Storytelling With Marketeers

On episode 47 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk Active Listening with Skye Marok. VentOverTea is a free service that pairs active listeners with people that need a good venting session. It was founded in 2015 by 3 McGill psychology students that wanted to increase the mental well-being of the students around them. Skye decided to join the team after experiencing a VentOverTea session. She is now an Active Listener and a Partnerships/PR Executive for the organization. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Skye Marok and VentOverTea! Topics: - Helping others by using active listening - Raising awareness by participating in community events - Setting aside personal beliefs in order to be more empathetic - Recruiting through referrals - Implementing active listening in a business environment

On episode 46 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk Ecommerce with Jeremiah Curvers. It’s been less than 10 years since foam technology has revolutionized the mattress industry. Mattresses have now become “easy-to-ship” items that are being sold directly to consumers at a much lower retail price. Because of this, many new Ecommerce-first brands have emerged in the market. One of these brands is Polysleep. It was founded in 2016 and is now the 3rd biggest brand of foam mattresses in Quebec. In 2018, Jeremiah left the digital agency world to focus on growing Polysleep full time. Topics: - Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs - Embarking on digital transformation - Internalizing vs outsourcing - Improving your products through customer feedback - Managing costs for an online Direct-to-Consumer business - Optimizing sales through promotions, reviews and analytics

On episode 45 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk sports with Anthony Calvillo. Anthony Calvillo is best known as the former star quarterback of the Montreal Alouettes. In his 16 years with the team, Anthony won 3 Grey Cups for the city and broke numerous CFL records. However, it’s his involvement with the community that really made him stand out as a professional athlete in a hockey driven city. Although he retired as a player in 2013, Anthony remains very active in the Quebec football scene. As the Assistant Head Coach of the Montreal Carabins, he plays a pivotal role in molding the future generation of Canadian football players. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Anthony Calvillo! Topics: - Starting your career off on the wrong foot - Accepting mentorship from the right people - Being prepared is the key to longevity - Staying positive and ignoring criticism - Growing up humble and keeping that mindset - Focusing on your current career while preparing for future opportunities - Starting a business venture after sports

On episode 44 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk fitness with Kareem Rawlins. Kareem is the owner of GoodFITT personal training and wellness services. As a personal coach, his philosophy is to enable his clients to live healthier lifestyles by exercising, eating balanced diets, and focusing on mental wellness. He started GoodFITT nearly a decade ago after experiencing his own physical transformation. After losing nearly 30 pounds of body fat and feeling as healthy as ever , he decided that he’d make a career out of helping others to achieve their own health goals. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Kareem Rawlins and GoodFITT! Topics: - Following your passion - Starting off small - Finding your why - Understanding the value you provide to your customers - Standing out in a competitive environment - Growing through Word-of-Mouth - Setting boundaries for social media use - Converting leads to customers - Focusing on mental health

On episode 43 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk strategy and tactics with Brian Astl. Brian is the president of Lind Equipment: a leader in portable electrical equipment designed for the toughest workplaces. He decided to join Lind in 2007 upon having completed his MBA at Harvard Business School. Given his talent for strategic business development, he searched for an established company that he could elevate to new heights. Lind was a perfect fit since it was a well positioned player in a growing market. Brian started at Lind Equipment with very little category knowledge. That being said, he relied on his experience in building solid strategies to create a plan that would ensure long-term growth. He understood his company’s core companies and laid out a differentiation strategy that would focus on creating innovative products for the heavy industrial, construction, mining, and military industries. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Brian Astl and Lind Equipment! Topics: - Understanding the difference between strategy and tactics - Knowing when to say no - Running a search fund - Making mistakes is part of learning - Finding passionate business partners - Communicating directly to end-users - Innovating to overcome commoditization - Building brand confidence - Determining customer needs in order to develop products

On episode 42 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk content creation with Oliver Wellington. Oliver always knew that he was going to be an entrepreneur. Upon completing his MBA, he played a pivotal role in creating the content recommendation platform nRelate. At its peak, nRelate was able to generate over 6 billion page views a month. The platform was eventually acquired by Ask.com. Oliver left nRelate in 2015 and founded SpareMin with some of his old business partners. SpareMin is currently focused on growing its video editing web-app Headliner. The app was designed with a simple goal in mind: help audio content creators produce videos that they can share on social media. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Oliver Wellington and Headliner!

On episode 41 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk about enabling success with Samantha Kris. Samantha Kris is an author, speaker, success coach, and the founder of the Bossing Up movement. If you haven’t heard of the movement, Bossing Up is all about helping people find their inner boss and enabling them to achieve their dreams of success. After climbing the corporate ladder at a rapid pace, Samantha realized that her true strength stemmed from her ability to set goals. Being someone who loves building communities and interacting with others, she decided to become a success coach in order to help entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Samantha Kris and the Bossing Up movement!

On episode 40 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk product development and branding with Jon Kaplan. Jon is an architect turned entrepreneur. In 2017, he took a leap of faith and started his own company: Burnbud. The Burnbud is an all-in-one smoking accessory that was designed to be sleek, compact, and convenient. What’s fascinating about Jon’s story is that he has always been involved in every aspect of his business. He worked on everything from the original product design to the current sales strategy. Jon now spends most his time on growing the Burnbud brand through marketing. His unique approach to branding has peaked the interest of many companies that are hoping to hire him as a consultant. Using the Burnbud as his first success story, he is now working on establishing himself as a reputable brand strategist. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Jon Kaplan and Burnbud!

On episode 39 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk ethical fashion with Kathleen Elie. Kathleen has always been passionate about clothing. After working in fashion for many years, she began to notice that many injustices had become common place in the industry. Instead of turning a blind eye, she decided to seek and embrace brands that implemented both ethical and sustainable practices. She decided to document her journey by starting her own blog: ConsciousNChic. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Kathleen Elie and ConsciousNChic.

On episode 38 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk entrepreneurship and growth hacking with Scott Martin. Scott is a digital marketing specialist to the core. He has over 20 years of agency experience and has founded multiple successful businesses. His success spans from driving strategies in social media, video, and content marketing to hands on production and deployment. Over the years Scott has built a reputation for striking a middle ground between leading-edge marketing innovation with traditional, proven approaches. Various national brands, and some of which you may be long time supporters of, consult with Scott to develop strategic marketing programs: WestJet, Canadian Tire, Hudson’s Bay Company, BestBuy, SportChek, UFA, Tourism Saskatchewan, Cadillac Fairview, Coast Hotels, among many others. With such a busy schedule you might be wondering how he finds the time to have fun, I know we did. Work-life balance is actually critical for Scott. With a passion for the outdoors, especially being in the ocean and back-country. He applies his creative and marketing background in sharing his passion for surfing and snowboarding by using non-traditional channels such as blogging, social media, and visual content marketing. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Scott Martin and his entrepreneurial ventures.

On episode 37 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk personal branding with Andrew Nguyen. Andrew’s story serves as a reminder that the American Dream is still alive and well. Born into an immigrant family, he has always been expected to achieve great things while having minimal access to resources. At age 17, he had a major disagreement with his parents and was left homeless. Instead of giving up, Andrew decided to take full control of his destiny so that he could reach his goal of being a successful businessman. At under 30, Andrew has already built a 7 figure agency called “The O Agency”. The agency helps athletes, celebrities, and entrepreneurs stand-out through personal branding. He also co-authored a book and is currently working on a new project called BYOBlive. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Andrew Nguyen and his entrepreneurial ventures!

On episode 36 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk entrepreneurship and social media with Steve Daniel. Steve Daniel is the brains behind the popular MTLPromos Instagram account. We were amazed when we found out that the brand started as a client acquisition strategy. When Steve decided to quit his 9 to 5 job to become a social media consultant, he didn’t have any clients to establish his credibility. He had the brilliant idea of creating and curating his own “fake” client. The account now has over 15K followers and has played a pivotal role in growing Steve’s consulting business. Since starting his entrepreneurship journey 8 years ago, Steve has experienced a lot of change. At the age of 25, he thought he had made it. He had a good job, he owned a car, and he owned a house. All that was left was to get married and have kids. Although that might seem like the ideal life for most people, he realized that something was missing. He wasn’t getting the fulfillment that he desired. That’s when he decided to trade the stability of a corporate job for the challenge of entrepreneurship. He might have a lot more anxiety to deal with these days but he sure is enjoying the grind of being able to make it on his own. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Steve Daniel and MTLPromos.

With a deep interest in cinema, Anthony Imperioli’s focus has always been on creating and delivering great stories. Understanding the power of storytelling has lead him to creating various projects, a few being the Nonna Maria persona and Middle Kid Productions. Anthony says, “Having worked in the field of visual effects in both post-production and pre-production aspects, I'm invigorated by the amazing creative effort it takes for a project to go from concept to final product”. By surrounding himself with those that lead with creativity it helps him challenge the status quo, to evolve from one day to the next. To consume creativity is both inspiring and enlightening. So where does Anthony get all of his creativity from? It all started 20+ years ago, growing up in Saint-Leonard with his two brothers. The influence of his Italian culture, especially his grandparents, aided in creating the persona we know today as “Nonna Maria”. This project led him to collaborate with various stand up comedians, one of them being Joe Avati. Learn more at www.montrealmarketeers.com

What is a Girl Boss? To us, a Girl Boss is a term used to describe a strong independent woman who believes in herself and the people around her. Someone who builds relationships with other women to support each other not tear them down. The term “Girl Boss” does not solely represent a group of female entrepreneurs but any female who embodies these qualities and wants to see other women around her succeed. Our dream is to live in a world where all women can feel supported and encouraged by others to excel in their passions, wherever they may lie. Learn more by visiting www.montrealmarketeers.com

Ambroise Debret is an entrepreneur & growth hacker focusing on mobile & ecommerce. What is his number one mission you may ask, “to help create companies and brands that aim to disrupt their industry”. Ambroise had the opportunity to work with various brands, and during those experiences discovered his passion for growth hacking (not only from a business perspective). He then quickly created his personal blog focusing on everything growth hacking and ecommerce related. More recently he has co-founded Make it Run where he’s improving the networking capabilities between race event directors and runners looking for a challenge. Creating opportunities for people to network with those who have a common interest is something ingrained in Ambroise’s DNA. One of his first projects, MTL + Ecommerce, a non-profit organization created for eCommerce enthusiasts is gathering quite the crowd. With the main goal of educating the Montreal eCommerce community and sharing actionable & proven strategies and best business practices, those looking to grow their network with the right people is easier then ever before. A side note, if you are looking to attend this monthly event your best bet is to pre-purchase your tickets as their speakers bring in a large following. To learn more about Ambroise Debret visit his personal blog which includes various tools, such as a list of ecommerce related solutions that will help guide you in working more effectively by managing your time efficiently. Duration:  52 minutes Topics:- What is growth hacking all about - Building a network of followers - Create, analyze, implement and do it all over again - Creating an impossible list (really like this idea!) Learn more at www.montrealmarketeers.com

