# Advice Line with Sarah LaFleur of M.M. LaFleur

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-05-21
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur

## Summary

Sarah LaFleur, founder and CEO of women's clothing brand MM LaFleur, joins Guy Raz to discuss rebuilding her company after the pandemic and advising early-stage founders. She shares how MM LaFleur pivoted from office wear to 'power casual' attire and survived financial crises including the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. LaFleur also provides advice to callers running Sorsoap, Tick Socks, and Siblings on managing self-doubt, justifying premium pricing, and shifting consumer behavior toward sustainable refills.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur#t=0) Introduction and MM LaFleur Update
- [5:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur#t=340) Advice for Sorsoap Founder on Self-Doubt
- [20:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur#t=1210) Advice for Tick Socks Founder on Pricing and Distribution
- [33:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur#t=2039) Advice for Siblings Founder on Consumer Behavior and Gifting
- [46:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-05-21-advice-line-with-sarah-lafleur-of-m-m-lafleur#t=2782) Final Advice for Young Founders

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- MM LaFleur (company)
- Sorsoap (product)
- Tick Socks (product)
- Siblings (company)
- Silicon Valley Bank (company)
- Shark Tank (other)
- Vitamin Shoppe (company)
- Credo Beauty (company)
- Nordstrom (company)
- REI (company)
- LL Bean (company)
- Heath Ceramics (company)

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- [#207 - FFUPs' Shutdown: Post-Mortem & Lessons for Brands](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-07-29-207-ffups-shutdown-post-mortem-lessons-for-brands) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-21-179-bootstrap-heroes-hazards-hop-water-swair-gourmend-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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- [From Hand Sanitizer to Tomato Sauce - How Sauz Went From 10 Doors to 3,500 in a Year](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-29-from-hand-sanitizer-to-tomato-sauce-how-sauz-went-from-10-doors-to-3-500-in-a-ye) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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