The Kara Goldin Show | 827 Kevin Keller: Co-Founder of Fulton & Roark

What does it take to build a modern luxury brand — without outside funding — and still grow at triple-digit rates? On today’s episode, we welcome Kevin Keller, Co-Founder of Fulton & Roark — the American fine fragrance brand redefining how fragrance is designed, experienced, and sold. Launched in 2013 with just $11,000 and no outside investment, Kevin and his co-founder Allen Shafer set out to create products that felt more personal, practical, and modern — starting with their now-signature solid fragrance, a portable alternative to traditional sprays. Since then, Fulton & Roark has grown into a nationally distributed brand carried in hundreds of retail locations, including Neiman Marcus and luxury hotel properties, while maintaining a strong direct-to-consumer business that drives the majority of its sales. With thoughtful product expansion into extrait de parfum, grooming, and body care, the company has built a loyal following by staying disciplined in its approach to design, storytelling, and customer experience. In this episode, Kevin shares how he built Fulton & Roark from the ground up without outside capital, the importance of balancing DTC and wholesale in a competitive category, and how to scale profitably while staying true to your brand. We also discuss what “modern luxury” really means today, how consumer expectations around fragrance and grooming are evolving, and why intentional product development is critical to long-term success. Kevin also reflects on the lessons he’s learned as a founder, what he would do differently, and what’s next for the brand. If you’re interested in building a capital-efficient business, redefining a legacy category, or creating products that truly resonate with modern consumers — this episode is for you. Tune in now on The Kara Goldin Show. Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks. To learn more about Kevin Keller and Fulton & Roark: https://www.instagram.com/fultonandroark/ https://www.fultonandroark.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwilliamkeller/ Sponsored By: LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free. AT&T Business - Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com Warby Parker - Get 15% off + Free Shipping when they buy 2 or more pairs of prescription glasses at WarbyParker.com/KARAGOLDIN Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/827