#115 WTF Are Labubus: Is This Genius Marketing or Just a Dopamine Scam?

This week, we’re diving into Labubu - the chaotic little toy that's outselling PlayStations, hanging off celebrity bags, and fuelling billion-dollar hype.We unpack how a forest creature toy became a global status symbol - thanks to blind boxes, limited drops, and a business model built on FOMO.Is this one of the smartest marketing strategies we’ve seen… or should brands be held accountable for selling dopamine disguised as collectables?Plus, we break down the week that was, including Jane’s new Microsoft campaign and how it nailed authentic, reactive marketing. Watch it hereConnect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with Jane Lu: @thelazyceo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do after seven years in high finance? If you're Julian Parisi, you trade the suits for fresh produce and step into a 70-year-old family business - only to rebuild it from the ground up.In this episode of The Lazy CEO, Julian shares how one elevator pitch landed him a job at Goldman Sachs as a uni student… and how another brought him back to Parisi Australia - his family’s multi-million dollar produce business now supplying clients like Merivale.We unpack the unique challenges of stepping into a legacy operation (and earning respect fast), the shift from retail to wholesale and catering, and why Julian sees the future of fruit and veg as a branding opportunity - not just a supply chain. From baby cherry truss tomatoes to export dreams and shutting down the eastern suburbs (literally), Julian proves there’s nothing “small” about the fruit and veg game.Connect with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast Stay updated with Jane Lu: @thelazyceoCheck out Parisi Australia: Website: parisisydney.com Instagram: @parisiaustralia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Help My Small Business, Jane is joined by marketing guru and podcast queen Kelly McCarren to review Lucy’s business, Antico - a vintage-inspired homewares brand.With just $500 and one hero product (the Fiore Vase), Lucy has already hit $54k in revenue. But now she’s stuck: Where should she invest her time and money next? Should she expand her range? Run ads? Fix her conversion issues in the US?Jane and Kelly break it all down - from why having just one product might be holding her back, to how pricing and bundling could shift the game. They dive into website tweaks, TikTok strategy, and why Lucy’s founder story is her biggest asset.If you’ve got a small business and you’re overwhelmed by all the things - this episode is a roadmap for making smarter, more strategic decisions with your limited resources.Want your business featured on the pod?Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. You might just be our next spotlight. Email your video to [email protected] with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with Jane Lu: @thelazyceoFollow Kelly McCarren: @kelly_mccarrenCheck out Antico: @antico.home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when your own employee starts stealing your clients… and your entire business model? If you’re Katelin Gregg and Ella James, you put on matching suits and handle it.But that’s just one chapter in the wild story behind Fayshell, Australia’s first membership-based skincare clinic. Launched in 2022, Fayshell was built on a simple but disruptive idea: make good skin accessible through consistency, not one-off facials. With a personalised, subscription-based model and twice-weekly LED treatments, Katelin and Ella set out to shake up the beauty industry and they did exactly that.In this episode, the best-friend co-founders share how they turned a podcast about skincare into a full-blown business, how they pitched to investors with zero clinical experience, and what it really took to scale from living above their first clinic to managing a team of 16. They open up about early hurdles, big wins, and the marketing stunts they’d rather forget.It’s a chaotic, unfiltered look at building a brand in an industry that’s still catching up, and proof that you don’t need permission to do things differently.Connect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with Katelin & Ella: @katelingregg @ella.james2Check out Fayshell: @fayshell.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doing it all on your own? It’s overrated.This week, Jane sits down with Kelly McCarren - marketing consultant, beauty expert, and co-host of You Beauty - to talk about why going solo isn’t the flex we think it is.From business to friendships to life in general, they unpack how building a strong support circle can change everything and why it’s one of the smartest (and most underrated) moves you can make.Plus, they get into what's been trending in the beauty world, including their take on the Rhode x e.l.f. deal and what it means for the future of celeb beauty brands.Connect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceoFind Kelly here: @kelly_mccarren Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode dives deep into a story that starts long before today’s guest was even born - one of resilience, reinvention, and the legacy