Company

Brothers Greg and Chris Meade, and their childhood friend Mike Delpapa had the idea of merging four square and volleyball into a new sport. Leaving their corporate careers behind, the trio founded CROSSNET, the world’s first four-way volleyball game. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Chris Meade of CROSSNET shares how they invented a new sport, manufactured their products, and expanded with retail footprint and media coverage.

Al Cuttell, Diana Paisis, and Jos Reinders are the trio behind Bitten Design, a global giftware maker based in Utrecht, Netherlands. The team designs and produces over 40 new items each year and distributes them in over 45 counties. With over a decade of operating under their belts, the team shares how they entered entrepreneurship, built a global network of distributors, and remained financially independent.

Julian and Cody Levine went on a mission trip with singer Lenny Kravitz and a team of dentists to provide dental care to those without access. Through this eye-opening trip, the trio decided to launch Twice, a cause-driven oral care business. From developing 40 prototypes of toothpaste to running an ambassador program, Julian Levine of Twice, shares what it’s like to run a cause-driven consumer packaged goods product company.

Angela and Steve Watts are the life and business partners behind Veldskoen Shoes, selling handcrafted footwear from South Africa. As serial entrepreneurs, they are also the owners behind Slyde, makers of handboards used in bodysurfing. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Angela and Steve Watts of Veldskoen Shoes share their ways of validating a market fit, managing ad spend, and their number one tip for navigating the effects of COVID-19.

Rory Westbrook was still in university when he turned his love for vintage clothing into a business by launching True Vintage. Initially selling on Instagram, Rory grew the business with an online store and later built a custom app. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Rory Westbrook of True Vintage shares how he sources vintage clothing, builds custom apps for other Shopify stores, and retains his customers.

As a dog owner and entrepreneur, Trevor Crotts launched BuddyRest to create quality mattresses that offered support and comfort for dogs. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Trevor Crotts of BuddyRest, shares how he found a product-market fit, created compelling content, and his thoughts on the future of ecommerce.

The team behind LastObject is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic by designing items that can replace everyday disposable household items. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Isabel Aagaard shares LastObject’s journey of product development, finding a product-marketing fit and life after crowdfunding success. 

Spencer Donaldson is a serial entrepreneur who’s hectic schedule made it difficult to cook, so he launched Eat Well Nashville, a meal service business to meet his personal need. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Spencer Donaldson shares how to learn from community feedback, acquire a competitor, and find the ideal frequency for contacting customers.

Now is a time for resilience and ingenuity. Many of us must adapt, pivot, and find new ways to grow. In today's interview, we chat with Kelly Bergeron, a resident of Cornwall, Ontario, who, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, sprung into action to help small businesses in her area.

Velasca, one of the first Italian direct-to-consumer brands, shares its journey of disrupting the handcrafted footwear industry. From building relationships with shoemakers to creating relatable yet entertaining content to scaling its physical retail presence, Velasca highlights the steps it’s taken to build its business from a personal need. 

Lou Matera wanted to create a nutritional product for young athletes that would help with their training and be a convenient alternative to unhealthy snacks from vending machines. From leaving a comfortable corporate job to convincing manufacturers to take a chance on him, Lou built Youth Sport Nutrition from scratch by diving headfirst into working on the business full time. In this episode of Shopify Masters, Lou Matera shares how he developed a new product by hosting taste tests, gathered sales through in-person events, and fine-tuned digital strategies to achieve the best conversion hacks.