41: The Truth About Starting a Brand (No One Tells You)
Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip. In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with Rachel Erickson, founder of Unmarked Street and apparel expert who has helped scale brands from startup to $50M+ . She breaks down what actually goes into building a successful brand—and why so many founders get it wrong from the very beginning. From the importance of fit and truly understanding your customer, to budgeting before you ever design a pro...
Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip.
In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with Rachel Erickson, founder of Unmarked Street and apparel expert who has helped scale brands from startup to $50M+ . She breaks down what actually goes into building a successful brand—and why so many founders get it wrong from the very beginning.
From the importance of fit and truly understanding your customer, to budgeting before you ever design a product, Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes truths that can make or break a business. They also dive into why launching too many products too soon can kill your brand, how to properly test your product in the real world, and what it takes to build systems that actually scale.
If you’re an entrepreneur, former athlete, or high performer thinking about building something of your own, this conversation will challenge your assumptions—and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Chapters
00:00 – The biggest mistake founders make
03:00 – Why fit matters more than anything
06:00 – Defining your ideal customer
09:00 – How long it actually takes to build a product
13:00 – Working backwards from your launch timeline
17:00 – The cost of bad timing
20:00 – Why most brands launch too many products
23:00 – Budget before you design
26:00 – Building your first product the right way
28:00 – The importance of real-world testing
31:00 – Creating systems that scale
34:00 – What separates brands that grow vs stall
37:00 – Building a brand that lasts
39:00 – Profitability vs revenue
Connect with Rachel Erickson
- Website: https://www.unmarkedstreet.com
Connect with Bryan:
Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty
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