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Showing episodes and shows of
Blaine@castmagic.io (Blaine Bolus)
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DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#358 - The AI Ad Strategy Every DTC Brand Needs in 2025 feat. Bestever CEO Apoorva Govind
Apoorva Govind is the founder and CEO of Bestever, a platform focused on helping brands and marketers generate ad creatives powered by real performance data and advanced AI models. With a background spanning technical roles at Apple, Uber, and Nvidia, Apoorva brings unique insights into the intersection of technology and growth marketing.In this DTC POD episode, Apoorva and Blaine discuss how the AI toolkit for advertisers is evolving, the reality behind AI-generated ads, and why strategic inputs—not just rapid content production—drive sustainable brand results. Apoorva outlines how Bestever AI analyzes existing ad data to iden...
2025-06-19
52 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#356 - 0 to $50M in 24 Months: The Explosive Growth Story of BRĒZ feat. CEO Aaron Nosbisch
Aaron Nosbisch is the founder and CEO of BRĒZ, a cannabis social tonic beverage designed as an alcohol alternative that offers a euphoric, feel-good effect without the downsides of alcohol. He built his expertise in e-commerce from an early age, launching multiple internet brands and scaling previous ventures like MONQ (portable aromatherapy diffuser, 0 to $15 million in three years as CMO), and running Lucyd Media, the world’s largest cannabis social advertising agency, which run 80% of meta ads for the cannabis space.In this episode, Aaron and Blaine explore how BRĒZ identified untapped demand, iterated their prod...
2025-05-09
48 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#355 - The Truth About Scaling on Facebook: Lessons from $150M in Ad Spend
Marin Ištvanić is a partner at Inspire Brands, a boutique agency focused on paid social ads, primarily on Facebook and Instagram. He has personally spent over $150 million on Facebook ads for clients and internal brands, successfully scaling Inspire's own brand to $30 million in revenue by their third year.In this episode of DTC Pod, Marin shares his insights on growing brands profitably through paid social. He discusses the importance of achieving product-market fit, crafting compelling offers, and understanding unit economics. Marin also details his agency's creative testing process and how to efficiently scale winning ad angles fr...
2025-05-01
40 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#353 - Meta Ad Secrets: How Top DTC Brands Spend $300K/Month Profitably
Peter Czepiga is the founder of Flighted, an agency that helps DTC brands profitably scale their advertising on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Google. He also runs his own brand, Ando. Flighted has worked with some of the most popular DTC brands spending between $50-300k per month on ads.In this episode of DTC Pod, Peter shares his strategies for launching and scaling profitable ad campaigns on Meta for DTC brands. He covers how much to spend to prove out product-market fit, what types of creative work best, his approach to audience targeting, and how AI...
2025-03-28
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#352 - Building a Profitable Timeless Brand: 20 Years, 8 Figures, 100% Bootstrapped with Parker Thatch
Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby are the co-founders of Parker Thatch, a luxury handbag and accessories brand they bootstrapped to 8-figures over the course of 20 years. Matt’s expertise spans tech, design, and marketing, while Irene brings deep fashion industry knowledge from working with powerhouse brands like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein.In this episode of DTC Pod, Matt and Irene share how they navigated the shift from an e-stationery startup to eventually finding product-market fit with their signature luxury bags. They discuss key lessons learned in bootstrapping—the importance of market timing, how to manage inventory risk...
2025-02-13
49 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#351 - The Content Strategy That Took Nectar Hard Seltzer to $5M+ in Revenue
Caleb Alvarez is the founder of Shadow Light Studios, an agency specializing in high-converting paid and organic content. He has worked with major consumer brands like Monster Energy, Snapchat, and Samsung, as well as influencers like Tony Hawk, Logan Paul, Ice Cube, and many more.In this episode of DTC Pod, Caleb breaks down how founders can create better content, build and scale a content engine, and strike the right balance between organic and paid content. He unpacks everything from finding your USP and mapping out content pillars to establishing a sprint-based production process. Caleb also shares...
2025-02-06
54 min
Uploading
How to Turn Content Into a $7M Business
About the Episode:Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center ($35M+ rev) and host of the popular Obvious Choice podcast, a top podcast for coaches, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.Jonathan’s been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men's Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Robb Report, Inc., and many more. Over 200,000 coaches and small business owners in more than 120 countries have purchased business development materials from him.In this episode of "Uploading...," Jonathan shares insights from his journey of building a multimillion-dollar fitness business through strategic content creation. He...
2025-01-14
45 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#350 - Inside Night Ventures: The Fund Behind Internet’s Top 1% Creators (Mr Beast, Kai Cenat, Hasan Piker)
Ben Matthews is a general partner at Night Ventures, an early-stage consumer VC fund, focused on culture, community, and creators. They have partnered with some of the most famous people on the internet including Mr. Beast, Kai Cenat, and Hasan Piker.In this episode of DTC Pod, Ben and Blaine discuss:Lessons from incubating and investing in early-stage consumer companiesThe key elements of successful talent-driven brands, including audience fit and long-term commitmentChoosing the right business opportunities based on market potential and operational feasibilityStructuring effective partnerships between creators, operators, and investorsThe future of TikTok and emerging monetization...
2024-12-26
45 min
Talking Too Loud with Chris Savage
From Content Challenges to AI Solutions with the Co-Founders of Castmagic
In the fast-paced world of startups, innovation and empathy are crucial for success. On the latest episode of Talking Too Loud, Savage and Sylvie dive into Castmagic, the customer-centric company that is leveraging AI to reimagine content workflows. Tune in to learn how Co-Founders Blaine Bolus and Ramon Barrios, used a podcast collaboration as a launchpad for a business infused with problem-driven development maintaining creative freedom. Links to Learn More:Follow Blaine on LinkedInFollow Ramon on LinkedInFollow Savage on LinkedInSubscribe to Talking Too Loud on Wistia
2024-12-10
53 min
Talking Too Loud with Chris Savage
From Content Challenges to AI Solutions with the Co-Founders of Castmagic
In the fast-paced world of startups, innovation and empathy are crucial for success. On the latest episode of Talking Too Loud, Savage and Sylvie dive into Castmagic, the customer-centric company that is leveraging AI to reimagine content workflows. Tune in to learn how Co-Founders Blaine Bolus and Ramon Barrios, used a podcast collaboration as a launchpad for a business infused with problem-driven development maintaining creative freedom. Links to Learn More:Follow Blaine on LinkedInFollow Ramon on LinkedInFollow Savage on LinkedInSubscribe to Talking Too Loud on Wistia
2024-12-10
52 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#349 - Between Trends and Timelessness: The Antara Approach to Building Strong Brands from the Outside In
Isabel Mendez is the founder and design director at Antara Studio, an award-winning full-service design partner for purpose-driven brands. With a focus on brand, content, and design, Isabel and her team help companies create cohesive and emotionally resonant identities across all touchpoints.In this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Isabel discuss:The three necessary phases for creating a brand identityWhat makes a good brand story and how brands can effectively communicate itHow brands can adapt to trends while remaining true to who they areInteract with other DTC experts and access our m...
