590: (Solo) Why You Need to Do Things That Don’t Scale
When you’re just starting out, the fastest way to grow isn’t automation, ads, or scaling systems — it’s doing things that don’t scale. In this episode, I share why the most successful founders — from billion-dollar startups to small ecommerce brands — all begin by leaning into the unscalable. From replying personally to every email, to sending hundreds of Instagram DMs, to handwriting thank-you cards for early customers, these strategies create the kind of emotional connection that big brands can’t compete with. Here’s what you’ll take away: • Why doing things that don’t scale is your biggest advantage as a small brand • Real examples of how I and other founders used this to grow early traction • Specific tactics you can start today to build stronger customer relationships If you’re an early-stage founder, this episode will show you exactly how to build momentum, create raving fans, and uncover what truly works — long before you scale. This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application BOOST REVENUE WITHOUT MORE ADS We use Aftersell for simple post-purchase offers that lift sales fast. https://try.aftersell.app/ptiz4gnmvff7 to get started. CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
23 Sep 20257min
589 : The Mad Scientist Behind One of America’s Fastest Growing Supplement Brands | Brian Littlefield (Best of Foundr)
Brian Littlefield is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Jocko Fuel—one of the fastest-growing supplement brands in America. But his story didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a life-changing health wake-up call. In this episode, Brian shares how he went from overweight and directionless to building a trusted supplement empire backed by Navy SEAL legend Jocko Willink. You'll hear how they launched Jocko Fuel with a single product, the risky decision to tie the brand to Jocko’s name, and the surprising reason their customer base is so fanatically loyal. What you’ll learn: • Why they anchored the brand to Jocko’s reputation • How Brian built products customers actually stick with • Why quality and transparency are their greatest weapons • The scrappy early days of launching without big resources • Lessons from martial arts that shaped his leadership style • The real reason Jocko Fuel stands out in a saturated space If you want a blueprint for building a brand based on trust, community, and quality—this one’s a must-listen. Foundr Community Offers Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching: → Starting your ecom biz? Click here → Already selling and want to scale? Click here Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → Click here Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Click here to get started. Connect With Nathan Chan Instagram → Click Here LinkedIn → Click Here Connect With Brian Littlefield Website → Click Here Instagram → Click Here Brian's LinkedIn → Click Here Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies YouTube → Click here Website → Click here Instagram → Click here Facebook → Click here Twitter → Click here LinkedIn → Click here Podcast → Click here
19 Sep 202546min
588: (Solo) The #1 ROI Move You’re Probably Not Using
Most ecommerce founders think the only way to grow is to get more traffic — but often, the fastest way to increase sales is by making more from the traffic you already have. In this episode, I share a proven “second sale” strategy you can use to increase your conversion rate, average order value (AOV), and customer lifetime value (CLV) without spending a single extra dollar on ads. This is the exact approach Amazon uses to generate billions in extra revenue — and it works just as well for smaller brands. Here’s what you’ll take away: • How to identify if you have a conversion problem vs. a traffic problem • The post-purchase upsell strategy that can boost your revenue by 10–50% • Tools and tactics to increase AOV and CLV with zero additional ad spend If you’re looking to grow your store without increasing your traffic budget, this episode will give you a simple, repeatable strategy to unlock more revenue from the customers you already have. This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application BOOST REVENUE WITHOUT MORE ADS We use Aftersell for simple post-purchase offers that lift sales fast. https://try.aftersell.app/ptiz4gnmvff7 to get started. CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
16 Sep 20257min
587: She Built a $1 Billion Brand Selling Other Peoples Clothes | Julie Wainwright
Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal, reveals how she built a billion-dollar resale marketplace that transformed luxury fashion. In this exclusive Foundr Podcast interview, Julie shares how she scaled The RealReal to over $1B in revenue, reached 38 million members, and took the company public on the Nasdaq. From her early lessons at Pets.com to reinventing resale as “cool” and breaking into the luxury market, Julie unpacks the strategies, risks, and mindset shifts that fuelled her success. Whether you’re building an eCommerce brand, launching a marketplace, or navigating setbacks as a founder, this interview delivers invaluable lessons on execution, resilience, and scaling big ideas. What you’ll learn from this interview: • How Julie identified an opportunity Amazon couldn’t replicate and turned it into The RealReal • The strategies she used to seed supply and build a two-sided marketplace • Why values-driven hiring and culture were critical to scaling past $1B in revenue • Lessons from shutting down Pets.com and how it shaped her next venture • How she navigated taking The RealReal public and the realities of IPO wealth • The impact of COVID on The RealReal and what it taught her about resilience • Why values alignment and integrity are the most important traits in your team and board By the end of this interview, you’ll walk away with proven insights from one of the most experienced entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley—so you can build, scale, and sustain your own eCommerce or marketplace business with clarity and confidence. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ CONNECT WITH JULIE WAINWRIGHT Website → https://www.therealreal.com/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/realrealjulie/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
12 Sep 20251h
586 : (Solo) How I Solve The Biggest Problems in My Business (and How You Can Too)
Every business has one major constraint holding it back from the next stage of growth — and solving it is the fastest way to scale. In this episode, I share the exact formula I use to identify the biggest problem in my business, find the right person who’s already solved it, and get the solution faster than years of trial and error. This is the same approach I’ve seen countless successful founders use to break through roadblocks and grow with speed. Here’s what you’ll take away: • How to identify the single biggest constraint holding your business back • The fastest way to find and learn from people who have already solved your problem • Why paying for expertise can save you months — or even years — of wasted time If you’re stuck or plateauing, this episode will give you a clear, actionable way to diagnose the issue and solve it faster than you thought possible — so you can get back to growing your business. This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
9 Sep 20258min
585: The $100K Mistake Most Founders Make with Manufacturers (and How to Avoid It) (Best of Foundr)
Kian Golzari is one of the world’s leading experts in sourcing and product manufacturing—developing over 2,500 products and visiting 500+ factories. In this episode, he shares how to go from idea to product without getting burned by bad suppliers or poor-quality manufacturing. Whether you're working with Alibaba or building a custom product from scratch—this is your playbook. What you’ll learn: • How to vet suppliers and avoid common sourcing mistakes • His exact 3-step product development system • How to approach factories like a pro (even if it’s your first product) • Why negotiation is more about positioning than price • What he’s learned from working with the NBA, UN & billion-dollar brands • His best tips for working with Chinese manufacturers in 2025 and beyond If you’re creating a physical product or want to improve your margins—this episode will save you time, money, and a ton of headaches. Foundr Community Offers Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching: → Starting your ecom biz? Click here → Already selling and want to scale? Click here Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → Click here Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Click here to get started. Connect With Nathan Chan Instagram → Click Here LinkedIn → Click Here Connect With Kian Golzari Instagram → Click Here YouTube → Click Here Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies YouTube → Click here Website → Click here Instagram → Click here Facebook → Click here Twitter → Click here LinkedIn → Click here Podcast → Click here
5 Sep 202538min
584: (Solo) What 90 Days of Daily Posting Taught Me About Personal Branding
After 12 years building Foundr, I finally committed to something I should have done a decade ago — posting online every single day for 90 days straight to grow my personal brand. In this episode, I share what that commitment taught me about building trust, deepening connections with my audience, and why your personal brand is one of the most powerful assets you can create as a founder. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, these lessons will help you turn consistent posting into real business growth. Here’s what you’ll take away: • Why consistency beats strategy when it comes to content • How your personal brand can directly drive sales and opportunities • Why creating content gives you clarity on your message and audience If you’ve been hesitating to put yourself out there, this episode will give you the push — and the exact approach — to start posting, build authority, and unlock growth in your business. This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
2 Sep 20258min
583: The Branding Expert Behind Dior, L'Oréal & Mercedes | Camille Moore
In this episode of the Foundr Podcast, Nathan Chan sits down with Camille Moore — widely known as the internet’s favorite creative director and the strategist behind some of today’s most iconic brand transformations. Camille has built a reputation for taking founders from forgettable to unforgettable, crafting brand strategies that don’t just look good but actually drive trust, conversions, and sales. In this branding masterclass, she reveals the difference between a good brand and a great brand, the non-negotiables for eCommerce founders in today’s noisy digital space, and why being a founder-led brand is no longer optional. Whether you’re struggling to stand out online or want to create a brand that scales, Camille’s insights are both inspiring and deeply tactical. What you’ll learn: • How to define a brand as a unified “symphony” of touchpoints • The difference between a brand, a good brand, and a great brand — and how to level up • Why founder-led brands build stronger trust and loyalty in today’s market • How to balance product uniqueness with market viability • The role of ambassadors, community building, and evangelists in brand growth • The 10x10 content analysis method for creating social media that converts By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a clear, actionable framework for building a brand that’s consistent, memorable, and trusted — so you can stand out, connect with your audience, and drive growth in your own business. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application → Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/ CONNECT WITH CAMILLE MOORE Website → https://thirdrowcreative.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thecamillemoore FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Website → https://www.foundr.com Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
29 Aug 202555min
