# Advice Line with Tony Lamb of Kona Ice

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-07-11
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice

## Summary

Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders: Dylan Richter of The Sweet Spot, a candy store in rural Illinois considering franchising; Zach Dietz of Just Futz, launching needle felting kits in the US; and Jennifer Braidwood of Bradenwood Design Studio, seeking low-cost marketing for her home decor brand. Lamb emphasizes the importance of grassroots marketing, the dangers of premature scaling, and the value of happiness over exponential growth for small business owners.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice#t=0) Introduction and Kona Ice Overview
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice#t=324) Advice for Dylan Richter on Franchising a Candy Store
- [19:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice#t=1150) Advice for Zach Dietz on Marketing Needle Felting Kits
- [32:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice#t=1953) Advice for Jennifer Braidwood on Low-Budget Home Decor Marketing
- [45:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-07-11-advice-line-with-tony-lamb-of-kona-ice#t=2737) The Philosophy of Happiness vs. Scaling in Small Business

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Kona Ice (company)
- Traveling Toms (product)
- The Sweet Spot (company)
- Just Futz (company)
- Bradenwood Design Studio (company)
- West Elm (company)
- Magnolia Market (company)
- Uncommon Goods (company)
- Cliff Bar (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [013: From Kitchen to Amazon, Launching All-Natural Cake Mix for Dogs with Kelly Costello of Puppy Cake](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-07-26-013-from-kitchen-to-amazon-launching-all-natural-cake-mix-for-dogs-with-kelly-co) (Product Startup)
- [#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-20-232-2026-brand-resolutions) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [032: Success in Small Niches with Jill Bong of Chicken Armor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-20-032-success-in-small-niches-with-jill-bong-of-chicken-armor) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Maxi Heidenblut of Häppy Candy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-04-founder-feature-maxi-heidenblut-of-happy-candy) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#111 Twrl Milk Tea: Boba is the New Sprinkle & Twrling into Sprouts, Costco, & Pop Up Grocer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-24-111-twrl-milk-tea-boba-is-the-new-sprinkle-twrling-into-sprouts-costco-pop-up-gr) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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