The Story of a Brand

CommerceFocused Media, Inc.
  • 4.9 (132)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED DAILY
The Story of a Brand

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

  1. Saral - Beyond Followers: The Truth About Real Influence

    2 HR. AGO

    Saral - Beyond Followers: The Truth About Real Influence

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Yash Chavan, the founder of Saral, to talk about what’s changed in influencer marketing, what’s working right now, and how brands can build long-term, authentic partnerships with influencers. We dive into the evolution of the influencer space, why attention is the new currency, and how brands can stop wasting money on the wrong influencer deals. Yash breaks down his game-changing strategy—one that flips the script on traditional influencer marketing and helps brands build a sustainable, scalable pipeline of real advocates. If you're serious about growth, this episode is packed with must-know insights! Key Moments in This Episode: * The Attention Economy – Why getting the right kind of attention matters more than ever. * Building Your Influencer "Secret Society" – The three-layer strategy that separates successful brands from the rest. * The New Way to Pay Influencers – How brands can de-risk partnerships and only invest in proven creators. * Common Mistakes to Avoid – Why follower count means nothing without real influence. * The Future of Influencer Marketing – How AI, authenticity, and trust will shape the next wave of brand partnerships. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this insightful episode with Yash Chavan as we uncover the real strategies behind influencer marketing success! 🎧 For more on Saral, visit:  https://www.getsaral.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors:   Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

    45 min
  2. Molly Bz Cookies - From $150 to a National Cookie Brand

    FEB 13

    Molly Bz Cookies - From $150 to a National Cookie Brand

    If you love stories of resilience, grit, and entrepreneurial spirit, today’s episode is exactly that.   Meet Molly Blakeley, the powerhouse founder of Molly Bz Cookies, who went from being a single mom with just $150 to her name to building a nationally recognized brand. Molly’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—full of hustle, creative problem-solving, and an unstoppable mindset. We talk about the highs and lows of building a business, from baking cookies in her kitchen to landing in major retailers like Costco and Walmart. Molly shares the behind-the-scenes hustle, the power of saying "yes" before you figure it out, and how she turned obstacles into stepping stones for success. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a brand from the ground up, this episode is for you! Key Moments in This Episode: * The $150 Gamble – How Molly turned her last bit of money into a booming cookie business. * From Food Truck to National Brand – The creative way she tested and validated her cookie concept. * Bold Moves & No Limits – Why asking, taking risks, and ignoring self-imposed limitations led to her big break. * The Walmart Open Call Success – How Molly’s hustle landed her two golden tickets and an exclusive Walmart cookie. * Lessons in Entrepreneurship – Her insights on rejection, mindset, and pivoting to keep growing. Join us in listening to this incredible episode with Molly Blakeley as she shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between in building Molly Bz Cookies!  For more on Molly Bz Cookies, visit:  https://mollybz.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.    Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

    1h 3m
  3. CHOMPS - From $6,500 to America’s Fastest-Growing Snack Brand

    JAN 29

    CHOMPS - From $6,500 to America’s Fastest-Growing Snack Brand

    In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali, Co-founders and Co-CEOs of CHOMPS, the fastest-growing food brand in the U.S.  From humble beginnings to over $500 million in retail sales, Pete and Rashid have built a brand redefining the snacking industry with high-quality, healthy, and delicious meat snacks. What I love about this conversation is how Pete and Rashid dive into the lessons they’ve learned, the mistakes they’ve made, and the strategies that have fueled their success. Whether you’re a founder, a business leader, or someone passionate about entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable takeaways. Key Moments in This Episode: * Building from Scratch: How Pete and Rashid leveraged their complementary skills and a deep understanding of their customers to build a loyal community around CHOMPS. * Focus on Brand Awareness: Why keeping brand awareness ahead of distribution has been their key to scaling successfully while maintaining customer loyalty. * Lessons in Resilience: How bootstrapping through challenges—like raising $1 million in a weekend to fund a Trader Joe’s order—helped them grow sustainably. * Innovation with Simplicity: The power of focusing on a core product lineup while introducing customer-driven innovations like pantry packs to meet evolving needs. * The CHOMPian Culture: How Pete and Rashid maintain their original values and foster a strong company culture, even as their team and operations scale rapidly. Join us in listening to this insightful episode where Pete and Rashid share the secrets behind CHOMPS’ incredible growth and their mission to create a better-for-you brand that resonates with consumers. Let’s dive into their journey and learn how to build a purpose-driven and wildly successful business. Enjoy the show! For more on CHOMPS, visit:  https://chomps.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.  Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

