Loose Threads — Inside the new consumer economy

Latest Episodes:

Back to Basics — with Brian Berger of Mack Weldon Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

On the 35th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Brian Berger, a co-founder of Mack Weldon, a company reinventing men's basics with a modern shopping experience and technical fabrics. Although there is a lot of activity in the basics space right now, most of it is incremental. Mack Weldon wanted to rebuild the entire shopping experience, as well as the materials that men rely on every day. Brian and I had a great talk about the founding story, how it’s incentivizing men to buy more from the brand, and how the brand landscape is rapidly shifting. I enjoyed talking with Brian about his time building Mack Weldon and how sometimes building things the hard way is the right way. His pragmatism about the potential of brands like Mack Weldon was also refreshing, and it seems that he’s architected the company to take advantage of that potential while also managing expectations. — Show Notes — Mack Weldon https://www.mackweldon.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Modernizing the Hidden World of Ecommerce Imaging — with James Ingram of Splashlight Aug 24, 2017

Show notes

On the 34th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with James Ingram, the CEO of Splashlight, a company at the forefront of ecommerce photography and video. Every time someone goes shopping, they’re looking at dozens of images. Some have models in them, some are just product shots, and others are from people in the wild all over social media. Someone has to produce these images, and given the increasing speed of the industry, companies need more images than ever before. That’s where Splashlight comes in, acting as a near-vertically integrated company that provides the infrastructure, resources and expertise needed to photograph at scale. This is an industry that is invisibly yet highly visible, since people see their work every day but don’t know it. I find companies like Splashlight, which are doing crucial work that most outside the industry don’t know about, incredibly interesting. This is how real businesses get built. the plan to spin out the core technology behind Splashlight, which James talked about at the end, will be fascinating to watch. — Show Notes — Splashlight http://splashlight.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Pivoting the Pro Shop — with Nik Bando of Bogeybox Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

On the 33rd episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Nik Bando, a co-founder of Bogeybox Golf Club, a company that helps golfers modernize their style. For many, golf apparel is one of the sleepiest verticals in the industry, known for the baggiest clothing and the blandest aesthetics. But there is a new crop of golfers coming up that want to maintain their style to seamlessly both on and off the green. This is where Bogeybox comes in, acting as a vertical specific version Stitch Fix. I really enjoyed talking with Nik about everything from the company’s inception up to how virtual reality might fundamentally change the sport. It’s interested to see more companies go after very specific audiences. I won’t use the word niche because tens of millions of people is not a niche, but the focus brands like that can instill is powerful. This was the first episode exploring the intersection of consumer goods and sports, but it won’t be the last. It was great to branch out and see how these seemingly separate industries are deeply connected. — Show Notes — Bogeybox https://www.bogeyboxgolfclub.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Reinventing Plus Size From The Ground Up — With Nadia Boujarwah of Dia&Co Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

On the 32nd episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Nadia Boujarwah, a co-founder of Dia&Co, a company built with an exacting focus on serving the plus size market, which remains one of the largest growth opportunities in apparel today. Nadia founded the company as plus-size shopper herself, as few players were taking the category seriously and delivering the experience that its shoppers wanted and deserved. Dia&Co has made significant progress in the last few years, rebuilding the shopping experience from the ground up, launching labels in house, and working with a new crop of influencers that are highly relevant to the market. As I’m sure you can tell, Dia & Co is a very rare company in that its authenticity is on par with the size of the market. Also, persistence matters. I’m really excited to see where this company goes as it brings a new approach to a market desperately in need of it. — Show Notes — Dia&Co http://dia.com Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Leather, Data and Grit — with Evan Fript of Paul Evans Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

On the 31st episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Evan Fript, a co-founder of Paul Evans, a brand bringing the best luxury Italian footwear for men to the states at a contemporary price point. Evan founded the company after questioning why luxury footwear was so expensive. This sent him down a rabbit hole as he tried to reverse engineer high quality footwear at a more affordable price. Evan and I had a good talk about the journey of building the brand, the early results from the brand’s first retail store, and where Paul Evans fits into a booming market of direct to consumer brands. I really enjoyed talking with Evan about his time building the brand and all of the ups and downs it took to get it to this point. The discussion about working capital is especially pertinent, as it’s one of the biggest struggles for physical goods brands today, which leads brands to use mechanisms such as pre orders to fuel growth. Even so, it seems that Evan continues to navigate the waters with a solid dose of pragmatism. — Show Notes — Paul Evans https://www.paulevansny.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Renting Out Your Underutilized Clothing — with Lona Alia of Style Lend Jul 27, 2017