I have the freedom to give visibility to those who are under-represented or marginalized, from children's rights to women's abuse, queer sub-culture, and identity to the aftermath of conflicts in war zones and hoping to change lives along the way. My mission is to use my craft via portrait and landscape photography to explore how departure, absence and loss impact one’s understanding of home and identity; how struggle affects people’s sense of self and place. Hi, my name is Aydin Matlabi! Arriving to Montreal from Iran with Italian passports at only 5 years old, Aydin moved from refugee camp to refugee camp. Violence, street gangs and injustice was part of his DNA. That is until he met a John Abbott professor who gave him a camera to shoot life from his vantage point. This professor saw more than just violence… and a year later hired him to photograph the gay pride parade. 16+ years later and Aydin is still documenting the Montreal gay pride events. Aydin’s mission gave birth to Foundation 64 (F64), he noticed that the stories being told from the main media were never utilized by the individuals being covered. The subject was used to tell and sell stories, with no gain for the actual victims, or institutions who were making a difference. The stories and visuals were edited, narrated and created for a western audience. Any or all financial gain never reached the people or individuals in need. What Aydin started doing was creating visuals in relation to the victims, who willingly participated as partners. Thereafter, the visuals were utilized for the specific NGO or organization to raise more money, via marketing, media sales and visibility. Therefore, creating visuals for organizations and institutions who have mandates to empower, protect and educate woman and children. Coming up with the name of the foundation, Foundation F64, was inspired by the photography group that documented the economic state of the United States during the 1930s. Duration:  66 minutes Topics: - Storytelling through warphotography - Starting Foundation F64 - If a picture ain’t good enough… you ain’t close enough - Can someone b**** slap the academic world - Getting creative when it comes to making a difference in the world - Fleeing your home country 20+ years later you get sentenced for being a spy - How does one mentally prepare for a 2 month trip to Congo to then fly back home and document one of the most happiest festivals in Toronto. - Art has an extreme amount of power, which is one of the reasons why I won’t work on a project unless it can positively impact the region and people in which I'm documenting. Visit www.montrealmarketeers.com checkout our latest episodes!

A few years ago Ameer Alba was working as a nurse who chose to make a pivot in his career, switching fields to follow his dream. That is, nursing brands on how to grow their business through captivating 1 minutes videos. Storytelling is a crucial part to any business, people essentially buy and interact with people, not business entities. Ameer helps organizations deliver their story via a sequence of multiple videos, delivered in a manner that stays true to the brand and the audience it is intended for. You'll quickly notice that Ameer's personality and determination to bring brands to life is why he has been so successful at storytelling. Ameer takes his craft to a new level, before even discussing a project he takes the time to really understand the brand and the people working behind it. Visit his personal Instagram account https://instagram.com/ameeralba to see for yourself! Duration: 46 minutes Topics: - Storytelling through video - Creating captivating videos that creates a connection with its target market - How to successfully create videos - Making videos that stick - Being authentic & creating a human connection with your target market - Taking risks with social media & influencers - New age word of mouth Visit our website www.montrealmarketeers.com to learn more.

On episode 30 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk about creating successful teams with Matt Sakaguchi, a site reliability manager at Google. Matt runs two Site Reliability Engineering teams for Android and Google Play, responsible for the Google Play store Infrastructure, critical Android services, and Play store verticals (movies, books). He also coordinates outreach to developer teams and partners with them to increase the stability and reliability of the services Google supports. Google's expert on what makes teams effective talks with the Montreal Marketeers about his experience consulting with various divisions at Google about building strong and effective teams. While also discussing his experiences working in the police force, the SWAT team, Sony, Walmart and many other organizations. Check out www.montrealmarketeers.com to learn more.

On episode 29 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk ciders and spirits with one of the founders of Sarah Cole Ciders. Ciderie Sarah Cole owes the authenticity of its products to the passion of its founders, but also to its history. It all started in Argenteuil county in the province of Québec, halfway between Montreal & Ottawa. In this area, the Champlain sea, retreating after the last glacial age, left us with amazing mineral rich soil. Heirloom apple trees grown on those lands allowed for the creation of a unique variation of fruits well suited to make great European-style hard ciders. Sarah Cole offers ciders that are well balanced (not too sweet or too dry) to enjoy with family and friends. The apples are hand-picked, carefully selected and maintained at ideal temperatures, thus preserving the freshness, aroma and taste. The fruit is then pressed slowly, ensuring a refreshing cider and balanced flavors. Duration: 51 minutes Topics: - How did Sarah Cole come to life - Why focus on ciders - Don't let your distributors/partners choose you - Educating your customers - Adapting to trends and finding creative ways to integrate your product with others - Choosing the right brand ambassador Visit www.montrealmarketeers.com to check out our latest episodes.

MM28 - Donny Mellozzi: Co-Founder at Ascoli Wines and Spirits by Montreal Marketeers

On episode 27 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk YouTube with Ali, aka Lucky Loush. Ali is one of the most energetic guests we've had on our podcast. It didn't come as a surprise to us when he mentioned that he couldn't simply "drink the Kool-Aid" and be satisfied with a regular 9 to 5 job. His desire to build something larger than himself led to the creation of the Lucky Loush YouTube channel. Ali's goal has always been to promote Lebanese culture. As a Lebanese Canadian, he feels that traditional media companies have a tendency to shine a negative light on the community that he holds so close to his heart. After trying different content creation approaches, he found his niche in reacting to Arabic music videos. At the time of recording this episode, Lucky Loush had about 1,000 YouTube subscribers . It took him over a year to reach this goal but his patience and perseverance is finally paying off. As of July 2018, he surpassed the 20,000 subscriber mark. Check out this week's episode of the Montreal Marketeers to find out more about building a YouTube community with Lucky Loush. Topics: - Finding your passion - Hacking culture - Playing the extremities - Relating to your audience - Taking game, adding value, and making it yours - Pivoting when necessary - Building a core audience - Staying true to yourself Montreal Marketeers Episode 27 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or through your RSS feed.

