DeepSummary
In this episode of the Advice Line, Guy Raz is joined by Brett Shulman, co-founder and CEO of the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava, to provide advice to three early-stage founders facing challenges as they scale their businesses. The first caller, Devin Strahan, is the founder of Devin's Spiked Root Beer, a wine-based spiked root beer brand, and he seeks advice on dealing with imposter syndrome as his business expands.
The second caller is Sophia Bowden, the founder of Little Me Allergy, a company that makes allergy accessories like placemats, lunchbox magnets, and wristbands for children with food allergies. She asks for advice on expanding her marketing reach and sales channels for her niche, mission-based business.
The final caller is Shawn Murray, the founder of Rootless Coffee Company, a Michigan-based coffee roastery that aims to bridge the gap between high-quality coffee and accessibility. He seeks guidance on determining the right time to seek growth funding and the best method for doing so.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Overcoming imposter syndrome is a common challenge for entrepreneurs, and it's important to recognize one's expertise and experience to counteract those feelings.
- Attending trade shows can provide valuable insights into an industry's landscape, distribution channels, and potential partnerships.
- Prioritizing and focusing on core strengths is crucial when scaling a business, as trying to do too much can hinder growth.
- Seeking advice from mentors, advisors, or consultants can provide valuable perspectives and help navigate challenges during the scaling process.
- Understanding the unique challenges and capital requirements of scaling a physical business, such as a restaurant or roastery, is essential when seeking growth funding.
- Listening to customers and understanding the needs being addressed is key to making strategic decisions about expanding a business.
- Exploring partnerships, collaborations, and influencer marketing can be effective ways to expand marketing reach and sales channels for niche or mission-based businesses.
- Balancing multiple sales channels and allocating resources effectively is a common challenge when scaling a business, and may require focusing on one channel at a time.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think often in any of these industries, going to a trade show is such a great idea. And just understanding the landscape, the lay of the land, what the marketplace is, what the potential avenues of distribution are, how it all works.“ by Brett Shulman
- “You know, sometimes what you don't do is more important than what you do do. And really prioritizing and focusing on where your strengths are and leaning into that.“ by Brett Shulman
- “You know, oftentimes it's listening to the business or listening to your guests and kind of understanding the need you're filling and leaning into that.“ by Brett Shulman
- “I wouldn't jump in and just hire somebody right away. I'd look for somebody who could maybe do some consulting.“ by Guy Raz
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Episode Information
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery
7/4/24
CAVA co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders experiencing growing pains as they scale their companies.
Today we meet Devin, who’s navigating imposter syndrome as his spiked root beer gets picked up by stores across Texas. Then Sophia, a Los Angeles mom exploring new sales channels for the accessories she designed to support children’s allergy needs. And Sean, who’s weighing whether outside investment is the best way to grow his Michigan-based coffee roastery into a national brand.
If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.
And be sure to listen to CAVA’s founding story as told by Brett and his co-founder Ted Xenohristos on the show in 2023.
This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was James Willetts.
You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. And sign up for Guy’s free newsletter at guyraz.com.
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