Launching a consumer brand is never easy — but launching a brewery without alcohol? That’s a whole new challenge.

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, I sit down with Joe Chura, founder of Go Brewing, the non-alcoholic beer brand redefining how we think about social drinking. Joe shares his journey from idea to launch, the countless recipe iterations, and the marketing moves that helped Go Brewing quickly find its place in a competitive industry.

You’ll hear how Joe:

• Turned a personal vision into one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic breweries in the U.S.
• Perfected the brewing process through relentless testing and innovation.
• Built an online-first business with Shopify at the core of its growth strategy.
• Leveraged subscriptions to create community and recurring revenue.
• Collected and used customer feedback to guide new products and campaigns.
• Balanced storytelling, social media, and PR to build credibility and excitement.

We also dig into the bigger picture:

• Why health-conscious consumers are fueling the non-alcoholic movement.
• How “hybrid drinking” is changing beverage culture.
• Where Joe sees opportunities in THC-infused beverages and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern CPG brand — from brewing to branding to building community — this conversation will inspire and challenge you.

🍺 Whether you’re sober curious, an entrepreneur, or just fascinated by where consumer trends are heading, Joe’s story is proof that you don’t need alcohol to build a buzz-worthy brand.

Brands mentioned:

• Go Brewing
• Easy Man
• Rich Roll
• 75 Hard
• Heineken
• Athletic Brewing
• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• Just for Men
• Simpler Hair Color
• Naperville Running Company
• Jolie

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Go Brewing and Non-Alcoholic Beers

07:33
The Journey to Starting Go Brewing

15:33
Brewing Process and Challenges

19:59
Launching and Marketing Go Brewing

28:24
Subscription Model and Customer Engagement

37:52
Future Trends in Non-Alcoholic Beverages

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Francine Voit, co-founder of Pistakio, to talk about how she turned an underused nut into a standout brand — and made pistachios fun, accessible, and delicious for everyone.

Fran shares the inside story of how Pistakio started as a college capstone project, went viral with creative sampling stunts (including a tiramisu purse that made it through TSA!), and grew into a fast-scaling DTC and retail brand — all while staying taste-first and relentlessly scrappy.

You’ll hear:
 ✅ The simple sampling strategy that built word-of-mouth and early traction
 ✅ How Pistakio turned customer feedback into product improvements
 ✅ Creative ways they inspire customers to use their spreads in everyday recipes
 ✅ Why taste-first product development beats trendy buzzwords
 ✅ How Fran thinks about growing retail, DTC, and content — without paid ads

If you love founder stories packed with practical CPG marketing lessons and organic growth tactics, this one’s for you.

Tune in, grab a snack (maybe a pistachio or two), and enjoy!

Products and brands mentioned during this episode include:

• Pistakio
• Faire
• Bezi Labneh
• Lottie's Meats
• Michele Ferrero

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pistachio and Francine Voit
02:27 The Inspiration Behind Pistachio Products
05:25 Product Development and Market Entry
09:04 Sampling Strategy and Initial Sales
14:39 Balancing Direct-to-Consumer and Retail Sales
17:46 Viral Marketing and Content Creation
19:55 Retail Partnerships and Growth Strategies
21:50 Advice for Aspiring Founders
24:09 Speed Round and Personal Insights

How do you scale and optimize 45+ Shopify stores without losing your mind—or your margins?

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan Cassidy sits down with Dov Quint, Storefronts Lead at OpenStore, to explore the playbook he’s built for operating dozens of DTC brands at scale.

You’ll hear:

• How OpenStore standardizes tech stacks without sacrificing performance
• Why A/B testing offers (and pricing) is non-negotiable
• Creative growth tactics like cashback offers that boosted list opt-ins by 40%
• What Shopify brands are doing to navigate tariffs without raising prices
• A smart strategy for post-purchase revenue (that won’t annoy your customers)
• How AI is being used for CRO, analytics, and review mining
• Why Dov is leading a mission-driven eCommerce delegation to Israel this fall

Plus, hear Dov and Dan crack a Blue Moon and discuss ASMR marketing and whether your mom should test your website (spoiler: yes).

🎧 Tune in for a masterclass in operational excellence, CRO tactics, and why sometimes the best feedback comes from your mom.

