Shopify Happy Hour

Dan Cassidy
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hear from Shopify founders, operators and experts on growth marketing strategies, lessons learned from the trenches, and other nuggets of wisdom shared over a different drink each episode.  

  1. Building a Supplement Brand with No Shortcuts and a Lot of Hustle with Zac Curhan

    MAY 10

    Building a Supplement Brand with No Shortcuts and a Lot of Hustle with Zac Curhan

    Launching a supplement brand is hard enough but building one around clean ingredients, outdoor performance, and spiritual alignment instead of hype and artificial formulas? That’s a very different approach to wellness. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Zac Curhan, co-founder of Truwild, a natural supplement brand creating clean hydration, kombucha, and performance products for people who push beyond the gym. From bootstrapping the company with just $5,000 to scaling across Amazon, Shopify, wholesale, and TikTok, Zac shares how intuition, adaptability, and relentless experimentation shaped Truwild into a growing force in the supplement space. You’ll hear how Zac: Built Truwild from scratch with just $5K and reinvested profits to grow the business organically.Created products designed for hikers, surfers, endurance athletes, and outdoor adventurers — not just gym culture.Developed unique formulations using natural caffeine, kombucha powder, electrolytes, amino acids, and functional ingredients.Leveraged customer feedback and surveys to shape future products, flavors, and packaging formats.Pivoted away from underperforming SKUs and learned difficult inventory lessons along the way.Used Amazon as a primary growth engine while strategically narrowing focus across sales channels.Built wholesale relationships through cold calls, product seeding, and direct outreach to independent retailers.Used TikTok seeding campaigns, local events, and brand collaborations to drive organic awareness and traffic.We also get into the bigger picture: Why electrolytes are far more important than most people realize.The realities of building a profitable supplement brand without outside funding.Why customer reviews and social proof are critical in modern e-commerce.How TikTok, Amazon, and organic content now work together in the customer buying journey.Using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and automation systems to streamline operations and decision-making.Zac’s philosophy around meditation, intuition, spirituality, and connecting to a “higher self” for entrepreneurial growth.🌿 Whether you’re an e-commerce founder, wellness enthusiast, or someone interested in the intersection of business, health, and personal growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons and unconventional insights. Brands & Mentions: TruwildAmazonShopifyWhole FoodsGT's KombuchaRed BullHOKAChatGPTClaudeOpenClawRolflexChapters: 00:00 Introduction to Truwild & Its Mission 02:45 Why Electrolytes Matter More Than You Think 05:20 Reinventing Kombucha as a Powder 08:10 Building Truwild with Just $5K 11:00 Early Product Development & Scaling Challenges 13:30 Why Amazon Became the Core Growth Channel 16:20 Organic Marketing, TikTok, & Community Events 19:00 Influencer Seeding & Brand Collaborations 22:15 The Realities of Paid Ads in Supplements 24:00 Wholesale Strategy & Cold Calling Retailers 32:30 Customer Feedback, Product Iteration, & SKU Decisions 35:40 Meditation, Spirituality, & Entrepreneurial Intuition 40:40 Using AI & Automation to Scale E-commerce Operations

    46 min
  2. How Smearcase Is Building a New Kind of Ice Cream Brand with Joe Rotondo

    MAR 25

    How Smearcase Is Building a New Kind of Ice Cream Brand with Joe Rotondo

    Launching a food brand is never easy — but creating an entirely new category like frozen cottage cheese ice cream? That’s a different level of bold. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Joe Rotundo, founder of Smearcase, the first and only frozen cottage cheese dessert brand built for people who want indulgence and clean, protein-packed ingredients. From a late-night craving for a healthier dessert to landing on shelves at major retailers, Joe shares how relentless action, rapid iteration, and authentic storytelling helped turn a simple idea into a fast-growing CPG brand. You’ll hear how Joe:  Turned a DIY mix of cottage cheese, honey, and fruit into a brand-new product category.  Went from idea to market testing in just a few months by prioritizing speed and feedback.  Partnered with his sister early on to develop recipes and refine the product.  Used real-world validation (not just friends and family) to shape flavors, branding, and positioning.  Navigated early production, co-packing, and a 5,000-pint launch strategy.  Leveraged trade shows like Fancy Food Show to land meetings with major retailers like Whole Foods and Sprouts.  Built momentum through in-person demos, networking, and relationship-first outreach.  Embraced a polarizing brand name — and why standing out mattered more than pleasing everyone. We also get into the bigger picture:  Why “healthy ice cream” is broken — and how Smearcase is redefining indulgence with real ingredients.  The power of relentless execution vs. overthinking in early-stage startups.  How founders can validate ideas quickly without overbuilding.  Why human relationships still beat cold emails and LinkedIn pitches in CPG.  Organic social strategy — and how to create content that actually feels authentic (even if you’re busy or camera-shy).  The realities of launching in retail, scaling distribution, and building a brand from scratch. 🍦 Whether you’re a founder, fitness-minded foodie, or someone curious about how new food categories are born, Joe’s story is a masterclass in speed, simplicity, and showing up consistently. Brands & Mentions: SmearcaseWhole FoodsSprouts Farmers MarketFancy Food ShowGood CultureHY.QREIDick's Sporting GoodsChapters: 00:00 Introduction to Smearcase  02:00 The “healthy dessert” problem  05:30 From idea to action (June 2023 origin story)  08:45 Validating the product in the real world  12:00 Branding, flavor iteration, and feedback loops  16:20 Breaking into retail & first production run  20:00 Building relationships with buyers  23:00 Organic marketing & content strategy  26:00 Founder mindset and execution philosophy  29:00 Speed round & personal insights  31:00 What’s next for Smearcase

