Cofounder of Chubbies + Loop Returns | Now, Marathon: A managed technology platform + bespoke services offering helping you exit the short-term direct-response hamster wheel to find your balance of Brand and performance

Chubbies and Loop Returns co founder. Now, applying those lessons and mistakes to help consumer brands transition to a balance of Brand and performance with software that measures the future rev impact of brand, incrementality studies to validate; and the media management and creative production to actually execute on the vision. MarathonDataCo.com

Classic AI software + services combo. 

This is all informed by our firsthand experience and a desire to help brands go through the transition that transformed our business and helped us get acquired for a massive number and continue to grow super profitably today...but without all the pain and heartache we had to go through...

You see, Chubbies almost went out of business because of the exact problem we're trying to solve at Marathon.

In the early days at Chubbies we built Brand because we had to. We had no money. We were scrappy, creative, dynamic. 

And we built an awesome Brand.

Then we monetized that Brand with performance DR. 

We convinced ourselves that that was the source of our growth. 

We almost went out of business.

We righted the ship and built, brick by brick, to a >$100m exit, culminating in a >$1B IPO, and now, doing well over $100M / year at nearly a 30% EBITDA margin, but to do that we had to overcome the overwhelming pressure to take a short–termist approach.

As we've seen this direct–to–consumer brand market evolve over the years, we've seen the same cycle happen to nearly every other business out there: Starting hot, pushing performance marketing, then stalling out and never getting to long-term sustainable growth.

This was the problem we felt absolutely compelled to solve because we felt for these brand builders and entrepreneurs. We were in their shoes. And but for a whole lotta luck and a gritty–a** team, it would have sunk us.

Then we looked around and realized there just isn't anything on the market that helps companies do this — this most important thing imaginable.

So that's what we're working towards, would love your feedback.

Preston 🩳 Rutherford

Allen Baler is the co-founder and chief executive officer of 4Patriots®, one of the country’s 1st, largest and fastest-growing emergency preparedness providers committed to offering the innovative products and expertise necessary for Americans to prepare for any emergency and become more self-reliant. 4Patriots celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2023.

As CEO, Allen serves as the entrepreneurial engine of 4Patriots, responsible for the research and development of the next breakthrough preparedness products, marketing ideas and ways of meeting customer needs that will propel the company forward. His role is one of creative problem-solver and optimizing 4Patriots product, distribution and workforce strengths to ensure another 15 years of success.  He is passionate about analyzing industry and market trends and developing win-win partnerships with third parties that are equally committed to responsible self-reliance. 

Allen helped make 4Patriots a classic American success story. After spending nearly 15 years in marketing and product management roles in the corporate world, Allen and his wife Erin moved from the Northeast to Nashville, Tennessee where they founded 4Patriots at their kitchen table in 2008. Despite a recession at the time and without outside funding, they were determined to help their friends and family restore their peace of mind.

Since then, 4Patriots has grown into a leading common-sense preparedness resource credited with helping to transition the $5.8 billion global preparedness market online. What started with a single product has matured into a thriving e-commerce business with hundreds of high-quality products spanning survival food kits and bundles; water filtration and storage; portable solar power; and specific preparedness solutions for camping, the RV, home, car, yard and garden. To date, 4Patriots has served more than 2 million customers in all 50 states and has generated over $1 billion in sales.

Allen was named an Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 Southeast Award Winner by Ernst & Young, LLP and earned a B.A. from Harvard University. He lives in Nashville with his wife Erin and their three daughters.

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Preston 🩳 Rutherford

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