The Empire Builders Podcast

The Empire Builders Podcast


Latest Episodes

#202: Sour Patch Kids – Gummy Bears Meet Cabbage Patch Kids
April 23, 2025

Sour Patch Kids were the result of paying attention to the industry and the wants and delights of the world at large. And delivering what the people wanted.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-sec

#201: Cabela’s – From Furniture to Fishing Flies
April 16, 2025

1000 fishing flies and an ad that failed turned a furniture store family into a sporting goods store empire. Way to go Cabela's.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took fam

#200: Happy Meal – 35 Billion Served
April 09, 2025

Because of the Happy Meal McDonalds is the world's largest toy distributor. Larger than Hasbro or Mattel. This is an Empire!Dave Young:Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous

#199: Supergoop – A Cancer Scare Jumpstarts An Empire
April 02, 2025

When a family friend is diagnosed with skin cancer, Holly Thaggard polls a bunch a skin care chemists and comes up with the Unseen Sunscreen.Dave Young:Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques t

#198: Wizard Academy – Magical Communication
March 26, 2025

From writing a regular article in Radio Ink magazine to a weekly outbound memo to free clinics, Roy H. Williams created a marketing school like no other.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret

#197: James Bond – Shaken Not Stirred
March 19, 2025

A feeling of authenticity is what really brought 007 to life and the Broccoli family brought it to the screen.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from

#196: Swatch – Saving the Swiss Watch Makers
March 12, 2025

Japan's digital watches massively disrupted the Swiss watch market. So, an entry level fashion watch is created to save the day. Swatch!Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that t

#195: PEZ – Part 2 – From Loophole to Pez Outlaw
March 05, 2025

How Steve Glue made 4 Million giving the people what they wanted by beating the system; and how Pez ran him out of the business.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famo

#194: Pez – Part 1 – The Mint that Became a Collectable
February 26, 2025

What do you do when you think cigarette smoke is disgusting and you are a bit of a germaphobe? Create a collectable candy empire, of course.Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques t

#193: Jacuzzi – Propellers to Propellers
February 19, 2025

The Jacuzzi Seven were obsessed with flight and engineered better propellers. What is the difference between propellers of air or water???Dave Young:Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that