The Brand is the Product with Christopher Gavigan from The Honest
What matters more, the product or the brand? As today’s guest Christopher Gavigan explains, the brand and the product should be one and the same and therefore equally important! Christopher is the founder of multiple businesses and initiatives, including The Honest Company and Prima – wellness brands that are centered on health and sustainability – and he joins us today to share his insights as a conscious leader and brand pioneer. After getting to the roots of Christopher’s passion for creating sustainable brands, we learn about Healthy Child Healthy World and The Honest Company, and how the former paved the way for the latter. Then, we discover the role that Jessica Alba played in the genesis of The Honest Company, what Christopher’s current work entails, why it’s vital to build and support impact-driven brands in all industries, and the pain points that Christopher was trying to alleviate with Prima. To end, we learn how our guest views success, how he’s navigated difficult obstacles as an entrepreneur, why he values consistency over intensity, and his vision of utopia.
Key Points From This Episode:
Welcoming Christopher Gavigan as he explains what drove him to family health.
Where and how he developed his instinct for creating brands.
How Healthy Child Healthy World helped birth The Honest Company.
The importance of building and supporting impact-driven brands.
Understanding Jessica Alba’s role in bringing The Honest Company to life.
Christopher’s current job title and role, and how it’s changed over the years.
The problems that he was trying to solve with the other company that he founded, Prima.
Core attributes that he looks for or builds into a company to ensure success.
The most surprising and difficult challenges that he’s faced as an entrepreneur.
Hu Chocolate, spending time outdoors, consistency over intensity, and reading.
Christopher names Yvon Chouinard as an impact-driven leader who is worthy of our praise.
Our guest’s vision of a better world.
“Without overthinking it, I was always led by that desire and need to be part of the natural worldand to support it.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:05:25]
“Not only can we, but we must, as part of our purposeful intent, we must change lives. We mustprevent disease and illness. We must take that precautionary approach to make sure that this[tragedy] never happens again.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:11:14]
“We must make a change, and you can make a change. You can’t do everything but you can dosomething; let’s make those changes that you’re empowered to do.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:13:36]
“The brand is the product; the brand is the most important thing.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:16:35]
“If someone copies us, that’s a good thing – because [that means] we’re shifting the market.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:18:09]
“Ultimately, if it’s not conscious; not considered; not a thoughtful platform; if you’re takingadvantage of a trend or a small gap in the market, it can only last for so long. But to really createa lasting legacy, [your brand] really needs to have a helpful, conscious, and better-for-youplatforming.” — @Christopher_Gav[0:37:43]
“Brands need to have a level of transparent and accountable standards that they articulate tothe world.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:38:59]
“I know what it takes [to succeed as a founder], and it really takes all of your heart and soul.” — @Christopher_Gav [0:39:56]