Show Notes:

🍻 Drinks of the Day:

• Dan: Blue Moon (bottle)
• Dov: Blue Moon 19oz can with bonus ASMR pour

📍 Guest Info:

Dov Quint
Storefronts Lead, OpenStore
Mission Lead, Israel Tech Mission
Connect on LinkedIn

📘 Books Mentioned:

• The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom
• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

🧰 Tools & Tech Stack Shoutouts:

• Rebuy – Smart upsells & cross-sells
• Okendo – Reviews, UGC, and surveys
• Replo – Landing page builder
• Fermat – Embedded shopping experiences
• Fondue – Cashback instead of discounts
• Onward – Post-purchase insurance + experience layer
• IntelliGems – A/B testing for price, offers, landing pages
• Microsoft Clarity – Free heat mapping tool
• Heatmap.com – Revenue-based behavior analytics

🛍️ Brands Mentioned:

• Jack Archer – DTC men’s performance apparel brand
• Jolie – Luxury filtered showerhead with powerful DTC funnel
• Brez – THC-infused sparkling beverages
• HexClad – Hybrid cookware (Jason Panzer mentioned as Tech Mission guest)

✈️ Israel Tech Mission (September 2025):

• Curated trip for eCommerce founders, execs, and investors
• Dates: Sept 14–18, 2025
• Led by Dov Quint in partnership with Israel Tech Mission
• Application link: https://tinyurl.com/ITM-for-eCommerce-Leaders
• Includes: meetings with Israeli tech leaders, Air Force base visit, NOVA site, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv
• Featured guest: Jason Panzer, President of HexClad

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, we sit down with Xeba Zareie—founder of Preme Foods, a wellness-driven CPG brand helping people with chronic illness and sensitive stomachs enjoy indulgent nutrition again.

What started as a personal battle with gut health turned into a mission: create functional, prebiotic-powered products that don’t compromise on taste or ingredients. From handmaking puddings to launching a shelf-stable, collagen-rich cocoa mix, Xeba’s story is equal parts resilience, research, and real innovation.

We talk about:

• Why most gut health products on shelves are not made for sensitive stomachs
• The difference between prebiotics and probiotics (and why that matters)
• How Xeba scaled from small-batch to co-manufacturing without compromising quality
• What most new founders get wrong about packaging, messaging, and retail
• Her exact process for landing ideal retail partners—including a few bold outreach tactics
• Why powders > puddings (at least to start)

If you’re building a wellness brand, formulating a CPG product, or launching on Shopify, this episode is packed with firsthand lessons from the trenches.

Also: it’s our Aries birthday episode—cheers to that!

Connect with Xeba Zareie
Instagram: @x_eba
Brand: @drinkpreme
More info: drinkpreme.com

Products mentioned during the episode:

• Zero to One by Peter Thiel
• Ramping Your Brand by James F. Richardson PhD
• 7 Laws of Spiritual Success by Deepak Chopra
• Organify Shilajit Gummies
• Revolve
• Erewhon
• Pistakio
• Charmlee
• Nour Dressing

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Preme Foods and Xeba Zareie

02:11
The Science Behind Gut Health and Nutrition

06:18
Founder's Journey: From Personal Struggles to Business

11:09
Scaling Production: Challenges and Solutions

12:03
Transitioning from Puddings to Powders

13:39
Navigating Retail Partnerships and Consumer Education

19:16
Marketing Strategies for D2C Success

21:19
Lessons Learned and Future Directions

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Ronnie Teja, founder of Branzio Watches, to unpack his inspiring journey from picking blueberries as a new immigrant to building a global watch brand with a scrappy $10K start.

Ronnie shares real stories of entrepreneurship—burnout, supplier scams, PayPal bans, and team drama—and how he overcame it all by staying relentlessly curious, leaning into AI, and building a brand that now operates with global scale.

They also dive into:

• The early days of Facebook ads and retail media buying
• The mindset shift from performance marketing to brand-building
• How AI is changing e-commerce—from analytics to ad copy
• Tips on outsourcing, remote teams, and hiring middle management
• His philosophy on leadership, karma, and connecting people

Whether you're a solo founder, aspiring operator, or scaling ecom brand, this one is packed with gold.

👉 Learn more about Ronnie: Just Google his name — he’s everywhere.
 🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you tune in.

