This week on Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer are joined by Robyn Young, an entrepreneur, brand strategist, and founder of Young & Co, an indie creative partner for startups to scaleups. With a career spanning 18 years, Robyn combines strategic thinking with creative magic to build ‘sticky,’ memorable brand ecosystems.

Why Ghia?
Robyn chose Ghia for its strong visual identity, captivating storytelling, and its role in promoting the non-alcoholic lifestyle movement. As a pioneer in the category, Ghia’s approach combines artistry, functionality, and a commitment to creating a lifestyle brand.
Explore Ghia: www.drinkghia.com

Research included these sources

• Ghia: www.drinkghia.com
• Food Republic: www.foodrepublic.com/1361139/ghia-shark-tank-now
• Shark Tank Appearance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1b7kNAqwOE
• Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2024/01/19/ghia-continues-its-dramatic-growth-in-the-non-alcoholic-market
• Pitchbook: www.pitchbook.com/profiles/company/399237-13
• Growjo: www.growjo.com/company/GHIA#revenue-financials

Curated Technology List

• Rise.ai: www.rise.ai
• Recharge: www.getrecharge.com

Other Sites Mentioned

• Liquid Death: www.liquiddeath.com
• Recess: www.takearecess.com
• Anthropologie Volcano Candle: www.anthropologie.com

Connect with Robyn:

• www.thisisyoung.co
• www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-young
• Brand FUps* Podcast: www.thisisyoung.co/podcast
• Waitlist for Robyn’s Book: www.thisisyoung.co/book-waitlist

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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

Let’s get to the box—and this time, it’s a big one! Jennifer and James are celebrating an entire year of Unboxing Ecommerce, and this special episode is all about reflecting on the 28 episodes so far.

From humble beginnings as a one-episode experiment to reaching listeners across 37 countries, this podcast has grown into something far beyond what they imagined. With laughter, gratitude, and a touch of nostalgia, Jennifer and James unpack the stories, surprises, and lessons that have shaped their first year.

Whether you’ve been with them since episode one or you’re tuning in for the first time, this episode is a celebration you won’t want to miss.

What’s Inside

• A look back at their first year of podcasting: the challenges, surprises, and wins.
• Memorable moments that shaped the show and its community.
• A heartfelt message to listeners and their vision for show in the future.

Join the Conversation
Jennifer and James would love to hear from you! Share your favorite moments, questions, or ideas for future episodes at unboxingecomm@gmail.com. This podcast is a team effort, and every listener is part of it.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Taryn Sowa Podcast Productions: www.tarynsowa.com

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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Momofuku Goods with special guest, Moni Kupczak Ainslie. Moni is the Founder of Koopslie a consultancy that optimizes Faire stores for brands in CPG, beauty, fashion, and gift. By using her 360 Faire Optimization method, Moni helps awesome brands show up in search, get the click and convert to more sales.

Why Momofuku?
Moni chose Momofuku Goods for their delicious products, strong branding, and her admiration for founder David Chang. As a Faire specialist, she also wanted to analyze a brand listed on the platform, making Momofuku a perfect fit.
Momofuku Goods: www.momofuku.com

Research included these sources

• Momofuku: www.momofuku.com/our-company/team
• Pitchbook: www.pitchbook.com/profiles/company/99225-01#overview
• Fast Company: www.fastcompany.com/90945101/momofuku-ceo-marguerite-zabar-mariscal-100-million-food-company
• The Lo Times: www.thelotimes.com/p/momofuku-ko-closed-david-chang-review-restaurant
• Bon Apetit: www.bonappetit.com/story/david-chang-momofuku-ko-closing-explained
• The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/04/chili-crunch-trademark-momofuku-david-chang
• Cup Noodles Museum: www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/osaka_ikeda/about/
• Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/meimeifox/2023/03/01/how-ceo-marguerite-mariscal-slayed-by-pivoting-momofuku-from-restaurants-to-consumer-goods/

Other Sites mentioned

• Chili Crunch Trademark Discussion: https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-dave-chang-show/2024/04/12/discussing-momofuku-chili-crunch-with-marguerite-mariscal
• The Dave Chang Show: https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-dave-chang-show
• The Recipe Club Podcast: https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/recipe-club
• Eat a Peach by David Chang: www.literatibookstore.com/book/9781524759230
• Major Domo Media: www.majordomo.com

