In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Tony Lane, President and Co-Founder of GS Draft, a company transforming the beverage dispensing industry through innovative draft beer systems and technology.

They explore how bars, restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues can improve operational efficiency, reduce keg waste, and increase profitability through smarter beverage dispensing solutions.

Tony shares why temperature management, proper beer line cleaning, and system maintenance are essential to achieving optimal keg yields, revealing how poorly managed draft systems can operate at just 77% keg yield compared to 95% for well-managed systems.

He also discusses how technologies like automated temperature monitoring, bottom-filling dispensers, and high-speed mobile kiosks are helping operators minimize waste and serve more customers efficiently.

Beyond the technology, Tony offers insights into educating operators, overcoming resistance to new systems, and navigating the challenges of scaling a hardware business amid rising shipping costs, tariffs, and economic uncertainty.

GS Draft’s approach demonstrates how investing in the right equipment, technology, and operational practices can turn draft beverage service into a stronger source of revenue and long-term profitability.

GS Draft website: https://www.gsdraft.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

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In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Mark Murrell, Founder and CEO of Get Maine Lobster.

Mark shares how he turned his childhood connection to Maine seafood into a nationwide direct-to-consumer ecommerce business, building a brand around premium seafood, exceptional customer service, and reliable delivery of perishable products.

He explains how he initially leveraged Groupon and other marketplace platforms to validate demand, understand customer behavior, and build a loyal customer base before expanding into CRM, email marketing, and paid advertising.

The conversation explores the operational complexities of shipping live seafood nationwide, managing fulfillment schedules, negotiating better shipping rates, and using technology to anticipate logistics challenges. Mark also shares his approach to measuring marketing performance through overall ROAS and new customer acquisition costs rather than evaluating channels in isolation, the growing importance of founder-led creative in paid advertising, and why authentic content continues to outperform AI-generated marketing for consumer brands.

They also discuss the opportunities and challenges of live selling, brand partnerships, and adapting ecommerce strategies to changing consumer behavior.

Get Maine Lobster website: https://getmainelobster.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Gary Trudell, owner of Custom Comfort Mattress.

With nearly 40 years of experience in handcrafted mattress manufacturing, Gary shares how his family built a successful business by going against industry trends and prioritizing product quality, natural materials, and traditional American craftsmanship. He explains why Custom Comfort Mattress continues to manufacture double-sided, hand-tufted mattresses while much of the industry has shifted toward synthetic materials and mass production.

Gary also discusses the importance of personalized sleep solutions, including how body type, sleeping position, and individual comfort needs influence mattress design.

The conversation explores the business value of customer referrals, repeat business, hospitality partnerships, and custom manufacturing for professional athletes and luxury clients. As Custom Comfort Mattress prepares to expand beyond its eight locations, Gary shares the challenges of scaling a family-owned business without compromising its standards, customer experience, or brand integrity. His story offers valuable insights into building a differentiated brand, competing through quality rather than price, and growing a business while staying true to its founding principles.

Custom Comfort Mattress website: https://customcomfortmattress.com

Support the show

There are a lot of "experts" out there giving advice who’ve never built a thing. They’ve never stayed up all night sweating a product launch. Never had to scale a team. Never had to meet payroll.

They’re just regurgitating what they read in someone else’s book.

That’s not me.
I’ve built brands. I’ve scaled them. I’ve exited them. I’ve failed, won, and fought through it all.

And now, my team and I help brands do it every single day — across eCommerce, retail, and digital.
We don’t just advise — we execute.
We write the playbook.

So if you’re done with fluff, fake gurus, and marketers who’ve never sold anything outside of a slide deck — you’re in the right place.

This show is real strategies, real tactics, and real talk.

https://www.facebook.com/philmasiello

https://www.instagram.com/philmasiello/

https://www.tiktok.com/@philmasiello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/

https://www.youtube.com/@philmasiello

#StartupGrowth #EcommerceTips

#ScaleYourBrand #DTCMarketing #PhilMasiello #GrowthClass #BrandStrategy #MarketingPodcast #CrunchGrowth #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth