The Story of a Brand

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Kevin says, “we set up this program where all of our employees are shareholders. They come to work and have a culture of ownership, and everybody is engaged and behind the mission. So we haven't had the labor problems that you've seen over the last year or two. And that's been a blessing for us.”   Today, we interview Kevin McCray, Co-founder & President of Kevin’s Natural Foods. Kevin’s Natural Foods is on a mission is to empower even the busiest people to eat clean without sacrificing flavor.   We discuss:   * His gratefulness practice and what he’s grateful for * The mission of Kevin’s Natural Foods * Overview and origin story, including the story of his autoimmune challenges * What is Sous vide cooking and its impact on the brand’s strategy? * How their location in the central valley of California is a competitive advantage * Their goal of using premium ingredients without the high prices * Why their employee shareholder program is a blessing for them * Advice for other Founders, including manufacturing and retailers * Their recipe philosophy and how to cook their meals at home? * A breakdown of their meals and where to buy * And more…   Join Ramon Vela and Kevin McCray as we break down the inside story of Kevin’s Natural Foods on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Kevin’s Natural Foods, visit: https://www.kevinsnaturalfoods.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Elizabeth says, “Why isn't she wearing dresses? Why doesn't she like pink? Why isn't he wearing dinosaur shirts? For me it became very personal, and it became a calling because it didn't feel right to me that my children were being labeled in a way that was not authentic to who they are and the way they want to express themselves.”   Today, we interview Elizabeth Brunner, Founder & CEO of StereoType. StereoType is a line of kids clothing that envisions a new world free from limits on expression and joy. Neither gender-neutral nor unisex, StereoType breaks down boundaries and blends these ideas together to create fun and functional clothing to support a child’s own unique style.   We discuss:   * Who she is grateful for * Origin and Overview of StereoType * Advice for Parents and why both kids and parents can change and grow * The Story of Elizabeth’s Son * How She came up with the name * What is the mission of the brand * How she is involves the kids in the brand and made them co-founders * The difference between gender-neutral and Blended Fashion * Advice for founders who build disruptive mission-based brands * Review of clothing line * And why you need to give yourself and kids space to be themselves   Join Ramon Vela and Elizabeth Brunner as we break down the inside story of StereoType on The Story of a Brand.   For more on StereoType, visit: https://stereotypekids.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stereotypekidsofficial/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-brunner-of-stereotype/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/stereotypellc/ https://www.facebook.com/StereoTypeKids   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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Serina says, “a compounding pharmacy is a specialty sector of a drugstore where we make compounded prescriptions. A compounded prescription is a prescription item where the pharmacist has to either mix or combine several ingredients to make a very individualized product for the customer. We could do products that use prescription ingredients and we can also use different ingredients like nutritional supplements or natural things that don't have to be a prescription drug. Basically, we're customizing and personalizing care.”   Today, we interview Serina Hanlon, the Owner of The Pharmacy Lab. The Pharmacy Lab is a Compounding Pharmacy specializing in non-sterile compounds. Their expertise is in the realm of creating and helping you personalize medications that would not otherwise be commercially available.   We discuss:   * What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of The Pharmacy Lab * How she supports small businesses by promoting their products * What a compounding pharmacy is and how it can help you * The difference between a commercial and compounding pharmacy * How burn out affected her decision to start her own business * Advice to other entrepreneurs * How The Pharmacy Lab gets to know their clients, including a medical review * And so much more…   Join Ramon Vela and Serina Hanlon as we break down the inside story of Arey on The Story of a Brand.   For more on The Pharmacy Lab, visit: https://www.thepharmacylab.ca/   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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Allison and Jay say, “There's up to 236 genes that cause hair loss, but there's only one gene identified that causes gray hair. It is not all genetics. It's about 30% genetics. So there are a lot of other factors that affect gray hair. Our focus is on the vitamins and mineral deficiencies in the body with our supplement. Educating people on this process that literally affects every single person is also a big focus of the brand. It's a vast market and we want to offer a cleaner, better for you alternative than what currently exists."   