

The Story of a Brand
CommerceFocused Media, Inc.
Welcome to The Story Of A Brand Show. Hear the unique entrepreneurial journeys of 1000+ Consumer Brand founders. We tap into the doubts, failures, wins and inspirations that come with building Consumer Brand startups in extremely competitive times. Whether you own a brand or work for one, you will learn from our guests as they share the building blocks of their brand’s evolution. Who knows, you may even discover a few new products that become faves.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 6, 2023 • 1h 4min
Dos Amigas - Authentic Mexican Food Delivered to Your Home
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Liz and Erica say, “we are very grateful for how this community and this country have welcomed us. The opportunity here is real. We have talked about how important it is to share a piece of our culture. We are neighbors, yet so many people have not really tried authentic Mexican food. Usually when they think of Mexican food, they think of the fast-food chains. So we are very committed to not only providing authentic Mexican food but sharing a piece of our culture through food.” Today, we interview Liz Gonzales Lara and Erica Arteaga, Co-founder of Dos Amigas. Dos Amigas is a woman and minority-owned business specializing in authentic Mexican food delivery to homes and businesses throughout Metro Denver. We discuss: * Why they are so grateful * Overview and origin of the brand * How they got started during the pandemic * The challenges they face with logistics, recipes, and getting the word out * Why they joined an accelerator program and how it helped them * Sharing a piece of their culture * What makes them proud about running Dos Amigas? * Why they must get a stamp of approval from their mother * Plans for the future, including expanding regions and possibly retail * Advice for other founders * New products and where to buy Join Ramon Vela, Liz Gonzales Lara and Erica Arteaga as we break down the inside story of Dos Amigas on The Story of a Brand. For more on Dos Amigas, visit: https://dosamigas.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!

Dec 22, 2022 • 1h 6min
TUYYO Foods - Fresh New Take on Latin American Favorites
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Stefanie says, "nowadays people are thinking about their health and are looking to make changes, and incremental changes are totally fine too. It is like our Agua Fresca. It will not be totally sugar free, but it will not have the dyes and the artificial ingredients that you find in other brands. This is an incremental change that you can make and still have something that's enjoyable." Today, we interview Stefanie Garcia Turner, Founder of TUYYO Foods. TUYYO Foods is a modern line of Latin American foods and beverages made with real ingredients. Their current products consist of powdered Aguas Frescas (“fresh waters” a staple in many cultures, traditionally made by blending fresh fruit, water, and sugar together) and Cafecito- instant Colombian coffees. We discuss: * What she’s grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Her background working at Whole Food Brands and helping brands get into retail * Her background in working with celebrity CPG brands * Why she is bootstrapping the brand * Her advice for Founders including accounting, managing inventory, channels, and more… * A review of her products, including ingredients, how to consume them, and her future plans * And so much more… Join Ramon Vela and Stefanie Garcia Turner as we break down the inside story of TUYYO Foods on The Story of a Brand. For more on TUYYO Foods, visit: https://tuyyofoods.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!

Dec 21, 2022 • 59min
BLOCK Training - Train to play. Play for life.
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Kit says, “the core demographic for us are people in their 30s who understand that in order to keep moving as they want to move and feel as great as they can, they have to do the right things. They have got to train in a way which is going to keep them safe, improve every aspect of their performance and obviously have a bit of fun along the way.” Today, we interview Kit Hawkins, CEO and Founder of BLOCK Training. BLOCK Training is an athletic training system that helps you perform at your best while reducing the risk of injury. Created by NBA legend Steve Nash and his team of world-class sport performance coaches. It’s now available for athletes of any age and ability. We discuss: * Why he’s grateful for his wife and the mindfulness knowledge she shared with him * Advice for other founders on using mindfulness * How mindfulness helped his business * An overview of BLOCK Training and its origins with Steve Nash * His background in the music industry and entertainment * How he met Steve Nash and how the training developed * The BLOCK Training customer - who are they * A review and breakdown of the BLOCK method and philosophy * How the program works and is there equipment needed * Why it’s science and evidence based * How they will help you make working out and health a habit * And more… Join Ramon Vela and kit Hawkins as we break down the inside story of BLOCK Training on The Story of a Brand. For more on BLOCK Training, visit: https://blocktraining.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!