Products / products mentioned:

• Ghost
• Alibaba 
• 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss 
• Traction by Gino Wickman
• Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish
• Neil Patel
• BK Beauty
• The Big Short by Michael Lewis 
• Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar
• Four Seasons

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Shopify Happy Hour

02:46
Ronny Teja's Journey to E-commerce

05:51
Lessons from Blueberry Picking

08:21
Marketing Education at Best Buy

11:31
Starting Branzio Watches

14:12
Challenges in E-commerce

16:49
Navigating Entrepreneurship

19:41
Building a Team and Leadership

22:31
The Evolution of Branzio Watches

24:50
The Evolution of Online Advertising

27:10
Shifting Mindsets: From Performance to Brand Marketing

29:41
Current Trends in Performance Marketing

31:51
Harnessing AI for Marketing and Business Decisions

36:31
Leveraging AI for Strategic Insights

39:48
Building a New E-commerce Business from Scratch

41:10
Choosing the Right Niche for E-commerce

43:19
Exceptional Customer Experiences in E-commerce

45:12
The Art of Connection and Networking

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, host Dan sits down with Nishal Kumar, founder and CEO of No Days Wasted, a science-backed recovery brand helping people enjoy life’s moments—without paying the price the next day.

Over a glass of wine (or two), Nishal shares:

• How a mountain workout routine and social life led to the idea for No Days Wasted
• The surprising science behind hangovers—and why DHM is key
• Bootstrapping the brand with a kitchen-made prototype and $30K in Indiegogo pre-orders
• How early podcast ads on Spittin' Chiclets and Call Her Daddy helped scale DTC sales
• The shift from single-channel DTC to a full omnichannel strategy including Walmart, Amazon, and TikTok Shop
• His approach to content, virality, and building a trustworthy brand in a crowded market

If you’ve ever wanted to build a brand that bridges health, science, and social life—or you just want to recover better after a big night out—this episode’s for you.

Brands mentioned:

• No Days Wasted
• Mission Cocktails
• Michelob Gold 
• Kickstarter 
• Indiegogo 
• Biz Nasty aka Paul Bissonnette
• Spittin Chiclets 
• Call Her Daddy 
• Bar Stool Sports
• Walmart  
• GoPuff
• DoorDash
• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
• 11 Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson
• Beck’s Broth 
• Nike 

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to No Days Wasted

08:52
The Science Behind Recovery Supplements

17:56
From Idea to Market: The Journey of No Days Wasted

20:57
Building Trust Through Brand Quality

21:55
From Kickstarter to Brand Growth

24:38
Leveraging Podcast Advertising for E-commerce

27:34
The Omnichannel Approach to Marketing

31:09
Balancing D2C and Retail Strategies

33:51
Harnessing Organic Social Media for Growth

37:07
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, we sit down with Kristin Charbo, co-founder and CEO of glonuts—a clean, craveable donut alternative with just 1g of sugar. Kristin shares the honest story of building glonuts from her one-bedroom apartment kitchen alongside her co-founder (and now husband) Grover, hand-making over 100,000 donuts before scaling to national retail shelves.

We dive into how they approached retail without relying on digital ads, why packaging became their best salesperson, the challenges of manufacturing a totally unique product, and how they raised capital the scrappy way. Kristin also opens up about managing PCOS through diet and how that inspired glonuts' mission to make healthy snacking more fun and accessible.

Whether you're building a CPG brand or just love a good founder journey, this one’s packed with insights—and donut jokes.

Brands mentioned:

• Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 
• Daisey Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Kif
• Erewhon
• Alfred
• Nowadays
• Zara
• French Squirrel

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to glonuts and Healthy Eating

06:21
The Origin Story of glonuts

12:14
Challenges in Manufacturing and Fundraising

20:13
Retail Strategy and Building Relationships

24:40
Marketing and Brand Differentiation

27:48
Future Plans for glonuts

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, the best-friend duo behind Good Girl Snacks, creators of the now-famous Hot Girl Pickles. From launching in public on TikTok to landing Erewhon as a retail partner within a year, Leah and Yasaman share their journey of building a pickle brand that’s bold, crunchy, and anything but traditional.

