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!  

How does your brand, your message and mission fit in support of Pride Month and LGBTQ culture and issues in 2023 and how are the controversies with Bud Light and other brands affecting how or whether you support in 2024?  Today, we interview Arthur Gallego, Founder & CEO of Gallego & Co. Marketing Consultants and pop culture expert. In this special “brand strategy” episode, we discuss pride month and the latest controversies with Bud Light + Dylan Mulvaney, Nike, Target, Cracker Barrel, Starbucks, and Google.   Highlights: * How long will Bud Light be dealing with the current controversy * The commercialization of Pride Month * Why many brands are terrified about taking a stand * Why the impact of how large brands react will be seen in 2024 * Brands and Risk Tolerance * Advice for brands around Pride Month support * Why you should spend your energy and resources on the customers who love and support you Join Ramon Vela and Arthur Gallego as we break down “Pride month, brands, and the latest controversies” on The Story of a Brand. For more on Arthur Gallego and Gallego & Co. Marketing Consultants, visit: https://www.gallegoandco.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.     Jules says, "GF Jules is a premium baking mix and flour company, and everything we do is gluten-free. From the foundation, everything has always been a hundred percent gluten-free. We also have tried to address other people's food allergy needs as well. So we've always broadened the foundational mix line and flour line so it's been vegan, kosher, and nut free. And we have become one of the first baking mix and flour companies in the country to be certified top nine allergen free as well. So we've tried to be inclusive in what we can bring to families who have different dietary needs." Today, we interview Jules Shepard, Founder & CEO of GF Jules. GF Jules is the #1 gluten-free flour and baking mixes company in the US. We discussed:  * What she’s grateful for * An overview of GF Jules * Why it started with her diagnosis of Celiac disease * The story of how her partners shut her out of the business * Restarting again both personally and professionally with GF Jules * Why her competitor is the only person she trusts in the CPG Industry * Her big lessons learned in business, partnerships, and trusting people * How you can be nice yet aggressive and ferocious when needed * Why her story is a story of integrity * Her focus is on her ideal customers * A review of products, flour, mixes and what you can do with them * And more… Join Ramon Vela and Jules Shepard as we break down the inside story of GF Jules on The Story of a Brand. For more on GF Jules, visit: https://gfjules.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. Our primary sponsor, Sendlane, has a gift for you. 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.   Andrea says, “I always grew up with that sense of otherness and this sense that people looked down on Chinese cuisine and they thought of it as unhealthy or oily or this and that. And it was like, well, I eat this food at home. It's amazing. Like, it's so diverse. So I think that was something always that bothered me…”   Today, we interview Andrea Xu, Co-Founder & CEO of Umamicart. Umamicart is an online grocery store delivering hundreds of your favorite Asian products and ingredients.    Their carefully curated selection includes both traditional staples and up-and-coming Asian-American owned brands. Umamicart delivers an online grocery shopping experience that highlights and celebrates the endlessly diverse, unique, and ever-evolving Asian American culture and cuisine.   Highlights:  * What she’s grateful for (her family, her sister, and growing up in Spain) * Why investors initially did not like her idea * How she felt a sense of otherness as a child * Why she created Umamicart and what she hopes to change * Learnings from being a new mom and entrepreneur * Why Asian foods have a right to evolve as other foods do * A review of Umamicart Collab products * Criteria for brands who want to be on Umamicart * What she is most proud of about the brand * And so much more…    Join Ramon Vela and Andrea Xu as we break down the inside story of Umamicart on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Umamicart, visit: https://umamicart.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.   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.   Yarden says, “I'm never worried about competitors too much because when you do something and it's so in the weeds that you're like, no one is gonna do this. It's just so nuanced. But the customers really care about the nuances.”   Today, we interview Yarden Shaked, CEO of Varos. Varos is the largest e-commerce & Saas data co-op in the world.    See how your performance stacks up against your competitors: Compare KPIs anonymously and securely with companies in the same vertical and spend level as yours.   Highlights:  * What he’s grateful for * The Sunk Cost Fallacy and why a lot of startups fall for it * Overview of Varos * What problems do they solve for brands, agencies, SaaS companies? * Why they solve for the nuances (of data) * A look at their fundraising experience and advice for other founders * How are agencies, brands, and SaaS companies using Varos? * Breakdowns of platforms, onboarding, and future of Varos * And more…    Join Ramon Vela and Yarden Shaked as we break down the inside story of Varos on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Varos, visit: https://www.varos.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.   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.   Kara says, “We don't work with a type of company, we work with a type of person… The ones who want to grow on a revenue level, but the growth in the revenue is more of a means to an end, which is to have impact, create something, change something, improve something. Their business is a vehicle for them to fulfill a legacy or a destiny in their lives.”   Today, we interview Kara Redman, Founder & CEO of Backroom. Backroom is a brand strategy and performance marketing agency.    They've helped both startup and global clients reposition, 3x growth, launch, exit, raise up to $9M in funding, build measurable brand equity, merge, acquire, and exit.   We discussed:    * What she’s grateful for   * The finite nature of life (we get existential on this topic)   * Overview and origin of Backroom   * The foundational branding elements that every brand should do   * Building community and why it’s so hard   * Insights and advice for brands owners and founders   * What kinds of companies or individuals does Backroom work with?   * How they work with brands   * Are the needs of larger brands different from small or midsize brands   * Last words (this is deep)   * And so much more…   Join Ramon Vela and Kara Redman as we break down the inside story of Backroom on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Backroom, visit: https://www.backroom.io/   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.   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.   Rose says, “Let's go in and stress test your ability to scale. That's step one. Because you may think you have it all buttoned up, but really we like to sit at the intersection of the vision, the action that you're doing, and the motion and the momentum you're actually creating. And are they all aligned, and are they going to allow you to grow and scale?”   Today, we interview Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures. The Compass Rose Ventures team brings 20+ years of experience in growing consumer brands from concept to successful exits.    They are dedicated to helping CPG founders and investors launch, optimize, and scale brands offering just the right balance of insight, experience, rigor and hands-on support.   We discussed:    * What she’s grateful for * Her origin story and background * Her experience at Pet360 and Vitamin Shoppe * The challenges that brands face today * The cure for rising customer acquisition cost: Community * Why she believes that founders need a “Fierce Bias Towards Action” * Her advice for brand founders and operators * Why strategy is about making the right choices * Why the first thing she does when working with brands is a “Stress Test” * Who she works and what that engagement looks like * And so much more…    Join Ramon Vela and Rose Hamilton as we break down the inside story of Compass Rose Ventures on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Compass Rose Ventures, visit: https://compassroseventures.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.   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.   Chris says, “I figured I should make something that just goes back to basics and gives people something a little better than ingredients go.”   Today, we interview Chris Wysong, Owner & Founder of Bucket of Bread. Bucket of Bread provides baking mixes that are made with certified organic ingredients, preservative-free, vegan-friendly, and super easy to prepare.    Add lukewarm water to the recyclable bucket, mix, and you'll end up with dough that can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. This gives you complete flexibility to make a variety of baked goods. You can make garlic knots, pizzas, cinnamon buns, breadsticks, pretzels, bagels, naan, doughnuts, or even more with recipes available on our website.   Bucket of Bread is also Veteran-owned and shares profits with charities fighting food insecurity and combating hunger in America.   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for * How he got started with baking * Baking bread with Iraqis and being a veteran-owned business * Why it’s like a meal prep kit * A breakdown of ingredients, including no dairy, preservatives, fat, or egg * The charitable side of the business or why he does what he does * His goals as a business: 500 online sales per month * Why he has more than the bottom dollar in mind   Join Ramon Vela and Chris Wysong as we break down the inside story of Bucket of Bread on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Bucket of Bread, visit: https://bucketofbread.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.   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.   David says, “Our head of R&D is continuously working day by day. Yes, we have new products coming, but we’re always trying to figure out how to make that melt better. How to find a better ingredient. How to make the stretch better. We're all about innovation, quality, and improvement, nonstop.”   Today, we interview David Israel, Founder & CEO of GOOD PLANeT FOODS. Their goal is to bring you the true experience and joy of cheese, with plant-based offerings that are GOOD for you and good for the PLANeT!   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for * His personal story - Incarceration, second chances and more…  * Lesson’s he’s learned on how to overcome personal tragedies * The story of his first snack company * How he got into plant-based cheeses with the help of his Sister-in-law * How and why they created a better plant-based cheese * Getting people to lean into plant-based cheese because of the message * Why this time and this brand is more than about money; It’s about doing the right thing * New product that’s going to revolutionize the industry (coming out July/August 2023) * And more…    Join Ramon Vela and David Israel as we break down the inside story of GOOD PLANeT FOODS on The Story of a Brand.   For more on GOOD PLANeT FOODS, visit: https://goodplanetfoods.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.   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.   Our friends at Review.io are giving my listeners 20% Off the Lifetime of Any Plan. Use the following link: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer   Today, we interview Joe Fox, Global VP of Partnerships and Joe Santillan, Regional Growth Manager of REVIEWS.io. REVIEWS.io is a powerful review collection and management tool that helps businesses grow their online reputation.   We discussed:    * What they’re grateful for * What trend they are seeing in the market * How REVIEWS.io works with multiple channels * Why you should audit your tech stack more frequently * How they work with agencies and tech partners * What sets them apart from competitors? * Onboarding from a brand's perspective * What is their vision for the future? * Integrations like Rebuy Engine, Gorgias, and Dotdigital * What other platform they work with * Future Product Launches * Advice and insights around user generated content * Case studies and customer success stories * And more…   Join Ramon Vela, Joe Fox and Joe Santillan as we break down the inside story of REVIEWS.io on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Reviews.io, visit: https://www.reviews.io/front/founders-paradiso-offer   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.   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.   Christian says, “often the authentic story is sitting there, but often as well, agencies or the marketing team may be afraid to go there but we push to go. That's the interesting thing. That's what's going to connect the audience because it's a genuine real conversation.”   