INspired INsider Podcast

E business is something Richard Baccus has made into an art form. Richard runs ABC Vacuum Warehouse and Gruene Steam with his dad Ralph. ABC Vacuum started in 1977 as a mail order vacuum business. They operate a brick-and-mortar store as well as 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse and employ 28 staff. Their other company, Gruene Steam has been in operation since 2008. Through it they provide alternatives to harsh chemical cleaning products because after decades in the retail floor business they knew there was a better way. They used German innovations to come up with unique steam products to clean floors.

• [0:11] Jeremy's introduction of Richard Baccus, his guest today.
• [3:13] What Richard learned working with his Dad from an early age.
• [7:45] How Richard's company used magazine advertising effectively early on.
• [13:50] How the company started putting their products online way before Google.
• [18:14] How the team began opening new franchises and getting the business moving.
• [22:46] Lessons Richard learned from John of Papa John's.
• [25:02] What did John see about the internet that made him go for it?
• [29:17] Why Richard decided to work with his Dad and move away from Papa John's.
• [33:10] How the company landed a deal as the only online distributor of Dyson vacuums.
• [37:06] One of the big milestones when the company website was first started.
• [41:30] Software Richard uses to run his business.
• [44:45] The most successful sales platforms for the company (they sell on 19 platforms).
• [49:19] The sales channel that surprised Richard the most.
• [52:32] The largest selling single day ABC vacuums has ever had ($1 million).
• [54:44] Where Richard sees retail sales going in the future.
• [1:01:36] How companies can gear up for mobile sales.
• [1:05:33] Richard's lowest moment in business.
• [1:08:55] The toughest part of Richard's job.
• [1:10:35] Richard's best advice: go from the perspective of the user.

E business success is something Richard Baccus can tell you about because he's experienced it from the ground up. His work to establish and grow the online presence and sales success of ABC Vacuum Warehouse is the kind of story e-commerce legends are made of. On this episode, I chat with Richard about the details of how he's made it happen.

One of the things Richard Baccus highlights on this episode of Inspired Insider is that all business owners who want to create an e business version of what they do need to get started now. The opportunities to sell online are amazing and only getting better. The sooner you adapt to the new platforms and get started the more you'll be ahead of your competition.

Richard Baccus knows what he's talking about when it comes to building an e business. When he started working with his Dad the company had no online presence at all - and that was in the day when Yahoo ruled the search engine space. He not only built a website, he learned how to create an online store, market products effectively, and create revenue from the newly created online sales world.

Richard Baccus found that eBay was one of their most successful sales partners starting out but he didn't stop there. The success of the ABC Vacuum Warehouse e business hinges on the fact that they are NOT only on one platform. At the time of this recording, ABC sells parts and vacuums on 19 different online sales platforms. You can hear more about how Richard has done it on this episode.

It's a new day for ecommerce with companies like Walmart and Target seriously getting into the online sales arena. But the opportunities for the little guys are growing like never before. You can build an e business by selling your products on multiple platforms as a 3rd party seller. And today's Inspired Insider guest, Richard Baccus can tell you how it can be done.

• ABC Vacuum Warehouse
• Gruene Steam
• Dyson Vacuums
• Big Commerce
• Shopify
• Magento
• Channel Advisor
• Quickbooks Enterprise
• Slack
• Google Inbox
• NewEgg
• Rakuten
• Jet
• Touch of Modern
• Zulily
• RueLaLa
• Staples
• Wayfair
• Walmart.com
• QVC
• Uber

Our sponsor today is www.Rise25.com where entrepreneurs of 6,7, and 8 figure businesses come together live and in person every few months to solve their biggest business challenges through this high-level Mastermind group. Each member leaves each week with lifelong friendships and actionable steps to take their business to the next level. Check out Rise25.com - a group run by myself and cofounder John Corcoran. Rise 25 is application only.

no stranger to that pressure. David is founder of Tovala, a smart oven that is paired with a meal delivery service. With Tovala you get a fresh, healthy, packaged meal delivered to you. You scan the package and pop it in the smart oven and it knows the precise time and method to cook that meal to perfection - by broiling, baking, steaming, or convection. On Kickstarter David's team sold $250,000 worth of Tovala ovens and $100,000 of that total in one day. Tovala won the University of Chicago New Venture Challenge in 2015. To date they have raised over 700K.