On episode 26 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk digital marketing with Ben Levesque from Webrunner media. Ben started his digital marketing adventure while he was pursuing his dreams of making it into the NHL. At the time, a normal day would consist of strict practice and training regiments followed by downtime in the afternoon. Instead of playing video games like most of his teammates, he spent his time learning about SEO. Unfortunately, he did not make it into the NHL. However, he did continue learning about digital marketing and became an expert in the field. He started a blog that discusses the psychology of hockey and amassed a strong following of loyal readers. Craving even more challenge, he joined his brother Marc as the director of marketing for Webrunner Media where he specializes in Facebook ads. Check out this week's episode of Montreal Marketeers to find our more about digital marketing with Ben Levesque. www.montrealmarketeers.com

Montreal Marketeers Announcement by Montreal Marketeers

On episode 25 of the Montreal Marketeers, we talk podcasting with Seth Feingersh. Seth manages the audio content for one of the most popular podcasts around: The GaryVee Audio Experience. As Gary Vaynerchuk's audio engineer, Seth plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the podcasts are consistent in terms of audio quality and content. And when you release as much content as Gary does, you know that the bar is set high. Whether it's publishing native content or re-purposing content, Seth is always focused on delivering the very best.

On episode 24 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk about being customer focused with Sabrina Prioletta. Sabrina is the founder of Siva Marketing and also happens to be the first recurring guest on our podcast. If you missed her first episode, check out MM13 to learn how archetypal branding can be used to grow your business.  This time around, we do a deep dive into customer service/experience. In our connected world, companies have the unprecedented ability to get up close and personal with their customers. At the same time, customers now have the capability to broadcast their brand experiences on the internet for everyone to see. The importance of listening and interacting with your clients has become essential. Check out this week's episode to find out how being customer focused can provide positive returns for your company! Topics: - Connecting with your customers and making them feel important - Actively listening to your customers - Making sure your customers are aligned to your vision - Managing customer expectations - Learning to say no - Getting customers to give you their opinion on your brand - Monitoring online interactions - Syncing branding & customer service - Staying customer focused even after the sale is over - Evaluating customer lifetime value

On episode 23 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk Italian liqueurs with Mario D'Amico. Mario's passion for liqueurs and spirits started as a teenager. Although he didn't drink at that age, he became obsessed with understanding the art of the cocktail and the stories behind some of the biggest brands. Throughout the years, he's managed to assemble an impressive collection of over 400 bottles. Not going to lie, he puts our collections to shame! In 2017, Mario founded Spiritueux Iberville with the goal of creating unique bitter liqueurs that incorporate Italian traditions with local Quebec ingredients. He did so to pay tribute to the sacrifices his grandfather made when he immigrated to Quebec in 1953. With less than a year under his belt, he is already taking Quebec by storm! Check out this week's episode to find out more about Mario D'Amico and Spiritueux Iberville! Topics: - Partnering with a distillery to offset start-up costs - Gaining industry knowledge before becoming an entrepreneur - Following your passion - Having a strong work ethic - Creating brand awareness through education - Planning vs. executing - Incorporating your culture into your business strategy - Getting customers to try something new - Dealing with the fear of disappointing clients - Making it big locally before expanding Montreal Marketeers Episode 23 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or through your RSS feed. Music by Patrick Lehman

