Podcasts about fernish

The CTFO Podcast sat down with Michael Barlow, co-founder and CEO of Fernish, a company transforming the way urban professionals furnish their homes. Discover Michael's journey from a college athlete and Wall Street banker to a visionary entrepreneur shaking up the home furnishings industry.

This episode features a conversation between Phil Dillard, Founder of Thruline Networks, and Kristin Toth, President & Chief Operating Officer at Vesta Home, a vertically integrated luxury design firm.Kristin's career is marked by her ability to lead and grow companies – previously as President and COO of Fernish, COO of Dolly, CEO of Code Fellows, VP of Operations at zulily, and in various leadership positions at Amazon.com.In this episode, Kristin talks about systems thinking in sustainable business, the lessons she learned from leaving her comfortable position at Amazon, and why overcoming fears is pivotal for career growth.Key Quote“I think really in the last decade of my career, I've realized that if I wanna make a big impact, I only have 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And it's super fulfilling and exciting, but also like really crucial to impact, to be building and empowering teams, creating great culture, rolling through all of the ups and downs that you have in supporting the team through that, because by empowering a team, developing a team, developing individuals, you're able to make just such a bigger impact. And so, when I'm sort of measuring what I wanna do next, or how I wanna approach something from a personal perspective, it's really about how do I make the biggest positive impact I can on people, on teams, on companies, on, you know, the world.” - Kristin TothEpisode Timestamps(00:29) About Kristin and her background(08:39) Systems thinking in sustainability(12:10) Lessons learned from leaving Amazon(18:51) Addressing skill set gaps for success(23:00) Overcoming career fears(33:04) Driving change for people through the organization(38:37) Strengths and weaknesses of the business model(42:46) Final thoughtsLinksKristin's LinkedInPhil Dillard's LinkedInThruline Networks

In today's world of rapid movement, fast furniture is a real problem in almost every home. When people change addresses, they often discard a huge chunk of their furniture, only to buy new ones upon arriving to their next place. This only leads to tons of trash, and Michael Barlow is here to put an end to the dangers of fast furniture. Joining Corinna Bellizzi, he shares how they bring furniture into the service economy through Fernish, giving people the freedom to rent, swap, or rent-to-buy depending on their needs. He explains how this business model can help push the reuse economy forward and finally get rid of the IKEA culture. Michael also discusses how they minimize their carbon footprint by keeping a localized team and sourcing from local communities. About Guest:Michael Barlow is the co-founder and CEO of Fernish and sets the vision and strategy as the company changes the way people create and relate to their homes. After completing his fifth move in eight years, Michael co-founded Fernish in 2017, a furniture-as-a service business designed to bring furniture into the service economy and give people the freedom to rent, swap, rent-to-buy, buy or return furniture as their life and living situations change. Prior to starting Fernish, Michael was Vice President of Atom Tickets and started his career at J.P. Morgan where he focused on mergers, acquisitions and leveraged finance (which was also the first time he had to carry a sofa up a four floor walk-up). Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fernish/Guest Website: https://fernish.com Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/fernish/, https://www.facebook.com/fernishliving/ , https://www.tiktok.com/@fernishliving Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://caremorebebetter.com Follow us on social and join the conversation! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Twitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebetter Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/care-more-be-better Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability PodcastCare More Be Better answers only to our collective conscience and aims to put more good into the world. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show: https://caremorebebetter.com/donate.

You've likely heard of fast food and probably even fast fashion, but have you heard of fast furniture? Similar to food and fashion, the fast furniture trend has gained attention for its negative environmental and social impact.  Disposable furniture offers affordable on-trend home décor options, yet, fast furniture is made quickly and cheaply with often toxic-laden materials, and since it typically only for a short period (1-3+ years) the furniture ends up in a landfill. According to experts, nearly 10 million tons of furniture piled up in landfills in 2018. Here to shed light on this problem is our guest, Kristen Toth, President and COO of Fernish, a furniture and home decor rental service that's making it as effortless as possible to create a home that allows you the high-quality, modern home furnishings you want - without the commitment or high upfront costs. Key Takeaways:           What the circular economy is and how Fernish is partaking in it           What fast furniture means and ways it is damaging to our environment          The sustainable measures Fernish has taken           Besides sustainable efforts, some other reasons people use Fernish           How Fernish's partnership with Holos Communities is adding an extra layer to sustainability and social impact effort           The areas of the country Fernish currently services You can learn more about Fernish at www.Fernish.com. We'll have all the links in the show notes at www. RonandLisa.com/Podcast. Stay tuned for the next episode. Get ready to up-level your health.        