• [0:10] Jeremy's introduction to this episode with David Rabie.
• [1:53] David's lowest moment in business: Trying to live up to expectations.
• [3:20] How David kept going with little response to his product.
• [4:22] David's proudest moments.
• [7:07] Lessons learned for those trying to get their ideas into the world.

Every startup wants to exceed expectations - of their customers and their investors. When that happens everybody is happy and the company is clearly on the path to success. Today's episode with David Rabie unpacks the pressure that comes with that desire. If you want to see things through the eyes of a startup founder, this episode is for you.

It's interesting that the pressure to exceed expectations is what David Rabie shared as what made for his lowest moments in business. The initial support Tovala received via Kickstarter immediately turned on the pressure to deliver an incredible product. The struggle he experienced in trying to live up to that expectation is what David shares.

How do you endure the pressure cooker of a startup? How do you keep going when the discouraging or challenging obstacles crop up? On this episode, David Rabie shares the role endurance and determination played in sticking with the company game plan when difficulties arose. He describes the great outcome that came of it as well. If you need encouragement on your entrepreneurial journey, David's story will be a great help to you.

When you're building a business of any sort you don't truly know what to expect - but you do know that the expectations that you succeed are high on many different levels. David Rabie and his team learned through the struggle that pressing forward in the hardest times is what makes the difference between companies that fail and those that succeed. Hear more on this episode.

If you are looking for an environment where you can receive business mentoring and brainstorming opportunities alongside a group of fellow entrepreneurs who are walking the same path as you, today's sponsor of Inspired Insider may be just the thing you're looking for. Rise25 is a mastermind group like no other. Find out more about this invite-only group by listening to this episode.

• www.Tovala.com
• www.Kickstarter.com

Our sponsor today is www.Rise25.com where entrepreneurs of 6,7, and 8 figure businesses come together live and in person every few months to solve their biggest business challenges through this high-level Mastermind group. Each member leaves each week with lifelong friendships and actionable steps to take their business to the next level. Check out Rise25.com - a group run by myself and cofounder John Corcoran. Rise 25 is application only.

The words "healthy" and "bakery" don't often belong in the same sentence. But Alon Ozery started what is now the Ozery Bakery with his father in 1996 by scraping together money from family and taking out a business loan. They began in a small 700 square foot sandwich shop in Canada and at that time his brother Guy joined the team. Since then they have grown into a 90,000 sq ft facility supplying grocery store chains and natural food stores all over the US and Canada with their natural products.

• [0:24] Jeremy's introduction of this episode with Alon Ozery of Ozery Bakery.
• [1:29] The success Ozery bakery is experiencing now (the "after" story).
• [6:38] The hiccups experienced in doing a repackaging and rebranding.
• [13:57] How the Ozery family came up with their unique product ideas.
• [23:19] Alon's background, early years, and introduction to business.
• [26:38] How Alon got the business started, including the fund raising.
• [35:40] The research and development process the Ozery team has developed.
• [38:01] The latest popular product: how it was created and marketed.
• [45:11] Making more interesting products to fuel company growth.
• [48:48] Getting into Costco, Whole Foods, and other big name chain stores.
• [1:00:09] Product success stories and the products that didn't do very well.
• [1:04:18] A key hire or two that changed the business in positive ways.
• [1:06:32] The tough times experienced on the way to success.
• [1:11:23] Alon's proudest moments.
• [1:15:40] Supporting marathons, school programs, entrepreneurs, and more.
• [1:17:04] Lessons learned from working with his father.
• [1:18:20] Why you need to treat your team members well and how Ozery Bakery does it.

