Ask Brien Show

Building a side hustle while working a full time job can be difficult, but this week's guest was able to turn that side hustle into her now full time job after years of work. Jenn Trepeck joins us this week to talk about her transition from working in hedge funds into creating her business, Better Life Now LLC, and her podcast, Salad With a Side of Fries. Jenn talks about how she utilizes her podcast, Salad With a Side of Fries, to help promote her health coaching business and how she helps her clients live happy, healthy lives. Jenn teaches her listeners how to make healthful decisions in their everyday lives (yes, even when we eat out). Jenn and Traci talk a little about their new business which they are co-founders of, and why Jenn decided to take that leap. Tune in to learn more from today’s expert. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [6:43] Jenn shares her background prior to starting Better Life Now LLC.
• [8:23] How did Jenn transition from working in hedge funds to health coaching? 
• [10:39] How did Jenn turn her side hustle into a full time job?
• [12:38] Where did the catchy name, Salad With a Side of Fries, come from?
• [14:06] Jenn shares how the podcast is structured, including expert guests.  
• [15:07] How do you monetize a podcast?
• [16:43] How many employees work at Salad With a Side of Fries?
• [17:25] Is Jenn certified with a nutrition certification or how does she provide the information she shares?
• [19:30] How can you make restaurants and take out fit into your health goals?
• [22:30] How do you understand what’s in the food when you choose to eat out? 
• [26:20] Why did Jenn decide to be a co-founder of an industry trade organization?
• [29:43] What should you think about when getting into a business partnership?
• [32:03] How can people get in contact with Jenn?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Protein and fiber at every meal makes removing fat no big deal. It is 100% possible to get these things into a meal even when you are eating out. 
• Jenn offers an affordable and info-packed membership that includes a weekly recipe, a monthly curated article or study to dive into topics not covered in-depth on the show, discounts from Jenn and her partners, and a one on one quarterly live session to help keep you on track and meet your health goals while enjoying your life. That’s a steal! 
• Getting into a business partnership is not something that you want to jump right into. You want to feel like you have a good relationship with the person that you’re going to be working, ensure that they have the same mission, values, and work ethic as you.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Salad With a Side of Fries Website

Salad With a Side of Fries Podcast

Better Life Now Website

Ask Brien Radio Show

Podcast Professionals Association

BIO

“My passion for nutrition and helping others stems from “kicking my food issues” with my own weight management saga.

I believe that the greatest accountability is paying it forward! That’s why I teach the nutrition education we are all supposed to know but no one ever taught us, along with the science behind food, fitness, and health.

After I graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, I founded Better Life Now LLC while working full-time in hedge funds. In 2019 I took my practice from side-hustle to full-time self-employment and launched my podcast, Salad With a Side of Fries. On the show, we offer science-based tips and tricks for how to achieve wellness and weight loss for real life - because who wants a life without fries or dessert?!

Due to my decade-long experience of working with clients, I have gained insight into the health and food industry and the how-tos of building a business. On the subject of business, I can help you by teaching critical pieces every entrepreneur should know, how to make your side-hustle into your full-time job, ways to sustainably achieve success without burning out, contemporary networking, and how to prioritize wellness while pursuing your projects.

Inspired by his three years teaching at a junior boarding school in the Adirondacks, Chuck Schwerin wrote a fiction book about a 15 year old ninth grader and a 63 year old headmaster who are haunted by events that they’ve caused and for which they struggle to address. Chuck joins Peter and Traci to talk about his writing process and why he chose to write a book. He walks through the pros and cons of self publishing vs. using a traditional publisher. Chuck shares how he went about finding an agent to help get his book published and promoted as well as the biggest challenges he faced throughout the whole process. Tune in to learn more about publishing options and to hear a bit more about his new book, Ghosts of Glencoe.  