2024-12-05
35 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#348 - Storytelling Across Screens: The New Rules of Brand Building
John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, a modern advertising agency that specializes in brand storytelling, paid media, e-commerce, and digital experiences.In this episode of DTC Pod, John discusses brand storytelling strategies across all sorts of media channels. He shares insights on crafting impactful campaigns and tips for finding and leveraging undervalued marketing gems like connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts. We explore the importance of understanding target audiences, the 3-3-3 rule for keeping your messaging on point, and finding that sweet spot between top-of-funnel brand-building and lower-funnel performance tactics.
2024-11-28
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#347 - Shading the Future: Inside Everhem’s Rise in Custom Window Treatments
Haley Weidenbaum is the CEO and co-founder of Everhem, a DTC company specializing in custom window treatments, including shades and drapery. In this episode of DTC Pod, Haley discusses the strategies that have helped Everhem grow and differentiate itself in the market. She discusses the challenges of online shopping for custom products and how Everhem addresses them through thorough guides and customer support.Haley also shares insights on Everhem's dual business mode—how they serve both interior designers and regular consumers, and how they adapt their offerings to meet the unique needs of each customer seg...
2024-11-21
43 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#345 - Financial Foundations for DTC Success: What E-commerce Founders Need to Know About Tax and Accounting
Christian Rivera is the founder of The Ecommerce Accountants, a firm that specializes in tax, accounting, and business structuring for e-commerce companies. Their clients include social media marketing agencies, dropshippers, digital marketers, Amazon automation, Amazon FBA, and internet coaches/gurus.In this episode of the DTC POD, Christian explores key accounting issues that e-commerce businesses must address to succeed, such as sales tax compliance, revenue recognition, and inventory accounting. He also unpacks tax strategies that can help entrepreneurs set up smarter finances and maximize their profitability.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly...
2024-11-07
48 min
Uploading
#25 - Why Every Founder Should Create Content
About the Episode:Chris Savage is the co-founder and CEO of the video marketing platform Wistia. He is a key figure in the video content space and personal brand, having famously scaled his company to over $50M a year in revenue, without outside investors. Chris is also a content creator, regularly sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey on LinkedIn and hosting the podcast Talking Too Loud.In this episode of “Uploading…,” Chris discusses the evolution of video content, the impact of AI on content creation, and the enduring importance of authentic storytelling. He also shares...
2024-11-06
39 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#344 - David Protein’s $1,000,000 Week Launch with Cofounder Zach Ranen
Zach Ranen is the co-founder of David, a protein bar brand which disrupted the market with 50% more calories from protein than any other bar and a groundbreaking dollar-to-protein ratio. In this episode of the DTC POD, Zach shares David's pre-launch and launch strategies, leading to 1M+ dollars in sales in the first week. This includes engaging with influencers like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman and giving away 20,000 product samples. Zach also gives insights into their R&D process, how they built the David brand, their product-led approach to growth, and future plans.Interact wi...
2024-10-30
51 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#343 - The ‘Clean Caffeine’ Revolution: How Plant Press is Energizing the Beverage Aisle
Ariana Farahani is the founder and CEO of Plant Press, a fast-growing functional beverage brand offering a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks. In this episode of DTC Pod, Ariana shares her journey of developing Plant Press from a homemade recipe to a nationally distributed product. She discusses the importance of gathering consumer feedback and iterating on the product based on data, which led to pivotal changes like focusing solely on clean caffeine and adjusting flavors.Ariana also goes into the strategic decisions behind Plant Press's distribution strategy, from securing early retail partnerships with local b...
2024-10-10
34 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#342 - Google Ads for Growth: How to Build, Test, and Scale Campaigns
Shri Kanase is the founder of Yoru Marketing, a boutique agency that specializes in Google Ads for e-commerce brands. Prior to this, he successfully scaled his e-commerce brands to over $3.5 million in four years. With extensive first hand experience, Shri has guided 23,000+ store owners via his YouTube channel and established one of the fastest-growing blogs in the e-commerce and PPC space.In this episode of DTC Pod, Shri shares his insights on developing effective Google Ads strategies for e-commerce brands. He covers key topics such as initial campaign setup, Google Ads learning phase, keyword targeting, budgeting, ad...
2024-10-03
38 min
Uploading
How to Reach 100K+ Followers and Land Your Dream Content Job
About the Episode:Jay Yang is a content creator with over 100,000 followers and the Head of Content for Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo. At only 18 years old, Jay has already made a significant impact in the world of content creation while still attending university.In this episode of “Uploading…,” Jay shares his journey from experimenting with various online projects to landing an opportunity to work with Noah Kagan using his TAG method. He discusses his content creation process, balancing his work with education, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Jay also shares insights into his upcoming project on creati...
2024-10-02
31 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#341 - Amazon DSP Advertising: What Every Brand Needs to Know
Sam Lee is the Vice President of Amazon DSP at Trivium, a full-service Amazon agency. With a background spanning Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Amazon PPC, Sam has developed deep expertise in Amazon DSP and has successfully managed advertising for over 200 brands.In this episode of DTC Pod, Sam provides a comprehensive overview of Amazon DSP, its functionality, and its potential for driving brand growth. He shares practical insights on topics such as when brands should consider investing in DSP, what budget and review thresholds are recommended, and how to develop effective DSP strategies tailored to specific...
2024-09-19
31 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#340 - AI Meets Skincare: Unicorn Beauty Powerhouse Dermalogica’s Formula for Global Success
Aurelian Lis is the CEO of Dermalogica, a global skincare brand rooted in skin treatment expertise. With a background in atomic physics, laser optics, and extensive experience in the cosmetics industry, Aurelian has led Dermalogica to significant growth and innovation since taking the helm post-acquisition by Unilever.In this episode of DTC Pod, Aurelian discusses the strategies that have driven Dermalogica's success, including delegating authority to the right people, empowering employees to innovate, and effectively integrating AI and machine learning across various functions. He stresses the importance of maintaining genuine personal connections with customers and staying true...
2024-09-12
37 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#339 - The Zen of Branding and Growth: How Recess Became the Chill Generation’s Go-To Beverage
Benjamin Witte is the founder and CEO of Recess, a beverage brand focused on creating products that promote relaxation and mental wellness. Inspired by the rise of functional ingredients like CBD, nootropics, and adaptogenic herbs, Benjamin saw an opportunity to pioneer a category of beverages that could help people unwind in a healthy way.In this episode of DTC POD, Benjamin shares his journey of launching Recess and the key strategies that have contributed to its success, including a focus on efficient brand impressions and an omnichannel approach to distribution.We discuss the significance of...
2024-09-05
36 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#336 - Crowdsource Everything: How GORGIE Built a Brand with Community Power
Michelle Cordeiro Grant is an accomplished entrepreneur with a passion for creating innovative, community-based businesses. In 2016, she founded the intimates brand LIVELY and sold it three years later for $105 million. Following this successful exit, she pivoted to her next venture: GORGIE, a wellness energy drink.In this episode of DTC Pod, Michelle shares valuable insights on building a successful DTC brand from the ground up. She discusses the importance of building a community around the brand, leveraging social media, and using data and customer feedback to drive product innovation.Michelle also touches on the strategic...
