25 Most Innovative Consumer and Retail Brands

30/03/2015 The25MostInnovativeConsumerandRetailBrands

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235945 1/40

INNOVATION

The 25 Most InnovativeConsumer and RetailBrands

Ryan CaldbeckContributorFounder And CEO, CircleUp

JULY 30, 2014

While we often hear about innovations in technology,

we hear less about innovations in the consumer

industry. Why? It comprises more than 20 percentof the

U.S. economy, and touches nearly every aspect of our

lives, influencing what we eat, wear, andincreasingly,

reflecting what we believe. (I believe in sustainability,

therefore I buy from sustainable brands.)

Good companies create products. Great companies

create identities. We work with consumer companies

day in and day out atCircleUp-- we've reviewed more

than 4,500 in the past two years alone -- and we're

excited to share some of the amazing things they're

doing, from pioneering new categories to re-imagining

new industries.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/author/ryan-caldbeckhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/http://www.circleup.com/http://www.entrepreneur.com/topic/innovation



Last year we scoured the country for these great

consumer companies and selected 25 of the most

innovative.Were at it again this year, and excited to

present 2014s CircleUp25.

How we chose.First, the ground rules. Companies had

to be privately-held to be nominated. (Nothing against

publicly-traded companies, its just that our domain is in

the private markets.) To avoid bias, we also excluded

from consideration companies CircleUp has worked

with in the past or is working with currently.

Related:Entrepreneur's 100 Brilliant Companies

We then curated a global network of experts and asked

for nominations. Our network included consumer

private equity firms and leading consumer investment

bankers; consumer trade publications; national retailers

with access to their own proprietary data; successful

consumer entrepreneurs; third-party data providers

analyzing industry trends; and consumer angel

investors.

After receiving more than 200 expert nominations we

got to work selecting the winners -- 25 of the most

innovative consumer product and retail companies in

the world. We included both small companies and large

-- because neither has a monopoly on innovation.

We also wanted to hear from consumers, so we asked

fans to vote for their favorite brands on Facebook and
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233877



Twitter. Based on the tallied results we selected five

Fans Choice Awards.

Without further ado, were thrilled to present 2014s

CircleUp25 winners!

Shake Shack

Image credit: Shake Shack

Why? For dispelling the belief that fast food has to

be pre-cooked.

Who? Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality

Group (USHG) delighted the masses with a hot dog

stand at Madison Square Park Conservatorys art

installation from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, it won the

bid for a permanent kiosk in the park, and Shake

Shack was born.

What theyve built? From its humble beginnings,

Shake Shack emerged as a neighborhood fixture. It

hassince brought their burgers to the rest of the



world with 13 international stores across four

countries. The chain doubled in size in 2013 alone,

and opened its 47th location this June. Barely a blip

on McDonalds radar today, but its worth recalling

Chipotles rise from fewer than 20 locations in 1998

to more than 1,500 a decade later. Leading

consumer private equity firm, Alliance Consumer

Growth, invested in Shake Shack in early 2013,

saying, No restaurant is more innovative or game

changing.

Keeping an eye out for you. To help New Yorkers

plan their daily burger schedule, the Shack Cam

vigilantly watches over absurdly long lines at the

original Madison Square Park location. Pro-tip: skip

the the lines at Madison Square and stop by

theUpper East Side location. Enjoy your burger

(and the much shorter lines) outside the American

Museum of Natural History.

Blue Buffalo



Image credit: Blue Buffalo

Why? For setting a new standard in healthy dog and

cat food.

Who? Bill and Jackie Bishop took a serious interest

in pet nutrition after their large and loyal dog,

named Blue, suffered from several health problems.

What theyve built? After meeting with several

leading experts in canine and feline nutrition, Blue

Buffalo rolled out BLUE dog and cat foods. All BLUE

pet foods contain LifeSource Bits, a precise blend of

vitamins, mineralsand antioxidants that help

support pets immune systems. Industry insiders

estimate the brands sales at north of $600 million --

and its growing into a category big brands have a

roaring appetite for. (2013 CircleUp25 winner

Zukes, another pet food company, was acquired by

Nestl earlier this year.)

The Rescue Waggin. Blue Buffalo is a proud



supporter of the Petsmart Rescue Waggin', an

initiative thats led to the rescue and adoption of

more than 65,000 dogs.

Corsair Distillery

Image credit: Corsair Distillery

Why? For defining a new standard of quality and

taste with its small batch, ultra-premium whiskey.

Who? Childhood friends Darek Bell, Andrew

Webber and Amy Lee Bell began homebrewing out

of their garage. They started with beer and wine but

after trouble with a prototype bio-diesel plant, they

decided to give whiskey a try. And whiskey they

made. Lots of it.

What theyve built? Makers of whiskey, absinthe,

gin, vanilla bean vodkaand spiced rum, the

Tennessee distillery recently took home the

American Craft Distiller of the Year, award at the

annual Wizards of Whisky, withits signature



Nashville Bourbon and Quinoa Whiskey claiming

gold medals.

The company is primed for growth: domestic sales

of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey grew 10.2

percent in 2012 to $2.4 billion. (Think about that:

there arent that many markets as old as whiskey

growing 10 percent per year.) Not to mention

international opportunities: exports of whiskey are

growing at a torrid pace and passed the $1

billionmark for the first time in 2013, according to

the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS).

Everlane

Image credit: Everlane

Why? For promoting radical transparency in its

manufacturing standards and helping cement social

good as a value for startup clothing companies.

Who?Michael Preysman, 25 at the time,left a

career in private equity to start Everlane in the fall of

2010. The impetus? His love for quality and

simplicity -- and frustration with the lack of



innovation in retail.

What theyve built? A sophisticated brand thats

gaining traction among celebrities and college

students alike for its high-quality, affordable basics.

And lest we forget, insanely comfortable sandals.

Since raising $1 millionfrom consumer-focused

venture capital firms Maveron and betaworksand a

host of individual angel investors, Everlane has

grown to more than 400,000 active members. More

investors may want in (desperately), but Everlane

hasnt had it -- opting instead for organic growth

over the monster follow-on rounds common

amongst its ecommerce peers. Maverons Jason

Stoffer shared their motivation for investing:

Michael Preysmann is a special entrepreneur who

is building a brand perfectly suited to this next

generation of shoppers.

Picture perfect.Everlanes clean lines and

minimalistic aesthetic is an Instagram darling -- IG

masters such as @alice_gao, @emmatheyellow and

@cloudsandcoffee are often found hobnobbing the

brand.

Poler



Image credit: Poler

Why? For supplying and clothing the explorer in all

of us.

Who? Portland-native Benji Wagner founded Poler

out of his garage to make accessible outdoor gear

for the everyday adventurer. Less Bear Grylls, more

couchsurfers and road-trippers.

What theyve built? A camping and travel gear

brand aimed at urban-based adventurers.

Launching in 2011 with a debut line of tents, T-

shirtsand bags, its continued to grow through

creative product design, beautiful storytelling and

strategic partnerships, including a design

collaboration with Nike and a distribution deal with

Urban Outfitters.

Cult following. Customers obsess over the

companys wearable sleeping bag(it's exactly what

it sounds like.Check it out.).Were convinced

anyone who ever lays eyes on one will want one --

immediately(seriously).
http://www.polerstuff.com/collections/camping-stuff-1/products/the-napsack



Patagonia

Image credit: Patagonia

Why? For innovation that results in extraordinary

brand loyalty.

Who? Founder Yvon Chouinard has always strived

to communicate his passion for the natural world

into his line of technical, rugged outdoor clothing.

What theyve built? A global apparel brand thats

proving profits and purpose can, and should, align.

Founded in 1973, the iconic brand may be more

mature than its younger upstarts, but tired it is not.

Between 2008 and 2013 profits more than tripled as

revenues surpassed $600 million. Most brands that

get to that level just rest -- Patagonia

doesnt.Growing through a recession is easier

when customers love who you are and what you

stand for, not just what you make. Its one reason

many of its larger competitors are jealous of the



extreme brand loyalty Patagonia commands.

