In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Amy Carr, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at ThirdLove. With a unique background spanning from auditing at Arthur Andersen to leadership roles at Gap and Sephora, Amy brings an analytical mindset to the creative world of marketing. At ThirdLove, she's transforming their approach by balancing data-driven performance marketing with emotional brand storytelling while simplifying their technology stack. Amy shares insights on how ThirdLove differentiates itself in the intimate apparel market with innovative sizing (including half-cup sizes), solving real fit problems, and creating marketing that moves beyond transactional promotions to emotional connections.

• Transitioning from finance (CPA) to marketing leadership in retail
• Differences in ecommerce strategies between beauty and apparel
• Building a comprehensive marketing team with the right agency partners
• Leveraging personalization technology to enhance customer experience
• The challenge of considered purchases in DTC marketing
• Moving away from feature-focused marketing toward emotional brand storytelling
• Future of consumer marketing becoming more circular and less linear with AI

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Lucas London, Co-Founder of Lick Home, reveals how he identified a fundamental gap in the paint industry: while competitors were focused on manufacturing efficiencies, no one was solving the core customer problem of colour selection confidence. Launching precisely on the day COVID lockdowns were announced, Lick has evolved from an online-only DTC model to a sophisticated omnichannel business with a projected £13-15 million in revenue this year. Their manufacturing-on-demand supply chain delivers industry-leading margins while their community-powered content engine has created a flywheel effect that traditional paint brands have been unable to replicate.

• The counterintuitive data showing 90% of customers research paint online but 90% purchase offline
• Designing a manufacturing-on-demand supply chain that delivers high margins and low inventory costs
• The optimal colour palette size (100 colours) determined through extensive customer testing
• How colour trends are shifting from the "grey decade" to bolder expressions of identity
• Quantifying offline channel growth (470% YoY) through strategic retail partnerships
• European expansion strategy into France and Germany
• Their atypical B Corp certification process as an early-stage startup

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Adam Schoenberg, Chief Marketing and Operations Officer at Hodinkee, the premier editorial destination for watch enthusiasts worldwide. With over 2.5 million monthly unique visitors, Hodinkee has established itself as the "New York Times for wristwatches." Adam shares how the company evolved from a trusted editorial voice to an explosive commerce business during the pandemic, and then strategically pivoted back to its media roots after acquisition by the Watches of Switzerland Group. As a career founder turned executive, Schoenberg offers a unique perspective on brand building, community development, and the pitfalls of over-commercializing content platforms.

• Transitioning from a founder to an executive role and applying entrepreneurial skills in a corporate environment

• The evolution of Hodinkee's business model from pure content to commerce and back to a media-focused approach

• Building and maintaining trust with a passionate, high-income niche audience

• Navigating the rise of social media personalities and influencers in the watch space

• The crucial balancing act between monetization and maintaining editorial integrity

• Managing a strategic business model shift without alienating core community members

• The limitations of AI in creating specialized, high-quality editorial content

• Rebuilding brand foundations after periods of rapid, capital-fueled growth

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Malte Häusler, Founder and CEO of Timeless Investments. Initially backed by Porsche for a blockchain-based car documentation platform, Timeless pivoted to become an alternative investment marketplace that has raised over €30 million. Their platform enables fractional ownership of high-value collectibles starting at just €50, making previously inaccessible asset classes like rare watches, classic cars, iconic sneakers, and vintage whiskeys available to retail investors. Throughout the conversation, Malte breaks down their journey from initial product-market misalignment to creating a marketplace that consistently delivers 30% annualized returns while utilizing blockchain as backend infrastructure rather than consumer-facing technology.

• The Knight Frank Collectible Luxury Index showing 136% 10-year returns vs. MSCI World's 93%
• Whiskey's exceptional performance at 260% profit over a decade as the top-performing collectible asset
• Evolution from a Porsche-backed blockchain car documentation platform to investment marketplace
• Supply-demand balancing strategies during different growth phases
• The costly failure of mass-market influencer campaigns vs. niche influencer success (40% investor conversion)
• Secondary marketplace development to connect private collectors with retail investors
• WhatsApp-based community engagement strategies and €5,000 minimum Collectors Club model
• The monetization stack: sourcing arbitrage, tokenization fees, asset management fees, and trading commissions
• Category-specific investment criteria for sneakers (vintage, deceased athletes) vs. whiskey (closed distilleries)
• Blockchain implementation as infrastructure efficiency tool rather than consumer value proposition

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Daricus Releford, CEO and Co-Founder of StoreCash. StoreCash is disrupting the cashback space by maximizing customer returns through a subscription model that delivers 7-15% savings across 400+ major retailers. Unlike traditional cashback platforms that keep a portion of merchant commissions, StoreCash passes maximum value to customers for a $24 annual fee. The company has reached nearly $1M ARR by targeting budget-conscious consumers, primarily women aged 30-36, many of whom are mothers. Through strategic paid acquisition and market education, Daricus has built a sustainable consumer fintech business while navigating the unique challenges of mobile app monetization.

• Transitioning from B2B big tech roles to consumer app entrepreneurship

• Discovering and pivoting to the right ICP through data-driven insights

• Building a subscription model that maximizes customer value over platform profits

• Navigating Facebook advertising limitations and scaling challenges

• Working with performance marketing agencies vs. in-house teams

• Balancing customer feedback with forward-thinking product decisions

• Market education strategies for disrupting established cashback platforms

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Hannah Keyser, Vice President of Marketing at Scenthound. Scenthound is disrupting the pet care industry by creating a membership-based model focused on routine hygiene and wellness care for dogs - addressing a gap between traditional grooming (focused on aesthetics) and basic health maintenance that every dog needs. Through their innovative franchise model and community-driven marketing approach, they've built a scalable business that transforms how pet parents think about dog care while creating viral sharing opportunities around pet health "report cards."

