The Story of a Brand Show

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.

They say, “we really expanded based on the principles of nature ultimately being our guide. We look too plants and stones. We take our stone and plant medicine seriously, and also how we align with the cosmos and seek to connect people with a more mindful beauty practice that helps with the way they look, but also their mind, body, and soul. And that's really our driving force, offering natural alternatives that are really effective and time tested.”

Today, we interview the Co-founders of Wildling, Jill Munson, Gianna de la Torre, and Britta Plug. Along with being leading Gua Sha experts, Wildling is also a farm-to-face organic and fair-trade beauty line. Their products are full of botanical and wild foraged plants. All staple ingredients in their potent facial serums and detoxifying tonics.

We discuss:

* What they are grateful for * An overview of the brand and origin story * Being a leader in Gua Sha * Why they take a holistic view * What is stone and plant medicine? * Why they look to the stars for guidance in their product recipes * The integrity that goes into their products * The concept of Skin Longevity and why it’s important * Aging, rest and regeneration from the inside out * A review of products * And more…

Join Ramon Vela, Jill Munson, Gianna de la Torre, and Britta Plug, as we break down the inside story of Wildling on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Wildling, visit: https://wildling.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Emily says, “MINNIDIPP is the very first designer inflatable pool. So that means that it was the first to market modern, on trend, adult friendly pools that feature patterns that are really fun and festive and not the sad blue pool covered in cartoons for little ones. So, really taking a design approach to reinvent the classic inflatable pool.”

Today, we interview Emily Vaca, Founder & CEO of MINNIDIP. MINNIDIP is the original, first ever modern inflatable pool.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her husband and his support * Overview and origin of MINNIDIP * Why no one was doing pools like MINNIDIP * How they became a top selling product at Target * Why their goal is to make it affordable * Entrepreneurial lessons such as being ready to pivot, how to assess what you need now, control what you can and accept that some things are going to be really hard * How she overcame the struggles with business operations * Why she views every season of design as a “fashion collection” * What’s coming up next * Where to buy?

Join Ramon Vela and Emily Vaca, as we break down the inside story of MINNIDIP on The Story of a Brand.

For more on MINNIDIP, visit: https://www.minnidip.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Joseph says, “Universe is an app on your phone that allows you to build a totally custom website in minutes with no technical skill or capital required. And you can make any kind of website. But more often than not, people are making website for their new brands. So if you are an upstart fashion designer or you make ceramics or you are a baker, you now have a tool that allows you to bring that brand into the world to shape a presence online that looks exactly like your creative vision.”

He goes on to say, “It also allows you to facilitate commerce. So we built our own commerce engine that is far easier to use than any other tool. It's completely mobile first, so you can do it entirely on your phone. You can build an inventory, transact and ship goods all from our service. So it's a website builder, but really it's a business in a box.”

Today, we interview Joseph Cohen, Founder & CEO of Univer.se. Univer.se is the first website builder and commerce platform built for mobile devices.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful * Creating something from nothing is overcoming inertia * Overview of the app and origin story * Why it’s more like a business in a box * Inspired by Snapchat and Instagram * Building a platform for the iPhone generation * How do you empower and encourage people to create? * Why it’s like Internet Legos * How it works, code blocks and support * Case studies of brands that have launched on Univer.se * Why influencers love it and why it’s unlike any tool on the market * Why the world needs creators

Join Ramon Vela and Joseph Cohen, as we break down the inside story of Univer.se on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Univer.se, visit: https://univer.se/ 

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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Arthur says, “I think most entrepreneurs these days have to give themselves a time limit. That, for example, ‘I will burn through X amount of dollars by this time. If I am not at this scale of growth, I will decide to close the business.’ Going back to the impact of social media, we make it look like you just have to work hard and the dream will happen, and that is not true. You need a great product, a great brand, a superior work ethic, lots of money, and, on top of that, a miracle.”

