Retail War Games

In this episode with Justin Drage, VP of Solutions 2 Go and founder of Gadget Gaurd, he shares his entrepreneurial journey in the screen protection business. He recounts how his team began by filling a gap in the market for screen protectors, initially working out of his home and relying on trial and error to create products. They built partnerships with retailers and leveraged distribution networ...

In this podcast episode, Brad Lunt, CEO of Goat Guns, discusses the evolution of his company, which specializes in highly detailed, 1/3 and 1/4 scale model guns that serve as realistic, non-functional replicas. These miniature guns, which are customizable and often painted to resemble historical military models, have found a niche market among gun enthusiasts, hobbyists, and collectors. Lunt expla...

In this episode, Dustin Tate, Executive Vice President of Cariloha, shares the fascinating story of how his career journey led him to help build the global retail brand Cariloha, known for its sustainable bamboo-based products. From his early days working in luxury hospitality to his time in Mexico, where he worked on the front lines of retail, Dustin details how Cariloha was born out of an innova...

In this podcast episode, Ryan Moss, CEO of Little Giant Ladders, shares his journey from an entry-level role sweeping floors to leading the company. Ryan recounts how he initially joined Little Giant after working in construction and, over the years, has been deeply involved in nearly every part of the business. He reflects on the challenges and triumphs of building Little Giant's brand, including...

Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox discusses the state's impressive growth and collaborative culture, which has positioned it as a top business destination with a strong economy and 12% growth in recent years. He attributes Utah's success to a "coopetition" mindset, where mutual success is prioritized over competition, creating a business-friendly environment supported by cooperation and a non-zero-sum...

In this podcast episode, President of Covesmart, Mark Stokes discusses how the company has simplified the home security industry with its affordable and easy-to-install DIY system, aiming to eliminate the hassle associated with traditional setups. He emphasizes Covesmart's approach of using an e-commerce model and online content creation rather than relying on sales reps, making the buying process...

In this engaging episode, we sit down with Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger, who emphasizes the importance of authenticity in both personal and professional life. Jeremy shares his philosophy on interweaving life's experiences with business, asserting that success comes from being true to oneself and creating a brand that resonates with that truth. He discusses the culture he's built at Traeger, exem...

In this episode of Tru Tone, hosts Sean Hunt and David Andora take us through their journey of creating the perfect vintage-style Christmas lights—lights they always hoped to find but could never quite get. Starting as a side project, Tru Tone's unique, vintage-inspired lights quickly gained traction, selling out in their first year. Sean and David talk about the overwhelming response, their DIY b...

In this episode, Romney Williams, CEO of DRYOUT, discusses his journey from his first startup to leading DRYOUT, a company focused on emergency water removal and structural drying. He shares the challenges he faced early on in building DRYOUT, including managing partnerships and scaling the business. Encouraged by his wife to take the leap and focus full-time on DRYOUT, Romney reflects on key less...

In this podcast episode, Nicole Tanner, founder and CEO of Swig, discusses the journey of building Swig into a beloved brand with over 70 locations. She emphasizes the importance of creating a fast, high-quality customer experience where people feel known and valued. Nicole shares how Swig grew from her own need for a better drink experience and how it has evolved by maintaining strong leadership...

This episode features James Clarke, Founder and CEO of Clearlink. In this engaging episode as he shares his journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dive into heartfelt stories about family, resilience, and the power of relationships that shaped his life. James reflects on the influence of his generous aunt, the lessons learned from his hardwor...

Sandi Hendry, CEO of Minky Couture, shares her journey from a 30-year teaching career to becoming a business owner in her 50s. Sandi discusses how her daughter's illness inspired her to create cozy, stylish blankets, leading to the founding of Minky Couture. She highlights the challenges of starting a business from scratch, from selling blankets out of her car to growing a nationwide company. Sand...

In this episode, we sit down with Jay Davis, CEO of Pillow Cube, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from working with industry giants like Vivint to founding his own successful ventures. Jay shares his insights from his early days with The Color Run and how he later applied his marketing expertise to launch Pillow Cube. We dive into the unique challenges of scaling a business, the importance o...