Today, we interview Christian Lachel, Chief Creative Officer for BRC Imagination Arts. BRC Imagination Arts is a full-service, strategic design and production company that translates brand and cultural stories into transformative human experiences.   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for * Overview and Ethos for BRC * Why great brand experiences start with the heart of the audience * If you have a unique message to tell, does the customer really want to hear it? * Case studies on how they have created transformative experiences * How they grew out of Disney’s Imagineering * Always look for a great storyteller * And more…    Join Ramon Vela and Christian Lachel as we break down the inside story of BRC Imagination Arts on The Story of a Brand.   For more on BRC Imagination Arts, visit: https://www.brcweb.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.   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.   Thomas says, “The biggest thing we offer in all is the mentoring platform. We have a platform called The Orbit, because we're launching into space all together. And the orbit is mentoring and coaching from investors and industry experts. And we have industry experts in there who cover every aspect of CPG.”   Today, we interview Thomas Malengo, Co-Founder of Brandjectory. Brandjectory guides early-stage CPG brands to be investor-ready faster and smarter, with a robust network, structured process, and expert resources.   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for * How he got started in the consumer brand world * How investors and consumers look at brands * What are investors focused on? * Advice for the Founders of consumer brands * How to make sure you know who your customers are? * The two parts of Brandjectory and how they help brands * What brands are ideal for joining Brandjectory * How to validate or qualify your product idea in the marketplace * And so much more…    Join Ramon Vela and Thomas Malengo as we break down the inside story of Brandjectory on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Brandjectory, visit: https://www.brandjectorynow.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.   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.   Parker says, “we're really focused on cognitive health. Some of these mushrooms can have really incredible, really impressive medicinal value for basically maintaining really clean and positive cognitive health, but also helping improve cognitive health. So whether it is memory or mental energy like processing capability. On a fundamental level, they're really helping your central nervous system, primarily in your brain, to prune and also grow your neurons. So it's almost acting as like neural food.”   Today, we interview Parker Olsen, Founder of Forij. Forij is loaded with brain nutrients, their functional granola delivers serious brain power. And their taste is award-winning; all without any of the high sugar or fake ingredients.   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for * Revisiting Parker’s personal why and what drives him * Experiencing “ego death” and learning that the “obstacle is truly the way” * Challenges of the brand including margin erosion, less capital expenditures, debt capital, economies of scale, and making a pivot * A breakdown of the new product - functional granola bars and their ingredients & flavors * His blog and the hundreds of articles on mushroom, brain health, and all the other benefits * And so much more…    Join Ramon Vela and Parker Olsen as we break down the inside story of Forij on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Forij, visit: https://www.forij.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.   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.   Today, we interview Dan Zavorotny, Co-Founder & COO of Nutrisense. Nutrisense is a platform focused on improving metabolic health. Their mission is to help anybody discover and reach their health potential.    Their members discover the perfect diet for their unique bodies by tracking key metabolic markers in real-time. They leverage powerful hardware (CGM, Ketone Meters, etc), software, and a team of expert dietitians to enable lasting behavior change.   We discussed:    * What he’s grateful for  * How mentors help you reduce your failure when you’re a startup * Why experience gives you pattern recognition (and what is it) * How layoff should occur and why should hire slowly * Why you should hire failed founders * Overview and origin of Nutrisense * Why this mission is important to Dan and why he wanted to do something for the world * How he started selling * How they started to scale quickly (brief story of how their revenue grew) * The three parts of Nutrisense: analytics, glucose monitor and health practitioners * Why so much of the world is pre-diabetic * Why if you want to know who you are and what works for you ~ see the data * The difference between Nutrisense and Fitbit * Advice, make sure you want to change * It’s really an education & accountability tool * And so much more…     Join Ramon Vela and Dan Zavorotny as we break down the inside story of Nutrisense on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Nutrisense, visit: https://www.nutrisense.io/   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.   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, “At the end of the day, one of the things that we take so much pride in is, this is not a meat imitator. This is just a whole food, real food, veggie burger. And everything in there are ingredients from the earth, not from a lab.”   Today, we interview Elizabeth Raymond, Co-Founder of NoBull Burger. NoBull Burger, is the TRUE veggieburger, and is a handcrafted, 100% plant-based veggieburger that takes pride in using premium ingredients to make an exceptionally tasting, whole-food veggieburgers.   We discussed:    * What she’s grateful for * Origin Story and Overview of NoBull Burger and their values * Their biggest challenges in past and present * Advice for other CPG founders * Their focus on Mental Health * Their personal story with Mental Health and how they use the brand as a platform to help others * Understanding your self worth as a founder of a CPG brand * The state of nutritional psychology and how NoBull Burger fits in * A breakdown of ingredients and products * Where to buy this amazing product (Ramon’s words) * And so much more…    Join Ramon Vela and Elizabeth Raymond as we break down the inside story of No Bull Burger on The Story of a Brand.   For more on NoBull Burger, visit: https://nobullburger.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.   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!