Not your typical boardroom. The 75-year old

Chouinard, a true renaissance man, surfs, climbs,

kayaks, fly-fishes and falcons between board

meetings.

Tory Burch

Image credit: Tory Burch

Why? For weaving sensibility into style, and never

letting growth compromise authenticity.

Who? Tory Burch worked for many of the worlds

most influential designers, including Ralph Lauren

and Vera Wang, before starting her eponymous

brand in 2004. A CEO, designer, philanthropistand

mother, Forbes ranked Burch as the 79th most

powerful woman in the world in 2014.



What theyve built? A tech-forward, boho-chic

empire of versatile and fashionable womens

accessories and apparel with high-profile clientele.

From its single store nestled away in Manhattans

Nolita neighborhood, Tory Burch has grown to more

than 120 freestanding boutiques, and can be found

across more than 3,000 department and specialty

stores globally. The brand has diversified into many

new product categories, including eyewear through

a partnership with Luxottica, fragrances through

collaboration with Este Lauder, and on deck are

timepieces with Fossil in 2014.

Giving back. Elizabeth Street Capital, an initiative

within Burchs foundation, provides low-interest

loans, networking opportunitiesand mentoring to

female entrepreneurs.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Image credit: Blue Bottle Coffee



Why? For attempting to upend Starbucks market

domination by choosing quality over quantity,

withno compromises.

Who? Model Californian James Freeman --

freelance musician and coffee fanatic -- longed for a

time before peppermint spiced lattes and

caffeinated milkshakes. He vowed to make, serve

and sell only real, fresh-roasted coffee, serving his

first cups of Blue Bottle out of a kiosk in 2005.

Freeman was joined by Bryan Meehan in 2012, the

entrepreneur behind Fresh & Wild, a chain of

organic markets that sold to Whole Foods.

What theyve built? Arguably the most

recognizable cup in San Franciscos coffee-

congested culture. The now bi-coastal Oakland-

based roasters bleed their beans no more than 48

hours after roasting. Raising $25.75 million in

January this year from an eclectic group of investors

including Google Ventures and Tony Hawk (on top

of $19.7 million raised in 2012), the company is flush

with cash and primed to grow. It recently expanded

into Los Angeleswith the acquisition of L.A.s

Handsome Coffee Roasters, and its acquisition of

the coffee subscription service Tonx brings it one

step closer to distributing premium Blue Bottle

coffee to anyone, anywhere.

Pressed Juicery



Image credit: Pressed Juicery

Why? For cutting through the confusion and

condescension of health trends.

Who? Co-founders Carly Brien, Hayden Slater and

Hedi Gores started Pressed Juicery in 2010 out of a

22-square-foot L.A. storefront.

What theyve built? A dynamic online and offline

brand thats now distributing its subscription-based

juicing program nationwide. With 19 real-

worldlocations (at the time of this writing) and a

bustling ecommerce operation, its attacking the

cold-crafted juice and smoothie category, a

growing market that Starbucks recently sized up at

$3.4 billion.

Speaking of Starbucks. Juicing is here to stay.

Starbucks validated the category and went all in

with its purchase of Evolution Fresh for $30 million

in 2011, with plans to aggressively grow Evolution

locations nationwide.

FitBit



Image credit: Fitbit

Why? For leading the small but growing wearables

market, and getting office workers everywhere to

ask, Whats your number?

Who? Co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman

started the company in 2007, and struggled with

manufacturing and design before being able to ship

a product at the end of 2009.

What theyve built? A collection of wearable fitness

bands that measure everything from steps taken,

calories burnedto sleep quality. FitBits range from

$60 to $130. The genius isnt just in the product, but

the subscription. Customers pay $50 a year to view

and manage key health metrics. Research firm

Canalys estimated FitBit owned 50 percent of the

wearables market in early 2014 -- predicting the

smart-band category will grow from 8 million units in

2014 to more than 47 million by 2017. Wearables

may take some time to hit their stride, but it will be a

major market. And few are better positioned than

FitBit.
http://avc.com/2014/07/the-smart-watch/



TRX

Image credit: TRX

Why? For re-imagining how, where and why we

workout.

