In this episode of the Luca Ecommerce Leader Series, Bryan Kinghorn sits down with Doug Miller, CEO of Wildcat Brothers Distillery, to explore a question every founder has asked:

How can a small business compete with companies that have vastly bigger budgets?

Doug's path to entrepreneurship wasn't conventional.

After nearly three decades trading electricity and natural gas, he left corporate life to acquire a struggling Louisiana distillery just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. What followed was the challenge of rebuilding a business from the ground up—creating a premium rum brand, growing an ecommerce presence, and competing in one of the world's most established consumer categories.

What makes this conversation particularly refreshing is Doug's honest approach to AI.

Rather than presenting himself as an expert, he shares what it's like to be a founder navigating the same questions many business owners face today: Where do you start? Which tools actually create value? And how can AI free up more time to focus on customers instead of administration?

Together, Bryan and Doug discuss practical ways small businesses can use AI to streamline operations, improve marketing, uncover customer insights, and compete more effectively—without needing enterprise-level resources.

You'll learn:

• Doug's transition from energy trading to entrepreneurship
• Building a premium spirits brand during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Growing an ecommerce business in a highly competitive industry
• Using customer data to uncover new growth opportunities
• Practical first steps for implementing AI in a small business
• How AI can reduce admin and give founders back valuable time
• Why independent brands should lean into authenticity—not scale
• Competing smarter instead of spending more

The Luca Ecommerce Leader Series features conversations with founders and operators building the future of commerce. Each episode explores how AI, technology, and better decision-making are helping businesses grow faster, operate more efficiently, and compete in an increasingly complex world.

Connect with Doug Miller

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougmillerenergy/

Learn more about Wildcat Brothers Distillery

https://wildcatbrothers.com/

Connect with Luca

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