ZinePak Update: What Happened After Shark Tank

Zinpak Explained Thumbnail - Brittany Hodak

THE BEGINNING OF ZINEPAK

I co-founded ZinePak (pronounced zeen-pack) in 2011, based on a business plan I wrote in college in 2004 and a proposal I sold to Walmart in 2010. At its core, ZinePak was a marketing agency that helped entertainers connect with their fans through innovative products, experiences, and collectibles.

OUR EARLY SUCCESS STORIES

My founding partner Kim and I enjoyed a lot of success early in the company, hitting milestones like $1 million in revenue in less than 12 months, 2 million product sales worldwide in 18 months, and accolades from some of the most respected media brands in the world, including Forbes, Fortune, Billboard, Advertising Age, and Inc., just to name a few.

THE CELEBRITIES OF ZINEPAK

Over the years, our client roster included some of the biggest entertainers on the planet, including Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, KISS, Dolly Parton, and many, many more. We appeared on Shark Tank in 2015 where we secured a deal at one of the highest valuations in the show’s history. And, although we ultimately didn’t go through with the deal, the worldwide exposure helped propel us to even more success and spurred our name change from ZinePak to The Superfan Company.

APPEARING ON SHARK TANK

The Shark Tank appearance also fundamentally changed our business in that it led to more consulting, speaking, and writing opportunities. In the years that followed, I fell in love with this newer side of the business. I had always enjoyed speaking and consulting, but when I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2016, I began to focus more on this growing segment of the business.

EXITING THE SUPERFAN COMPANY

After a couple of years of juggling the speaking/consulting with our existing agency work — and, by that point, with a baby boy born in 2017 — I decided I needed to choose a single direction: I could either continue to focus on building the business I had worked on for years, or dedicate more time to the inbound speaking requests that were building up. After much deliberation and discussion with my clients and partners, I made the decision to follow the universe’s signs… to the stage! I sold the majority of my equity in The Superfan Company to my partners in 2018 to devote myself to becoming the world’s foremost expert on creating superfans.

HELPING OTHERS CREATE SUPERFANS

Now, instead of creating products for specific fandoms, I help clients find their fandoms and buoy their businesses by creating superfans of their own. I’m applying what I learned from more than 15 years in the entertainment industry (and almost a decade as an entrepreneur) to help brands large and small move customers from apathy to advocacy, whether their businesses revolve around mortgages, makeup, or anything in between!

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE

I’m so fortunate to get to spend my time speaking, writing, consulting, and researching a subject I’m so passionate about! The Superfan Company (formerly ZinePak) is still doing great under the leadership of my founding partners, working with some of the world’s greatest entertainers. And, although I’m no longer active in the day-to-day of the company, I’ll always be proud of what my team and I built… and a little excited when I think about the millions of collectibles that will be unearthed in garages, basements, and storage units around the world decades from now. 🙂

Image of Creating Superfans 3D Book - Brittany Hodak

GET YOUR COPY OF BRITTANY'S BOOK

Why you’ll love Creating Superfans:

  • Tons of entertaining stories about working alongside some of the world’s biggest celebrities
  • Checklists, exercises, and easy-to-implement tools that will help you boost your reputation and referrals right away
  • A proven five-part framework for creating superfans that any organization can master
Image of Creating Superfans 3D Book - Brittany Hodak

GET YOUR COPY OF BRITTANY'S BOOK

Why you’ll love Creating Superfans:

  • Tons of entertaining stories about working alongside some of the world’s biggest celebrities
  • Checklists, exercises, and easy-to-implement tools that will help you boost your reputation and referrals right away
  • A proven five-part framework for creating superfans that any organization can master
Image of Creating Superfans 3D Book - Brittany Hodak

READ BRITTANY'S BOOK!

Why you’ll love Creating Superfans:

  • Tons of entertaining stories about working alongside some of the world’s biggest celebrities
  • Checklists, exercises, and easy-to-implement tools that will help you boost your reputation and referrals right away
  • A proven five-part framework for creating superfans that any organization can master

ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH CREATING SUPERFANS? ME TOO!

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wanNA create your own superfans?

Check out Brittany’s book, Creating Superfans!