Shopify Happy Hour

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

In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with David Fudge, co-founder and CEO of Aplós, a brand redefining non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails.

David shares the journey behind Aplós, from the art of mixology to crafting functional beverages that don’t compromise on flavor or experience. He dives into the growing demand for premium non-alcoholic options, why consumers are shifting habits, and how Aplos is positioning itself in this evolving market.

We also explore the challenges of building a beverage brand, including:
✅ Balancing D2C and retail—how Aplos approaches distribution.
✅ Marketing in a competitive space—strategies that work (and don’t).
✅ Post-purchase experience—why customer connection is key.
✅ Authenticity in branding—what makes a brand truly stand out.

If you're in DTC, retail, or just love learning from brand builders, this episode is packed with valuable insights on creating a premium product and scaling a brand the right way.

Brands mentioned:

• Aplós
• Lesse
• Adgile Media Group
• Mixology Masterclass
• Lynnette Marrero
• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
• Barney’s

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aplos and Non-Alcoholic Spirits
01:15 Exploring Aplos Cocktails and Their Unique Ingredients
09:05 The Role of a Master Mixologist in Non-Alcoholic Beverages
14:29 Balancing Flavor and Functionality in Non-Alcoholic Spirits
18:34 Consumer Demand for Non-Alcoholic Options
24:44 The Distinction Between Canned Cocktails and Bottled Spirits
28:35 The Effects of Non-Alcoholic Spirits
30:03 The Inspiration Behind Aplos
34:43 Building a Brand: Early Strategies
39:13 Influencer Marketing and Authenticity
42:39 Marketing Strategies: Hits and Misses
47:30 D2C vs Retail: Growth Strategies
52:03 Connecting with Customers: The Personal Touch
56:08 Rapid Fire Insights

Will Nitze, founder and CEO of IQBAR, shares how he built a brain and body fuel brand from the ground up.

This episode is packed with game-changing insights for founders and health-conscious hustlers!

Will reveals:

• The "secret" growth hack that helped him generate his first $90K in sales—something you won’t find in any marketing book
• How he built an email list of 100K subscribers without spending a dime on paid ads
• The brain-boosting science behind IQBAR’s ingredients and why they work
• How a bold Kickstarter launch helped turn IQBAR from an idea into a brand
• Why he pivoted from just “brain food” to a full-body performance nutrition approach
• The toughest manufacturing challenges he faced—and how he powered through them
• Why pricing is actually a marketing strategy—and how to use it to your advantage
• The founder’s role in product development—and why you can’t afford to outsource it too soon

Tune in now to get the inside scoop on how Will built a profitable, mission-driven CPG brand from the ground up.

Products and brands mentioned during this episode:

• IQBAR
• Mission in a Bottle by Seth Goldman and Gary Nalebuff 
• Grain Brain by David Perlmutter 
• Traction: Gino Wickman
• Traction: Gabriel Weinberg
• Clean Skin Club

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to IQ Bar and Its Offerings
03:01 The Science Behind IQ Bar's Ingredients
06:09 Evolution of the Product: From Brain Food to Body Fuel
12:02 The Journey of Launching IQ Bar
17:49 Kickstarter Success: Strategies and Insights
27:16 Funding and Financial Challenges
30:23 Product Evolution and Manufacturing Journey
37:08 Navigating Manufacturing and Supply Chain
42:12 Marketing Strategies and Sales Channels
50:42 Achieving Profitability Through Volume
54:12 Lessons Learned and Future Strategies

Yash Chavan, founder and CEO of Saral, breaks down a smarter way to approach influencer marketing and why brands are shifting from paid media to earned media.

This is a must-listen for e-commerce brands looking to scale influencer partnerships as he explores:

• The pyramid approach to influencer marketing and how it helps brands scale effectively
• Why seeding products to influencers is the best way to find top-performing creators
• The power of earned media and why brands are moving away from paid ads
• Why Instagram Stories are one of the most effective content types for influencers
• How to identify the ideal creator persona for your brand
• Why revenue should be seen as a side effect of strong influencer relationships
• How brands can use influencer feedback to improve products and marketing

If you’re looking to turn influencers into affiliates, ambassadors, and long-term partners, this episode is packed with insights! 

Brands and products mentioned during this episode:

• Araku coffee
• Relentless by Tim Grover
• Ridge
• Hexclad
• Nooe
• Bacha Coffee

Timeline:

00:00
Introduction to Influencer Marketing and Saral

02:15
The Genesis of Saral: Simplifying Influencer Marketing

04:15
Understanding the Influencer Marketing Landscape

05:51
Successful Strategies in Influencer Marketing

09:11
The Pyramid Approach to Influencer Engagement

10:36
Selecting the Right Influencers for Your Brand

12:34
The Importance of Feedback from Influencers

15:50
Content Types and Their Effectiveness

18:15
Comparing Influencer Platforms: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube

22:40
Maximizing Influencer Relationships

30:25
Understanding Influencer Motivations

37:29
Key Performance Indicators in Influencer Marketing

42:09
Building a Brand from Scratch with Influencers

45:21
Speed Round Insights

Jennifer Commins, founder of Pluck Tea and certified tea sommelier, shares her journey launching and growing her premium, eco-friendly tea business. 

This is a must-listen for tea lovers as she explores:

• the journey of tea from leaf to cup
• the health benefits of matcha, and why it's different than other tea
• one surprising truth about tea most people don't believe
• using restaurants as a paid-sampling program to grow DTC sales
• how Shopify saved her business during the COVID-19 pandemic
• one game-changing business decision Jennifer wish she did earlier
• why brand storytelling through organic social is a priority

Brands and products mentioned during this episode:

• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• Fevertree
• Pluck Tea: use code HAPPYHOUR20 on your first order

Timeline:
00:00
Introduction to Pluck Tea and Jennifer Commins

03:07
The Journey of Matcha: From Leaf to Cup

05:59
Understanding Matcha Preparation and Quality

09:02
Health Benefits of Matcha and Green Tea

12:00
The Process of Tea Production

15:07
Tea Brewing Techniques and Best Practices

17:56
The Importance of Tea Bags and Sustainability

21:14
Personal Health and Fitness Journey with 75 Hard

29:25
Embracing the Challenge of 75 Hard

34:17
The Journey to Starting Pluck Tea

43:52
Building a Brand Through Relationships

49:51
Adapting to Change: The Shift to D2C

53:17
Lessons Learned and Future Strategies