Dec 19, 2022 • 57min
Plants By People - Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Life
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Jing says, “Plants By People was founded in the thick of COVID when we were all feeling vulnerable in the face of the unknown virus. So we launched this line of organic fruit and botanical beverage blends as a wellness boosting alternative to tea, coffee, and ready to drink beverages. They're packed with naturally healthy ingredients with super food adaptogens and low sugar, so we also support diabetic and low sugar lifestyles.” Today, we interview Jing Dipiero, Founder & CEO of Plants By People. Plants By People is a woman-owned plant-based food and beverage brand that brings ancient plant medicine to life with modern health science. Their tasty and transformational plant-powered wellness tonics incorporate superfoods and adaptogens into your day in an easy and ethical way, bringing you a bit more energy, and a bit more joy. We discuss: * Why she’s grateful for her husband * An overview of Plants By People brand * How she learned about herbal medicines and its focus on the whole individual * Her focus on functional ingredients, including botanicals * Breakdown of the different products, their ingredients and benefits * The various ways to use the products, including a use case study from her kids * And much, much more… Join Ramon Vela and Jing Dipiero as we break down the inside story of Plants By People on The Story of a Brand. For more on Plants By People, visit: https://www.plantsbypeople.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!

Dec 16, 2022 • 51min
Ettitude - Clean Bamboo is the Fabric of Our Future
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Kat and Phoebe say, “So I think the new breed of sustainable brands is starting to be more performance focused and strive for a reasonable price point. Then they add on the sustainable side of things. This makes it easier for consumers to switch. And I think that’s why more and more consumer are switching. Hopefully, we’re helping to bring about that change and help establish that sustainable products are actually better products, more premium products with better performance.” Today, we interview Kat Dey, Co-founder and President and Phoebe Yu, Founder & CEO at Ettitude. Ettitude is a fabric innovation and lifestyle brand making the world's softest, most sustainable materials with their proprietary CleanBamboo™. We discuss: * What they are grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Why they are eco focused * Their patented technology as a competitive advantage * Ettitude’s high rating as a B-Corp * Why Bamboo and why it outperforms other fabrics * The benefits of bamboo such as better sleep and anti-microbial * Why cotton is bad for the environment and consumers * A review of their products, including bedding as their flagship product * Other fabrics, including Vegan Cashmere * Corporate gifting and their Oeko-Tex standard certification, which keeps your baby safe * And so much more… Join Ramon Vela, Kat Dey, and Phoebe Yu as we break down the inside story of Ettitude on The Story of a Brand. For more on Ettitude, visit: https://www.ettitude.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!

Dec 15, 2022 • 1h 8min
Divya’s - Discover the Foods that Nourish and Energize You
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Divya says, “if you're not fully digesting your food, that semidigested food, Ayurveda explains, clogs your system. It causes all kinds of blockages in the body, and then this leads to disease. So being a healthy vegetarian to me is really selecting the food that you can fully digest so that it can energize you and nourish you deeply.” Today, we interview Divya Alter, Co-founder of Divya’s. Whether it’s through their master classes, restaurant, or products, Divya’s offer plant-based cooking for joy and health, rooted in Ayurveda. We discuss: * Why she’s grateful for her husband * How she learned about Ayurveda * Her journey with an autoimmune disease * What is Ayurvedic cooking? * Why ultra processed foods lowers the intelligence of the body * The body's ability to heal itself * Why healing begins with self-awareness * What is Kitchari? * The six states of food * A review and explanation of her 5 masterclasses * And more… Join Ramon Vela and Divya Alter as we break down the inside story of Divya’s on The Story of a Brand. For more on Divya’s visit: https://divyas.com/ Divya's Book: Joy of Balance - An Ayurvedic Guide to Cooking with Healing Ingredients: 80 Plant-Based Recipes 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!

