AF Fireside

This week, Lucas sits down with Tyler Russell - another close personal friend, friend of AF, and the maker and operator behind leather goods brand HFA Goods. As a brand builder, Tyler grabbed the COVID era by the reins and took the time to re-invent his business, resulting in a streamlined process, new mindset, and (you guessed it) a more sustainable business. As the world opens back up, we may not all be in the position to take that break now - but we can learn lessons from his (including: when do you jump from part-time hustle to full-time career?).

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@hfagoods

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

We're continuing to talk sustainability from top to bottom - this time with Nathan Downey of Wanderwide, a favorite brand that is one foot in the outdoor industry, one foot in the art world, but both feet in making the planet a better place. We touch on the responsibility outdoor brands have to help our environment, as well as tips on sustaining home life and a healthy small biz. Listen up!

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@cmbdenim

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

Back to regularly scheduled content here - Lucas sits down for a (long overdue) Fireside chat with Charles Miller, founder of Charles Miller Brand Denim. There's a lot of history here, and chances are, you've heard it before - so we're quick through the small talk and down to business breaking down our next topic of focus: sustainability. Charles takes a dive into the micro and the macro of the word, from personal limits to the environmental benefits to raw denim. It gets a little silly. (But that's one of the things we sustain.)

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@cmbdenim

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

Everyone has that one start-up-minded friend - that is, if it's not you. Let's dive into it headfirst - what are some key qualities behind an entrepreneur? It starts with the way you think, and we're piecing the thoughts of some of our favorite female founders into a 30 minute guide into that mindset. For the second half of today's episode, we call in the big guns - Lindsey Mader, our point-person for all things brands at AF, gives us her rundown on the series and some insight into her experience speaking with hundreds of individuals in the zone.

In today's episode, Lucas reviews some of the most memorable highlights and most valuable takeaways from the brands featured in our mini-series with female-founded and -operated businesses - Ellsworth & Ivey, Halfdays, Boston Harbor Distillery, Pratt Standard, and Trade Street Jam Co. Check out the recap and fresh insights, and then make sure to listen to the full interviews, too!

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

Over the course of our interviews, American manufacturing and the Made-in-America movement have been at the center of most conversations. Looking back, we'll piece together some thoughts and insights from a few friends who have American factories in their blood to get a holistic view of the landscape today.

In today's episode, Lucas reviews some of the most memorable highlights and most valuable takeaways from the brands featured in our mini-series with family businesses - Schott NYC, Rancourt & Co., Okabashi, Dehen 1920, and Stormy Kromer. Check out the recap and fresh insights, and then make sure to listen to the full interviews, too!

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

Thinking about starting a brand yourself? Are you here to get a better look through the eyes of an entrepreneur? Here's your all-in-one, 30-minute resource, straight from the mouth of five pairs of brand founders.

In today's episode, Lucas reviews some of the most memorable highlights and most valuable takeaways from the brand founders featured in our first five Fireside episodes - Opie Way, Smith's Leather Balm, Common Ground, Malin+Goetz, and Rogue Territory - all brands started and operated by founders that are partners in business and partners in life. Check out the recap and fresh insights, and then make sure to listen to the full interviews, too!

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

We're talking about the ingredients of sweet success here, people. Rounding out our mini-series on female-founded brands is Ashley Rouse, founder and CEO of Trade Street Jam Co. - a Brooklyn-based culinary brand working to change the way we look at fruit. We talk about the signs in the road that tell us to welcome the next chapter, best practices for welcoming opportunities, and (a trend around here lately) a killer summer cocktail recipe.

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@tradestjamco

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

We're continuing our series with woman-founded and operated brands with Tory Pratt from Pratt Standard - a favorite in the AF family for best-in-class cocktail syrups and ingredients. This one moves quickly through the worlds of brand identity, wholesale success strategies, and a few heart-to-heart moments. Grab a notepad, because you might walk away with a recipe or two. 

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@prattstandard

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

Grab a drink for this one. Rhonda Kallman is the "Queen of Beer" - with royal standing in the world of spirits, as well. Rhonda was there for the founding of Boston Beer Company - the makers of Sam Adams, Angry Orchard, and Truly - as well as founder of New Century Brewing and her current love, Boston Harbor Distillery.  The road is more paved than it was when she started, but there's still a long distance to go for women in the alcohol industry. In part three in our series with woman-owned and operated brands, Rhonda lays it all on the table. A great story ahead - cheers!

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@bostonharbordistil

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.

When's the last time you spoke to an Olympian? Kiley McKinnon is a retired professional skier. Mix her pro-experience with the operational expertise of Ariana Ferwerda and you have Halfdays - an outdoor apparel brand made for women, by women. We take a dive into their first year in a COVID world, challenges posed by a male-dominated industry, and the ways that flying off a ski jump and starting a business are more alike than you'd think.

Learn more about featured brands at shopaf.co, and be sure to follow us on Instagram:
@shopaf.co
@lucaszfitz
@halfdays

This episode is made possible by Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management company known for transforming spaces into innovation hubs and community centers.