On today's episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about a closed loop reverse logistics system that's driving furniture rental company Fernish to success. Kristin Toth shares how customer service and execution are allowing the startup to punch well above their weight.  Waabi is trying to solve for autonomous trucking at scale. Dustin Koehl shares how the tech that they're developing is the highway to adoption of autonomous trucks. QuickLoadz has built an automated trailer. Sean Jones tells us how they developed the product, demos it, and talks about the trailers that will power an autonomous future. Plus, close call in Wyoming; cold calling isn't dead; and robots take over the warehouse. Visit our sponsorWatch on YouTubeSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

On today's episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about a closed loop reverse logistics system that's driving furniture rental company Fernish to success. Kristin Toth shares how customer service and execution are allowing the startup to punch well above their weight.  Waabi is trying to solve for autonomous trucking at scale. Dustin Koehl shares how the tech that they're developing is the highway to adoption of autonomous trucks. QuickLoadz has built an automated trailer. Sean Jones tells us how they developed the product, demos it, and talks about the trailers that will power an autonomous future. Plus, close call in Wyoming; cold calling isn't dead; and robots take over the warehouse. Visit our sponsorWatch on YouTubeSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

While at Manifest: The Future of Logistics we were able to score some rad interviews and one of them we are bringing you today with a focus on the shipper point of view. Fernish lets you rent, rent-to-own and buy single pieces of furniture and decor to full-room designs in bite-sized monthly payments for however long you'd like and in this episode we're chatting with the company's President and COO, Kristin Toth.In this convo, we're covering: How the furniture company has been able to bypass all of the supply chain issues we've been seeing these past months — specifically with furnitureFernish's business model and the circular economyIts b2b services for office buildings, apartment complexes and other sorts of commercial real estateLINKS: Check out Fernish websiteConnect with Kristin Toth on LinkedinTIME STAMPS:00:03:15 Happy accidents lead to success.00:06:26 Furniture rental made easy.00:11:33 Experiment and iterate.00:22:24 Reduce furniture waste.00:22:34 Sustainability, convenience, value.00:33:50 Raise service bar to disrupt.00:37:00 Grow, learn, and innovate.---------------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!At SPI Logistics they have industry-leading technology, systems, and back-office support to help you succeed. Learn more about SPI's freight agent program here. Make sure to let them know we sent you!Digital Dispatch helps you speak confidently about ROI with a website built for your customers, prospects, and employees. With plans starting as low as $90/month, learn how you can take your website from good to great by visiting Digital Dispatch. ---------------------------------------------ABOUT THE PODCAST: Everything is Logistics is a podcast for the thinkers in freight. Subscribe to our newsletter to never miss an episode. Follow EIL host Blythe Brumleve on social: Twitter | LinkedIn| Instagram| TikTok| YouTube

In this episode host Kevin Lawton is joined by Kristin Toth of Fernish to discuss their unique operational approach as they fulfill customer's furniture rental orders and ensure that they are refurbishing items to last for multiple uses. Learn more about their circular supply chain and how they put a spin on the furniture world on this episode of the podcast.Get on demand labor from Veryable with zero fees for the first month by signing up here: https://veryable.grsm.io/znj79m4huqsbAttending Manifest? Find The New Warehouse there and register with a discount at this link: https://tinyurl.com/bdhdavw9