Dec 14, 2022 • 54min
Luna Bay - Life is Short, Seize the Bay!
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Bridget says, “when I started Luna Bay, it was never about money. It was what we were creating. We had an idea, and we wanted to build something meaningful, make opportunities, make an excellent product and be a champion for a cleaner, better alcohol and disrupt the space and just keep moving in this direction and see what would happen.” Today, we interview Bridget Connelly, CEO of Luna Bay Booch. Luna Bay Booch is the first and only female founded, female run hard kombucha company in the United States. It was born out of a desire to make a change in the alcohol industry and to brew something better for people and the planet. We discuss: * Who and what she’s grateful for * Why she chose to be an entrepreneur * What is hard Kombucha? * Where they launched and why * Why she feels defeated and why * What she would do differently * Deciding where to implement resources * Who is her customer? * The consumer is getting smarter * Building the Luna Bay Booch community * What she’s proud of that you won’t find on the can or website * And more… Join Ramon Vela and Bridget Connelly as we break down the inside story of Luna Bay Booch on The Story of a Brand. For more on Luna Bay Booch, visit: https://lunabaybooch.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!

Dec 13, 2022 • 1h 7min
POM POM Skateboards - Encouraging Everyone to Get Out There
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Sarah and Roger say, “but honestly, having a mission and purpose driven brand means so, so much to us. Especially in this day and age when there's so many products out there. We’re absolutely trying to create something much more than a physical product.” Today, we interview Sarah and Roger Cameron, Co-Founders of POM POM Skateboards. POM POM Skateboards is a brand that transcends boundaries by providing a platform for children, in particular girls, to fall in love with the wonderful sport of skateboarding. We discuss: * Their gratefulness for each other * How they make their marriage work: laughter and communication * Overview and origins of the two brands: POM POM Skateboards and Magical Go-Go * Starting in 2008 during a recession * Advice about doing business during a recession * How it started because Sarah didn’t see girls/women represented in skateboarding and snowboarding * The mission of the brand * Why POM POM resonates with kids and parents * Where to buy? Join Ramon Vela and Sarah & Roger Cameron as we break down the inside story of POM POM Skateboards on The Story of a Brand. For more on POM POM Skateboards, visit: https://pompomskateboards.com/ For more on Magical Go-Go, visit: https://magicalgogo.bigcartel.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!

Dec 12, 2022 • 27min
Supergut - Gut Health Boosts Weight Loss, Immunity and More!
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Marc says, "what we're doing at Super Gut is creating functional foods that nourish not just you and your body but that literally nourish your gut. We packed them with specific nutrients that we refer to as resistance starch. It has prebiotic fiber, which means it is very effective at feeding those microbes in your gut that keep us healthy." Today, we interview Marc Washington, Founder and CEO of Supergut. Supergut is a clinically validated, delicious real-food product brand including shakes, snack bars, and more, that balance the gut microbiome to improve quality of life. We discuss: * What he’s grateful for * Being asked to be the CEO of a 4.5 billion company * Overview of Supergut * Developing the itch to be a founder * His sister and inspiration for the brand * The state of the union for the gut microbiome * Impact on the overall health related to the gut * Scientifically proven connection to physical and mental health * Why the gut is like the second brain * An overview of the products * Why it’s a personal goal to help communities of color get healthy Join Ramon Vela and Marc Washington as we break down the inside story of Supergut on The Story of a Brand. For more on Supergut, visit: https://www.supergut.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!

Dec 11, 2022 • 60min
SupportZebra - Consumer Brand KPIs You Should Track
This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Daniel says, “We mainly support e-commerce and fast growing SaaS clients in North America. We provide their customer support, technical support, back office support, and whatever support they need and that they could outsource that eats up their time. That's what we help them with.” Today, we interview Daniel Viduya, Head of Growth at SupportZebra. SupportZebra implements custom BPO SaaS E-commerce outsourcing solutions so you spend less time on tech support tickets. We discuss: * What he is grateful for * Overview of SupportZebra * 3 Trends driving outsourced customer support * Why brands don’t have KPIs set up? * KPIs consumer brands should track * Things hampering growth * How to get over the hurdle of outsourcing (if you are reluctant) * Factors for choosing an outsource partner * Example of customer service success * How they act as a consultant as well * Why they see themselves as part of your team * Bottom-line: it’s about bandwidth, expertise, growth, and scalability * The secret sauce revealed * Get free advice and no pitching and more… Join Ramon Vela and Daniel Viduya as we break down the inside story of SupportZebra on The Story of a Brand. For more on SupportZebra, visit: https://supportzebra.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!