Episodes

May 2, 2024

Mastering Inventory: Strategies for Growth, Liquidation, and Profit with Al Sweet

Our latest re:COGS episode peels back the layers on how understanding customer needs and leveraging real-time sales data can transform a business from its infancy to a celebrated brand. Al's wisdom, drawn from his pivotal role at Sweet Supply Chain Solutions, unveils the meticulous strategies that fuel success for both burgeoning and established companies in the retail space. This podcast is brought to by ⁠⁠Manufactured (MFD)⁠⁠. Manufactured is the end to end inventory solution for brands. We c...
April 25, 2024

Mastering Inventory and Cash Flow in E-Commerce with Gregg Carey

In our enlightening discussion, we dissect the nuanced strategies behind financing inventory, where Gregg illuminates the balancing act of using cash versus debt. Heed his wisdom on mastering the cash conversion cycle, as illustrated by the prowess of companies like Ridge Wallets, and how a 52-week cash flow projection can steer your financial ship through seasonal market tides. Greg's advice extends to cultivating relationships that can pay dividends in negotiation and credit management, ensuri...
April 19, 2024

Crafting & Buying a Lasting Brand in the Fast-Paced Digital World with Greg Shugar

Unlock the secrets of e-commerce success as we commemorate a year of insightful conversations, this time with the entrepreneurial mind of Greg Shugar from Bowties of Vermont. This anniversary episode is a goldmine for anyone looking to navigate the twists and turns of the digital marketplace. Greg returns to share the behind-the-scenes transformation of a traditional men's accessory brand into a burgeoning online powerhouse. We reflect on the brand's savvy pivot to mask production during the pan...
April 11, 2024

Stitching Together the Online and Offline Fashion Worlds with Erin Ersenkal

It's our 1 year podcast anniversary! Are you in LA? Come out to our 1 year anniversary happy hour – https://lu.ma/recogs Our guest today is Erin Ersenkal. Currently, Erin advises Recurate, an ROS platform that powers circularity in the fashion supply chain by providing brands and retailers with the tools to scale their resale programs. By enabling brands to create their own branded resale channels, Erin also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Syrup Tech, a fashion forecasting platform that empowe...
April 4, 2024

Revolutionizing Fashion Retail: How Tarek founded About You and the Future of Personalized eCommerce

Are in LA? Sign up to attend re:COGs 1 Year anniversary party – https://lu.ma/recogs Unlock the secrets to revolutionizing online fashion retail as Tarek, the visionary behind About You, reveals how this platform is shaking up the industry. From starting his first e-commerce venture at just 16 to spearheading Europe's burgeoning fashion destination, Tarek's story is nothing short of inspiring. Tune in and get an exclusive look at how About You is seamlessly blending the personalized touch of of...
March 29, 2024

From Healthy Beverage Idea to Market Success with Noah Wunsch of Ruby Hibiscus

Our guest today is Noah Wunsch, founder & CEO of Ruby Hibiscus Water. Ruby Hibiscus produces juicy organic soda that's big on flavor and benefits. They are sparkling, but they weren’t always that way. And Noah didn’t come from a CPG background initially when starting the brand. This was a fun and informative conversation about how to build a beverage brand lean, getting into Whole Foods, approach to retail expansion, working with manufacturers. This podcast is brought to by ⁠⁠Manufactured (MFD)...
March 22, 2024

From Clicks to Bricks: Successful Scaling from DTC to Wholesale Distribution to Retail for Rising Natural Food Brands

This is a replay of an insight webinar about transitioning from direct-to-consumer (DTC) to brick-and-mortar retail in the natural food industry. Experts will address challenges like slotting fees and strategies for pricing and margins. The session will cover the impact of consumer health trends and food regulations on the cost of goods sold (COGS), and how to manage financial demands through inventory success platforms. Learn to meet safety regulations, retail requirements, and consumer expecta...
Feb. 27, 2024

How To Scale Up and Stand Out In Beauty & Personal Care

Join us for this essential beauty webinar for entrepreneurs aiming for growth. Learn to master financing, scaling, and sustainable retail strategies. Discover how innovation, sustainability, and brand identity can elevate your business. Gain insights from industry experts on transforming your startup into a retail success, with advice on funding, scalability, and making a lasting impact in the retail world. Panelists: Odile Roujol, Founder & Managing Partner of Feb Co-Creation Studio Cristina N...
Feb. 12, 2024

