The DFW CPG Insider - Community News November 2023

Congratulations to DFW CPG member Lynn Wilford Scarborough owner of Cheeza Pleeza for placing 2^nd place in the Your Level UP (YLU) Pitch Competition with The DEC Network. The YLU cohort was sponsored by Target and funded (in part) by the SBA. This program is designed to help for-profit entrepreneurs grow their operations and build a sustainable path to capital.

DFW CPG: December 14, 2023, Huddle

Presenter: Loren Lirely Senior Vice President at Stout – Accounting and Reporting Advisory

Topic/Title: The importance of scaling your Finance and Accounting functions for strategic growth/transactions.

Brief Summary: Don’t miss this upcoming virtual Huddle! Accounting and finance serve a critical role in helping management operate and make sound decisions for their business. We will cover the importance of strong accounting and finance processes and the challenges in scaling these functions appropriately. Particularly given these functions play a critical role as the business prepares for material transactions such as securing capital (whether through equity or debt raises) and through future exit.

REGISTER HERE.

How Money Really Works | Entrepreneur Edition

Join Dallas College for their last segment of the Fall 2023 entrepreneur speaker series hosted by the Dallas College Venture Club (DCVC) where they provide insight, guidance, and information in the areas of business growth. Get ready to delve into the fascinating world of finance and learn the secrets of managing your money more effectively while enjoying a free hot catered gourmet meal. November 30 · 5:30 – 7:30pm. Register here.

Naturally Austin presents THE CPG holiday party!
Join our Austin friends on December 7 for a Texas-size holiday happy hour bringing together the incredible Texas CPG ecosystem! Bring some cheer and let’s kick off the holidays! 6-9PM, at BlueNorthern Hard Seltzer, Austin. RSVP Now!

Women-Led Wednesday is an ANNUAL HOLIDAY that encourages YOU and all your friends to shop from women-led brands to help level the playing field. It happens every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Become a gift-giving hero while also supporting women leaders! Join the movement and shop women-led on November 22 and ALL year long! Learn more here.

Saturday, November 25, 2023 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Be sure to support our DFW CPG member brands as you plan your holiday shopping and events!

Thanks to everyone who displayed and attended our first-ever DFW CPG Brand Showcase at Smurfit Kappa offices in Irving! It was an amazing event with a fantastic turnout of over 120 people including an all-star speakers’ panel. Everyone enjoyed the product sampling, learning and networking with over 25 DFW CPG brands who were there to demo their products. Excellent insights shared by Lora Gonzalez Eckerle, Business Development Manager at Central Market and Adam Franks, Director of Vault Private Brands and Emerging Brands who were on our panel. We’ll plan a repeat event for sometime next year.

BIPOC Founders: Is your company earning at least $50k in revenue? Applications are OPEN for the Spring 2024 Impact Ventures Growth Accelerator! Participating companies MUST attend an upcoming info session to apply for the program. Click here to learn more and find the next info session.

Thanks so much to Yuttana Chiaravalloti of Smurfit Kappa and Brice McBeth of Reap Commerce. for their fantastic Huddle on November 2: Path to Profitability: How Advertising, Amazon, and Packaging are Killing Your Bottom Line. We had over 30 folks tune in for this virtual session and we all learned strategies to help us become more successful in 2024. Watch the recording here.

Thank you to Jason Barnes and Ryan Ricke of Kane Russell Coleman Logan. for their amazing Huddle presentation on November 9: Creative Compensation Strategies: Attract and Retain Talented Team Members while Protecting your Company’s Goodwill. Watch the recording here.

Looking for Brand Exposure?

We’re on the look-out for a few highly-motivated Brand Founder/CEOs who are in need of free publicity. Are you interested in sharing your company’s journey? How you got to where you are and where you’re headed? If so, answer these 5 EASY QUESTIONS and spend a few moments talking to our very own in-house PR Guru Charles Nicolas and he’ll work his magic to create a high-impact Brand Profile of your dynamically-growing company.

Are you the founder of an emerging brand who would like to successfully scale with mentorship from top CPG leaders, investors and successful founders? SKU, the nation’s leading CPG accelerator, is now accepting company applications for the Spring ’24 track. The 12-week cohort will run March through May, culminating with a Showcase Pitch Event. The program is hybrid and mentors and founders need not be located in Austin. Apply here by November 19th.