Connect with Moni:
www.koopslie

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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer take an unconventional approach by combining lunch and logistics. With no guest, they order from Taco Bell to explore how this fast-food giant exemplifies top-tier operations and ecommerce practices. From their smooth online ordering experience to insights on Taco Bell's unique branding and efficient systems, they dig into what makes the brand a leader in the space—while also enjoying some guilty-pleasure menu items.
Taco Bell: www.tacobell.com

Research included these sources

• Taco Bell: www.tacobell.com/history
• Wikipedia: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taco_Bell
• YUM! Brands: www.yum.com/wps/portal/yumbrands/Yumbrands
• Taco Bell Foundation: www.tacobellfoundation.org
• Fast Company: www.fastcompany.com/91064275/taco-bell-most-innovative-companies-2024-2

Curated Technology List

• Fullstory: www.fullstory.com
• Next.js: www.nextjs.org

Other Sites mentioned

• The Onion’s satirical coverage of Taco Bell: www.theonion.com/taco-bells-five-ingredients-combined-in-totally-new-way-1819564909/
• Types of diffusion in Geography: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_diffusion
• Ending Trademark on Taco Tuesday: www.bleacherreport.com/articles/10076948-lebron-james-joins-taco-bell-in-effort-to-end-taco-tuesday-trademark-registrations
• Retail co-location benefits: www.loopnet.com/learn/4-advantages-of-co-retailing/973314239

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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Tracksmith with special guest, Blair Beckwith. Blair has been working in the commerce enablement space for more than a decade. He got his start building the Shopify App Store. Today, he leads growth at Mantle, a company that powers back office and growth tooling for commerce enablement software companies.

Why Tracksmith?
Blair discovered Tracksmith while working with a reviews platform and was immediately drawn to their aesthetic and approach to running culture. Unlike the typical neon-heavy running gear, Tracksmith's understated, classic New England-inspired design stood out, embodying a vintage track team vibe.
Tracksmith: www.tracksmith.com

Research included these sources

• Tracksmith: www.tracksmith.com/pages/about
• Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/katiebaron/2022/10/11/tracksmith-expands-how-americas-most-intellectual-running-brand-is-closing-cult-status
• Outside: www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/run/tracksmith-running-brand-business-profile
• Crunchbase: www.crunchbase.com/organization/tracksmith
• Pitchbook: www.pitchbook.com/profiles/company/65264-59#overview
• Tracksmith Fellowship: www.tracksmith.com/pages/tracksmith-fellowship-program
• Tracksmith Fellowship Recipient, Dinée Dorame: www.groundedpod.com/about/

Curated Technology List

• DatoCMS: www.datocms.com
• MNTN: www.mountain.com
• JustUno: www.justuno.com

Other Sites mentioned

• How To Pronounce: www.howtopronounce.com/luke-scheybeler
• Unlocking the Customer Value Chain: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562858/unlocking-the-customer-value-chain-by-thales-s-teixeira-with-greg-piechota/

Connect with Blair:
www.heymantle.com
www.linkedin.com/in/blairbeckwith

_______________

Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Magic Spoon with special guest, Maggie Barnett, Esq. Maggie is the COO of ShipHero, overseeing operational, legal, managerial, and administrative procedures. She also founded ShipHero Fulfillment (LVK) in 2019, growing it to over $80M in revenue.

Why Magic Spoon?
Maggie chose Magic Spoon because she wanted a healthy cereal option that still offered the nostalgic experience of traditional sugary cereals. Inside the episode there is a twist on why she chose this brand specifically.
Magic Spoon: www.magicspoon.com

Research included these sources

• Magic Spoon: www.magicspoon.com/pages/our-story
• Wirecutter: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/magic-spoon-cereal-review
• Yahoo Finance: www.finance.yahoo.com/news/siddhi-capital-raises-135m-invest-111718550.html?guccounter=1
• Crunchbase: www.crunchbase.com/organization/magic-spoon/company_financials
• Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/daveknox/2023/05/10/how-magic-spoon-brought-innovation-to-the-breakfast-table
• Modern Retail: www.modernretail.co/operations/being-everywhere-that-people-buy-and-sell-cereal-how-magic-spoon-went-from-online-only-to-wholesale-in-six-months
• Food Institute: www.foodinstitute.com/focus/85-million-to-the-clearance-bin-is-magic-spoon-done
• Food Business News: ​​www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/23178-magic-spoon-goes-big-in-brick-and-mortar

