The Empowered Challenger

Listen in as Jaime discusses her entrepreneurial journey - from making batches of 20 deodorants on her kitchen stovetop to eventually storming the shelves of CVS, Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods.

A “Lightning Rod Personality” is one of the 5 traits your brand can leverage, and today, Prentice is diving into Part 1 of this 5-part series.

Tom Broughton is the Founder and CEO of Cubitts, the modern spectacle maker based in King’s Cross, London, England.

Cubitts frames, named after the historic streets in King’s Cross, are constructed with custom Cubitts pins that secure right through the acetate. The delicate process is done by hand to ensure the hinges can be easily maintained.

Tom grew up wearing and loving spectacles, and he actually started designing frames out of sheer passion at his kitchen table. Listen in as he discusses the importance of melding timeless, classic fashion with function in the eyewear industry. 

Spoiler alert: This is not another Warby Parker.

Check out Prentice’s take on how you can gain brand advocacy and turn customers into devoted fans. Work on the following and you’ll be toppling giants in no time.

Samantha Ettus is the CEO and Founder of Park Place Payments, a credit card processing company with a social mission to get people, specifically women, back into the workforce.

In this episode of The Empowered Challenger, Samantha discusses her emergence in the Fintech space, why she is determined to change a flawed ‘this is the way it’s always been’ system, and her passion for championing women.

Park Place Payments offers clear and transparent pricing, a different kind of workforce, and a high touch ‘Rolls Royce’ level of customer service. It’s a brand that looks nothing like the competition and works to zig when the others zag.

For many of us, the uncertainty of what’s to come and how all of this will play out is the biggest challenge while facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Listen in as Kendall Antonelli, founder of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, explains how she and her husband, John Antonelli, are adapting, and more importantly, avoiding inaction.

Instead of waiting around, the Austin, Texas-based cut to order cheese shop has pivoted and made moves when it came to precautions.

From starting phone and online orders to stocking essential items such as eggs and produce to shipping a ‘Cheese 101’ in a box, you’ll hear how Antonelli’s is thinking outside the box and moving - FAST - during these difficult times.

You don’t want to miss this one!

Welcome to the first episode of Prentice’s new solo series - Prentice’s Corner - as he shares the four characteristics of challenger brand customers. Which brands are doing it right? Tune in to find out.

As Tony’s Chocolonely’s ‘Choco Evangelist,’ Ynzo Van Zanten travels the globe sharing the company’s mission towards achieving industry-wide 100% slave-free chocolate.

Their chunky, flavorful chocolate bars can be found in many Whole Foods grocery stores in the U.S., online,  and all around the world. With a zero paid media policy, Ynzo explains how colorful, feel-good packaging, unique recipes, and uplifting copy carries their message against child slavery.

Listen in as Netherlands native Ynzo discusses the hidden realities around chocolate, how Tony’s Chocolonely markets a serious problem with an uplifting tone, plus dives into how COVID-19 is impacting business.

In this installment of the “Challenger Thinking During a Crisis” series, Prentice walks through 5 ways to shift your messaging during a time of crisis.

Many brands are coming off as tone-deaf, cutesy, and even self-serving - and it’s not a good look. As Prentice says, ‘If you don’t have anything of substance to say, it’s best to stay quiet.’

The world has changed overnight. As a marketer, are you pivoting with it? Or are you missing the mark?

Restaurants have been forced to shut down and operators are working overtime to pivot. In this special edition of The Empowered Challenger Podcast, I had the chance to connect with Ben Siegel, owner and founder of Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin, Texas. Ben shares his methodology for making decisions during a very uncertain time, his plans for replacing lost revenue and how he and his management team continue to keep positivity and kindness at the forefront.