Today, we interview Allison Conrad, Co-Founder & CEO and Jay Small Co-Founder & Product Officers at Arey. A proactive and science-driven system for slowing and even re-pigmenting gray hair.   We discuss:   * What they are grateful for * Overview and origin of Arey * How and why people get gray hair * Why coloring your hair is not an option for many people * Why coloring your hair may cause more gray hair * Genetics, chemical exposure, free radicals, acute stress and more * What can you do now if you’re going gray? * How Arey helps even if you are over 30% gray * Review and breakdown of Arey products, including how to apply * How the scalp ages and its link to lymphatic systems * And more…   Join Ramon Vela, Allison Conrad and Jay Small as we break down the inside story of Arey on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Arey, visit: https://areygrey.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   The Chili Chews team says, “we describe our candy as sweet, sour, and spicy, all in a single bite. But what's interesting about it is it's like a rollercoaster. So you're getting one flavor at a time, but it's all culminating into this basically savory experience that you can't put down. I don't want to use the word addicting, but once you have one, it's very hard not to have two or three or four after that.”   Today, we interview Vicken Kejejian, Shant Reganyan, Emilio D’Angelo, Elya D’Angelo, Co-Founders of Chili Chews. Chili Chews is a gourmet candy company taking your tastebuds on a rollercoaster! With roots in Southern California, the company took its love for spicy candy and developed a modern twist on the classics we all love most.   We discuss:   * What they are grateful for * The origins and overview of Chili Chews * Facing a fork in the road on whether to go all-in into the business * How their growth happened, including using paid ads, selling D2C and moving into retail * Why they want to be a household name and brand * How they are building awareness of their brand * Breaking down the Chili Chews experience * Their plans for 2023 * What they are most proud of * Advice for Founders * Interpersonal relationship - How they work together * And more…   Join Ramon Vela, Vicken Kejejian, Shant Reganyan, Emilio D’Angelo, and Elya D’Angelo as we break down the inside story of Chili Chews on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Chili Chews, visit: https://chilichews.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Cara says, “there's been a fundamental shift in society, right? We now know that people are thinking differently about where their money goes. They want to have the planet in mind, or their own values in mind. They might be vegan or a woman who's thinking about like how to empower other women. Or they are from a minority community. Bottom-line, where I put my dollars matter. And this has motivated my co-founder and I, much like a lot of other millennial moms with all the spending power in their homes.”   Today, we interview Cara Oppenheimer, Co-Founder of Goodbuy. Goodbuy is a chrome browser extension and website that’s on a mission to make shopping “feel good” by making conscious shopping easier online for consumers looking to shop their values and support small businesses.   We discuss:   * What she’s grateful for * The problems and challenges with shopping online * Overview and origins of the brand * Why it matters where you spend your dollars * The shift in the online consumer mindset * Why consumers want to feel heroic again * There website, chrome extension, and how it all works * How small businesses get on Goodbuy - It’s Free! * Why all consumers should install the Goodbuy chrome extension on the computers * And more…   Join Ramon Vela and Cara Oppenheimer as we break down the inside story of Goodbuy on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Goodbuy, visit: https://www.trygoodbuy.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Kyle says, “Founders have a superpower. There's a reason they've gotten a brand to a certain size. Usually, that superpower has to do with product and product creation. Unfortunately, a lot of the CEOs and founders end up getting caught up in a lot of things that they're not good at. It's not their background, it's not their experience. And so if they're unable to invest the capital to buy a genuine expert in that area of business, let's say in wholesale, then they're really left exposed. They may get the orders because they're great salespeople. But when you get that order, then you gotta place the product, then it's gotta sell through. There's a lot to deal with.”   Today, we interview Kyle Widrick, Founder & CEO of Win Brands Group. Win is a modern holding company that specializes in buying and building brands that matter.   