Episodes

2020 first time in seventy years, people leaving and joining the workforce have reached the balance point. Ten years from now, more people will be leaving the workforce than entering. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get...

Sold in Canada, UK, and Australia this breakfast cereal was a boring and dying brand until…. Find out how a simple twist made all the difference to their advertising and promotion Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get int...

From debtors prison to the fastest-growing company in America. HJ Heinz is the story of fish guts, watery ooze, and new manufacturing breakthroughs. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from o...

They named the band REO Speedwagon from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck that Ransom Eli Olds designed. Doughty had seen the name written across the blackboard when he walked into his History of Transportation class on the first day they had decided to look for a name. Oldsmobile introduced the concept of outsourcing Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen S...

For Fawn Weaver the story of Uncle Nearest needed to be told. Learn how Fawn, with no distilling background, turned this story into one of the fastest growing Whiskey distilleries in America. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from Mom and Pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before...

Stephen and David invite Gary Bernier and Maurning Mayzes to sample a bottle. The result – 4 whisk(e)y sommeliers and lots of opinions. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Stephen Semple: All right. Stephen Semple and this is the b...

That’s not how fashionistas buy clothes, but we make and sell clothes for professional working women—a story about understanding your customer’s needs and developing to their needs. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get int...

It’s rare to find a company founded in 1910 that is still owned by the family today. What’s impressive is that they have achieved greater than 5 Billion in sales annually. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’...

Discover how the State of Texas saved money and got cleaner highways through an anti-littering marketing campaign that never used the word litter. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our...

There is only one reason to stop in Creemore on your way north or south, Creemore Springs Brewery and their Lager how John Wiggins transformed his town of Creemore. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episo...

Nobody remembers phone numbers any more and don’t get me started on LOOOOONG domain names. Your designers and marketers should know better. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners, the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode a word from our sponsor...

Edwin Perkins took inspiration from Jello to create a mail order empire. Oh Yeah! From a General Store to a major brand. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well ...

You’ll be shocked when you learn the Rolls Royce and Bentley sale details and what was sold, licensed, and protected. An epic story of Brand. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a Marketing Consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our spo...

Whole Foods was founded in 1980 as a 10,500-foot location in Austin, TX. Thirty-seven years later, in 2017, Amazon bought it for $13.8B. Discover what made it attractive to Amazon. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get in...

Nespresso, a startup that failed twice before it took off, even though the machines were cheaper, no training was required, and it produced better quality coffee. It took glamour to create a successful launch. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, ...

He never gave up, put crazy miles on his car, promoted and sold Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and worked well into his seventies. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners, the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which...

Cars are marketed today using the term horsepower. However, the term was created long before cars. Find out why James Watt invented the term. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our spo...

Ron Foxcroft launched his new business by blowing a whistle to get everyone’s attention. This quick demonstration showed he had solved the problem and understood his customer. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, before we get into today’s episod...

How the power of premiums created an empire. Guess what the baking powder was used to sell? Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Steven’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well, it’s us. But we’re highlighti...

It was always about the runner. Nike goes from distributor to shoe manufacturer to work directly with the customer. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not so secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well it’s u...

Named the most powerful man in sports by Sports Illustrated in 1990, Mark McCormack founded the International Management Group in 1960. He started with Arnold Palmer and grew a sports management empire. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners, the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave ...

It’s easier to convince someone to buy my chocolate if they already buy it – the secret to why someone would spend millions advertising a $2 item. How to grow market share. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’...

Amazon Style opening in Los Angles is a bold move from the world’s largest clothing retailer. However, it appears they are taking a page out of Canada Goose’s book. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episod...

Building out a niche allowed Wayne Edy to build a shoe company – Inov-8, sell it, and rebuy it. The story of trail and off-road runners and adventure-seeking hikers. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Steven’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episo...