• Building a test-and-learn marketing philosophy across multiple channels

• Creating viral sharing mechanisms through pet health report cards

• Balancing national brand marketing with local franchise support

• Developing community-based marketing strategies for pet care services

• Managing marketing for both corporate locations and franchise partners

• Leveraging the emotional connection between pet parents and their dogs

• Scaling authentic community engagement across diverse franchise locations

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Patrick Buchanan, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Lulus. Patrick shares how he's building a brand focused on empowering women through authentic storytelling and community-driven marketing. From his early days in product placement working with celebrities like Zac Efron and Kobe Bryant, to scaling marketing teams of nearly 50 people, Patrick reveals the strategic approach behind Lulus' recent momentum - including their current Globetrotter campaign that's driving all-time high brand equity scores across billboards in New York, Nashville, and Miami.

• Scaling from product placement to brand marketing leadership across multiple celebrity-backed brands

• Building and managing marketing teams of nearly 50 people across brand, creative, and go-to-market functions

• Creating campaigns that drive measurable brand equity while maintaining authentic community connection

• Balancing performance marketing with creative brand work to maximize efficiency and results

• Developing clear KPIs and post-campaign scorecards to measure success and extract learnings

• Leveraging storytelling backgrounds from journalism to create marketing that transports audiences

• Managing celebrity partnerships and product placement in an evolving influencer landscape

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Jacqueline Parisi, Head of Marketing at Elektra Health. Elektra Health is revolutionizing women's healthcare by providing comprehensive menopause care through telemedicine, combining clinical treatment with wraparound support services like menopause doulas, education, and community. Operating primarily in New York and Connecticut, they're tackling the massive gap in menopause care where only one specialist exists for every 26,000 U.S. women, and 70% of women seeking care don't receive treatment. Through strategic insurance partnerships and localized marketing, Elektra Health has achieved network coverage for four out of every five New York women while becoming the first virtual menopause provider to accept Medicaid and Medicare.

• Building a data-driven marketing culture in healthcare

• Navigating complex insurance partnerships and state-by-state expansion

• Marketing in emotionally charged healthcare categories

• Balancing consumer acquisition with B2B health plan relationships

• Scaling localized marketing strategies

• Differentiating in a crowded emerging market

• Managing information overload in newly destigmatized health categories

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Hilary Strong, CMO of smol, the UK-based challenger brand disrupting the laundry and cleaning category. Founded in 2018 by two ex-Unilever colleagues, smol has revolutionized how consumers buy cleaning products by combining D2C subscription delivery with sustainable, high-performance products at accessible prices. Hilary shares how they've built a brand that customers proudly display rather than hide under the sink, while maintaining competitive pricing against mass market giants like Unilever and P&G.

• Dual disruption strategy: simultaneously changing product and distribution models

• Balancing sustainability with performance and accessible pricing

• Creating desirable aesthetics in traditionally hidden product categories

• Organizational structure: splitting CMO and Chief Growth Officer roles

• Upper funnel brand building vs. performance marketing allocation

• International expansion challenges in France and Germany

• Consumer behavior evolution around ingredient transparency and sustainability

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Galahad Clark, founder and CEO of Vivobarefoot. Clark is leading a rebellion against "Big Shoe" - the $24 billion global footwear industry dominated by Nike and Adidas. Coming from a 200-year-old Quaker shoemaking family, Clark pivoted from traditional footwear to create barefoot shoes that prioritize foot health over fashion trends. Despite facing near-bankruptcy in the early years, Vivobarefoot has grown into a $120 million business by targeting "conscious mavericks" and building a community-driven brand that challenges conventional wisdom about what shoes should be.

• Challenging established industries through education-based marketing

• Building a direct-to-community brand in a fashion-driven category

• Transitioning from performance marketing to brand marketing at scale

• Creating custom, localized manufacturing through 3D printing technology

• Positioning against industry giants while maintaining authenticity

• Leveraging truth providers and domain experts for credibility

• Balancing rational health messaging with emotional brand appeals

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Stefan Lagerqvist, Group CEO of Nick's, a Swedish food tech company revolutionizing the healthy snacking space. Nick's has carved out a unique position by focusing on eliminating the gap between indulgent and healthy, creating products that taste great without the traditional health food compromise. After a major brand pivot based on data-driven consumer insights, Nick's transformed from an angry activist brand to one that celebrates joy and removes guilt from snacking, targeting young urban females who prioritize looking good on social media over traditional health messaging.

• Pivoting from activist messaging to joy-focused brand positioning based on consumer research

• Using quantitative research to identify and validate target audiences beyond existing customers

• Balancing risk-taking in startup marketing versus playing it safe at large corporations

• Strategic distribution across physical retail, Amazon, and direct-to-consumer channels

• Managing rapid US expansion during COVID with geo-targeted performance marketing

• Transitioning from growth-at-all-costs to profitability-focused business model

• Leveraging brand building over pure performance marketing in competitive markets

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett interviews Gavin Jocius, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer of SAUNA HOUSE®. SAUNA HOUSE® is building the modern American bathhouse by adapting ancient wellness modalities for US consumers. Operating in a market where communal bathing culture is nascent compared to established markets like Finland, Japan, and Canada, SAUNA HOUSE® has grown from one Asheville location in 2019 to multiple corporate and franchise locations across the Southeast. Through strategic positioning against tech-bro wellness culture and creating intentional analog experiences, they're capitalizing on the convergence of loneliness epidemics, generational shifts away from alcohol, and the growing demand for digital detox experiences.

• Adapting international wellness concepts for American market sensibilities

• Strategic customer segmentation beyond obvious wellness demographics

• Creating forced digital detox environments as a competitive differentiator

• Leveraging cultural early adopters as organic brand ambassadors

• Building educational content strategy around adventure and expertise archetypes

• Scaling intentional community experiences across franchise operations

• Positioning against obvious influencer partnerships for authentic brand building

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Andrew Thomas, VP of Marketing at Archer Meat Snacks. Andrew shares how Archer Meat Snacks, the fifth largest meat snack brand in the nation, is disrupting the category dominated by legacy players like Jack Link's and Slim Jim. Through bold rebranding, strategic color psychology, and a deep understanding of consumer segmentation, Archer Meat Snacks is driving category growth alongside Chomps as the only two brands capturing the "better-for-you" consumer trend. Andrew reveals the tactical playbook behind their transformation from a commercially-focused business to a brand-driven powerhouse, including their upcoming national advertising campaign designed to punch above their weight class against competitors with significantly larger marketing budgets.

•  Strategic brand positioning in legacy-dominated categories

•  Rebranding methodology from consumer insights to execution

•  Color psychology and visual differentiation in CPG

•  Consumer segmentation strategy for category disruption

•  Marketing team structure and resource allocation for growth-stage brands

•  AI's impact on creative production and marketing efficiency

•  Risk-taking philosophy in conservative industries

• Agency selection and creative brief development

• The myth of ad campaign wear-out and mental availability

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg, CEO and Co-Founder of TicketCo. TicketCo began as a solution to outdated ticketing infrastructure in Norway's event industry and has evolved into one of Europe's fastest-growing sports ticketing platforms. What started as a necessity for their own mountain festival has grown into a company that holds monopoly positions in Norwegian sports and is rapidly expanding across the UK and Ireland. Moberg shares how they disrupted an industry dominated by legacy providers through strategic focus, innovative pricing models, and community building that elevates the often-overlooked heroes of the ticketing world.

• Transitioning from broad event ticketing to sports-only focus for market dominance

• Building subscription-based season ticket models to reduce churn and increase revenue

• Creating the world's largest ticketing community through "Don't Forget Your Tickets"

• Geographic expansion strategy prioritizing podium positions over market presence

• Consumer behavior differences across global markets (China, US, UK)

• AI implementation for predictive pricing and sellout forecasting

• B2B brand positioning versus consumer marketplace strategies

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Lance Dobson, Senior Director of Marketing and Analytics at Shed. Formerly known as Shed Rx, the company focuses on enhancing physical, mental, and emotional wellness through medical interventions, including weight loss medications like GLP-1s. Lance shares insights on creating authentic, connective marketing that resonates with consumers, avoiding tired marketing clichés, and structuring marketing teams to balance creative and analytical functions. He also discusses the evolving role of AI in marketing and the enduring importance of simplicity in effective consumer communication.

• Transitioning from Shed Rx to Shed and expanding beyond GLP-1s to a more holistic wellness approach

• Creating marketing that makes consumers feel understood rather than merely understanding the brand

• Building creative and performance marketing teams with complementary skill sets

• Using authentic customer stories to create emotional connections with target audiences

• The impact of AI on marketing roles and resource allocation

• The enduring value of marketing fundamentals in an increasingly complex landscape

• The future of consumer marketing and the shift toward product features over traditional branding

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Casimir Rob, Founder and Managing Director of every®, a plant-based frozen meal subscription service. Launched at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, every® has evolved from an emergency meal solution to a transformative subscription service helping busy professionals maintain healthy eating habits. Through their journey, Casimir shares how they've doubled customer retention, dramatically expanded lifetime value, and successfully shifted to a subscription-only model despite initial conversion challenges. Their focus on high-quality flash-frozen plant-based meals bridges the gap between convenience and nutrition, targeting time-strapped professionals who want to prioritize their health without sacrificing quality or time.

• Transitioning from a hybrid purchase model to subscription-only business

• Developing brand messaging that resonates with long-term subscribers

• Optimizing customer acquisition for subscription models

• Building and leveraging word-of-mouth marketing (30%+ of new customers)

• Balancing quality, convenience, and nutrition in product development

• Managing the educational challenge of marketing frozen food as premium

• Testing and optimizing subscription offers and funnels

• Implementing AI tools to enhance marketing efficiency

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Julia Lirio, Marketing Director at roadsurfer. roadsurfer is transforming the camping and van life experience across 14 countries by positioning camping as a hip, young lifestyle choice rather than a niche hobby for retirees. Operating in the fast-growing outdoor recreation market, roadsurfer offers camper rentals, camping spots, long-term rentals, and van sales through a brand that makes outdoor adventures accessible and Instagram-worthy. Julia shares how her team navigates the challenge of matching elevated consumer expectations with the reality of van life, while scaling marketing operations across diverse international markets with a centralized approach.

• Repositioning camping from niche hobby to mainstream lifestyle brand

• Building marketing operations across 14 international markets

• Balancing brand storytelling with performance marketing measurement

• Managing consumer expectations vs. reality in experience-based products

• Scaling creative content production through influencer partnerships

• Implementing AI for content localization and customer segmentation

• Transitioning from CEO to GEO optimization strategies

• Building centralized marketing teams for international operations

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Nathan Levi, CMO at Popsa, a mobile-first "memory curation platform" that's disrupting the traditional photo printing industry. Popsa has transformed a dated category dominated by web-first incumbents into a frictionless mobile experience, particularly appealing to an older demographic seeking beautiful photo products without needing design skills. Nathan shares how Popsa built a global presence from day one, why they've rejected traditional brand marketing in favor of self-reinforcing growth loops, and how they've achieved impressive revenue-per-employee metrics through senior talent and AI-enabled workflows.

• Transforming the photo printing industry through mobile-first technology and frictionless design

• Building an international business from day one versus focusing on a single market

• Rejecting traditional marketing funnels in favor of self-reinforcing growth loops

• Managing marketing complexity across multiple countries, platforms, and channels

• Creating an internal creative agency to handle unprecedented content velocity

• Leveraging AI throughout the organization for productivity and product enhancement

• Balancing digital and physical photo products to serve core customer needs

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Brett Stapper speaks with Kim Chappell, Chief Brand Officer at Bobbie. As the first new infant formula company to enter the US market in eight years, Bobbie has created a beloved brand by addressing a critical gap in the baby nutrition market. Kim shares how Bobbie built remarkable brand loyalty in a heavily regulated and emotionally charged category by leading with authentic storytelling, creating real community connections, and turning marketing challenges into opportunities to drive meaningful change for parents.

