What happens when you leave a stable corporate job with nothing but an idea you believe in?
In this episode of NWA Founders, we sit down with Bethany Taylor, the powerhouse founder behind Gratsy: a curated sampling and brand experience company that delivers personalized gift boxes directly into consumers’ hands. Bethany’s story is one of grit, vision, and unwavering belief. After years in retail marketing at Sam’s Club, she saw a gap in how brands connect with people. So she built Gratsy: a smarter, warmer alternative to mass sampling, powered by data and personal touch.

Summary

Bethany left a comfortable role with no backup plan but a burning desire to build something better. She shares how early motherhood and brand experience gaps gave her the idea for Gratsy, and how she turned that idea into a business through faith, hustle, and firsthand customer empathy.

Gratsy isn't just about free samples, it's about delight at the right time. Bethany explains how the brand crafts deeply personal experiences through a blend of targeting, timing, and storytelling helping brands reach consumers in their most meaningful life stages, from pregnancy to major transitions.

Without outside investors, Bethany had to scale Gratsy through resourcefulness. She breaks down how they built operational infrastructure, managed explosive growth, and built trust with global CPG clients—all while staying true to a people-first culture rooted in gratitude and purpose.

Highlights

00:15 – Leaving corporate to start Gratsy

15:00 – Building a home-based startup

30:00 – How Gratsy works

45:00 – Operational challenges and keeping clients happy

1:00:00 – Leadership lessons and staying grounded

1:15:00 – Bethany’s vision for what’s next...

Nick's 3 Key Takeaways

1. You don’t need a safety net to start - Bethany built Gratsy from nothing not because she had all the answers, but because she trusted the problem and stayed committed.
2. Delight is a business model - Gratsy’s success shows that when you prioritize real human experience, everything else: clients, growth, and momentum follows.
3. Purpose keeps you grounded - Through every pivot and challenge, Bethany returned to her “why”: to serve people with intention and gratitude, not just scale.

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NWA Founders is a voice for Founders, Owners, and Builders driving growth in Northwest Arkansas, and is hosted by Cameron Clark and Nick Beyer.