From Garage to $400 Million: The Portland Leather Goods Story with Curtis Matsko

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Adam Vernon, founder of Colorado Ski Chairs, a business that’s been transforming old skis and snowboards into handcrafted furniture for nearly 20 years.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Adam’s journey from ski racer to founder of Colorado Ski ChairsTurning old skis into furniture and the brand’s early daysHow the product line evolved over 18+ yearsBalancing custom projects with scalable productsShifting from B2C focus to more B2B and corporate clientsMarketing channels: brick-and-mortar, online, and social mediaThe role of video content and behind-the-scenes storytellingSustainability as a brand story vs. actual sales driverBuilding a team of multi-talented employees with no rigid titlesLooking ahead: the future of Colorado Ski Chairs and industry adaptationThis episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Madhu Punjabi, co-founder and CEO of Lion Pose. Before building a skincare brand that landed in Sephora, Madhu held key roles at Google, Pinterest, and Meta—experiences that shaped how she builds today.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Madhu’s early career at Google, Pinterest, and MetaLessons from launching products at big tech companiesWhy she left to become a founder before having an ideaBuilding and selling her first company in infant formulaCo-founding Lion Pose and targeting Sephora from day oneThe “questions framework” she learned at Meta and still usesThe realities of being a founder vs. corporate lifeDefining passion in business and why it mattersChallenges of today’s DTC environment: rising costs, tougher acquisition, thinner marginsThe importance of retention, customer insights, and knowing your numbersFind more episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Margot Adams, co-founder of Luxeire, a mother-daughter clothing brand blending luxury, comfort, and performance, so you never have to choose between style and function.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The mother-daughter founding story of LuxeireEarly struggles turning a passion project into a real businessLaunching the hero product: the Classic Button-UpRunning Meta ads on a shoestring budget and finding product-market fitWhy Margot became the face of the brandCustomer service and the human touch in a lean businessCompeting in a crowded apparel space while manufacturing in NYCBalancing new customer acquisition with customer retentionOperational challenges and the importance of efficiencyWhat’s next for Luxeire: new fabrics, product categories, and pop-upsFind more episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul chats with Dinah Chapman, founder of Little Trouble, a fast-growing kidswear brand that’s on track to hit 8 figures. Dinah shares how she built the company from her garage while juggling motherhood and a demanding corporate job, why she resisted shortcuts in customer service, and how she turned customer feedback into a growth engine.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Moving abroad while running a U.S.-based businessStarting Little Trouble as a side hustle during corporate burnoutKnowing when a side hustle becomes a full-time businessStanding out in a crowded kids apparel marketChallenges across growth stages: 0–1M, 1–5M, and beyondOperating with a tiny team while scaling bigThe critical role of customer service and human connectionThe pitfalls of over-obsessing about attribution vs. focusing on fundamentalsLeveraging customer insights and zero-party data for growthWhat’s next: brand collaborations, wholesale, and product diversificationFind more episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Curtis Matsko, founder and CEO of Portland Leather Goods, to unpack how he grew his brand from a garage startup into a $400M+ e-commerce powerhouse. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The origins of Portland Leather Goods and early growthAuthenticity and personal branding on LinkedInThe mix of factors behind business successStaying optimistic and leading with confidenceEvolving strategies to stay relevant in changing marketsHiring and building a high-performing, like-minded teamMoving manufacturing to Mexico and its challengesMeasuring the right business and marketing metricsThe importance of retention and efficiency in DTCWhy struggling businesses often blame agencies unfairlyFind more episodes on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Victoria Hana, Director of Ecommerce at G FUEL. We dive into how GFuel has built a powerful brand at the intersection of gaming, community, and commerce. From navigating influencer relationships to structuring their marketing calendar, Victoria shares the strategic and tactical moves that have helped G FUEL scale across DTC, retail, and beyond. If you’re a marketer or brand owner looking to blend culture with commerce, this one's a must-listen.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Building a gaming-focused brand with mainstream appealNavigating influencer partnerships at scaleThe evolution of GFuel’s marketing strategyCommunity building through content and cultureDiversifying revenue channels beyond DTCCollaborations with big names in gaming and entertainmentManaging retail expansion while keeping brand integrityPlanning GFuel’s annual and 90-day marketing calendarAdjusting strategies for changing consumer behaviorKey lessons from scaling a multi-channel eCommerce brandFind more episodes on ⁠⁠our website⁠⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠.⁠⁠BSR Digital⁠⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠ or book a call ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, the founders of Good Girl Snacks, a pickle brand that emphasizes organic ingredients and community engagement. They discuss their journey from college friends to entrepreneurs, the challenges of launching a food product, and the importance of building a brand in public through social media.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: The founding story of Good Girl Snacks and how Leah and Yasaman met.Transitioning from unfulfilling jobs to starting a pickle company.The inspiration behind launching a pickle brand and the market gap they identified.The role of social media in building their brand and community engagement.Challenges and strategies in product development and flavor innovation.The importance of organic content creation and its impact on marketing.Navigating retail and e-commerce channels for product distribution.The significance of building in public and involving the community in business decisions.The impact of having a strong organic presence on retail success.Future plans for Good Girl Snacks, including new flavors and retail expansion.Find more episodes on ⁠our website⁠.--This episode is brought to you by ⁠BSR Digital⁠.⁠BSR Digital⁠ helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, ⁠visit their website⁠ or book a call ⁠here⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Sarah Vilenskiy, founder of Blossom Essentials. She has taken her skincare brand from direct-to-consumer roots to the shelves of major retailers like Walmart. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: From marketing to skincare: Sarah’s founder journeyLearning from agency experiences: good and badNavigating the impact of iOS 14 on Meta AdsTransitioning from DTC to retailAdapting to economic uncertainty and changing consumer behaviorRetail profitability vs. digital acquisition costsBuilding brand trust through education and transparencyLeveraging direct mail and retention strategiesFinding and owning your niche in a crowded marketThe importance of aligning brand voice with founder authenticityFind more episodes on our website.--This episode is brought to you by BSR Digital.BSR Digital helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital, visit their website or book a call here.

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Jordan Lunetta, founder of Odin Golf. They discuss the mission of Odin Golf as a brand for everyday golfers, Jordan's transition from tech to the golf industry, and the cultural differences between the US and Europe. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Jordan's Background in Tech and Transition to GolfCultural Differences: US vs. EuropeExploring the Importance of Travel and PerspectiveNavigating Business in Europe: Insights for American BrandsLocalization Challenges in European MarketsIdentifying Key Markets in Europe for BusinessBuilding Community Beyond ProductsCreating Unique Experiences for CustomersEngaging Customers Through EventsFor more episodes of The DTC Insider podcast, head on over to http://www.thedtcinsider.com/--This episode is brought to you by ⁠BSR Digital⁠.BSR Digital helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital:👉 Visit their website: https://www.bsrdigital.com/👉 Book a call: https://calendly.com/brianroisentul/discovery-call-30min

In this episode of The DTC Insider podcast, Brian Roisentul sits down with Donny Jensen, the CMO of Black Rifle Coffee, a veteran-founded company that has grown into a $400M powerhouse. Donny shares his journey, the brand's evolution from DTC to retail, and the innovative strategies driving their success.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:Balancing Brand Building and Performance MarketingContent Creation at Scale: Black Rifle’s Internal StudioBuilding a $400M Brand with DTC FoundationsTurning a Coffee Company into an Entertainment BrandSubscription Strategy: Exclusive Products and ExperienceDay Trading Retail Media: The New Growth PlaybookThe Role of Community in Retail ExpansionLeveraging AI to Speed Up Content ProductionTikTok Shop & YouTube Shop: Lessons from Early AdoptionFrom Agency Life to Brand Leadership: Key LearningsFor more episodes of The DTC Insider podcast, head on over to http://www.thedtcinsider.com/--This episode is brought to you by BSR Digital.BSR Digital helps e-commerce brands that want to scale their business to the next level through paid ads & email marketing.To learn more about BSR Digital:👉 Visit their website: https://www.bsrdigital.com/👉 Book a call: https://calendly.com/brianroisentul/discovery-call-30min