# Advice Line with Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring (2025)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-10-01
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025

## Summary

Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring advise three early-stage founders on scaling physical product businesses. Tannen and Siminoff counsel Melita of Q for Quinn on the trade-offs between bootstrapping and venture capital, emphasizing the preservation of brand vision. They advise Eric of L Cubed Lifestyle to position his UV-protection apparel against sunscreen rather than traditional athleisure, suggesting retail placement in sunscreen aisles. Finally, they help Chris of Knox Provisions identify new use cases for his binoculars, such as sports and festivals, to expand beyond traditional outdoor channels.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025#t=0) Introduction: Scott Tannen and Jamie Siminoff
- [10:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025#t=611) Q for Quinn: Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital
- [27:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025#t=1620) L Cubed Lifestyle: Positioning UV Apparel Against Sunscreen
- [38:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025#t=2337) Knox Provisions: Expanding Binocular Use Cases
- [51:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-10-01-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring-2025#t=3081) Closing Advice: Simplicity and Customer Focus

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ring (company)
- Q for Quinn (company)
- L Cubed Lifestyle (company)
- Knox Provisions (company)
- REI (company)
- Dick's Sporting Goods (company)
- CVS (company)
- Walgreens (company)
- Target (company)
- Howard Stern (other)

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- [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)
- [#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)
- [183: Getting a New Hardware Product into Retail Stores](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-07-07-183-getting-a-new-hardware-product-into-retail-stores) (Product Startup)
- [075: Launch a Product Big, with Host of QVC & ShopHQ](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-05-12-075-launch-a-product-big-with-host-of-qvc-shophq) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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