• Building a trusted brand in a highly regulated and emotionally charged category

• Creating a marketing strategy with minimal budget by leveraging authentic community building

• Navigating the transition to a fully remote company structure during the pandemic

• Managing supply chain disruptions and their impact on brand trust

• Balancing premium positioning with transparency about ingredient sourcing

• Developing an activist brand voice that resonates with modern parents

• Executing impactful experimental marketing campaigns

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Brett Stapper interviews Carlisle “Dokk” Knight, co-founder and COO of Pura Cashmere, a luxury cashmere clothing brand. From his early days pioneering game streaming technology in the late 90s to building a multi-million dollar bootstrapped D2C fashion brand with his wife, Dokk shares invaluable insights on sustainable growth, maintaining product quality at scale, and the advantages of controlling your own fulfillment operations. With 5 consecutive years of doubling revenue and 800% growth according to Inc. 5000, Pura Cashmere offers a masterclass in building a successful D2C brand without venture funding, focusing on quality, customer experience, and long-term vision over rapid growth and quick exits.

• Bootstrapping a D2C fashion brand to 8-figure revenue

• The hidden costs of outsourcing fulfillment and taking back control

• Strategic factory relationships as alternative financing

• Building a sustainable business focused on quality over rapid scaling

• Targeting and retaining customers in the 35-45+ demographic

• Creating versatile, heirloom-quality garments with low return rates

• The advantages of operating D2C businesses from low-cost locations

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Brett Stapper interviews Alon Rivel, CMO of Feast & Fettle, a meal delivery service focused on solving dinnertime fatigue for families. Unlike competitors who simply market food, Feast & Fettle positions itself as giving time back to busy parents. With a vertically integrated operation serving over 6,000 families weekly in the Northeast, Feast & Fettle is taking a deliberate, quality-focused approach to growth. As a recent Boston Globe-recognized fastest-growing company in New England, they're expanding strategically through acquisitions while maintaining their commitment to quality and operational excellence.

• Differentiating in the crowded meal delivery market by focusing on solving dinnertime stress

• Making strategic acquisitions to grow thoughtfully rather than prioritizing rapid nationwide expansion

• Building a flat, efficient marketing team structure that maximizes productivity

• Leveraging AI tools to enhance marketing operations and decision-making

• Using gut instinct to identify true customer needs behind product purchases

• Making counter-intuitive career moves for long-term professional growth

• Finding authenticity in marketing communications for modern consumers

In this episode of The Future Consumer of Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Bunim Laskin, Founder and CEO of Swimply. Swimply has revolutionized recreational access by creating a marketplace that allows homeowners to rent out their private pools by the hour. With over $60 million in funding, expansion to 130 cities across three countries, and hosting over 4 million guests, Swimply is democratizing access to luxury pool experiences. From a Shark Tank appearance that aired on the exact day COVID lockdowns began to 4,000% growth during the pandemic, Bunim shares how he built a community-focused marketplace that connects "haves and have-nots" in an entirely new sharing economy category.

• Creating an entirely new marketplace category for private pool rentals

• Navigating the challenges of the "stranger danger" perception

• Leveraging Shark Tank exposure despite airing during COVID lockdowns

• Building supply and demand in a two-sided marketplace

• Implementing creative PR and influencer marketing strategies

• Managing community and neighbor relations

• Handling regulatory challenges across different municipalities

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Brett Stapper interviews João Janes, Global VP of Marketing at Habyt. Habyt is disrupting the housing market by providing flexible living solutions that bridge the gap between short-term Airbnb stays and traditional long-term housing. Operating in over 20 cities worldwide, Habyt has become the leading player in the flexible co-living space by simplifying the housing process with lower deposits, streamlined documentation, and month-to-month flexibility. João shares his journey from selling opposite experiences to parents and students in the travel industry to building a transparent, user-focused brand that addresses the fundamental challenges of modern housing.

• Creating a disruptive brand in the traditionally stagnant housing market

• Balancing performance marketing with brand building strategies

• Building transparency into marketing and customer experience

• Rethinking marketing team structures in the age of AI

• Marketing to the fragmented Gen Z audience

• Transforming customer touchpoints into brand-building opportunities

• Finding and utilizing authentic content creators for brand storytelling

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Russell Breuer, Founder and CEO of Spot & Tango. What started as homemade dog food recipes in a New York City studio apartment has evolved into a thriving direct-to-consumer pet wellness brand with a $25 million manufacturing facility. Russell shares how the company has capitalized on the "humanization of pets" trend by creating personalized, high-quality dog food options while building a profitable D2C business model in a challenging market landscape. From making tough decisions about vertical integration to developing a data-driven marketing approach, Russell provides valuable insights on building a consumer brand that's both customer-centric and financially sound.

Topics Discussed:

• Evolution from homemade recipes to a scaled D2C pet food business

• Capturing the "humanization of pets" trend through product innovation

• Building and operating a $25 million manufacturing facility

• Creating a data-driven marketing organization focused on customer acquisition

• Developing a subscription-based business model with strong retention

• Achieving profitability in the D2C space against market headwinds

• Balancing entrepreneurship with family life and personal commitments

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Kaitlin Macholz, Head of Marketing at Beacons. Beacons provides a comprehensive business platform for content creators, enabling them to monetize their content across various social platforms through multiple revenue streams. With over 7 million users, Beacons has recently expanded their ecosystem with "Beacons for Brands," connecting advertisers with relevant creators for partnerships. Throughout the conversation, Kaitlin shares insights on creator marketing, product-led growth, and the evolving creator economy landscape, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding the unique challenges content creators face in building sustainable businesses.

