Brand Builder

When Alix Peabody was in her early 20s, she suffered from an ovarian torsion, in which an ovary twists, cutting off blood flow. Doctors recommended that if she wanted children one day, she should freeze her eggs. The only problem? The procedure, which can cost over $20,000 wasn't covered by insurance. In an effort to raise funds, Alix started hosting ticketed parties and found a passion for creating female-dominated social spaces. She wanted to create that same energy in a product that people could enjoy again and again, and Bev was born.  In this episode, we talk to Bev Founder Alix Peabody about breaking into the male-dominated wine industry with zero experience, standing up against toxic drinking culture, and creating a fun and inclusive experience through every brand interaction. 

Ocean Spray may have once conjured up images of bogs and cranberry juice, but the 92-year-old company made waves in 2020 with their arrival of CarryOn, a refreshing CBD beverage born from their Lighthouse Incubator.  In this episode, we talk to CarryOn's Innovation Lead and Managing Director Chris Petersen about the significance of behemoth brands entering the functional wellness space, the advantages of an Incubator operation, as well as its unique challenges. Chris also gets personal about the mindset shift that came with joining a corporate team after years of solo entrepreneurship and how he combines the best of both worlds for CarryOn.

Twist it! Flip it! Shake it! No, we're not talking about the old Bop It toys. We're talking about Drnxmyth's innovative packaging that houses fresh ready-to-drink cocktails from some of the best mixologists in the world. In this episode, we talk to Drnxmyth Co-founder Brandon Schwartz about the early challenges and a-ha moments behind creating their revolutionary packaging, establishing (and re-establishing) their target consumers, and partnering with passionate mixologists worldwide to celebrate the 'craft' of craft cocktail-making.

It is officially the age of the hard seltzer. In fact, it feels like not a day goes by without a well-known beer or alcohol brand announcing their new low-calorie beverage, or a rookie brand announcing the same. So, what was it like to be the first? Before White Claw was in every corner and Truly was truly everywhere, Julius Makarewicz founded Nude Beverages, the low-calorie beverage brand based out of British Columbia. Eight years later, Nude has amassed fans across the globe with their suite of delicious sugar-free hard seltzers, vodka sodas, hard iced teas and more.  In this episode, we talk to Julius about his entrepreneurial upbringing, his relentless pursuit of success, and the years of rejection that led to Nude Beverages being the powerhouse brand that it is today.

Roll out the red carpet because this week, we're joined by royalty. Erica Huss and Zoe Sakoutis became category queens in 2007 with BluePrint, a first-of-it's-kind fresh pressed juice that leveraged high pressure processing (HPP) to land on market shelves nationwide. Now, they're back and better than ever with Earth & Star, a line of ready-to-drink functional beverages and snacks that harness the power of functional mushrooms and extracts. In this episode, they share their proven strategies for turning fringe wellness trends into incredibly delicious and 'sticky' products that people can fall in love with. Plus, we get real and raw about the costly mistakes along the way that made them stronger entrepreneurs, brand builders, co-founders and friends.   For full show notes and relevant links, visit snacknation.com/brandbuilder 

Where people see challenges, Kameron sees a new opportunity to build a life-changing brand. Not once, but twice.  In this inspiring episode, Kameron Norwood, co-founder of Half Day CBD and PackDash, reveals the surprising secrets and tested strategies that helped him navigate the stigmas of cannabis, launch his first brand and build an ecosystem to support it. Get ready for a crash course in hustling, being resourceful, and never letting roadblocks get in the way of your success.

When it comes to the world of venture capital, it can feel eerily similar to Squid Game, though not nearly as gory (thank goodness). Thousands of brands competing for the resources and mentorship they need to take their product to new heights, some getting better outcomes than others.  So, how can today's founders find the most successful venture partner to help their brand grow? How can they rise above the noise, grab attention, and win support?  We thought, "Who better to ask than a venture capitalist?" That's why we sat down with Jay Hirsh, founder of Break Trail Ventures, an early-stage venture fund based in Boulder, CO and Columbus, OH. In this episode, he gives us the ultimate crash course on finding and attracting the right venture partner for your unique brand, red flags to avoid, and his learn-first approach for success in venture and life.  

Whether you want to grow your business, become a better leader, or reach your full potential, leveling up is tough work. Add a global pandemic to the mix and it can feel near impossible!  This week, we're joined by Eric Partaker, an award-winning Peak Performance Expert and author of The 3 Alarms, who combines his own entrepreneurial journey at Skype and Chilengo with his in-depth knowledge of behavioral science to guide Fortune 50 CEOs to reach their full potential in work and life.  In this episode, Eric reveals his proven strategies for unlocking new levels of performance and how to leverage your current knowledge and resources to overcome challenges, discover your 'Why' and achieve sustainable success. 

How would we describe Mark Samuel, the founder of the award-winning wellness brand IWON Organics?  Intensely focused, brutally honest, and above all, ruthlessly authentic.  It's this authenticity and his commitment to wellness that has fueled Mark's 17 years as an entrepreneur, launching IWON Organics to promote healthy snacking and successful, long-term eating habits. Along the way, this same authenticity has attracted thousands to Mark's Linkedin, where he shares every lesson, every win, and every ugly truth about being a founder in the world of CPG.  In this episode, Mark reveals his secrets to achieving optimal focus, dedication, and authenticity as a CEO, with tactical tips for pushing your brand forward.  

What happens when one of the world's renowned CPG behemoths take on the emerging direct-to-consumer (D2C) space?  You may think they'd have it easy with endless resources, envious budgets and national access, but you'd be wrong.  This week, we're joined by Caroo alumni Jordan Narducci, who now spearheads Kellogg's budding D2C efforts. After launching D2C at emerging startups, he's using these learnings to tackle Kellogg's unique challenges in a scrappy and innovative way.  In this episode, Jordan gives us an insider look at how one of the world's largest brands is taking on the world of D2C. He'll also reveal the secret weapon that emerging brands can leverage to make massive gains in D2C and new trends Kellogg is keeping their eye on in the months to come.