Who?Founder Randy Hetrick, a 14-year Navy Seal

veteran and Stanford MBA, began developing the

Total Resistance eXercises as early as the 1990s,

but didnt begin marketing the product until 2005.

What theyve built? TRX has designed one of the

most versatile pieces of exercise equipment in the

world. Its flagship product, a suspension workout

system, is decidedly simple, and leverages gravity

to deliver full-body workouts anytime, anywhere,

regardless of your fitness level. This product's

dynamism is why youll see customers choosing

one of TRXs hundreds of workouts for everything

from high-intensity strength training to injury



rehabilitation.In an industry notorious for fads, TRX

has not only stayed relevant, but also helped lead

the market.

Work hard, play hard.TRX hosts four exercise

classes every day for employees.

Flywheel

Image credit: Flywheel

Why? For making indoor cycling epic.

Who? Ruth Zukerman opened one of the first

exclusive indoor cycling studios in New York City

before teaming up with Jay Galluzzo to co-found

Flywheel in 2010.

What theyve built? Flywheel is one of the fastest

growing fitness concepts in the country. Since

opening its first location four years ago, its grown to

25 studios. According to investment bankPiper

Jaffray & Co, fitness studios are the fastest growing

segment of the U.S. health-club industry, growing

more than 450 percenta year since 2010. The

company has heavily invested in technology to



elevate the Flywheel experience. Its TorqBoard

technology powers in-studio displays that measure

riders' real-time performance data. Riders can

access their individualized and relative data online

or through the companys mobile app.

Hello, world. Flywheel has global ambitions and

recently opened its first international studio in

Dubai.

NatureBox

Image credit: NatureBox

Why? For marrying food with tech to make healthy

eating easy, affordable and delicious.

Who? Meeting during undergraduate studies at

Babson College, Kenneth Chen and Gautam Gupta

re-united after careers in financial services to found

NatureBox in early 2012.

What theyve built? Naturebox is an online service



that home-delivers an assortment of healthy snacks

to consumers on a monthly basis. With more than

100 unique products, it ships to all 50 states

(andCanada) and are attacking the $64 billion

snack-food category. Coming off an $18 million

Series B led by Canaan Partners, the company aims

to double its deliveries to 3 million boxes in 2014,

priced between $20 to $50 each. Talk about

breakneck growth: hitting its goal will clock growth

at an astounding 5,900 percent over 2012, when it

delivered its first 50,000 boxes.

Do good by doing well. For every box it delivers,

NatureBox donates one meal through Feeding

America.

Related:Innovation: Small Businesses Live It, Big

Businesses Buy It

ThinkThin

Image credit: ThinkThin



Why? For fueling a healthy, energetic lifestyle, and

making it taste darn good too!

Who? Mother of two Lizanne Falsetto founded

ThinkThin to fulfill her desire for easy and nutritious

food on the go.

What theyve built? Denouncing refined sugars,

ThinkThin makes gluten-free protein bars in a

variety of decadent flavors. Forbes estimated the

companys revenue at more than $70 million in

2012. With the snack-bar category alone sized at

$5.9 billion by Euromonitor, it hasenormous room

to grow. The snack and protein bar market is

crowded, but also massive, and has seen few

products that are truly nutritious and good

tasting.Falsettoand her financial backers, TSG

Consumer Partners, have broader ambitions,

however. Expect to see expansion well beyond

protein bars.

Viva Italia. Falsetto grew up in a large Italian family

and spent her early years in Seattle before setting

out on a 14-year international modeling career. She

began tinkering with recipes when she returned to

the states, and found her first corporate buyer for

ThinkThin at Trader Joes in 1999.

Hampton Creek



Image credit: Hampton Creek

Why? For asking, Why not?, and innovating a

fundamentally new way of food production thats

better for humans and animals alike

Who? Friends Joshua Tetrick and Josh Balk

founded Hampton Creek in 2011. Coincidentally,

each had promising collegial athletic careers

prematurely ended by injury.

What theyve built? Hampton Creek is a food

company with the mission of developing new plant-

based foods that are less expensive, healthierand

more sustainable industrial-production alternatives.