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [6:18] Chuck introduces himself and shares his background.
• [9:01] What made Chuck decide to write a book?
• [11:17] Is the book fiction or nonfiction?
• [14:12] How did Chuck find an agent for publishing his book?
• [17:41] What were the pros and cons of self publishing vs. using a publisher?
• [19:48] Did Chuck already have a social media following to promote his book?
• [21:21] What has been the most difficult part of this process?
• [22:48] What is Chuck’s workflow when writing?
• [28:34] What was the biggest challenge in the book process?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Publishing through a publisher gets you a real advantage because you have more access to bookstores. You also get editorial support which can include designing the cover art, layout, font, the type of paper, how it gets put together, etc. 
• It’s important to be concise and edit yourself, but you can become immobilized if you can’t let it go and move on. Hiring an editor can help move the process forward. 
• You may need to get out of your own way and push yourself to get uncomfortable in order to promote your book. It is essential to promote your work because your readers are out there! 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Email: [email protected] 

Ghosts of Glencoe Novel

Rowman & Littlefield

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

As a committed environmentalist, Chuck’s volunteer work reflects those passions. Through his editorship, he transformed Adirondack PEEKS magazine for the Adirondack 46ers and produced a quarterly online newsletter for the Edward L. Rose Land Conservancy. He is also on the Advisory Board of the World Trails Network-Hub for the Americas that supports field schools and an expedition program which promote trail conservation, sustainability, and stewardship.

Are you looking into retirement plans for your employees and are not sure where to start? There are many different types of retirement plans available, so we brought on Courtenay Shipley from Retirement Planology to help understand the different types of plans and when businesses should start implementing them for their employees. Courtenay breaks down the top 4 retirement plans and who each plan is made for. She also discusses when businesses should consider putting plans in place. Towards the end of the episode, Courtenay discusses who Retirement Planology’s ideal client is and how they market their business. Tune in to learn more! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [7:06] What is Courtenay’s background?
• [8:35] How Retirement Planology works with businesses. 
• [11:58] What are the top 4 retirement plans that Retirement Planology works with? 
• [13:04] What is a Simple IRA and SEP IRA?
• [18:23] How does it work if the profit sharing plan is higher than the maximum amount? 
• [20:14] What do businesses need to be thinking about when putting retirement plans in place?
• [22:17] When should a business start to plan for retirement benefits?
• [24:09] Who is Retirement Planology’s ideal client?
• [25:21] How do they market for lead generation to reach their target market?
• [29:21] How does Retirement Planology’s business model work?
• [31:42] What was one of the biggest challenges Courtenay has had to deal with?
• [33:30] How did they get new clients during COVID?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [11:21] A simple IRA is a good option for smaller employers as they have less fiduciary liability than the 401K.
• [20:14] Before setting up a retirement plan, businesses should get clear on why they are putting the plan in place to begin with. 
• [27:28] When promoting your business, choosing to be a guest on podcasts and doing radio shows is a really efficient and successful marketing tool because people are able to hear your story and your expertise to learn they can trust you. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Retirement Planology

Courtenay Shipley, CRPS, AIF, CPFA, CEPA | LinkedIn

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Our Chief Planologist, Courtenay Shipley, has a diverse background in the retirement plan industry providing a unique foundation for her clients in the areas of fiduciary responsibility, investment analysis, and participant education. During her career she has provided institutional investment consulting to qualified retirement plans, developed business strategy for a boutique third party administrator and recordkeeper, conducted over 9,000 education meetings to groups and individual employees, and served the nonprofit market.

Courtenay is an enthusiastic and focused retirement plan advisor who is committed to the idea that everyone should have the luxury of deciding how they spend their time later in life, on their terms. She is passionate about her work and thinks the key to making change in a complex world is listening to people and enabling them with the tools and knowledge they need to meet their goals and retool their habits.

Courtenay is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, and is licensed as an investment advisor representative (Series 66). She holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ (AIF®) designation through the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS) designation from the American College of Financial Planning, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) from National Association of Plan Advisors, and the Certified Health Savings Advisor (CHSA) designation. Since 2015 she has been featured in the Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Plan Advisors annual list, named a Top Women Advisor All-Star by the National Association of Plan Advisors, and named a 2018 NAPA Young Gun: Top 75 under 40.

