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  • Brian Berger, founder of Mack Weldon, traces his journey from internet media companies to launching a successful direct-to-consumer men’s wear brand. He recounts his early experiences with the internet, motivations behind Mack Weldon, and the challenges in establishing a brand in the basics category. Brian emphasizes the pivotal role of innovation, product quality, and customer connections to grow a brand. Furthermore, he explores the strategic significance of omni-channel distribution, the art of naming a business, and the evolving consumer market. Finally, he shares advice on leadership, longevity, and his vision for Mack Weldon's future.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Mack Weldon website https://mackweldon.com/

    Mack Weldon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mackweldon/

    Mack Weldon LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mack-weldon/

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    Show Notes:

    01:34 Brian's Early Career and Internet Exposure

    03:17 The Genesis of Mack Weldon

    05:08 Launching Mack Weldon: Strategy and Challenges

    08:52 Product Development and Innovation

    12:07 Naming the Brand: The Story Behind Mack Weldon

    16:49 Marketing and Distribution Strategies

    22:07 Reflections and Lessons Learned

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

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    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Bradley Gifford, the founder of Spoonful, discusses his career trajectory—from early roles in PR and communications to founding Spoonful, a health food business specializing in high-quality overnight oats. He shares how health challenges motivated him to address industry pain points, transition into the health and wellness sector, and navigate business growth through food services and local New York partnerships. Ultimately, Bradley gives insights into scaling, community building, and the evolving food industry.

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    Spoonful website https://www.spoonful.life/

    Spoonful Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/grabspoonful/

    Spoonful Instagram https://www.instagram.com/grabspoonful

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    Show Notes:

    02:03 Personal Health Journey

    03:44 Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

    04:53 Founding Spoonful

    06:22 Product Differentiation and Challenges

    08:16 Marketing and Distribution Strategy

    24:03 Scaling and Logistics

    28:32 Future Plans and Vision

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    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
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  • Kathleen Chan, founder of Calico, shares her background, starting in tech at Microsoft, before creating and scaling two different brands. She emphasizes that efficient product sourcing and maintaining quality is crucial for scaling businesses. Calico serves as a sourcing and production co-pilot for brands, specializing in apparel, footwear and accessories. Calico offers a vetted roster of ethical and innovative factories and provides comprehensive tools to streamline the entire production process from design to payments.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Calico website https://www.joincalico.com/

    Calico LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/calicoai/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    01:16 Revolutionizing Product Sourcing

    05:29 Navigating the Complex World of Manufacturing and Sourcing

    10:05 Global Sourcing vs. Local Manufacturing

    13:35 Ensuring Quality and Ethical Practices in Manufacturing

    19:57 Navigating Supplier Relationships and Inventory Risks

    23:57 The Importance of Trust and Quality in Supplier Partnerships

    26:32 The Role of Product Knowledge and Industry Experience

    29:04 Leveraging Community and Industry Connections

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  • Alexandre Renaud, co-founder of nolk, introduces his latest venture dedicated to acquiring and nurturing e-commerce brands with a strong sustainability ethos. Previously, Alex was the co-founder of PremiumBeat, a music licensing service that successfully sold to Shutterstock. Alex gives his insights on the challenges and opportunities in the consumer brand landscape, including technological shifts, and the strategic focus on building a portfolio of brands promoting responsible consumer habits and environmental responsibility.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    nolk website https://www.nolk.com/

    nolk LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/nolkco/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    01:21 The Story of PremiumBeat

    05:21 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship

    10:52 Learning from Early Mistakes

    14:32 The Vision for Nolk

    25:20 The Power of Portfolio Strategy in Brand Performance

    28:46 Influence of Private Equity and Brand Builders

    30:40 The Importance of Brand Purpose and Mission

    35:57 Challenges and Opportunities for Direct-to-Consumer Brands

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    PremiumBeat

    https://www.premiumbeat.com/

    Shutterstock

    https://www.shutterstock.com/

    RareCircles

    https://www.rarecircles.com/

    GymShark

    https://gymshark.com/

    Theios

    https://www.thrasio.com/

    Heydays

    https://www.heyday.co/

    Open Store

    https://open.store/

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  • Sophie Boulanger, co-founder of BonLook, dives into how the company shook up Canada's eyewear scene. Sophie talks about her entrepreneurial path, inspired by her family and shaped by her experiences at L’Oreal Canada and Luxottica. They delve into BonLook’s inception and strategic decisions, including cutting out middlemen, expanding store presence, and picking prime locations, along with insights on hiring for retail. Finally, Sophie discusses why she sold BonLook, her future aspirations, and her intention to remain active in tech and entrepreneurship.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    BonLook website https://www.bonlook.ca/

