Advice Line with Gary Erickson of Clif Bar (May 2024)
Dec 5, 2024
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Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar, joins Valerie Franklin from Artisans Cooperative to provide essential advice to budding entrepreneurs. They tackle intriguing questions from founders like James, who’s transforming recycled plastics, and Elsie, who accidentally created a pet hair remover. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of community-focused growth, innovative grassroots marketing, and the challenges of launching a collaborative marketplace against giants like Etsy. Their insights blend humor and practical wisdom, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit.
Gary Erickson highlights the significance of grassroots marketing and community engagement in building a loyal customer base for Clif Bar.
Elsie discusses her innovative pet hair remover while seeking advice on scaling marketing efforts amidst competition from major brands.
Erickson suggests strategic partnerships and influencer marketing as effective strategies for expanding brand visibility in a crowded marketplace.
Deep dives
The Journey of Clif Bar's Founder
Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar, shares the story of how he fought to keep his company independent despite numerous acquisition offers. After years of hard work, he sold Clif Bar for nearly $3 billion in 2022. His journey reflects a deep commitment to his brand, which started as a personal project aimed at cyclists and evolved into a popular energy bar for a wider audience. By focusing on quality and community engagement, he avoided selling too early, enabling Clif Bar to develop into one of the leading brands in the energy food market.
Building a Community for Success
Erickson emphasizes the significance of connecting with a niche community during Clif Bar's early days. By distributing bars at cycling events and engaging directly with athletes, he created a loyal customer base that helped drive initial sales. This grassroots marketing approach allowed him to gather feedback and refine the product in a way that larger marketing methods could not. The success was built on genuine relationships and understanding the needs of a specific group, which later expanded into the general consumer market.
Marketing Strategies in a Competitive Landscape
When faced with competition from established brands like Power Bar, Erickson highlights the importance of clear communication about the unique benefits of Clif Bar. He recalls a memorable print ad campaign that caught attention while also leading to a lawsuit, which became a publicity boost. This illustrates the idea that being bold and taking risks can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities. He advises that demonstrating the product's quality and forging strong consumer connections are essential to breaking through the noise in a crowded marketplace.
Innovative Approaches in Pet Product Marketing
Elsie, founder of Lily Brush, discusses her innovative pet hair removal tool that addresses a common issue faced by pet owners. Her product is designed to be sustainable and efficient, highlighting its advantages over disposable rollers and vacuuming. Despite facing challenges from cheaper imitations, Elsie emphasizes the long-lasting quality of her product as a competitive edge. She seeks advice on scaling her marketing efforts and creating brand awareness in a marketplace dominated by massive competitors like Amazon and Etsy.
Exploring Collaborations for Growth
During the conversation, Gary Erickson suggests that Elsie consider partnerships with established brands like Bissell to expand her reach. By aligning with other brands that share a target audience, she could get more visibility for her Lily Brush products. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of influencer marketing, advising her to reach out to lifestyle influencers who can showcase the product to a broader audience. These strategies could help build brand recognition and boost sales while navigating the competitive landscape.
Clif Bar founder Gary Erickson joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders about expanding their customer base.
Today we meet James, who recycles water bottles into one of the most sustainable plastics on the market. Then Valerie, a leathercrafter with a co-op of artisans born from a strike against Etsy. And finally, Elsie, who accidentally invented a pet hair remover while cleaning her dog’s muddy pawprints.
If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.