How do you get potential new customers to inquire about your business? Jason Kramer, the Founder of Cultivize joins the show to discuss several tactics that can be used to drive potential customers to inquire about your products or services. He breaks down what funnels and lead magnets are and the best way to use each to your advantage. Jason discusses how to get people engaged in the online world through social media and email marketing. He dives deeper into what services his business, Cultivize, offers and at what point a business may want to utilize their services. Tune in to learn some great information on guiding your ideal clients to your business! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [7:18] Jason shares about his background prior to opening Cultivize.
• [9:00] What is Cultivize? 
• [10:46] How do you calculate a referral/networking? 
• [14:12] How does Joson quantify a successful lead magnet?
• [17:41] What is a funnel? 
• [20:19] What is a lead magnet? 
• [23:25] How do you get people engaged in the online world?
• [25:27] What is the business model for Cultivize? 
• [29:29] Jason describes the team at Cultivize and their roles. 
• [30:53] What is the ideal place for a client to hire Cultivize for their services?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [15:52] To gain customers, you have to have a process to nurture people. It's about staying in front of the person from the point of them showing interest to the actual point of them making a decision to utilize your business’s services.
• [19:25] Funnels are designed for a longer sales process, typically a few months or longer to actually sell whatever is you’re trying to sell. 
• [24:10] Email marketing is the most cost effective, cheapest option out there for marketing. In order for it to be successful, you have to be looking at the data to determine the percent open rate, contact rate, etc. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Cultivize Website

Jason Kramer’s LinkedIn

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Jason lives in NY with his wife, two children, and two dogs…you guessed it, it’s not a quiet house.

He is formally trained as a brand strategist and holds a communication design degree from Syracuse University. He started his career as a graphic designer at NYC ad agencies working with global clients in the travel, food, and liquor industries. Seeing an opportunity to help startups and small businesses with an alternative option in lieu of hiring several freelancers, Jason started his first company in 2002, a pioneering virtual agency long before that concept even existed. For over 15 years Jason’s agency, JLK Creative, worked with a wide variety of service-based companies in the Metro NY area helping them with branding, web development, print, and email marketing.

In 2018, Jason founded his 2nd company, Cultivize, and leveraged his existing partnership with SHSP. Today, Cultivize is one of only a handful of Platinum Certified partners in the world and 100% focused on coaching, empowering, and implementing lead nurturing strategies for its clients.

Today on the Ask Brien Podcast, our resident experts Peter and Traci interview Jen McFarland, founder of Merit Digital, a digital operations agency. They discuss various topics related to small businesses like digital support, business skills, technology, and artificial intelligence. Jen shares her insights on website development and support, SEO rankings, and the use of AI tools for time management and efficiency. She also talks about her journey as an entrepreneur and her decision to make her company a B Corp. If you’re a small business owner in need of digital support, this episode is for you!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [4:13] Introducing Jen McFarland, Founder of Merit Digital
• [6:39] Jenn shares the services and support offered by Merit Digital
• [8:33] Maintaining SEO rankings with a new website. Jenn discusses redesigning an existing website vs building a new site
• [10:01] WordPress and website compatibility issues that many small businesses struggle with
• [11:27] Advice for small business owners searching for digital support
• [12:56] Choosing the right digital agency for your business
• [19:38] Jenn discusses becoming a B Corp
• [22:33] Insights on Artificial Intelligence and how it can be a helpful tool for business owners
• [25:53] How to connect with Jen McFarland
• [27:46] Challenges and advice for new business owners

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Many small businesses can streamline their workflow and lessen their workload with the help of a digital agency. You don’t have to do it all on your own
• When creating your company website, start small. Use a platform that offers clear features and is a pleasurable experience for your customers. You can always upgrade your website as your business grows
• When choosing a digital agency, look for testimonials, subscribe to their newsletter, and have a conversation to gauge compatibility and trust

LINKS MENTIONED:

Marit Digital Website

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Marit Digital helps small businesses and teams plan, implement, and improve the digital solutions that help them succeed.

