The Great Pursuit – Details, episodes & analysis

Noah Stern and Ayal Twik, co-founders of Moose Knuckles, share their journey from family fashion roots and degrees in law and business to transforming the premium outerwear market. They discuss their strategic approach to licensing, production, and carving a niche with edgy, fashion-forward designs. The episode highlights their unique marketing tactics, wholesale partnerships, and success in the Asian market. Reflecting on building a “non-luxury luxury” brand, Noah and Ayal offer personal stories, key challenges, and insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, showcasing how Moose Knuckles became a fashion icon.

Noah Stern https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-stern-9439a44/?originalSubdomain=ca

Ayal Twik https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayaltwik/?originalSubdomain=ca

Moose Knuckles website https://www.mooseknucklescanada.com/

Moose Knuckles Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mooseknucklescanada/

Show Notes:

05:40 First Venture: Student Sphere07:36 Founding Stay2209:35 Challenges and Growth17:09 Pandemic Impact and Pivot22:57 Exploring New Opportunities in a Growing Market24:04 Innovating for Content Creators32:08 Navigating Financial Challenges33:21 Achieving Traction and Profitability36:48 Maintaining a Frugal and Efficient Culture39:22 Scaling the Team and Expanding Partnerships

The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Andrew Lockhead shares his journey from his family’s business to founding Stay22, focusing on solving pain points, building partnerships, and understanding customer needs. He discusses overcoming challenges like complex sales cycles and economic hardships. Andrew also discusses how Stay22 pivoted during the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, innovated by listening to customer feedback, and implemented a lean strategy to emerge stronger.

Andrew Lockhead LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlockhead/

Stay22 website https://www.stay22.com/

Stay22 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/stay22/

Stay22 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/get.stay22/

Show Notes:

03:40 First Venture: Student Sphere

05:36 Founding Stay22

07:35 Challenges and Growth

15:09 Pandemic Impact and Pivot

20:57 Exploring New Opportunities in a Growing Market

22:04 Innovating for Content Creators

30:08 Navigating Financial Challenges

31:21 Achieving Traction and Profitability

34:48 Maintaining a Frugal and Efficient Culture

37:22 Scaling the Team and Expanding Partnerships

The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Randy Hetrick, the founder of TRX, dives into the company's origins, mission, and future direction. He recounts his personal life as a Navy Seal and how it inspired the creation of TRX, initially born from the necessity of staying fit during deployment. Randy shares insights into TRX's evolution from a simple concept to a comprehensive fitness solution, along with the challenges and triumphs along the way. He also dives into his new venture Outfit Fitness.

TRX Training https://www.trxtraining.com/

TRX Training Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trxtraining/

Outfit Training https://outfittraining.com/

Outfit Training Instagram https://www.instagram.com/OutFitTraining_HQ/

Show Notes:

01:32 A SEAL's Journey: Challenges and Opportunities

04:36 Transitioning from Military to Entrepreneurship

13:35 Building TRX: Strategies and Challenges

18:50 Creating an Iconic Fitness Brand

21:57 Combating Counterfeits and Staying Competitive

25:21 Introducing Outfit Fitness: A New Venture

33:48 Outfit Fitness: Strategy and Future Vision

Links discussed

TRX

https://www.trxtraining.com/

Outfit Fitness

https://outfittraining.com/

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

https://www.amazon.ca/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/0465062881

Extreme Ownership

https://echelonfront.com/books/extreme-ownership/

Peloton

https://www.onepeloton.ca/

Mindbody Online

https://www.mindbodyonline.com/

The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage, co-founders of Left on Friday, recount their inspiring journey from being Lululemon employees to pioneers of a premium swimwear brand. Recognizing the influence of leadership and empowerment, Laura and Shannon explain their brand’s vision, expanding on how an active lifestyle led them to recognize a market gap for high-quality swimwear. This inspired them to prioritize fabric innovation and fit. The conversation tackles their product development process, marketing strategies, and brand positioning in a competitive market, emphasizing product quality and customer experience as their guiding principles. Shannon and Laura reflect on their challenges and rewards, offering insights into building brands, maintaining vision, and creating products that empower.