Topics Discussed:

• The unique product-led growth loop that powers Beacons' customer acquisition

• Beacons' expansion from link-in-bio tool to comprehensive creator monetization platform

• The launch of "Beacons for Brands" to connect advertisers with relevant creators

• The uncertain landscape for content creators and challenges they face

• Balancing quantitative measurement with qualitative value in influencer marketing

• Marketing to three distinct but interconnected audiences within the creator ecosystem

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, Brett Stapper interviews Erin Murray, Chief Brand Officer of Mad Rabbit. Mad Rabbit is an integrated tattoo care brand providing solutions from pre-chair artist supplies to daily care essentials for tattooed consumers. The brand began in 2019 as a dorm room side hustle and has since grown to double-digit millions in revenue, with expanded distribution across direct-to-consumer, Amazon, retail partnerships, and a growing wholesale business targeting tattoo studios. With tattoos now adorning 46% of Americans (up from 20% in 2012), Mad Rabbit is capitalizing on a rapidly expanding category by focusing on authentic brand identity, targeted customer insights, and strategic multi-channel expansion.

• Transitioning from corporate retail to beauty marketing to tattoo care

• Building an authentic, lifestyle-oriented brand in an emerging category

• Balancing retail, DTC, Amazon, and wholesale/professional channels

• Developing tailored marketing approaches for different customer cohorts

• Creating an ambassador program that leverages customer advocacy

• Using AI to enhance marketing efficiency in a lean team environment

• Implementing strategic growth rather than pursuing numerous initiatives simultaneously

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Jen Pelka, Co-Founder and CEO of Une Femme Wines. Growing from a small in-house brand at her champagne bars to the third-largest canned wine company in the United States in just five years, Une Femme has transformed its go-to-market strategy from traditional fine dining and boutique retail to securing enterprise-level partnerships with companies like Delta Airlines, Virgin Voyages, and major hotel chains. Pelka shares how pivoting during the pandemic led to explosive growth, taking their production from 1,500 cases to over 300,000 cases annually with just eight full-time employees through a capital-light model focused on strategic B2B partnerships.

Topics Discussed:

• Transitioning from restaurant ownership to building a wine brand

• Scaling production 3-4x overnight to meet enterprise-level demand

• Creating a capital-light business model through strategic partnerships

• Developing high-quality canned wine products backed by scientific research

• Building a mission-driven brand that authentically centers women

• Navigating the challenges of retail distribution and DTC economics

• Surviving devastating personal and business losses during the pandemic

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Mat Megens, Founder of HyperJar. HyperJar is transforming how consumers manage their spending through behavioral psychology and gamified saving mechanics. Starting from a supply chain financing concept, the company evolved into a consumer spending app that helps people avoid debt and spend more intentionally. With nearly 700,000 customers, HyperJar has achieved remarkable organic growth primarily through word-of-mouth and credible influencer endorsements, while building sticky retention through shared money features that create network effects.

• Evolving from B2B supply chain financing to consumer spending management

• Building the first 100,000 users through retail partnerships and organic PR

• Applying behavioral psychology to make saving feel rewarding

• Creating viral growth through credible influencer endorsements versus paid advertising

• Developing shared money features that create network effects and retention

• Monetizing through merchant partnerships and B2B licensing

• Leveraging economic downturns as tailwinds for financial wellness products

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Kristian Ranta, CEO and Co-Founder of Meru Health. After losing his brother to suicide, Kristian leveraged his background in healthcare technology to build a virtual mental health clinic that takes a functional medicine approach rather than relying solely on traditional psychiatry. Meru Health operates in all 50 states, partnering with insurance companies and employers to deliver a comprehensive care model that addresses mental health by examining diet, sleep, exercise, and biological factors—not just cognitive therapy. With 16 peer-reviewed publications validating their approach and over $50 million in funding, Meru Health is pioneering a new paradigm in mental health treatment focused on helping patients achieve lasting remission rather than just symptom management.

• Building a healthcare company with a functional medicine approach to mental health

• Transitioning from Finland to Silicon Valley to build a global healthtech company

• Developing a comprehensive care model that addresses both mind and body

• Creating a product-driven, gamified journey for mental health patients

• Marketing strategies for different user segments in the mental health space

• Partnering with academic institutions to validate a novel clinical approach

• Scaling a healthcare company while navigating complex regulatory environments

• Fundraising differences between European and American markets

In this episode of The Future of Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Charles Wells, CEO and Founder of HelloSelf, a mental health platform that has raised over $30 million in funding. Charles shares his journey from healthcare marketing to revolutionizing the mental health space through personalized psychology and a trust-based marketing approach. After experiencing a personal health crisis that included five brain surgeries, Charles dedicated his energy to creating a platform that helps people understand themselves better and access personalized psychological support in an ethical, scalable way.

• Building a trust-based marketing engine in the sensitive mental health space
• Why traditional digital marketing tactics don't work for mental wellness brands
• Transforming from a direct-to-consumer approach to a partnership-driven growth model
• Creating organic word-of-mouth marketing through exceptional service delivery
• Balancing brand building with acquisition metrics in healthcare technology
• The unique challenges of marketing mental health services ethically
• Turning healthcare from a reactive sickness system into a proactive wellness platform

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Nelly Voukaki, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Looper Insights. Looper Insights revolutionized how major entertainment studios track and optimize their content placement across streaming platforms, connected devices, and digital storefronts. Starting from a compliance problem in transactional stores, Nelly and her team built a platform that monitors pricing, availability, and merchandising placement for thousands of titles across 30+ countries and multiple platforms. Through innovative hardware solutions that mimic human behavior to track connected TV interfaces, they provided studios with unprecedented visibility into how their content competes for attention in the streaming ecosystem.

