This episode is brought to you by Mercury.   Weatherman Umbrella wants to be the "Yeti for umbrellas," says Tyler Kupper, chief revenue officer, and partner of the brand.   "We're trying to disrupt this category that's never had a high quality, durable product," Tyler says.   The brand's "green perspective" is to create a product that lasts a lifetime. To that end, the company's return rate is 0.1 percent, he says.   Tyler's career path took some unlikely turns along the way. After college, he began working in the sports and media entertainment field but had trouble making ends meet. On the side, he launched a company that delivered and set up Christmas trees. After doing a national TV pitch one day, a weatherman pulled him aside and asked for his help creating a high-quality umbrella.   The pair broke apart hundreds of umbrellas to uncover their weak spots. Improvements with the Weatherman Umbrella model include a better rubber grip, reinforced ribs, and reflective piping along the entire umbrella to improve visibility.   Aside from the product's lifespan, sustainability is a primary goal of the brand, Tyler says. That means using cardboard instead of plastic with packaging.   "Some of these decisions are tough to make, but they're the right decisions," he says. "It will give that consumer some more confidence to invest in the product."   In Part 1, Tyler talks about:   * Gratitude for a high school soccer coach for instilling values into him. * His perspective on creating a "green" product. * His career path and story of helping create the brand. * The process of creating a new umbrella. * How the umbrella is marketed. * The focus on sustainability.   Join Ramon Vela and Tyler Kupper as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.   For more on Weatherman Umbrella, visit: https://www.weathermanumbrella.com/    Subscribe and Listen to the podcast on all major apps. Simply search for “The Story of a Brand,” or click here to listen on your favorite podcast player: Listen now.   *   The episode is brought to you by Mercury.   Mercury is the banking stack for startups & ecommerce.* Get FDIC-insured US accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, currency exchange, and domestic and international wires.   Easily create an account from your laptop, and non-US citizens are welcome to apply.   Connect to payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, etc.) and instantly create virtual debit cards for inventory and ad spend.   Customize the banking experience with features like read & write API access, custom team management, and integrations with the tools your startup uses, like Quickbooks and Xero.   Keep growing with Mercury Raise DTC or with financing options through Mercury Capital. *Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. All banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust®️; Member FDIC.   Visit: https://mercury.com/partner/storyofabrand