Healthy bakery food is incredibly important to Alon Ozery and his family. That's why they started their business - Ozery Bakery - and have made a commitment to only use the healthiest, freshest ingredients. On this episode, you'll hear their fresh bakery success story and many of the challenges they've had to overcome to make it big.

It's one thing to establish a healthy bakery. It's another thing to spread it worldwide. Now that Alon Ozery and his team at Ozery Bakery have gotten into stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts, the word is spreading all over the globe and their healthy baked goods are getting the attention they deserve. Theirs is an amazing story of success in a very difficult and competitive niche.

You've probably not given it a lot of thought but any food production business has a multitude of variables that other businesses don't have to concern themselves with. The quality of ingredients, freshness, product lifespans, etc. All of those and more make the Ozery Bakery success story even more incredible. You can hear how the Ozery team has created systems and processes to keep things running smoothly, on this episode.

One of the things Alon Ozery cares about most is that his team members are treated well. It's important to him because he recognizes that they touch every aspect of his healthy bakery products from start to finish - so he wants them to be excited about what they do. One of the ways he can make sure that happens is by providing the employees with benefits that they don't want to lose - including profit sharing. You can hear how the Ozery Bakery team works together to take care of each other and produce incredible products, on this episode.

It's been a long, hard climb to success for the Ozery Bakery team. From a 700 sq. ft. location to what is now a 90,000 sq. ft. production facility, they've learned a lot of lessons and have built a business they can be proud of. Take the time to listen to this episode of Inspired Insider and you'll get to hear the inside story of the hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice that made the family-run business the great success it is today.

• Ozery Bakery website
• Whole Foods
• Sprouts
• Amy's Foods

Jason Friedman is founder of CXFormula™. He helps fast-growing, entrepreneurial companies gain an unfair advantage over their competition. His clients range from solopreneurs to companies like ...in retail include (Foot Locker, Adidas, Nike), hospitality (W Hotels, Universal Studios, Disney,), financial services (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Fidelity), higher education (Stanford & Harvard Universities) and Online Services / Information Products. In 2008, Jason sold his first company (Creative Realities) in the high 8-figures. He has started and successfully exited 4 other businesses.

• [0:24] Jeremy's introduction of Jason Friedman.
• [1:39] Jason's lowest point in life: leaving his business and lacking in business.
• [4:11] Jason's "big why" now.
• [4:53] Jason's proudest moment in his career.
• [7:51] What Jason does to instill creativity in his children.
• [11:10] How to contact Jason and get into his coaching programs.
• [15:12] Where Jason goes to get his own business coaching.

In this episode of Inspired Insider, you get to hear the story of how Jason Friedman almost lost everything because he had no vision for the future after selling his company for 8 figures. In answer to Jeremy's questions, he reveals how he pushed through it and what he does today to keep from making that same "lack of vision" mistake again.

Every day Jason writes down the things he's grateful for and thinks about the things he's doing in light of where he wants to go. He's seen a tremendous change in his own sense of purpose and vision for the future by implementing this ritual. He describes what he does in detail in this episode, so be sure you take the time to listen.

Jason Friedman's passion for crafting exceptional customer experiences was born in entertainment. He worked as a lighting designer and roadie for various music groups including Carlos Vives, Juan Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel and Rush. From those experiences, he draws a wealth of creative ideas that help entrepreneurs thrive.

Jason says that he's most skilled in experiential marketing, live events, and brand activation. He wants to help his clients make their customer experience the best in their niche. Jason works with clients via private consulting, small group workshops, live events, and online training to explode their growth.

But Jason Friedman is not only a coach, he's also a student. When Jeremy asked him where he goes when he needs business advice for himself, Jason rattled off at least 3 high-level mastermind groups that he's currently active in and touted the benefits of being around people who can help you raise your game. You can learn how to get into Jason's coaching events yourself, on this episode.

