The Story of a Brand CommerceFocused Media, Inc.

This episode is brought to you by Saral and Vdriven.

In today’s episode, we interview Ryan Espi, Co-Founder & CEO of First Light Whiskey. First Light Whiskey is a smooth, coffee-flavored whiskey that can be enjoyed neat, on ice, or mixed into your favorite cocktail.

It’s made with naturally gluten-free 99% corn whiskey, real coffee extract, and raw blue agave — crafted with love on the coast of Southern California.

Highlights include: 

* His Gratitude Story

* What his mentor taught him: “All Boats Rise.”

* What he took for granted about his parents

* Taking the Van Wilder path in college

* The lesson he learned from his design firm

* How did he get started with First Light, and why

* How his hobbies and passion make him a better version of himself

* Deciding what type of company they wanted to build

* Overview and challenges of the alcohol industry

* Breaking down the First Light recipe

* Why they want people to have a First Light moment: How they named the brand

* Internal challenges as a manager and leader

* Advice for founders

* Launching a D2C offer

* What he’s proud of about the brand

Join Ramon Vela and Ryan Espi as we break down the inside story of First Light Whiskey on The Story of a Brand.

For more on First Light Whiskey, visit: https://www.firstlightwhiskey.com/

Simply search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.

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Today’s sponsors:
 
Vdriven - A Partner to CPG brands:
https://www.vdriven.com/

Are unauthorized distributor deductions hurting your bottom line and cash flow? Vdriven has recovered over $1 million in erroneous deductions from distributors. Vdriven supports brands with deduction management and an array of services to accelerate sustainable growth. Schedule a call today.

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 & 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/