How I Built This with Guy Raz How I Built Resilience: Bert and John Jacobs of Life is Good
Sep 17, 2020
Bert and John Jacobs, the co-founders of Life is Good, share their inspiring journey of resilience and optimism. They discuss navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, from strategic pivots to e-commerce to innovative printing methods. The brothers emphasize the importance of community and core values like gratitude and authenticity in their business culture. With personal anecdotes, they highlight how fostering optimism can guide teams and customers through turbulent times, showcasing the power of collaboration and emotional connections.
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Pandemic Impact
- Life is Good, a $100M revenue apparel company, faced potential bankruptcy during the pandemic.
- Retail store closures, representing half their business, forced them to explore new sales models.
Direct-to-Consumer Pivot
- Switch to a direct-to-consumer model by investing in technologies like direct-to-garment printing.
- Design products that resonate with current events and consumer sentiment, like pandemic-themed apparel.
Supply Chain Shift
- Life is Good traditionally operated on a 12-18 month wholesale retail cycle.
- COVID forced their shift to direct-to-printing, enabling faster response to consumer demand.
