Case Study: Gnarly Nutrition
Built to Be Bold—From Branding to Packaging to Presence
Overview
Before “GoGnarly” meant anything, it was just a concept. A supplement brand in a crowded performance market with no identity, no packaging, and no traction. Ballard Branding partnered with the founders to create everything from the ground up—brand, packaging, messaging, and go-to-market presence.
From the bold name to the visual voice you now see on shelves and screens, we built Gnarly Nutrition to stand for clean ingredients, elite performance, and an unapologetic tone that speaks to driven athletes.
Overview
Before “GoGnarly” meant anything, it was just a concept. A supplement brand in a crowded performance market with no identity, no packaging, and no traction. Ballard Branding partnered with the founders to create everything from the ground up—brand, packaging, messaging, and go-to-market presence.
From the bold name to the visual voice you now see on shelves and screens, we built Gnarly Nutrition to stand for clean ingredients, elite performance, and an unapologetic tone that speaks to driven athletes.
The Challenge
The performance supplement category is saturated with lookalike products, exaggerated claims, and brands chasing trends. Gnarly needed to:
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Stand apart with bold, ownable branding
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Build trust without relying on typical industry tropes
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Create packaging that reflected transparency and performance
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Launch a visual and verbal identity that aligned with elite-level users
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Gain traction without a paid media budget
Our Approach
Ballard Branding handled every aspect of the creative and strategic brand launch:
Brand Identity & Naming
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Developed the name Gnarly Nutrition to reflect raw energy, authenticity, and outdoor grit
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Created the full brand mark, icon system, and packaging standards
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Built a brand voice that was bold, clean, and athlete-first
Packaging System
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Designed a full packaging suite across multiple products
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Created all supplement labeling and compliance-ready designs
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Emphasized clarity, clean ingredient design, and high-contrast visuals
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Built shelf presence that competed with the loudest voices in the category
Go-to-Market Execution
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Wrote all brand messaging, taglines, and product descriptions
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Designed retail-ready product labels and display materials
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Created foundational content and digital brand assets
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Established an affiliate and influencer program to build organic reach
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Activated social media strategy and cobranded email partnerships
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Launched on Amazon, built retail-ready catalogs, and secured store placement
Our Approach
Ballard Branding handled every aspect of the creative and strategic brand launch:
Brand Identity & Naming
-
Developed the name Gnarly Nutrition to reflect raw energy, authenticity, and outdoor grit
-
Created the full brand mark, icon system, and packaging standards
-
Built a brand voice that was bold, clean, and athlete-first
Packaging System
-
Designed a full packaging suite across multiple products
-
Created all supplement labeling and compliance-ready designs
-
Emphasized clarity, clean ingredient design, and high-contrast visuals
-
Built shelf presence that competed with the loudest voices in the category
Go-to-Market Execution
-
Wrote all brand messaging, taglines, and product descriptions
-
Designed retail-ready product labels and display materials
-
Created foundational content and digital brand assets
-
Established an affiliate and influencer program to build organic reach
-
Activated social media strategy and cobranded email partnerships
-
Launched on Amazon, built retail-ready catalogs, and secured store placement
The Results
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Top 3 Google Rankings: 67 keywords
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Top 10 Rankings: 177 keywords
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Paid Search Spend: $0
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Organic Traffic: 5,000+ visits/month
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Retail Channels: Amazon, catalog distribution, and physical store placement
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Multiple Product Lines launched with full brand and packaging consistency
What Made It Work
Gnarly didn’t enter the market quietly—and that was by design.
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Naming and design that instantly communicated character and strength
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Packaging that set a new standard in supplement shelf presence
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Messaging that cut through noise and resonated with purpose-driven athletes
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A brand ecosystem powered by organic growth, partnerships, and performance-led positioning
What Made It Work
Gnarly didn’t enter the market quietly—and that was by design.
-
Naming and design that instantly communicated character and strength
-
Packaging that set a new standard in supplement shelf presence
-
Messaging that cut through noise and resonated with purpose-driven athletes
-
A brand ecosystem powered by organic growth, partnerships, and performance-led positioning
Want Similar Results?
From nothing to national presence, Gnarly Nutrition was built with bold intention. The brand has since undergone a visual refresh under new ownership, including a logo change to reflect their updated direction—though that work was not led by us. Ballard Branding didn’t just design a label—we created a movement.
Want your brand to speak louder, stand stronger, and grow faster? Let’s make it happen.
Contact us to start your brand transformation.
| Metric / Action | Result | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|
| Top 3 Google Rankings | 67 keywords | Strong visibility for high-intent terms in a competitive space |
| Top 10 Google Rankings | 177 keywords | Broad search relevance across core product categories |
| Paid Search Spend | $0 | 100% organic growth—maximizing ROI and long-term value |
| Organic Traffic | 5,000+ visits/month | Consistent, compounding inbound interest without ad spend |
| Supplement Labeling | Fully compliant + brand-aligned | Built credibility and ensured readiness for retail and eComm expansion |
| Retail Placement | Amazon, catalog, physical stores | Multi-channel distribution from day one |
| Affiliate & Influencer Program | Strategically activated | Extended brand reach through trusted voices and community engagement |
| Product Line Coverage | Multiple SKUs launched | Scalable identity system adaptable across product offerings |