TruLife Distribution, founded and led by the esteemed Brian Gould, is a distinguished company specializing in comprehensive distribution solutions and a diverse range of essential services. In the fiercely competitive realm of retail, TruLife rises above the competition by delivering unparalleled expertise and unwavering dedication to client success. Their comprehensive suite of services consists of FDA compliance, regulatory review, and product liability insurance. Moreover, their consulting services offer invaluable guidance in strategic planning and product evaluation, empowering brands to navigate the dynamic market landscape with confidence. Their proficiency in social media management, compelling website creation, and impactful search engine optimization establishes an impressive online presence, enhancing brand visibility and driving organic growth.
TruLife Distribution operates globally, offering both domestic and international services. Guided by an unwavering commitment to honesty and transparency, their mission is to assist brands in establishing robust foundations capable of withstanding the test of time.
Please tell us a little bit about your business – what is TruLife Distribution all about?
TruLife Distribution is all about making it easy for retailers of nutritional products to enter the US market. When it comes to succeeding in the retail landscape, it can be a daunting task to navigate all the ins and outs of the industry. That’s why TruLife Distribution is here to streamline the process and give our clients peace of mind. Our team of knowledgeable nutrition industry experts takes care of all the important details – from compliance with importation regulations, to effective marketing strategies, to sales and distribution on the ground level. With TruLife Distribution in your corner, you can rest easy knowing that your products will be handled with the care and attention they deserve. We take care of the heavy lifting so entrepreneurs can focus on what matters most – building your brand and expanding your business.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company.
The birth of TruLife was not accidental. It was a purposeful move that came from years of observing how brand management companies struggled to serve their clients transparently. It’s no secret that some organizations had less than admirable practices when it came to managing brands. There had to be a better way to build recognition and pave the way for sustainable growth, and that’s what TruLife strives to achieve every day. Being an attentive observer was essential for the founder, who sought exposure to both the good and bad aspects of the industry. Now, with TruLife, the aim is to offer clients a transparent and honest approach to brand management that delivers real results.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
Starting and running a business comes with its own set of challenges. Overcoming these challenges and achieving success requires a specific skill set. In my experience, I’ve found that communication, creativity, and problem solving are the top three skills for a successful entrepreneur.
- Communication is essential for effectively conveying ideas and strategies to employees, partners, and customers.
- Creativity helps entrepreneurs to think outside of the box, come up with innovative solutions, and differentiate themselves from competitors.
- Lastly, strong problem-solving skills enable entrepreneurs to identify and overcome obstacles, adapt to changes, and ultimately achieve their goals. While other skills are important, mastering these three skills can set an entrepreneur on the path towards success.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
As the CEO of TruLife Distribution, I am committed to expanding our reach to new heights. Our success thus far has been incredible, but there’s always room for growth. Our clients trust us to deliver their products to consumers, and we take this responsibility seriously. To achieve our goals of expanding domestically and internationally, we know that we have to continuously provide the best distribution services out there. Our clients are counting on us to help them break into the US market, and it’s a challenge that we relish. From e-commerce to live promotions, we are fully dedicated to ensuring that our clients’ products are in the right place at the right time. Our team is constantly working to improve ourselves, so that we can help our clients achieve their brand goals and enjoy continued success.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
The impact of the lockdowns on businesses worldwide was no secret. We all suffered a great deal- including our own operations. However, the great news is that after two long years of lockdowns, restrictions, and social distancing, the economy has fully opened up again. And let me tell you, things are looking up! The demand for our services has dramatically surged since the beginning of 2022, and we are thrilled to be once again working at full capacity – maybe even better than before. It’s remarkable how resilient people are, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have such loyal and committed clients. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work!
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
In order to gain a competitive edge, I prioritize transparency and openness with our clients at TruLife Distribution. It’s not just about telling them what they want to hear, but by being forthright and enthusiastic about our products. I leverage my vast knowledge to selectively choose which clients we believe can thrive in the U.S. market. By doing so, we ensure successful partnerships and avoid any misgivings down the road. At TruLife Distribution, we pride ourselves on being a trusted source for our clients, and that begins with transparency from day one.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
I would like to zero in on these mistakes, which I believe many other entrepreneurs have had to deal with at some point, too. For a long time, I made the mistake of relying on others to determine the trajectory of my career.
