Emily Steele interviews Alyzeh Rizvi, founder of Peepal People, a South Asian pantry brand bringing authentic flavors to your kitchen. Alyzeh shares her journey of creating a modern brand that honors her Pakistani heritage while appealing to a broader American market. We dive into Peepal People’s recent rebranding, their focus on healthy formulations with lower sodium and zero sugar, and their expansion plans into retail stores.

Emily Steele chats with Laurel Rundle, founder of AHA Marketing. Laurel explains their unique approach of partnering with professionals like doctors, doulas, and gym owners to distribute product samples. We chat about sampling strategies, from custom programs to shared-cost opportunities for smaller brands, and also touch on key factors to consider when building out your own sampling program.

Emily Steele interviews Caroline Grace, founder and CEO of Product and Prosper, to chat through building successful CPG brands in retail. Caroline shares insights to help emerging brands navigate retail complexities. She emphasizes the importance of proper positioning, packaging, and pricing, using the example of PAKTLI Foods to illustrate how refining a brand's story can lead to retail success.

Emily Steele interviews Candace Molatore, a creative director, photographer, model, and branding consultant from Portland, Oregon. Candace drops by to share insights into her career as a content creator and influencer, discussing the importance of building relationships with brands, the value of creative freedom in partnerships, and the realities of being a creator beyond the glamorous facade.

Emily Steele interviews Morgan Lerner, Chief Creative Officer at GoNanas, the fastest growing baking mix company, using bananas to make indulgent, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-friendly baked goods. Morgan joins to share how GoNanas has grown from a college dorm room to ecommerce to now sold in over 4000 retailers. We discuss key strategies for growth and staying authentic on social media.

Emily Steele interviews Holly Chapman, Head of Brand at Papier, a stationery and personalized products company. Holly shares her journey from the communication industry to becoming Head of Brand at Papier. We dive deep into Papier’s US expansion and all the strategies employed to make for a truly omnipresent brand splash across the market.