• www.CXFormula.com
• The Genius Network
• Strategic Coach
• Jeff Walker's Platinum Plus Mastermind

Ryan Lee, who Jeremy considers one of his early internet mentors, is founder of Freedym.com which is the netflix for lifestyle entrepreneurship, offering entrepreneurial skills training for everyone. He is a former Recreational Therapist, Gym Teacher and Personal Trainer. In 1999 he started an online fitness business while living in his parents' basement and grew it into an empire that did 7-figures per month. More importantly many of the people he has mentored have gone on to do big things.

• [0:24] Jeremy's introduction to this episode with Ryan Lee.
• [4:00] How Jeremy got started in business back in 1999.
• [10:31] The worst things Ryan saw working in hospitals.
• [19:05] Lesson Ryan teaches to his kids in light of what he's seen.
• [21:26] How Ryan's wife has influenced his business trajectory.
• [28:32] Cutting out the fat to focus on what was important.
• [33:23] The ideas that came together to create Freedym.com
• [39:23] The most popular courses in Ryan's membership site.
• [43:48] How to decide to stop one successful thing to start another.
• [46:17] The next things for Freedym.com and how Ryan plans to get there.
• [48:00] What's working for Ryan in terms of paid traffic.
• [50:30] How Ryan has used speed coaching to transform businesses.
• [54:24] Ryan's lowest point in business and what he learned from the experience.
• [56:56] The proudest business moment Ryan has had.
• [1:00:12] Ryan's reaction when his business hit 7 figures in one month.
• [1:06:01] The best things that came out of a $25 mastermind.
• [1:07:20] How you can connect with Ryan.
• [1:07:41] Ideas Ryan wants to give away.

The skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur aren't always intuitive, even if a person is a natural entrepreneur. There's only so much natural talent can achieve. On this episode with Ryan Lee, you're going to hear about the wealth of skills training you can receive through Ryan's site, Freedym.com and what it takes to become a member and get the training you need.

Ryan Lee didn't fall into an entrepreneurial business right away. He first worked as a Recreational Therapist, Gym Teacher in public schools, and a personal trainer. It was his training work that led him toward the idea of doing some online work and over time it evolved into a very profitable business that grossed 7 figures in one month.

On this episode Ryan shares his journey into the internet business space and why he feels so passionately about providing training for entrepreneurs. You'll hear a great deal of enthusiasm and practical insights from Ryan, so be sure you take the time to listen.

But it's not all been a bed of roses for Ryan Lee. He hit a point in his business journey where he realized that he was strung out too much, spending far too much time on the road and away from his family, and working on too many projects at once. You can hear about the effect that lifestyle was having on him and his family and what he did to change it, on this episode.

If you'd like to get the best training available in terms of entrepreneurial skills you need look no further than Ryan Lee's site, Freedym.com. You'll find courses there by people like Marie Forleo, John Lee Dumas, Jaime Tardy, Chris Haddad, Ben Settle, and much more. Find out more about the site and the benefits membership offers, on this episode of Inspired Insider.

• www.Freedym.com - Ryan's site OR www.RyanLee.com
• Clickbank
• The Continuity Summit
• The Consumer Health Summit

The difficulty of finding venture capital is nothing new to Divey Gulati. Divey is Co-Founder of ShipBob, a company that he started with his partner Dhruv Saxena. ShipBob provides automation and on demand shipping and packaging for small businesses. They have shipped out over 500,000 packages to date. The ShipBob team has raised over $5million in venture capital to date and serves businesses in Chicago, New york and LA.

• [0:11] Introduction to this episode and Jeremy's guest, Divey Gulati of ShipBob.
• [1:38] Software Divey recommends.
• [3:32] How Divey and his team came up with the name ShipBob.
• [4:40] The lowest moment Divey has had to push through in business.
• [6:10] How Divey and his team connected with their investors.
• [7:14] One of Divey's proudest moments for the company.
• [9:02] The biggest lesson for entrepreneurs.

