# Advice Line with Richard Branson of Virgin

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin

## Summary

Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson joins Guy Raz on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders: Lola Banjo of Silver & Riley, Ross Novotney of Now Pools, and Andrew Perez of The Juice Spot/Lone Wolf Granola. Branson shares advice on maintaining brand integrity through personal customer connections, using stunt marketing to create buzz for new markets, and focusing on regional expansion for CPG products. The conversation highlights specific strategies for scaling small businesses while preserving their core values and identity.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin#t=0) Introduction: Richard Branson and Virgin's Brand Philosophy
- [9:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin#t=568) Lola Banjo of Silver & Riley on Personalization and Scaling
- [21:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin#t=1292) Ross Novotney of Now Pools on Marketing a New Category
- [31:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin#t=1906) Andrew Perez of Lone Wolf Granola on Retail Expansion
- [41:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-08-advice-line-with-richard-branson-of-virgin#t=2472) Branson's Final Advice to Young Entrepreneurs

## Topics

- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

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

## Mentioned

- Virgin Group (company)
- Silver & Riley (company)
- Now Pools (company)
- The Juice Spot (company)
- Lone Wolf Granola (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Nordstrom (company)
- Zappos (company)
- Eurostar (company)
- Virgin Voyages (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#169 - "How to Take Advice" with Nikhil Arora](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-12-169-how-to-take-advice-with-nikhil-arora) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-20-232-2026-brand-resolutions) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature - Fane He and Kyle Nguyen of  The Lucky Ox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-20-founder-feature-fane-he-and-kyle-nguyen-of-the-lucky-ox) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#100 Toasting to 100 Episodes of The Startup CPG Podcast with Our Favorite Moments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-25-100-toasting-to-100-episodes-of-the-startup-cpg-podcast-with-our-favorite-moment) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Investor Spotlight: Consumer Psychology, Channel Strategy, and What Actually Makes Brands Win — David Bell, Idea Farm Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-13-investor-spotlight-consumer-psychology-channel-strategy-and-what-actually-makes) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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