JUST Branding

From Kickstarter to thriving brand, Brevitē is a case study in how a challenger wins without a war chest. Learn more at https://justcreative.com/podcast In this episode of JUST Branding, we sit down with Brandon Kim, co-founder of Brevitē, to unpack how a scrappy Kickstarter project became a beloved camera bag brand for photographers, creators, and everyday explorers. We get into the real strategy behind their early momentum, including how they positioned in a crowded category, what they got right about their audience, and how they balanced instinct, research, and creative direction to build a brand people want to be part of. Brandon also shares what bootstrapping taught them about pace, priorities, and protecting the “soul” of the brand while scaling operations. If you’re building a DTC brand, growing a challenger business, or trying to create genuine community instead of empty reach, this one’s packed with practical lessons you can steal. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Brevitē found whitespace in a saturated marketWhat made their Kickstarter campaign resonate earlyHow they approached positioning, identity, and brand voiceThe tradeoffs of bootstrapping versus outside investmentHow they built community and creator advocacy without chasing vanity metricsWhat’s next as Brevitē evolves from product to lifestyle

In this episode, Jacob and Matt sit down with Thumbcorp’s co-founders Dan Cushing and Diego Borgo to unpack what brand fame really looks like in the worlds of blockchain, Web3 and frontier technology. Dan brings decades of creative and planning experience from Levi’s to Stella Artois to Vogue. Diego has helped global giants like adidas, Prada and Salesforce translate complex tech into stories the mainstream actually cares about. Together, they’re building Thumbcorp: an agency that sits at the intersection of visionary technology and the real world.

How do you reimagine one of the world’s most powerful brands? Over 18 months, across 15 global markets, and with 50+ sub-brands, Koto partnered with Amazon to deliver one of the largest brand transformations in recent history. In this episode, James Greenfield, CEO and Founder of Koto, shares the inside story — from simplifying a sprawling brand architecture to modernising the iconic “smile.” Matt and Jacob dive into how to design at scale, build internal alignment, and create systems that drive consistency without killing creativity. A must-listen for anyone managing complex global brands.

In this episode, global branding expert Laura Ries joins Matt and Jacob to unpack her provocative new book Strategic Enemy: How to Build a Brand Position by Fighting Someone Else. Together they explore why great brands need a clear adversary, how to choose the right one, and how this approach sharpens focus, storytelling, and growth. Expect iconic examples, practical frameworks, and fresh inspiration for your next brand strategy session.

What if the key to standing out wasn’t finding your niche… but attacking the norm? Learn more at https://justcreative.com/podcast In this provocative episode, we sit down with Todd Irwin, Chief Strategy Officer at Fazer and author of the new book De-Positioning (Amazon), to challenge the status quo of brand strategy. Drawing on decades of experience with both global giants and venture-backed startups, Todd reveals why traditional positioning frameworks are falling short—and how De-Positioning flips the script. You’ll learn: Why most brand positioning fails to drive real impactHow to win by challenging category conventionsWhat CMOs and founders get wrong about brand-growth alignmentHow to put De-Positioning into practice in your own brand today Whether you’re a strategist, creative, or founder, this episode will give you a sharp new lens to rethink how your brand competes. 🎧 Tune in and get ready to play offense.