People of Packaging · 18 May 2021 · 49m
Megan Young Gamble, founder of Get Level Consulting, explains her 'P.I.M.P.' methodology (Prepare, Implement, Monitor, Prepare for launch) for managing packaging projects in the beauty and personal care sectors. She discusses how her background in chemistry and project management allows her to help startups and mid-size brands navigate complex supply chains, regulatory requirements, and vendor management. The conversation highlights the critical need for early packaging integration in product development to avoid costly errors and ensure successful retail or e-commerce launches.
early-stage companies
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Daniel Scharff and Adam Yee discuss the launch of Startup CPG's 'Founders & Formulators' event in Chicago and the accompanying Product Developer Directory. Yee explains how formulators evaluate products through 'vibes' and technical inquiry, emphasizing the need for clear deliverables to avoid scope disputes. They highlight the directory as a tool for vetting consultants based on specialty, fee structure, and past work.
Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, and Andy Kurtts, founder of Buttermilk Creative, discuss the technical and design aspects of CPG packaging. Valenti-Jordan explains how to protect products from oxygen, moisture, and shipping damage, while advising founders to use standard packaging formats to keep co-manufacturing costs low. Kurtts details how to balance shelf standout with category norms, using examples like Graza and NoBull to illustrate successful format choices. The guests emphasize that packaging must align with brand promises, comply with regulations, and support marketing goals from the earliest stages.
Serial entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore, founder of Beauty Pie, Soap & Glory, and Bliss, joins Guy Raz to answer questions from three early-stage founders. She advises Victor Garcia of Sol Dias on balancing brick-and-mortar and wholesale channels for his Mexican sweets brand, Lydia Welsh of Clērstory Skincare on overcoming fear of failure and testing packaging via Meta ads, and Jack Boland of Wompy Bikes on reducing friction in his custom bike bag ordering process.
Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, explains the end-to-end process of launching and scaling CPG products, drawing on his background at Hampton Creek and Campbell Soup. He details how to create a 'gold standard' recipe, translate it into weight-based formulations, and select packaging that protects against oxidation and moisture. Valenti-Jordan advises on the strategic choice between self-manufacturing and contract manufacturers, explaining how co-man pricing works on a shift basis and why equity swaps are ineffective. He also covers inventory planning, shelf-life testing, and the importance of maintaining cash reserves to survive the early scaling phase.
Lara Tiro, founder of Rebel CPG, explains her PB&J framework (Product, Packaging, Pricing, Process, Brand, Buyer, Baseline, Joy) for scaling food products, emphasizing that understanding COGS is critical to avoid financial failure. She details the transition from home kitchen recipes to commercial formulas, using a case study of Wholesome Yum’s frozen baby food to illustrate the complexities of scaling, packaging, and food safety. Tiro highlights the importance of managing ingredient behavior changes at scale, such as the use of tamarind seed gum and palm oil alternatives, and stresses that 'done is better than perfect' in product development.
The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.