BRAND BUILD #1: Shilajit Honey
The research process that stumbled me on this product opportunity.
🧪 Welcome to The Brand Lab—where we build brands, share AI workflows, and cover all things e-commerce.
🆓 Free subscribers get the free weekly edition that looks like this, full of e-commerce and CPG strategies, market news, AI prompts, creative workflows, and founder thoughts and systems from 12+ years of building 8-figure brands.
💰 Premium subscribers get the weekly BRAND BUILD → LIKE BELOW.
👇🏻 Get on the list now so you don’t miss anything.
Yoyoyoyoyoy,
Welcome to The Brand Lab Issue #2 → THE FIRST BRAND WE BUILD FROM SCRATCH.
Below, I outline the step-by-step process I follow to research new product launches.
In this case, I went from scratch, starting with trending topics.
I usually start with myself when launching new products—I choose a product I use or want to use but doesn’t exist the way I want it, and start there.
In this case, I’m going for ONLY trending product categories.
Super cool brand below. (I almost didn’t share this since I like the product so much 😬.)
Enjoy.
Founder, Rize Brands → TT, IG, YT, X, Lkd → Rize Ads Account IG
🎨 The Ad Factory 🏭
Three ad concepts. For an existing brand. Get your creative juices flowing.
Today’s brand (not sponsored) is Vivobarefoot.
Prompt: Here are 10 unique ad ideas to visualize Vivobarefoot shoes with a strong USP (unique selling point) and visual concepts designed to dominate mobile view feeds. These are rooted in key differentiators: foot health, nature-connectedness, minimalist performance, and anti-modern-footwear rebellion.
Prompt #2: now give me the visual prompt including all design style notes for each one in a single list
Prompt #3: Now run image #1
Prompt #3a: Copy paste on of those prompts to Sora (use 2-4 images) run.Example → Visual Prompt #1:
“Light as Skin. Tough as Nature.”
USP: Ultra lightweight, yet trail-proof.
Visual:
Shoe floats like paper above rugged terrain → zoom-in shows foot gripping rocks.
Overlay Text:
"THE SKIN YOUR FOOT DESERVES."
🦍 “Go Primal”
USP: Natural foot posture. Natural performance.
Visual:
Human foot → caveman foot → animal paw — all in same upright pose, with Vivo as the “modern primal” version.
Overlay Text:
"PRIMAL DESIGN. MODERN FREEDOM."
🚫 “Orthopedic Disaster” (Provocative)
USP: 90% of shoes deform your foot.
Visual:
Shelf of modern sneakers morph into clown shoes, stilettos, foot-binding contraptions. Cuts to Vivo standing alone, clean.
Overlay Text:
"EVERY SHOE IS A LIE — EXCEPT THIS ONE."
🧪 THIS WEEK’S BRAND CONCEPT🧑💻
Tools used: Exploding Topics + Amazon + GPT + Human Brain
This is the exact process we run to identify which products to launch and HOW to bring them to market. With AI, you, as a single human, can build an entire product from scratch using a few free tools (and some paid ones) that are based on market demand.
This stuff used to be complicated, time-consuming, and much of it was in your head. But now with AI, you can translate ideas to visuals (that look friggin good) in minutes. It’s insane.
So here’s our first edition. I’ll be doing one of these a week for premium subscribers. If you’re on the free list, you get one preview.
If there’s a specific product or niche you want me to tackle next, drop a comment or reply.
The Build
I started with “supplement” in exploding topics. I stumbled on growth in Shiljit Gummies.
Here’s the prompt history.
Then I checked Amazon to find too much competition, and a pricing range between $20 and $29. Assuming a quality product will cost at least $10 landed, this doesn’t leave much room for margin.
I don’t see a way to turn this into a $39.99 product on Amazon.
Perhaps via DTC, but likely not through Amazon.
Then I scrolled down on Exploding topics to find Shilajit Honey.
3.6k isn’t massive, but the growth is, which could signal continued growth.
So I check out Amazon, and there’s not as much competition here.
This leads me to believe that this could work as a DTC offer, as the product itself is a unique combination that will require promotion and education, and the market hasn’t caught up yet to justify a full first-page listing on Amazon.
This could be a solid DTC offer—an upcoming product with a unique mechanism (the honey/stick format) that can still capitalize on the shilajit trend and search volume.