• Building a technical solution to solve content compliance and placement tracking across streaming platforms

• Creating hardware solutions that mimic human behavior to monitor connected TV interfaces

• Developing weighted share of voice metrics to assign dollar values to editorial placements

• Correlating content placement data with performance metrics to optimize marketing spend

• Navigating the shift from editorial to algorithmic content placement on streaming platforms

• Understanding the competitive landscape of content merchandising across different streaming services

• Leveraging AI and data analytics to optimize content marketing strategies

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Steven Sashen, founder and Chief Barefoot Officer of Xero Shoes. Steven built a multi-million dollar footwear company from a simple DIY sandal kit after discovering barefoot running transformed his athletic performance. Starting with basic SEO tactics in 2009, Xero Shoes has grown into a 60-product line worn by everyone from casual walkers to NBA and WNBA players. Steven's journey from Internet marketing veteran to footwear entrepreneur showcases how authentic product experiences, contrarian marketing tactics, and specialized talent acquisition can build a category-defining brand in a crowded market.

• Building a brand around authentic product experiences and word-of-mouth growth

• Leveraging early SEO mastery to dominate niche keywords before competition arrived

• Creating guerrilla marketing campaigns that break conventional "best practices"

• Developing product lines through direct customer feedback and demand signals

• Assembling high-performing marketing teams through specialized freelancers vs agencies

• Using content marketing to educate consumers on barefoot running benefits

• Converting book publicity into brand awareness through strategic partnerships

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Peter Bayne, co-founder and COO of Kenetik. Kenetik is revolutionizing the functional beverage space with a ketone-based drink that delivers sustained energy and cognitive enhancement without caffeine or sugar. After building a restaurant empire that the pandemic forced him to pivot from, Peter discovered ketones' cognitive benefits and created a product that tastes like "sweet tart candy" instead of "bile or nail polish remover" like competitors. Through scientific validation with NIH and major universities, direct-to-consumer mastery, and authentic storytelling, Kenetik has built a passionate community of biohackers, endurance athletes, and health-conscious consumers while helping customers with serious medical conditions improve their quality of life.

• Building a premium functional beverage from basement experimentation to clinical validation
• Transitioning from restaurant ownership to CPG during the pandemic
• Creating authentic brand storytelling through personal challenges and vulnerability
• Leveraging scientific partnerships with NIH and universities for credibility
• Mastering direct-to-consumer before expanding to retail
• Building passionate remote teams around mission-driven products
• Navigating TikTok Shop and live selling for beverage brands
• Using endurance sports sponsorships for targeted community building

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Matt Ovenden, serial entrepreneur and founder of The Wine Engine and Borrow A Boat. After building Borrow A Boat into a 400,000-user platform that transformed the boat charter industry, Matt is now applying his marketplace expertise to wine subscriptions. The Wine Engine represents his shift from low-frequency, high-ticket transactions to high-frequency, subscription-based consumer marketing. Through AI-powered personalization, flexible subscription models, and a focus on making wine more accessible, Matt is challenging traditional wine clubs and major players like Vivino by creating what he calls "the Netflix of wine."

• Building subscription-first businesses in traditional industries

• Using AI for personalization and consumer education in wine

• Transitioning from low-frequency marketplace to high-retention subscription model

• Competing against established players without massive marketing budgets

• Leveraging crowdfunding as both capital and marketing platform

• Evolution of marketing tools and team structures in the AI era

• Preparing for the shift from SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Alex Schulze, CEO and Co-Founder of 4ocean. Born from a surf trip to Bali where Alex witnessed devastating plastic pollution, 4ocean has evolved from a simple bracelet company into a vertically integrated ocean cleanup operation that has removed over 41 million pounds of trash from the ocean. What started as a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand leveraging viral marketing has transformed into a multi-faceted business including B2B partnerships, government contracts, and a global network of cleanup crews. Alex shares the brutal realities of scaling a mission-driven company through algorithm changes, health crises, and the challenges of the modern e-commerce landscape.

• Building a vertically integrated ocean cleanup operation from a consumer product

• Navigating Facebook's political categorization that killed organic reach overnight

• Pivoting from viral social media marketing to relationship-based B2B partnerships

• Managing the operational complexity of employing hundreds of cleanup crews globally

• Surviving the e-commerce bloodbath and why most DTC brands are struggling

• Dealing with greenwashing accusations in the sustainability space

• The founder's personal health crisis and how it shaped business priorities

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Terri Rockovich, Co-founder and CEO of Jinx. After scaling Casper's marketing budget from $30k to $7M monthly as their first marketing hire, Terri applied those hard-won lessons to building Jinx—a premium dog food brand positioned for mass market accessibility. Jinx has successfully navigated the challenging transition from D2C to retail, launching in 1,000 Walmart stores and expanding to Target, Amazon, and specialty retailers. Through their "specialty for the masses" positioning, they're making premium pet nutrition mainstream while building a community of millennial pet parents who treat their dogs like family.

• Scaling paid acquisition budgets efficiently without burning cash on learning

• Transitioning from D2C-first to retail-dominant business model

• Launching and scaling with major retailers like Walmart and Target

• Building "specialty for the masses" brand positioning

• Consumer-led product innovation in saturated CPG categories

• Managing small, high-output marketing teams in competitive spaces

• Balancing founder involvement in marketing without micromanaging

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Jacob Westerberg, Co-Founder of JUNIPER, a Swedish direct-to-consumer bedding and home goods brand. Jacob and his wife built JUNIPER from a honeymoon hotel experience into a profitable business that's expanded from bed linens into towels, soaps, and consumables. Their journey reveals crucial insights about working capital management, founder-led marketing, and the evolution from single-product focus to category expansion. Through strategic product development and performance marketing optimization, they've maintained profitability while building a premium brand that commands €200+ average order values in a commoditized market.

• Working capital challenges in inventory-heavy D2C businesses

• Founder-led marketing and authentic brand storytelling

• Performance marketing evolution through iOS changes and platform shifts

• Product expansion strategy for improving customer lifetime value

• Premium positioning in commoditized categories

• International expansion considerations for product-specific sizing

• Marketing measurement and attribution in the post-iOS 14 era

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Nick Brackenbury, Co-founder and CEO of NearSt. NearSt is revolutionizing the retail landscape by connecting the world's local inventory to the web, bridging the critical gap between online discovery and offline purchasing. With over a billion stock updates flowing through their platform daily, NearSt is tackling one of retail's biggest challenges: making 95% of products currently invisible to online consumers discoverable through digital channels. Through partnerships with Google, Facebook, and last-mile delivery providers, they're helping mid-market and small retailers compete in an increasingly digital world while preserving the value of physical retail spaces.

