Fisher Nuts Cracks the Code on Sales Growth. Fisher Nuts has been around since 1929. Almost a hundred years of selling nuts to American families. Most brands that old fade into nostalgia and fight for scraps on grocery shelves. Fisher chose a different path.When the nut category turned brutal with giants like Planters hogging space and private labels undercutting on price, Fisher didn’t try to out-muscle them. They went where the big boys weren’t looking. They became the recipe nut. Fisher locked in on home bakers and chefs, turning themselves into the go-to brand for anyone making pies, cookies, or holiday spreads. That move gave them a lane no one else owned.Then came the health wave. Processed snacks were out. Clean labels were in. Fisher ditched preservatives, rolled out resealable bags, and pushed snack packs that fit right into a busy lifestyle. While others tried to play catch-up, Fisher made it look easy. They were suddenly not just your grandmother’s baking brand but a fit for the new generation who wanted better-for-you options without the junk.The real play was focus plus adaptability. Fisher didn’t spread themselves thin. They doubled down on what they could own and then kept reinventing how they showed up to match the way people live, cook, and snack today. That is the sales lesson most companies miss.My Big Takeaway:  Sales is about knowing your lane and then being relentless about adapting when the road changes. Fisher Nuts proves you can be nearly a century old and still feel fresh if you refuse to sit still.Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

How Canva Designed Its Way to the Top. In 2013, Melanie Perkins and her co-founders launched Canva with a simple but ambitious vision: to make design accessible to everyone. At the time, professional design software was expensive and intimidating. Most small businesses and individuals were left to struggle with clunky tools or pay for costly services. Canva’s solution was an online platform that allowed anyone—regardless of design background—to create professional-quality visuals with drag-and-drop ease.The early years were not smooth. Perkins, a university student in Australia, pitched the idea to countless investors before finally getting traction in Silicon Valley. What set Canva apart was not just the product but the clarity of its mission: design should be simple, affordable, and collaborative. That clarity fueled investor confidence and helped the company scale globally.By removing barriers to design, Canva unlocked massive adoption. Teachers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 companies all flocked to the platform. The company relied heavily on word-of-mouth and freemium growth, offering a powerful free version that naturally converted users to paid plans as their needs expanded. This “land and expand” approach became central to Canva’s growth strategy.The numbers tell the story. Today Canva boasts over 170 million users in more than 190 countries, with tens of billions of designs created on the platform. The company has also expanded its product line into presentations, video, and AI-powered design tools. With a valuation that places it among the world’s most valuable private software companies, Canva shows how focus, accessibility, and a customer-first mindset can redefine an industry.My Big Takeaway:  Canva proves that simplicity sells. When you remove friction and give people the power to succeed quickly, you build loyalty and growth at the same time. The lesson for sales leaders is clear: design your customer’s experience to be easy, intuitive, and empowering.Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

Northvolt’s Big Bet on Green Batteries. Northvolt was founded in 2016 by Peter Carlsson, a former Tesla executive, and Paolo Cerruti with a bold mission: to build the world’s greenest battery. At a time when nearly all lithium-ion batteries were produced in Asia using carbon-heavy supply chains, they saw an opportunity to anchor production in Europe, powered by renewable energy.

The company’s first major project, Northvolt Ett in northern Sweden, was designed to run almost entirely on hydropower and recycle old batteries into new ones. This sustainability-first approach distinguished Northvolt in a crowded field and gave it a powerful story that resonated with investors, automakers, and governments alike.

That story quickly turned into contracts. Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo signed multi-billion-dollar deals to secure battery supply, while the EU and Swedish government poured in financing to ensure Europe had a strategic foothold in energy storage. Billions were raised to fund gigafactory construction, making Northvolt one of the most heavily backed clean-tech startups in Europe.

The road has not been smooth—building gigafactories at scale has brought delays and enormous costs—but Northvolt has positioned itself as a credible challenger to Asian dominance. More importantly, it has become a symbol of Europe’s determination to lead in the transition to electric mobility.

For sales leaders, Northvolt’s rise offers a key lesson: they did not just sell batteries; they sold a vision. By tying their product to sustainability and independence, they attracted not only customers but also long-term partners who wanted to be part of that mission.

My Big Takeaway:  A product is powerful, but a vision is unstoppable. Northvolt teaches us that when you connect what you sell to a cause people believe in, you build loyalty, momentum, and the kind of support that fuels long-term growth.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

Life360 turned parental paranoia into profit. Life360 didn’t just build an app. It built a business on fear. Parents worry. Teens rebel. And in that tension, Chris Hulls saw a billion-dollar opportunity.

Launched in 2008, the app promised what every parent craves—control. A simple circle on a screen where your kids always show up, whether they like it or not. Emergencies? Just push a button. Late-night anxiety? Open the app. That’s how Life360 hooked millions of families.

But the genius wasn’t in the tech. It was in the sales strategy. Free to start, just enough to get you hooked. Then came the upsells—crash detection, stolen phone protection, roadside rescue. Features that turned nervous moms and dads into recurring revenue streams. Each tier wasn’t about bells and whistles. It was about dialing up the fear until you couldn’t risk staying on the free plan.

The real power move came in 2021 when Life360 acquired Tile. Suddenly it wasn’t just kids and cars you could track—it was wallets, keys, backpacks. The company stopped selling an app and started selling a lifestyle of surveillance.

Critics screamed about privacy. Teens plotted hacks to ditch the app. Investigators exposed how Life360 sold user location data to third parties. But none of it slowed the machine. Because when the pitch is safety, fear beats outrage every single time.

My Big Takeaway:  Sales isn’t about the product. It’s about the pressure point. Life360 pressed right on the nerve of parental paranoia and never let go. If you can identify the emotion people can’t walk away from, you don’t just sell—you own the conversation.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

From Donuts to Dollars - What CEOs Can Learn from Dunkin's Story. Imagine starting your day without a fresh cup of coffee or a quick breakfast. For many hardworking people, this was the reality before Dunkin' came along. The problem was clear - busy workers needed a fast, reliable way to grab their morning essentials without slowing down their day. This is a challenge many businesses face—how to meet the needs of their customers efficiently and effectively.

Back in 1948, Bill Rosenberg noticed a gap in the market while selling food at construction sites. Workers needed something quick and energizing, but options were limited. An interesting fact is that Rosenberg's initial restaurant, Open Kettle, served coffee, pastries, and sandwiches, but it wasn't until he focused on coffee and donuts that the magic happened. This struggle mirrors the sales cycle in any business - identifying what your customers truly want and delivering it in a way that stands out.

Rosenberg's solution was simple yet powerful - serve the freshest coffee and donuts quickly and courteously. This approach is akin to having a strong sales strategy. Just like Dunkin' focused on speed and quality, a successful sales system should prioritize understanding customer needs and delivering solutions efficiently. Dunkin's story teaches us that knowing your audience and consistently meeting their expectations can create a loyal customer base and drive revenue growth.

My Big Takeaway:  The importance of having a solid sales system. Just as Dunkin' has kept its core promise of fresh coffee and donuts, businesses should focus on maintaining a clear and consistent sales strategy. This ensures profitability and impacts lives positively by meeting customer needs.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

Godox Crashed the Party and Took the Spotlight. The lighting game used to be locked down. Profoto and Broncolor owned the pros. Canon and Nikon kept their flashes tied to their camera systems. Everyone else was fighting for scraps. Then Godox came out of nowhere and flipped the table.

They started as a ghost — an OEM shop in Shenzhen cranking out gear with someone else’s logo slapped on it. No brand, no hype, no customer love. But when Godox decided to go direct, everything changed. Instead of begging for shelf space in camera stores, they went straight to Amazon, eBay, and global online shops. The sales pitch was simple: pro-level lighting without the pro-level price tag. And they knew who to target. Not glossy ad spreads. Not big-budget campaigns.

They put their gear in the hands of YouTubers and hustling creators who actually used it. Real shooters demo’d it, broke it, praised it — and sold it better than any commercial ever could.The killer move? Godox kept pumping out innovation while their rivals rested on brand prestige. Portable strobes. Wireless triggers. LED panels that worked right out of the box. Gear that solved problems, priced so low that photographers started asking why they’d ever paid thousands for one flash. It wasn’t just a sale. It was a movement.The numbers don’t lie. In just a few years, Godox bulldozed its way from invisible supplier to the go-to name for lighting worldwide. Studios, wedding shooters, YouTubers — all jumped in. The pros couldn’t ignore it. Suddenly, the underdog wasn’t just competing. It was winning.

My Big Takeaway:  Sales is a street fight. You don’t always win by having the fanciest product — you win by making it accessible, showing proof, and removing excuses not to buy. Godox didn’t play by the industry’s rules. They rewrote them. And that’s why they own the light today.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

From Med Spa to At-Home Skincare - The Sales Strategy Behind DERMAFLASH's Success. Imagine having to visit multiple places just to get your skincare routine done. That's what Dara Levy faced. She was tired of running from beauty salons to plastic surgeons just to get facials and dermaplaning. This was not only inconvenient but also costly and time-consuming. Dara knew there had to be a better way for people to enjoy skincare without all the hassle.

Dara opened her own Med Spa in Chicago, combining the best skincare treatments under one roof. Her signature treatment, DERMAFLASH, left women feeling confident and radiant. But there was still a problem - not everyone could access or afford these treatments regularly. An interesting fact is that after 6,000 facials, Dara realized there was no at-home solution for dermaplaning. This gap in the market sparked her creativity.

Dara invented the DERMAFLASH device, allowing people to enjoy the benefits of dermaplaning from the comfort of their homes. This innovation didn't just change skincare; it reshaped how we think about accessibility and convenience in beauty. In sales, this is akin to identifying a gap in the market and creating a product that meets an unmet need. Dara's journey shows us the power of a strong sales strategy—understanding customer pain points and delivering a solution that fits seamlessly into their lives.