Left on Friday website https://leftonfriday.com/

Left on Friday Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leftonfriday

Left on Friday Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leftonfriday/

Show Notes:

05:42 The Lululemon Journey: From Start-Up to Success

10:17 Birth of Left on Friday

13:55 The Making of LOF Swimwear

16:59 Spreading the Word about LOF

21:30 Athlete Partnerships and Expanding the Brand

The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Brian Berger, founder of Mack Weldon, traces his journey from internet media companies to launching a successful direct-to-consumer men’s wear brand. He recounts his early experiences with the internet, motivations behind Mack Weldon, and the challenges in establishing a brand in the basics category. Brian emphasizes the pivotal role of innovation, product quality, and customer connections to grow a brand. Furthermore, he explores the strategic significance of omni-channel distribution, the art of naming a business, and the evolving consumer market. Finally, he shares advice on leadership, longevity, and his vision for Mack Weldon's future.

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Mack Weldon website https://mackweldon.com/

Mack Weldon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mackweldon/

Mack Weldon LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mack-weldon/

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Show Notes:

01:34 Brian's Early Career and Internet Exposure

03:17 The Genesis of Mack Weldon

05:08 Launching Mack Weldon: Strategy and Challenges

08:52 Product Development and Innovation

12:07 Naming the Brand: The Story Behind Mack Weldon

16:49 Marketing and Distribution Strategies

22:07 Reflections and Lessons Learned

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Bradley Gifford, the founder of Spoonful, discusses his career trajectory—from early roles in PR and communications to founding Spoonful, a health food business specializing in high-quality overnight oats. He shares how health challenges motivated him to address industry pain points, transition into the health and wellness sector, and navigate business growth through food services and local New York partnerships. Ultimately, Bradley gives insights into scaling, community building, and the evolving food industry.

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Spoonful website https://www.spoonful.life/

Spoonful Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/grabspoonful/

Spoonful Instagram https://www.instagram.com/grabspoonful

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Show Notes:

02:03 Personal Health Journey

03:44 Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

04:53 Founding Spoonful

06:22 Product Differentiation and Challenges

08:16 Marketing and Distribution Strategy

24:03 Scaling and Logistics

28:32 Future Plans and Vision

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Kathleen Chan, founder of Calico, shares her background, starting in tech at Microsoft, before creating and scaling two different brands. She emphasizes that efficient product sourcing and maintaining quality is crucial for scaling businesses. Calico serves as a sourcing and production co-pilot for brands, specializing in apparel, footwear and accessories. Calico offers a vetted roster of ethical and innovative factories and provides comprehensive tools to streamline the entire production process from design to payments.

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Calico website https://www.joincalico.com/

Calico LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/calicoai/

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Show Notes:

01:16 Revolutionizing Product Sourcing

05:29 Navigating the Complex World of Manufacturing and Sourcing

10:05 Global Sourcing vs. Local Manufacturing

13:35 Ensuring Quality and Ethical Practices in Manufacturing

19:57 Navigating Supplier Relationships and Inventory Risks

23:57 The Importance of Trust and Quality in Supplier Partnerships

26:32 The Role of Product Knowledge and Industry Experience

29:04 Leveraging Community and Industry Connections

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Alexandre Renaud, co-founder of nolk, introduces his latest venture dedicated to acquiring and nurturing e-commerce brands with a strong sustainability ethos. Previously, Alex was the co-founder of PremiumBeat, a music licensing service that successfully sold to Shutterstock. Alex gives his insights on the challenges and opportunities in the consumer brand landscape, including technological shifts, and the strategic focus on building a portfolio of brands promoting responsible consumer habits and environmental responsibility.