• Bridging the online-to-offline commerce gap with real-time inventory data

• Overcoming measurement and attribution challenges in physical retail

• Leveraging inspirational search behaviors to drive local store visits

• Building technical solutions for antiquated retail inventory systems

• Scaling local inventory visibility across global markets

• Managing relationships between big tech platforms and small retailers

• Understanding cultural differences in shopping behaviors across markets

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Deeannah Seymour, CEO and Co-Founder of pH-D Feminine Health. After 20 years in pharma, Seymour launched pH-D in 2014 to commercialize boric acid vaginal suppositories - a product that existed only through compounding pharmacies despite being frequently recommended by OB-GYNs. Within six months of launching on Amazon, the product became the bestseller in its category, driven by evangelical customer reviews and a healthcare professional marketing strategy that established pH-D as the #1 doctor-recommended brand. Today, pH-D operates across 55,000+ retail locations while maintaining its woman-owned certification and bootstrapped status.

• Transitioning from healthcare professional marketing to mainstream retail expansion

• Navigating regulatory restrictions and advertising censorship in feminine health

• Building a problem-solution brand in an underfunded category

• Scaling from Amazon to 55,000+ retail locations without outside funding

• Creating safe spaces for stigmatized health conversations

• Maintaining woman-owned certification as a competitive advantage

• Developing clinical studies and IP acquisition strategy

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Ferran Belmonte, VP of Growth Marketing at June. June is revolutionizing the rental market in major US metros by creating a flexible, technology-driven platform that serves students and young professionals seeking mid-to-long-term housing solutions. Through innovative approaches to automation, data-driven testing, and strategic partnerships, Ferran has built a marketing machine that addresses the complex needs of international students and young professionals navigating America's rigid rental market. His journey from hotel operations to retail marketing to prop tech showcases how cross-industry experience can drive breakthrough marketing strategies in traditionally stagnant sectors.

• Building automated marketing systems with limited startup resources

• Leveraging A/B testing to validate sales team insights and optimize conversion funnels

• Creating human-centered communication in an increasingly automated world

• Developing strategic partnerships that evolve from transactional to collaborative relationships

• Managing remote marketing teams across multiple time zones and cultures

• Using AI and virtual rendering technology to scale visual content cost-effectively

• Implementing pixel discovery tools for high-intent user retargeting

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Kareem Azees, Head of Marketing at ResQ, the facilities management platform streamlining repair and maintenance operations for restaurants. ResQ revolutionizes restaurant equipment management through QR code asset tracking and a network of trade vendors, helping operators make data-driven decisions about their equipment lifecycle. Through strategic franchise-focused marketing and lean team operations, ResQ has carved out a unique position in the restaurant tech space by solving a critical operational challenge that costs restaurants 3-5% of their P&L.

• Transitioning from broad industry events to brand-specific franchise conferences

• Building efficient marketing teams using AI and freelance networks

• Understanding the franchise ecosystem vs. corporate restaurant decision-making

• Leveraging customer success stories and social proof in restaurant tech

• Implementing AI workflows for content creation and case study production

• Defining ideal customer profiles in the complex restaurant industry landscape

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Aaron Zagha, Chief Marketing Officer at Newton Baby, a company revolutionizing the baby sleep market through radical product innovation and data-driven marketing. Newton Baby has disrupted the traditional crib mattress category with their breathable, washable "woven air" technology made from the same material as yogurt cups. Starting as employee number two or three at the early-stage company, Aaron has scaled Newton Baby from a single product to a full sleep ecosystem through rigorous incrementality testing, AI experimentation, and a flat organizational structure that encourages radical experimentation.

• Building a flat, experiment-driven marketing organization with 13-14 team members

• Running 25-30 marketing channels simultaneously and using incrementality testing to optimize

• Leveraging AI across ad platforms, customer service, and creative production

• Adapting marketing strategies for millennial vs. Gen Z parents

• Competing against 50+ year legacy brands as a digital-native DTC player

• Testing and abandoning channels like Snapchat and branded paid search based on data

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Philip Freeman, CEO and founder of Murphy's Naturals, a nationally distributed outdoor products brand that's cracked the code on natural insect repellent. What started as a garage-based solution for Philip's mosquito-sensitive wife has grown into a 50+ employee company manufacturing 85% of their products in-house and distributed through major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot. Philip's journey from naval officer to CPG founder demonstrates how authentic problem-solving, uncompromising quality standards, and values-driven growth can disrupt established chemical-dominated markets.

• Building consumer trust in a category plagued by ineffective natural products

• Scaling from Amazon to major retail through review-driven credibility

• Manufacturing strategy: when to bring production in-house vs. outsourcing

• Product innovation within brand guardrails and core values

• Maintaining B Corp certification while scaling and taking investment

• Creating authentic brand narratives from genuine problem-solving origins

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews James Kennedy, Brand & Marketing Director at Numan. Numan has transformed from a provocative men's health startup into a sophisticated, gender-neutral digital healthcare platform. James shares how they've navigated one of marketing's most challenging sectors - healthcare - while maintaining brand authenticity and driving growth. From executing taboo-breaking creative campaigns on minimal budgets to successfully pivoting from male-only to unisex positioning, Numan's journey reveals how to balance edgy brand personality with regulatory compliance and consumer trust in a heavily regulated industry.

