Podcasts about The Vitamin Shoppe

This week's podcast kicks off with senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels discussing Klarna's latest earnings, which showed that a growing number of the BNPL service's users defaulting on their loans. In other news, Dockers and The Vitamin Shoppe were both acquired by respective companies. Levi Strauss announced the sale of khakis maker Dockers to Authentic Brands Group for $311 million. The Vitamin Shoppe was bought out by Kingswood Capital Management and Performance Investment Partners for an undisclosed amount. Both sales are examples of struggling retailers trying to find their footing with modern customers. Later in the episode (22:18), Daniels speaks with Liran Golan, the chief supply chain officer at Bansk Beauty that holds hair care brands Amika, Eva NYC and Ethique. They discuss how tariff policy changes can impact brands beyond the duties themselves, with a ripple effect on how brands make, manage and move their product.

If you remember from about two weeks ago…within the opening portion of another content piece about the specialty retail brand, I stated that “while we patiently wait for the approved chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring proposal involving Franchise Group, which is the portfolio company that owns The Vitamin Shoppe.” And I recognized that a big announcement would be coming soon because I've closely watched the court proceedings, which was a promise I made to my audience within that original Franchise Group Chapter 11 bankruptcy from more than six months ago. Moreover, at the very end of that November 2024 content, I mentioned that "while it's highly-unlikely…The Vitamin Shoppe could be owned by a group that isn't the current debt holders. And if that happens…well, this content series will get a whole lot more interesting!" But here we are! On April 16, 2025, Kingswood Capital Management and Performance Investment Partners announced that they had collectively entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Vitamin Shoppe from Franchise Group. And subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close later within this current quarter. But I already know what everyone is going to think next…how much? Well…along with assuming liabilities, the private equity firms will make a cash payment of $193.5 million to purchase the assets of The Vitamin Shoppe. But after learning that information…you might be thinking, isn't that acquisition price quite low for a specialty retail brand that was generating over a billion dollars in revenue, reporting YoY growth, and achieving operational profitability in the trailing twelve months before the May 2023 Franchise Group management buyout? If I had all the updated financial information, I could answer definitively…but compared to the revenue or EBITDA multiples of CPG brands that you usually hear me breakdown, retail trade businesses are much lower. Yet, we can assume the private equity firms involved got a great deal, especially because of the Franchise Group bankruptcy situation. Though, if The Vitamin Shoppe was never off-limits, and the Franchise Group were always looking to make deals…why not sell it before the bankruptcy filing (you know) when you arguably have more leverage to increase the potential purchase price? Well…as we've learned through this bankruptcy process, Franchise Group did indeed gauge market interest and initiated a broad search for any potential buyers in connection with a potential sale of The Vitamin Shoppe on a few occasions, but no actionable proposals were received. And before I dive into any of my strategic commentary or predictions, it's probably contextually relevant to understand the asset purchase agreement stated that The Vitamin Shoppe was currently not growing revenue and failing to meet the Franchise Group profitability targets. So, this is not a specialty retailer that was thriving (or obviously in a place of strength) heading into a challenging consumer spending year…within a category reverting back to growth rates seen prior to the “Great Shutdown” era. But for the final part of my latest first principles thinking content, I'll analyze how the new ownership potentially impacts The Vitamin Shoppe. Also, I'll look for any established patterns of action within the private equity buyers...like when Kingswood Capital Management acquired G Fuel in 2023, it replaced the CEO. And that's exactly what it will officially do when The Vitamin Shoppe transaction closes...bringing back the previous CEO Sharon Leite.

Is the “Age of Ozempic” reshaping The Vitamin Shoppe? In May 2024, The Vitamin Shoppe introduced a telehealth service called Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe that safely and seamlessly connects patients with licensed healthcare providers in real time…streamlining access to GLP-1 agonist medications, both branded and compounded versions (that is until the FDA recently updated its drug supply shortage list, making compounding a FD&C Act volitation). Moreover, these telehealth services are offered alongside The Vitamin Shoppe's industry-leading education resources, as well as nutritionist-recommended supplements to help optimize the weight loss journey for healthy results. So, with Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe targeting personalized care verticals, instead of a wide range of treatment and care needs like GNC Health…the better comparable company analysis would be Hims & Hers. And interestingly enough, within a piece of content from November 2021…my words arguably created the foundation for this entire Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe strategy! But a behavioral change that arguably started gaining importance about a decade prior…when more individuals began viewing themselves as consumers in the healthcare market compared to solely being patients. Because of that, consumer healthcare has begun evolving from a reactive, one-size-fits-all approach to a distinctively proactive, personalized, and integrative approach. But as you'd imagine that marketplace evolution has created immense opportunities. Though, this why specialty supplement retailers must have a foundational mindset that place customers at the center of a flexible, almost choose your own adventure style of shopping…acknowledging wellness-minded consumers are also more “solution aware” due to the sheer access to information substitutions. And this was partly why my “vision for the future” included specialty supplement retailers and pharmacy (drug channel) retailers converging into wellness retailers. Specialty shouldn't mean singular solution, thus a retailer like The Vitamin Shoppe must continue evolving its total solutions to become a bigger part of the wellness journey. Alternatively, “trying to be everything to everyone” can be problematic, which is why I mentioned earlier about The Vitamin Shoppe essentially taking the “depth” over “breadth” page out of the Hims & Hers strategic playbook. By increasing optionality of solutions for only its most compelling valuable consumer cohorts, The Vitamin Shoppe can more effectively deliver an experience that removes barriers and provides access to better health that is approachable, personalized, and convenient. And while I believe physicians are quickly becoming more educated around how patients can manage the early phase of the process, what side effects to anticipate, and how to mitigate or manage those side effects…there's also a significant education and nutrition support role for specialty retailers, as consumers look for help navigating this new, confusing “Age of Ozempic” world. But with the launch of its new private label brand, GLP-1 Support from Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe…the specialty retailer recognized it was well-positioned to fill a critical gap in the market for tailored nutritional support. But then for the final portion of my latest first principles thinking content, I wanted to give my outlook for Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe.

An almost billion-dollar supplement brand portfolio (you've likely never heard of before) just turned CBUM into a corporate sellout. So, let's talk about it! And even if this deal announcement was released publicly on April 1st…I guarantee there's nothing foolish about this M&A activity. But before I give you the legitimate “insider” deep dive insights I can guarantee won't be found anywhere else on the internet…it would be prudent of me to start by covering key press release details from the RAW Nutrition, BUM Energy, and The Quality Group M&A news. And since the bulk of my audience is based within the United States…maybe beginning with the “buy side” would be ideal. The Quality Group was formed in December 2020 with the business combination of the sports nutrition brand ESN and nutritional products brand More Nutrition. ESN was founded in 2004…and is now the sports nutrition categorical leaders within the German market. And then More Nutrition was founded 13 years after ESN but has leveraged a strong social media presence and influencer marketing…landing the nutritional products brand within the top 3 German market categorical leaders. The Quality Group is headquartered north of Hamburg (Germany) and employs more than 1200 people…mostly due to it currently producing more than half its massive product range in house. And while 2024 full-year financial results weren't released yet, The Quality Group reported revenue of around 680 million Euros (or about $750 million dollars) in 2023. Furthermore, the fourth largest global private equity firm, CVC Capital Partners, acquired a majority stake in The Quality Group about three years ago…valuing the business at 800 million Euros (or about $880 million dollars). So, as you can assume from that mid-2022 business valuation to the beforementioned revenue amount reported 18 months later…the two founders staying operationally active, CVC Capital Partners injection of liquidity, and experienced management team CVC brought on have grown the business substantially (and quickly). But maybe it was that last point, surrounding the desire to find a strategic growth partner and them allowing founders to stay operationally active, that ultimately led to this specific M&A transaction. So, effective immediately…RAW Nutrition's Co-Founder and CEO, Domenic Iacovone, and six-time Classic Physique Mr. Olympia Champion and RAW Nutrition co-owner Chris Bumstead will both become co-owners of The Quality Group. Moreover, RAW Nutrition and The Quality Group will remain independent partners as they seek to build long-term value for their consumers. Founded in 2019, Raw Nutrition had moderate success initially but has exploded since Chris Bumstead came onboard as a co-owner in September 2021. Over the last few years, Raw Nutrition has been recognized as the “Brand of the Year” by both GNC and The Vitamin Shoppe. Additionally, RAW Nutrition was recognized in 2024 as not only the fastest-growing sports nutrition brand (but fastest-growing CPG company overall) by Inc. Magazine. And I alluded to this earlier, but BUM Energy, an upstart energy drink brand created by Chris Bumstead in July 2023…was also included within The Quality Group acquisition. And the final portion of my latest principles thinking content will analyze the future outlook and possible implications surrounding the various stakeholders involved...including the RAW Nutrition, BUM Energy, The Quality Group, CVC Capital Partners, and the supplement industry.