2024-08-15
34 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#335 - Affiliate Marketing 2.0: Trends, Tools, and Tactics for E-commerce Success
Noah Tucker is the founder of Social Snowball, an automated affiliate and referral marketing platform for e-commerce that drives significant revenue for over 2,000 brands, including Solawave, Obvi, and Javy Coffee.In this episode of the DTC POD, Noah shares powerful strategies for brands to supercharge their affiliate programs and drive significant revenue growth. He covers how to find and choose the right influencers, why it’s important to keep the activation process as smooth as possible, what brands can do to keep affiliates engaged, and how to measure the success of an affiliate program.Interact wi...
2024-08-08
35 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#334 - The Fabric of a Brand: Hedley & Bennett’s Founder on Community, Finance, and Growth
Ellen Marie Bennett is the founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, a culinary lifestyle brand that started as a B2B company, offering high-quality aprons to professional chefs, and later expanded both its product line (to include other kitchen items) and customer base (now largely DTC).In this episode of DTC Pod, Ellen shares her journey of starting the company while working as a line cook. She emphasizes the importance of a slow and steady approach to building a business, focusing on financial responsibility and gathering feedback from core customers to improve products. E...
2024-08-01
37 min
Uploading
Why Every B2B Founder Needs to Be On LinkedIn Yesterday & How to Catch Up Fast
About the Episode:Tommy Clark is the founder of Compound Content Studio, an agency that helps B2B companies scale their content engines, especially on LinkedIn. Tommy has a background in fitness coaching and B2B social media, and now specializes in helping founders and marketers effectively use LinkedIn to reach their target audiences. He also writes a newsletter called "Social Files," which provides deeper tactical insights into B2 content creation and strategy.In this episode of Uploading, Tommy shares key strategies for B2B founders to effectively harness LinkedIn as a powerful content m...
2024-07-31
34 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#333 - Investing in Organic Growth: Why, When & How with SEO Expert Josh Piepmeier
Josh Piepmeier helps challenger brands outperform their fiercest competitors by targeting the highest-volume, most profitable keywords in their industry. With his company Meriwether, he crafts strategic SEO campaigns that drive immediate profits and build long-term, sustainable growth. Josh’s SEO approach has successfully gone head-to-head with giants like Amazon, Tiffany’s, and Macy's for competitive purchase-intent keywords. His expertise has transformed businesses struggling to gain traction into thriving enterprises with significant customer acquisition from organic search results. In this episode of DTC Pod, Josh provides real-world examples of how businesses have benefited from investing in SEO an...
2024-07-25
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#331 - Reimagining Creator Commerce with Fourthwall's Will Baumann
Will Baumann is the co-founder and CEO of Fourthwall, a company that empowers creators to sell products online without needing to be e-commerce experts.At Fourthwall, they handle sales tax, supply chain, customer support, and more so creators can focus on making content and growing their community.In this episode of DTC Pod, Will shares his insights on the complexities of building a business out of one’s personal brand and how Fourthwall has been aiding this process for over 50,000 creators.Will also touches on the power of creators today, the trends they’re s...
2024-07-11
30 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
The Ultimate Marketing Mix: An Omnichannel Approach to Winning Both Shelves and Screens
Colin Flood is the Vice President of Marketing at Unreal Snacks, a better-for-you chocolate brand with widespread distribution across numerous retailers in the United States and an established direct-to-consumer platform. At Unreal, Colin plays a pivotal role in scaling e-commerce and D2C operations, as well as in expanding their presence into major retailers like Costco, Target, and Walmart. In this episode of DTC Pod, Colin Flood discusses the ups and downs of their marketing initiatives at Unreal, how they are bridging the gap between retail and digital customer experiences, and what their strategies are for...
2024-07-04
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#329 - The Crystal Ball of Commerce: Predicting Trends with Next Big Shop’s Founders
David Hoffman and Samir Rayani co-founded Next Big Shop, where they leverage their expertise to analyze and interpret publicly available but hard-to-access e-commerce data for insights into retail success and product trends. As partners, they collaborate on developing data products that inform and guide direct-to-consumer strategies for various brands and industries.In this episode of DTC Pod, David and Samir explore e-commerce trends, the significance of retail presence for certain product categories, and the intricacies of building and using data products to analyze market and sales data. They also cover the challenges faced when building data products...
2024-06-27
50 min
Uploading
The Remote Solopreneur’s Guide to Creating Systems and Content that Win Over Lighthouse Clients
About the Episode:Ken Yarmosh, founder of "The Club," is an entrepreneur and business coach focused on helping consultants, solopreneurs, and founders build scalable systems and improve sales. He authored "App Savvy," which has sold over 12,000 copies. Ken was also the CEO of Savvy Apps and currently works as a Fractional COO for companies like Content Growth.In this episode of "Uploading...," Ken reveals the secrets behind creating scalable systems that drive business success. He introduces the mnemonic DTA—Document, Template, Automate—as a key strategy for freeing up time for high-impact tasks. He also...
2024-06-27
33 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#328 - The Mastermind Behind Seed’s Supply Chain & How to Design DTC Ops for Hypergrowth
John Morgan is the founder of Pelagic, a unique agency of top tier operators that helps brands tackle supply chain, logistics & operations. Prior to starting Pelagic, he served as VP of Ops at Seed Health where he built the infrastructure behind one of the fastest growing modern health brands. Before getting into DTC he worked on the Falcon 9 rocket team at SpaceX. His expertise spans across optimizing supply chains for efficiency, sustainability, and growth, especially for early-stage companies.In this episode of DTC Pod, John talks about the iterative nature of supply chain management and the need...
2024-06-20
39 min
Uploading
The Kopywriting Formula: Neville Medhora on AI, AIDA, and Beyond
About the Episode:Neville Medhora is known as the Copywriting guy. He has been creating content on the internet for almost 20 years. His earlier works include NevBlog, one of the first financial blogs online. Currently, he serves as a Copywriting Advisor for companies like Appsumo and The Hustle. He is also the owner of CopywritingCourse.com and SwipeFile.com, two leading resources for anyone looking to master the art of copywriting. In this episode of "Uploading…,” we explore what it means and what it takes to write good copy, how to write stuff that people will want...
2024-06-12
47 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#323 - The Brand Whisperer: Revealing the Tactics behind Your Favorite DTC Brands with Emmett Shine
Emmett Shine is the creative genius behind Pattern, taking the lead in shaping the narratives and aesthetics of its seven brands. He also co-founded a creative agency, Gin Lane, and oversaw its evolution in parallel with the burgeoning startup ecosystem that came to define New York's landscape.In this episode, Emmett discusses Pattern Brands' approach to cultivating a unique identity for each brand within its family. He underscores the need to create specialized experiences for individual brands while exploring synergies across the portfolio. His dual focus on operations and creatives emerges as a cornerstone strategy, proving pivotal...
2024-05-16
49 min
Uploading
From 1 to 100,000 YT Subscribers with ContentCreator.com's Anthony Gallo
About the Episode:Anthony Gallo, through his online course business ContentCreator.com, has helped over 100,000 students start creating content with just their smartphones.In this episode of "Uploading…," Anthony Gallo shares the strategies that underpin ContentCreator.com's success. He highlights the importance of focusing on simplified, repeatable content creation methods, such as consistent YouTube video production and social automation for lead generation. Anthony also discusses the significant influence of targeted advertising and developing humorous, unconventional ads to scale paid media effectively. He illustrates how leveraging community support and direct mentorship accelerates learning and success, esp...
