Operators

Founder anxiety. Sleepless nights. Standing on the brink of bankruptcy. Anyone who’s put their own chip on the table knows just how painful leading a brand can be. What if it wasn’t just one brand, but a portfolio of companies?

Join hosts Matthew Bertulli and Jason Panzer as they explore Roman Khan’s journey from staring into the abyss to building a holdco of multiple +$100M brands as the president of Peak 21.

Discover the challenges + triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of distribution over product, and Roman’s unique approach to scaling brands like Raycon, Linjer, Nutrition Kitchen, and more. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and brutally honest inspiration.

Operators Titans is brought to you by AppLovin.
Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits here: https://www.9operators.com/paid-growth. Or launch your ads today with our exclusive link: https://applovin.com/9operators.

In this episode, the Operators dive deep into the realities of business planning and what happens when things inevitably go off track. They discuss the necessity of formalizing operations as you scale, using frameworks like EOS for quarterly planning and setting OKRs. The hosts share tough lessons on why forecasts are always wrong , the three main reasons plans fail (bad goals, poor execution, or market forces), and the critical growth levers for scaling: brand awareness, new products, and international expansion. They also cover the intense financial discipline required when taking on bank debt and managing covenants , the importance of managing shareholder expectations versus reality , and the best strategies for communicating bad news to your team—like "going ugly early" while always providing hope.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:19:49 Breaking Down Our Quarterly Planning Process

00:33:40 Top Down vs Bottoms Up Strategy

00:49:09 A Tough Lesson in Tripping Bank Covenants

01:03:53 How to Deliver Bad News

Powered By:

Fulfil.io.

https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu

The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands.

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

Postscript.

https://postscript.io/

Richpanel.

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Saras.

https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_more

Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperators

Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:

https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:

https://9operators.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Bill and Josh from Baseball Lifestyle to unpack their incredible growth story, from a high school Instagram account to a projected $150 million business. They share the secrets behind their success, including the power of niching down in a passionate community and the relentless consistency of posting content for years to build an audience. We dive deep into their bootstrapped financing strategy, leveraging first-order profitability and revenue-based financing to scale inventory and marketing. Bill and Josh also discuss the critical operational challenges of hyper-growth, the importance of their unique founder partnership, and how their high-frequency product drop model fuels an impressive customer LTV. Discover how they successfully balanced their DTC roots with a massive wholesale expansion into retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods, turning their brand into a nine-figure behemoth.

Chapters:

00:03:50 - Introduction

00:22:35 - Power of a Great Business Duo

00:41:44 - North Star Metric for Your Business

00:57:21 - Painful Reality of Hyper-Growth

01:18:15 - How to Balance Wholesale and E-commerce

Powered By:

Fulfil.io.

https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu

The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands.

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

Postscript.

https://postscript.io/

Richpanel.

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Saras.

https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_more

Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperators

Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:

https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:

https://9operators.com/

Jack Gia shares his expansive journey from enterprise technology to investing to founding Muesly, a prescription skincare brand with over one million customers and $100M in annual revenue.

Along with hosts Matt Bertulli and Mike Beckham, they discuss the importance of innovation, learning from failures, and the challenges of building a telehealth platform. Jack emphasizes the significance of community engagement and real customer stories in marketing, as well as the core ethos of DIY. He offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs — a calculated yet action-oriented approach to business.

Operators Titans is brought to you by AppLovin.
Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits here: https://www.9operators.com/paid-growth. Or launch your ads today with our exclusive link: https://applovin.com/9operators.

What's it like to build the fastest-growing company in American history... and then watch it all come crashing down? We sat down with John Hefter, co-founder of the legendary Amazon aggregator Thrasio, for a brutally honest conversation about the company's wild ride from a multi-billion dollar unicorn to bankruptcy.John takes us from the very beginning, launching from a co-founder's basement with a simple Google search to raising nearly $3.5 billion and reaching a staggering $9 billion valuation. He shares the incredible inside story of "Angry Orange," the pet deodorizer brand that became the "smell of gold" and proved their model could work on a massive scale.But with insane growth came chaos. John pulls back the curtain on the dark side of the Amazon marketplace, battling black-hat sellers and the operational nightmare of acquiring four companies in a single week. He reveals the surreal moment he knew the dream was over, standing at a lavish party in Cabo when he got the call about a single, catastrophic $450 million inventory mistake.This isn't just a business story; it's a cautionary tale about the real cost of moving too fast. Tune in to hear John's unfiltered take on the future of Amazon FBA, his hard-won advice for founders, and what comes after surviving the unicorn rollercoaster.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction

00:05:10 - How Thrasio Started in a Basement

00:19:11 - Insane Pre-COVID Growth

00:23:18 - Beginning of the End

00:41:39 - The Moment It All Blew Up

00:53:57 - Future of Amazon FBAPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_moreSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

What is the future of e-commerce? In this episode, the Operators tackle the biggest questions facing brands today. We explore the rise of "Agentic Commerce" and the concept of the "Me Store". A future where personal AI assistants curate and conduct our shopping, potentially replacing the traditional e-commerce storefront as we know it.The conversation then dives deep into one of the most critical topics for any founder: brand. How do you distinguish between building an enduring brand versus chasing a fleeting trend? We break down the Stanley cup phenomenon as a case study and debate the best ways to measure true brand power. Is it about pricing power and repeat purchase rates, or is brand evangelism the ultimate metric? Finally, we explore different strategies for brand growth and category expansion, looking at how to stay true to a core customer while still finding new avenues for growth. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on the threats, opportunities, and strategic pivots required to win in the next era of commerce.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction00:06:15 - Stealing Marketing Ideas from 50 Years Ago00:17:47 - How AI Will Change E-Commerce Forever00:36:44 - How Do You Actually Measure "Brand"?00:49:30 - Analyzing Post-Purchase Survey Data00:56:52 - Brand vs. TrendPowered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_moreSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

Hosts Matthew Bertulli and Sean Frank go behind-the-scenes with Katy Mimari, founder and CEO of +$100M baby brand Caden Lane.

Katy shares her 21-year entrepreneurial journey, detailing the motivations behind starting her company, the challenges faced during economic downturns, and her pivotal decision to transition into DTC.

She discusses the importance of product expansion, compassionate leadership, and the lessons learned throughout her journey.

Katy reflects on the decision not to sell her company along with the personal growth that has come from navigating the complexities of business ownership, going from single mother to blended family, and life.

Operators Titans is brought to you by AppLovin.
Get access to the Operators channel expansion playbook, online masterclass, and up to $5k in ad credits here: https://www.9operators.com/paid-growth. Or launch your ads today with our exclusive link: https://applovin.com/9operators.

This conversation explores the dynamics of remote and hybrid work models, the impact of company culture on brand identity, and the generational differences in workplace engagement. The speakers discuss the importance of flexibility, accountability, and how to navigate controversies within brand communities. They emphasize that a strong culture can enhance brand performance and that the future of work may lie in a hybrid approach that balances in-person and remote interactions. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of branding, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, customer acquisition, and the need for brands to be remarkable. They discuss how successful brands often evolve based on customer feedback and the significance of data in shaping brand strategies. The conversation also touches on the role of influencers and counter-positioning in establishing a brand's identity.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

07:55 Balancing Flexibility and Accountability

14:30 Generational Perspectives on Work and Learning

20:19 The Role of Culture in Brand Identity

40:35 The Essence of Branding

55:46 Fluidity in Targeting Customers

01:05:00 The Role of Data in Brand Strategy

01:15:20 The Impact of Influencers on Brand Success

Powered By:

Fulfil.io.

https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu

The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands.

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

Postscript.

https://postscript.io/

Richpanel.

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Saras.

https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_more

Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperators

Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:

https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:

https://9operators.com/

In this episode, the Operators break down how to build a world-class product development organization. They dive into how to structure your product team and debate who should own the process from idea to launch. They also tackle the classic question of whether your strategy should be marketing-led or product-led.

Drawing from their own expensive mistakes and huge successes, the hosts share hard-won lessons on the toughest challenge of all: choosing what to make. They share their strategies for balancing groundbreaking 'hero' products with simple, iterative improvements. They also explain the critical difference between products designed to acquire new customers (CAC products) and those built to increase customer lifetime value (LTV products).

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

05:45 How to Structure Your Product Team

19:21 Deciding What to Make

30:16 Learning from Wins And Fails

44:16 The "Ready to Launch" Dilemma

Powered By:

Fulfil.io.

https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu

The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands.

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

Postscript.

https://postscript.io/

Richpanel.

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Saras.

https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_more

Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperators

Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:

https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:

https://9operators.com/

In this episode of the Operators Podcast, Krishna Poda, CEO of Saras Analytics, joins the hosts to break down the tangible ways AI is revolutionizing business operations. The conversation moves beyond the hype to explore how companies are leveraging artificial intelligence for significant productivity gains across various departments. They discuss the foundational importance of creating a centralized "single source of truth" for data, which allows AI tools to provide instant, accurate business insights and automate reporting that once took analysts days to compile. The group also shares real-world examples, from building AI-powered "ad factories" that generate massive volumes of creative content to developing custom internal GPTs that act as a company "brain" for streamlined communication, onboarding, and strategy. Ultimately, the discussion highlights how AI is becoming an indispensable operating system for modern businesses, enabling teams to analyze customer feedback, refine product development, and make faster, more informed decisions.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

06:04 - AI as an Operating System

20:51 - Getting a Business "AI Ready"

37:39 - Generative AI for Content

54:43 - The Future of Remote Work and AI

01:07:24 - Developing an AI Strategy

Powered By:

Fulfil.io.

https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu

The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands.

Northbeam.

https://www.northbeam.io/

Postscript.

https://postscript.io/

Richpanel.

https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdesc

Saras.

https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_more

Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperators

Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:

https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS

Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here:

https://9operators.com/