Podcasts about Category management

Marketing im Kopf - ein Podcast von Luis Binder In dieser Folge wird über verschiedene Unternehmen gesprochen, da Markennamen genannt werden, handelt es sich um UNBEZAHLTE WERBUNG!In dieser Folge: In der heutigen Podcast Folge von Marketing im Kopf ist Andreas Gebhard zu Gast. Andreas ist Geschäftsführer von Forward Momentum, einem Unternehmen das dabei hilft Marktführer in neuen Marktkategorien zu werden. Forward Momentum arbeitet unter anderem mit Kunden wie hypecast, Dunkin, dem Unternehmen von Dunkin Donuts, runway, Bryck und vielen vielen mehr.In dieser Folge geht es um Category Design, nicht zu verwechseln mit Category Management, aber was das genau ist, erklärt dir Andreas gleich noch mal. Grundsätzlich geht es um eine Strategie, mit der Unternehmen neue Marktkategorien schaffen und sich als Marktführer etablieren. Andreas erklärt uns, wie Unternehmen sich durch eine entsprechende Positionierung von der Konkurrenz abheben können. Ein bekanntes Beispiel dafür ist beispielsweise, dass Apple den iPod damals nicht als MP3-Player verkauft hat, sondern als „1000 Songs in Your Pocket“. ____________________________________________Hier kannst du Andreas erreichen: Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/agebhard/____________________________________________Unternehmen: Forward Momentum Webseite: ⁠https://www.forwardmomentum.llc⁠Ergänzende Webseite: https://run-as-you-are.com____________________________________________Über den Podcast: In dem Podcast Marketing im Kopf soll es um die Frage gehen, was notwendig ist, um ein Produkt oder eine Dienstleistung gut vermarkten zu können und was für grundsätzliche Strategien verfolgt und ganz leicht umgesetzt werden können. Egal, ob du selbst im Bereich Marketing arbeitest, oder, ob du dich einfach nur für das Thema interessierst, in diesem Marketing-Podcast lernst du alle Grundlagen und Strategien, die aktuell im Marketing verwendet werden. ____________________________________________Vernetz dich gerne auf LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisbinder/⁠ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/marketingimkopf/⁠Du hast Fragen, Anregungen oder Ideen? Melde dich unter: marketingimkopf@gmail.com Die Website zum Podcast findest du hier. [⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2WN7tH5⁠⁠⁠]

In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Tim Dornfeld, Director of Category Management at KeHE, to dive deep into what every brand should know about working with a distributor. Tim shares valuable insights on common misconceptions, the key factors that set successful brands apart, and how KeHE supports emerging brands through programs like KeHE Elevate and Trend Finder.They also discuss the role of KeHE as a Certified B Corp, how the company fosters community impact through KeHE Cares, and the importance of category management in identifying innovation that will perform well at retail. Plus, Tim reveals the latest industry trends, including the rise of protein-packed products, non-alcoholic beverages, and global flavors.Whether you're a new brand looking to break into distribution or an established one aiming to scale, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you navigate the process effectively.Tune in now!Listen in as they share about:Working with KeHEKeHE's Role in Brand GrowthKeHE's Company Culture & InitiativesKeHE Trade Shows & Retailer TrendsHow & When Brands Should Approach KeHEDistribution Strategy & Scaling with KeHEMarketing & Promotion StrategiesMistakes Brands Should AvoidAdvice for Brands Entering KeHEEpisode Links:Website: https://www.kehe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdornfeld/ Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.Show Links:Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

The federal procurement system is famously complicated, but it's actually gotten more streamlined over the past decade thanks to an effort spanning three presidencies. It's called category management, and it's saved the government billions of dollars, and it's still a work in progress. Federal News Network's Jared Serbu wrote about it as one of the key issues that shaped the federal community in the last 25 years as part of our series celebrating Federal News Network's 25th anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A panel of category/product managers joins the OPDD program for a discussion about their roles, qualities of good product managers, and their pathways into the industry. Julie Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebrophyrogers/ Rosie Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiemansfield/ Justin McGregor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcgregor-b3837054/ Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU's website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Subscribe to our ORA newsletter: https://outdoorrecarchive.substack.com/ Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Ben Galvin, Sr. Director of Omnichannel Retail Sales & eCommerce at Monster Energy, joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the critical role of category management in today's omnichannel landscape. From the physical shelf to the digital shelf, Ben explains how the fundamentals of CPG have transformed, why search rankings now rival prime in-store placements, and how brands must adapt to shifting consumer behaviors.With a decade of experience in category leadership, Ben shares how data-driven decision-making, cross-channel coordination, and agile responsiveness are essential for modern brand success. He discusses the changing role of syndicated data providers, the growing influence of retail media, and how companies like Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy are setting the standard for omnichannel excellence.Throughout the conversation, Ben offers valuable insights on bridging internal silos, empowering sales teams to think digitally, and reshaping organizational structures to meet the demands of today's marketplace. If you're a brand leader looking to win across in-store and online, this episode is packed with strategic takeaways you won't want to miss.Key TakeawaysThe Digital Shelf is the New Battleground – Just as eye-level placement dominates in-store, top search rankings are critical for online sales success.Cross-Channel Coordination is Essential – Winning in today's market requires seamless alignment across in-store sales, digital commerce, retail media, and category management.Curiosity and Agility Drive Success – Leaders who embrace data-driven decisions, organizational collaboration, and evolving shopper behaviors will outperform competitors in an ever-changing landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storytelling is crucial in category strategy, creating narratives that resonate with consumers, retailers, and internal teams, aiming for a triple win. Stephen Aramburu, category strategy manager, frozen meals, Nestlé, joins Kantar's Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 78 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss identifying growth opportunities in category management, and product innovation in the face of trends like GLP-1. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/nvidia-calls-chinas-deepseek-r1-model-an-excellent-ai-advancement.html​ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/technology/what-is-deepseek-china-ai.html https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/jason-buechel-whole-foods-market-worldwide-grocery-store https://www.retaildive.com/news/dollar-general-expanding-private-label-clover-valley/738339/​ Here's why Dutch Bros outperformed Starbucks last year Walmart will now let suppliers test products in its customers' homes Danone's yogurt sales surge among US consumers using GLP-1 drugs | Food Dive