They dive into:

• How they used TikTok to build a loyal audience (before ever launching the product)
• Why social media is their most powerful (and free) growth tool
• Tips for building in public, going viral, and managing content without a big team
• Balancing best-friend energy with business structure
• Their advice for new brand owners and how they’d approach hitting 7 figures from scratch

Grab a snack (maybe a pickle?) and get ready for a fresh, fun, and insightful conversation with two sharp ladies disrupting the sleepy pickle category. 🥒✨

Brands mentioned during this episode:

• Good Girl Snacks
• Erewhon
• Shoedog by Phil Knight
• Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• Pistakio
• Brave Sauce
• Reformation

Chapters

00:00
Welcome to Good Girl Snacks

01:14
The Art of Pickle Tasting

02:45
Flavor Innovations and New Releases

05:10
The Journey of Founders

09:27
Growing in Public: Social Media Strategy

13:35
Consistency and Authenticity in Content Creation

16:28
Roles and Responsibilities of Co-Founders

17:56
Maintaining Friendships in Business

20:04
Retail Success and Market Positioning

22:30
Balancing D2C and Retail Strategies

24:07
The Future of Social Commerce

25:32
Lessons Learned and E-commerce Insights

27:12
The Secret to Crunchy Pickles

28:49
Speed Round: Quick Insights

This episode of Shopify Happy Hour features Vasa Martinez, the founder behind Perfy—a mood-boosting soda that’s not just quenching thirst but supercharging brainpower. 

Vasa takes us on a ride through his personal journey launching a brand that focuses on blood sugar regulation and brain health, while serving up innovative flavors and disruptive marketing tactics.

Get ready to discover: 

✅ The secret to forging rock-solid manufacturer partnerships
✅ Using organic social to attract distributors and retailers
✅ Winning strategies for blending D2C hustle with retail success
✅ Tools and platforms to move product early in your CPG journey
✅ Why limited time flavors can create buzz and be a win for a brand

If you’re an e-commerce founder craving innovation or a beverage buff on the hunt for the next big thing, this episode is sure to give you a new perspective on growth. 

Tune in and get ready to elevate your game—one sip at a time. 

Products / services mentioned:

• Perfy
• Quest Nutrition
• RX Bar
• Clif
• Kind
• One Bar
• Siete
• Spindrift
• Faire
• Mabel
• Popup Grocer 
• Snack Magic
• Range Me
• Aisle
• WeStock
• Klaviyo
• Sendlane
• Wholefoods
• Sprouts
• Wegman’s
• Publix
• Ayoh
• ChocZero
• Native 
• The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler  
• Founder’s Brand by Dave Gerhardt  
• Forging an Ironclad Brand by Lindsay Pedersen  

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Perfee and Its Unique Offerings

08:32
The Journey Behind Launching Perfee

17:11
Product Development and Manufacturing Insights

21:24
Navigating Early Challenges in Product Launch

24:25
The Synergy of D2C and Retail Channels

27:35
Building Trust Through Social Proof

30:21
Innovative Promotions and Customer Engagement

33:20
Strategies for Successful Shopify Brands

35:36
Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations

This episode of Shopify Happy Hour features Justin Tidwell, the visionary behind Nowadays—a cannabis-infused spirit brand that's shaking up the beverage industry. Justin walks us through the evolution of his THC beverage brand, sharing candid insights on everything from product development hurdles to the art of organic marketing. 

He explains how pivoting during the pandemic fueled rapid growth, and why authenticity in influencer marketing and customer engagement is the secret sauce to building lasting credibility.

We also explore: 

✅ Launching products only when they’re 100% ready
✅ Harnessing organic marketing on TikTok to drive rapid growth 
✅ Balancing DTC and retail growth for sustainable expansion
✅ Tailoring strategies to a diverse THC beverage market
✅ Building a strong company culture and memorable customer experiences
✅ The future of THC beverages—education, compliance, and growth potential

If you’re in e-commerce, DTC, or just curious about building a groundbreaking brand in the cannabis industry, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world experiences to elevate your game.

Products and brands mentioned:

• NOWADAYS
• John D. Rockefeller’s Letters to his Sons
• Slate Milk
• glonuts
• Kemosabe

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Nowadays and Its Unique Offering
03:09 Crafting the Perfect Beverage: R&D and Flavor Development
06:02 From Concept to Market: The Journey of Nowadays
08:57 The Power of Organic Marketing and Social Media
11:59 Building Credibility Through Customer Experience
14:51 Influencer Marketing: Authenticity Over Promotion
24:05 Understanding the Target Market
27:01 Marketing Strategies and Growth
28:50 DTC vs Retail Growth
30:25 Navigating Retail Opportunities
33:28 Future of THC Beverages
35:13 Surreal Moments in Business
36:30 Hiring for Growth
39:39 Building a Strong Company Culture
42:02 Recommended Reads and Products
44:01 Efficiency as an Entrepreneur
45:52 Memorable Shopping Experiences
47:12 Connecting with Justin