    30 min
  3. From Family Farm to Grocery Aisles: How Lottie’s Meats Is Elevating the Pork Category

    12/10/2025

    From Family Farm to Grocery Aisles: How Lottie’s Meats Is Elevating the Pork Category

    Launching a CPG brand is always a grind — but reinventing pork sausage with chef-crafted recipes, premium cuts, and a sixth-generation family farm story? That’s a whole new challenge. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Cassie Maschhoff, co-founder of Lottie’s Meats, the sister-run brand elevating pork with gourmet sausages and ground blends made from real ingredients, responsible sourcing, and culinary craftsmanship. Cassie shares how she and her sister Chelsea turned family heritage and Michelin-level technique into one of the most exciting new meat brands on the market. You’ll hear how Cassie: Transformed a sixth-generation Illinois family farm legacy into a modern, premium pork brand.Partnered with her chef-trained sister to craft sausages using only pork loin, pork shoulder, and clean, real ingredients.Navigated nine different co-packers to finally find partners who could uphold their exacting standards.Built early traction through restaurant partnerships, farmers markets, pop-ups, and brewery takeovers in Denver.Created cult-favorite products like The Lottie and perfected flavors through years of behind-the-scenes R&D.Balanced the demands of cold-chain logistics, short shelf life, and monthly production while still growing fast.We also get into the bigger picture: Why pork has gotten a bad rap — and how Lottie’s is changing that perception.The operational realities (and chaos) of scaling a perishable food brand.How retail, DTC, and food service each play their own role in Lottie’s growth.Why differentiation, quality, and ironclad non-negotiables matter when working with co-packers.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern food brand — from sourcing to storytelling to scaling in an unforgiving supply chain — this conversation is full of hard-won lessons and real-world strategies. 🍽️ Whether you’re a foodie, a founder, or someone fascinated by how craft brands break through, Cassie’s story is proof that pork can be premium, purposeful, and genuinely delicious again. Brands & Mentions:  Scribe Winery Nugget Markets US Foods Get Right’s Bakery Culinary Institute of America Maine Beer Company (“Lunch” IPA) Lottie’s Family Pork Farm NetworkShooka SauceJennies HouseRealsyChapters 00:00 Introduction to Lottie's Meats 02:48 Crafting Quality Sausages 05:41 Navigating Co-Packing Challenges 08:48 The Founder's Journey 11:32 Scaling and Distribution Strategies 14:20 Innovative Marketing Approaches 17:25 Product Development and Consumer Feedback 20:07 E-commerce and Digital Marketing Strategies 23:05 Community Engagement and Partnerships 25:59 Speed Round and Personal Insights

    45 min
  4. Launching a Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand on Shopify: Lessons from Go Brewing

    08/16/2025

    Launching a Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand on Shopify: Lessons from Go Brewing

    Launching a consumer brand is never easy — but launching a brewery without alcohol? That’s a whole new challenge. In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, I sit down with Joe Chura, founder of Go Brewing, the non-alcoholic beer brand redefining how we think about social drinking. Joe shares his journey from idea to launch, the countless recipe iterations, and the marketing moves that helped Go Brewing quickly find its place in a competitive industry. You’ll hear how Joe: Turned a personal vision into one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic breweries in the U.S.Perfected the brewing process through relentless testing and innovation.Built an online-first business with Shopify at the core of its growth strategy.Leveraged subscriptions to create community and recurring revenue.Collected and used customer feedback to guide new products and campaigns.Balanced storytelling, social media, and PR to build credibility and excitement.We also dig into the bigger picture: Why health-conscious consumers are fueling the non-alcoholic movement.How “hybrid drinking” is changing beverage culture.Where Joe sees opportunities in THC-infused beverages and beyond.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a modern CPG brand — from brewing to branding to building community — this conversation will inspire and challenge you. 🍺 Whether you’re sober curious, an entrepreneur, or just fascinated by where consumer trends are heading, Joe’s story is proof that you don’t need alcohol to build a buzz-worthy brand. Brands mentioned: Go BrewingEasy ManRich Roll75 HardHeinekenAthletic BrewingBuilding a Story Brand by Donald MillerJust for MenSimpler Hair ColorNaperville Running CompanyJolie Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Go Brewing and Non-Alcoholic Beers 07:33 The Journey to Starting Go Brewing 15:33 Brewing Process and Challenges 19:59 Launching and Marketing Go Brewing 28:24 Subscription Model and Customer Engagement 37:52 Future Trends in Non-Alcoholic Beverages