We discuss:   * What he’s grateful for * Overview of Win Brands Group * A look back to 2022 and COVID * What brands have been through in the last few years * A forecast of the 2023 environment for brands * His focus on 2023 and why profit is the ultimate leverage * The 3Ps of of wholesale and being successful in retail * The opportunities in 2023 * A review of their portfolio including Qalo, Gravity, Love Your Mellon * The Win Brands Group criteria for acquiring a consumer brand * And more…   Join Ramon Vela and Kyle Widrick as we break down the inside story of Win Brands Group on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Win Brands Group, visit: https://www.winbg.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Kristina says “when a company offers our program for new parents to employees and the spouses of employees, it speaks volumes about the culture of that company and shows that they really care about their employees and, and want the best for them. In the end, when an employee takes advantage of our services, they're that much better employee when they return because employees no longer have to choose between having a family or having a career.”   Today, we interview Kristina Harris, Operations Manager of Limerick. Limerick promotes healthy families by providing researched based breastfeeding information and products to families.   We discuss:   * What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of Limerick * Why she inspired the birth of the company * The reasons for the company’s longevity * How a company shows it cares for its employees * Breast pump breakdown, including features * The airport story and other customer examples * Limerick for consumers and Limerick for business - a breakdown * Post partem depression, anxiety, OCD and more * What services provide they provide?   Join Ramon Vela and Kristina Harris as we break down the inside story of Limerick on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Limerick, visit: https://limerickinc.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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Raed says “people arrive at open and they have an experience that gives them a taste and an understanding of where this can go… Maybe five minutes every morning and you get to choose. Maybe you engage with meditation every morning or breath work every morning, or movement. And as you build the momentum, Open builds the momentum within you… And you're not alone in this journey, you're doing this with your friends and with a broader community of Open practitioners and hopefully over time, that journey looks like one that is unique and individual to you.”   Today, we interview Raed Khawaja Co-founder & CEO of Open. Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection.   We discuss:   * Why he’s grateful * Overview and origin of Open * Why promote mindfulness? * His personal journey and what’s going on in the world * Writing a plan for the next 10 years of your life * Why we should have learned this as children? * Why do people try to avoid los? * How people can train for resilience * What does the journey with Open look like? * Their studio in Venice, California * Last word: “call that presence that mad you feel great”   Join Ramon Vela and Raed Khawaja as we break down the inside story of Open on The Story of a Brand.   For 30 days free of Open visit: www.withopen.com/STORYOFABRAND   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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!  

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane.   Robert says, “we surround ourself with objects that we gravitate towards. We define our ourselves by the things we buy, put on our body, drive, what we live in, what we use. And so that emotional relationship that people have with things has always fascinated me. And, ultimately, that's why I get paid is that we try to and move above function and purpose, which is very important, and get to that layer of emotional connection and desirability that people have with things. That drives a lot of my work and the work of my team here.”   Today, we interview Robert Brunner, Founder & Creative Director of Ammunition. Ammunition is a design studio dedicated to bringing products and services that matter to market.   We discuss:   * His gratefulness practice and who he’s grateful for? * An overview and origin of the Ammunition * His upbringing, caught between an engineer father and an artist mother * Why the relationship between people and things has fascinated him * Why everything we do is defined by product designers and their designs * The story of Beats by Dre * The challenges to designing a great product * Why something new and innovative is expensive * A teaser on his second book currently being worked on * Why risk should not be a four letter word * The reinvention of everyday things * What market areas are ripe for innovative products * Last words and how to work with him   Join Ramon Vela and Robert Brunner as we break down the inside story of Ammunition on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Ammunition, visit: https://ammunitiongroup.com/   Checkout his book: Do You Matter? How Great Design Will Make People Love Your Company, by Robert Brunner   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 Sendlane.   Alright, guys, 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!