HUGE SHOW: It has been a long week as Corey Feldman attempted to drag our good names through the mud last Saturday! Jim and Them are back to respond and everyone is excited! Disgusting Filth Pigs: Corey Feldman dubs us "disgusting filth pigs" and "inhuman" with crazy accusations that we were taking pictures of his girlfriend near his house and causing his divorce. Challenge: Jim puts a challenge out to Corey Feldman, to end this beef once and for all so we can officially enter the friendship arc. COREY FELDMAN!, SHOW STOPPER!, LET'S JUST TALK!, DON CHEADLE!, BOOGIE NIGHTS!, WOLFPAC!, DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE WOLF PACK!, EROK!, NWO!, OBAMNA!, TTS!, EXCITED!, LONGEST WEEK!, EVIL!, SICK!, TWISTED!, SCUMBAGS!, WOLFPACK 2.1!, OGUS!, EDGING ALL WEEK!, OBAMNA!, WRESTLEMANIA!, FIRST SUPERCHAT NAME!, POWDERKEG!, FALLOUT!, ZEN FELDMAN!, VIDEO!, DONATIONS!, ACCUSATIONS!, INSTAGRAM LIVE!, SPEED ROUND!, NEW NAMES!, FINSTA!, EX-WIFE!, SUSANNAH SPAGUE!, CDOGG22!, PETTY!, COMPLIMENTS!, HACKING!, PARENTS!, SPRAGUE!, YEEHAW!, ALL CONNECTED!, HORUSEYEZEN!, BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM!, FAIREST PODCAST!, NOTHING BUT FAIR!, DOCUMENTARY!, STOLEN!, PUT UP A WEBSITE!, WILL STOP AT NOTHING!, SEEK ATTENTION!, DISGUSTING FILTH PIGS!, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU!, HDM!, REFUND!, ORDERS!, WEB STORE!, HACKS!, DEBUNKED!, FBI!, POLICE!, NSA!, BELITTED!, AYO!, PAUSE!, MASE!, CAM'RON!, GOONIES!, SEAN ASTIN!, LETHAL WEAPON!, DANGEROUS!, WORMWOOD!, VITAMIN SHOPPE!, PODCASTS!, WARNING!, RPG!, SPELL!, POP CULTURE!, HALLUCINATION!, COCOBUNS!, THOUGHTS!, PRAYERS!, LEGISLATION!, KILL BILL!, NUMBERS DOWN!, LEGISLATION!, FELDMANUAL!, ADRIEN SKYE!, HAUNTED!, CAST OF CHARACTERS!  You can find the videos from this episode at our Discord RIGHT HERE!

Can you name the health and wellness retailer that generates between four to five times more revenue selling categorical products online than the combined efforts of GNC and The Vitamin Shoppe? And here's a hint for you…it's not Amazon! Since the bulk of my audience is located within the United States, I'm going to assume that iHerb probably wasn't the first health and wellness online retailer that popped into your head. So, despite its massive multibillion-dollar success…iHerb isn't widely known in the U.S. market, mostly because the vast majority of its commercial activity happens internationally. But before blooming into a global powerhouse, iHerb began almost three decades ago as a Yahoo store selling St. John's Wort supplements online. And after the founder forgot to disable the international orders feature when the website launched, iHerb started getting orders from countries like South Korea. But rather than turning off the feature, iHerb decided to start fulfilling them. As sales started to grow, iHerb opened its first fulfillment center in 2002…marking the beginning of a strategic expansion that will soon include nine state-of-the-art logistics operations across the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. And because of its relentless focus on revolutionizing logistics solutions, iHerb can serve the health and wellness needs of customers located in 180 countries…maintaining an average global shipping time of less than five days and offering free shipping in 80 countries. Moreover, iHerb strives to create a localized shopping experience by translating its shopping platform into 22 languages and accepting more than 80 different currencies. Furthermore, iHerb has expanded its online marketplaces presence…reaching more consumers worldwide through 25 digital stores on platforms like Amazon, Tmall, Rakuten, and Coupang. But after a 22-year long journey, from selling a single supplement product to becoming a global leader in the health and wellness industry…iHerb surpassed $1 billion in annual sales. And while that was an enormous accomplishment, it only took iHerb six more years to reach $2 billion in annual sales. In fact, iHerb exceeded $2.4 billion in net sales last year…reflecting a YoY growth of 14.5%. And then for the final portion of my latest first principles thinking content, I'll briefly share my professional experience with iHerb, but more importantly provide a helpful geographical expansion strategic framework (that includes how to best leverage iHerb) for all my brand operators within the intersecting CPG categories of functional foods, functional beverages, and nutritional supplements.

Applied Nutrition might be growing above its previous IPO expectations, but can the company derive enough freshness from strategic partnerships to generate the type of consistent returns needed to win the hearts of external market stakeholders? Applied Nutrition Plc (LSE: APN) is a leading sports nutrition, health and wellness brand, which formulates and creates nutrition products targeted at a wide range of consumers and sold in over 80 countries worldwide. There are several product ranges under the Applied Nutrition Group, including the namesake Applied Nutrition, All Black Everything (ABE), Body Fuel, and Endurance. Additionally, because of a trademark issue, the U.S. division sells its products under the AN Supps company name. Over the first six months of fiscal 2025, Applied Nutrition reported generating revenue just shy of $60 million, which I believe would be an increase of around 19% YoY. It was also noted in the statement that the adjusted EBITDA margin was in line with expectations. And while no actual numbers were provided, we can assume an adjusted EDITDA margin around the company's historical average of about 29%. But I'll use that last point around strong net profitability as my transition towards analyzing the “significant progress towards its growth strategy” delivered by Applied Nutrition recently...and that starts with an existing capital allocation pattern reinvested profits back into the company's manufacturing capabilities and operational facilities. From previous financial documents, we know that about 80% of all Applied Nutrition products are self-manufactured, which allows the company to quickly evolve its product strategy to access emerging trends and fill opportunity gaps across the marketplace (positively impacting growth of distribution points and shelf space with existing and new customers). But that vertical integration element can also be leveraged by Applied Nutrition for geographical expansion…with about 60% of its total revenue currently being captured from commercial activities outside its home market of the UK. But arguably the most important geographical expansion progress has been happening within the United States. And the most notable news would be the launch of “AN Performance” products across The Vitamin Shoppe stores nationwide. Additionally, and this is partly in reference to that “freshness” introductory comment, but the company partnered with global fruit brand Chiquita to launch “officially licensed flavors” of several AN Performance products. And while I'm just a single peanut in the gallery of many…I've tried each of those AN Performance Chiquita products and I'd rate them very high in terms of flavor matching, flavor likeability, and formulation approach. Now…does that mean anything? I've certainly (let's call it “knighted” because of the company's British roots) many of the functional CPG products well before they went on to outsized mainstream commercial success, but most of my early conviction built around certain new products is directly tied to the “freshness” (aka appealing distinctiveness) of its brand strategy. So, while having those great (glocalized) Applied Nutrition products is a foundational element to unlocking any chance of U.S. marketplace success…I'll breakdown why I'm still hesitant to make louder and more confident declarations on the company's long-term success within the U.S. market.

Happiness Solved with Sandee Sgarlata. In this episode, Sandee interviews Danielle Pashko. Danielle Pashko is a Functional Nutritionist and Chronic Illness Coach with two decades of experience. Her specialties are immune health, weight loss, digestive health, children's nutrition, women's health, Lyme Disease, and Long COVID. When Danielle became ill herself with Chronic Lyme Disease and Long Covid, her knowledge of nutrition and functional health wasn't what ultimately healed her. She immersed herself in internal Martial Arts (Tai Chi and Qigong), which ultimately were the most effective healers. She went from being chronically fatigued to currently practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu (Bruce Lee's practice) through building up her internal strength with these ancient disciplines. She now wants to share them with the world. Her expertise in the wellness field has led to articles and videos on health and beauty for several publications including The NY Post, PIX11 NY News, Fox and Friends, NY1 News, ABC News, CBS News, The Vitamin Shoppe, Chase Bank, USA Today, Reader's Digest, I24 News, YPO and more. She is the author of Weight Loss Mistakes Even Healthy Chicks Make and Smile at Your Challenges. Connect with Danielle:Website: https://soulhakker.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesoulhakker/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PashkoWellness/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesoulhakker Connect with Sandee: Website: www.sandeesgarlata.comPodcast: www.happinesssolved.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/coachsandeesgarlataTwitter: www.twitter.com/sandeesgarlataInstagram: www.instagram.com/coachsandeesgarlata

We have a great show planned for our listeners today, we will share a Revolutionary all-natural approach to upper respiratory and oral care health. We shared about fluoride in the water supply, ways to support oral care, and ended with respiratory tips for the cold months ahead.Our guest today is our good friend, Nathan Jones.  It has been over 2 decades now (2000) since he founded Xlear, Inc., the xylitol-product based company whose revolutionary all-natural approach to upper respiratory and oral health has improved the quality of life for people around the globe.Most allergens enter the body through the nose, although the mouth and eyes are also common entry points. Keeping these gateways to the body clean is of utmost importance during allergy season if you want to reduce symptoms and not rely on antihistamines. There are other products out there, such as Xlear Nasal Spray with xylitol, which can help keep the nasal passage clean and clear of seasonal allergies, all without the negative side effects that antihistamines can cause. The addition of xylitol allows Xlear to be hypertonic, without causing the uncomfortable burning sensation that accompanies traditional saline nasal sprays. This hypertonicity means that more moisture is being pulled into the nose to help wash out contaminants and ensure the nose and sinuses are hydratedIf you're on the lookout for an antihistamine-free remedy to your allergies this season, give Xlear a try.Xlear Nasal Products are available at Walgreens, CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, Rite Aid, Target, Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and most natural products retailers nationwide. They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.Spry Dental Products are available at Wegmans, Vitamin Shoppe, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Natural Grocers, and most all Natural market retailers.  They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.Learn more about Xylitol 101Check out Xlear's NEW online store

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you'll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Rose Hamilton, CEO and founder of Compass Rose Ventures, shares insights from her extensive experience helping CPG brands scale and prepare for exits. With a background at companies like Best Buy, The Vitamin Shop, and Pet360, Rose now specializes in working with founders and investors in the health, wellness, pet, beauty, and food industries. Rose emphasizes the importance of staying connected to customers while scaling, noting that founders often lose touch with their core market as they grow. She advises founders to begin with the end in mind when preparing for an exit, implementing proper systems and processes early, and building strong communities around brands. Rose highlights the value of the crucial "three Ps" that founders should have in place within their business - people, process, and systems - and warns against common pitfalls like trying to do everything alone or hiring too quickly. For more details and insights from her entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Rose Hamilton has 20+ years of experience working with and advising 50+ consumer companies of all sizes, including Petsmart, The Vitamin Shoppe, Nutrafol, and Mend. Rose has helped raise over $70M in funding and generated over $600M in additional revenue by applying her proven omnichannel and community-led methodology. She specializes in providing consumer executives with direct, thoughtful, and strategic outside perspective. Website: https://compassroseventures.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosehamilton/ Check Out Flippa's Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You'll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

We have a great episode planned for you today and will cover “The Holidays” & Our Digestion.Joining us today is Naturopathic Practitioner, Jane Jansen of the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts. Jane has the unique perspective as a medical professional who, prior to becoming a naturopathic practitioner, spent years in Radiology and Ultrasound doing research and performing tests on patients with varying types of health problems.We look forward all year to family traditions enjoying our favorite recipes for food, beverages and treats during the holidays. Traveling to see friends and family or hosting special events. But during the holidays our digestive systems can take a beating.But let's be real, most of the daily habits that keep our digestion healthy during the year, get put on hold during the holidays. Over-indulging, staying up late, and stress physically and emotionally is part of most holidays as there are so many things to do!So, what do practitioners recommend to keep our digestive system balanced, yet still be able to enjoy the rich treats this holiday season?According to Jane Jahnsen, a Naturopathic practitioner, I often advise my patients to practice moderation and balance their holiday food and drink choices, On the actual holiday don't worry about enjoying yourself, unless you have specific health concerns that your doctor says otherwise. But don't give yourself excuses to overindulge every day leading up to or every day after the holiday. That includes food, treats, and beverages. Be mindful of becoming over stressed, or not sleeping well too. Your body talks to you all the time, listening to it and it will tell you when you, and your microbiome, are out of balance.Let's remind everyone that Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics are available at Natural Grocers, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods,and other natural health retailers across the U.S. Also available online.Visit www.essentialformulas.com for a retailer near you.Learn more about Jane

Live from the Kyowa Hakko USA booth at Supply Side West 2024 in Las Vegas, Mike and Ben sit down for a functional beverage roundtable featuring Lou Ferrer (MacroCap Labs) and Darin Decker (Applied Nutrition USA). MacroCap Labs is a dietary supplement manufacturer that has aggressively moved into the canned beverage industry — they're the ones responsible for canning the wonderful XPO NRG drinks that were on display at the expo. Applied Nutrition needs no introduction in this space, but Darin joined us just before the exclusive AN Performance launch at The Vitamin Shoppe. This is a follow-up to the previous Kyowa discussion at SupplySide West 2023, #118: Ghost, Glaxon, & Cellucor on Branded Ingredients: Kyowa Panel at SSW 2023. The conversation highlights the shift in consumer preferences towards products with research-backed benefits, citing the decline in alcohol sales and the trend of more conscious consumption decisions. The panelists emphasize the role of education and access to information in driving this change, with Darin sharing the impact of resources like Ben's content in educating the market. The discussion then explores the challenges and trends in beverage manufacturing, with Lou providing insights on the need for simplicity and consistency in formulations. The panel also delves into the strategies for market penetration, with Darin emphasizing the significance of distribution, influencer marketing, and providing acute sensations and benefits to consumers. Quality control and ingredient stability emerge as crucial factors, as the panelists underscore the importance of ensuring a consistent experience to build long-term consumer loyalty. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/kyowa-hakko-beverage-panel-ssw-2024 Video: Lou Ferrer and Darin Decker Dig Into Functional Beverages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HY9F5H2lts (00:00) – Introduction and Collaboration (02:15) – Consumer Shift Towards Functional Ingredients (05:45) – Education and Access to Information (08:45) – Consumer Identification and Community (12:45) – Influencer Marketing and Consumer Awareness (16:00) – Challenges and Trends in Beverage Manufacturing (19:45) – Distribution Strategy and Market Penetration (25:00) – Quality Control and Consistency (31:00) – Closing Thoughts and Future Prospects Where to Follow Darin and Lou Lou Ferrer on LinkedIn Darin Decker on LinkedIn AN USA on PricePlow MacroCap Labs Website Thanks to Kyowa Hakko USA for hosting, and to Lou and Darin for joining us in our second annual get-together! You can listen to our conversation from 2023. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on any platform, and leave us a great review on iTunes and Spotify!

It took only a year, but it seems MusclePharm has again become a victim of product line extension creep. For those unaware, the supplement brands that are within the FitLife Brands portfolio are now categorized in three segments: Legacy FitLife Brands, which is broken into two sub-segments…NDS Products (which are a collection of brands mostly sold in the GNC franchise system), iSatori Products (which are a collection of brands sold through a diversified retail mix), and then Mimi's Rock Corporation Products (which are a collection of brands mostly sold on Amazon), and MusclePharm. In total, the FitLife Brands portfolio is sold through more than 20,000 retail locations globally. In the third quarter of 2024, FitLife Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FTLF) had revenues of $16 million…which was up 15% YoY. But though that YoY growth rate obviously looks strong, it's important to remember that those reported results were greatly impacted by the MusclePharm acquisition that closed in October 2023. While there's strategic initiatives going on at legacy FitLife Brands and Mimi's Rock, the most intriguing segment within FitLife Brands is also currently its smallest...MusclePharm. In the third quarter of 2024, MusclePharm segment revenue was $2.5 million. And if you were wondering about YoY comparatives, let's just say the Eric Hilman run MusclePharm bankrupt version outsold this current version. But that's probably an apples-to-oranges comparison because Eric Hillman was focused on survival by any means necessary, and FitLife Brands is attempting to make strategic business decisions that support and optimize long-term growth. But while the sales channel mix of MusclePharm is currently 50/50 wholesale and online…it's very likely the brand's biggest long-term opportunities will come from offline retail. FitLife Brands has been making progress with new wholesale partners…noting that it secured placement for MusclePharm's Combat Sport protein bars in several regional grocery and convenience chains. Moreover, FitLife Brands also announced that it would be launching a new advanced premium product line extension called MusclePharm Pro Series. The product lineup is said to currently consist of nine SKUs…and will be sold exclusively at The Vitamin Shoppe starting in the first quarter of next year. And here we go again! This has been a central theme within the MusclePharm story for much of the last decade…and what ultimately killed the sports nutrition brand. MusclePharm has chased off-brand trend after off-brand trend through line extensions…totally wrecking any semblance of what the brand stands for, and basically losing all emotional connection with consumers. Instead of supporting the brand/customer long-term, MusclePharm focused on pandering to retailer requests for this (or that) exclusive line extension. And while line extension creep at MusclePharm obviously started way before the acquisition, it's surprising that FitLife Brands didn't highlight that underlying driver of failure and learn from those past experiences. But all this shows me is that FitLife Brands still has no vision around MusclePharm. FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joshua-schall/support

INTRO (00:00): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Forager Honey Rye Ale from Crosstown Brewing in Memphis. She reviews her weekend playing The Ryman in Nashville, sharing the history of the iconic building. TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her Day Drinking Tour.COURT NEWS (21:29): Kathleen shares news on Chappell Roan's support for her hometown LGTBQ event and she and Taylor Swift rack up Grammy nominations, and Stevie Nicks finished recording her Christmas duet with Jason Kelce.TASTING MENU (4:40): Kathleen samples Wild Huckleberry gummy grizzlies, Gibble's homestyle potato chips, and Korean Lay's Cucumber chips. UPDATES (35:10): Kathleen shares updates on TGI Friday's unused gift cards, and NY Post journalist declared dead by Martha Stewart is actually alive and writing.“HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT” (42:28): Kathleen is amazed to read about the discovery of a lost Amazon city in the rainforest, and Amelia Earhart's plane was reported found but ended up being a giant pile of rocks. FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (47:50): Kathleen shares articles on a raccoon falling through the ceiling at LGA Airport, Barnes & Noble is expanding, Vitamin Shoppe files for bankruptcy, major corporations are calling work-from-home employees back to the office, police hunt 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility, Leinenkugel's brewery is closing in Wisconsin, a mysterious “woyote” dog is caught on camera in Minnesota, and Notre Dame's bells ring out in Paris for the first time since the 2019 fire. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING (38:20): Kathleen recommends watching “Lee” on Amazon Prime, and “Somebody Somewhere” on HBO Max. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's Modern Retail Rundown, an overview of the potential importing tariffs the retail industry faces, as proposed by Trump's incoming administration. Elsewhere, retail bankruptcies continue as companies like The Vitamin Shoppe and Blink Fitness seek bailouts to avoid going out of business. Finally, Shein has brought on another legacy American retailer, The Children's Place, to sell on its marketplace.