2024-05-08
36 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#321 - How Mila Nailed Success: The 20 Million Dumplings Club
Jennifer Liao’s journey with MìLà is nothing short of remarkable. From a grassroots project where they collected orders through Google Forms, it evolved into a successful venture that raised $21.5 million in its second round of funding.This episode doesn't just serve up the story behind MìLà’s signature frozen soup dumplings; it provides a feast of insights on the ingredients for business growth, fundraising, and the power of community-driven marketing.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox wi...
2024-05-02
42 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#320 - Sipping Success: How Andrew Huberman Is Crafting a Healthier Caffeine Fix with Nicolas Beaupré
In this episode of DTC Pod, Nicolas Beaupré illuminates the strategies that propelled Mateina's growth in the North American market, where the lure of yerba mate was still largely undiscovered. He emphasizes the crucial role of grassroots efforts like word-of-mouth endorsements and community events in building a loyal customer base. Nicolas shares his journey of self-funding, supplemented later by keen investors, which allowed the brand to foster a robust direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales model. In developing Mateina's signature non-carbonated yerba mate beverage, he underscores the meticulous year-and-a-half-long process of trial and error with suppliers to fine-tune the recipe.
2024-04-25
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#319 - From Building a 9-Figure Menswear Brand to Redefining Baby Monitors
In our conversation with Kevin Lavelle, he shares his ingenious approach to building his company, Mizzen+Main, into a fashion industry success. Initially, Kevin recalls the brute force marketing efforts that shaped the early days of the brand, from going door to door to attending events to get the product in people's hands. As their digital marketing and PR strategies matured, Kevin leveraged the power of strategic partnerships and influencer collaborations. Specifically, he cites the company's visibility boost through sponsorship deals, like the one with Tim Ferriss's podcast, and endorsement deals, like with athlete J.J. Watt.
2024-04-18
47 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#318 - The CMO Behind Feastables Reveals How to Build Viral Brands
Join us as Ben Acott uncovers intriguing tactics that make Feastables stand out in the crowded direct-to-consumer landscape. In our conversation, Ben expounded on the synergistic relationship between Feastables and the ultra-popular Mr. Beast, highlighting how leveraging the latter’s extensive distribution network offers a unique advantage. This strategic alignment not only turbocharges product reach but also taps into an existing, engaged audience ripe for conversion. The way Ben's ventures harness such audience networks is a testament to the power of influencer marketing and shows the value of cultivating smart partnerships in building strong brands.
2024-04-11
41 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#317 - Unleash the Power of Amazon SEO: Outrank & Outsell the Competition with Mina Elias
Mina Elias, backed by his vast experience, outlines a strategy to captivate customers and set apart offerings in Amazon's competitive market.He shares a blueprint for keyword optimization on Amazon, highlighting the need to start small and grow strategically based on performance results. His approach underlines the role of flexibility in advertising, where constant adjustments can lead to enhanced visibility and higher conversions.Additionally, Mina discusses how click-through and conversion rates dramatically affect a product's organic ranking on Amazon. He recommends driving branded traffic from external sources to Amazon pages to raise product visibility against...
2024-04-04
42 min
Uploading
Cracking the Code of Successful Live Streams with Stephanie Garcia
About the Episode:Welcome to today’s episode of Uploading. Today we have the pleasure of talking with Stephanie Garcia. A seasoned digital marketing expert with an impressive 15-year career at top agencies, Stephanie Garcia is a live video strategist with a proven track record, and the host of Lights, Camera, Live a show dedicated to empowering small business owners to step into the spotlight with live streaming. Her work has been recognized and awarded by Forbes, Online Marketing Media and Advertising, PR Daily, Forrester, and Gartner 1to1 Media. She has spoken at Social Media Mar...
2024-04-03
28 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
Ex Butcherbox Exec Is Solving The Perishable Goods Fiasco with Juan Meisel
Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!Juan Meisel is the Founder and CEO at Grip Shipping, a pioneering Direct-to-Consumer eCommerce for perishable products. After serving as the Head of Logistics of Buterbox, he launched Grip which has since processed over a billion dollars' worth of perishable goods through their innovative platform, and now offers comprehensive fulfillment services, reducing shipping costs by an impressive 30%.On this episode, we'll cover everything about perishable logistics, how Butcherbox...
2024-03-28
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
The 100M+ Impression Strategy with Influencer Seeding feat. Josh Durham of Aligned Growth
Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!Josh Durham is the founder of Aligned Growth, an influencer management agency that helps established 7 & 8 figure DTC brands scale and optimized influencer programs.On this episode of DTC Pod, Josh joins Blaine & Ramon to break down how to effectively scale creator and influencer initiatives to successfully drive bottom line revenue growth.On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Prioritizing paid social and email marketing.
2024-03-21
43 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#314 - Scaling Growth In Beauty with ILIA Beauty VP of Digital & Ecommerce, Cherene Aubert
Cherene Aubert is the VP of Digital and E-commerce at ILIA Beauty, a skincare-powered makeup brand which has taken the beauty industry by storm as it's quickly scaled past 100M in revenue.In this episode, we sit down with Cherene to discuss some of the most successful strategies that the most successful brands use to grow.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Brand...
2024-03-14
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#313 - Designing Renowned Experiences: From Startups to Style Icons with Allegra Poschmann
Allegra Poschmann is the CEO & Design Director at Pact, a design led, development driven studio that creates digital experiences.In this episode, Allegra shares her journey of substantial growth in the design industry and the compelling success of the nap dress. Listen as we explore the unique approaches to customer engagement and personalized brand experiences that are defining modern retail.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod...
2024-03-07
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#312 - Dad Gang Decoded: Building a Fatherhood Community One Hat at a Time With Bart Szaniewski
Bart is building at the intersection of commerce & community and promoting the message of fatherhood through fashion. With a twelve year stint optimizing brands and content, Bart now champions the Dad Gang, a movement that brings dads together under the banner of quality streetwear. We kick off with how he turned a small investment of $750 into a phenomenon that has sold 90,000 hats and counting and is consistently repped by some of the biggest celebrity and athlete dads.Bart breaks down the strategy behind investing strategically in organic content & paid social, which has led to a burgeoning community...
2024-02-29
45 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#311 - AI in Style: Transforming How We Discover and Buy Fashion - Sam Rattner, CEO of Showroom
Sam Rattner is the CEO and Co-Founder at Showroom, a vertical-specific search engine for fashion. Leveraging AI, it crawls brands big and small and hosts their inventory, amounting to millions of pieces. Previously Sam founded Vigtory, a sports betting company which he sold to Fubo for $40 Million at age 23.In this episode, Sam Rattner joins us to break down the innovative concepts behind his company, Showroom, aimed at reshaping the online shopping experience. We discuss how AI will impact retailers and shopping experiences alike.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders a...
2024-02-22
37 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#310 - $100M+ Businesses in Controversial Industries: John Coogan, Co-Founder of Soylent and Lucy
John Coogan is the Founder at Lucy, an innovative company in the nicotine industry, offering safer alternatives to smoking.In this episode, we discuss strategies for scaling production, taking products to market, generating buzz, navigating regulation, nailing retail distribution, and leveraging digital content to grow brands. And that's not all – we'll also get a glimpse into John's personal journey as a creator - where he's built a YouTube channel with almost 400,000 subscribers - as he covers startups in documentary style breakdowns.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & ge...