• Balancing provocative creative with healthcare regulatory requirements

• Executing successful above-the-line campaigns on startup budgets

• Managing brand evolution from single-issue treatment to holistic healthcare

• Navigating gender pivot from male-focused to unisex brand positioning

• Building consumer trust in digital healthcare during and post-COVID

• Integrating performance marketing with brand awareness strategies

• Assembling marketing teams for regulated healthcare environments

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Dominik Burziwoda, CEO & Founder of Perfood. Perfood develops digital therapeutics using personalized low-glycemic diets to treat lifestyle-associated diseases like type 2 diabetes and migraines. Operating in Germany's regulated healthcare system, Perfood must navigate the complex challenge of marketing to three distinct stakeholders: insurance companies as payers, medical doctors as prescribers, and patients as end users. Through their B2B market access approach, they've created a pharmaceutical-like business model that delivers digital therapy through an app, achieving patient remission rates that traditional drug therapies cannot match.

• Building a regulated healthcare product that serves multiple stakeholder groups simultaneously

• Navigating marketing restrictions and compliance requirements in the digital therapeutics space

• Creating personalized health solutions using continuous glucose monitoring and AI-powered food recognition

• Developing longer sales funnels for complex healthcare products (4-6 months conversion cycles)

• Balancing scientific credibility with consumer-friendly messaging

• Scaling digital therapeutics across multiple disease indications and international markets

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Andres Figueira interviews Gilbert Corrales, CEO and Co-Founder of Leaf. Leaf has evolved from a music marketing platform that became the number one music app in Latin America to a performance marketing agency specializing in direct-to-consumer retail brands. Starting with the challenge of helping musicians own their audience relationships in an increasingly commoditized digital music landscape, Gilbert and his team discovered that the same attention-based marketing frameworks applied across industries. Now Leaf helps fast-growing e-commerce companies optimize their digital marketing strategies while building technology products that solve conversion tracking and campaign optimization challenges at scale.

• Transitioning from music industry marketing to e-commerce performance marketing

• Building marketplace dynamics and solving chicken-and-egg problems in two-sided markets

• Evolving from pure services to product-led growth with technology solutions

• Strategic hiring and team expansion in specialized verticals

• Leveraging AI tools while maintaining human expertise and agency

• Creating "unreasonable hospitality" as a competitive advantage in service businesses

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews John Solomon, CMO of Therabody. Therabody has transformed from a single percussion therapy device company (Theragun) into a comprehensive wellness ecosystem spanning performance, recovery, beauty, and everyday wellness. Under John's leadership, the brand has evolved from targeting elite athletes and weekend warriors to reaching mainstream consumers across multiple life stages - from millennials to active aging demographics. Through strategic brand architecture, product innovation, and audience-first marketing, Therabody has built a multi-category platform that maintains relevance across vastly different consumer segments while scaling from a DTC startup to a global omnichannel brand.

• Transitioning from niche athlete-focused brand to mainstream multi-category platform

• Complete brand architecture overhaul: packaging, positioning, and product development

• Building audience-first marketing organization vs. product-centric teams

• Leveraging AI for personalized customer experiences and operational efficiency

• Managing brand reputation at scale across digital platforms

• Retail strategy: balancing profitability with experiential brand building

• Cross-category technology innovation and platform thinking

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Henrik Jonsson, CEO of agood company. Henrik shares the brutal reality of marketing sustainable products in a mass market that claims to care about sustainability but refuses to pay premium prices for it. Through painful lessons learned over five years, agood company discovered that circular products must compete on traditional value propositions—price, quality, and design—rather than relying on sustainability as a differentiator. Operating across five distribution channels and generating revenue through D2C, retail partnerships, corporate gifting, brand collaborations, and ODM partnerships, the company has evolved from a trial-and-error startup to a focused business targeting 50 million euros in revenue by 2029.

• Debunking the myth that consumers will pay premium prices for sustainable products

• Building a "seamless transition" strategy to replace non-circular products at competitive prices

• Operating across five distinct distribution channels with different marketing approaches

• Scaling from startup losses to profitability while maintaining circular production principles

• Managing provocative marketing campaigns and handling social media backlash

• Recruiting purpose-driven talent in competitive markets

• Balancing transparency about imperfection with authentic sustainability messaging

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Roman Kirsch interviews Matthew Kelly, Founder of Spacegoods, a functional beverage brand that has raised over £6 million and become the UK's leading mushroom coffee company. After experiencing a dramatic business failure, Matthew rebuilt from his lowest point to create a premium wellness brand that challenges the black-and-brown aesthetic of traditional supplement companies with bold pink and purple branding. Through disciplined focus on unit economics, creative-first marketing, and authentic founder storytelling, Spacegoods has grown from a single-product launch to a multi-million pound business targeting the premium wellness market.

• Rebuilding after catastrophic business failure

• Creating differentiated positioning in crowded functional beverage market

• Building subscription-first business model with strong unit economics

• Transitioning from bootstrap to venture funding and managing investor relationships

• Developing creative-first performance marketing strategies

• Expanding from direct-to-consumer to multi-channel retail strategy

In this episode of The Future of Consumer Marketing, host Brett Stapper interviews Andrew Salisbury, founder and CEO of Purity Coffee. After selling his B2B software company in Latin America, Salisbury entered the coffee industry with zero experience but armed with a compelling hypothesis: what if every decision in coffee production was optimized for health rather than taste, cost, or convenience? Over the past decade, Purity Coffee has grown from an experimental concept to one of the fastest-growing coffee companies in America, earning five consecutive spots on the Inc. 5000 list. By creating the "circular health coffee" category and building direct relationships with consumers who value functional benefits, Salisbury has proven there's a substantial market for premium coffee positioned as medicine rather than just beverage.

• Transitioning from B2B enterprise software to direct-to-consumer coffee

• Creating a new category: "circular health coffee" vs. specialty coffee

• Building a health-focused brand without falling into the biohacker niche trap

• Leveraging word-of-mouth marketing through product quality and customer testimonials

• Strategic retail expansion focused on health-conscious distribution channels

• Testing and validating health claims through scientific partnerships

• Scaling from 100 enterprise customers to tens of thousands of coffee consumers