DTC POD #234 - Matt Czarnecki, Verb: Taking A CPG Energy Bar From Dorm To Scale

1️⃣ One Sentence Summary
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

"Scaling a CPG Energy Bar from Dorm Room to Retail"

🎞️ Clipfinder: Quotes, Hooks, & Timestamps
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 3

Matt Czarnecki 00:05:32 00:05:45

"Innovative Startup Journey: And we kind of thought about that and figured, well, what if we could design the sort of perfect energy solution or solutions? And that's really how we got started."

Matt Czarnecki 00:10:32 00:10:35

"Insights from Dorm Room Business: 'But those dorm room learnings were essential.'"

Matt Czarnecki 00:12:20 00:12:37

"Power of SMS in Business: Over the past six years, we have learned so much about the power of SMS, the upsides of SMS, and also the challenges of SMS. And I think that it is such an incredible tool for businesses to be using in this day and age."

Matt Czarnecki 00:18:28 00:18:48

"Startup Success Through SMS Marketing: We actually need to build a platform that will allow us to text customers at scale, place orders for them, push off subscription shipments, ship bars to one of their friends. By the time that we relaunched the brand in May of 2018, we launched all online, had our best revenue month ever, and then had a period of 36 consecutive months of positive revenue growth, primarily driven by a massive increase in the size of our subscriber base, all of which were interacting with us over SMS."

Matt Czarnecki 00:21:21 00:22:00

"Essential Traits for SMS Strategy: So in our first CX hires, one of the most important traits that we looked for was simply grit and persistence. Texting customers all day long is really hard. And believe it or not, two of the first hires that we made onto that CX team ended up growing into roles entirely unrelated to that initial job. They learned so much from customers over a year, two years, that one of them became our influencer manager for a while and the other one is on our people team today and likely on a path to becoming Chief of staff."

Matt Czarnecki 00:24:45 00:24:58

"Evolution of SMS Marketing: What I think has allowed us to be really successful is that as we've built the platform, we've also built the brand, as opposed to just building a software platform in itself."

Matt Czarnecki 00:26:39 00:27:04

"Building a Brand Strategy: So when we were just getting started, the way we thought about building the brand was we figured that we were creating a category most people have never had a caffeinated snack. So we wanted to make the barrier to entry as low as possible to get as much trial as we could out of new customers."

Matt Czarnecki 00:28:28 00:28:45

"Influencer Marketing Strategies: And I remember that the first few Influencers we worked with cost several thousand dollars, which for us was a significant investment at the time. And I remember we told them to post between like three and 05:00 P.m. Because that's when people would be hitting the afternoon slump."

Matt Czarnecki 00:31:55 00:32:06

"Influencer Marketing Strategy: We care a lot about integrity as a brand and only want to work with influencer partners that are aligned with our brand values, with our diversity, equity and inclusion values."

Matt Czarnecki 00:36:12 00:36:45

"Evolving Marketing Strategy in E-commerce": "And for us, a key, key part of continuing to be successful over the past couple of years has been an AOV increase and correspondingly LTV increase, as well as a gross margin built. And without getting too into the specifics, I would just say that we have over three x our average order value in about the last 24 months, and we've increased our gross margin by nearly 20 percentage points by shifting order mixes, by optimizing manufacturing methods."

🔑 7 Key Themes
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

1. Verb Energy's journey from dorm to scale 2. Building a customer experience (CX) strategy 3. Importance and execution of SMS marketing 4. Influencer partnerships for brand growth 5. Evolution in marketing channels or strategies 6. Value of long-term influencer relationships 7. Product ideation and experimentation with Verb Test Kitchen