Its currently selling its first two products -- Just

Mayo and Just Cookies -- through many of the

countrys largest retailers, including Costco and

Safeway, and recently struck partnerships with

Krogers and Amazon.

The future of food. Bill Gates listed Hampton Creek

as one of the three most exciting companies in the

world that are pioneering the future of food. Gates



isnt the only billionaire crazy about Hampton Creek

-- Asias wealthiest man, Li Ka-Shing, led the

companys latest $23 million financing.

Justin's

Image credit: Justin's

Why? For never compromising on quality, and

mixing community and sustainability into every

product it makes.

Who? Leggo my peanut butter! Yearning for an

alternative to sugary energy gel packs, Founder

Justin Gold began making his nut butter in 2002.

His roommates couldnt keep their hands off it so he

started writing labels on his nut butter. His scribbled

signature lives on as the companys logo.

What theyve built? A local farmers market in

Boulder welcomed Justins first sales. The

companys 12 employees now manage 12 varieties

of nut butters as well as dark and milk-chocolate

peanut butter cups. Sales were last reported at



nearly $20 million in 2012, up from $2.9 million just

three years prior. Sustainability is at the heart of the

companys mission. Its line of nut butters uses 100

percent post-consumer recycled plastic, and it

sources ingredients exclusively from organic farms.

Full speed ahead. Justins sold a minority stake in

the company last October to California-based

private equity firm, VMG Partners. Justins joins

other high-growth consumer product brands in

VMGs portfolio, including KIND, BabyGanicsand

Mighty Leaf Tea.

Aden + Anais

Image credit: Aden + Anais

Why? For simplifying the lives of parents and

caregivers, and making beautiful products that keep

babies safer and more comfortable.

Who? When Raegan Moya Jones moved to the U.S.,



she couldnt find the muslin swaddles used by

mothers across her native Australia. Pregnant with

her first child in 2006, she decided to be the

solution. Partnering with Claudia Schwartz, Aden +

Anais was officially born in 2006.

What theyve built? Aden + Anais sells infant and

toddler-wear. Its signature muslin products have

been widely acclaimed for improving comfort and

breathability. Founded in Brooklyn, NY, the

companys products can now be found across

thousands of locations in 63 different countries.

The Kate Middleton effect. Prince George left the

hospital wearing none other than Aden + Anais

signature muslin swaddle blanket. Within a day of

fashion bloggers surfacing the photo, the

companys site came to a grinding halt under the

pressure of skyrocketing traffic. Sales spiked more

than 600 percent over the next 10 days.

GoldieBlox



Image credit: GoldieBlox

Why? For re-imagining toys, and inspiring a new

generation of female engineers.

Who? Engineering was an alien field to founder

Debbie Sterling until a high school teacher

recommended she choose it as a major. She

graduated four years later with a degree in

mechanical engineering from Stanford, and set her

sights on the overwhelming gender imbalance in

the field -- where nearly 90 percent of professionals

are men. Starting GoldieBlox in 2012, she hopes to

give girls inspiring and hands-on engineering

experiences that she never had.

What theyve built? GoldieBlox is more than a toy,

its an experience. Aimed at girls between the ages

of 5 and 9, it includes a storybook and construction

kit. Girls encounter engineering challenges as they

progress through the story (available as a book),

and are encouraged to tinker away at creative

solutions. The companys initial sales were direct-to-

consumer. It opened its first major retail doors with

ToysRUs in 2013. At lastyear's Google Zeitgeist,

an invite-only gathering of influencers from around

the world, Sterlings presentation on Goldieblox

received a booming applause from a captivated

room.

Kickstarted. Looking to validate her idea before

investing in production, Sterlinglaunched

GoldieBloxs Kickstarter campaign in September

2012. She set a goal of $150,000 and in less than



three weeks pledges (mostly in the form of pre-

orders) reached $285,881.

DreamDry

Image credit: DreamDry

Why? For creating the premiere destination for

blowouts in NYC, helping women make every day

glamorous.

Who? Celebrity designer, stylist and editor Rachel

Zoe teamed up with Creative Artists Agency

Executive Robin Moraetes to found DreamDry in

2012.

