Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing

Core77 Podcast · 19 Aug 2013 · 55m

What this episode covers

Theo Richardson, Alex Williams, and Charles Brill, co-founders of the Brooklyn design studio Rich Brilliant Willing, discuss their journey from RISD graduates to running a furniture and lighting company. They explain how the 2008 financial crisis pushed them to bypass traditional licensing models and instead design and manufacture their own products, such as the XL Perch and Delta Fabric lamp series, to maintain speed and control. The founders detail their collaborative process, the shift from seasonal trade show launches to a more continuous product release strategy, and the challenges of maintaining their creative partnership while scaling the business.

Mentioned

Companies
Rich Brilliant Willing
Products
XL Perch, Delta Fabric lamp series, Monocle light
Also
RISD, ICFF, New York Gift Fair

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 1h 02m

    Live Episode! Walker & Company: Tristan Walker (2019)

    Tristan Walker, founder of Walker & Company, explains how his personal struggle with razor bumps for coarse hair led to the creation of Bevel, a single-blade shaving system designed for men and women of color. After facing rejection from dozens of VCs who did not understand the problem, he launched the company with a subscription model, eventually securing partnerships with major retailers like Target and selling to Procter & Gamble. Walker details the product design choices, such as the safety razor head and premium packaging, and the strategic decision to move the company’s headquarters to Atlanta to better serve his core demographic and build a lasting legacy.

  • How I Built This · 1h 05m

    Live Episode! Milk Bar: Christina Tosi (2019)

    Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar, explains how she transitioned from a pastry cook at high-end NYC restaurants like WD50 and Momofuku to opening her own bakery in 2008 with mentor David Chang. She details the creation of iconic products like crack pie and compost cookies, which were born from improvisation and a desire to make nostalgic, unfussy desserts accessible. Tosi describes scaling the business from a single East Village location to 16 shops and a national retail presence, emphasizing her decision to keep prices low and bootstrap the company for eight years before raising outside capital. The episode highlights her operational challenges, including managing supply chains for mail-order goods and expanding production capacity to support growth.

  • How I Built This · 55m

    Live Episode! Clubhouse: Paul Davison and Rohan Seth

    Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, co-founders of the social audio app Clubhouse, discuss their journey from previous failed startups to building a platform that capitalized on the pandemic's demand for virtual connection. They detail the technical and social challenges of their earlier location-based app Highlight, the personal tragedy that led Rohan to found the Lydian Accelerator, and the iterative product development that transformed their initial 'Talk Show' concept into Clubhouse's live, ephemeral audio rooms. The founders also address the complexities of moderating live group audio, managing rapid scaling, and maintaining focus amidst intense competition from tech giants.

  • How I Built This · 59m

    EO Products: Susan Griffin-Black & Brad Black

    Susan Griffin-Black and Brad Black, founders of EO Products, explain how a chance encounter with essential oils in London inspired them to build a $50 million natural body care company without venture capital. They detail their scrappy early years, including manufacturing bath salts in a garage and securing a pivotal order from Bloomingdale's that led to the brand name 'EO'. The episode covers their strategic decision to avoid VC funding to protect product integrity, their divorce in 2007, and their unique decision to remain business partners. They also discuss launching the 'everyone' brand to enter mass retail channels like Walgreens and Walmart.

  • How I Built This · 39m

    Melissa & Doug: Melissa And Doug Bernstein (2016)

    Melissa and Doug Bernstein, founders of the toy company Melissa & Doug, recount their journey from quitting high-powered careers to bootstrapping a business that now generates over $350 million in annual revenue. They detail their pivot from failed interactive VHS videos to creating tactile 'fuzzy puzzles' and reinventing wooden toys as an antidote to digital trends. The episode highlights their early struggles with distribution, a major failure with the 'Puzzle World' product line, and their eventual decision to bring in outside investors after 20 years of self-funding.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Core77 Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.