#71. From beauty to clothing, and TV shows to apps, this episode is detailing the Note to Self master list, aka: Payton's favorite things of 2022. We're talking the ‘what' and the ‘why,' and linking everything in the show notes.    Follow Payton on Social Media: https://instagram.com/paytonsartain   https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain  https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhh   The 2022 Master List: Note to Self Merch: https://shop.dearmedia.com/collections/note-to-self  Skincare:  Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream- https://bit.ly/3iJqCY0  Skinceuticals Phloretin CF- https://bit.ly/3Fx27Xd  Zitsticka Sunscreen- https://rvlv.me/0Q9RJ2  Elta MD Sunscreen- https://amzn.to/3FaNRSo  Kopari Deodorant- https://rvlv.me/YJnW3w    Makeup: Giorgio Armani Foundation- https://bit.ly/3UCo4bq Hourglass Vanish Concealer, in silk- https://bit.ly/3iHbrPg  Charlotte Tilbury Pillow-Talk 2 Medium Liner- https://bit.ly/3Y4RUZ6  Buxom Gloss in Dolly- https://bit.ly/3B9LTRd  Rare Beauty blush, in hope- https://bit.ly/3Y61gUr  Maison Francis, Baccarat Rouge 540- https://bit.ly/3h1yHHl    Haircare:  Pureology Shampoo- https://bit.ly/3BgIxf4  Pureology Conditioner- https://bit.ly/3VSRGT2  Pureology Top Coat Clear- https://bit.ly/3h5kAR7  Dyson Air Styler- https://bit.ly/3Y0sDiP  K18 Treatment- https://bit.ly/3UARRkX  Bondi Boost Waver Tool- https://amzn.to/3F4Z1Il    Supplements:  Thorne- https://www.thorne.com  Cymbiotika- https://cymbiotika.com  Thorne Curcumin Phytosome (turmeric)- https://bit.ly/3P55TKi  Nutrafol- https://nutrafol.com/ & use code NOTETOSELF Enzymedia Digest Spectrum- https://thrivemarket.com/notetoself for 30% off your first order + $60 in groceries  Ritual- https://ritual.com/notetoself    Fitness:  Solidcore  PVolve- https://bit.ly/3TQ1xZQ    Clothes, Accessories, Shoes:  Chanel Double Flap Jumbo- https://liketk.it/3W7EN Rolex Datejust- https://on.rolex.com/3HfFjMJ  Nike Air Max Futura sneakers- https://bit.ly/3VVdjlF  Stuart Weitzman heels- https://bit.ly/3iIYW5w  REBAG- https://bit.ly/3UFWLwW  REVOLVE- https://rvlv.me/8hbOTH  Reformation- https://bit.ly/3P7LLaC  The Frankie Shop- https://thefrankieshop.com  Alo Yoga- https://bit.ly/3VVyeoF  Jimmy Choo boots- https://bit.ly/3BdWtXn  Prada loafers- https://bit.ly/3usEQiT  Celine shades- https://bit.ly/3BgyzdQ    Apps:  Notion  Splice  Canva  MyHumanDesign Audible Pinterest   Books:  It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover Verity, by Colleen Hoover Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid Invisible Monsters, by Chuck Palaniuk    Shows: Yellowstone Sex Lives of College Girls Hacks  White Lotus House of the Dragon    Playlists: Yellowstone Soundtrack- https://spoti.fi/3iJ17WK  Villain Era- https://spoti.fi/3VVzWX7    Podcasts: The Deck Crime Junkie EXPANDED by To Be Magnetic  AG University  Impact Theory Philosophize This!   Etc AMEX Referral (get points!)- https://bit.ly/3Y0FPnR  Fernish- https://fernish.com & use code FERNISHPAYTON Ranch Rider Spirits   Submit to Note to Self: → Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8  → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57  → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7 → Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8 → Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9 → Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5   Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/NOTETOSELF   Bring your hair into the future with K18 molecular repair, available now at Sephora and sephora.com   Synbiotic+ and Ritual are here to celebrate, not hide, your insides. That's why Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months at ritual.com/notetoself   Produced by Dear Media