Webinar: Funding Your Brand's Ascent: Equity and Debt Strategies for Sustainable Growth

When does it make sense to raise a round of equity? When does it make sense to use debt to finance growth Unlock the secrets to growing your consumer brand with a funding strategy that stands the test of time. This episode brings together Anthony Rosen of Propeller Industries and Sumeet Shah of VHS Ventures, two maestros with a track record of ushering over a thousand brands to financial success. We dissect the critical choice between debt and equity, exploring how the ever-changing economic ...
Feb. 1, 2024

Beverage Breakthroughs: Aura Bora's Path to 8,500 Stores and Beyond

As part of Pipe17's Omnichannel Commerce Summit, Mike chats with Aura Bora's co-founder & CEO Paul Voge. We discuss: 1. The evolution of Aura Bora's distribution tactics, moving from self-distribution to working with a variety of direct store delivery systems and large distributors. 2. He shared the origin story of Aura Bora, highlighting their desire to create a more enjoyable sparkling water experience with unique flavors and marketing. 3. Voge touched upon the importance of Aura Bora's dig...
Jan. 25, 2024

Scaling a Supplement Brand For The Outdoors with Zachary Curhan, CEO of TRUWILD

Navigating the rugged terrain of entrepreneurship, we get the lowdown on True Wild's expansion from a side project to a buzzing industry contender. Zachary recounts the tactical shifts from online sales to breaking into physical retail, providing a candid look at the resilience needed to turn rejections into rewarding shelf space victories. With tales of persistence and strategic relationship building, this episode is a masterclass for anyone looking to place their products into the hands of eag...
Jan. 12, 2024

Navigating the Financial Terrain of Retail with Bryan Wolff

Unlock the secrets of financial mastery in the fast-paced world of consumer brands with Bryan Wolff, the finance maestro behind Bonobos and Thrive Market. This episode promises to equip you with Brian's hard-earned wisdom on navigating cash flow, strategic financing, and the cunning allocation of capital. Our conversation with Brian isn't just about numbers; it's a deep dive into the pulse of high-growth companies, tailored to enlighten anyone fascinated by the economic forces driving your favor...
Jan. 4, 2024

Crafting a Future for Meat That's Both Tasty and Responsible with Chris Carter and Andy McIntyre

We carve into the specifics of Porter Road's operations, you'll uncover the intricacies behind their dry aging process and the artistry of seam butchering – techniques that honor every inch of the animal. Chris and Ryan lay bare the challenges of inventory management in a business that holds ethics at its core, narrating how they've adapted with innovations like the volcano shank. Peek behind the curtain of their Nashville Butcher Shop, and the Princeton facility that's the beating heart of thei...
Dec. 21, 2023

$100 of Inventory or $100 Cash? What Do You Value More

We're going to cycle through all 30+ episodes we recorded this year and see how our guests responded to the final question: What would you value more: $100 of Inventory of $100 cash? This podcast is brought to by ⁠⁠Manufactured⁠⁠. Manufactured is the end to end inventory solution for brands. We can help with inventory financing, and sourcing and manufacturing consumer products. If you’re interested in learning more, check out https://manufactured.com/
Dec. 14, 2023

Webinar: Manufactured, Finance, Fulfill: How To Optimize Your Inventory to Scale Your Brand

Speakers: • Pranay Srinivasan, CEO of Manufactured • Ronak Trivedi, CEO of Pietra We discuss: • What inventory financing options make sense for your brand • Managing omni-channel operational complexities • Choosing the right 3PL • Hidden costs along the supply chain you should be aware of • Negotiating pricing/terms with suppliers at higher order volumes • When to use debt vs. cash to finance your growth
Dec. 7, 2023

Evolving a 40 year old legacy dance wear brand to the DTC Model with Gregg Davis, CEO of Body Wrappers

Our guest today is Gregg Davis, who runs Body Wrappers. Body Wrappers, which was founded by Marie West, is a 40 year old brand has been committed to producing dance wear of the highest quality, durability, versatility, and value, while uncompromising the standards of comfort and style today's dancers require. We discuss how he discovered and got involved with Body Wrappers, measuring the strength of the brand, expanding to a DTC model for the business, how he evaluates brands that need a turn a...
Nov. 30, 2023

