The Story of a Brand Show

This episode is brought to you by Sendlane. Jared says, "we get in line with how e-commerce companies implement tools and what I mean by that is, we don't say, here's luminous, fit all of it in here. We instead say, what is going to work best for you? We have a purchase order tool and an inventory and a warehouse management tool. There is a B2B portal and an invoicing tool. And we can also connect to any tool that you currently use." Today, we interview Jared Ward, Founder & CEO of Luminous. Luminous is an all-in-one platform that allows you to manage your entire e-commerce supply chain from one place. We discuss: * What he's grateful for * Overview and origin of Luminous * The problems he saw as an e-commerce operator including forecasting, google sheets, organization, and more * The problem that data auditing solves, hint: your data is dirty * Trends with omni-channel and e-commerce brands * Advice for founders and operators * Why complexity is the culprit * Review of the Luminous platform and modules * Onboarding and implementation * And how to know if Luminous is right for your brand Join Ramon Vela and Jared Ward as we break down the inside story of Luminous on The Story of a Brand. For more on Luminous, visit: https://www.joinluminous.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. Tuan compares their brand to hospitality. He says, "hospitality, at its best, provides a culinary and guest experience that just captures the imagination of the guest. It becomes memorable. You broaden their palette, and you really inspire them to know more. And suddenly they ask questions. Where did this flavor come from? What culture? Where did you source this? What farm? That really goes to what drives you to actually work in the industry and be able to share." Today, we interview Tuan Lee, Founder of Vervet. Vervet is a Los Angeles-based woman & minority-owned cocktail company that's dedicated to making clean draft drinks from the best products and flavors California offers. They use plant-based preservatives, no lab-made flavors, real ingredients, and BPA lining free can, makes what Vervet makes better for you. We discuss: * Why he's grateful for his immigrant parents and their courage * Overview and origin of Vervet * The hospitality background of the founders and why it informs the brand ethos * A word on the amazing achievements of the Asian American community and tragedies * Their Bar Napkin origin story * Why building a brand is a solutions game * Hospitality style drinks, unique flavors, fresh ingredients no synthetic after taste * Why they push back against the status quo way * Making their own bitters and tonics from scratch * Product review including a "clear Bloody Mary" and sake cocktails * Advice to Founders * Why they may be the only brand using plant-based preservatives * And more… Join Ramon Vela and Tuan Lee as we break down the inside story of Vervet on The Story of a Brand. For more on Vervet, visit: https://drinkvervet.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. Francesco says, "I believe being an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding things. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. And it's by far the hardest. I like to think of launching your brand or company as being in front of a mirror where all of your strengths are amplified, but all of your weaknesses are amplified as well." Today, we interview Francesco Urso, Founder of Wolf Project. Wolf Project is a brand of skin care for men, with the ambition of transforming the way men take care of their skin. They work with beauty experts in Korea to merge Swiss rigor and Korean know-how. We discuss: * Why he's grateful for his wife * Mental health and entrepreneurship and why it needs more attention * Different ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, including journaling * A forecast and predictions for Skincare brands in 2023: What will it look like * How D2C brands are no longer laughing at large conglomerate brands * What 2022 looked like and lessons learned * Strategy differences between what he did in 2023 vs 2022 * How his thinking has evolved and why he believes you need to think bigger * Breakdown of products, including why they start by making products they would use * And more… Join Ramon Vela and Francesco Urso as we break down the inside story of Wolf Project on The Story of a Brand. For more on Wolf Project, visit: https://wolfproject.co/ 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. Saskia says, "we make everything from toddler snacks to preschool snacks and adult snacks, and we season each of them with herbs and spices that you typically find in Latin American kitchens. So our goal really is to innovate in a space where you traditionally find either really sweet or really salty products, or run-of-the-mill flavors like barbecue, ranch and Cheddar. Instead, we're coming in with something unique that is just not offered today." Today, we interview Saskia Sorrosa, Founder & CEO of Fresh Bellies. Fresh Bellies is creating a new generation of healthful, adventurous eaters. Made with whole, non-GMO and Kosher ingredients, Fresh Bellies products never mask vegetables or fruits with added sugars and feature flavors never seen in the kid aisle. We discuss: * What she's grateful for * Overview and origin of the brand * Her background working with the NBA and her motivations for starting Fresh Bellies * How they develop recipes and make the snack at scale * Her biggest challenges in building the brand * The brand's recipe philosophy and her focus on clean simple ingredients * Why parents are seeking alternatives to what is in the snack isle * The future of the brand and upcoming new products and more… Join Ramon Vela and Saskia Sorrosa as we break down the inside story of Fresh Bellies on The Story of a Brand. For more on Fresh Bellies, visit: https://freshbellies.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. Andrew says, "when I say that 19 out of 20 people can go to Australia or Tokyo or Europe and sleep well their first night, that's totally different from what's happening in the market. We want to deliver that level of effectiveness to people. And the way we do that is this unique model that's a hybrid of high-end coaching, consulting and product development. And sure, it makes it more difficult, but I will do this right and I will this into existence no matter the market conditions, no matter what happens. Because this is my mission and I can't not do it." Today, we interview Andrew Herr, Founder & CEO of Fount . Fount applies their expertise from optimizing the minds and bodies of US Navy Seals, professional sports teams, and leading business executives to design programs custom-tailored to anybody and any lifestyle so you can achieve your goals. We discuss: * What he's grateful for * Overview and origin of Fount * His work running human performance for Navy Seals * Conclusions for everyone based on his work with elite military units * Understanding an individual's peak state * FlyKitt: their unique guaranteed to eliminate jet lag * Why customization makes your results and performance go faster * The Mission and why he will see it happen no matter what * Advice for other entrepreneurs * Advice on how to improve your sleep results * How to use wearable technology effectively * Meeting people where they are and more… Join Ramon Vela and Andrew Herr as we break down the inside story of Fount on The Story of a Brand. For more on Fount, visit: https://www.fount.bio/ 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. 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!