The Clean-Eating, Brand-Building Journey of Kevin’s Natural Foods

After more than two-and-a-half years and nearly 300 episodes of uninterrupted commerce content, we’re taking a brief pause. Stephanie and the team behind Up Next in Commerce is busy cooking up some fun and exciting ideas for our next season of the show, and while that’s happening, we’ll be pushing pause on releasing new episodes. But we’ll be back, and we want to hear from you about what you want to see and hear when we return! So get in touch by emailing [email protected]. And in the meantime, you can keep up with Stephanie by listening to the Mission Daily podcast! Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

Sustainability and consciousness are often seen as buzzwords coming from ecommerce companies. But for those who build their businesses around doing right in the world, these terms are nothing short of foundational. In this episode, Jeff Scult, founder of sustainable retailer One Golden Thread, discusses how his company gives more back to nature then it takes to create products in the company’s wildly popular clothing line.Tune in to learn:0:00 Episode start6:51 The rise of consciousness among consumers10:14 The origin of One Golden Thread14:41 The inspiration for the company’s process and design37:39 What it means to be truly sustainableMentions:AdidasAvery DennisonNASATED TalksBurning ManDave ZebrowskiRosario DawsonKellogg’sUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

Although it may seem like Chomps has been an overnight success, behind the scenes there has been a lot of hard work, risky bets, and beneficial partnerships that has helped elevate the brand. On this episode, Pete Maldonado, the Co-founder and CEO of Chomps and Stacy Hartnett, the Vice President, E-Commerce & Marketing at Chomps, discuss how the company was bootstrapped, and how it has scaled through both retail and online platforms.Tune in to learn:The beginnings of Chomps (2:00)The timeline of success (5:45)Lessons learned after getting into Trader Joe’s (13:30)How and why Stacey came on board (15:00)Creating an appetite for risky bets (21:20)Identifying the right platforms (23:00)Contrarian ideas or data to track (31:20)Mentions:Tim Ferris/Noah Kagan blogUncrate.comUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

Before she became the VP of Ecommerce and Marketing at Pharmaca, Elizabeth Garry cut her teeth in the digital and marketing world at brands such as Wayfair, Walmart, and Camping World. In this episode, Liz shares with us the lessons she’s learned along the way, including how to vet a potential manager to see whether they have your best interests at heart, and what it looks like to create success as a team.Tune in to learn:Liz’s background and her pivot to ecommerce (2:20)Learning directly from the Wayfair founders  (5:30)How to vet a potential manager (12:25)Creating success with your team (22:15)What is Pharmica? (30:00)Creating a digital journey that helps customers (34:45)Predictions for 2023 (38:00)Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

When a company is as large as AT&T and has a legacy that dates back nearly 150 years, you might think that it’s difficult for the brand to adapt and innovate. Maryanne Cheung, the VP of ecommerce at AT&T, is here to tell you you’re wrong. On this episode, she details all the ways that AT&T has been able to change with the times in order to serve today’s more digitally-focused customers. Tune in to learn:How AT&T evaluates change (3:00)Small bets that have made a big impact (5:00)The omnichannel mix at AT&T (9:50)Some predictions for the next five years (14:45)Outside of customer service, how does AT&T separate itself from competitors? (19:45)What is the future of call centers? (28:45)What keeps work exciting? (38:45)Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

The DTC world is forever shifting and evolving. Staying on top of changing trends and best practices takes work. We try to make that easier for you by sharing insights from experts throughout the industry. Today, we’re doubling our efforts by speaking with fellow podcast host Eric Dyck, who is the founder and CEO of DTC Newsletter and host of DTC Podcast. Eric shares his latest findings and gives some tips on how to win with newsletters and content marketing.Tune in to learn:How Eric got into the DTC space (2:00)Winning with your newsletters (6:20)How to stand out when everyone is moving in the same direction (9:50)The role AI will play for brands moving forward (15:20)The challenges companies face in 2023 (26:00)Mentions:DTC EventsMidday Squares episode of Up Next in CommerceUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

Shinola is a lifestyle brand that partners with family businesses and iconic brands to showcase a wide range of American-designed products. Which means the company has to know how (and where) to continually reach all segments of an ever-growing audience. Joel Layton, the VP, Head of Ecommerce, Digital & Marketing for Shinola discusses what that looks like.Tune in to learn:Are we in a DTC vs retail world? (6:30)Enacting a test and learn strategy (9:35)Going all-in on TikTok (12:55)Thinking ahead for the coming year (19:00)Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

In an innovative move, Scott Lynn, CEO and Founder of Masterworks, democratized art investing by registering art pieces with the SEC and selling shares to investors. The first company of its kind, Masterworks is now a major art dealer with more than 600,000 investors on its platform. Scott dives into the future of art investing, the historical data the company analyzes, and how to determine which art pieces will perform.   Tune in to learn:Historical data in the art industry (7:00)Art investing over the next couple of years (10:46)The role of alternative asset classes in coming decades (20:55)How do you determine which art will perform financially? (25:40)Evolutions and trends in art valuation (27:20)Mentions:Sotheby’sBasquiatPaul Allen’s $1.5 billion collection saleBanksyJoan MitchellSam GilliamUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

In an effort to fight off a debilitating autoimmune disorder that struck him years ago, Kevin McCray turned to a strict Paleo diet free of gluten, refined sugars, and soy. It was a decision that would spark a truly inspirational and wildly successful entrepreneurial mission. The President and Co-founder of the healthy prepackaged meal company Kevin’s Natural Foods joins us to talk about how his clean-eating lifestyle took him from the hospital bed to spearheading a brand that can now be found in some of the largest retail stores across the country.Tune in to learn:The origins of Kevin’s Natural Foods (2:06)How Kevin negotiates prices with suppliers (14:40)Advice on getting a product into major retail stores (24:00)The importance of fortifying a brand position (30:55)Mentions:Dr. Mark HymanDan Costa23andMe: DNA Genetic Testing For Health, Ancestry And MoreChief Health HackerCookout With KevUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.

What do Apple Pay, WhatsApp, and Crypto have in common? They are all preferred channels of payment and messaging that customers may prefer to use. Michael Affronti, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Payments and Messaging at Salesforce, shares his perspective on how companies should evolve their options for communication and payments to build better, more personalized relationships with their customers. Tune in to learn:About Michael’s patents (05:15)What international payments trends will be emerging in the US (14:30)Why Michael is keeping a close eye on cryptocurrency (24:00)How brands should reevaluate their messaging systems (29:00)Mentions:Stat for preferred payment method“Innovation Stack: Building Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time” by Jim McKelvey“The Innovation Stack: How Square Co-Founder Jim McKelvey Thinks About Disruption” - James’ Episode on Up Next In CommerceCharacter.AI - Character botWhatsApp - Free, world-wide messaging and calling appMichael Affronti’s LinkedInUp Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Learn more at http://www.salesforce.com/commerce Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at http://www.mission.org.