“Often, brands forget that they’re not just speaking to ‘customers’—they’re talking to real people, like their own friends.”

Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies and Loop Returns joins Krystina Rubino on Growth Talks to share how his journey from tech startups to building a standout D2C brand was driven by a deep focus on authenticity and community.

In this episode, Preston explores the balancing act between brand-building and immediate sales goals, how humor and relatability helped Chubbies cut through the “sea of sameness,” and why creating memorable customer experiences is crucial for long-term loyalty. Now with Marathon Data, he’s helping brands leverage data to better understand their audience while keeping that personal connection front and center.

🗝️ Key Takeaways:

• Building real connections with your audience is essential; when you treat customers like friends and keep interactions genuine, that authenticity keeps people coming back.
• While long-term trust drives loyalty, it’s also important to balance brand-building with immediate sales goals so you’re not losing sight of those critical targets.
• Consistency is key—when customers see the same vibe across your platforms, they recognize your brand and build trust over time.
• Challenges are opportunities in disguise. Embrace setbacks as a way to fuel new ideas, opening doors you might not have considered before.
• Look beyond just the numbers and dig into what the data reveals about the customer experience. Creating a real connection goes deeper than metrics alone.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Preston Rutherford’s background and pivot from tech to D2C

04:15 Chubbies’ early challenges and lessons learned from failure

07:45 Founding Loop Returns to solve ecommerce pain points

11:50 Building a memorable brand in a crowded D2C space

15:30 Why humor and authenticity are essential to brand identity

19:30 Creating lasting relationships through community over transactions

23:15 Balancing brand trust with short-term growth goals

30:00 Preston’s tips on building brand resilience for the long term

36:00 Final thoughts and advice for future founders

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• Chubbies: www.chubbiesshorts.com
• Loop Returns: www.loopreturns.com
• Marathon Data: www.marathondataco.com

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