    49 min
  5. Turning Pistachios into Profit: How Pistakio Cracked the Nut Butter Category

    07/10/2025

    Turning Pistachios into Profit: How Pistakio Cracked the Nut Butter Category

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Francine Voit, co-founder of Pistakio, to talk about how she turned an underused nut into a standout brand — and made pistachios fun, accessible, and delicious for everyone. Fran shares the inside story of how Pistakio started as a college capstone project, went viral with creative sampling stunts (including a tiramisu purse that made it through TSA!), and grew into a fast-scaling DTC and retail brand — all while staying taste-first and relentlessly scrappy. You’ll hear:  ✅ The simple sampling strategy that built word-of-mouth and early traction  ✅ How Pistakio turned customer feedback into product improvements  ✅ Creative ways they inspire customers to use their spreads in everyday recipes  ✅ Why taste-first product development beats trendy buzzwords  ✅ How Fran thinks about growing retail, DTC, and content — without paid ads If you love founder stories packed with practical CPG marketing lessons and organic growth tactics, this one’s for you. Tune in, grab a snack (maybe a pistachio or two), and enjoy! Products and brands mentioned during this episode include: PistakioFaireBezi LabnehLottie's MeatsMichele Ferrero Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pistachio and Francine Voit 02:27 The Inspiration Behind Pistachio Products 05:25 Product Development and Market Entry 09:04 Sampling Strategy and Initial Sales 14:39 Balancing Direct-to-Consumer and Retail Sales 17:46 Viral Marketing and Content Creation 19:55 Retail Partnerships and Growth Strategies 21:50 Advice for Aspiring Founders 24:09 Speed Round and Personal Insights

    30 min
  6. Managing 45+ Shopify Stores with Dov Quint of OpenStore

    05/19/2025

    Managing 45+ Shopify Stores with Dov Quint of OpenStore

    How do you scale and optimize 45+ Shopify stores without losing your mind—or your margins? In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan Cassidy sits down with Dov Quint, Storefronts Lead at OpenStore, to explore the playbook he’s built for operating dozens of DTC brands at scale. You’ll hear: How OpenStore standardizes tech stacks without sacrificing performanceWhy A/B testing offers (and pricing) is non-negotiableCreative growth tactics like cashback offers that boosted list opt-ins by 40%What Shopify brands are doing to navigate tariffs without raising pricesA smart strategy for post-purchase revenue (that won’t annoy your customers)How AI is being used for CRO, analytics, and review miningWhy Dov is leading a mission-driven eCommerce delegation to Israel this fallPlus, hear Dov and Dan crack a Blue Moon and discuss ASMR marketing and whether your mom should test your website (spoiler: yes). 🎧 Tune in for a masterclass in operational excellence, CRO tactics, and why sometimes the best feedback comes from your mom. Show Notes: 🍻 Drinks of the Day: Dan: Blue Moon (bottle)Dov: Blue Moon 19oz can with bonus ASMR pour📍 Guest Info: Dov Quint Storefronts Lead, OpenStore Mission Lead, Israel Tech Mission Connect on LinkedIn 📘 Books Mentioned: The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil BloomShoe Dog by Phil Knight🧰 Tools & Tech Stack Shoutouts: Rebuy – Smart upsells & cross-sellsOkendo – Reviews, UGC, and surveysReplo – Landing page builderFermat – Embedded shopping experiencesFondue – Cashback instead of discountsOnward – Post-purchase insurance + experience layerIntelliGems – A/B testing for price, offers, landing pagesMicrosoft Clarity – Free heat mapping toolHeatmap.com – Revenue-based behavior analytics🛍️ Brands Mentioned: Jack Archer – DTC men’s performance apparel brandJolie – Luxury filtered showerhead with powerful DTC funnelBrez – THC-infused sparkling beveragesHexClad – Hybrid cookware (Jason Panzer mentioned as Tech Mission guest)✈️ Israel Tech Mission (September 2025): Curated trip for eCommerce founders, execs, and investorsDates: Sept 14–18, 2025Led by Dov Quint in partnership with Israel Tech MissionApplication link: https://tinyurl.com/ITM-for-eCommerce-LeadersIncludes: meetings with Israeli tech leaders, Air Force base visit, NOVA site, Jerusalem, and Tel AvivFeatured guest: Jason Panzer, President of HexClad