Today, we interview Arthur Gallego, Co-founder and former CEO of SunDaze, a beverage brand startup, that sold a new line of ready-to-drink cocktails made with an exclusive fermentation tech that transforms fruit juice into delicious, alcoholic refreshment.

In this episode, we have an open and frank discussion about how to process the shutting down of any startup, based on Arthur’s experience with SunDaze. We cover everything from the business mechanics of the beverage world to dealing with emotional health such as stress, anxiety, sleep issues, rejection, shame, identification of your personality with the business, societal pressures, and more. We also discuss how to move on, and Arthur’s return to Gallego & Co.

We discuss:

* Overview of SunDaze startup story
* Reasons the brand shutdown
* Working with retailers and impact of cost & margins
* Burning through cash
* How to deal with stress
* Feeling like your creative self has gone dormant
* Identifying with failure
* Breakdown: why you experience rejection
* Why we don’t talk about failure
* Arthur’s example of success when you’re much older, via iconic chef Julia Child
* Why you are not in a race against your age
* Lessons from the industry
* Arthur’s example of marketing success, via CANN (episode 971 & 972)
* Every brand needs a miracle and what he learned from Daina Trout
* Metrics of growth, including Whole Foods example
* If you’re going to do it (launch a beverage or alcohol startup), there’s a lot to learn from this episode

Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego, as we break down the inside story of when a “beverage brand startup shutdowns” on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Gallego & Co., visit: https://www.gallegoandco.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Tom says, “we didn't want to create a company just to be in the pet space. I wanted to create a company that really affected the lives of people and the animals inside the home through great fresh nutrition. And I knew if we could do that brick by brick, by bringing amazing, fresh nutrition both in fresh meals that we cook here in our kitchens, or our freeze-dried raw, or our organ treats. If we brought great nutrition to these animals who give us nothing but love and care for us all the time, then I knew we could make the household actually a better house, a better environment because people are living a healthier life.”

Today we interview Tom Arrix, Founder and CEO of Get Joy. Get Joy’s holistic dog wellness experience offers fresh full meals, Fresh Freeze-Dried full meals fresh toppers or mix-ins, Freeze Dried Organ Treats, chews including 100% all natural bully sticks and naturally shed Elk + Deer Antlers.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his family * The concept of the Fox Hole and why they use it internally * Overview of the brand and origin story * Story about his dog with lymphoma and how the doctor influenced him * Process foods and dog nutrition * Why his team is so important to the brand and mission * Breakdown of Get Joy recipes * What does their customer avatar look like? * Their focus on dog gut health and why it’s crucial * Discuss on new and future products including telehealth, supplements * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Tom Arrix, as we break down the inside story of Get Joy on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Get Joy, visit: https://getjoyfood.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Anouck says, "Is there something important about making them in Belgium? I think the importance is about quality. And right now we are achieving this quality in Europe. We, as a brand, have decided on behalf of the consumer to never lower our quality. That is something that our brand stands for. I don't know if our consumer knows where our products are made? They buy it because it tastes delicious. It's better quality and the fact that it's made in Belgium is added value."

Today we interview Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys. Belgian Boys is a Woman Owned brand, with a majority female workforce that produces delights for every time of day, from breakfast to dessert, all made in Europe for sharing worldwide.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her brother who helped with mindfulness * Overview and origin of the brand * Learning from mistakes * Why they make their product in Belgium * How they broke through the competition * Their journey with retailers * Advice for other founders, including dealing with naysayers, ask for advice, learn from tough experiences * New products and more…

Join Ramon Vela and Anouck Gotlib, as we break down the inside story of Belgian Boys on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Belgian Boys, visit: https://www.belgianboys.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Eddie says, “it’s like going to gym, a gym for your mind. And in the beginning, no one enjoys exercising when they first start. Obviously, there are a few exceptions, but the same is true with meditation. It's really, really freaking hard to develop a meditation practice. But once you do, and once you're doing it, you sort of get runners high and it becomes this sort of beautiful practice and you have a beautiful relationship with your cushion or your bench because you're sitting on it for so long.”

