Gary Erickson

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 asked his mom, "Can you make a cookie without butter, sugar or oil?" The result was Clif Bar, an energy bar named after his dad — now one of the most popular energy bars in the U.S. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar and a pioneer in the energy bar industry, shares his entrepreneurial wisdom along with Valerie Franklin from the Artisans Cooperative, an alternative marketplace for handmade goods. They tackle unique questions from early-stage founders, diving into sustainable innovations in plastics and community-driven marketing strategies. Erickson's tale of resilience against acquisition offers and Franklin's insights on crafting a cooperative space highlight the importance of collaboration in building successful brands and navigating competitive markets.

Join Christina Tosi, the innovative founder of Milk Bar known for her delicious desserts, and Gary Erickson & Kit Crawford from Clif Bar, who are committed to social responsibility, as they discuss resilience in challenging times. Tosi shares her determination to deliver joy through baking despite setbacks. Meanwhile, Erickson and Crawford highlight their generous donations of Clif Bars to frontline workers during the pandemic, emphasizing community support and leadership. Together, they explore adaptability and the importance of morale in maintaining strong businesses.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so we bring you this favorite from the last year: Clif Bar. Gary Erickson asked his mom, "Can you make a cookie without butter, sugar or oil?" The result was an energy bar named after his dad — now one of the most popular energy bars in the U.S. PLUS for our postscript "How You Built That", we check back with Alec Avedessian about Rareform, his line of bags made out of old highway billboards. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.