To thrive in the competitive CPG snack industry, founders must embrace the grind of retail expansion while strategically leveraging platforms like LinkedIn for B2B relationships. iWon Organics exemplifies how a strong product, focused on achieving a high rebuy rate, coupled with organic growth strategies on Amazon and a relentless pursuit of "small wins," can lead to significant retail penetration and a booming DTC business, even amidst operational challenges and market disruptions.
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Today on Hot Seat we sat down with iWon Organics founder Mark Samuel. His protein packed chip replacement is on over 5000 shelves, while his direct to consumer business is booming. Disrupting CPG food and beverage is no cake walk, and Mark's tales from the front lines of grinding out the retail game are raw and honest. We dive into some interesting uses of LinkedIn to grow relationships that drive sales, how to grow organic influencer networks, as well as how to build a product that gets 40% rebuy rate in stores and on Amazon. At one point Mark mentions he worries he was being too low energy, but no one watching would think that. He's a powerhouse 💪🏻 We Covered: Intro to iWon Organics (300% Growth) Mark Samuels Story building a snacking empire How do you Synthesize a Snack? (Get your ASS KICKED) Did iWon use a food scientist? No - trial and error and working with copackers Inch wide mile deep again! Mark talks about how much you get your ass kicked as a successful entrepreneur What’s iWon’s biggest win? They’re AROUND, and making small wins every day. What to be most careful about? - CASH FLOW Repackaging fuckup (But doesn’t matter when you bank small wins every day) LinkedIn Ninjitsu - Done with Facebook, but makes a post every.single.day. being your self. Off the cuff, that minute. Does LinkedIn work for B2B retail marketing? Snacking psychology and changing behavior with Dave Steele Mark’s psychology for getting snacks on shelves Pilothouse’s angle suggestion for pre-sale content for iWon iWon’s trajectory throughout Covid iWon’s experience with DTC advertising - very new iWon’s Organic Amazon Strategy (v