Today Ben speaks to Evelyn Krasnow of Fernish, a premium furniture and décor rental start-up that markets a little differently. With experience heading up the Marketing function at Bird the ECO friendly transportation company, Simple human, the manufacturer of tools for efficient living and Belkin, the electronic and electronic accessories manufacturer, Evelyn has a wealth of knowledge to share and a few interesting Marketing insights we all wanted to know. Don't forget to check out our socials: https://www.tiktok.com/@topcmo https://twitter.com/TOP_CMO_podcast https://www.instagram.com/topcmo/

Home goods sales may be cooling, but Fernish is still seeing growth from furniture rental. On the Modern Retail Podcast this week, Fernish co-founder and CEO Michael Barlow joined to speak about the state of the industry and how he's been growing his company. Fernish first hit the market in 2018 as a furniture rental service. The idea was that many young professionals often moved to cities and were expected to move into new apartments and completely furnish them. For a monthly fee, they get access to nice items to showcase in their home, and are also given the option to rent to own. "This is a problem that's indicative of the apartment renter in urban metros that's moving every one to three years," said Barlow, "between finishing college or secondary education and ultimately settling down." But more than just making it easier to move from city to city, Barlow insisted that there's a sustainability angle to this business too. "You can call that flexibility, you can call that convenience, you can call that sustainability -- those are the pillars that we've defined our business around, which really marries the service economy and the subscription economy to a very legacy and old asset class," he said. So far, things are working out. Fernish first launched in Los Angeles, but has recently expanded to the East Coast in cities like New York City and Washington, DC. The company has raised $75 million to date and says that its revenue increased by more than 17x over the course of the pandemic. When Fernish first started, it sourced from other high-end retailers like Crate & Barrel. Now, most of its furniture it makes in-house. "We prioritize North American manufacturers now," Barlow said. But part of what has made the business work, he said, is its focus on curation; "We offer a couple hundred [products] because we can go really deep with our suppliers and our manufacturer partners on core SKUs." The big question is whether growth will slow. Some bigger players like Wayfair have reported rough earnings -- and the retailers like Target that invested in home goods are having difficulty selling inventory. Barlow says those headwinds haven't hit Fernish yet. "I can tell you, June was our best month ever, a little bit stronger than July in terms of new business added. And July was our third best month ever," he said.

We're thrilled to have Kristin Toth join Blaine & Ramon on DTC Pod where she walks us through her career trajectory and how she narrowed in on supply chain & ops, being an advisor to multiple startups, why building a circular furniture company is challenging, how Fernish strategically launched in two cities to test product-market, and how Fernish has evolved over time. 1:51 - 5:49 What is Fernish?6:22 - 8:38 The story behind Fernish12:04 - 18:07 Kristin's career trajectory18:39 - 22:15 Working at Amazon24:07 - 26:53 The role of an advisor26:54 - 31:00 Working at Fernish32:31 - 37:59 The early days of Fernish40:05 - 43:00 Data & Logistics50:48 - 52:48 What Fernish is focusing on now This episode is brought to you by OpenStore:Visit https://open.store to get a free, no-obligation offer for your e-commerce business from OpenStore in 24 hours. Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further? Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Kristin Toth - President & COO of  FernishRamon Berrios - CEO of Trend.ioBlaine Bolus - COO of OmniPanel

As typical urban professionals, founders Michael and Lucas loved the idea of moving: new home, new city, new job, new roommates, new furniture. But they didn't love the reality: The expense and hassle of moving existing furniture that might not match their new place, creating waste by kicking cheap furniture to the curb, or spending free weekends shopping for new furniture. After working together at another Los Angeles based startup, Michael and Lucas realized they had more than moving in common. They shared an entrepreneurial spirit and a belief that they could flip the home furnishings industry on its head in a sustainable fashion that fits the way we live today. That is where Fernish comes in. Fernish provides consumers with the flexibility to have access to premium furniture without contributing to the overall waste cycle. We talk with Kristin Smith, COO of Fernish about the impact that they have as a brand and the future that they are building, shaking up the furniture industry. How you can get involved with Fernish Check out Fernish at their website and reach out to them here Give them a follow on Instagram here

The second story in our Amazonian Tribe series is here! For this one, we have Kristin Toth, currently the President & COO at Fernish. But we're here now to talk about her close to 8 years with Amazon, during which time she had a hand in delivering some of the flagship services which have made the company what it is today. From joining the company in its formative years, all the way to its meteoric rise, the insight Kristin has in the how's and why's of Amazon are pure gold! Key takeaways: • How to be an organizational “athlete” and make things happen • Why measuring success is important, and can spur you to do better • How going back to your own type of drawing board can help you recalibrate, and refocus Our Guest: Kristin Toth Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristintoth/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ktothsmith Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

Krsitin Toth is president and COO of Fernish, an online furniture retailer that both rents and sells home goods. She comes on the podcast to discuss all the inside details about direct-to-consumer logistics and even reverse logistics.

As an executive, Kristin Smith is always focused on finding “wide open spaces.” She believes these spaces or gaps highlight real customer needs and present new opportunities for businesses to differentiate and grow.  And she found a lot of these opportunities in Fernish, which ultimately inspired her to invest in, advise and join the company as President and Chief Operating Officer. After seeing a significant spike in demand during the pandemic, Kristin and the rest of the team are focused on growth mode. This week, Alicia Esposito chats with her about:   How the Fernish mission has evolved during the pandemic;   The demographic trends driving new expansion opportunities and growth for the business;   Top operational challenges and investments Fernish has had to make as the business scales; and   How collaboration and brand partnerships can inspire innovation.    RELATED LINKS  Learn more about Fernish  Register for the Retail Innovation Conference virtual experience to hear more about how Fernish collaborates with Crate & Barrel to unlock new opportunities.    

On today's episode Dooner and The Dude are talking to FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston about the vaccine mandate and if trucking qualifies for an exemption. Port X Logistics founder Brian Kempisty offers up solutions and strategies to contend with the port crisis. Have you tried to order a couch this year? Dooner's took almost 6 months to arrive. Today we'll find out from Kristin Smith, president and COO of Fernish, how her company has managed to skirt supply chain issues to deliver the goods.Darcee Scavone​, VP, Talent, Culture & Community Engagement at Lineage talks about the launch of the nonprofit Lineage Foundation for Good. We'll learn how this nonprofit is aimed at reducing food waste and fighting food insecurity to support the global communities where over 21,000 of Lineage's team members live and work.Pierre Whiteside of Victory Ave Equipment Financing Inc. shares trucking tips and teaches us how to lower our insurance. Plus, good news / bad news concerning diesel at Travel Centers of America; 24/7 hours at SoCal ports; a lost dog with a semi truck sized happy ending and more. Visit our sponsorDooner's TEDxSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

On today's episode Dooner and The Dude are talking to FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston about the vaccine mandate and if trucking qualifies for an exemption. Port X Logistics founder Brian Kempisty offers up solutions and strategies to contend with the port crisis. Have you tried to order a couch this year? Dooner's took almost 6 months to arrive. Today we'll find out from Kristin Smith, president and COO of Fernish, how her company has managed to skirt supply chain issues to deliver the goods.Darcee Scavone​, VP, Talent, Culture & Community Engagement at Lineage talks about the launch of the nonprofit Lineage Foundation for Good. We'll learn how this nonprofit is aimed at reducing food waste and fighting food insecurity to support the global communities where over 21,000 of Lineage's team members live and work.Pierre Whiteside of Victory Ave Equipment Financing Inc. shares trucking tips and teaches us how to lower our insurance. Plus, good news / bad news concerning diesel at Travel Centers of America; 24/7 hours at SoCal ports; a lost dog with a semi truck sized happy ending and more. Visit our sponsorDooner's TEDxSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

This week we return to the world of furniture with Kristin Smith, COO, President, and even an early investor, of Fernish. The EPA estimates that 12.2 million tons of furniture ends up in a landfill every year, a product of our disposable relationship with the furniture we buy and eventually, throw away. Furnish is one of a new crop of companies seeking to break that model through offering rental options that allow their customers to return the furniture when they're done, breaking the cycle of planned disposal. Tune in to hear how Furnish baked sustainable principles into their production and fabrication processes, how Kristin sees the world of consumer behavior evolving, and learn about her personal journey to becoming COO.

