Retention Chronicles

Most brands underestimate how much personalized retention strategies can transform their growth — Zac Fromson, Co-Founder at Lilo Social, uncovers the overlooked levers brands must pull now to supercharge customer lifetime value and build a sustainable business. In this eye-opening episode, Zac, a top Klaviyo Elite partner and co-founder of the full-funnel agency Lilo Social, reveals how brands ar...

Most brands overlook one of the fastest-growing opportunities for authentic engagement: in real life (IRL) events. Chris Harris, a seasoned marketing strategist and founder of the pioneering platform Vibal, reveals why IRL is making a major comeback—and how it can become your ultimate growth channel. In this eye-opening episode, Chris takes us back to the roots of his entrepreneurial journey — fro...

Unlock the secrets to making your e-commerce business accessible, profitable, and future-proof in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or digital marketer seeking practical insights on platform selection, accessibility compliance, and AI-powered shopping, this episode is your essential guide. Adam Bell, a veteran web designer with 30 years of experience—who’...

Most brands overlook one of the most unexpected secrets to rapid growth—authentic collaborations with small indie brands. Lynn Power, founder of Masami and the Power Beauty Collab, reveals how genuine partnerships can multiply your reach, build trust, and create a loyal community—without spending a fortune on ads. Learn how her scrappy, relationship-first approach turned a tiny launch into a natio...

In this episode of Retention Chronicles, Mariah sits down with Meredith Mills-Merritt, founder and CEO of The Original Southside, a spirit-based, certified organic ready-to-drink cocktail built to challenge the status quo of the alcohol industry . Meredith shares how a family summer recipe evolved into a fast-growing CPG brand, why the RTD category is more confusing than consumers realize, and how...

In this episode of Retention Chronicles, Mariah sit down with Jo Weinand, founder of Nutcase Milk, to unpack how a late-night craving for better-for-you chocolate milk turned into a fast-growing CPG brand with creator partnerships and a hard-earned product reset . Jo shares how testing the product at her restaurant sparked early demand, how a random Vegas brunch led to VC backing, and how poker co...

In this episode of Retention Chronicles , Mariah sits down with Kim Roxie — founder of LAMIK Beauty — for a deeply inspiring conversation on entrepreneurship, identity, and building a beauty brand that truly sees its customers. Kim shares her 21-year journey from launching a tiny makeup + brow studio in a Houston mall to building LAMIK into a national clean beauty brand distributed through JCPenne...

In this episode of Retention Chronicles , host Mariah Parsons sits down with Taylor Walker, co-founder of Spritzal Cookie Company, to unpack the 11-year journey of scaling a family recipe into a fast-growing clean-label cookie brand. Taylor shares how Spritzle evolved from rainy Saturday farmer’s markets to mass retail distribution, the pivotal decisions behind SKU reduction, packaging revamps, an...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael, Founder & CEO of Rotten , the better-for-you candy brand that’s rewriting the rules of CPG with bold flavor, unapologetic branding, and an omnichannel strategy built for today’s consumer. Michael shares the unexpected origin story behind Rotten—from his childhood obsession with sour gummies to realizing the “healthy” candy world felt too clinical and...

When Peace Corps volunteer Lisa Curtis felt drained in a rural West African village, local women introduced her to moringa—a nutrient-packed “miracle tree” that would change her life. That moment sparked the creation of Kuli Kuli Foods, now a leading brand bringing climate-smart superfoods to shelves across the U.S. In this episode, Lisa joins host Mariah Parsons to share her journey from discover...

In this episode of Retention Chronicles , host Mariah Parsons chats with Cheryl Kim, Head of Business Development at Hoxy, a fast-growing Korean-inspired seasoning brand making waves in both online and offline retail. Cheryl shares how Hoxy was born from a decade of importing Korean dry goods and a vision to make authentic Korean flavors accessible and irresistible to American consumers. They dive...

In this solo ShopTalk fall recap, Mariah breaks down the two themes that ruled the floor: AI everywhere and an uncompromising focus on customer experience. From post-purchase retention wins to why real-time analytics actually means to-the-second data, she shares five deeper takeaways you can put to work now. Hear what Wayfair revealed about promo-driven traffic vs. non-promo sales, why the U.S. Po...