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nolk website https://www.nolk.com/

nolk LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/nolkco/

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Show Notes:

01:21 The Story of PremiumBeat

05:21 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship

10:52 Learning from Early Mistakes

14:32 The Vision for Nolk

25:20 The Power of Portfolio Strategy in Brand Performance

28:46 Influence of Private Equity and Brand Builders

30:40 The Importance of Brand Purpose and Mission

35:57 Challenges and Opportunities for Direct-to-Consumer Brands

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Links Discussed

PremiumBeat

https://www.premiumbeat.com/

Shutterstock

https://www.shutterstock.com/

RareCircles

https://www.rarecircles.com/

GymShark

https://gymshark.com/

Theios

https://www.thrasio.com/

Heydays

https://www.heyday.co/

Open Store

https://open.store/

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Past guests include Lanny Smith (Actively Black), Drew Green (Indochino), Ryan Babenzien (Jolie Skin Co). 

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Sophie Boulanger, co-founder of BonLook, dives into how the company shook up Canada's eyewear scene. Sophie talks about her entrepreneurial path, inspired by her family and shaped by her experiences at L’Oreal Canada and Luxottica. They delve into BonLook’s inception and strategic decisions, including cutting out middlemen, expanding store presence, and picking prime locations, along with insights on hiring for retail. Finally, Sophie discusses why she sold BonLook, her future aspirations, and her intention to remain active in tech and entrepreneurship.

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BonLook website https://www.bonlook.ca/

BonLook Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bonlook/

Sophie Boulanger https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-boulanger-19b2b71/

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Show Notes:

02:44 From corporate to eyewear entrepreneur

04:57 Disrupting the eyewear industry

10:51 Challenges and innovations in online retail

13:09 The strategic shift to brick-and-mortar stores

21:19 Building a successful retail team

25:43 The financial anatomy of a retail store

29:05 Optimizing sales per square footage

30:22 Navigating challenges of underperforming stores

32:06 The importance of real estate and lease negotiations

35:10 Reflecting on a successful exit strategy

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Links Discussed

L'Oreal https://www.loreal.com/

Luxottica https://www.essilorluxottica.com/

Oakley https://www.oakley.com/

Ray Ban https://www.ray-ban.com/

Vogue Eyewear https://www.vogue-eyewear.com/

LensCrafters https://www.lenscrafters.ca/

SunglassesHut https://www.sunglasshut.com/

Warby Parker https://warbyparker.com/

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.

Fabio Zeppilli, co-founder of Bad Monkey Popcorn, discusses his inspiring shift from academia and legal briefs to creating a buzz in the snack market. He reveals the recipe to the launch of Bad Monkey Popcorn: a blend of passion and innovative marketing tactics. This discussion further delves into Fabio’s initial challenges, significant milestones, and insights on the critical role of cultivating a strong brand and community support. Throughout, Fabio emphasizes the importance of happiness, wellbeing, teamwork, and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

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Show Notes:

00:10 The Unconventional Journey from Law to Popcorn03:20 The Birth of Bad Monkey Popcorn10:04 Achieving Milestones and Embracing the Journey12:16 Retail Success and Marketing Strategies16:06 The Art of Retail Relationships17:06 Leveraging Consumer Demand to Influence Retailers17:34 Building a Passionate Fan Base21:14 Innovating in a Saturated Market: The Popcorn Revolution23:41 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Health, Team Building, and Growth

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Links Discussed

Bad Monkey Popcorn

https://badmonkeypopcorn.com/

Dragons Den

Walmart

https://www.walmart.com/

Starbucks

https://www.starbucks.com/

Red Bull

https://www.redbull.com/

Disney

https://www.disney.com/

Cirque du Soleil

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

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The Great Pursuit is a podcast that dives into the art and science of finding product market fit. Through in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors, we uncover actionable insights to help you go from 0 to 1.