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Brooklinen Founder & CEO Rich Fulop Pulls Back the Covers on Building a Profitable DTC Brand
Welcome to the Conversations with CommerceNext podcast, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with CommerceNext and presented by CommX.
In a revealing interview that will be a must-listen-to for any retailer working at or building a direct-to-consumer brand, Brooklinen founder & CEO Rich Fulop joins us on the podcast to share the inspiring story of building a successful brand literally from the bedroom out.
Rich shares with my co-host Veronika Sonsev how the laser-like focus on building success to last had Rich originally bootstrapping the business from his savings, forcing the company to be profitable from day one.
He then takes us through the decisions and journey behind multiple rounds of private equity funding that changed the trajectory of the business. Lastly, Rich shares his personal experience as an entrepreneur and lessons learned.
About Rich
Rich Fulop is a first-generation American, an avid skier, a huge Arsenal fan, and he just so happens to make the Internet’s Favorite Sheets. While at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Rich and his wife and Brooklinen co-founder, Vicki, went on vacation and had a life-altering encounter with a set of delectable bedding that inspired the creation of Brooklinen. Today, Rich remains fully immersed in every aspect of the business and continues to prioritize best practices from responsive manufacturing to authentic customer service, supporting small-scale entrepreneurs across the globe, and giving back to communities across the U.S. to bring the brand’s mission statement - We Want You To Be Comfortable - to all.
About Veronika
Veronika Sonsev is the Co-Founder of CommerceNext. She also leads the retail practice for Chameleon Collective and is a contributor for Forbes on how to grow retail and ecommerce in the age of Amazon. Having spent the last 10+ years working with some of the largest retailers and direct-to-consumer brands, Veronika has intimate knowledge of the challenges facing retail and ecommerce today. She is also an advocate for women in business and founded the global non-profit mBolden, which is now part of SheRunsit.
About Scott
An ecommerce veteran, Scott Silverman has been active in the industry since 1999 and is passionate about digital retail and the innovation driving the industry. Scott Silverman is the Co-Founder of CommerceNext. Previously, he spent 10 years as Executive Director of Shop.org where he launched the Shop.org Annual Summit. Scott co-invented “Cyber Monday” in 2005 and was the founder of Cybermonday.com in 2006, a shopping site that has generated more than $2.5 million for Shop.org’s scholarship fund.
About Michael
Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.
About Us
Jennifer Marlo
Head of Content, CommerceNext
Jennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration.
Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.
Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, top retail influencer, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.
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By Scott Silverman, Michael LeBlanc, Veronika Sonsev
5
77 ratings
Welcome to the Conversations with CommerceNext podcast, I’m your host Michael LeBlanc, and this podcast is brought to you in conjunction with CommerceNext and presented by CommX.
In a revealing interview that will be a must-listen-to for any retailer working at or building a direct-to-consumer brand, Brooklinen founder & CEO Rich Fulop joins us on the podcast to share the inspiring story of building a successful brand literally from the bedroom out.
Rich shares with my co-host Veronika Sonsev how the laser-like focus on building success to last had Rich originally bootstrapping the business from his savings, forcing the company to be profitable from day one.
He then takes us through the decisions and journey behind multiple rounds of private equity funding that changed the trajectory of the business. Lastly, Rich shares his personal experience as an entrepreneur and lessons learned.
About Rich
Rich Fulop is a first-generation American, an avid skier, a huge Arsenal fan, and he just so happens to make the Internet’s Favorite Sheets. While at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Rich and his wife and Brooklinen co-founder, Vicki, went on vacation and had a life-altering encounter with a set of delectable bedding that inspired the creation of Brooklinen. Today, Rich remains fully immersed in every aspect of the business and continues to prioritize best practices from responsive manufacturing to authentic customer service, supporting small-scale entrepreneurs across the globe, and giving back to communities across the U.S. to bring the brand’s mission statement - We Want You To Be Comfortable - to all.
About Veronika
Veronika Sonsev is the Co-Founder of CommerceNext. She also leads the retail practice for Chameleon Collective and is a contributor for Forbes on how to grow retail and ecommerce in the age of Amazon. Having spent the last 10+ years working with some of the largest retailers and direct-to-consumer brands, Veronika has intimate knowledge of the challenges facing retail and ecommerce today. She is also an advocate for women in business and founded the global non-profit mBolden, which is now part of SheRunsit.
About Scott
An ecommerce veteran, Scott Silverman has been active in the industry since 1999 and is passionate about digital retail and the innovation driving the industry. Scott Silverman is the Co-Founder of CommerceNext. Previously, he spent 10 years as Executive Director of Shop.org where he launched the Shop.org Annual Summit. Scott co-invented “Cyber Monday” in 2005 and was the founder of Cybermonday.com in 2006, a shopping site that has generated more than $2.5 million for Shop.org’s scholarship fund.
About Michael
Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.
About Us
Jennifer Marlo
Head of Content, CommerceNext
Jennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration.
Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.
Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, top retail influencer, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.