    56 min
  4. Manmade - The Essentials Men Need without the BS

    JAN 23

    Manmade - The Essentials Men Need without the BS

    From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published on May 26, 2022. Our interviews on The Story of a Brand Shows are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URLs in these archive episodes are still relevant. In this episode of The Story of a Brand, I interview Anthony Ciavirella, Co-founder of Manmade.  Anthony and his co-founders are redefining men’s essentials with a focus on quality, simplicity, and authenticity. From leaving their finance careers to perfecting their products, their story is filled with grit, innovation, and a relentless drive to create something extraordinary. In this episode, we explore what it takes to build a product-driven brand, the journey of creating boxer briefs and socks that truly deliver on quality, and how TikTok and customer feedback became game-changers for their growth. Anthony’s passion and insights into entrepreneurship will leave you inspired and ready to take action.   Key Moments in This Episode: * From Finance to Fashion: How four best friends left their corporate careers, locked themselves in a cabin, and came out with a plan to build a legacy brand. * The Power of Listening: Why calling over 1,000 customers and gathering feedback was critical to perfecting their products. * TikTok Success Story: How leveraging trends and authentic storytelling on TikTok helped the brand gain viral attention and organic growth. * Redefining Men’s Essentials: The attention to detail behind Manmade’s products, including their innovative “drop-top fly” boxer briefs and no-slip socks. * Commitment to Sustainability and Quality: The challenges and rewards of creating premium products without cutting corners or compromising values. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this fascinating episode as Anthony takes us behind the scenes of building a purpose-driven brand that puts men’s wellness first without the BS. Enjoy the show! For more on Manmade, visit:  https://us.manmadebrand.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.    Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

    1h 13m
  5. The Real Cereal Co. - The Next Generation Deserves Better Cereal

    JAN 22

    The Real Cereal Co. - The Next Generation Deserves Better Cereal

    In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I interview Tom Binder, Co-founder of The Real Cereal Co.  From leaving a comfortable job to investing in a self-owned facility to a deep commitment to simple, clean ingredients and sustainability, this story is one of grit, big dreams, and redefining what breakfast cereal can be. Whether you're a founder, a food enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good story about innovation and values-driven entrepreneurship, this conversation is for you. Key Moments in This Episode: * The Power of Family Support: How Tom’s family believed in his vision and supported him through the rollercoaster of building a brand from the ground up. * Revolutionizing Cereal: Why The Real Cereal Co. is challenging the status quo by creating products with just one or two simple, clean ingredients. * Going All In: Tom explains why investing in a dedicated manufacturing facility early on was key to staying true to the brand’s values. * Balancing Risk and Vision: “Go big or go home” is Tom’s motto, and he shares how taking calculated risks has driven the company’s growth. * Eco-Friendly Innovation: The importance of sustainable packaging and why The Real Cereal Co. is committed to reducing environmental impact. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this insightful episode as Tom Binder takes us behind the scenes of building a brand that’s setting new standards in the food industry.  Check out The Real Cereal Co. at realcereal.com and find out where you can try their delicious and healthy cereals. Let’s dive in! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.  SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/ SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

    55 min
  6. wildwonder - Building a Brand with Heritage, Heart, and Health in Mind

    JAN 21

    wildwonder - Building a Brand with Heritage, Heart, and Health in Mind

    In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I interviewed Rosa Li, the inspiring Founder and CEO of wildwonder.  Her brand is rooted in a beautiful blend of her Chinese heritage and California influences, offering gut-healthy sparkling beverages that are as delicious as they are beneficial.  From early entrepreneurial hurdles to the game-changing impact of appearing on Shark Tank, Rosa shares the incredible story of how her grandmother’s herbal tonics inspired Wildwonder and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of building a mission-driven brand. Key Moments in This Episode: * From Passion to Product: How Rosa’s childhood memories of her grandmother’s herbal tonics inspired her to create wildwonder, blending Eastern herbal wisdom with California’s fresh produce. * Pivoting in the Pandemic: Rosa shares how COVID-19 wiped out her initial business model and forced her to knock on over 300 grocery store doors to keep her dream alive. * The Shark Tank Effect: Learn how appearing on Shark Tank not only boosted awareness but also drove long-lasting customer loyalty and repeat business. * Operations First, Marketing Later: Rosa explains why focusing on product quality and operational efficiency before investing in marketing was critical to wildwonder’s success. * Representation in Retail: Rosa discusses her mission to bring cultural representation and unique, botanically influenced flavors to retail shelves, creating a brand that stands out. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this insightful episode, where Rosa shares how wildwonder is making waves in the beverage industry and leaving a lasting impact on communities.  For more on wildwonder, visit: https://drinkwildwonder.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.   Shopline U.S.  - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

