The Story of a Brand Show

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Kelley says, "I was just astounded. What guy is educated enough about skincare to understand what these products are? There's nobody that I know in America that is in my sphere of friends or business people that would understand any of this, and I sure didn't. But big cosmetic companies really thought that they could market skincare to men how they market for women. And it just didn't work out very well. That's why Tiege has been so successful. Our tagline is Uncomplicated Skincare for men."

Today, we interview Kelley Thornton, Founder & CEO of Tiege Hanley, Inc. Tiege Hanley is an uncomplicated skin care company for men, with the sole mission of taking out the guesswork by giving you every product you need and nothing you don't. The products are not only high quality but are affordable as well.

We discussed:

* What he's grateful for * The difficulties of building a business and lessons learned: Purchase Point story * What is entrepreneurship PTSD? * How he's applied previous lessons learned to Tiege * Building a voice in the market * Spotting cultural changes to find a market opportunity * Break down of ingredients and COGS * Why they produce their own products and why it's a competitive advantage * How their recycling efforts cost them more money but worth it * What the future holds for Tiege, including TV spots * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Kelley Thornton as we break down the inside story of Tiege Hanley, Inc. on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Tiege Hanley, Inc. and to get a 30% discount, visit: https://tiege.com/storyofabrand

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Chelsea says, "I think what we're seeing is everybody's looking at every area for ways to tighten their budget and their marketing dollars. And what is exciting about what's possible with D2C is you're still seeing this pushback into stores, but those that have invested well into D2C, realizes it influences the store purchase."

Today, we interview Chelsea Jones, Co-founder of Chelsea & Rachel Co. One of only five woman-owned Shopify-Plus Preferred Partners in the world, Chelsea & Rachel, Co has a proven track record of delivering increased sales for eCommerce clients.

Focused on consumer food and wellness brands, Chelsea & Rachel, Co., is quickly leading the path on UX/UI design and custom Shopify development for enterprise brands looking to make a significant impact.

We discussed:

* What she's grateful for * Her origin story and overview of Chelsea & Rachel * What to do when you feel stuck * How do you raise kids when you're a mom and entrepreneur? * The big trends in the market * Current challenges faced by brands and solutions * What's working and what's not working * What type of brands does she work with * Why everything starts with strategy * And so much more…

Join Ramon Vela and Chelsea Jones as we break down the inside story of Chelsea & Rachel Co. on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Chelsea & Rachel Co., visit: https://chelseaandrachel.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Liz says, "Perky plant is a hundred percent organic fertilizer in an easy-to-use shaker bottle for house plants. So picture your spice jars that are sitting in your kitchen right now but full of organic fertilizer for those house plants. You can just put it on your counter, put it on your shelf next to your plant, and it's a reminder to feed your plant and keep it healthy."

Today, we interview Liz Murphy, Co-founder & CEO of Perky Plant. Perky Plant is a plant food additive made of organic, water-soluble nutrients and bio-stimulants that make your plants as Perky as can be. Perky Plant comes in an easy-to-use shaker bottle that makes watering fun!

We discussed:

* What she's grateful for * Working & learning for established entrepreneurs * The road from intern to Co-founder & CEO * Attending college and running a brand: how she manages the hustle * Identifying the market opportunity * Overview and mission of Perky Plant * Working with influencers * Advice for college students * Last words on mental health and plants * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Liz Murphy as we break down the inside story of Perky Plant on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Perky Plant, visit: https://perkyplant.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Gracia & Benjamin say, "from a skin perspective, most people think of skin as something that they should treat from a topical standpoint. Skin is our largest organ. Our gut is really the place where every single health practitioner, every human, everybody should focus first."

Today, we interview Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver, Co-founders at BROC SHOT. BROC SHOT is a daily shot for beauty, body + brain powered by a certified broccoli sprout powder formula that the TGA (Australia's version of the FDA has even approved) as a medicine.

BROC SHOT contains broccoli sprouts which contain the highest amount of the active compound, sulforaphane, of any vegetable–50-100x more than mature broccoli. Sulforaphane is clinically proven to fight free radicals that cause cell damage and premature aging, detoxify the body from pollutants, stabilize and strengthen the gut barrier to enhance immunity and normalize bowels, and improve and support brain function.