Unleashing Your Beverage Brand–Distributing, Financing and Scaling Your Operations in Today's Market

Our focus in this webinar is the nuances of growing beverage brands through Distribution, Financing, and Scaling Your Operations. We chat with an esteemed panel of experts: Emily Heintz, Founder of Séchey Sallie Jian, Director, Head of Ventures North America at Diageo Trey Lockerbie, Co-Founder of Better Booch Elliott Cohen, Director of Finance at Ritual
Nov. 16, 2023

Unpacking the Challenges of CPG Brand Expansion and Inventory with Tyson Woeste, COO of BelliWelli

Tyson lays bare the supply challenges encountered during product manufacturing. He shares how BelliWelli developed innovative solutions to prevent dead stock issues and how they handle the complexity of SKUs. Plus, you'll learn about the crucial role of temperature control in the supply chain to ensure product shelf life and to deliver optimal customer experience. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone yearning to know the reality of building a successful CPG brand. This podcast is brought...
Nov. 8, 2023

Building an Eco-Friendly Period Care Brand: The Story Behind Viv with Katie Diasti

Katie unravels the marketing and retail strategies that have been instrumental in earning Viv a dedicated customer base. We delve into the nuances of customer behaviors and usage patterns, and how these insights have shaped Viv's success story. From understanding customer needs to navigating retail expansion, Katie shares a wealth of knowledge. This podcast is brought to by Manufactured. Manufactured is the end to end inventory solution for brands. We can help with inventory financing, and sour...
Nov. 2, 2023

Bridging the Gap: The Story behind Loop's Family Network with Brian Gannon

Get ready to unravel the world of product development and manufacturing with our guest, Brian Gannon, the founder and CEO of Loop. Brian shares insights into the conception and development of Loop, a private family network and home display that bridges the distance between family members, allowing them to stay in touch in a unique and personalized way. We explore the processes, failures, and triumphs that Brian went through before achieving the perfect "works like" and "looks like" model, emphas...
Oct. 30, 2023

Webinar: How To Grow Your Apparel Brand From a One Hit Wonder to a Household Name

Learn from top operators from iconic apparel brands about their approach to expand to new categories. Our panelists ––– Samantha Chronister, VP of Marketing at Particl Particl is the AI Product Development and Pricing Platform for the world’s leading brands. Founded in 2020, Particl leverages price, product, and inventory insights from more than 15,000 brands spanning 3.5+ billion data points to inform its game-changing AI- powered retail database. This revolutionary approach to e-commerce ...
Oct. 19, 2023

How To Price Your CPG Brand, Conventional vs. Natural Grocery, and When Financing Makes Sense As You Scale with Will Nitze @ IQBAR

Our guest today is Will Nitze, Founder & CEO of IQBAR. IQBAR makes Plant based protein bars, hydrogen mixes and instant coffee for your brain and body. On this episode we don’t talk about marketing or CAC/LTV. We talk about distribution channels – when it makes sense to enter a new one, conventional vs. natural grocery, how to price your products, what Amazon taught Will the most and more. Check Out Manufactured Manufactured is the end to end inventory solution for brands. We can help with inve...
Oct. 11, 2023

Expo East Special: What Do You Value More – Stacks of Cash or Stacks of Stock?

Welcome to Re:COGs, The show where we learn how the world’s best business operators build consumer brands from sourcing to selling, brought to you by Manufactured. Manufactured is an online platform that helps brands manufacture, finance, and distribute inventory across 20 industries and 25 countries. If you’re interested in learning more, check out manufactured.com We stopped by Expo East and were able to do short interviews with the following brands – Brand Name: Drumroll Snacks - https://ea...
Oct. 4, 2023

How He Built The Supply Chain at Dollar Shave Club and How Brands Should Think about Unit Economics with Eric Adams @ EAV Partners

Our guest today is Eric Adams, who is the founder of EAV Partners who helps ecommerce brands drive profitability and growth by applying our proven, data-driven approach to finance, supply chain operations and marketing. Previously he was VP of Operations at Dollar Shave Club and saw them grow to $1 billion acquisition from Unilever. We talk about his time at Dollar Shave Club, working with eCommerce aggregators, and how ecommerce brands should think about scaling their operations and what metric...