This Company's 7-Year Journey From Kitchen to Acquisition Schmidt's Naturals was founded in an economy much like the one we find ourselves in today.

By James McKinney

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Jaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt's Naturals, was a guest at the most recent Startup Story Live, an extension of the hit podcast The Startup Story that gives everyone in attendance direct access to founders. The two-day live stream event, which streamed to 77 different countries, allowed founders to share the tactics and strategies they have employed to stabilize their current businesses.

During her time at Startup Story Live, Schmidt shared the various tactics she employed in her seven-year journey of taking Schmidt's Naturals from kitchen to acquisition. Her story is particularly relevant now, given that she started Schmidt's Naturals one year after the worst recession in US history.

Schmidt found it important to grow the business with intention and avoid outsourcing everything. She created every product directly for the first 18-months. In this video, she lays out the customer acquisition strategy that helped her to gain the attention of big-box retailers like Whole Foods and Target. She even shares how the acquisition conversation began with Unilever.

James McKinney

Creator & Host, The Startup Story

James McKinney is the Founder & Host of The Startup Story, a multi-channel brand platform that brings the lessons of highly successful founders directly to the everyday founder. Whether it is through The Startup Story podcast or via the Startup Story LIVE event series, entrepreneurs everywhere can receive tactical and practical guidance from founders who are a few steps ahead.

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