Franchise Group Inc. just voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which maybe means something to The Vitamin Shoppe…but probably less than you initially assume. Last week, there were rumblings in the legacy financial media that Franchise Group Inc., the owner of specialty retail brands including The Vitamin Shoppe, was preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within the next week. Then, this weekend, I get an email from a PR agency (representing The Vitamin Shoppe) providing me with a nice, pre-packaged quote…likely because The Vitamin Shoppe leadership knew I'd be creating a “what does this news really mean” content for supplement industry professionals (many of which own, lead, or work at vendor brands). About five years ago, The Vitamin Shoppe was in the midst of an aggressive strategic turnaround plan under new CEO…when it was determined that the best go-forward strategy included selling itself to an entity (at the time) known as Liberty Tax for $208 million. After that acquisition, Liberty Tax would change its name to Franchise Group, Inc. and go on to acquire several other franchise businesses. Over the next 3.5 years, it would operate as a publicly traded entity until it was decided in May 2023 that the portfolio would be taken private through a $2.6 billion management buyout. The group that bought Franchise Group was led by then-CEO Brian Kahn…but included a consortium of other investment banks and private equity firms (like B. Riley Financial). But this is where things get a bit messy…because a handful of months later, Brain Kahn (amid a criminal investigation into his role in a securities fraud case tied to the collapse of a defunct hedge fund) stepped down as the CEO. Yet, that's not the primary reason why Franchise Group just filed voluntary petitions for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The actual explanation requires knowledge of the Franchise Group portfolio businesses, recent operational performance, and a bit of economics 101. At the time of the management buyout, Franchise Group owned an assortment of retail assets that obviously included The Vitamin Shoppe, but also Pet Supplies Plus, Buddy's Home Furnishings, Badcock Furniture, American Freight and Sylvan Learning. And in the last quarter of performance (with that retail brand portfolio), Franchise Group generated $1.1 billion in revenue…but had a net loss from operations of about $108 million. And the economy hasn't materially improved (or shifted) since that May 2023 management buyout timing…so Franchise Group started shedding troubled assets. But that wasn't enough…especially as even The Vitamin Shoppe and Pet Supplies Plus underperformed operationally to Franchise Group expectations. So, then when you consider that the Federal Reserve hadn't started cutting interest rates until just recently…there was just too much debt on the balance sheet, and the business continuity outlook was grim without seeking out bankruptcy protection. But because this bankruptcy lists assets and liabilities each between $1 billion and $10 billion…it will most likely take months to be finalized. So, consider this the first content piece in a series. But based on what we know right now, my latest first principles thinking content will breakdown how this Franchise Group bankruptcy impacts the different stakeholders of The Vitamin Shoppe including employees, customers, vendors, and the corporate entity. FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joshua-schall/support

In today's episode, we cover significant updates shaping the furniture industry, from major store closures to shifts in consumer behavior and key performance metrics. Here are the top stories:1. American Freight Store ClosuresNationwide Closure: American Freight will shut down all stores following parent company Franchise Group's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Store closing sales began on November 5th, driven by sustained inflation and economic challenges in the durable goods sector.Broader Impact: The closures represent a notable shift in the retail landscape, particularly impacting the value-oriented segment and displacing a large workforce.Restructuring at Franchise Group: The group has secured $250 million in financing to support other holdings, such as Pet Supplies Plus and The Vitamin Shoppe.2. Consumer Shopping TrendsRise in Online Purchases: While 50% of consumers still prefer in-store shopping, online purchases are rising, especially in bedroom sets, office furniture, and lighting.Drivers of Digital Shift: Key incentives for online shopping include better pricing (27%), free delivery (25%), and broader selection.Influence of Reviews and Social Shopping: Furniture shoppers rely heavily on reviews, with 31% checking them before buying, and more than a third shopping with family or friends for input. Popular items include mattresses, lighting, and bedroom sets, with younger generations and families showing higher purchase rates.3. Industry Performance MetricsDecline in Orders and Shipments: August orders dropped 7% year-over-year, with shipments down 10% from 2023. However, shipments did show a 14% improvement from July.Backlogs and Recovery Outlook: Industry backlogs fell by 10% compared to last August, and experts cautiously predict potential market recovery by mid-2025, contingent on a housing market rebound.4. Retail Foot Traffic TrendsTop Performers: HomeGoods led Q3 retail visits with an 8.1% increase, followed closely by Costco at 7.2%. Consistent growth throughout 2024 highlights Costco's ability to attract value-conscious consumers.Discount Retailers Gain Traction: BJ's Wholesale, TJMaxx, and Marshalls saw foot traffic gains above 5%, while Target and Walmart experienced modest increases.5. Wayfair's E-commerce ResilienceMarket Share and Loyalty Initiatives: Despite a slight 2% revenue decline in Q3, Wayfair's average order value rose by 4.4%, driven by optimized pricing, logistics, and a subscription-based rewards program. The company has gained market share every quarter since late 2022.Positioned for Growth: Wayfair's strategy of cutting operational costs and enhancing customer experience has positioned it well for future growth as the market stabilizes.Stay Updated: For ongoing insights into the furniture industry, subscribe to Furniture Industry News to stay informed on trends, data, and essential news impacting your business.

opular health sites claim meat is pro-inflammatory—but what does the science say? Vitamin Shoppe announces it will add prescription testosterone to its sports supplement offerings; Over half of ginkgo leaf extracts adulterated—as are many other herbal products sold by sketchy companies; What does TSH reveal about thyroid function? Should minerals be avoided when taking thyroid medication?

At one point during our conversation with Four Sigmatic founder and CEO Tero Isokauppila, he recounts a story about playing golf with the CEO of a large and well-known U.S. retailer. The executive told Tero that Four Sigmatic wouldn't be successful because of its esoteric brand name. It's fair to say that the CEO underestimated the trailblazing company. Founded in 2012, Four Sigmatic pioneered the now thriving category of mushroom-centric food and beverages. The brand markets a platform of organic ground coffee, protein powders, creamers and supplements that are infused with functional fungi, including reishi, lion's mane and chaga.  Four Sigmatic's flagship mushroom coffee is the leading ground coffee on Amazon, and is the anchor for its significant e-commerce business, which represents more than half of its sales. The brand is also represented at major retail chains, including Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, GNC, Albertsons and The Vitamin Shoppe and generates tens of millions of dollars annually. In this episode, Tero talks about how his personal background as part of the 13th generation of a Finnish farming family influenced his decision to launch Four Sigmatic, navigating an ahead-of-its-time trend, how he overcame “making every mistake a founder can make,” and how the company aligns category insights and innovation. Show notes: 0:35: Tero Isokauppila, Founder & CEO, Four Sigmatic – Tero and Ray kick things off with a brief chat about Kalsarikännit, a Finnish word with a very strange definition, before the entrepreneur talks about his family's farm, the reason why children generally avoid mushrooms and whether “sigma” will show up more often in Four Sigmatic social posts. Tero also explains how his parents' professions influenced his education and created a foundation for his foray into entrepreneurship, why he says “mushrooms chose me,” and how Four Sigmatic addresses consumer skepticism about fungi. He also talks about how the company planned and participated in sampling demos and events early into its development, the impact of sponsoring podcasts in the development of the brand, and how a boom in mushroom-infused food and beverages has affected awareness and misinformation about functional mushrooms. Tero also discusses the evolution of Four Sigmatic's package design and why the brand emphasizes functionality more than it has in the past, why he doesn't believe that great packaging is an indicator of potential success for early-stage brands, and why he views his brand's name as “part of our journey.” He also talks about Four Sigmatic's success on e-commerce and why the company needs to evaluate its strategy every 6-12 months, his perspective on investing time and resources on Amazon vs. DTC, why he advises new entrepreneurs that when it comes to product development “just do the one thing,” and why he describes category management as “both an art and a science.” Tero also explains how Amazon and Whole Foods are creating a synergistic omnichannel platform and talks about his funding strategy as an angel investor and how price and taste influence his perspective. Brands in this episode: Four Sigmatic, Annie's, Once Upon A Farm

On this episode of Flirtations, we're taking on the intriguing world of the "Good Guy with a Bad Boy Edge!" What makes this combination so irresistible? How can you navigate the unique dynamics of such a fella? What about dating this guy?! Whether you're drawn to the dependable nature of the good guy or the thrill and mystery of the bad boy, this episode offers something for you! With our guests Taylor Byrd and Knox Peake, we'll break down the characteristics that define these dual-natured individuals, discuss the challenges and benefits of dating them, and provide tips on how to find balance in dating this enticing individual. Tune in for a fun, lighthearted, and informative discussion that will leave you with a fresh perspective on love and dating. Whether you're currently dating a good guy with a bad boy edge or just curious about the allure, this episode is a must-listen! We'll also be getting into some "Southern Dating Secrets" as an added bonus! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Flirtations on your favorite podcast platform, and follow us on social media for more dating tips and insights! About our guests:  The tea ain't the only thing sweet around here. An Alabama boy with a NYC mouth, giving you belly laughs and jaw drops like clock work, Taylor Byrd, who you may now as "Sweet T," has built a platform of 2 million+ across social media with his authenticity and candid takes about life. You can follow him on TikTok and Instagram! Knox Peake is a global adventurer and content creator who grew up and currently lives in North Carolina. Knox is passionate about the outdoors, travel, fashion, dogs, and more. He is an LGBTQ+ rights advocate and offers his audience daily inspiration and positivity. He grew his Instagram page organically and has partnered with brands such as Saucony Footwear, JCPenney, Swiss Army Knife, Land Rover, Ritz-Carlton, Food Lion, Sheetz, StarKist, Bojangles, LifeStance Health, The Vitamin Shoppe, Nutro Pet Food, and multiple beer brewers as well as many men's grooming brands. In addition, he has collaborated with various travel and hospitality organizations. He has multiple upcoming campaigns that are true to his heart and you can find him on Instagram and Threads @knoxpeake and his website www.knoxpeake.com. About your host:  Benjamin is a flirt and dating coach sharing his love of flirting and BFE - big flirt energy, with the world! A lifelong introvert and socially anxious member of society, Benjamin now helps singles and daters alike flirt with more confidence, clarity, and fun! As the flirt is all about connection, Benjamin helps the flirt community (the flirties!) date from a place that allows the value of connection in all forms - platonic and romantic connection - to take center stage and transform lives for greater healing and ultimately, a deeper connection with the self. You can connect with Benjamin on Instagram, TikTok, stream the Flirtations Flirtcast everywhere you listen to podcasts (like right here!), and find out more about working together 1:1 here.

