Missy Tannen: Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Boll & Branch
Mar 31, 2025
auto_awesome
Missy Tannen, co-founder and chief product officer of Boll & Branch, once a teacher and stay-at-home mom, reveals her inspiring journey in the world of luxury bedding. She discusses the challenges of launching a brand rooted in ethics and quality, transforming the market with transparent sourcing. The conversation touches on the evolution from a direct-to-consumer model to physical retail spaces, the strategic growth leading to significant revenue, and the importance of self-reflection and kindness in the entrepreneurial journey.
Missy Tannen's journey from teacher to entrepreneur illustrates the importance of recognizing market gaps and pursuing ethical alternatives.
Boll & Branch's commitment to sustainability and personalized customer experience has been key to its rapid growth and retail expansion strategy.
Deep dives
Early Career and Transition to Entrepreneurship
Missy Tannen began her professional journey as a third-grade teacher after graduating with a degree in elementary education. She enjoyed teaching but left her career to become a stay-at-home mom, fulfilling a lifelong dream of motherhood. In 2014, while shopping for bedding, she recognized a gap in the market for ethical and high-quality options, prompting her to partner with her husband Scott to create Bull&Branch. Their personal connection to the mission of providing accessible luxury bedding led to significant investment in ethical sourcing and supply chain innovation.
Commitment to Ethical Practices
Bull&Branch stands out for its commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. The couple focused on developing a traceable supply chain by working directly with organic cotton farmers and fair trade materials. This included visiting India to establish partnerships with manufacturers committed to ethical labor and environmental standards. By prioritizing quality and transparency from seed to product, Bull&Branch set a new industry standard that resonated with consumers prioritizing ethical consumption.
The Launch and Marketing Breakthrough
The official launch of Bull&Branch came in January 2014 after a short delay to ensure product quality. Initially relying on word-of-mouth among friends and family, they faced a sales slump two months into operation. However, a pivotal Wall Street Journal article highlighting the brand and its commitment to sustainability generated significant attention, resulting in rapid sales growth. This initial success marked the beginning of strong brand recognition and set the stage for future marketing strategies.
Expansion and Future Vision
Following its successful launch, Bull&Branch expanded into retail, with physical stores allowing customers to experience their products firsthand. Tannen emphasizes the importance of customer engagement through knowledgeable staff who offer personalized assistance in-store. The brand also aims to enhance its online presence and accessibility by integrating technology to visualize bedding options for customers. With plans for further retail expansion and continued product innovation, Bull&Branch is positioned to solidify its place as a leader in ethical luxury bedding.
Missy Tannen is the co-founder and chief product officer of the luxury bedding and linens company Boll & Branch. She began her career as a third-grade teacher before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom to her three children. In 2014, she and her husband (and co-founder), Scott, were hoping to upgrade their bedding but struggled to find quality products at a reasonable price point. Missy began researching the world of bedding and noticed a dearth of quality items available, as well as unethical business practices. So, she and Scott set out to build something better, resulting in Boll & Branch, which they launched in 2014. The company has its own, transparent supply chain and uses 100% organic, fair-trade cotton from a nonprofit farming cooperative in India. The brand carries soft, durable, classic linens and has expanded into new categories like bath towels, pillow inserts, and more. Over the last decade, it’s seen huge growth, topping $200 million in revenue last year. Boll & Branch originally started as a direct-to-consumer company but now has several retail stores and plans to open seven new ones in 2025. It is also carried in major retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.
Use code SECONDLIFE20 for 20% off your order! No minimum. Expires 4/30. Supima and Reserve excluded.