How to Grow in Retail Without Selling Out w. Cat Lepetit

In this episode of How They Scaled It, I sit down with Cat Lepetit, the visionary founder of Sun Drunk, a beach lifestyle brand rooted in joy, sustainability, and good vibes. She shares how a day at the sandbar sparked a movement and how she built a community-driven business—one pop-up at a time. Along the way, Cat opens up about letting go of corporate playbooks, embracing slow growth, and redefining what success looks like on her own terms. From hand-selecting eco-conscious materials to building a fiercely loyal customer base face-to-face, her story is a lesson in intuitive, purpose-driven entrepreneurship.00:01 Meet Cat Lepetit and the birth of Sun Drunk01:21 The spark: a sandbar moment that inspired it all03:19 The missing market for moms at the beach05:12 Leaving corporate beauty to start fresh08:51 Launching Sun Drunk on French Revolution Day10:22 The reality of brand awareness in a noisy world11:48 Grassroots pop-ups as brand incubators14:42 Health-conscious events and finding product-market fit16:02 Staying sustainable without compromise19:25 More than towels: building a lifestyle and a vibe21:02 The challenge of branding something intangible24:03 Measuring success as a self-funded founder25:30 Creating superfans through live shopping27:21 Rejecting hollow innovation for timeless quality29:43 Going back to tradition over trends32:26 Dreaming bigger: stores, beach bars, and full experiences34:37 Advice to her past self: follow the joy, and trust your gut