Charlie Rocket realized the need to chase his dreams after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. So, after making some big life changes, Charlie started the Dream Machine Foundation. During this episode, Charlie shares more about his journey and how he is using his foundation to change the lives of others. Charlie shares how they make an impact on those who share their dreams with Dream Machine, and tells us a few amazing stories, such as a homeless artist becoming successful, a child raising $500,000 selling cookies in her new bakery and more. Charlie shares their Million Acts of Kindness challenge that took place earlier in April, and we hear some ideas of how you can provide a random act of kindness any time! Tune in to hear his incredible story and learn more about the Dream Machine Foundation! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [4:46] Charlie shares his story with us. 
• [8:13] How is Dream Machine Foundation different from Make A Wish?
• [9:29] Where does the funding come from for the dreams?
• [10:40] What is the impact the foundation makes each year?
• [15:11] How are the decisions made on who will get their dream fulfilled? 
• [16:46] Charlie shares some of the dreams they have completed. 
• [22:13] Were there any challenges when Charlie transitioned from being in the music industry to launching his Dream Machine Foundation? 
• [24:15] What does the rest of the “Dream Team” do for the Foundation?
• [26:34] How does Charlie get partners, such as Sprouts?
• [27:43] How did Charlie get Once Upon A Coconut launched into stores?
• [30:13] What are some examples of Acts of Kindness?
• [33:12] Where can people find out about upcoming Dream Machine events?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [8:27] Dream Machine is a small foundation, consisting of 7 employees who utilize connections and social media to make dreams come true. They utilize the viral internet era of philanthropy to help make these dreams a reality. 
• [22:20] Charlie realized that he spent his whole adult life just focusing on making money, which buried his real dream of being an athlete. That’s when he decided to leave the music industry and start the Dream Machine Foundation. 
• [31:18] Acts of Kindness don’t have to cost any money and can be simple things such as holding the door open for someone, giving up your seat for an elderly or pregnant person. A little kindness goes a long way. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Dream Machine Foundation Website

Charlie Rocket's Instagram

Dream Machine Foundation Instagram

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Charlie Rocket was managing one of the biggest music management companies in the world when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Facing death and weighing over 300 pounds, he made the choice to return to his childhood dream of being an athlete. He ended up losing 125 lbs, running 5 marathons, completing an ironman, and best of all, reversing his brain tumor. To top it off, he was even featured in Nike’s biggest Super Bowl commercial of all time called “Dream Crazy”, the Colin Kaepernick commercial. Charlie has now dedicated his entire life to making other people’s dreams come true through his non-profit the Dream Machine Foundation. He wants to become a new type of millionaire: the one that makes a million dreams come true.

“Reach for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” This week on the Ask Brien Radio Show Podcast, Confidence Coach Regina Bonds joins Peter to discuss her coaching business. She explains how she went from working as a banker to thriving as a confidence coach. In the conversation, Regina reveals what challenges she faced as a brand new entrepreneur and how she worked through them. Regina walks us through her three C’s to confidence, and shares some valuable tips for fellow women who are on the journey to create their own business. Tune in to learn more about becoming the most confident version of yourself. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [7:31] Regina shares her background and what she did before becoming a confidence coach. 
• [10:23] Regina walks us through her coaching business. 
• [16:00] Regina dives deeper into one of her programs she offered at the beginning of her entrepreneurship. 
• [17:10] Regina shares the three C’s to confidence and how she uses them with her clients. 
• [19:35] When did Regina find the confidence to push her business?
• [23:16] How does Regina market her business to gain new clients? 
• [25:19] What has been one of the biggest challenges that Regina has faced?
• [26:22] What are Regina’s current offerings?
• [27:52] Regina shares a success story from one of her first clients. 
• [31:09] Does Regina run her business alone? 
• [32:11] Regina offers a few pieces of advice for women wanting to pursue their dreams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [17:11] Clarity is the first step to confidence. Understanding what it is you truly want and getting clarity around your desires and giving you a point to determine where you want to go. 
• [20:47] The entrepreneurial journey is not an easy one. Your business will ebb and flow, and you have to be committed for the long haul. You must cultivate an inner knowing and inner belief in yourself. 
• [32:21] The first step when getting out there and chasing your dreams is to develop a support team. These are the coaches, mentors, accountability partners, etc. who can help you when you are scared to keep pushing forward or want to give up.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Regina Bonds - The Confidence Coach

Regina Bonds - Instagram

Regina Bonds - Facebook

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Regina Bonds, affectionately known as The Confidence Coach, is celebrated as one of the world’s most trusted voices to women. She challenges them to use their confidence to improve, enhance, and ultimately elevate their lives. Regina has worked with women around the world helping them to recognize their value, find their voice, and clarify their path through the power of her confidence formula. She is a change agent, spiritual catalyst, and a confidence accelerator to many. Regina is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and expert to those that are tired of living mediocre lives and ready to live in the realm of unstoppable confidence.

