BRAVE COMMERCE

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Brad Feinberg, VP of Media, Digital, and eCommerce at Molson Coors Beverage Company, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to share how he is reshaping the role of marketing within a regulated industry by bringing together brand and performance, digital and traditional, creative and commerce.Brad explains how his team applies data, agility, and a consumer-first mindset across every touchpoint, including Super Bowl campaigns and Instacart product pages. With a unified structure and a focus on cross-functional skill building, Molson Coors is turning media investments into closed-loop growth opportunities and expanding into new categories like non-alcoholic beverages.For marketers looking to modernize their organizations, this episode offers a playbook for breaking down silos and building brands that drive results.Key TakeawaysBrand and Performance Are One - Treating brand-building and performance as two sides of the same coin leads to more impactful campaignsData Unlocks Influence - Leveraging real-time data earns a strategic seat at the table across marketing, sales, and retailStructure Drives Speed - Combining media, digital, and eCommerce enables faster execution and creates more career growth opportunities

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Josh Hackbarth, Chief Marketing Officer at MGA Entertainment, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the evolution of the toy industry and how MGA is redefining how consumers engage with its brands.Josh explains why building emotional connections is now just as important as product innovation and how MGA is adapting to cultural trends, digital engagement, and retail media shifts. With iconic brands like Bratz, Little Tikes, LOL Surprise, and Miniverse, MGA is tapping into nostalgia, social media virality, and the rise of adult collectors to expand its audience beyond kids and parents. For marketers navigating rapidly changing consumer behaviors, this episode explores how to blend entertainment, retail, and social influence to drive brand longevity and sales.Key TakeawaysBrand Building is Bigger than Products – Emotional connections drive demand and long-term success.Retail and Social Must Work Together – Cultural moments and influencer engagement fuel conversion.Consumer Behavior is Changing Fast – Nostalgia, adult collectors, and digital communities are reshaping the toy industry.

Podcast DescriptionIn this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Neil Shah, Chief Commercial Officer at SharkNinja, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss how SharkNinja has grown from a single category company into a $5.5 billion global brand spanning more than 36 categories. Neil shares how SharkNinja’s consumer first approach fuels rapid innovation, ensuring every product meets four key criteria: speed to market, superior performance, five star quality, and strong value. He explains how the brand’s relentless focus on consumer insights, viral marketing, and omnichannel execution creates category defining products, from robot vacuums to slushy machines.For brands looking to drive innovation and win in retail, this episode provides insights into leveraging consumer feedback, optimizing go to market strategies, and integrating retail media with organic demand generation.Key TakeawaysConsumer First Innovation Wins – Every SharkNinja product must be faster, better, and higher quality than competitors.Five Star Ratings Drive Demand – Product excellence fuels organic reviews, search rankings, and omnichannel success.Virality is a Growth Engine – Social media insights shape product development and amplify consumer engagement.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Steve Siegal, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer at Curology, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss Curology’s journey from a DTC disruptor to an omnichannel skincare leader. Steve shares how launching in Target, Walmart, and CVS has reshaped Curology’s strategy, driving credibility, visibility, and a seamless consumer experience across channels.With a background spanning legacy CPG and digitally native brands, Steve offers a unique perspective on full-funnel marketing, measurement, and retail partnerships. He explains how Curology is using retail as a brand awareness engine, connecting physical shelf presence with its DTC prescription model to maximize consumer engagement and lifetime value.For brands navigating omnichannel expansion, this conversation offers actionable insights on balancing brand and performance marketing, integrating data for smarter decision-making, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your brand in the evolving retail landscape.Key TakeawaysRetail as a Brand Awareness Engine – Physical retail builds credibility and visibility while introducing consumers to a brand’s broader ecosystem.Full-Funnel Marketing is Critical – Success in omnichannel requires seamless integration between brand-building and performance-driven strategies.Data-Driven Decision-Making Powers Growth – Understanding how investments in DTC and retail interact is key to optimizing profitability and consumer engagement.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Ben Galvin, Sr. Director of Omnichannel Retail Sales & eCommerce at Monster Energy, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the critical role of category management in today’s omnichannel landscape. From the physical shelf to the digital shelf, Ben explains how the fundamentals of CPG have transformed, why search rankings now rival prime in-store placements, and how brands must adapt to shifting consumer behaviors.With a decade of experience in category leadership, Ben shares how data-driven decision-making, cross-channel coordination, and agile responsiveness are essential for modern brand success. He discusses the changing role of syndicated data providers, the growing influence of retail media, and how companies like Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy are setting the standard for omnichannel excellence.Throughout the conversation, Ben offers valuable insights on bridging internal silos, empowering sales teams to think digitally, and reshaping organizational structures to meet the demands of today’s marketplace. If you’re a brand leader looking to win across in-store and online, this episode is packed with strategic takeaways you won’t want to miss.Key TakeawaysThe Digital Shelf is the New Battleground – Just as eye-level placement dominates in-store, top search rankings are critical for online sales success.Cross-Channel Coordination is Essential – Winning in today’s market requires seamless alignment across in-store sales, digital commerce, retail media, and category management.Curiosity and Agility Drive Success – Leaders who embrace data-driven decisions, organizational collaboration, and evolving shopper behaviors will outperform competitors in an ever-changing landscape.

At BRAVE COMMERCE Live in 2024, leading experts in media investment, Farrah Linden, Media Director at Wella Company, and Josh Cierski, Associate Director of Media at Reckitt, engaged in a candid debate on the evolving dynamics of brand media and retail media. Moderated by BRAVE COMMERCE hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter, this insightful discussion unpacks how brands navigate budget allocation, performance measurement, and strategic alignment in a rapidly changing retail landscape.Farrah and Josh share how their organizations structure media investments, the challenges of defining retail media within broader marketing strategies, and the increasing role of first-party data, closed-loop attribution, and creative excellence in optimizing retail media spend. They also debate whether retail media should be held to the same standards as traditional brand media and how organizations can best structure teams to ensure cohesion, measurement rigor, and budget fluidity.From the latest trends in eCommerce, omnichannel marketing, and consumer data strategies to the future of media investment, this conversation offers invaluable insights for brands looking to maximize ROI in an era where digital and retail media are increasingly intertwined.Key Takeaways:Retail Media vs. Brand Media: How brands define and allocate budgets across national, retail, and digital channels to drive performanceRethinking Measurement: Why ROAS isn’t enough and how incrementality, CLV, and brand lift are shaping modern media strategiesCreative & Media Maturity: The role of video, platform differentiation, and retailer partnerships in maximizing retail media effectiveness