Book a North Star Demo - by emailing the legend here kieran@northstarbc.co.uk Wanna land Tesco Sainsbury's CoOp or Waitrose & Partners in 2025?Well, my friend, good newslisten up. Delighted to welcome Kieran South founder of North Star on to the poddy We chat all tingz Category managementCategory Management is THE secret weapon you didn't know you needed The thread from founder vision buyer goals retail success = build mahoosive brands. Yes, North Star are a poddy sponsorNo, we're not flogging their gearThis is jam-packed with value, that'll transform your pitch decks. ON THE MENU: 1. Defining Category management for 3 years olds2. The Difference between Category Management for BUYERS vs BRANDs3. PerfectTed: What ACTUALLY is incrementality: if we took this SKU off shelf, would shoppers switch?3. 3 Golden ways to drive incrementality that NO ONE Thinks About (this is gold))4. Why Brands who think about their brand LOSE, but, brands who think about the category WIN5. How do you grow a category for dummies ?- more shoppers in stores (Tesco club card) - More shoppers in store buying more in your category = penetration- Weight of purchase 6. Never Forget: Your shopper CHANGES as you move from early adopter to household brand 7. Why Category Management is “turning on the lights” no more guessingFull ep Monday

Pratik Patel is the Director of Category Management at Mastercard, bringing over 20 years of experience in procurement. He has traveled to 18 countries, conducted negotiations globally, and managed both direct and indirect spend. Currently, he leads category management for labor and technology sourcing in North America. Pratik follows a servant leadership style, always prioritizing the success of his team. He is guided by four key principles: we are the sum of our life experiences, create opportunities where none exist, diversity breeds diversity, and focus on eliminating waste. His leadership has earned him the CFO Award at Mastercard, as well as recognition as a 3x Game Changer and Diversity Influencer by SIA.

Chris Allen, Sustainability Leader and Head of Circular Business Development at Decathlon UK. You've probably heard of Decathlon, which is the world's largest sporting goods retailer, with over 1,700 stores in more than 70 countries. It's a family-owned company, founded in 1976, and inspired by the belief that the best sports products should be accessible to everyone. Chris Allen has 15 Years experience in Decathlon spanning various retail management roles, including several years in Category Management and Head of Outdoor before being appointed to his Sustainability role in 2022. Chris has a degree in Sports Engineering and is an advocate of all things outdoors, and loves being out on his bike or at the local climbing wall. Decathlon describes itself as specialising in the creation and production of innovative sporting goods designed to delight and move people through the wonders of sport, including cycling, hiking, running, swimming and football. Decathlon sees its mission as ever-evolving and high-performance design, the best quality at the lowest possible price, and expert advice that customers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels can access in-store or online, from anywhere, at any time. Decathlon has an integrated business model, with over twenty in-house brands as well as supplying well-known brands including Asics, Adidas, Garmin, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok, Salomon, and many others. In the UK, Decathlon offers a 2-year warranty on its own brand products, has buy-back programme so customers can save money and trade in their old gear. It sells through it's retail stores and online, and offers a 365-day returns policy, giving customers a whole year to decide if something is right for them. Chris will talk us through Decathlon's approach, including how the buy-back, second-life and repair programmes work in practice, and how he's working with the in-house and external product and design teams to implement a whole-systems approach to sustainability.