After building a successful career in the NHL, Neil Smith decided to make a shift into a new career. In doing so, he found a way to utilize his experience and passion for the NHL in a new way. On this episode, sports manager turned senior wealth strategist, Neil Smith joins us to talk about his transition from sportscaster into the financial sector. Neil talks about the similarities between building a strong and successful sports team (and winning the Stanley Cup!) vs. in the financial world. He explains why energy and enthusiasm go a long way when it comes to motivation. Neil talks about his new podcast NHL Wraparound and how he plans to build a business with the show. Tune in for some great insight on finding a career you love. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [6:31] Neil Smith discusses his background and experiences. 
• [10:32] How does Neil’s hockey fame help convert hockey fans to UBS?
• [15:18] Is turning the podcast into a business Neil’s ultimate goal?
• [18:23] What are the similarities between building winning teams in the sports world vs. the business world?
• [21:31] How can you effectively do team building in the remote world?
• [23:02] What does Neil think about energy and enthusiasm as a way for team motivation?
• [25:34] Does Neil have advice on managing people with a high ego? 
• [30:31] What is the biggest challenge Neil has faced in his career shift?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [8:34] Enthusiasm and passion are the best ways to grow any career or business. 
• [18:30] Building a successful sports team vs a successful business team isn’t all that different. The first rule of building a good team is that the people you put on that team, including the leader, have to have character. Then you can start to consider talent. 
• [27:30] When dealing with difficult people, you’ve got to remind yourself that it’s not about you. It’s all about them, it’s what’s going on inside of them, it’s not that you’re beneath them, it’s that they are having to act like this to feel secure. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

NHL Wraparound Podcast on Spotify

NHL Wraparound Podcast on YouTube

Neil Smith LinkedIn

Email: [email protected] 

BIO

Neil Smith works with the UBS Athletes and Entertainers business for Wealth Management USA. As a member of the team, Neil draws on his deep background as a Hockey Professional to help Financial Advisors understand and address the needs of this special group to succeed off the ice. 

The goal of the team is to facilitate holistic advice and planning for these high-profile individuals, and provide Financial Advisors who are focused on this segment with the resources they need to grow their business. 

Neil joined UBS Financial Services in February 2018 after more than 35 years in various roles in the National Hockey League and was one of the most highly regarded executives in the NHL.

Neil served as President and GM New York Rangers from 1989-2000. In 1994 under his leadership, the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, their only championship in the past 81 years. Having twice been named NHL Executive of the Year, Smith brought many Hockey Hall of Fame players to the Rangers. He traded for legendary players such as Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, Kevin Lowe, and Adam Graves. In 1996 Wayne Gretzky and Neil agreed to a contract which would see hockey’s greatest player retire as a Ranger. 

During his hockey career, Neil served as General Manager/Governor of the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL and Director of Scouting for the Detroit Red Wings. He has been an NHL consultant to the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Neil began his professional hockey career with New York Islanders, and joined the scouting department in 1980. 

In his current role, Neil is the liaison between the UBS Arena, Islanders and UBS. He is responsible for ensuring that the Islanders and all visiting players, coaches and managers are fully supported during their time at the Arena. Neil also acts as the face of Hockey at UBS working with the Sports and Entertainment Segment. 

A native of Toronto, Ontario, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Western Michigan University where he was an All-America defenseman. He was inducted into school's Sports Hall of Fame, as the first ever hockey player. He was inducted into the Communications Hall of Fame and awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award at WMU. Neil remains an avid hockey player and very active in hockey analysis and player evaluation and development. 

Neil holds his Series 7 and 66 licenses and has licenses for property, casualty, life, health and accident insurance.