2024-02-15
53 min
Uploading
Mastering LinkedIN Growth for Small Teams: Insights from Content Evangelist Logan Lyles
About The Episode:Logan Lyles, is the Head of Evangelism & Content Marketing at Teamwork.com, and host of the "Agency Life" and "Nearbound Marketing" podcasts. Logan walks us through the importance of audience research, why LinkedIn could be a goldmine, and how a bit of authenticity can transform your strategy. Logan also breaks down the art of turning conversations into impactful content, and gives us a front-row seat to his strategic approach towards building an engaged audience.Today, we'll cover: - Journalism, B2B tech sales & content creation strategy.- LinkedIn and ho...
2024-02-14
40 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#309 - Scale Your Brand Like a Pro, DTC Blueprints from Homestead with COO, Joel Padron
Joel Padron is the COO and Partner at Homestead Studio, a leading growth agency specializing in acquisition and retention services for brands scaling from 7 to 8 figures of revenue. After scaling Crossnet on the performance side, Joel has been behind the wheel with some of the fastest growing brands in commerce since joining Homestead.In this episode, we're going in depth on how performance engines run at 8 figure brands, exploring Homestead's rigorous process for growth, their focus on financial targets, and how to leverage user-generated content to stay ahead in the DTC game.Episode...
2024-02-08
42 min
Uploading
Ultimate Guide to Creator Brand Deals: Monetization, Affiliate, and Pitfalls to Avoid with AppSumo Head of Marketing, Nick Christensen
About The Episode:In this convo with Nick Christensen, we breakdown the secrets to using influencer and creator marketing to amplify sales and views. Nick shares insider strategies on how to maximize ROI, the importance of genuine partnerships, and how to forge lasting brand deals as a creator.Today, we'll cover:- How to negotiate influencer marketing deals during high-conversion periods like Black Friday.- The critical factors influencers should consider when setting rates and approaching brand deals.- Exploring the distinction between affiliate marketing and influencer roles, and how to navigate these.
2024-02-07
34 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#308 - Rikin Diwan, Soona - How to Craft Marketing Strategies That Sell
Rikin Diwan is the CMO and Chief Growth Officer at soona, the world’s first virtual content studio.In this episode, we chat with Rikin about the intersection of AI and human creativity when it comes to content creation. We pick apart the nuts and bolts of storytelling and authenticity in marketing, the dynamic evolution of the creative content, and the unique challenges of marketing in e-commerce.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
2024-02-01
58 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#307 - Jess Chan, Longplay - How To Boost Revenue Through Retention & Lifecycle Marketing
Jess Chan is the CEO and Founder of Longplay, an lifecycle & retention agency for DTC brands. She's also the brains behind Backbone, an innovative tool that wraps all those email and retention best practices in one simple to use tool.In this episode, Jess joins Blaine to discuss what it takes to succeed as a brand that wants to lean into retention & lifecycle marketing to scale DTC revenue.Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
2024-01-25
44 min
Uploading
Ben Bradbury, Workweek- The Content Blueprint: Craft Your Content Strategy For Explosive Growth
About The Episode:In today's episode, we chat with Ben Bradbury, a content expert and GM of Audio & Video at Workweek, as he shares the secrets to launching a successful podcast and mastering the art of engagement. From the mechanics of distribution to the nuances of co-hosting dynamics, Ben unpacks the essential strategies for creating a podcast that not only resonates with audiences but also stands out in a crowded market.Today, we'll cover:- The critical role of consistency and subscriber growth in podcast success.- Why understanding your audience's online habitats is...
2024-01-24
36 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#306 - Rosa Li, Wildwonder - Bootstrapping A Multi-Million $ Beverage
Rosa Li is the founder and CEO of Wildwonder - a brand that's reimagining the functional soda space with its sparkling drinks infused with heritage-inspired, gut-healthy ingredients.In this episode, Rosa shares about Wildwonder's savvy omnichannel approach, the strategic importance of picking high-impact distribution channels, and how they've managed to stand out in a crowded market through a perfect blend of educating consumers and delivering innovative flavors. Episode brought to you by More StaffingJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!
2024-01-18
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#304 - Ryan Denehy, Electric AI - What It Takes To Build & Run A Unicorn
Episode brought to you by More StaffingRyan Denehy is the Founder and CEO at Electric AI, an IT platform that empowers SMBs with user-friendly tools and guidance to streamline their IT management and secure their business.Electric, valued over $1B has raised over $200M to date and is backed by GGV Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Primary Venture Partners, Greenspring Associates, 01 Advisors, Bowery Capital, The Slack Fund, Vintage Investment Partners, and Atreides Management.Ryan joins Blaine & Ramon to give a first hand look at what it takes to build a unicorn, how to...
2024-01-04
1h 01
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#299 - Ben Sharf, Platter - How To Build A Storefront To Convert Millions In Sales
Episode brought to you by More Staffing & Capital OneNeed a new business card? Get in touch with our friend at Capital One Heather Clohessy - heather.clohessy@capitalone.comJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Shopify's Ecosystem of Apps2. Home page experience3. Cart and Checkout4. Tools and Strategies provided by Platter5. Importance of Social Proof in E-Commerce6. Recommendations for Brands7. What to build natively into...
2023-11-30
43 min
Probably Something: Artificial Intelligence | Entrepreneurship | Technology | Startups | Founders
Blaine and Ramon from Castmagic: From $0 - $1m ARR in just 9 months.
Meeting Ramon and Blaine, founders of Castmagic 🪄 2 podcast creators who solved their own pain point in building Castmagic and went from $0 - $1m ARR in just 9 months. A masterclass in product strategy and a hyper-relatable introduction to the powers of artificial intelligence & opportunities that come with it. https://www.castmagic.io/ 💡 Key Takeaways from the episode: 1️⃣ The value of context: As content creators, it's essential to leverage AI to extract valuable insights and context from long...
2023-11-27
26 min
Tech Of The Future With AppSumo (Hosted by Chris Cownden)
A Sneak Peek into Castmagic's Roadmap with CEO, Blaine Bolus
Get the latest on Castmagic's upcoming products and features to support the Castmagic ecosystem. Join us live on November 27th at 12pm CST to get an exclusive with the CEO and get your questions answered live. Register here: https://podcastlaunchagency.com/blackfriday/
2023-11-22
03 min
Tech Of The Future With AppSumo (Hosted by Chris Cownden)
A Live Demo Of Castmagic.io With Founder Blaine Bolus
Castmagic is by far one of those AppSumo deals we all remember from June 2023. Although, no longer available on AppSumo, this is still worth while getting if you want to streamlines your podcast and content creation workflow. Castmagic is the fastest way to automate your content workflow with AI.
2023-11-21
08 min
Tech Of The Future With AppSumo (Hosted by Chris Cownden)
Castmagic: The Must-Have Podcast Tool for Every Content Creator
Blaine Bolus, the creator of Castmagic shared his journey from running his own podcast, DTC Pod to developing a game-changing tool for podcasters. Castmagic not only saves time in creating show notes but also uses AI to cater to various podcast formats. It's intuitive, efficient, and a game-changer for all podcast creators.
