Eric Ryan
Eric Ryan co-founded Method, the eco-friendly cleaning products company, with Adam Lowry in 2001. The San Francisco-based brand revolutionized sustainable home care with design-forward products.
Eric Ryan's Bio
Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Method, the innovative cleaning products company that proved eco-friendly could be elegant. He launched Method in 2001 with Adam Lowry after spending seven years in advertising, realizing the cleaning category lacked design and sensibility. The company grew into a billion-dollar business, eventually selling a majority stake to Ecover in 2017.
Before Method, Ryan studied business and communications at the University of Rhode Island, where he arrived thanks to a passion for sailing—not necessarily for the academics. That category-first approach became his signature: he didn't start with passion for vitamins or first-aid, but saw stale categories ready for reinvention. He applied the same formula to Olly (gummy vitamins and supplements), Welly (modern first-aid products), and Cast (everyday jewelry), building a portfolio of brands that blend function with intentional design.
Today Ryan invests, advises, and supports emerging founders. His playbook—find a large, overlooked consumer space, inject design thinking, and scale through mass retail—has influenced a generation of CPG entrepreneurs.
Career Timeline
1994 — Began advertising career
Spent seven years in advertising for consumer brands before founding Method
1996 — Graduated University of Rhode Island
BS in Business & Communications
2001 — Co-founded Method
Launched eco-friendly cleaning products company with Adam Lowry
2012 — Method acquired by Ecover
Sold Method to Belgian green cleaning company Ecover
2013 — Co-founded Olly
Founded vitamin and supplements brand with Brad Harrington
2015 — Olly major retail launch
Olly launched nationwide at Target and other major retailers
2019 — Unilever acquired Olly
Olly acquired by Unilever to expand health & wellbeing portfolio
2019 — Co-founded Welly
Launched first-aid products brand with Doug Stukenborg
2021 — Co-founded Cast
Founded fine jewelry brand with Rachel Skelly
Episodes
Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns
Guy Raz brings Eric Ryan back to the Advice Line alongside founders Christina Peng of Haven Beauty and James Chambliss of Pigeon Toes for a masterclass in turning setbacks into comebacks. Eric reveals how Method weathered near-bankruptcy before its eco-cleaning revolution, while Christina confronts the fear of scaling beauty without losing soul. James unpacks the emotional labor behind founding a toy company that makes childhood magic. Three raw conversations about what happens when the vision meets reality—and why some brands survive the collision.
Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method
Eric Ryan, co-founder of Method and serial entrepreneur behind brands including Welly and Tandy, joins Guy Raz on the Advice Line to help three early-stage founders navigate real business challenges. Aubrey in Franklin, Tennessee seeks mentorship to scale her growing bakery and restaurant group. Maggie from Chicago weighs whether raising outside capital is the right move for her innovative luggage brand, Props Luggage. And Matt in Scottsdale, Arizona looks for a path to get his convertible glove company, FlipMitts, onto retail shelves. Eric shares lessons drawn from decades of building and scaling consumer brands.