BUCKED UP THE #1 PRE-WORKOUT BRAND: 9 FIGURE EMPIRE IN 10 YEARS || RYAN GARDNER || EPISODE 084

Ryan Gardner, CEO of Bucked Up, shares the remarkable story of how he and his twin brother transformed a small, farm-raised venture into a leading supplement company, achieving a nine-figure valuation in just under a decade. From their roots in Clearfield, Utah, to dominating the pre-workout market and expanding into a full line of nutritional products, Gardner's journey is a testament to strategic marketing, calculated risks, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

The Genesis of Bucked Up: A Marketing-First Approach

Gardner and his brother's entrepreneurial journey began not with a grand vision for a supplement company, but with a deep understanding of online marketing. "Essentially, we were born and raised on a farm in Clearfield, Utah," Gardner recounts. Their initial foray into business involved driving traffic, generating leads, and building affiliate networks for other companies. They honed their skills in online advertising, creating landing pages and optimizing data long before these concepts were mainstream. This marketing-first approach proved to be a crucial advantage when they decided to launch their own products.

Their transition from marketing consultants to product owners was organic. After successfully driving traffic for numerous businesses, they realized the potential of applying their expertise to their own ventures. "We just said, 'hey, we're only going to drive traffic for our own products,'" Gardner explains. This pivotal decision led to the creation of Bucked Up. The initial product, a deer antler spray, gained unexpected traction after a controversial news story involving a professional athlete. This sudden surge in demand, with GNC calling for 30,000 bottles, catapulted them into the supplement industry.