The second half of the page, down, shows higher-end Manuka honey options.
That $80 honey? Who buys that? Interesting nonetheless.
So I decided that was worth mocking up today…
The Brand: A Shiljit + Honey Stickpack
Here are 15 brand/product name ideas for your Himalayan Shilajit + Raw Honey sticks, blending themes of ancient power, natural energy, and clean modern wellness:
🐝 Nature & Energy-Themed Names
Hunyfuel™ – Simple, modern, and clearly conveys honey + fuel
Peak Nectar™ – Suggests energy from the peak of nature
RawVeda™ – A nod to Ayurvedic roots and raw ingredients
HiveRite™ – Combines bee origins and “right” energy
BeeVibe™ – Playful, energetic, and catchy
🗻 Ancient & Ayurvedic Inspired
Shilajit Gold™ – Premium, recognizable, and benefit-forward
VitalMud™ – Edgy and rooted in the earth (Shilajit means “conqueror of mountains”)
AyuraFuel™ – Ayurveda + fuel = ancient meets modern
EarthPulse™ – Energy from the planet’s core
Fulvic Flow™ – Calls out the functional compound with a sleek feel
🚀 Modern Wellness Vibes
StickShift™ – Fun, punchy name for on-the-go energy sticks
ThriveStik™ – Thrive + stick = forward-focused daily ritual
CleanKick™ – Describes clean energy with a kick
NovaRoot™ – Futuristic energy with ancient roots
Energya™ – Sleek, brandable, feminine/neutral, rooted in “energy”
🌄 Brand Name: Peak Nectar™
I could have asked for more brand names, as most of these aren’t great. The Peak Nectar was the only possible name here.
🧬 Tagline / Brand Promise:
Ancient Energy. Modern Vitality.
Fuel your day with Himalayan shilajit and raw honey — nature’s most potent synergy, now in a stick.
🐝 Product Name
Peak Nectar Energy Sticks
100% Natural Himalayan Shilajit + Raw Honey
🧭 Brand Positioning Statement:
Peak Nectar™ delivers clean, sustained energy and trace mineral support through the fusion of high-altitude Himalayan shilajit and antioxidant-rich raw honey. Designed for active humans who want ancient fuel, modernized for everyday life — no mess, no synthetics, just pure performance.
🔥 Core Benefits (Customer-Driven + Functional)
1. ⚡ Clean, Lasting Energy
Fulvic acid from pure shilajit supports cellular energy
No crash, no jitters — unlike caffeine
2. 🧠 Mental Clarity & Cognitive Balance
B-vitamins support brain function and reduce fatigue
Customers report sharper focus and better mood
3. 🛡️ Immunity + Recovery Support
Raw honey contains natural antioxidants and phytonutrients
Helps fight oxidative stress and supports daily wellness
4. 🌿 100% Natural Ingredients
No fillers, preservatives, or artificial flavorings
Just raw Himalayan shilajit + bee-harvested honey
5. 🚀 Ultra-Convenient Format
Pre-dosed single-use sticks
Toss it in your bag, gym kit, or glovebox
🔍 Key Product Features
Feature Description Ingredients Raw Himalayan Shilajit, Unprocessed Wild Honey Fulvic Acid Supports cellular health and energy metabolism Nutrient Profile Contains B6, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and 80+ trace minerals Taste Earthy-sweet with rich mineral depth — not overly sweet Form Factor Single-serve stick (tear + squeeze) — no mixing required Packaging Earth-toned, eco-forward pouch with minimalist gold mountain accents
👤 Target Customer Personas
🧗♂️ The Peak Performer
Health-conscious professionals, entrepreneurs, and biohackers
Wants clean, effective daily energy
Replaces coffee or synthetic pre-workouts
👩👧 The Natural Optimizer
Moms, teachers, and caregivers seeking clean fuel without caffeine overload
Prioritizes ingredients and convenience
Loves Ayurveda, clean labels, and routines
🧘 The Mindful Mover
Gym-goers, yogis, functional fitness enthusiasts
Needs sustained energy and focus without GI upset or artificial crap
💬 Voice & Tone
Clean, grounded, confident
Ancient meets modern, always evidence-backed
Avoid hype — focus on purity, performance, and purpose
🧪 Suggested Use Instructions
Tear open a stick
Squeeze directly into your mouth or stir into warm tea/coffee
Feel the difference — clean energy, all day
💡 Callouts for Packaging / PDP / Ads
“From the Heart of the Himalayas to the Palm of Your Hand”
“Peak Energy. Zero Crash.”