Finding and assembling the right furniture for your home is a pain in the a**. Michael Barlow, Co-Founder and CEO of Fernish, talks about how Fernish relieves all of your furniture related stress.

On this week's show, we talk about Ads We Have Thoughts About, including a couple of true gems from Balenciaga (again!) and the furniture rental startup Fernish. We dive into the Facebook outage and the whistleblower scandal that's threatening to upend the company's business. And we finish with another rant about poorly written emails from brands - this time from YouTube TV. Hosted by Gosha Khuchua and Alex McNamara. Visit us at www.30minuteCMO.com or follow us on IG @30MinuteCMO

Scheana and FIANCÉ Brock sit down after enjoying a fun date night! The two talk about some of the challenges of being new parents and how their relationship has changed since having their baby! They also do a fun Q&A from their listeners. What are their wedding plans? Was Brock nervous when he proposed? What's sex like after having a baby? Tune in to find out! If you guys are looking for a place in Los Angeles, check out the Wallace on Sunset and tell them Scheana sent you! Check out @Fernish with code SCHEANA and get $100 off! For the video version of this podcast and exclusive content, sign up for the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/scheanashay Follow us @scheananigans @scheana @brock__davies

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This episode is sponsored by Christina Real Estate.In this episode, we take a step away from real estate investing to talk about something a little different, furniture. This episode covers the idea of furniture services, supply chain dynamics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences. Our guest is Sam Selby, Director of Business Development at Fernish. Fernish is a premium furniture service that offers monthly payment options. But this isn't your parents' rent-to-own, it's part of the larger trend of the sharing economy. Timestamps0:00 Introduction1:24 The pandemic and furniture demand 3:05 Post pandemic hygiene concerns 6:04 The vacation rental demand boom7:33 Fernish and multifamily11:50 Fernish and interior design13:45 Furniture waste16:09 The slow furniture movement20:27 How Fernish looks at industrial real estate25:00 Choosing new markets28:10 Supply chain concerns29:50 Fernish's plan for refurbishing furniture34:44 Fernish and commercial real estate39:47 Technology and furniture 

Michael Barlow is the co-founder and CEO of Fernish, a startup that offers consumers a way to rent upscale furniture and decor online. Prior to founding Fernish in 2017, Michael was a Vice President at Atom Tickets and an investment banker at J.P. Morgan.We talked about everything from Michael’s background, life as a college athlete, his takeaways from working on Wall Street, what he believes makes a great storyteller and how it translates to business, the early days and challenges of building Fernish, and the future he envisions for the company and beyond.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER & STAY UPDATED > http://bit.ly/tfh-newsletterFOLLOW TFH ON INSTAGRAM > http://www.instagram.com/thefounderhourFOLLOW TFH ON TWITTER > http://www.twitter.com/thefounderhourINTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR? EMAIL US > partnerships@thefounderhour.com

Kristin opens up the episode by providing an overview on Fernish and explaining what the product and subscription model look like. She shares that at Fernish, their primary goal is to allow people the flexibility to change their furniture with their needs and not have to deal with committing to bulky assets.She continues by expanding on the importance of customer experience. She states that contrary to many other companies in the subscription furniture space, Fernish starts from the customer's perspective and works backwards. So instead of creating a finished product first, Fernish identifies the customers' use cases and needs, then builds the product around them.The episode wraps up with Kristin sharing the metrics that Fernish looks at the most. She concludes by saying how Fernish has balanced building software solutions in-house and by partnering with external vendors.You can find this episode's guest, Kristin Toth Smith, on LinkedIn or reach her at kristin@fernish.com. You can also find Fernish here. Don't forget to rate, download, and subscribe to the show and share this episode with your network. See you in the next episode!

