Join Alison and Karin, Co-Founders of UMAI Marketing, as they talk CPG business tips that brands need to know before marketing with Sari Kimbell, founder of Sari Kimbell Coaching. Learn all about what you could be forgetting, and what you need to be keeping in mind, with running your CPG business.
Join Karin and Alison, co-founders of Umai Marketing, as they interview Trish Wesevich, founder of Capital Kitchens and LaunchPoint Culinary Services. Get the inside scoop on challenges and some key tips on how to start and grow your dream CPG business.
Dragon Spirits founder Lamar Romero joins Alison and Karin to discuss his brand activation strategy in a post-pandemic world, offers hope in the form of humanity’s need to congregate, and shares his business philosophy. Romero revolutionized the brand ambassador marketplace by creating a more inclusive workplace. He does not believe in the need to hire models to sell products, instead focusing on personality and work ethic. The result is a flourishing business specializing in the marketing of wi...
You’re at the grocery store, heading down the chip aisle. 💭 There’s a bag of fairtrade plantain crisps to your right and a box of sustainably packaged pretzels to your left. As a mindful consumer with an equal appetite for both flavors, you’re torn. So… as a CPG brand or marketer, how can we ease the burden of choice for our customers? We’ve invited Marissa Epstein of Springdale Ventures onto the pod to address exactly that! Y’all, this is a big deal. 👏 Marissa has worked with emerging brands ...
If you wanna work smarter, not harder, you’ve got to MoSCoW it! And, we’re not talking about the mule variety. 🍸It’s an acronym for… M - Must have, S - Should have, C - Could have, W - Won't have. Or, creating priority-based systems that truly move the needle. Joi Chevalier is the Founder and CEO of The Cook’s Nook - a culinary incubator at the intersection of food and tech made for CPG entrepreneurs as well as the plethora of professionals needed to develop consumer products. Many more thought...
The Good Food CFO, Sarah Delevan , breaks down the best processes and strategies for creating and implementing a stand-out financial model that will help your business become more profitable.
Alison picks Buttermilk Creative’s Founder , Andy Kurtts’, brain to discover the inside scoop on branding and packaging. Find out what buyers look for, how to draw consumers in for a bite, and the small details that can make or break packaging.
Photographer, Food Stylist, and Educator Ashleigh Amoroso joins the podcast to discuss what CPG brand owners should know leading up to that big day. She’s worked with such household names as Magnolia Home (Chip and Joanna Gaines, how cool?!), Patron, and Tillamook - now, she’s sharing some of those lessons learned with YOU. Ya better listen.
How MUCH of your product should you STOCK? Whether it’s your first product run or your 100th - it’s a question you’re continuously asking yourself! While it’s tempting to consult your nearest fortune teller on this matter, it’s 100% not recommended. 🙅 Instead, check out this interview with Ellen Wilson! She’s Amplify Snack Brands’ very own Senior Supply Chain Planner and answering the above question for clean snack brands is her expertise... For more from us, head to umaimarketing.com
Of course your product is delicious! But, that’s just the baseline. 😜 It takes so much more work to get your product on to grocery shelves AND into consumers’ pantries. Luckily, we have Alli Ball on our latest episode of the pod - spilling the beans on retail success! She’s the creator of Retail Ready®, host of the Food Biz Wiz® Podcast, and founder of her own CPG consulting business. And together, we discuss: 1) Problems for growing CPG brands to avoid, 2) how smaller CPG retail brands can sta...
Do the haters deserve a response? 💬 Consumers just aren’t emailing customer support like they used to. 😅 Instead, it’s commonplace for customers to comment on your most recent social posts or ads. Meaning, convos once handled in private have now become a public affair. So, short answer: it depends. Slightly longer answer: listen to this latest episode of UMAI Social Circle. We’ve got all the tips, tricks, and examples you need for when the trolls attack. 👺
Ever heard of Mother Beverage? Okay, how about Poppi?? 😛 We’re willing to bet that 2nd one rings a bell, especially if you’ve spent some time on the ‘gram. After they snagged a partnership with entrepreneur Rohan Oza in the Shark Tank, they got a seriously awesome rebrand and quickly became the bubbly probiotic product that we love today. Learn how their new look has fueled an equally epic influencer network as well as tips to launch your own program while on a small-biz budget. We're on IG: @u...
Austin’s food, bev, and better-for-you packaged goods community is growing at an ever-more rapid pace. But, industry leaders like Emily Kealey, Naturally Austin, and Notley say it’s an atmosphere of collaboration over competition. 🙌 Learn how Emily Kealey went from spreading the good word on mangos (it’s true!) all the way to the CPG expert she is today. Follow us on Instagram at @umaimarketing!
When a huge retailer wants your product, it’s a good sign - sure! But, Nathan points out how the pressures of these kinds of partnerships can hurt your biz more than they help it. Plus, how monthly coffee shop hangs are keeping Austin’s CPG network (and beyond) connected in a time when we need it more than ever. Want more? Follow us on Instagram at @umaimarketing.
To quote Michelle Breyer’s LinkedIn: “Don’t tell me something can’t be done. Let’s work to make it a reality.” 💭🤝🛠️ This applies to Breyer’s current position as Chief Operating Officer at SKU as well as her founding role at NaturallyCurly.com - a leading resource for the natural and textured hair community! 💁 Her advice for small-biz CPG owners? See a need in the market - fill it! Stay flexible as your ability to pivot is a HUGE advantage that you have over big-guy Coca-Cola. There are many ...
Caroline Fabacher might’ve entered the biz world as an attorney at law. ⚖️ But, it was always her love for finances and startups that continually drew her closer to her current position: Principal at Springdale Ventures. 💸 We chat all about - - Beam, the 1st Texas-based Angel Network dedicated to women-founded companies - What makes some pitches sing 🎵 and others screech 🦉 (to a grinding halt) - How the heck does one secure funding these days, from an insider's perspective Follow us on Instag...
Alyssa Padron got her start at SKU - and, man! Their accelerator program has seen a TON of growth since then. Just look at alumni brands Siete Foods 🌮 and Epic Bar! 🐃 The very same can be said for Padron who has continued her journey onward to grow into a new role at The Ronin Society. Together, we unpack what’s really going on behind the scenes at accelerator programs, 2020 trends leading into 2021, and the value of mentorships of all kinds. 👭 Follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!!...
This is NOT your average yogurt brand, and we’re so pumped about that - ‘cause who needs the “other guys” when you’ve got Culina Yogurt. 😉 Plenty to unpack in this one. Like, what does The Rock have to do with yogurt exactly?? As well as a look at strategic retailer shoutouts, messaging buckets, and nailing an eco-minded angle. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!!
We connect with Pabst Brewing Brand Director Emily Hoyle to discuss embracing industry trends, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leaning into an ever-changing day-to-day workflow. You’ll be reaching for a can of Lone Star before this one’s over with. Cheers! 🍻 Follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!!
In 2005, @nadamoo seriously shook up the frozen dessert market with the first ever dairy-free coconut milk ice cream. 🥥🚫🐄 Not long after, CEO @nadamoodan joined the team - re-working his mechanical engineering skills to put their books in order and become a chief problem solver as the company expanded to the well-known CPG brand 🍦 it is today. We chat flavors, seasonal SKUs, expansion to Canada, and so much more in our latest episode. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!...
@kettleandfire bring the heat with a checkout system, indoctrination email series, and landing page loaded with special offers! You’re going to walk away from this episode hungry for Tom Yum Chicken Bone Broth and raring to edit your own sales pages for more 🤑. And really, there’s no better way to celebrate the beginning of autumn than chatting upsell strategies over a cup of bone broth. 🍲 Don’t ya think? Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!
Believe us when we say we’re eggstatic to share this week’s episode. 😬🥚 We chat with Jason Jones, Cofounder of Vital Farms - a company created with revitalized farming methods that prioritize animal welfare! Not only that, he’s an advisor to entrepreneurs and CEO of Exo Protein (🦗). And, before you ask - yes, we’ve tried their Whole Roasted Crickets! And yes, they’re amazing!! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!
Y’all are in for a literal treat this episode! It’s this duo’s first mukbang: chip and dip edition. Alison and Karin taste test Siete Foods Spicy Blanco Cashew Queso with Grain Free Tortilla Chips (Sea Salt & Jalapeno). Then, break down the brand’s mission to better understand why their sizable Instagram following is soo engaged. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!...
Grab a snack and settle in - 'cause your brain is about to get bio-hacked. Today, Alison catches up with Roy Krebs (Co-Founder & CEO of Natural Stacks) to discuss his entrepreneurial “why” as well as the how behind creating standout supplements in an increasingly overcrowded market. Spoiler alert: It has a whole lot to do with quality ingredients! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!!
Hey y’all! The day is finally here. Our Umai Social Circle podcast has launched with episode 1. Alison and Karin sit down together to share their backstory. A series of jobs throughout their early twenties evolved into the food, bev, and wellness marketing agency that you know today. Let’s just say some eggs were indeed cracked to make this omelet happen, but (in hindsight) we’re so glad it all happened the way that it did. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @umaimarketing!...
