

2018-12-08T14:21:41-07:00By |Categories: Downloads, Finance|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |


What are Honest Co.’s gross margins (and some rules of thumb for figuring this out)

2017-06-11T19:44:42-06:00By |Categories: Finance|Tags: , , , , |

This is a Quora questions I was asked.  Here is my answer I did a quick search in my industry source and did not find anything that specific. Here are some quick metrics to make a guess: As of 2016, they are north of $300 mm in sales; Unprofitable; Raised $220 mm to date from [...]

Marketing for a small farm

2019-12-23T15:47:48-07:00By |Categories: Marketing|Tags: , |

A great article on marketing for a small farm from Riva Richmond on Forbes. I love small farms and buy all our meat direct from ones that meet our standards for quality product and humane treatment of animals.  We certainly need more small farms that produce quality products in humane ways. Here's a comment I left [...]

What are the barriers to entry for CPG companies?

2019-08-20T16:33:59-06:00By |Categories: Strategy|Tags: |

This is a Quora question: Brands and Branding: What are the barriers to entry for CPG companies (Food, HPC)? What prevents new on-trend brands ("better for you") from displacing established brands? My answer is as follows. There are two key reasons, from my perspective. Brands that come up with new products with small improvements over [...]

Instead of selling, just try to make it easier to buy

2016-11-24T20:15:57-07:00By |Categories: Strategy|Tags: , |

I read an article recently about instead of selling just try to make it easier to buy. It got me thinking of a few ways this plays out in my work: Messaging vs. product:  do I focus on more messaging/advertising or do I focus on improving and making a better product that drives word-of-mouth marketing and [...]

The two biggest hurdles for successful marketing

2017-04-17T20:36:01-06:00By |Categories: Marketing|Tags: , , |

I recently worked on a direct marketing campaign with mediocre results.  I saw a 7.5% response, which in direct marketing would be considered very successful, but I was hoping for something north of 20%, considering the free offer provided.  I don't have any historical data indicating that I should have gotten 20%; it's just the number I [...]

Showing customers they have a problem vs. they seeing and experiencing their problem on their own

2016-10-28T20:34:31-06:00By |Categories: Product Development|Tags: , , , , , , |

I was talking to a company recently about their product, a really nifty little item that I like and am actually using myself.  As usual, when I first talk to companies about their products, I immediately begin to think over how to best market and sell their products. I am somewhat obsessed with figuring that [...]

When old is new in marketing

2016-10-28T20:21:44-06:00By |Categories: Marketing|Tags: , , |

Marketing is constantly evolving with new channels and vehicles to reach consumers. Technology is pretty much driving and ensuring that. But sometimes, what's old and that which no one seemingly pays attention to works the best. I've been working with a company over the last few years that operates in a pretty crowded and competitive [...]

How This CPG food company gets to the next level

2016-10-28T20:26:34-06:00By |Categories: Strategy|Tags: , , , , , , |

This post presents a small CPG food company that I recently met.  What follows are the facts I know about the company, its struggles and my recommendations. Company This company is 4 years old with the founder as sole employee.  He is also the product inventor. Product Innovation There are 6 consumer retail products that [...]