Startup Confidential
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Who is it For? Founders of CPG start-ups. What Is It? Zero B.S. perspective on running your start-up well, understanding the biases of industry stakeholders, and getting the industry to work for you, not the other way around. When? Every month. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC
Startup Confidential
1w ago
The perils of the first $500,000 in recurring sales are many. Most are related to cash flow and getting paid by distributors or retailers. Without the proper seed monies, many companies evaporate despite the power of their innovation. In this episode, I'm updating the episode that launched this tough love podcast. There is less space on shelves than ever before, slotting fees have risen, and competition for access is worse than ever. Learn how to get through it and thrive.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
1M ago
Non-alcoholic beer has been on a tear since 2017. That's when Heineken and an unknown brand, Athletic Brewing, appeared on shelves to shake things up. The latest Skate Ramp brand has crossed $100M rapidly, but will it journey at high speed toward $1B and truly impact the beer industry? I share an excerpt of my thoughts recently written in detail for The Food Institute.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
1M ago
The final wave of failing Covid-19 brands is the eight-figure businesses that used initial raises to make it through Covid supply hell and COGS inflation but are still unprofitable and unable to raise further rounds. As these brands fail, a shelf grab is underway. Let me explain.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
2M ago
A common battle occurs between finance and strategy, especially if your finance person is NOT a founder. It’s the idea that we should keep and protect all revenue sources, because the company is not making money. In reality, strategic focus is what you need, not proliferation of UPCs.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
2M ago
Committing to a plan is hard enough for many founders. But, if you don’t do an annual diagnosis well, you will lose much of the plan’s benefit. The point of planning and diagnosing is to understand WHY you did or did not hit your revenue target (or other topline goals). This requires systematic disbelief in topline success. I call it pressure-testing, so you can ensure your ‘growth’ is not masking other problems (including misbehavior by your sales team). (Replay of popular 2022 podcast)
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
3M ago
Pricing power is one of the major things a brand gives you as an owner. But not right away. The power of a brand lies in the ability to raise prices at scale as costs increase without volume suffering much at all. Conversely, you can not slash your price to accelerate. In this episode, I explain the math behind price inelasticity and how to obtain it.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
3M ago
This wonky episode may require a repeat listen. You were warned. I want to walk listeners through the variables and math that make it crystal clear what kinds of consumer propositions not only do well through DTC but should remain there and the much larger set of innovations that need to see this channel in a very restricted manner.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
4M ago
Lots of well-run, patient brands need an angel infusion right now. But the absence of VC right now is still a blessing. Instead, founders will need to network for angel cash, be much more focused and disciplined and yes fewer people will get to play. Fewer, better businesses actually improve the whole ecosystem in my opinion. In this episode, I lay out how I came to this conclusion recently.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
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Startup Confidential
4M ago
Unfortunately, the folks who talk loudest about brand-building are either a) branding agencies, b) venture capitalists or c) overly enthusiastic founders. Curb your enthusiasm. You can design a brand identity, a symbolic system. But, ‘brand’ is an outcome. It is an outcome based on influencing real human behavior, entering social networks with memorable consumer experiences, potent symbolism, and grassroots ‘influence,’ not social media puffery. Learn the rules of behavior-based brand-building or get ready to struggle unnecessarily on your journey up the Skate Ramp.
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Startup Confidential
5M ago
In the world of consumer brands, it’s common for investors to look down on paid advertising. Why? Because they often don’t see the same kind of trial surge that a temporary price reduction or change in attribute-outcome signaling can deliver. So, they generally see no real return on the expense. However, ROAS has to be calculated on the basis of a longer-term view of how repeat purchasers contribute to the brand.
Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com ..read more