Welcome to a special encore episode of the podcast, where we open up the back catalogue and share some of our favourite and most popular episodes that are worth a second (or perhaps your first) listen. Today we bring you our exclusive interview with Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder of Vuori, the fast-growing Southern California-inspired activewear brand. Joe's journey is a fascinating one that anyone in retail and branding will enjoy and can learn from.
Welcome to a special encore episode of the podcast, where we open up the back catalogue and share some of our favourite and most popular episodes that are worth a second (or perhaps your first) listen.
Today we bring you our exclusive interview with Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder of Vuori, the fast-growing Southern California-inspired activewear brand. Joe's journey is a fascinating one that anyone in retail and branding will enjoy and can learn from.
We discuss the origin story of the company and discover how two big pivots allowed Vuori to find its unique positioning and set it on its path to its recent $4 billion valuation. We also unpack how Vuori plans to stay remarkable in a crowded activewear space and why physical retail will be key to its next stage of growth. Lastly we learn about the importance of "word of mouth"--to be literally remarkable--in propelling Vuori forward.
Since we released this episode, Vuori has opened 30+ retail stores, 10 in 2023 so far, and is targeting about 25/year. And is profitable. Truly Remarkable.
About Joe
Joe Kudla is the founder and CEO of Vuori, a rapidly growing performance apparel brand inspired by the aspirational active Southern California lifestyle. A student of life and various active pursuits, he drew upon his personal interests to bring a new perspective to the activewear market, prioritizing versatility, comfort and sustainability. Prior to Vuori, he started Vaco San Diego, a professional accounting and IT consulting firm and he started his career as a CPA at Ernst & Young. Joe earned his accounting degree from the University of San Diego where he was acknowledged as an all American Lacrosse player.
Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of focused on growth, innovation, and the impact of digital disruption. He is widely considered one of the foremost and influential voices in the retail industry. You can learn more about Steve on his website. His #1 bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is available at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.
Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.
Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!