In this episode of Ecommerce On Tap, hosts Aaron Alpeter and Nathan Resnick take you through the incredible journey of Curology—the team that managed to build a $200 million brand not once, but twice. 🎉

We dive deep into:

• The founding story of Curology and its breakthrough in prescription teledermatology

• The complex regulatory and compliance hurdles of launching in the healthcare industry

• How Curology scaled from a niche telemedicine offering to a DTC powerhouse, and eventually, to major retail shelves like Target, CVS, Walmart, and Amazon

• The company’s remarkable post-pandemic pivot: how they navigated the decline in telehealth demand and reinvented themselves with OTC (over-the-counter) skincare products

• Behind-the-scenes insights into their supply chain, fundraising rounds, growth challenges, operational pivots, and leadership transitions

• Lessons for founders on spotting exit windows, adapting to market shifts, and whether personalization is a competitive moat—or a margin trap

Plus: Hot takes on celebrity economy trends (Sydney Sweeney’s brand impact!), presidential executive orders shaking up e-commerce, and why Curology’s story is a rare case study in business reinvention and resilience.

Starting from a college dorm room, Topicals quickly evolved into Sephora's fastest-growing skincare line, selling a product every minute at its peak. This isn't just a story of impressive growth—it's about challenging the historic blind spots of the beauty industry, championing cultural representation, and the tenacity of two founders determined to serve overlooked communities.

Nathan and Aaron walk us through Topicals' rapid journey: their unique approach to brand-building, the grit required to raise funds, how they cracked the code to a coveted Sephora partnership, and what happens when hypergrowth meets the realities of scale. Beyond Topicals, they also unpack broader trends in ecommerce, recent acquisitions shaking up the space, and the future of culture-driven holding companies.

Dr Squatch Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-alpha-why-dr-squatch-unilevers-next-flagship-mens-aaron-alpeter-nt5re

Kellogg Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/quiet-candy-empire-thats-eating-your-breakfast-aaron-alpeter-isuse

On this episode of Ecommerce On Tap, we broke down how Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand, Rhode, achieved a billion-dollar valuation in just three years—with less than ten products, no paid celebrity endorsements, and a viral waitlist strategy. We looked at why authenticity and hands-on founder involvement mattered more than just lending a celebrity name, how tactical storytelling and minimalism fueled insane demand, and what founders can learn about operational excellence, keeping product lines focused, and preparing for a massive exit.