This installment of The Axis Effect features Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures. In a where breaking through consumer industries is more daunting than ever, Hamilton possesses a valuable toolset of experience that few can match. With over two decades of experience working with over 30 different private equity firms and consumer brands, including serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at Pet360 and the Chief Digital and eCommerce Officer at The Vitamin Shoppe. Now, she brings that wealth of experience to a wide range of industries through Compass Rose Ventures, where Hamilton and her team advise clients with the intent of helping growing brands achieve the necessary funding needed and eventually launch them to the forefront of mainstream consumer audiences. Hamilton discusses the importance of purpose-driven decision-making, why holding the proper individuals accountable to respective responsibilities is crucial to maintaining an effective infrastructure, and how taking the time to destress can be a game changer for leaders of any company. To learn more, tune in to “Driving Digital Profitability.”

Privia Health's Momentum Enabling Value-Based Care Privia Health is on an upward trajectory, and Dr. Bartley Bryt and Mark Foulke discuss some of the reasons why — including how they are engaging modern health consumers and reducing the administrative burdens of value-based care. All that, plus the Flava of the Week about The Vitamin Shoppe offering weight management services through a telehealth partnership. What do we need to know about nontraditional players in the wellness space, and how are they making fast inroads with digital health services?  Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen/

We have a great show planned for our listeners today, we will share a Revolutionary all-natural approach to upper respiratory and oral care health.Our guest today is our good friend, Nathan Jones.  It has been over 2 decades now (2000) since he founded Xlear, Inc., the xylitol-product based company whose revolutionary all-natural approach to upper respiratory and oral health has improved the quality of life for people around the globe. Most allergens enter the body through the nose, although the mouth and eyes are also common entry points. Keeping these gateways to the body clean is of utmost importance during allergy season if you want to reduce symptoms and not rely on antihistamines. There are other products out there, such as Xlear Nasal Spray with xylitol, which can help keep the nasal passage clean and clear of seasonal allergens, all without the negative side effects that antihistamines can cause. The addition of xylitol allows Xlear to be hypertonic, without causing the uncomfortable burning sensation that accompanies traditional saline nasal sprays. This hypertonicity means that more moisture is being pulled into the nose to help wash out contaminants and ensure the nose and sinuses are hydrated Xlear Nasal Products are available at Walgreens, CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, Rite Aid, Target, Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and most natural products retailers nationwide.  They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.Spry Dental Products are available at Wegmans, Vitamin Shoppe, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Natural Grocers, and most all Natural market retailers.  They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.Learn more about Xylitol 101

It's commonly said that there are three guarantees in this life…death, taxes, and Bodybuilding.com pretty much annually being involved in M&A activity. Since July 2019, Bodybuilding.com has been involved in four confirmed mergers and acquisitions transactions. The first was a related-party transaction that happened between Liberty Expedia Holdings and Expedia Group. About a year later, Expedia Group faced huge market pressures from the “Great Shutdown” decimating the travel industry and it was forced to sell off its non-core assets. That was when private equity firm The Najafi Companies took advantage of the fire sale and attempted to stabilize the struggling specialty supplement ecommerce retailer. But it eventually decided to cut its losses early and sell two years later to Retail Ecommerce Ventures…the retail brand portfolio company that was co-founded by internet personality Tai Lopez. In a piece of content from March 2023, I mentioned Retail Ecommerce Ventures was reportedly in financial trouble and had hired advisors to consider a variety of strategic options that include lining up a potential buyer for its portfolio companies, putting up intellectual property as collateral for a loan or investment, or filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Well…as of last quarter, we now know that a group of investors, that had backed Retail Ecommerce Ventures, under the new company name of OMNI Retail Enterprises, acquired most of the retail brand assets. These include three keystone assets of Dress Barn, Pier 1, and Bodybuilding.com. Subsequentially, Retail Ecommerce Ventures dissolved as an operating entity without resorting to bankruptcy…and Tai Lopez and his co-founder are not involved in the new venture. About a month after the M&A transaction, OMNI Retail Enterprises hired Sharon Leite as the new CEO. If that name sounds familiar, it's because she was the CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe from August 2018 to January 2023. Additionally, Sharon Leite has held leadership positions previously in each of those consumer goods categories, including an 8.5-year stint at the home goods retailer Pier 1 when it had over 1000 stores in North America. But for the final part of this content, I essentially put myself in a hypothetical situation where Sharon calls me up, asks me to take the quick flight from Houston to Dallas, and says give me your Bodybuilding.com transformation pitch. Regardless, I've consistently said in numerous content pieces over the years that I believe there's still value in Bodybuilding.com, but what it doesn't need is another “let's do as we've always done but a little cheaper and expect better results” owner. My hope is that OMNI Retail Enterprises is the type of transformative thinking organization that has sufficient capital and the patience to make Bodybuilding.com great again. FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joshua-schall/support

Prebiotics, Probiotics, & Postbiotics and their Importance to health.Your digestive gut (intestinal tract) is the largest immune system organ, containing up to 80% of your body's immune cells. Therefore, the healthier your digestive system the healthier you generally are and vice versa. Factors like diet, exercise, genes, trauma, illness, lifestyle, medications, infections, and mental health all can influence the state of your gut microbiome. Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics all play an important role in maintaining a microbiome, considered essential to the human body.Everyone is born with a miniature microbiome (eco system) inside the intestines. This ecosystem is populated by trillions of microscopic organisms which include over a thousand species of bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites. Most are good, some are bad.According to the Mayo Clinic, “Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the good bacteria (microflora) in the body. Prebiotics are foods (typically high-fiber foods) that act as food for human microflora.” Postbiotics are healthy by-products after the probiotic strains digest the prebiotics. Joining us today is Naturopathic Practitioner, Jane Jansen of the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts. Jane has the unique perspective as a medical professional who, prior to becoming a naturopathic practitioner, spent years in Radiology and Ultrasound doing research and performing tests on patients with varying types of health problems.HELPFUL ARTICLE Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics are available at Natural Grocers, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, and other natural health retailers across the U.S. Also available online.Visit www.essential formulas.com to find a retailer near you.

On this week's Modern Retail Rundown, the staff starts off discussing Shein's strategy to quietly raise its prices ahead of its anticipated IPO. Meanwhile, TikTok Shop is beginning to compete with Google and other platforms by testing a new image search. Finally, a new report by The Vitamin Shoppe shows a spike in sales of nutritional supplements like protein and meal replacements thanks to the rising popularity of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Jocko Willink admits that he made mistakes during his time in the military. The retired Navy SEAL lieutenant commander, author and entrepreneur says that, in some cases, his errors led to circumstances in which “things went terribly wrong.” Certainly, it's difficult to compare the experiences of leading soldiers on the battlefield and running a CPG company. But Jocko, who is the founder of better-for-you beverage and supplement brand Jocko Fuel, believes that in any situation when mistakes occur, it's important for the person in charge to take ownership, figure out a solution and find a way to make sure the problem doesn't happen again. That perspective is a core tenet of Jocko's leadership style, which guides Jocko Fuel. Born as Jocko Tea in 2018, the brand has evolved into a CPG platform that markets several product lines, including energy drinks, protein shakes, greens powder and hydration beverages. Jocko Fuel has a nationwide retail footprint and is carried at grocery chains H-E-B, Meijer and Wegmans along with GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe and 7-Eleven. We sat down with Jocko for a conversation about the development of Jocko Fuel, including why having a “military mindset” means more than you might think and how his personality and beliefs are embedded into every aspect of the brand. He also talks about empowering his team to navigate the complexities of running a modern consumer brand and its alignment with private equity firm Goode Partners, which invested $30 million in Jocko Fuel in 2022. Show notes: 0:35: Interview: Jocko Willink, Founder, Jocko Fuel – Jocko explains his daily reading habit, why he wakes at 4:30 AM each morning and how that routine has benefited him as a soldier and entrepreneur. He also explains how his military experience taught him to approach every situation with an open mind and to listen to feedback, the reason that Jocko Fuel energy drinks contain less caffeine than competing products, and why he isn't managing the brand's retail strategy. Jocko also explains what he means by “extreme ownership,” why he believes that the buck always stops with him, his perspective on competition, the influence of company investors on management decisions,his role in the promotion of Jocko Fuel, and the brand's pricing strategy. Brands in this episode: Jocko Fuel

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Dustin Elliott, the Senior Brand Manager at The Vitamin Shoppe. Join them as they explore misconceptions about performance enhancement, the impact of gut health on overall wellbeing, emerging trends in the supplements industry, and the future of nutrition and healthcare.

