Valerie Franklin

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, 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.