Venture capital is vital for most startups and the struggle to find and secure it is common to most founders. Divey Gulati and his partner found the funding season to be one of the most difficult they faced as a team. You can learn how they weathered the storm to come out successful on the other side, on this episode.

When the recession hit a few years back Divey Gulati and his team at ShipBob were just at the beginning of their venture capital raising stage. Many investors were skittish at the time, unwilling to risk their capital on an unproven company like ShipBob. But the team pushed through and found the right investors who believed in their service and the opportunity it brought to them.

Along with the difficulties come many successes, and in a company like ShipBob, some of those triumphs are more tangible than others. When Divey Gulati was asked what some of his proudest moments have been in leading ShipBob to the success it has become, he said that he was especially proud when the company was able to open multiple distribution warehouses in different cities across the country.

In this episode with Divey, you'll hear how he and his founder made their first connection with the investors who ultimately became their primary financial partners and how that relationship has carried them to their present level of success.

And if you're looking for suggestions for software solutions to help you run your e-commerce business, Divey gives his opinion on some of the platforms his team has tried as ShipBob has grown toward success. Be sure to take the time to listen.

• ShipBob
• Shopify
• Bench
• Close.io

Our sponsor today is www.Rise25.com where entrepreneurs of 6,7, and 8 figure businesses come together live and in person every few months to solve their biggest business challenges and leave with lifelong friendships. Check out Rise25.com run by myself and cofounder John Corcoran and it is application only.

It's a Shark Tank success story this week, with Desiree Stolar, co-founder of Unshrinkit which is an emergency sweater saver. They have a patent-pending formulation that helps unshrink wool clothing back to the original size. They were featured on the hit TV show Shark Tank and got an investment offer from Mark Cuban. A wool expert was quoted saying "this could change the world of yarn." Desiree has an MBA from Harvard.

• [0:15] Jeremy's introduction of Desiree Stolar and this episode.
• [1:15] The tough reality of being an entrepreneur.
• [3:05] A huge despair moment for Desiree during the Shark Tank season.
• [11:58] Tips for those going on a show like Shark Tank.
• [16:08] Equipping the customer service team for a huge flood of interest and purchases.
• [25:04] Advantages and disadvantages of selling products on Amazon.
• [28:08] The preparation Desiree's team put into their Shark Tank experience.
• [34:55] The state of the company prior to the Shark Tank experience.
• [40:18] Shark Tank success and where the company is going now, without the buzz.
• [46:14] How the team went about building a grassroots movement of interest.
• [51:52] Things the team has tried that did NOT work (specific niches and advertising).
• [58:59] The experience of working with Mark Cuban.
• [1:03:04] What Desiree learned from the Shark Tank team of sharks.
• [1:05:24] The creation and testing of their proprietary product.
• [1:11:58] Desiree's software preferences.

A Shark Tank success story is always fun to hear because everything is so public. And it's even more fun to hear the story behind the story. Today we get that great opportunity on this episode with Desiree Stolar, co-founder of Unshrinkit. She is a stickler for details so you're not going to be left wondering what her team did to prepare for their appearance on Shark Tank or how it impacted their bottom line.

It's a common assumption that if your company gets is featured on Shark Tank you're going to experience an explosion of sales from being on the show at all, even if the sharks decide not to fund your company. After hearing this story you'll have nothing to dissuade you from believing that assumption. Desiree's company has doubled its annual sales since their Shark Tank appearance.

What is it like to be on Shark Tank? How does each of the sharks approach their consideration of a startup that comes to them for funding? And how do each of them work with a company they've decided is worth the risk? On this episode, you can hear the perspective of one of the co-founders of Unshrinkit, a company that was featured on Shark Tank. Desiree Stolar has some great insights to share.

