On this episode, we’re joined by Luke Montgomery‑Smith, Co‑founder of Plink!, the effervescent hydration tablet brand that’s rethinking what it means to enjoy a drink without the waste of bottles or cans.

Before launching Plink!, Luke co‑founded Wild Fizz Kombucha, a multi‑award‑winning beverage that saw early success before the pandemic forced a shutdown. Now, as a second‑time founder, he’s bringing those hard‑won lessons into a new category.

Luke dives deep into how he’s building Plink! as a second-time founder, how they nailed a distinct packaging form factor, and how to stand out and win in a crowded market. We explore everything from designing for impulse purchases to the realities of working with retailers like GNC, plus how to scale a demo and sampling strategy.

Episode Highlights:

🚀 How second‑time founders approach growth differently
🎯 Standing out in a crowded category with unique positioning
📦 Designing a packaging form factor that drives trial
🎨 Visual identity that sparks curiosity and shelf appeal
🛒 Creating packaging for impulse purchases
🔑 “Trojan Horse” messaging that drives adoption
🛤️ Go‑to‑market strategy and early traction
🏬 Winning at GNC
📈 Retailer velocity expectations and what sets them apart
🥤 Demoing and sampling strategies that convert

Table of Contents:

00:52:57 – Plink origin story
03:59:07 – Launching Plink after shutting down Wild Fizz Kombucha
07:25:22 – Learning lessons as a second time founder
09:57:24 – Standing out in a crowded market
13:52:18 – Nailing down a unique packaging form factor
19:26:00 – Visual identity and packaging design
22:43:09 – Designing for the impulse purchase
25:17:01 – Messaging, positioning, “Trojan Horse”
28:19:14 – Go-to-market
31:32:00 – Launching in GNC
35:13:15 – Retailer differences, velocity expectations
37:51:05 – Demos and sampling at scale

Links:

Plink! – https://drinkplink.com
Follow Luke on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukejms/
Follow Adam on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-martin-steinberg/
Need help with packaging & production design? – Check out https://www.kitprint.co/

On this episode, we’re joined by Mitesh Patel, the Senior Director of Creative & Design at High Tide Inc., one of Canada’s largest and most diversified cannabis companies. Mitesh oversees all creative across High Tide’s portfolio, which includes over 200 retail locations under banners like Canna Cabana plus global ecommerce and accessories brands like Grasscity, Smoke Cartel, and Daily High Club.

Before joining High Tide, Mitesh led the creative vision at Famous Brandz, where he developed licensed cannabis accessories for Snoop Dogg, Jay & Silent Bob, and Hellboy.

Mitesh breaks down how High Tide builds a cohesive creative system across dozens of banners and channels. He explains how his team balances compliance with brand storytelling, how in‑house creative drives speed and consistency, and why retail design plays a bigger role in cannabis than most people think.

Episode Highlights:

🏪 Building a design system for 200+ cannabis stores
🎨 Why High Tide keeps creative in-house
📦 Balancing compliance and creativity in packaging
🔥 Launching IP collaborations with major pop culture brands
🌍 Adapting cannabis retail for international markets
💼 The day-to-day of running a lean, high-output design team
🧰 Tools and workflows that keep creative moving
📈 What retail designers get wrong about ROI
🛠️ Mitesh’s transition from editorial design to global cannabis
🚀 How creative can drive strategy in CPG retail

Table of Contents:

00:00 – Intro & High Tide overview
02:00 – How Mitesh manages his time to oversee creative of multiple brands
04:15 – Designing retail stores for speed & consistency
08:40 – High Tide’s core consumer and how to resonate with them
10:20 – Tips for designing dispensaries
16:15 – Tips for designing packaging for cannabis accessories
20:40 – Learning lessons from leading creative teams

Links:

High Tide – https://www.hightideinc.com
Follow Mitesh on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pt902/
Follow Adam on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-martin-steinberg/
Check out https://www.kitprint.co/ for CPG production design support.

On this episode, we’re joined by Paulo Lacerda Sobral, the CEO of Lolli Soda - classic soda, remixed with cannabis. Lolli focuses on legacy flavors like Cherry Cola, Grape Soda, and Orange Soda.

Paulo honed his beverage chops at big names like PepsiCo and Sierra Nevada Brewing before diving into the cannabis beverage space.

He brings deep expertise in beverage manufacturing, distribution strategy, and regulatory navigation - plus a clear-eyed take on what it’s really going to take to make THC drinks go mainstream.

Paulo shares what inspired the creation of Lolli, why he isn’t trying to disrupt soda, and the future of cannabis beverages in retail. We talk through the real costs behind hemp beverage ops and why so many brands fail to focus on quality.

Episode Highlights:

🥤 Why Lolli is “classics remixed,” not wellness-forward
🏭 Lessons from Pepsi and Sierra Nevada in scaling ops
🌱 The challenge of THC beverage regulation state-by-state
💸 Real talk: tolling costs, margins, and cold-chain myths
🛒 Why convenience stores are a sleeping giant for cannabis
📦 The importance of shelf stability and flavor-first development
🧠 Navigating burnout and founder identity in the cannabis world
📈 How to get distributors and retailers to actually care
🎯 Why beverages require IRL sampling, not just DTC funnels

Table of Contents:

00:00 – Intro & Texas hemp regulation discussion
03:00 – What inspired Lolli + Paulo’s journey from Pepsi to pot
07:00 – The state of cannabis and hemp beverage
13:00 – “Traditional” beverage vs cannabis and hemp beverage
17:00 – What makes a great THC soda (formulation + flavor)
19:10 – C-stores
23:19 – The on-premise channel
24:45 – DTC
30:00 – Who should your first hire be in cannabis and hemp beverage?

Links:

Lolli - https://www.drinklolli.com
Follow Paulo on LinkedIn –
Follow me on LinkedIn –
Check out https://www.kitprint.co for CPG production design support.