Sophie Boulanger, co-founder of BonLook, dives into how the company shook up Canada's eyewear scene. Sophie talks about her entrepreneurial path, inspired by her family and shaped by her experiences at L’Oreal Canada and Luxottica. They delve into BonLook’s inception and strategic decisions, including cutting out middlemen, expanding store presence, and picking prime locations, along with insights on hiring for retail. Finally, Sophie discusses why she sold BonLook, her future aspirations, and her intention to remain active in tech and entrepreneurship. - - - - - - - - - - - - BonLook website ..read more

Fabio Zeppilli, co-founder of Bad Monkey Popcorn, discusses his inspiring shift from academia and legal briefs to creating a buzz in the snack market. He reveals the recipe to the launch of Bad Monkey Popcorn: a blend of passion and innovative marketing tactics. This discussion further delves into Fabio’s initial challenges, significant milestones, and insights on the critical role of cultivating a strong brand and community support. Throughout, Fabio emphasizes the importance of happiness, wellbeing, teamwork, and adaptability in entrepreneurship. - - - - - - - - - - - - Show Notes: 00:10 The ..read more

Camille Benmergui, Director of Marketplace at Reitman’s Canada Limited, unravels the dynamic world of e-commerce marketplaces. Drawing from her journey leading both fashion brands and third-party marketplaces, Camille offers rich insights on third-party marketplaces, their business models, and advantages they bring to brands. This conversation expands on the concept of online marketplaces, uncovering strategies for success and exploring the potential of niche marketplaces, alongside industry giants. - - - - - - - - - - - -  Links Discussed Reitman's Canada Limited https://www.reitmans.com ..read more

Jamie Schmidt, the founder of Schmidt's Naturals, shares her entrepreneurial journey from her upbringing to building one of the major players in the natural deodorant industry. She discusses her initial inspiration to create personal care products and shares her experience with selling the company to Unilever. She also provides insights into the nuances of customer retention, the trend of community building and engagement, and the growing opportunity in the Web3 space. The conversation closes with Jamie sharing her thoughts on consumer brands and her passion for the fast-growing sport of pickl ..read more

Launch Pop co-founder Eva Chan shares her journey in the consumer world over the last 10 years, starting with her experience as a designer at Luxe Box, to co-founding  a digital media platform and eventually creating Launch Pop. She emphasizes the crucial role of community building, storytelling, customer engagement, and data in shaping a brand's launch strategy. She also shares her predictions on the future of the consumer space and discusses the unique business model of Launch Pop. - - - - - - - - - - - -  Links Discussed Launchpop https://www.launchpop.com/ Luxe Box https://myluxe ..read more

In this detailed interview, the founder of The Unscented Company, Anie Rouleau, shares her entrepreneurial journey. She shares her early experiences in her family's business, her travels around the world that inspired the concept of her company, the challenges she faced, and the wins she achieved. Anie discusses the environmental mission that is central to her brand’s DNS and her goal of making the Unscented Company a leading home and body care brand. She also reflects on the culture she is building within her company and the importance of aligning business goals with personal values ..read more

In this episode of The Pop Up Report, guest Mikey Scott, a seasoned marketing leader for iconic brands like Herschel Supply and Kipling at VF Corp, discusses the importance of shaping your customer journey and creating an authentic brand narrative. Mikey reflects on his career trajectory from his roots in action sports to navigating the fashion and lifestyle sectors. The conversation highlights strategies for successful marketing, including the balance between production and distribution, the role of influencers and community engagement, and the significance of storytelling ..read more

Ethan Song is joined by e-commerce agency founder Phil Tabah of Field Office to discuss all things Shopify. Hear from Phil’s experience building and scaling more than 40 Shopify stores for world class brands like Atari and Togethxr. Learn more about the Shopify ecosystem, the role of creative partners and different metrics to consider when setting up your store. This episode also delves into content marketing. Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis. - - - - - - - - - - - -  Links DiscussedField Office Shopify Pangaia Outdoor Voices Patagoni ..read more

Ethan Song is joined by serial entrepreneur Mike Gettis of Kilne and Endy Mattress to discuss the importance of profitability in a crowded market. Mike shares insights from his journey building and selling Endy Mattress amidst the backdrop of competition from larger players with venture backing. Learn how to stand out from the pack through an unrelenting focus on profitability and product market fit. This episode also delves into digital marketing and mergers and acquisitions. Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis. - - - - - - - - - - - -  ..read more

Ethan Song is joined by Caitlin Barrett (Wild Geese Studios) and Julie MacDonell (Haloo) to discuss the importance of brand names and the role of trademark protection. Caitlin and Julie share insights gleaned from decades in brand naming and trademark law respectively. Learn how to identify the perfect name and the risks and rewards of proper trademark protection. This episode also delves into machine learning and generative AI as creative tools. Subscribe to our Substack and YouTube for more engaging content and thoughtful analysis. - - - - - - - - - - - -  Links Discussed:Haloo Wild Gee ..read more