Retail War Games

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...

Sadie and Abby, co-founders of SadieB, share the inspiring story of how their company began during a backpacking trip in Canada. They sought eco-friendly personal care products and realized a gap in the market for Gen Z girls who love the outdoors. Their brand focuses on functionality and empowering girls, offering collections tailored to different activities. They also discuss their journey from...

In this episode, Nate, CEO of Gabb, shares his early fascination with sports and his childhood dream of working at Nike, which he eventually achieved. He reflects on his upbringing in a single-parent home and his commitment to supporting single parents through his professional platform. Nate discusses Gabb's innovative approach to providing safe technology for kids, including the creation of Gabb...

In this podcast episode, the founders of Ivy City Co., Madeline, Natasha, and Whitney, share their story of building a successful fashion brand from scratch. The trio discusses overcoming challenges like learning the intricacies of manufacturing and marketing with no prior experience, and the pivotal moments that led to their growth. They emphasize the importance of partnerships, particularly brin...

Jonathan Johnson, former CEO of Overstock, shares his insights from his two-decade tenure at the company. He discusses his transition from being a lawyer to taking on various business roles, including CFO and eventually CEO. Jonathan highlights key moments, such as winning a major contract with Palm and rebranding Overstock by acquiring Bed Bath & Beyond. He also explores the challenges and strate...

Eric, co-founder and CTO of Control4 and OliverIQ, recounts his early passion for technology, from building his first smart home in his parents' house in 1982 to founding multiple successful companies in the smart home industry. He discusses the challenges of raising capital in Utah's nascent tech scene, the evolution of home automation, and the impact of the iPhone and App Store on the industry....

JJ Peterson, co-founder of Clean Simple Eats, shares how the brand evolved from sharing free recipes on Instagram in 2012 to launching its first product in 2018. Through years of providing valuable content, including community fitness challenges and macro coaching, they built a dedicated following and amazing products. The transition to creating their own high-quality products began with protein p...

Brandon Doyle, founder of Wallaroo Media and Arvo, shares his entrepreneurial experiences, from starting a digital marketing venture while still a student to managing two successful agencies today. He discusses the evolution of digital marketing, the strategic use of various advertising platforms, and the importance of staying ahead of trends. Highlighting practical examples, he explains how platf...

Trevor shares the vision and core values behind Mtn Ops, a company dedicated to enhancing physical, mental, and social wellness through innovative supplements. He discusses how the brand resonates deeply with its loyal customer base by staying true to its principles, such as recognizing a higher power and fostering trust. Trevor also highlights the company's commitment to fighting hunger, using a...