Today we interview Eddie Cohen, Founder of Walden. Walden creates products to inspire ritual, encourage the present moment, and honor tactility. Their products help create space for the self.

We discuss:

* Why he’s grateful * The story of his 10 day meditation retreat and what he learned * Arriving at a fork in the road with his career * An overview of the brand and the difficulty in launching * Product philosophy and the story behind the Candle clock * Product reviews including meditation cushion, bench, essential oils, aromas, and timer * His thoughts on meditation apps like calm * Plans for the future * How has meditation helped him * Why design is so important to him * Building a brand from an idea * Quite hours and rituals * Why gratefulness is so important

Join Ramon Vela and Eddie Cohen, as we break down the inside story of Walden on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Walden, visit: https://walden.us/

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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Clara says, “taste is paramount in terms macros or nutrition content. For me, it's always been about being under 200 calories, 10 grams of protein, high fiber. All the things that a nutritionist would tell you to look for because my product has to do a job. It's not just a fun snack. Even though it is fun and it's fun to eat, it has to actually keep you full. It has to get you through mid afternoon slump or get you from breakfast to lunch and keep you full.”

Today we interview Clara Paye, Founder of UNiTE Food. Their mission is to UNiTE people using food as an instrument of inclusion. They make globally inspired flavors with wholesome, gluten-free ingredients and superfoods for a nourishing, high-protein snack.

We discuss:

* Her gratefulness for her media exposure when they launched * Her experience launching the brand during the pandemic * How she went from plumbing to Food & Beverage * The origins of the brand * Her lessons learned in launching a retail brand * Her retail partner strategy * An overview of her products, including flavors and recipe philosophy * How her bars are a tool for wellness and more * Why she believes that wellness can be profitable * Advice for founders of food & beverage brands * What Clara’s most proud * Her struggles with ADD * And more…

Join Ramon Vela and Clara Paye, as we break down the inside story of UNiTE Food on The Story of a Brand.

For more on UNiTE Food, visit: https://unitefood.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Khalil says, "we're looking for people to be engaged and excited about their fitness lifestyle & wellness. If people can make it into a lifestyle where it transcends what happens within that hour that they work out and becomes part of their identity, this is where we see people stick with our fitness routine for a very long time."

Today we interview Khalil Zahar, Co-Founder & CEO of FightCamp. FightCamp delivers the most exhilarating and effective form of home fitness through interactive boxing workouts, streamed to your device on demand.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his parents for how they raised him * Overview of the brand & mission * The first iteration of their company, including how they originally worked with professional and Olympic athletes and their pivot to the consumer market * Challenges in moving to a consumer model * Providing a path for people to get better fitness instructions and results * Why they want to introduce people to boxing culture * Misconceptions with boxing workouts and why it works your full body * The future of FightCamp, including a system that tracks other exercises * Their community on Facebook

Join Ramon Vela and Khalil Zahar, as we break down the inside story of FightCamp on The Story of a Brand.

For more on FightCamp, visit: https://joinfightcamp.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.

Alright, guys, 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.

Paul says, “for us shipping protection is a white glove experience that you as a consumer can add at the checkout level to your cart that helps protect you against lost, theft, damage, basically anything that could happen in transit, but also offset 100% of the carbon that's associated with your order.”

Today we interview Paul Bartholomew, Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer. Corso provides carbon offsets + shipping protection to Shopify brands.

We discuss:

* His gratefulness for his wife * Overview and origins of Corso and why they are merchant focused * Why post-purchase is so vital * How brands can be more sustainable * Trends that they see in the market, including sustainability, outsourcing, and more * Advice for entrepreneurs, including trusting your team * Advice on growth * How Corso works with brands, including onboarding, fees * Their new upcoming suite of products

Join Ramon Vela and Paul Bartholomew, as we break down the inside story of Corso on The Story of a Brand.

For more on Corso, visit: https://www.corso.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.

Alright, guys, 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!