of pubs, people, and a little chaos.Jane sits down with Elliot Solomon, CEO of Solotel Group, a fourth-generation hospitality leader whose family fled Russia during the pogroms and ended up building one of Australia’s most iconic venue groups - behind The Sheaf, The Clock, Opera Bar, Chiswick, Aria, and more.Elliot shares how the business has evolved across generations - how his dad ditched law to work in pubs, how changing the menu overnight didn’t go as planned, and how Elliot stepped up as CEO at 30. Now juggling 1700 employees and three kids under three, Elliot opens up about what it really takes to lead a legacy - through expansion, reinvention, and staying emotionally objective in a deeply personal business.This one’s got family drama, business grit, and a whole lot of pub wisdom.Connect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceoFollow Elliot on Instagram: @elliotsolomonFollow Solotel on Instagram: @solotel_group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not all advice is good advice. Especially when it’s trying to make you blend in.In this solo episode, Jane gets real about the well-meaning (but completely off-brand) advice she’s glad she ignored when building Showpo. From industry “rules” to branding tips that would’ve diluted everything she was trying to do, Jane shares the decisions that helped her stand out and why playing it safe was never the plan.Connect with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s extended Help My Small Business episode is packed with real talk and practical advice for product-based founders. Jane is joined by interior designer and business mentor Emma Blomfield to review Bek’s business, Luckies - the knickers that ditch the shame around discharge.Together, they unpack some of the most common (and costly) mistakes early-stage brands make - from building a website that doesn’t convert to relying on a product range that’s too niche to grow. Emma and Jane get honest about what makes a business actually investable, sharing tips on how to pitch for funding, what investors want to see, and why investing in your own business can sometimes be a smarter move than giving away equity too early.They also reflect on their own experiences starting out, including the tough lessons, mindset shifts, and business pivots that made the biggest difference. If you're a founder who’s hit a plateau, this episode will give you the insight (and reality check) you didn’t know you needed.Want your business featured on the pod?Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. You might just be our next spotlight. Email your video to [email protected] with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceoFollow Emma Blomfield: @emmablomfield Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Help My Small Business episode, Jane is joined by Tori Clapham and Chris Hole - founders of Peaches Pilates - to help out Nikolina, the founder of I See by Nikolina, an Australian-made fashion brand that blends style with spiritual connection.The big question on Nikolina’s mind? When is the right time to start running ads and investing in SEO?Tori and Chris break down how to know if your brand is ready to scale with paid ads, and what groundwork needs to be done first - think product, website, and conversion rates. From understanding your margins to refining your brand experience, this is a must-listen for anyone itching to hit "launch" on their digital marketing.Want your business featured on the pod?Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. You might just be our next spotlight. Email your video to [email protected] with us: Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcast Stay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceo Follow Tori on Instagram: @toriclapham Follow Chris on Instagram: @chrishole Follow Peaches Pilates: @peachespilates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Lazy CEO, we’re joined by Tori Clapham and Chris Hole, the husband-and-wife team behind Peaches Pilates, the mat-based Pilates brand shaking up the fitness world.In this episode, Tori and Chris dive deep into how building from their client community helps create loyal staff and reduce turnover. Tori opens up about the mindset shift she experienced as a mentor, learning to accept that staff will eventually outgrow the business, and why that’s a sign of good leadership. She also shares how becoming a mother shifted her priorities, giving her new perspective and setting clearer boundaries between herself and the business. As owners and franchisors, they talk honestly about being involved in everything and the challenge of learning to delegate more effectively. Together, they discuss the challenges and rewards of scaling a business as a married couple with two young kids, offering leadership lessons for thriving through fast growth rather than just surviving it.Connect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast on Instagram: @thelazyceo_podcastStay updated with our host, Jane Lu: @thelazyceoFollow Tori on Instagram: @toriclaphamFollow Chris on Instagram: @chrisholeFollow Peaches Pilates on Instagram: @peachespilates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.