Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method

How I Built This · 26 Jun 2025 · 46m

What this episode covers

Method co-founder Eric Ryan joins Guy Raz to answer questions from early-stage founders, sharing his strategy of identifying 'sea of sameness' categories and entering them with high design and sustainability. He discusses his current venture, Tandy, a functional candy brand available at Target and Amazon, and reflects on past failures like the Block personal care line. The episode features advice for Transparent Hospitality on scaling with mentorship, Props Luggage on balancing control with growth, and Flip Mits on retail positioning.

Mentioned

Companies
Method, Target, Amazon, CVS, Ollie, Wellie, Transparent Hospitality, Props Luggage, Flip Mits, QVC, Walmart, U.S. Bank
Products
Tandy, Block, Paren

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 38m

    How to Ask Someone to Invest in Your CPG Brand, with Fave's Ryan Raish

    Ryan Raish, founder of Fave, details his journey from a 20-year CPG career at brands like Popchips and Honest Tea to launching a certified organic powdered drink mix. He explains how he self-funded two years of R&D and retailer feedback from Target before securing a pre-seed round led by Keith Belling and the Angel Group. Raish discusses using early sales on Thrive Market, Amazon, and QVC to validate the product and close a $1 million seed round, while highlighting the distinct challenges of pitching retail buyers versus investors.

  • Product Startup · 49m

    087: Purpose is a Big Part of Consumer Product Success

    Paul Rowan, Co-Founder of Umbra, explains how he built a global household product brand starting with a single window shade product in 1979. He details the evolution of Umbra’s purpose from a career launch to a strategic mission of 'democratizing design' by creating modern, affordable, and innovative home goods. Rowan emphasizes the importance of professional presentation, stakeholder collaboration with retailers, and diversifying product lines to manage risk while scaling. He also discusses how Umbra leveraged student design collaborations and community engagement to maintain relevance and drive innovation in a competitive market.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 1h 00m

    Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products

    Craig Dubitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy Products, discusses his journey building brands like eos, hello, and Method, and his current venture, Happy, which partners with NAMI. He explains that Happy is in the 'Happy business' with coffee as the delivery system, and details how NAMI holds equity on the cap table from day zero. Dubitsky shares fundraising strategies, emphasizing the importance of an advisory board, identifying manufacturers, and managing expectations that projects will cost more and take longer than anticipated. He also reflects on the acquisition of hello by Colgate, framing it as an 'entrance' rather than an exit, and highlights the critical role of product-market fit, repeat sales, and cross-channel distribution.

  • Core77 Podcast · 54m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 9 - Rusty Meadows (10/21)

    Rusty Meadows, manager of the temporary tattoo company Tattly and founder of the Nearly Impossible conference, discusses the evolution of his business and the new event. He explains how Tattly emerged from a failed online store idea to focus on design-led temporary tattoos, navigating early challenges in shipping, packaging, and wholesale sales. Meadows details the structure of the Nearly Impossible conference, designed to help makers solve specific physical product hurdles through shared stories and expert labs.

  • Core77 Podcast · 55m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing

    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.

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