Brandon Castaneda is the Founder and CEO of EZ Bombs, a Hispanic food brand known for its seasoned meat bombs that turned traditional Mexican recipes into a viral sensation on TikTok Shop. The company achieved over $20 million in sales within its first year by leveraging creator-driven engagement and viral social strategy. Brandon scaled operations rapidly — transitioning from fulfillment out of his mom’s kitchen to co-packing and outsourcing logistics to 3PL partner ShipBob — saving around 1,600 labor hours per month. His leadership reflects a family-first ethos and keen digital growth acumen that transformed a homegrown idea into a breakout CPG success.

Cooking traditional meals at home can feel overwhelming for busy families. Many lack the time, skills, or even access to the right ingredients, leading them to rely on fast food or packaged options instead. How can people reconnect with authentic flavors while keeping meal preparation simple and enjoyable?

Brandon Castaneda, a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader, shares how his family transformed cultural recipes into convenient seasoning bombs that make cooking easy and flavorful. He explains the trial-and-error process of developing a product that dissolves seamlessly, the viral strategy that turned a kitchen experiment into a social media phenomenon, and the importance of building a brand rooted in authenticity. Brandon also highlights how customer feedback, international demand, and smart use of AI have guided decisions, showing that rapid growth is possible when innovation meets customer experience.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Brandon Castaneda, Founder and CEO of EZ Bombs, about creating a viral food brand from family recipes. Brandon discusses building trust with customers, scaling into thousands of retail stores, and expanding into international markets. He also explores lessons in customer satisfaction, the role of AI in operations, and future plans to diversify flavors and reach new audiences.

Richard Walker is the CEO of Quik!, a provider of forms automation and management solutions for companies looking to maximize efficiency and productivity. He started Quik! in 2002 to help people spend less time on paperwork and more time on what they do best. Before Quik!, Richard was a business consultant with Arthur Andersen. He is also a published author of two books and a father of three boys.

Many businesses struggle to consistently deliver exceptional customer experiences, often missing the subtle but crucial elements that foster lasting loyalty. From poor listening to unclear expectations, these gaps erode trust and satisfaction. How can companies build experiences that not only meet but exceed customer expectations every time?

Rocky Chugani, a custom clothing expert, stresses the importance of genuinely loving your customer and tailoring services to their unique needs. Building on the theme of empathy, David Steele, a hospitality and financial services leader, advises becoming your own first customer to anticipate pain points better. Golf pro Bobby Steiner offers a different perspective, highlighting the value of joining your customer’s team, focusing fully on their goals. Shelli Taylor, a cinema executive, emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries to protect the experience, proving that well-defined rules can significantly enhance satisfaction.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker reviews previous episodes on building meaningful customer relationships. These guests share insights on valuing your customer, being your own first customer, joining your customer’s team, and setting boundaries. They also explore tailoring details, hospitality best practices, and creating distraction-free experiences.

Matt Goebel is the Founder and CEO of Woven, an all‑in‑one workplace management platform created in 2017 to help multiunit franchises streamline operations, manage people, facilities, and locations from a single system. With over 15 years of experience as a franchisor, consultant, and multiunit franchisee, Matt has gained firsthand insight into the operational gaps that challenge modern operators. Before Woven, he founded several tech ventures, including a wedding‑planning startup and a software agency specializing in franchising needs. A 2005 Purdue University graduate in computer information technology, Matt also holds Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) credentials.

Managing a business with multiple locations and frontline employees comes with a unique set of challenges. Communication silos, inconsistent operations, and disengaged deskless workers can quickly erode a brand’s consistency and customer experience. How can business leaders create streamlined systems that keep all teams aligned while supporting long-term growth?

Matt Goebel, a seasoned expert in franchising and operations strategy, shares actionable insights for solving these common pain points. He emphasizes the importance of consolidating tools and systems so that frontline teams — especially those without corporate emails or consistent access to technology — can stay informed and engaged. He advocates for designing mobile-first solutions that are simple, intuitive, and tailored to support workers. Matt also highlights the power of listening to feedback from multiple user groups and iteratively improving systems to reduce burnout and increase accountability, particularly for frontline leadership.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Matt Goebel, Founder and CEO of Woven, about streamlining operations for multilocation businesses. Matt shares how simplifying technology for deskless teams improves consistency and scalability. He also discusses prioritizing product features, balancing innovation with real needs, and why proactive customer listening is a key part of long-term success.