Sometimes the things you assume are going to work to sell or promote your product simply don't, for reasons you couldn't have foreseen. On this episode of Inspired Insider, Desiree Stolar shares some of the niches and forms of advertising her team assumed were going to be a gold mine for them that were actually flops. You can learn some of their hard-learned lessons the easy way simply by listening to her story.

Toward the end of this episode, Desiree shares how she went about developing a proprietary product to sell online. The time, research, governmental hoops, and much more that her team had to endure will show you that where there's a will, there's a way. And success often follows.

• Unshrinkit webpage and the Amazon page
• Desiree (at) unshrinkit.com
• Shark Tank
• Feedback Five
• Harvard Innovation Lab
• Mass Challenge
• Tie Boston
• Knitter's Paradise
• Knitter's Review
• AdRoll
• Zopum

Brian Goulet, co-founder of The Goulet Pen Company has found one of the most challenging aspects of his success to be managing anxiety as it relates to his business and his family. He and his wife Rachel run an online retail store focusing on fountain pens, ink, paper, and other tools for the writing enthusiast. They have grown it from a mom-and-pop startup run from their dining room table to a multi-million dollar operation with over 40 team members and a 12,000+sf office/warehouse space.

• [0:11] Introduction to this episode with Brian Goulet.
• [1:34] The lowest moment Brian has had to push through: Dealing with his own calling and the impact it has on his family.
• [5:21] One of the proudest moments Brian has experienced.
• [7:46] How you can connect with Brian.

One of the most difficult aspects of business success is managing the anxiety that can crop up as you are on the road to that success. Brian Goulet shares how he's navigated that challenge, on this episode of the podcast.

When Brian Goulet was in New York City to be recognized for his success at a large event he discovered that one of the biggest challenges was not the pressure of being with his peers and heroes, but the anxiety it caused in his wife's life.

The dynamic of balancing business success and the anxiety it can bring is one every entrepreneur will face from time to time. On this episode Brian Goulet shares how he works to keep that balance.

Family is vitally important for every entrepreneur and Brian Goulet, co-founder of Goulet Pen company works hard to keep his family healthy in spite of the pressures that come due to his company's success. You can hear his story on this episode.

Rachel Goulet, co-founder of Goulet Pen Company is no stranger to business or success. She and her husband Brian have scaled their business incredibly over the past few years. But the anxiety that comes with it has been a challenge. You can hear Brian share their story on this episode.

• www.GouletPens.com
• Brian on:
• • Twitter
  • Instagram

Amazon private label is the niche that today's guest, Greg Mercer has focused on to great success. Greg is the founder of the software "Jungle Scout" which allows you to quickly and easily perform product research on Amazon and a second software product called "Review Kick" which helps people quickly and easily get reviews for their amazon products. But those software solutions are based on Greg's own success as an Amazon private label seller. Greg generates revenues in excess of $400K per month by selling his own products on Amazon.

• [0:00] Pre-show banter between Jeremy and Greg.
• [4:36] Jeremy's introduction of Greg Mercer and this episode.
• [5:31] The big mistakes Greg has made selling on Amazon.
• [6:53] Why Greg transitioned from wholesaling to private label sales on Amazon.
• [11:38] Patterns Greg discovered from losing products.
• [14:40] Greg's history selling on Amazon and what has caused his quick success.
• [17:41] How Greg uses the Jungle Scout tool to research product possibilities.
• [22:42] The differences between the two Jungle Scout tools.
• [26:44] Greg's unorthodox personal workflow and why he does it.
• [22:27] Influences on Greg growing up (his background and mentors).
• [33:42] The day Greg quit his corporate engineering job.
• [36:40] From quitting his job to becoming a successful Amazon private label seller.
• [39:11] The time Greg spends on his Amazon business now compared to the software.
• [40:40] The lessons Greg has learned from the software side of the business.
• [44:43] Customer feedback that has helped improve the software.
• [46:09] The biggest mistakes people make selling private label on Amazon.
• [51:13] The things Greg considers when he thinks about selling on Amazon.
• [54:42] The toughest times with the software business.
• [56:12] Team dynamics and issues.
• [58:24] Software Greg uses.
• [1:02:57] Greg's lowest point in business.
• [1:04:42] One of Greg's proudest moments in business.
• [1:05:26] One of Greg's favorite success stories from a Jungle Scout user.

