1 Commerce - How to Win at Omnichannel Without Losing Your Mind
Release Date: 06/26/2025
Coco5 - The Athlete-Backed Brand Moms Love
The Story of a Brand
I had the pleasure of sitting down with , Co-CEO and Co-founder of , and what a conversation it was. From the South Side of Chicago to Wall Street to the beverage aisle, James’s journey is packed with powerful lessons on grit, reinvention, and staying true to your purpose. He opened up about a pivotal moment in college that transformed his life — when he walked away from basketball to pursue academics — and how that same clarity of purpose led him to fall in love with a product called Coco5. What started as a health-conscious investment turned into a mission-driven beverage brand...
info_outline
BusterBox - From Zero to Thousands of Happy Dogs
The Story of a Brand
In this episode of , I sit down with , co-founder of , a subscription box that delivers joy straight to your dog’s doorstep. What started as three friends looking to create something fun and meaningful quickly became one of the fastest-growing dog subscription brands in Europe. Gary shares the ups and downs of starting a business from scratch, from packing boxes by hand in a tiny apartment to now serving thousands of happy dog parents every month. What I loved most about this conversation is how scrappy and determined Gary and his co-founders were in the early days. They didn’t...
info_outline
MTE - A Better Way to Recharge
The Story of a Brand
On this episode of , I sat down with , founder of , a wellness brand that’s redefining how we think about energy, recovery, and mood. What started as a personal quest to feel better and support the people closest to him turned into a full-spectrum product created with intention, science, and heart. Jeff gets candid about burnout, anxiety, and how most of us are just trying to show up as our best selves in a world that doesn’t make it easy. This conversation isn’t just about supplements—it’s about the pursuit of better living. Jeff opens up about building a product he uses...
info_outline
Diestel Family Ranch - What Real, Responsible Food Really Looks Like
The Story of a Brand
What does it mean to steward a family legacy while completely rethinking how food is raised? In this episode, I sat down with of , a fourth-generation turkey farmer who's not afraid to ask hard questions about the food system and make bold changes. Heidi brings a rare mix of tradition, transparency, and a challenger mindset to an industry that often resists change. We talked about everything from regenerative agriculture to redefining what “better” means in the turkey category. Heidi shares how her family is holding to their values while also pushing boundaries, such as...
info_outline
Avocado Mattress - What Makes a Mattress Truly Organic?
The Story of a Brand
When I think of a product worth buying and a brand worth supporting, is at the top of my list. In this episode, I sat down with , Co-CEO of , to discuss what it truly takes to build a mission-driven, vertically integrated company in a category dominated by commodity players. Vy’s story is rooted in deep gratitude for his family’s immigrant journey, and he brings that same heart and intention to everything he does—from sourcing organic materials to creating calm, customer-first retail spaces. We discussed the early days of , the team's commitment to vertical integration,...
info_outline
Cordina Hair - Creating Confidence, One Curl at a Time
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I sit down with , the founder and creative mind behind , a brand built on innovation, determination, and one incredibly clever invention. What started as a DIY experiment to solve her hairstyling challenge has turned into a viral beauty tool trusted by thousands of women worldwide. walks us through her journey of turning a homemade prototype into a product featured by media outlets and sold globally. What I loved most about this conversation is Yanika’s fearless approach to building from scratch, literally. We talk about everything from product development and customer...
info_outline
Snoozy - Helping You Sleep, One Gummy at a Time
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I sit down with and , the dynamic duo behind , a functional gummy brand that’s reimagining how we think about sleep, stress, and chill. What started as a curiosity about CBD quickly evolved into a product line that’s all about helping people wind down without the fuzziness or stigma of traditional solutions. We delve into everything from product formulation to branding, as well as how they’re breaking into retail by creating real value for both consumers and partners. What I loved most about this conversation is how Chris and Owen are building with intention....
info_outline
Compass Rose Ventures - Good Ideas Don’t Scale Themselves
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I sit down with , a powerhouse marketing strategist, CPG advisor, and the founder of . Rose shares an honest, insightful look into what it takes to build, grow, and scale a consumer brand in today’s landscape, from digital-first storytelling to the emotional resilience founders need to survive the chaos of retail and fundraising. This conversation is packed with wisdom earned from years in the trenches, advising some of the most innovative brands in beauty, beverage, wellness, and beyond. What I love most about this episode is Rose’s unique blend of heart and...
info_outline
Resbiotic - The Gut-Lung Axis Explained
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I sit down with , a physician-scientist and the founder & CEO of , to explore the incredible connection between our gut microbiome and respiratory health. Dr. Lal shares how his clinical work with premature infants inspired a deeper dive into gut-lung science, ultimately leading to the development of —a science-first wellness brand that’s bridging the gap between clinical research and everyday health. What really struck me in this conversation was Vivek’s blend of curiosity, care, and credibility. He’s not just creating a product—he’s on a mission to...
info_outline
Bare Kind - How Socks Became a Force for Good
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I sit down with , the passionate owner of , a brand of bamboo socks that’s on a mission to save endangered animals one step at a time. What began with a desire to create a feel-good product has grown into a purpose-driven business that partners with over 30 animal charities, donates 10% of profits, and makes every sock design count. What I love about this conversation is how grounded Andrew is in the belief that consumer products can—and should—do good. We talk about sustainability, giving back, building a business in the UK and beyond, and why even something as...
info_outlineIn this episode, I had a powerful and insightful conversation with Eric Kasper, the founder of 1 Commerce. Eric isn’t just building another ecommerce platform—he’s building from the ground up based on hard-won experience, past failures, and deep empathy for the challenges founders face.
We discussed how losing everything gave him clarity, how he rebuilt with intention, and how that journey became the foundation of a platform that helps brands scale across channels with real support.
What stood out to me most is Eric’s unique mix of humility and depth. He’s not here to sell a system—he’s here to partner with founders, guide them through complexity, and help them make smarter decisions.
Whether you’re overwhelmed by Amazon, unsure about Walmart, or just trying to manage profitability across retail and DTC, this episode is packed with real talk, proven advice, and actionable strategies.
Here are some key moments from the episode:
* How Eric scaled from a garage to nearly $100M—and what broke it all apart
* Why the way you build matters more than what you build
* The #1 mistake brands make when entering marketplaces (and how to avoid it)
* A real-world case study: going from a $10M Shopify store to 8 retailers and 60% growth
* How 1 Commerce blends software + strategy to help founders sleep better at night
Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to the episode and hear how one founder’s experience is now empowering hundreds of others. Whether you’re a DTC brand, B2B company, or omnichannel operator, there’s something in here for you.
For more on 1 Commercet, visit: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.
Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.
Your support helps us bring you more content like this!
*
Today’s Sponsors:
1 Commerce: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand
Scaling a DTC brand becomes harder the bigger you grow, especially when you’re limited to selling on just one channel. While you’re focused on day-to-day ops, your competitors are unlocking marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and even retail shelf space—and capturing customers you’re missing. That’s where 1-Commerce comes in.
They help high-growth brands expand beyond their sites, handle end-to-end fulfillment, and scale through a revenue-share model that means they only win when you do.
As a Story of a Brand listener, you’ll get one month of free storage and a strategy session with their CEO, Eric Kasper. Visit the link above.