Startup Stories: Q&A With Thrive Market Marketing Analyst Davis Brown

Welcome to Startup Stories, a series that takes you behind the scenes to share what working at a startup is really like. Our mission at Thrive Market is simple: to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. But fulfilling our big dreams take a team of dedicated, inspiring, funny, and tenacious people who show up to work every day eager to make a difference.

Today we’re introducing you to our marketing analyst, Davis Brown, who uses colored sticky notes to make his day more productive, and has an avocado philosophy we can all get on board with. Read on for our interview!

Let’s start with the basics. Can you describe your role at Thrive Market?

Sure, I manage Paid Social Marketing as part of our Growth Marketing team. Most people have no idea what that means, so let me explain! By Paid Social Advertising I mean any paid form of advertisement on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Snapchat. I work to develop strategies to show ads to various audiences, with placements such as an Instagram story or something that appears on someone’s Facebook news feed. Every week, I work with our Creative team of designers, photographers, and producers to concept new ad ideas and then incorporate them into our team’s overall strategy to acquire new members.

Is there anything people misunderstand about your job, or something that might surprise members to learn about your work?

I think the biggest surprise to members would be the time and thought process that goes into each and every advertisement we create. From the messaging to the style of the ad, we take extensive time to talk through and brainstorm ideas that in the end, transform into beautiful creative concepts.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Growth Marketing team?

Having such a tangible influence on the growth (pun intended) of our member base and spreading the word about our company and mission through paid advertising is the most exciting part. Through social media channels or other paid media, our team can truly impact discovery of our brand and make healthy living easier for people across the country as they try out Thrive Market for the first time.

What does a typical day look like? Do you have any routines or rituals that help you feel your best? Or a favorite nibble to grab from the kitchen, perhaps?

Like most jobs, no day is the same. In spite of that, I try to build daily routines to keep myself organized and productive. Before morning meetings, I outline key “To Do” tasks for the day on sticky notes. Big, big fan of sticky notes. These visual reminders keep me focused on the key tasks I need to prioritize throughout the day.

Also, most days consist of several cross-functional meetings with Creative, Email Lifecycle, or Tech teams. We work through problems, brainstorm new ideas, or just give updates on past and current strategies. The rest of the day is typically spent creating new campaigns for Instagram and Facebook, or analyzing the performance of existing campaigns.

Favorite snack would have to be our Thrive Market Organic Dried Apple Rings. I typically go through a bag a week!

What inspires you to live a healthy lifestyle? Is there something in particular that drew you to Thrive Market?

My coworkers, my friends, and my family all inspire me to live a healthy lifestyle. Through conversations or sharing articles, I’m constantly checking out fresh recipes or workout routines to stay active and feed my body with the best fuel! Normal gym routines or the same recipes over and over get pretty boring, so I’m always looking for something new.

“Many companies talk the talk, but it’s rewarding to work for a company that’s committed to walking the walk as well.”

I was really drawn to our mission as a company and how that permeates into everything we do. Many companies talk the talk, but it’s rewarding to work for a company that’s committed to walking the walk as well. That combo is hard to find, so I feel incredibly lucky in that regard.

When do you feel most successful or proud of your work?

I feel most proud when a brainstorming or creative working session leads to a creative concept that really resonates with the audience we’re showing the ad to on social media. It’s so exciting to see users liking, commenting, or sharing the ad with their friends.

Give us a peek at what you eat during the day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack!

For breakfast, I typically go with granola and yogurt or a protein shake, especially if I do a morning workout before heading to the office. I’ve recently “attempted” to eat a more plant-based diet, which has definitely come with its challenges. For lunch and dinner I try to mix things up as much as possible. Usually, I’ll have a combo of rice and potatoes with some veggies or beans. And I add avocado to everything! My philosophy is: when in doubt, add avocado. It makes everything better! I recently tried this vegan chili recipe from a British cook I follow on Instagram, and it’s perfect for an active lifestyle.

“My philosophy is when in doubt, add avocado.”

What’s one thing you want others to know about Thrive Market, that they might not learn from ordering, reading the blog, or visiting the website?

For me, it all comes down to the incredible attention to detail shown by all departments here —specific examples being the effort and research that goes into new Thrive Market Collection products, to finding innovative ways to ship products faster, to designing beautiful daily emails. In each of our roles, we all want to make the Thrive Market experience amazing each and every time for our members.

Last but not least, what’s your favorite Thrive Market product and why?

Hands down the Thrive Market Paleo Snacks. They’re dangerous. That is, dangerously good!