We discussed:

* What they are grateful for * The problem with many products: "bit of science, lots of marketing" * Sulforaphane: The magical compound and what it does * The 3 key functions of BROC SHOT: Gut health, inflammation, detoxification * Why you need to take it - Ramon's story * How cooking broccoli kills the Sulforaphane and sprouts are the way to go * Why beauty starts in the gut? * Collagen vs protein vs multivitamin vs sulforaphane * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver as we break down the inside story of BROC SHOT on The Story of a Brand.

For more on BROC SHOT, visit: https://brocshot.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Harry says, "I think the part about the company that really excites me is the things that we have done to provide resources and experiences for people to fulfill their full potential. We launched a mentoring program last year. Our goal is to personally one-on-one mentor, thousands of people, where we're providing them with one-on-one connection with outsiders, experts, mentors to help them overcome whatever's getting in their way of achieving what they want to achieve."

Today, we interview Harry Arnett, Co-founder & CEO of MUNICIPAL. MUNICIPAL was created to inspire, build & showcase a community of self-made, unstoppable people.

Simply put, MUNICIPAL is a mindset. It pushes you to make big things happen. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. Commit to your dream. Put in the reps. And be unstoppable.

Co-founded by Mark Wahlberg, the Sport Utility Gear they create will give you the comfort, style and versatility that you need to pursue your full potential.

We discussed:

* What he's grateful for * Deciding to be an entrepreneur * Wanting the brand to be much more than a transaction * Mark Wahlberg and the brand ethos: be unstoppable & make big things happen in your life * His background and origin story * Redefining how people see and experience comfort * Their focus: clothing that says something about you * Their mentoring program and turning their ethos into reality * A breakdown of the materials and men's and women's line * What's he most proud of about the brand? * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Harry Arnett as we break down the inside story of MUNICIPAL on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MUNICIPAL, visit: https://municipal.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Today, we interview Vanessa Barboni Hallik, Founder & CEO of Another Tomorrow. Another Tomorrow launched in January 2020 and are an end-to-end sustainable luxury ready-to-wear collection and platform.

They have a transparency initiative that will ensure each of its products, particularly its articles of clothing, come with a tag equipped with a QR code. This QR code links customers to a product ID page that offers transparency on the history of the product. This includes the manufacturing location, shipping process, material composition, and more. Another Tomorrow believes that transparency is key in the fashion industry, and that this partnership is an excellent way to both gain trust with customers and inform them of its business practices.

Another Tomorrow also launched a resale program, aimed at, in part, at reducing production of new clothes, which from their point of view, is the only way that resale can help fashion to reduce its overall environmental footprint.

We discussed:

* What she's grateful for * Her transition from Financier to Fashion * Why fashion was ripe for transformation * Fashion's problems the sustainability * Values that guide the brand: Animal, Human, & Environmental Welfare * Transparency and their Providence Journey * Treating Clothing as an Asset * Embracing Re-commerce as a way to produce less * A breakdown of materials used * Their Fashion * And the future of Another Tomororw

Join Ramon Vela and Vanessa Barboni Hallik as we break down the inside story of Another Tomorrow on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Another Tomorrow, visit: https://anothertomorrow.co/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Aaron says, "My wife always reminds me that things always work out. I know that viscerally, I've lived that. I think as entrepreneurs, we get so deep in the weeds and the stress of the business and how many people are counting on us from our employees or investors, our customers that we forget that. It might have been Tony Robbins, that said everything always works out and if it hasn't worked out yet, it hasn't reached its full resolution. Life is not happening to us. We're not victims of external circumstance. Life is happening for us."

Today, we interview Aaron Hinde, President and Co-founder at LIFEAID Beverage. LIFEAID's focus is on great tasting, wellness enhancing, and functionally driven supplement products. LIFEAID Beverage Co. has become a trusted brand among athletes, health-conscious and performance-minded consumers.

We discussed:

* What he's grateful for * His financial collapse in 2008's Real Estate recession * Reframing your thoughts * The role of attitude and effort in our success * Why life is simple: make better decisions * What is negative soft talk, negative loops, and how to flip it to the affirmative * Breaking down the concept of the A.T.M. (Alignment. Trajectory, and Momentum) of life * How to build and keep momentum: "keep doing the little things" * Breakdown of beverage products including FITAID Energy + Sports Recovery

Join Ramon Vela and Aaron Hinde as we break down the inside story of LIFEAID Beverage on The Story of a Brand.

For more on LIFEAID Beverage, visit: https://www.lifeaidbevco.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Forest says, "...most of the agencies are just pretty bad. I hate to say that, but they are. You know, folks are spending way too much or they're getting someone way too junior or it's an agency that pretends to be good at everything, but they're really great at just one or two things. And so we're helping [our clients] kind of cut through all the clutter and make sure that they have the right stack."

