon and Delia provide organic herbs that go into their skincare products.

From hydrating face masks to body skincare to hand sanitizers, FarmHouse Fresh provides quality products that’ll never dry out your skin. As Shannon and Delia mention in the episode, “we grow, so your skin glows.”

Tune in today as Ramon Vela sits down with CEO Shannon McLinden and her VP of sales, Delia McLinden, to talk about how they started their “farm to treatment” skincare line.

In part 1, Shannon and Delia discuss Their mutual support of each other; The Hundred-foot overview of Farmhouse Fresh Skincare; Shannon’s journey to starting the brand; How Shannon and Delia went into business together; Building the farm/sanctuary; Solving an issue through your brand; and much more.

For more on Farmhouse Fresh, visit: https://farmhousefreshgoods.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Lensabl - One Stop Shop for All Things Optical Feb 10, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands.

In response to the recent pandemic, tons of different markets have been making the jump to direct-to-consumer shopping. Whether it’s ordering food, buying take-home tests to check your health, or even getting your prescription renewed, anything could be found at the tip of your fingers and in the comfort of your own home.

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Andrew Bilinsky, co-founder and CEO of Lensabl. Through Lensabl, not only can you get your prescription renewed, but every customer could access quality optical care without leaving home.

After trial and error, Andrew and his team perfected the first version of Lensabl, starting with lens replacement in 2017. Lens replacement allowed customers to replace the lens in their glasses without ever having to replace the frame.

Now today, Lensabl has added tons of new services. Listen today as Ramon Vela and Andrew discuss how Lensabl is striving to be your one-stop-shop for all things optical.

In part 1, Andrew discusses: Working with updated tech such as Shopify; Creating the digital transformation for optical care; Using timing to your advantage; Expanding the market; Changing the traditional eye experience to bring accessible and affordable care; Where to find Lensabl; and much more.

For more on Lensabl, visit: https://www.lensabl.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Lensabl - Vision Care Made Easy Feb 10, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands.

In the first part of this Feature, we sit down with Andrew Bilinsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Lensabl. An easy and affordable way to get new lenses for your frames and much more.

Andrew walks us through taking this idea to the next level. As Andrew mentions in the show, Lensabl is about taking “an experience in an optometrist’s office or at a retail store that sells glasses” and turn it almost completely digital.

With their app, customers can renew their prescription, order a new lens, and scan their glasses for their prescription if you’ve lost your old one. Especially after recent events, Andrew and his team do their best to bring you the optical experience.

Tune in today to hear Ramon Vela and Andrew discuss how Lensabl could be the right fit for you.

In part 1, Andrew discusses His mentor experience; How entrepreneurial experience turned into the optical experience; Creating the first vision for Lensabl; Finding the right funding; Advice for others starting an apparel brand; Finding your place in social media space; and much more.

For more on Lensabl, visit: https://www.lensabl.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Heat Free Hair - Starting the Heat Free Hair Movement Feb 10, 2021

** This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and TryNow. **

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Ngozi Opara, CEO, and Founder of Heat Free Hair, to talk about her brand. For all women of color who are looking to transition back to their natural hair as damage-free as possible, Ngozi has a solution for you.

After starting her journey with help from Facebook and “word of mouth,” Ngozi started to run into obstacles. Nevertheless, after years of hard work, she wasn't going to let some bad publicity stop her.

Ngozi breaks boundaries in creating the first company to produce 100% synthetic virgin hair exclusively in natural textures. So tune in to hear Ramon Vela and Ngozi discuss how the Heat Free Hair movement is changing the hair game for women of color.

In part 1, Ngozi discusses Changing your hair in a professional environment; The importance of offering wigs of different hair textures; Working for a solution that works; Finding the perfect manufacturers; Adapting to another country’s environment; Committing yourself to work; Working through the “ugly side of the business”; Where to find and buy Heat Free Hair; and much more.

For more on Heat Free Hair, visit: https://heatfreehair.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Heat Free Hair - The Journey Back to Natural Hair Feb 10, 2021

** This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and TryNow. **

With Instagram, Twitter, and a world of influencers, the ideal standard of beauty has diversified, but how diverse is it? When it comes to the idea of professionalism, piercings, tattoos, and dyed hair are always criticized through a quote-unquote professional lens.

One of the most unspoken criticisms that there are is natural hair. Despite criticisms, making the transition back to natural hair after years of thinning, straightening, styling and perms, is difficult.

That’s why in today’s Feature we’re joining forces with Ngozi Opara, CEO and Founder of Heat Free Hair, to join the Heat Free Hair movement to normalize natural hair for women of color.

Hair is beautiful; hair is confidence. It’s how you present yourself. Women of color shouldn’t have to damage their hair to meet the standards of other people.

Ngozi recognizes this issue and, in turn, created her brand to help women in that journey back to natural hair. For kinky, curly, or coily hair, check out her brand Heat Free Hair for quality extensions to help grow your hair.

Join Ramon Vela and Ngozi as they discuss Heat Free Hair on The Story of a Brand.

In part 1, Ngozi discusses The hundred-foot overview of Heat Free Hair; Falling into the cosmetology world; Making hair your passion and career; Creating the Heat Free Hair Movement; Finding the right manufacturer; “Are you heat-free yet?"; Working despite opposing headlines; and much more.

For more on Heat Free Hair, visit: https://heatfreehair.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Parsley Health - You Deserve the Attention of 1 on 1 Care Feb 09, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.***

In the second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Brooke Travis, CMO of Parsley Health. Parsley Health is a healthcare brand that provides personalized doctor-led care and support for chronic conditions, online or in-person.

Brooke shares with us that Parsley Health serves many people suffering from chronic conditions or symptoms. Most interesting, people come to Parsley because they are frustrated with their current healthcare. As Brooke mentions, "Their primary care doctor who can't help them, somebody's not listening to them. Most people come to us frustrated. They're hugely disillusioned by the health care system. They have not gotten answers to their questions, and they are so sick of feeling not well." Join Ramon Vela and Brooke as they breakdown the inside story of Parsley Health.

In part 2, we discuss Getting into the customer's shoes; Parsley Health case studies; Why genetic testing; Why you deserve the attention of 1 on 1 care; How they reduce the dependency on medication and pills; A Tour of the Parsley Health process; Why they offer a FREE trial; and much more.

For more on Parsley Health, visit: https://www.parsleyhealth.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Parsley Health - Taking Control of Your Health Feb 09, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.***

In the first part of this episode, we interview Brooke Travis, CMO of Parsley Health. Parsley Health is a healthcare brand that provides personalized doctor-led care and support for chronic conditions, online or in-person.

Parsley Health, as Brooke describes, is the "investigative journalist" of medicine. They use your data, such as genetics, and ask why, why, why. Brooke goes on to share, that "Without the data, without being steeped in the actual information about what's going on with you, you're just making generalizations about people.”

Join Ramon Vela and Brooke as they breakdown the inside story of Parsley Health.

In part 1, we discuss The ripple effect of the pandemic; Informal poll - reflecting on 2020, what matters most to you; How she sees her job as a marketer; The innovation that's coming to healthcare; Why Parsley exists; What role data plays at Parsley; Why she joined and what attracted her to Parsley Health; and much more.

For more on Parsley Health, visit: https://www.parsleyhealth.com/

*

OUR SHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

CAMSKNS - The Best Skins in the Photography Game Feb 04, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands.

For any photographer looking to add some color to your camera while protecting it during those late-night shoots, CAMSKNS is at your rescue.

Whether your poison's Nikon, Canon, or Sony, Colin provides a fun looking skin designed to look great and protect your camera from any scratches or dirt that may cause damage.

In today’s episode, we sit back down with Colin Dougherty, Founder & CEO of CAMSKNS. Like all entrepreneurs, creating the brand wasn’t easy, but with his other photographer friends’ support, they made a product that works.

Tune in to listen to Ramon Vela and Colin discuss CAMSKNS on The Story of a Brand.

In part 1, Colin discusses Going full time with your side hustle; Working with manufacturers; Seeing your product in real life for the first time; Perfecting the packaging for your customer experience; Being Customer-centric; Running a DTC brand; and much more.

For more on CAMSKNS, visit: https://www.camskns.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

CAMSKNS - From Freelance Photographer to Product Founder Feb 03, 2021

****This episode was brought to you by ATTN Agency and Forum Brands.

We’re dedicating this one to all of our photographers, whether you’re professional, freelance, or doing it for the fun of it.

In the first part of this Feature, we’re covering CAMSKNS, a brand dedicated to giving your camera as much personality as you do. We sit down with Colin Dougherty, CEO, and Founder of CAMSKNS, to talk about his journey.

Starting as a freelancer, “you’re always looking for the next job” and “you’re always looking for the next gig,” Colin mentions. Although through his brand, “I saw it as an opportunity where I could potentially make something a lot larger than just myself.”

Tune in today to meet Colin and how he became the founder of CAMSKNS.

In part 1, Colin discusses CAMSKNS and what it is; Colin’s journey to creating CAMSKNS; Differentiating your product from others; Product testing with your friend group; Gaining the courage to make your product come to life; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Colin as they discuss CAMSKNS on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Camskns, visit: https://www.camskns.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Forum Brands - Looking to Sell Your Amazon Business? Feb 03, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.***

On today’s episode of Story of a Brand, we sit back down with Alex Kopco, COO and co-Founder of Forum Brands.

In four steps, Forum Brands provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their businesses.

First, you share your story and the details of your business. Then Forum Brands provides you an offer. Followed by the next step, where you both iron out the details. Finally, you, the seller, cash out.

As Alex mentions, Forums starts with “a small business” with “a ton of potential,” adding their experience and expertise to “build something great.”

In part 1 of this Feature, we discuss Believing in the brand; Delving into that first conversation between Forum and the brand; What onboarding looks like at Forum; Working out marketing strategies; The keys to success with Forum; Advice to future sellers; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex as they discuss Forum Brands on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Forum Brands, visit: https://www.forumbrands.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Forum Brands - The Most Trusted Buyers of Amazon Businesses Feb 02, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Omnisend.***

Tens of thousands of people have supplemented their income by building Amazon FBA business out of their garages and homes.

With the acceleration of e-commerce caused by the pandemic, many of these Amazon FBA businesses have seen tremendous growth.

However, with tremendous growth comes increased expenditures for inventory, new employees, shipping costs, etc. What once was an easy, fun way to make money now is a headache.

Alex Kopco, co-Founder & COO of Forum Brands, might have a solution for you. They look for passionate sellers who have built great brands that consumers love and allow them to cash out years of profits in one day.

In part 1 of this Feature, we discuss The hundred-foot overview of Forum Brands; Alex’s experience with Amazon; Being truly customer-centric; The advantages of listening to the cultural differences of your customers; The customer’s first impression of your brand; The boarding process with Forum; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Alex as they discuss Forum Brands on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Forum Brands, visit: https://www.forumbrands.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode was brought to you by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing platform that goes above and beyond regular email campaigns - so you can start increasing your sales, not your workload.

With Omnisend, you’ll be launching pre-built e-commerce automation in no time, as well as intuitively segmenting customers and even trying out SMS or push notifications - all from the same platform.

The best part? Omnisend provides an immediate boost to your revenue while staying as comfortable as drag & drop email building - with automated emails averaging up to 40% of total email revenue.

Join Hallmark, Duke Cannon, and 50,000 other high-growth brands who choose Omnisend to grow their e-commerce businesses on autopilot.

Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card is required. Visit https://www.omnisend.com/sob/

Evergreen - Eat Clean. Eat Evergreen. Feb 01, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.***

In today’s episode, we sit back down with Emily Groden, founder and Evergreen CEO. Evergreen is one of the first organic frozen waffle companies or all of those who love a quick snack that’s not only delicious but healthy.

Through trial and error, Emily took her love of food to create her waffles’ first few recipes. From flavors such as Peanut Butter and Banana to Chocolate Chip and Matcha, Emily ensures an excellent quality waffle with clean ingredients.

Along with diverse flavors, each of the waffles is dairy-free without any refined sugars or preservatives. Tune in as we talk to Emily about the “behind the scenes” of Evergreen.

In part 1, we discuss Perfecting the Evergreen recipes; Being a working parent of a newborn; Depending on your support system; Taking the dive into your entrepreneurial journey; The advantage of having Whole Foods as your customer; The future of the brand; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily as they discuss Evergreen on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Evergreen, visit: https://eatevergreen.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Evergreen - From Lawyer to Frozen Food Disruptor Feb 01, 2021

***This episode is brought to you by ATTN Agency and Repeat.***

In today’s show, we sit down with founder and CEO Emily Groden to talk about the Evergreen brand.

As Emily mentions, at the time, she was a lawyer with a young daughter who wanted to feed her “something really quick and easy” and “frozen waffles seemed like the obvious option.” Although she couldn’t believe the type of ingredients were in them when she got a closer look.

Listen in as we hear about how Emily created an organic frozen waffle company for all of those hard-working moms.

In part 1, we discuss Emily’s mentor experience; The 100 ft overview of the brand; Emily’s journey as a college athlete and lawyer; Learning from the Chef’s Table; Pursuing your dreams out of college; Being a lawyer who loves food; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Emily as they discuss Evergreen on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Evergreen, visit: https://eatevergreen.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Unbound Merino - Do the Work. Momentum will Follow. Jan 29, 2021

In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand, we sit back down with Dan Demsky, co-founder of Unbound Merino. Unbound Merino is a high-performance appeal brand that utilizes premium merino wool material.

In the previous episode, we talked about the pros of wearing merino wool; lightweight regulates your temperature and never wrinkles.

In this episode, we delve into Dan’s journey into building the brand and creating Unbound Merino. Not only do we hear about his inspiration leading him to the idea, but we get an insight into what it took to keep the dream live.

As Dan recalls, “it made sense to me... I need these people to support me. I need this momentum. So what else would I be doing? … I could have played video games, read comic books, I could have got a 12 pack of beer, ate some pizza, and watched Netflix. No, I wanted to make this thing work. So you do the work.”

Listen in as Ramon Vela, and Dan Demsky discuss what it means to keep up that entrepreneurial momentum on The Story of a Brand.

In part 1, Dan discusses Unbound Merino’s marketing strategy; The upsides of crowdfunding; Reaching out to everyone you know to build momentum; Creating the perfect campaign; COVID Impacts on a travel apparel brand; Delving into the different products; and much more.

For more on Unbound Merino, visit: https://unboundmerino.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Unbound Merino - The Everyday High-Performance Clothing Jan 29, 2021

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Dan Demsky, co-Founder of Unbound Merino. Unbound Merino is a versatile, high performance & sustainable clothing line for men and women made from Merino wool.

Merino wool comes from the merino sheep in Australia. The secret in “nature’s miracle fabric” is that it holds the capabilities to insulate heat when it’s cold and breathe comfortably when it’s warm.

It’s also naturally antibacterial and moisture-wicking, which means less washing with clothes that stay dry, clean, and fresh. This makes it the perfect material to bring in your carry on to maximize your travel wardrobe or wear for everyday use.

Listen in as we talk to co-founder Dan Demsky, as he tells us how he turned merino wool into a travel apparel brand.

In part 1, Dan discusses Dan’s mentor experience; The Hundred-Foot Overview of Unbound Merino; Nature’s miracle fabric; How merino wool works; Crowdfunding your project; Utilizing the next travel hack; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Dan as they discuss Unbound Merino on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Unbound Merino, visit: https://unboundmerino.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Hiccapop - Why Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast Jan 28, 2021

In today’s episode, we sit back down with Davis Clute, Author and CEO & Co-Founder of Hiccapop, as we continue the discussion of his new book, “How to Start a Business (In 50 Pages).”

Throughout the book, Davis gives insight from his own experiences and expertise to break down what it means to start a brand.

From customer service to product development, Davis holds a lot of great advice, and one of the topics we’re focusing on today is growth.

As Davis references an old military quote, “slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” he's sharing with us that growing slow, deliberate, and profitable is better than growing quickly and at "all cost" while sacrificing profitability. Instead of growing slow & profitable, it often helps you to grow faster.

Listen in as we talk about taking the long term approach to growing a successful brand with Davis Clute.

In part 1, Davis discusses The pros and cons of having a co-founder; Is hard work overrated; The importance of persistence; “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast”; Growing at a rate that works for your company; Advice for entrepreneurs; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Davis as they discuss Hiccapop on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hiccapop, visit: https://www.hiccapop.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Hiccapop - How to Start a Product Business Jan 27, 2021

On today’s episode of Story of a Brand, we’re sitting down with CEO and Co-Founder Davis Clute.

With a couple of previous start-ups under his belt, Davis created the brand Hiccapop. Hiccapop is a brand solely dedicated to rethinking children’s products for the modern parent.

With Hiccapop growing in success, Davis released his latest book, “How to Start a Business (In 50 Pages),” which provides insights to upcoming entrepreneurs.

Insights including past experiences, how to expect and overcome failure, and ways to de-stress during your business’s growth. Please tune in to today’s episode as we go over the entrepreneurial insights of Davis Clute.

In part 1, Davis discusses His Mentor experience, Focusing on customer service and product development, Going over the keys of success, Learning from failure, Growing a business in a stress-free environment, Getting your product out to the public.

Join Ramon Vela and Davis as they discuss Hiccapop on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Hiccapop, visit: https://www.hiccapop.com/

*

OUR PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Caraa - Making Luxury Accessible to the Modern Woman Jan 26, 2021

For our next episode, we sit back down with CEO and Co-Founder Aaron Luo to talk about his brand Caraa. Caraa is a luxury handbag brand created for everyone.

Creating Caraa was never meant to hold the same ideals as larger luxury brands. Caraa denies “exclusivity” to make the idea of luxury more accessible to the modern woman.

“There’s nothing wrong with luxury brands,” as Aaron mentions, “the idea is always ‘can we democratize good products?’” By producing a product in similar factories such as those that create luxury, Caraa has that same quality for lesser than the usual price. Between duffels, totes, and even their award-winning masks, check out today’s episode to hear the story behind Caraa.

In part 1, Aaron discusses Receiving feedback in a luxury space; Building inclusivity in a luxury space for consumers; Expensive doesn’t always mean better; COVID impacts; The future of Caraa; How to contact Caraa; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Aaron as they discuss Caraa on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Caraa, visit: https://caraasport.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all, for more details visit https://flavorcloud.com/

Caraa - Reimagining Modern Luxury Jan 26, 2021

In today’s episode, we sit down with Aaron Luo as he introduces his brand Caraa.

Aaron and his co-founder, Carmen Chen Wu, teamed up in New York, where they later learned that they both spent their childhoods in Spain.

Seemingly destined by fate, Aaron and the award-winning designer created Caraa. Caraa is a brand built to democratize luxury-quality products to the modern woman on the go.

Especially living in a metropolitan city such as New York, people go from the A train to work to grab a coffee to run errands to getting back on the A train to finally getting home. Sounds tiring? It’s because it is.

After a long day like that, you deserve a great looking bag designed to last as long as you do. So tune in today to hear about a kick-ass product that’s challenging the world of luxury handbags.

In part 1, Aaron discusses Aaron’s mentor experience; The Hundred-foot overview of Caraa; Creating luxury products designed to last; Growing the company at the right pace; Differences in funding; Aaron’s Co-Founder Journey; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Aaron as they discuss Caraa on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Caraa, visit: https://caraasport.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all, for more details visit https://flavorcloud.com/

RIND Snacks - Love is RIND Jan 25, 2021

In today’s episode, we sit back down with Matt Weiss, CEO and Founder of RIND Snacks.

In the previous episode, Matt told us the story of how inspired he was by his great grandmother, Helen Seitner, and her resourcefulness.

Using the rinds of the fruit is not only nutritional and delicious but helps lessen food waste. With RIND, Matt can create a snack that positively benefits the environment, and with their mission, he can give this positivity to other people.

Their mission, “Love is Rind,” allows RIND to be part of the solution to absolve child hunger. With 5,000+ bags already donated, Matt shows us what it truly means to pay it forward.

From his great grandmother’s warming spirit to building the brand, tune in today to hear more about RIND’s kindness.

In part 1, Matt discusses COVID impacts on RIND Snacks; Launching a D to C brand during a pandemic; Getting into the ingredients; Growing your brand despite “haters”; RIND’s mission statement; Delving into the inspiration behind their flavors; Matt’s advice to future entrepreneurs; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt as they discuss RIND Snacks on The Story of a Brand.

For more on RIND Snacks, visit: https://www.rindsnacks.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

RIND Snacks - Keep it Real. Eat the Peel Jan 25, 2021

On this podcast, we’ve covered a lot of great snacks. Whether it’s mindless snacking during quarantine or pairing a snack with your favorite movie, we can’t get enough of it. So instead of taking it out altogether, our buddies at RIND Snacks have an alternative solution.

RIND snacks utilize the nutritional value found in the peel or rind of the fruit while providing quality taste. As our guest mentions in the episode, “the secret ingredient” isn’t “something we add, but rather something we don’t subtract.”

The rind is “the heart of a fruit’s nutritional core.” With RIND, there’s no longer that after-snacking guilt of eating a whole bag of chips, but rather a boost of health. So please tune in for today’s episode as we sit down with Matt Weiss, CEO, and Founder of RIND Snacks, as he breaks down his journey into creating RIND Snacks.

In part 1, Matt discusses His support system; The Hundred-Foot Overview of RIND Snacks; Introducing the power of the peel; Continuing Great-Grandma Seitner’s legacy through RIND Snacks; Matt’s journey to creating RIND; Learning by doing; Why Matt chose rinds; Receiving feedback at the start of the business; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Matt as they discuss RIND Snacks on The Story of a Brand.

For more on RIND Snacks, visit: https://www.rindsnacks.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

BIOHM - Harness the Power of Microbiome Data Jan 22, 2021

Whether it’s for a big job interview or a presentation, we’ve all had that butterfly feeling in our stomachs when we’re feeling stressed.

Although today we’re talking about what that butterfly feeling means when it comes to your digestive health.

In part 2 of this Feature, we sit back down with Afif Ghannoum, CEO and Co-Founder of BIOHM Health, to talk about the impacts of the microbiome.

As Afif mentions in the previous episode, BIOHM Health focuses on the digestive microbiome. From different stressors such as lack of sleep, mental stress, dietary routines, there are multiple reasons why the digestive microbiome could be impacted. Through BIOHM Health’s take-home test, not only could they provide a report on what’s happening in your body, but they could also advise different solutions.

In part 1, Afif discusses His and his Father’s journey into the U.S.; Being grateful for our parents’ strength to overcome struggle; Taking a microbiome test; Going through the different products at BIOHM Health; The “Super Greenhouse”; Future partnerships with medical tech; Testing again with taking active adjustments to your health; The future of BIOHM Health; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Afif as they discuss BIOHM on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BIOHM, visit: https://www.biohmhealth.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all. For more details, visit https://flavorcloud.com/

BIOHM - Wellness Equals a Healthy Gut Microbiome Jan 21, 2021

On today’s episode of Story of a Brand, we’re diving into the depths of BIOHM Health. BIOHM Health produces probiotics to help break down the digestive biofilm.

So if you’re like us and thinking to yourself, “well, what does this mean?” Afif Ghannoum, CEO and Co-Founder of BIOHM Health, has got an answer.

“All sorts of plaques are biofilms,” Afif explains, “the reason we want to remove that plaque is so that we get to the germs that are underneath causing issues” such as gingivitis. Along with his father, a world-renowned microbiome scientist, they’ve created a brand to spread awareness of this problem and to provide a solution as well. So listen in as we head into the microbiome.

In part 1, Afif discusses The Hundred-foot overview of BIOHM Health; The evolution of studying the microbiome; The impact of the microbiome on taking medication; Using a probiotic to supplement your healthy lifestyle; What having “the nervous tummy” means on your digestive system; The different types of microbiomes in our body; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Afif as they discuss BIOHM on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BIOHM, visit https://www.biohmhealth.com/.

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all; for more details, visit www.flavorcloud.com

Levels - There's Power in Understanding your Health Jan 21, 2021

In part 2 of this Feature, we sit back down with Josh Clemente, the Founder and President of Levels, to discuss the importance of understanding our health.

Becoming healthier is a broad subject with millions of different routes to take. Some routes may work, and others may not. As Josh mentioned in the previous episode, this ties into a “closed-loop system.”

In a closed-loop system, we could try hundreds of combinations between turning vegetarian and working out 3 times a week or turning to a juice cleanse and working out once a week; maybe they work, maybe they won’t. The key is that it’s the lack of feedback that will always keep us guessing if what we’re doing is working for our own bodies, which is why Josh created Levels.

Levels could help provide you the feedback to understand your health truly.

In part 2, Josh discusses His inspiration for creating Levels; Working with health data; Combining the medical world with a DTC brand; Coping with the stress from the development stage to the first customer; The positive impact of Levels; Finding empowerment through understanding your physical health; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Josh as they discuss Levels on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Levels, visit: https://www.levelshealth.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Levels - Metabolism is Life Jan 20, 2021

For today’s episode of The Story of a Brand, we’re sitting down with Josh Clemente, Founder, and President of Levels.

When it comes to getting healthy, people’s first thoughts usually turn to exercise and eating better. Although as Josh noticed, it’s hard to exercise and eat better when each one of our bodies is entirely different. Different people do better with different diets, and exercise routines vary between every person.

In response to this, Josh and his team utilized existing medical technology to create Levels, a metabolic fitness program. With each meal or exercise, Levels gives you feedback on how it affects your body. With consistent live feedback, any customer could tweak their routine until it’s perfect for them. Tune in as we talk about the value of Levels.

In part 2, Josh discusses Josh’s support system; The hundred-foot overview of Levels; The technology behind Levels; Adjusting your diet and routine to your personal needs; Learning about the “closed-loop feedback system”; Where Josh got his start in medical tech; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Josh as they discuss Levels on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Levels, visit: https://www.levelshealth.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Justuno - Why You Should Shop Your Own Site Jan 20, 2021

In part 2 of our Feature, we sit back down with the Co-founder and CEO of Justuno, Erik Christiansen. In our last conversation, we covered Erik’s hero’s journey into creating Justuno.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the keys to building and maintaining a successful brand. As Erik explains in the show, there are so many variables in starting a company that sometimes you forget about the “basics of the shopping experience.”

With small adjustments such as installing new ways to communicate to your customers, Justuno helps you become familiar with the marketing strategies that work best for you.

With Justuno, Erik and his team are here to ease your way around e-commerce marketing so you could continue building your dream brand. Tune in today as we talk about the value of Justuno.

In part 2, Erik discusses Engaging with your customers during their shopping experience; Shopping your own site; Using communication as a turning point; The advantage of having a DTC brand; The value of Justuno; Being thankful for the team; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Erik to discuss Justuno on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Justuno, visit: https://www.justuno.com/ramon/

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OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Justuno - Getting Customers Across the Finish Line Jan 19, 2021

In today’s episode of Story of a Brand, we’re talking to Erik Christiansen, CEO & Co-Founder, about his Hero’s journey into starting and growing Justuno.

Starting off at a snowboarding company, Erik noticed the impact that building an online community would have in starting a brand. Although his first company didn’t make it, he took this knowledge to enter the next part of his journey.

Along with his buddy, Travis Logan, the two started Justuno which is a conversion optimization platform. As Erik mentions, Justuno was created to perfect the last mile and help “get that customer across the finish line.”

With Justuno, companies could use their software to stay creative with their marketing strategy and keep their customers engaged. Listen in as Erik gives us the inside scoop.

In part 1, Erik discusses The Hundred-Foot overview of JustUno; Working on the last mile - Getting your customer over the finish line; Erik’s Hero’s Journey to creating JustUno; Creating an online community; Depending on your support system; Engaging with your customers during their shopping experience; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela and Erik as they discuss Justuno on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Justuno, visit: https://www.justuno.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

IQBar - The Brain and Body Protein Bar Jan 18, 2021

In part 2 of this Feature, we sit back down with Will Nitze, Founder of IQBar, to continue discussing nutrition, brain food, and what it means to be an entrepreneur.

Will’s company, IQBar, is a “brain and body nutrition company” for quality protein bars. With different flavors such as chocolate, wild blueberry, matcha chai, it’s no wonder why IQBars have been successful.

Although as Will talks about in today’s episode, it wasn’t always easy. Starting a company means going through a lot of trial and error. To be a successful entrepreneur, “you have to be a little bit kooky” and “have a few screws loose.” Because as Will puts it, “creating anything from nothing” is an overall “wild experience” that isn’t always easy but almost always worth it.

Check out the episode as we talk about balancing out your creative/methodical personalities, being passionate about your career, and advice to future entrepreneurs.

In part 1, Will discusses COVID impacts on nutrition; Revolutionizing brain food; Growing more passionate in your work; Training yourself to become methodical; Advice for future entrepreneurs; What it truly means to be an entrepreneur; The future of the brand; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela, and Will discuss IQBar on The Story of a Brand.

For more on IQBar, visit: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat automates frictionless reordering experiences for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

IQBar - Connecting the Brain and Nutrition Jan 18, 2021

On today’s episode of Story of a Brand, we’re sitting down with Will Nitze, the Founder of IQBar.

While studying psychology as an undergrad, Will became fascinated with the brain and neuroscience. After graduation and long days at work, Will started to experience chronic headaches, which he soon found out would be caused by an unhealthy diet.

Through much research, he discovered his true calling was to reinvent brain food. As Will mentions, “this light bulb went off. I was like, oh, this could be the thing that I do now.”

With IQBar, “I could create functional nutritional products and not only solve my problems, but tens of thousands of other people's problems.” Listen in as we talk about IQBar and the six brain nutrients to help start your day off right.

In part 1, Will discusses The Hundred-foot overview of IQBar; The Six Brain nutrients of the IQBar; Connecting nutrition to our psychology; Will’s start to the brand; A focus on nutrition; Working on fundraising; and much more.

Join Ramon Vela, and Will discuss the IQBar on The Story of a Brand.

For more on IQBar, visit: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

*

OUR ENTIRE PODCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat automates frictionless reordering experiences for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

*

This specific episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Sene - Clothes that Fit Perfectly Jan 14, 2021

In part 2 of our Feature, we continue the conversation with Ray Li about his brand Sene. Sene is a custom clothing company that’s innovating the shopping experience.

No longer does clothing have to be size-centric; instead, it is worn with ease as your attire is customized to fit you.

Sene is about creating a thoughtful experience for each consumer to create a personal atmosphere that fast fashion doesn’t always seem to capture.

It all starts with a 60 second Smart Fit quiz to upload your measurements and any sizing preferences. After that, it’s sewn and shipped right to your doorstep.

For those who are eager to try out Sene but are unsure about any fitting mishaps, there is a 60-day guarantee for all orders. Alterations are made within those 60 days until you find your perfect fit.

Listen in as Ramon Vela and Ray LI discuss the future of custom clothing on The Story of a Brand.

In part 2, Ray discusses the following: The importance of believing in your vision; Breaking the traditional suiting market; Going into the trial and error of growing the company; Changing conventional approaches to starting a modern clothing brand; Walking through the Sene customer experience; The Sene VIP program; Advice for future entrepreneurs; and much more.

For more on Sene, visit: https://senestudio.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Sene - This Brand is Mainstreaming Custom Clothing Jan 14, 2021

Along with co-founder Mark Zheng, Ray Li is out to “mainstream custom clothing” with their brand Sene.

Sene stems from Ray’s passion for eliminating the misguided notion of the “ideal body” and creating clothes that fit anybody.

It produces an accessible alternative for those who strive to get custom-fitted suits or jeans at a reasonable price.

As Ray mentions in the episode, “our mission is to empower people of all shapes and sizes to feel their best.”

Although the idea seems full proof, increasing its growth was a challenge, as Ray recalls.

Listen to today's episode of The Story of a Brand as Ramon Vela interviews Ray, and they discuss overcoming those challenges, especially as a new company, to break old traditions.

In part 1, Ray discusses the following: Ray’s mentor experience, Sene and what it is; Expressing the brand mission; Creating accessible custom clothing; Breaking boundaries in mainstream fashion; The first attempt in creating Sene; Adapting the brand to COVID complications; and much more.

For more on Sene, visit: https://senestudio.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a 30-minute call.

Season Three - The Most Comfortable Boot You'll Ever Own Jan 14, 2021

In part 2 of this Feature, we sit back down with co-founders Jared Ray Johnson and Adam Klein to discuss their journey in creating Season Three.

Season Three was created to produce the modern boot, The Ansel.

On top of redesigning the boot, the two have created a shoe to encourage exploration and purpose. Like Adam states, “I think pushing yourself and pushing … youth culture, really anything, to explore, to figure out what they are really talented at is the only way to kind of live.”

No matter if you’re a Steve Jobs type of genius or completely art-driven, anything is possible with that right kind of push and talent. That’s what we here at The Story of a Brand are about.

We hope to celebrate all brands of all backgrounds to share their stories and inspire others to start their journey. Thanks to all of you, thanks to Season Three's founders, especially those listening for the first time.

In part 2, Jared and Adam discuss Finding your strengths and weaknesses; Working towards your passion; Creating the concept for The Ansel; Dealing with Imposter syndrome; Delving into the materials and design; Adapting from prototypes; The Benjamin Edgar collaboration; The future of the brand; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jared and Adam for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story.

For more on Season Three, visit: https://seasonthree.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them?

Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

Season Three - A Brand Built on Curiosity Jan 13, 2021

“Boots have always been rooted in heritage,” as Jared mentions. There are hiking boots, construction boots, steel toe, etc.

Although Jared and Adam noticed, there isn’t a modern boot for those merely walking around the city.

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Co-Founders Jared Ray Johnson and Adam Klein to talk about what it takes to create a modern boot with their brand Season Three.

The two MIT students took everything they hated about the average boot to create everything they love about their boot, The Ansel. The Ansel, any person, could have effective, durable footwear that is sleek enough to be worn from the streets to “the museum.”

Listen in as we talk about renovating the purpose of our boots.

In part 2, Jared and Adam discuss Their mentor experience; The hundred-foot overview of Season Three; Building an “outdoor lifestyle brand”; Jared and Ray’s journey at MIT; Choosing “the boot” category as a jump into the shoe market; Creating the modern boot for the everyday wear; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jared and Adam for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story.

For more on Season Three, visit: https://seasonthree.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by TryNow.

Do your shoppers love your products once they've had a chance to try them? Is it hard for you to convey the quality of your product digitally?

Well, there is a secret strategy that many of the fastest-growing Shopify brands use to get their products in more shoppers' homes.

They use TryNow to automate a Try At Home program.

With TryNow, 1) shoppers can check out with a zero dollar cart, 2) get items shipped right to their home, and 3) only pay for what they keep.

DTC brands like Hammit, Myles Apparel, Solid + Striped, Tamara Mellon, Universal Standard, and Girlfriend Collective... use TryNow to increase conversion rates and average order values.

If you want to say to your shoppers, don't trust us, trust our products, then go to https://www.trynow.io/ to learn if a TryNow program is right for you.

B.T.R. Bar - Make Mindless Snacking a Thing of the Past Jan 12, 2021

On today’s episode, we sit back down with Ashley Nickelson, Founder and Chief Snack Officer of BTR Bars.

BTR Bars, as in Bold, Tenacious, Resilient, is a company meant to break the habits of mindless snacking and inspire other women.

Ashley’s made it her goal and the company's goal to support, connect, and build up other women. Starting a company isn’t the easiest, especially if you’re trying to start an entrepreneurial journey while keeping a work/life balance.

Although as Ashley mentions, it’s that “passion” that keeps you from getting “burnt out.” For all women who do 110% in both work and life, you’re truly celebrated at BTR Bars for following your passions. Staying true to her mission, listen in as Ashley talks about her own passions as well as an in-depth look into the making of BTR.

In part 2, Ashley discusses Her journey with branding and building the company; Creating a community; COVID Impacts; Starting your entrepreneurial endeavor; Following your passions; Trying BTR Bars; The different uses of each flavor; The Future of BTR Bars; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ashley for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on B.T.R. Bar, visit: https://www.eatbtrbar.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all. For more details, visit www.flavorcloud.com

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

B.T.R. Bar - Protein Bars with a Purpose Jan 12, 2021

Ashley says it best when she says, “BTR Bars are the first bars with a purpose.” In today’s episode, we talk about that purpose with Ashley Nickelsen, the Founder and Chief Snack Officer of B.T.R. Bars.

Ashley started her entrepreneurial journey experiencing a time in her life where snacking was almost pivotal to her diet. Instead of sticking to the classics, Ashley created BTR Bars to help put an end to “mindless snacking.”

Compared to most snacks with 20-30 grams of sugar, BTR Bars have “zero grams of sugar” while also adding other nutrients to help energize or relax you. Unlike most diets, BTR Bars don’t discourage anyone from snacking but instead offer you nutritious alternatives with ease.

In part 2, Ashley discusses Her Mentor experience, BTR and what it is; Ending mindless snacking; Getting into the ingredients; Spreading educational awareness about the ingredients in a BTR Bar; Building the customer experience at the point of purchase; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ashley for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on B.T.R. Bar, visit: https://www.eatbtrbar.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by FlavorCloud.

Who wants to deal with international shipping, customs, duties, and taxes.

FlavorCloud makes it easy for fast-growing DTC brands and 3PL partners to ship globally in just a few simple steps.

Let FlavorCloud manage it all. For more details, visit https://flavorcloud.com/

*

This episode is also brought to you by CartText.

Are you interested in improving your Abandoned Cart Recovery rates?

Cart Text is Powered by real people, not bots, not AI, real people. Cart Text will contact & engage with your customers in real-time to make the sales you missed.

One by one, CartText will convert your abandoned carts, churned subscriptions, and billing-related issues using live agents + SMS. Real people, getting the job done.

To learn more, visit https://carttext.com/

Good Food For Good - Purpose and Great Tasting Sauces Jan 11, 2021

In the second half of this Feature, we sit back down with Richa Gupta, creator of Good Food for Good, to discuss the importance of eating Good.

As a young mom and marketing executive, Richa wanted to create a solution to making healthy food that tastes good.

With her first line of cooking sauces to “table sauces,” Richa offers alternatives to condiments that usually contain a lot of sugar, such as ketchup, in the commercial processed versions.

Through Good Food for Good, she has taken everyday sauces that we’ve grown to love and has created vegan, no-sugar-added versions that are not only healthy but help make food taste better.

Good Food for Good is a great way to inspire yourself to start or continue cooking at home and for anyone looking for a break from fast food and mobile delivery orders.

In part 2, Richa discusses Finding your purpose and working towards it always; Talking about being a B Corp company; How to stay true to being a B Corp; The importance of taste in a healthy diet; You won’t believe how much sugar is in BBQ Sauce and Ketchup; Believing in the slow food movement; Talking about giving back during the holidays; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Richa for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on Good Food For Good, visit: https://goodfoodforgood.ca/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by Repeat, the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Good Food For Good - Food to Feel Good About Jan 11, 2021

In today’s The Story of a Brand Feature, Richa Gupta, Founder & President of Good Food For Good, talks about how her business helps her truly make a difference.

Starting in the fashion industry, Richa followed the path of “moving up the corporate ladder” until she found her true calling in the food industry.

Understanding how harmful processed food could truly be for the body, Richa created Good Food for Good, a line of sauces for both cooking and topping to encourage everyone to keep cooking.

Not only does it inspire others to keep cooking, but Good Food for Good also stays true to their Buy One, Feed One model.

For every product bought, their company will donate a meal to fight world hunger. It is her passion, and it’s healthy; it’s truly Good Food for Good.

In part 1, Richa discusses Starting Good Food for Good; Richa’s journey into discovering her calling; Understanding what processed food does to us; The first year of building the company; Molding your company to reach your goal; Using your support system; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Richa for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on Good Food For Good, visit: https://goodfoodforgood.ca/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is brought to you by Repeat.

Repeat is the easiest way for your customers to reorder products they love.

Most vendors in the Shopify ecosystem would have you believe that subscription-focused commerce is the key to customer retention for CPG brands.

But with monthly churn rates pushing 10% across the industry, Repeat has a better way.

Repeat will automate a frictionless reordering experience for the largest part of a CPG brand’s customer base: The non-subscriber.

Repeat uses machine learning to analyze one-time shopper behavior, automates reorder notifications, and delivers personalized replenishment carts that aid in up-sell and cross-sell efforts.

The result? Higher LTV, better margins, and more insights on your best customers.

To learn more, visit https://signup.getrepeat.io/

Vitafive - Great Tasting, Eco-Friendly Gummy Vitamins Jan 08, 2021

In this second part of this Feature, we interview Nik Hall, Co-Founder of vitafive. At vitafive, Nik is creating easy to take vitamins in gummy form.

These vitamins are not easy to take, but they’re also fun to take with colorful, eco-friendly packaging. They’re also good for any parent looking for a fun solution for their kids to take their vitamins.

Whether you're looking for a gummy to enhance your overall health or for detox, vitafive offers different varieties that are all gluten-free and vegetarian friendly. Listen in as Nik talks to us about the inner workings of vitafive.

In Part 2, Nik discusses Being grateful for your support system; Keeping to your vision; Marketing the product itself; Creating an eco-friendly product; The impact of taking a vitamin a day, and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nik for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on vitafive, visit: https://vitafive.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency.

ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses.

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a call.

Vitafive - The Trial and Error of Building a Vitamin Brand Jan 08, 2021

In this first part of this Feature, we interview Nik Hall, Co-Founder of vitafive. Vitafive provides high-quality gummy vitamins in eco-friendly packs that are good for health.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a business major in your third year of college, we talk about the importance of working through failure. Failure helps to shape the future of your company while building the foundation for you as an entrepreneur to grow.

As Nik references it, failure and success are two very different feelings that are crucial to building a business similar to flying on a plane.

The first year of a start-up brings a lot of turbulence and paranoia of how far you’re going to fall. Although the moment you land on the ground, your “reaction is completely different.” Listen in as we go step by step about how we work through failure.

In Part 1, Nik discusses Nik’s own experience with his college mentor; Creating idea after idea after idea; Working through obstacles; The trial and error of finding a good marketing routine; Nik’s business advice; The ease of Shopify; and much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nik for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on vitafive, visit: https://vitafive.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

*

This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands.

Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a call.

Garrett Wade - Finding a Craft You Truly Love Jan 06, 2021

In this second part of this Feature, we sit back down with Craig Winer, Co-Owner & Senior VP of Garrett Wade, to hear the stories about what makes Garrett Wade a trusted name.

Craig and his team at Garrett Wade truly love the work that they do, from finding vintage kitchen knives in France to foraging through Sweden. The passion for providing unique and quality tools is only one of the keys that have made the brand a success. As the pandemic has evolved throughout the past year, hobbies have once again caught on as ways to learn, distract from news, and or distress. Not only does Garrett Wade create tools for experienced craft workers, but also first-time learners that are eager to find their own passion. As Craig mentions, it’s about “breaking those barriers” that keep us from continuing our craft. Whether it's a challenging hobby or simply a lack of time, Garrett Wade is about finding a craft you truly love and working through those obstacles. In Part 2, Craig discusses Celebrating the craftsmen that contribute to Garrett Wade’s success; Picking for products and sourcing; Kitchen knives in France; Sharing stories and marketing the brand; The future of Garrett Wade; Being passionate about your craft; COVID Impacts on home life; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Craig for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Garrett Wade, visit: https://www.garrettwade.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands. Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA? If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands. Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses. If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a call.

Garrett Wade - Where Good Tools Come First Jan 06, 2021

In this first part of this Feature, we sit down with Craig Winer, Co-Owner & Senior VP of Garrett Wade, to discuss Garrett Wade’s lasting success. Since the 1970s, Garrett Wade has offered a variety of selections for any demographic to enjoy true craftsmanship.

The company was started by Garrettson Wade Chinn with the original goal of celebrating craftsmen by offering a catalog with hard to find, quality tools. Through the decades, that goal has expanded from selling hard to find tools for offering vintage kitchenware, quality gardening tools, and even collectible toys.

As Craig mentions in the episode, it’s more than purchasing a tool to complete your next project. It’s a well-crafted tool that could be passed down for generations.

In Part 1, Craig discusses Craig Winer and his mentor; The 100 ft overview of Garrett Wade; The importance of craftsmanship; Putting your own passions into creating successful products; COVID Impacts on the brand; Adapting throughout the decades; The foundation of Garrett Wade; And much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Craig for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story.

For more on Garrett Wade, visit: https://www.garrettwade.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

* This episode is also brought to you by Forum Brands. Have you built an online brand that consumers love? Do you sell in consumer categories that are essential to everyday life? Do the majority of your sales go through Amazon FBA?

If this sounds like you, you should get to know Forum Brands.

Forum is a team of expert investors, operators, and many ex-Amazonians, who provide entrepreneurs and owners with the most efficient and lucrative way to sell their e-commerce businesses

If you’re interested in exploring a sale and cashing out years of your profits in one day, visit us at https://www.forumbrands.com/ to schedule a call.

OLIKA - Intersection of Beauty & Hygiene Jan 05, 2021

In this second part of this Feature, Alastair Dorward, CEO of OLIKA, continues his discussion on how OLIKA is reimagining the Hand Sanitizer market.

Being an entrepreneur beforehand, Alastair saw the potential that this category offered by redesigning the idea of hand sanitizer and taking it to the next level.

With his company Olika, he has done just that. Through Olika, Alastair is reaching its goal to add hand sanitizer to the average consumer’s daily routine. As hand sanitizer is no longer used upon necessity, Olika strives to design it for your every day.

It’s created to be portable, functional, and reusable. So tune in as Alastair not only talks about the product but gives an inside look at creating a fashionable hand sanitizer.

In Part 1, Alastair discusses The importance of design; Focusing on consumer engagement with the product; Creating a product that’s also reusable and sustainable; Painting an image for the product that’s photogenic; Adding hand sanitizer to your skincare regimen; The future of Olika; And much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alastair for The Story of a Brand, and listen to him share the inside story.

For more on OLIKA, visit: https://olikalife.com/

*

This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services.

If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results.

Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

OLIKA - Reimagining the Hand Sanitizer Jan 05, 2021

In this first part of this Feature, we interview Alastair Dorward, CEO of OLIKA. At Olika, Alastair and his team are reinventing the use of hand sanitizer.

As the pandemic has evolved throughout the year, hand sanitizers have grown more critical in our day to day lives. At OLIKA, they’re reimagining and redesigning "hand-sanitizers" from a commodity to a product that sits at the intersection of beauty and hygiene. Aside from its effective use of sanitizing your hands, OLIKA’s hand sanitizer formula is made with other ingredients that benefit the skin, such as aloe vera, which helps to moisturize your hands. Built with a clip-on top, anyone could clip the cute bottle onto your jeans for on the go ease. With OLIKA, you are purchasing a tool that will help protect you from germs and microbes, as well as a product that has a beautifully designed minimalist look. In Part 1, Alastair discusses Reinventing hand sanitizer; Having a hand sanitizer company during the pandemic; Alastair’s personal entrepreneurial journey; Creating an opportunity in a category that needs renovation; First thoughts of 2020; Relying on your network and team; Working on your capital; And much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alastair for The Story of a Brand, and listen to him share the inside story. For more on OLIKA, visit: https://olikalife.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

Modern Fertility - The Potential to Close the Gender Pay Gap Jan 04, 2021

In this second part of this Feature, Carly Leahy, Co-Founder & CCO of Modern Fertility, continues the conversation about fertility and her company, making personalized fertility information more accessible.

