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

    AUG 16

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

    JUL 10

    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
  3. Managing 45+ Shopify Stores with Dov Quint of OpenStore

    MAY 19

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

    APR 25

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

    APR 11

    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
  6. Wine, Wellness and Marketing with Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted

    APR 3

    Wine, Wellness and Marketing with Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, host Dan sits down with Nishal Kumar, founder and CEO of No Days Wasted, a science-backed recovery brand helping people enjoy life’s moments—without paying the price the next day. Over a glass of wine (or two), Nishal shares: How a mountain workout routine and social life led to the idea for No Days WastedThe surprising science behind hangovers—and why DHM is keyBootstrapping the brand with a kitchen-made prototype and $30K in Indiegogo pre-ordersHow early podcast ads on Spittin' Chiclets and Call Her Daddy helped scale DTC salesThe shift from single-channel DTC to a full omnichannel strategy including Walmart, Amazon, and TikTok ShopHis approach to content, virality, and building a trustworthy brand in a crowded marketIf you’ve ever wanted to build a brand that bridges health, science, and social life—or you just want to recover better after a big night out—this episode’s for you. Brands mentioned: No Days WastedMission CocktailsMichelob Gold Kickstarter Indiegogo Biz Nasty aka Paul BissonnetteSpittin Chiclets Call Her Daddy Bar Stool SportsWalmart  GoPuffDoorDashShoe Dog by Phil Knight11 Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil JacksonBeck’s Broth Nike  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to No Days Wasted 08:52 The Science Behind Recovery Supplements 17:56 From Idea to Market: The Journey of No Days Wasted 20:57 Building Trust Through Brand Quality 21:55 From Kickstarter to Brand Growth 24:38 Leveraging Podcast Advertising for E-commerce 27:34 The Omnichannel Approach to Marketing 31:09 Balancing D2C and Retail Strategies 33:51 Harnessing Organic Social Media for Growth 37:07 Advice for Future Entrepreneurs

    43 min
  7. Healthy Donuts, Big Hustle: The Unfiltered Story Behind the Rise of Glonuts with Kristin Charbo

    MAR 29

    Healthy Donuts, Big Hustle: The Unfiltered Story Behind the Rise of Glonuts with Kristin Charbo

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, we sit down with Kristin Charbo, co-founder and CEO of glonuts—a clean, craveable donut alternative with just 1g of sugar. Kristin shares the honest story of building glonuts from her one-bedroom apartment kitchen alongside her co-founder (and now husband) Grover, hand-making over 100,000 donuts before scaling to national retail shelves. We dive into how they approached retail without relying on digital ads, why packaging became their best salesperson, the challenges of manufacturing a totally unique product, and how they raised capital the scrappy way. Kristin also opens up about managing PCOS through diet and how that inspired glonuts' mission to make healthy snacking more fun and accessible. Whether you're building a CPG brand or just love a good founder journey, this one’s packed with insights—and donut jokes. Brands mentioned: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Daisey Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins ReidKifErewhonAlfredNowadaysZaraFrench Squirrel Chapters 00:00 Introduction to glonuts and Healthy Eating 06:21 The Origin Story of glonuts 12:14 Challenges in Manufacturing and Fundraising 20:13 Retail Strategy and Building Relationships 24:40 Marketing and Brand Differentiation 27:48 Future Plans for glonuts

    33 min
  8. Disrupting the Pickle Aisle: How Two Founders Made Pickles Hot Again | Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtier of Good Girl Snacks

    MAR 26

    Disrupting the Pickle Aisle: How Two Founders Made Pickles Hot Again | Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtier of Good Girl Snacks

    In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour, Dan sits down with Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, the best-friend duo behind Good Girl Snacks, creators of the now-famous Hot Girl Pickles. From launching in public on TikTok to landing Erewhon as a retail partner within a year, Leah and Yasaman share their journey of building a pickle brand that’s bold, crunchy, and anything but traditional. They dive into: How they used TikTok to build a loyal audience (before ever launching the product)Why social media is their most powerful (and free) growth toolTips for building in public, going viral, and managing content without a big teamBalancing best-friend energy with business structureTheir advice for new brand owners and how they’d approach hitting 7 figures from scratchGrab a snack (maybe a pickle?) and get ready for a fresh, fun, and insightful conversation with two sharp ladies disrupting the sleepy pickle category. 🥒✨ Brands mentioned during this episode: Good Girl SnacksErewhonShoedog by Phil KnightPower of Now by Eckhart TollePistakioBrave SauceReformation Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Good Girl Snacks 01:14 The Art of Pickle Tasting 02:45 Flavor Innovations and New Releases 05:10 The Journey of Founders 09:27 Growing in Public: Social Media Strategy 13:35 Consistency and Authenticity in Content Creation 16:28 Roles and Responsibilities of Co-Founders 17:56 Maintaining Friendships in Business 20:04 Retail Success and Market Positioning 22:30 Balancing D2C and Retail Strategies 24:07 The Future of Social Commerce 25:32 Lessons Learned and E-commerce Insights 27:12 The Secret to Crunchy Pickles 28:49 Speed Round: Quick Insights

    31 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Shopify Happy Hour
  • Show Website
    Shopify Happy Hour