Customer Growth Sessions

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat Ahern interviews Mira Nair, CEO and owner of Azaria. Mira shares the story of how Azaria evolved from a chic diaper bag brand into a luxury, vegan leather bag company.
She breaks down the acquisition process, including her strategic use of the Rollover for Business Startups (ROBS) program and how she used Quiet Light to find and purchase the business. Mira also dives into the realities of running a product-based company—from navigating financial due diligence to overcoming operational challenges—and opens up about how she balances entrepreneurship with family life.
Curious about the ROBS program Mira used to acquire Azaria? Learn more about how it works through the IRS ROBS Compliance Project.
Discover how Mira is building a purpose-driven brand—explore Azaria's full collection at azaria.com, check out Quiet Light, the platform Mira used to acquire the business, and follow AZARIA on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat Ahern interviews Tom DeMartino, Head of Growth at JustFoodForDogs. Tom shares the company’s origin story, which is rooted in transparency and a commitment to providing human-grade dog food.
He breaks down how shifting cultural attitudes toward pet ownership have shaped their marketing strategies, the importance of educating consumers on the drawbacks of traditional kibble, and how their team uses user-generated content to fuel successful paid social campaigns. Tom also discusses how JustFoodForDogs finds and engages with their top customers to gather valuable feedback that drives growth.
Discover how JustFoodForDogs is redefining pet nutrition—connect with Tom on LinkedIn, check out Gassed the performance media agency Tom recommends and explore the Facebook Ads Library for ad inspiration from other brands.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.
 
 

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat Ahern interviews Ronak Trivedi, CEO and co-founder of Pietra. Ronak shares how Pietra helps small e-commerce businesses by using AI to streamline operations, reduce costs, and make launching a business easier.
He also addresses common challenges entrepreneurs face, including balancing a side hustle with a full-time job, competing with established brands, and overcoming the fears of starting something new.
Discover how Pietra is empowering entrepreneurs—visit their website
and follow them on Instagram TikTok and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.
 

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat delves into the essential strategies for effective business positioning in the AI era. Pat highlights the importance of clearly defining what makes your business unique to excel in customer acquisition when customers rely heavily on Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for recommendations. Key takeaways include crafting a distinct business pitch, maintaining internal alignment, communicating positioning across online channels, and optimizing for search engines and LLMs. 
Read Pat’s full article on positioning here: https://intergrowth.com/positioning/
Learn more about Discoverability, Crawlability, and Indexability: https://intergrowth.com/seo/indexability-crawlability/
Get a detailed breakdown of the key technical SEO issues to focus on first: https://intergrowth.com/seo/pareto-principle/#3
Pat's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pahern/
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.
 

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat is joined by Zechariah Thomas, founder and CEO of Swift Hockey. Zechariah shares his journey from being a professional hockey player to founding Swift Hockey and discusses their unique approach to social media marketing. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and creativity in content creation, which has helped Swift Hockey dominate the market despite a limited budget.
Zechariah also recounts his experience on Dragon's Den and provides practical advice for e-commerce brands looking to grow their social media presence.
Learn more about Swift Hockey and don’t forget to follow them on Instagram for the latest updates.
Learn more about  Swift Hockey and don’t forget to follow them on  Instagram for the latest updates.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat Ahern interviews Scott Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Path Projects. Scott discusses his journey in the trail running apparel industry, his previous ventures, and key lessons learned about business planning, partnership, and successful exits.
He emphasizes the importance of having complementary skill sets among partners, staying focused on successful products, and strategically planning for long-term growth.
Discover high-performance gear from PATH Projects—visit their website, and follow them on YouTube and Instagram for the latest updates.
Pat mentioned this episode as a similar listen:“Leather and Leadership” with Dave Munson.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.

In this episode, Pat interviews LeiLani Kopp, founder and formulator of Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics—a clean, plant-based, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty brand. LeiLani shares her journey from working in film and TV to starting her own cosmetics company, inspired by her pro bono work with cancer, burn, and trauma patients.
She discusses the challenges of pivoting her business from retail to e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of adaptability, and her mission to redefine beauty with a holistic approach.
Check out Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for beauty tips, product updates, and behind-the-scenes content.
Connect with LeiLani on LinkedIn to learn more about her journey and mission!
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.
Special Offer:Get 20% off your order at sweetleilani.com with code PLANTPOWERED (all caps) at checkout.

In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Tim Volkema, CEO of Schuil Coffee, shares how he acquired and scaled a specialty coffee business.
He breaks down key growth strategies—spotting acquisition opportunities, scaling a team from 15 to 55, and auditing your own business for hidden potential. Tim also explores the impact of launching e-commerce and keeping margins strong to drive profitability.
 
Be sure to check out Schuil Coffee and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on their latest offerings and coffee insights.
Resources Mentioned by Tim:
Traction by Gino Wickman - A powerful guide to building a strong, scalable business using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
Joven Coffee -Supporting the next generation of coffee farmers with ethically sourced beans from around the world.
Brew Sparrows – Discover a thoughtful blend of coffee culture and intentional living through curated brews and lifestyle content.
 
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.

 In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Davina Kaonohi, CEO and co-founder of Element Apothec, shares the story behind her health and wellness brand.
She discusses strategies for business growth, including the importance of building a strong advisory network, creating impactful internship programs, and leveraging AI to enhance efficiency.
Davina offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses effectively.
Davina shared this resource: Founder Institute FAST Agreement Template — a standardized template for early-stage startup advisor agreements. It's a great tool for clearly defining advisor roles, equity, and expectations.
Davina introduces her AI venture, PopTech Studio, for brand voice and SEO.
Be sure to check out  Element Apothec  and give them a follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to stay updated on their latest products and wellness tips.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.

 In this episode of Customer Growth Sessions, Pat sits down with Kate Cervini, Founder and CEO of 100ml. Kate shares how her brand delivers skincare and wellness products designed for travelers, and walks us through her journey of building partnerships with boutique hotels.
She offers valuable insights into effective cold outreach, the power of persistence, and the importance of adapting to feedback. Kate also provides practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the value of testing, learning, and growing through every experience.
 
Check out 100ml for the latest updates, and be sure to follow them on TikTok and Instagram for more content and behind-the-scenes insights.
Kate uses Snov.io as a go-to tool for email discovery.
For more on approachable A/B testing, check out this episode of the Paire Podcast: Listen on Spotify.
Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to hear about future episodes.
Interested in seeing how Intergrowth could help you grow your business? Head over to intergrowth.com/cgs to book a complimentary strategy session with our team.