This week on Above the Fold, I sat down with Daniel Schwarz, founder of Chuza, to talk about what it actually takes to build a spicy Mexican snack brand from the ground up. We get into Daniel’s journey from tequila and spirits brand management to entrepreneurship, why having skin in the game matters, and how Chuza was built with one hundred percent Mexican spices and zero artificial ingredients. Daniel shares how growing up in Monterrey shaped the flavors behind the brand, why representation on the shelf matters, and how early customer feedback influenced product decisions. We also talk about launching during the pandemic, getting into stores through persistence and cold outreach, and what he learned from participating in the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator. If you are building a consumer brand, thinking about product development, or curious how culture and flavor translate into scalable business, this episode is packed with insight you can actually use.

📲 Follow Daniel:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-schwarz-2b882943

📲 Check out Chuza:

Website: chuza.com

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

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This week, I sat down with Aniesha Jones to talk about what customer experience actually looks like when empathy, data, and revenue are all in the same room. We get into her unconventional path from opera and vocal performance to leading high-growth CX and retention teams, and why creativity is one of the most overlooked skills in business today.

We cover CX leadership, retention strategy, the real ROI of empathy, and why CX deserves a seat at the executive table instead of being treated like a cost center. Aniesha breaks down how data and storytelling work together, how DEI should inform experience design from day one, and why loyalty is built through belonging, not discounts.

If you’re a CX leader, founder, marketer, or operator trying to build experiences that customers actually remember, this episode is packed with insight you can use immediately. Listen now for a grounded, honest take on empathy, retention, and what sustainable growth really looks like in ecommerce today.

📲 Follow Aniesha:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anieshajones/

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

Twitter: x.com/jesscervellon

Instagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week, I sat down with the operations queen herself, Hattie Gilpin, to talk about what it really takes to keep subscribers around in one of the most competitive categories out there. If you’ve ever wondered why customers churn, what actually drives operational success, or how brands can earn long-term trust without leaning on discounts, this episode is for you.

We cover subscription retention, billing cycle psychology, customer experience, and why the unsexy parts of operations matter just as much as great marketing. Hattie breaks down everything from time-to-churn analysis to warehouse partnerships, plus the real story behind HAM — the analytics platform built specifically for subscription operators who are tired of messy spreadsheets and bad data.

If you’re running a subscription brand, leading a CX or ops team, or trying to understand why customers cancel in the first place, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can actually use.

Listen now for tactical advice on retention, subscription analytics, operational excellence, and why great customer experience is built long before a support ticket ever gets opened.

📲 Follow Hattie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-gilpin/

📲 Check out Wellbel:

https://www.wellbel.com/

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

Twitter: x.com/jesscervellon

Instagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon