# Chicken Salad Chick: Stacy Brown (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-12-30
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018

## Summary

Stacy Brown, founder of Chicken Salad Chick, explains how she turned a divorce-driven need for income into a $75 million franchise chain, starting with door-to-door sales of homemade chicken salad. After her home operation was shut down by the health department, she partnered with Kevin Brown to open a tiny takeout spot, eventually scaling to franchising despite being laughed out of banks. The episode also covers the tragic loss of her co-founder and husband to cancer, and the subsequent growth of the brand under new leadership before its acquisition by Brentwood Associates.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=0) Introduction: Stacy Brown and Chicken Salad Chick
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=200) From Divorce to Door-to-Door Chicken Salad Sales
- [7:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=420) Recipe Development and Health Department Shutdown
- [20:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=1255) Opening the First 800-Square-Foot Shack
- [33:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=2022) Scaling to Three Locations and Franchising Plans
- [36:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=2207) The Hostile Takeover Attempt and Fundraising Crisis
- [42:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=2550) Erlin McCorder’s Investment and Franchise Expansion
- [45:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=2724) Kevin Brown’s Cancer Diagnosis and Legacy
- [48:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=2898) Company Growth, Revenue, and Acquisition
- [52:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-30-chicken-salad-chick-stacy-brown-2018#t=3167) Post-Script: Ofer and Helene Webman and the Tonewood Amp

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Chicken Salad Chick (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Tonewood Amp (product)
- Brentwood Associates (company)
- Kenny Chesney (other)

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