🛏️ Boll & Branch CEO Scott Tannen's Top Interview Priority
Scott Tannen, founder and CEO of Boll & Branch, has personally interviewed over 1,000 people and hired hundreds across his career. With 275 employees now under his oversight, he prioritises a candidate's preparation above all else, from intern applicants to C-suite executives.
Tannen's first and most critical question is simple: "What do you know about Boll & Branch?"
🚩 The Biggest Red Flag
According to Tannen, a lack of preparation is the "biggest red flag." He looks for evidence that a candidate has taken the interview seriously and spent a few hours researching the company.
"If they can’t at least give me back what’s on our Wikipedia page, we probably are not starting off on the best foot.”
While candidates aren't expected to know everything, they must demonstrate they've done their homework.
💡 Beyond the Superficial
Tannen stresses that a superficial answer—like simply saying, "Oh, you make bedding"—is not enough. A well-researched candidate would know that Boll & Branch, which he co-founded with his wife, specializes in:
Luxury organic bedding
Linens
Sleepwear
Furniture and home goods
He wants to hear candidates say, “I’ve learned this,” or “I know you do business this way,” based on their research.
🤝 Qualities of a Great Applicant
Beyond company knowledge, successful applicants demonstrate:
Preparation: Coming with thoughtful questions for the interviewer.
Confidence and Enthusiasm: A genuine excitement for the position.
Curiosity: Interest in what they can accomplish in the role.
Tannen sums up the ideal response as: "Tell me what you’re excited about that you think we can teach you, and vice versa, how you can contribute."
✨ The Memorable Example
He recalls a standout interview with a student applying for a merchandiser intern role. Despite having no merchandising experience, the student discussed creating her own brand in college and expressed a powerful desire to learn Boll & Branch's business model. Tannen called it "one of the best interviews" due to the intern's "incredible desire to learn and this admiration" for how the company was built. This intern is now expected to return for a full-time position upon graduation.
Ultimately, Tannen believes showing up prepared is easy to do but "truly distances the great applicants from everybody else."