The Story of a Brand

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io and Nimble. Today, we interview Christina Dorr Drake, Co-Founder and CEO of Willa’s Oat Milk. Willa's Organic Oat Milk is on a mission to change the plant-based milk category for good and forever. Willa's uses real, organic ingredients to create deliciously smooth oat milk. Highlights: * Her Gratitude Story * What Walter Robb, former CEO of Whole Foods, saw in Willas * How and why her Grandmother came up with Willa's Recipe * The Willa's Mission * Why some other brands aren't as healthy as they claim, and why Willa's is different * Lesson: Taking the risk of being the first * Not just an alternative to milk but something nutritious * Why their chocolate milk is so good, how they honor the single source Peruvian cacao, how they work with indigenous  farmers, and why that is so important * Building a brand that lives its values, is congruent with its values, and can sustain itself. * Challenges, pandemic, being omnichannel, and how that helps * What trust means to Willa's * The Innovation Christina is Seeing from Smaller Brands * Review of the recipe and main products * Innovation is an opportunity to include partners in the ideation process          Join Ramon Vela and Christina Dorr Drake as we break down the inside story of Willa’s on The Story of a Brand. Visit Here to Get 20% off Your Order: https://willaskitchen.com/discount/RAMON20   Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s Sponsors: Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Visit my special link to receive the offer.    Nimble.ai: https://www.nimble.ai/ Do you need to reduce your fulfillment costs to remain competitive? Switch to Nimble's fulfillment services and SAVE! Visit Nimble for more, and please let them know you heard it on The Story of a Brand Show. SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/ Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my special link to receive the offer. 

This episode is brought to you by Vdriven, Tidio, and SARAL. Today, we interview Luke Abbott, Founder and CEO of Vdriven. Vdriven is a CPG agency dedicated to helping forward-thinking leaders in the natural food space realize their potential and accelerate their growth. Their mission is to democratize the natural industry by coming alongside you, providing guidance and support as you navigate the complex retail landscape. Highlights: * His Gratitude Story * Story: why encouragement is the biggest gift you can give * Why it’s hard to see clearly when you’re stressed and anxious * Advice Luke would give to someone struggling * Welcome fear and then let it pass and why fear is not the enemy * Advice: understanding your financials is crucial * How he bought a 30 million dollar company using the law of attraction * Lesson: commit to something and be true to your values * Lesson: using mentorship and coaching to help you scale your brand * Why you should hire people who are smarter than you are * Challenges in the market and solutions * Priority: focus on financials, cash position, and COGS * Solution: focus on where you spend money and be open to doing things differently * Is now a good time to start a CPG brand? * The Emerging Brand as Hypothesis strategy * How Vdriven helps brand, their free masterclasses, and ideal client * Parting words: don’t be afraid to ask for help * And so much more…           Join Ramon Vela and Luke Abbott as we break down the inside story of Vdriven on The Story of a Brand. For more on Vdriven, visit: https://www.vdriven.com/ Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s Sponsors: VDriven - A Partner to CPG brands: https://www.vdriven.com/ Are unauthorized distributor deductions hurting your bottom line and cash flow? Over the last three years, Vdriven recovered over $1 million in erroneous deductions from distributors. Vdriven supports brands with an array of services to accelerate sustainable growth, including deduction management. Use the link above to learn more and schedule a call. Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link.   SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/ Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my special link. 

