Winning Pitches with RangeMe & ECRM
Stories, insights & advice from Retail & Foodservice Pros.
Every day, RangeMe and ECRM empower brands and buyers from retail and foodservice industries to make connections that matter. Now, we're collecting stories, insights, and advice from the entrepreneurs and professionals who are shaping markets today to help you grow your business tomorrow.
Winning Pitches with RangeMe & ECRM
Episode #39 RangeMe/ECRM - 3rd Day Beverages
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, ECRM’s Joseph Tarnowski sits down with Chris Clark, a retired military veteran and police officer who – despite having zero prior industry experience – has scaled his company, 3rd Day Beverages, to thousands of stores in just over a year.
You’ll learn how a Tennessee family farm with a high-flow spring became the foundation for a rapidly growing beverage brand. Chris shares the unconventional origin story of his company, starting with a business plan sketched on a cocktail napkin while waiting for his daughter’s dance class to finish. He shares his experience with the hurdles of navigating FDA and EPA clearances, the strategic "zero-risk" offer that wins over skeptical retail buyers, and how Third Day Beverages is outperforming national bestsellers on retail shelves.
Key Highlights From the Interview:
- The Power of Preparation: How Chris uses "intel packets" and thorough research to master the 10-minute buyer meeting at ECRM Sessions.
- A "No-Risk" Strategy: Details of Chris’s 8-to-12-week test run he proposes to buyers with 100% buyback guarantee that makes it virtually impossible for buyers to say no.
- Networking Over Competition: Why Chris believes "a rising tide lifts all ships" and how networking at ECRM Sessions led to massive distribution deals, including US Navy ship stores.
- Scaling Smarter: Advice on utilizing existing resources and third-party logistics to achieve growth without doing it all yourself.
- Innovations for 2026: A sneak peek at the upcoming Spring Biotic – a probiotic spring water designed to meet the growing consumer demand for gut health and GLP-1 support.
Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned industry veteran, this episode is a masterclass in how to leverage every available opportunity!