What theyve built? Young and growing, DreamDry

is an innovative blow-dry and styling concept. The

company debuted its first location in NYCs Flatiron

neighborhood in 2013 and quickly expanded to a

second location in Columbus Circle. Each location is

now doing roughly 4,000 blowouts a month, up

more than 150 percent yearoveryear. Its top



customer is nearing her 300th blowout. While NYC

will always be the companys home, the founders

say, the duo has global ambitions.

On trend. DreamDry debuts new styles every

season. Its latest creation is the messyand chic

Stevie.

Too Faced Cosmetics

Image credit: Too Faced Cosmetics

Why? For developing a chic line of fashion-forward

cosmetics.

Who? Motivated by a vision to reinject individuality

and joy into the cosmetics industry, Jerrod Blandino

and Jeremy Johnson became the two faces behind

Too Faced in 1998.

What theyve built? A complete line of cosmetics

ranging from shadows and glimmers to foundations

and blushes. With distribution in more than 1,800

stores, the company is aggressively growing its

international presence (500 doors at last count),

and has plans to move into new product categories.

Bootstrapped.After racking up more than

$250,000 in credit card debt to get the brand off



the ground, Blandinoand Johnsonbrought on

Weston Presidio as equity partners to aggressively

scale. Weston Presidio partner, Jeff Mills, recounted

its investment thesis to GCI Magazine: Too Faced

embodies what we look for in cult brands: an

extremely loyal consumer following, a high-quality

product and a differentiated, emotionally connected

brand.

Sweetgreen

Image credit: Sweetgreen

Why? For providing a fusion of tasty food and

sustainable design to those living a healthy lifestyle.

Who? Georgetown alums Nicolas Jammet, Jonathan

Nemanand Nathaniel Ru founded Sweetgreen in

2007.

What theyve built? A farm-to-table salad chain



thats expanded its fast-casual concept to 25

locations up and down the East coast. AOL co-

founder Steve Case pumped $22 million into the

company through his investment fund, Revolution

Ventures, late last year to fund its ambition of

becoming the Chipotle of Salads.

The sweet life. The founders are also big fans of

good music. In 2010, they debuted the Sweetlife

Festival, an annual concert featuring musical artists

such as The Strokes, Kendrick Lamaarand Avicii.

Asian Box

Image credit: Asian Box

Why? For bridging the gap between fast casual and

your favorite neighborhood joint -- all while using

ultra-fresh and sustainable ingredients.

Who? FK Restaurants & Hospitality CEO Frank Klein

shares an affinity for freshly prepared Vietnamese



cuisine with executive chef Grace Nguyen. Chad

Newton, Kleins business partner, joined as culinary

director, advancing the Boxs mission of creating

bridges to local farmers and vendors.

What theyve built? Asian Box is a fast-casual

gluten-free concept serving up authentic Asian

street food. Whats your Box? goes the tagline.

Menu items start at around $7and diners choose

from a variety of southeast Asian flavors and

toppings to create a customized box. The

company has added three new California locations

since opening in Palo Alto and has plans to open a

fifth store in Los Angeles later this year.

Serena & Lily



Image credit: Serena & Lily

Why? For transforming the home-decor industry,

starting with the nursery.

Who? Coming from different backgrounds, the

dynamic duo of Serena Dugan, a freelance artist,

and Lily Kanter, a serial entrepreneur, came

together through the shared vision of re-imagining

the nursery, avision they brought to life in 2003.

What theyve built? Serena & Lily designs and sells

furniture. From its first collection of nursery cribs,

the company has expanded its product line to

furnish every room in the house. With a bustling

catalogue business reaching more than 1



millionhouseholds and a strong ecommerce

presence, the company closed a $10 million credit

facility with ORIX Ventures and made its foray into

brick and mortar with its first location in the summer

of 2013. The brand doesnt disclose sales figures

(it's estimated at well over $10 million) but it does

say revenue is growing at more than 70 percent a

year.

Adios wholesale. In 2013, the company abandoned

wholesale altogether, going 100 percent direct to

consumer. It couldnt have been an easy decision. It

took them out of more than 650 retail doors,

including prime real estate at Bloomingdales. But

the deliberate move positions them to build more

direct and meaningful relationships going forward.

