Ariana Farahani is the founder and CEO of Plant Press, a fast-growing functional beverage brand offering a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks. In this episode of DTC Pod, Ariana shares her journey of developing Plant Press from a homemade recipe to a nationally distributed product. She discusses the importance of gathering consumer feedback and iterating on the product based on data, which led to pivotal changes like focusing solely on clean caffeine and adjusting flavors.Ariana also discusses the strategic decisions behind Plant Press's distribution strategy, from securing early retail partnerships with local bodegas and fitness centers to navigating the complexities of working with broadline distributors. She emphasizes the impact of in-person sampling and demos in driving sales and brand awareness.The conversation touches on the challenges of scaling production and the critical role of seed funding in facilitating growth. Ariana shares her plans for expanding Plant Press's reach through strategic partnerships with major retailers and continued product development, with an eye toward maintaining the brand's commitment to offering a healthier, better-tasting beverage option.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on <a href="https://airtable.com/appDFk2rkdondmKtH/shrc4zLSWE4cQ96ZI">DTC Pod Slack</a>.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Product Development and Iteration2. Marketing and Distribution Strategies3. Funding and Capital Allocation4. DSD vs Broadline Distributors5. Market Trends and Consumer Preferences6. Company Growth and Retail ExpansionTimestamps00:00 From studying medical cannabis to founding a caffeine brand04:11 Early days of Plant Press, producing the minimum viable product06:21 Key iterations in the manufacturing process of Plant Press09:05 Using quantitative and qualitative customer feedback10:48 Getting Plant Press to stores: key accounts and strategy13:31 Self-funding, seed fundraising, and capital budgeting for Plant Press19:23 Direct store delivery (DSD) vs broadline distribution21:50 The need fo in-store product sampling and demos for CPG brands24:52 Energy drink trends: emphasis on clean energy, hydration27:42 Changing consumer preferences and how big players can catch up30:32 Plant Press’ expansion to new distribution channels32:04 What’s next for Plant PressShow notes powered by <a href="https://www.castmagic.io/">Castmagic</a>Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our <a href="https://dtcpod-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe">newsletter here</a>.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:<a href="https://dtcetc.com/">DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internet</a><a href="https://www.myolivea.com/">Olivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplement</a><a href="https://www.castmagic.io/">Castmagic - AI Workspace for Content</a>Follow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedtcpod/">DTCPod Instagram</a><a href="https://twitter.com/DTC__POD">DTCPod Twitter</a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dtcpod">DTCPod TikTok</a>  <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariana-c-farahani-82bb6184/">Ariana Farahani</a> - Founder & CEO of <a href="https://drinkplantpress.com/">Plant Press</a><a href="https://twitter.com/bbols4">Blaine Bolus</a> - Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.castmagic.io/">Castmagic</a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-berrios">Ramon Berrios</a> - Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.castmagic.io/">Castmagic</a>

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#343 - The ‘Clean Caffeine’ Revolution: How Plant Press is Energizing the Beverage Aisle

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