The Empire Builders Podcast

Play-doh, seriously, it was not a toy.  This is serious stuff.  Learn how observing how your customer is using your products can lead to new product ideas and maybe even save your company.  You will also learn the mystery of how they created the name.  The first idea was doozy. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast , teaching business owners, the not-so-secret tec...

The staff, the critics, and retailers all said it would fail.  It lacked all the things people wanted but gave them one thing they had not thought about.  And a star is born. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast , teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, sto...

Canada Goose is the second fastest growing luxury brand in the world.  They have created an amazing store experience that at the same time makes it easier to manage the store and reduces inventory costs.  And it is easy to do. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast , teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major b...

This is a departure.  In this episode Stephen Semple shares trends that he is seeing that is being embraced by retailers.  Trends that are dangerously wrong.  David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from Mom and Pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector...

In this episode you will learn about JD Power.  Started over a kitchen table on April Fools and sold later for $400M USD this is the story of how to make your consulting service more valuable. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing con...

Sara Blakely was getting ready for a party when she realized she didn’t have the right undergarment to provide a smooth look. She cut off the feet off of her control top pantyhose and the crazy SPANX revolution began!  Like all revolutions:  it was not easy. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast. Teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques tha...

Domino’s was started in 1960 and grew to be the largest independent restaurant business on the planet.  Started by an orphan who was swindled out his life savings.  This is a true rags to riches story.  Sometimes you just need to hang in there and not chicken out. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast , teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous busi...

Banana Republic was founded by 2 journalists with the dream to make a little extra money so they could travel.  Little did they know they would create a fashion juggernaut that they sold to the GAP for hundreds of millions. David Young: Welcome to the “Empire Builders” podcast , teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to m...

Pat Weaver, you have not heard of him (maybe his daughter).  But if you are a small business and have ever run an ad on TV or Radio you have him to thank.  Pat created a new business model that changed everything.  He did this by looking outside his industry and learning from others.  And this ain’t science fiction.  That a clue by the way. David Young: Welcome to the Empi...

How a sip of espresso at a piazza in Italy transformed the coffee industry in North America. It seems obvious now.  But trust me.  This idea was crazy.  Learn just how crazy it was.  You may need to go to Italy for inspiration. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners, the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop...

At the top of their game the Wrigley’s family was one of the wealthiest families in the world.  From Wrigley Field in Chicago to Wrigley Mansion in California.  Learn how they broke into the big time when they actually had nothing to sell.  David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-...

Love him or hate him no other politician in our lifetime has created more press, more lovers and more haters than Donald J Trump.  Learn the 7 communication strategies that he used to create his tribe and how you can use this to build yours. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast , teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop...

The method that HBO uses to create Emmy Award winning shows and how you can apply this to have the best advertisements on the planet.  I can guarantee you Ridley Scott would agree. David Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners, the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, st...

How Dry Bar turned this simple idea into a salon empire that grew from one simple shop to a business that was recently acquired by Helen of Troy Ltd. for $225 million. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners, the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant story collector and st...

Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from Mom and Pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Dave Young: Stephen, this is a big adventure that we’re setting out on. Stephen S...