How does a top-tier design studio reimagine a fast-growing brand?

In Part 2 of our brand refresh series, Suite 9C founder Paula Grant—joined by team members Jessy Qussar and Melissa Piombo—unveils five final design directions created for Dappy, a non-alcoholic functional beverage brand on the rise.

Maddie Frank, Dappy’s founder, shares her candid reactions and reveals which concept ultimately became the new face of the brand. Together, they unpack the creative strategy behind each direction, what made the winning look stand out, and how the final identity captures Dappy’s mood-lifting mission in the growing non-alc space.

Hear Scout Brisson, CEO of DUS, Troy Bondi, co-founder of Saws, and Sarah Yankee, CEO of Home Court, discuss the true cost and return of attending trade shows like Expo West, sparked by Scout’s LinkedIn question: Is exhibiting at Expo West worth it? Learn how to create a memorable brand experience, measure success beyond sales through networking and media coverage, and leverage trade shows for long-term marketing, along with tips for selecting the right shows and amplifying your presence for greater visibility.

Natalie Wieder, Vice President of Category Management at Thrive Market, shares recent updates to this leading grocery e-commerce retailer’s vendor experience, including the launch of a new vendor portal, a brand insights dashboard, and a retail media platform. The conversation covers shifts in product selection strategy, key attributes Thrive prioritizes when evaluating new items, and how the platform is evolving to better support merchandising and marketing. Also discussed are the attributes of Thrive’s core consumer, promotional planning, and how internal teams assess performance and brand potential.