Making MAKA
A beverage startup's journey of launching & building a CPG Brand: MAKA | Hosted by Brian Hill & Russell Hirshon
Episodes
Brian, Russ, (and newly minted) Jeff discuss their experience at MAKA's first Expo West. Have they told you MAKA was awarded Best New Beverage of 2023? Yeah we thought so, don't be afraid to tell them to shut up about it!
Brian & Russ talk about preparing for Expo West, the company's expo strategy, and winning the NEXTY Award for Best New Beverage of 2023! The team is joined by a special guest, Jeff Maher, who was recently hired at MAKA as its SVP of Sales.
Brian & Russ talk about preparing to launch nationwide in Sprouts Farmers Market, as well as provide important updates on being selected as an Expo West NEXTY finalist for Best New Beverage of 2023, hiring Jeff Maher as SVP of Sales, and setting up for two distributor selling shows in Orlando and Nashville.
In this episode Brian & Russ discuss in-store (and out-of-store) sampling best practices, plus an update on a new investor... here's a hint "shots, shots, shots, everybody!" and he means wheatgrass shots by the way!
Brian & Russ recap MAKA's 2022 and then dive into their experience at the company's first trade selling show.
Brian & Russ talk about MAKA's go to market strategy and some of their experiences along the way.
Brian & Russ hit the spiked egg nog hard and early, but to your benefit they are chattier than usual, breaking down their pitch deck and discussing how to effectively use various decks depending on your target audience.
Follow the podcast at:
Making MAKA Website
Making MAKA Instagram
Making MAKA Facebook
Making MAKA Youtube
Follow the Brand at:
MAKA Website
MAKA Instagram
MAKA Face...
Brian & Russ discuss the differences between markup & margin and the importance of making sure you're using sound supply chain assumptions so your product is priced appropriately on shelf and online.
Brian & Russ review the pros & cons of various food & beverage manufacturing approaches and discuss why MāKā settled on co-manufacturing.
Brian & Russ talk about how they created product prototypes and how the prototypes were used to pitch initial retailers, investors, and customers.
1:00 Initial production runs are expensive
3:48 Why did MAKA use prototypes?
5:20 Creating prototype cans
9:32 Test your prototypes
13:09 Utilize an FDA attorney
15:25 Free can from MAKA!
15:43 How to use prototypes
21:38 Presenting to initial retailers
Follow the podcast a...
Brian & Russ discuss branding, agencies, and tips & tricks for building your brand story.
1:02 What is branding?
3:02 Tips for coming up with a brand name
5:55 Brand strategy is a living document that evolves
11:41 If you are speaking to everyone, you are speaking to no one
13:51 Demographics or psychographics?
17:28 Make your brand ownable
19:10 Creating your logo
21:20 Should I use an agency?
25:11 Free can from MAKA
...Brian & Russ explore what it takes to create a compelling formulation and how to identify and work with a formulator.
1:02 Testing flavors
1:52 Why yerba mate?
3:49 Crushing them mangoes
10:16 Creating MVP
13:44 Finding a formulator
18:41 Free can from MAKA!
18:57 Three key documents
20:21 Avoiding scope creep
22:52 Ideal number of flavors at launch
25:31 Packaging considerations
28:31 Formula finalization & certificat...
Brian & Russ talk about the lightbulb moment when it becomes clear a wheatgrass beverage is the differentiator MAKA needed.
1:28 What was the inspiration for MAKA?
8:46 How diet inspired the product
10:43 Free can from MAKA!
10:58 Benefits of wheatgrass
13:36 How people consume wheatgrass
19:58 Loving(?) that grassy taste
22:15 Hiding peas
24:25 Gross!?! Actually, that was pretty good
25:10 Russ' rumbling of discontent
Your hosts, Brian Hill and Russell Hirshon, introduce Making MAKA - a beverage startup's journey from launching to scaling a Consumer Packaged Good (CPG) brand.
www.makingmaka.com (podcast)
www.livingmaka.com (brand)
0:49 Host introductions
5:53 What is MAKA?
7:03 Advisory networks are critical
8:07 Selecting your primary target & building distribution
13:45 Where MAKA is today
19:25 Thank you Brittany
23:07 MAKA'...
MAKING MAKA is a behind the scenes look (or should we say listen) into our beverage startup’s journey to launching, building, scaling, and sustaining our CPG brand: MAKA. Episodes are hosted by the company’s founder, Brian Hill, the amazingly talented & memorable Russell Hirshon.
Each week Making MAKA will take you on the ups & downs of the rollercoaster ride that is called entrepreneurship – the good, the bad, the ugly, an...
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