Paper Source

Image credit: Paper Source

Why? For inspiring us to Do Something Creative

Every Day, and bringing out the artist in all of us.

Who? Sue Lindstrom traveled the world collecting

high-quality artisanal papers. She began selling

them in Chicago in 1983 -- and so began Paper

Source.



What theyve built? Paper Source sells a unique

selection of fine and artisanal papers, invitations

and announcements, personalized and distinctive

gifts, gift wrap, greeting cards, custom stampsand a

custom collection of envelope and cards through its

company-owned retail stores.

Headquartered in Chicago, Paper Source has

grown to more than 80stores across 23 states.

Lindstrom sold the company to Los Angeles-based

private equity firm Brentwood Associates in 2007.

Sales grew more than 25 percent annually under

Brentwoods ownership to about $110 million before

Brentwood successfully exited its investment in a

sale to Investcorp in 2013. The Bahrain-based

alternative-investment firm intends to triple the

retailers store count to 250 units over the next five

years.

Ancient Harvest

Image credit: Ancient Harvest

Why? For introducing the U.S. consumer to quinoa

and other innovative ancient grains, way back in



1983.

Who? Current CEO Blake Waltrip joined Ancient

Harvest in 2013.

What theyve built? Residing in Boulder,

Colo.,Ancient Harvest (a Quinoa Corporation brand)

was the first company to bring quinoa to the United

States. Thirtyyears later it remains the premier

brand selling organic, non-GMO, Royal Bolivian

quinoa products. The company produces a variety

of product lines: quinoa grain, pastas, flour, flakes,

ready-to-eat polentasand macaroni and cheese. In

2014, the company launched hot breakfast cereals

and flavored side dishes.

For years the company grew modestly and

predictably, fulfilling demand mostly from boutique

supermarkets and health-food stores. That all

changed five years ago. The product it introduced

to the U.S. consumer -- low-calorie, gluten-freeand

high-protein -- exploded in popularity as awareness

of its health benefits grew. Major retailers came

knocking, and Ancient Harvest has been playing

catch up with demand since.

Prevent Magazine awarded Ancient Harvest with

Best Packaged Food, for its commitment to clean,

organic ingredients.

Fans Choice AwardThese five companies received phenomenal support

from their fans online. (These are also companies that



we currently do not have a formal relationship with here

at CircleUp.)

1. illuMask. La Lumire, LLC, the company behind

illuMask, has amission to democratize advanced skin-

care technologies for home use.illuMask is an anti-acne

light-therapy mask that uses blue and red light to fight

the bacteria that causes acne. The company has

multiple retail partners, including Walmart, Ulta Beauty

and Target.

2. Awake Chocolate.Friends Matt Schnarr, Dan Tzotzis

and Adam Deremo introduced their caffeinated

chocolate to Canadian consumers in August 2012. The

companys Awake chocolate bars are packed with as

much caffeine as a cup of coffee (or a 250ml energy

drink). They sell two flavors -- milk chocolate, or milk

chocolate with a gooey, caramel center -- and come in

two varieties, snack-size bites or bars.

3. Bohemian Guitars.Inspired by the resourcefulness

of musicians in their hometown of Johannesburg, South

Africa, brothers Adam and Shaun Lee began making

electric guitars from repurposed oil cans in 2012. A less

expensive and unique alternative to traditional guitars,

Bohemian Guitars are now available in both branded

and vintage styles on the companys website.

Bohemian is a repeat winner, taking home a Fans

Choice Award in 2013 as well.

4. 41Olive.This company is a young and growing olive
https://www.circleup.com/



oil retail concept in California. It prides itself in its

extensive selection of flavors, from traditional to exotic,

and invites consumers totry before they buy. Each of

the companys three locations host weekly cooking

classes and demonstrations to educate consumers on

the health benefits of olive oil, and how it can be mixed

into their diet in fun, creative and delicious ways(all for

free!). Never be bored in your kitchen again.

5. Tie Society.Tie Society is the Netflix of ties. A

monthly subscription service for designer menswear

accessories, it was founded on the belief that looking

good should made be easierand more affordable.