    BonLook Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bonlook/

    Sophie Boulanger https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-boulanger-19b2b71/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    02:44 From corporate to eyewear entrepreneur

    04:57 Disrupting the eyewear industry

    10:51 Challenges and innovations in online retail

    13:09 The strategic shift to brick-and-mortar stores

    21:19 Building a successful retail team

    25:43 The financial anatomy of a retail store

    29:05 Optimizing sales per square footage

    30:22 Navigating challenges of underperforming stores

    32:06 The importance of real estate and lease negotiations

    35:10 Reflecting on a successful exit strategy

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    L'Oreal https://www.loreal.com/

    Luxottica https://www.essilorluxottica.com/

    Oakley https://www.oakley.com/

    Ray Ban https://www.ray-ban.com/

    Vogue Eyewear https://www.vogue-eyewear.com/

    LensCrafters https://www.lenscrafters.ca/

    SunglassesHut https://www.sunglasshut.com/

    Warby Parker https://warbyparker.com/

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  • Fabio Zeppilli, co-founder of Bad Monkey Popcorn, discusses his inspiring shift from academia and legal briefs to creating a buzz in the snack market. He reveals the recipe to the launch of Bad Monkey Popcorn: a blend of passion and innovative marketing tactics. This discussion further delves into Fabio’s initial challenges, significant milestones, and insights on the critical role of cultivating a strong brand and community support. Throughout, Fabio emphasizes the importance of happiness, wellbeing, teamwork, and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    00:10 The Unconventional Journey from Law to Popcorn03:20 The Birth of Bad Monkey Popcorn10:04 Achieving Milestones and Embracing the Journey12:16 Retail Success and Marketing Strategies16:06 The Art of Retail Relationships17:06 Leveraging Consumer Demand to Influence Retailers17:34 Building a Passionate Fan Base21:14 Innovating in a Saturated Market: The Popcorn Revolution23:41 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Health, Team Building, and Growth

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Bad Monkey Popcorn

    https://badmonkeypopcorn.com/

    Dragons Den

    Walmart

    https://www.walmart.com/

    Starbucks

    https://www.starbucks.com/

    Red Bull

    https://www.redbull.com/

    Disney

    https://www.disney.com/

    Cirque du Soleil

    https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

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  • Camille Benmergui, Director of Marketplace at Reitman’s Canada Limited, unravels the dynamic world of e-commerce marketplaces. Drawing from her journey leading both fashion brands and third-party marketplaces, Camille offers rich insights on third-party marketplaces, their business models, and advantages they bring to brands. This conversation expands on the concept of online marketplaces, uncovering strategies for success and exploring the potential of niche marketplaces, alongside industry giants.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Reitman's Canada Limited

    https://www.reitmans.com/en/marketplace

    Altitude Sports

    https://www.altitude-sports.com/

    Amazon

    https://www.amazon.com/Marketplace/s?k=Marketplace

    Walmart

    https://marketplace.walmart.com/

    Best Buy

    https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/about/what-is-marketplace/blt0abb2e20522802f2

    The Bay

    https://www.thebay.com/content/marketplace

    Farfetch

    https://www.farfetch.com/

    Etsy

    https://www.etsy.com/

    eBay

    https://www.ebay.com/

    Wayfair

    https://sell.wayfair.com/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    01:14 Understanding Third-Party Marketplaces04:04 Different Types of Online Marketplaces and Their Dynamics05:59 The Benefits of Selling on Marketplaces08:44 Setting Up for Success in Marketplaces19:09 Key Success Factors for Brands in Marketplaces23:35 Choosing the Right Marketplace for Your Brand26:13 Predictions for the Future of Marketplaces

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

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  • Jamie Schmidt, the founder of Schmidt's Naturals, shares her entrepreneurial journey from her upbringing to building one of the major players in the natural deodorant industry. She discusses her initial inspiration to create personal care products and shares her experience with selling the company to Unilever. She also provides insights into the nuances of customer retention, the trend of community building and engagement, and the growing opportunity in the Web3 space. The conversation closes with Jamie sharing her thoughts on consumer brands and her passion for the fast-growing sport of pickleball.

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    Links Discussed

    Schmidt's Naturals - https://schmidts.com/

    Unilever - https://www.unilever.com/

    BFF - https://www.mybff.com/

    Athletic Greens - https://drinkag1.com/

    Procter and Gamble - https://us.pg.com/

    Club CPG - https://www.clubcpg.com/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    00:18 Jamie's Early Life and Entrepreneurial Journey02:48 Taking the Leap: From Farmer's Market to Business11:42 The Decision to Sell and Post-Acquisition Reflections15:26 Life After Acquisition: New Ventures and Projects19:55 The Art of Pattern Matching in Investments21:36 The Challenges of Raising Funds for Consumer Brands28:07 The Power of Community Engagement in Branding32:43 The Lessons Learned from Building a Successful Brand36:07 The Future of Crypto in Consumer Brands

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  • Launch Pop co-founder Eva Chan shares her journey in the consumer world over the last 10 years, starting with her experience as a designer at Luxe Box, to co-founding a digital media platform and eventually creating Launch Pop. She emphasizes the crucial role of community building, storytelling, customer engagement, and data in shaping a brand's launch strategy. She also shares her predictions on the future of the consumer space and discusses the unique business model of Launch Pop.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Launchpop

    https://www.launchpop.com/

    Luxe Box

    https://myluxebox.ca/

    Exact Media

    https://exactconnections.com/

    Indiegogo

    https://www.indiegogo.com/

    Shopify

    https://www.shopify.com/ca

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    00:28 Early Life and Entrepreneurial Journey04:17 Challenges and Triumphs in Business06:41 The Birth of the Unscented Company09:03 Overcoming Market Challenges11:43 The Importance of Unscented Products14:04 The Journey to Wholesale and B2B20:40 An Early Turning Point: Recognition from Goop22:40 Bootstrapping the Business27:02 The Importance of B Corp29:46 The Challenge of Differentiation in a Growing Market31:18 Building a Strong Company Culture

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

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    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • In this detailed interview, the founder of The Unscented Company, Anie Rouleau, shares her entrepreneurial journey. She shares her early experiences in her family's business, her travels around the world that inspired the concept of her company, the challenges she faced, and the wins she achieved. Anie discusses the environmental mission that is central to her brand’s DNS and her goal of making the Unscented Company a leading home and body care brand. She also reflects on the culture she is building within her company and the importance of aligning business goals with personal values.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Unscented Company

    https://unscentedco.com/

    Whole Foods

    https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

    Goop

    https://goop.com/

    Urban Outfitters

    https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-ca/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    00:28 Early Life and Entrepreneurial Journey04:17 Challenges and Triumphs in Business06:41 The Birth of the Unscented Company09:03 Overcoming Market Challenges11:43 The Importance of Unscented Products14:04 The Journey to Wholesale and B2B20:40 An Early Turning Point: Recognition from Goop22:40 Bootstrapping the Business27:02 The Importance of B Corp29:46 The Challenge of Differentiation in a Growing Market31:18 Building a Strong Company Culture

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

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  • In this episode of The Pop Up Report, guest Mikey Scott, a seasoned marketing leader for iconic brands like Herschel Supply and Kipling at VF Corp, discusses the importance of shaping your customer journey and creating an authentic brand narrative. Mikey reflects on his career trajectory from his roots in action sports to navigating the fashion and lifestyle sectors. The conversation highlights strategies for successful marketing, including the balance between production and distribution, the role of influencers and community engagement, and the significance of storytelling.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Herschel Supply

    https://herschel.ca/

    VF Brands

    https://www.vfc.com/brands

    Norda

    https://nordarun.com/

    HOKA

    https://www.hoka.com/

    Salomon

    https://www.salomon.com/

    Ralph Lauren

    https://www.ralphlauren.ca/

    Aime Leon Dore

    https://www.aimeleondore.com/

    Stüssy

    https://www.stussy.com/

    Palace

    https://www.palaceskateboards.com/

    Rapha Cycling

    https://www.rapha.cc/

    SSENSE

    https://www.ssense.com/

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    00:41 Mikey Scott's Journey in Brand Marketing02:28 The State of Marketing04:18 The Evolution of Content in Marketing05:54 Building a Narrative Around your Brand08:12 The Balance Between Production and Distribution24:28 The Art of Storytelling in Large Scale Brands30:22 Final Thoughts and Advice for Marketers

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Jaime Schmidt (Schmidt’s Naturals), Griffin Spolansky (Mezcla) and many more.

