Olive Oil Health Benefits & Ecommerce Growth | Sabrina Avila from Olivea

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Hey everybody, welcome back to Pathmonk Presents. Today we’re really excited to have Sabrina Avila from Olivea online. Sabrina, how are you doing today?

Sabrina Avila: I’m good, Kevin. Thank you so much for having me.

Kevin: Of course. We’re really excited to learn about your e-commerce company, how it got started, and what you guys are doing from a marketing and growth perspective. Before we dive in, why don’t you tell us what the company is all about?

Sabrina: Of course. Olivea is all about the medical benefits of extra virgin olive oil. Let me explain in simple terms what we do. You’ve probably heard about LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol.” Plaque formation in the arteries starts when LDL oxidation occurs. What’s amazing is that extra virgin olive oil—specifically hydroxytyrosol, one of its key polyphenols—prevents this from happening.

Why did we start Olivea? Unfortunately, it began with a very personal story. Back in 2021, my dad passed away suddenly. He had no history of health issues and was only 56 years old. My entire family was shocked. We weren’t getting any real answers, so I started researching natural ways to prevent something like this from happening. That’s when I discovered a wealth of studies on extra virgin olive oil. The research was outstanding—one in three people could suffer from a vascular condition down the line. Yet, no one was talking about it.

I was fortunate that one of my best friends, a Harvard-trained cardiologist from Greece, validated all this data. He confirmed there was something here. We then partnered with one of his friends, whose family runs one of the largest olive oil producers in Greece. We realized there was a natural way to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Beyond that, looking at the Mediterranean diet—the way they live, supplement their meals with olive oil, eat fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables—we saw how much this was lacking in Western diets. We wanted to make it easy for people in the U.S. and beyond to get these benefits.

We developed an easy way to reap the benefits of extra virgin olive oil, particularly hydroxytyrosol, in a single 4-calorie capsule. Research shows you only need 5mg of hydroxytyrosol daily to benefit your vascular system. Our capsule-in-capsule technology delivers 20mg of hydroxytyrosol in the inner capsule, while the outer capsule contains high-phenolic extra virgin olive oil. That’s equivalent to consuming five tablespoons of olive oil daily—without the extra calories.

Kevin: That’s a really interesting way to bring these benefits to people who might not be getting them from their diet. I want to talk more about the products, growth strategies, and marketing. Who is the product best for?

Sabrina: Really, this product is good for everyone. Unlike supplements for gut health or bloat relief, where you feel immediate effects, this is a preventative measure. The version of yourself 20 or 40 years from now will thank you. We target people 30 and above, but anyone can use it. It’s an enhancement, like taking fish oil—you don’t feel something right away, but it’s great for you.

Kevin: That makes sense. And me being in my 30s, maybe I should start adding it to my regimen. How does your audience typically find out about Olivea? What are some of your top acquisition channels?

Sabrina: Great question. We’re small, so we’re really working on our online presence. You’ll find us on our website, which we’ll talk about more, but we focus on content—blogs, research-backed articles, and social media, especially Instagram. We also run ads on Meta. It’s a great platform for testing messaging, seeing what resonates, and learning what converts quickly.

Kevin: You mentioned Meta. Do you find that it performs better than Google Ads or TikTok?

Sabrina: So far, Meta has performed the best for us. We’re not spending much on Google yet, but SEO is a priority for long-term growth. We’re working on partnerships with newsletters and other brands for backlinks. Meta, though, has been our main testing ground.

Kevin: Interesting. It’s fascinating how audience behavior determines which platforms work best. Now, about your website—I checked it out, and it’s really well designed. How does it play into your client acquisition strategy, and what are its strengths and weaknesses?

Sabrina: We wanted a website that makes science digestible. Hydroxytyrosol sounds complex, but we break it down into easy-to-understand content. Science can be engaging, and we back everything with real research and claims. Our website is built around this credibility, with blogs, short articles, and eBooks.

Kevin: That’s great for SEO too—constantly publishing fresh content keeps the site updated and ranks well. What else do you do to ensure a high-converting website?

Sabrina: Interactive tools work well. People love quizzes—our vascular health quiz helps personalize recommendations. We also use targeted landing pages with quick, valuable information. Another thing that surprised me is the importance of the About Us page. People want to know who’s behind the brand and why they should trust us.

Kevin: That makes sense—social proof and credibility are key. Shifting focus to you as a marketer, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?

Sabrina: I have a great team, so I focus on messaging—how to make our content resonate. I analyze trends, engagement, and ad performance. I also look for new expansion opportunities, whether through Amazon, supermarkets, or local partnerships. I’m always knocking on doors.

Kevin: Sounds like a dynamic role! Where do you go to stay updated?

Sabrina: Podcasts, for sure. They’re a quick, easy way to get great insights. And my husband—he keeps up with everything and downloads information for me daily.

Kevin: That’s awesome! What’s the last book you read?

Sabrina: Zero to One by Peter Thiel. It’s a great book on startups and the mentality needed to push through challenges.

Kevin: If there were no technological boundaries, what’s one thing you’d want fixed for marketing?

Sabrina: Attribution. Understanding exactly where success comes from and replicating it. Also, keeping up with changing algorithms—it feels like a new playbook every week.

Kevin: That’s a common answer! What advice would you give yourself at the start of your career?

Sabrina: Just go for it. Trust your instincts and take the leap.

Kevin: I love that. Two final questions—what’s new with Olivea? Any new products?

Sabrina: Yes! We’re about to launch a high-phenolic, single-source extra virgin olive oil. It’s super high-quality, and I could give a whole masterclass on why that matters!

Kevin: Looking forward to it! Last question—if someone forgets everything from this interview, what’s the one thing they should remember about Olivea?

Sabrina: You can’t plan for life’s uncertainties, but you can take steps to protect your health. Take care of yourself now.

Kevin: That’s a great message. Thank you so much for joining us today, Sabrina. Everyone, check out Olivea’s website—we’ll link it in this post. Looking forward to seeing what you do next!

Sabrina: Thank you so much, Kevin!