Today's healthcare environment can be stressful. From medical care that may or may not be financially accessible to a healthcare system that routinely makes fertility tests available "only if" you've first proven that you cannot have a child. Modern Fertility offers an at-home fertility hormone test that allows you to track your hormone levels with clinic accuracy at a fraction of the normal cost. Modern Fertility also offers free 1:1 calls with fertility nurses to help provide information for women who have further questions. At Modern Fertility, they’re breaking the silence on reproductive health & wellness to help educate women on how they could control their own bodies without the financial stress. In Part 2, Carly discusses Getting affordable medical care; Creating an experience about personalization and education; Having a community that’s about sharing information about women’s health; Discussing fertility openly; Talking about the finances with Modern Fertility’s finances tool; Growing as a company and normalizing a focus on women’s health; Where to contact Modern Fertility; And much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Carly for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Modern Fertility, visit: https://modernfertility.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

Modern Fertility - Next Step in the Advancement of Women Jan 04, 2021

In this first part of this Feature, we interview Carly Leahy, Co-Founder & CCO of Modern Fertility, a reproductive health company making personalized fertility information more accessible.

As Carly mentions in the episode, the word “fertility” is often synonymous with “babies.” There’s a notion that women need to have babies by a certain age, which often coincides with a fear of choosing between their career trajectory and creating a family. With Modern Fertility, Carly and her co-founder, Afton Veche, have created an empowering alternative for women and their reproductive health. With the right Fertility knowledge early on, the ultimate goal is that a woman can have the options as to when or whether to have children and how it fits in within their life, career, and financial trajectory. In Part 1, Carly discusses Carly’s Mentorship; About Modern Fertility; Educating women about fertility; Creating access to information around fertility; Getting ahead of the problem; Carly’s entrepreneurial journey, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Carly for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Modern Fertility, visit: https://modernfertility.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

Marfa Stance - Why Modular Clothing Makes So Much Sense Dec 23, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, Georgia Dant, Founder & CEO of Marfa Stance, shares what she considers the brand's DNA.

She discusses why she likes to add a sense of playfulness to her designs. She also considers how people use her products, such as the ergonomics of clothing. Functional yet fun is her goal. In Part 2, Georgia discusses The Hero products, Her design process, Why she uses an architectural approach to design, Why she likes modular clothing, Why she frequently Zooms with customers, The Success of the Build Your Own Page, and why it is part of the DNA of the brand, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Georgia for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Marfa Stance, visit: https://www.marfastance.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/ This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

Marfa Stance - Desirable Clothing with Hidden Functionality Dec 23, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we interview Georgia Dant, Founder & CEO of Marfa Stance. With Marfa Stance, Georgia has used her passion for utilitarian clothing and design to create a label that focuses on outerwear and adaptable clothes for a flexible lifestyle.

At the time, she was constantly traveling and passing through different climates, and her frustration grew from not finding clothes that could do multiple things. In essence, she wanted to design and make simple and modern clothing but clothing that had a hidden functionality.

What she came up with is both beautiful, functional, and unique. In Part 1, Georgia discusses Who Marfa Stance is, What was the catalyst for the brand, The designer's mentality, How she (as a designer) deals with the business side of things, Advice for Designers on starting a brand, and Why you should be prepared for sacrifice and hard work if you're going to be a Founder, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Georgia for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Marfa Stance, visit: https://www.marfastance.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/ This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

Reign Together - Be Present & Connect with Your Partner Dec 22, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Bart Freibert, Co-founder & CMO of Reign Together, shares that the goal was to break the cellphone normality and reintroduce “human interaction and real interaction” into our lifestyle. Alongside Amy Roberts, Bart introduced products such as the Massage oil, the Confidence Face serum, and more. Both co-founders have previous experience with CBD oil and were excited to utilize the newfound trend in their own skincare brand. Unlike other related products, they used CBD without the typical “hemp” smell and adapted it with a fresher scent that’s not overpowering. In Part 2, Bart discusses the Confidence Face Serum and skin types; The ingredients in the Kissing Balm; Benefits of Mango Butter; Creating a beneficial skincare brand for couples; Where to reach Reign Together; The future of Reign Together; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bart on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Reign Together, visit: https://www.reigntogether.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Reign Together - De-stress to Connect Dec 22, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Bart Freibert, Co-founder & CMO of Reign Together. Reign Together is a brand on a mission. They’ve dedicated their time to creating what Bart refers to as a “shared self-care routine.” For couples, friends, partners growing stressed throughout the pandemic, Reign Together creates skincare products to help couples relax, and most importantly, connect. With products such as Confidence Serum and the Royal Mask, Bart and his co-founder, Amy Roberts, bring the spa experience to your front door. Through this spa experience, the co-founders share the goal of helping people put down the phones and reconnect through the most difficult times to cultivate a loving relationship. In Part 1, Bart discusses Reign Together and their mission; The origins of creating Reign Together; Putting down the phones and reconnecting; The ingredients in making the CBD massage oil; Discussing the benefits of CBD; Creating a holistic product that smells great; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bart on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Reign Together, visit: https://www.reigntogether.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Minibar Delivery - Helping Mom and Pop Stores Stay Afloat Dec 21, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Lindsey Andrews, Co-founder, and CEO of Minibar Delivery continues to tell us her journey into establishing a delivery service for beers, wines, and liquor. With Minibar, not only could you shop from the stores with their selections, but you could also use their platform to search for a specific brand, such as Tito’s, to find the closest carrier to you. The self-proclaimed hardcore New Yorker is truly adding to the innovation of the digital age by creating an alcohol friendly e-commerce market. For those staying at home for the holidays, we encourage you to check out Minibar to add to your COVID holiday experience. In Part 2, Lindsey discusses: Working with the logistics of liquor laws; Investing in an alcohol company; Creating a business for future generations of tech-savvy drinkers; Being a New Yorker during COVID times; How to contact Minibar; The specifics with ordering with Minibar; Taking the risk to become an entrepreneur - Lindsey’s Advice; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Lindsey on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Minibar Delivery, visit: https://minibardelivery.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Minibar Delivery - Wine, Liquor, and Beer. Straight to Your Door. Dec 21, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Lindsey Andrews, Co-founder and CEO of Minibar Delivery. Minibar Delivery is the go-to app for having beers, wines, and liquors delivered straight to your front door. It’s become increasingly popular with the recent pandemic to have almost anything delivered to your home, whether it’s food, Amazon orders, or dry cleaning. With Minibar Delivery, Lindsey created an e-commerce market for the local mom and pop liquor stores to join that trend. Wherever you may be sheltering at home, you could have your favorite beers or wines delivered while maintaining a safe distance. In Part 1, Lindsey discusses What Minibar Delivery is; COVID Impacts on a delivery company; Creating the Minibar Delivery brand; Helping mom and pop shops go into the digital age; Working with local guidelines to deliver safely; Being a role model for your daughter; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Lindsey on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Minibar Delivery, visit: https://minibardelivery.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

FORLOH - Perfect Combination of Tech and Outdoor Apparel Dec 17, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, James Dodkin, VP of Marketing of FORLOH, which stands for “For Love of Hunting.” FORLOH is a premium hunting apparel brand that utilizes the latest technology to give its customers the best hunting experience possible.

Dodkin mentions the numerous amounts of technology that goes into creating FORLOH. For example, the technology that comes from “the automotive industry” like GM for their resistant knee pads or how the “Tri-Star certified NASA technology” inspires the fabric's complex insulation system. In Part 1, James delves into the details of FORLOH; Discussing tech and how it impacts the product; Using the “Outdoor Perspective” when designing; The importance of researching for your market; Talking about brand perspective; The future of FORLOH and the future of hunters. ; and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews James for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Forloh, visit: https://forloh.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

FORLOH - Apparel for the Modern Outdoorsmen & Women Dec 17, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview James Dodkin, VP of Marketing of FORLOH, which stands for “For Love of Hunting.”

FORLOH was created for adventurous spirits who enjoy taking a moment to be completely involved in nature. For those who love to take a step back from the “Get Up and Go” mentality of supermarkets, hunting provides an alternative solution to the harm of cattle farming while providing the sense of self that comes with understanding exactly where your food is coming from. Not only does FORLOH empathize and support this sense of self, but it provides the quality tech and apparel for those who not only love to eat locally but shop locally as all of FORLOH manufacturing takes place right here in the United States. FORLOH continuously works to break boundaries in both the hunting and apparel industries. In Part 1, we hear about FORLOH and what it is; Discussing potential controversies and connotations; Best ways to market a brand with a polarized idea; Discussing the pros and cons of having a polarized idea; Talking about popular culture and trends in food; Finding your focus group; What it means to manufacture in the US; and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews James for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Forloh, visit: https://forloh.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

Drink Simple - Maple Water, Pure and Simple Dec 15, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, Kate Weiler, Co-Founder of Drink Simple, continues to break down the journey of creating Drink Simple.

From Drink Simple, co-founder Kate Weiler tells us about her health and nutrition passions while also discussing the growing pains of starting a new company in an already crowded market. From finding the maple farmers to finding the right distributors, Kate shares her own experience in the food and beverage industry, especially as a first-time founder learning on the job. Despite what hardship may come her way, Kate has successfully found a way to create the nutritious maple water as a fully sustainable drink. With different flavors such as grapefruit, raspberry lemon, and many more to come, maple water proves to be the next coconut water. In Part 2, Kate discusses The specifics in obtaining press; Talking about the “This might work” moment; Discussing distributors; Appealing to the mainstream consumer; Going through the different types of flavors; Tapping into your consumer market and using both positive and negative feedback; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kate for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Drink Simple, visit: https://drinksimple.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

Drink Simple - Plant-based Water Sourced From Maple Trees Dec 15, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, Kate Weiler, Co-Founder of Drink Simple, breaks down the journey to creating Drink Simple. She shares her own entrepreneurial story starting as a dedicated triathlete to discovering her passions in a healthy, holistic lifestyle.

There was no better way to delve into that passion than through her discovery of maple water. Despite popular belief, maple water is not equivalent to the maple syrup we put on our pancakes. Water is actually the original form it takes before being boiled down into the syrup. Without the boil, it is a must-try hydrating water that holds numerous benefits such as anti-aging, athletic booster, and a possible hangover helper for just after the upcoming holidays. In Part 1, Kate discusses Introducing Drink Simple; The origins of Kate Weiler and how she came to create Drink Simple; Walking through the research process before starting a company; Getting back to the basics and cold calling; Finding creative marketing solutions to better your brand in a growing market; Moving through the hardships of building a brand and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kate for The Story of a Brand, and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Drink Simple, visit: https://drinksimple.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better, or if you're starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice: you need to talk to ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

PYM - Support for Your Feelings of Overwhelm, Stress & Anxiety Dec 14, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Zak Williams, Co-founder, and CEO of PYM (Prepare Your Mind), a PYM is an all-natural, non-GMO, gluten, and no-sugar-added, “Original Mood Chew,” walks us through the three active compounds of the Mood Chew specifically highlighting one called GABA. As Zak explains, GABA provides natural anxiety and stress relief with benefits such as becoming more focused, relaxed, and present as well as providing a better night’s rest. Through dedicated food science and a passion for the cause, Zak shares with us a fully natural tool to help your mental health journey in the best way possible. With many more flavors to come in the future, PYM is creating an alternative option for those looking for stress relief in a fun chewy form. In Part 2, Zak discusses Building a mission-driven brand; Going through the active compounds in the chews; Talking about the demographics and target audience for PYM; The Future of PYM; Working through the growing pains of a new business; Discussing the food science of the gummies; Using your passion to get through the stressful logistics of starting a business; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Zak on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on PYM, visit: https://youcanpym.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

PYM - Feel Like Your Best Self Every Day Dec 14, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Zak Williams, Co-founder and CEO of PYM (Prepare Your Mind). PYM is an all-natural, non-GMO, gluten, and no-added-sugar, “mood chew.”

As Zak takes us through his own mental health journey, we also talk about the uses of the mood chew. With the recent stresses of our social climate, mood chews are designed to use as a tool to boost healthy productivity. Whether it’s learning to cope with personal anxiety throughout daily activities or it’s your first try, PYM is solely created to help lift your mood. Zak also shares with us that they donate a portion of their proceeds to Bring Change to Mind. Through their mission, Zak is truly devoted to helping break mental health stigmas and normalize, reaching out to receive mental health care. In Part 1, Zak discusses Zak Williams and his own journey in mental health; Starting an accessible consumer goods company; Developing the chews; Creative solutions that help maintain productivity and assurance; Growing the company’s mental health initiative with the brand; Discussing mental health & productivity; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Zak on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on PYM, visit: https://youcanpym.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or if you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Space - Shower Cling is a Thing! Dec 10, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Patrick Raymond, Founder of Space, discusses how Space fills the market’s need without overpaying. He starts by giving advice to other entrepreneurs. He urges people to do market research and understand the viability of a product before launching. Additionally, he explains that Kickstarter is not an indication of how the market will really react. Patrick equates the idea of innovating to being an artist. You never know if the idea will be a hit until it’s released, and you take the risk. He discusses details about specific design choices he made in Space. In part 2, we learn about starting a business, the turmoil of staffing your company, and more details that went into Space.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Patrick on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Space, visit: https://moreshowerspace.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or perhaps starting to put together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

* MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Space - Why Shower Curtains are Psycho? Dec 10, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Patrick Raymond, Founder of Space. Space offers a shower liner that curves away from you without the need for a curved shower rod. Patrick explains that he isn’t an engineer; he’s a marketing guy who had a problem with shower liners sticking to him. He realized it was a universal problem and decided to do something about it. For more than a decade, he thought of the idea behind Space. He explains the details of how it works and how he ultimately came up with the idea. Patrick details how many equivalent plastic straws go into a standard shower liner that just gets thrown away. That further enticed him to take Space to the next level. He highlights how the pandemic changed his sales and shaped his online platform. In Part 1, we hear about how Space started, the ecological benefit, and his company's inner workings.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Patrick on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Space, visit: https://moreshowerspace.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or starting putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at the ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

* MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Amazi Foods - Passion and Plantains Dec 09, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Renee Dunn, CEO & Founder of Amazi Foods, remarks on how lucky she feels to follow her dream and live her passion. She’s in love with the idea of Amazi Foods, which is why her company has seen so much success. She got a lot of support from her family and friends to make the initial jump. Renee talks about how many iterations it took to get her final recipe. She would take her products to a farmer’s market, get feedback, and then tweak the recipe. She goes into detail about the current products that Amazi Foods offers. She always aims for three or fewer ingredients that have bold flavors and unique textures. Of course, everything they offer is very nutritionally dense. In part 2, we hear about the product family, how the final recipes were made, and how passionate Renee is.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Seema and Sunny for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Amazi Foods, visit: https://amazifoods.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or starting putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

Amazi Foods - Snack with a Purpose Dec 09, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Renee Dunn, CEO & Founder of Amazi Foods. Amazi Foods is a mindful food company that partners with farmers in Uganda. They source ethically and create a lot of opportunities for the farmers in the area. Renee is looking to stop taking jobs away from the countries where the raw ingredients are sourced. She started this journey four years ago – two years went into creating the product and another year went into getting to know the market. Even with a solid supply chain, Renee has troubles from time to time. She reflects on the journey she’s had so far and the struggles to get to this point. She is using Amazi Foods as a launching pad for locals in Uganda to live their dreams. In Part 1, we hear about the company’s creation, the struggle to get to this point, and how much work went into getting started.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Seema and Sunny for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Amazi Foods, visit: https://amazifoods.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or starting putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/

Venus ET Fleur - Making the Flower Biz Fresh Again Dec 09, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, Sunny S. Chadha and Seema Bansal, co-founders of Venus ET Fleur, talk about how to build a new product in a new sector.

They highlight the early struggles for the company and the decisions they had to make. For them, this company is a necessity, so they spent a lot of hard hours working out the details and perfecting their business. They talk about their 12 days of roses, the first-ever floral advent calendar. This leads the pair to explain that innovation is the heart of this company. As time goes on, there’s no saying what their next steps and product lines will be. They explain the importance of communication with customers. They urge entrepreneurs to be on the same page as their customers and use the right language and tone. In part 2, we hear about the struggles of their brand, how much work went into each detail, and their constant innovation. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Seema and Sunny for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Venus ET Fleur, visit: https://www.venusetfleur.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or starting putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

Venus ET Fleur - Love, Trust, and Flowers Dec 08, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we hear from Sunny S. Chadha and Seema Bansal, co-founders of Venus ET Fleur. Venus ET Fleur is a luxury floral brand that carved its way into the world of flowers. It started when Seema and Sunny were first dating. Sunny tried sending a beautiful bouquet to Seema, but the florist sent her wilted and ugly flowers. The pair realized that something needed to be done about this for consumers, and that’s how Venus ET Fleur started. Both came from a background of working in family businesses and doing a lot of different roles. As their relationship continued, so did the business. They keep revisiting the idea of trust between one another in the business. In Part 1, we hear about the co-founders’ relationship, how it all started, and how they built their business. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Seema and Sunny for The Story of a Brand, and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Venus ET Fleur, visit: https://www.venusetfleur.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong or what could have gone better or start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency. I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels. * This episode is also brought to you by CartText - https://carttext.com/

Grovemade - When a Brand Speaks Directly to Customers Dec 07, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Ken Tomita, Co-founder, and CEO of Grovemade, highlights the importance of his engineering pedigree – not because it landed him an engineering job, but because he got used to iterating and failing and going back to the drawing board. Grovemade started out making laser engraved bamboo iPhone cases. They then pivoted to laser-engraved artwork. Now, Ken is trying to figure out what he wants the next move to be. He speaks on this topic with a lot of excitement as he dives into the possibilities for the next pivot. He explains that his customers care about their work and being productive. He shares that same mentality which is why his products seem to speak so directly to consumers. In part 2, we hear about the iterative process in his business, the path Grovemade took, and why he does what he does.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ken on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Grovemade, visit: https://grovemade.com/ * This episode and our entire podcast are brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice, you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

* This episode is also brought to you by MuteSix - http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

Grovemade - When an Artist Builds a Brand... Dec 07, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Ken Tomita, Co-founder, and CEO of Grovemade. Grovemade manufactures and sells accessories for your home and office that are functional and minimalist. Ken explains his unconventional story to get where he is today. He was in a prestigious architecture program for college and dropped out. The professor who helped him decide to drop out connected him with a great job making bamboo furniture and art. He highlights his career and how he learned the ropes. By breaking the rules of a “traditional career path,” Ken created a life and a brand he’s proud of. Throughout the conversation, Ken reiterates his interest in learning and evolving. In Part 1, we hear about Ken’s career path, his big decision to leave college, and how the quest for learning shapes everything in his life.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ken on The Story of a Brand and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Grovemade, visit: https://grovemade.com/ * This episode, and our entire podcast, is brought to you by ATTN Agency. ATTN Agency is a full-funnel growth and performance digital marketing agency with proven strategies to scale and optimize direct to consumer brands through tactical media buying, data-driven analysis, and unrivaled creative services. If you are looking back on this year wondering what went wrong, or what could have gone better, or you need to start putting together your game plan for 2021, I have one piece of advice; you need to talk to the strategists at ATTN Agency.

I’ve interviewed several of their clients, and I can say that they are the best in the business. ATTN represents some of the fastest-growing direct to consumer brands, delivering month over month results. Go to https://www.attnagency.com/storyofabrand/ for a comprehensive, no-obligation, 14 point audit of your social, search, shopping, email, and SMS channels.

* This episode is also brought to you by MuteSix, http://mutesix.com/storyofabrand

SENREVE - Timeless and Classic Dec 04, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Coral Chung, Founder & CEO of SENREVE, continues the conversation by telling us how her bags are timeless and classic.

She puts a lot of thought into every bag she designs because she’s looking to make a classic icon in the fashion industry. She then talks about the versatility of their line of bags. Coral talks about some of her proudest moments with Senreve. She would get texts from friends when they spotted an executive or businessperson with a Senreve bag, and the excitement kept her fueled. Senreve recently launched a unique vegan collection of luxury handbags. This is just another way that they are adding functionality to their bags. In part 2, we hear about the idea behind every design, little triumphs in the early days, and the eco-centric ideals of Senreve. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Coral on The Story of a Brand and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on SENREVE, visit: https://www.senreve.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

SENREVE - A Bag That Does More Dec 04, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Coral Chung, Founder & CEO of SENREVE. SENREVE creates products that combine luxury and versatility, most famously their bags.

Coral talks about how the company first started. She was desperate for a luxurious, stylish, functional, and versatile bag but couldn’t find anything. At the time, she worked in data analytics for a company that worked with brands like Nike and Nordstrom. She used her knowledge of big brands to launch her own company later down the road. She talks about her friends and family's initial pushback for aspiring to leave her high role at the impressive company she worked at. In Part 1, we hear about the importance of digitally native brands, building a company to solve a problem, and what goes into building a next-generation global luxury brand.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Coral on The Story of a Brand and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on SENREVE, visit: https://www.senreve.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Stryx- Persistence Dec 03, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Jon Shanahan and Devir Kahan, Co-Founders of Stryx, talk about going against people’s advice. They believe it was important that they carved their own path.

They keep visiting the idea of persistence and how it plays a role in their company. Jon recounts the hustle he went through first to build a YouTube following and then to build Stryx with Devir. He tells us that it all started as something that he wanted to do for himself. They detail the different products they sell and the thought behind them. Everything they offer is convenient, easy to use, and made specifically for men. They formulated the products to be ideal for men's skin, and the packaging is discreet and simple for men to use. In part 2, we learn about the ideas behind the products, how important persistence is to Stryx, and how the co-founders made their own way through the market.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jon and Devir on The Story of a Brand Show, and, and listen to them, share the inside story of a brand. For more on Stryx, please visit: https://www.stryx.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Stryx - Like Zits on Your Wedding Day Dec 03, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Jon Shanahan and Devir Kahan, Co-Founders of Stryx. Stryx is a line of cosmetic, makeup, and skincare products for men.

Zits on the day of Devir’s wedding was the start of Stryx. He was too embarrassed to ask the makeup artist to cover his pimples, and the result was thousands of photos of his zits on display. From there, Devir sought to create a company to help de-stigmatize the use of cosmetics for men and offer a solution. To help, they created discreet makeup tools that don’t look like traditional cosmetic applicators. They explain that it’s important not to launch a brand in a void. They spent time working on a blog that attracted the right people, to have a good starting point. In Part 1, we hear about the brand's birth, the little details behind their designs, and the anxiety of their launch.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jon and Devir on The Story of a Brand Show, and listen to them, share the inside story of a brand. For more on Stryx, please visit: https://www.stryx.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Woolroom - The Miracle Fiber for Better Sleep Dec 02, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, Ed Tattersall, Marketing Lead for North America for the Woolroom, the world's premium wool bedding manufacturer, talks about the five key benefits of using wool. Ed explains how wool is the ultimate sleep solution for most of their customers. For people who are serious about improving their sleep and don’t mind paying for it, wool is the way to go. Woolroom has a number of different products for different customers’ needs. Ed goes into details surrounding the items they offer and the reasoning behind each item. For them, the focus is to introduce the power of wool to everyone. Ed and the team at the Woolroom use customer feedback to better define their brand. In part 2, we learn about the different products they offer, the five key benefits of using wool, and the ability to improve your sleep by using wool. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ed in this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Woolroom, visit: https://www.thewoolroom.com/us/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Attn Agency - https://www.attnagency.com/

Woolroom - Where Better Sleep is Guaranteed Dec 02, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we hear from Ed Tattersall, Marketing Lead for North America for the Woolroom, the world's premium wool bedding manufacturer. The Woolroom specializes in paying farmers livable wages for the wool and then creating wonderful products from it. They want to re-educate people about how great wool really is as a material. The wool from their company is organic, ethically sourced, and eco-friendly. All of their wool is processed in the UK, and they care about quality. This company has been in the Dawson family for 150 years. They take a lot of pride in the products they create. The Woolroom wants to shift the market towards wool, a miracle fiber that is hypoallergenic, temperature regulating, biodegradable, sustainable, and extremely comfortable. In Part 1, we hear about the power of wool, the clean-conscience way The Woolroom runs the company, and its brand's history. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ed in this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Woolroom, visit: https://www.thewoolroom.com/us/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Attn Agency - https://www.attnagency.com/

Hugh & Grace - Parenting a Company Dec 01, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Sara and Ben Jensen, Co-CEOs and Co-Founders of Hugh & Grace talk about unity in a company. They urge entrepreneurial listeners to get ready for stress and uncertainty as their company grows, and how important it is to be united with your partner.

They say that growing a company is just like parenting a child together. They talk about how cracked skin turned into an emergency room visit. With healthy skin this could be avoided, and that further inspired the birth of Hugh & Grace. They outline the early hustle for their brand and different people’s reluctance to pick up their product. Since Sara and Ben were parenting their company, they were patient and determined and it led to their ultimate success. In part 2, we learn how to parent a company, the difficulties in the beginning, and fighting through the oversaturation of the skincare market.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sara and Ben and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hugh & Grace, visit: https://hughandgrace.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Hugh & Grace - Creating a Solution, Not a Product Dec 01, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview the wife and husband team, Sara and Ben Jensen, Co-CEOs and Co-Founders of Hugh & Grace. Hugh & Grace is the first skincare company that uses natural products to address hormone disruption.

Sara and Ben have been married for 18 years. They spent most of that time unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant before they were diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Through this course, they learned about hormone-disrupting chemicals and how prevalent they are in products we use every day. That’s how the brand started. Not with a product, but with a problem. Sara dives into the emotional implications of infertility. She spends a lot of her time helping other women who are struggling with the same problem. In Part 1, we hear how Hugh & Grace started, their mission, and the impact of infertility in the co-founders’ lives.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sara and Ben and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hugh & Grace, visit: https://hughandgrace.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Enzymedica - Human Microbiome and Why it's Important Dec 01, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we interview Scott Sensenbrenner, CEO of Enzymedica. Enzymedica is the leading brand in natural digestive health and one of the top innovators of natural wellness. Enzymedica acts as a total game-changer in the world of natural digestive supplements. Scott breaks down the Human Microbiome and how it affects our overall health. Scott also breaks down products based on symptoms, diet, or health goals. In part 2, Scott discusses What is the Human Microbiome, Why our bodies are like swimming pools, How digestion is linked to our immune systems and why better digestion helps you stay immune, How digestion affects brain health, The Digestion 360 Quiz, How cleansing helps you, In general, how to keep healthy digestion, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Scott, and listen to him, share the inside story of a brand. For more on Enzymedica, please visit: https://enzymedica.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Enzymedica - Elevate Your Digestive Wellness Nov 27, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Scott Sensenbrenner, CEO of Enzymedica. Enzymedica is the leading brand in natural digestive health and one of the top innovators of natural wellness. One of the most important qualities that separate Enzymedica from the rest is their attention to quality sourced ingredients that don’t include the average artificial ones. On top of that, they’re efficient, sustainable, and easy to use for any reason. Throughout the episode, we learn just how impactful our digestion system could be daily. Whether it’s giving into those late-night cravings and overeating or a mere lactose intolerant reaction, Enzymedica provides an easy but effective solution. Just in time for the holidays, listen in as Scott breaks down just how game-changing Enzymedica could be. In part 1, Scott discusses Enzymedica and what it is; Going through the different products that Enzymedica offers; Improving the digestive system; The positive effects of using Enzymedica; Talking about Enzymedica’s impact on non-profit organizations; The mission of Enzymedica, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Scott, and listen to him, share the inside story of a brand. For more on Enzymedica, please visit: https://enzymedica.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

The United States of Camo - Giving Back to Our Veterans Nov 27, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Kimberly Smith, Founder & CEO of The United States of Camo, talks about her early career on Wall Street. She says that this hardened her and prepared her to start her own company. She tells us that it’s important to know your company’s numbers for everything before expanding or starting something new. She discusses how she made sure veterans weren’t ignored during the BLM protests. Kim explains that her purpose in life is to help people who need it. Kim also talks about how important it is to talk with the customer. She gets a lot of feedback from her customers, and it helps her steer the brand. In part 2, we hear the inspiration behind some of her pieces, her driving factors, and how she uses her product to help people across the country. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kimberly and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The United States of Camo, visit: https://unitedstatesofcamo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

The United States of Camo - Streetwear with a Cause Nov 27, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Kimberly Smith, Founder & CEO of The United States of Camo. The United States of Camo is a contemporary spin on traditional golf wear for men. They put 10% of every sale towards benefitting American Veterans and their families. Kim never saw herself as someone who would get into the fashion industry. Her father grew up very poor and later served in the military for 35 years and became a doctor. She recalls his heroic career and sites him, her uncle, and fellow war heroes as major influences for the brand. After visiting her uncle’s grave, Kim started talking to more veterans and understanding their struggles with returning to normal life. She realized her mission is to help these heroes. In Part 1, we hear about Kim’s father, how the brand started, and Kim’s mission. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kimberly and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The United States of Camo, visit: https://unitedstatesofcamo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Truman's - The Coolest Cleaning Company on the Internet Nov 24, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, we continue the conversation with Jon Bostock, Founder of Truman's. Jon is an entrepreneurial veteran. From his time at G.E to Big Ass Fans to Truman’s, his journey is definitely one to study. Although with such a veteran at the wheel, Truman’s cleaning company breaks all boundaries as their tagline mentions, it truly is the “coolest cleaning company on the internet.” Along with an extensive focus on chemicals, Truman's supply and packaging goes beyond the traditional spray bottle. Truman’s customer experience consists of personality, sustainability, and efficiency. Listen in as Jon goes through what it means to break boundaries and truly be solutions-oriented. In Part 1, Jon discusses Creating efficiency at the foundation of the company; Building a personalized cleaning brand; Defying automation; “Cheap doesn’t not equal quality”; What it means to go the extra mile at Truman’s; and Advice for future entrepreneurs. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jon in this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Truman's visit: https://www.trumans.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Truman's - Break Free & Reimagine Your Future at Work Nov 24, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we hear from Jon Bostock, Founder of Truman's, about making the Big Step. Jon tells us about his journey, making that leap into the economic unknown. As Jon comments, when it comes to following through with ideas, personal goals, finding the confidence to leave the comfortability of a stable desk job, “we talk ourselves out more than we talk ourselves in.” With Jon’s insight, today we’re learning to do just that; talk ourselves into making the big step to leave corporate America. The big step isn’t always safe, there aren’t always huge payouts, and it is rarely easy, but the ability to produce value in doing something you love is always worth it. Whether you’ve kept it in the back of your mind or at the forefront of debate, Jon is here to help you break the routine, the normalcy, to go beyond all dreams of success. In part 1, Jon discusses His start at General Electric; Building the confidence to leave corporate America; Giving into innovation; Finding freedom and reflecting on your career; COVID advice for future entrepreneurs; Discussing Jon’s book The Elephant Dilemma: Break Free and Reimagine Your Future at Work. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jon in this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Truman's visit: https://www.trumans.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Shaz & Kiks - The Science of Hair Care Nov 23, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Shaz Rajashekar and Kiku Chaudhuri, Co-Founders of Shaz & Kiks, talk about their different products and the natural elements that go into them. They teach us about how our hair's root is the most important part of keeping healthy and how their products do that. They made sure to do extensive research before making any decisions or launching any new products. Shaz and Kiku make sure that they have the science to back up their mission. They later speak about the future of the company and the different products that they want to release. Their illustrator and designer are based in Mumbai and deliver traditional work for Shaz and Kiks. In part 2, we learn more about how the products work, what products are currently offered, and the company's future. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Shaz & Kiku and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Shaz & Kiks, visit: https://www.shazandkiks.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Shaz & Kiks - How to Have Natural and Beautiful Hair Nov 23, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview siblings Shaz Rajashekar and Kiku Chaudhuri, Co-Founders of Shaz & Kiks. The brand uses the founder's Indian heritage to create nutritious beauty care products.

The sisters talk about the influence of their heritage and upbringing. After visiting family in India, they realized their hair looked so much better. The Indian products they used made that possible. That’s when the sisters decided they need to bring these products to America and start their brand. They talk about how the pandemic hurt their startup. However, they didn’t let that slow them down. Their previous experience working with brands, suppliers, and production gave them the advantage of bringing their brand to market. For them, it was a matter of starting small and slow. In Part 1, we hear about the influence, initial hiccups, and some of the science behind their products.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Shaz & Kiku and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Shaz & Kiks, visit: https://www.shazandkiks.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Rain Parade - How Chocolate & Pranks Changed My Life Nov 20, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we continue the interview with Adam Hascall, Founder of Rain Parade. He starts by talking about the tough hurdles of his business.

He faces marketing restrictions due to his company's name, plus it’s hard to deliver chocolate in hot summers, and going through FDA regulations and approvals isn’t easy either. In the beginning, he and his friends put so much sweat equity into the company, but they learned to automate much of the process, which leads to larger margins. Towards the end of the conversation, he talks about some of his other businesses and how they started. He reflects that he is in love with nurturing and growing a business, no matter what it is. In part 2, we hear about the company’s struggles, how some of his other businesses started, and his entrepreneurial spirit.

Listen in while Ramon Vela and Adam discuss the inside story of a brand. For more, please visit Rain Parade Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Rain Parade - Carving Out a Unique Niche in E-commerce Nov 20, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Adam Hascall, Founder of Rain Parade. Rain Parade allows you to send a chocolate male organ anonymously to a friend as a prank.

It started between him and some friends. They made a website, started seeing organic traffic, and realized that they stumbled across a potential business opportunity. In this interview, he reflects on his upbringing and growing up in a very religious Catholic family. He was always creative and pursued the arts. He got his MBA and then realized that’s not what he wanted. Adam also didn’t want to be forced into a starving artist trope, so he decided to build his own business. He recalls that his father was very embarrassed about his idea but later realized that it really was a business, albeit a very unusual one. In Part 1, we hear about his upbringing, his time at school, his company's birth, and dealing with his religious parents’ reaction to his new company.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Adam, and listen to him, share the inside story of a brand. For more, please visit Rain Parade Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Sackcloth & Ashes - The Heart of a Brand Nov 19, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Bob Dalton, the Founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, talks about his company's mission. He’s very passionate about making a difference, and he’s glad that his brand allows him to help.

Their blankets are made of 100% recycled material from Florence, Italy. A local seamstress handmakes and hand-frays each blanket. They want to keep the brand authentic, so they never decided to take it to a large retailer and lose their authenticity. Since they do everything in-house, they have complete flexibility to do whatever they want with each blanket. They found out that two of their patterns appropriated Native American culture, and they discontinued both immediately. Bob sent a sizable donation to a Native American NGO and made a public apology about the blankets. In part 2, we learn about the business side of their operation, the goal with each blanket and their decision to discontinue a blanket they learned was offending Native Americans.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bob and listen to him, share the inside story. For more on Sackcloth & Ashes, visit: https://sackclothandashes.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Sackcloth & Ashes - A Business with a Mission Nov 19, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Bob Dalton, the Founder of Sackcloth & Ashes. Sackcloth & Ashes is a unique blanket company that localizes the "buy 1, give 1" model and gives a blanket away to each customer's local homeless shelter with every sale. He also uses his platform to highlight good things that are happening around the country to combat homelessness. Bob talks about the focus of making a high-quality blanket. The blankets essentially sell themselves, and it’s his company’s job to tag an important mission onto the blanket and help people across the country. He markets the boxes the blankets come in as well. They can be filled with necessary items and taken to a local homeless shelter. In Part 1, we hear how the company works, some of its decisions, and the early big break with Anthropologie. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bob and listen to him, share the inside story. For more on Sackcloth & Ashes, visit: https://sackclothandashes.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Fresh Pawz - Getting Your Pawz in the Door Nov 18, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, we continue the conversation with Christopher Cargnoni, Founder of Fresh Pawz. He starts this part by diving into why his brand works. He notes that fashion is a way to tell an outsider who you are, and the same should be true with your dog. Christopher explains that he is always rolling out new styles so everyone can find the right look for their dog. He mentions how hard it is to get into a retailer with his idea, especially the bigger guys. Even so, you can find their pet clothes in giant retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Target. His previous life in Michigan didn’t have enough to offer him, which is why he needed to make the big move to L.A. In part 2, we hear about the retail struggles, an in-depth view of why Fresh Pawz works so well, and more information about why Christopher moved to L.A. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christopher in this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Fresh Pawz, visit: https://www.freshpawz.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Fresh Pawz - Becoming the Official Streetwear Brand for Dogs Nov 18, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we hear from Christopher Cargnoni, Founder of Fresh Pawz. Fresh Pawz is a streetwear-inspired line of clothing for your pet. He started the company because he was frustrated at the other options the market had to offer. His career involves working for many retail companies, so he knows how to run a retail company. People would give him free rein to build and improve their company, and he saw a lot of success. He would move from one company to the next, doing the same thing. By learning how brands operate, he could comfortably open up his own brand providing a much-needed fashion line for dogs. His eventual move to L.A. was his way of proving to himself that he can do it. In Part 1, we hear about his career path, the brand's initial idea, and his big move to Los Angeles. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christopher in this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Fresh Pawz, visit: https://www.freshpawz.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

BEHAVE - Low-Sugar Candy that Actually Tastes Like Candy Nov 16, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we continue interviewing Mayssa Chehata, Founder of BEHAVE. She starts off the episode by discussing the process of finding the right ingredients. She realized her cooking abilities wouldn’t allow her to do the R&D required, so she interviewed several food scientists and formulators. From there, she decided that she needed to bring a pastry chef onto the team. Together, they perfected the formula with clean ingredients. Mayssa talks a lot about how her business operates. She discusses the distribution strategy and the selling format. She mentions that after the pandemic goes away, she plans on going into airports, movie theaters, and sports arenas. She is making the best of this situation and still allowing her company to grow. In part 2, we hear how the recipe took shape, the business side of things, and her decision to launch direct-to-consumer. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mayssa and listen to her share the inside story. For more on BEHAVE, visit: https://www.eatbehave.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

BEHAVE - Creating a Product for Yourself Nov 16, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Mayssa Chehata, Co-Founder & CEO of BEHAVE. Behave is a better-for-you candy brand that is sold direct-to-consumer. They combine low sugar and all-natural ingredients without compromising the taste. The company started because Mayssa was tired of the sugary options, and she wanted a healthy way to enjoy sweets. She emphasizes that she created this product for herself, and it blossomed into the company it is today. Mayssa started her career working for the NFL; she went on to work for Uber in its early days, then on the startup team at Daily Harvest, and finally for Soul Cycle. These big companies taught her what it takes to run a business and be an entrepreneur. In Part 1, Mayssa discusses why the company started, how the Pandemic attributed to her success and her unique and impressive career path. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mayssa and listen to her share the inside story. For more on BEHAVE, visit: https://www.eatbehave.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

MUSH - Getting the Perfect Overnight Oats into People's Hands Nov 13, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we continue the conversation with Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder & CEO of MUSH. She talks about how she eventually got Mush into Whole Foods. It took a lot of grinding and some connections on LinkedIn to get her foot in the door. Of course, going from 10 stores to 150 isn’t easy, as Ashley points out. She recalls the issues with logistics, manufacturing, and processing. This brings her to the big idea that people should pace themselves while their company grows. Her brand is built on health, so she speaks about what goes into making a healthy snack. Before moving into other categories of healthy snacks, she wants to perfect the overnight oats and distribute it even further around the country. In part 2, Ashley highlights the importance of patience and pacing yourself, what goes into making a truly healthy snack, and her experience with building a brand. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ashley and listen to her share the inside story. For more on MUSH, visit: https://eatmush.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

MUSH - Fewer ingredients. More nutrients. Better you. Nov 13, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder & CEO of MUSH. Mush is a health food company that makes, distributes, and markets foods that are great for you. She recalls that she never really thought of herself as an entrepreneur. When she was young, her sister was diagnosed with type one diabetes, which started Ashley’s path down healthy foods. That’s where it all started. Ashley previously worked a big job in finance. Due to time restraints, she would make oatmeal in the evening and take it to work for breakfast the following morning. This left her wondering if she could commercialize this product. She then left her job to follow her dream. Even when things were tough, she used that as fuel to fight through to achieve her dream. In Part 1, we hear how the idea started, the romanticism of taking a risk and starting your own business, and the stress associated with it. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ashley and listen to her share the inside story. For more on MUSH, visit: https://eatmush.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Felix Gray - Designed to Beat Eye Strain with Style and Comfort Nov 12, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we continue the conversation with David Roger, Co-Founder & CEO of Felix Gray. He starts by discussing the evolution of his glasses. It took two years to introduce a prescription option for his brand because he wanted to perfect the model first. He wants to create a better relationship between people and the technology that they use. He tailors his business to be useful for customers of any age. In fact, he started a line of glasses that are specifically for kids. David says that his team puts a lot of focus on making glasses that look as great as they work. He wants to provide an affordable, fashionable pair of glasses that keep your eyes healthy. In part 2, he discusses the affordability of his glasses, reinforces the purpose of his brand, and the trouble of running a business during the pandemic. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews David and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Felix Gray, visit: https://felixgray.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Felix Gray - Blue Light Glasses Made for Happier Eyes Nov 11, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview David Roger, Co-Founder & CEO of Felix Gray. Felix Gray sells glasses that filter light and allow the user to look at an electronic screen more comfortably. It started when David suffered from eye strain due to working long days in front of a computer screen. He talked to eye experts and they told him that it’s due to the blue light emitted from computer screens. His goal was to create a product that solves this problem. David was interested in entrepreneurship since college, and he tried a few different products. He points out that different CEOs come from different backgrounds, and there’s no cookie-cutter model to entrepreneurship. In Part 1, we hear about David’s excitement for building brands, the complex background of different entrepreneurs, and the path to building a business. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews David and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Felix Gray, visit: https://felixgray.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Kola Goodies - Superfoods from South Asian for Your Mind & Body Nov 10, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, the conversation continues with Sajani Amarasiri, Co-Founder of Kola Goodies. She starts this episode by talking about her strategy in the beginning. It was hard for her to get traction as an immigrant because she didn’t have a network of help she could turn to. She resorted to hundreds of emails and the help of her different friends. She points out that the timing of her brand is very important to her found success. Her product helps people during quarantine, and she’s happy she could get the product to market in time. Her plan was to slowly and organically build her brand, letting the product speak for itself and win over the hearts of her customers. In part 2, she talks about adjusting initial plans, how her products help customers during the quarantine and pandemic, and how important balance is in your life. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sajani in this episode and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Kola Goodies, visit: https://www.kolagoodies.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Kola Goodies - Super Powder for Super Powers Nov 10, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, we hear from Sajani Amarasiri, Co-Founder of Kola Goodies. Kola Goodies is a wellness brand that brings South Asian superfoods and rituals to Western countries. Sajani talks about her life growing up in Sri Lanka. She came to the States for college and fell in love with the culture. Over time, she noticed that American consumers became more open to international ideas and products. She used this opportunity to bring her southern Asian products to America. She would explain to friends that she missed South Asia's food, and she would wonder how she could freeze and ship her mother’s drinks. It dawned on Sajani that she could make and sell them herself in America. In Part 1, we hear how Kola Goodies started, the trouble of finding the right ingredients, and how she made her products taste like the traditional drinks she was used to. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sajani in this episode and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Kola Goodies, visit: https://www.kolagoodies.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Beekeeper's Naturals - Clean Remedies (That Actually Work) Nov 09, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, the conversation continues with Carly Stein, Founders & CEO of Beekeeper's Naturals. She talks about the troubles of creating her products to be more than just clean. This really hurt her supply chain and made it hard to get traction with her brand. She wants her products to be perfectly safe for people, even if they have a long list of allergies like herself. She discussed how she felt lost because she wasn’t an entrepreneur or businessperson; she was just someone who had a dream and a mission. Despite doubting herself along the way, she found her own path in the market. In part 2, Carly outlines her supply chain's troubles, finding her own path in life, and how her customers’ excitement kept her dream alive. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Carly and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Beekeeper's Naturals, visit: https://beekeepersnaturals.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Beekeeper's Naturals - Meet Your New Medicine Cabinet Nov 09, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Carly Stein, Founders & CEO of Beekeeper's Naturals. Beekeeper’s Naturals is a natural medicine company that replaces pharmaceutical products. She realized that natural alternatives didn’t work as well as they claimed, and she wanted to do something about it. It all started when Carly got tonsilitis in Italy. She didn’t want to end the trip early, so she spoke to a pharmacist over there. That’s when she learned about an ingredient that later became a capstone for her brand. Her brand uses the healing powers from bee products to replace over-the-counter solutions. In Part 1, we hear how the brand started, how her love for beekeeping began, and how she left her big finance job to pursue a passion. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Carly and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Beekeeper's Naturals, visit: https://beekeepersnaturals.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Quokka Brew - The Caffeinated Jitterless Coffee Nov 06, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, we hear from Ofek Arush and George Passantino , co-Founders of Quokka Brew. We continue the conversation and listen as the co-founders talk about how their product is changing how people get their daily energy. People who previously couldn’t drink coffee can now enjoy Quokka Brew. They want their customers to be happy like the animal quokka, hence their name. The co-founders talk about their future plans for their products. They also discuss their early troubles with trying to get their product to market in time. Quokka Brew faced a lot of troubles early on, and they used each problem as a stepping stone to move forward. They learned from each issue and became a better brand overall. In part 2, we hear how they named their brand, their mission to change how we get our energy, and how they want to change the coffee industry. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ofek and George and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Quokka Brew, visit: https://www.quokkabrew.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Quokka Brew - A College Brewed Business Nov 06, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we hear from Ofek Arush and George Passantino , co-Founders of Quokka Brew. Quokka Brew is a coffee brand that manufactures and sells coffee without the jitters. It started when the pair were students at UC Berkeley. After talking to their classmates, they realized that everyone was struggling with the anxiety and jitters of coffee while studying for exams. On top of that, the pre-packaged options were filled with sugar. After five months and hundreds of emails to different food scientists, George and Ofek found a blend (which is now patent-pending for them). They talk about how great it was that they had a huge community of college students who they could leverage for feedback since they were students themselves. In Part 1, we hear about the power of starting a brand while enrolled in college, the balance of going to school and running a company, and how to use the data to your advantage. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ofek and George and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Quokka Brew, visit: https://www.quokkabrew.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Lil Bucks - Superhumans Eat Buckwheat Nov 04, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, the conversation continues with Emily Griffith, Founders & CEO Lil Bucks. She talks about some of the early troubles with her business and how she now views them as learning points. Her vision and passion for buckwheat snacks have always been her driving motivators – she isn’t in it for the money, just the love of the snack. Emily realized that her business started running smoother when she allowed other people to contribute and help her. Whenever times get tough for her, she just thinks back to her first time experiencing buckwheat in Australia, and she gets back in the right mindset. She urges entrepreneurs to find their own experience like this one that grounds them and gives their business a reason. In part 2, Emily talks about how perfectionism can stop people from starting their own business, the early pitfalls of her business, and how her passion is her driving force. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Emily and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Lil Bucks, visit: https://www.lovelilbucks.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Lil Bucks - Meet Your New Favorite Superfood Nov 04, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, we interview Emily Griffith, Founders & CEO Lil Bucks. Lil Bucks is a food company that makes snacks out of sprouted buckwheat, a really healthy superfood. Emily spent some time in Australia, and buckwheat snacks are ubiquitous over there. She revels in the fact that buckwheat adds great texture to any meal, it’s healthy for you, and it makes you feel fuller. This combination of features makes it the perfect snack in her book. Growing up, Emily was creative and never really fit the mold of a standard office. She now realizes that feeling was the entrepreneur's side of her shining through. In Part 1, we hear about Emily’s background in the business world, the influence that her time in Australia had on her life, and the early stumbles of starting her own business. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Emily and listen to her share the inside story. For more on Lil Bucks, visit: https://www.lovelilbucks.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