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    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song is joined by e-commerce agency founder Phil Tabah of Field Office to discuss all things Shopify. Hear from Phil’s experience building and scaling more than 40 Shopify stores for world class brands like Atari and Togethxr. Learn more about the Shopify ecosystem, the role of creative partners and different metrics to consider when setting up your store. This episode also delves into content marketing.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links DiscussedField Office

    Shopify

    Pangaia

    Outdoor Voices

    Patagonia

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    05:14 Start with the brand

    09:40 Custom themes vs prebuilt themes

    13:09 Understanding Shopify Plus

    18:00 Avoid these Shopify mistakes

    20:00 The importance of product pages

    22:22 Key Shopify metrics

    28:00 The costs of running a Shopify store

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

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    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song is joined by serial entrepreneur Mike Gettis of Kilne and Endy Mattress to discuss the importance of profitability in a crowded market. Mike shares insights from his journey building and selling Endy Mattress amidst the backdrop of competition from larger players with venture backing. Learn how to stand out from the pack through an unrelenting focus on profitability and product market fit. This episode also delves into digital marketing and mergers and acquisitions.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links DiscussedEndy

    Clayton Christensen (The Innovator's Dilemma)

    Peter Thiel (Zero to One)

    Kilne

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    03:45 The rise of multichannel

    06:30 Disruption through pricing

    13:00 Profitable customer acquisition

    17:30 How to bootstrap

    21:50 How to sell a business

    26:55 Winning in a competitive market

    33:30 Shifting marketing economics

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

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    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song is joined by Caitlin Barrett (Wild Geese Studios) and Julie MacDonell (Haloo) to discuss the importance of brand names and the role of trademark protection. Caitlin and Julie share insights gleaned from decades in brand naming and trademark law respectively. Learn how to identify the perfect name and the risks and rewards of proper trademark protection. This episode also delves into machine learning and generative AI as creative tools.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

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    Links Discussed:Haloo

    Wild Geese Studios

    Naming for Everyone

    Amazon IP Accelerator

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    04:55 What makes a good brand name

    07:46 The role of trademarks

    10:44 The naming process

    15:00 New products and trademark extensions

    18:30 Responding to a cease and desist

    21:30 What URL should brands use

    26:00 Protecting your brand globally

    31:30 The impact of AI on branding

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    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Jaime Schmidt (Schmidt’s Naturals), Griffin Spolansky (Mezcla) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    How Slowtide Turned Towels Cool and Built a Multi-Million Dollar Business in the Process

    How Deux Harnessed TikTok to Challenge Incumbents like Pillsbury, Nestle and Hostess

    How to Launch Your Own Beauty Brand with Blanka

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and Manica Blain of Top Knot Ventures discuss the fundraising process and the investor founder relationship. Manica shares lessons learned advising entrepreneurs over the past two decades in investment banking, private equity and venture capital.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    07:23 Top reasons to raise money

    11:05 Sources of capital

    13:25 The fundraising process

    17:02 Valuing your business

    22:55 Founder traits investors look for

    27:02 Investor traits founders should look for

    35:56 Debt financing

    40:36 Bootstrapping

    42:46 Post-fundraising

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Jaime Schmidt (Schmidt’s Naturals), Griffin Spolansky (Mezcla) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    How Personalization Helped Indochino Grow to $1B+ in Cumulative Revenue

    Acquiring and Growing Multi-Million Dollar Consumer Brands

    Why You Shouldn’t Take VC Money, Even When You Can

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and Elliot Begoun of TIG Brands discuss the role of community in brand building. Elliot shares his experience establishing a community of entrepreneurs through the TIG Brands ecosystem. Learn how community can be leveraged as a competitive advantage – from tighter feedback loops with customers to lower acquisition costs through word of mouth marketing. This episode also delves into retail marketing and fundraising.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    TIG Brands

    Stanford D-School

    Women on Boards Project

    Jedi Collaborative

    Jono Bacon

    Hirschberg Institute

    Regenerative Business

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    01:45 The problem with CPG incubators

    5:17 The importance of advisors and diversity

    7:41 Why the tech VC model doesn’t work for CPG

    10:33 The most important rule in running a business

    12:03 The role of community in brand building

    13:15 The three types of communities

    16:43 No, there is no one playbook to success

    20:00 The role of passion and value

    21:51 How to identify the right strategy for you

    27:00 Why product feedback matters

    30:53 Founder friendly fundraising models

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Margaret Coons (Nuts for Cheese), Sabeena Ladha (Deux), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co.).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Fred Campbell (Hooké), Tim and Nick West (Bandit Running), Randy Hetrick (TRX) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    RIND Snacks Journey to 12,000 Doors in Less than 5 Years

    How Deux Harnessed TikTok to Challenge Incumbents like Pillsbury, Nestle and Hostess

    Scaling Blume to $10m through Omnichannel and Community Building

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and Margaret Coons of Nuts for Cheese discuss building a brand as a first time founder. Margaret shares her experience bootstrapping Nuts for Cheese from a local farmers market vendor to a disruptive CPG brand available in thousands of stores across North America. This episode also delves into manufacturing and wholesale distribution.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Veg Fest

