Chip Chat

Gary and Brian welcome Jon Hayes, the Director of Social Media & Community Management for Dan-O's Seasoning. They discuss the importance of social media and content creation, the evolving landscape of social commerce, and finding the right balance between product promotion and brand storytelling. The conversation highlights the challenges and successes in the food industry, emphasizing the need for consistency and creativity in marketing strategies.

Gary and Brian discuss the complexities of getting products into grocery stores, focusing on the differences between independent and chain stores, distribution strategies, the role of merchandisers, and the importance of e-commerce. They share insights from their experiences with their own brand, My Dad's Chips, and highlight the significance of building a strong foundation before approaching larger retail chains.

Gary and Brian discuss their experiences with raising capital. They reflect on the challenges of securing funding from traditional banks, the importance of passion in their pitch, and the various funding options available, including friends and family investments and convertible notes. The conversation concludes with thoughts on realistic business projections and the future of their company. The guys also find time to touch on the current state of DC sports, particularly the Wizards.

Gary and Brian debate the importance of the Brand vs the Product. Which resonates more with consumers and corporate buyers? How should you allocate your marketing efforts? New segment: Mistake of the Week, where the guys discuss errors they've made while growing this business and how they addressed them.

Gary and Brian explore the beast that is Trade Spend and how it has affected My Dad's Chips. What is Trade Spend? What are some different ways that Trade Spend presents itself on remittance information from customers? How do you plan for it? If you're starting a CPG brand, you need to check out this episode!

Gary and Brian dive into how they got their chips onto shelves in the early days. From walking into delis and convenience stores, to picking up distribution, to sales materials, the My Dad's Chips crew is all about selling.

Gary and Brian recount how they became connected with their suppliers for all their raw materials: potatoes, oil, bags, and seasonings. They talk more about their first production run and mistakes they made along the way.

Gary and Brian discuss the trials and tribulations involved with finding a manufacturer that could maintain the quality of what Gary always made in the kitchen. Minimums, product quality, and more!

Gary and Brian discuss the history of My Dad's Chips. Gary dives into why he started making potato chips in the first place, and Brian talks about his "aha" moment when he knew they were onto something.