This episode is brought to you by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL  - The Influencer OS for Brands.  Welcome to another enlightening episode in which Ramon Vela dives deep into the journey of Mike Mahar, a visionary entrepreneur and partner at Digital Stronghold.  The Digital Stronghold is a multi-brand platform supporting leading digitally native men’s apparel, accessories, and grooming brands in accelerating their growth. Mike shares his fascinating career trajectory, valuable insights from his tenure with Taylor Stitch, and current endeavors shaping the future of men’s interest brands.  Below are the key highlights of our conversation: * Gratitude and Reflecting on a Mentor’s Impact Mike reflects on the impact of a high school teacher who influenced his passion for business and entrepreneurship. * Taylor Stitch Update Post-Pandemic Update on Taylor Stitch post-pandemic, focusing on product development, customer needs, and business strategies. * Introduction to Digital Stronghold Introduction to Digital Stronghold, a holding company for men’s interest brands, and its vision to acquire profitable brands. * Consumer-Centric Approach of Digital Stronghold Discuss how Digital Stronghold aims to enhance the consumer experience by supporting founders and improving operational efficiency. * Evaluating Apparel Brands for Investment Learn about the key criteria Digital Stronghold uses to evaluate apparel brands for investment, including financial benchmarks and customer retention rates. * Embracing Niche Brands Discover the value Digital Stronghold places on niche brands that focus on building a dedicated customer base, like the success story of Boston Scally in their portfolio. * Supporting Acquired Brands Explore the comprehensive support Digital Stronghold provides to acquired brands post-deal, covering areas such as finance, digital optimization, marketing, and logistics. * Inclusivity in Brand Acquisition Understand Digital Stronghold’s openness to brands with diverse product lines, including gender-neutral options, and how they assess brands for investment opportunities. * Navigating Challenges in Brand Acquisition Delve into the challenges Digital Stronghold faces in finding and acquiring brands, including the impact of market dynamics and the importance of knowing your customer for successful paid media strategies. Call-to-Action: Mike encourages interested brand founders in the men’s interest space to connect for potential investment opportunities. For more on Digital Stronghold, visit: https://thedigitalstronghold.com/ Remember to subscribe and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcast and LinkedIn for more conversations with industry leaders and to stay updated on the latest consumer products, brands, trends, retail, and beyond!  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review. Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/ Compass Rose is offering “no-cost” CPG advice exclusively for the Founders and CEOs featured on The Story of a Brand Show and listeners. The calendar is limited, so book your one-on-one call (a $500 Value) with the Compass Rose team today. Visit using our unique link. SARAL  - The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/ Claim an "exclusive onboarding" offer for the listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. The Saral Team will work directly with you and offer weekly check-ins and 1:1 consulting until you succeed. Visit using our unique link.