HexClad's Danny Winer Had to Lose it All to Find His $600 Million Winner

Jul 18, 2024

Danny Winer, CEO and co-founder of Hexclad Cookware, shares his inspiring journey from the entertainment industry to a culinary innovation powerhouse. He reveals how personal setbacks propelled him into entrepreneurship and the pivotal moments that led to launching a unique hybrid cookware brand. Winer talks about the significance of resilience, the shift from transactional to relational marketing, and the lessons learned through failure. He also delves into navigating celebrity partnerships and the crucial role of calculated risk-taking in achieving success.

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ANECDOTE

Pivot From Juicer to Cookware

Danny Winer pivoted from a failing juicer business to HexClad cookware in 2016.
He considers that failure one of the greatest things that happened to him.

ADVICE

Ask for Help

Ask for help when starting or growing your business.
Others with experience can get you from point A to B faster than figuring everything out alone.

INSIGHT

Focus On Workhorse Products

The cookware market was filled with interchangeable, uninspired products.
Focusing on essential "workhorse" items helped HexClad introduce their unique pans effectively.

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In 2016, Co-Founders Danny Winer and Cole Mecray launched the groundbreaking hybrid cookware brand – combining stainless steel and non-stick in a way that no other cookware brand had done before.

The scrappy duo completely self-funded the company by emptying their savings accounts, draining their 401Ks and maxing-out credit cards, and they originally packaged orders by hand and made deliveries in their personal vehicles. Everyone told them that a DTC model “would never work,” but Danny and Cole knew they could disrupt the market.

Fast forward to 2024, HexClad is outpacing the competition due to its patented technology, beautiful design and high-quality product innovation. HexClad is the first company to successfully marry stainless steel with non-stick, producing a “best of both worlds” product.

The durability and performance of stainless (excellent searing and temperature conductivity) with the ease and convenience of non-stick (super easy to clean, dishwasher safe, oven safe). Also, it’s the only non-stick on the market safe to use with metal utensils – pizza cutter, knife, whisk, etc.

The product is so well constructed that it has a lifetime warranty (most non-stick competitors last only 1-3 years).

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