One brand, eight successful businesses. And it all started with a solid vision. Zingerman’s Co-founder Ari Weinzweig talks with The Brand Show about his recipe for a successful brand and ZingTrain , where up-and-coming entrepreneurs receive advice and training based on the successes (and challenges) of Zingerman’s experiences. According to Ari, a business without a solid vision is like pulling up to an intersection and asking a complete stranger which way to turn. Naturally, the stranger will ask you where… read more.

This week, it’s on with Groupon, the localized, deal-of-the-day website. Forbes.com recently named Groupon the fastest growing business in history based on a valuation of more than $1 billion not even 16 months after startup. Today Groupon truly demonstrated its market power with a nationwide Gap offer that may exceed well over 500,000 purchases. Julie… read more.

La Jolla Group, Inc. (LJG) is a premier multi-brand apparel licensing company, with a portfolio of prominent brands including O’Neill Clothing USA, Rusty Clothing and Metal Mulisha Clothing. LJG applies its core competencies in design, marketing, sales, production, and distribution to each of its licenses to build a successful brand mix. LaJolla CEO, Toby Bost guides this collection of brands in financial performance, operations and product design. He speaks with The Brand Show about… read more.

Play to your strengths, hire the best people and use the best technologies. According to Steve Sarowitz, Founder and CEO of Paylocity, that’s how you grow a brand. Given that his payroll and HR company started in a basement and has since become a five-time Inc. 500 honoree, it’s hard to argue with Steve’s formula. We caught up with Steve at the Inc. 500/5000 Conference to talk about what it takes to challenge Goliath and charm new customers.

Here’s what we learned from Steve:

• Paylocity’s secret to exponential… read more.

America’s leading entrepreneurs gathered September 23-25 in Washington, D.C. for the Inc. 500|5000 Conference to celebrate and honor the country’s fastest growing privately held companies. For the second consecutive year, Two West was recognized on the Inc. 500|5000 list and invited to not only attend the event, but also cover the gathering on The Brand Show.

The Brand Show had the opportunity to catch up with several conference speakers and honorees, including Keith Ferrazzi, author of the #1 New York Times… read more.

For 24 years, Chris Lester made his name at the Kansas City Star. When the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce came knocking, Lester answered, leaving one of the most recognizable media outlets in Kansas City to join the GKCK Chamber as the Senior Vice President of Business Growth.
Join us this week as our hosts speak with Chris and explore:

• How to leverage new media for business innovation
• What the changing media landscape… read more.