CartText - Powered by Real Humans Who Understand Your Brand Nov 03, 2020

In this second part of this Feature, William Uecker, Co-Founder of CartText, shares with us that through CartText, businesses can save those purchases lost to cart abandonment while also adding a personal touch. Whether your company wants to present a more professional touch or a more relaxed persona, CartText will provide live agents to help you perfect your image while putting the customer first. With the use of SMS text messages, the agents will aid your company with cart abandonment recovery, subscription help, and billing-related issues. CartText rebuilds the connection between a brand and the consumer to restore loyalty and personality that might’ve been lost due to digitization. So please take a listen as we discuss SMS text strategies and how to build a profitable business. In part two, William discusses; Discussing personalization; Molding the modern brand through your image; Talking about the use of SMS text message in the marketing world; William’s journey through entrepreneurship; William’s strategy on working "backward"; Advice for future entrepreneurs; The details and integration process; Future of CartText; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews William in this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on CartText, visit: https://carttext.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

CartText - Abandoned Cart Recovery, Powered by Real Humans Nov 02, 2020

In this first part of this Feature, William Uecker, Co-Founder of CartText, talks about the impact that personalization truly has in the e-commerce world. Through tech evolutions, digitalization has seemingly distanced personal interaction. Kiosks are automated, self-checkouts are more prevalent, and the buying experience has almost completely turned digital. Although with CartText, it creates a blend of the new wave digital commerce environment and that old school tradition of interacting with the real people. William Uecker, CEO of CartText, explains to us the experience of using the program. CartText is a software that utilizes the personalization of SMS text messages for abandoned cart recovery by using live agents. Check out the episode to hear how to fully utilize the power of real people with CartText and the use of SMS text. . In part one, Carter discusses; Who is CartText and how it works; Why personal interaction trumps tech bots; Evolving with SMS text; Interacting with the consumer to save your cart abandonment; Personalizing CartText for your company; Using live agents versus AI software; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews William in this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on CartText, visit: https://carttext.com/ Visit our advertisers: CartText - https://carttext.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Critts - Not a shoe, Not a Sandal, IT’S A FLIP CRITT Nov 02, 2020

In this Feature, Carter Waugh, 11-year old first-time Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Critts - For All Critters, talks about his journey building a shoe brand that he originally started when he was eight. After experiencing technical difficulties with his regular sandals, Carter realized there was a need for a new type of sandal that adapts to every activity. Whether you’re on vacation or gardening in the yard, Flip-Critts solve the issue of wanting a more durable and breathable shoe. Not only is it created to be durable, but it’s also innovative as it is biodegradable and eco-friendly made with synthetic leather. Listen in as we join the amazing Carter Waugh on his journey to releasing Critts. In this episode, Carter discusses: Introducing Carter Waugh; The origins of creating Critts; Working on your patent; Discussing the importance of protecting your intellectual property; Marketing your shoe; Family and friend reactions to creating a company; Finding a manufacturer; Adapting to the obstacles with shoe designs and manufacturing; The purpose of Critts; The future of Critts; The meaning behind the company name; Introducing the program Critts Cares; Carter’s advice for entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Carter in this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Critts, visit: https://www.critts.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Taika - The Stealth Health Coffee Oct 30, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Michael Sharon, Co-Founder of Taika, we talk about “stealth health.” Stealth health is the concept of creating something that tastes great while also providing the body with the nutrients it needs. As Michael explains, they’ve created a type of “trojan horse” for caffeine drinkers by utilizing ingredients such as oat milk and functional mushrooms. Not only does it taste great with health benefits, but each of the three drinks actually contains ingredients that work in favor of focus, calming properties, clarity, energy, and immunity. In part two, Michael discusses The health benefits of Taika; COVID impacts on the health community; Adapting your company to the global pandemic; Talking details on the ingredients in Taika drinks; Explaining the adaptations of creating Taika; Describing the functional stack of the drinks; Where to reach Taika; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Michael in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Taika, visit: https://taika.co/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Taika - Coffee that Accentuates Reality Oct 30, 2020

In the First part of this Feature, Michael Sharon, Co-Founder of Taika, tells us that as entrepreneurs, we more than most know that early morning wake-ups or staying up all night eager to finish a project couldn't be possible without a cup of coffee. One cup turns to two turns to maybe three if you’re daring. On the other hand, copious amounts of caffeine could begin to negatively affect the body, which is why there are other solutions such as Taika. Taika is a perfectly calibrated drink to soothe the caffeine craving while simultaneously providing healthy supplements that your body loves. As Michael puts it, “Taika is coffee that accentuates reality.” In part one, Michael discusses The difference of Taika; The origins of Michael’s journey to creating Taika; Building a company based on your love of coffee; The intricacies of a calibrated caffeine drink; Talking supplements and Stealth Health; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Michael in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Taika, visit: https://taika.co/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Thread Wallets - A Founder's Guide to Family Oct 30, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Colby and McKenzie Bauer, co-Founders of Thread Wallets, continue the conversation about their minimalist wallet company, ThreadWallets. The duo pulls back the curtain into their personal lives. Colby talks about the struggles he grew up with. He matured in a house of alcoholism, but it shaped him into who he is now, and he learned valuable lessons along the way. As the couple grew together, so did their brand. They reinforced how difficult relationships and business is – especially when you’re working on them both simultaneously. Colby outlines that struggling during the process makes the reward even more fulfilling and worthwhile. These two believe in constantly adapting their company and answering the calls from the market. With their new product launches of a Chapstick holder and lanyard, they help fill gaps in the market. They recount how the initial product launch was a fun, quirky product, but they’ve seen their brand expand as they add complementary products to their lineup. In part two, Colby and McKenzie dive into their childhood, the importance of family, and mental health issues in the workplace. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Colby & McKenzie in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Thread Wallets, visit: https://www.threadwallets.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Thread Wallets - How to Build a Brand with Your Spouse Oct 29, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Colby and McKenzie Bauer, co-Founders of Thread Wallets, the innovative wallets that are low-profile, efficient, and look great. They are aiming to drive the market away from bulky and unflattering wallet alternatives. It all started with a lost wallet in Hawaii. They shopped for a replacement wallet but couldn’t find anything that was minimalist and expressed who they were. In the meantime, they were using a rubber band as a make-shift wallet. That’s when it hit them. The idea of ThreadWallets’s flagship product and the idea behind the brand was born. They decided that they would work on this project for 6 months and see what happens. They highlight the importance of their relationship as the company grew, and how impactful their marriage was on the brand. In Part One, we hear Colby & McKenzie Bauer speak about the initial idea, how their relationship grew along with the brand, and how their personal beliefs and values are sewn into the fabric of their company. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Colby & McKenzie in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on Thread Wallets, visit: https://www.threadwallets.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Backbone PLM - Products Made Correctly with Backbone Oct 28, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Matthew Klein, CEO of Backbone PLM, shares more on his SaaS platform that helps brands design, develop, and collaborate their product design and creation and digitize their supply chain process in one tool. Matthew explains that Backbone also helps brands meet the demand of conscious consumers. These are consumers who demand that products use better ingredients, sustainable packaging, and supply chain, use fewer resources, and so on. By digitizing your supply chain and using a collaborative all in one place platform with your people, manufacturers across the globe, Backbone ensures your products are made correctly. In part two, Matthew discusses: How Backbone helps you understand "wastage"; The various tools of backbone - sizing, line sheet reports, utilization tools, etc.; How Backbone changes how brands deal with data; Makes creating a "tech pack" easier; How Backbone ensures products are made correctly, Why you should build products that last; Advice for brands; Advice for entrepreneurs; What type of brands work with Backbone; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matthew in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Backbone PLM, visit: https://backboneplm.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Backbone PLM - Make DTC Products Faster Oct 28, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Matthew Klein, CEO of Backbone PLM, shares a simple fact at the center of a DTC brand's success: the product. The key take away from this is that the "end consumer drives the supply chain of getting the product made." The consumer wants you to focus on more complex packaging, materials, ingredients, sustainability, wastage, and so on. And that's where Backbone comes in, providing a single source of truth for all product details from design to production. It's an all in one "design, product development, and collaboration tool. Here's their story. In part one, Matthew discusses: Who is Backbone; Why we're now in a DTC economy; How the end-user drives the supply chain; Why Backbone is focused on the first mile with brands; How Backbone helped brands work remotely during the pandemic shutdowns; Matthew's Entrepreneurial advice; Why creating momentum in your business will help you get through tough times; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matthew in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Backbone PLM, visit: https://backboneplm.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Adrenaline - Experience the Adrenaline Oct 27, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Brendan Nugent, CEO of Adrenaline, shares more about the gifting platform for people looking for blood-pumping adrenaline-raising experiences. In this episode, Brendan breakdown the experience from one of their partners, iFly, and how it feels to float in a wind tunnel. Basically, unlike any ride that you've been on. He also shares what experiences have been most popular during the pandemic and what experience would be available as the season changes, whether it is flying in a wind tunnel or catching a passenger-side ride on a military Jet; no need to look further than the Adrenaline platform. In part two, Brendan discusses The iFly experience; What's been popular during the pandemic; Focusing on Corporate Benefits and remote workers; Using travel points to pay for experiences; What coming during the winter months; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Brendan in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Adrenaline, visit: https://www.adrenaline.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Adrenaline - A Blood-Pumping Experience of a Lifetime Oct 25, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Brendan Nugent, CEO of Adrenaline, tells us that there is no easier and safer way to gift yourself or friends a blood-pumping experience like skydiving, INDY Race Car driving, Zip-lining, or helicopter rides than to use the Adrenaline platform. He shares the two sides of the platform with us, from helping over 400 small businesses sell their experiences (really critical during this pandemic) and engaging consumers/adrenaline junkies with amazing activities. If you're looking for something safe for yourself, group of friends, and regional (within driving distance), look no further than Adrenaline.com. In part one, Brendan discusses: What is Adrenaline; How they're helping over 400 small businesses survive the pandemic; How consumers are turning to small regional experiences to stay safe; How they pivoted from travel agency to gifting platform; What a typical experience is like for the consumer; What they're doing to keep people safe; describing the iFly experience, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Brendan in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Adrenaline, visit: https://www.adrenaline.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Hush Blankets - Unlocking Your Potential Through Optimal Sleep Oct 25, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Aaron Spivak, Co-Founder of Hush Blankets, tells us how the pandemic affected the brand. Essentially, stress skyrocketed during the shutdown and lots of people purchased the Hush Blanket to help them. Why? In effect, it was the countless hours they put in obsessing about the product's science and effectiveness. They realized that this product was more than just another blanket. It was going to change the way you sleep. It would unlock your full potential in terms of your brain, energy, and more while helping reduce stress and anxiety. In part two, Aaron discusses: - How their blanket unlocks your full potential; - Why the science behind the product is so important; - Why they are a problem-solution brand; - Why he sends out 100+ text to customers per day; - Why people feel bad that their friends don't have one; - How the pandemic allowed entrepreneurs a way out of bad businesses; - And so much more that we can list here on entrepreneurship so please listen if that's your cup of tea. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Aaron in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Hush Blankets, visit: https://hushblankets.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Hush Blankets - A Constant, Comforting Hug Whenever Needed Oct 23, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Aaron Spivak, Co-Founder of Hush Blankets, shares with us the story of building Hush Blankets, a premium weighted blanket brand that helps you reduce stress and fall asleep faster. He begins by taking us on his journey from dreaming of being a professional hockey player to building a party bus business and doing up to 1400 proms per year, all while he was in high school. He also talks about his first and ongoing, business Revitasize and how that led to Hush Blankets. Along the way, he describes the milestones and challenges, such as deciding to go to college or be an entrepreneur or appearing on Dragon's Den (Canadian version of Shark Tank), where his pitch has become legendary (watch it here) and more. Here's the rest of his story. In part one, Aaron discusses: Who is Hush Blankets; His journey; The party bus business; Should you go to college; Are entrepreneurs made or born; The best way to know if you're an entrepreneur; Why providing way more value is key; Why a weighted blanket; Why your business is your baby, and that's why you give it everything you have; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Aaron in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Hush Blankets, visit: https://hushblankets.com/ Visit our advertisers: MuteSix - Mutesix.com/storyofabrand Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Textual - Shopping Becomes as Easy as Replying YES Oct 22, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Blu Atwood, CEO & Co-Founder of Textual, tells us that Textual is a marketing platform centered around the ease and intimacy of the text message. As Blu mentions in the episode, “there’s a digital gap” in the e-commerce marketing world. Despite the recent shift to online, there are still a lot of companies that are missing or struggling with their digital presence. Not only is Textual ready to consult with new companies making their entrance into the digital world, but Blu believes that any "retail clients” could genuinely “benefit from Textual's mobile innovation.” Plainly stated when consumers shop using Textual the friction is eliminated and the brand can maximize its ROI. In part two, Blu discusses: Using text as an application, Mobile innovation through text message, Discussing subscriber management, Email to Text marketing differences, The importance of implementing text into your digital marketing strategy; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Blu in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Textual, visit: https://www.textual.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Textual - True Shop By Text for Brands Oct 21, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Blu Atwood, CEO & Co-Founder of Textual, shows how they are cutting out the middle man out altogether. Ultimately, Blu is innovating the personal relationship between consumer and company bringing a whole new meaning to “direct to consumer.” Textual, in the words of Blu, is an “intelligent product messaging platform via text.” Many companies use text messages as a form of reminder or promotion link that funnels consumers back to a website. Instead, with Textual, customers could purchase products directly through text without the need for a separate app or site. Through Textual, shopping becomes as easy as replying YES. In part one, Blu discusses: What a text message marketing platform entails; Origins of Blu’s e-commerce experience; The details of Textual; Buying through the convenience of text; The impact of creating a messaging platform between customer and company; The onboarding process at Textual; Talking about marketing metrics; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Blu in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on Textual, visit: https://www.textual.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

ACTIV - Ecommerce Holiday Readiness Oct 20, 2020

n the second part of this Feature, Alex Houg, Co-Founder & CEO of ACTIV, tells us that ACTIV truly loves to partner with the brands they work with. No matter what the obstacle, they will help you through the challenges. Throughout the episode, Alex shares a lot of insights that would be helpful for any e-commerce brands from strategic to tactical. If you’re looking for a company that’s truly passionate about finding the right mindset as well as the right calculation and strategies to help you scale, ACTIV might be the partner for you. Here's the rest of the story. . In part two, Alex discusses The experience of partnering with ACTIV; Finding the best traffic source; Determining the right business goals; The best product-market fit; Optimizing the customer journey; Discussing the first quarter of 2021; Building back up plans; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on ACTIV, visit: https://www.weareactiv.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

ACTIV - Your E-commerce Growth Team Oct 20, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Alex Houg, Co-Founder & CEO of ACTIV, tells us how to best get ahead of the game during the COVID holiday season. As a brand owner focused on your e-commerce channel, it’s no secret that the digital marketing environment has changed. Whether your company is stressing over an inventory, or fine-tuning your marketing stack, or struggling to optimize your offers to a segment of your audience, ACTIV is here to partner with your brand and help you scale your business. In part one, Alex discusses: Who ist ACTIV; COVID Implications; Strategic Marketing Tips for the Holidays; Testing your sales offers and making lists; Releasing the right promotions; Let’s talk mindset: changing your mindset to better your company; Removing your ego; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on ACTIV, visit: https://www.weareactiv.com/ Visit our advertisers: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

ShippingTree - Enabling Same Day Delivery for Brands Oct 19, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Jesse Kaufman, Founder & CEO of ShippingTree, continues to share with us the story of his e-commerce fulfillment company. He explains what the biggest trends in shipping DTC products will including hyper localization of inventory, inventory balancing, and what it's going to take for 3PL's and DTC Brands to succeed in the race for the optimal post-purchase experience for their consumers. Here's the rest of his story. In part two, Jesse discusses: How they are enabling "Same Day Delivery" in metro cities; How they integrate with major marketplaces; How they control the entire process from the software to the warehouse; How they are obsessed with fine-tuning the post-purchase experience; The biggest trend in shipping DTC products; How to balance your inventory; How they help you work with Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and others; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jesse in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on ShippingTree, visit: https://shippingtree.co/ Visit our advertisers: Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

ShippingTree - How to Reduce Shipping Cost & Transit Times Oct 16, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Jesse Kaufman, Founder & CEO of ShippingTree, tells us why he founded his e-commerce fulfillment company. When he had a clothing distribution brand and searched for a 3PL, he couldn't find what he was looking for. He envisioned a solution that was more attuned to what fast-growing DTC brands needed. So he created the kind of shipping company that he would have wanted. His overall goal was to reduce shipping costs for the brand while reducing transit times for the consumer. But, if he could make shipping innovative, cool, and sexy in the process, that would be a bonus. Here's his story. In part 1, Jesse discusses: Who is ShippingTree; Why he's obsessed with the Post-Purchase experience; How they analyze shipping cost for brands; How he reduces cost while reducing transit times; Post-purchase advice for brands; Entrepreneurial advice; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jesse in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story. For more on ShippingTree, visit: https://shippingtree.co/ Visit our advertisers: Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Dr. Brite - A Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, Woman Owned Brand Oct 15, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Dr. Pooneh Ramezani, Co-Founder at Dr. Brite, continues sharing the story of building her unique brand dedicated to manufacturing highly effective and clean ingredient products that are safe for the entire family. She shares her learnings and advice from building her brand. She also discusses her channel strategy and why they do lots of typical brand functions in-house such as manufacturing, shipping, customer care, and more. She says, "it's about quality assurance" and to put it bluntly, she simply doesn't trust other places with the customer experience which for her is number one. Here's the rest of her story. In part two, Pooneh discusses: Why your job as a brand owner is to protect the brand; Why you can't and shouldn't be everywhere if quality, customer experience, and messaging are important; Why she doesn't go all-in with Amazon; Why you should look at all channels and determine whether it benefits your brand now and in the future; Tour of Dr. Brite products; The vision and future of Dr. Brite; Why they constantly survey customers; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pooneh in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Dr. Brite visit: https://www.drbrite.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Dr. Brite - Clean, Effective. Affordable Products for Your Family Oct 14, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Dr. Pooneh Ramezani, Co-Founder at Dr. Brite, shares the story of building her unique brand dedicated to manufacturing highly effective and clean ingredient products that are safe for the entire family. She tells us what it was like to go from dentist to founder of a brand and all the challenges in between. She also discusses the challenges of using clean effective ingredients and not cutting corners, all while becoming a certified B-Corp. As Pooneh says, "it's a challenge but what you put in your mouth or in your body or have in your home with your family really matters". This is why she is such a proponent of transparency of ingredients. Here's her story. In part one, Pooneh discusses: Who is Dr. Brite; Why they started the brand; How cancer and her nephew eating toothpaste played a part in motivating the founders; Why what you use in your home, really matters; The challenges of starting a brand; Why consumer preferences are trending toward clean ingredients; Why packaging matters as well; Why making their products affordable and within reach of every family is part of their mission; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pooneh in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Dr. Brite visit: https://www.drbrite.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

NEOCLASSICS - Cultivating Conscious Minds Oct 13, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Richard Bao, Founder at NEOCLASSICS, continues sharing the story of his Los Angeles-based brand that features original message-driven artworks and with a goal of cultivating conscious minds. He tells us what "ethically and locally" means to him and why it is so important to build a community of suppliers, manufacturers, and sowers. He also shares the messages hidden and not so hidden in his clothing & designs. Here's the rest of his story. In part two, Richard discusses: What ethically and locally means to him; How the creative process works in designing their clothes; Why bing "unbound" is so important; The benefits of doing things locally in the time of COVID; How he was able to pivot prior to COVID; The messages in the designs; The his tagline is so personal; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Richard in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on NEOCLASSICS visit: https://neoclassics.org/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

NEOCLASSICS - The Brand for People Who Live Consciously Oct 12, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Richard Bao, Founder at NEOCLASSICS, shares the story of his Los Angeles-based brand that features original message-driven artworks and with a goal of cultivating conscious minds. He shares how he was financially successful yet emotionally and soulfully miserable at his finance job. So in the midst of the worst financial recession in current times, he left his job to start a brand for people who want to live a conscious lifestyle and mentality. Here's his story. In part one, Richard discusses: Who is NEOCLASSICS; Why the brand is a manifestation of his beliefs; Richard's origin story; Why we're seeing the rise of the "conscious consumer"; Why creatives have such a hard time in business; Brand building advice for Creatives & Artist; How to stay emotionally balanced - "Never too high, Never too Low"; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Richard in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on NEOCLASSICS visit: https://neoclassics.org/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

ATTN Agency - The Biggest Marketing Challenge for Brands Oct 10, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Justin Buckley, Co-Founders & Partner of ATTN Agency, continues to share tips and advice on making your brand's holiday sales successful and profitable. In part two, Justin discusses: What's working and not working; Why its never been easier and harder to build a brand; Why you must own your customer's data; Attribution - a big challenge for Brands; How to discover why a customer engages; Why you should look at each channel as if they are competing against each other; Why SMS is disruptive and should you use it; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Justin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on ATTN Agency, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

ATTN Agency - Performance Marketing Guide to the Holidays Oct 10, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Justin Buckley, Co-Founders & Partner of ATTN Agency, reveals the insider performance marketing tips that his agency uses to generate millions of dollars of revenue for his clients. He also discusses what performance marketing means to ATTN and what their commitment and goals are for their clients. In this special edition, learn what you should focus on, do, and expect for this historic holiday season. In the first part, Justin discusses: Who is ATTN Agency; What is their mission and goals for clients; What you need to do this holiday season (starts around 13:32); Why blue-chip retailers will flood the ad markets; What will the elections mean to your ad cost; Why you need to start earlier this year; The right way to discount; What another stimulus means to e-commerce; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Justin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story. For more on ATTN Agency, visit: https://www.attnagency.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/SOB

Marco Ice Cream - Chef-Approved Flavors! Oct 08, 2020

Note: The audio quality is spotty but the wisdom is real

In the second part of this Feature, Luke Christianson and Avery Henderson, Co-Founders at Marco Ice Cream, continue sharing the story of their unique disruptive ice cream brand. They remind us that there are the "Thursday-Night" sweat pants ice cream and then there's the "Friday-Night" dinner party ice cream, which includes Marco Ice Cream, that you want to share with your friends as part of a four-course meal. More than anything, both co-founders want to introduce you to spices and flavors that are different than anything you would have imagined in ice cream but are chef-approved. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Luke and Avery discuss: How they use "Marco" as a character to help tell their story; Why they belive their opportunities for collaboration are unlimited; How Anthony Bourdain inspired them to seek out flavors from foreign lands; The different ways customers are eating Marco Ice Cream; What Flavors are the Founder's favorites; Why their spicy flavors work so well; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Luke and Avery in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Marco Ice Cream visit: https://www.marcoicecream.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Marco Ice Cream - Why Foodies Adore this Ice Cream Oct 07, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Luke Christianson and Avery Henderson, Co-Founders at Marco Ice Cream, tells us how they loved traveling and tasting new flavors from around the world. They also loved ice cream and wanted to combine the unique spices and flavors they discovered on their travels and create a unique ice cream worthy of most finicky chefs and foodies. In part one, Luke and Avery discuss: Who is Marco Ice Cream; The origin story; Why they are at the center of Cuisine & Travel; How the pandemic affected their Brand; How they choose Flavors; Why it tastes so good; Why they strive to make flavors Chef's would love; How to position a Foodie-based brand; The most important ingredient in dairy-based ice cream; How they chose the Aztec Chocolate flavor and why it's Ramon Vela's favorite; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Luke and Avery in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Marco Ice Cream visit: https://www.marcoicecream.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

MuteSix - The Holiday E-commerce Playbook Oct 06, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Moody Nashawaty, Partner & Chief Strategy Officer at MuteSix, goes into more detail on the potentially historic Holiday season for e-commerce Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands. He explains why you "must" own your own data. Why DTC brands should use their scrappy-ness to move customers through the funnel and more. In part two, Moody discuss: How brands can own their data; What it means that more Boomers are moving to e-commerce; The e-commerce Holiday Playbook (starts at 13:11); Why you should expect and plan for shipping delays; Why the elections will cost you (in ad cost); Why you should acquire customers before the holidays; How to do discounts/promotions correctly; Why marketplaces, Walmart, and Amazon; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Moody in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MuteSix visit: https://www.mutesix.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

MuteSix - The Pioneers of Brand Response Marketing Oct 06, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Moody Nashawaty, Partner & Chief Strategy Officer at MuteSix, shares stories of the early "scrappy" days of MuteSix. He recounts how they started with a direct response video by generating nearly $1 million in revenue for a client. He also tells the "ButterCloth Shark Tank" success story and what happened when they showed up at the TV studios with Metta World Peace. Moody also shares big picture trends that e-commerce DTC brands should be watching and why. He also breaks down the Buttercloth digital strategy and more. In part one, Moody discuss: Who is MuteSix; Moody's origin story, The early days of MuteSix, How they generated $1m in direct response video; The Buttercloth Shark Tank Story; Why you should always take a Shark Tank deal and why; Breaking down the Buttercloth digital strategy; Biggest Trends in DTC; Why you should own your Data; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Moody in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MuteSix visit: https://www.mutesix.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Pedro & Tailor - Rewriting History through Everyday Luxuries Oct 02, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Joshua Perez and Levi Tijerina, Co-Founders at Pedro & Tailor, continue our conversation about their brand Pedro & Tailor. Pedro & Tailor is a luxury brand redefining what it means to be luxurious. Their pieces are high-quality versions inspired by many things including their culture to classic fashion and other things you may already know and love. From coats to home goods, their pieces are designed to unite everyone despite all differences. With what we’ve taken from Josh and Levi, true value comes from family, celebration, and true passion. In part two, Josh and Levi discuss: Creating the products; Finding the right manufacturer; Breaking traditional business sense; Enjoying the little things; Advice for future entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Josh and Levi in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Pedro & Tailor visit: https://pedroandtailor.com/ Visit our sponsors: Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Pedro & Tailor - Advance to a Life of Wonder Oct 01, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Joshua Perez and Levi Tijerina, Co-Founders at Pedro & Tailor explain how they are truly redefining luxury that’s accessible to everyone despite cultural backgrounds. Josh and Levi, are two creative minds deeply in love with the notion of "living a life of wonder" and that includes their culture. Through their products, branding, and overall imagery of their site, it all creates an environment where you can be truly attached to living life. Starting off as two photographers, becoming clothing retailers wasn't exactly the end goal, but through their passions, they fell into a brand that truly allowed them to be creative while having the ability to honor their past. Listen in as Josh and Levi talk about how the stars aligned and they knew, it was time to start a business. In the first part, Josh and Levi discuss: Who is Pedro & Tailor; Josh and Levi’s growth and journey; The meaning behind Pedro & Tailor; Building the foundation of the company; Gathering and sharing stories of the culture; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Josh and Levi in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Pedro & Tailor visit: https://pedroandtailor.com/ Visit our sponsors: Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

United By Blue - 1 Product Purchased = 1 Pound of Trash Removed Sep 30, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Mike Cangi, Co-Founder & Brand Director at United By Blue, continues to discuss the environment and United By Blue and how to create and support sustainable clothing. Through their work with the environment and fabric innovation, United By Blue is pushing boundaries and breaking that fast fashion mentality in order to create clothes that truly mean something. On top of all that United By Blue does, you could also purchase from other brands on their website as well that hold those same brand values & mission for being an eco-friendly, sustainable brand. Take a look and join the movement to create a cleaner world. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Mike discusses: Creating new challenges for your brand to go above and beyond; COVID Impacts and Delays; Fabric Innovation; Working on sizing and the importance of inclusivity; Products with Purpose and their role within United By Blue; It’s more than just a transaction; The details in the designs and the different types of products; Introducing the reusable line; Advice to other entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mike in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on United By Blue visit: https://unitedbyblue.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

United By Blue - Fashion Can Be a Force for Good Sep 29, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Mike Cangi, Co-Founder & Brand Director at United By Blue, introduces us to his sustainable clothing brand, United By Blue. As Mike explains the “Blue” in the company name is more than just a color. It represents the ocean and their collective passion to save our environment, specifically the oceans that are being tarnished by single-use plastics. United By Blue sees this damage and is determined to fix it by creating sustainable, fashionable apparel. Not only is their clothing eco-friendly, but with every purchase made they promise that they will remove one pound of trash from oceans and waterways. As Mike is proud to announce that through this promise they have been able to remove “about three million pounds of trash.” Buying from United By Blue isn’t only a fashion statement, it’s a chance to join a movement. In part one, Mike discusses: United By Blue and what they do; Discussing their love for the environment; Building a company that has an impact; The Origins of United By Blue; Blending company action with every transaction; Greenwashing, what it is, and why it could be harmful; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mike in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on United By Blue visit: https://unitedbyblue.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Kinn - Modern Heirlooms Sep 28, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Jennie Yoon, Founder & CEO at Kinn, talks about her brand Kinn. As a founder during the pandemic, times were hard, as they were for many of us. Jenny Yoon shows us the positive side effects of being truly transparent. Not only does the jewelry stay true to their motto of transparency, but Jenny stays true to her role as a jeweler, entrepreneur, and overall friend of her community at Kinn. Whether you’re in the mood for some gorgeous hoops or looking for more necklaces to layer on with each piece, you’ll really become apart of a family & community that is timeless at Kinn. In part two, Jennie discusses COVID Impacts in the jewelry world; Building a relationship with your customers during a pandemic; Depending on your community to help you through tough times; The intricacies of creating jewelry; The upkeep of business after creating some traction; Working with vintage pieces; Becoming an online retailer; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jennie in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Kinn visit: https://kinnstudio.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Tinuiti - Activate Your Brand’s Potential Sep 28, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Nii A. Ahene, Chief Strategy Officer at Tinuiti, dives into the world of digital marketing. With a mix of fast-talk and true passion for the work, Nii gives us his commentary on how to best market your brand for the present while utilizing valuable data for the future. As Nii approaches this, he doesn’t just think about what’s going on right now in e-commerce. His big picture question is “when it's the Super Bowl in twenty, twenty-five, how are people going to buy (and have delivered) their food or snacks? What will that process look like?” This mindset is what drives Tinuiti to be the leading independent marketing agency, it’s what makes it so unique. For any brand, looking for a fresh look into understanding the e-commerce environment, take a look at Tinuiti. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Nii discusses Learning to read the changes in e-commerce; The power of Wal-Mart and how they utilized their website; How the internet changes every day; A consumer’s personal tie to your product; Updating the mainstream for your modern consumer; Why data is so valuable; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nii in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tinuiti visit: https://tinuiti.com/Ramon Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Kinn - Jewelry Inspired by Women and Their Many Moments Lived Sep 28, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Jennie Yoon, Founder & CEO at Kinn, comes on the show today to share her story of creating Kinn. After a tragic incident happened, Jenny Yoon and her family lost their priceless and near irreplaceable heirlooms. Anyone who’s saved a watch or family engagement ring understands the pure beauty that it holds in capturing nostalgia. Jenny Yoon especially understands this as she talks about how “jewelry is more than an accessory … it’s a time machine...” With every purchase at Kinn, it’s a purchase for a quality ring and memories that are going to last lifetimes. In part one, Jennie discusses Who is Kinn; Jenny’s Journey into Creating Kinn; Re-finding your career path and figuring it out; The early challenges of growing a business in a competitive space; Pricing and marketing in the jewelry world; Marketing your company and making it work; Advice for all young entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jennie in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Kinn visit: https://kinnstudio.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Tinuiti - Success Requires Strategy Sep 28, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Nii A. Ahene, Chief Strategy Officer at Tinuiti, shares an in-depth discussion about digital marketing. Representing Tinuiti, Nii Ahene, Chief Strategy Officer, discuss what it means to be the largest independent performance marketing agency. Now at first impression, our listeners have to know Nii Ahene is not a psychic, although that’s what Tinuiti seems to offer with Nii’s experience. With an expansive understanding of e-commerce, Tinuiti is here to help its clients fully understand the digital marketing world in order to best utilize its capabilities. As Nii explains, social media “is not what it was 10 years ago” and it’s definitely “not what it’s going to be in 10 years.” Tinuiti is here to help you understand the now so that you could adapt for the future. Here's his story. In the first part, Nii discusses Tinuiti and what the do; The Journey of Nii Ahene; Economic impacts of the stimulus; Being a conscious investor and getting the most out of your dollars; Learning the social media ecosystem; The changing of retail shopping seasons; Getting used to the e-commerce environment; Q4 advice for e-commerce brands; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nii in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tinuiti visit: https://tinuiti.com/Ramon Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Casca Design - Designed to Be Worn Sep 26, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Braden Parker and Kevin Reid, Co-Founders of Casca Design, tells us that when growing up, there was always a pressure to have the coolest shoes, keep up with the trends, even if they didn’t last that long. Now that they're older that’s never gonna be a bad thing, especially with Casca shoes. Casca shoes remain innovative, comfortable, and stylish. With several colors to choose from, these 3D printed shoes will never go out of style as Braden Parker and Kevin Reid have said they’re the shoes “that are meant to last for years.” The two co-founders have not only created stylish comfort but they’ve innovated that idea with the 3D printer. With the Foot B3D, the sole system of your shoes could be customized to the individual foot creating maximum comfort and ultimate endurability. No matter what age you may be, Casca shoes help the everyday consumer recognize the importance of good orthotic support. In part two, Braden & Kevin discuss The Design of the shoe; The Sole System; The target market; The Orthotic support; Marketing to two near opposite demographics; Distribution Plans; What is the foot b3d; Expressing the journey; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Braden & Kevin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Casca Design visit: https://casca.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Casca Design - Resist Fast-Fashion and Reduce Consumption Sep 26, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Braden Parker and Kevin Reid, Co-Founders of Casca Design, tell us about creating the shoe that lasts for years. High-quality tech shouldn’t just be for marathon runners but for the everyday person running to the office every day rain or shine. Whether it’s rainwater damage or the constant walking tears, Casca is dedicated to bringing quality shoes for your every day. Not only is getting into the shoe game hard with preexisting brands and popularity, but Casca was also out to create the ultimate shoe. The perfect design to lessen the number of shoes needed while adding to functionality and comfort. So listen in as Braden and Kevin talk about breaking the stigma of uncomfortable shoes as they achieve the impossible. In the first part, Braden & Kevin discuss: What is Casca; The origins of the Co-Founders; The details of the perfect everyday shoe; Prioritizing functionality; COVID Impacts; Buying a shoe that lasts; Getting over start-up complications and building off of them; The Yin and Yang of Casca; The importance of bringing something new to the market; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Braden & Kevin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Casca Design visit: https://casca.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

IKONICK - Inspiring Others to Follow the Dream Sep 24, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Mark Mastrandrea (Brazil), Co-Founder at IKONICK, shares with us their process of taking motivational messaging they love and combine it with popular culture and visual content to truly remarkable pieces. IKONICK provides affordable art that helps the everyday-go-getter find the motivation to start the day. Mark's story proves to entrepreneurs that no matter the journey nor the barriers that get in the way nothing is impossible. Taking this idea and turning it into portrait form, the average consumer could take this motivation with them to the office, have it in their home, or whatever space they hope to personalize. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Mark discusses The importance of branding and it’s longevity; How to build a consistent pop culture brand in Los Angeles; Selling Art; The importance of using your connections; Building a network; COVID Impacts; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mark in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on IKONICK visit: https://ikonick.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

IKONICK - The Story Behind the Hustle Sep 24, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Mark Mastrandrea (Brazil), Co-Founder at IKONICK, comes onto the show to talk about his journey into building the brand, IKONICK. IKONICK was made between Mark and his co-founder Jeff Cole as a way to provide affordable art pieces that always inspire. Through triumphs such as overcoming his high school senior year soccer team to coming from nothing to creating a new company out in Los Angeles, Mark is here to talk about everything you could accomplish when you put your mind to it. Here's his story. In part one, Mark discusses The Founder’s origin story; Journey to creating IKONICK; Turning your own obstacles into reasons to motivate you; Motivating yourself through in a post-COVID world; Building a company in Los Angeles; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mark in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on IKONICK visit: https://ikonick.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Theo & Harris - The Power of Storytelling Sep 23, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Christian Zeron, Director at Theo & Harris, we get real about perfecting storytelling and how impactful it could really be. As a child, storytelling was ingrained into Christian Zeron’s and we could see why. Christian talks about oral tradition, narratives in entertainment, Anthony Bourdain's Part's Unknown show, and tells us how all of these elements are what makes storytelling in marketing so important. They’re detrimental to the consumer’s emotional connection to your product. Especially for a Watch that could be so heavily weighted in family history, Christian has this strategy locked down through his site, social media, and Youtube channel. Listen in as he brings us through how he does it all with late nights, networking, and hard work. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Christian discusses: Shaping your company through your employees; The changing world of the watch economy; Digital marketing; Perfecting your storytelling strategies; The dangers of storytelling; The retail side of Theo & Harris; Advice to young entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christian in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Theo & Harris visit: https://theoandharris.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Theo & Harris - A Thought Leader in the World of Vintage Watches Sep 22, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Christian Zeron, Director at Theo & Harris, shares how he turned his passion for watches into a leading retail company that sells vintage Rolex, Cartier, Omega, and all brands that we’ve heard of before and that many of us know as luxury brands. He also goes into the intricacies of what it means to be a watch enthusiast. For instance yes, that Cartier watch is expensive, but why is it expensive? At Theo & Harris, you get access to beautiful vintage watches but they also educate you on the story attached to each of their watches. These watches aren’t only meant to last, but they're meant to become a part of our personal life story as consumers. In the first part, Christian discusses Theo & Harris - what they do; Christian Zeron’s entrepreneurial journey; Building Theo & Harris; The beauty of vintage watches and why they last; The importance of creating the narrative; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christian in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Theo & Harris visit: https://theoandharris.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Cocktail Sneakers - Sneaker Culture Redefined Sep 21, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Susan Hassett, Founder at Cocktail Sneakers, continues sharing how Cocktail Sneakers is a company that allows women to enjoy high fashion sneakers no matter what time or what event. Susan talks about as a young girl who “loved sneakers,” they were only worn “during athletics.” As the trend of "work-casual" started to become more prevalent, men started to show up to meetings in casual sneakers while women continued to wear heels as business attire. Susan saw this opportunity as a way to create options for all types of women whether they were staying at home, going to meetings, or attending an event. No matter the occasion, Cocktail Shoes will give you the look and feel that you want without stressing over a shoe change. Here's the rest of her story. In part 2, Susan discusses The intricacies of the design; Creating a unique way to adjust the sizes of the shoe for every woman’s foot; Reaching out to others and the importance of networking; The products - The Outside and the Professional; Writing the product narrative; Bringing it all together; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Susan in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cocktail Sneakers visit: https://cocktailsneakers.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Cocktail Sneakers - Effortlessly Chic Everyday Sep 21, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Susan Hassett, Founder at Cocktail Sneakers, a late-stage DTC brand founder who’s out to break all stigmas that might stand in her way. She shares her story of being a first-time mother who worked hard to provide for her family by starting a telecommunications company. Who then, after years of working through the shifts in her life, decided to found Cocktail Sneakers about four years ago and absolutely loves it. Susan truly shows how important it is to always work towards your passion no matter what stage of life you’re Here's their story. In part 1, Susan discusses Cocktail Sneakers and why it exists; Gender stigmas between sneaker styles and when to wear them; Creating high fashion sneakers for women; Being a first-time mother and entrepreneur; Designing the perfect shoe from sunrise to sunset; Going through the learning curves of business; Journeying to China to meet her manufacturers; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Susan in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cocktail Sneakers visit: https://cocktailsneakers.com/ Visit our sponsor: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Omigo - Instantly Turn Your Toilet into a Modern Bidet Sep 19, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Thomas Lotrecchiano, Co-Founder at Omigo, continues discussing the stigma that holds back more bidets in the United States, but we also get to touch on the importance of taking that leap to entrepreneurship. Caught in a bit of a crossroads, Thomas Lotrecchiano was in between continuing with an MBA in business school or getting real-life experience with his father in creating Omigo. Ultimately, Thomas picked the latter option and is glad to have done so. As a running theme in this show, we know that it’s risky being an entrepreneur but as Thomas states, “there’s always the potential Failure in everything.” It’s better to take that leap into being an entrepreneur because there’s always something to learn and that knowledge is priceless. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Thomas discusses: Continuing the conversation on Bidets; Allowing the consumer to make an informed decision; Why Omigo is here to stay; Adjusting to new competitors with new messaging; Breaking tradition; The two product classes of Omigo; The details in the design of Omigo; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Thomas in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Omigo visit: https://myomigo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Omigo - Better Hygiene. Happier You. Sep 18, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Thomas Lotrecchiano, Co-Founder at Omigo, talks about the many ways in which Omigo is here to break tradition. The father and son bidet company revolutionizes the way in which you handle your business by offering you a cleaner more sustainable solution. Co-Founders, Thomas, and his father started the bidet company at what seemed just the right moment. At the start of the pandemic, the impulsive buying of toilet paper left a lot of shoppers thinking "there must be a better way". With that, Omigo found themselves in a virtual avalanche with what felt like “20x” the number of orders. As Thomas recalls, during the first wave on March 13th they knew “something was changing.” The pandemic may have finally brought more acceptance of the Bidet in American culture but there's still a long way to go. And Omigo is ready to keep the conversation going in order to give consumers the clean experience that they deserve. Here's their story. In the first part, Thomas discusses Omigo and what it is; The origins of the father & son company; The importance of the Bidet; Building, promoting the concept; Creating the conversation and changing the American culture; COVID Impacts; Talking about the Bidet and why it just makes sense; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Thomas in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Omigo visit: https://myomigo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Clever Creative - Connecting Real Humans to Honest Brands Sep 17, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Shannon Gabor, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Clever Creative, continues to share that as an independent, female run agency, Clever Creative is dedicated to bringing positive human qualities to everyday brands. As Shannon mentions, it’s important to bring “vulnerability and candor” when a company is trying to express their message to the consumer. Despite what advertising history may say or how stigmatized it is to be truly honest, the connection that’s built through vulnerability and candor is unmatched because people always “remember the human replies.” Throughout the second half of this episode, Shannon talks about this relationship, as well as, what it takes to be the ideal client, the growth of the agency, and advice for future entrepreneurs. Here's the rest of her story. In part two, Shannon discusses Growing past advertising history; Defining yourself as a Creative; Never get in the way of your own growth; Treating your company as a hospitality business; Tending to your “guests” in relation to hospitality; The ideal client for Clever Creative; The Importance of leading with optimism and good energy; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Shannon in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Clever Creative visit: http://clevercreative.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Clever Creative - A Uniquely Human Approach to Branding Sep 17, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Shannon Gabor, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Clever Creative, tells us how Clever wasn't necessarily designed to be all female at first, as Shannon comments, it was a “gift of the pandemic.” Through times like these, it’s important to be introspective and true to your value. With this in mind, Shannon stumbled onto the importance of keeping a tight-knit family that runs Clever Creative. As you’ll hear on the show, Shannon Gabor, a fast-talking creative from Jersey, is not only dedicated to the craft, but she’s dedicated to the relationships she builds throughout her day-to-day running of Clever. Being a brand at Clever Creative doesn’t mean hiring a marketing team, it means partnering with some of the most creative people at a company that not only love their jobs, but love growing with the companies they work with. In the first part, Shannon discusses Who is Clever Creative; Why Shannon’s “Daria” stage will always be important; Understanding how to use your left and right brain in the best of ways; Choosing your mentors and adopting their wisdom; Adapting to your environment especially as a brand; COVID Impacts; Adapting your company with its surrounding community; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Shannon in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Clever Creative visit: http://clevercreative.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

FlavorCloud - Enable Brands to Go Global Sep 16, 2020

Note: Recorded during the shelter in place, the audio quality is spotty but the Wisdom is real. Here on Story of a Brand, we love hearing the hero stories for all entrepreneurs, especially from all of our female-owned partners who continue to break boundaries every single day. In the second part of this Feature, Rathna Sharad , Founders & CEO at FlavorCloud, shares the challenges she overcame during the starting of her entrepreneurial journey. As Rathna mentions “as a woman, what you hear, is really true.” Rathna saw the impacts between building connections, funding, and having those large-big-picture conversations. Rathna's comments regarding her obstacles and her advice on how best to combat those obstacles will benefit any entrepreneur no matter what gender you are. Here's the rest of her story. In part two, Rathna discusses Being primed by Amazon Prime; COVID Implications; The growth of international e-commerce; The new reality of building a brand to be international; Sharad's background; Dealing with work-related stresses through kickboxing and yoga; Expressing the client experience through FlavorCloud; Optimizing shipping strategies while remaining cost-effective; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Rathna in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on FlavorCloud visit: https://flavorcloud.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

FlavorCloud - International Shipping & Returns Easy & Affordable Sep 16, 2020

Note: Recorded during the shelter in place, the audio quality is spotty but the Wisdom is real. In the first part of this Feature, Rathna Sharad , Founders & CEO at FlavorCloud, discusses the in's and out's of FlavorCloud. FlavorCloud is the solution for all brands hoping to avoid the complexities of international shipping and returns. FlavorCloud manages, organizes, and fixes all of your international shipping and return needs so that you as a brand can focus on your priorities: your consumers. Having years of previous supply chain experience beforehand, Rathna understood that there was a huge issue of having to work with different companies fragmenting your international sales strategy. Introducing FlavorCloud means reducing complexity and implementing a shipping strategy that will be as friction-free, affordable, and as easy as downloading an app from the Shopify store. Here's her story. In part one, Rathna discusses FlavorCloud, what it is and how it works; The Origins of FlavorCloud; Looking at every possible solution until finding the right one; Pivoting the previous company into FlavorCloud; The complexities of the problem; Your borderless consumers and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Rathna in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on FlavorCloud visit: https://flavorcloud.com/ Visit our sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

QLTY Objective - Hyper Focused on the Details Sep 16, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Andrew Estey , Founders & CEO at QLTY Objective, comes back on the show to talk to us about the ins and outs of Qlty Objective. As a shoe guy, Andrew shows the importance of having a work boot that has both comfortability and functionality. Whether you’ve been in the trade game for a long time and would love a change of pace in gear OR you’ve just started off in your new job, this is the time to start your journey with Qlty Objective. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Andrew discusses The Qlty Objective Motto; The testing process and finding the perfect design; Building a product while building a brand; The details in the design; The importance of “Word of Mouth” advertising, and how it could make or break a company; Making decisions between D2C and wholesale; Admiring those who work in the trade; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Andrew in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on QLTY Objective visit: https://www.qltyobjective.com/ Visit Our Sponsors: Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

QLTY Objective - Handcrafted Work Boots for Any Job Site Sep 15, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Andrew Estey , Founders & CEO at QLTY Objective, talks about how he came up with the idea to create a quality work boot for a reasonable price that won’t break the bank. Through adapting to staying indoors and the acceleration of online buying and living, our essential workers/tradespeople still got up every single morning to ensure our day to day was still running smoothly. Specifically for our orange vested workers continuing the craft of building, maintaining our road, bridges, houses, office buildings, and more, Estey recognizes the hard work they put in every day by creating durable, well-made, affordable gear so that they could save your hard-earned money. Whether you’re looking for regular boots or a steel toe, Qlty Objective has you covered. Thank you for our tradespeople! Here's the story of QLTY Objective. In part one, Andrew discusses Who is Qlty Objective; The Origins of the company; The drive through Denver and the A-HA moment; The industry that doesn’t stop; Keeping partners that stay with you on the journey; Having the ability to adapt through all situations; COVID Impacts; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Andrew in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on QLTY Objective visit: https://www.qltyobjective.com/ Visit Our Sponsors: Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

LaRue PR - How Brands & Consumers Connect Sep 14, 2020

In the second half of this Feature, Jessy Fofana, Founder & CEO at LaRue PR, shares with us the value of taking a risk in order to take a stance. Larue PR makes it very clear that they are not here to create veils for those companies that choose to play Switzerland. The relationship between the company and consumers aren’t built merely on discount emails nor targeted advertising, but the connection made through the values and experiences that we share as individuals and community. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Jessy discusses: Aligning the consumer with your social stances; Taking the Risk to Share Your Views; Jessy Fofana’s background; Intertwining your company with what’s happening right now; Balancing your finances between PR and Ad investments; Discovering your own PR strategy; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jessy in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on LaRue PR visit: https://www.laruepr.com/ Visit our Sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

LaRue PR - Hustling Hard and Delivering Results Sep 14, 2020

In the first half of this Feature, Jessy Fofana, Founder & CEO at LaRue PR, comes on the show to talk about COVID impacts, creating unique strategies for their clients, and ultimately figuring out the best ways to adapt businesses to an ever-changing environment. With both COVID and BLM Movements, it’s more than just a PR story for Fofana, it’s a way to input “real change from the bottom up.” No matter what direction you choose to drive your company, Larue PR helps to ensure that it always remains genuine. In part one, Jessy discusses: Who is Larue PR; COVID impacts: living through media; Creating strategies unique to their clients; Wording the right responses & being proactive; Working pro bono to incite change; It’s not just about the product; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jessy in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on LaRue PR visit: https://www.laruepr.com/ Visit our Sponsors: Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Salumi Chicago - Meat is More than Just a Food. It's an Art. Sep 11, 2020

In the second half of this Feature, Gregory Laketek, Co-Founder & COO at Salumi Chicago, explains how not only does Salumi Chicago provide quality Italian style meat, but it also makes each of their products as organic as possible. With no sugar, nitrates, hormones, or antibiotics added, Salumi Chicago meat comes as natural as possible. Listen in today as Greg talks about building a company, finding the market for your company, and the future of Chicago Salumi. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Greg discusses The process of creating Salumi Chicago; The importance of ingredients; Finding the marketing and gearing towards that market; Managing revenue through Amazon; The Future of Salumi; Where to find Salumi (online/in-person pick-up); And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Greg in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Salumi Chicago, visit: https://salumichicago.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Salumi Chicago - Foodies, Meet the Master Salumiere Sep 11, 2020

In the first half of this Feature, Gregory Laketek, Co-Founder & COO at Salumi Chicago, shows us what it takes to have true mastery of your craft. After buying a one-way ticket to Italy, Greg did everything it takes in order to perfect the craft of creating salumi. With hours upon hours of training in Parma, Italy, Greg was ready to bring Italian quality meat to the United States through Salumi Chicago. Salumi Chicago is a company based out of Illinois that is dedicated to bringing organic quality meats to another level. Listen in today to hear about how learning a craft in Italy isn’t only an episode in Master of None, it’s a reality. In part one, Greg discusses The Founder’s origin story; Not only quitting your day job but leaving the country; The importance of being a lifelong learner; Getting mastery of your craft; Building a quality food company; Creating traction and value in the food business; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Greg in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Salumi Chicago visit: https://salumichicago.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Amrita Health Foods - Transparent About Our Ingredients Sep 09, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Arshad Bahl, Founders & CEO at Amrita Health Foods, explains that for all of those who are worried about catching breakfast on their way to work, whether it’s the lack of time or dietary restrictions like allergies or veganism, worry no more. Armita Foods is providing the perfect on-the-go snack for all of those who need a quick bite and don’t want to waste any time. Amrita Foods recreates the experience for all of those who want to receive all of the nutrients that they need while also enjoying the taste. As Arshad says, the protein bars in themselves are reimagined to not taste like the traditional protein bars but still provide the consumer with the right amount of protein that they need. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Arshad discusses; COVID Impacts; Product transparency and the importance of ingredients; Recreating the taste of a protein bar; The COVID Pantry; Armita’s social mission; Packaging and pricing; Future of Amrita; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Arshad in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Amrita Health Foods visit: https://www.amritahealthfoods.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Amrita Health Foods - Delicious Plant-based Protein Snacks Sep 09, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Arshad Bahl, Founders & CEO at Amrita Health Foods, shares with us a touching story on how he turned his love for creating snacks for the benefit of his son, into a health food company that’s geared towards everyone’s nutritional needs. From experimenting with DIY Youtube recipes to creating the perfect versions, Armita Health Foods creates on-the-go nutrition bars for all consumers that are free from the top nine allergens. Armita Foods stays true to their mission of providing grab-and-go snacks for those that not only want to be healthier but for any of those who have dietary restrictions. In part one, Arshad discusses The founding story; Turning a passion into a company; Being your own consumer and founder; Creating the demand for your product; Thoughts surrounding giving up your day job; Staying true to your mission; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Arshad in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Amrita Health Foods visit: https://www.amritahealthfoods.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

MarketerHire - The Best Marketers Freelance Here Sep 08, 2020

In the second half of this Feature, Chris Toy, Co-Founder & CEO at MarketerHire, tells us how MarketerHire is retiring “sleepy business models” in order to make a more malleable lifestyle for the modern company. MarketerHire is taking the traditional long term job experience and turning into higher quality and less risk employee/client relationship. This platform not only allows their clients to find quality freelancers fast but also creates an ecosystem for freelancers to get hired faster and easier at a near two-week rate. Through communication and time management, MarketerHire proves to be at the right place and the right time with remote working. In part two, Chris discusses The new complexities with digital marketing; Normalizing freelancing; Creating the concierge experience for clients; Finding the perfect freelancer match for companies; Rejuvenating old business models; How marketing can impact the creation of your product; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MarketerHire visit: https://marketerhire.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

MarketerHire - No job postings, No interviews, No headache. Sep 08, 2020

In the first half of this Feature, Chris Toy, Co-Founder & CEO at MarketerHire, talks about the ease in which this platform matches trained, quality marketers to numerous companies. No matter if you’re a startup or a Fortune 500, MarketerHire takes away the process of multiple interviews, browsing through profiles, and any other headaches employers may have in finding the perfect candidates. As a company, if you have a marketing need, MarketerHire will fulfill that need in order for you to maintain focus on the areas most important to you. In part one, Chris discusses: How MarketerHire Chooses Marketers on their Team; The Process on Matching Clients to Freelancers; The Client/ Talent Relationship; Working Remotely; Creating Agility Premium Marketers; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MarketerHire visit: https://marketerhire.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Hello, LLC - Find a Way. Make it Happen Sep 07, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Michelle Venorsky, Founder & CEO of Hello, LLC., shares with us how to implement “full transparency” into a company. Hello doesn’t partake in the traditional “law firm” type of process when it comes to running a PR agency. They are focused on the amazingly high-quality results you get by “treating adults like adults” and being straightforward and candid with all clients as well as employees. Michelle tells how she wants to take the workplace to the next level by improving productivity while still making the environment fun and fulfilling. "Your career choice shouldn’t be a chore", she says, "enjoying it shouldn’t be difficult". Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Michelle discusses Showing transparency and knowing the bottom line; Becoming invested in your client’s business to create a relationship through honesty; Creating a non-traditional environment at the risk of getting better results; The Hello LLC manifesto; How to know if you’re a customer for Hello; Advice on starting a business; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Michelle in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hello, LLC visit: https://www.hellocle.com/ Visit our Partners - Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Hello, LLC - An Engagement Agency Sep 07, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Michelle Venorsky, Founder & CEO of Hello, LLC., shares why women shouldn’t pick between their career and being a mother. Hello LLC is an all-female engagement agency that not only provides quality service to their clients but also stays true to their values. Although the traditional career path might work for some, it does not work for all. For instance, working mothers still face complications in the traditional 9 to 5 environment. Michelle combats this by creating an environment that allows women (whether she's a mother or not) to balance out their personal life while having a productive workspace. It no longer has to be an “either/or” conversation, just simply badass women who could do it all. Here's her story. In part one, Michelle discusses The Introduction to Hello LLC; The Founder’s personal story; Pre-Instagram marketing techniques and maneuvering through the world of Second Life; Why the marketing term of the year is “Pivot”; How to work in a world of marketing cuts; Why they helped clients for free; Creating value in your community; Aligning your values, communicating your message, and striving for authenticity; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Michelle in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hello, LLC visit: https://www.hellocle.com/ Visit our Partners - Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Üphoric Urth - Harnessing the Power of Mushrooms Sep 04, 2020

In the Second half of this Feature, Kate Seiberlich, Co-Founder & CEO of Üphoric Urth, delves deeper into the world of fungi. With both COVID and personal impacts, introducing yourself to the possibilities of holistic health could not come at a more urgent time. Educating yourself on the topic, finding the right routine, and understanding your body is just the start of healthy living. Self-care doesn’t have to be hard as each bottle is labeled for the direct problem that you would like to solve. If you’re feeling distracted, try the Focus tincture made with Lion’s Mane mushroom. Perhaps you’d feel better helping your immune system, in this case, try Immunity made with Reishi mushroom. Kate proves to us that finding alternative ways to improve your health doesn’t have to be scary nor confusing. In part two, Kate discusses The Power of positive thinking and being intuitive beings; Understanding what works best for you; Blending both passion and business; COVID Impacts; The struggles of launching a new brand during a pandemic; Ingredients and the details of the products; Educating the consumer on your product; Breaking down the mushroom; The future of the product and distribution; And more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kate in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Üphoric Urth visit: https://uphoricurth.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Üphoric Urth - Modern Approach to Ancient Healing Sep 04, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Kate Seiberlich, Co-Founder & CEO of Üphoric Urth, shares why we should all be fungi freaks. Kate takes us into the world of medicinal mushrooms. Üphoric Urth is a holistic wellness brand that uses natural, organic products to boost yourself mentally and physically. While using the extracts of different types of mushrooms, Üphoric Urth’s tinctures could help with your immune system, focus, detox, and even help your sleep. All it takes is a couple of drops of your favorite tincture and you’re good to go. Here's her story. In part one, Kate discusses The Introduction of Üphoric Urth; The Journey in 2015; Kate’s origin story; The Importance of mushrooms; Finding a health routine perfect for you; Why it’s important to listen to your body, and how holistic health could be right for you; And more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kate in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Üphoric Urth visit: https://uphoricurth.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Bizzy Coffee - Turning an Idea into Great-Tasting Cold Brew Coffee Sep 02, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Alex French, Founder & CEO of Bizzy Coffee, shares how the journey of building Bizzy is like none other. Hurdle after hurdle, the founders have never allowed the idea of failure to get to them as French says “you don’t fail until you quit.” Listen in to hear the inspiring story of what it truly means to have a vision and struggle and make it become a reality. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Alex discusses Earning funding and validation; Raising capital in a struggling business; Creating a story for the consumer then making that story accessible; Pulling out of grocery and moving onto Amazon; COVID growth; Perfecting the blend; Learning from failure; Different brews and packs; Juicing up revenue on Amazon; Advice for Entrepreneurs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bizzy Coffee visit: https://www.bizzycoffee.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bizzy Coffee - An Entrepreneur Through and Through Sep 01, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Alex French, Founder & CEO of Bizzy Coffee, says it best when he describes his company as “Bizzy Coffee” is cold brew “for busy people.” Whether it’s a busy work schedule or in French’s case training for the Iron Man while maintaining a full-time job, cold brew shouldn’t take up most of your time nor should you be paying $5 a cup every day before you head to work. Bizzy Coffee gives busy people a solution when it comes to controlling your schedule while staying energized. Alex French, Co-Founder of Bizzy Coffee, comes onto the show today to share with us his story of creating Bizzy Coffee while also giving us some insight into the mentality of first-time entrepreneurs. In the first part, Alex discusses His background; The start of Bizzy Coffee; Past ventures and busy schedules; Why you should always use the help of others who have lived through your experiences; Creating a product based on your personal experience; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bizzy Coffee visit: https://www.bizzycoffee.com/ Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bellroy - Use Your Business to Do Good Things Aug 30, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Co-Founders Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw at Bellroy, discuss becoming a certified B Corporation, the design of their products, and the importance of evolving. “Consistency doesn’t leave enough room for evolution” as Andy talks about in today’s episode as we break the belief of always having a “safety blanket.” One of the best ways to build a start-up brand is being prepared to always give-in to change in order to stay relevant with your commerce environment while also providing the consumer with quality. That’s just scratching the surface as we delve deep into the ins and outs of Bellroy. Here's their story. In part two, Lina & Andy discuss: Always align your values; Investing in materials that benefit the planet; Becoming a B Corp; Being a part of the B Corp community; About the products and the meaning behind the designs; The evolution of the Slim Sleeve; The safety blanket conspiracy; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Lina & Andy in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bellroy visit: https://bellroy.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bellroy - Stay Focused and Get Ahead Aug 30, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Co-Founders Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw at Bellroy, tell us how Bellroy produces quality carry-on bags and accessories to help the everyday go-getter, get around easier. From fan favorites such as the Slim Sleeve wallet to the Weekender Plus travel bag, Bellroy continues to innovate new ideas to help their customers travel seamlessly in an organized stress-free way. Listen as they share how they built a brand out of nine simultaneous ideas. Here's their story. In part one, Lina & Andy discuss: The origins of Bellroy; Stumbling onto the idea of Bellroy and running with it; The background of the Founders; Explaining their reasoning around innovation; COVID impacts to the brand both global and personal; Shortening your company planning horizons; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Lina & Andy in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bellroy visit: https://bellroy.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CrankTank - Bringing Mid-Sized Brands Digital Maturity Aug 30, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Scott Montgomery, Founder & President at CrankTank, gives us the details of the company while also giving insightful predictions of the e-commerce environment as a result of COVID 19 changes. From aiding the digital transition of small to large business, Montgomery gives insights on how to grow your business while competing with others who may seem more digitally native. Here' the rest of the story. In part two, Scott discusses The implication of digital marketing during COVID; How to keep up with digitally native brands; The consumer effects of seeing an Instagram ad; Focusing on commerce optimized market strategies; How to grow your audience; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Scott in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on CrankTank visit: https://cranktank.net/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CrankTank - Managing the DTC Shift Aug 30, 2020

Through CrankTank, Scott Montgomery, Founder & President at CrankTank, has created a way for traditional brick and mortar companies to make the “D to C” shift. Montgomery recounts his background as an instinctive entrepreneur selling dictionaries during the 1980’s Detroit recession to becoming a lifelong learner in his father's business, in order to build the digital marketing agency, CrankTank. CrankTank introduces the opportunity for digital growth through blending both the traditional retail strategies and complementing it with newer digital retail channels. In part one, Scott discusses: The origins of CrankTank starting with Cannondale; The importance of being a lifelong learner; How international business has affected CrankTank; The “D to C” shift switching to Direct to Consumers; How to use Amazon to better your brand; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Scott in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on CrankTank visit: https://cranktank.net/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

EnquireLabs - Turning Surveys into Conversations Aug 28, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Matt Bahr, Founder & CEO of EnquireLabs, shares why EnquireLabs is changing the game when it comes to gathering qualitative data to use for your company’s decision making. At the heart of it, the platform allows your company to open up two-way communication between you and your customers thereby gaining valuable feedback but also helps to build community with your brand and consumers. Here's the rest of the story. In the first part, Matt discusses Building communication paths with your customers; Ways to use the data given to you by EnquireLabs; Introducing a two-step functionality; Using Snapchat & TikTok as an investment; Measuring the immeasurable; What is "Participatory Marketing"; Taking away privacy to allow open conversation between company & consumer; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matt in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on EnquireLabs visit: https://enquirelabs.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

EnquireLabs - Understand Your Marketing ROI Aug 28, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Matt Bahr, Founder & CEO of EnquireLabs, talks to us about the journey of building EnquireLabs. EnquireLabs works to innovate the collecting of qualitative data through survey attributions. Despite the popular trend of using more and more complex tech through cookies, EnquireLabs finds it's best for you to simply ask your customers what they want. The importance of customer feedback shines now more than ever as EnquireLabs works with some of the most successful customer-centric Shopify brands. This is his story. In the first part, Matt discusses: Origins of EnquireLabs; Challenges at startup and overcoming those challenges; The importance of survey data; Allocating your time; Drinking the Facebook kool-aid; Cookie-base vs. post-purchase surveys; Building a relationship with your customers; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matt in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on EnquireLabs visit: https://enquirelabs.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Better Booch - Never Compromise with Quality Aug 28, 2020

As a musician, Trey Lockerbie, Co-Founder & CEO of Better Booch, likes to think of Better Booch Kombucha as an album and he's trying really hard to not have one bad song on the album. That's the reason why they've developed a deep knowledge of tea and why their teams are constantly innovating around brewing procedures, sustainable packaging, and new flavors like Hola Horchata. They've also committed to being uncompromising in one area: server cold kombucha. For many brands, the challenge of shipping a cold product forces these brands to make compromises. For Better Booch, cold kombucha is the only way to go. In part two of this Feature, Trey discusses: Overcoming logistical challenges; Why they followed the example of craft beer; Why cans are better than bottles; Sustainable packaging; Why deep knowledge of tea is their differentiator; Review of Better Booch flavors; The future of Better Booch; Raising funds for more innovation; And more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Trey in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Better Booch visit: https://www.betterbooch.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Better Booch - The Secret Agent of Health Aug 27, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Trey Lockerbie, Co-Founder & CEO of Better Booch, shares the story of how his wife and himself were feeling the toll of constantly touring as backup musicians. They knew that they didn't want to still be touring as they got older so they looked for a way to make extra cash and selling Kombucha at a Farmer's market sounded like a great idea. They didn't realize that it would be so much work comprising of lots of mistakes along the way but what made up for it was how they felt about brewing what they considered to be the best Kombucha on the market with better ingredients and brewing process. They were excited that it taste great but was also good for you. Here's their story, In part one, Trey discusses: What is Better Booch, Why their brewing process and ingredients are different than other Kombucha drinks; How their staff consists of Brewers and scientist, Why true Kombucha stays cold; Why they use clean ingredients; What role Trey's sister played in introducing him to Kombucha; Their life as musicians; Remembering the first bottle sold; Why zero to 1 is the biggest step; Advice for entrepreneurs; The similarities between Kombucha and songwriting; And more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Trey in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Better Booch visit: https://www.betterbooch.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Chronos Agency - Email Marketing is a Must-Have Aug 26, 2020

From an e-commerce standpoint, COVID has turned the world of brick and mortar retail into the world of digital retail. In this episode, Joshua Chin , Co-Founder & CEO of Chronos Agency talks about this acceleration and need for rapid digital transformation for many companies who were previously more focused on other distribution models such as physical retail. He also talks about the importance of email marketing and conversion strategies. Plus he recommends that newer brands shouldn’t get stuck solely on social media as it may stunt their growth. Here's the rest of his story. In the second part of this Feature, Joshua talks about Personal vs corporate perspective within the COVID Lens; International market differences for brands; Understanding the true value in Email Marketing; Email marketing & social media channels: two sides of the same coin; Post-COVID Predictions regarding brands and e-commerce; The future of Chronos and introducing complementary services; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Joshua in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Chronos Agency visit: https://chronos.agency/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Chronos Agency - Email Marketing for E-commerce Brands Aug 26, 2020

Chronos Agency steps onto the show with Joshua Chin , Co-Founder & CEO of Chronos Agency. Chronos Agency is a company that focuses on increasing e-commerce brands’ email marketing ROI. Chronos optimizes email strategies in order to expand a brand's message from just the standard campaign templates to custom workflows that deliver a relevant email that will two things: bring in more revenue & keep your customers coming back. Here's the story of how Joshua built his international email marketing agency. In the first part of this Feature, Joshua talks about The origins of the Chronos Agency; Building a company on the experience of side hustles; Accidentally falling into your first sales pitch; What Chronos Agency does; Pivoting towards an e-commerce focused niche; The frameworks used for Clients; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Joshua in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Chronos Agency visit: https://chronos.agency/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Vejo - Making Health Cool Aug 26, 2020

Whether people use an existing blend or participate in the Vejo+ personalized program, Christoph Bertsch, Founder & CEO at Vejo, shares that understanding their customers at a deeper level and constant innovation is keeping Vejo moving the needle to help people have a better healthier life. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Christoph discusses: Why many ailments are due to lack of nutrition; What is the Vejo+ program; Creating personalized pods for athletes; What's their Nourish the Hero program; What is Vejo's vision of the future; Why his goal is to make health cool; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christoph in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Vejo visit: https://www.vejo.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Vejo - The World's First Pod-Based Blender Aug 25, 2020

After partaking in a couple of business ventures, Christoph Bertsch, Founder & CEO at Vejo, saw an opportunity in the market. So he put the pieces together and took that dive into creating Vejo. Christoph takes us through the process of innovating a single-use blender that focuses on helping the customer receive a truly convenient healthy experience while having it taste great. Whether it’s after a long hike under the Los Angeles sun or doing a run on the treadmill, Vejo makes it simple to have your choice of smoothies in just 30 seconds with the world’s first pod-based blender. In part one, Christoph discusses The origins of Vejo; The process of innovating a new product; The importance of health in a post-COVID world; Dealing with anxieties and insecurities of change; Fixing the details for potential buyers; How to best showcase your company journey; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christoph in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Vejo visit: https://www.vejo.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Soda Bossa - The Brazilian Spark Aug 25, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Denis V Detobel goes through the ingenuity that went into making a soda that tastes great but has only 35 calories. As he mentions, it’s the ideal balance between sweetness and healthiness. Using all organic, natural products, Soda Bossa speaks for itself when it shows how great tasting it could be whether it’s the Dragon Fruit flavor, Yerba Mate, and Brazil’s own Premium Guarana. Here's the rest of the story. In part two, Denis discusses COVID plans and implications; What the consumer wants; Patience and frugality are always key; Don’t be afraid to be small and perfect what you have right now; Plans for the future; Last thoughts on ingredients; And much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Denis in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Soda Bossa visit: https://sodabossa.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Soda Bossa - Inspired by Brazil. Made in America. Aug 24, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, the Bossa Nova of soda, himself, Denis V Detobel, Founder of Soda Bossa, comes on The Story of A Brand to talk about his company SodaBossa. Denis Detobel’s travels from Central America to Hawaii to California are impressive, but SodaBossa proves that Detobel’s heart will always remain in the hands of Brazil. Through passion, experience, and more importantly, hard work, Detobel works his way up and completes the rite of passage to owning a successful brand. When you’re an up and coming brand, it’s always important to be a lifelong learner. Take the time to learn, observe the actions of others, study, and as Detobel shows, your time will come. There IS positivity in what we experience. Here's his story. In part one, Denis discusses His travels and inspiration; Building Soda Bossa; The rite of passage; What is the Brazilian Spark; Using the pandemic as a time to pivot & restructure; Adapting the Brazilian version of Coca-Cola for new markets; and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Denis in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Soda Bossa visit: https://sodabossa.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Bombshell Sportswear - The World's Sexiest Sportswear Aug 23, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, CEO Dominique Zimmermann and President Christian Zimmermann of Bombshell Sportswear, continue sharing their story and their commitment to quality athletic clothing and their customers. Chris talks about balancing out different roles in order to help Bombshell run smoothly. Whether he was "Kevin from Customer Service" by day or the President of Bombshell, making the jump from medicine to fashion wasn’t always easy for Chris but he quickly learned the ins and outs of running a business as well as understanding the world of women’s athletic wear. Here's the rest of their story. In part two of this episode, Dominique and Christian discuss Chris Zimmermann’s origins; Marketing through the pandemic; How to keep your products locally manufactured; Listening to the customers and being part of their community; Filling a niche in the market; Choosing the right million-dollar idea; The future of bombshell; Why it was so important to patent their designs; And so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Dominique and Chris in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bombshell Sportswear visit: https://www.bombshellsportswear.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Bombshell Sportswear - Your Dream is Worth Achieving Aug 21, 2020

In this Feature, self-starter, Designer & CEO Dominique Zimmermann and President Christian Zimmermann of Bombshell Sportswear, introduce us to the story of Bombshell. Bombshell Sportswear produces athletic clothing to not only help women look good but help induce the confidence that it takes to feel good. Dominique shares how important it is to not only believe in your vision but to never settle for anything less. It's more than faith, trust, and pixie dust, as Zimmerman proves, it's hard work, paying your dues, and showing to everyone that your dream is worth achieving. Here's their story. In the first part of this episode, Dominique and Christian discuss The meaning behind and reason for creating Bombshell Sportswear; The origins of Dominique Zimmerman; The challenges of building a business; How to turn your vision into a reality; Remembering to pay your dues; and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Dominique and Chris in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand.

For more on Bombshell Sportswear visit: https://www.bombshellsportswear.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Black Wolf - Confidence Starts with Clear Skin Aug 21, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Sam Lewkowict , Founder & CEO of Black Wolf, shares what it means to truly believe in an idea and do whatever it takes in order to make it come true. As he states, "starting from scratch isn’t always going to be a terrible experience, but it’s an experience like none other". Just the sheer thought that YOU were able to create a life-changing experience for the customer is rewarding in itself. With this episode, we talk about the trials and tribulations of always being customer-centric and working toward designing products that will always perform.

In part two, Sam talks about Breaking boundaries when it comes to male confusion in skincare; Believing in yourself when others won’t; Creating an experience that the customer will Notice; How to Get Up After Getting Punched in the Face Every Day; The future of BlackWolf Nation; What makes Black Wolf different from other brands and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sam in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Black Wolf visit: https://blackwolfnation.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

Black Wolf - Extra Effective Skincare for Guys Aug 20, 2020

For Sam Lewkowict , Founder & CEO of Black Wolf and his brother, the goal was simple: make the process of buying and using skincare for guys as simple as possible. The challenge was that they were young, had no clue how to manufacture or produce skincare products, had no money, no network only a burning desire to make it happen. Here's their story.

In the first part of this Feature, Sam talks about How they got the idea for a skincare product, The challenges of starting the brand, How to get over a steep learning curve, Breaking down the manufacturing process, How to persuade someone to give you a chance, Why being loyal and helping others in business is important to them, The process of developing a skincare formula, Why you must choose between efficacy and marketing, How they initially raised funds, Using credit cards and Brex, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sam in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Black Wolf visit: https://blackwolfnation.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com/sob

ReSci - How to be More Relevant Aug 19, 2020

According to Gmail and other ISPs, the two most important things in email marketing are data and relevancy. But with an overwhelming amount of data to review and analyze, how are marketers able to better understand their customers, make smart decisions, and take action?

In the second part of this Feature, Jerry Jao, Co-Founder & CEO of ReSci, shares how his email marketing platform is different than 99.99% of all email apps in the market. How customer buying/browsing behavior has changed in the last 5 months and how the ReSci platform could help you be mindful and sensitive to customer behavior. In part two, Jerry discusses Creating that Nordstrom shopping experience online; How COVID changed customer behavior and how to address it; Aiming for the right storytelling through marketing; Why you should be kind to others and yourself; Why self-care is one of the most important things you could do; Top brands that use ReSci, How the platform can tell you which customers will buy again, their lifetime value, which sale items, back in stock or new arrival products each customer wants and even tell you what incentive will move them to buy; And much much, more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jerry in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on ReSci visit: https://www.retentionscience.com/sob

ReSci - Each Customer Deserves to Be Treated Differently Aug 18, 2020

Treating people like individuals in a one-to-one fashion is the ultimate goal for a digital marketer. However, analyzing the millions of data points from customer interactions and acting upon the data to make smart decisions can be overwhelming and challenging. For Jerry Jao and ReSci, the challenge motivates them. In the first part of this Feature, Jerry Jao, Co-Founder & CEO of ReSci, sits down with us and shares why customers have referred to their platform as the “Tesla of Email Marketing”. What it's like innovating in an area of digital marketing that hasn’t seen innovation in over 10 years. Why whether it's predictions, automation, recommendations, or the platform's self-driving autonomous features, the key is keeping the customer at the center. In part one, Jerry discusses The start of Jerry Jao, the Fifth-grade Entrepreneur; How being raised by a single mother inspired Jerry; Innovating the Email experience from the ground up; Why the customer deserves to be treated as a unique individual; Using data science to improve subject lines; Avoiding the limitations inherent in other email platforms; How ReSci improves engagement and revenue, and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jerry in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on ReSci visit: https://www.retentionscience.com/sob

BOMANI Cold Buzz - Challenging the Status Quo Aug 17, 2020

Co-Founders Sam Madani and Amin Anjedani of BOMANI Cold Buzz, always find the time to keep things light-hearted as they share the personal side of the BOMANI journey including interesting stories during development. While we’re keeping the mood lighthearted, they’ve also shared the secrets on how to make the drink light while remaining vegan, kosher, non-GMO, etc. If you’re concerned about the ingredients that go into your cold brew coffee or beverage, your safest bet is always BOMANI. Here's the rest of the story. In Part 1, Sam and Amin discuss: Creating A broad target audience; How a Mom taught us that a business is more than a good plan; Understanding the market and competitors; Creating a beverage that's malleable and unique to each consumer; How COVID-19 impacted digital marketing; How it's important to be anti-racist; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sam and Amin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on BOMANI Cold Buzz visit: https://www.bomanicoldbuzz.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

BOMANI Cold Buzz - Alcohol-infused Cold Brew Coffee Aug 17, 2020

Co-Founders Sam Madani and Amin Anjedani do more than just represent BOMANI Cold Buzz, they always go the extra mile to make sure to put the consumer first. Growing up in entrepreneurial settings, it was no surprise that Bomani Cold Buzz has become the success that it has as their patience and hard work come together to make the perfect mix between coffee and alcohol. This coffee is perfect for those after work to get-togethers or midday brunches with your friends. It contains the social connection of sharing a beer, while keeping the intimacy of drinking an early morning coffee. Here's the Bomani Cold Buzz story. In Part 1, Sam and Amin discuss The Origins of Both Their Personal UpBringings and Professional Relationship; The Early Developments of Bomani; Patience When It Comes to Amin’s Love For Detail; Creating a Directed-to-Consumer Platform that Remains Consistent; Advice for Young Entrepreneurs; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sam and Amin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on BOMANI Cold Buzz visit: https://www.bomanicoldbuzz.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Outfit - Strengthening Brand Integrity Aug 17, 2020

In the next part of this Feature, Andy Fitzsimons, VP of Strategy at Outfit.io, shares the processes and details of Outfit. We go into the ideal customer for Outfit and what it means to use this software to the best of its ability. Especially with partner organizations, when it comes to design it is no longer required to bring on more people, but the platform itself works as a single control center for all of those involved. Fitzsimons discusses what it means to upgrade the quality of the brand through the quality of the service. In part two, Andy discusses: Serving the Ideal Customer at Outfit; How to Put the Customer in Safe Hands; Building a Platform that’s Ever-Changing with the E-Commerce Ecosystem; Creating the Best Brand Stories; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Andy in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Outfit visit: https://outfit.io/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Outfit - Empowering Teams to Self-Produce Content at Scale Aug 17, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Andy Fitzsimons, VP of Strategy at Outfit.io, sits down to discuss the Outfit journey. Outfit is a brand automation organism creating tech in order to easier automate “on-brand marketing production.” Fitzsimons goes into his own background working and listening to other brands in order to produce true value for each of Outfit’s clients. Breaking ground and taking names, Outfit is built to adapt and change with the times. For all businesses with a distributed workforce or partner network, Outfit is set to compliment your company. In part one, Andy discusses: The Start and Groundwork to Building Outfit; Creating a Brand Automation Platform; Talking Back with Value; Using Professional Designers with Traditional Tools; The Uses of Outfit; Long Term Solutions for Brands Here to Stay; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Andy in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Outfit visit: https://outfit.io/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TryNow - Customers Want to Try Before They Buy Aug 14, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Benjamin Davis, Founder & CEO of TryNow shares the process of perfecting TryNow whether it’s through integrating features to protect credit card scams or handling seamless returns. For brands handling all sorts of products from apparel to cosmetic brands, TryNow has become an easier way to create a necessary value for the customer. TryNow replaces the discount incentives with true “hands-on” customer experiences. Transitioning to in-store-type customer experience from what has become the usual way of doing e-commerce experience is seamless with TryNow’s willingness to help brands succeed. Together they're redesigning the ways in which we shop online. In the second episode, Benjamin discusses Creating Less Friction and More Accessibility to Returns; Our Ideal Brands and How Diverse that Could Be; TryNow’s Process with the Check Out Cart; Replacing the Discount Incentive; Remarketing Strategies to Improve TryNow Experiences; Digitizing In-Store Experiences; and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Benjamin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on TryNow visit: https://www.trynow.io/

TryNow - Try At Home Software for Shopify Brands Aug 13, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Benjamin Davis, Founder & CEO, joins the show today to talk about TryNow. TryNow is the software designed to bring the shopping experience that customers want to your Shopify store. Want to try on a specific jacket? Maybe you’re wondering whether those jeans fit with your favorite top? More importantly, maybe you’re concerned about making financial commitments and having to go through the hassle of return policies before even thinking about making a purchase. Despite all those concerns that we’ve had before, TryNow brings the fitting room experience right to your doorstep. No financial scares, no messy return policies, all you do is pay for what you want to keep. With this episode, you'll discover that when you provide shoppers with something that they want, it improves the economics for the brand as well. And so it's a win-win for everyone involved, the shopper and the brands. In the first episode, Benjamin discusses The Introduction and Value of TryNow; Bridging the Gap Between the Shopping Experience to E-Commerce Brands; Growing Through COVID; Fine-tuning the Details of the Software; Expanding the Experience of the Traditional Shopper; Introducing “Paycology” - the Psychology of What Customers are Thinking as They Check Out; The Importance of Building Product for the standpoint of the Consumer; and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Benjamin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on TryNow visit: https://www.trynow.io/

Knack Bags - Work and Play Out of Just One Bag Aug 13, 2020

In part 2 of this Feature, Chad Mellen and Keith Bristol of Knack Bags, are back to discuss the specifics of the design of the bag. Whether it’s the unique design of the sunglasses pocket or the internal water bottle holder, Knack Bag is finding all types of designs to suit the urban professional’s needs. And while it's perfect for the urban professional, it's basically for anyone who finds themselves in need of getting from point A to point B, whether it's from the bedroom to the kitchen or from your home office to the client's office. That’s the goal essentially, relieve the personal stress with just one simple backpack. Here's their story. In the second part, Keith and Chad discuss The Timing and Intertwining of Personal and Professional Lives When In a Startup; The Meaning Behind the Design and the Specifics of the Knack Bag; Expressing True Care Towards Customers; Visions for the Future of Knack Bag; Building a Community to Strengthen Company/Consumer Relationships; and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Keith and Chad in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Knack Bags visit: https://knackbags.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Knack Bags - Expand Your Possibilities Aug 12, 2020

In this Feature, Chad Mellen and Keith Bristol talk about the meaning behind Knack Bags and express the need for a fully functional, yet accessible bag. Whether it’s taking a day trip after work or merely balancing a personal, but a professional lifestyle, Knack Bag creates a simple bag that allows you to take off the stresses of finding your keys or protecting your laptop. After starting in 2017, they released the first versions of their bag in November 2018. They’ve been changing the idea of the traditional backpack since. Here's their story. In the first part of this episode, Keith and Chad discuss The Infamous Airport Story - How The Need For A Single Bag Started; Origins of Both Mellen and Bristow; The Impacts COVID 19 and the Adaptations of Uses for the Knack Bag; How It Is Running a Remote Company Before/During a Pandemic; The Benefits of Being Experienced in a Startup; and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Keith and Chad in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand.

For more on Knack Bags visit: https://knackbags.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Flow Water - The Water You Drink Matters Aug 12, 2020

During part two, Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder & CEO of Flow Alkaline Spring Water, shares advice for young entrepreneurs excited to turn their ideas into reality and how important it is to just “go for it.” Reichenbach also discusses the impacts of COVID and how Shawn Mendes and Post Malone’s contributions helped early on. As well as breaking down the true process of Alkaline water and how in Reichenbach's case, clean, healthier water could be closer than you think as he shares growing up next to Blue Lake Springs. In the second part of this Feature, Nicholas talks about COVID 19 and Running A Business During the Pandemic; Advice to all Future Entrepreneurs; Breaking Down Collagen and it’s a Factor in Water; Growing up on Blue Lake Springs and its Impact on the Inspiration of Flow; Alkalinity in Alka Seltzer; Reichenbach’s Long Line of Creating Healthier, Cleaner Sources of Water Starting With His Father Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nicholas in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Flow Alkaline Spring Water visit: https://flowhydration.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Flow Water - Better for Your Body, Nicer for the Planet Aug 12, 2020

After founding several companies and epiphanies at Burning Man, Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder & CEO of Flow Alkaline Spring Water hit the home run or home runs with his newest venture Flow Water. Flow Water is the next top brand of premium mineral water but eco-friendly features that help to diminish our carbon footprint. With an audience that just keeps growing, Reichenbach kicks off our podcast by sharing with us the environmentally-conscious principles that went into the packaging of Flow Water.

In the first part of this Feature, Nicholas talks about The Journey to Creating Flow; Taking the Eco-Friendly Burning Man Lifestyle and Adapting it to EveryDay Life through Flow; Reichenbach’s Entrepreneurial Journey; How a Video Game Industry Teaches You to Tell A Story; From Fiji to Voss, Flow Sets Out To Become the Next Face of the Leading Water Bottle Brand; How Entrepreneurship is about being naive and tenacious, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nicholas in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Flow Alkaline Spring Water visit: https://flowhydration.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

OLIPOP - Where Healthy Meets Delicious Aug 11, 2020

Ben Goodwin, Co-founder, CEO, and Formulator of OLIPOP PBC, gives us a taste on how the importance of company culture and ultimately the positive effects of focusing on humanism. In this episode, Ben talks about spreading positive healing through how we interact with others starting with our own co-workers. So, as Ben states, "say hello, create a connection, and eat clean bro". In Part 2 of this Feature, Ben discusses: How authenticity and depth are pivotal in company culture; The importance of how company culture impacts us and our coworkers; How to be an expert in humans; Just wait until you get to 40:00 to hear about our his comments on Social Connection vs Individualism, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on OLIPOP PBC visit: https://drinkolipop.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

OLIPOP - The Healthy Alternative to Soda Aug 10, 2020

Whether it’s working on your digestion during your BART ride or swerving down the isles of your favorite Sprouts, Ben Goodwin, Co-founder, CEO, and Formulator of OLIPOP PBC, explains the importance of the microbiome and how to best to take care of it. As Olipop describes it best on their Instagram, “we’re all just bacteria babe” and it’s time we had a conversation on how best take care of that bacteria while enjoying the soda we drink. Here's their story. In Part 1, Ben discusses: The origins of the entrepreneurial mindset; The effects of the “American Diet”; Defining the microbiome and how eating healthier could make us happier; Can’t say it better than “Digestion is Crucial” Learn it, live it, love it, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on OLIPOP PBC visit: https://drinkolipop.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

AshaPops Superfoods - Delicious Low Cal Plant-Based Snack Aug 10, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Asha & Jai Farswani, Co-Founders of AshaPops Superfoods, continuing telling the story of this delicious low-calorie plant-based superfood snack. In part 2, Asha & Jai discuss Why current health trends are moving AshaPops forward; Why Fresh Live Food is crucial for your diet; The AshaPops ideal customers; The different ways fans are eating AshaPops; The future of AshaPops; Why Asha is the Chief Energy Officer; Why Ayurveda, energy foods must be shared with the world; Having your mother as a co-Founder; and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Asha & Jai in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on AshaPops visit: https://ashapops.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

AshaPops Superfoods - The Healing Energy of AshaPops Aug 06, 2020

In the first part of this episode Asha & Jai Farswani, Co-Founders of AshaPops Superfoods, enthusiastically describe their journey from Asha's early years, her medical diagnosis, and how she used ancient wisdom, love, and water Lilies to heal herself naturally with food from her childhood. This is their story. In the first part of this episode, Asha & Jai discuss What is AshaPops, Asha's early years and diagnosis, How Jai's VC friend couldn't get enough of AshaPops, Getting proof of concept at Farmer's markets, Why preparing food with the right emotion is important, How Asha's Good energy is contagious, Why AshaPops is about ancient wisdom, How Ayurveda plays a part in AshaPops, and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Asha & Jai in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on AshaPops visit: https://ashapops.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

JUNO & Co. - A New Type of Beauty Experience Aug 05, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Juno & Co. CMO and Co-Founder Mira (Torres) Peterson talks about overcoming new challenges as the CEO of a highly successful brand. She gives her best advice for future entrepreneurs and entertains the idea of becoming a public speaker someday. She gives a detailed run-down of top-selling Juno Co. items and why she loves a low price point. All this and more. In the next part of this episode Mira talks about What are the brand values; confidence for women, setting an example for young women of color who want to get into the business; What were her biggest challenges in the beginning; manufacturing, keeping up with demand; What’s her best advice for young entrepreneurs; How her company has been affected by COVID, employees working better from home than in the office, considering mental health going forward; Prioritizing skincare over make-up following COVID-19 effects, less make-up; Top-selling products, what sets them apart, game-changing ingredients; Why making affordable products are so important for her; using her own personal experience, watching price-points; How she connects with her community; social media, surveys, polls, focus groups; If she considers public speaking in the future; Why her brand is turning down a different road towards more self-care, skin-care, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mira in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of her brand. For more on JUNO & Co. visit: https://www.junoco.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

JUNO & Co. - You Can Achieve What You Want Aug 05, 2020

In today’s episode, Juno & Co. CMO and Co-Founder Mira (Torres) Peterson talk about her incredible success in disrupting the beauty market. A resilient founder that has broken down every barrier that ever stood in her way, she is an inspiration to her growing community of confident women all across the world. This is her story. In the first part of this Feature, Mira talks about What she was doing before Juno & Co; took a break from working on a start-up, pitched the community-centered brand idea by co-founder Kyle; What about her personality allowed her to make the move from employee to the business owner; wanting to provide for her son, going through a divorce; How starting a business through challenging personal events helped her stay positive and focused; How she stays motivated to achieve her goals and resilient in the business world; How she and her co-founder complement each other's skills; how they met and why they work so well together; How they worked out the kinks to find their first viable product; how they were able to impressively leverage Kickstarter funds; What is the theme of Juno & Co’s community; building on relationships she formed at Ipsy, and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mira in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of her brand. For more on JUNO & Co. visit: https://www.junoco.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Ten Thousand - How to Succeed in a Saturated Market Aug 04, 2020

In the next part of this feature, Keith B. Nowak, Founder & CEO at Ten Thousand, discusses the various changes in consumer behavior that have occurred in the past few years. He talks about the long journey of growing the brand and why it was so important for him to connect with his customers. Listen as he talks with great passion about what it takes to be a successful brand in an overly saturated market. All this and more. In part two of this feature, Keith discusses The changes in consumer behavior and how Ten Thousand works to better serve their community; How they have been able to build a strong community- authentic email marketing, CrossFit events, collaborating with athletes; Why it is so important to build brand congruence; doing the little, non-glamorous things; Why he feels so passionately about building a strong brand culture, incorporating values that go beyond the transactional level, going deeper and focusing on the why; How he learned to take the time to be patient and see the long-term vision of his brand; What his best advice for entrepreneurs, a special message for his customers; new launches coming up in the near future, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Keith in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Ten Thousand visit: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Ten Thousand - The Only Training Shorts You'll Ever Need Aug 03, 2020

Being an entrepreneur is no easy task. There are myriad challenges every step of the way and nothing is guaranteed. Success doesn’t come easy, but in the eyes of Keith B. Nowak, Founder and CEO at Ten Thousand it’s really quite simple: work hard, know your why, and keep going. That is exactly how he was able to build a brand equipped to compete with the big boys of men’s sports apparel. Tune in and find out how Ten Thousand has incorporated fitness training keystones of efficiency, simplicity, and dogged determination to build an amazing product. This is the story of a brand. In the first part of the Feature Keith gives a rundown of his personal journey that led him to co-found Ten Thousand. He reveals how he was able to find a co-founder that perfectly complimented his strengths. He goes into detail about the steep learning curve he encountered in the early days, and why spending two years creating the perfect prototype paid off big time. All this and more... In part one of this feature, Keith talks about: His early days working as a VC and learning the ins-and-outs of direct to consumer businesses and brands; How he merged his professional experience with his personal passion for competitive sports; playing soccer professionally in Italy; The problem he encountered as an athlete that needed solving; sub-par buying experience and poor quality of training shorts; Why he is choosing to seek out the “owned retail” channel over wholesale as the next step in expansion; Why he faced a steep learning curve in the early days of building the brand; finding his co-founder and how they complement each other; Why he feels it is important for entrepreneurs to hit the ground running- benefits of learning as you go; What he feels is the differentiation of his brand; simplicity, quality, versatility, personalization, brand community, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Keith in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Ten Thousand visit: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Mad Rabbit Tattoo - A More Vibrant Tattoo Begins Here Jul 31, 2020

In the next part of this Feature, Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor, Co-Founders of Mad Rabbit, get into more detail about the business aspects of creating their brand identity. They also give a sneak peek into new products coming down the pipeline. Oliver discusses the possibility of venturing outside of tattoo care. And the boys tell their tattoo stories. All this and more. In the second part, Oliver and Selom discuss: How they used customer feedback to reinforce their brand, small changes to improve shipping, polls for information; What new products and distribution patterns are on the horizon; wrestling with the idea of re-sale and retail, waiting for the right time and opportunity- still learning; What new products are on the pipeline; all-natural sunblock and soothing gel; Where they see the future of the brand, possibly venturing out beyond tattoos; What the brand “Mad Rabbit” means to them; creating a space for people to tell their stories, better education about caring for tattoos; What is the best advice they have for future entrepreneurs; “just get started”, “treat it like a hobby, not a job; What tattoos they got since creating Mad Rabbit, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Selom & Oliver in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Mad Rabbit Tattoo visit: https://www.madrabbittattoo.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Mad Rabbit Tattoo - Two Unique Individuals. One Unique Brand Jul 30, 2020

In today’s Feature co-founders, Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor talk about all things Mad Rabbit. These college buddies always knew they wanted to start their own business. But it was their inexhaustible love of research that led them down the rabbit hole and into the world of tattoo aftercare. In a niche market full of possibilities, these co-founders are on the fast-track to success. Find out how two unique individuals created one unique brand, this is their story. In the first part of this episode, Selom and Oliver discuss Why they saw a need to develop skincare products specifically for tattoos; How the idea for their brand sprouted up while they were in college- how they prioritized their product over schoolwork, and how that paid off; The history of their friendship and their early experiences dabbling as entrepreneurs; Why they value their college experience; encourage others to learn outside the classroom as well; Why they decided to explore the tattoo market; the advantages of embracing the tattoo lifestyle; How their love of research turned out to be a key advantage for their success; What they did to start building a community around their brand; clever social media stunt, marketing, product feedback, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Selom & Oliver in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Mad Rabbit Tattoo visit: https://www.madrabbittattoo.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Art of Sport - Body Care Brand for Athletes Jul 30, 2020

In the next part of this Feature Matthias Metternich, co-founder of Art of Sport gives the lowdown on what makes Art of Sport so innovative. He discusses why it’s so important that the quality of products stays high, while prices stay low. And why he feels so connected to the values of his brand. All this and more. In the second part of this episode, Matthias discusses Why cost-effectiveness is so important to the brand, creating a healthy, high-quality product for the entire population, not just wealthy pockets; What makes the formulas so innovative, formula standards with integrity; How their products are being received publically; winning a new partnership with Target; How the brand has adapted during the pandemic; Why he feels so connected to the values of his brand; how he sees his brand as an athlete, striving for excellence and learning from mistakes, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matthias in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Art of Sport visit: https://artofsport.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Art of Sport - Hustle Hard Stay Fresh Jul 29, 2020

In the first part of this Feature, Matthias Metternich, co-founder of Art of Sport talks enthusiastically about his men’s skincare line. Metternich’s impressive track record as a founder is only matched by the impressive list of athlete investors. His authentic passion for the brand comes from happy childhood memories with Nike. He openly discusses his admiration for the global brand. And he passionately explains why Art of Sport is for everyone. This is his story. In the first part of this episode, Matthias talks about His history as an entrepreneur, and his how his love of coding and computers drove his professional career; Why he admires Nike for its marketing message and on a personal level as an athlete; How he came up with the idea for his product- not paying attention to ingredients in things like creams, lotions, etc; the realization that the use of the word “sport” was being used inauthentically, saw room for a “disrupter” in men’s skincare; Why he embraces the athlete as a muse but wants to serve the entire athletic community, regular people, young people just starting out; emotionally connecting with people, not just the elite athlete; His philosophical thoughts on the purpose of a brand- the emotional, cultural relevance, reaching out with grassroots interaction; The demand for high-level design and aesthetics, and how the brand lives up to the expectations; The wide array of athletes they’ve chosen to partner with; diversity in ethnicity, socio-economic background, personalities, sports, etc. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matthias in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Art of Sport visit: https://artofsport.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Goal Five - Fit with the Female Footballer in Mind Jul 29, 2020

In the second half of this feature Ann Keltz, Co-Founder of Goal Five goes into detail about the exponential growth of the company. She delicately discusses how Goal Five has thrived amidst the global pandemic. She recalls how a company retreat back in September of 2019 set into motion everything the company would need to thrive in 2020. She then explains the advantage of creating a team of leaders that are able to come together to achieve a common goal. In part two of this episode Ann talks about How the public has responded to the brand; Which items have become “hero products” and why; How Goal Five is disrupting the sports apparel industry and innovating traditional products; How and why her brand has achieved massive success in a time of crisis; Why she believes the sporting goods industry is “crisis-proof”; What she considers to be the best advice for future founders, and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ann in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of their brand. For more on Goal Five visit: https://goalfive.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Goal Five - The Soccer Brand For Her Jul 28, 2020

Did you know that only 4% of all sports media across the board is dedicated to women’s sports? And yet, since the passing of Title IX in 1972 the number of girls and women in sport has increased dramatically. While some progress has been made, many feel it is moving at a snail’s pace. Ann Keltz, Co-Founder of Goal Five, grew up playing soccer. In her youth, she was often the only girl on the team. Throughout her high school years, and while playing at Harvard University, she experienced the struggles many female athletes face: lack of funding, lack of proper resources, lack of support, and ill-fitting uniforms. Goal Five, “the soccer brand for her,” has stepped up to help fill in the gaps. It is a brand run by women, for women. They provide soccer training gear that is properly fitted for women’s bodies. Their mission is to advance gender equality for women in sport. Here is the story of a brand... In part one of this episode Ann discusses Her early memories as a young female soccer player and how the different challenges she faced influenced her perspective in business; Why she spent ten years searching for a mission-driven company and how she stayed connected to the soccer community; Why staying true to her North Star was paramount in her professional development; How Goal Five was created and the important mission it set out to accomplish; Shocking and surprising statistics surrounding women in sports; Why she believes the story of the “underdog” is so intriguing; How her company was able to solve the infamous “shrink and pink” problem and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ann in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of their brand. For more on Goal Five visit: https://goalfive.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Unbound - When a Brand Represents Your values Jul 28, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Polly Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of Unbound, dives deep into the psychological and emotional aspects of entrepreneurship. She explains why it’s so important for founders to be open to sharing their stories vulnerably and authentically. She offers examples of how her brand authentically represents her values, and how it’s created a supportive community for the women she serves. All this and more. In the second part of this episode, Polly talks about Why storytelling is so important for start-ups; setting a brand apart; Why opening up to becoming vulnerable and transparent is emotionally exhausting; Why she is so passionate about mentoring founders and helping them through the fundraising experience; the battle of facing constant rejection; How entrepreneurs being vulnerable to sharing upsets, mistakes, and low moments is incredibly valuable; Why she focused on “affordability and accessibility” in creating first 10 products; organic lubricants, alternative designs for vibrators, dual-purpose jewelry; How the brand engages the community; gaining repeat purchase rates; supporting different causes and non-profits, creating different spaces for activism; What differentiates Unbound from other competitors; medical-grade silicon, better products; the brand-image, diversity; the team of eight women in NYC. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Polly in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Unbound visit: https://unboundbabes.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Unbound - A Sexual Wellness Company Jul 28, 2020

In the first part of this episode listen to find out how Polly Rodriguez became co-founder and CEO of Unbound, a sexual wellness company for women. She discusses how the stigma associated with women’s sexuality posed several problems for her along the way. But, having survived life-threatening Colorectal cancer at age 21, she learned to be fearless and unwavering in her determination to pursue her dreams. This is her story. In the first part of this episode Polly talks about: How she was diagnosed with Colorectal cancer at age 21; scary side-effects of the radiation put her body through menopause prematurely; How an uncomfortable experience shopping for lubricant and a vibrator stuck with her; Why she worked in health care for a few years then found her business partner; Why she was initially fearful of talking about her idea for her product; dealing with emotional guilt surrounding her parents’ feedback; 2 years worrying about her decision; Why she ultimately views her experience with cancer as a catalyst to live fearlessly; What different challenges came with funding and distributing her product; institutional barriers due to her product is related to sex; How products aimed at women’s sexual wellness are viewed as vice products; the double-standards and injustices; What she did to advertise her product; hiring a PR firm, writing emails, social media, leaning into their values authentically; financially contributing to causes authentically; Why it’s so important to hire a diverse team that reflects values and the culture; and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Polly in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Unbound Babes visit: https://unboundbabes.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

FanLoveBeauty - 100% Natural & Vegan Ingredient Lip Balm Jul 26, 2020

In the second half of this Feature Ginger King, Founder of FanLoveBeauty elaborates on her interesting decision to focus on the small, specific niche of public speakers. She gives a glimpse of future products set to join Fan Love Beauty. She also talks about her passion for social causes and how her brand is helping to make a positive impact in the world. All this and more In the second part of this episode, Ginger talks about Why she focused on the niche of public speakers for her lip balms; how she modeled her marketing strategy after MAC cosmetics; What is the vision for the future of Fan Love; When her new hand cream will be launched; Which social causes she is passionately advocating through her company- “save the bees” and suicide prevention; How she connected with Shark Tank’s Daymon John over Twitter; Why she didn’t include sunscreen in her lip balm and why she’s passionate about her high-quality ingredients, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ginger in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on FanLoveBeauty visit: https://www.fanlovebeauty.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

FanLoveBeauty - Life is a Series of Stages. Own Your Stage Jul 26, 2020

In the first part of this episode listen as Ginger King, Founder FanLoveBeauty tells her inspiring story of incredible perseverance. Her love for beauty, expert marketing skills, and the sheer passion and determination that eventually led to her becoming president of her own beauty line- Fan Love Beauty - her high-end lip balms made especially for public speakers are one-of-a-kind, just like Ginger. Here is her story... In the first part of this episode Ginger talks about Being a cosmetic chemist for over 25 years; How her mom was the first woman to set up a boutique in Japan in the 1960s; she grew up in the beauty industry, wanted to become a make-up artist; Why cultural expectations meant she had to study in university (chemistry); fulfilled her own passion working at Estee Lauder cosmetic counter and minored in marketing; How she hustled, networked, relocated all over California to New York, bounced from company to company to learn the ins-and-outs of the beauty industry; Why she is so concerned about ingredients in traditional lip balms in the market; How she launched her own brand; leveraged her massive network of connections; offered free favors to beauty magazines to bank on press and promotions; What changes she’s made post-covid19- promoting the healthy ingredients, offering free hand cream, in line with the trend of people becoming more health-conscious, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ginger in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on FanLoveBeauty visit: https://www.fanlovebeauty.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

MuteSix - Helping Marketers Think Big Jul 24, 2020

In the next part of this episode, Steve Weiss, CEO of MuteSix, gives his best advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. He gives an in-depth discussion regarding the recent events surrounding Covid-19. And although he sees much skepticism among consumers, he admits that this is a perfect opportunity for anyone looking to start a new business. All this and more. In the second part of this episode, Steve talks about What advice he would give to brands getting started; focusing on the consumer, solution-oriented; Consumer trends post-pandemic, skepticism among consumers; What changes his brand will be making; possibly working from home as a long-term option; Why he believes this is the perfect time to start a new business; being open-minded to different ways of finding a job or starting a business; Which e-commerce companies he likes to work with; re-strategizing wholesale companies who want to transition to e-commerce, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steve in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MuteSix visit: https://www.mutesix.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com/

MuteSix - From Standup Comic to Leading a Top Digital Agency Jul 23, 2020

In the first part of this episode Steve Weiss, CEO of MuteSix, talks about the early days transitioning from stand-up comedy to digital marketing. He delves deep into what drives his passion to help e-commerce brands succeed. He then offers an insight into how he has built such high morale within his company and why it’s so important to him. All this and more... In the first part of this episode, Steve talks about The early vision of MuteSix, how he blended his comedy career with his interest in direct to consumer commerce; How his comedic skills translate into working in sales; the learning curve transitioning into sales and marketing; How he was able to create a positive culture in his company; his core values as a CEO and leader; How his company has been impacted by the pandemic; taking time to check-in with the team; How the clients of Mute Six have responded to the pandemic; the advice he is able to give; the opportunity many direct to consumer brands have available during this time; Which marketing channels are working best in his opinion, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steve in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MuteSix visit: https://www.mutesix.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

La Di Da - The Oat Milk Latte with Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Jul 23, 2020

In the next part of this episode, Ariel Glazer, founder and CEO of La Di Da, goes into further detail about the ingredients of LaDiDa lattes. His goal is to create products that bring ease and calm to the customer. This includes the simple text message method of ordering the lattes. Ariel opens up about the major struggles his company has faced following the hit of COVID-19; including his own terrifying experience dealing with his son’s bout with the virus. A true optimist, Ariel offers an enthusiastic view of the future for himself, his brand, and the market as a whole. All this and more. In the second part of this episode, Ariel discusses Why he is passionate about natural products, non-artificial ingredients, and why he thought about oat milk; What is the idea behind the product line; a latte for every part of the day, Using CBD to help bring ease and calm; How his company has been affected by the pandemic; his personal struggles with Covid-19; how he was able to overcome such a stressful time; What ways the brand is adjusting to better serve customers following the pandemic; What is coming up for LaDiDa in the next 6-12 months; What his best advice is for those looking to step into entrepreneurship in the food/beverage industry; embracing technology, taking the time to test out recipes in home kitchens; What differentiates his brand; why lattes are magical, and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ariel in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of their brand. For more on La Di Da visit: https://drinkladida.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

La Di Da - Reclaiming the latte, So You can Reclaim the Day Jul 22, 2020

In the first part of this episode Ariel Glazer, founder and CEO of La Di Da, gives an entertaining rendition of the story of his brand. His unique perspective and passion for food and drinks have always combined to make interesting products. So was the case when he bumped into Barry Nalebruff, co-founder of Honest Tea, in the middle of nowhere in southeast China. The two collaborated to create an alcoholic version of the popular health-drink Kombucha. Not intent to rest on his laurels, Ariel decided to combine his love of lattes with his interest in technology to create La Di Da. These aren’t your typical vanilla lattes. They’re infused with full hemp extract, botanical terpenes, along with other antioxidants and amino acids. Truly one-of-a-kind, this is his story. In the first part of this episode Ariel talks about What is LaDiDa; an overview of his unique coffee product; How he started in the food and beverage industry; a serendipitous meeting with Barry Nalebruff, co-founder of Honest Tea- coming up with Kombrewcha; How Kombrewcha gave him a wealth of experience; dealing with distributors, challenges surrounding consumer education, logistics; How his experience with Kombrewcha led him to create LaDiDa as a direct to consumer business; his genius idea to offer text message ordering; Why he decided to choose lattes as his next venture; the issues that came along with creating a pasteurized product- taste, chemistry, FDA approvals; Why he loves being in the food/beverage industry; and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ariel in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of their brand. For more on La Di Da visit: https://drinkladida.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

310 Nutrition - More than a Health Brand, it's a Family Jul 22, 2020

In the next part of this episode Tim Sharif, founder and CEO of 310 Nutrition, talks about the difficult challenges he faced while getting his product off the ground. He remembers the nail-biting 2 ½ years he worked without a paycheck- something he says, all entrepreneurs can understand. Finally, Tim talks candidly about his passion for healthy living and why his brand is more than just a company- it’s family. All this and more. In the second part of this episode, Tim discusses: What challenges he faced in the early days of growing the brand; cutting costs in his personal life; starting small and reinvesting all profits for 2.5 years; How 90% of their profits come from their own website; vertically integrating and keeping as self-sufficient as possible; staying true to their core values; How the digitally native brands are feeling a boost from the stay-at-home orders; His prediction about how viable businesses will survive and thrive following the pandemic; Why having a mission-driven company is the best of both worlds; the disadvantages of focusing solely on money- seeing beyond money; What’s coming up next for 310 Nutrition; becoming fully organic, more locally-sourced ingredients “farm-to-bag” and expanding a distribution center in Nevada; Why his main differentiator is his willingness to re-invest in his own company, community.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Tim in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on 310 Nutrition visit: https://310nutrition.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

310 Nutrition - Built for Clean Eaters and Ingredient Readers Jul 21, 2020

In the first part of this episode Tim Sharif, founder and CEO of 310 Nutrition, talks about his early days working as an entrepreneur in Las Vegas. He recalls suffering a big blow following the stock market crash of 2008. Looking for a fresh start, he moved to Manhattan Beach, California. He earned a living selling and marketing a protein shake designed for weight loss. To his surprise, health-conscious Californians wanted nothing to do with this product. Full of filler ingredients and sugar, Tim learned that the product he’d been peddling wasn’t exactly healthy. Fueled by a passion for true health and quality of life, he immersed himself into the “clean eating” lifestyle. It wasn’t long before he got the brilliant idea to create his own plant-based protein shake. Here is his story. In the first part of this episode, Tim talks about Working and living in Las Vegas as an entrepreneur; Surviving the market crash in 2008/2009; How he moved to Los Angeles for a fresh start - working for a protein shake company; How learning the difficult realization that the shakes were not as healthy as he thought sparked his passion for “clean eating”; The many different benefits that come from eating fresh, clean, non-processed foods; How he determined to make the jump to start his own brand of clean protein shakes; How he was able to grow 310 Nutrition as a digitally native brand; his unorthodox entrepreneurial approach; authentic brand advocates; an honest approach to health products and lifestyle change; Why 310 Nutrition was ahead of the curve- plant-based protein, clean ingredients; and more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Tim in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on 310 Nutrition visit: https://310nutrition.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

The Shainhouse Group - Time for Size-Inclusivity in Fashion Jul 20, 2020

In part two of this Feature, Pamela Shainhouse, founder and president of The Shainhouse Group, talks about the difficult psychological effects that many plus-sized women face when shopping for clothes. She passionately discusses the various ways in which retailers fail to properly include women of all sizes. She then offers her expert advice, and market predictions for the near future. All this and more. In the next part, Pamela goes into detail about How an early memory of shopping for wedding gowns stuck with her and fueled her passion for disrupting the psychology of shoppers, Why she believes brands should invest in manufacturing plus size, offsetting costs, falling into traps of taking shortcuts, Why she believes many brick-and-mortar brands have the ability to bounce back following the pandemic, what steps they should be taking in the meantime, Why brands need to look into more sustainable practices, from textures, fabrics, and fibers, How she educates and trains retailers, brands on better marketing, displaying and personal connections with plus-size customers, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pamela in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The Shainhouse Group visit: https://www.theshainhousegroup.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

The Shainhouse Group - The Inclusive Fashion Specialist Jul 18, 2020

Did you know that over 68% of women worldwide fall into the “plus-size” category? And yet, a majority of the world’s most prominent fashion brands and retailers have failed to integrate the growing demand for plus size clothing and apparel. It seems mind-boggling that retailers are willing to segment ¾ of potential customers into the background of their manufacturing and marketing strategies. Pamela Shainhouse, founder and president of The Shainhouse Group, has made it her life’s mission to educate retailers and help change the narrative surrounding plus size women in fashion. Following the tragic loss of her young daughter, Pamela created her own plus-size fashion line. She set out to bring the same luxury, quality, and dignity afforded to mainstream lines into plus-size clothing. Using her powerful personal experiences, along with years of market research, she has become the foremost expert in plus size fashion. Here is her story... In part one of this Feature, Pamela talks about: Why she decided to create her own plus-size fashion line, How she developed the expertise to service the many different customers outside the mainstream fashion population, How 68.9% of women worldwide are a size 14 and up, Why many women feel frustrated with the segmented marketing geared toward “plus-size”, Which brands she sees as bringing inclusivity to the forefront, How the teen “plus-size” market has doubled in the last five years, and the changing mindset of millennials and gen Z that is affecting the market, Her predictions for market changes following the pandemic including the fall of “fast fashion”, How many brands are helping to evolve marketing strategies to serve changing attitudes and promoting inclusivity for all consumers, Why it’s important for fashion brands to integrate models of all sizes, shapes, and ages, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pamela in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The Shainhouse Group visit: https://www.theshainhousegroup.com/ Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Rumpl - The Cadillac of Outdoor Blankets Jul 17, 2020

In part two, Wylie Robinson, Founder & CEO of Rumpl, goes into detail about the different variations of his innovative blanket. He discusses his long-term vision of his brand. Although he admits that focusing on his core products is the most important priority of his team. He realizes that his ability to dive deep into the smallest details has allowed for a rich assortment of choices for customers. Wylie then discusses the growth of the outdoor industry in general, and the many ways his brand is giving back to the community. All of this and more... In part two of this Feature Wylie discusses: The different products offered from Rumpl- the fabrics, innovative technology, What is his long-term vision for Rumpl-specialized products for different uses, collaboration with interesting artists and brands, Why he feels there is a greater advantage to staying focused on blankets for now, What are the key factors that differentiate Rumpl from competitors- style, focus on a niche product, deep assortment, and being the originator of the product, The future of the outdoor industry- projected growth, retail partnering, The major distribution channels, growing the direct-to-consumer channel, How Rumpl is offsetting its carbon footprint- give-backs to the environment and their community, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Wylie in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Rumpl visit: https://www.rumpl.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Rumpl - Introducing the World to Better Blankets Jul 16, 2020

Back in 2012, Wylie Robinson, Founder & CEO of Rumpl, took a surf/ski trip with his childhood friend all throughout California. One day, while camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Wylie and his friend woke up to find themselves stranded under a foot of snow that had rendered their truck useless. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, without cell phone service, Wylie and his friend had no choice but to snuggle under their sleeping bags and wait for help to arrive. Find out how Wylie was able to turn this icy situation into a goldmine. Here is the story of a brand. In Part one of this episode, Wylie talks about: What He was doing before he started Rump, How a surf/ski trip in 2012 led to the idea of a sleeping bag style blanket, How he was able to launch his brand from a Kickstarter fund, Why he saw an opportunity to apply innovative fabric to the blanket industry, What categories of products are filled with massive opportunities for innovation, The different challenges he faced when building up his brand- learning about back-end logistics, How he dealt with the frustration of roadblocks, How the company has been dealing with the effects of the pandemic, Re-positioning marketing strategy and listening to their customers, Why blankets produce such a powerfully emotional response from people. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Wylie in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Rumpl visit: https://www.rumpl.com/ Malomo - https://gomalomo.com/cf Klaviyo - https://www.klaviyo.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Personal Space MB - Passion for Well Crafted, Hand Made Designs Jul 16, 2020

In the next part of this feature, Laurie Wiluan, founder and CEO of Personal Space MB, talks about the change in buying trends that she’s seen since the start of the pandemic. She discusses her brand’s mission and her personal philosophy about the value of hand-crafted, high-quality goods. She realizes that this sort of appreciation has been hidden from mainstream culture. She goes into detail as to why it’s so important for her to hold on to this reverence for quality and craftsmanship. All this and much more. In part two, Laurie discusses: What buying trends have changed since the lockdown, Why her goal is to provide affordable designer items- the importance of personalizing the home space with well-made, high-quality items, What are the many different ways consumers and design clients can view and buy products- why she loves offering her clients choices, How she finds new designers through a variety of online and in-person opportunities, How she helps designers free their creative process- why it is such an intense and grueling process, Why high-quality designer products are worth the extra price, How her passion for well-crafted, hand-made designs helps set her brand apart.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Laurie in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of their brand. For more on Personal Space MB visit: https://personalspacemb.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Personal Space MB - From Fashion Photographer to Furniture Boss Jul 15, 2020

For 25 years Laurie Wiluan, founder and CEO of Personal Space MB, traveled throughout Asia working as a fashion photographer. Eventually, the time came to settle down back home in the United States. She figured it was also the perfect time to switch gears professionally. Using her vast network of connections, Laurie became a bridge for the very best designers in Asia to bring their goods to America. Here is her story…. In part one of this Feature Laurie talks about: Her early years working as a fashion photographer in Asia, How she decided to jump into home design upon returning to the United States, How she used her network connections in Asia to create her unique store, The challenges of wearing many different hats starting a new company, What action steps she took to introduce her brand and why she focused on face-to-face personal connections, What she looks for when deciding on designers to feature, How working on photography productions is similar to building a business, How she had the foresight to shift completely digital before the global pandemic- and her savvy decision to avoid doing business with China.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Laurie in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on Personal Space MB visit: https://personalspacemb.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Maskcara Beauty - Every Woman is an Inspiration Jul 14, 2020

In Part two of this Feature, Cara Brook, Founder & CEO of Maskcara Beauty, goes into detail about the hero products of her brand. She explains how she used her knowledge as a make-up artist to create an innovative 3-D foundation. It was this single product that catapulted her brand into the spotlight overnight. She then talks about the natural evolution that led to offering brand ambassadorships- something she had never previously thought possible. Today, there are over 10,000 Maskcara beauty ambassadors across the United States.

In Part two, Cara discusses How she is able to stay grounded amidst her massive success, What drove her to want to create a totally unique beauty product- her perspective on beauty and make-up and the science she used for her invention, How her company has innovated the traditional make-up bag, How her childhood dream has evolved into something more than she could have ever imagined… and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Cara in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Maskcara Beauty visit: https://www.maskcarabeauty.com/en Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Maskcara Beauty - More than a Beauty Brand, It's a Sisterhood Jul 14, 2020

Some lucky people know very early on what is their true calling in life. Cara Brook, Founder & CEO of Maskcara Beauty, discovered her dream when working on a 5th-grade science project. But her beauty company didn’t come as easily as her vision. For years she struggled with financial setbacks such as living in her mother’s garage as a single mom. All the while, however, she never let go of her dream. Find out how she was able to grow a humble beauty blog into a multi-million dollar brand. Here is her story... In the first part of this Feature, Cara talks about The overall mission of Maskcara Beauty, How her dream of starting a make-up company started all the way back in 5th grade, How becoming pregnant at 25 put her through an emotional crisis- and how it ultimately led her to commit to self-sufficiency, How she was able to grow her beauty blog to reach 4 million hits a month, What the early stages of creating her own beauty product looked like, How she handled the terrifying process of funding her business, Why it was so important to stay in the present moment while building her brand, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Cara in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Maskcara Beauty visit: https://www.maskcarabeauty.com/en Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Malomo - Improving the Post-Purchase Experience Jul 10, 2020

In part two of this Feature, Yaw Aning, Co-Founder & CEO of Malomo, goes into detail about the ways in which Malomo improves the post-purchase experience. Malomo is very data-centric. It is able to track over 150 data points on every purchase. This affords companies the opportunity to provide specific, segmented content to consumers in tracking e-mails. Yaw talks about how this has helped many brands see a 2% repeat purchase rate. Yaw also gives an interesting view of the profound effect COVID-19 has had on e-commerce. Finally, Yaw gives his best advice to entrepreneurs. In part two, Yaw explains What sets his company apart from all other brands, How his love of numbers and data has helped give Malomo an edge over competitors, Why many of his customers see a quick payback of their subscriptions in the first month of service, What’s the next step for Malomo- integrating with SMS services, offering segmented suggestions for content based on unique data points, How COVID-19 has had a massive effect on the e-commerce market; seeing astronomical numbers that dwarf Black Friday, and how his brand can help solve these issues, What is his best advice for aspiring and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Yaw in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Malomo visit: https://gomalomo.com/cf MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Malomo - Building Your Brand with Every Shipment Jul 09, 2020

Have you ever ordered a product online, eagerly awaited its arrival, and then found yourself checking shipping status every couple of hours only to have to utilize a clunky, hard to navigate shipper's tracking page. Enter Malomo, a shipment tracking platform for e-commerce marketers that seeks to help brands extend their brand experience while providing better communication with consumers during the shipping process. In this episode, Co-Founder & CEO, Yaw Aning introduces his unique platform and how it has helped brands build better relationships with their customers. Here’s his story… In part one of this feature Yaw discusses How his unconventional career path provided valuable knowledge and experience, How he came to find his business partner and why they work so well together, How pioneering a brand-new service brought on specific challenges to overcome, How and why his shipment tracking platform is so successful, How and why the platform empowers companies during the post-purchase experience, Which types of companies benefit most from using his service. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Yaw in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Malomo visit: https://gomalomo.com/cf MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CROSSNET - Inventing the Next Great Sport Jul 09, 2020

In the next half of this Feature, Chris Meade, Co-Founder & CEO of CROSSNET, dives into the 500% increase in sales due to quarantine. He talks about the high demand for sporting goods and how he has been able to keep up. He discusses the importance of securing a patent and meticulously tracking every dollar of sales in the first year of operation. He talks about plans to grow the sport, how his team is creating buzz, and what he’s looking forward to in the future. In part two, Chris discusses How quarantine drove sales up 500%, How they were able to obtain a patent early on, and why that was such a crucial step, The different ways they are growing the sport; Crossnet is being used in over 5,000 physical education classrooms nationwide to teach volleyball, How they’re starting events and tournaments around the country and creating massive buzz around the sport, Landing partnerships with Wilson and Dick’s Sporting Goods, What he hopes to accomplish next in business, and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on CROSSNET visit: https://www.crossnetgame.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CROSSNET - World's First Four Square Volleyball Game Jul 08, 2020

Recorded in my closet during Lockdown. Audio is choppy but the wisdom is real.

In the first Part of this Feature, co-founder and co-inventor of CROSSNET, Chris Meade talks about the early stages of building his brand. Growing up in a small farm town, Chris always dreamed of starting his own company. He moved to New York and worked several jobs that paid the bills but left him feeling exhausted and unfulfilled. Determined to free himself from the drudgery of the 9-to-5, Chris sat down one summer night with his best friend Mike, and brother Greg, to brainstorm ideas. Find out how “4-square volleyball” turned into a multi-million dollar phenomenon. This is the story of CROSSNET. In part one, Chris talks about His personal journey from growing up in a small town to working for Uber Eats in New York and dreaming of starting his own business, How he came up with the concept of CROSSNET with his best friend Mike and brother Greg, How they used 2 badminton nets to design the prototype, What led to the big decision to quit their jobs and move to Miami, How they sold their first 50 units and were able to jump to 2,500 units per order, How they scaled from $80,000 annual sales to over $12 million in just two years.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on CROSSNET visit: https://www.crossnetgame.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CHOMPS - Grass-fed, non-GMO, Keto-friendly, Humane Meat Sticks Jul 07, 2020

Recorded in my closet during the lockdown. Audio is choppy but the wisdom is real. In part two, Pete Maldonado, Co-Founder & CEO of CHOMPS talks about how good timing and key partnerships helped increase the demand for Chomps. He then discusses the ways in which his brand has been affected by COVID-19 and how they’ve been able to pivot successfully. Pete also talks about the rising trend of plant-based protein, and the bold move to market his meat sticks to vegans. Raw, authentic, and unapologetic, Pete’s passion and commitment to quality make Chomps a beloved brand. In part two of this feature, Pete discusses: How a partnership with the Whole 30 diet system and the rise of Keto/Paleo diet trends increased the demand his product, How his company has been impacted by the recent “stay-at-home” orders, How the brand has shifted marketing strategies and re-focused more toward e-commerce, Why he doesn’t see the rising trend of plant-based protein products as a long-term threat, How his unconventional method of marketing to vegans has paid off, Why he believes people love Chomps and what keeps them coming back for more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pete in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on CHOMPS visit: https://chomps.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

CHOMPS - Be Scrappy if You Want to Succeed Jul 07, 2020

Recorded in my closet during the lockdown. Audio is choppy but the wisdom is real. Many Americans live fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyles. This doesn't always make it easy to find the time to sit down and enjoy a healthy meal. What’s worse is that many “healthy snacks” are actually full of preservatives and loaded with sugar. So, what does it take to get some clean protein on the go? Create your own product, of course. That’s exactly what Pete Maldonado did when he co-founded CHOMPS: the all-natural, grass-fed, non-GMO, keto-friendly, certified humane meat sticks. Here’s his story… In Part one, Pete talks about How his early days as a fitness trainer triggered the need for a new product, Why his first business venture, called Frozen Fitness, failed, and the valuable lessons learned, How he came back with a smaller, much simpler idea: the meat stick, How an initial investment of $3,250, “Getting as scrappy as you possibly can get,” and “a few hundred bucks of Facebook ads,” led to CHOMPS selling out inventory in only 30 days, How Chomps eventually catapulted itself onto the national market when it was incidentally featured on the front page of uncrate.com and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Pete in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on CHOMPS visit: https://chomps.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Primally Pure - Fewer Ingredients, Superior Results Jul 06, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Bethany McDaniel, founder, and CEO of Primally Pure discusses the challenges and lessons learned while nurturing the expansion of her brand. She talks about her personal journey of growing into the role of CEO, and how her company has been able to thrive during a global pandemic. In Part 2 of this feature, Bethany talks about, The difficult task of scaling up her company, What mishaps and mistakes were made during the hiring process, and, How her mistakes helped her learn crucial managerial skills, How she branched out from e-commerce and opened up a holistic spa, How she built personal connections with her customers through her blog and social media presence, How she credits a personal connection as being a key differentiator and the main reason her company has seen an increase in sales during a global lockdown, Bethany then gives a run-down of top-selling products and her vision of the future, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bethany in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Primally Pure visit: https://primallypure.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Primally Pure - Non-toxic skincare for a Healthy Body & Happy Self Jul 06, 2020

Since she was young, Bethany McDaniel, founder, and CEO of Primally Pure had always had the entrepreneurial spirit. As a young girl, she created her own lip balms from a recipe she found in a magazine. She enjoyed relative success for her crafty efforts and youthful determination. But she never intended on becoming the next big-time CEO. A humble recommendation from a co-worker to use jojoba oil to treat her long-standing battle with acne planted the seed that would grow to become Primally Pure. Here is her story… In Part 1 of this feature, Bethany discusses The organic evolution of her natural skincare products, How she struggled with acne, How she received misguided information from trusted professionals, How she worked several odd jobs while pondering what she truly wanted to do with her life, How she discovered, through a co-worker, a natural remedy that helped balance her skin, Her passion for creating natural skincare products at home, How she continued creating recipes while working on her husband’s family farm, How Bethany began selling her home-made products on the farm’s website, How Her knack for writing helped spread the valuable information on the importance of natural, holistic remedies and products, How her small but loyal following helped her realize that her products really helped people, How she never planned for Primally Pure to be successful, Her hiring mistakes, and so much more! Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bethany in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Primally Pure visit: https://primallypure.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TomboyX - You're Pretty Damn Cool the Way You Are Jul 03, 2020

In the next half of this Feature, Co-Founders Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez of TomBoyX continue to share their incredible journey in growing this amazing gender-neutral underwear and apparel brand. In part 2, Co-Founders Fran and Naomi discuss When your community supports your brand, The First responder campaign, Building a brand where customers feel comfortable with, Why they don't want to be the brand to tell you you're cool -- you already are, How they're flipping the notion of what a brand is, How their building a brand based on personal values, Why people should put their dollars on brands that care for them, Why they take stances on things they care about, Why attention to fit and quality is unparalleled, What Tomboy means to them, How they include plus-size models and sizes, and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Fran and Naomi in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on TomboyX visit: https://tomboyx.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TomboyX - Gender Neutral Underwear and Apparel For All Jul 02, 2020

Co-Founders Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez of TomBoyX share with us their incredible journey of designing gender-neutral underwear and apparel that provides high-quality clothing for everyone. Despite their initial success, they struggled with creating a boxer brief/shorts that would fit a woman’s body made with top-notch quality, exceptional comfort, and cute as well. But eventually and with lots of feedback from customers they got it right and the rest is history. In part 1, Fran and Naomi discuss How to find a product that benefits a community, How to actively-listen so you can serve your consumers more directly, How to have a brand that people want to trust through sharing their stories, Why they approach life with an all-in-lean-in-attitude, Taking the ego out of building a business, Why they want to make decision-based on values first, economics second, How to run a brand when married to your co-Founder, Advice for potential entrepreneurs, and so much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Fran and Naomi in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on TomboyX visit: https://tomboyx.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

June Smart Oven - The Tesla of Smart Ovens Jul 02, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Matt Van Horn, and Nikhil Bhogal, co-Founders of June Smart Oven, continue sharing the story of this innovative smart countertop oven brand that boasts an internal camera, a built-in probe thermometer that estimates when your food will be cooked through, and a number of preprogrammed cooking functions. Here's the rest of their story.

In part 2, Matt and Nikhil discuss How to be successful in fundraising, How to overcoming supply chain challenges, Coming together as a community worldwide, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matt and Nikhil in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on June Smart Oven visit: https://juneoven.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

June Smart Oven - Smart Enough to Cook By Itself Jul 01, 2020

Co-Founders Matt Van Horn and Nikhil Bhogal share with us their intriguing journey of creating an innovative oven that has the ability to learn how to cook on its own. In part 1, Matt Van Horn and Nikhil Bhogal discuss The urgency in ensuring that your product is technologically advanced, How to research and create a product that has an opportunity to always improve, Creating a product that stands out in a way that helps consumers solve a problem that no product has solved before and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Matt and Nikhil in Part 1 of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on June Smart Oven visit: https://juneoven.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Findlay Hats - Building Community Not Just Products Jul 01, 2020

In the second part of this Feature, Jimmy Hickey, Owner at Findlay Hats, continues telling the story of this amazing hat designer and manufacturer brand.

In Part 2, Jimmy discusses How Findlay changed due to COVID, How they added more positivity to their messaging, How they pivoted to making face shields and mask to help the local community, Why he believes that Findlay should give back to the country, The Findlay Hats Moat, How to build community and not just a brand, Why and how they launch new hat designs each week, Why community is like having your friends watch your back and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jimmy in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Findlay Hats visit: https://www.findlayhats.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Findlay Hats - Confessions of a Hat Addict Jun 29, 2020

Recorded in my closet during the lockdown. Audio is spotty but wisdom is real.

For Jimmy Hickey, Owner at Findlay Hats, spending hours a day having a daily dialogue with customers definitely goes a long way to building community and loyalty. One piece of evidence for this is the fact that an estimated 50 people out in the world carry a Findlay Hats tattoo. You simply can't buy that kind of loyalty. What's their secret? Listen to the rest of the story.

In Part 1 of this episode, Jimmy discusses 3 things that are different about Findlay Hats, The origin story, How he sat on his Hat idea for nearly 8 years, Why they wanted to be a Home town, heroes, before going Worldwide, Why they are committed to communicating with their customers each day, Why their friendly, down to earth brand is intentional and real, Jimmy's advice for potential entrepreneurs, Why you must feel the intensity of creating and building something, Why entrepreneurship is like Art, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jimmy in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Findlay Hats visit: https://www.findlayhats.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Taylor Stitch - Responsibly Built For The Long Haul Jun 25, 2020

In the Next half of this Feature, Mike Maher, Co-Founder & CEO at Taylor Stitch, continues sharing the story of how this men's lifestyle apparel brand has evolved into creating responsibly-built clothing and how it is thriving in the time of the pandemic by focusing on 1-to-1 relationships with its customers. In Part 2, Mike discusses The customer experience tour, Starting your wardrobe with the basics, When customers discover the "Workshop", Chsoing names for products, How they take classics and update them with a modern fit, How one differentiator of their clothes is the fabric, The changing behavior of the Consumer post-COVID, Advice for brand owners, Why their main goal is. compelling product, The 2 sides of the same coin, The contrarian view of being profitable, What Mike would do if he were president, How Taylor Stitch was created during a recession, Why now is the time to start a business, Why it's time to develop skills you didn't know you had, Why you should join Mike in the Beer & Gear IG Live, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mike in Part 2of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on Taylor Stitch visit: https://www.taylorstitch.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Taylor Stitch - Belief in One-to-One Relationships with Customers Jun 23, 2020

What if you were an Apparel Brand and created your own "Kickstarter-like" app on your site, released a new product every Thursday, sold the pieces before you made them, and then manufactured only what you sold? For Mike Maher, Co-Founder & CEO at Taylor Stitch, that's exactly what he and his Co-Founders did. But that's not all. Did you know that 85% of all apparel ends up in landfills? So Mike and his team have also set out to make sustainability one of their main directives by making clothes that last. Here's his story. In Part 1, Mike discusses The Taylor Stitch origin story, What is negative conversion cycle, Building an internal crowdfunding platform, 3 things the crowdfunding strategy does, How their clothes may put them out of business, The 5 Pillars of Responsibility, How they are helping their manufacturer provide living wages, How Taylor Stitch is Mike's first and only job out of college, How they responded to COVID, Why he believes in the 1to1 relationship model with customers, What he asked his store employees to do, Their Stand Small initiative, Why they aren't a luxury brand and why, How & why they make their own fabric, Living your brand values, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Mike in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on Taylor Stitch visit: https://www.taylorstitch.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

By Humankind - Clean Ingredients With Purpose‎ Jun 23, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Brian Bushell, Co-Founder, and CEO of By Humankind, continues sharing the story of this amazing personal care brand dedicated to both creating clean effective products while reducing single-use plastic waste. In Part 2, Brian discusses Predictions for a post COVID world, How their communication has changed because of the pandemic, Why customers want to feel aligned with your brand values, Why "Cutting Onions" is Brian's dream job, The 2 causes of failure, Why decisions are based on these 2 things, Why it's difficult to ask people for things you really need and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Brian in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of his brand. For more on By Humankind visit: https://byhumankind.com Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

By Humankind - Great Products Can Be Great for the Planet Jun 19, 2020

When Brian Bushell, Co-Founder, and CEO of By Humankind, decided to take a vacation in between gigs, he got more than just rest. While swimming in the ocean at a beautiful resort, he saw first hand, a huge pile of single-use plastic items floating in the water. Since then, he couldn't get it out of his mind. So he decided to do something about it. And so after some research, the idea of By Humankind was born: a personal care brand dedicated to both creating clean effective products while reducing single-use plastic waste. Here's his story. In part 1 of this feature, Brian discusses His pre-By Humankind journey, Why it's important to experience life in between founding companies, How he experienced the disaster of single-use plastics in our oceans, The founding idea - formulas that can pass through your body inside packaging that can pass through mother earth, How he didn't haven't any experience creating clean beauty products, How deodorants work, Why the only thing better than great products is a great team, How they chose which products to design and make first, Why they decided to choose the top single-use plastic offenders, Why only 7% of single-use products get a second life, Why consumers need to start thinking about packaging, Why if you want to make clean products accessible - the biggest challenge is cost, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Brian in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of his brand. For more on By Humankind visit: https://byhumankind.com Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

M.Gemi - Made By Hand, Means Made with Love Jun 17, 2020

Please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago in the height of the pandemic, some of the audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. In Part 2 of this Feature, Ben Fischman, Founder & CEO at M.Gemi, continues sharing the story of this amazing handcrafted Italian Men's and Women's Luxury Shoe Brand. In Part 2, Ben discusses What He would do if he were President, Why we need transparency and certainty, How his company's communication improved during COVID, Why you must ask yourself - How do we change & improve because of this experience, Why he rejects the saying - Don't sweat the details, How M.Gemi engenders trust, How he's building a brand with fanatical customers, Why personal connection with your customers is YOUR secret weapon, Why you should let your customer be your greatest marketers, Ben's entrepreneurial advice, Career advice for Twenty Something's, Why the pandemic will make us better, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on M.Gemi visit: https://mgemi.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

M.Gemi - Made By Hand, Means Made with Love Jun 17, 2020

Please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago in the height of the pandemic, some of the audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. In Part 2 of this Feature, Ben Fischman, Founder & CEO at M.Gemi, continues sharing the story of this amazing handcrafted Italian Men's and Women's Luxury Shoe Brand. In Part 2, Ben discusses What He would do if he were President, Why we need transparency and certainty, How his company's communication improved during COVID, Why you must ask yourself - How do we change & improve because of this experience, Why he rejects the saying - Don't sweat the details, How M.Gemi engenders trust, How he's building a brand with fanatical customers, Why personal connection with your customers is YOUR secret weapon, Why you should let your customer be your greatest marketers, Ben's entrepreneurial advice, Career advice for Twenty Something's, Why the pandemic will make us better, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on M.Gemi visit: https://mgemi.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

M.Gemi - The Magic of Italian Craftsmanship Jun 16, 2020

Please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago in the height of the pandemic, some of the audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. What do you do if you handcraft women's and men's shoes in Italy, the COVID epicenter of Europe? For Ben Fischman, Founder & CEO at M.Gemi, his business was hit on several fronts and in our latest Feature, we discuss what he and his team did to survive and thrive through the pandemic. In Part 1, Ben discusses The M.Gemi origin story, how priority number 1 is survival, The emotional connection with customers, How they are saving the lost art of handcrafted shoemaking in Italy, What fast fashion means to Ben, The Build Now, Buy Now, Wear Now process, How they are using real-time data and AI to manage the business, Ben's "prove it, then build it" philosophy, How this pandemic is forcing people to build more efficient businesses, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on M.Gemi visit: https://mgemi.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TOP - New Standard in Feminine Hygiene Care Jun 12, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Thyme Sullivan and Denielle Finkelstein, Co-Founders of The Organic Project or TOP, continue sharing their story of building the new standard in feminine hygiene care. In Part 2, Thyme and Denielle discuss Their success with their PR strategy, Why they dressed up as Tampons, Why tampon monopolies avoid transparency, Why they want to build a brand without fear-mongering but more to give women a choice, The challenge in launching a plant-based applicator tampon, The TOP Moat, Why they consider their competitor's peers instead, Their entrepreneurial role models, What happened when Megan Rapinoe soccer star met the TOP Founders, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Thyme and Denielle and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on TOP visit: https://toporganicproject.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TOP - Period Products for Girls, Moms, and Mother Earth Jun 12, 2020

When Thyme Sullivan and Denielle Finkelstein, Co-Founders of The Organic Project or TOP, started researching the tampon industry, they realized that the category hadn't really evolved in years. It lacked transparency as companies who made tampons were not required to disclose ingredients such as toxins in their products. Combine this with the fact that they were at a crossroads in their careers after years of successful executive corporate leadership; they felt that now was the time to do something that had a purpose and what was more purposeful than driving social change for their daughters and for the next generation of women. This is their story. In Part 1, Thyme and Denielle discuss The TOP origin story, Why sourcing product was difficult, Why making it personal can make a difference, The challenge of raising capital as a mature woman entrepreneur, Why you need to surround yourself with incredibly supportive people, Why they were determined to do things their way, What steps they took to raise capital, How to create a brand that connects emotionally with their customers, The 3 driving factors moving TOP forward, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Thyme and Denielle in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of their brand. For more on TOP visit: https://toporganicproject.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Blenders Eyewear - A Time for Leaders to Lead Jun 10, 2020

Please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago in the height of the pandemic, some of the audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. In this Feature, Chase Fisher, Founder & CEO at Blenders Eyewear, give us his candid, and sometimes vulnerable, perspective on life during the height of Coronavirus as well as the inside story of this amazing eyewear brand. Plus, while much of this interview is based on our collective experience facing COVID-19, I was struck by how much of what Chase discusses can also be applied to any moment of crisis. In Part 2, Chase discusses Consumer behavior post-COVID-19, Teaming up with non-profits to give back, Why consumers want a brand they can lean into, Advice for Brand Owners, What authenticity means to Blenders, Storytelling and Blenders, Why you should practice introspection and self-improvement, More advice for entrepreneurs, and Why hard work outpaces intelligence in business and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chase in Part 2 of this episode. For more on Blenders Eyewear visit: https://www.blenderseyewear.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Blenders Eyewear - Why Now is a Great Time for Entrepreneurship Jun 08, 2020

Please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago in the height of the pandemic, some of the audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. For Chase Fisher, Founder & CEO at Blenders Eyewear, COVID-19 redefined a crisis. What we thought was a crisis may not have been so bad. But more importantly, it helped us determine what was important in life. Get an inside look at how this founder coped with the pandemic, how it affected the business, and what he would do if he were president. In Part 1, Chase discusses The disadvantages of having a product that isn't an Essential item, The advantages of being born online, The acquisition of Blenders, The Skillset that Chase is trying to improve, Why the value of being radically and uncomfortably transparent is critical, Why it's important to find a support group as a single founder, The skillset needed for new entrepreneurs, Advice for entrepreneurs, What Chase would do as President, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chase in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on Blenders Eyewear visit: https://www.blenderseyewear.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

A Kids Book About - DISRUPTING How Children's Books are Made Jun 06, 2020

Note: Hey everyone, please note we recorded this remotely over a month ago, some audio is spotty but the wisdom is real.

Are you struggling to discuss Racism with your kids? Do you want to have conversations with them around sensitive topics such as Empathy, Depression, Anxiety, and more? Listen to Part 2 of this Feature as Jelani Memory, founder at A Kids Book About, shares his story and the story of a new kind of Publisher disrupting how children's books are made.

In Part 2 of this episode, Jelani discusses What his books are meant to do, Why children's lives are so complicated and nuanced, Why kids need books like these, Advice for Entrepreneurs, Why you should solve problems that matter, How they are disrupting how Children's books are made, Why there is no better feeling than when you have a great conversation with your child, The vision and future of A Kids Book About, so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jelani in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on A Kids Book About visit: https://akidsbookabout.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

A Kids Book About - Have Fearless Conversations with Your Kids Jun 04, 2020

As a Father and POC, Jelani Memory, founder at A Kids Book About, knew first hand how hard it was to have difficult conversations with your kids on racism. But if he found it difficult and other adults had the same issue dealing with emotions and sensitive subjects, imagine what kids are going through? That's why he created a new kind of publisher that addressed big topics such as racism, anxiety, empathy, Feminism, belonging, depression, body image, and more to help grownups have fearless conversations with kids

In Part 1 of this episode, Jelani discusses The brand's origin story, Jelani's entrepreneurial journey, Why he wrote the first book for his kids, Why product at its core is about Story, Why Kids are ready to discuss challenging topics, Why he wants his brand to have meaning, Why they sell conversations not books, The two choices for an Entrepreneur, How the Writing a Book in a Day process works, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jelani in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on A Kids Book About visit: https://akidsbookabout.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Wolven - Creating Wearable Works of Art May 29, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Kiran Jade, Founder, and CEO of Wolven continues sharing the inside story of her sustainable activewear and swimwear brand that's combining art, sustainability, functionality, and beautiful designs. Here's the rest of the story. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kiran in Part 2 where she discusses Why they chose to use fabrics made from post-consumer plastic bottles, How there's a pound of plastic in every sale, Why their goal is to help address the problem of single-use plastics, How to design and manufacture clothing with sustainable fabrics, How their clothes are meant to last and use from the yoga studio to the street, What they use sacred geometry in their designs, The Wolven Moat, Why it's important to live by their values, Advice for entrepreneurs, and so much more. For more on Wolven visit: https://wolventhreads.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Wolven - Making Sustainability Sexy May 29, 2020

When Kiran Jade, Founder, and CEO of Wolven, was in Art School, she realized that she wanted to marry her passions together and that meant marrying art with Yoga and business and what she came up with was the creation of wearable works of art that were both sustainable and sexy. This idea eventually became Wolven, a sustainable activewear and swimwear brand that's combining art, sustainability, functionality, and beautiful designs. Here's her story. In part 1, Kiran discusses The story of art school and the Wolven brand idea, Why sustainable textiles were so important, Working with a co-founder who is also her romantic partner, How the Founders deal with the stress of business and love, What role Yoga played in the business and how it has helped her maintain her health as a founder, Why her Brand is as much about wellness as it is about apparel, How the brand was affected by COVID, Why the brand focused on community vs transaction, Why she decided to build a lean brand and why that decision is helping them through this pandemic, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kiran in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of his brand. For more on Wolven visit: https://wolventhreads.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Alala - When You Wear Alala, You Feel Like a Super Hero May 28, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Denise Lee, Founder at Alala, continues telling the story of this amazing athleisure wear brand, where women can be comfortable being who they are. In Part 2, Denise discusses The role of Luck in Entrepreneurship, How she raised friends and family money, The process of starting a brand, The key to networking is building relationships, Be specific when asking for advice, Don't be shy about talking about your brand idea, How a Brand Deck helped her grow her brand, Fashion is the power of great clothing, Why Alala gives her a platform for issues she believes in, The problem when brands say one thing but do another, The vision and future of Alala, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Denise in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on Alala visit: https://alalastyle.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Alala - Where Women Go to Feel Empowered May 27, 2020

For Denise Lee, Founder at Alala, being an immigrant to this country at 18 from Singapore was difficult. She came from a place where people looked similar to a country where she found herself in the minority. She felt out of place and her uncomfortableness made her feel powerless and lack confidence. However, it was this experience that would eventually drive the values of inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment in her athleisure wear brand, where women can be comfortable being who they are. In Part 1 of this feature, Denise discusses Who is Alala, Why she uses real women as models, Why inclusivity is part of the Alala story, Why her brand is meant to show the power of all women, Why some brands ignore the plus-size market, Why consumers must see themselves in your brand, Why age diversity is important, Denise's immigrant story, Grew up as a child to entrepreneurs, Why you should be comfortable being different, Diane's entrepreneurial journey, How she learned about brands from J. Christopher Burch, and Why things happen for a reason, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Denise in Part 1of this episode and gets the inside story of this amazing brand. For more on Alala visit: https://alalastyle.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bo & Marrow - Good for you Bone Broth Prepared with Love May 24, 2020

In this Part 2 of this Feature, Diane Huynh, Co-Founder of Bo & Marrow, shares some great entrepreneurial advice as well as the inside story of building a bone broth brand made with high-quality ingredients and prepared the old-fashioned way. In part 2, Diane discusses How COVID has affected Bo and Marrow, How bone broth is good for immunity, Why they own their own food facility, How they solved their packaging issues, How their bone broth is made, Why her parents were ashamed and then proud of her, New products and the future of Bo and Marrow, How she solved the entrepreneur's follow-through dilemma, Diane's entrepreneurial advice and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Diane in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of his brand. For more on Bo & Marrow visit: https://boandmarrow.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

GREATS - Focus on What is Important May 23, 2020

Hey everyone, please note this was recorded just a couple of weeks from the day we went into lockdown. It's very introspective and raw in some parts. I also recorded this episode in my closet. Some of the Audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. In Part 2 of this Feature, Ryan Babenzien, Founder of GREATS, continues sharing the story of GREATS, a premium luxury sneaker brand, while also sharing his thoughts on digital-native brands and COVID-19. In Part 2, Ryan discusses What if Ryan was President, Thoughts on COVID Rescue Package, Why we need empathy from a President, The Brands for Better Coalition, How digitally native brands are giving back, Life for digitally native brands post-COVID, Keeping up mental health routine in lockdown, Why this crisis might focus us on what is important, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ryan and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on GREATS visit: https://www.greats.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

GREATS - Protect Your Team, Contribute to Community, Grow May 22, 2020

For Ryan Babenzien, Founder of GREATS, the first digitally native luxury sneaker brand, COVID-19 changed everything. Basically, their sales collapsed. They also chose to stop all of their marketing. It just didn't feel right. Instead they changed their message to help the community. And they followed a formula to get through the crisis. First, protect the team. Second, contribute to the community (their customers), and Third, grow. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ryan in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. In Part 1 of this episode, Ryan discusses Why for them digital native is not about online only but online mostly, The GREATS origin story, The story of their launch, Why an entrepreneur's job is to turn red lights into green lights, Why entrepreneurship is not about intelligence or capital, Why he things entrepreneurship can't be taught, How luck plays a huge part of success, Why business fail, What really makes a brand successful, How entrepreneurship intensifies your strengths and your weaknesses, The GREATS response to COVID-19, Why he's rethinking working in an office, When your sales collapse, Why they decided to pause marketing, The three things they did to respond to COVID-19, and so much more. For more on GREATS visit: https://www.greats.com/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Attentive - https://www.attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bo & Marrow - How Past Mistakes Could Lead You to Success May 20, 2020

For Diane Huynh, Co-Founder of Bo & Marrow, having entrepreneurial ideas was never the problem. It was a lack of follow-through that was the problem. She has started several businesses including a couple of fashion brands and the businesses never really took off, until now. Diane never imagined that taking cultural food from her childhood and making it widely available would be hit but it has. In this Feature shares, some great entrepreneurial advice as well as the inside story of building a bone broth brand made with high-quality ingredients and prepared the old-fashioned way. In part 1, Diane discusses Her entrepreneurial hits and misses, The biggest reason why her previous startups failed, How your past mistakes could lead you to success, Entrepreneurial lesson number one is taking action, Why building relationships was her secret weapon, How she got her first customers, Why taking no for answer was key, Why in sales you have to have confidence in your product, How she got her product in a large grocery chain, What not to do when having a co-founder, Why when having a co-founder you must define roles, values, exit strategy, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Diane in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of his brand. For more on Bo & Marrow visit: https://boandmarrow.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Ghurka - Brand with a Timeless Soul May 20, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Steve Latkovic, CEO and Anna Latkovic, CMO of Ghurka continue sharing the story of this timeless legacy brand made in the U.S. with old-school craftmanship but now nearly 100 percent DTC. In part 2, Steve and Anna discuss Why they make most of their products in Connecticut, Why they've kept their old school manufacturing, Why every bag has a name and individual registration number, Timelessness versus Fast Fashion, The vision and future of Ghurka, What partners they work with, Profitability versus growth at all cost, What is the term "good revenue" mean to Steve, How to make a legacy brand work, Advice for entrepreneurs, Why you must know who you are, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steve and Anna in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this killer brand. For more on Ghurka visit: https://ghurka.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Ghurka - Where Memories, Emotions, and Craftsmanship Meet May 18, 2020

When Steve Latkovic, CEO and Anna Latkovic, CMO of Ghurka started managing the brand, they knew it was an iconic brand that had lasted decades for a reason. They soon learned from past customers just what this brand meant to them. One customer recounted to them how she clutched her Ghurka bag while she was in Germany and watched live and in person when the Berlin Wall fell, something she would never forget. Customer stories like this are why a Ghurka bag is more than just a bag, it's a story filled with emotions, memories, and old-school craftsmanship. In part 1 of this feature, Steve and Anna discuss The Ghurka Origin, Why this isn't just another Bag, How the brand elicits emotions and memories from people, How to run a brand as a married couple, The management team journey, Building a brand is also about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and being honest, How Anna fell in love with the brand, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steve and Anna in Part 1 of this episode and gets the inside story of this killer brand. For more on Ghurka visit: https://ghurka.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Cobuna Brands - Don't Wait to Be Validated, Just Do It May 18, 2020

In this special feature, we talk to Kim Wileman, CEO of Cobuna Brands, as she continues sharing her entrepreneurial journey as well as the building of a consumer engagement platform that empowers nano-influencers to easily share engaging content about products they love and be rewarded in real-time for the impact they create. In Part 2 of this special feature, Kim discusses Advice for college students, Kim's career advice, Why finding mentors is so important, The Four secrets to success in any job or career, Three reasons why a service industry is a great place for training, Why attitude is important, Why you should NOT wait for someone is to validate you, Why this time may be the best time for opportunity, Kim's consulting business and who she works with, so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Kim in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cobuna Brands visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobuna-brands-llc/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Cobuna Brands - Connecting Brands with their Communities May 15, 2020

In this special feature, we talk to Kim Wileman, CEO of Cobuna Brands, a blockchain-based consumer engagement platform that empowers affiliated nano-influencers to easily and authentically share engaging content about the products that they use and love…and be rewarded in real-time for the impact they create. In Part 1 of this special feature, Kim discusses Why they're more of a tech company focused on beauty and wellness, Why their mission is to connect brands with their communities, How and why they use blockchain technology, Why brands must meet the customer where they are, Why you must speak your communities language, Four ways Cobuna is different, Why this platform will be a new way to supplement income (which is paid in realtime), Why this is great for new and young beauty and wellness brands, Why Cobuna will be the next distribution channel for brands, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Kim in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cobuna Brands visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobuna-brands-llc/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Fenix Commerce - Increase Revenue & Conversions with Shipping May 15, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Akhilesh Srivastava, CEO & Founder of Fenix Commerce, continues sharing the story of this amazing AI-based platform that optimizes and displays order cut-off times and delivery date estimates based on real-time product, inventory, customer, and carrier information. In Part 2 of this feature, Akhilesh discusses How Fenix takes out the complexity in shipping, How Fenix helps the Spiceology, How to keep up the customer experience when migrating from Amazon, How Fenix automatically chooses the best shipping date and carrier for you and the customer, How Fenix helps Grayl, How Fenix improves New Arrivals and Back in Stock item, How Fenix supports Buy Online, Curbside Pickup, How Fenix helps Reyn Spooner, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Akhilesh in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Fenix Commerce visit: https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Fenix Commerce - An Amazon-like Experience Without Amazon May 14, 2020

When Amazon introduced Prime, Akhilesh Srivastava, CEO & Founder of Fenix Commerce, new that consumer behavior would change. So when he started working at eBay using his supply chain logistic expertise to improve the consumer experience around delivery, he was excited. Unfortunately, he knew whatever he built wouldn't be made available to the thousands of DTC brands that really needed it. So he set out to build a platform that gave brands large and small the same Amazon delivery options and customers experience except no Amazon. Think of it as democratizing AI and tech so all brands could compete with Amazon. In Part 1 of this feature, Akhilesh discusses How Fenix helps brand compete against Amazon, What's the basic premise behind Fenix Intelligent Delivery platform, His entrepreneurial journey, Why Amazon has changed consumer preferences, How to launch a startup after years of working in corporate America, Why having your partner's buy-in is crucial for an entrepreneur, Why during COVID consumers crave certainty, Why consumers don't mind long shipping times as long as they know its coming, How Fenix could help maximize sales even when items are out of stock using real-time inventory optimization. and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Akhilesh in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Fenix Commerce visit: https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Pura Vida Bracelets - Storytelling is the Brand Differentiator May 13, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature Griffin Thall, CEO & Co-Founder of Pura Vida Bracelets continues telling the story this hand-crafted bracelet and jewelry brand that supports 800 plus artisans worldwide. In Part 2, Griffin discusses The Pura Vida Moat, Why storytelling makes them different, Why Storytelling helps people align with the brand, Why the customer experience is different for everyone, Why you find mastermind group of entrepreneurs, Why to achieve product innovation you have to take risks, Why their merger meant more resources to achieve their vision, The Pura Vida Demographic, What to do was your demo matures, What skillsets Griffin used to succeed (and you can too), a Message for everyone during the COVID crisis, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Griffin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Pura Vida Bracelets visit: https://www.puravidabracelets.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Tinuiti - https://tinuiti.com/ramon Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Pura Vida Bracelets - The Most Important Thing about a Brand May 12, 2020

Hey everyone, please note I recorded this episode in my closet. Some of the Audio is spotty but the wisdom is real. For Griffin Thall, CEO & Co Founder of Pura Vida Bracelets, this brand was his first job out of college. He started it with $200 with his Co Founder Paul Goodman. At the time their only goal was to sell enough bracelets. Oh, how things have changed. In Part 1 of this feature, Griffin discusses The early days of Pura Vida, What they did to build community, The moment they knew they'd succeed, How they decided their roles as Co-founders, How a brand bounces back from hard times, How a founder stays sane in a crisis, The most important thing about a brand, How Pura Vida has responded to the COVID crisis, Why it's important to share a positive vibe with people around you, Advice for entrepreneurs and brand owners, Where you should focus if you manage a brand, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Griffin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Pura Vida Bracelets visit: https://www.puravidabracelets.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Tinuiti - https://tinuiti.com/ramon Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Disco - When Brand Values Equal the Founder's Personal Values May 11, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Benjamin Smith, Founder of Disco, continues telling the story of this clean ingredient Men's skincare brand that's designed to fight dull, dry, and aging skin with natural ingredients. In this episode, Ben discusses The larger societal trends affecting Disco, Why the brand values are a manifestation of Ben's personal values, Why skincare products are commodities, What really differentiates skincare products, What is the Disco Moat, How Disco builds loyalty and community, Who makes up the Disco demographics, How to best to survive COVID-19 business environment and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Ben in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Disco visit: https://letsdisco.co/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Disco - Clean Skincare for the Modern Man May 08, 2020

For Benjamin Smith, Founder of Disco, one of the goals of starting his brand was to de-stigmatize skincare for men. Essentially, educating and giving men the okay to care about their skin in ways they may have not done before. But there was more to it as well. He wanted his brand to be aligned with his personal beliefs of health, wellness, clean ingredients, and combining those elements into products that work. Here's his story. In Part 1 of this episode, Ben discusses Why he launched Disco, The call to control your destiny, How he was inspired by his family doctor, How his research study was used to launch the brand and raise funds, What creative agency help him, How one New York partner saved him money and led him to success, Advice for Entrepreneurs, Hs biggest Challenge, How COVID has affected his business, His post-COVID predictions, Why regardless of your cash position hard decisions need to be made, How he's positioning Disco to win post-COVID, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Ben in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Disco visit: https://letsdisco.co/ The Shoppy Awards: https://theshoppyawards.com/ (20% discount use SOB20) MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Pattern89 - Secret Weapon to Reduce Costs and Increase Revenue May 08, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, R. J. Talyor, CEO & Founder of Pattern89, continues telling the story of this unique AI-based platform that explores billions of data points in the paid social universe and helps you discover winning patterns in your own social ad data. In part 2, RJ discusses How they mostly work on your Paid Channels, Why they created a Do it For Me button, Who Pattern89 works with, Why it was important to make the platform Plug and Play, The Lids.com case study, Why creativity is at the center of their technology, How COVID has created a pattern interrupt, How they solve the Cold Start problem, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews RJ in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Pattern89 visit: https://www.pattern89.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Pattern89 - Predict What Works on Facebook and Instagram! May 07, 2020

For R. J. Talyor, CEO & Founder of Pattern89, starting a new company was riskier than usual. He had a family, a mortgage, and kids. But he knew that if he didn't try to make his idea come to life, he'd regret it. What was his idea? Use Artificial intelligence to predict what Ads work on Facebook & Instagram. So you can reduce marketing waste and increase your ability to win more often. Here's the story of RJ and Pattern89. In part 1 of this feature, RJ discusses How he pitched a VC over coffee and got funded, His process for making big decisions, Why he was convinced that AI could predict how your Ad creative was going to win or lose, What data Pattern89 uses to make its predictions, Advice for startup entrepreneurs, Why COVID-19 has increased usage of Pattern89's platform, How AI can detect patterns and outliers that Human's can't spot yet, Why instead of testing your Paid Ads, Pattern89 can simulate it instead, How the platform has achieved 95 percent accuracy, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews RJ in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of his startup. For more on Pattern89 visit: https://www.pattern89.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

KURU Footwear - Believe in the Future that You're Creating May 06, 2020

It was 2009 and Bret Rasmussen, Founder of KURU Footwear thought his brand was dead in the water. Their retail strategy was failing. They had no cash, unsold inventory, no way to sell it. They had $400,000 in payables and no way to pay. Worse, they had only $2,300 in the bank. It's what I refer to as the "standing at the gates of hell" scenario. But 10 months later, they were nearly debt-free and bringing in roughly $39,000 in revenue. In this episode, you'll hear the inside story of this amazing shoe brand. In part 2, Bret discusses How they were at the doorsteps of failure and survived, Why you must believe in the future that you're creating, How most entrepreneurs pivot 2-3 times in the life of the business, Why you should start a brand that helps, Why being of service and being a DTC brand saved his company, Why you should talk to your customers daily, What is the best way to build a MOAT around your brand, Finding product-market fit, What's Ramen Profitability, Why you must iterate, improve, tweak, and repeat and Other entrepreneurial advice, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bret in Part 2 of this episode and gets the inside story of this killer brand. For more on KURU Footwear visit: https://www.kurufootwear.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

KURU Footwear - Turning Your Childhood Dream into a Business May 05, 2020

When Bret Rasmussen, Founder of KURU Footwear was a kid, he wanted to be a shoe designer (he has the sketches to prove it). But somewhere along the way, like many of us, he became convinced that he had to grow up and that meant doing something practical that earns money versus following his dream. So he got a degree in Finance and started working for startups. Then he got laid off. This proved to be a catalyst for him. He asked himself, why not follow my dreams. Why not be a shoe designer? Why not be passionate about what you do. Why not create! And so he did and the rest, as they say, is history. In part 1 of this feature, Bret discusses His entrepreneurial journey, Building a footwear brand for people with foot pain and for those who want to avoid it, How what you wear could affect your performance, Why for him being an entrepreneur means being authentic, Why being an entrepreneur allows you to be childlike with Wonder, How he went from zero experience in making shoes to having a patent, How to network, What happened when he entered a biz plan competition, Why KURU tech works, Why he had to work side hustles even after raising funds, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Bret in Part 1 of this episode and gets the inside story f this killer brand. For more on KURU Footwear visit: https://www.kurufootwear.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Hyperice - More than a Product. It's a Movement May 01, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Jim Huether, CEO of Hyperice, continues sharing the inside story of building the world's leader in recovery and movement enhancement technology, utilizing ice, heat, percussion, and vibration. In part 2, Jim discusses What makes Hyperice different than competitors, Why they use Aerospace concepts in their Engineering, What questions they ask themselves when designing products, How they marry sophisticated technology with simplicity, Why Jim feels they are just at the beginning of this market, Why the recent acquisition was like two great industry giants joining forces, Why he wants Hyperice to be remembered as an innovator, Why they don't sell products but a movement, How they dealt with Tariffs, How they dealt with COVID-19, How they build the Hyperice culture, Why Jim is learning Mandarin, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jim in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hyperice visit: https://hyperice.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Hyperice - Enhancing Performance for Every Human on Earth! Apr 30, 2020

If it was up to Jim Huether, CEO of Hyperice, he'd want people to think of Hyperice as a tech company more akin to Tesla, Dyson, or Apple. If you look at the company's intuitive, almost effortless design and usability of its products matched with sophisticated technology, you'd see why he feels that way. It's also easy to see why he's gained the following of some of the best athletes on earth including Kobe Bryant (RIP), Lebron James, and others. Now, Jim is on a new mission. He won't be happy until he's able to enhance the mobility, recovery, maintenance of every human on earth. In part 1 of this feature, Jim discusses His entrepreneurial journey, Why he thinks you can train less and still optimize performance, Success tips for college graduates, His Networking Guidelines, Why Networking is part of his DNA, How Kobe's feedback helped improve the original product, How he took the story to markets outside of sports, Why early on athletes used the product authentically, How they raised funds on Kickstarter, and the entrepreneurial roots including how Anthony Katz, used to sell products out of his car, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jim in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Hyperice visit: https://hyperice.com/ Justuno - justuno.com/ramon Pattern89 - pattern89.com/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Original Grain - The Story Behind the Wood Apr 29, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, brothers Andrew and Ryan Beltran, co-founders of Original Grain, continue sharing the inside story of this premier maker of Wood & Steel Watches. In Part 2 of this feature, Andrew and Ryan discuss The Story behind the Wood, Why Leather Straps was a big mistake (and could've been bigger), Why many watch companies race to the bottom on pricing, Advice for young entrepreneurs, How to price watches, The Original Grain Moat, Educating customers on why wood means luxury, Ask yourself what story do you want to tell, Why they use reclaimed upcycle wood, The Watch design process, Why passion is the key in whatever you do, How they turned me into a watch guy and more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews brothers, Andrew and Ryan Beltran in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Original Grain visit: https://www.originalgrain.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Original Grain - The Premier Maker of Wood & Steel Watches Apr 28, 2020

One brother was in the Marines. The other brother lived in Hong kong. Both Andrew and Ryan Beltran, co-founders of Original Grain, wanted to create their own path. So when they reunited they took an idea for creating watches using wood and steel and started a crowdfunding campaign that raised $400K in 30 days. What was the secret of their success? According to them, it was part uniqueness of the product, part being at the right place at the right time and 100% hard work. Here's their story. In part 1 of this feature, Andrew and Ryan discuss The Original Grain origin story, How they incorporated wood in their design, How they created the natural material story, What's the X factor in succeeding in crowdfunding, The musical connection between Original Grain and They Story of a Brand, Learning from Doing versus going to College, How the military prepped Andrew for Entrepreneurship, Why Peer Groups are critical for support and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews brothers, Andrew and Ryan Beltran in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Original Grain visit: https://www.originalgrain.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Nom Nom Now - Better Health Starts in Their Bowl Apr 07, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Alexandria Jarrell, Co-Founder of Nom Nom Now, continues to share the inside story of this different type of pet food company that's backed by science and made with love. In Part 2 of this episode, Alex discusses When she knew they had a real business, The Nom Nom evolution, Why the benefits of fresh food are proven through science, Why they launched probiotics and supplements for pets, Why food is the core of nutrition and wellness for pets, Why they provide personalized portions and supplements, Why Nom Nom Now's the business model is so hard to copy, Advice for entrepreneurs, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Alex in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nom Nom Now visit: https://www.nomnomnow.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Nom Nom Now - Real, Good Food for Dogs and Cats Apr 04, 2020

According to Alexandria Jarrell, Co-Founder of Nom Nom Now, they had to exist. They were making such a big difference in the lives of pets that their mission was to feed every dog and cat in the world. Huge dream but after their experience providing fresh food to their sick pet/family member, they knew they had to make this into a business. Plus, they also realized that people care what food they give to their pets. They simply had to educate people that fresh food was the key. In Part 1 of this episode, Alex discusses The Nom Nom Now origin story, Their definition of fresh food, Why the pet food industry hasn't changed, What is Parketing and how Alex used it to succeed, The education challenge, How they deliver fresh food, Why obesity is a problem for pets too, How they went from Idea to a full business, Why they do not outsource their food production, Why listening to customers is one key of success, Why Scaling was such a problem in the early days, and Why you shouldn't feed your pet anything you wouldn't eat, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Alex in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nom Nom Now visit: https://www.nomnomnow.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Arthur Gallego - How to Start a Beverage Company Apr 02, 2020

In Part 2 of this special episode, Arthur Gallego, Founder & CEO of Gallego and Co., continues to sharing expert insights and advice and the inside story of the Food and Beverage Industry. In Part 2 of this special feature, Arthur discusses How to find a place to get in the door and start to brand build, Which are the brands to watch, Why packaging is a hot topic, Why Sustainability starts in the supply chain, Why we have a dependence on plastic, Advice on how to start a beverage brand, What are the important touchstones when you create a beverage brand, How differentiated do you want your beverage brand to be, Why it's so overwhelming for the consumer, How Mush Overnight Oats differentiates itself, Why you must have an interesting narrative (doesn't have to be the founder), What is badge value, How does your product connect to people, Why you should understand emotional narrative, When should a food and beverage brand use Arthur, Why you could market your products too early, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Arthur in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gallego and Co. visit: https://www.gallegoandco.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Arthur Gallego - Insights and Trends in Food & Beverage Apr 01, 2020

In this special episode, we are featuring Arthur Gallego, Founder & CEO of Gallego and Co., an expert in food & beverage (CPG) marketing and an advisor to brands and private equity. In Part 1 of this special feature, Arthur discusses The extensive Brands that Arthur works with, How he got started, Factors influencing the Plant based movement, Why the Plant based trend is sustainable (but it will plateau), Why he often works with startups as interim CMO, What brands are doing a great job, The seismic cultural, retail, and generational shift shaping the Food and Beverage industry, Why Food and Beverage brands should first own their backyards, Advice for Food and Beverage brands, Why GenZers are more frugal, Why GenZ maturation is changing the landscape for hard beverages, Why 40-50% of CBD beverage brands will not be around by end of 2020 or sooner, The areas of innovation in Food and Beverage, Why Collagen is a growing trend, Why taste and sweetness are important, Areas of opportunity in Food and Beverage and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Arthur in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gallego and Co. visit: https://www.gallegoandco.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Goodr - Fun, Fashionable, Functional, and Fordable Mar 31, 2020

In Part 2 of this Founder Feature, Stephen Lease, co-founder of Goodr, continues sharing the inside story of a fun, fashionable, and functional sunglasses brand that everyone can afford. In Part 2 of this episode, Stephen discusses What is Goodr Stock, Why people need to be de-programmed when joining Goodr, Advice to Entrepreneurs, Why you shouldn't quit your day job, Why if the numbers don't work, nothing will, Why you should assume that you're going to Pivot, The Goodr Moat, Why you don't need to be liked but you do need to be authentic, Why Goodr has their own operating system, The 3 things each should be doing in 2020, and The 2020 vision of Goodr, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Stephen in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Goodr visit: https://goodr.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Goodr - The 5 Year Overnight Success Mar 28, 2020

For Stephen Lease, co founder of Goodr, becoming a serious runner meant wearing the usual running outfit. However, the outfit simply wasn't fashionable for him or fit his personality. So he and his co-founders asked themselves a question: why couldn't they build a running company based on Fun and Fashion. They did and what eventually developed became the premium sunglasses brand that we now know as Goodr. In Part 1 of this episode, Stephen discusses Why Goodr is built on the Four F's, Why they are a 5-year overnight success, Stephen's 6 learning experiences, 2 ways to foster entrepreneurship in Children, Why being a founder is not for everyone, Recounting Stephen's Awakening, 5 things people want from sunglasses, Why they didn't raise prices during the Trump Tariffs, 3 things that convince Stephen that Goodr was going to work, Why most entrepreneurs work for free in the early days, Why he still shadows other Founders, Stephen's advice to college graduates, and You should go to college, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Stephen in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Goodr visit: https://goodr.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Slumberkins - Why Emotional Wellness Starts Early Mar 26, 2020

In part 2 of this Founder Feature, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Slumberkins continue sharing the inside story of their brand that promotes early emotional learning, helping people raise strong, caring, & confident children. In Part 2 of this episode, Callie and Kelly discuss The emotional rollercoaster of being on Shark Tank, Why Shark Tank was their first investor pitch, How they developed a tidal wave of customers, How being approachable, authentic and real is part of their success, How consumer's desire to understand mental health has helped their brand, How each of their characters has a storyline that helps a child's emotional well being, Why their not just another DTC with a product, How they became co-producers with the Jim Henson Company, Why they're a mission with a business, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Callie and Kelly in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Slumberkins visit: https://slumberkins.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Slumberkins - Entrepreneurship is Like the Last 5 Points of a Game Mar 26, 2020

When Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Slumberkins, started their brand they didn't know what a founder was or how to raise capital but little did they know that their experience as teachers and playing in Division 1 sports was going to prepare them for the tidal wave of success taking them through Shark Tank and beyond. In Part 1 of this episode, Callie and Kelly discuss How teaching prepared them for entrepreneurship, How Slumberkins was borne out of an Unpaid maternity leave, How resourcefulness and scrappiness played a big part in the early days, How they build community and engagement through social media, Why entrepreneurship is like the last 5 points of a game, How the "we'll just figure it out attitude" was critical to success, Why Slumkins was built between the hours of 9 and 3 pm, Advice for parent starting a brand, How they felt the pressure and stigma of working moms, When they know they have made it, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Callie and Kelly in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Slumberkins visit: https://slumberkins.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

MyTagAlongs - Why Gratitude is So Important for Success Mar 24, 2020

In Part 2 of this Founder Feature, Nicole Authier, Founder, and President at MyTagAlongs, continues sharing the inspiring inside story of a smart, fashionable & functional accessories brand for Women on the Go. In this episode, Nicole discusses Why gratitude is so important to her, The Oprah Story, How a disastrous tradeshow turned into a smashing success, Why you have to put yourself out there, The MyTagAlong design process, Why its important to validate new product ideas with customers, Why people are spending money on experiences, The MyTagAlong Moat, What is the Because I am a Girl initiative, Why imposter syndrome drives her, Why a No today does not mean a No tomorrow, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Nicole in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on MyTagAlongs visit: https://mytagalongs.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

MyTagAlongs - Taking Action When Times Seem Darkest Mar 21, 2020

Who needs to end the week with some inspiration? She was going through a divorce, she had a mortgage, she had bills, she had kids and no alimony. For most people, the stress, anxiety, uncertainty would be too much. For Nicole Authier, Founder and President at MyTagAlongs, this was her moment to rise and show the world what she was made of. So she started her brand. Basically, she had no choice. It had to work. In Part 1 of this episode, Nicole discusses How she pivoted from disposal underwear to MyTagAlongs, Working 9 to 5 to make the dream work, Divorced, no money, bills, mortgage and more, What you can do when you have no choice, How to take action, How to act, even when you have doubt, What three things would give value to her customers, Advice for people going through hard times, Why huge goals seem unattainable but little ones do, How she defines success, and Why she is grateful for the bad times, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Nicole in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on MyTagAlongs visit: https://mytagalongs.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Aila - Find People Who Fuel Your Fire Mar 18, 2020

In this special episode, Katie Webb, Founder & CEO of Aila, continues sharing the inside story of an early-stage startup building a premium natural food-based ingredient workout supplement specially designed for women. In Part 2 of this special entrepreneurial feature, Katie discusses The realities of being a startup founder, The trap of listening instead of doing, Why you should lead with your gut and follow your why, Choosing the right team, How not to let imposter syndrome stop you, Why your brand should be bigger than the founder, What is the keep the lights on the list, The Aila differentiator, Advice for millennials thinking about entrepreneurship, Why you must find the people that fuel your fire and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Katie in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on aila visit: https://meetaila.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Aila - A Natural Food-based Workout Supplement for Women Mar 18, 2020

In this special episode, we are featuring Katie Webb, Founder and CEO of Aila, a premium natural food based ingredient workout supplement specially designed for women. Normally on the show, we feature established brands and ask them to look back and tell us about the challenges they faced in the early days of building a brand. Today, we are featuring a founder who IS in the early days and in the middle of the grind and asks her to share with us the real inside story of a new founder and her brand. In Part 1 of this special entrepreneurial feature, Katie discusses Her Brand Aila, What is it like to build a brand while working 9 to 5, Why she focused on workout supplements, Why workout supplements were designed for men, Why she wanted to include natural food based ingredients in her supplements, Why developing the brand voice came first for her, Why it is important for her brand to lead with honesty and transparency, Why she hates the holy than thou attitude in the supplement industry, Bootstrapping your brand, How she's getting the product into as many hands as possible and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Katie in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on aila visit: https://meetaila.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Nomad Lane - Being Down Doesn't Mean You're Out! Mar 16, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Kish Vasnani, co-founder of Nomad Lane, the inside story of how to build a premier travel bag and lifestyle brand. In Part 2, Kish discusses How to manage a product crisis, How to take take a loss and survive, Being down, doesn't mean your out, How to use your life experience to design products, Why Kish and his wife moved to Bali, Why Bali is transformative, What is the Bento Bag, How Nomad Lane is educating the Traveler, Kish's lessons for entrepreneurs, How to keep yourself motivated, Why you must have likeminded people around you, Why you should start preparing of entrepreneurship when you have a job, The Brand Moat of Nomad Lane, Why their Blog is their site's biggest section, Why they choose to grow consciously and sustainably and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Kish in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nomad Lane visit: https://nomadlane.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Nomad Lane - You MUST Bet on Yourself Mar 11, 2020

The way Kish Vasnani, co-founder of Nomad Lane, met his wife and fellow co founder, you could swear it was destiny. They both loved to travel and would often meet in different cities around the world for their dating rendezvous. This love of travel eventually inspired them to build a premier lifestyle travel brand. However, it wasn't until he got fired from his job, did Kish and his wife come to the conclusion that the best course of action was to bet on themselves and take a serious look at starting a joint business. In this feature, we'll follow Kish as he describes the ups and sometimes dramatic, downs of building a premier travel bag and lifestyle brand. In Part 1 of this episode, Kish discusses Why you should bet on yourself, What are silent agreements, How they use a Blueprint method to run their business, Why you need to define boundaries when working with your wife and or co founder, How they came up with their idea, Why they started with small accessories, How a customer's feedback led them to create their first product, How they crowdfunded their 1st product and raised 2 million, How they pivoted into a travel bag brand, How crowdfunding and product issues nearly ended their business and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Kish in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nomad Lane visit: https://nomadlane.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

BombTech Golf - Why Email is BombTech's Secret Weapon Mar 11, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Tyler "Sully" Sullivan, Founder of BombTech Golf and Ecom Growers, continues sharing the inside story of one of the best digitally native Golf Club companies. In Part 2 of this episode, Sully discusses Why you need to get out of your employee's way, How he made an entrepreneurial employee his partner, How an Email Agency grew from BombTech, Why Ecom Growers is an agency by Brand owners, for Brand owners, Why founders should document what they do, Why Brand emails should come from the Founder, Why you should never use the no-reply email, Why you should use email to create a dialog, Why plain text works better than overly designed emails, Why you should have one call to action per email, Why your email list is an asset that you own vs. social media and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Sully in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on BombTech Golf visit: https://www.bombtechgolf.com/ For more on EcomGrowers visit: https://www.ecomgrowers.com/ Please visit our advertisers: MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

BombTech Golf - How to Make More Money and Work Less Mar 09, 2020

For Tyler Sully Sullivan, Founder of BombTech Golf and Ecom Growers, the road to building one of the best digitally native Golf Club companies wasn't easy. It included getting fired, running out of cash, getting the local University to help him design his product, and finally, getting out of his own way so his team could be successful. In Part 1 of this episode, Sully discusses Why he decided to build his own clubs, How he got the University to help him design his first club, Why you can't recreate the feeling of the first sale, Why he documented everything and how that helped him build the brand, What makes BombTech Clubs so different, Why he doesn't make assumptions about his customers, The Elements of Sully's success, Why timing plays a part, Why getting fired was the best things that happened to him, and How he made more money when he worked less and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Sully in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on BombTech Golf visit: https://www.bombtechgolf.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Reel Paper - Life Changing Toilet Paper Mar 07, 2020

In Part 2 of this Feature, Derin Oyekan and his Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Reel Paper, continue sharing the inside story of a brand, whose mission it is to change how we use toilet paper and disrupt an industry. In Part 1 of this episode, Derin discusses Why having previous experience building brands had made it easier to raise funds, Why their goal is to have a sustainable supply chain as well, Why reducing their carbon footprint as a brand is critical, Why it's an uphill battle when you're an innovator, Why consumers are demanding sustainability, Why Reel is open and ready for band partnerships, Why they seek the conscious consumers and who are they, The challenges to being a disruptive startup, Why it's good to find a co-Founder with complementary skills, Why it's good to have a someone to share the ups and downs with. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Derin in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Reel visit: https://reelpaper.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Reel Paper - Why Toilet Paper is Unsustainable Mar 05, 2020

Derin Oyekan and his Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Reel Paper had a simple mission: change the way people use toilet paper. According to Derin 27,000 trees are cut down every day to make toilet paper. This is an expensive process, bad for the environment and clearly not sustainable for an item that is single-use and disposed of so quickly. When informed, most people tend to agree and so thus was born, Reel Paper. In Part 1 of this episode, Derin discusses Why the focus on toilet paper, Why Bamboo instead of Trees, Why they chose the toilet paper market, Why they wanted to build a brand that had an impact on people's lives, How to produce a product that does good? How Reel is helping with access to clean water and toilets in 3rd world countries, Why Bamboo is more sustainable, Why they welcome more competition in the space, and Why there is room for innovation in this market and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Derin in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Reel visit: https://reelpaper.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Birdy Grey - Friendship is the Core of the Brand Mar 04, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Grace Lee and Monica Young Ashauer, cofounders of Birdy Grey, continue sharing the story behind this stylish, innovative, beautiful bridesmaid dress for under $99 apparel brand. In Part 2 of this episode, Grace and Monica discuss Why the old way of buying Bridesmaid dresses was out of line with how millennials shop, Why the simple act of adding pockets was brilliant, Why competitors are now dropping prices, How Bridesmaids go into debt, The dilemma of destination weddings, Why Birdy Grey gives the gift of time, Why Monica is like Grace's Instagram boyfriend, Why their employee culture is about thriving, Why the core of the business is about Friendship, Why they launched the curvy collection, and why you have to be inclusive in 2020 and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Grace and Monica in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Birdy Grey visit: https://www.birdygrey.com/ MarketerHire - https://marketerhire.com/ (code: SOB) Enquire Labs - https://www.enquirelabs.com/commercefocused Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Birdy Grey - Get Off the Sidelines and Just Do it! Mar 02, 2020

Both Grace Lee and Monica Young Ashauer, co-founders of Birdy Grey, had been bridesmaids several times which is what gave Grace a novel idea for a business. At the time, Grace ran it by her good friend and partner Monica as well as other friends and potential investors and it resonated with them. They all thought it was sound and disruptive. Basically, the idea went, Millennials don't want to be stuck paying hundreds of dollars on a bridesmaid dress that they'll wear one time, instead, they want to spend on experiences. So Birdy Grey was born: stylish, innovative, beautiful bridesmaid dresses for under $99. In Part 1 of this episode, Grace and Monica discuss Why the concept really landed with investors and customers, The story of how they got the idea, What was the best advice they received from an investor on how to build their business, What's their advice for people who dream of being an Entrepreneur, Why you need to get off the sidelines, What's the one thing you need to be an entrepreneur, Why failure is not an option, What's the one rule they have about life outside of work? Why the Customer Feedback Loop is so critical to them, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Grace and Monica in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Birdy Grey visit: https://www.birdygrey.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Clean Remedies - Consumers Demand Transparency Feb 20, 2020

In part 2 of this feature Meredith Farrow, Founder & CEO of Clean Remedies, continues discussing the inside story of building a brand standing up against Big Pharma with CBD/Hemp products that use USDA CERTIFIED organic ingredients that are free from harmful chemicals. In Part 2 of this entrepreneur feature, Meredith discusses What is Green Washing, Why consumers are demanding transparency in CBD/Hemp market, Why you need 3rd certification, Why taste is an important selection criterion, Why it was lucky that they waited to start in Ohio, Why CBD helps people who suffer from inflammation, What are topicals, What are the best ways to consume CBD, What does transdermal mean, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Meredith in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Clean Remedies visit: https://cleanremedies.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Clean Remedies - Why CBD is Better Than Big Pharma Feb 14, 2020

For Meredith Farrow, Founder & CEO of Clean Remedies, it started with a personal tragedy of a beloved family member who committed suicide after being on big pharma anti-depressants. After that life-altering moment, Meredith and her husband dedicated themselves to finding a natural, safe & reliable option so that other families and friends wouldn't suffer the same pain. In Part 1 of this entrepreneur feature, Meredith discusses How tragedy and Post Partem depression got them into CBD, Why the recent Federal Farm law is a big deal, The consequences of not talking about depression, Why CBD is better than Big Pharma, What is CBD and Cannabinoids, What are Full Spectrum products, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Meredith in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Clean Remedies visit: https://cleanremedies.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Tushy - It's Okay to Be an Intense Entrepreneur Feb 08, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Miki Agrawal, who is the founder of Thinx, WILD & Author of Disrupt-Her & Do Cool Shit, continues sharing her ideas and philosophy of thinking like an disrupt-her, living an intentional life, and her latest venture Tushy, a modern affordable bidet that is disrupting how we think about the taboo subject of wiping our dirty bits. In Part 1 of this episode, Miki discusses Why you should be intentional about life, Why you should find people with the same vibe, Why if you need more time, give up the mindless shit, Why you should eliminate the word failure and use revelation, Why its okay to be an intense person, Why you should embrace constant iteration, Why we need to address the global sanitation problem, and Why you should give a modern Bidet a try. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Miki in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tushy visit: https://hellotushy.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Tushy - You Have Permission to Question Society Feb 07, 2020

According to Miki Agrawal, who is the founder of Thinx, WILD & Author of Disrupt Her & Do Cool Shit, people want to question things, they simply need permission to do so. As Miki says, "We've been indoctrinated to believe in things that are simply not true". An example would be her latest venture Tushy, a modern affordable bidet that is disrupting how we think about the taboo subject of wiping ourselves when we use the restroom. Over 10 million trees are cut down each year for Toilet Paper and that's unstainable and a terrible way to clean ourselves. In Part 1 of this episode, Miki discusses her new brand, her philosophy and at some point, she starts to interview me. She discusses Why we need to raise the veil of indoctrination, Why our education system has an outmoded design, Why we're taught to believe we have no choice, How to deal with the negative voice in your head, Why nowadays she wants to talk about things that matter, and Why you must avoid engaging in low vibrational shit, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Miki in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tushy visit: https://hellotushy.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

WIN Brands Group - Investing in Emotionally Connected Brands Feb 06, 2020

In Part 2 of this entrepreneur feature, Kyle Widrick, CEO & Founder of WIN Brands Group, continues discussing his experience as co-founder of Shopify partner, Brand Value Accelerator (BVAccel) and his new company where he is investing and building a winning portfolio of emotionally connected brands. In Part 2, Kyle discusses When does profitability matter, The two places where his partner Dylan Whitman kept them disciplined and focused, Why they chose not to take equity from clients, What is an emotionally connected brand, What are the two things Kyle looks at in an investment, Kyle's guided tour of his portfolio brands, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kyle in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on WIN Brands Group visit: https://www.winbg.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

WIN Brands Group - Being Profitable is the Ultimate Leverage Feb 05, 2020

Working for the Tory Birch Founder's Family Office gave Kyle Widrick, an education in growing a business with other people's money but it wasn't until he joined Dylan Whitman, that he went all in both personally and financially. Today as the CEO & Founder of WIN Brands Group, he takes these past experiences and is investing and building a winning portfolio of brands. In Part 1 of this entrepreneur feature, Kyle discusses Why working in a Family Office gives you a well rounded education, Why his bet on Shopify paid off and why it could have been bad, Why a lot of success is timing, taking a calculated risk, and having conviction, Why he chose not to raise capital for his business BVAccel and Why it would have been different had they done so, The process of selling a company, Why scaling past one hundred employees brings unique anxiety, and Why being profitable is the ultimate leverage, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kyle in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on WIN Brands Group visit: https://www.winbg.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Boyfriend - Where Customers Fuel Product Innovation Jan 29, 2020

In Part 2 of this special feature, Melody Darlene Hernandez, Chief Brand Officer of Boyfriend, continues sharing the insides story of this leading unisex fragrance brand started and founded by actress Kate Walsh. In Part 2 of this episode, Melody discusses Why building trust with consumers is so important, How micro-influencers are playing a part in their strategy, Why they strive for authenticity from their influencers, Why it makes sense for Agencies to launch their own brands, How Boyfriend is using Facebook to develop new products, The Boyfriend product launch strategy, How gender neutrality focus is impacting the brand message and philosophy and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Melody in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Boyfriend visit: https://boyfriendperfume.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Boyfriend - A Fragrance for All Genders Jan 25, 2020

In this special feature, we interview Melody Darlene Hernandez, Chief Brand Officer of Boyfriend, a leading unisex fragrance brand started and founded by actress Kate Walsh. In Part 1 of this episode, Melody discusses How the brand started from a breakup, How Kate Walsh was looking for a blend of a masculine fragrance with a feminine layer and could not find anything, Why the brand went on pause but was brought back by fans on social media, The brand moat around Boyfriend, The trend of men buying & demanding fragrances, Why they chose to make the brand genderless, Why it's important to be clean & vegan, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Melody in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Boyfriend visit: https://boyfriendperfume.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Rhone - People Want Brands to be Human Jan 22, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Nate Checketts, CEO & Co-Founder of Rhone, continues sharing the inside story of this amazing performance and highly technical activewear brand. In Part 2 of this episode, Nate discusses Why being a parent makes you more efficient, Why it's easier today to build a direct relationship with your customer (and how), Why as an entrepreneur you lose some of your social life, What are the four things that differentiate Rhone, What is Rhone's MOAT, How customer can discern Authenticity, Why Brands need to be congruent, Why people want brands to be Human, Why you must treat customers as people not target segments, Why you must think of relationships from a 1 to 1 level, Why sometimes you should do things that intentionally don't scale (quote from Reid Hoffman), so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nate while he shares the inside story of a brand. For more on Rhone visit: https://www.rhone.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Rhone - Why Ignorance is an Entrepreneurs Best Friend (at times) Jan 22, 2020