2023-11-21
06 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#297 - William Gasner, Stack Influence: How To Win With MicroInfluencers
Episode brought to you by More Staffing & Capital OneJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Introduction of Guest: William Gasner2. Concept of Micro-Influencer Marketing3. Importance of Data Analysis in Influencer Marketing4. The Role of Stack Influence5. Influencer-Brand Collaboration Strategies6. Potential Challenges in Influencer Marketing7. Future Predictions and Social Media TrendsTimestamps03:18 Smaller creators provided cost-effective marketing solutions.07:41 Platforms expand influencer markets, management solutions emerge.
2023-11-09
48 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#296 - Jessica Young, Bubble Goods - Building a Marketplace for CPG Brands
Episode brought to you by More Staffing & Capital OneJoin 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Introduction to Bubble Goods2. The Journey of Jessica Young3. The Purpose of Bubble Goods4. Strategies and Features of Bubble Goods5. Marketing and Growth Strategies6. Customer and Brand Relationship7. Bubble Goods' Target Customer8. Importance of Curation in the MarketplaceTimestamps02:53 Jessicas start06:54 First teammember at Daily Harvest08:32...
2023-11-02
51 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#295 - Jeremy Barbara, Sundays - How The Best Brands Scale Profitably Through Influencers
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Introduction to Jeremy Barbara and Sundays2. YouTube as an Effective Platform for Influencer Marketing3. Creating a Strategy for Influencer Campaigns4. Successful Influencer Campaign Examples5. Team Structure for Influencer Marketing6. Advertising on Different Platforms7. Tracking and Evaluating Influencer Campaign Performance8. Pricing and Budgeting for Influencer Marketing9. Testing Influencers and Building Relationships
2023-10-26
47 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#291 - Meghana Dhar - Social, Creators, & Future of Digital Commerce
Meghana Dhar is a tech advisor and investor passionate about creators, brands, social media, and commerce. With a background in big tech, she worked at Ebay where she discovered her love for e-commerce, marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) business models. Meghana's strategic expertise led her to become an advisor to the CEO during the spin-off of PayPal. She later served as the head of shopping partnerships at Instagram, witnessing its growth from inception. Recently, she held the position of global head of partnerships at Snap, accumulating valuable experiences in social commerce.On this episode of DTC pod...
2023-09-21
48 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#290 - Peter Sivas, Floof - Building A DTC Pillow Powerhouse
On this episode of DTC pod, Peter joins Blaine to share lessons from building Floof, as well as some tricks and growth levers from his time in the manufacturing & design business.We cover:- Prioritizing branding before product development.- Conducting focus groups and analyzing consumer data.- Exploring opportunities to partner with platforms like Kindred.- Identifying a gap in the market for accessible high-end pillows.- Utilizing out-of-the-box methods to grab attention and optimize marketing channels.- Designing for packaging, customer support...
2023-08-31
43 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#289 - Mina Elias Build A Multi-Million Amazon Business
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter! On this episode of DTC pod, Jordan & Victor join Blaine & Ramon to discuss everything about building a top tier CPG brand from the ground up.In this episode of DTC POD, Mina joins Blaine to dive into the world of Amazon and what it takes to be successful as a brand on the platform. From setting up a seller account to optimizing listings and advertising strategies, we cover everything you n...
2023-08-24
55 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#288 - How Bawi Went From College Dorm to Nationally Distributed Beverage Disruptor
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter! On this episode of DTC pod, Jordan & Victor join Blaine & Ramon to discuss everything about building a top tier CPG brand from the ground up.We cover:1. Overcoming obstacles, fundraising struggles, scaling strategies.2. Agua fresca innovation, commercialization process.3. Cultural representation, Working Assembly partnership, Lotteria card motif.4. Sprouts and Safeway partnerships, focus on Texas and California.5. Raising capital...
2023-08-17
48 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#287 - Jess Hunichen - Talent Agencies, Massive Creators, & Brand Deals
On this episode of DTC pod, Jess joins Blaine & Ramon to discuss everything about building a top tier talent agency, and what it takes to be successful for brands to collaborate with top tier talent.We cover:1. Connecting creators, brands, and agencies for successful collaborations.2. Focusing on sustained partnerships for effectiveness.3. Creating special products/services with influencers to address audience needs.4. Utilizing traditional platforms to amplify influencer reach.5. Addressing the industry's lack of creator tools6. Strategies to handle delays and maintain communication with talent...
2023-08-10
53 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#286 - Meghan Higney - From Banking to Branding: Revolutionizing the Slip-On Footwear Industry With Message
On this episode of DTC pod, Meghan joins Blaine & Ramon to discuss her move from the finance world to becoming one of the world's best operators and brand builders in the direct-to-consumer space. With her background in investing and a passion for consumer products, Megan noticed a gap in the market for innovative slip-on footwear and saw an opportunity to create something new.We cover:1. Gap in Slide Sandal Market2. Background in Finance and Investing3. Key Insights as An Operator4. Unique Angel Investor and Evergreen Fund5...
2023-08-03
53 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#285 - This Week in Bev Wars: Ty Haney launches her bev brand, Prime recalls, Liquid Death to IPO and more.
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop. Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter! We cover:1. Threads Strategy For Consumer Brands2. Slow and consistent growth for Threads.3. Potential opportunities for brands on Threads.4. Liquid Death's rapid growth and IPO plans.5. Creative marketing's impact on building brands.6. Niagara Water's pivot to enterprise bottling services.7. Beverage industry's boom and major exits.[00:03:24] Quick migration to Th...
2023-07-27
35 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#284 - Mike Xhaxho - From Viral Tik Tok To 10M+ Brand
On this episode of DTC POD, join hosts Blaine Bolus and Ramon Berrios as they chat with Mike Xhaxho, creator of Waterboy, a popular TikTok account and brand. Mike shares his unexpected journey from starting a personal TikTok account to gaining millions of views and launching a successful product. We chat about the power of storytelling in his videos and the importance of using the right strategies to establish your brand online. We also talk about partnering with creators in consumer businesses, testing before scaling, and how to run effective pre-sales and product drops.We cover:
2023-07-20
44 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#283 - Jordan West - Ads & Marketing 101
In this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Jordan talk about how to grow e-commerce brands through paid performance. They talk about Facebook's tracking methods, insight platforms, customer psychology, setting up tools for effective ads, combating ad fatigue, using images vs videos, alternative opportunities, Facebook groups, Performance Max, SEO strategies, Apple's privacy measures, AI tools, starting with ads, and engaging with customers.We cover:1. Tracking and Attribution2. Understanding Customer Psychology3. Tools and Platforms4. Creative Content5. Engaging with Online Communities6. Testing and Optimization7...
2023-07-13
38 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#282 - Liz Giorgi - The Future of Content For Consumer Brands
On this episode of DTC POD Liz Giorgia joins Blaine & Ramon to cover all things content as well as the big news of Trend's acquisition by soona. We cover how shopping will become integrated into all aspects of the internet, the diverse landscape of content like user-generated content, reviews, product photography, custom content, and more. We chat about how to build a great business, aligning incentives, Liz's entrepreneurial journey, the growth of soona, and how AI will fold into the product photography and content landscape.We cover:1. Ecommerce content creation and distribution2...
2023-07-06
53 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#281 - Robbie Salter, Jupiter - Building A Disruptive DTC Haircare Brand
On this episode of DTC Pod, Blaine chats with Robbie Salter, one of the founding partners of Jupiter. Robbie shares his journey of creating innovative products and addressing the needs of both men and women. They discuss how to build a brand, starting from scratch, navigating supply chain issues to inventory management, building a CX flywheel, and the importance of having a mission greater than your product.We cover:1. Haircare innovation and product development2. Supply chain challenges and inventory management3. Building a brand strategy consultancy4. Investing in venture...
2023-06-28
50 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#280 - This Week In Consumer & Commerce: China, Vertical Integration, Supreme, Lalo, & more.
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, Blaine and Ramon discuss the latest trends in commerce, including issues with leakage, coupon codes, and overpaying on affiliate commissions. They also talk about the success of DTC brands and how consumers prioritize products. The conversation also touches on the challenges of product manufacturing stages in China and the bankruptcy of Instant Brands. Finally, the discussion turns to fashion and streetwear brands like Supreme and Fear of God, and the difficulties of staying relevant in a constantly evolving market.We cover:
2023-06-23
40 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#279 - Adam Robinson - The fastest way to 10x email revenue
On this episode of DTC POD, hosts Blaine Bolus and Ramon Berrios bring on guest Adam Robinson to discuss a range of topics, including email marketing tactics, legal and ethical concerns around pixel retargeting, and the growth of Robinson's company Retention. Robinson shares how his company has developed a free product for server-side tracking and is beta-testing a disruptive B2B product. He also discusses the importance of a founder-led mentality and the frustration of successful, but stagnant businesses. We cover1. Email marketing and privacy laws2. Growth strategies and competition
2023-06-14
59 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#278 - Everything You Need To Know About AI x Commerce
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, Frank joins blaine to chat about how e-commerce companies can use AI models to personalize the shopping experience for each individual shopper. They talk about how ML automation and AI can enrich the product side by considering factors such as color, category, and weight to predict the behavior of shoppers in real time. They discuss the importance of having good data management and collecting as much non-PII customer event data as possible which will make them more agile and competitive in leveraging AI components...
2023-06-07
49 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#277: Bear Balanced - From Space-X To Supplements
On this episode of DTC POD, Dylan Menter shares his journey from building literal rockets to bootstrapping his own CPG business. We discuss the challenges, research, and scaling up production of his product. We cover everything from patents, to manufacturing, to bootstrapping, to purchase orders, to branding on this info packed episode. Here's a few more key themes we'll dive into:1. Building in saturated markets2. Creating a unique product3. Research and collaboration with professionals4. Scaling a solo operation5. Importance of having a stable job6. Navigating the...
2023-05-31
47 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#276: Véhicule - Building The Secretive Brand That Billionaires Love
On this episode of DTC POD, the Kippenbergers join Blaine & Ramon to talk about turning a $1000 magazine about powerboating and avante garde transportation into a lifestyle brand of choice for billionaires. They've done everything from having a race boat team, a rally car team, to furniture collaborations with Ligne Roset and selling the most expensive cold brew coffee in the world. They discuss their brand's values and approach to collaborations over industry gatekeepers, and the risks involved in pursuing growth. Additionally, we focus on quality and design principles for modern brands.This is an extremely unique...
2023-05-24
49 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#275: Tui Allen - How To Build Great Products
On this episode of DTC POD, Tui joins Blaine & Ramon to talk about transforming traditional financing options for brands in the CPG space. Her focus at Ampla is creating purpose-built financial products that prioritize trust, partnership, simplicity, and speed/innovation. Tui discusses the importance of aligning around a company's mission and vision and the need to be intentional about channels required to scale and achieve success.We cover:Customer empathy and market understandingOmnichannel solutions for brandsBuilding and scaling physical productsLong-term planning and KPI tracking
2023-05-16
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#274: Derek Osgood, CEO Ignition: How To Build an Effective Launch Strategy
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, we dive into the fundamentals of launching a product across different types of companies. We discuss why internal marketing and communication are vital, and how a lack thereof can lead to a failed launch. Derek explains how launches involve more than just a checklist of tasks, encompassing planning, coordination, and support. We learn the importance of building a centralized repository of knowledge and automating processes to streamline launches.(00:03:44) Launching diverse companies(00:06:54) Planning, enablement, iteration(00:09:49) Brand consistency & scaling
2023-05-09
40 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#273: Philip Ruffini, CEO Content Assistant: Content Strategy and Organic Social for DTC
On this episode of DTC POD, dive into the art of content creation, Philip joins Blaine to share his insights on defining content pillars and optimizing for views and followers. They discuss the importance of hyper-testing and copying when starting out, as well as the power law of content distribution. They chat about what makes unique and memorable content, and how content differs for B2B and D2C brands. They also touch upon the importance of content ROI and share case studies of successful startups.Here's what you'll learn..1. What are content pillars...
2023-05-02
49 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#272: Scout Brisson, CEO De Soi: Building Brand With Katy Perry & Taking Non-Alc Mainstream
On this episode of DTC POD, Scout joins Blaine to dive into the world of branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. We talk about Katy Perry's involvement in building her flagship non-alcoholic beverage brand, as well as exploring the lasting trend of health and wellness driving consumer behavior, the importance of social media presence, and the impact of beverage sales in-store. We learn about De Soi's scrappy approach to working with brand ambassadors, finding product-market fit in their direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, and their focus on efficient and sustainable growth.[00:03:16] Learnings from consulting generalist to startup.[00:06:22] Katy...
2023-04-25
47 min
Every L Podcast
Ep 35 | From Startup Stress to Success: My Unseen Battle 🚀 feat. Blaine Bolus
Dive into a riveting tale of resilience, triumph, and the unseen battle with startup stress on the Every L Podcast 🚀. Join host Matt Brown and special guest Blaine, a seasoned entrepreneur from Miami, as they peel back the layers of what it means to navigate the treacherous waters of startup life. This episode isn't just about the lows; it's a celebration of turning every setback into a stepping stone towards success. From physical health struggles to the pressures of venture capital, Blaine shares his personal journey with raw honesty and insightful reflections. If you're grappling with your own...
2023-04-24
1h 03
Hosted
37 - Blaine Bolus from Castmagic
This episode description was written by Castmagic! On this episode of Hosted, we delve into the future of podcasting and how AI is changing the game. Our guest Blaine Bolus is a startup entrepreneur and podcast host. He shares insights from his experience building a successful podcast, D to C Pod, and developing AI tool, Cast Magic. We explore why having guests teach a lesson is the best approach for creating valuable podcast episodes, and how AI can be used to automate tasks such as creating show notes and promotional content. We also discuss the emerging trend...
2023-04-20
48 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#271: VC & The Future of Commerce
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, Sydney Sykes of Lightspeed Venture Partners joins Blaine & Ramon to talk about the current state of direct-to-consumer brands and e-commerce. Sydney shares her experience in venture capital and growing direct-to-consumer brands, and offers advice for founders seeking investment. We also dive into various topics including circular fashion to generative AI and SEO, and how they are transforming the modern e-commerce landscape. We also discuss how to create unique demand and distribution advantages, the importance of networking, and which businesses are best suited for vc...
