On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Courtney Toll, Co-Founder and CEO of Nori — the fast-growing brand reinventing how we care for our clothes and one of the most exciting consumer innovation stories unfolding right now. What started as a clever workaround between two college roommates ironing their clothes with a hair straightener has grown into a next-generation steam iron brand used by millions, proving that even the most overlooked categories are ripe for reinvention. Courtney has helped lead Nori to eight-figure revenue in under three years, raised nearly $8M, and built a design-forward hardware company in a space many founders shy away from. In this episode, Courtney shares what it really takes to build a modern hardware brand from scratch — from early prototyping hurdles to navigating the intense realities of supply chain, cash flow, and rapid consumer adoption. She opens up about the near-catastrophic 145% tariff announcement that threatened to derail Nori’s nationwide Target launch and wipe out more than $5M in forecasted revenue, and how she and her team stayed scrappy, decisive, and resilient through a moment that could have broken most companies. Packed with insights on leadership, innovation, problem-solving under pressure, and scaling in unpredictable markets, Courtney’s story is a masterclass in grit, adaptability, and creating momentum where others see obstacles. 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 Courtney Toll and Nori: https://www.instagram.com/nori/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nori-co/ https://www.instagram.com/courtneytoll/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneytoll/ https://www.nori.co Sponsored By: LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free. Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/kara AuraFrames - Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code KARA at checkout. Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/773