Curated Technology List

• Segment: www.segment.com
• Malomo: www.gomalomo.com

Other Sites mentioned

• FTID Fraud: www.startops.network/media/startops-guide-to-ftid-fraud
• Offlimits: www.eatofflimits.com
• Allulose versus Monk Fruit: www.thebalancednutritionist.com/allulose-vs-monk-fruit/

Connect with Maggie:
www.shiphero.com
www.linkedin.com/in/maggiembarnett

_______________

Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Hugimals World with special guest, Christina Vanacore. Christina is a Certified Launch and Business Strategist, who provides launch strategy, identifies hidden opportunities for growth, and helps increase revenue and profits through strategic planning. She has covered everything from product development to marketing and sales strategies to help start and grow businesses and increase revenue and profits.

Why Hugimals?
Christina chose Hugimals because since their launch in 2022, they have seen tremendous success and have received incredible press and collaborations but at the time of choosing the brand was a DTC only brand which she personally finds intriquing.
Hugimals World: www.hugimalsworld.com

Research included these sources

• Hugimals World: www.hugimalsworld.com/pages/company
• Mojo Nation: www.mojo-nation.com/marina-khidekel-on-the-origins-of-her-award-winning-weighted-plush-range-hugimals
• Time Magazine: www.time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6228865/hugimals
• The Wie Suite: www.thewiesuite.com/post/marina-khidekel-founder-of-hugimals-on-how-to-launch-a-company

Curated Technology List

• Faire: www.faire.com
• Zigpoll: www.zigpoll.com

Other Sites mentioned

• Deep Touch Pressure: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5612681
• Benefits of Deep Touch Pressure: www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-deep-pressure-stimulation
• Hugimals on QVC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK3OxTRcheY
• Joyful Heart Foundation: www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
• Ryder's unboxing experience study: https://www.ryder.com/en-us/insights/white-papers/e-comm/2024-ryder-e-commerce-consumer-study
• J2K Logistics: https://j2kfun-gistics.com

Connect with Christina:
www.theproductdoula.com
www.instagram.com/theproductdoula

_______________

Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com

On this episode of Unboxing Ecommerce, James and Jennifer order from Vida Bars with special guest, Luisa Salcedo. Luisa is a seasoned Fractional COO with over a decade of experience in Operations. She specializes in helping purpose-driven CEOs by implementing operational strategies that eliminate chaos, boost revenue, and empower leaders to innovate and thrive. Throughout her career, she has successfully distributed $3 billion in inventory across CPG and e-commerce, working with major retailers like Costco and Kroger.

Why Vida Bars?
Luisa chose Vida Bars because they offer a sustainable product, they are Latina owned, and she's been very impressed with their seamless e-commerce experience.
Vida Bars: www.thevidabars.com

Research included these sources

• Vida Bars: www.thevidabars.com/pages/about-us
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vidabars/about
• Made in OK: www.madeinoklahoma.net/producer/vida-bars
• Retail Boss: www.retailboss.co/interview-ana-nunez-founder-vida-bars

Curated Technology List

• Shopify: www.shopify.com
• Revenue Hunt: www.revenuehunt.com
• Wholesale Guerilla: www.apps.shopify.com/wholesale-gorilla
• Smile: www.smile.io
• Tolstoy: www.gotolstoy.com/ecommerce

Other Sites mentioned

• Biden-Harris Administration Cracking Down on De Minimis Shipments: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/13/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-protect-american-consumers-workers-and-businesses-by-cracking-down-on-de-minimis-shipments-with-unsafe-unfairly-traded-products/
• Lighthouse Score: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse/performance/performance-scoring
• The Body Keeps the Score: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Keeps_the_Score
• Monique Benoit on Unboxing Ecommerce Ep 18
• Mary Wiegand on Unboxing Ecommerce Ep 16

Connect with Luisa:
www.linkedin.com/in/luisasalcedo
www.theefficiencymaven.com

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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com

Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com

Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
_______________

Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com