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy, Reviews.io, and SARAL. Today, we interview Brian Pedone, CEO of Quiet Punch. Quiet Punch is the most affordable and all-inclusive home boxing solution available. Their platform tracks performance, connects users, and dramatically increases engagement. Their mission is to “make boxing and combat sports accessible to all regardless of their living situation.” Highlights: * His gratitude story: a father who helped him with boxing. * Starting a boxing club in College * He started a gym for high schoolers and did coding to pay the bills. * Moving to Manhattan and  making money doing corporate training (boxing) * Boxing is the Gateway Drug to Training * Changing the connotation of training * How he came up with the Quiet Punch idea * How he started mass marketing the product, Part 1 (The infomercial) * Lesson: Don't give your idea to someone else; do it yourself. * Getting the money for his first 1000 units. * How he started getting orders with a trending video * Capturing emails and building his FB followers * Hard lessons: selling at a loss, letting the patent expire, and not caring about margins. * Life lesson: do not wait until you’re retired to do what you want * His Shark Tank Story and Lessons Learned. * Almost doing a deal with Damon John * Big Lesson: it's better to be balanced than to get too high or too low and then crash * Overview of Quiet Punch: what it is, how it fits on the door, how people use it * Conducting a study on how boxing helps people 65 and older with their cognitive health * Why he isn't offering a subscription * His deal with Everlast to getting into retail. * Gamification: challenging others online * Review of Quiet Punch exercise programs * And more…    Join Ramon Vela and Brian Pedone as we break down the inside story of Quiet Punch on The Story of a Brand. For more on Quiet Punch, visit: https://quietpunch.com/ Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s Sponsors: Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer The Reviews.io platform drives 18.5% of total online revenue for leading brands. Sign up to get 20% OFF the lifetime of any plan. Risk-free, no contracts and a 90-day money-back guarantee. Rebuy Engine: https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso  Rebuy uses AI to create personalized experiences for every shopper. Get a a no-credit card 21-day trial. SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/ Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you, offer weekly check-ins, and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. 

This episode is brought to you by Saral and Vdriven. In today’s episode, we interview Ryan Espi, Co-Founder & CEO of First Light Whiskey. First Light Whiskey is a smooth, coffee-flavored whiskey that can be enjoyed neat, on ice, or mixed into your favorite cocktail. It’s made with naturally gluten-free 99% corn whiskey, real coffee extract, and raw blue agave — crafted with love on the coast of Southern California. Highlights include:  * His Gratitude Story * What his mentor taught him: “All Boats Rise.” * What he took for granted about his parents * Taking the Van Wilder path in college * The lesson he learned from his design firm * How did he get started with First Light, and why * How his hobbies and passion make him a better version of himself * Deciding what type of company they wanted to build * Overview and challenges of the alcohol industry * Breaking down the First Light recipe * Why they want people to have a First Light moment: How they named the brand * Internal challenges as a manager and leader * Advice for founders * Launching a D2C offer * What he’s proud of about the brand Join Ramon Vela and Ryan Espi as we break down the inside story of First Light Whiskey on The Story of a Brand. For more on First Light Whiskey, visit: https://www.firstlightwhiskey.com/ Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s sponsors:   Vdriven - A Partner to CPG brands: https://www.vdriven.com/ Are unauthorized distributor deductions hurting your bottom line and cash flow? Vdriven has recovered over $1 million in erroneous deductions from distributors. Vdriven supports brands with deduction management and an array of services to accelerate sustainable growth. Schedule a call today. SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon  SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link. 

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & Tidio. In today’s episode, we interview Vytautas Juskevicius, Chief Marketing Officer at Tidio. Their suite of live chat, chatbots, helpdesk tools, and AI solutions enables brands of all sizes to offer quick and qualitative support and create real connections with your consumers so you can drive the business forward. In this episode, we discuss: * His Gratitude Story * How marketing can bring value to the customer * The future of marketing and marketing roles * How AI will impact the field of marketing * Who is Tidio - an overview * What role will AI play in customer service * Lyro and why it’s important to get AI right for their customers * How Lyro works for customers * How Tidio’s full suite of products helps brands * Tidio is turning customer service into a revenue generator * The democratization of AI customer service for SMBs * Criteria for becoming a Tidio customer * How Tidio works with Partners * What does Tidio do that makes him so proud? Hint: It’s their customer service Join Ramon Vela and Vytautas Juskevicius as we break down the inside story of Tidio on The Story of a Brand. For more on Tidio, visit: http://www.tidio.com/story Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s sponsors: Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link. SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon  SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link. 

