Ugly Talk: Consumer Packaged Goods Businesses
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) founders know the journey can be tough—from ever-rising production costs to finding loyal customers in a crowded market. This Ugly Talk event dives straight into the gritty realities of building, distributing, and scaling products people love. Expect candid confessions of epic wins, near-misses, and everything in between, all wrapped into an evening of practical insights and genuine connections.
🙋 Who Should Be in the Room?
CPG Founders looking to launch, refine, or grow their product lines.
Early-Stage Entrepreneurs aiming to avoid costly production and branding pitfalls.
Industry Experts & Mentors wanting to share expertise and support growing brands.
Professional Services & Suppliers ready to collaborate with emerging CPG ventures.
🤔 What You’ll Walk Away With
Practical Lessons for Overcoming Challenges
Hear how experienced founders tackled manufacturing mishaps, supply chain hurdles, and brand-building headaches. Learn how each failure became a stepping stone to better, smarter business decisions.
Resilience, Innovation, and Identity
Discover how creative branding, customer feedback loops, and continuous product improvement keep CPG brands fresh and authentic. Explore how to stay true to your core identity even while you expand to new categories or markets.
Connections and Resources
Meet fellow founders, mentors, and industry supporters who’ve “been there and done that.” Walk away with real contacts, proven strategies, and resource networks that you can tap into for every stage of your CPG journey.
💰 Discussion Topics
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Realities
Candid stories on production costs, lead times, and quality control. Find out what it really takes to partner with suppliers and co-packers who can help you scale.
Branding, Marketing, and Distribution
From packaging design to retail shelves and e-commerce strategies—uncover methods for standing out in a saturated market.
Scaling and Funding
Explore how founders fund growth, whether through bootstrapping, crowdfunding, or VC investments. Learn tips for scaling up without losing your brand’s soul.
Customer Feedback and Product Iteration
See how listening closely to customers spurs innovation and brand loyalty. Learn how to refine your offerings using data and real-world insights.
🎙️ Panel Lineup
April Wachtel - Founder & CEO of Cheeky Cocktails
April Wachtel has spent over two decades in the beverage and hospitality industry. She is an experienced mixologist, a cocktail and spirits instructor, the Founder and CEO of Cheeky, and the Host of the Movers and Shakers podcast. In her spare time she coaches early-stage CPG founders with a focus on idea phase to $500K+ in revenue.
JW Wiseman - Founder of Curious Elixirs
JW Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs, pioneered the booze-free movement a decade ago, crafting bold, non-alcoholic cocktails before “sober curious” became a term. Under his leadership, Curious Elixirs has become a category leader, promoting mindful consumption through initiatives like The Great Curious Cocktail Party and the upcoming Stay Curious podcast. Committed to redefining social drinking, Wiseman inspires a global community to embrace joy, flavor, and connection without compromise.
Nicole Light - Founder of Power in Packaging
Award-winning designer combines product development, package design and manufacturing services, helping entrepreneurs and enterprise companies bring innovative products and ideas to the market with powerful and cost-effective branding and packaging.
Moderated by
Glenn Johnson - Marketing Consultant at Fractional CMO
Glenn Johnson works with small brands, startups, and founders to address their marketing needs. Formerly a VP/Creative Director at a Madison Avenue marketing and branding agency specializing in luxury and bespoke audiences, he brings expertise across multiple verticals. As a category-agnostic brand storyteller, he helps founders define their vision and develop their brand.
🤝 Supported by
The Yard
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