John Helm, Managing Director and Founder of RET Ventures, joins Matt for this week's episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate. RET Ventures is the first industry-backed early-stage venture fund focused on helping build cutting-edge real estate technology companies for the multifamily and single-family rental industries. John is our third guest from the proptech space (we previously featured Clara Brenner from the Urban Innovation Fund and Brad Greiwe from Fifth Wall). RET Ventures' business model is differentiated in both its focus on the rental space and that all of their investors are owner-operators, creating a virtuous cycle between clients, customers, and investors. In the episode, John and Matt talk about the impact of technology on the rental housing business, the benefits of tenure and deep relationships in a relationship-oriented business, and John's fascinating career journey.John also sits on the boards of Smart Rent, GiGstreem, Fernish, Moved, Lexicon, Sight Plan, Funnel and Opiniion. Prior to founding RET Ventures, John was a Venture Partner with DN Capital in Munich, Germany, ran and successfully exited two venture-backed real estate tech startups, was CFO of Marcus & Millichap, and a consultant at McKinsey & Company.

Moving can be overwhelming, stressful, and let's face it not a lot of fun. The logistics of getting everything from one place to another, can make your head spin. Michael Barlow and Lucas Dickey – co founders of Fernish are here to help! Fernish offers stylish, well made furniture that you can rent. Their timeframes are […]

Commitment-free furnishings with Michael Barlow of Fernish. Website: https://fernish.com/

Thank you Anna Barber for the intro to today's guest, Michael Barlow ( https://twitter.com/mleebarlow ) , founder and CEO of Fernish ( https://fernish.com/ ). Fernish offers premium furniture rentals that feel like home, delivered and assembled in a week. We discuss how Michael approached validating his idea of furniture rental, figuring out the supply chain, and how they adjusted to shifts in demand for certain products during COVID. A book that inspired Michael is Against The Gods ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471295639?camp=1789&creativeASIN=0471295639&ie=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=theconsumervc-20 ) by Peter L. Bernstein. I highly recommend following Michael on Twitter @mleebarlow ( https://twitter.com/mleebarlow ). You can also follow your host, Mike, on Twitter @mikegelb ( https://twitter.com/MikeGelb ). You can also follow for episode announcements @consumervc ( https://twitter.com/ConsumerVc ). Here are a few questions that I ask Michael - * You originally came from a finance background, what attracted you to innovation and entrepreneurship in general? * Tell me about the aha moment that you had for Fernish and how were you able to validate your idea? * It seems like on the supply chain side of things, renting/transporting furniture would be very complex since the pieces are typically large, you have to store them. How did you manage to get around that in the early days? Also, under the hood, how does your supply chain function? * When I speak with founders, we talk about how when testing ideas, they focus on demand over the supply. And if that idea gets validated (i.e. there is a demand for it) then they go and build it. Was this part of your approach? If so, what were some of your early tactics? * What were some of your early growth levers? * What were some of the challenges regarding COVID? * Has their been a shift in demand towards certain products i.e. office desks, and chairs? * Did you have to make any pivots - whether that's with your supply chain or product offerings? * How did you approach raising capital? * Why did you choose to go through Techstars/an accelerator instead of trying to raise your own round off the bat? * We used to be in the age of optimizing for growth no matter what, now we've shifted as profitability has become what companies want to achieve. How do you think about that balance? * What's one thing you would change about the fundraising process? * Was there an early mistake that you made while building Fernish that changed the way you thought about business strategy or business in general? * What's one piece of advice that you have for founders?

This episode are highlights from my conversation with Michael Barlow, CEO of Fernish. Thank you Anna Barber for the intro to today's guest, Michael Barlow ( https://twitter.com/mleebarlow ) , founder and CEO of Fernish ( https://fernish.com/ ). Fernish offers premium furniture rentals that feel like home, delivered and assembled in a week. If you enjoy this episode, click here to listen to my full conversation with XXX