On episode 22 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk paid acquisition with Marc Levesque. Marc is a self-described lifestyle entrepreneur. After working in sales and marketing for over 10 years, he decided to start his own marketing agency in order to take control of his life and focus on what he really liked doing. He co-founded Webrunner Media Group in 2012 with the goal of helping businesses increase their leads through paid acquisition (e.g. Google AdWords, Facebook Ads). Check out this week's episode to find out more about Marc Levesque and Webrunner Media Group! Topics: - Taking control of your life - Learning by doing - Finding a partner with complementary skills - Starting off naive and optimistic - Executing instead of worrying about appearances - Staying on top of industry trends - Treating your customer's business as if it was your own - Implementing inbound marketing strategies - Choosing the right customer and continuously delighting them - Focusing on being a specialist Montreal Marketeers Episode 22 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 16 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk burlesque with Scarlett James. Scarlett saw her first burlesque show in 2007 and instantly fell in love with the art. At the time, the Montreal burlesque scene was almost non-existent and shows were usually focused on humour. Scarlett wanted to take a different approach and worked on creating a show that revolved around glamour. After 6 months of hard work, she finally got a chance to showcase her act and it was an immediate success. Scarlett has been credited with making burlesque more mainstream in Canada. Besides growing her own personal brand, she also founded the annual Montreal Burlesque Festival. However, her success isn't limited to the Canadian market as she travels around the globe to perform her acts at theatres and corporate events. Join Scarlett as she celebrates her 10th year anniversary as a burlesque showgirl by bringing back her most famous acts. Tickets are now on sale for her "Grande Revue" show on April 28th 2018 in Montreal. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Scarlett James and the burlesque industry! Duration: 54 minutes Topics: - Finding a new passion and starting from scratch - Being true to yourself - Understanding the logistics of creating an act - Connecting to your audience - Adapting your act by following your heart and soul - Growing the Montreal burlesque industry - Combining a passion for business and art in order to become a successful entrepreneur - Dealing with the haters Montreal Marketeers Episode 16 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 21 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk personal branding and social media with Nick Messina. Nick was born and raised in Montreal by two proud Sicilian parents. His heritage has always played a big role in shaping his life and he is determined to keep his family traditions alive. In 2015, he began posting on Instagram regularly and started to build an audience. He eventually decided to take on a new persona: Sicilianu Di Montreal. Nick has always focused on being true to himself and having fun. He grew his audience organically and recently surpassed the 10K follower mark. After all the hard work he put into building Sicilianu Di Montreal, he is now able to leverage his personal brand to meet his personal goals. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Nick Messina and how he built his personal brand through social media! Duration: 42 minutes Topics: - Generating leads by leveraging Instagram popularity - Staying humble - Growing your personal brand - Unlocking the Instagram "Swipe Up" feature - Using influence to promote other brands - Separating your online persona from your real life persona - Being influenced by your upbringing - Staying true to yourself and having fun - Generating ideas in order to consistently produce content Montreal Marketeers Episode 21 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 20 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk copywriting with Zach Stoner. It's clear that Zach is passionate about two things: sports and copywriting. When he was in college he realized that he wouldn't make it as a professional soccer player so he decided to focus his attention on journalism. The road to getting his journalism degree wasn't always easy but in the end he persisted and found his true calling: copywriting. Zach now works for VaynerMedia, Gary Vaynerchuk's digital ad agency. As a copywriter, he creates marketing pieces based on core insights about clients' brands and their target audience. His quest for acquiring knowledge and his thirst for challenging projects enables him to get continuously get better at his craft. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Zach Stoner and the copywriting industry! Duration: 49 minutes Topics: - Generating ideas for content and paying attention to details - Learning from mentors and continuously seeking knowledge - Tailoring content to your target audience - Focusing on brand building vs immediate conversions - Creating a personal brand within a corporate environment - Being authentic - Spurring creativity by changing your environment - Improving your writing skills through other artistic ventures - Collaborating with your team to generate superior results - Repurposing content Montreal Marketeers Episode 20 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 19 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk cycling with Pierre-Paul Schiltz. Cycle Paul was founded in 1948 by Pierre-Paul's grandfather, Paul Schiltz. The business originally sold bikes, ammunition, hunting and hockey equipment. Customers could even rent bicycles and guns. Much as changed since the 1950s and Cycle Paul has pivoted their business accordingly. They now focus solely on servicing the needs of cycling enthusiasts and professionals. Since taking over the business in 2013 from his father, Pierre-Paul has been keen on continuing his family's legacy. He's spent his entire life in the bike industry and is a passionate cyclist himself. He recently opened a second location in Vaudreuil to complement the long established Pointe-Claire shop. Besides selling high-end bikes and accessories, he also offers the "Fit" service which allows you to choose the optimal bicycle for your needs. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Pierre-Paul Schiltz and Cycle Paul. Duration: 47 minutes Topics: - Having a passion for your industry - Dealing with seasonality - Persisting through personal injury - Differentiating and offering a specialized service - Catering to a diverse clientele of enthusiasts - Guiding the buying experience with guided questions - Understanding the life cycle of products and customers - Building awareness for services and focusing on convenience - Creating a digital presence in order to build your brand - Striving to have a positive impact on someone's life - Learning from your family Montreal Marketeers Episode 19 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 18 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk underwear with Dez Price. Dez Price is a passionate entrepreneur, snowboarder, and skateboarder. It shouldn't come as a surprise that his career path has always revolved around the sports industry. In 2010 he co-founded the apparel brand MyPakage in order to bring top of the line men's underwear to an underserved market. Why underwear you might ask? He noticed trends were shifting and that men were now paying more attention to what they wear beneath their clothing. He saw the opportunity to introduce innovations to an industry that hadn't really changed since the mid 90s. MyPakage Apparel rebranded as BN3TH Apparel in February 2018. The company has grown tremendously since it's inception and Dez is keen on expanding his product offering. The current rebranding strategy will play a pivotal role in enabling the future growth of his company. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Dez Price and BN3TH Apparel. Duration: 60 minutes Topics: - Finding an opportunity in an underserved market where trends are shifting - Creating a superior quality product in order to differentiate yourself - Building a brand by targeting a specific target market - Creating a social media campaign to express brand identity - Using sampling as a market penetration strategy - Collaborating in order to gain exposure - Following your passion as an entrepreneur - Growing a brand in a way that enables long-term success - Utilizing contacts from past work experiences - Choosing the right employees and distributors - Rebranding in order to enable product line extension Montreal Marketeers Episode 18 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 17 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk E-commerce and Digital Marketing with Johnny Russo. Johnny Russo is a self-taught digital expert. He graduated from Concordia University in 2003 with a degree in journalism but quickly realized that his true passion was for Marketing. After working for major Canadian retailers such as Mexx, Buffalo, and Bentley, he now takes care of Mark's' (L'Équipeur in Quebec) e-commerce and digital marketing strategy. Johnny's passion for learning and continuously improving is quite evident. His approach to marketing is strongly driven by understanding consumer behaviour and challenging the status quo. Whether it's reading books authored by other Marketing experts or experimenting with innovative digital strategies, he is always working on improving his skills. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Johnny Russo and Mark's e-commerce and digital marketing initiatives. Duration: 1 hour and 25 minutes Topics: - Transitioning from journalism to marketing - Learning marketing from books - Understanding data analytics in order to monitor success - Focusing on delivering instead of striving for perfection - Implementing scrum strategies in a retail environment - Making sure inter-departmental communication is strong - Creating a true omni-channel strategy - Outsourcing vs insourcing - Questioning the status quo - Treating everyone as customers and ultimately as partners - Building a team with specialists and generalists Montreal Marketeers Episode 17 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or through your RSS feed. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 15 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast we are storytelling with Andrew Neumann, the owner/founder of an espresso barber shop. Yes you heard heard correctly, his primary business is to provide customer's with Montreal's best coffee experience, while providing a tailored haircut. Andrew realized his passion for coffee at an early age, working at Café Epoca not only helped further develop his palette but also aided in understanding what it takes to provide great service. As time passed, Andrew started developing an interest for cutting hair, seeing his mom run a successful salon for years peaked his interest. To gain experience and know-how he started asking friends if they would like a free haircut. It didn't take long for Andrew to perfect his craft and start working full time as a Fade to Brooklyn barber. Fast forward to today and Andrew has created an environment where customers get to experience his art; the goal of making each and every cut a tailored experience, while still delivering the perfect espresso. Primo Barbeshop & Café has really created an environment where two very different services blend seamlessly together (even when, at first sight, you wonder how). Check out this week's episode to find out more about how Primo came to life! Let us know what you think about this weeks episode and which passion you think Andrew enjoys more? Providing espresso or being a barber... Duration: 50 minutes Topics: - The art of providing great service - Following your passion - What happens when you run out of espresso? - Choosing the right supplier - Creating a story behind your brand that your proud of! Montreal Marketeers Episode 15 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or use our RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 14 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we recap 2017 and talk about future plans for 2018. We launched our first episode on October 1st 2017 with the goal of finding and sharing the stories of interesting artists, entrepreneurs, and marketers. We loved listening to podcasts like How I Built This or Six Pixels of Separation and wondered what it would be like to be in the driver's seat. With 13 interviews released in 2017, we are proud of what our podcast has accomplished so far! That being said, we know that not everything has been perfect so far. In fact, we started this project because we wanted to become better marketers and work on building our own brand. So we decided to make some changes for the new year and hope to bring you even better content going forward! Check out this week's episode to find out how we viewed our progress in 2017 and what we have planned for 2018! Duration: 25 minutes Montreal Marketeers Episode 14 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or use our RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 13 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk branding with Sabrina Prioletta. Sabrina is a fellow storyteller. She believes that entrepreneurs should show their true colours and align their branding accordingly. This allows consumers to identify with a brand and connect with it on a whole new level. In other words, a brand's story needs to become the soul of the business. After working for large brands like Adidas and Molson, she decided to start her own business. Her original idea was to create an Italian ice cream shop but quickly realized that her true passion was and still remained Marketing. She founded the consulting firm Siva Marketing in 2012 and has been helping businesses with their branding ever since. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Sabrina Prioletta and Siva Marketing! Duration: 59 minutes Topics: - Learning by working for large corporations - Understanding archetypal branding - Aligning your brand with your personality - Establishing a consistent brand message - Staying true to your core - Setting your limits as a business owner - Dealing with metrics based marketing - Focusing on your strengths as a consultant - Choosing the right clients - Creating brand ambassadors - Reinventing yourself Montreal Marketeers Episode 13 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or use our RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 12 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk cocktails with Gabrielle Panaccio. Gabrielle is a true go-getter. She started in the restaurant business as a cook but developed a passion for cocktails while working in Australia. That experience changed her life and she set out to create one of the best cocktail bars in Canada. Le Lab was founded by mixologist Fabien Maillard in 2008. He wanted to create a bar where his passion, vision, and creativity would become a reality. Gabrielle joined Le Lab 2 years into its inception and is now a part-owner. She begged Fabien to let her work for him with the promise that she would be the best employee he would ever have. He accepted and she has been fulfilling that promise ever since. If you love cocktails, Le Lab is definitely a place that you need to visit frequently! When you go there, make sure you try out one of their most popular signature cocktails: the Jerky Lab Jack. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Gabrielle Panaccio and Bar Le Lab! Duration: 44 minutes Topics: - Creating a business to follow your passion - Launching affiliate businesses - Learning your trade by working in the industry versus schooling - Building the right team to grow - Expanding to a second location - Introducing food and cocktail pairings - Using word-of-mouth as a primary marketing tool - Finding efficiencies when managing more staff - Focusing on long-term success - Going with the flow instead of planning everything out Montreal Marketeers Episode 12 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or use our RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 11 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk raw honey with Nicholas Melka. Nick discovered raw honey when he was looking for a better way to treat his lyme disease. He needed to take about 60 pills a day and it was taking a toll on him. At one point it got so bad that the pills caused a tear in his stomach. He decided to start eating raw honey as an alternative treatment and his health improved within days! Since then, he dedicates himself to giving back to the bees that helped him so much. He founded MIEL MTL to increase the number of bees in communities across Quebec and to create a superior raw honey that is packed with medicinal properties. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Nicholas Melka and MIEL MTL! Duration: 55 minutes Topics: - Starting a company in order to give back - Learning on the fly and pivoting your business when necessary - Managing rapid growth - Choosing the right partners to work with - Opting for face-to-face meetings - Pursuing all opportunities - Differentiating your product from cheaper alternatives - Determining the proper market price for your product - Pushing the "local" aspect of a product Montreal Marketeers Episode 11 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or use our RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 10 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk eCommerce with Alaa Hassan. Alaa is a very busy marketer. He is the Director of Digital Marketing at Linen Chest, the founder of the eCommerce Training Academy, and an eCommerce advisor. Most importantly, he sees himself as the most passionate eCommerce expert! He has created a loyal following by sharing his knowledge with people that are looking to improve their eCommerce strategies. Whether you own your business or work as a marketer, Alaa has the tips you need in order to increase your online sales performance. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Alaa Hassan and his passion for eCommerce! Duration: 1 hour and 17 minutes Topics: - Inspiring individuals to do incredible things online - Reading in order to develop your skills - Choosing the right eCommerce solutions - Earning your stripes as a new graduate - Dealing with situations that threaten to close your business - Focusing on one thing - Building a tribe - Mastering the basics of email marketing - Following a calendar in order to stay on track - Measuring the success of promotional strategies - Strategizing for sales like Black Friday Montreal Marketeers Episode 10 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 9 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk video games with Vivian Yen and James Anderson from Ratloop Games Canada. Vivian and James are business partners as well as life partners. Vivian's passion for entrepreneurship mixed with James' passion for designing video games led to the creation of Ratloop Games Canada in 2017. They received a government grant to create Vroom Kaboom: a duelling game where two adversaries face-off against each with cars. The goal is to defeat your opponent's arsenal and be the last player standing. For the gamers out there, think of it as a hybrid game between Rocket League, Twisted Metal, and Hearthstone. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Ratloop Games Canada and Vroom Kaboom! Duration: 47 minutes Topics: - Following a life long passion - Taking advantage of government grants - Turning a side project into a full-time commitment - Allowing partners to focus on their own strengths - Dealing with increasing production costs by relying on alternative revenue streams - Understanding market segmentation - Deciding on what to focus on as an independent (i.e. indie) gaming studio - Promoting a game release as a new indie studio - Focusing on replayability to ensure a long-term revenue stream Montreal Marketeers Episode 9 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 8 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk workouts with Craig Johnson and Jim Monopoli. Craig and Jim have taken the Quebec gym industry by storm since opening the very first Buzzfit in 2011. Buzzfit separates itself from it's competitor by catering to the everyday person looking for a relaxed and affordable environment to workout in. At $10.99 a month with no cancellation fees, the two founders created a business model that is sustained by a high volume of members. (about 5 times more than a typical gym) They are able to reach and maintain such a high membership count by providing excellent value and top notch customer service. It's not surprising that they have been able to expand to 9 locations within 6 years. Check out this week's episode to find out more about Buzzfit! Duration: 46 minutes Topics: - Taking advantage of American trends as a Canadian entrepreneur - Getting financing - Understanding your market - Using service as a differentiator - Growing memberships - Focusing on building community - Leveraging growth in negotiations - Dealing with franchisees and employees - Putting customer service ahead of everything - Paying attention to the details Montreal Marketeers Episode 8 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your weekly podcast episodes. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