One of Canada's highest-rated clinical psychologists, Dr. Monica Vermani is a public speaker, teacher, and author in the field of mental health and wellness. In her private practice, Dr. Vermani provides a multi-faceted treatment approach in treating adolescents and adults suffering from trauma/abuse, mood, anxiety, substance addictions, and other related conditions and disorders, as well as family and couples therapy. She employs a dynamic range of techniques and evidence-based treatment modalities, including psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, (CBT), Mindfulness Meditation – Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)/Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Breath~Body~Mind (BBM), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming (EMDR).Dr. Vermani's Start Living Corporate Wellness programs were created out of her belief in the importance of good mental health in the workplace. Start Living Corporate Wellness programs support and facilitate individuals' efforts to overcome the barriers that prevent them from living their best and most authentic life. Dr. Vermani's game-changing Start Living Corporate Wellness programs address the underlying mental health issues that impact individual employees and teams. Through a dynamic suite of psycho-education, training, and support, Start Living Corporate Wellness programs keep employees engaged, supported, happy, and whole.Dr. Vermani believes that good mental health doesn't just happen, that it deserves the same time, attention, understanding, and effort as our physical wellbeing. To that end, Dr. Vermani's latest book, A Deeper Wellness, and its companion online A Deeper Wellness Life Lessons mental health program provide the tools to create a deep, authentic sense of wellness and wellbeing. Drawing from her 25 years of clinical practice, she takes readers through the same tried and true multi-disciplinary approach to treatment that has been successful in creating incremental, meaningful change for hundreds of patients and groups. Dr. Vermani has placed her expertise in media outlets including Parade, Vitamin Shoppe, CTV Northern Ontario, HIVE, Hamilton Today With Scott Thompson, and Radio-Canada, The Globe and Mail, Shondaland, HuffPost, and Well and Good. https://www.drmonicavermani.com

Today is Monday, May 6, and we're looking at GNC vs. Vitamin Shoppe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For our final installment of Podcasts held at the 2024 Vitamin Shoppe Brand Summit, we hosted Chris Gronkowski of Ice Shaker for a fun 20 minute discussion to get the story on how he started the growing business, which was first introduced to the world on the hit TV show, Shark Tank. From the NFL to Shark Tank to the NFL: Chris Gronkowski's Ice Shaker Story In this episode, Chris details how he leveraged some success from his wife's Etsy business — which was making more money than his NFL salary — into the most innovative shaker cup company in the entire space. We learn about his experience on Shark Tank, and then get into some of the nuts and bolts of the various versions of Ice Shaker, and how he got it to where it is. We also get to learn about the numerous collaborations they have, which includes DragonBall Z and the NFL. Watch on YouTube below, listen on Spotify, or find PricePlow on iTunes or any RSS-enabled podcast app. And of course, don't forget to sign up for our Ice Shaker news alerts. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/chris-gronkowski-ice-shaker-136 Video: An Inside Look at The Vitamin Shoppe's Brands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl-J5gbp4Ug Show Notes with Chris Gronkowski Detailed Show Notes are coming soon! Where to Find Chris Gronkowski and Ice Shaker Ice Shaker Instagram: @IceShaker Chris Gronkowski Instagram: @ChrisGronkowski Chris Gronkowski LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrisgronkowski/ Ice Shaker on PricePlow Thanks to Chris for joining us and leveling up the shaker cup industry! Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for our Ice Shaker news alerts on PricePlow. Leave some great reviews on iTunes and Spotify!

Quite a bit has happened since Episode #068 with Matt Karich, the enterprising founder of Soul Performance Nutrition. He's gotten deeper into ultra-endurance sports, and has dropped a few incredible new supplements. So we brought Matt back on to talk about his latest endeavors, getting the official catch-up from over two years of progress. The two major product launches covered so far this year are Soul Performance Nutrition's Nova Immune Renewal and Nexus Peptide Complex. This brings us to talk about three specific ingredients, colostrum and lactoferrin (which make up Nova) and PeptiStrong (which stands alone in Nexus). Peptides, Milk Proteins, and Simple Sugar are Back in Style Along the way, we also get into our returning love for a simple ingredient known as sucrose, but also talk about the joys of other carbohydrate sources like honey. As Matt trains for his next 100 mile race in Northeast Ohio, he's going to need those carbs and far more. We also talk about his incredibly-designed magazine issues that you can find on Soul's website, linked below. Watch on YouTube, listen on Spotify, or find PricePlow on iTunes or any RSS-enabled podcast app. And of course, don't forget to sign up for our Soul Performance Nutrition news alerts. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/matt-karich-soul-performance-nutrition-135 Video: An Inside Look at The Vitamin Shoppe's Brands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJQdHUq1Psc Detailed Show Notes (0:00) – Introductions (4:00) – Lactoferrin (10:30) – Colostrum (16:30) – Preparation for Burning River 100 (23:30) – The Meditation of the Run (29:15) – Reconnect with Real (39:00) – Carb Sources for Endurance (42:15) – Work / Life Balance (48:15) – Formulation (58:00) – Soul Magazine! (1:04:45) – Certifications (1:13:45) – Glass Over Plastic Where to Find Matt and Soul Performance Nutrition Soul Performance Nutrition Instagram: @soulperformancenutrition Soul Performance Nutrition on PricePlow Thanks to Matt for joining us and putting some incredible products into glass bottles! Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your preferred platform and sign up for our Soul Performance Nutrition news alerts on PricePlow. Don't forget to leave those great reviews on iTunes and Spotify!

Nadina Guglielmetti, the Chief Customer Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe, adds her page to the Marketing Playbook. Hear what you can learn from spending time with your frontline workers, how to earn the respect of your peers, how to cut through the clutter in an election year, how Nadina's international background has helped throughout her career, and what she learned from creating a relationship advice app. Connect with Nadina on LinkedIn

Guest: Nate Jones CEO & Founder of Xlear, INC.Nate Jones founded Xlear, Inc. in 2000 to improve lives by making Xlear Nasal Spray commercially available and spreading the message of proactive health. Once you understand that allergy symptoms are simply your immune system fighting off allergens, you can understand that there are ways to prevent and ease symptoms other than taking an over-the-counter medication.Most allergens enter the body through the nose, although the mouth and eyes are also common entry points. Keeping these gateways to the body clean is of utmost importance during allergy season if you want to reduce symptoms and not rely on antihistamines. There are other products out there, such as Xlear Nasal Spray with xylitol, which can help keep the nasal passage clean and clear of seasonal allergens, all without the negative side effects that antihistamines can cause. The addition of xylitol allows Xlear to be hypertonic, without causing the uncomfortable burning sensation that accompanies traditional saline nasal sprays. This hypertonicity means that more moisture is being pulled into the nose to help wash out contaminants and ensure the nose and sinuses are hydratedIf you're on the lookout for an antihistamine-free remedy to your allergies this season, give Xlear a try.Learn more about Xlear and the Research Xlear Nasal Products are available at Walgreens, CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, Rite Aid, Target, Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and most natural products retailers nationwide. They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.You can learn more at: Xlear.com 

Following Episode 133 with Lee Wright, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, we head back to the company's 2024 Brand Summit in Dallas, TX to take a look behind the scenes with some key leaders on the formulation and regulatory side of the company. Inside the Vitamin Shoppe Brands Episode 134 of the PricePlow Podcast is a double feature — first, we talk to Senior Brand Manager, Tabitha Daley, and Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Brian Tanzer. After that, we patch in a conversation with Dustin Elliott, who was also Senior Brand Manager at the time of recording. In this episode, you'll understand how The Vitamin Shoppe approaches formulation within their house brands, manages relationships with their third parties, and deals with regulatory concerns regarding dietary supplement ingredients. We learn a bit about PLNT, BodyTech Elite, and VThrive, three major parts of the Vitamin Shoppe's strategy — these aren't just traditional white label brands! https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/vitamin-shoppe-brands-134 Video: An Inside Look at The Vitamin Shoppe's Brands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikO8FwxmngY Detailed Show Notes (0:00) – Introductions (3:00) – Vitamin Shoppe Summit (7:00) – New Ingredients (11:15) – PLNT (14:30) – Employee Insights (18:10) – Education (24:30) – Ozempic and the Supplement Industry (27:45) – Dustin Introduction (33:45) – Testosterone-Boosting Supplements (41:45) – Other Products (45:45) – Private Label Where to Find Brian, Tabitha, and The Vitamin Shoppe The Vitamin Shoppe Instagram: @VitaminShoppe LinkedIn: Brian Tanzer, Tabitha Daley Thanks again to The Vitamin Shoppe for hosting the 2024 Brand Summit, and for everybody's time we were allowed to take up! Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your platform of choice, sign up for our Vitamin Shoppe blog alerts below, and leave us reviews on iTunes and Spotify!

Our coverage of the 2024 Vitamin Shoppe Brand Summit continues, following up with special guest Jocko Willink on episode #132. To get a better background on what the Brand Summit is all about, and the direction of The Vitamin Shoppe itself, we went straight to the source — the CEO himself: A Quick Discussion with Lee Wright, The Vitamin Shoppe CEO Lee Wright, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, has very quickly gained a tremendous amount of respect both within the company and in the dietary supplement industry at large. Reason being, he leads from the front and practices what he preaches. Prior to this podcast, Lee, who's normally a modest and private man, gave a speech to the company detailing his own weight loss journey, and how The Vitamin Shoppe's own products and employees have given him an edge. There may not be another major retail CEO who's visited more stores in such a short amount of time, and he's been able to figure out what the stores really need. A big part of it is continued education and training. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/lee-wright-vitamin-shoppe-133 Video: Lee Wright, The Vitamin Shoppe CEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wggd5rRQevc Detailed Show Notes (0:00) – Introductions (1:30) – The Vitamin Shoppe Brand Summit (2:30) – Lessons Learned from Lee's Trips to Stores (6:15) – Is it Just “Widgets” in this Industry? (7:15) – Regulatory Concerns: Will Lee be Fighting in Washington DC? (9:00) – Learning the Brands and Getting into the Supplement Industry (12:00) – In-House Brand Development (14:00) – Closing out Show Notes to be continued… Where to Find Lee Wright and The Vitamin Shoppe LinkedIn: Lee Wright The Vitamin Shoppe Instagram: @VitaminShoppe Thanks again to Lee for your valuable time, especially with all of the other employees in town. We're looking forward to the next meeting. You can subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, sign up for our Vitamin Shoppe blog alerts below, and leave us a great review on iTunes and Spotify!

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron is joined by Brian Littlefield, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Jocko Fuel, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey and the strategic decisions that led to the company's success in the highly competitive energy drink and nutritional supplement industry. Brian discusses the initial challenges of balancing roles and leveraging each co-founder's strengths, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and admitting one's own limitations. His narrative underlines the transformative impact of partnering with Pete Roberts and Jocko Willink, highlighting how their unique skill sets and leadership styles contributed to Jocko Fuel's growth and innovation in product development, particularly within the niche of clean, health-focused ingredients.The discussion explores the intricacies of navigating the business landscape, from managing direct-to-consumer strategies to expanding into retail spaces like Vitamin Shoppe and utilizing Amazon for broader reach. Brian articulates the company's strategic approach to growth, including their cautious entry into the retail domain, the significance of understanding and leveraging Amazon's platform, and the importance of subscription-based models for sustaining long-term customer relationships. His insights reveal a nuanced understanding of market dynamics, emphasizing the necessity of a strong foundation in direct-to-consumer sales before venturing into retail, to mitigate margin dilution and enhance brand recognition.Reflecting on personal growth and leadership, Brian shares the evolution of his role within Jocko Fuel, transitioning from operational duties to focusing on his passion for product development. He candidly discusses the lessons learned in leadership, such as the value of patience, humility, and the ability to delegate, underscoring the importance of building a competent team and fostering a culture of trust and empowerment. His journey epitomizes the essence of entrepreneurial growth, not just in terms of business success, but also in the personal development that comes with navigating the challenges of co-founding a leading company in the wellness industry.Enjoy!In This Episode You'll Learn:How Brian navigated the challenges of working with a co-founder, finding balance in their roles, and leveraging each other's strengths to drive the company's success.Jocko Fuel's journey to innovation in the crowded energy drink and nutritional supplements market, focusing on clean ingredients and a holistic approach, rooted in personal experiences and the quest for health and wellness.Insights into strategic market expansion, starting from a niche manufacturing company to becoming a recognized brand in the functional foods and beverages space.The strategic decision-making process behind entering retail spaces and online markets like Amazon.How Jocko Fuel has built a strong brand identity through authentic messaging and strategic marketing, focusing on their unique value proposition in the health and wellness sector.The importance of subscription-based models for sustaining long-term customer relationships and driving revenue, with over 50% of Jocko Fuel's customers on recurring subscriptions.Brian's personal growth as a leader, the challenges of scaling a team, and the shift towards focusing on areas of passion and expertise.How Jocko Fuel adapted to remote work, maintaining team connectivity, and the importance of face-to-face interactions in fostering team spirit and collaboration across remote teams.And much more...Resources:Connect with Brian: Website |

Scott Needham, accompanied by e-commerce expert Sabir Semerkant, dives deep into the ever-evolving world of online commerce.With over 25 years of experience, Sabir shares invaluable insights, including his unique “8-D Method" for business growth, honed through ventures such as revitalizing Vitamin Shoppe's website from bankruptcy to success.The discussion covers crucial aspects such as optimizing website performance, strategic pricing, and the importance of cohesive team dynamics, emphasizing the significance of adapting to AI advancements and focusing on revenue per session rather than traditional conversion rates.Episode notes:00:15 - Sabir Semerkant Introduction 02:05 - Sabir's Background 03:55 - Good and Bad Information 04:40 - Vitamin Shoppe 05:15 - Test, Learn, and Optimize 07:05 - Ecommerce is a Mix of Different Practices 08:00 - Co-founding VaynerCommerce 10:20 - How Sabir Met Gary V. 13:50 - 8-D Method 14:55 - Performance Optimzation 18:40 - Consumer Attention Span 23:20 - Premium Pricing 25:25 - Product Positioning and Brand Building 29:40 - Story Telling 32:50 - Customer UX 35:20 - Retargetting and Remarketing 40:20 - Logistics LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/sabirsemerkantWebsites:growthbysabir.com/workshop/growthbysabir.com (GROWTH by Sabir) growthbysabir.com/liveshow (#ThisWeekWithSabir Live) medium.com/worklifebalancebysabir (#WorkLifeBalanceBySab)Related Post: Pricing Strategies for Wholesale Sellers on Amazon

On today's episode, Kunle is joined by Sabir Semerkant, CEO and Founder of Growth by Sabir, a program designed to maximize the growth potential of a business. The power of yes. Sabir has lived by saying yes throughout his life. His high school guidance counselor's advice to take his second career option which is to become a computer scientist when he got discouraged by the long wait to do surgery as a neurosurgeon. When Jeff Horrowitz offered him to run his channel for Vitamin Shoppe, instead of just coding a website. Accepting the guesting in Vaynermedia, the startup that Gary Vaynerchuk started and had grown to become VaynerCommerce.  These experiences and meetings with people that will eventually serve as Sabir's stepping stones in his career would not have happened had he said no. From his passion, he built an approach called 8-D Method. It's a tested way of combing down every dimension of the business, addressing issues and challenges until growth comes naturally. His craft is backed by years of experience and case studies that have catapulted businesses to their potential. Countless companies have grown 2x and more and faster. It's an insightful episode as you'd hear Kunle and Sabir talk more about the dimensions and their importance, stories from Sabir's years of experience in building businesses, and tips for budding entrepreneurs. --- 

The supplement industry is abuzz with changes, and one of the biggest announcements has been the hiring of Aaron Heidebreicht as Applied Nutrition's USA CEO. This brings with us a major shift to AN's North American strategy, all covered in this podcast. Aaron Heidebreicht Joins Applied Nutrition to Take on The Americas This podcast was recorded early in the morning before Expo West, where we got to sit down with Aaron and dovetail quite a few storylines. Many of our listeners know Aaron from his appearances in Episode #097 at GNC and Episode #105 at The Vitamin Shoppe, which came with Kaged, where he was the chief commercial officer since late 2022. Applied Nutrition's first foray into the American market was with All Black Everything, a brand named from Europe's best-selling pre-workout supplement that shares the same name. To understand the original mission of the business, see our Episode #114 with TJ Humphreys, their previous CEO. Aaron's job is to keep the ABE vision, but take it larger, bringing a whole new series of AN Performance supplements to North America… and far more! https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/aaron-heidebreicht-applied-nutrition-130 Video: Up and Early with Aaron Heidebreicht at Expo West 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm8joHE1aNw Detailed Show Notes Coming Soon! Where to Find Applied Nutrition and Aaron AN Instagram: @AppliedNutrition ABE Instagram: @ABENation LinkedIn: Aaron Heidebreicht ABE on PricePlow: PricePlow.com/all-black-everything Thanks to Max for the camera support, and thanks Aaron for joining us with an ultra early wakeup before heading home! You can subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, sign up for our Applied Nutrition news alerts on PricePlow, and leave us a great review on iTunes and Spotify!

Hygiene is a science of the establishment and maintenance of health including conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness. Especially important at this time of the year(Cold &Flu Season) when adults & children are frequently exposed to upper respiratory illnesses especially at all of the school, work, family, and social gatherings during the holidays. Upper respiratory viruses like Covid, RSV, colds, flu, and even new flu-like illnesses emerging around the world are more common this time of year.Our guest today is our good friend, Nathan Jones.  It has been over 2 decadesnow (2000) since he founded Xlear, Inc., the xylitol-product based company whose revolutionary all-natural approach to upper respiratory and oral health has improved the quality of life for people around the globe.Xlear Nasal Products are available at Walgreens, CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, Rite Aid, Target, Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and most natural products retailers nationwide.  They can also be purchased online, including on Amazon.Spry Dental Products are available at Wegmans, The Vitamin Shoppe, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Natural Grocers, and most all Natural market retailers.Learn more at Xlear.com

This episode we're joined by Lisa Chudnofsky, Chief Brand Officer at The Vitamin Shoppe, to discuss how the retailer leverages creators to elevate the brand, the role employees and personal play in campaigns as well as long-term ambassador relationships. PLUS; we dissect the touchdowns, fumbles, thrills, and spills of the Superbowl...and more importantly the role of creators in the marketing frenzy that surrounds the big game.   