Show notes

On the 30th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Lona Alia, the founder of Style Lend, a company pioneering peer to peer fashion rentals. Many people know of Rent The Runway, the industry’s biggest rental company, which allows shoppers to rent clothing instead of buying it. Style Lend is a more decentralized version, where the company holds no inventory and takes advantage of the clothing people have in their closets. Think of it as Airbnb for clothing. On a macro level, the internet is starting to move towards more decentralization and renting, and Style Lend fits right into this evolution. I really enjoyed talking with Lona about her journey and how Style Lend is building out its platform to support its mission. The idea of cost per wear is alluring and it will have important effects for the industry, especially around sustainability. I’m excited to watch the company grow. — Show Notes — Style Lend https://www.stylelend.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Making Dumb Clothing Smart — with Janett Martinez of Loomia Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

On the 29th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Jannett Martinez, the CEO of Loomia, a company building the components and experience to make our clothing smart. Most clothing today is dumb, meaning it’s nothing more than fabric on our bodies. But Loomia is inventing a litany of technologies, conductive inks, and sensors that bring heating, lighting and touch to everyday apparel. There’s a lot of noise in the wearable space right now, but Loomia is building foundational technology that could usher in a new era for clothing that does more than nothing. I really enjoyed talking with Janett about Loomia’s journey and how the company is balancing innovation and ease of installation to bring a product to market that actually makes a difference. Most fashion/tech falls shorts here, and it’s great to see Loomia’s pragmatism, especially around what are the best applications for its technology. — Show Notes — Loomia http://Loomia.co Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

An Umbrella Obsession — with Dave Kahng of Davek Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

On the 28th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Dave Kahng, the founder of Davek, a luxury utility brand focused on making the best umbrellas in the world. Dave had been mesmerized by the mechanics of umbrellas almost a decade before starting Davek, as he designed, built and rebuilt them in every conceivable way. Dave and I had a great talk about the founding story behind Davek, the emergence of luxury utility companies across the consumer goods space, and how Dave pivoted from a business driven by wholesale to driven by ecommerce. I really enjoyed talking with Dave about his journey as an umbrella maker and how he has evolved his business as the fundamental dynamics of the marketplace continue to shift. It’s always fun to talk to people who are obsessed with that they do and Dave definitely fits that description. — Show Notes — Davek https://davekny.com/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Challenging Unrealistic Standards of Beauty — with Carrie Hammer Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

On the 27th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce, I talk with Carrie Hammer, the founder of her namesake brand and the movement Role Models Not Runway Models. Carrie has been working to create clothes for women in the workplace, while changing the expectations and dynamics of fashion runway shows and women’s beauty more broadly. Carrie and I had a great talk about the founding story behind both her brand and runway movement, how she’s challenging the embedded biases of the fashion and beauty industry, and how her movement has grown globally. It’s a bold task but given the tools available today, one person has never had a better chance at making a massive, global impact. — Show Notes — Carrie Hammer http://rolemodelsnotrunwaymodels.com Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of consumer, retail and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, the founder of Loose Threads, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest about their founding story and how it fits into the current state of the industry. Guests come from all different backgrounds, spanning the consumer goods, fashion, retail and technology industries. The unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on LooseThreads.com.

Rethinking the Purpose of a Store — with Alana Branston of Bulletin Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

On the 26th episode of the Loose Threads Podcast, a show about the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, I talk with Alana Branston, a co-founder of Bulletin, a company known as the WeWork for retail that gives brands flexible options for showcasing their products. As legacy retail continues to struggle in the U.S., Bulletin is taking this space and repurposing it. Alana and her team believe that retail is far from dead, but it's fundamentally changing, and everyone from brand to landlords to technology companies need to rethink the experience from the ground up. Alana and I had a great talk about the non linear founding story behind Bulletin, the benefits of going through two different Y Combinator programs, how retail is turning into a marketing, not just a sales game, and where the company is headed after raising its first big round of funding. There are endless opportunities in the offline world for brands of all sizes. People often forget that retail sales still make up over 90% of all commerce sales, so there is plenty to work with and improve on in this space. Bulletin is still young but they will be fun to watch. — Show Notes — Bulletin https://bulletin.co/ Edited by George Drake Jr. — About Loose Threads — http://LooseThreads.com Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buLQY9 Twitter: http://twitter.com/loosethreadscom The Loose Threads Podcast explores the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce. Hosted by Richie Siegel, an entrepreneur and writer, each episode features an in-depth conversation with one guest that spans a range of topics. The guests range from being fashion-focused to technology-focused to somewhere in between, but the unifying thread is always the rapid change facing the industry and how entrepreneurs are responding. You can listen to the podcast on any player of your choice, in addition to on http://LooseThreads.com

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