💬 Keywords
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Matt Czarnecki, Verb Energy, energy solutions, biochemistry, entrepreneurial incubator, Yale Launch, energy bar, market needs, customer experience, SMS strategy, influencer marketing, omnichannel, Amazon sales, retail strategy, Verb Test Kitchen, Twitter, text messaging, customer relationship, Slack, revenue growth, Jen Todrick, Nick de Giovanni, influencer partnerships, Facebook marketing, online sales, offline sales, average order value, gross margin, affiliate marketing, blogs

Interview Breakdown
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Today, we dive deep into the journey of Matt Czarnecki, co-founder and CEO of Verb Energy, uncovering how he took an energy bar from a college side-project to a scalable direct-to-consumer offering. We're exploring the challenges and breakthroughs of launching a consumer packaged goods (CPG) company straight from the dorm room. In this episode, we'll explore: - How Matt and his team turned a college side-project into Verb Energy, a booming entrepreneurial initiative. - The importance of customer feedback and how it helped Verb Energy pivot and innovate the product to meet market needs. - How Verb Energy employed a unique SMS strategy and leveraged influencers for early growth stages. - The journey of Verb Energy's entrance onto Amazon and their future plans to jump into retail in 2023. - The power of authentic, long-term partnerships with influencers and how this significantly drove sales for the brand. This is an energy-packed episode that will charge you with inspiration!

📚 Timestamped overview
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 2

03:35 College friends start entrepreneurial incubator, find success.

07:23 College provides unique opportunity for product innovation.

09:17 Launched site, talked to customers, made changes.

12:07 SMS: a powerful tool for business growth.

17:59 Built platform, grew revenue, texted every customer.

21:20 CX hires valued grit and persistence, evolved roles.

22:54 Unique hiring strategy, customer-centric, scalable systems.

26:39 Effective low-cost strategy led to customer acquisition.

31:54 Brand values, diversity, and a unique launch.

35:42 Evolving strategy across channels drives success.

37:46 Facebook marketing: Whitelisting influencers, creative testing, effectiveness.

41:46 Improving energy product process through innovation.

44:25 Retail passion project turns into reality.

❇️ Key topics and bullets
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

I. Introduction - Welcoming guest Matt Czarnecki - Brief introduction about Verb Energy II. The Birth of Verb Energy - Starting Verb Energy in a college dorm - The original mission and how it evolved III. Initial Prototype and Market Entry - Experiments with different energy food prototypes - First sales and growth within college community - Pivot in the product to better meet market needs IV. From Dorm Room Prototype to Scale - Introduction of new energy bar version - Transition from large in-house team to small outsourced team - Building a strong engineering team V. Customer Experience Development - Value of grit and persistence in early CX hires - Brand reflecting customer-first approach via SMS VI. Growth and Marketing Strategy - Early growth leveraging social media and influencers - Expansion on various sales platforms - Future plans to enter retail in 2023 VII. Product Development - Role of their chef in product development - Launching a new drink mix product - Development of Verb Test Kitchen for product feedback VIII. Partnership and Influencer Strategy - Partnering with influencers for social proof - Insights on changes and trends in the influencer marketing space - Stories of successful influencer partnerships IX. Marketing Channels and Strategies - Evolution of the company's marketing strategy - Influence of Facebook marketing and other channels - A focus on increasing average order value and gross margin X. Conclusion - Final words from Matt Czarnecki and host Blaine Bolus - Contact details for the guest and the brand - Mention of the next episode

🎬 Reel script
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

On this episode of DTC POD, we dive deep with Matt Czarnecki, CEO of Verb Energy, exploring the journey of taking a CPG product from a college dorm to scaling it in the market. Matt shares the significance of SMS marketing, utilizing influencers for brand growth, and tackling the challenges of transforming a college entrepreneurial incubator-born idea to an omnichannel retail giant with over 40 million bars sold. We also delve into the power of creating and maintaining customer relationships through personalized experiences. Discover how Verb Energy prioritizes a customer-first approach in its digital and retail expansions, and stay inspired for your entrepreneurial journey.