2023-04-20
46 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#270: Lio Pinchevski, Finaloop - DTC Accounting & Finance Made Simple
On this episode of DTC Pod, We dive into the challenges of building a product that combines traditional accounting, finance, and tax with the progressive world of DTC, and the importance of financial statements, tax-saving opportunities, and inventory management. We also explore the impact of integrating real-time cost of goods sold data, the importance of understanding profit, financing, and cash flow, and the potential of measuring return on net profit. Finally, we talk about ways to identify profitable products and unlock business opportunities, and why focusing on conversion alone may not necessarily lead to profitability.
2023-04-13
55 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#269: Izzy Gewirtzman Saving Big On Shipping - A Masterclass For Brands
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC Pod, Izzy Joins Blaine to lead a masterclass on saving on shipping.1. What are the most common mistakes when negotiating shipping rates?2. What surcharges and hidden fees most commonly drain shipping budget?3. What are the most common overlooked details that make brands lose money on shipping?4. What type of shipping carrier is best for my store?shownotes powered by castmagic 00:04:28 - Shipping costs = 10% of revenue00:09:31 - Create account, l...
2023-04-11
54 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#268: Athan Didaskalou - July, Building A Luggage Brand With Rocketship Growth
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC Pod, Athan joins Blaine for a deep dive in what it takes to launch one of the fastest growing travel brands. Here's a few of the questions we answer on the show:1. How did July create the world's lightest carry-on luggage?2. How did they find market validation before even talking to one customer?3. What is July's biggest secret to rapid growth?4. How is retail driving the brand forward in 2023?5. How many product iterations have...
2023-04-04
58 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#267: Justin Seidenfeld - Developing, Manufacturing & Scaling Countless Consumer Products
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, we delve into the world of product development and supply chain management. We look at the success story of Canopy, a company that created a beauty-focused category-defining humidifier. We also cover the challenges faced in bringing new products to market, the value of validating demand, and the importance of a shored-up supply chain.Here's 5 key questions we'll answer on this episode:1. What is the pain point with traditional ultrasonic humidifiers, and how did Canopy solve it?2. How...
2023-03-28
47 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#266: Marshall Nyman - Everything You Need To Know About Affiliate As A Growth Channel
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, Marshall joins Blaine to dive into the world of affiliate marketing. Here's what you'll learn:Strategies in setting up an effective affiliate program, including identifying target customers, partners, and commission rates and networking options.Common mistakes made in affiliate marketing, the right partner mix, and low-value publishers who can negatively impact the program.The role of influencers in affiliate marketing, how to find them, and how they can drive interest and promote brands.How...
2023-03-23
41 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#265: Stephanie Kimel & Celia Lewis- Product Innovation: Personal Storage x Home Decor
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC POD, Celia Lewis and Stephanie Kimmel discuss how they identified a market gap in the cannabis industry and built a brand around their innovative product that preserves and locks cannabis in a home decor piece. They reveal how they launched their product with a grassroots approach due to limited funds for marketing and discuss their successful product launch strategy. They touch on the challenges they faced due to federal regulations around cannabis and how they continue to adapt and grow.3:00...
2023-03-21
55 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#264: Johnathan Solorzano - How To Develop A Shopify Store from 0-1
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.On this episode of DTC Pod, Jonathan joins blaine to talk about Automating fulfillment process with 3PL, Specialized Shopify developers, Starting a Shopify store, Balancing presence on, Shopify and Amazon, Customizing Shopify apps, Local delivery/pickup, Customizing Shopify Plus, Headless Shopify, Shopify's features, and more.[00:03:09] Start Shopify store with no code; buy theme, get product design on Fiverr; focus on sales and marketing.[00:05:19] Automate fulfillment process with 3PL (Third Party Logistics).[00:08:33] Brand owners fear Amazon taking their business, so they are balancing presence...
2023-03-14
43 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#263: JBC - The PR Strategy Behind Your Favorite Brands
When she and her colleague Melissa Duren Conner hit a crossroads in their careers, they decided to join forces and create their own agency, Jennifer Bett Communications (JBC). Jennifer and Melissa wanted to create an agency that approached media relations in a strategic and creative way, focusing on meaningful storytelling and more intellectual PR. Since then, JBC has helped launch some of the top names in consumer brands, including Parachute, Magic Spoon, Recess, Cuyana, Andie, Knix, July, M.Gemi, Cuup, and more just to name a few.[00:00:41] Two friends start PR agency after realizing traditional agencies...
2023-03-07
43 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#262: Nathan Resnick, Sourcify - Product Sourcing & Development 101
On this episode of DTC Pod, Nathan joins Blaine to talk about how to work with manufacturing partners to bring a product to life. They cover lessons from working with over 1000s of factories in several countries, avoiding the biggest pitfalls of manufacturing, building software to streamline the process, moving from CEO to the board, frameworks for building companies, new projects he's excited about, AI and it's application to CX, finding scale, and more.Timestamps:[00:03:01] Bringing a product to life requires many details; choosing the right factory is essential for successful ecommerce.[00:05:59...
2023-02-28
42 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#261: Jenn Jennings, Nosh Media - UGC & Creative Strategy For Brands
On this episode of DTC POD, Ramon & Jenn dive into the ins and outs of content creation. They discuss the categories and pillars of content creation, common mistakes brands make when creating a brief and how to provide specific instructions to avoid frustration. They also cover revisions, the cost of additional assets and how to handle it.Timestamps[00:01:13] California native transitions from healthcare to creating content for CPG brands, using Trend for UGC content.[00:05:17] Filming weddings is unpredictable and requires flexibility and creativity to create beautiful content.[00:14:30] Create brand brief...
2023-02-23
39 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#260: Ryan Springer, MidnightVP - How to Raise VC for DTC & Consumer Brands
On this episode of DTC POD, we discuss the key factors that investors look for in a business, such as product excellence, differentiation and the ability to manage capital responsibly. We cover benchmarks for what it takes to be successful at each stage of raising capital for your brand. We discuss the best types of businesses to launch, what VCs look for in a crowded space, and the importance of retail margins and unit economics when launching a business. Timestamps[00:03:58] Networking and pattern recognition in CPG industry vital for success in BD; takes 6 y...
2023-02-21
50 min
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
#257 - Stefany Nieto, Gwella & Mojo: Building For The Upcoming Psychedelic CPG Boom
On this episode of DTC Pod, Stefany joins us to dive deep into the world of commerce, content, regulation, and go to market as it pertains to the functional mushroom and psychedelic space. They cover the details of their formula which does not contain psilocybin, the patenting process, tailwinds around psychedelics, promising academic studies, the roadmap towards potential decriminalization, how things are unfolding globally, building infrastructure ahead of regulation, the overlap between the two lines and the distinct differences, brand voice, taking mojo into retail, and much more.[00:02:04] Psychedelic Renaissance spurred by pandemic leading to popularity...
2023-01-31
38 min
Success InSight Podcast
Blaine Oelkers, America’s Chief Results Officer
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Coaching & Consulting Insights Series on the Success InSight Podcast.The Coaching & Consulting Insights series introduces you to coaches and consultants that work with leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals, to create their best life and achieve and perform at their full potential.Our guest today is Blaine OelkersBlaine has been described as America’s ONLY Chief Results Officer®. He helps clients get results by working with them to discover habits that bring success and results and stick with them for a lifetime.Blain is...
2022-05-04
47 min