Today, we interview Forest Bronzan and Scott Briggs, Partners at MachForty. MachForty helps ambitious companies solve complex problems and be best-in-class. Their active team has been operators, founders, and growers who have built and exited some of the most innovative brands in their class.

They approach problems with real-world experience rather than theoretical ideas and bring this operational excellence to serve Fast-Growth to Enterprise Brands.

We discussed:

* What they are both grateful for * Scott's and Forest story: from how they built their business to their exits * Why you should focus on the company, not on the exit (sounds counterintuitive but it works) * The false myth of retiring after an exit * Why most agencies are bad * Why they want to roll up their sleeves again and help Fast Growth to Enterprise Brands * What's working and not working for brands * Why they see opportunity with text & SMS and email but with data * Who they work with and how and how they can add value * Last words: why you need to take care of your partner (spouse, loved one, etc)

Join Ramon Vela, Forest Bronzan and Scott Briggs as we break down the inside story of MachForty on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MachForty, visit: https://www.machforty.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Becca and Jess say, "It is the utility. They are so practical and I love the idea that you should have things in your home that serve a purpose and that you believe to be beautiful. And to me I still have the original locker that I literally picked up off the side of the street because it's a reminder of the beauty that I saw in this rusty old banged up locker that really needed a lot of love to make it practical… it's got a story, it's got history and metal furniture ages gracefully, you know, whereas something that's made out of MDF if it gets wet or it gets soggy the edging peel off it."

Today, we interview Becca Stern and Jess Gray, Co-Founders of Mustard Made. Mustard Made has reimagined old school lockers to make them pretty + practical for your home, work space + kids' rooms. They're here to make life a little more tidy.

Mustard Made was founded by Becca and Jess, two sisters living on opposite sides of the world who always had the dream of building a business together.

We discussed:

* What they are both grateful for * What they were doing before the brand * What was it about lockers that excited them enough to start the brand * The power of the brand's vision * The multiple challenges faced by the brand including packaging, fire on boats, Suez Canal, sandstorms, typhoons and more * Their secret for getting through hardships ~ not being surprised when things happen (expectation & acceptance) * Their story of launching in America * Putting "problem solving" as your job description as an entrepreneur * Supply Chain issues and why they now add in buffers to delivery dates * A review of their product: lockers and more… * The challenges of scaling the business * Their 3 core values * Why it's important to define who you are and who you want to be * As the business grows, so should you as an entrepreneur

Join Ramon Vela, Becca Stern and Jess Gray as we break down the inside story of Mustard Made on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Mustard Made, visit: https://www.mustardmade.com/

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Dan says, "If I weren't the co-founder of this company, I would be a customer because… we make products that cater to people just like me and we try to convey through the ethos of our brand the messaging that life could be lived on your own terms. And that makes it easy to relate to our customers and have thoughtful and effective marketing that appeals to them. I sometimes feel like when we're writing ads, we're writing them for me."

Today, we interview Dan Demsky, Co-founder & CEO of Unbound Merino. Unbound Merino is stylish, simple Merino wool apparel that can be worn for weeks or even months without ever needing to be washed. That means you can ditch the enormous suitcase, because all you'll need is your carry-on. We've created travel essentials that will bring out the true minimalist in you.

We discussed:

* What he's grateful for * Traveling, doing the interview from Mexico * His thoughts, as CEO, on remote work and productivity * How the pandemic and lack of travel impacted the brand and what they did about it * How the pandemic made them savvier, stronger, more profitable * The best places to manufacture outside of China (why China is no longer the least expensive) * Why having investors is like having a boss (and why they don't have any) * The simplicity of e-commerce model and why it suits them * Their brand ethos: life can be lived on your own terms * Introducing a line for Women * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Dan Demsky as we break down the inside story of Unbound Merino on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Unbound Merino, visit: https://unboundmerino.com/

Listen to his past episode where we go into more of the founding story:

Part 1 - Unbound Merino - The Everyday High-Performance Clothing https://sites.libsyn.com/119400/unbound-merino-the-everyday-high-performance-clothing

Part 2 - Unbound Merino - Do the Work. Momentum will Follow. https://sites.libsyn.com/119400/unbound-merino-do-the-work-momentum-will-follow

Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for "The Story of a Brand" on your favorite podcast player.

*

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

Here's the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They're giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!

This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it's entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.

When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you're one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.

Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!