In this special solo episode of Retention Chronicles , your host gets cozy on the couch to share some exciting updates. After a brief podcast pause, the show is back with a fresh direction, more solo episodes, and a big personal milestone: the launch of Haven Nova Swim , a revolutionary swimwear brand featuring a swimsuit you can wear 96 different ways ! 🤯 Tune in to hear: Why the show is shiftin...

Mariah Parsons hosts Jen Brodwick, co-founder of Brixy, a sustainable personal care brand. Jen discusses Brixy's transition from B2B to D2C, leveraging retail and events for customer acquisition. They focus on Instagram for retailer engagement and plan to explore TikTok for D2C growth. Brixy's new magnesium-enriched deodorant is expected to be a top seller. Retention strategies include bet...

Mariah Parsons hosts the "Retention Chronicles" podcast, sponsored by Malomo, a shipping update platform praised by Alicia, founder of Midstoppers. Guest Kate Kasch discusses her career in the food industry, from Wrigley to Mars Inc, and her transition to scaling brands like Good Pop and Muddy Bites. Kate highlights the challenges of translating consumer interest into retail distribution...

Mariah Parsons, host of the Retention Chronicles podcast, discusses insights from the 2025 Sweets and Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, highlighting key trends and brand innovations. The Expo featured over 1,000 exhibitors, including 300 newcomers, and attracted 14,500 attendees from 85+ countries. Key trends included nostalgia-driven updates by legacy brands like Hershey and Mars, health-forward snack...

Mariah Parsons hosts the "Retention Chronicles" podcast, sponsored by Malomo, which helps brands enhance post-purchase experiences through branded order tracking. She discusses with Desiree Rabuse, founder of Style Fox, the importance of customer retention and acquisition strategies. Desiree emphasizes the value of being curious and innovative, maintaining personal connections with custo...

In this special midweek drop of Retention Chronicles , Mariah Parsons dives into her first-time experience at Natural Products Expo West 2025—the largest and most influential event in the natural and organic CPG world. From breaking attendance records with over 64,000 attendees to spotlighting emerging brands and game-changing trends, this episode unpacks it all. Tune in as Mariah shares her unfil...

Mariah Parsons hosts Retention Chronicles podcast, sponsored by Malomo, which helps e-commerce brands enhance their post-purchase experience. She discusses with Mickey Kennedy, founder of Earleases.com, the importance of press releases in building brand credibility and reducing churn. Mickey emphasizes the need for storytelling in press releases and suggests using industry surveys to stand out. He...

Mariah Parsons hosts a podcast episode with Larry Kim, founder of customers.ai, discussing the importance of accurate website visitor identification. Larry reveals that current data sources, often used by website visitor ID companies, are only 5-30% accurate, leading to significant issues like low conversion rates and spam complaints. He emphasizes the need for brands to test the accuracy of their...

PR doesn’t have to be a black box—or a budget buster. In this episode of Retention Chronicles , Mariah sits down with Gloria Chou, a former diplomat turned PR coach, to unpack how ecommerce brands can land top-tier media coverage without an agency or huge following. Gloria shares her CPR pitch framework that’s helped thousands of founders get featured in outlets like BuzzFeed, Oprah’s Favorite Thi...

Colin McIntosh, founder and CEO of Sheets and Giggles, discussed his journey from being laid off in 2017 to launching a sustainable bedding brand in 2018. Sheets and Giggles, which uses eucalyptus fabric, achieved its first million-dollar month in November 2020. Colin also shared his side project, Sheets Resume, which helps people with resume reviews and AI-driven advice. He emphasized the importa...

Mariah discusses with Andy Seeley, CEO of Ashworth Strategy, the importance of a seamless post-purchase experience, noting that 84% of shoppers won't return after a bad shipping experience. Andy emphasizes the significance of product quality, community engagement, and ease of use in customer retention. He highlights the need for personalized communication and smooth processes to build brand lo...

Paige Hope, Founder of Elan Pure, a non-toxic self tanner, shares her journey in launching her e-commerce brand with a background in the influencer technology space. Paige emphasized the importance of community and transparency, noting her brand's growth from 75 to 1,600 affiliates in a year. She discussed the challenges of finding the right manufacturer and the significance of owning the formula....

Mariah Parsons hosts a podcast on customer retention strategies for e-commerce marketers. Mark, co-founder of Monocle, a personalization platform, explains how AI helps brands optimize incentives and retention strategies. He emphasizes the need for nuanced discounting to maintain brand equity and highlights the potential of cross-selling and in-real-life (IRL) brand experiences. Mark also discusse...