The Business of Creators

Short-form social is becoming the new TV! With Zach Blume from Portal A

Creators Are Becoming Studios — Here’s What That Means for You. In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Zach Blume — a 15-year veteran of the digital content space — to break down the shift from snackable content to premium storytelling on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.Zach shares lessons from building one of the longest-running independent creator studios and why the next frontier in the creator economy isn’t about virality — it’s about ownership, brand-building, and big creative bets.Topics Discussed:- The rise of premium content in the creator economy- What brands are getting right (and wrong) in creator partnerships- Why short-form episodic content is taking over social- How investing in creative R&D leads to breakout talent- Lessons from navigating 15+ years in digital mediaKey Takeaways:- Learn why creators who treat their channels like studios are set to win- Discover how to attract brand deals that go beyond simple sponsorships- Understand how trends like "social TV" are opening new creative lanes- Get insight into how top studios think about longevity, team culture, and staying ahead of the curveListen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

Why Most Creator Brands Fail (And How to Fix It) with Aaron Day of Amaze | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E10

Think selling merch is just about slapping your logo on a t-shirt? Think again — this episode reveals what really drives sales in 2025. This episode is packed with surprising, actionable insights on what actually works in creator commerce today.Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc10Ian Shepherd sits down with Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze, to unpack how creators are using AI, data, and community to launch products that actually sell. From NBA stars to crab-loving YouTubers, Aaron shares what separates the creators making real money from those spinning their wheels.Topics Discussed:- The evolution of creator-led product launches in 2025- How creators are using audience data and AI to drive smarter decisions- Key differences between micro-creators and large creators when it comes to success- What really makes a creator brand “authentic” and sticky- Behind-the-scenes stories from high-performing creator campaignsKey Takeaways:- Why creators who collaborate with their audience during product development see massive conversion rates- What makes creators like Katie Shoger and Alex Caruso stand out — and how they keep their products selling- How TikTok Shop has reshaped creator attitudes toward “selling” without being salesy- Why access to capital is the hidden bottleneck behind pre-sales — and what needs to change- How integrating product stores with platforms like YouTube can 7X your revenueListen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

How Pietra Is Enabling Solo Entrepreneurs to Build $100M Brands with AI | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E9

What if one person could build a $100 million brand — without a team? Pietra’s new AI assistant is making that future possible right now.Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc9In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Ronak Trivedi and Tala Akhavan, co-founders of Pietra, to explore how their new AI assistant is revolutionizing e-commerce. They dive into the powerful potential of AI-powered digital workers and how this new tech is helping solo creators build and scale brands like never before.Topics Discussed:- The launch of Pietra’s AI assistant for e-commerce operations- How AI can automate 80–90% of a business’s backend processes- Real-world use cases from creators and brand owners using Pietra- Ethical and creative implications of AI in entrepreneurship- The duo’s early days at Uber and their approach to tech-driven problem solvingKey Takeaways:- Learn how Pietra’s AI assistants automate the most time-consuming parts of running a business — from sourcing to fulfillment to marketing- Discover how solo entrepreneurs can now scale brands faster than ever, with minimal overhead- Understand the real-world impact of AI on creativity, brand authenticity, and founder focus- Hear behind-the-scenes stories from Pietra’s early days at Uber and how those lessons shaped their tech- Get inspired by real case studies of creators and celebrities using Pietra to bring product ideas to life in just hoursListen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

You Won’t Believe What Happens Inside CrunchLabs - with President Jim Lee | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E8

What if your kid’s favorite YouTuber could also make them fall in love with science? That’s exactly what CrunchLabs is doing — and today, Jim Lee, the company’s President and COO, reveals how.Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc8In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd sits down with Jim to explore how CrunchLabs transformed from a kitchen-table idea with Mark Rober into a multimillion-dollar creator brand redefining STEM education. From high-tech toy kits to school curriculums and viral collaborations, Jim shares the blueprint behind building a purpose-driven creator business that’s both wildly fun and deeply educational.Topics Discussed:- How CrunchLabs launched and scaled with Mark Rober- Building and testing subscription products like BuildBox and HackPack- Using content and physical products to spark interest in STEM- Collaborations with Dude Perfect, chess.com, and more- The future of CrunchLabs in the classroomWhat You’ll Learn:- The behind-the-scenes story of a top creator brand's launch and growth- How to pair content with products to create powerful engagement- What it takes to keep kids (and adults) excited about STEM- How creators can expand into education without losing their brand magic- Practical advice on testing, partnerships, and authentic storytellingListen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!

The Secret Behind 1UP Candy’s Explosive Success (And FaZe Rug’s Role) | CREATOR COMMERCE S1E7

What happens when you combine a viral creator with a disruptive candy brand? In this episode of The Business of Creators, Ian Shepherd dives into the story of 1UP with co-founders Michael Schenker, and Chris Koch — the team behind the bold new candy brand launched with FaZe Rug. From rapid product innovation to landing Walmart distribution in months, they share how they’re building a Gen Z-first CPG company with creators at the core.Launching products for sale? Start with a .store domain. Top creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect and Colin & Samir use .store to build clean, memorable web addresses like YourName.store, boosting clicks, driving sales and making it crystal clear where fans can shop. Grab yours now: https://go.store/boc7Topics Discussed:- The origin and growth strategy behind 1UP Candy- How FaZe Rug became an authentic co-founder — not just a face- Equity, royalties, and what creator partnerships really look like- Navigating retail launches and the power of viral product experiences- Future product categories in protein and kids’ nutritionKey Takeaways:- Learn how to structure meaningful creator partnerships beyond sponsorships- Discover how to use consumer insights and social trends to build breakout products- Understand what retailers really want from creator-led brands- See how a lean team used speed, testing, and authenticity to win shelf space- Get inspired by how to turn creator influence into long-term brand equityListen to learn actionable strategies to grow your creator business — and don't forget to subscribe to the channel for more insights on the business of creators!