Brian Tanzer is a physical wellness expert and Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at the Vitamin Shoppe. In his college years, he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. However, after volunteering at NYC Medical Center he took more interest in helping people preserve their natural health to avoid nutrition-related illnesses.Today, Brian advocates for exercise and proper nutrition as a way to sustain a healthier life, and he uses his years of athleticism in sports and martial arts as a catalyst to help lead by example. According to statistics Brian shares that nearly 40% of the American population is close to the weight range of obesity. Years ago weight issues were dismissed often as genetics and real lifestyle changes for better health were not as promoted.In this week's episode, you'll learn what Brian thinks of dieting, how better nutritional choices positively impact mood, and the importance of avoiding nutritional misinformation.LEARN MORE:>>https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-tanzer-72a37a74NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn how supplements can complement a well-balanced diet and the danger of eating thousands of excess calories per day. (https://thens.ls/4bPAbMm)Mentioned in this episode:Get 20% Off at the NSLS ShopUse code MONDAYS for 20% your entire purchase at shop.nsls.orgNSLS Shop

This episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast was recorded live at the RETHINK Retail Podcast Media Booth during the NRF 2024 Big Show. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, RETHINK Retail CCO is joined by Andy Laudato, Chief Operations Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe. During their conversation, Andy shares his insights on fostering innovation in the retail industry and discusses the importance of collaboration, continuous improvement, and adopting a customer-centric approach. Through practical examples from Vitamin Shoppe, such as leveraging AI for real-time communication and enhancing the customer experience, Laudato demonstrates the relevance of his expertise in the field. "Necessity drives innovation. And so, when solving a problem for your customer, first you have to identify what that is. Or maybe it's not just a problem, but just an opportunity to do something better." - Andy Laudato Resources: Nominate the next Global Retail Leader: www.globalretailleaders.com/membership Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rethink-industries/ For more retail insights visit www.rethink.industries If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Goodpods! – – – – – – Hosted by Kirat Anand Produced by Gabriella Bock Research by Maggie Schwenn

By his own admission, Will Nitze doesn't give great advice. His nearly 41,000 Linkedin followers, however, likely have a different opinion. Will cut his teeth in CPG in 2017 when he launched IQBAR, a pioneering brand of protein bars infused with adaptogenic ingredients that are said to improve cognitive function. The company has since created a portfolio of brain health-centric product lines, including zero–sugar hydration powders and instant mushroom coffee. IQBAR is carried in over 10,000 locations, including Walmart, Sprouts, Wegmans, BJ's Wholesale, Vitamin Shoppe and H-E-B. Over the past six years, Will has chronicled his experience as an entrepreneur via daily posts on Linkedin where he shares words of encouragement and lessons learned from building an upstart brand. But he's careful to contextualize insights and advice – including those about IQBAR's successful ecommerce strategy and its unorthodox approach to financing – as specific to his business and not necessarily applicable to other brands. Nevertheless, he has the attention of many founders who praise his candid takes on the food and beverage industry. Will is equally forthright in the following interview, in which he shares and explains his perspective on everything from fundraising (“Bootstrapping is the worst thing you can do.”) and staffing (“How can we build a $50 million brand with a staff of six?”) to retail strategy (“Choose channels that scale well.).  Show notes: 0:43: Interview: Will Nitze, Founder & CEO, IQBAR – Nitze spoke about his recent move from Boston to Miami and why IQBAR has always been a remotely operated company, how posting daily content on Linkedin has helped grow his following and why he's cautions founders active on the platform not to confuse some information with actionable advice. He also explained how trial and error has been the best education on how to build a brand, the value of e-commerce success in landing distribution at brick and mortar retailers, how his realization that “people don't really want brain food” impacted business strategy and why he hates hiring employees. Later, he explained why you can't negotiate well without telling really good stories, how innovation impacts investor interest and how to assess timing when launching brand extensions. Brands in this episode: IQBAR, Nutpods, Reese's

This episode is brought to you by Tidio and SARAL - The Influencer OS Join host Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, as she sits down with Andrew Laudato, Chief Operating Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe, to discuss the fascinating evolution from a technologist to a retail leader.  In this episode, we'll discover the innovative strategies The Vitamin Shoppe is employing to navigate the retail landscape amidst technological advances and evolving consumer behaviors. Key Themes: Customer-Centric Philosophy: * Andrew emphasizes the critical importance of always putting the customer first. * Discussion on adopting a multi-channel retail approach to serve customers where they are. Embracing Technological Partnerships: * Insight into The Vitamin Shop's partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash to improve accessibility and convenience for customers. * Leveraging technology for efficient supply chain management. Education and Employee Training: * The company's commitment to educating customers about its products. * Importance of thorough training for employees to maintain a consistent and knowledgeable shopping experience. Personalized Marketing and Data Privacy: * The balance between using customer data for personalized marketing and ensuring privacy and security. Sustainable and Quality-Focused Industry Practices: * Discussion on the vitamin industry's focus on sustainability and quality. * How The Vitamin Shop aligns with environmentally conscious practices. Career Development Insights: * Andrew advises pursuing varied experiences and passions before settling into a career path. * Retail as a foundation for developing management and leadership skills. The Concept of Composable Commerce: * Explore The Vitamin Shop's move towards “composable commerce” and its implications. * The challenges and uncertainties of long-term planning in a rapidly changing retail environment. Episode Highlights: * Andrew's personal career journey and lessons learned transitioning from tech to retail. * How multi-channel retailing and online platforms are revolutionizing the shopping experience. * The importance of training and knowledge in empowering employees and satisfying customers. * A deep dive into how personalization and privacy intersect in modern marketing practices. * Insights into the future of retail and how to prepare for shifts in the industry. Call to Action:  Andrew Laudato encourages listeners to consider how technology and consumer habits shape a brand's shopping experiences and the importance of sustainability and quality in product choices. Thank you for tuning in to our latest episode.  Remember to subscribe to “The Story of a Brand Show” on your favorite podcast player for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest trends in consumer brands, retail, and beyond! For more on The Vitamin Shoppe, visit: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/ * Today's Sponsors: Tidio - Customer Success Tool for Shopify Brands: http://www.tidio.com/story My listeners can start using Tidio AI chatbots for free and upgrade at any time with an exclusive 20% discount. See how Tidio helps your store grow. Visit my unique link.   SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/ Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit my unique link. 

LIVE FROM #NRF2024 Omni Talk Retail's Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton are joined by The Vitamin Shoppe Chief Operating Officer Andrew Laudato. Thanks to our partners at VusionGroup for making all our #NRF2024 coverage possible. Come stop by and visit us in booth #5420

Brianna Lapaglia and Grace O'Malley are back from Cleveland after their second to last stop of their live show tour. Grace is back in Boston with family and explains how awesome it is to be back home. Bri discusses how she wants her daughter to be the first Navy Seal. The two talk about parenting and give their names of their future kids. Instagram: https://instagram.com/briannalapaglia?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://instagram.com/gracekomalley?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannachickenfry?lang=en https://www.tiktok.com/@gracekomalley?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/BChickenfry https://twitter.com/grace__omalley Our Merch: https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/planbri-uncut?utm_medium=product_shelf&utm_source=youtube&utm_content=YT-AIJy4ZO6T_And-3oPmVqy7fbHHQZvL_8xAbHTriXz10cIbOOHsp0FNue6PB_FBHZl6r8PZqg2W0PlnMqgJGnFJzLXS3M6MRlYxTugQI652xkm3mwfRgzLJYBFRdfP-AfD6Pwz_DAvuJ-s4IB4j9Y1f5jb2q_Sht_nDv81ZIkrYVkMqhB2XWdxBhF https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/omalley SUPPORT THE SHOW: Go to drinkpiratewater.com to find Pirate Water in a location near you or order it now on GoPuff! WANT TO WIN A TRIP TO NYC? Here's how: BUY a case of the Ghostbusters OxyShred Ultra Energy from The Vitamin Shoppe. Take a selfie, tag and follow @oxyshredenergy. Use #OxyShredBarstool and get in the running to win a fully expensed trip to our show in New York City with a friend! Shop OxyShred 24/7 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJWM3FZP?maas=maas_adg_F18095D80190630004B12B596380D6A4_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maasYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/planbri

The girls are back in the big apple after returning from their live show in Nashville. Brianna Lapaglia and Grace O'Malley are accompanied by famous stuntman, stand up comedian, and actor Steve O! Steve O discusses his new pay per view special coming out called “Steve O's Bucket List”. The show is officially available today, November 14th. Instagram: https://instagram.com/briannalapaglia?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://instagram.com/gracekomalley?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannachickenfry?lang=en https://www.tiktok.com/@gracekomalley?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/BChickenfry https://twitter.com/grace__omalley Our Merch: https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/planbri-uncut?utm_medium=product_shelf&utm_source=youtube&utm_content=YT-AIJy4ZO6T_And-3oPmVqy7fbHHQZvL_8xAbHTriXz10cIbOOHsp0FNue6PB_FBHZl6r8PZqg2W0PlnMqgJGnFJzLXS3M6MRlYxTugQI652xkm3mwfRgzLJYBFRdfP-AfD6Pwz_DAvuJ-s4IB4j9Y1f5jb2q_Sht_nDv81ZIkrYVkMqhB2XWdxBhF https://store.barstoolsports.com/collections/omalley SUPPORT THE SHOW: Go to drinkpiratewater.com (http://drinkpiratewater.com/) to find Pirate Water in a location near you or order it now on GoPuff! Go to https://HelloFresh.com/planfree (https://hellofresh.com/planfree) and use code planfree for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active.  WANT TO WIN A TRIP TO NYC? BUY a case of the Ghostbusters OxyShred Ultra Energy from The Vitamin Shoppe. Take a selfie, tag and follow @oxyshredenergy. Use #OxyShredBarstool and get in the running to win a fully expensed trip to our show in New York City with a friend! Shop Oxyshred on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NP6HT6Vmaas=maas_adg_448430A70B4652AD035F56BCE6E2AB5A_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NP6HT6V?maas=maas_adg_448430A70B4652AD035F56BCE6E2AB5A_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas) Shop OxyShred on EHPlabs:  https://ehplabs.com/products/oxyshred-ultra-energy-12-pack_pos=1&_psq=oxyshred+energy&_ss=e&_v=1.0 (https://ehplabs.com/products/oxyshred-ultra-energy-12-pack_pos=1&_psq=oxyshred+energy&_ss=e&_v=1.0) Go to   https://THEOUAI.com (https://theouai.com/)  for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code  BRI .You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/planbri