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Ben Bucher decided to take a chance on himself when he transitioned from being a manager at McDonald’s to opening his own Allstate Insurance business. Ben joins us on this episode to talk about how he decided to open his own business and the challenges that came along with being a new entrepreneur. He shares how he grew his insurance business so quickly and what the most valuable things are that he has implemented into his business. Tune in to hear Ben share some great pointers for creating a successful business with zero experience. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [8:37] Ben share’s his background and what led him to open an Allstate Agency. 
• [12:48] How working at McDonald’s helped Ben when opening his own business.
• [14:46] How did Ben grow his business so quickly? 
• [17:39] What free resources are out there that are free when just starting a business?
• [19:19] What were the first challenges Ben encountered when becoming an entrepreneur?
• [24:53] Why did Ben grow his business and how did he find success?
• [26:12] What type of insurance do small businesses need?
• [27:50] What led Ben to expand his business outside of Indiana?
• [31:18] Ben shares some pointers for creating a successful business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [23:07] Don’t be impressionable, just because somebody says something, doesn’t mean it’s true. Keep finding contacts and learning and you can succeed.
• [24:20] Business is different than it used to be, while it is still a people business because you are selling to people, now your employees desire the camaraderie that you have when you’re all in the office together and you’re all rowing in the same direction. It can be hard to achieve. Get to know your team on a personal level and ensure that you are valuing the same things when it comes to the business.  
• [25:19] All growth takes place outside your comfort zone.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Ben Bucher - Allstate Insurance Agent in Fort Wayne, IN

Ben Bucher - Allstate Insurance Facebook Page

Ben Bucher (@benbucherAllstate) • Instagram 

BIO

Welcome to Bucher Family Insurance, your trusted local insurance agency serving Indiana, Ohio, and beyond!

At our agency, we believe in more than just selling insurance policies – we're dedicated to building lasting relationships with customers based on trust, reliability, and personalized service.

With years of experience in the insurance industry, our team of knowledgeable agents is here to guide you through the often complex world of insurance, helping you find the coverage that best fits your unique needs and budget. Whether you're looking for auto, home, life, business, or specialty insurance, we've got options.

What sets us apart is our commitment to providing exceptional customer service. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and go through your options in plain language, so you can make informed decisions with confidence. And when it comes to claims, we'll be by your side every step of the way, helping with a smooth and hassle-free experience.

But our dedication to our community goes beyond just insurance. We're proud to support local charities, events, and initiatives that make Fort Wayne, Indiana a better place to live and work. Because we believe that being a good neighbor means more than just selling insurance – it means giving back and making a positive impact wherever we can.

So whether you're a new customer looking for coverage or a longtime customer in need of assistance, you can trust Bucher Family Insurance to provide the personalized service and peace of mind you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help protect what matters most to you.

Creating a brand new product in the beverage industry has its challenges, but this week's guest, Marcin Malyszko of Mission Craft Cocktails explains how they’ve been able to promote their business. Marcin talks about how they differentiate their product from other top name beverages out there, including how they utilize their marketing strategy. He discusses their liquid-to-lips strategy and why that has been a win getting their product into stores. Mission Craft Cocktails also donates a percentage of their proceeds to a charity, so Marcin talks about what that looks like and how they chose who to give back to. Tune in to learn more about Mission Craft Cocktails!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [6:45] Marcin shares his background.
• [7:43] What is Marcin doing now with Mission Craft Cocktail?
• [11:28] What differentiates Mission Craft Cocktails from other top companies? 
• [15:02] How are the ingredients locally sourced? 
• [16:10] Did Mission Craft Cocktail use focus groups or how did they determine what would sell best?
• [18:30] How do they take their differentiator and leverage that into their marketing strategy? 
• [21:04] How did they decide which charity to donate to? 
• [22:25] What was their biggest challenge to get into a store?
• [26:07] What are some of the things they do that have worked well to navigate a higher price point?
• [28:32] What does their current team look like?
• [31:27] What is the best method they’ve used to get people to try their product when it was brand new to the market?
• [32:49] What is the biggest challenge they foresee for the future? 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• [20:41] In just 8 months of being in business, Mission Craft Cocktail was able to provide 26,777 meals through their 5% cash donation. This year, they are on track to provide 100,000 meals. 
• [22:34] Independent liquor and grocery stores get pitched hundreds of products every day, whether from a distributor or an independent brand, which can make it difficult to get your product into stores.
• [31:43] Tastings and word of mouth and involving themselves in their communities have been the biggest things that have made an impact when selling their new product.  

LINKS MENTIONED:

Mission Craft Cocktails' Website Coupon Code: KHTS20 - 20% off order

Marcin Malyszko LinkedIn