Marketing Expert: How I Built the Internet’s Fastest Growing Brand (Interview)

Here are the top 10 key takeaways from Hudson Leogrande's journey building two multi-hundred million dollar e-commerce brands, revealing the unconventional strategies that transformed him from a struggling entrepreneur into one of the fastest-growing brand builders in the world.

1. Commission-based creator partnerships over upfront payments

The era of paying influencers large upfront fees is over. Hudson built his empire by switching to pure commission structures where creators only get paid when they generate sales. This approach eliminates the massive risk of spending $25,000 on a single post that might flop completely.

The commission model creates aligned incentives between brand and creator. When creators know they'll earn more by producing better content and driving more sales, they naturally become more invested in the brand's success. Hudson's top creator went from being a waitress making $20,000 annually to earning over $150,000 in a single month through commissions.

This strategy works because it allows brands to scale with hundreds of creators simultaneously without upfront capital risk. The creators who perform well earn substantial ongoing income, while those who don't perform simply don't get paid. It's a natural selection process that builds an army of motivated brand ambassadors.

2. Quality relationships with creators matter more than follower counts

Hudson discovered that micro-influencers with 3,000 followers who understand creative strategy often outperform mega-influencers with millions of followers. The key differentiator isn't audience size but the creator's ability to produce authentic, relatable content that drives actual purchases.

Building deep relationships with creators transforms them from simple contractors into brand evangelists. Hudson holds weekly Zoom calls with his creators at 5:30 PM every Thursday, sharing business insights, inventory updates, and performance feedback. He even has creators text him their personal life goals, creating a mentorship dynamic that goes beyond business.

The most successful TikTok Shop creators focus on promoting just one product consistently. When creators dilute their efforts across multiple brands, TikTok's algorithm deprioritizes their content because it can't categorize their niche effectively. Single-product focus leads to better algorithmic reach and higher conversion rates.

3. Pre-order systems enable rapid scaling without massive capital

Pre-orders became Hudson's secret weapon for scaling Comfort from $16 million to $170 million without external funding. By offering products at lower prices for customers willing to wait 2-3 months, he could collect payment upfront and use that capital to fund inventory purchases.

This strategy requires extreme transparency to avoid customer backlash. Hudson places five different notifications about estimated ship dates throughout the checkout process and sends proactive email updates. When delays occurred due to hurricanes affecting Miami ports, the transparent communication prevented major chargeback issues.

The pre-order model works best when there's genuine demand and brand loyalty. Customers must trust the brand enough to wait months for delivery. This approach essentially turns customers into investors who fund the brand's growth while receiving discounted products in return.

4. Dynamic pricing based on inventory levels maximizes profitability

Instead of fixed pricing, Hudson implements dynamic pricing that increases as inventory decreases. When stock levels hit certain thresholds, prices automatically adjust upward. This strategy serves dual purposes: maximizing revenue on scarce inventory and slowing sales velocity to prevent stockouts.

The dynamic pricing system requires sophisticated inventory management and customer education. Hudson's customers understand and accept this model because it's communicated transparently. When inventory is abundant, prices stay low and accessible to mass markets.

This approach differs from traditional retail models that maintain consistent pricing. By treating inventory like airline seats or hotel rooms, brands can optimize revenue while managing supply chain constraints. The key is ensuring customers perceive the value proposition as fair rather than exploitative.

5. Product differentiation through genuine problem-solving

Comfort succeeded because it solved a real problem that traditional hoodies couldn't address. The weighted, brushed fabric creates a "human hug" sensation that helps with anxiety and sensory issues. This isn't just marketing speak – the manufacturing process and material composition are genuinely difficult to replicate.

The authenticity of the solution matters more than the size of the market. Hudson chose comfort/mental health over purely aesthetic fashion because the emotional need creates stronger customer loyalty. People don't just buy the product; they buy the feeling it provides.

Creating new product categories requires patience and education. When Hudson launched weighted hoodies, no one was searching for them because the category didn't exist. Success came from educating consumers about benefits they didn't know they needed while delivering genuine value that justified the premium pricing.

6. Multiple revenue streams require different business models

Hudson operates two distinct brands with completely different retention profiles. Comfort achieves 40% repeat purchase rates because customers develop emotional attachments to the comfort experience. Purely White Deluxe sees only 10% retention because teeth whitening is largely a one-time purchase decision.

Understanding these differences shapes everything from pricing strategy to marketing approach. Comfort can invest heavily in customer acquisition because lifetime value justifies higher costs. Purely White must focus on volume and operational efficiency since most customers won't return.

The subscription model works well for products with natural replacement cycles. Hudson's upcoming shower filter brand (Nude) will succeed partly because filters need replacement every three months, creating predictable recurring revenue that's more valuable than one-time purchases.

7. Snapchat remains an underutilized advertising goldmine

While everyone focuses on TikTok and Meta, Hudson spends over $150,000 daily on Snapchat ads with strong returns. The platform's audience aligns well with TikTok demographics, but competition is significantly lower, resulting in better ad performance and lower costs.

The key to Snapchat success lies in using the same creators who perform well on TikTok. When users see familiar faces in Snapchat ads, it feels organic rather than promotional. This native approach significantly improves ad performance compared to traditional advertising creative.

Most brands dismiss Snapchat because they can't make it work immediately. Hudson forced his media buyers to persist until they cracked the code. The halo effect from Snapchat advertising also benefits performance on other channels, creating compound returns that justify the investment.

8. International expansion offers the clearest path to billion-dollar revenue

Hudson believes Comfort could reach $1 billion in revenue primarily through international expansion rather than new product lines. The hoodie market exists globally, and his proven marketing methods can adapt to different countries with relatively minor modifications.

The main challenge isn't marketing adaptation but logistics infrastructure. Success requires reliable third-party logistics providers in each target country to ensure reasonable shipping times and costs. Using Chinese fulfillment centers can achieve 5-day international shipping at competitive prices.

Market testing can begin immediately through broad Meta advertising to various countries. By analyzing which markets show organic traction, brands can prioritize expansion efforts and allocate resources to the highest-potential regions first.

9. Law of attraction combined with relentless action creates unstoppable momentum

Hudson credits his success to operating from the mental frequency of already having achieved his goals. He visualizes owning the Ferrari, the billion-dollar business, and the dream lifestyle as current reality rather than future aspirations. This mindset shift affects decision-making and risk tolerance in powerful ways.

The law of attraction isn't passive wishful thinking but active belief that shapes behavior. When you truly believe success is inevitable, you make different choices, take bigger risks, and persist through obstacles that would stop others. Thoughts become things because thoughts drive actions.

This approach requires balancing delusional confidence with analytical learning. Hudson maintains absolute belief in his success while carefully studying every failure for lessons. Losses become wins because they provide information needed for future success. The key is knowing why you're losing, not avoiding losses entirely.

10. Building systems and hiring A-players enables true scalability

Hudson's transition from solopreneur to 25-employee company required finding exceptional talent who think like entrepreneurs rather than employees. His Chief Revenue and Growth Officer came from PayPal and Masterclass, bringing enterprise-level expertise to e-commerce operations.

A-players don't need micromanagement or detailed instructions. They identify problems, develop solutions, and implement changes autonomously. They act like equity owners even when they're employees, taking personal responsibility for results and innovating constantly to improve performance.

The difference between B-players and A-players becomes crucial at scale. B-players execute instructions but don't innovate. A-players see opportunities, trust their instincts, and drive initiatives that owners hadn't considered. Finding these people enables founders to focus on strategy while operations run smoothly without their constant involvement.