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & WAIR. “Almost every week we hear about there being plastic particles found in the deepest trenches of the ocean, on the highest mountains, in our blood, which is really, really scary. So people are more and more aware of this plastic problem and are actively looking for solutions to cut plastic out of their lives.” In today’s episode, we interview Nicole Doucet, Co-Founder & CEO and Jess Page, Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer of Open Water. Open Water is an ultra-purified, electrolyte-packed canned water in BPA-free aluminum packaging. Is it recyclable? Check. Climate Neutral? You bet. Plus, they encourage you to fill up at the tap whenever possible, really. Highlights:  * Their Gratitude Story * How did they come up with the idea and what was the motivator? * Why is buying bottled water such a stupid idea? * How and why did they decide to use aluminum packaging? * Were they entrepreneurs looking for an idea or was it an idea looking for an entrepreneur to take it forward? * How they overcame challenges such as the widespread use of plastics * The difficulties in getting the business off the ground * The 3 ways they tried to get ahead of the challenges * Why they stayed away from retail in the early days * Their advice for founders including, get a co-founder * Their huge mistake in naming the brand and what they recommend to others * What was it about not having a label on the can that was really important to them? * How are they building a business with sustainable practices as well? * What they are really proud of about the brand & business * And so much more…  Join Ramon Vela, Nicole Doucet, and Jess Page as we break down the inside story of Open Water on The Story of a Brand. For more on Open Water, visit: https://drinkopenwater.com/ Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s sponsors: Sendlane - Email & SMS Tool for Brands: https://storybrandgift.com Get a step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane. Go to my special link.  SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon  SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.  WAIR, Tool for Apparel Brands: https://www.getwair.com/ With just a few simple questions, customers have an accurate recommendation based on their unique body shape that will support them throughout their shopping session. The stats don't lie, most brands will see an immediate increase in conversions upon installation. Want to provide this service to your shoppers, visit and request a demo.

This episode is brought to you by SARAL & Tidio. In today’s episode, we interview Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC). ESC is passionate about redeeming typical business practices into “doing good, better” with the hope of leaving a positive and lasting ripple in their wake.  They are on a mission to seed joy through abundant giving by donating 10% of net profits to impactful conservation organizations and initiatives. Since 2016, over $3,100,000 has been donated.  Highlights:  * His Gratitude Story * Mission-based brands have a magnetic force around them * Why mission-based brands should focus on providing an exceptional customer experience * How to keep the mission front and center with employees and customers * Why do they name their chocolate bars based on the endangered animal and not the ingredients? * How they use packaging to further the mission * Conservation is hard work and why they donate 10% of profits to these organizations * Curt describes the values of the company * What is he most proud of about Endangered Species Chocolate? * Is there a secret sauce to the longevity of a consumer brand? * A breakdown of ingredients and products * And so much more…  Join Ramon Vela and Curt Vander Meer as we break down the inside story of Endangered Species Chocolate on The Story of a Brand. For more on Endangered Species Chocolate, visit: https://www.chocolatebar.com/ Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * Today’s sponsors: Sendlane - Email & SMS Tool for Brands: https://storybrandgift.com Get a step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane. Go to my special link.  SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands): https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon  SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link.  Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my special link.

This episode is brought to you by Rebuy. In today’s episode, we interview Anna Peck and Steve Ford, both Co-Founders of Chia Smash.  Chia Smash is a superfood jam that's good for you, your tastebuds & the planet. No added sugar, packed with superfoods and made using 'imperfect' fruits. In this episode, we discuss:  * What they’re grateful for * Overview and origin story of the brand (and their meeting at Blue Apron) * What a summer job at seventeen taught Steve about entrepreneurship * The impact that upbringing and health were for Anna in starting the brand * Why Chia and what is it about Chia Smash that makes it different from the rest * How they overcame challenges in naming the product * What activities worked for them in getting the product to retailers * Advice for other founders who are building a CPG brand * Why it’s okay to not have everything figured out * What to do when you have trouble with co-packers and suppliers * A breakdown of their product including their different flavors * What is upcycling and why do they use it (plus how it is sustainable) * And more…  Join Ramon Vela, Anna Peck and Steve Ford as we break down the inside story of Chia Smash on The Story of a Brand. For more on Chia Smash, visit: https://chiasmash.com/ Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. * This episode is brought to you by Rebuy Engine. It’s easier than ever to set up an online store these days. But, creating personalized shopping experiences for every customer? That’s the hard part.  Using proprietary technology, industry-leading integrations, and fully-customizable merchandising, Rebuy gives you the power to create personalized experiences for every shopper.  Boost your order values, increase conversions, and accelerate your business with Rebuy.  Visit https://www.rebuyengine.com/foundersparadiso today for a no-credit card 21-day trial.

This episode is brought to you by Reviews.io & Nimble. In today’s episode, we interview Co-CEO’s Denielle (Verdi) Finkelstein and Thyme Sullivan of UNICORN A TOP Product. UNICORN is the enchanting period product company revolutionizing the industry with their magical, innovative solutions.  Their one-of-a-kind dispensers, designed for every stall in businesses, offer unparalleled dignity and convenience. Their sleek, easy-to-install acrylic dispensers showcase their delightful unicorn mascot cartridges, elevating the experience. Highlights:   * Building a brand in the traditional way * Taking a good hard look at the numbers and where it was leading them * Having tough conversations with their investors * Deciding to pivot from Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) to Business-to-Business (B2B) * Beta testing their new vision with JP Morgan Chase - Story with Jamie Dimon * Planning the re-brand, pausing social media, and filming a LinkedIn series documentary * Why the re-brand and new focus is all about scaling their original mission of supporting women and  ending period poverty * Why the “Fun Factor” is so important to them? * What these founders are grateful for * Where to buy - using Amazon for individual purchases * Raising a third round of funding * And so much more…  Join Ramon Vela, Denielle (Verdi) Finkelstein and Thyme Sullivan as we break down the inside story of UNICORN on The Story of a Brand. For more on UNICORN, visit: https://www.magicaldopamine.com/ Original Interview with TOPs - The Organic Project TOP - Period Products for Girls, Moms, and Mother Earth - Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-of-a-brand/id1435740265?i=1000477642067 TOP - New Standard in Feminine Hygiene Care - Part 2 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-of-a-brand/id1435740265?i=1000477790389 Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. Today’s Sponsors: Reviews.io: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer Nimble: https://www.nimble.ai/

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane & SARAL.   In today’s episode, we interview Jon Brandon, Co-Founder & CEO of FORIA. FORIA is a lifestyle brand on a mission to support lifelong pleasure and sexual wellbeing. Foria’s all-natural, organic and award-winning formulas support a woman’s most intimate needs.   In 2014, FORIA literally created the category for plant-based women’s sexual support, with a revolutionary cannabis based topical designed to enhance pleasure.   Since then, they’ve been setting the standards in the plant-based sexual wellness space and they've expanded our clean, innovative and highly effective botanical formulations to support healthy intimate experiences across every stage of her life.   Highlights:    * Why he’s grateful for his parents * The Taboo around sexual wellness products * Reducing the society’s stigma * Why we’re the most stressed and anxious society in history * How we’ve weaponized distraction * Why you can market sexual wellness products for men but not for women * Describing his why and motivation when things get tough * How his divorce transformed him * Foria’s key pivot and product evolution * Why they are launching products around “Phase of life” * How his customer has changed and grown * A product review breakdown * And much more…   Join Ramon Vela and Jon Brandon as we break down the inside story of FORIA on The Story of a Brand.   For more on FORIA, visit: https://www.foriawellness.com/   Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player. *   This episode is brought to you by SARAL   As a founder, have you always wanted to start an influencer program but never got around to it? That’s because doing the entire process can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re new to it and have limited budgets.    SARAL helps you solve these problems. They offer the simplest influencer marketing tool in the world. You can find untapped influencers, automate outreach, and build relationships at scale using their platform.    For an ecommerce brand, it’s like having an unfair advantage.    SARAL is offering an exclusive 14-day free trial for my listeners. They will also do a special strategy session to make sure you’re set up for success. Go to my special link at https://www.getsaral.com/champions/ramon  * This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Here’s the deal: I have a gift for you from our primary sponsor — Sendlane. They’re giving away their online course eCommerce Academy - Email & SMS Marketing!   This course gives you the step-by-step playbook to drive more revenue and retention with email & SMS. This is typically a $500 package, but for our listeners, it’s entirely FREE when you get started with your FREE 14-day trial of Sendlane.    When you do, chat with their support team and let them know you’re one of our listeners to get full access to hours of course content that will help you make email marketing your #1 growth engine.   Visit https://storybrandgift.com to get the details, sign up for a free trial and get your gift!