Pour le septième épisode du podcast Montreal Marketeers, nous avons la chance de discuter avec Isabelle Tremblay, spécialiste en uniforme corporatif chez Forma. Isabelle travaille dans l’industrie du textile depuis plus de 25 ans. Elle a débuté sa carrière chez une des plus grandes compagnies au Québec, Gildan. Après plus de 20 ans au sein de Gildan, Isabelle était à la recherche de nouveaux défis. Les opportunités emplois dans l’industrie du textile au Québec étaient rares. Déterminée de continuer sa carrière dans le secteur qui lui avait permis de s’épanouir, c’est lors d’une partie de golf qu’Isabelle a eu l’idée de fonder sa propre compagnie. Elle savait qu’elle possédait tout le talent, les connaissances et la persévérance pour devenir entrepreneure. Avec le soutien de son conjoint, Forma a vu le jour. Écoutez l’épisode de cette semaine pour apprendre davantage sur Isabelle Tremblay et Forma! Durée : 30 minutes Sujets : • La passion avant l’éducation, la clé du succès • Croître professionnellement avec une compagnie • Devenir entrepreneur par nécessité • Innover dans l’industrie du vêtement corporatif • Avoir les restaurants « The Keg » comme premier client • Reconnaitre ses forces en tant qu’entreprise • Pourquoi prioriser la production au Canada • Pénétrer des nouveaux marchés • Repositionner sa marque L’épisode 7 de Montreal Marketeers est maintenant disponible. Vous pouvez le télécharger ou vous abonner à notre page. Écouter notre Podcast sur iTunes, Google Play, RSS link. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 6 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we talk haircuts with barber William Biney. Will isn't your everyday barber. He sees himself as a fashion consultant that gives haircuts that are meant to identify a person and complement their look. Will started barbering when he could no longer find someone that could gave him a cut that had the style and detail that he wanted. From his humble beginnings in his backyard to now owning 2 shops, he never stopped thinking about how he could improve his craft. Becoming successful wasn't instant though. He had to work hard on gaining the trust of his clients as a young barber. He would often get shut down by people that insisted that he would never cut their hair. Regardless, Will push ahead and eventually gained their respect and business. The struggles become even more real when his first shop was fire bombed. But once again, he didn't let it get to him and quickly started a new shop without ever looking back. Check out this week's episode to find out more about William Biney and Quality Cuts! Duration: 39 minutes Topics: - Why are haircuts important? - The role of the environment in a barber shop - How did you learn barbering? - Growing by listening to your business - Success isn't instant - Pushing through the hurdles - Social media for client acquisition and learning - Finding a passion, not a job - Not being scared to start over Montreal Marketeers Episode 6 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