While working for the NFL (which would be a dream job for most) Nate Checketts, CEO & Co-Founder of Rhone, saw an opportunity. He noticed that almost all of the innovation that was happening in activewear space was happening on the women's side of the business. So after a discussion with his co-founder and some research, he decided that they would launch their apparel brand. There was just one small challenge, they knew nothing about fashion or eCommerce or really anything about building a brand from the ground up. But what's a small problem like that to an entrepreneur? In part 1 of this insightful episode, Nate discusses Why they chose to be digitally native from the beginning, How & what he learned about making the best products possible, Why every company needs to be a product company at its' core, Why if you don't create great products you don't deserve to exist, The three Mega Trends that they used to grow their brand, What were their mistakes, What they did right, Why it's important not to be complacent, Why email is their number one channel by far, How it's dangerous for a startup to live in an echo chamber and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Nate while he shares the inside story of a brand. For more on Rhone visit: https://www.rhone.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Calista - Loving What You Do Can Be Contagious Jan 17, 2020

In Part 2 of this feature, Maria McCool, CEO & Co-Founder of Calista Tools, continues sharing her amazing entrepreneurial journey in creating one of the leading hair care beauty brands. In Part 2, Maria discusses Why money didn't factor in her decision to be entrepreneur, Why you need to shake up your thinking especially when things are rough, What's the test to find out if you can make money doing what you love, Why when you love what you do it becomes contagious, How she learned about her brand while at QVC, How she has 1000 customer a week at her flagship store and why this helps her develop products, How she is helping other inventor and entrepreneurs bring products to market, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Maria in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Calista Tools visit: https://calistatools.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Calista - The Key to Success is a Willingness to Fail Jan 16, 2020

There were times when Maria McCool, CEO & Co-Founder of Calista Tools, felt like an imposter. “Who was I to be here,” she thought. She didn’t have a college degree, she wasn’t an entrepreneur or so she thought. What she did have was a passion. So 1,200,000 mil products sold via QVC, 1,500,000 mil products sold via infomercials and one of the leading Hair Brands in the U.S., later, she wants to help people move past those "imposter syndrome" thoughts and find their own power. In Part 1 of this entrepreneur feature, Maria discusses Why her brand is about being in service, Why her ideas come from clients, What Beauty Brave means, How it all started when she was 14 years old, Why the key to success is a willingness to fail, Why you have to make failure mean something, How to deal with Imposter Syndrome, What separates entrepreneurs from everyone else, Why risk could be fun, When taking risks ask lots of questions, and What happened the first time she was on QVC, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Maria in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Calista Tools visit: https://calistatools.com/ Visit our advertiser: refersion.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://attentivemobile.com/ Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Beast & Buckle - The Right Co-Founder is like Winning the Lottery Jan 15, 2020

In Part 2 of this powerful and inspiring story, Stewart Anderson, Founder of Beast & Buckle, continues sharing the inside and personal story of building his premium dog harness and product brand. In part 2 of this feature, Stewart discusses What to look for in a Co-Founder, Why finding the right Co-Founder is like winning the lottery, When Entrepreneurship and Depression meet, Why you must watch for the signs of depression, Why Entrepreneurs need someone to share the ups and downs with, Why Entrepreneurs need to find ways to deal with stress, How to reach your community, Why Beast & Buckle are turning the DTC Email Playbook on its head, Why it's better to be less transaction to make sales, Why you can't get the Beast & Buckle experience with Amazon, How to reward customers, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Stewart while he shares the inside story of a brand. For more on Beast & Buckle visit: https://beastandbuckle.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Beast & Buckle - How His Dog Saved His Life Jan 14, 2020

His dog saved his life. Stewart Anderson, Founder of Beast & Buckle, got his dog ( or his son as he affectionately calls him) when he was at his lowest point. He was struggling after his father's death who had been dealing with depression and bipolar disease all his life and had finally succumbed to it in 2016. It was his dog who had given him a reason to get out of bed and to have something to do with his day. Now it was his dog, that inspired the brand. Stewart wanted to figure out a way to spend time with his dog, work on something that helped other dogs, and leveraged his digital marketing experience. Unbeknownst to Stewart, by also sharing his story, he was also helping people who also dealt with similar mental health issues. In part 1 of this insightful episode, Stewart discusses How he learned digital marketing while in the Navy, Why it's best to be Brand-focused versus Product-focused, How he made his passion & mission his business, The Steps to starting a brand, Why the goal was to provide premium products and not so premium prices, Why have a mission pushes you when things get difficult, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Stewart while he shares the inside story of a brand. For more on Beast & Buckle visit: https://beastandbuckle.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Fenix Commerce - https://www.fenixcommerce.com/ Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Part & Parcel - You Have the Power to Change Your Experience Jan 13, 2020

In part 2 of this feature, Lauren Haber Jonas, Founder of Part & Parcel, continues sharing her journey in building a premium apparel brand, modeling agency, and on/offline community for Plus Size Women. In Part 2 of this episode, Lauren discusses, What is dimensional sizing and why it is so different, Their philosophy of making products that fit her vs. making her fit into a predetermined size, Why they brake rules and invent their own stuff, Why the affiliate model chose them, Why they chose to launch their successful Pop Tour in Anchorage, Alaska, Why Box Retailers find it difficult to copy brands like Part & Parcel, The vision and future of Part & Parcel, Words of advice for Plus Size Women, and How she deals with stress and the ups & downs of life, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Lauren in Part 2 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Part & Parcel visit: https://www.partandparcel.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Part & Parcel - Building a World Where Plus Thrives Jan 10, 2020

As a child, Lauren Haber Jonas, Founder of Part & Parcel, was a plus size kid. All her life she found it difficult to find clothes that fit her. Because of this, she experienced ridicule, jokes, and embarrassment. Such as the time that she graduated from college and had to wear a man's suit. Experiences like this affected her emotionally. Fortunately, by seeing the example of her entrepreneurial brother as well as working with the founders of Poshmark, she realized that she had the power to change things. Fast forward to the present, Lauren, now runs a premier platform for plus size women, a plus size modeling agency, and is building a rapidly growing community for other plus size women helping them both emotionally and economically. Here's her story. In Part 1 of this episode, Lauren discusses, Why her brand is more of a movement, How it all started with a Blog, Why the Plus Size market is not served even though 70 percent of U.S. women call under this category, Why less than 2 percent of brands serve plus size women, Why it's so challenging to find funding for Plus size business, Why she was forced to start a modeling agency, Why she chose the affiliate model as a sales channel, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interview Lauren in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Part & Parcel visit: https://www.partandparcel.com/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Dream Pops - The Willy Wonka of Plant-based Desserts Jan 10, 2020

In Part 2 of this amazing feature, DavDavid Greenfeld, CEO & Co-Founder of Dream Pops, continues the story of what he calls a "permissible indulgence". But his story is more than that. It's a case study of an entrepreneur waging war in an industry where experts constantly told him what he wanted to do was impossible. It's also about a mission to bring clean ingredient products into every home in America. After you listen to this inspiring episode you get a distinct feeling that he could actually do it because as he says "anything is popsicle". In Part 2 of this feature, David discusses Why he wants to be the Willy Wonka of Vegan and Plant-based desserts, What's it like to be a disruptor, How people thought he was crazy for leaving his Investment Banking job to sell popsicles, Why entrepreneurs are always battling between delusion and vision, Why the market will never lie to you, Why it's better to be scrappy in the beginning then bet big, and Why you should stay true to your vision and be flexible at the same time, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews David in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Dream Pops visit: https://dreampops.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Dream Pops - Creating the Future of Ice Cream Jan 08, 2020

Initially, DavDavid Greenfeld, CEO & Co-Founder of Dream Pops, was looking to eat healthier. So he went vegan for a year. The trouble is working late nights at his investment banking job, he grew accustomed to eating ice cream and he just couldn't find a good ice cream substitute that was plant-based and tasted good. So lots of research and a trip to Milan, Italy later, he decided to bring to market a great tasting, clean ingredient, ice cream. In the process, he also ended up disrupt the ice cream industry. In Part 1 of this feature, David discusses How the idea originated, The most important attribute to plant-based Ice Cream that others had missed, Why you need to fail in order to have success, Why there has been no innovation in ice cream for decades, How the secret to Dream Pops is a unique craft freezing method, Why & how he uses the concept of "intimate activations" to get the product in the hands of consumers, Why innovation entrepreneurs give up (they listen to industry experts), Why their design is like the Nike swoosh, How Dream Pops is at the intersection of Fashion and Food, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews David in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Dream Pops visit: https://dreampops.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Prolific Media - Why You Should Never be Comfortable Jan 07, 2020

In Part 2 of this special feature, we continue our discussion with Ramzey Nassar, Jacob Chandler, and Nick Raschke founders of Prolific Media, about growing and managing a leading new-age digital advertising agency. In part 2 Ramzey, Jacob, and Nick discuss Why brands are going to start paying more attention to "Return on Ad Spend", How to increase online revenue 335%, Advice for new and established brands, Why you should be obsessed with identifying and knowing who your customer is, Why you should never be comfortable, Why you shouldn't listen to platform (FB, Pinterest, Snapchat) reps? Why a new brand doesn't need 1000's to succeed in digital advertising, Why email should be your bread and butter, Why you shouldn't depend on one platform (FB, Pinterest, Snapchat), Why Pinterest is underutilized, Why Snapchat is the one to watch in the future, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ramzey, Jacob, and Nick in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Prolific Media visit: https://www.prolific.media/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Prolific Media - Why Growth at All Cost is Crazy Jan 06, 2020

In the special feature, we talk about digital advertising, entrepreneurship, profitability, and brands with the founders of Prolific Media, Ramzey Nassar, Jacob Chandler, and Nick Raschke. From the beginning, the founders of Prolific Media were adamant about one thing: they weren't going to let clients spend money unless there were seeing some sort of result. As they tell it, this "business-owner" mindset is a direct result of the success and "lessons learned" from running their own e-commerce store and brands which they still do to this day. It has given them an appreciation of the risk and rewards that many brand founders go through. It's also why they are so successful. In part 1 of this insightful episode, Ramzey, Jacob, and Nick share How their business/brand owner mindset helps them help other brands, Why email is so important to your digital advertising strategy, How data influences your ad strategy, Why some people need to get punch in the gut by reality, Why growth at all cost is dangerous and risky, The difference between the Midwest vs. Westcoast growth perspective, Why you should run ads with a business owner mentality, Why you shouldn't spend money without seeing results, Why you should run from agencies that promise crazy growth, and What things you need to look at in order to be successful at buying ads for your brand, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ramzey, Jacob, and Nick in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Prolific Media visit: https://www.prolific.media/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

True Vintage - The Brand that Built a Mobile App for other Brands Jan 06, 2020

In Part 2 of this dual feature, we continue the conversation with Rory Westbrook, Founder of True Vintage, Europe's leading online vintage retailer, and John Murray, Co-Founder with Rory, at Shoppex, the industry-leading mobile app builder for e-commerce brands as they continue their discussion on how True Vintage grew their brand and how they helped solve a mobile challenge for other brands. In Part 2, Rory and John discuss The mobile challenge that led to building Shoppex, How True Vintage played guinea pig for the new app, What kind of customers do best with Shoppex, What types of e-commerce business models should be using mobile apps and which ones shouldn't, What's the brand moat around True Vintage and Shoppex, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Rory & John as they share the inside story of a brand. For more on True Vintage visit: https://www.truevintage.com/ For more on Shoppex visit (referral code "Podcast" for 15% discount): http://shoppex.co/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

True Vintage - Europe's Leading Online Vintage Clothing Store Jan 03, 2020

In this special dual feature, we interview Rory Westbrook, Founder of True Vintage, Europe's leading online vintage retailer, and John Murray, Co-Founder with Rory at Shoppex, the industry-leading mobile app builder for e-commerce brands. When Rory started True Vintage in college, his friends and family gave him 12-24 months before customers would lose interest, but he proved them wrong. Six years later, True Vintage has doubled growth year after year. In Part 1 of this episode, Rory and John discuss How Rory started True Vintage in College and how students loans helped, Why Instagram was key to success in the early days (and today), How being early selling vintage clothing online was so crucial, How Rory was planning his own brand as early as 10 years old, Why not liking "being told" what to do is key to entrepreneurship, Why problem-solving is a key trait for entrepreneurs, What advice he would give to people in college or just graduated, What Rory would do differently if he had to do it all over again, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Rory & John in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on True Vintage visit: https://www.truevintage.com/ For more on Shoppex visit: http://shoppex.co/ Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Vincero - Customers are at the Heart of the Design Process Dec 30, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Tim Nybo, Co-Founder of Vincero Watches, continues sharing the inside story of building one of the world's premium DTC lifestyle brands. In Part 2, Tim discusses What the symbolism of the "Italian Marble" in their watches means, Why customers want to feel part of your Brand's story, How customers can tell if you are genuine or not, What living your legacy means to Tim, How Vincero puts the customer at the heart of their decision making, How they employ the "Updated Modern Classics with Edge" concept to their design, Why you should build brand awareness through storytelling, and Advice for people in their 20's and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Tim in Part 2 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Vincero Watches visit: https://vincerowatches.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Vincero Watches - Overdeliver on Products & Services Dec 27, 2019

Initially, Tim Nybo, Co-Founder of Vincero Watches, had moved to China after college with his co-founders to learn about manufacturing. They weren't even focused on watches. They had just come upon watches by chance; they didn't even know how hot the market was getting here in the states. But they decided to jump in 100% and learn as much as possible along the way. It was this attitude of "going all in" and "willingness to learn new things" that has helped them make Vincero Watches into a premium DTC lifestyle brand. In Part 1 of this feature, Tim discusses Why can't do entrepreneurship with 50% effort, Why not having the infrastructure for growth was a mistake, Why you should choose co-founders who compliment your strengths and who you enjoy, Why part of business is having a plan A, B, C (regarding China Tariffs), Why "once they click, you must exceed expectations", Why they design products with feedback from their loyalty program, Why their demo consists of people who are ambitious and on the road to success, What the "person to person" concept is and why it's so important to Vincero, What the DTC concept really means to brands, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Tim in Part 1 of this episode and listen to him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Vincero Watches visit: https://vincerowatches.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Richer Poorer - Resonate with Customer Through Your Values Dec 24, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Richer Poorer Co-Founders Iva Pawling and Timothy Morse continue to share their journey of building a premium apparel brand with values. In part 2, Iva & Timothy share their journey including, Why you should let the product do the talking, Why their Dirty Hands Club is Key to building an emotion connection with their customers, Why the community, curation, and experience concept is so important, Why Brands are really an extension of human beings, Why Richer Poorer resonates with their customers through their values, How "Brands grown in the Lab" can't compete in the long run, Why Brand can't hide behind a corporate veil anymore, and What the future holds for Richer Poorer, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Iva and Timothy in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Richer Poorer visit: https://richer-poorer.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Richer Poorer - The Winning Trifecta of Clothes: Fit, Feel, & Price Dec 23, 2019

In the beginning, Richer Poorer Co-Founders Iva Pawling and Timothy Morse thought they would slow roll the launch of their new brand. They thought it would be less risky and they could slowly fund the business while keeping their day jobs. That all changed when Iva's sister and brother-in-law (Co-Founders of Gorjana), strongly suggested that if they were going to do it, they had to go all in. Nearly 9 years later, Richer Poorer is growing faster than ever, still focused on making clothes that feel comfortable, fit great, and are available at a great price point.

In part 1 of this incredible episode, Iva & Timothy share their journey including How the casual dress trend first started with dotcom boom, Why they originally wanted to slow roll the launch of their brand, How they self-funded the company, Why you must really really understand your unit economics, How building the brand using wholesale margins, helped them when selling digitally, Why you never really know what you're getting yourself into when starting a brand, What role the group, The Black Keys played in their success, Why having a co-founder is a lot like marriage, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Iva and Timothy in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Richer Poorer visit: https://richer-poorer.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Churn Buster- Step in the Shoes of Your Customer Dec 20, 2019

In part 2 of this special episode, Kristen LaFrance, Head of Community & Growth for Churn Buster, the #1 tool for recovering failed payments and preventing involuntary churn for subscription e-commerce & SaaS brands, continue to share insights on how subscription businesses can use psychology to retain more customers. In Part 2, Kristen Breaks down each of the major subscription categories: Replenishment, Access, Curation; She breaks down the customer psychology for each category, and then she Breaks down the specific tactics to combat each challenge. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kristen in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Churn Buster visit: https://churnbuster.io/pod Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Churn Buster- How Subscription Brands Use Psychology for Retention Dec 19, 2019

In this special episode, we interview Kristen LaFrance, Head of Community & Growth at Churn Buster, the #1 tool for recovering failed payments and preventing involuntary churn for subscription e-commerce & SaaS brands. In Part 1 of this feature, Kristen discusses Why Customer Experience is everything, What is Denning and why you should care, How Churn Buster works, When should a brand use Churn Buster, How to get Churn Buster for free, What are the different types of declines, How brands can recover 60% of revenue, The difference between basic denning and Churn Buster, What are the 3 different categories of Subscription and how to use psychology to retain more customers, Why it's critical to put your self in the shoes of the customers and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Kristen in Part 1 of this episode and listen to her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Churn Buster visit: https://churnbuster.io/pod Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Cuts Clothing - T-shirts for Work, Dates, and Everything in Between Dec 18, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Steven Borrelli, Founder of Cuts Clothing continues sharing the inside story of building a DTC menswear brand focused on T-shirts. In Part 2 of this interactive discussion, Steve shares Why MVMT was a good reference point for them, Why you should think big, Why their biggest asset is their singular focus on T-shirts, Why today's workplace has evolved, How they are defining their own category, Why men buying more fashion is a growing trend, What their MOAT is, Why they win you over with just the packaging, What the customer experiences when they visit Cuts Clothing, and Advice for young entrepreneurs, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steven in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cuts Clothing visit: https://cutsclothing.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Cuts Clothing - The Lifestyle Brand for People Living Their Dreams Dec 18, 2019

In the early days, Steven Borrelli, Founder of Cuts Clothing didn't want to tell anyone about his brand. He was 26 and didn't want to be that guy who moves back into his parent's house to start a Tshirt brand that blows up in his face. He knew how big it would be but he also knew not telling people would relieve some of the pressure and stress and allow him to focus on building the brand. His strategy paid off and now Cuts is a leading DTC Menswear Brand that is first to accessorize the basic Tshirt and elevate it into the office and beyond. In Part 1 of this feature, Steve shares What brand was his inspiration, How he starting the brand knowing nothing about apparel, How he tested his product in the early days, How he used his network to find his first 1000 customers, How the brand almost crashed and burned several times, What Attitude you need to develop if you're an entrepreneur, Why it's critical for your marketing to create a story, Why he likes to hire people with high Motors, Why when advertising - Talk to people the way you talk to your friends, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Steven in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Cuts Clothing visit: https://cutsclothing.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Gorjana - Why You Should Share Your True Authentic Story Dec 16, 2019

In part 2 of this feature, Gorjana Co-Founders Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel continue sharing the inside story of building one of the leading Jewelry Brands in the market.

In this interactive discussion, Gorjana & Jason share their journey including Their Customer Service Strategy, Why it's important to stick with what you're great at, Why Amazon and other large brands envy the connection between premium brands and their customers, Why their Moat = Authenticity, Why Product is King & Content is Queen, Why you shouldn't fall for the buzz words, How they work together as a married couple, Why they play with all the chips on the table, and Why you shouldn't compartmentalize your life, make your life one. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Gorjana & Jason in Part 2 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gorjana visit: https://gorjana.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Gorjana - A Brand Built with Intention & Intuition Dec 13, 2019

In the beginning, Gorjana Co-Founders Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel had nothing to lose. To hear Jason describe it, he was unemployable and Gorjana loved creating unique jewelry that all their friends and family loved. So they took the plunge. Those early days were tough but they led with intuition and a bit of ignorance (their words) because as they tell it, "they figured they could do it better than everyone else". Now, all these years later, they continue to connect with their community in ways that have humbled them and their story has evolved to an online presence, 7 stores, and countless customers.

In part 1 of this incredible episode, Gorjana & Jason share their journey including What connects people to their brand, Why Retail allows you to connect with customers in ways DTC can't, Why you should look for the little wins, How ignorance & intuition play a part in your planning, Why Retail is now survival of the fittest, Advice for Brands wanting to get into retail, Why your goal should be profitability not necessarily raising money, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Gorjana & Jason in Part 1 of this episode and listen to them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gorjana visit: https://gorjana.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Refersion - Giving Brands a New Sales & Revenue Channel Dec 12, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, this special episode, Alex Markov, Founder of Refersion, continues to share the inside story of building a leading affiliate & Influencer marketing platform. In Part 2 of this episode, Alex discusses Why defining customer personas has helped them with messaging, Why leaning what works requires some failure, Why Refersioh has a team to help you strategize, When is the right time for an affiliate or influencer program, Why the brands that see success have a formalized influencer program, What's the difference between Affiliate and Influencer, Why onboarding shouldn't take weeks (or days), and How customer experience the platform, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Refersion visit: refersion.com/cf Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Refersion - Making Affiliate & Influencer Marketing Simple Dec 11, 2019

In this special episode, we interview Alex Markov, Founder of Refersion, the #1 tool that helps online shops track sales driven by promoters, influencers, and affiliates. In Part 1 of this feature, Alex discusses a host of entrepreneurial topics such as How he got his start in marketing, Two things businesses need, Why asking your customer what they need is a great marketing strategy, What you need to do before building your app, What he did right & wrong while launching his business, Why he focuses on building his business profitably instead of raising funds, What advice he would give to entrepreneurs, What opportunities are out in the market now, Why he keeps a "Business Idea" notebook, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Alex in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Refersion visit: refersion.com/cf Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Tiesta Tea - Best Part of Entrepreneurship is Giving Back Dec 10, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Co-Founders, Patrick Tannous and Dan Klein, of Tiesta Tea, continue sharing the "inside story" of building one of the fastest-growing Tea beverage companies. In this incredible episode, Patrick and Dan discuss The best part of being an Entrepreneur, Why starting a business can be a grind, The moment they knew it was going to be a real business, Why they couldn't live at their parents house and build Tiesta, What product would they feature if they had to make an elevator pitch, How the consumer market has shifted for beverages, The difference of Loose Leaf Tea, How they are making Tea more affordable and bringing more people into the category, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Patrick and Dan in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tiesta Tea visit: https://tiestatea.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Tiesta Tea - If Resilience Had a Name it Would be Dan & Patrick Dec 10, 2019

At one point in the early days, Co-Founders, Patrick Tannous and Dan Klein, of Tiesta Tea, had no money for rent. They had a house that doubled as a place to live as well as the company headquarters. So they had no choice. They went out door-to-door to sell tea. They "HAD" to make $900 just to pay rent, let alone pay themselves. They ended up making rent, albeit a little late, but it was those types of experiences that honed their entrepreneurial skills and helped make Tiesta Tea what it is today. In Part 1 of this feature, Patrick and Dan discuss How they made tea more approachable, How their brand is based on the health benefits of tea, The secret of tea's success: it is the first plant-based beverage, Why lots of innovative beverage brand don't last, The two primary drivers in beverages, Why they couldn't imagine starting the business without a co-founder, What were the main issues in the early days and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Patrick and Dan in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Tiesta Tea visit: https://tiestatea.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

SmartyPants Vitamins - Advice for Young Entrepreneurs Dec 04, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Courtney Nichols Gould, Co-Founder at SmartyPants Vitamins continues sharing the inside story of building one of the leading supplement companies in the market. In this incredible episode, Courtney shares the Fact they were the first in their space to be Non-GMO, Why it's difficult to play the volume game and keep the quality, How they deal with transparency, Why its important to be available to everyone not just the 1%, Why they built their brand on Amazon, Why they look to the public to tell them what they want, What new products were launched including SmartyPaws for dogs and Advice for young entrepreneurs including making sure you love your idea. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Courtney in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on SmartyPants visit: https://www.smartypantsvitamins.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy: https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster: https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

SmartyPants Vitamins - If You Care, You Have to Be All In Dec 02, 2019

For Courtney Nichols Gould, Co-Founder at SmartyPants Vitamins this company was supposed to be a one-product brand. But once they started receiving feedback from customers, they knew they had stumbled upon a problem that resonated with people.

In part 1 of this incredible episode, Courtney shares her journey including The main challenge with building a business with someone you love, Why she's addicted to entrepreneurship, The story of her dad - the Trampoline King, Why there's never peace within a startup, Why if you care, you have to be all in, Why a Brand needs to stand for something, The "core" of the SmartyPants brand, What happened when they went to Congress, and Why Trust is what get's you through an incredibly intense experience. So join us while Ramon Vela interviews Courtney in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on SmartyPants visit: https://www.smartypantsvitamins.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Privy: https://www.privy.com/cf Churn Buster: https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TeeLaunch - Entrepreneurs Don't Give Up Nov 26, 2019

In part 2 of this feature, Christopher Hamze, Founder of TeeLaunch, continues to share how he started and built TeeLaunch and how after 130,000 installs, it continues to be one of the best ways to start and grow a Shopify business.

In part 2 of this episode, Christopher shares: - The vision of TeeLaunch - Custom products and their plant in Utah - Why the future is expanding into new markets including Corp, Gov, & Edu - How the quality of Print on Demand has changed and improved - Advice to entrepreneurs including * Don't get over your head with debt * There's a time for a strategic retreat * Start Small * Leverage your relationships * Don't easily Give Up * Find lessons in every failure Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christopher in Part 1 of this episode and hear them share the inside story of a brand. For more on TeeLaunch visit: teelaunch.com/story Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

TeeLaunch - Bringing Your Ideas to Life Nov 25, 2019

For the first two years of business, Christopher Hamze, Founder of TeeLaunch, lost money. People didn't understand the Print On Demand (POD) concept and after 2 years they were $750,000 in debt. At that point, they were discussing closing the business.

Then they got an idea to pivot from the local market and create an app that allowed people to print t-shirts on demand and sell them through Shopify. Each day after they launched, they grew exponentially and by the end of the year, they did nearly $2 million in revenue. $130 thousand app installs later, the rest, as they say, is history. In part 1 of this incredible episode, Christopher shares: - His entrepreneurial journey and why he is unemployable - Why everyone thought he was nuts for building an app when he did - Why if he had waited to build the app, everything would have been different - How he tried to become a lawyer to earn a steady paycheck but was drawn back into entrepreneurship - What's so important about the Customer Experience - Why transparency, small size, and accessibility is the TeeLauch advantage - Why it's so rewarding building a business that helps others become entrepreneurs Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Christopher in Part 1 of this episode and hear them share the inside story of a brand. For more on TeeLaunch visit: teelaunch.com/story Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Bootay Bag - Giving Her the Power Nov 22, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature Ellyette Gheno, Founder of Bootay Bag, continues to share her brand's journey. In this episode, Ellyette shares Her Entrepreneurial journey, The downtimes, Why having a network of entrepreneurs is critical, Why there's always a way out when trouble hits, What her "Humble Moment" is, Why the team is crucial, Why they now manufacturer and design in house, Why giving the customer more control is great (but has its downsides), and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Elly in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bootay Bag visit: https://bootaybag.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Bootay Bag - A Community for Real Women by Real Women Nov 18, 2019

Initially, Ellyette Gheno, Founder of Bootay Bag, started the brand on a whim. She didn't go to college and didn't have any education on starting a business which basically meant she had no fear. She more or less thought she would sign up a few friends and make a few bucks each month. What she didn't realize back then is that she had hit upon a frustration that "real women" had about how they bought panties and at what price. Thus was born an affordable everyday panty subscription box. In Part 1 of this feature, Elly discusses Why women didn't want to support a brand like Victoria Secret, Why community is so important to her, Why user-based content is a priority, How she created the "shittiest" website ever, Why she was glad she was naive and fearless when she started the brand, What her biggest regret is and why she failed, What lesson she learned about testing new products, Why it's so important to be focused on the customer vs the market opportunity, Why you need to know what to focus on, and Why luck plays a part in success, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Elly in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Bootay Bag visit: https://bootaybag.com/ Visit our advertiser: : refersion.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Wolf Project - Why You Must Have Skin in the Game Nov 18, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Francesco Urso, Founder of the Wolf Project, continues sharing with us the inside story of building a skincare company for men. In this episode, Francesco discusses The pampering experience for men, The global trend of aging well, Why he chose the U.S. market over others, His funding journey, Why bootstrapping wasn't enough, Why it's important to have skin in the game, How to spend your first $100,000, Why you should focus on your core competencies and how to determine what those are, What areas should you spend time in, and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Francesco in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Wolf Project visit: https://thewolfproject.co/ Visit our advertiser: : https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Wolf Project - Making Skin Care for Men Better and Easier Nov 14, 2019

Initially for Francesco Urso, Founder of the Wolf Project, it was a fun project or exercise in building a skincare product that men could use. However, as he researched and realized, and with a little encouragement from his wife, he knew that the huge global trend of men buying skincare products was a business that was calling his name. In Part 1 of this feature, Francesco discusses Why a face mask for men, How he got inspiration from the Korean and Japanese skincare markets, What his "Wow" moment was, Why face mask provide an unparalleled level of Hydration, What Hydration does for your skin and all the benefits, Why there's room for Men, Women, and Genderless products, Why he named it the Wolf Project, and why this product is gateway for more sophisticated skincare solutions for men as the growing trend continues and much, much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Francesco in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Wolf Project visit: https://thewolfproject.co/ Visit our advertiser: : https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Harper Wilde - Brand Values = Company Values Nov 13, 2019

Harper Wilde Co-Founders Jenna Kerner and Jane Fisher knew that there would be a risk embroidering a statement on their bras that included profanity. They didn't know if anyone had ever done this before. However, in 2019 when 9 states passed laws severely restricting a woman's right and access to a legal procedure, they knew they had to act. They decided that their brand message had to mirror their company values, even if their stance would be controversial. In part 2 of this fascinating episode, Jenna and Jane share What happened when they took a risk and took a stand, How they want to be about empowering woman externally and internally, Why standing up for their values is part of their Brand Moat, Why making the most comfortable and softest bra in the market is key to that Brand MOAT. Plus they share more advice for college graduates, advice for women (and men) when raising funds, Why their recycling program for Bras is important to the environment, How they are launching a nursing bra, and why humor and pranks are important for company's culture. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jenna & Jane in Part 1 of this episode and hear them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Harper Wilde visit: https://harperwilde.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Harper Wilde - A Brand for the Millennial Woman Nov 12, 2019

Harper Wilde Co-Founders Jenna Kerner and Jane Fisher didn't start out wanting to build a brand much less one that disrupted the bra market. They even spent most of their time, trying to disprove their business idea. However, the more they researched, the more they realized that it wasn't so much about the bras, it was more about empowering women of all sizes, skin tones and giving her a quality & affordable product and experience she deserved. So in the end, it was such a huge problem with a big opportunity in the market that they had to start the business.

In part 1 of this incredible episode, Jenna and Jane share their journey including Why women hate bra shopping, What they learned about the process of making & pricing bras, Why large manufacturers and retailers weren't looking to solve the problem, Why Victoria Secrets no longer speaks to the woman of today, Why it's important to have outside advisors, How they started with negative money (they were in grad school) and how they raised funds, What the rule of 10% is and why it was so crucial to their success, How they handle being Co-Founders and why it works for them, What mistakes they made, Why you should listen to your gut, and Advice to Graduates: Just put something out there! and much more. Note: there is so much great advice, we can't list it all. So join us while Ramon Vela interviews Jenna & Jane in Part 1 of this episode and hear them share the inside story of a brand. For more on Harper Wilde visit: https://harperwilde.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Gorgias - Giving Your Support Team Super Powers! Nov 08, 2019

In this special episode, we interview Philippe Roireau, Head of BD & Partnerships for Gorgias, "the" help desk solution that gives "Super Powers" to your Support Team! In Part 2 of this feature, Philippe shares Why large shoe companies love Gorgias, The magic that happens during onboarding including pre-loading accounts with relevant messages, How the Gorgias support team helps merchants, What is the Gorgias Moat? Why do customers connect with Gorgias, Their "follow the merchant" strategy, Trends in e-commerce, How Gorgias helps omni-channel players create a seamless experience, How Gorgias removes sources of friction, How customers are leveraging the Gorgias Machine Learning data to make better decisions, What the future holds, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Philippe in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gorgias visit: Gorgias.link/story Visit our advertiser: : https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Gorgias - The Help Desk for E-Commerce Nov 07, 2019

In this special episode, we interview Philippe Roireau, Head of BD & Partnerships for Gorgias, "the" help desk for e-commerce brands and merchants. In Part 1 of this feature, Philippe, discusses How Gorgias was founded, How a chance meeting with the Shopify founder changed their business, How their laser focus on Shopify led them to tremendous growth, How Phil started as a Gorgias customer, Why they look for staff that speaks the language of merchants, Why merchants love merchant stories, How merchants can scale customer service without adding more people, The magic of the Gorgias onboarding experience, and How to Transform Support into a Profit Center and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Philippe in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Gorgias visit: Gorgias.link/story Visit our advertiser: : https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Ritual - Build a Habit, Turn it Into a Ritual, and Make Yourself! Oct 30, 2019

In part 2 of this incredible episode, Katerina Schneider, Founder & CEO at Ritual continues sharing her journey with us.

Katerina shares How they are combining science with culture to build a moat around her brand, How they are in a mission to help people form healthy habits, Why the things you do on a daily basis have the most impact on your body & mind, Why they launched an Apple App, Why people who aren't vegan, still want vegan products, What life was like immigrating from Ukraine and living in a refugee hotel, and Why guilt is the hardest thing about being an entrepreneur & mom (and why husbands don't feel the same guilt) and much much more! Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Katerina in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Ritual visit: https://ritual.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Ritual - Reinventing the Vitamin from the Ground Up! Oct 29, 2019

Katerina Schneider, Founder & CEO at Ritual was meeting with an investor slash acquaintance to discuss funding for Ritual, it was the early days. Because she was 4 months pregnant, she was told that it would be appropriate to let him know about the pregnancy. Plus, she had known previously and expected a pleasant conversation. What he said next was horrifying. "You can either start a family or build a business, you can't do both". How would you respond?

For Katerina, it provided the fuel for building a hugely successful brand that was voted by LinkedIn in 2019 as one of the top 25 places to work. How you like me now, Mr. Investor?

In part 1 of this incredible episode, Katerina shares her journey including How she started Ritual at 4 months pregnant and Why it's so important to be transparent about ingredients, How she created the first fully traceable multi-vitamin so you know what's in it, Why 1/3 of women can't fully utilize Folic Acid but why large companies keep using it because it's cheap, Why she was fascinated by taking something from a routine to a habit, to a ritual, Why being pregnant made her more creative, Why happiness in employees dictates the success of your business, Why being in a startup equalizes everyone, and Why being a mom is a great breeding ground for being an entrepreneur. Note: there is so much great advice, I can't list it all. So join us while Ramon Vela interviews Katerina in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Ritual visit: https://ritual.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Credo Beauty - Here to Create a Movement, Not a Niche! Oct 25, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature Annie Jackson, Co-Founder & COO of Credo Beauty continues to share with us the inside story of building her brand.

Annie Jackson shares the following: Why it's important to find passionate staff, Why Beauty can be intimidating, Why people want to replace what they use with something healthy, Why there are no hard sells at the Credo stores, it's about education, Why entrepreneurship for her is hereditary, What was the one thing that really made a difference for her brand, Why Credo isn't here to build a niche, but a movement, Advice for Millenials, Gen Z, and young entrepreneurs and much, much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Annie Jackson in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand.

For more on Credo Beauty by visit: https://credobeauty.com/

Visit the partners who make this show possible:

Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf

Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod

Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Credo Beauty - Creating the Standard in Clean Beauty Oct 24, 2019

For Annie Jackson, Co-Founder & COO of Credo Beauty, clean beauty is not just a product; it's about a lifestyle, a belief, it's emotional. It's taking this experience and combining it with ingredients that are good for you that are at the heart of what connects Credo with their customers. This connection is also why Credo feels so strongly about their responsibility within the industry, especially with ingredients. This responsibility comes in the form of their "Clean Beauty Standard," which is more than a roadmap for sustainable sourcing. It's a call for transparency in products that customers trust to be good for them.

In part 1 of this episode, Annie shares her passion for clean beauty and Credo, including: How Credo defines Clean Beauty, Why having a physical store was vital to them, Why it's important to listen to customers and watch them interact with products first hand, Why "Fragrance" is their least favorite word and why, Why physical retail is not for everyone, and How their "Mission in Action" events allow them to tackle and discuss significant, sometimes controversial, topics and much, much more.

Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Annie Jackson in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand.

For more on Credo Beauty by visit: https://credobeauty.com/

Visit the partners who make this show possible:

Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf

Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod

Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Health-Ade Kombucha - Follow Your Gut and Let You Brew You Oct 22, 2019

In part 2 of this episode, Vanessa Dew, Co-Founder & CSO at Health-Ade Kombucha continues sharing the inside story of her brand.

Ramon Vela and Vanessa discuss: How marketing in the old days was like hand-to-hand combat, How they rode the wave of wellness, Why they wanted to be a LifeStyle brand, The 3 Ways they differentiate themselves from the competition, Their new Campaign "You Brew You", Why it's so important for them to step out of the sea of sameness, How the brand is a reflection of the founder's personalities on how they "followed their gut" to find success and why you should too. For more on Health-Ade visit: https://health-ade.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - http://gorgias.link/story teelaunch - http://teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com/

Health-Ade Kombucha - From Farmer's Market to Fastest Growing Oct 21, 2019

For Vanessa Dew, Co-Founder & CSO at Health-Ade Kombucha being out of college and working a 9 to 5 job was just not fulfilling. So Vanessa and her eventual co-founders started an entrepreneur club who's first product was going to be a high-quality Hair Loss Mask, using the cultures derived from Kombucha. Eventually, they realized that the real business opportunity lay in the brewing of the delicious beverage soon to be known as Health-Ade Kombucha. So they each put in $800 and started selling the beverage in local Farmer's markets.

In part 1 of this episode, Vanessa shares her journey including How they first started the business, How three co-founders mixed personal and professional life to form a winning combination, Why she thinks that you should have a co-founder and Why some people aren't meant to be founders, Why people call her the "Eternal Proton", Why as an Asian American she felt pressure to NOT be an entrepreneur, and How a racist incident when she was young eventually forced her to come to terms with her identify and be a role model for other Asian Americans. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Vanessa Dew in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on Health-Ade visit: https://health-ade.com/

Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - RetentionScience.com

Sips by - Making Tea Discovery Personal Oct 18, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature Staci Brinkman, Founder & CEO of Sips by continues to share with us the inside story of building her brand. Staci shares with us the following: How her brand positions itself today vs. when they just started, How she builds and maintains the relationship with her customers via social media, Why people discover more than great Teas through her platform but great brands as well, How she funded her startup at the beginning and her recent angel investment, How she packed the first 100,000 "Sips by" boxes in her living room, How their focus is growth and what they are doing to achieve it, What entrepreneurial lesson she learned that she wasn't expecting, Why she didn't think she would get married, and how she and her husband deal with working together as a married couple and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Staci in Part 2 of this episode. For more on Sips by visit: https://www.sipsby.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Sips by - From Linguistics Major to Starting an AI-driven Tea Brand Oct 16, 2019

For Staci Brinkman, Founder & CEO of Sips by, her original goal was to be a linguist, not an entrepreneur. So how did Staci go from being a linguistics major to starting a millennial brand that helps you discover teas from around the world to utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a personalized experience for tea drinkers? In short, bringing cutting edge technology to an ancient beverage. In part 1 of this episode, Staci shares her journey including How she wanted to become the first female president when she was young, Why she refers to herself as a "Grandma Millenial", Why Millenials are driving the growth of tea, Where she got the idea for Sips by, Why Tea is a culinary endeavor, and how choosing the right tea for people is more complex than people think and how she's using AI to make the personalization experience amazing. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Staci in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Sips by visit: https://www.sipsby.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Luca & Danni - Creating an Emotional Connection w/Customers Oct 15, 2019

Part 1 of this feature focused on Fred Maganimi and his family and how he started Luca & Danni. It was emotional and gut-wrenching for some of you. (for me too). Part 2 focuses on why people connect to the brand. In this episode, Fred shares news about his the Company's new investor, The role of investor vs. Founder, Why a company would invest in Luca & Danni, How to co-create an emotional connection with your customer, How handwritten notes are a great way to learn about the customer, and What is the vision and future for Luca & Danni. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Fred in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Luca & Danni visit: https://lucadanni.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com

Luca & Danni - Embracing the Journey of Life Oct 14, 2019

For Fred Maganimi, Founder at Luca & Danni, life was supposed to be different. He had a plan on what his life was going to be like. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work that way. He came back to the family business due to his brother's and father's illness and then death. It was difficult for Fred at first but eventually, it seems, the tragedy led them to the life he was always intended to live and shown him the character of the man, he was always supposed to become. In part 1 of this episode, Fred shares his journey including an overview of the business, how he came back to the family business, how he dealt with his brother's death and then his dad's, how building the business helped him through the tragedy, and why if you believe in something with every ounce of your being you'll find success. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Fred in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Luca & Danni visit: https://lucadanni.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Gorgias - Gorgias.link/story teelaunch - teelaunch.com/story Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com

Feat - How to Survive a Recession: Be Profitable Oct 10, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Taylor Offer, Co-Founder at Feat, continues to share invaluable advice for direct-to-consumer brands and for would-be entrepreneurs considering how they can take their product ideas to market. Taylor shares more of the the good, the bad, and the lessons learned in building a DTC brand in Part 2, including Why he hates working with Agencies, How he helps other DTC brand owners, What steps you can take if you don't have money to hire an agency but still need help, Advice for entrepreneurs just starting out, What to do to protect yourself from recessions, How the "grow slow, grow profitable" strategy always works, How DTC brands get themselves in trouble financially, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Taylor Offer in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Feat or the Taylor Parker Agency visit: https://featsocks.com/ | https://taylorparkeragency.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf

Feat - How to Win as a Direct-to-Consumer Brand Oct 09, 2019

For Taylor Offer, Co-Founder at Feat, life as an entrepreneur has been a roller coaster. He met his co-founder, Parker Burr, in college and by their senior year they had sold over 20,000 pairs of socks from their backpacks. Back then no one took them seriously but that's different today as Feat has become a premium brand that is moving beyond socks and now into Hoodies (the softest hoodies ever) and soon into other areas. In Part 1 of this feature, Taylor shares the good, the bad, and the lessons learned in building a DTC brand, including: How they sold millions via Influencer marketing by getting in early on Influencers, Why socks are not a great item to sell via e-commerce and why (plus which products sell better), Why you want to limit your SKUs, The Four mistakes they made that you MUST avoid, Why it's critical to find a mentor that knows your industry and why you should listen to them, The Three things they did "right" that you should copy, How to be successful in Influencer marketing today, and much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Taylor Offer in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Feat or the Taylor Parker Agency visit: https://featsocks.com/ | https://taylorparkeragency.com/ Visit the partners who make this show possible: Churn Buster - https://churnbuster.io/pod Retention Science - https://www.retentionscience.com Privy - https://www.privy.com/cf

Army Pink - On a Mission of Peace Oct 02, 2019

In this brief special episode, we interview Rosemarie Baumler, Director of Communications & Social Media for apparel brand, Army Pink. From time to time, we like to highlight brands making a social impact that is near and dear to our hearts and where the mission is as important as the product. In this interview, you'll learn about Army Pink's mission, how they are building support for their cause, why empowering women and young girls is critical for them, and why the future looks bright for this youthful brand. We especially like (and support) the fact that Army Pink donates 100% of the proceeds from the Peacekeeper t-shirt to Peace Over Violence, providing safe transportation for a survivor to escape a violent relationship. Show your support visit Army Pink: https://armypink.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Yuni Beauty - Making Clean Beauty Affordable & Accessible Sep 26, 2019

In part 2 of this episode, we continue the conversation with Emmanuel Rey, Co-Founder & CEO of Yuni Beauty, as share the inside story of the building of a health & wellness brand. Ramon Vela and Emmanuel discuss 1) Why trust & transparency are so important, 2) Why it's important for Yuni to make clean beauty products that are affordable and accessible for people who really need it, 3) How to make clean beauty products that are affordable and can be used for daily use, 4) Why they use only "stock packaging", 5) What are the 3 Key Factors for choosing a new channel or avenue for your clean beauty products, 6) And what are the Yuni Beauty products that stand out. For more on Yuni Beauty visit: https://www.yunibeauty.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Yuni Beauty - Saving Time, Restoring Health, & Relieving Stress Sep 24, 2019

When Emmanuel Rey, Co-Founder & CEO of Yuni Beauty, started the brand, it was defined largely around people who cared about wellness. So he focused on three areas: saving time, restoring health, and relieving stress. He also focused on operating the business with certain principles & values such as using organic & vegan & cruelty-free ingredients, and factories that utilized alternative energy such as solar power. However, operating a business in this way, forced him to make a choice: principles vs. economics. In part 1 of this episode, Emmanuel discusses: 1) Why it was important to make wellness attainable for all, 2) How they took a chance by investing in the formula vs. marketing, 3) Why it was important to create products for people like him and his wife; people who practice Yoga, wellness, meditation, mindfulness, health, and love the outdoors, 4) Why it was important to find influencers who were authentic, 5) Why it's important for people to be aligned with a brand's values and principles. Join us as Ramon Vela interviews Emmanuel Rey in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of the building of a brand. For more on Yuni Beauty visit: https://www.yunibeauty.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Alex Brown - Letting Your Customers Build Your DTC Brand Sep 20, 2019

In this special episode, we interview serial DTC entrepreneur, Alex Brown, Founder of Ecommerce RockStars and past Co-Founder of The Beard Club (formerly Dollar Beard Club). In part 2 of this episode, we discuss: 1) Why Feedback from your customers is so important for building your brand, 2) Why customers will help tell you who you are and why you exist beyond just the product, 3) Why building a regular cadence for talking with customers is important, 4) Why it's important to keep a personal touch with your customers and why customers are hungry for connection, 5) Why and how the Amazon Bubble is going to burst, 6) Why taking a long term view of your customer is important, 7) Critical tips for people just starting a brand and for people who have a $500,000 a year brand and who want to scale the business. Join us as we interview Alex Brown in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of the building of a brand. For more on Ecommerce RockStars visit: https://ecommercerockstars.co/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Alex Brown - How to Build a Scalable DTC Brand Sep 19, 2019

In this special episode, we interview serial DTC entrepreneur, Alex Brown, Founder of Ecommerce RockStars and past Co-Founder of The Beard Club (formerly Dollar Beard Club).

In part 1 of this episode, Ramon Vela and Alex Brown discuss: 1) How Alex started in Crowdfunding, 2) How he started CoolBox and then Beard Club, 3) Why Drop Ship businesses are not feasible long-term and why the next correction will clean them out, 4) Why the fundamentals of business online are the same as offline, 5) How to start a DTC brand, 6) How you can build a brand that serves people and not just sells products, 7) How to create a story that resonates with people, 8) Why companies with a social aspect outperform those that don't (long run), 9) What are the stumbling blocks of building your brand. Join us as we interview Alex Brown in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of the building of a brand. For more on Ecommerce RockStars visit: https://ecommercerockstars.co/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Privy - Formula: Build Relationships and Drive More Sales Aug 30, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Ben Jabbawy, Founder & CEO of Privy and Ramon Vela unpack why Privy has become so popular with Direct-to-consumer brands while also finishing the discussing of Privy's origin story and secrets to success.

