Facing the Giants: Recent Episodes
Scott Kerr
It takes the courage of entrepreneurs to play in a space where the Goliaths of the luxury industry roam free. Facing the Giants is a podcast that puts a spotlight on the founders of new luxury startups and the weapons in their arsenal to compete with industry incumbents. Host Scott Kerr talks to luxury entrepreneurs about what's driving them and how their companies are pointing a new way forward to meet the changing demands of the luxury business and affluent consumers. They also share smart strategies to survive and maybe even thrive in the land of the giants.
Scott Kerr is joined by Barnabas Carrega, co-founder and CEO of GR8 Experiences, a company that specializes in creating once-in-a-lifetime ultra-luxury experiences for the ultra wealthy. Barnabas discusses how an observation he made at Wimbledon inspired him to start the company, GR8's recent highly exclusive event at Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix hosted by award-winning culinary master Massimo Bottura, why UHNWIs are splurging on extreme experiences, and the increased demand for luxe train rides. Plus: The "White Lotus" effect is real.
Featuring: Barnabas Carrega, Co-Founder and CEO of GR8 Experiences (thegr8experience.com)
Host:
Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast:
Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected:
Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc
Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Scott Kerr is joined by David Trewern, founder and CEO of Flite, an Australia-based luxury watercraft company and maker of Fliteboard, the world's first electric foiling surfboard. A serial entrepreneur, David talks about his journey from running a digital ad agency to launching Fliteboard in 2019, hydrofoil boarding's appeal to UHNW customers and celebrities, the hydrofoil technology that gives the sensation of flying above the water, safety challenges, and the recent launch of its beginner-friendly Flitescooter. Plus: Was Mark Zuckerberg riding a Fliteboard electric foiling surfboard in that infamous July 4th, 2021 viral video?
Featuring: David Trewern, Founder and CEO of Flite (fliteboard.com)
Host:
Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast:
Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected:
Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc
Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Scott Kerr speaks to one of New York City's prominent restaurateurs, Matt Abramcyk, owner of Neighborhood Projects Restaurant Group, about building a restaurant empire and his critically acclaimed new venture The Golden Swan. Matt discusses moving from the finance realm to the hospitality business in the mid-2000s with the opening Beatrice Inn, one of the hottest spots in New York City. Matt also talks about his restaurant group's philosophy of "developing neighborhood experiences," why he saw a gap in the New York restaurant market for The Golden Swan, and his affinity for turning historic buildings into new restaurant concepts. Plus: How does a restaurant achieve "classic" status?
Featuring: Matt Abramcyk, restaurateur and owner of Neighborhood Projects Restaurant Group(neighborhoodprojects.com, tgsnyc.com)
Host:
Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast:
Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected:
Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc
Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Scott Kerr speaks to Emilia Fazzalari, co-founder and CEO of Cincoro Tequila, a super-premium tequila brand that she along with four NBA team owners (including Michael Jordan) launched in 2019. Emilia discusses how a serendipitous dinner with the four team owners led to the creation of Cincoro and starting a business as a complete outsider in the category. She also talks about the surging tequila demand, getting consensus among the owners on the ideal tequila taste profile, the unique glass bottle design filled with hidden meanings, why a new "Gold" expression was launched, and the Cincoro targeted roll-out strategy. Plus: Breaking through in a storm of celebrity-backed tequilas
Featuring: Emilia Fazzalari, Co-Founder and CEO of Cincoro Tequila and Cincoro Spirits Group (cincoro.com)
Host:
Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast:
Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected:
Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc
Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Scott Kerr speaks to Jean Dousset, a descendant of Louis Cartier and founder of namesake designer jewelry brand Jean Dousset, about his journey from selling only natural diamonds to fully embracing lab-grown. Jean also discusses training at the most esteemed high jewelers before venturing solo, how his diamond engagement ring creations for Eva Longoria and Amy Adams helped make a name for himself when he was starting out, and why shifting to only lab-grown was a better strategic business move. He talks about why UHNWIs are a prime target for lab-grown diamonds, changing people's minds about lab-grown diamonds firsthand at his new boutique, and why lab-grown diamonds are just as much an emotional purchase as earth-mined natural ones. Plus: What would Louis Cartier say about lab-grown diamonds?
Featuring: Jean Dousset, Founder & CEO of Jean Dousset (jeandousset.com)
Host:
Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast:
Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected:
Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc
Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants podcast, Scott Kerr talks to Kate Swanson, founder and CEO of ENSEMBL, a direct-to-consumer super-premium cookware brand with products that feature detachable handles to optimize space. Kate discusses her journey from attorney to entrepreneur and how Ensembl's radically redesigned cookware competes with both the high-end rivals and a slew of new DTC brands. She also talks about why men have been early adopters of the brand, navigating the recent choppy waters of the DTC world, battling post-pandemic "cooking fatigue", taking a thoughtful approach to marketing, and exploring retail partners. Plus: Kate explains why she looks to Dyson for inspiration.
Featuring: Kate Swanson, Founder and CEO of ENSEMBL (getensembl.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants podcast, Scott Kerr speaks with beauty industry veteran Veronique Gabai, founder and CEO of her eponymous fragrance line. Veronique discusses why she left her role as Global President of Estée Lauder Company to start her own fragrance line and the strategies she took to successfully launch during the pandemic. She also discusses why the fragrance market has been booming, the accelerating growth of niche scents, positioning her brand in a crowded field, her approach to creating scents inspired by her childhood on the French Riviera, and the role 'perfume therapy' plays in her new Aroma collection. Plus: The learnings she applied from creating hugely successful designer scents (by Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, and others) to creating her own fragrances.
Featuring: Veronique Gabai, Founder and CEO of Veronique Gabai (veroniquegabai.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr speaks with Stephanie Sarka, co-founder and CEO of 1 Atelier, a direct-to-consumer luxury accessories brand that combines old-fashioned craftsmanship and modern technology to allow customers to design their own luxury handbags from scratch. Stephanie discusses how hearing from women's dissatisfaction with the ubiquitous nature of popular luxury handbag brands inspired her to start the company. She also talks about how 1 Atelier is the only luxury accessories brand practicing on-demand production, its proprietary customization technology, how customers wanted their handbags customized coming out of the pandemic, the brand's stylist network, and the company's inherently sustainable business model. Plus: 1 Atelier's in-store presence at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's
Featuring: Stephanie Sarka, Co-Founder and CEO of 1 Atelier (1atelier.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr speaks with Luis Torres, co-Founder of Freud Cigar Co. about the recent launch of the luxury cigar brand inspired by one of the most famous cigar smokers - Dr. Sigmund Freud. Luis talks about how they secured the Freud name and introducing a "SuperEgo" line to keep with the theme, why it's positioned as a luxury brand, and generating awareness in a crowded premium cigar market. Plus: Why Freud Cigar Co. hired the "Bob Dylan" of the tobacco industry
Featuring: Luis Torres, Co-Founder of Freud Cigar Co. (freudcigars.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr speaks with Gamze Ates, founder and CEO of My Beachy Side, a mission-driven luxury resortwear brand handcrafted by underprivileged women from Turkey and Syria. Gamze discusses how she creates economic and growth opportunities for these disadvantaged women, the brand's sustainability practices, scaling a handmade production business, and collaborating with hit Netflix series "Emily in Paris" for the show's first capsule collection.
Featuring: Gamze Ates, Founder of My Beachy Side (mybeachyside.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr speaks with artist and entrepreneur Paula Crown about the recent launch of AspenX, a new retail and experiential luxury lifestyle brand that captures the spirit of wealthy hotspot Aspen, Colorado. Crown, whose family owns the Aspen Skiing Company and iconic uber-luxe resort The Little Nell, discusses her vision behind the brand, collaborating with Prada on a line of eco-friendly winter wear, competing in a crowded field of luxury skiwear brands, and the relaunch of the highly sought-after AspenX Mountain Club and the benefits of paying a $275,000 initiation fee. Plus: A 'snow beach' pop-up in partnership with acclaimed photographer Gray Malin
Featuring: Paula Crown, Artist and Entrepreneur, AspenX (aspenx.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On this episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr sits down with Jean Lin, founder and creative director of Colony, a new kind of co-op platform for New York City’s thriving community of independent furniture, lighting, textile, and object designers. Jean discusses how she laid the ground-work for Colony in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the hurdles independent designers come up against with traditional galleries. She also talks about how Colony gets independent designers noticed to interior designers and collectors, her curation process, its consulting wing, how the co-op makes money and whether she wants to scale the business. Plus: Why independent designers thrived during the pandemic
Featuring: Jean Lin, Founder and Creative Director at COLONY (goodcolony.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
On the premiere episode of Facing the Giants, Scott Kerr speaks with Nathalie Dionne, founder and creative director of Thalie Paris, a new French sustainable luxury leather goods brand that uses innovative materials like recycled salmon skin waste from local sushi restaurants, Mexican cactus leaves, and upcycled leathers from dormant stocks. Nathalie discusses how the Thalie Paris brand was 'born' during COVID lockdown, the design and production process behind creating her sustainably sourced collections, how the brand invites its customers to "feel Parisian", her growth and distribution strategy, and the Thalie virtual showroom. Plus: Lessons learned as an entrepreneur
Featuring: Nathalie Dionne, Founder and Creative Director of Thalie Paris (thalieparis.com)
Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting
About Facing the Giants podcast: Luxury entrepreneurs talk about competing with the Goliaths of the industry.
Stay Connected: Twitter: @facinggiantspod, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Premiering in the fall, Facing the Giants is a brand new podcast from Scott Kerr (host of The Luxury Item podcast). It takes the courage of entrepreneurs to play in a space where the Goliaths of the luxury industry roam free. Facing the Giants is a podcast that puts a spotlight on the founders of new luxury startups and the weapons in their arsenal to compete with the industry incumbents.
Scott will be interviewing luxury entrepreneurs about what's driving them and how their companies are pointing a new way forward to meet the changing demands of the luxury business and affluent consumers. They will also share smart strategies to survive and maybe even thrive in the land of the giants.
You can listen to Face the Giants wherever you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe now.
Stay Connected: Hosted by Scott Kerr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescottkerr/ Twitter: @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com The Luxury Item Podcast: https://apple.co/2KY3zo1