In this episode from the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Greg LaVecchia and Mari Llewellyn share insights from their entrepreneurial journey together at Bloom. They discuss launching new products like their prebiotic Shirley Temple flavored soda now available at Walmart, attending major industry events like Expo West, and navigating the challenges of self-doubt and imposter syndrome as their business grows.
The couple also talks about striking a work-life balance, with Mari opening up about taking a step back to prioritize her IVF journey. They emphasize the importance of quality time, healthy boundaries, and nurturing their relationship amid busy careers. Throughout the conversation, Greg and Mari provide a candid look at the highs and lows of building a brand and pursuing their passion together.
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Greg LaVecchia and Mari Llewellyn unveiled their prebiotic Shirley Temple flavored soda, pitched as a healthier alternative, at the Expo West natural foods event in Anaheim. Bloom participated in this major industry showcase for the first time, using their 40x40 booth to debut their growing soda range. Greg and Mari excitedly share that their sodas, made without preservatives using quality cherry crops, will soon hit Walmart shelves nationwide.
Mari recounts Bloom's evolution from a passion project sketching logos to a booming platform brand. What began tinkering with beneficial ingredients in her dad's kitchen has culminated in a major industry presence at Expo West - an emotional milestone likened by Mari to a child's biggest recital. Despite moments of doubt, Mari underscores overcoming self-doubts to pursue passionate ideas. Greg notes that success doesn't require originality, but differentiation, as with their healthier energy drinks. Mari shares her strategy of adopting different "personas" to gain confidence and combat imposter syndrome.
Mari has taken a step back from Bloom to prioritize her IVF journey amidst health concerns, though she feels guilt over her reduced workload. She and Greg discuss the need for life chapters balancing professional sprints with personal growth. They emphasize setting tech boundaries, establishing rituals for quality time, understanding each other's love languages, and benefitting from therapy to nurture their relationship while navigating busy careers. Mari appreciates Greg's acts of service, while he values her words of affirmation.
1-Page Summary
Greg LaVecchia and Mari Llewellyn share insights into their natural foods business, highlighting their new Shirley Temple flavored soda, pitched as a healthy alternative at the Expo West natural foods event.
Bloom has made its entrance into the healthier soda market through an exciting event unveiling that promises to offer consumers a beneficial beverage.
Greg LaVecchia explains that Expo West, known on the West Coast as the Natural Foods Expo West, is an annual event that takes place in Anaheim, California, every March. It's an industry hotspot for businesses to introduce new products to retailers such as Amazon, Costco, and Target, as well as to industry experts and the public.
Bloom took to Expo West to debut its range of prebiotic sodas, focusing especially on providing healthier alternatives to traditional sodas. Greg detailed how Bloom, which previously launched products digitally, participated in this important real-life event for the first time. They highlighted a Shirley Temple flavored soda, which Mari asserts tastes like the classic beverage and was a standout at the event.
Launching New Products and Attending Industry Events
Mari Llewellyn and Greg LaVecchia reflect on the evolution of their passion project turned platform brand, while offering insights into the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.
Mari Llewellyn takes us back to the beginnings of Bloom, recalling the days spent in her father's kitchen sampling pre-workouts, and sketching the brand's logo in the car - an idea that seemed crazy at the time but one they wholeheartedly decided to chase. She shares their vision for Bloom, emphasizing that the brand was intended to be a diverse platform offering a variety of products, like sodas for those who don't like caffeine, rather than focusing on a singular product.
Mari mentions how they started incorporating ingredients that they are passionate about, such as apple cider vinegar, into their product mix. This approach reflects their passion for nourishing, beneficial components and sets the tone for their product development.
The founders hit a significant milestone with their impressive 40-by-40-foot booth at Expo West. Greg describes it as much more than just a booth, while Mari likens the event to their child's biggest recital, a sentiment that encapsulates the importance of the event for them as founders. Greg and Mari have yet to announce their partnership with Walmart at the time of the recording, but the Expo reveals the growth and attention their brand is garnering.
Mari on Entrepreneurship's Ups and Downs, Overcoming Self-Doubt to Believe In Bloom
Mari candidly discusses the moments of self-doubt they encountered, questioning the viability of their venture. Yet, she encourages others with passionate ideas to forge ahead despite uncertain moments. ...
Entrepreneurship and Business Growth
Mari Llewellyn navigates her journey toward personal fulfillment and balance amid professional commitments by emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries, managing technology use, and fostering intimate connections with her partner, Greg.
Mari decides not to attend Expo West for the first time, citing her IVF journey as a priority. She takes a step back from her business to focus on the possibility of pregnancy and the associated health concerns. Mari speaks about the uncertainty in planning her work around IVF, as it might leave her feeling sick and affect her work availability.
Despite prioritizing her health, Mari experiences guilt for not maintaining her usual workload, especially regarding the reduced frequency and ranking of the podcast since she has been less involved. She feels uncomfortable being in a "weird in between" where she isn't working at full capacity nor doing nothing. She also feels a sense of guilt and stress for not checking her e-mails as frequently as before and when she doesn't respond to immediate notifications on her phone.
Mari and her partner Greg LaVecchia have conversations about creating chapters in life. Greg highlights that a decade-long career sprint without personal life balance is unsustainable and that chapters focused on career development should be balanced by those focused on family and personal growth.
Mari and Greg stress the necessity of setting boundaries, particularly with their phones, in order to be fully present and avoid dissociation from their surroundings. They observe that they are happier when they can focus on the moment rather than their devices and acknowledge the need for society to adjust its expectati ...
Work-Life Balance and Personal Development
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