Coworking with John Buccheri

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John Buccheri is principal at XRC Ventures’s Brand Capital Fund, investing in early-stage CPG companies across beauty, health and wellness, personal care, and home goods.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? It’s like ABC’s Shark Tank, but instead of having founders pitch to celebrities under the Hollywood lights with a glitzy pitch, XRC is researching and talking to hundreds of early-stage startups within retail tech, consumer goods, and consumer health tech, to find and invest in the select few we believe can be the next big thing.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? My wife, our cat, and I are constantly testing new products as part of our pre-diligence process. First-hand consumer experience (touching/feeling/using) these innovative concepts is essential. If it’s a poor experience, who’s going to want to buy it?

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? We recently closed an investment in Homefield Apparel. Their vintage marks for collegiate apparel are fresh and unique, with high-quality fabrics to match. I love their old-school Joe Bruin logos from my alma mater UCLA.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about this year, and why? The future of skin care is rapidly changing. Younger generations recognize the importance of protecting your skin, and it has fueled a wave of innovation in sun and skin care. No longer do you need to sacrifice your looks to protect your skin. Clear serums and new product technologies are taking retail by storm—Naked Sundays is a great example.

What’s your go-to coffee order? Black coffee—efficient and universally available in the US!

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Always be networking. You never know who you may meet, or the doors that may open.” Yes, networking is a crucial part of our day-to-day role in venture, but it can be a slippery slope, stealing from your limited time. If you attend an event, have a reason for being there, and set specific goals of who you want to meet, and what you want to accomplish. Networking for networking’s sake is a recipe for long hours without anything to show for it.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? When I was 15, I loved Got2b Glued. It was the only hair gel that could get my curly hair to stick up straight after gym class. Thankfully, my hairstyle’s changed, and now I am using Barb on a daily basis. As for today, I’ve been using Solawave’s Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand to smooth out wrinkles and red spots each night.