With Halloween approaching quickly, we figured it was the perfect time to sit down with someone who works in the spiritual world. That's why on episode 5 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we interview Jarred Heaven's Messenger: exorcist, haunted house specialist, medium, clairvoyant, and shaman. Jarred knew he was "different" from a young age. He could feel and sense things that his friends and family couldn't. At the time, he didn't really think much of it and rarely mentioned it to anyone. However, as he got older, he felt a weight on his shoulders that he could no longer ignore. He now acts as a vessel from heaven and is on a mission to help those in need. He started focusing solely on his duty as heaven's messenger and it became his only source of revenue. And like everyone else one on this planet, Jarred still needs money to live. He understands that most people do not believe in the things he does which could make it challenging at times. Regardless, he makes himself available to all those who seek his assistance. As long as you have an open mind and are willing to give his services a sincere shot, he will be there to help. Check out this week's episode to learn more about Jarred Heaven's Messenger! Duration: 40 minutes Topics: - What's a typical day as heaven's messenger? - People becoming more open to the spiritual world - Being born with a gift but still needing to develop it - Turning skeptics into believers - Build a business and they will come - Word of mouth and social media Montreal Marketeers Episode 5 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On the 4th episode of Montreal Marketeers, we are joined by the owner of Solage Solide: Matthew Balogh. Matt's story is that of an Intrapreneur turned Entrepeneur. He started in the foundation repair industry 12 years ago working for his now competitor. At the time, foundation repair was considered an old business and it needed some serious revamping. He took on the challenge and was able to establish himself as a leader in the Greater Montreal Area. Two years ago, he started Solage Solide so that he could follow his own vision. The decision wasn't made on a whim though. He had been saving his money and creating a business strategy for close to 4 years. He had to face numerous challenges including building a reputation for Solage Solide in the market. Think about it, would you easily trust a new company in an industry that can charge $15,000 to perform a repair? How did Matt get over the hurdles of starting a new business? Check out this week's episode to find out! Duration: 33 minutes Topics: - Why start your own business? - Challenges of starting a company - Dealing with seasonal services - Initial client acquisition strategy - Digital only marketing - Customer service focus - Managing and choosing employees - Dealing with banks and managing cash flow Montreal Marketeers Episode 4 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 3 of the Montreal Marketeers podcast, we are joined by fellow marketer Neil Turner. Neil's passion for marketing began during his university years at John Molson School of Business. He was studying to become an accountant, but he quickly realized that the numbers weren't adding up in his favor. He decided to do some affiliate marketing as a side hustle. Without any experience or knowledge of the industry, he had to learn everything through trial and error. It didn't take long for Neil to drop out of university and start a highly successful career in digital marketing. Neil is currently the Director of Marketing at FortNine (formerly Canada's Motorcycle). As the second full-time employee of the company, he played a pivotal role in growing sales year over year. FortNine currently employs 50 staff members during its peak summer season. Duration: 40 minutes Topics: - Starting off in Affiliate Marketing - Learning through trial and error - Current Affiliate Marketing landscape - Starting at FortNine - Scaling an e-commerce business - Online content strategies - Finding your passion Check out FortNine for all your motorcycle and power sport gear needs! Montreal Marketeers Episode 3 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