✏️ Custom Newsletter
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Subject: NEW PODCAST EPISODE: From Dorm Room to Dominating the Energy Bar Market Hey [Newsletter Recipient], We're back with yet another exciting installment of the DTC POD #234. This time, we're sitting down with the charismatic Matt Czarnecki, co-founder and CEO of Verb Energy. Verbatim: This episode is a riveting story about a college dorm project that has grown into a successful energy bar company, Verb Energy. So, grab your headphones and prepare to be inspired! Here's what you can expect to learn from this episode: 1. The Journey: Follow Matt's journey from experimenting with energy food prototypes in their college dorm to scaling Verb Energy and leading the charge in the energy bar industry. 2. The SMS Strategy: Discover how Verb Energy built its own SMS platform to personalize the customer experience and drive engagement. 3. Hiring Ethics: Learn about the tenacity, grit, and persistence that characterized Verb Energy's earliest hires and how this fueled their rapid growth. 4. Influencer Impact: Matt deep-dives into how effective influencer partnerships have been for the brand, citing some particularly successful collaborations. 5. Seizing Opportunities: Learn why stepping into the retail landscape represents a significant opportunity for Verb Energy as Matt outlines their 2023 expansion plans. Fun Fact from the Episode: Did you know that Verb Energy initially communicated with customers via Slack channels, before they had an SMS platform? Indeed, it’s all about focusing on customer interaction, no matter the platform! As we wrap up, we must say, this episode left us feeling motivated and ready to take on any entrepreneurial challenge. However, we can't end without saying a HUGE thank you to Matt Czarnecki of Verb Energy for sharing his journey, insights, and the ethos behind Verb Energy's success! Ready to dive in? The DTC POD #234 is now live and waiting to feed your curiosity and stoke your entrepreneurial fire. Don’t miss out! [CTA: Listen Now to Episode #234] Don't forget to rate, review, and share your favorite episodes! Every bit of your support helps us keep the podcast rolling and getting amazing guests like Matt. Until the next episode, keep aiming high! Best, Blaine and Ramon DTC POD Hosts P.S. For more behind-the-scenes insights, follow us on our socials and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. You wouldn't want to miss out on any DTC POD exclusives, right? So, hit that follow button now! [CTA: Follow Us]

🐦 Business Lesson Tweet Thread
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

1/12 Let's talk about taking a dorm room idea to scale, a journey brilliantly navigated by Matt Czarnecki of Verb Energy. Lesson one? Don't be afraid to start small, yet dream big. 2/12 Starting in a college dorm, they initially sold bars to their peers. The market was niche, but the idea was grand. Sometimes the best way to scale is caring for one customer at a time. 3/12 Pivoting is a buzzword we often hear, but how often do we see it in practice? Matt listened to customers, refined their energy bar recipe, delivered a better product & geared for growth. 4/12 Here's where it gets interesting, and hard. Scaling the unscalable. They started with in-house customer texting. Then realized, Rome wasn't built by one man. 5/12 When they needed help, they looked for grit. They outsourced for volume but retained strength in-house. Remember, great people remain great, even when roles change. 6/12 It's not always about reinvention. Matt learned the power of existing tools. Verb Energy leaned into SMS even before it was cool, building relationships, not just driving sales. 7/12 Yes, they entered the influencer space early, but even more importantly, they chose them wisely. They invested in long-term relationships rather than paying platforms. Trust, it turns out, is key. 8/12 Influence can be a rocket ship. One partnership led to their best revenue day in history. But it's not magic, it's finding the right fit. 9/12 Marketing strategy? Crucial. But even the best strategies evolve. They started with Facebook, but also explored affiliate marketing, blogs, retail. Diversification: It's survival of the fittest. 10/12 Launching on Amazon, planning retail expansion - all things come with time, and steady growth. Side projects don't need to stay side projects, if you nurture them well. 11/12 Testing and refining your product isn't just part of the process, it's the process. Verb Energy employs a 'Test Kitchen' - because taking initiative, even with failures, can lead to grand successes. 12/12 Matt once sold energy bars at their college. Now, the company has sold over 40 million bars! Start small, dream big, never stop iterating. Because in this game, it's not about where you start, it's about where you're going.

🎓 Lessons Learned
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

1. "From Dorm to Omnichannel" - The journey of Verb Energy's humble beginnings from a college dorm to omnichannel distribution. 2. "Optimizing Personal Energy" - Matt Czarnecki's interest in biochemistry led to his quest for optimizing personal energy levels. 3. "Innovative Growth with CX" - How Verb Energy innovatively used in-house customer texting and later outsourced for growth. 4. "The Power of SMS" - Text messaging is a powerful tool that can be used to build business relationships and drive sales. 5. "Influencer as Sales Drivers" - Using carefully selected influencer partnerships to leverage social proof and achieve significant sales. 6. "Pivotal Facebook Marketing" - Utilizing Facebook marketing and whitelisting as key strategies to increase average order value and gross margin. 7. "Entrepreneurial Incubation at Yale" - Creating an entrepreneurial incubator in college along with a friend, leading to Verb Energy's conception. 8. "The Verb Test Kitchen" - The company's testing process that utilizes customer feedback to decide on launching new products. 9. "Building Own SMS Platform" - The company's initiative to develop their own SMS platform for delivering personalized customer experience. 10. "Retail Expansion Passion" - The founder's passionate drive towards retail expansion that has been planned for years.

1 / 1

1. Never underestimate small beginnings - Dorm room ideas can scale to global ventures. 2. Embrace the power of organic growth - Word-of-mouth can often be more impactful than paid advertisements. 3. Be flexible and adaptable to customer feedback - It is the key to developing products and services that truly resonate with the market. 4. Invest in the right team - People who show grit and persistence can grow into valuable assets for the company. 5. Leverage technology for customer communication - Platforms like SMS can strengthen relationships and drive sales. 6. Be proactive in leveraging new marketing strategies - Early adoption of techniques like influencer partnerships can lead to substantial growth. 7. Understand each marketing channel's unique strengths - The intent to purchase through SEO differs from FOMO-based purchases on social media. 8. Maintain close ties with customers - Regular interactions can increase brand loyalty and lead to positive word-of-mouth. 9. Pursue long-term partnerships - Building trust and alignment with influencers can improve the authenticity and effectiveness of co-branded products. 10. Continually evolve marketing strategies - As a company grows, so should its strategies to increase average order value and gross margin. 11. Be patient and persistent with new ventures - Expect drastic growth when entering new platforms like Amazon or retail, but be prepared for challenges along the way. 12. Always be open to feedback - Use it to continually innovate and improve products or services. 13. Diversify marketing efforts - Combining strategies like Facebook ads, blogs, and retail outreach can create a comprehensive and effective marketing plan.

🌟 3 Fun Facts
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

1. Matt Czarnecki and his friend started the entire Verb Energy bar concept from their college dorm room, experimenting with different energy food prototypes, before finally settling on the now successful energy bars. 2. The company initially used Slack channels to communicate with customers before creating their dedicated SMS platform for a more personalized customer interaction that led to their substantial growth. 3. Matt's company achieved their largest revenue day from a successful partnership with an influencer (Jen Todrick) who promoted a co-branded product, showcasing the immense power of influencer marketing.