    1h 2m
  7. The Founders Club - The Power is in the Community

    JAN 16

    The Founders Club - The Power is in the Community

    I’m thrilled to have Chris Meade back on the show. You might remember Chris as the co-founder of CROSSNET, the four-way volleyball game that has taken backyards and beaches by storm. But today, he’s here to talk about his exciting new venture, The Founders Club, a community designed to support entrepreneurs in navigating the ups and downs of building a business—and life. In this episode, Chris shares his journey from bootstrapping CROSSNET to seeing it become a staple in major retailers like Target and Costco. Along the way, he opens up about the lessons learned, mistakes made, and how those experiences inspired him to create a space where founders can connect, grow, and thrive.  Whether it’s about overcoming loneliness, avoiding costly mistakes, or balancing business and life, Chris’s insights are invaluable for anyone on the entrepreneurial path. 🔑 Key Moments in This Episode: * The Origin of CROSSNET: How Chris and his friends invented a four-way volleyball net and turned it into a national sensation, now played in over 15,000 schools and countless backyards. * Lessons from the Trenches: Chris discusses the challenges he faced as an entrepreneur, from inventory mishaps to navigating a potential business exit, and how those moments shaped his vision for The Founders Club. * The Power of Community: Why entrepreneurship can be isolating and how The Founders Club fosters meaningful connections through local chapters, events, and mastermind groups. * Addressing the Whole Entrepreneur: The club’s focus on more than just business growth, covering topics like financial literacy, personal well-being, and maintaining strong relationships. * Practical Advice for Founders: Chris offers actionable tips, like how to invest wisely post-exit, the importance of planning ahead, and why understanding your “why” is key to success. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this inspiring conversation as we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey, the value of community, and the importance of balancing ambition with personal well-being. Chris’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, connection, and never giving up on your dreams. For more on The Founders Club, visit: https://www.foundersclubofficial.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.  SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/ SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for The Story of a Brand Podcast listeners. Start today! Visit the link above.

    44 min
  8. Goode Health - Building a 360° Health Platform for Consumers

    JAN 15

    Goode Health - Building a 360° Health Platform for Consumers

    In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Mike Glick, the innovative Co-founder and CEO of Goode Health.  Mike shared his journey from working in large-scale nutrition to building a groundbreaking, personalized superfood brand. His passion for nutrition and commitment to helping people take charge of their health shines through as he discusses how Goode Health leverages technology, data, and smart product design to transform daily routines into healthy habits.  If you’ve ever been curious about biohacking, personalized wellness, or the future of nutrition, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways: * From Big Nutrition to Innovation: Mike’s journey from working at Abbott Nutrition to launching Goode Health and what inspired his focus on personalized wellness. * The Science Behind Superfoods: How Goode Health uses polyphenols, clean ingredients, and customization to create a powerful yet scalable product. * Blending Tech and Nutrition: Why personalization, backed by wearables and biomarkers, is the next frontier in health. * Tackling Wellness Trends: How Goode Health is positioning itself to complement health trends like GLP-1 usage and the rise of nutrient-dense diets. * Retention Ready from Day One: The importance of starting with retention strategies and creating tools to help consumers stay engaged, like journals and recipe guides. Join us in listening to the episode as Mike shares his vision for the future of health, his entrepreneurial lessons, and why Goode Health is poised to redefine the wellness industry. 🎧 For more on Goode Health, visit:  https://www.goodehealth.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/ Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more.    Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.

    46 min
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4.9
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    CommerceFocused Media, Inc.
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    1.3K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 - CommerceFocused Media - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    The Story of a Brand

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