On episode 2 of Montreal Marketeers, we sit down and chat with restaurant owner and restopreneur Jonathan Dresner. If you’ve never eaten at Notre Boeuf De Grâce, you’re really missing out on a great experience. The restaurant focuses on delivering upscale burgers that are sure to please your taste buds. How does Jonathan do it? Simple, he let’s the ingredients speak for themselves. By grinding quality beef on site daily, Notre Boeuf De Grâce delivers some of the juiciest pink burgers in Montreal. It doesn’t stop there though. Almost all of their ingredients are sourced locally with recipes being prepared in house, ensuring maximum freshness. Whether you order a burger, a poutine, or a milkshake, you’ll be having one hell of a meal. So what led Jonathan to open his burger joint? Listen in to find out! Podcast Duration: 63 minutes Topics: - How to survive in the restaurant business - Eating at a restaurant is an experience - How to handle negative reviews and experiences - Your staff is your family - How to grow your business through expansion - Advice for starting your own restaurant - Opening a coffee shop Montreal Marketeers Episode 2 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

Welcome to episode 1! Patrick Lehman is a soul singer, producer and songwriter from Montreal. He released his last album “Butchy’s Son” in August 2016 across Canada with Pheromone/Universal. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Juno award in 2016 for ‘Best Soul/R&B Recording of the Year’, category alongside the Weeknd and Alesia Cara. Traveling to Calgary to attend the awards, he was also a featured performer in Junofest 2016. Patrick is currently working on new music in Montreal and Los Angeles for his next project. His latest single "Your Man" is available now. Topics: - Duration: 40 minutes - Why an artist and not an accountant... or choose the family business - What were some of the challenges and how did you overcome them - Music in an evolving digital world - Advice for future artists or anyone wanting to follow their passion - A bottle of wine or a girl by your side... Music by Patrick Lehman Montreal Marketeers episode 1 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com

Welcome to episode zero! If you're like Vince your thinking, "seriously like Star Wars episode 0, terrible start :)". AND if you're like Matt your thinking "zero to hero", whatever that means. During this episode Matt and Vince discuss why they started the Montreal Marketeers podcast and what it means to them. The introduction episode is only 10 minutes and touches on the following topics; - Who, what, when & why? - Favorite podcasts - Goals & objectives with Montreal Marketeers - A bit about the interviewers (more to come on this topic in later episodes) Music by Patrick Lehman Montreal Marketeers episode 0 is now live and available for download. You can also subscribe and view our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, RSS link or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more at montrealmarketeers.com