BRAVE COMMERCE

Podcast Description:In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Sylvia Buxton, President and CEO of Perfetti Van Melle Americas, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to explore how impulse brands like Airheads and Mentos are thriving in a digitally transformed retail landscape.Sylvia shares how her team is reimagining impulse marketing for both eCommerce and brick-and-mortar environments, adapting traditional trade spend strategies, and maintaining brand relevance in a world of evolving consumer behaviors. With a forward-thinking approach to media diversification, retail media integration, and category innovation, Sylvia offers a masterclass in leading through change while staying true to brand fundamentals.Key Takeaways:Impulse marketing must evolve – Digital shopping behaviors demand new approaches to staying top-of-mind at the point of purchase.Retail media blurs lines between trade and marketing – Collaborative ownership and clear accountability are key to navigating investments across the funnel.Consumer shifts present new opportunities – Changing health trends and digital habits require brands to innovate both products and engagement strategies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Laura Knebusch, SVP of CPG Marketing and Consumer Experience at Georgia-Pacific, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss how she’s evolving the role of marketing inside a legacy CPG organization.Laura shares how her team has shifted from traditional brand marketing to a full-funnel strategy that integrates national media, retail media, and shopper marketing. She talks about the benefits of housing retail media within marketing, the power of consistent measurement through in-house MMM, and the importance of building modern marketing talent with agility, curiosity, and resourcefulness.Key TakeawaysMarketing must do more than storytelling – it must deliver consistent experiences across every consumer touchpointRetail media belongs within marketing when collaboration and shared metrics guide investment decisionsMeasurement and MarTech only work when paired with strong change management and hands-on training across the organization Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Justin Noland, VP of Digital Experience at Treasury Wine Estates, joins host Rachel Tipograph and guest co-host Melissa Burdick live from the ShopTalk floor. Together, they explore how Treasury is responding to challenges facing the wine industry while building stronger digital and consumer experiences.Justin explains how the company addresses climate change, regulatory hurdles, and shifting preferences by combining innovation, sustainability, and storytelling. He also shares his perspective on luxury growth, retail media in a restricted category, and how Treasury approaches influencer marketing with authenticity.For anyone in a highly regulated or tradition-rich category, this episode is a valuable look into how collaboration and experimentation can unlock growth.Key TakeawaysCollaboration fuels innovation – Treasury Wine Estates leans on cross-functional teams to meet challenges in sustainability, regulation, and digital transformationLuxury is resilient – Wine brands like DAOU are thriving by connecting premium experiences with meaningful consumer occasionsRegulation demands creativity – Influencer partnerships, social experimentation, and retailer collaboration are critical to navigating advertising constraints Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Sporkin, SVP of Media & Marketing Services at Ferrero North America, shares her remarkable journey from agency leadership to the boardroom. She discusses Ferrero's unique philosophy of ‘change by preserving,’ emphasizing how brands can innovate while staying true to their roots. Danielle highlights the necessity of cross-functional collaboration in retail media and how diverse career paths can cultivate stronger leaders. Her insights on balancing tradition with modern marketing strategies offer valuable lessons for anyone in the industry.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Brad Feinberg, VP of Media, Digital, and eCommerce at Molson Coors Beverage Company, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to share how he is reshaping the role of marketing within a regulated industry by bringing together brand and performance, digital and traditional, creative and commerce.Brad explains how his team applies data, agility, and a consumer-first mindset across every touchpoint, including Super Bowl campaigns and Instacart product pages. With a unified structure and a focus on cross-functional skill building, Molson Coors is turning media investments into closed-loop growth opportunities and expanding into new categories like non-alcoholic beverages.For marketers looking to modernize their organizations, this episode offers a playbook for breaking down silos and building brands that drive results.Key TakeawaysBrand and Performance Are One - Treating brand-building and performance as two sides of the same coin leads to more impactful campaignsData Unlocks Influence - Leveraging real-time data earns a strategic seat at the table across marketing, sales, and retailStructure Drives Speed - Combining media, digital, and eCommerce enables faster execution and creates more career growth opportunities Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Josh Hackbarth, Chief Marketing Officer at MGA Entertainment, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the evolution of the toy industry and how MGA is redefining how consumers engage with its brands.Josh explains why building emotional connections is now just as important as product innovation and how MGA is adapting to cultural trends, digital engagement, and retail media shifts. With iconic brands like Bratz, Little Tikes, LOL Surprise, and Miniverse, MGA is tapping into nostalgia, social media virality, and the rise of adult collectors to expand its audience beyond kids and parents. For marketers navigating rapidly changing consumer behaviors, this episode explores how to blend entertainment, retail, and social influence to drive brand longevity and sales.Key TakeawaysBrand Building is Bigger than Products – Emotional connections drive demand and long-term success.Retail and Social Must Work Together – Cultural moments and influencer engagement fuel conversion.Consumer Behavior is Changing Fast – Nostalgia, adult collectors, and digital communities are reshaping the toy industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast DescriptionIn this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Neil Shah, Chief Commercial Officer at SharkNinja, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss how SharkNinja has grown from a single category company into a $5.5 billion global brand spanning more than 36 categories. Neil shares how SharkNinja’s consumer first approach fuels rapid innovation, ensuring every product meets four key criteria: speed to market, superior performance, five star quality, and strong value. He explains how the brand’s relentless focus on consumer insights, viral marketing, and omnichannel execution creates category defining products, from robot vacuums to slushy machines.For brands looking to drive innovation and win in retail, this episode provides insights into leveraging consumer feedback, optimizing go to market strategies, and integrating retail media with organic demand generation.Key TakeawaysConsumer First Innovation Wins – Every SharkNinja product must be faster, better, and higher quality than competitors.Five Star Ratings Drive Demand – Product excellence fuels organic reviews, search rankings, and omnichannel success.Virality is a Growth Engine – Social media insights shape product development and amplify consumer engagement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Steve Siegal, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer at Curology, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss Curology’s journey from a DTC disruptor to an omnichannel skincare leader. Steve shares how launching in Target, Walmart, and CVS has reshaped Curology’s strategy, driving credibility, visibility, and a seamless consumer experience across channels.With a background spanning legacy CPG and digitally native brands, Steve offers a unique perspective on full-funnel marketing, measurement, and retail partnerships. He explains how Curology is using retail as a brand awareness engine, connecting physical shelf presence with its DTC prescription model to maximize consumer engagement and lifetime value.For brands navigating omnichannel expansion, this conversation offers actionable insights on balancing brand and performance marketing, integrating data for smarter decision-making, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your brand in the evolving retail landscape.Key TakeawaysRetail as a Brand Awareness Engine – Physical retail builds credibility and visibility while introducing consumers to a brand’s broader ecosystem.Full-Funnel Marketing is Critical – Success in omnichannel requires seamless integration between brand-building and performance-driven strategies.Data-Driven Decision-Making Powers Growth – Understanding how investments in DTC and retail interact is key to optimizing profitability and consumer engagement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Ben Galvin, Sr. Director of Omnichannel Retail Sales & eCommerce at Monster Energy, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the critical role of category management in today’s omnichannel landscape. From the physical shelf to the digital shelf, Ben explains how the fundamentals of CPG have transformed, why search rankings now rival prime in-store placements, and how brands must adapt to shifting consumer behaviors.With a decade of experience in category leadership, Ben shares how data-driven decision-making, cross-channel coordination, and agile responsiveness are essential for modern brand success. He discusses the changing role of syndicated data providers, the growing influence of retail media, and how companies like Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy are setting the standard for omnichannel excellence.Throughout the conversation, Ben offers valuable insights on bridging internal silos, empowering sales teams to think digitally, and reshaping organizational structures to meet the demands of today’s marketplace. If you’re a brand leader looking to win across in-store and online, this episode is packed with strategic takeaways you won’t want to miss.Key TakeawaysThe Digital Shelf is the New Battleground – Just as eye-level placement dominates in-store, top search rankings are critical for online sales success.Cross-Channel Coordination is Essential – Winning in today’s market requires seamless alignment across in-store sales, digital commerce, retail media, and category management.Curiosity and Agility Drive Success – Leaders who embrace data-driven decisions, organizational collaboration, and evolving shopper behaviors will outperform competitors in an ever-changing landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farrah Linden, Media Director at Wella Company, and Josh Cierski, Associate Director of Media at Reckitt, dive into the future of retail and national media. They discuss navigating budget allocation in a blurred media landscape and the evolving metrics like ROAS and CLV that are crucial for measurement. The duo shares insights on collaborating between sales and creative strategies to engage consumers effectively and examine the balance between retail marketing and personal stories of courage. Their conversation is a treasure trove of strategies for modern marketing challenges.