    Burt’s Bees

    Farm Boy

    Spins Data

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    07:42 Getting started with distribution

    10:35 Tackling vertical integration

    12:00 When to raise capital

    13:00 Bootstrap with grants

    15:25 In house manufacturing

    18:25 Building brand awareness

    23:00 Competing with incumbents

    25:37 Building a great team

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Alan Wood (Rally Beer Company).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Fred Campbell (Hooké), Nick West (Bandit Running), Randy Hetrick (TRX) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    How Active Brands Like Lululemon, On Running and AG1 10X Outperform the Market

    How Personalization Helped Indochino Grow to $1B+ in Cumulative Revenue

    Burrow: Customer Obsession as a Competitive Advantage

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and Dario Phillips of Slowtide discuss building a brand through collaborations. Dario shares how his experience in action sports marketing helped propel his niche towel brand into a category leader. Gain insights from Dario as he shares the opportunities and challenges of marketing a niche business. This episode also delves into wholesale distribution and retail marketing.

    Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed

    Quicksilver

    Huf

    Stance

    Herschel

    Takashi Murakami

    Stussy Collab

    New Balance Collab

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    2:15 Intro to the action sports industry

    6:35 Product seeding in action sports

    12:00 Leveraging experience

    15:00 Marketing collaborations

    19:00 Pitching collaborations

    23:30 Working with wholesalers

    25:45 Playing with the big retailers

    28:10 Balancing DTC and wholesale

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Alan Wood (Rally Beer Company).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Fred Campbell (Hooké), Nick West (Bandit Running), Randy Hetrick (TRX) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    How Active Brands Like Lululemon, On Running and AG1 10X Outperform the Market

    How Personalization Helped Indochino Grow to $1B+ in Cumulative Revenue

    Burrow: Customer Obsession as a Competitive Advantage

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and Scent Lab founder Ariana Silvestro discuss the importance of product seeding in brand marketing. Ariana shares her journey from retail beauty to health tech startups that eventually led her to found a personalized wellness brand. Discover how Ariana leverages seeding to drive organic growth and personalization to drive retention. This episode also delves into healthcare and retail marketing.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed:

    CityMD

    Scent Labs

    Best of Beauty 2023: Fragrance

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    04:21 Full Commitment to Scent Lab

    08:42 Commitment, hustle and growth

    14:12 The role of personalization in beauty

    17:25 Innovative In-Store Experiences

    19:54 Product seeding, press and earned media

    23:37 Driving retention through personalization

    27:01 Building a team

    30:35 Rapid fire questions

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Jake Karls (Mid-Day Squares), Karen Danudjaja (Blume) and Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co.).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Dario Phillips (SlowTide), Fred Campbell (Hooké) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:

    How Deux Harnessed TikTok to Challenge Incumbents like Pillsbury, Nestle and Hostess

    How Marlow Tapped TikTok to Acquire Its First Customers

    How to Launch Your Own Beauty Brand with Blanka

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com
  • Ethan Song and RIND Snacks Founder Matt Weiss discuss the importance of passion and authenticity in brand marketing. Matt shares the driving forces behind the inception of RIND like combating food waste, promoting healthy snacking, and his own family legacy. Discover how Matt harnesses these values to craft a brand narrative that has RIND scale from a regional to national brand available in over 12,000 doors across the United States. This episode also delves into social media marketing and work life balance.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Links Discussed:

    RIND Snacks

    Naturally New York

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Show Notes:

    4:45 From spectator to participant

    9:30 The importance of experience

    15:20 Persimmon chips and food waste

    20:00 Paying it forward

    30:00 Retail metrics and performance

    36:00 Naturally new york and community involvement

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Past guests on the Pop Up Report include Jake Karls (Mid-Day Squares), Karen Danudjaja (Blume) and Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co.).

    Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Dario Phillips (SlowTide), Ariana Silverstro (Scent Lab) and many more.

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Additional Episodes you Might Enjoy:

    How Deux Harnessed TikTok to Challenge Incumbents like Pillsbury, Nestle and Hostess

    Scaling Blume to $10m through Omnichannel and Community Building

    Turning Mid-Day Squares Customers into a Community of 450K+ Die-Hard Fans

    - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Pop Up Report interviews DTC and CPG founders to uncover how they fostered and scaled their communities to create profitable businesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the tools, tactics and retention strategies that build true customer loyalty.

    Subscribe to the Pop Up Report on Substack or YouTube for more.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit popupreport.substack.com