“Real Honey. Real Shilajit. Real Results.”
“Fuel Focus. Sharpen Recovery. Build Resilience.”
“Nature’s Most Powerful Resin, Sweetened by the Hive.”
🧾 Ingredient List (for Label + PDP)
Ingredients: Raw wild honey, Himalayan Shilajit resin (standardized to 50–75% fulvic acid)
📊 Suggested Nutrition Facts Panel
Serving Size: 1 Stick Pack (10g)
Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 30
Total Carbohydrates: 8g
– Total Sugars: 7g
– Added Sugars: 0g
Fulvic Acid (from Shilajit): 200mg
Trace Minerals: Naturally Occurring
Ingredients: Raw wild honey, Himalayan Shilajit
Allergen Info: Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts and dairy.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.👀 Visuals - Mockups
This is the 2nd most crucial part of the process after your research and market validation.
You can have a great product idea, and there can be plenty of demand, but how are you going to compete against the myriad of options on the market?
You focus on the ANGLE that speaks to a single customer. You figure out how to highlight problem/pain/solution and a unique mechanism that speaks to those that make sense, that’s hooky, and that you can use a lot of supporting visuals and creativity to convey.
That’s it. That’s everything.
The fact that we can do this ALONE at scale is insane. (I made 50 ads in a weekend myself. All testable and on their way to our media buyer.)
👇🏻 The cup kinda doesn’t fit. Could be optimized.
👇🏻 Not a great headline, but that’s easy to dial in. It’s more of a subtle. Plus, no one knows what the lump of coal is.
Meh. This needs further prompt optimization. Multiple images are hard to get perfect. What you can do is ask it to keep refining the “visual prompt,” and it will outline what should go in each image. Keep doing that until you get a near-perfect output.
Creative Angles
🎨 "Ditch the Crash. Keep the Energy."
Visual Prompt: Side-by-side comparison graphic:
Left: Coffee cup tipped over, spilled, crash lines, grayed-out background
Right: Peak Nectar stick upright, glowing lightly, radiating “clean energy”
Use icons: ☕️ (crossed out), ⚡️ (highlighted)
Header Text: “Ditch the Crash.”
Subtext: “Keep the Energy.”
Include product in bottom right corner, upright and shiny
🎨 "Ancient Energy. Modern Format."
Visual Prompt:
Create a clean, minimalist studio shot showing:
Centered Peak Nectar™ stick torn open, golden honey mid-squeeze
Background split: left half ancient Himalayan landscape (mountains, mist), right half modern city or gym bag
Floating icons: ⚡ energy, 🧘 calm, 🌿 natural
Text overlay (top): “Ancient Energy.”
Text overlay (bottom): “Modern Format.”
My feedback: it’s not clear what’s inside. But that might be ok… it might increase curiosity clicks.
🎨 "Real Ingredients. Real Impact."
Visual Prompt: Ingredient spotlight:
Two-column layout
Left: Whole raw honeycomb + jar of golden honey
Right: Himalayan mountain rock + shilajit resin
Middle overlay: Peak Nectar stick floating with light glow
Text:
Top: “Real Ingredients.”
Bottom: “Real Impact.”
Minimalist, clean backdrop in earthy beige tones
My feedback: The rock doesn’t convey what it is. Real “Energy” might be better than impact. Then, it would encourage curiosity clicks because people are generally interested in energy-related topics, and the rock might pique their interest in what kind of rock could produce energy.
🎨 "Fuel That Moves With You"
Visual Prompt: Flat lay scene featuring:
Gym bag, keys, phone, water bottle — Peak Nectar stick tucked inside
Dynamic lighting, motion blur on edges to imply movement
Header text at top: “Fuel That Moves With You”
Subtext: “Tear. Squeeze. Go.”
Use mobility icons: 🏃♀️ 👜 ✈️
My feedback: This is very good.
🎨 "Mom-Approved. Monk-Backed."