📓 Blog Post
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Title: Scaling a Consumer-Based Energy Bar Brand: A Conversation with Matt Czarnecki of Verb Energy Subheader: Arriving at Potential: From Dormroom Startup to Scaling the Heights I. The Birth of a Brand: Matt Czarnecki, co-founder and CEO of Verb Energy, kickstarted his journey with a side project that operated out of a college dorm room. His background in biochemistry sparked his curiosity about personal energy optimization, ultimately leading to Verb’s creation. Matt’s first successful initiative was an entrepreneurial incubator called Yale Launch, where he and his partner began experimenting with various energy food prototypes that later bloomed into energy bars. The brand's initial traction resulted from organic growth within their college community. II. Designing Direct Customer Interaction: From the earliest phases, Verb Energy prioritized a direct customer interaction strategy. This onus resulted in the team acknowledging the limitations of their initial approach and making the crucial decision to pivot their product design to better suit customer demands. May 2018 saw the introduction of an improved version of their flagship energy bars, propelling Verb towards a grander scale. III. Coming Full Circle with Customer Experience: The Verb Energy team initially managed all customer interactions organically. Recognizing the sustainability limits of this approach, the company quickly transitioned to a specialized customer experience (CX) team, which eventually outsourced and re-engineered in the face of business upscaling. The company's focus on an SMS strategy provides an intimate level of customer engagement that bolsters its brand. IV. Influencers and Growth: Verb Energy smartly leveraged influencers to catalyze growth and enhance brand visibility. Matt notes that pivotal partnerships with figures such as Jen Todrick and Nick de Giovanni were crucial in establishing momentum for their young brand. These interactions did more than drive revenue; they underscored the importance of fostering authentic relationships with influencers genuinely resonating with Verb. V. The Power of Personalization: An intrinsic part of Verb Energy's success story is their home-developed SMS platform. Opting out of relying solely on traditional communication channels like Slack, the company invested in an intimate connection tool capable of forging deep relationships with its growing consumer base. The positive results, which included impressive revenue growth, confirm the strength of this strategic choice. VI. Unraveling Marketing Tactics: Czarnecki cites an evolving multi-channel business model, with Facebook playing a pivotal role along with affiliates, retail, and blogs. Experimentation with tactics such as whitelisting and creative testing assisted in growing average order value (AOV) and gross margin. The company also explored new product lines using its in-house platform - the Verb Test Kitchen – that gathered crucial customer feedback. VII. The Journey Ahead: Having laudably secured a base of over 40 million bar sales on their website, Verb Energy intends to diversify its market reach. With a recent expansion to Amazon expected to yield impressive quarter-over-quarter growth, and a VP of Sales spearheading a retail market onslaught, Verb Energy confidently voyages into its future. As Czarnecki envisions, the brand plans to upscale both its online and offline presence to globally redefine energy consumption. To share in Verb Energy's journey, listeners are welcome to contact Czarnecki directly or reach out to the company via text. The DTC POD thanks Matt Czarnecki for a valuable insight into a journey that continues to illustrate how driven entrepreneurs can shape and mould consumer markets. The boiler is still hot, and we look forward to following the story as the brand grows and achieves its milestone goals.

🎤 Voiceover Script
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

"In this engaging episode of DTC POD, we dive deep into the journey of Matt Czarnecki's Verb Energy, from a dorm room idea to a scalable omnichannel operation. We learn about the power of text messaging for personalized customer experience, and the significance of influencer marketing for driving unparalleled sales. Matt's successful strategies of leveraging social media platforms, evolving marketing tactics, and focusing on customer feedback really highlight the essentials for DTC brand growth. Don't miss these valuable lessons from the trenches of entrepreneurial triumph."

🔘 Best Practices Guide
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Scaling a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) product involves a multi-process approach. Begin with a passionate, customer-first vision and make continuous improvements based on customer feedback. Employ a strong SMS strategy to build personal relationships and boost sales. Involve influencers to provide social proof, but ensure they align with your brand values and aim for long-term partnerships. Start as a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brand, then prepare to go omnichannel. Leverage channels like Facebook, affiliate marketing, and blogs. Your goal is to increase average order value while maintaining a high gross margin. Don't dismiss niche marketing strategies, such as whitelisting and creative testing. Finally, plan ahead for future retail expansions by hiring strategic positions like a VP of Sales and developing a retail strategy alongside your DTC model.

🎆 Social Carousel: Do's/Don'ts
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Slide 1: "10 Tips Every Retention Marketer Needs to Know" Slide 2: "No DIY Scaling" Instead, leverage engineering teams for automated CX interactions to increase scalability. Slide 3: "Dismiss SMS? No" Embrace SMS as a vital marketing channel to build customer relationships and drive sales. Slide 4: "Not Outsourcing" Transition from a large in-house team to small outsourced team complemented by a strong engineering team. Slide 5: "Influencer Caution" Invest in meaningful, long-term influencer relationships that can offer authentic social proof. Slide 6: "No Quick Campaigns" Instead, prioritize increasing average order value (AOV) and gross margin in your marketing strategy. Slide 7: "Dismiss Feedback? No" Use customer feedback when deciding to launch new products for better chances of success. Slide 8: "Non-Unique Approaches" Create your own platforms to provide personalized experiences and stand out in the market. Slide 9: "FOMO-Based Only" Accompany FOMO-based campaigns with SEO strategies for intent-based purchases. Slide 10: "One-Use Hires" Value early CX hires for their grit and help them grow into diverse roles within the organization.

🎠 Social Carousel
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

Slide 1: "10 crucial tips every entrepreneur should know" Slide 2: *Energy of Ideas* "From dorm room concept to scale, start projects with a passion." Slide 3: *Consumer First* "Always be open to pivoting when market needs become apparent." Slide 4: *SMS Strategy* "Utilize text messaging as a tool for building client relationships." Slide 5: *Influencer Impact* "Benefit from social proof and significant sales by partnering with the right influencers." Slide 6: *Cheer for Change* "On the journey to scale, switch from large in-house teams to outsourced strength." Slide 7: *Channel Exploration* "Build a diverse marketing strategy — Facebook, Google, influencer, and referral channels are vital." Slide 8: *New Product Releases* "Engage with customers during your testing phase to gather valuable insights." Slide 9: *Entrepreneurial Adaptation* "Transition and adapt from an exclusive DTC brand to successful omnichannel presence." Slide 10: *Building Upon SEO* "Capitalize on the power of SEO for intent-based purchases versus FOMO-driven sales." Slide 10: *Call to Action* "Follow DTC POD for more insights, and don't forget to rate and review to support the show!"

One Off Tweets
✨ Preset prompt

1 / 1

1. Embrace the power of transformation! Started as a dorm project, Verb Energy is now revolutionizing the energy solution market. Stay persistent and stay audacious. 2. Customers are the backbone of success. At Verb Energy, we pivot our products to their needs, ensuring we deliver value and form lasting relationships. 3. Never underestimate your humble beginnings. Verb Energy began selling energy bars in their college community. Today, they've sold over 40 million bars! 4. A successful business does not ignore the importance of tech integration. Building an in-house engineering team at Verb Energy changed our customer service game entirely. 5. Early growth leverages low barriers to entry. Verb Energy did that along with generous trial offerings on Facebook. Innovation comes with flexibility. 6. Leaning into SMS before it was mainstream proved to be a game-changer for Verb Energy! Being ahead of the trend often brings unprecedented success. 7. Influencer partnership isn't about numbers, it's about trust and alignment. “Best revenue day in history“ with Jen Todrick is proof of the pudding! 8. Retail expansion is not just a business step, it's a passion project for Matt at Verb Energy. Passion breeds determination and perseverance! 9. You might think SEO is all about visibility, but it's also about intent to purchase. Verb Energy leverages SEO to drive not just traffic, but conversion! 10. Navigating the waters of influencer marketing requires savvy. Verb Energy recognises building long-term partnerships with influencers who genuinely resonate with the brand is crucial.

What is Castmagic?

Castmagic is the best way to generate content from audio and video.

Full transcripts from your audio files. Theme & speaker analysis. AI-generated content ready to copy/paste. And more.