Plus, Ben Jabbawy discusses Why doing things different saved his company; Why you shouldn't listen to investors; The Success Equation: Easy to Try, Easy to Buy; Why as an entrepreneur you should give more than receive; Breaking down the "Build Relationships and Drive More Sales Concept; Why & How Privy is going to be the entry point for all your customer data; The vision for Privy's future; Advice for Entrepreneurs such as "Build an audience from day one"; and Advice for College students such as "work at a company with MOMENTUM, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben Jabbawy in Part 2 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Privy visit: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Privy - How to Start & Grow an Inc. 5,000 Company Aug 28, 2019

For Ben Jabbawy, Founder at Privy, life as a founder wasn't always easy. At one point, they had $1,000 in the bank and were in the process of selling the company when the sale abruptly fell through. This was a pivotal moment for Privy that eventually led them to rank as one of Inc.'s 5000 Fastest Growing Company.

In Part 1 of this feature, Ben shares what happened at that pivotal moment when it looked like all was lost, He shares how he got started, Why transparency is important to him, What he did differently that really propelled his company, What is the secret formula to getting into the Inc. 5000, What advice he would give to others, and so much more. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Ben Jabbawy in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Privy visit: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

The Silver Telegram - Taking a Stand Can Lead to Success Aug 26, 2019

In Part 2 of this special "Brand Communication" episode, we interview communication expert and Founder & President of The Silver Telegram, Ronjini Joshua. Ramon Vela and Ronjini some of the most pressing communication/public relations challenges facing brands, startups, and tech companies. Together they discuss: Being on honest with yourself about who is your target market, Why you can have slightly different stories for each audience, How to create a media plan, Working with Journalist and bloggers, Making sure to have target goals, Provide customers with experience, Start planning for next year NOW, What is your share of voice and how to grow it, Building your own personal brand, Wy Taking a stand vs. middle of the road can lead to success and much much more. Join us as we interview Ronjini Joshua in Part 2 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The Silver Telegram visit: https://thesilvertelegram.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

The Silver Telegram - Communicate the Passion of Your Brand! Aug 22, 2019

In this special "Brand Communication" episode we interview communication expert and Founder & President of The Silver Telegram, Ronjini Joshua. Ramon Vela and Ronjini some of the most pressing communication/public relations challenges facing brands, startups, and tech companies.

Together they discuss: How should brands communicate to their audiences, Creating your overall brand voice, Can you control the customers perception of the brand, Is there a wrong time to us Public Relations, PR mistakes that brands make, Why you need a Crisis plan, Consider your community's feedback and sensibilities, why building community is the Holy Grail for brands, Mistakes that brands make when crowdfunding, Why you should build community before you crowdfund, and much much more. Join us as we interview Ronjini Joshua in Part 1 of this episode and hear her share the inside story of a brand. For more on The Silver Telegram visit: https://thesilvertelegram.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Zambezi - Building Customer Loyalty that Transcends Reason Aug 16, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Chris Raih, Founder & President of Zambezi, continues the conversation about entrepreneurship, building brand that emotionally connects with its customers, and what are the common "super" power traits that successful brands. Ramon Vela and Chris discuss the moments in an entrepreneur's life that can change the direction of the future, how to maintain sanity while building your business, a recipe you can use to build a successful brand, how to brands lose direction in their values, how brands build love with how they communicate, challenger brands that are doing it right such as Third Love, and how to make your "Why" the core of brand message and company direction. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris Raih in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Zambezi visit: https://zambezi-la.com/ Visit our advertiser: Privy https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: Churn Buster https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: Retention Science https://www.retentionscience.com

Zambezi - Brands are the New Elected Officials! Aug 15, 2019

For Chris Raih, Founder & President of Zambezi, the financial disaster of 2008 changed things for brands. Not only did it cause a recession of trust with institutions, banks, politicians, etc., but it changed what people expect from Brands. As he puts it, “Brands are the New Elected Officials”. In Part 1 of this feature, Chris shares with us the concepts and ideas that have made Zambezi successful. We cover: What is the Super Power of Brands and how should they use that power, How customer loyalty can transcend reason, Why community is the secret sauce, Why a brand is either be a Pimp or a Patron (and why being a pimp is no good) and examples of each including Venmo vs. Neo-Nazis case study, Auto Trader and the Environment case study, Why Brands are the New Elected Officials where customers vote every day at the cash register and why brands have and must stand for something. Lastly, he shares some insider stories on how the Nike "Just Do It" slogan was developed and the most classic "Entrepreneur-near-disaster" story that anyone who has ever run a business will relate to and understand. Join us while Ramon Vela interviews Chris Raih in Part 1 of this episode and hear him share the inside story of a brand. For more on Zambezi visit: https://zambezi-la.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our advertiser: https://churnbuster.io/pod Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com

Kopari Beauty - The Consumer Deserves Trust Aug 02, 2019

In Part 2 of this feature, Gigi Goldman, Co-Founder of Kopari Beauty continue the conversation about entrepreneurship, the consumer, and Kopari. Ramon Vela and Gigi discuss: why consumers deserve trust, why Kopari wants to be where the customer is, her 360 degree approach to her brand marketing, Her vision, Kopari Popups - when & where, Why you should always stick to your brand pillars, why there is room for both premium brands and Amazon, what questions you should always ask the consumer, why selling products through retailers is a good idea, Kopari partnerships, what are her best selling products & why, and what keeps her up at night. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Gigi Goldman in Part 2 of this episode and hear Gigi share the inside story of a brand. For more on Kopari Beauty visit: https://koparibeauty.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Kopari Beauty - Coconut, Clean, & Caring Jul 31, 2019

When Gigi Goldman, Co-Founder of Kopari Beauty, started the business with her co-founders, they planted a flag. They decided that the core of the business was going to be about two things: planting their flag on using coconuts as their essential ingredient and two, making products that were clean or "clean beauty". However, what really made them successful was that Kopari is not just about products, it's so much more.

In Part 1 of this feature, Gigi takes us from how they started Kopari, the challenges along the way and so much more. Gigi shares how they give back by helping to build houses for the farmers who grow their coconuts, why it's important for them to give people a transportive experience, why their products spa demographics and generations, why people connected to their brand via their content, packaging, and the simplicity & cleanness of the product, and how it's really about wellness from the inside and out. Gigi also shares entrepreneurial insights such as 'had they known" the challenges they may not have started Kopari, how being adaptable and flexible is key to success, the role gratefulness, mindfulness and meditation play in her life, and how being married to your co-founder, raising your kids, and running Kopari is challenging and the tools she uses to make it work.

Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Gigi Goldman in Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Gigi share the inside story of a brand. For more on Kopari Beauty visit: https://koparibeauty.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Nixon - The Present & Future of E-Commerce Jul 26, 2019

In Part 2 of this 2 part episode, Gary Penn, Global Vice President of Digital & e-Commerce for Nixon, continues the conversation about the present and future of e-commerce. Ramon Vela and Gary discuss: the high expectations of consumers and how Amazon ruined it for us, Layaway payment concept, like Klarna, and why they may be a game-changer in e-commerce, the Nixon goal of creating a great customer experience, trends in e-commerce including mobile, biometrics AR, VR, the 3 barriers for online vs. retail store, Consumer research, the Future of e-commerce, the Adobe/Magento strategy and will it work?, Gary on AI and creating the 360 view of the customer and what is necessary to make it work.

Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Gary Penn and hear Gary share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nixon, Inc. visit: https://www.nixon.com/us/en Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Nixon - Letting Fans Drive the Brand Jul 24, 2019

In today's episode, Gary Penn, Global Vice President of Digital & e-Commerce for Nixon, join's us for a lively conversation about all things e-commerce & digital as well as giving us some insight on Nixon's products, partnerships, Collabs, and digital direction. In Part 1 of this feature, Gary is going to share their collab with Metallica, their influencer strategy and why they prefer real authentic fans, how their brand message is not based on demographics, why they prefer that the message is driven by customers and fans, Social & mobile commerce, dealing with Global e-commerce and marketing across the globe, the benefits that Amazon has brought to retail & e-commerce industry, and why Amazon reviews and service features are scary and what premium brands can do about it. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Gary Penn in Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Gary share the inside story of a brand. For more on Nixon, Inc. visit: https://www.nixon.com/us/en

Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Algenist - When You Promise & Deliver, You Build Trust Jul 18, 2019

When working with her team to develop new products, there are two questions that Rose Fernandez, CEO of Algenist ask, "How is this product going to change the customer's life and How is it going to be compelling to the customer"? These are the types of questions any business should be asking. However, for Algenist, answering those questions with performance-based products is the #1 reason customer's buy and that reason is Trust. As Rose says it, "promise and then deliver on that promise, is the surest way to build trust with your customer". Do that and they will buy again and again and again. In Part 2 of this feature, Rose shares with us the questions and philosophy around building trust with a customer and why it has made Algenist who it is today. She also shares why "being zen and staying connected and present" helps with your leadership (and stress), how to find positive influence everywhere around you, why her two children and four boxers are the best leadership training, and what new product categories are in store for Algenist. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Rose Fernandez in Part 2 of this 2 Part episode and hear Rose share the inside story of a brand. For more on Algenist visit: https://www.algenist.com/story Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Algenist - Performance Driven Skin Care Jul 16, 2019

For Rose Fernandez, her journey from working the counter at a department store to CEO of Algenist is a classic success story. However, if you would have asked her as a little girl if she wanted to grow up to be a CEO the answer would have been "NO". At the time, she simply didn't have any role models. That changed as she rose through the ranks of different brands within the beauty industry, noticing that many of the leadership were strong women. These many years later, she's now doing the inspiring at Algenist, an innovative, performance-driven skincare company. In Part 1 of this feature, Rose shares with us why Algenist is different from other Skin Care companies and the origins of its now-famous "10-day claim". She also shares her experiences growing up in Whittier, California to a single mother and a working-class family and her advice to others in the beauty industry. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Rose Fernandez in Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Rose share the inside story of a brand. Get a 20% Discount, visit: https://www.algenist.com/story Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Wander Beauty - How to Own What You Want in Life Jul 12, 2019

For Divya Gugnani, CEO & Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, growing up in a traditional family, she wasn't expected to go to college or have a job or live on her own outside of marriage or even take risks of any sort. Like many young girls and women, who still confront these same cultural barriers, she did not have any role models to emulate. But that didn't stop her. Instead, she used the lack of role models as an inspiration to reach for more.

In Part 2 of this feature, Divya shares how she overcame cultural barriers, how she creatively landed her investment banking job out of college, how to overcome the barriers that women face when raising capital in a male-dominated VC environment, how mindset is 90% of the battle to success, how you have to create your future and own the goals and dreams that you want and how real everyday women inspired her to co-found Wander and how they continually inspire her to bring new products and new concepts to market. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Divya Gugnani in Part 2 of this 2 Part episode and hear Divya share the inside story of a brand. For more on Wander Beauty visit: https://www.wanderbeauty.com Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

Wander Beauty - The Brand For Time Starved Women on the Go Jul 10, 2019

For Divya Gugnani, CEO & Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, life has always been about forging new paths. Whether it was graduating from college and working in investment banking and venture capital or starting her first company, an Auto Parts supply company. So when she noticed that there were no beauty brands speaking to women like herself, who were always on the go and constantly in motion, she decided to make one. That's where the idea of "beauty in motion" came about and which eventually led Divya and her co-founder to forge a new beauty category which they passionately refer to as "On the Go Clean Beauty". But there is so much more to the story.

In Part 1 of this feature, Divya is going to share her background including the companies that she has built, the origin story of the brand and how it came about from personal experience including why brands weren't speaking to women of color like herself, advice for entrepreneurs such as "not all businesses models scale" and the need to be self-aware, and finally her experience raising capital and dealing with the male-dominated industry of venture capitalism and how uniquely difficult this process can be for women entrepreneurs. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Divya Gugnani in Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Divya share the inside story of a brand. For more on Wander Beauty visit: https://www.wanderbeauty.com Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.privy.com/cf Visit our Sponsor: https://www.retentionscience.com/

NOVICA - 4 Steps to Creating a Social Impact Brand (and Love What You Do!) Jun 28, 2019

In Part 2 of this two-part episode listen to Ramon Vela interview Roberto Milk, CEO & Co-Founder of NOVICA, as he shares with us the story of a brand. Including everything from the extremely weird and strange way NOVICA got started, what steps you need to take if you are a college student or entrepreneur and you want to build a social impact brand or you just want to make an impact & help others, how revolutionary ideas come from traveling, why Indigenous arts are dying and what we can do to preserve them, how his kids helped find some unique artist, and how when the core business is the mission, you can be fulfilled, passionate, happy, and grateful (like Roberto). Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on NOVICA visit: https://www.novica.com/ Try their products with this discount: Storyofabrand10, expires in July

NOVICA - The Art of Starting a Revolution and Thinking Big Jun 26, 2019

For Roberto Milk, telling the Artisan's story is at the core of NOVICA and for many of these Artisan's, who are treated like 2nd class citizens in their countries, it is their first time telling their story. These artists, their talent, and the virtual travel experiences are what brings customers to NOVICA's site but it's the stories that keep people coming back. In this episode, you'll hear Roberto Milk, CEO & Co-Founder of NOVICA, share with us the challenges they faced building NOVICA in different countries; the difficulties in finding the artist in remote locations; why so much of branding is fake and that branding should be more about Authenticity; why traveling and social impact is in his blood; and why from the beginning NOVICA wanted to think and do something big, like start a revolution in hand made goods and send nearly $100 Million to Artist/Artisans around the world. Listen while Ramon Vela interviews Roberto Milk in Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Roberto share the inside story of a brand. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on NOVICA visit: https://www.novica.com/ Visit our advertiser: https://www.holidaycbd.com/

Guidance - Enabling Brands to Grow Jun 20, 2019

In today's special episode, we bring you our interview with Jon Provisor, Owner & CTO of Guidance, live at the Fashion Digital LA 2019. Listen as Ramon Vela interviews Jon as he shares his advice for retail brands as they navigate the digital & e-commerce landscape. In this brief special episode, Jon shares the story of building an e-commerce brand. Including everything from how they worked with K-Swiss and Tom's to help them with their digital strategy, how product drops put pressure on an e-commerce platform and what to do, how born on the web brands are going omnichannel, how Shopify Plus is tackling enterprise prime time, how to outsource your web and creative, and what the latest trend in e-commerce is doing to change how we cross-sell and upsell products. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Guidance, visit: https://www.guidance.com/

UpSellit - Why are Visitors Leaving Your Site? Jun 12, 2019

In today's special episode, we bring you our interview with Josh Model, Director of Business Development at UpSellit.com, live at the Fashion Digital LA 2019. Listen as Ramon Vela interviews Josh as he shares his advice for retail brands wanting to answer the perennial question of "Why are people leaving our site without converting"? In this brief special episode, Josh shares the story of building an e-commerce brand. Including everything from how to increase average order value, how UpSellit helps you build out your strategy, why you should determine your baseline results and then determine how you can improve upon that baseline and why UpSellit's performance model is so beneficial to retail brands.

For more on UpSellit, visit: https://us.upsellit.com/ Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/

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Dream Team Directors - The Art of Video & Social for Retail Brands Jun 07, 2019

In today's special episode, we bring you our interview with Bayou Bennett and Daniel Lir from Dream Team Directors, live at the Fashion Digital LA 2019. Listen as Ramon Vela interviews Bayou and Daniel as they share their advice for retail brands learned by working with a variety of people and companies such as Mark Ruffalo, Addidas, Oilogic, Urban Decay, and many others. In this brief special episode, Bayou and Daniel share the story of building content for a brand. Including everything from Branding, the art of differentiation, How do you create perception, what questions you need to ask yourself, why consumers want to connect, advice such as "do a behind the scenes mini-documentary while doing your photo shoot" and finally why it's important to "unite around stories that matter". Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Dream Team Directors, visit: http://www.dreamteamdirectors.com/

Purlisse - How Entrepreneurs Overcome Adversity Jun 05, 2019

In today's special episode, we bring you our interview with Jennifer Yen, Founder of Purlisse and Yensa brands, live at the Fashion Digital LA 2019. Listen as Ramon Vela interviews Jennifer Yen, a former villain on the Power Rangers TV show turned entrepreneur, as she recounts the advice she received when she sought to raise funds to keep her business going. The advice: "Why don't you sell your through your problems". She followed this advice and today her companies are 100% self-financed. In this brief special episode, Jennifer shares with us the story of building a brand. Including everything from what inspired her to start the business, what problems do her products and brands solve, 3 pieces of advice she would give to Entrepreneurs starting a brand, and how she overcame emotional and financial struggles as an entrepreneur. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Purlisse, visit: https://purlisse.com/ For more on Yensa, visit: https://yensa.com/

The Hair Shop, Inc - Giving Yourself Extra Confidence May 30, 2019

In today's special episode, we bring you our interview with Saena Park, CMO of The Hair Shop Inc. live at the Fashion Digital LA 2019 event.

Listen as Ramon Vela interviews Saena as she shares with us the story of building a brand. Including everything from introducing us to the company's Origin Story, the Market for Hair Extensions, How they use influencers to grow their business, How they differentiate their business with hi-touch consultations, their ambassadors the "Hair Shop Collective", their Extension Master Class Certification, Why the Hair Shop is all about giving you extra Confidence, How they are extending the product line, Partnerships, Creating Messages for each of their Segments, and why their primary customer will always be the Hair Stylist Professional. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on The Hair Shop, Inc., visit: https://www.thehairshop.com/ Please support our sponsors & advertisers: https://www.retentionscience.com/ (Email Marketing) http://axidigitalmarketing.com/ (Digital Marketing)

OSEA Malibu - #1 Beauty Secret: Sex, Sleep, & OSEA Apr 30, 2019

In Part 2 of this two-part episode listen to Ramon Vela interview Melissa Palmer, CEO & Co-Founder of OSEA Malibu, as she shares with us the story of building a brand. Including everything from working with influencers, targeting micro-communities on social media, partnerships, #1 beauty secret and the importance of sleep, Advice of "Clean Beauty" brands, Advice for entrepreneurs, morning routine, being "Product first vs. Brand first", growing up in an entrepreneurial family, customizing the consumer experience with a quiz and live chat and more. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Osea Malibu visit: https://oseamalibu.com/ Just for our listeners, any purchase over $50 gets a free travel size product of their choice discount code: "thebrand"

OSEA Malibu - The Clean Beauty Brand Ahead of its Time Apr 25, 2019

It seems like Melissa Palmer, CEO & Co-Founder of OSEA Malibu, was born to be in the Wellness and Skincare market. It all started in the early part of the last century with her Great grandmother. She was a fierce German immigrant, who among other things was the first woman chiropractor in the United States, and who strongly believed that the ocean was the source of life. This family legend and lore took hold of Melissa's mother who went on to start experimenting with skincare ingredients. Her central hypothesis or question was this: "If she created a company that used ingredients that were safe and effective and natural. Would people notice the difference?" This led to using seaweed as a natural ingredient and the launch of the forward-thinking, innovative clean beauty brand, OSEA Malibu. In Part 1 of this two-part episode listen to Ramon Vela interview Melissa as she shares with us the story of building a brand. Including everything from the growth of the Wellness Health industry, how Osea got started (the full story), why customers are now searching for natural ingredients, why D2C helps you control your message, how starting in Spa's help them learn the art of educating consumers, why Seaweed is one of the fastest growing segments in the market, why "Clean Beauty" is now the latest thing and why "performance-based naturals will be the next big thing in Clean Beauty. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on OSEA Malibu visit: https://oseamalibu.com/ Discount code: "thebrand" - Any purchase over $50 gets a free travel size product of their choice.

Grace Eleyae - The Do it All Make it Look Effortless Woman Apr 18, 2019

Living life as an entrepreneur has its challenges. As Grace Eleyae, CEO & Founder of Grace Eleyae likes to quote (from a popular author): "Fear and faith have something in common, they both require you to believe in something that hasn't happened". That's why she suggests when fear is overwhelming you, just write down the realities of the future, not the fearful ones. In Part 2 of this two-part episode listen to Ramon Vela interview Grace Eleyae, CEO & Founder of Grace Elayae, as she shares with us the story of building a brand. Including The wonders of Satin, What a partnership looks like, Product marketing strategies, Grace's Kids line, The Challenges and growing pains of manufacturing, How Grace deals with stress, Advice for people considering Entrepreneurship, and lastly, What Grace would do differently. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Grace Eleyae visit: https://www.graceeleyae.com/

Grace Eleyae - Who You are is Beautiful Apr 17, 2019

As a little girl, Grace Eleyae didn't see a lot of messages directed at her that said she was beautiful. With parents who came from Kenya and settled in California, this bothered her. Now as the CEO & Founder of GraceEleyae.com, she's made it her company mission to help inspire confidence in all women with the knowledge that they are beautiful. Before Grace, there were products out in the market that had been used for years to help women with tight curl patterns, which according to many statistics accounts for anywhere from 30-50% of women globally, but fortunately, there was nothing like the "Slap". As she describes, there was nothing that combined the style & fashion of a nice cap & the function of modern hair protection. She goes on to say, "if the beanie and the bonnet had a baby it would be the Slap. In Part 1 of this two-part episode listen to Ramon Vela interview Grace as she shares with us the story of building a brand. Including everything from why she created the product, how she grew with a $10,000 credit card, how one Influencer made the difference, the challenges to running a business, dealing with competitors, funding ongoing operations, using a laser vs. shotgun approach for marketing and how consumer research is helping her hone in on her ideal consumer. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Grace Eleyae visit: https://www.graceeleyae.com/

Burst Oral Care - Be Obsessed with Living Your Burst Life Apr 05, 2019

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, we continue the story of Hamish Khayat, CEO & Co-Founder and Brittany Stewart, COO & Co-founder of Burst Oral Care as they share with us their obsession with Oral Care, their community, creating the greatest product for the ages, and living your Burst life! You'll hear Hamish and Brittany give us the inside story of building a brand. Including marketing to consumers, creating a compelling experience offline for customers, how they're using capital, their growth, what makes a great entrepreneur and why being one is not selfish, the ups and downs of being a co-founder, taking care of yourself physically and emotionally, why Dental professionals will always be the backbone of the company, and their obsession with "Being the One-Stop-Shop for Oral Care". Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Burst Oral Care visit: https://www.burstoralcare.com/

Burst Oral Care - Brand Ambassadors: Secret to Building a Brand Apr 03, 2019

If you're a growing brand, there's nothing like having a loyal, fanatical, and growing community. Having a community can help you build brand awareness, help you with product innovation, and help you find out what consumers really want. But building a community isn't easy. There are essential ingredients that can help ensure success. So when Hamish Khayat, CEO & Co-Founder and Brittany Stewart, COO & Co-founder of Burst Oral Care wanted to revolutionize the Oral care, they wanted to do something different in an industry that lacked innovation and was historically not fun. So they set their sights on building product with the help of their community. The result was what some people have referred to as the "Batmobile of Tooth Brushes" or the "iPhone of toothbrushes" because of it's innovative design. That innovative design, price point, and differentiation in the market was a direct result of growing and utilizing their Brand Ambassadors. In Part 1 of this two-part episode listen to Hamish and Brittany as they give us the inside story of building a brand. They share how the brand started, their reasons for success, how they employ an old school business philosophy to building their community, and how building this community has been the greatest part of the Burst Oral Care Journey. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Burst Oral Care visit: https://www.burstoralcare.com/

Lunya - Success is Building the Life that You Want Mar 28, 2019

In this episode, Ashley Merrill, CEO & Founder of Lunya, gives us an intimate look inside her brand as well as a take on employees, entrepreneurship, life, children & family, and treating the customer like a real person and not a target market. Here's what you'll hear: Getting the message out digitally, Looking at consumers as real people, Why we can relate to "her", She's like our sister, girlfriend, Striking the resonance chord with your customer, Innovation is really optimization, Understand your customer intimately, you can create products they really want, Don't want to leave men out of the conversation, Making women's lives better through product, experience, & an example, It can be helpful to be cash restrained, Advice for Young Entrepreneurs, Make sure it's more than passion, it's got to be a business, Success is building the life you want, and more... Listen to Part 2 of this 2 Part episode and hear Ashley Merrill share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Lunya visit https://www.lunya.co/

Lunya - Reinventing the Sleepwear Market Mar 27, 2019

For Ashley Merrill, CEO & Founder of Lunya, the intention was never to start another fashion company. But there was a business idea that kept gnawing at her. She didn't know anything about how to make clothes or production but she had a big vision. She wanted to create sleepwear that both looked great but was functional. She wanted to reach consumers who really cared about Wellness because as she saw it, Wellness is like the food pyramid with sleep as the foundation. In this episode, you'll hear how fear almost stopped her from starting the business, how she didn't start with a business plan, how she used to surveys and feedback to design her collections, how she dealt with productions problems, why creating a great culture is so difficult to find and maintain, how she deals with stress and being present, what entrepreneurship means to her, and how she deals with growing Lunya and having a family. Listen to Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Ashley Merrill share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at https://www.commercefocused.com/ For more on Lunya visit https://www.lunya.co/

Ties.com - Don't Need to Be First to Market, Need to Be Different Mar 22, 2019

In Part 2 of our interview with Omar Sayyed, CEO of Ties.com, we continue our conversation on entrepreneurship and growing Ties.com. In this episode, we discuss Why team building is so important, why doing business face-to-face really matters, why scaling is one of the biggest challenges he's faced, why it helps to have a network outside the business to share with, Why he's chosen to build his own back-end software vs. going with Shopify, and Why it helps to have customers who evangelize your brand and so much more. Listen to Part 2 of this 2 Part episode and hear Omar Sayyed, share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at www.commercefocused.com For more on Omar Sayyed and Ties.com visit: www.ties.com

Ties.com - 3 Pillars of Entrepreneurship Mar 21, 2019

According to Omar Sayyed, CEO of Ties.com, there are 3 Pillars of Entrepreneurship: 1) be good at marketing, 2) have a differentiation, and 3) hire the right people and maybe one more, 4) love to build things. In today's episode, Omar, a one-time college dropout turned successful entrepreneur, gives us a mini MBA education on entrepreneurship covering areas such as customer segmentation, lesson's on doing an exit, why most entrepreneurs make terrible CEO's, why entrepreneurship is a narcissistic endeavor, the truth about working long hours, why most entrepreneurs don't do it for the money, the cost of taking on debt and taking orders from your new overlord, why everyone wants to be the next Gary Vaynerchuk, and why if you plan on getting married, it helps to be married to another entrepreneur. We cover so many more topics that we can list them all. Listen to Part 1 of this 2 Part episode and hear Omar Sayyed, share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at www.commercefocused.com For more on Omar Sayyed and Ties.com visit: www.ties.com

Manduka - Breaking down Manduka's Asian Pacific Market Mar 20, 2019

In this episode, June Pai, General Manager of Asia PAC for Manduka, one of the most well known, and some would say, the brand that started it all for Yoga and apparel products, breaks down Manduka's international e-commerce strategy and the Asia Pacific markets. Listen to June as she discusses global e-commerce strategy and marketplaces, how Asia distributors help spread Manduka's message, the difference in demographics in Asia for Yoga practitioners and the difference of styles. In addition, she discusses wellness trends in Asia, the future of Manduka, Yoga apparel for non-Yogis, and career advice for those just entering the job market and interested in the Wellness Industry. In Part 2 of this 2 part episode listen to June Pai give us inside story of the building of a brand Check out other episodes at www.commercefocused.com/category/the-story-behind-the-brand/ For more on Manduka visit: www.manduka.com

Manduka - Inspiring People to Become their Most Empowered Selves Mar 19, 2019

It all started with the belief that products could improve your yoga practice and that yoga, in turn, will help you become the best version of yourself. For June Pai, General Manager of Asia PAC for Manduka, yoga and that mission is what led her to work at Manduka some 10 years ago. According to June, yoga is not about being the most Zen person in the class, it's really an opportunity to make time for yourself: body, mind, and heart. In Part 1 of this 2-part episode listen to June Pai give us inside story of the building of a brand including Manduka's products, it's philosophy, it's outreach to different markets, it's business model, and the global expansion for one of the most recognizable names in yoga. Check out other episodes at www.commercefocused.com/category/the-story-behind-the-brand/ For more on Manduka visit: www.manduka.com

Lola Getts - Plus Size Apparel that Works for Her Body Mar 13, 2019

For Stacey Goldstein, CEO & Founder of Lola Getts, the opportunity in the Plus Size market is more than just having a brand with a product, it's a MOVEMENT. The team at Lola Getts truly believe that this consumer (they refer to this consumer as "Her") deserves products that work for her body. The goal is to get people to recognize, respect, and not stereotype who she is. And to that end, Lola Getts is creating a brand that this consumer can call their own. In this episode, Stacey also shares the Lola Getts design philosophy of getting "inspired by fabric". She talks about working with a "Sneaker Queen" influencer and models. She goes into detail about the challenges of growing a Plus Size Premium Athletic/Leisurewear e-commerce brands as well as the difficulty in pitching investors. For Stacey, part of Movement is getting retailers, manufacturers, and investors to understand and appreciate this market and to that end, she describes her "14 Plus Analytics" that uses real-world data to help people better understand this consumer. Listen to Part 2 of this episode and hear Stacey Goldstein, CEO & Founder of Lola Getts share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at CommerceFocused Media For more on Lola Getts visit: www.lolagetts.com Try Lola Getts with this New customer discount: Welcome30. Use this code to save 30% and if you don't like it, return it within 30 days.

Lola Getts - A Brand specifically for the Forgotten Majority Mar 12, 2019

According to stats, near 67% of women in American are a size 14 or higher. However, even with this percentage of the population, this consumer is more or less "forgotten". The truth is that for many retailers "plus-size" isn't a sexy category to carry so they either don't carry or promote it. For Stacey Goldstein, CEO & Founder of Lola Getts, this is both an opportunity and a grave disservice to correct. This is why Stacey and the passionate crusaders (staff) at Lola Getts are on a mission to give this forgotten consumer a voice. Lola Getts is a Premium Activewear or Athleisure Brand exclusively for Women who wear size 14 or larger. Their mission is to make "Her" feel comfortable and confident when she walks into a gym or spin class, or yoga class. In this way, they see themselves as confidence builders & game changers. The other side of the mission is to disrupt the "fitness" space and bring this consumer to the forefront. In today's climate of body positivity, the Lola Getts brand may just be in the Right place at the Right time. Listen to Part 1 of this episode and hear Stacey Goldstein, CEO & Founder of Lola Getts share the inside story of the building a brand. Check out other episodes at www.commercefocused.com/category/the-story-behind-the-brand/ For more on Lola Getts visit: www.lolagetts.com

Kid Dangerous - Retail is Not Dead: How to Expand Your Premium Tees Business Feb 13, 2019

How do you evolve your brand? How do you expand into other markets? Steve Nanino, CEO of Kid Dangerous and team, gives us an MBA level discussion on growing a graphic premium tees business. He shares how they evolved the business into women and kids apparel as well as evolving as business executives. He shares the good and bad of tradeshows and why they might not be worth it. He also shares invaluable experience on the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) vs. Retail debate and why some "pure" D2C brands may be missing out on support, customer feedback, and additional revenues by not doing retail. In this episode, see how Steve and his team, grew a premium graphic Tees business. How it started, how it evolved with the market, and how Kid Dangerous is giving back to the community through homelessness initiatives., You'll also hear advice for young apparel entrepreneurs and dealing with the ups and downs of running your own business. He also shares how Listen to Part 2 of this episode and hear Steven Nanino, CEO of Kid Dangerous share the inside story of the building a brand. I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com. Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Kid Dangerous - How to Build a Premium Graphic Tees & Apparel Business Feb 12, 2019

In 2006, Steve Nanino, CEO of Kid Dangerous and team, saw a need for a brand that was less about the logo and more about a message. That message was edgy, loud, and full of spirit. Perfect for individuals who wanted to stand out. Full of F-bombs, drug references, and the like their brand quickly attracted a following, first among friends and later with retailers. But on the business side, they were young and naive and didn't understand what they were getting themselves into but they moved ahead anyway. In Part 1 of our interview, see how Steve and his team, grew a premium graphic Tees business. How it started, how it evolved with the market, how they landed retailers, and how they have expanded into women and kids apparel and what comes next. You'll also hear advice for young apparel entrepreneurs and dealing with the ups and downs of running your own business. Listen to this episode and hear Steven Nanino, CEO of Kid Dangerous share the inside story of the building a brand. I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com. Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

PAIGE - Finding, Embracing Your Voice and Becoming an Entrepreneur Feb 07, 2019

As a survivor of rape, Paige sought help and was finally able to "find and embrace" her voice which led her to what we know today as Paige. As she mentions on the show, the brand is an amalgamation of her experiences; it was really about a woman who finally empowered herself. Because of this, the brand is meant to be about being "fit" because she knew all too well based on her struggles with anorexia, that she wanted people to feel good about themselves.

On this episode, Paige provides advice for survivors of sexual assault and the moments that lead to her healing. She also provides in-depth advice and discussion on the early days of Paige, her design philosophy, advice for young fashion brands, pitching to investors, naming your brand, dealing with stress, keeping a journal, brick and mortar stores vs the web, international sales, her new shoe collection and where Paige will be in the future. Listen to this inspiring episode and hear the very personal inside story of Paige Adams-Geller and the building of a brand.

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-018-paige/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

PAIGE - Fighter: Feeling Lost, Struggling with Life, Paige Sought Help & You can too Feb 06, 2019

Paige runs a highly successful fashion brand. A brand that is very much a part of who she is as a person. A brand that helps people feel comfortable in their skin. Unafraid to be who they are. However, the story about how she came from a small town in Alaska to where she is now isn't a story about going to fashion school or business school and even about becoming successful. It's a story about how she kept hidden a dark memory that nearly destroyed her, how she felt lost, struggled with life and how she sought help.

At 16, Paige Adams-Geller, the CEO & Founder of Paige, was a victim of a rape. As a child, she was curious and adventurous and overachieved in school. She loved music and became a singer, then entered modeling. It was during this time as a model that she became ill from anorexia. For many people who silently carry the physical and emotional pain of sexual assault, keeping it hidden exacerbates thing only to have the pain manifest itself later through other hardships as it did with Paige. In this episode, Paige shares her life. As she puts it, she's an open book. You'll find out, that she refuses to be defined by other people. She discusses her brand, how she creates fashion, her love of music, entrepreneurial advice, how you must find your path, how she de-stresses with meditation and mantras, and how she is truly humbled by her hard-won success. But most important she wants people to be courageous. Her most important message is that if you have suffered a sexual assault, the worst thing you can do is keep it bottled up inside, you must find someone to talk to, seek help as she did, or it will eat you alive. Listen to this inspiring episode and hear the very personal inside story of Paige Adams-Geller and the building of a brand.

The Bouqs - Why it's Easier to be an Entrepreneur in Your 20's Feb 05, 2019

When John Tabis, CEO of The Bouqs Company, shared with his mentor that he wanted to start his own company, his mentor said he was crazy. John decided to bet on himself and started the company anyway and the rest is history. When the vast amount of people see the end result of successful entrepreneurship, they think it looks easy. The truth is entrepreneurship is really hard. You have to get used to not paying yourself. You toil and struggle and live in near obscurity for many years until you hit success if that ever happens.

That's why it's important to have a larger mission or why. You have to ask yourself, what does my company represent? For John, flowers represent not just a product but all the special moments in life that elicit emotions such as a birth, promotion, anniversary, graduation, etc. In other words, "moments of pure emotion" and in the end, that's what The Bouqs represents and that's what drives John to build his brand.

Listen to this episode and hear John Tabis, CEO & Founder of The Bouqs Company shares his MBA-like entrepreneurial advice and his story of building a brand.

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-016-bouqs/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

The Bouqs - Bouqs Brings Sustainability, Fair Labor Practices to Buying Flowers Feb 04, 2019

In today's world, we have grown accustomed to asking where our food comes from and is it sustainably sourced but why not with flowers? This is something that John Tabis, CEO of The Bouqs Company is trying to change. The way John sees it, if the Bouqs model works, all ships will rise. It's the reason why Bouqs pays their farmers 25% more than competitors. They've come to realize that their customers care about the environment and the dignity of human life around the world, and so they will pay a little more for a better, fresher product if it is sustainably sourced and if the farmers follow the right labor practices.

Of course, having this model is more difficult than what is the norm in the Floral Industry, so John gives us an MBA-like discussion on starting a company, raising capital, dealing with rejection, the difficulty of living life as a founder, and making the transition from founder to CEO and more.

Listen to this episode and hear John Tabis, CEO & Founder of The Bouqs Company share the inside story of building a brand.

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-015-bouqs/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

HUM Nutrition - The Magic "Moment" in Entrepreneurship that Makes Everything Worthwhile Jan 31, 2019

Walter received a letter which relayed the story of a woman struggling with life. She had low energy, two kids, and a very demanding job. However, after finding HUM, she was able to turn things around. She started to gain more energy, which led to improved performance at work, which eventually attracted a promotion. However, the most important part of the letter was yet to come. She thanked Walter on behalf of her kids. You see, her kids had their mother back.

It was the promise of these moments and others like them that led Walter and his team to help customers achieve what they really wanted, and it wasn't the act of purchasing vitamins necessarily, it was the "act of becoming the best version of themselves".

Listen to this episode and hear Walter Faulstroh, CEO of HUM Nutrition share the inside story of the building a brand.

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-014-HUM-Nutrition/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

HUM Nutrition - How Suffering from Acne Made this Entrepreneur Reinvent the Vitamin Industry Jan 29, 2019

While building his first business, Walter Faulstroh, CEO of HUM Nutrition, met a nutritionist who changed his life and set the stage for us next business. Instead of the often prescribed drugs to combat acne, this nutritionist showed him that he could help eliminate his acne by focusing on the foods he ate and the nutrition he consumed. This would later inspire the tag line for his current business. Fast forward to the present day and Walter has created the first vitamin brand to focus on "beauty from within". However, he quickly noticed that much of the experience of buying and using vitamins was negative. So he created a company that takes the experience and the products into the 21st century. Walter and his team, set out to reinvent the vitamin industry and made sure that every touch point with the customer was re-imagined, from the availability of the HUM nutritionist to the labels to the focus on Non-GMO, sustainability, and ingredients. Listen to this episode and hear Walter Faulstroh, CEO of HUM Nutrition share the inside story of building a vitamin brand as well insights he learned building his first business. I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-013-HUM-Nutrition/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Mighty Audio - Find a Partner You Love As Much As Your Own Team Dec 21, 2018

People said he couldn't build a hardware brand without $10 million dollars. He raised only $2 million. In the beginning, he made some critical mistakes that should have been lethal. Mighty Audio overcame the challenges. Time and time again, Anthony and his team have encountered challenges and found a way to succeed.

Whether it is because of their great partners, developing a competitive advantage, or having a vision and mission that propels them forward, Anthony shares with us why Might Audio has gotten to where it is now and what is going to keep their brand successful in the future. Listen to this episode and hear Anthony Mendelson, CEO of Mighty Audio share the inside story of building a hardware brand.

NOTE TO LISTENER This episode is Part 2 or 2 of our interview with Anthony Mendelson.

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-012-mighty-audio/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Mighty Audio - Helping People Focus on the Things They Love Dec 20, 2018

It all started with fitness. Working out was Anthony Mendelson's time for himself. But like everyone else, he would bring his phone into the gym and get text messages, DMs, etc. Working out wasn't the stress reliever he had planned it to be. He started asking himself, do other people have this problem?

Eventually, he realized that there was a whole segment of people who wanted to disconnect from their phones and other digital distractions. That's when the idea of Mighty Audio came about and the tagline: Breakfree was born. Mighty Audio's mission was to give people the time to focus on themselves and the things they love, not the things that distract from that. Along, the way, we raised money, built a team, developed a strategic partnership, made mistakes and learned a whole lot along the way. Listen to this episode and hear Anthony Mendelson, CEO of Might Audio s the inside story of the building a hardware brand.

NOTE TO LISTENER

This episode is Part 1 or 2 of our interview with Anthony Mendelson.

Make sure to listen to both and read the show notes for highlights on our website. Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/episode-011-mighty-audio/

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit the Mighty Audio website: https://bemighty.com/.

Sugarfina - How Entrepreneurship Reveals the Power Within You Dec 07, 2018

Rosie had doubts. At certain times she didn’t think she could do it. But she continued to move forward, along with her Co-CEO & Founder Josh Resnick, and eventually, things started happening. “I realized that I was more powerful than I thought I was” she would later say. The challenges in entrepreneurship actually reveal who you are. It reveals your weakness and strengths. But it is in those moments that you can discover your power and reclaim it.

NOTE TO LISTENER: This episode is a unique blend of pragmatic-real-world entrepreneurial advice and philosophy about the purpose and meaning of life. This episode is Part 2.

Make sure to listen to both and read the show notes for highlights on our website. Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/episode-010-sugarfina.

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit the Sugarfina's website: https://www.sugarfina.com/.

Sugarfina - 6 Steps to Growing a Brand to $40M with Little to No Marketing Spend Dec 05, 2018

I think the story of Sugarfina is really a love story. Not just between Rosie O’Neill and Josh Resnick, Co-CEOs and Co-Founders, but between Sugarfina and it’s customers.

It started with two people who either by fate or coincidence went on a date and watched the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And the rest, as they say, is history. However, that would be premature, the story continues and you can hear it right here on the Story Behind the Brand.

NOTE TO LISTENER: This episode is a unique blend of pragmatic-real-world entrepreneurial advice and philosophy about the purpose and meaning of life and it has so much info to offer you that we had to divide it into Part 1 & Part 2.

Make sure to listen to both and read the show notes for highlights on our website. Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/episode-009-sugarfina.

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit the Sugarfina's website: https://www.sugarfina.com/.

BellaNove - Helping Women Go Confidently into Motherhood Nov 12, 2018

For Jenny Leung, Founder of BellaNove, starting an e-commerce brand wasn't about playing it safe as her immigrant parents had wanted, it was about solving a problem that affected over 50% of the population. In this episode, Jenny shares how her startup is disrupting the Maternity Apparel market; how being raised by immigrants parents has been a motivator; how gratefulness plays a part in her life philosophy, her advice to fellow entrepreneurs; and how starting a company out of grad school has been an opportunity to practice fearlessness. Visit the BellaNove website: https://www.bellanove.com/ I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/episode-008-bellanove Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Ergobaby - How Enabling Confident Parents Has Led to Brand Success Nov 02, 2018

For Brian Speckart, Director of Global E-commerce & Marketing for Ergobaby, trying to keep the Ergobaby message close to its core is a challenge. However, for this veteran digital & brand marketer, the challenge is more fun than work. In this episode, Brian shares a look inside the Ergobaby brand and discusses everything from the Ergobaby's Origin Story to how it maintains the brand message while selling through Amazona and Target to how they work with brand ambassadors & influencers and finally the "Dangers of Crotch Danglers", which is something every expectant parent must know. Visit the Ergobaby website: https://ergobaby.com/ I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at http://www.commercefocused.com/episode-007-ergobaby/ Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Tenzo Tea - How to Build a Direct-to-Consumer Brand and Fulfill Your Life's Mission Oct 25, 2018

Since they were kids, both Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page, knew they were put on this earth for a reason. Today, they are on a mission to teach the world about the effects of positive energy in business and in your personal life, one cup at a time. In this episode, Steve and Robbie, share an intimate look at their idea of success, entrepreneurship, the science of Macha Tea, the philosophy of Kaizen, and the purpose-driven brand they are building: Tenzo Tea.

Visit the Tenzo Tea website: www.tenzotea.co

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/episode-006-tenzo-tea

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Kobelli - How to Combine Honesty, Transparency, and Blockchain to Disrupt the Jewelry Industry Oct 18, 2018

Eyal Brikman was originally going to start a social startup, but one fateful conversation and 9 years later, he is helping to lead Kobelli, a company on a mission to bring honesty, transparency, and Blockchain technology to an industry slow to adapt to new technology. In this episode, Eyal gives us an intimate look at the inner workings of Kobelli, what made them successful in the past, present, and what new innovations, new products, and new brands will keep them successful in the future. He shares stories of how Kobelli migrated from brick & mortar stores to selling online, how they started the Jewelry category on OverStock.com, to innovative digital marketing & social media strategies he's used in building community and brand and much more.

Plus there is a bonus section on his personal experience of coming to America as an immigrant from Israel and his personal experience at Burning Man, which you don't want to miss!

Visit the Kobelli website: www.kobelli.com/

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/podcast

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Diff Eyewear - How to Build a Successful Brand that Changes the World Oct 09, 2018

The Co-founders of Diff Eyewear knew early on that they wanted charity to play a big part in their business, what they didn't realize is that they would end up impacting & empowering communities halfway across the world. Co-founder, Chad Dime, gives us an intimate look at how Diff Eyewear got its name, how they got started, how they grew the business, what influences (both family and business) had on their entrepreneurial vision, and ultimately on their unique blend of charity, sustainability, empowerment, and affordable designer eyewear that we now know as Diff Eyewear.

Plus there is a bonus section on what the future holds for Diff Eyewear and inspiring advice for new and existing entrepreneurs.

Visit the Diff Eyewear website: www.diffeyewear.com

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/podcast

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Pair of Thieves - How to Personalize & Humanize Your Customer's Experience Oct 01, 2018

Bert Song, Head of E-commerce for Pair of Thieves describes it as creating "little moments of connection". From their logo design to their customer support to their promotional emails to their products, personalizing and, more importantly, humanizing every interaction with the customer is part of the DNA at Pair of Thieves. Listen as Bert shares some of the inside stories of how they came up with the company name, how they broke into Target, why they created the wildly successful "Twinsies collection, how they choose their technology stack, and what the future lies for this innovative and highly personable e-commerce brand.

Links and Resources: Visit the Pair of Thieves website: pairofthieves.com

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at www.commercefocused.com/podcast.

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

VESICA - How to Make the Customer the Center of the Story Sep 24, 2018

Serial entrepreneur Alex Gobel and his team saw a gap in the Luggage Industry for affordable luggage. But instead of focusing strictly on the product, they wanted to empower people to go travel by making it fun & exciting. So he did something different, he made the customer the Hero of the story, not the luggage. In this episode, you learn the inside entrepreneurial story of how he and his team went about building a new brand that's revolutionizing the Luggage Industry. He discusses technology choices, sales, marketing, mistakes made along the way, and how to keep the focus on the customer. Links and Resources: Visit the Vesica website: www.VESICA.com I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/podcast. Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Shed Defender - The 7 Year Overnight Success and How You Can Do the Same Sep 08, 2018

Shed Defender went from 1 order a week to hundreds of orders a day. But the story didn't start there. For years, Tyson Walters had been trying to perfect an idea he had to help dog owners with shedding so they could sweep less and cuddle more with the dogs they love. In this episode, Tyson and his sister-in-law Casey Walters share invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, new companies, startups, and e-commerce brands. I'm so excited to share it with you.

Links and Resources:

Visit the Shed Defender website: ShedDefender.com

I write about all of our podcast! Check out the full post and learn what we learned at commercefocused.com/podcast.

Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The Story Behind the Brand" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

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