I trusted the wrong people, and as a result, suffered the negative consequences. I found myself placed in a position where I had to claw my way back to where I was. That was when I realized that if I wanted to be in control of my destiny, I had to take the reins myself. I decided to start my own company five years ago with the goal of taking charge of my own future and success. I knew that if I wanted to achieve greatness, I couldn’t wait for someone else to do it for me. That experience has been a game-changer, and has reaffirmed that I am capable of making things happen.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
When it comes to effective marketing strategies, digital marketing reigns supreme. For our company, nothing has been more successful than our focus on building a skilled team to manage our marketing endeavors. Our Director of E-commerce, with her MBA in digital marketing and e-commerce, has shown time and again that she is the perfect person to guide us in launching brands on some of the largest online marketplaces. My own extensive experience in retail distribution and attendance at ECRM retail buyer conferences has allowed us to establish invaluable relationships with buyers across multiple categories. With these relationships, we are able to consistently provide top-quality service to our clients and customers, ensuring that they see the results they need to succeed.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Starting a business can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to convincing potential clients that you can deliver on your promises. This was the biggest challenge that I faced when starting my own business – trying to convince clients that my team and I could help introduce their retail businesses all across the vast expanse of the United States. However, with dedication, hard work, and a commitment to delivering on our promises, we have managed to overcome this challenge. Today, I am proud to say that our clients trust us to help them expand their businesses and boost their bottom lines.
What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?
Starting a business can be a daunting experience, but for me, it was a dream come true. TruLife Distribution was my first true venture, and to say the least, it was a turning point in my career. Before that, I had worked at Home Depot as a manufacturer’s rep, where I gained valuable experience in the world of retail. It was there where I truly learned the ins and outs of the industry and developed my business acumen. All the knowledge I had gained while working there became my foundation for launching TruLife Distribution. From humble beginnings, I turned it into a successful enterprise. With a lot of hard work and determination, I was able to build a company that continued to thrive and grow. Looking back, I’m grateful for the lessons I learned on my journey, and I know that the experience has empowered me to take on even greater challenges in the future.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
Right now, I am learning about how to integrate AI in TruLife Distribution marketing. It is one of the things that I believe can completely change the marketing landscape for good. As I delve deeper into the topic of integrating AI in marketing, I am amazed by the endless possibilities that this technology can offer. It has the power to transform the way we approach marketing, making it more data-driven, personalized, and efficient than ever before. With AI, TruLife Distribution can unlock insights that were once difficult to glean, streamline processes and engage with customers in a way that feels authentic and personalized. The thought of being able to create smarter campaigns, analyze consumer behavior more accurately and predict trends in real-time is truly exhilarating. I believe that integrating AI in marketing is not just a trend, but a necessity for us if we are to stay ahead of the competition and truly resonate with their customers.
If you started your business again, what things would you do differently?
As the founder of TruLife Distribution, I can confidently say that every obstacle we faced in our journey has only made us stronger. If I were to start this venture all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Looking back, I can see how every mistake we made or challenge we faced taught us something valuable. These experiences helped us refine our goals, hone our strategies, and improve our services, resulting in the thriving business we have today. In fact, every hurdle we overcame brought us closer together as a team and instilled in us a sense of unity and determination. So, if I were asked to begin TruLife from scratch, I would embrace every challenge with open arms, knowing it would only make us stronger.
What are the top 3 online tools and resources you’re currently using to grow your company?
Running a successful marketing and distribution brand in the retail sector requires more than just hard work and dedication. It requires a strategic approach and the right tools to get the job done efficiently.
That’s why I rely on Monday and Pipedrive to manage TruLife Distribution. These third-party apps have proved to be extremely beneficial in organizing and streamlining our daily operations. Monday is a fantastic organizational tool that helps us keep track of our projects and tasks, while Pipedrive provides a powerful CRM platform that enhances our sales and marketing efforts.
With these tools in hand, we can focus on delivering the best products and services to our customers, knowing that our behind-the-scenes operations are well taken care of.
I also find Zoom highly beneficial when it comes to client communication. It is fast and effective for clients from all over the world.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
As an entrepreneur, productivity is key to success. However, it can be difficult to check off everything on your to-do list when the list seems never-ending. That’s why the best productivity tip I have found is delegating tasks and communicating effectively with those you’ve delegated to. At TruLife Distribution, I’ve seen firsthand how delegating duties can boost productivity and help ensure important tasks get completed efficiently. By assigning work to capable team members and keeping the lines of communication open, you can free up your own time to focus on bigger projects, while ensuring your team is working together smoothly. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
- I would recommend the book, Zero to One by Peter Thiel. It’s a book that offers a lot of insight into how to build a startup. For aspiring entrepreneurs, this is definitely a book to try out.
- For the podcast, I would recommend Startup Stories – Mixergy. From the startup stories that are told on this podcast, an aspiring entrepreneur can learn a lot, on the dos and don’ts of business.
- As for an online course, I believe any business course on Udemy can give the skills and insights needed to make it in the business world. At the end of the day, its not so much about the information you receive, but how you use it.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
In today’s world, $1000 may not seem like a lot of money. However, if wisely invested, it could yield substantial returns. If I was given the opportunity to invest this sum, I would choose to learn about the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business. With AI rapidly evolving and transforming the way we operate, the ability to understand its uses and applications could prove to be invaluable.
Investing in a course that teaches me how to use AI as a programmer would allow me to develop sought-after skills, which are sure to make me a lot more valuable in the business world. By acquiring these skills, I can enhance my earning potential, resulting in a strong return on my investment. Therefore, instead of starting an actual business which could be undercapitalized, my $1000 would be optimally utilized by investing in knowledge and developing in-demand skills.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
That would be a passion for what I do. At TruLife Distribution, I have found my passion in helping businesses navigate and thrive in the US market. Despite the challenges and obstacles that come my way, my love for what I do keeps me motivated to push through and attain success for my clients. Every day presents a new opportunity to strategize and innovate, and I find great joy in seeing my hard work pay off for my clients. Whether it’s helping a brand establish a foothold in the US or supporting a business in expanding their reach, I am proud to be a part of their journey and to contribute to their success. At TruLife Distribution, I am not just working a job, I am pursuing my passion and making a difference in the business world.
What is your favorite quote?
Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it’s starting a new business, whether it’s leaving home, whether it’s getting married, or whether it’s flying into space by Chris Hadfield.
It is a quote that reminds me that you can achieve anything if you are too afraid to take a risk. It’s one of the reasons why I started TruLife Distribution.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
For anyone considering starting their own business, it’s important to remember that entrepreneurship is hard work. There will be long hours, tough decisions, and unexpected setbacks. That’s why I always advise up-and-coming entrepreneurs to follow their passion above everything else. Sure, making money is important, but it’s not what will keep you motivated through the tough times. When you truly love what you’re doing, it becomes more than just a job or a means to an end. It becomes a part of who you are, something that you care deeply about and are willing to fight for. So, if you’re thinking about entrepreneurship, take some time to really think about what you’re passionate about. That’s where you’ll find the strength and determination you need to succeed.
Who should we interview next and why?
I would wish that you interview Ryan Hickman. He is already a CEO at 11, and has an incredible goal of cleaning up the world through recycling. He is an inspiration to many entrepreneurs looking to make a difference in the world.
What is your definition of success?
Success can mean so many things to different people, but one thing is clear – it’s an achievement that makes you feel proud of yourself. For me, success is not just about having wealth, but also being satisfied with what I do. I am fortunate to be the CEO of TruLife Distribution, which deals with products I am passionate about. The feeling of waking up every day and going to work excitedly is how I define success. Many people equate success to having financial stability or big houses, but to me, it’s more about feeling fulfilled and emotionally rewarded with work that brings meaning to my life.
How do you personally overcome fear?
Fear is something that can consume us, that can hold us back from living life to its fullest potential. But for me, I’ve discovered a way to overcome it – by contextualizing the worst-case scenario. When faced with a situation that brings up fear within me, I take a step back and ask myself, “What is the worst that can happen?” By acknowledging the potential negative outcomes and evaluating whether or not I can handle them, I remove the power that fear once held over me. Instead, I am able to approach the situation with a clearer mindset and make decisions that are not dictated by fear. It’s not always easy, but I find that practicing this technique has allowed me to face my fears head-on and live a more fulfilling life.
How can readers get in touch with you?
You can reach my visiting the contact us section of the TruLife Distribution website. Fill the form and ask to schedule an appointment with the CEO. The link to the website is https://trulifedist.com.