Amazon Private Label sales is a continually growing area where many everyday people are finding it possible to build their own business online. Greg Mercer is one of the many people who is making that kind of success more and more possible. Greg's software solutions aimed at Amazon private label sellers has truly made it easier than ever for anyone to find and begin selling a successful product of their own.

Greg Mercer's software success is built on the back of his own Amazon success. He's got many years' experience selling his own private label products on the Amazon platform and has learned the mistakes and skills needed to build software that can truly help those who want to get into private label sales. Currently, Greg's company generates over $400,000 per month through product sales alone.

If you're curious about what it takes to get into Amazon private label sales Greg Mercer would tell you it's not that difficult. You need some basic tools, like his very affordable software, Jungle Scout, and a knowledge of how the Amazon platform works. From there, you can source your products from a variety of places, build a product listing yourself, and begin selling your own private label products within a relatively short period of time.

In this conversation with Greg, I ask him to share how he got started selling products on Amazon, why he left his corporate job as an engineer to do so, and how he's benefitted from taking that step. You'll also get to hear Greg's tips for building a successful private label business on Amazon. You won't want to miss this conversation.

If you want to find a way to support yourself outside of the typical 9 to 5 work hours of corporate America, this episode may contain the information you've been looking for. Take some time to get to know Greg Mercer and hear his story of brand building success online that enables him to travel, live the lifestyle of his dreams, and run a successful company remotely. It's an amazing story.

• www.JungleScout.com
• www.JungleScout.com/blog
• www.ReviewKick.com
• Doctors Without Borders
• Greg's Jungle Stix Listing on Amazon
• www.Alibaba.com
• www.GlobalSources.com
• GoPed
• Radio Shack
• Flexport
• AMZ Split
• Wav Apps
• Feedback Genius
• Salesbacker
• Slack
• Bit Bucket
• Pivotal Tracker
• Trello

Product Failures are one of the many obstacles Kimberly Crupi Dobbins has had to overcome as the founder of Simple Squares organic nutrition bars. She bootstrapped the company after going on a sabbatical from her previous company, Morningstar. She went from making the bars in her kitchen to selling over 1 million bars in year. They are sold in Whole Foods, Starbucks, and many more large scale retailers.

• [0:10] Jeremy's introduction to this episode with Kimberly Dobbins.
• [1:25] The lowest moment in Kimberly's journey and how she pushed through.
• [4:13] The proudest moment in Kimberly's journey until now.
• [6:02] How Kimberly felt when Starbucks approached her about her products.
• [6:15] Kimberly's advice for new and growing companies.

Nobody who's built a company on a product wants to see what Kimberly Dobbins saw when she picked up a box of her nutritional bars that were about to ship. A slimy goop was oozing out of the cracks of the box. Dealing with a product failure like this can be one of the lowest times for the business.

On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear how Kimberly Dobbins, founder of Simple Squares dealt with a massive failure in her product because of faulty ingredients and how she overcame the issue. It's a great example of what entrepreneurs face and how they need to persevere to find success.

On this episode, you'll get to hear Kimberly Dobbins tell the story of how Starbucks approached her to begin providing her nutritional snack bars in their shops and what it felt like to get that kind of affirmation for her product that was only 5 years old at the time.

If you want to hear how a successful woman entrepreneur struggled through one of the lowest moments in her business building journey, this episode is for you. Kimberly Dobbins shares her product failure story and why she continued to push through in spite of the difficulty.

• www.SimpleSquares.com
• www.Rise25.com