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Juan Meisel is CEO and founder of Grip, which powers e-commerce shipping for perishable goods.
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? We are powering the perishable supply chain, sending millions of boxes with frozen and refrigerated items across the country. When you go online and order a box of food or human-grade pet food from many of the awesome brands out there, Grip’s technology first decides what’s the best way to get it to you, and then gets it to your doorstep with our fulfillment centers and logistics. My job as CEO keeps me on my toes. We are the fastest growing company in this space.
One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? I spend at least a full day per month packing boxes myself at our facilities. There’s no better way to build a better product and figure out ways to add more value to customers than being on the ground.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? My most memorable project was launching two dry ice production facilities when half of the country’s [carbon dioxide] supply (what dry ice is made from) shut down during the pandemic. I went from knowing nothing about CO2 to speaking at a CO2 summit center stage in Chicago in the span of two years!
Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? Using data to reduce waste. This is a huge part of what we do at Grip and it’s exciting to see many technology companies entering the retail space to fix issues like food waste, excessive packaging—you name it. We reduce waste by cutting down on dry ice and gel packs when they aren’t needed. On average, packages sent with Grip contain nearly three pounds less of refrigeration, and we still cut down on shipping failures by 25%. This also prevents food waste.
What’s your go-to coffee order? Black. Nothing else. I’ve also started drinking maté as a secondary source of caffeine. You need to diversify your supply chain.
Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Don’t work too hard.” My father is an entrepreneur and one of the hardest workers I know. I learned my work ethic from him. If you want to achieve big things and make an impact, you cannot be afraid to work hard.
What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? When I was 15, it was Heelys, those sneakers with wheels that were huge in the ’90s. Today, it’s my Whoop. I enjoy measuring my body’s performance.