Ryan and Josh at 2012
Ecommerce Conference
We both came from solid business backgrounds with extensive experience. We met at a company that sold generic water and air filters to replace high-priced manufacture’s filters. Instead of paying $50 for a replacement filter, our customers paid half that for the generic version.
We Learned On-The-Job Which Levers
To Pull To Produce Profit
We had intensive and significant responsibility for growing the company. I was employee number 10, and Ryan Iverson (my eventual partner) joined a little later. The company grew to over 100 employees, and the revenue grew from $3 million to $50 million.
Ryan and I worked together and beat each other at racquetball for years. I started a little side hustle selling wine corks on Amazon.
The first business thing we did together was packing cork in the garage. We had a cork party on a table with literally millions of wine bottle corks. We repacked them into 50 packs, 100 packs, and 250 packs.
Together, we developed a powerfully productive model combining tech/operations with marketing. Two months later, in 2013, a business opportunity—Stakkers—came along, and we decided to buy it together.
Ryan and Josh at 2012
Ecommerce Conference
Stakkers is a promotional products service company. You know logo merchandise, apparel, giveaways, tchotchkes, stuff with a company brand on it. The business already had warehousing and fulfillment capabilities. We folded the cork business into Stakkers, and were able to move out of my garage!
Stakkers is a promotional products service company. You know logo merchandise, apparel, giveaways, tchotchkes, stuff with a company brand on it. The business already had warehousing and fulfillment capabilities. We folded the cork business into Stakkers, and were able to move out of my garage!
We just keep busting down The walls and growing!
Ryan and I were still working full-time at the filter ecommerce company. Megan Iverson was looking for a challenge, and we trusted her. We hired her to run Stakkers, and the cork operation—and as we added them—any other businesses under the same roof. By the way, Megan was also at the cork party!
Megan is key to managing the day to day, and frees me to build the revenue streams. There are few things as critical to consistent growth as trusted employees. Golden!
Megan and Josh at first stakkers
client trade show.
Our concept developed into multiple ecommerce businesses under the umbrella of Bright Ventures. Our vision is a thriving entrepreneurial incubator that empowers ideas and individuals. We provide the tools and infrastructure to be successful.
Bright Ventures focuses on organic brand building and growth. Our strategy also includes asset acquisition for growth, plus strategic well-timed exits.
In 2016, I started an Amazon private label, Essential Values. We moved it into the warehouse. That ecommerce brand was very successful, and We grew it to $10M in annual sales by 2020. When Essential Values hit $150K a month in sales, I kissed my full-time job goodbye. I sold Essential Values in 2021 for a $10M exit. I had achieved my financial objective of freedom from working a job.
The most important thing is that we perfected the model for growing an Amazon business. We developed that model at the filter company, and we proved its validity at Essential Values. I had to work two full-time jobs to do it, but I was able to buy my financial freedom.
Snipers Edge after rebranding.
In 2019, we bought another brand called Snipers Edge Hockey, Inc. It was a poorly-managed turnaround situation, and was profusely bleeding money. The company provides off-ice hockey training aids that make players better passers, shooters, and stick handlers.
We worked our magic to grow revenue and profit,and to efficiently manage expenses. We bought the business for $750K, and sold it two years later for $2.5M.
Stakkers cemented Ryan’s and my partnership of strengths into a business model.
My “magic power” is my ability to see opportunity and make a profitable business from that opportunity.
Ryan’s superpower is to be able to organize a business, use technology to make it more efficient, and drive business value.
We knew this from the beginning, but our experiences together have proven it. Now we’ve systematized the model.
The first full service Ecommerce Management business that focuses on business value creation. We are ready to serve you and take your brand to new heights.
We didn’t start out to be a family business; it just evolved over time. Ryan’s sister, Megan has been with us since the cork party. She became our first employee in 2016.
Her background in project management is a great fit for our management and operational needs. Megan is a machine when it comes to cleaning up, organizing and systematizing, and operating our businesses..
Megan Iverson
Branded Seller.com—2021 to Present
Chief Operations Officer
Bright Ventures —2013 to Present
General Manager
Interpublic Group of Companies —2003 to 2016
Project Manager
Josh’s brother, Alex came to an Amazon conference, and liked what he learned. He was spending his time researching new products, and finding and working with manufacturers. After a while, it became obvious that he’s great at product research.
We hired him to grow our businesses by finding new products, launching them, and selling them. Alex has been and continues to be directly responsible for significant growth of the companies we work with.
Alex Dittrich
Alex on the way to his
first Amazon convention.
Branded Seller.com—2021 to Present
Chief Revenue Officer
Essential Values—March 2018 to 2021
Chief Revenue Officer
Snipers Edge Hockey—2019 to 2021
Chief Marketing Officer
Top Form Design—2021 to Present
Marketing Director
BrandedSeller.com—2021 to Present
Co-Founder, Chief Growth Officer
Essential Values—2016 to 2021
Founder, Chief Growth Officer
Bright Ventures Companies—2015 to Present
Co-Founder, Chief Growth Officer
Bright Ventures entrepreneurial organization/business incubator focuses on growth through organic brand building and/or asset acquisition.
Stakkers—2013 to Present
Co-Founder
Snipers Edge Hockey—2019 to 2021
Co-Owner
Top Form Design—2021 to Present
Co-Owner
US Water Filters—2010 to 2017
Sr. Director, Multi-Channel Growth
Sr. Director of Sales & Business
Director of Sales & Business Development
Best Buy—2002 to 2010
Commercial Sales To Large Corporate Customers
Josh Dittrich
My Five reasons for
working so hard.
Ryan Iverson
Bright Ventures Companies—2020 To Present
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Bright Ventures entrepreneurial organization/business incubator focuses on growth through organic brand building and/or asset acquisition.
US Water Filters, Inc.—2013 to 2020
Mindware—2001 to 2013
General Manager IT & Operations
Read What The Media Says About Josh—Articles In The News
Hear What Josh Has To Say—Podcast Appearances
The real Josh Dittrich!
Meet Josh—Ecommerce Trade Show Appearances
