Something you should know about the LIFEAID team is that we are big readers. Maybe it's because our Co-Founder, Aaron is always sharing wisdom from the latest business book he's reading or because the team is stacked with a bunch of over-achievers, either way, we want to invite you to join us on our quest for knowledge.

To kick off the year, the first book on our list is "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek.

In this book, Sinek dives into why brands like Apple are so powerful and continuing to build momentum every day. It's not about the product they produce at all, because at the end of the day, brands like Apple aren't actually selling computers. Whether you are building your personal brand or starting a business, he challenges readers to think deeply, tapping into the intention around the brand rather than the actual product. It's about approaching business the opposite way as everyone else and that all begins with asking the simple question of WHY?

There is a reason why Simon Sinek's 2009 TED Talk around the book is the third most viewed of all time. If you're ready to get fired up and kick off the year with inspiration, this is an excellent place to start. Hope you're prepared for a page-turner!

You can get "Start with Why" online through Bookshop Santa Cruz, our local bookstore.

 

By: BevNET staff | July 2019

Watch LIFEAID co-founders' BevNET Live presentation on YouTube:

The growth potential for functional beverage brands can at times seem limited by ties to specific use cases and niche audiences. In this saturated beverage market, however, consumers are increasingly seeking out products that provide something more, and functional beverage brands just need to figure out the right way to reach them.

Such is the case for LIFEAID, which has grown from a CrossFit-based brand with a direct-to-consumer model to a multi-million dollar company with a range of products sold at major national retailers. Speaking on June 13, 2019 at BevNET Live Summer 2019 in New York City, LIFEAID co-founders Aaron Hinde and Orion Melehan shared what they’ve learned on their journey from niche online brand to conventional retail, from investing in your team to making consumers a part of the innovation process.
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In a time when food is viewed as medicine, the LIFEAID Beverage Company is capitalizing on the expanding interest in better-for-you functional drinks through rapid innovation.

At BevNET Live Summer 2019 on June 12 and 13 in New York City, we’ll sit down with the company’s co-founders, Aaron Hinde and Orion Melehan, to explore how the company is using its deep roots in Crossfit culture to experiment with and expand its product set.

Since we last spoke to LIFEAID at BevNET Live in 2016, the company entered traditional brick-and-mortar retail, raised capital, released a number of new products and now has its sights set on c-store and mainstream retailers. In 2018 alone the company reported a 169 percent increase in sales and is aiming to triple its retail presence to at least 18,000 doors this year, including Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Sprouts stores.

Behind LIFEAID, FITAID, FOCUSAID, PARTYAID, GOLFERAID, and most recently IMMUNITYAID, the company continues to develop products aimed at niche target demographics and specific use cases. This talk will give BevNET Live attendees insight into how they use subcultures like Crossfit to activate their user groups.

Along with all star speakers like Melehan, Hinde, and others, attendees will also take part in networking and sampling opportunities, as well as offerings like the Beverage School startup session on June 11, and the New Beverage Showdown pitch competition.

Early registration savings are coming to an end! The early registration deadline is next month on Friday, April 26th. Register now to save $200 per ticket.

If your company is interested in generating additional industry exposure, sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Additional information can be found on the BevNET Live Summer 2019 website. Questions about the conference can be directed to Jon Landis.

About BevNET Live

BevNET Live Summer 2019 will return to the Metropolitan West in New York, NY on June 12 and 13. A Beverage School for industry newcomers will also be held on Tuesday, June 11 at no additional cost.

BevNET Live is the premiere event for beverage brands, distributors, service providers, retailers and investors to discuss what’s next for the industry. With the industry’s foremost speakers and our New Beverage Showdown, BevNET Live attracts hundreds of brands to each event.