Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender

How I Built This · 25 Jan 2021 · 1h 33m

What this episode covers

Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender, co-founders of Seventh Generation, recount the company's evolution from a Vermont-based mail-order catalog to a major eco-friendly household brand acquired by Unilever. They discuss the strategic pivot from catalog sales to retail distribution, the operational challenges of sourcing recycled paper products, and the intense, often bitter, partnership dynamics that led to Newman's ousting and later Hollender's firing. The episode highlights their contrasting leadership styles, the importance of written agreements in co-founder relationships, and the company's journey through early production hurdles, recession, and eventual scale-up.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Seventh Generation, Unilever, Garden Supply, Renew America, Magic Hat Brewing Company, Whole Foods, Albertsons
Products: Lysol, Bounty
Also: Zealite

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Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing

Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures

#51 Pure Gold Series: Ask Seth Goldman Anything! Plus the Announcement of Just Ice Tea

Founder Feature: Elan Halpern & Kiki Couchman of Sourmilk

#115 Pure Gold Series: Lessons on Iterating from Seth Goldman + Updates on Eat the Change & Just Ice Tea