    52 min
  7. From Gut Issues to Product Innovation: Xeba Zareie’s CPG Journey with Preme Foods

    04/25/2025

    From Gut Issues to Product Innovation: Xeba Zareie’s CPG Journey with Preme Foods

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, we sit down with Xeba Zareie—founder of Preme Foods, a wellness-driven CPG brand helping people with chronic illness and sensitive stomachs enjoy indulgent nutrition again. What started as a personal battle with gut health turned into a mission: create functional, prebiotic-powered products that don’t compromise on taste or ingredients. From handmaking puddings to launching a shelf-stable, collagen-rich cocoa mix, Xeba’s story is equal parts resilience, research, and real innovation. We talk about: Why most gut health products on shelves are not made for sensitive stomachsThe difference between prebiotics and probiotics (and why that matters)How Xeba scaled from small-batch to co-manufacturing without compromising qualityWhat most new founders get wrong about packaging, messaging, and retailHer exact process for landing ideal retail partners—including a few bold outreach tacticsWhy powders > puddings (at least to start)If you’re building a wellness brand, formulating a CPG product, or launching on Shopify, this episode is packed with firsthand lessons from the trenches. Also: it’s our Aries birthday episode—cheers to that! Connect with Xeba Zareie Instagram: @x_eba Brand: @drinkpreme More info: drinkpreme.com Products mentioned during the episode: Zero to One by Peter ThielRamping Your Brand by James F. Richardson PhD7 Laws of Spiritual Success by Deepak ChopraOrganify Shilajit GummiesRevolveErewhonPistakioCharmleeNour Dressing Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Preme Foods and Xeba Zareie 02:11 The Science Behind Gut Health and Nutrition 06:18 Founder's Journey: From Personal Struggles to Business 11:09 Scaling Production: Challenges and Solutions 12:03 Transitioning from Puddings to Powders 13:39 Navigating Retail Partnerships and Consumer Education 19:16 Marketing Strategies for D2C Success 21:19 Lessons Learned and Future Directions

    25 min
  8. Ronnie Teja on Building Branzio Watches, Burnout, and the Power of A.I. for E-Commerce

    04/11/2025

    Ronnie Teja on Building Branzio Watches, Burnout, and the Power of A.I. for E-Commerce

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Ronnie Teja, founder of Branzio Watches, to unpack his inspiring journey from picking blueberries as a new immigrant to building a global watch brand with a scrappy $10K start. Ronnie shares real stories of entrepreneurship—burnout, supplier scams, PayPal bans, and team drama—and how he overcame it all by staying relentlessly curious, leaning into AI, and building a brand that now operates with global scale. They also dive into: The early days of Facebook ads and retail media buyingThe mindset shift from performance marketing to brand-buildingHow AI is changing e-commerce—from analytics to ad copyTips on outsourcing, remote teams, and hiring middle managementHis philosophy on leadership, karma, and connecting peopleWhether you're a solo founder, aspiring operator, or scaling ecom brand, this one is packed with gold. 👉 Learn more about Ronnie: Just Google his name — he’s everywhere.  🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you tune in. Products / products mentioned: GhostAlibaba 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss Traction by Gino WickmanRockefeller Habits by Verne HarnishNeil PatelBK BeautyThe Big Short by Michael Lewis Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrough and John HelyarFour Seasons Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Shopify Happy Hour 02:46 Ronny Teja's Journey to E-commerce 05:51 Lessons from Blueberry Picking 08:21 Marketing Education at Best Buy 11:31 Starting Branzio Watches 14:12 Challenges in E-commerce 16:49 Navigating Entrepreneurship 19:41 Building a Team and Leadership 22:31 The Evolution of Branzio Watches 24:50 The Evolution of Online Advertising 27:10 Shifting Mindsets: From Performance to Brand Marketing 29:41 Current Trends in Performance Marketing 31:51 Harnessing AI for Marketing and Business Decisions 36:31 Leveraging AI for Strategic Insights 39:48 Building a New E-commerce Business from Scratch 41:10 Choosing the Right Niche for E-commerce 43:19 Exceptional Customer Experiences in E-commerce 45:12 The Art of Connection and Networking

    48 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Hear from Shopify founders, operators and experts on growth marketing strategies, lessons learned from the trenches, and other nuggets of wisdom shared over a different drink each episode.  

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Cassidy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Shopify Happy Hour
  • Show Website
    Shopify Happy Hour