Studs’ Post

The hardest and most exciting part of building 529 has been designing our space. We designed it based on our research with CORQ. who interviewed hundreds of creators, and our own interviews on what creators need (and don't need). Olivia Kelly Thomas Walters and I have agonised over every decision. We made plans and then totally reworked them when we realised they weren't good enough. (Our fit-out company AW Spaces probably lost their minds a couple of times!) When I say tears were shed over this... I mean it! Building something at this scale – with a mission to be new, interesting, beautiful, practical, and reflective of creator needs – is harder than I could have imagined. And we're only getting it 90% of the way there. The final 10% will come after creators have had a chance to use and experience it, so they can share what's truly needed! The end is in sight (though we've just decided to change some light fittings and the flooring in our custom podcast room…). But we’re on track to reveal to creators and partners at the end of May!! Can't wait to show you it all. #fivetwonine #creatoreconomy #529

🎙️ New Episode of Aesthetically Speaking 🎙️ Join host Tyler Terry as he sits down with Bill Walker, founder & CEO of Aesthetic Brokers, to discuss proven strategies for scaling and selling your aesthetic practice. Recorded live at ASPS 2024, this episode is packed with insights to help you maximize your return. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eXT3_s-J #aestheticallyspeaking #aestheticpractice #podcast #aesthetics

A deep discussion on the early days of Mizzen+Main including game changing advice from Daymond John, and how those lessons have translated into building Harbor! https://lnkd.in/gmSKMV6X

For this #BloqOnTour episode our host João Lopes sat down with our CTO Ricardo Carvalho and our friends Arnoldas Kevalaitis and Henry J. from Vinted Go to discuss future trends and the role of open networks. During this conversation we covered how Vinted Go was born and how they're scaling their network, the future of e-commerce and how open networks will play a big role in the industry. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/d6qFAUtz #Vinted #VintedGo #Podcast

In today's CREATOR NOW & NEXT series by Pearpop with Rhett & Link of Mythical, we discuss what they look for in the brands they work with today. Authenticity gets thrown around often when it comes to brand-creator collaborations, but even with 10+ years of experience, creators like Rhett & Link admit that "not everything we've done has been cringe less." Hear how the duo describes the art of collaborating on a unique script here. #CreatorNowandNext #BrandCreatorCollaborations #CreatorAuthenticity #AuthenticContentCreation

I've worked on a lot of cool projects in my marketing career, but this one definitely stands out... My good friend and client, David Wiegratz, has taken a bold leap into storytelling with his new YouTube series, "I Make Things In." His mission? To pull back the curtain and showcase some of the country’s most innovative manufacturers – starting right here in Minnesota and going nationwide. First up: Minneapolis Cider. (Here’s where it gets interesting…) They’ve recently launched a line of THC ciders, aptly named "Trail Magic" 😆 Now, I’m not a THC enthusiast myself, but the blend of cider-making and THC is undeniably fascinating – and a perfect example of how innovation and bold ideas drive growth. Huge shoutout to the founders of Minneapolis Cider for sharing their story, David for diving deep into the world of storytelling, and the Vnzo content team for making it all come to life. Here’s to uhh… cider! 🍻 Watch the episode here → https://lnkd.in/gMSbkCxz #StoryTelling #Manufacturing #THC

The main premise of the podcast is to bring exposure to local business owners and entrepreneurs so hearing the work that LOMA is doing on a daily basis was nothing short of inspirational! Check out Episode 188 ⬇

In 2019, I did a photoshoot with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile 🌭 at ChiTAG. Later that night, my husband Christian won his first TAGIE Award, and I watched him receive it with major pride swelling in my chest. It wasn’t just an award—it was the spark that lit a fire in me, too. 🔥 I remember thinking, One day, I’m going to earn my place here. One day, I’ll have a chance to share the magic of the toy industry in a way that truly makes a difference. Flash forward to 2021 -- I landed an honorary award as Game Changer of The Year for my podcast. WILD right? And today, ChiTAG has grown into something even bigger—becoming a part of the People of Play (POP) Innovation Conference, now merged with The Toy Association. What started as a local gem has become a global stage for the entire industry to come together, celebrate, and dream even bigger. And this year, I’m beyond honored to be the MC for POP Week and ChiTAG. 🎤✨ It’s like coming back to the place where it all started, but now with a microphone in hand and a mission in my heart. If you’re a toy creator, inventor, or just someone with a deep love for this industry, I know you’ll want to be there. But don’t just take my word for it. This week on The Toy Coach® Inc. podcast, I sat down with Mary Couzin and Greg Ahearn to talk about the merger between People of Play and The Toy Association. 🎙️ They shared the inside scoop on how this partnership is creating new possibilities for all of us—plus, some tips on how to make the most of events like POP Week and ChiTAG. Curious to hear more? Check the comments for the link. 💌 I can’t wait to see you in Chicago next month. #toyinventor #sharktank #toyideas #toyinventing #inventingtoys #ChiTAG #PeopleOfPlay #ToyIndustry #POPWeek #ToyInnovation #ToyCreators #NetworkingOpportunities #toyassociation

Part 2 of my talk with Sri Rajagopalan and Peter V.S. Bond The CPG Guys is live. In this episode, we dive deeper into why 2025 will be an active year for CPG companies divesting brands & adding new ones, what's happening globally/in Asia in retail & e-commerce and what it means for the West, #AI updates & practical steps for lowering CAC/Returns and boosting conversions, AOV, and LTV through Immersive Commerce. The links to both episodes are included. #FMCG #CPG #RETAIL #DIGITAL #AI #Supplychain

TGIF portance FOUNDER EDITION. VOL. II, EPISODE 5 - 2024 😎 TOP WEEKLY ACHIEVEMENTS: Right at the beginning of the week, I had the privilege to get to know Sara Rosberg. This is where I found out about a new, innovative fabric that sounds very promising for future portance innovations as well. Imagine techDriven sportswear enabling a better future with materials that astronauts are using to travel to space. Watch this space. Tuesday was the big first shooting day for the upcoming portance mindset campaign. As you know, I’m the lucky guy to work with Julia C. Woellner, who picked a great loft location in Dusseldorf. The interior and the whole scene / mood was a prefect match for our minimal yet innovative athletic wear. And the team did an awesome job. Onwards and upwards. Watch this space. Wednesday was successful as well, as I had the chance to calm down a little and get some necessary rest! Self-care is equally important as hustle! 🤔 MISTAKES I'VE MADE: This is one I haven’t solved yet. eCommerce return rates at portance are pretty low, but we had a size exchange request. From a Lithuanian customer. I just could not find any good rates to offer him a return label. Creating a DHL / UPS return label from our German account for parcels to be shipped out of a different origin country than Germany is madness. Pricing starts at €30 for less than 1,000 Gramm parcels. Any ideas how to do that without asking the customer to take care of the return label? Suggestions welcome! 🤠 WEEKEND PLANS: The final touches to a super-awesome, ‘I cannot resist to invest’ investor portance pitch deck. Planning the launch and next steps for the mindset campaign. Finally dropping the portance pimaCotton Tank Tops in the web shop. Continue my read of ‘How to talk to anyone’. (So far, that’s book tip I can make). That's a wrap. What’s your plans? Have a great weekend and enjoy some sunshine, // Dom #founderstories #tgif #portance #gründer #gründen #mindset PS: Photo credits to Mihaela Nompleggio