Podcast

Two start-ups a couple of years apart became the inspiration for each other to get better and better and better. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from Mom-and-Pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Steven’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well, it’s us. But we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients, so here’s one of those. [AirVantage Heating & Cooling Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the … Wait, what? Gosh, you told me the title, and I have some thoughts, and I forgot the name of the podcast there for a second. Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast. Stephen Semple: We’re doing two together here, Dave, Firestone and Goodyear. Dave Young: Stephen Semple’s over there. I’m Dave Young. And this morning we’re talking about Goodyear and Firestone, both? Stephen Semple: Yes, together. Dave Young: Because it’s kind of one thing now, right? Stephen Semple: No, they are separate. Dave Young: Was it? Stephen Semple: They’re separate. Dave […]

Joan Barnes wanted to meet new moms and that was the inspiration for a place for moms to hang out with other moms. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is… Well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. Here’s one of those. [Tommy Cool Plumbing, Cooling & Heating Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast, Dave Young here with Stephen Semple, and we’re talking about empires. Stephen just whispered the name of the topic into my headphones, and I recognize it, but I don’t recognize it. I don’t have any direct experience with this other than when I was a little kid watching Romper Room, but I don’t think it’s the same thing. The topic is Gymboree, but it sounds like it’s probably related, but I doubt that it is. Stephen Semple: Gymboree is not big any longer. There’s a bit of a sad story on that. Dave Young: It was a place though, wasn’t it? Stephen Semple: Right, it was, and it was huge at one point. It was part of the culture and it was mentioned in movies. It was a really, really big deal at one point. Dave Young: Yeah, here’s the issue. Here’s why I don’t remember it. I didn’t grow up in a place. It wasn’t the kind of place it would have a thing. I think I told you I drove 100 miles on our first date to go to Starbucks at a Barnes and Noble. Stephen Semple: It wasn’t even a real Starbucks. Dave Young: No, it wasn’t even a standalone Starbucks.

Arch West had the heart of an entrepreneur and liked to take risks. Unfortunately he worked for Frito-Lay and had bosses to convince. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [AirVantage Heating & Cooling Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast. I’m Dave Young and Stephen Semple is here with another Empire Builders story. And today, whispered in my ear as the countdown started that we’re going to talk about Doritos and Tostitos. And my brain instantly had electric shot go through it because are they the same? Are Tostitos and Doritos, is it the same company? Is Frito-Lay- Stephen Semple: Same company. Yeah, yep. Frito-Lay. Dave Young: Yeah. How about Takis? Stephen Semple: Oh, I don’t know. Dave Young: They get bought up yet? Stephen Semple: I don’t know. But [inaudible 00:02:04] did, they were actually created by Frito-Lay. Dave Young: By Frito-Lay. Again, back to my childhood, we’d go to the lake in the summer and always had bags and bags of nacho cheese flavored Doritos. Stephen Semple: There you go.

Mario Bros. is the biggest franchise of all time. Bigger than Star Wars, Marvel… bigger than Harry Potter. Nintendo is an empire. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector,

When no one wants your Meat Slingshot, what do you do? Make a better flying disc and name it after a pie plate, naturally. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a

Momofuku Ando is the father of Instant Ramen. Feeding Japan after the war. But how do you get Americans to eat it? Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller.

Larry Page said in the early day, a guiding principle is Do No Evil. I wonder if we can say that today or is it just business as usual? Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple

When your year’s earnings are stolen and you need a quick way to make some cash on the cheap, you invent chocolate chip cookies. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector