#68: The Premium Product Conundrum

This week’s guest Pat’s business centers on one of the most hyped and controversial investment forms ever – crypto currency.  His company The Giving Block is at the forefront of crypto-philanthropy, bringing a new generation of investors together with non-profits.Despite market turbulences this is one hot sector and his team has ballooned from 5 to 100 strong.  But the speed of success comes with its own hurdles - how do you sculpt company culture and your hiring strategy when you’re growing at this pace? This is undoubtedly one of Marc’s favorite topics to explore… so listen in for valuable tips on how to approach the growing pains that come with scaling fast. Want a deeper dive into these topics?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Many great entrepreneurial ideas were spawned in response to the pandemic.  For this week’s guest Kyle it all began with him wondering how he could recreate the in-person feeling of reading bedtime stories to his child in Canada when he was stuck in Texas while the borders were shut.  He also worried about how he could stop kids like his from falling behind.  His solution is the Edsoma app. So far everyone loves it – Shaquile O’Neill even just joined his advisory board!  But he is struggling to translate enthusiastic investor meetings into cash commitments.  Is it just because he’s pre-revenue or does he need to dig into other areas?Listen in for an episode packed with actionable tips for jumping those funding meeting hurdles… Want a deeper dive into these topics?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Many people dream about their passion project becoming a full time gig but Allison is one of those rare people who made it a reality.  Her love for honey bees became the Siller Pollinator Company and the initial momentum was gratifying.  But growth has stalled and this has her at a juncture… Can Marc help her find her scalability sweet-spot?Listen in for actionable tips on finding your focus and getting your business buzzing. Want a deeper dive into these topics?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Have you ever wondered what people do with the advice that Marc gives them on the show?Well, David Silberman, co-founder of PingPod, is here to tell you just that.The first time he and Marc talked, David was trying to strategize the growth of his ping pong venue business and one of the hot topics was whether to buy or lease locations. Now that the company has been in business for a while, find out how things have evolved.. and what has real time data told him about the key rent vs lease debate? Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

How earth friendly are the so-called “earth friendly” products?  In the opinion of this week’s guest Justine Potashnik - not very.But she believes she has the answer in her Advanced Soapberry Formula, derived from Himalayan tree nuts.A product like this has a higher cost to create than its competitors, which has her at a juncture - should the company take a lower margin to get onto shelves faster or focus on being premium? Listen in for Marc’s tips on how to make the pivotal decisions in your product sales strategy when entering a crowded market.  Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Belissimo Hats has achieved something rare in today’s market – the company has an enthusiastic celebrity following without ever having to pay a dime in influencer marketing money.   They can count mega stars like Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg among the fans who just love to post about wearing their product. But the problem is co-founders, brothers Levi and Yossi Chayo, are still trying to do it all themselves.   Are their worries about delegating getting in the way of the growth they could achieve?  Listen in for actionable tips you can apply to your own company for scaling smartly. Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Faith has a patent pending product and she thinks it’s time to take it out to investors.  Trouble is, as an Entrepreneurship & Marketing Junior her live pitching experience for The Shaving Step was limited to student pitch contests.   So what does that mean now that she wants to get real world investment?  Listen in for a masterclass from Marc on how to get yourself ready to take your product out to the market, with actionable advice not just for young entrepreneurs but for anyone getting ready to pitch. This episode is part of TWNW’s Student Specials and was taped at High Point University, North Carolina. Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com

Natasha’s dream wedding went up in flames just before the big day.  As she picked up the pieces of the breakdown of her nine year relationship, she had a realization: she was in way more need of all those items from her gift registry now than she had ever been when she and her fiancé were still together.   As she moved back into her parents’ basement she had a lightbulb moment - there was a whole potential industry that could be created to help people like her get back on their feet after a break up.  And so she founded MyBreakUpRegistry.com.Through hard work and social media savvy, Natasha’s got the site to a solid user base.  But to go big she needs to figure out how to infiltrate a market that doesn’t really exist yet.  Listen as Marc suggests strategies to implement when creating a new industry is your business model.  Can he help MyBreakUpRegistry find its happily ever after?   Listen in and find out... Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marc_randolph  Marcrandolph.com Clip credit: Natasha Pearl Hansen: I was Supposed to get Married Today

Have you ever wondered what people do with the advice Marc gives them?  This week’s guest Paul Fontanelli was in the planning stages of his Bolder Adventure Park when he appeared as one of the first guests on the show.  His business is an ambitious indoor venue out of Grand Prairie, Texas, which seeks to bring together everything from rock climbing to ice-skating under one massive roof.  He had questions not just about launching the business, but also about the tricky work-life balance that comes with being an entrepreneur and still trying to spend precious hours with your kids. Did Paul take Marc’s advice? Did he ignore it?   What does he need help with now? Listen in to find out… Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show?  The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com.  While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marcrandolph  Marcrandolph.com This is our last episode of the season.  Have a great end to your summer and we’ll be back after Labor Day!

Sometimes entrepreneurs get so caught up in making their idea perfect, they forget to collide it with reality. Is that what’s happening to this week’s guest Reilly? His site Fleur.ai seeks to disrupt and democratize the art world. But it’s been tough. It’s an idea he and his co-founders passionately believe the world needs but it’s also a pitch that Marc’s heard a few times before.So what makes Fleur different? Have they got enough data to prove their premise? Listen in for an actionable episode that hones in on start-up 101… Want a deeper dive into the topics discussed in today’s show? The paperback edition of Marc’s international best-seller That Will Never Work is out now in bookstores and online: www.amazon.com/That-Will-Never-Work-Netflix/dp/0316530182 Want to be a guest? Head to Marcrandolph.com. While you’re there, sign up for Marc’s newsletter. Feeling social?Tw: @mbrandolphIG: @ThatWillNeverWork LinkedIn: Marcrandolph  Marcrandolph.com