The Marketing Meeting with Itir Eraslan

In this special episode on brand building, Itir sits down with Talia Tutak, founder and head baker of Sixteen Mill Bakeshop, a beloved Brooklyn bakery that's completely vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. Talia shares her journey from baking sourdough bread in a tiny Midwood apartment to building a recognizable brand in New York's competitive bakery scene—all without formal baking training or significant financial backing. Talia opens up about the personal health crisis that led her to gluten-free baking, and how a farmer's market booth became the testing ground for her recipes and business model. She discusses the decision to focus solely on gluten-free products, and why that ultimately drove her success. They also explore the practical realities of running a small bakery—from sourcing ingredients directly from mills and maple syrup producers, to why Talia handles all social media herself, to the emotional challenge of reading Google reviews. Talia explains why she pulled out of opening a second location in the East Village, based on her belief that "less is more"—even when it comes to investment offers—when it comes to scaling her food business. She also shares the advice that's deeply influenced how she thinks about building her brand: "When you listen closely to your customers, they will always lead the way." Talia Tutak is the owner and head baker of Sixteen Mill Bakeshop, a 100% vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free bakery in Brooklyn. She's dedicated to reimagining classic baked goods with a modern, nourishing twist—focusing on sustainability, seasonality, and supporting small farms and local businesses. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GuF3rq5QWJE Learn more about Sixteen Mill Bakeshop: https://sixteenmill.com Connect with Talia Tak on Instagram: @sixteen.mill If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/

The Marketing Meeting is back! In her return to the podcast after a brief layoff, Itir is joined by Marty Neumeyer, to discuss the core principles of branding. Marty is the branding expert who famously said, "Your brand isn't what you say it is. It's what they say it is." Marty and Itir dissect common misconceptions about branding, emphasizing that a brand is fundamentally the customer's perception, rather than a logo or product. Marty explains how to start branding with a targeted niche audience and the importance of aligning a company's purpose beyond mere profit. They also cover the distinction between branding and marketing, noting how branding is a long-term strategy while marketing tends to be short-term and tactical. Marty shares insights on how companies can stay original in the AI era. Last but not least, they discuss Marty's exciting new novel, Octavo, and the intriguing design and formatting choices he made to set the book apart from the pack. Marty started as a graphic designer and copywriter in the 1970s. In 1984, when the Macintosh launched, he moved to Silicon Valley to help companies like Apple, Netscape, HP, Adobe, and Google build their brands. In 1996 he started Critique, the first magazine about design thinking. He then launched Neutron, a design think tank focused on brand-building processes that drive organizational change. He later merged Neutron with Liquid Agency. As Director of CEO Branding at Liquid, he consults with leaders and executives of some of the world's most exciting companies, while writing and speaking on the topics of business strategy, design, and innovation. He takes his coffee at home in Mexico. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iloWbgN8_VE Learn more about Marty's newest book, Octavo: https://www.amazon.com/Octavo-Novel-Marty-Neumeier-ebook/dp/B0DRLNPGZJ Connect with Marty Neumeier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinindig If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/

In this episode, Itir is joined by Kevin Indig, a growth advisor and SEO expert with a rich history of leading SEO and growth at Shopify. Kevin shares his insights into the evolution of SEO, from the early days of keyword stuffing to today's sophisticated AI-driven approaches. They discuss how trust and user experience have become essential in search optimization, the impact of AI on search behaviors, and how businesses can stay ahead in this new era. Kevin also offers practical advice for optimizing e-commerce product pages and the importance of understanding your target audience. Kevin is a growth advisor to some of the world's fastest-growing startups and has defined organic growth strategies for companies like Ramp, Bounce, Nextdoor, and Snapchat. He led SEO and Growth at the world's leading e-commerce platform, Shopify, the #1 marketplace for software, G2, and the #1 productivity company, Atlassian. Once a week, he sends The Growth Memo with Organic Growth strategies and case studies to 17,300+ subscribers. He has spoken in front of thousands of people at conferences around the globe. His favorite coffee shop in Michigan is Fourth Coast Cafe and Bakery in Kalamazoo: https://fourthcoastcafe.com/ His recommended read is The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Diana Chapman, Jim Dethmer, and Kaley Klemp (https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE). Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eepyi-NYFiM Connect with Kevin Indig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinindig If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/

Nuri Cankaya, the Vice President of Commercial Marketing at Intel and author of AI in Marketing, joins the show to discuss the transformative impacts of AI on various marketing functions, particularly product and partner marketing, as well as how to implement AI effectively within teams and organizations. Also in this episode: the importance of AI assessment, implementation, and measurement, along with practical advice on leveraging AI tools while maintaining data security. Nuri and Itir also dig into the emergence of agentic AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI), and even touch on the possibility of artifical superintelligience in the not-too-distant future. With over twenty years of experience in marketing and innovation, Nuri Cankaya has established a profound career in AI Product Marketing at Intel. Dedicated to aiding esteemed clients in navigating their business challenges and exceeding objectives with AI's transformative capabilities, Nuri is a true futurist. His enthusiasm for the subject is evident in his engaging presentations on "AI and the Future," delivered at various customer and community events. His passion not only drives him to share his vast knowledge and insights but has also inspired him to author books on the forefront of technology. Nuri's works delve into topics such as AI, Web 3.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain, reflecting his deep commitment to exploring and shaping the future of the digital world. Nuri's favorite coffee spot in Kirkland is Zoka Coffee Roasters: https://www.zokacoffee.com/pages/kirkland-zoka. He recommends reading Winning the Week by Demir and Carey Bentley (https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Week-Plan-Successful-Every/dp/1544530234) and Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick (https://www.amazon.com/Co-Intelligence-Living-Working-Ethan-Mollick/dp/059371671X). Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WNb6Bq1z030 Connect with Nuri Cankaya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nuricankaya If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/

Totem cofounder and CEO Carter Fowler shares how he transformed a simple idea—a device that helps find friends at festivals without cell service—into a viral sensation and thriving brand. By focusing on founder-market fit, designing for organic sharing, and developing unique brand language, Totem created something people don't just buy, but buy into. Carter reveals how intentional branding from day one, customer conversations, and consistent storytelling through their newsletter ultimately attracted investors and unexpected market segments beyond their initial festival audience. Carter is cofounder and CEO at Totem, one of the fastest-growing consumer tech startups of 2024. His expertise in go-to-market, brand strategy, and product design has taken Totem's debut product from concept to global phenomenon in less than 12 months. In 2024 alone, Totem generated over 20 viral posts (1M+ views) and 130M+ organic views on social media while earning press coverage from NPR, Inc Magazine, and UNILAD under his marketing leadership. After only 5 months of shipping product, Totem has a broad international reach with customers in 60+ countries around the world. Carter is a firm believer in building brands with a "words-first" mentality. He is also an accomplished writer who had a selection of his work archived by the US Library of Congress as an "important cultural artifact" in 2018. He loves the coffee at Frothy Monkey in the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo in the Southside neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee: https://frothymonkey.com/locations/southside-chattanooga-tn/ Connect with Carter Fowler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carter-fowler-8835739b/ If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with the host of this channel, Itir Eraslan, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/