In this podcast episode, Jess Toolson, CEO and co-founder of Mixhers, discusses the founding and growth of her company, which specializes in female-specific health supplements. Starting in a modest 900 sq ft office, Mixhers has rapidly expanded, now employing a growing team. Their flagship product, Her Time, was inspired by Jess's personal struggles with hormone imbalance and menstrual symptoms. T...

Rob DeMartini, CEO of Purple, discusses his journey from leading major brands like New Balance to taking on new challenges at Purple. He shares insights from his time running companies in different industries, including cycling, sneakers, and now mattresses. DeMartini highlights the unique qualities of Purple's innovative mattress technology, developed by the Pierce brothers, and the differences i...

Lindsay Arnold, give us insight on her in the dance world, starting with their family-owned dance studio and progressing to their career as a professional dancer. They discuss the challenges of balancing dance with school, the impact of their parents' support, and their transition to a professional dancer, including auditioning for a dance show and eventually joining "Dancing with the Stars." Spea...

Dan Higginson, former CEO of Synergy, shares his incredible journey from aspiring baseball player to health entrepreneur. After a life-changing car accident, Higginson, with the support of his wife, pivoted into the corporate world, eventually founding Synergy Worldwide. He discusses his deep dive into nutritional supplements, particularly the concept of chronic acidosis, which inspired him to sta...

In this episode, Blake Stillman and Ashley Simmons share the story of Apple Beer, a unique, family-run business with deep roots in Utah. They recall memories of enjoying Apple Beer at family gatherings and discuss the origins of the beverage, inspired by a German non-alcoholic drink known as Fassbrause. Ashley talks about the challenges and successes of introducing this distinct drink to the Utah...

Mayci Neeley, founder of Baby Mama and a prominent influencer, shares her incredible journey from being a single mother and college athlete to building a successful social media career and launching her own product line. Mayci also opens up about her new venture, a line of clean, women's health gummies, and her experience in a new reality TV show. Tune in to hear how Mayci balanced her busy life,...

    In this podcast episode, Arthur Newell, VP of Zions Bank, discusses his journey from starting as a bank teller to becoming a key leader at one of the oldest banks in the Mountain West. He reflects on the vital role Zions Bank has played in supporting businesses and communities in Utah for over 150 years. Newell also highlights the bank's initiatives, including their annual International Trade...

In this episode, Dave Nielsen, President of Beyond Inc., shares his journey from his early career as an analyst at Payless ShoeSource to leading a major e-commerce company. He reflects on how his experience at BYU's business school sparked his fascination with retail and the lessons he learned from navigating challenges in the industry, like the importance of balancing data-driven decisions with i...

Lexi Cuillard, CEO and Founder of Kaxi Co, shares her entrepreneurial story as she recounts the moment when she transitioned from working a sales job she disliked to becoming a nanny, and later a personal assistant for a successful entrepreneur. This experience ignited her passion for entrepreneurship, leading her to identify a gap in the market for women's hair accessories. Lexi describes how she...

We sit down with Derrin, former CEO of RevRoad, as he shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of RevRoad's impact on growing companies. From launching businesses in the dead of night to navigating failures and successes across various industries, Derrin's experiences underscore the essence of resilience and adaptation in entrepreneurship. Discover how RevRoad's unique ap...

In this episode, we sit down with Parker Bushnell, the dynamic Director of Retail for the Utah Jazz. Parker shares details about the team's retail strategies, including their partnerships with licensed NBA vendors and the critical role of e-commerce in reaching Jazz fans beyond Utah. He discusses the importance of exclusive, arena-specific merchandise and the efforts to keep pricing competitive wi...

In this episode, the CEO of Ari shares his intriguing path from law school and business school to leading an electric vehicle company alongside Lee Iacocca, and eventually transitioning to the bicycle industry. He reflects on the evolution of electric bikes and their growing popularity among diverse age groups and athletes. The conversation also covers Ari's direct-to-consumer model, emphasizing t...