lee rotenberg

From @theivy.co (acquired by @houzz🦄) to @carebyclay (acquired by @kangarootime🦘) and always a big time schlepper and advisor to @hulkenbag

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@melanietravis raised $30 million. And barely broke even. That’s the cost of scaling a DTC brand in the pre-iOS update world.

In 2024? “I don’t think it’s viable,” she says.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@melanietravis If you’re looking for permission to start, this is it.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@melanietravis built a fashion brand while working full-time in tech.

She was literally on an Airbnb “fashion tour” while moonlighting as a founder.

Meanwhile, most of us are waiting for “the right time.”

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Swimwear is a brutal category.

Which is why @melanietravis started her brand there… with no experience, no investors, and a hell of a lot of confidence.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@melanietravis @andieswim She joined us to talk about:

→ Launching with no fashion background

→ Crowdfunding her first order

→ Why scaling on Meta doesn’t work anymore

This one’s for the founders, the builders, and the scrappy optimists.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@melanietravis was still clocking in at BarkBox when she launched @andieswim.

Now she’s the CEO of a multi-million dollar DTC brand… and just acquired her second company.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Me: Wears the same sweatshirt 4 days in a row.

Alex: Makes out with her husband every morning.

We contain multitudes.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

How do you keep the spark alive?

According to Alex:

→ Brush your hair

→ Don’t fart in front of each other

→ Go away together once a year

….Noted.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Alex said something on the pod that I can’t stop thinking about:

Romantic partners are not your best friend.

If they were, you wouldn’t want to French kiss them!

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@aschinasi It’s just us this week. No guest. Just friendship, laughter, and the occasional overshare.

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts!

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Warning: This episode contains

– unsolicited relationship advice

– strong anti-farting opinions

– and @aschinasi revealing her thoughts on french kissing

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@Lizteich @Lizteich built her platform with no clear plan: just hustle, creativity, and the guts to do it differently.

This one made me want to dress better and be nicer. Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts!

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

I used to think “sustainable fashion” meant expensive linen and buying less.

Then @Lizteich sat down with us and reframed the whole thing in three words:

Shop. Your. Closet.

This episode is packed with:

→ Easy, non-intimidating style tips

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@Lizteich → Career advice for creatives and freelancers

→ Real talk on parenting, grief, and building something from scratch

→ Also: a story about styling Mike Tyson that I’m still thinking about

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Trying to build something from scratch?

Tieghan didn’t just wing it. She built a trust flywheel:

1. Show up with your real voice

2. Give more than you ask for

3. Let people talk

Word-of-mouth might feel slow… but it’s undefeated.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

I’m sorry but HOW does Tieghan do all this… while also managing anxiety like it’s another job?

This convo made me feel less alone in the Sunday dread spiral… and reminded me that high achievers are often carrying more than we see.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Started a food blog at 19. Now she has four cookbooks, her own candle line, and a cult following — all built alongside her mom.

We’d say “get on her level,” but good luck.

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@HBHarvest Creators, listen up: this is how you build something that matters.

Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts!

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

Tieghan Gerard built a brand that millions love… and she did it without faking it for the internet.

This week on Unfinished Business, we got into:

– How she built @HBHarvest with her mom at 19

– Her long-term strategy for keeping community at the center

[lee rotenberg @leerotenberg]

@HBHarvest – And what it takes to build a business that actually lasts in 2025

No fluff. No brand voice coaching. No BS.

Just one woman, her mom, and a community that shows up for everything she puts out.