10/31/2025
I Still Miss My Friend
Ten years ago today, 3D Nutrition lost its founder, Randy Hillebrand, Jr. Many people lost many aspects of a remarkable young man. I lost a buddy, and much more… to me, he was the annoying high school kid calling from the slowest GNC store in the region back in 2009 because he was bored and wanted to discuss a scientific study he’d recently read. I was busy managing my store and trying to get sales back on track after poor management (before me) had run the Pier 37 store way down in the rankings.
A scant 3 years later, I started occasionally helping him at his own store (3D Nutrition, est. AD 2012) and called him “boss”. He became a friend, a younger brother, and a teammate with whom I shared similar ideas and goals about what 3D Nutrition could become. Our journey together was more than just work—it was about shared dreams, late-night brainstorming, fun, success, and a lot of laughter. Not that it was all rainbows and unicorns, because it wasn't. Sometimes it was frustrating, deadlines were difficult to meet, and long hours were required. Some tasks were mind-numbing. But that was okay because nothing good is easy.
He could be stubbon and annoying. We occasionally had some pretty strong disagreements, but that was sometimes a good thing. We both grew through those experiences and honest airing of conflicting opinions and ideas. Like the Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 17:17
Randy was fun and funny. He was remarkably intelligent and didn’t accept limitations. He was always pushing against “accepted” industry boundaries and thinking outside the box. He believed that the sky was the limit, and partly because of his belief and his unfettered view of what was possible; I also believed that the sky was the limit. We were on a mission to conquer the world, and it felt possible! He had assembled a great team of people around him and together, we (the sum of several different personalities, skills, and aptitudes) were making rain.
He was kind and generous. He was interested, curious, and constantly learning. Ten years after he was taken from us, I still think about him on a regular basis. Sometimes when I’m trying to solve a problem, I wonder what ideas he would have.
I’ve wondered many times where we would be today as a company if we’d kept the crew together for another decade. I’m mindful that the business I manage was started by my friend 13 years ago. I remember the values that we shared and the things we did not like about working for a giant corporate entity. I appreciate him, I miss him, and I wish he were here to work with me on this mission.
There are still some ideas I nurture as a tribute to him. I maintain some Panda items in the store and in a way, he is always here. I still use variations of some passwords he created because I like the way it feels. I'm working to build a team around me that will take 3DN to the next level.
Big Bear misses you, Big Panda. I’m grateful for what you started. I’m proud of the difficult times it has survived. And my vision still reaches to the sky. Love you, Bro.