My Big Takeaway:  The key is having a solid sales system. Dara's success with DERMAFLASH demonstrates how a clear strategy can lead to business growth and customer satisfaction. Whether it's skincare or any other industry, understanding your market and creating a product that solves a real problem is key.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

POP Mart's Playbook - Lessons in Sales Leadership from a Toy Giant. Back in 2010, Wang Ning had a small store in Beijing, selling various items without a clear focus. The challenge was finding a niche that would not only capture the hearts of customers but also stand out in a crowded market. Wang needed a strategy that could turn his small shop into something much bigger. This is a common problem many CEOs face - identifying the right product or service that resonates with their audience.

Wang was inspired by Japan’s vending machines, which sold surprise toys in secret boxes. He decided to focus solely on toys, but not just any toys—mystery toys hidden in boxes. This was a risky move, as it was a new concept for many. Interestingly, by collaborating with artists like Kenny Wong, who created the popular Molly doll, POP Mart's sales skyrocketed from $22 million in 2017 to $73 million in 2018.

The struggle was real, but the innovative twist of surprise toys turned out to be a winning formula.

The key to POP Mart's success was its creative sales strategy. By teaming up with famous designers and expanding globally, they not only captured new markets but also built a strong brand presence. POP Mart's decision to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020, with a value of $676 million, was a testament to their robust sales positioning.

They opened stores in countries like the US, New Zealand, and Australia, proving that a unique sales strategy can break geographical barriers.

My Big Takeaway:  The importance of having a strong sales system and strategy. By fostering creativity and forming strategic partnerships, POP Mart not only grew its revenue but also impacted lives by supporting new talent and designers. This approach is a reminder that a well-thought-out sales system can lead to profitability and global impact.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

From College Dream to Global Snack - Rip Van's Growth Story. Rip Pruisken loved the stroopwafel, a tasty treat from the Netherlands, but when he moved to the US for college, he found that most Americans had never heard of it. This was a problem because he believed everyone should experience the joy of a stroopwafel. So, he decided to introduce this delicious snack to the US market, but he faced the challenge of making it popular and successful in a new country.

Rip and his friend Marco De Leon started Rip Van right out of college, focusing initially on selling their stroopwafels at college cafes. However, they quickly realized that selling snacks wasn't as straightforward as they thought. An interesting fact is that during the COVID pandemic, they began to build their e-commerce presence, which allowed them to have direct conversations with their consumers. This shift opened up new opportunities to offer a range of better-for-you snacks and test new ideas based on consumer feedback and trends.To make their stroopwafels a hit, Rip and Marco decided to make them healthier by reducing sugar and increasing fiber.

This strategy was driven by their understanding of consumer needs and the growing trend of healthier eating. They also expanded their market by selling to tech companies and eventually entering large retailers like Costco. This approach is similar to having a robust sales strategy. Just like Rip Van needed a plan to make their product stand out, businesses need a solid sales system to grow and succeed. By focusing on innovation and being agile, Rip Van was able to adapt and thrive in a competitive market.

My Big Takeaway:  The importance of having a clear sales strategy and being adaptable. Rip and Marco's success came from understanding their market, listening to their customers, and being willing to innovate. For CEOs and business leaders, the lesson here is to always be ready to improve your offerings and expand your reach. Having a strong sales system in place can help you grow your revenue, be profitable, and make a positive impact on people's lives.

Stay Hungry.  Stay Humble.

Che Brown
www.CEOSalesAgency.com
Connect with me - @IamCheBrown

From Zero to Millions - Shapermint's Sales System Secrets. In the bustling world of fashion, shapewear was once seen as a restrictive and uncomfortable necessity. Many women felt pressured to conform to societal beauty standards, which often meant squeezing into tight, uncomfortable garments. This was the landscape when Massimiliano Tirocchi, cofounder of Shapermint, entered the scene. He noticed that while shapewear was a $70 billion market, it was dominated by high-priced items that didn't cater to the everyday needs of consumers.Tirocchi's journey began with a surprising observation - shapewear was one of the most popular items sold by his drop shipping company. Despite the industry's potential, it was rocked by the pandemic, with sales dropping by 36%. Yet, Shapermint thrived by listening to its customers. An interesting fact is that while traditional shapewear sales plummeted, Shapermint captured 20% of the U.S. market, focusing on comfort and affordability. They realized that consumers wanted shapewear that was versatile and comfortable, not just something that looked good in a magazine.Shapermint’s success lies in its innovative sales strategy. By employing a profitable customer acquisition model, Tirocchi and his team grew the company from $0 to $200 million in just two years. They invested heavily in Facebook advertising, reaching 6 million people daily. This approach allowed them to communicate effectively with their audience, offering products that met real needs. For CEOs looking to grow their business, the lesson is clear - understanding and responding to customer feedback is crucial. It's not just about selling a product; it's about creating a solution that resonates with your audience.My Big Takeaway: The key takeaway from Shapermint’s journey is the importance of having a solid sales system. Tirocchi’s ability to read data and combine it with creative marketing strategies was instrumental in the company’s growth.Stay Hungry. Stay Humble.Che Brownwww.CEOSalesAgency.comConnect with me - @IamCheBrown