Through its website, customers can rent menswear

accessories -- specifically high-quality neckties, pocket

squares, tie barsand cufflinks -- wear them as long as

theyd like, and exchange them whenever they want.

Look good for less.

Congratulations to all of the winners.

Our process was comprehensive. But withmore than 1.4

million privately-held consumer product and retail

companies in the U.S., its likely we missed a few. Let us

know who in the comments, and we'll include them as

nominations next year.

Related:10 of the Most Innovative and Bizarre of the

Top 100 Crowdfunded Companies



TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

3 Ways IT Innovation isChanging the Game forSmall Businesses

Image credit: Martin Eckert | Flickr

Lou Ennuso

MARCH 28, 2015

Todays business environment is moving at a faster pace than

ever before. Its imperative that organizations of all sizes be

nimble enough to respond and pivot according to business

and market demands at a moments notice, or risk falling

behind their competition.

To this point, many small businesses often struggle when it

comes to effectively scaling their operations. This process

entails making hefty IT investments, and while necessary for

continued growth, many entrepreneurs just cant afford to do

so. The end result is a Catch-22 that leaves many small

businesses unable to reach their growth potential.
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Fortunately, IT innovation is changing the game. Small

businesses no longer face the same constraints they have in

the past and can scale more effectively than ever before. As a

result, here are three ways in which small businesses are

benefitting:

Related:5 Essential Tech Tools For Telecommuters

1. Faster time to revenueThere are a number of ways to enhance a revenue growth

strategy, including leveraging your existing client base,

tapping new clients and pushing existing products for new

opportunities. However, its also important to implement a

rapid and timely onboarding process to support the above

tactics, as this can be extremely powerful in driving business

results. As your business grows, inefficient onboarding

processes for new customers and partners will have an

increasingly significant impact on your business ability to

scale.

With the rise of cloud-based technologies, onboarding doesnt

have to fall solely on the shoulders of IT. IT professionals can

set up business users to successfully create their own secure

connections. If business users could have the ability to create

data connections, the average onboarding time could be cut

from weeks or months to a matter of days. Faster onboarding

means customers and partners begin generating revenue

faster, which has a direct impact on the bottom line.

2. Expanded partner networksIt used to be the case that, in order to do business with a
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Fortune 1000 company, you had to be a Fortune 1000

company. Large players in the B2B space had massive, well-

established networks of vendors and suppliers to leverage in

doing business and providing services to their customers.

However, technology has opened up these networks to make

them more accessible to small businesses than ever before.

Consider the following example. Lets say youre a distributor

looking to expand your network by engaging with local

suppliers. A farmer out of Arlington, Iowa who has produce

youre looking to source may not have the EDI software

required to exchange inventory information with you.

However, with the right solution in place, you as the distributor

can easily automate connections to quickly build non-

technical, smaller vendors, like the farmer in Iowa, into your

supply chain.

Related:How to Use Technology to Increase Productivity,

Not Distract You

3. Better ROITo compete effectively with big players, small businesses

need to make IT investment a priority. However, making

investments comparable in size and scope to large

enterprises is often not a financial reality for small businesses.

The advent of cloud-based technologies allows small

businesses to affordably add IT capabilities without hiring an

entire IT department, or making huge investments in IT

networks and infrastructure. Traditional offerings demand that

your physical infrastructure change in conjunction with your



business size -- opening the floodgates to additional costs

associated with hardware and maintenance. Scaling with the

cloud can be as simple as a phone call or some mouse

clicksand can involve a lot smaller capital outlays.

With these advancements, smaller companies now have the

ability to do business with larger vendors, without making

major investments before they are ready. The ability to invest

in IT organically, as the business grows, allows an

organization to scale at pace, keeping them competitive in the

market without breaking the bank.

While effectively scaling has often been a pain point for small

businesses, innovations in IT and cloud technology have

leveled the playing field in many ways to empower

organizations with the tools they need to compete with large

enterprises. Its critical that small businesses adapt

accordingly, or face the reality of never becoming a Fortune

1000 company.

Related:Top5TechnologySecretsToBuildYourSmall
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