Visual Prompt:
Playful split illustration or comic-style panel:
Left panel: Modern mom on-the-go, using a Peak Nectar stick while juggling toddler, phone, and groceries
Right panel: Himalayan monk meditating, glowing Peak Nectar stick floating beside him
Soft vintage paper texture with bold black lines
Top Text: “Mom-Approved.”
Bottom Text: “Monk-Backed.”
Product visible in both scenes, hero-style
My feedback: I think the subtitle could provide some product explanation to add more context to what they are looking at. I don’t know if moms are the target audience, but never know.. That’s why we test.
🛒 Amazon 5-Bullet Feature Copy
🌿 1. 100% Natural Ingredients – Nothing Else
Each stick is made with just two ingredients: raw Himalayan Shilajit and wild-harvested honey. No fillers, no preservatives, no synthetics.
⚡ 2. Clean Energy Without the Crash
High fulvic acid content boosts cellular energy and stamina—without caffeine, jitters, or sugar spikes. Perfect for pre-workout, travel, or daily clarity.
🧠 3. Brain & Mood Support
Formulated with naturally occurring B vitamins (B6, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin) to help support mental clarity, mood balance, and calm focus.
🎒 4. Ultra-Convenient Stick Packs
Portable, pre-measured, and mess-free. Just tear and squeeze whenever you need fuel—gym, commute, hiking, or your afternoon slump.
🌎 5. Eco-Friendly Kraft Packaging
Packaged in biodegradable kraft paper sticks and a recyclable paper canister. Good for your body and the planet.
🛍️ DTC Copy Block + 5 Bullets
Peak Nectar™ Energy Sticks
Ancient fuel, modern focus.
Our two-ingredient energy blend delivers clean power and trace minerals in a kraft-wrapped, pocket-sized format. No caffeine. No junk. Just tear and go.
Why You’ll Love It:
🌿 Only 2 Ingredients: Wild raw honey + pure Himalayan Shilajit
⚡ Crash-Free Energy: Fulvic acid supports steady energy & stamina
🧠 Mental Clarity: Natural B vitamins help fuel focus & mood
🚀 Ready-to-Go Packs: No prep. No mess. Anywhere, anytime.
🌱 Eco Packaging: Minimal, compostable, plastic-free materials
🤔 Final Thoughts
I almost didn’t release this, but then I realized I have too much going on, and I don’t need another product to launch right now.
If I were to do this, it would require a founder to push it. This would be great for a first-time founder who can focus.
The product could be epic on social, but it needs an obsessed founder who’s going to do product seeding, content, and be that (obsessed) founder who acquires each customer one at a time through sheer force of will. (For at least a year.)
I wouldn’t launch this as an Amazon-only product. While it could do well there, the bigger opportunity lies in creating a blue ocean via DTC, where the category doesn’t exist yet, but the data suggests it could.
This form factor will also do well in UGC content. Compare that to a bottle of pills, which are very, very hard to create content with and around.
Today, I wouldn’t launch anything to DTC that doesn’t have a unique form factor. (Some exceptions exist for Amazon if the data is there.)
If you decide to launch this, I’d love to follow along.
-Colin
🅡 Rize Offers
🎬 Beginners start here → Platform Selection Matrix
Which e-commerce platform should you start on? Based on your skills, experience, and resources, we’ll guide you through exactly what’s best for you. This is a great place to start if you’re new to ecom.
🧠 The New Rules of E-commerce Course
What you MUST KNOW to succeed in E-commerce in 2025 and beyond. Incept this into your brain before you spend another minute—or dollar—playing the old game.
From Idea to your first 100 customers, a complete step-by-step system built inside Notion with every tool, spreadsheet, and template you need to launch and scale an e-commerce brand.
We will build a product concept for you based on DATA: Market research, positioning, design, static ad concepts, five turn-key SEO articles, email flows, Shopify & Amazon copy, UGC scripts, and everything else you need to launch a winning offer. (Also works for existing products) Book a call
✌️ Till Next Time
📱Rize Brands Social: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Linkedin | Twitter
🖼️ Rize Ads Social → Sharing ad and brand concepts daily: Instagram
💌 Like it? Share with someone interested in e-commerce. They'll thank you.
🛠️ Free E-commerce Tools: Download our Brand Builder Toolkit
📝 Feedback: I read every email and often feature reader questions and feedback.