The Barcode Podcast

My guest today on The Barcode Podcast is Scott Jensen of Rhythm Superfoods, a healthy-snack conglomerate with tons of different products on the shelf. He gives us a sneak peek into his story leading to where he is now. We hear some funny stories and some tough stories, but the underlying message is that hard work will make you successful.

Full show notes and transcript available at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast.

Part of your success as a CPG brand is your ability to surround yourself with a team that can help you win in the details where you may not be an expert. That could mean having a great accountant or financial controller, a good banking relationship, and especially a good lawyer.

Today we're talking with attorney Matt Bair about many of the details and things you should be thinking about as you launch and scale your CPG brand.

Transcript available at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast

Today we're going to do something a little bit different. Our initial plan was to spend some time really kind of going over what had happened at Expo West last week. Well, as many of you know, Expo West didn't happen. 

So instead, we're going to actually talk about trade show strategy. Which shows should you attend? How should you budget? Why does it matter that you are there? Who will you meet? What is your plan for creating an experience for those who will visit your booth?

Learn from Ben's experiences and wisdom so that you're prepared for the next big show.

Complete transcript and links available at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast 

Our guest today on The Barcode Podcast is Serenity Carr, co-founder, and CEO of Serenity Kids – a company that makes and sells paleo food for babies 6 months and up. In today's episode, like always, we take a sneak peek behind the curtain. We learn how this new mom built her consumer-packaged goods startup into the big brand it is today. She isn't afraid to tell the messy stories about panic and fear because ultimately it led her to this point in her journey.

Serenity started her career in corporate America. She worked for John Deere in Iowa for a spell in her younger years. Later she transitioned to working for Dell. She didn't find passion in either of the products offered by these companies and just yearned for something more. She was later looking in the baby food section for a paleo option and was surprised not to find any. She started doing the research and having some conversations before realizing her calling in life; she needed to introduce the first company that sells a line of paleo baby food. But it wasn't as easy a journey as you'd expect. Show notes and links at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast

Today we are talking with Taylor O'Neil, CEO of Richard's Rainwater. 

Yes. Rainwater.

After working on Wall Street for years, through a series of relationships and introductions, Taylor found himself running a rain collecting operation turned bottled water company in Dripping Springs, Texas. 

We're talking about what it takes to turn the rain into superior, sustainable drinking water, how Richard's is also working to create sustainable packaging and the differentiation advantage they enjoy as the only rainwater brand in an aisle full of water shipped from all over the world.

More episodes at https://barcodemedia.com/podcast 

We hear the stories of entrepreneurs coming up with a brilliant idea for a product, getting it to market and exiting to a large food conglomerate or private equity firm for millions of dollars and think that is always the way things go. The truth of the matter is, it's often much more of a roller coaster and far different behind the scenes than we realize.

Today we're talking to Caroline Freedman on the podcast. She and her co-founder Lauren McCullough came together 10 years ago to found NurturMe, a baby food company based in Austin, TX. They exited last August, and in this conversation with Caroline, she walks us through the good and bad, hard and exciting of taking an idea all the way through to exit. 

Transcript and links available at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast

This week on The Barcode Podcast, we're talking to Rick Wittenbraker and how he went from commodities trader to the Chief Marketing Officer for Howler Brothers - a design-driven, Austin, Texas based outdoor apparel company.

A well-thought out, immersive brand has the power to create a true tribe. And Rick has been able to do that at Howler Brothers and previously during his time at YETI.

Listen in as Ben and Rick have a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of people and community and how knowing the personality of a brand can make that brand truly magnetic.

Entrepreneurship starts with a problem to be solved. We often think that a product needs to be created to solve that problem, but that is not always the case.

In Jessica Honegger's case, her company when she invited women into her home to create a marketplace for talented artisans in Uganda as she and her husband were raising money to grow their family through adoption. Jessica continued gathering women together to buy these beautiful handmade goods, and the business took off. Today, Noonday Collection creates economic opportunity for over 4,000 artisans living in vulnerable communities around the world - partnering with over 2000 social entrepreneurs across the US, who are able to earn an income and make an impact.  

Listen in as Ben and Jessica discuss the challenges of growing a business in the US while partnering with their artisans overseas, the power of an integrated mission in growing your brand, how leaning into your strengths as you courageously address your weaknesses can help you grow, and how partnering with like-valued people is the best way to win in the marketplace.

Maggie Louise Confections creates memorable experiences in gift-giving by creating customized, hand-painted chocolate pieces. After spending years as a mergers and acquisitions attorney, CEO and Creative Director Maggie Louise Callahan took her passion for culinary art and her creativity and crafted a custom product that has caught the attention of discriminating gift-givers across the country.

Join us for this conversation where we take a look at what can really happen in your business when Oprah says you're her "favorite," the importance of infusing creativity in your business, and how the right combination of hard work, solving a problem for your unique customer and following your passion can create an exceptional product and a thriving business.

Links and complete transcript available at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast.

Be present. Be patient. Be content with where you are today.

That might not sound like the typical frame of mind for a startup founder, but that mindset has allowed Ryan Cummings to create and grow a very specific niche that perfectly solves his customer's problem.

After adopting his dog Rigsby and trying everything he could to bring him back to health after months in a shelter, Ryan took a look at the food available for Rigsby and decided if processed food isn't good for humans, it can't be good for dogs either. After building Rigsby's health with a whole new diet, Ryan slowly started building his company, The Bones & Co. through word of mouth. He's gone from delivering hand-packed foam containers of his raw, ketogenic dog food to caring pet parents all over Austin, to now having his products carried in over 30 states across the US.

Join us for this conversation where we discuss the power of slow growth, why selling in the farmer's market might be the most valuable thing you do for your growing brand, and keeping your mental health as an entrepreneur.

Complete transcript and show notes at https://barcodestartup.com/podcast