The Compass Rose Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL  - The Influencer OS for Brands.
 
In this episode, our host, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose, interviews Kathryn Bricken, CEO and Founder of Doughlicious - The London Dough Co.
 
Doughlicious - The London Dough Co. is an award-winning dough company that uses all-natural ingredients, is gluten-free and offers many dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.
 
All our products are produced in the UK using the finest ingredients, including free-range eggs, organic cane, and coconut sugars, and no artificial additives or preservatives.
 
Below are the key takeaways from our conversation:
 
* Her personal story and how her pregnancy momentarily paused her culinary endeavors and how she reignited her passion for baking.
 
* How Doughlicous blossomed into a full-fledged business.
 
* Growing from a home kitchen operation to requiring a larger manufacturing space, and how they diversified their product line with innovative offerings like cookie dough and gelato bites.
 
*  Kathryn’s strategic pivot from direct-to-consumer sales to focusing on retail distribution catapulted the brand toward international fame.
 
* How she addresses the challenges and opportunities of marketing with social media and influencers in today’s digital landscape.
 
* You’ll also hear about the importance of personal involvement and authenticity in representing a brand.
 
* And why we should celebrate the notion that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams,
 
* And so much more!!!
 
Join Rose Hamilton for this inspiring conversation with Kathryn Bricken, which is a testament to the power of following your dreams and the sweet taste of success that comes with dedication and hard work.
 
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a visionary who turned her passion for dessert into a thriving business.
 
For more on Doughlicious - The London Dough Co., visit: https://doughlicious.co.uk/
 
Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!
 
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this!
 
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Today’s Sponsors:
 
Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/
 
The Story of a Brand and Compass Rose offer “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link.
SARAL  - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/
 
Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL - The Influencer OS
 
Join host Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, as she sits down with Andrew Laudato, Chief Operating Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe, to discuss the fascinating evolution from a technologist to a retail leader.
 
In this episode, we’ll discover the innovative strategies The Vitamin Shoppe is employing to navigate the retail landscape amidst technological advances and evolving consumer behaviors.
 
Key Themes:
 
Customer-Centric Philosophy:
 
* Andrew emphasizes the critical importance of always putting the customer first.
 
* Discussion on adopting a multi-channel retail approach to serve customers where they are.
 
Embracing Technological Partnerships:
 
* Insight into The Vitamin Shop’s partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash to improve accessibility and convenience for customers.
 
* Leveraging technology for efficient supply chain management.
 
Education and Employee Training:
 
* The company’s commitment to educating customers about its products.
 
* Importance of thorough training for employees to maintain a consistent and knowledgeable shopping experience.
 
Personalized Marketing and Data Privacy:
 
* The balance between using customer data for personalized marketing and ensuring privacy and security.
 
Sustainable and Quality-Focused Industry Practices:
 
* Discussion on the vitamin industry’s focus on sustainability and quality.
 
* How The Vitamin Shop aligns with environmentally conscious practices.
 
Career Development Insights:
 
* Andrew advises pursuing varied experiences and passions before settling into a career path.
 
* Retail as a foundation for developing management and leadership skills.
 
The Concept of Composable Commerce:
 
* Explore The Vitamin Shop’s move towards “composable commerce” and its implications.
 
* The challenges and uncertainties of long-term planning in a rapidly changing retail environment.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
* Andrew’s personal career journey and lessons learned transitioning from tech to retail.
 
* How multi-channel retailing and online platforms are revolutionizing the shopping experience.
 
* The importance of training and knowledge in empowering employees and satisfying customers.
 
* A deep dive into how personalization and privacy intersect in modern marketing practices.
 
* Insights into the future of retail and how to prepare for shifts in the industry.
 
Call to Action:
 
Andrew Laudato encourages listeners to consider how technology and consumer habits shape a brand’s shopping experiences and the importance of sustainability and quality in product choices.
 
Thank you for tuning in to our latest episode.
 
Remember to subscribe to “The Story of a Brand Show” on your favorite podcast player for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest trends in consumer brands, retail, and beyond!
 
For more on The Vitamin Shoppe, visit: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/
 
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Today’s Sponsors:
 
Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story
 
My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.
SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/
 
Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.
Today, host Rose Hamilton, Founder and Principal Advisor of Compass Rose Ventures interviews Alvie Faulkenbery IV, Founder and El Presidente of Alvies.
 
They are on a mission to make boots and flip-flops your footwear of choice. They believe with a good pair of each, you can go almost anywhere and do almost anything.
 
In this episode, we dive deeply into lessons learned from building the brand from start-up to scale… in the competitive footwear category.
 
We’ll discover how the customer experience has been vital to growing Alvies as a mission-based brand – both online and experiential.
 
Highlights:
 
* Driven by customer experience, Alvies places a great emphasis on capturing customer information and carefully managing channels of distribution, which was learned very early in the business
 
* Alvie shares how he’s kept just the right balance of people, processes, and systems to allow the mission and quality to scale as the company grows
 
* The secret of marketing success lies in building partnerships with artists and collaborations that introduce the Alvies name to new customers. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and word of mouth to grow the business.
 
* Alvie reveals the latest expansion for the brand through Boot Parties, taking the airstream concept on the road to bring boots to people for special events like bachelor parties, birthday parties, and more
 
* Highlighting the importance of leveraging other categories like hospitality to find innovative ways to build the customer experience
 
* How Alvie manages the balance between work and life as a busy entrepreneur who is leading a business through growth
 
* Learn some key takeaways from 2023 that Alvie is excited to take into 2024 and more!
 
Join Rose Hamilton and Alvie Faulkenbery IV as we break down the inside story of Alvies on The Story of a Brand.
 
For more on Alvies, visit: https://www.alvies.com/
 
Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.
*Today’s Sponsors:
 
Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story
My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.
SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/
Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL.
 
Today, in our partner series feature, our guest host, Rose Hamilton, Founder and Principal Advisor for Compass Rose Ventures, interviews Lio Pinchevski, Founder and CEO of Finaloop.
 
Finaloop reconciles all financials in real-time, providing e-commerce and DTC brands flawless books, optimized tax returns, and actionable insights 24/7 with 100% accuracy.
 
They replace your accounting software, integrations, bookkeeper, and tax CPA, so you stop wasting your precious time and money, make smarter decisions, and handle taxes on time.
 
Highlights:
 
* One of the most significant barriers to effectively running an e-commerce business
 
* Running performance marketing without numbers is like running blind
 
* What should your marketing agency be asking you?
 
* Beyond ROAS, what other vital numbers should you expect from your agency?
 
* Why is ROAS not the only metric to manage marketing campaigns:
 
* How do you best manage your agency’s accountability?
 
* Why are finance and accounting different, and why can’t the same person do it all?
 
* Why and when should you hire a fractional CFO or in-house CFO, and at what milestones?
 
*  What does a sound accounting process look like?
 
* What's the secret to getting 100% accuracy and no month-end close? How is it always reconciled?
 
* How to speed up due diligence for an acquisition
 
* Advice to other founders about Financial and Marketing IQ
 
Join Rose Hamilton and Lio Pinchevski as we break down the inside story of Finaloop on The Story of a Brand.
 
For more on Finaloop, visit: https://www.finaloop.com/
 
Subscribe and listen to the podcast on all major apps. Search for “The Story of a Brand” on your favorite podcast player.
 
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Today’s Sponsors:
 
Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story
 
My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.
SARAL - Your Influencer Assistant Tool for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/
 
Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link.