“We thought Waitrose was going to be the end of our journey…” Welcome back to The Marketing Hustle, the podcast that brings you unfiltered stories from start-up Founders of bold brands. This week, your host Lottie chats to the Co-Founder of MOTH cocktails, Rob Wallis.  MOTH have taken the RTD category by storm since their launch in 2018, and have created the best-selling margarita in the UK along the way. You'll recognise their petite cans, with excellent branding at Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's.  Tune in to hear Rob chat candidly about getting into retail, their focus on doing one thing really really well and how they unexpectedly became the drink of choice at Glasto 2024.  Finally… if you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review, it helps more than you know. Now let's get stuck in! Chapters: [00:00] Introduction to Moth Cocktails and Focus [03:01] The Impact of COVID-19 on Moth's Journey [05:47] The Growth of Ready-to-Drink Cocktails [09:07] Marketing Evolution and Brand Development [11:47] Building a Strong Team and Company Culture [14:46] Data-Driven Marketing and Category Management [22:45] Being The Drink Headliner of Glastonbury [24:03] In-House Marketing and Design Strategies [29:01] Navigating Investment Challenges [31:59] A Dive Into The Marketing Team [33:47] Integrating Sales, Marketing, and Operations [36:48] The Importance of Advisors and Networking *This episode is brought to you by Be A Bear, find out how you can grow your audience here: https://www.beabear.co.uk/  Connect with Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8D%B8-rob-wallis-162801113/ Explore MOTH: https://mothdrinks.com/ Follow your host, Lottie Unwin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lottie-unwin-she-her-7b577742/ Discover Up World + Brand Hackers: https://up-world.co/

Welcome to another episode of The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast hosted by Acadia's Head of Retail Marketplaces Services Julie Spear. We're joined by two of our favorite podcast guests - Chris Perry and Oskar Kaszubski of firstmovr.  In this episode, we're sharing some key takeaways from the report they released earlier this year that represents a guide to something they're calling “Omnicategory Captaincy.”  Sounds interesting? Tune in to find out more.   KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode, Julie, Chris, and Oskar discuss: Introduction to Omni-Category Captaincy: Chris and Oskar introduce their innovative report on omni-category captaincy, transforming traditional category management by integrating multiple channels, both online and offline. Key Pirate-Themed Criteria for Success: The report's pirate motif brings a creative flair to critical success elements: Tight Ship: Day-to-day excellence. Pirate Code: Establishing a joint business plan (JBP) and routines. Compass: Industry thought leadership. Fair Winds: Traffic and demand generation. Bounty: Incremental growth. Treasure Island: Data sharing and utilization of data cleanrooms. Map: Online category navigation. Fly the Colors: Enhancing user experience and shopper journey. Insights from the Digital Shelf Institute event and upcoming plans for a dedicated captaincy event and podcast. The critical need for brands to avoid complacency and continuously innovate to maintain market share. Addressing the gap between recognizing individual actions and integrating them holistically for true category captaincy. Overcoming resistance in C-suites to the critical role of digital content, especially in light of inflation and shifting consumer preferences. Detailed audits and the importance of optimizing the shopper experience—learn from mistakes and improvements seen with major retailers like Walmart and Kroger. Leveraging partnerships and thought leadership to demonstrate commitment and drive mutual benefits.

Is your procurement strategy stuck in the past? Discover how to transform category management and drive real strategic impact.In this episode, Richard McIntosh speaks with Detlef Schultz, award-winning procurement leader and co-founder of akirolabs, about the evolution of category management. Drawing from his vast experience as former CEO and current Board Chairperson of Vodafone Procurement Company, Detlef explains how procurement can shift from cost-cutting to strategic value creation. He shares insights on using data and technology to drive dynamic, scenario-driven strategies that meet the demands of today's business environment.You'll learn:1. Why traditional category management models no longer fit the needs of modern businesses2. How data and AI can transform procurement into a strategic powerhouse3. The crucial role of procurement in driving value beyond cost savings4. How to transition from static categories to dynamic, scenario-based procurement strategies___________Get in touch with Detlef Schultz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/detlef-schultz-74a6409/___________Details about akirolabs:Website: https://akirolabs.com/Industry: IT Services and IT ConsultingCompany size: 11-50 employeesHeadquarters: BerlinFounded: 2021___________About the host Richard McIntosh:Richard McIntosh, Partner at H&Z Management Consulting, has spent over 23 years helping procurement leaders succeed. Richard is an avid rugby fan, and a children's rugby coach, with a passion for helping children to become their best selves through sports. He spends his time outside of work with his wife and children. Get in touch with Richard McIntosh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintosh-richard/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO. 

“Everyone has an opinion about facility services in your buildings, so you're always trying to accommodate multiple stakeholders and juggle multiple departments.” - Alex Carlson, VP of Facilities Management Services at Fine Tune In the world of indirect spend management, there are few categories as complex - and high stakes - as facilities management. Delivery locations and sometimes provider networks are distributed and fragmented, making selection, implementation, and ongoing oversight especially difficult. It is no wonder, then, that so many companies are tempted over to “the dark side” of convenience-based solutions in this category. Unfortunately, allowing third parties to manage the delivery of services may also give them more control over cost than procurement realizes. In this episode, Kelly Barner is joined by Alex Carlson, former Vice President of Category Management within Wells Fargo's Corporate Properties division and new VP of Facilities Management Services at Fine Tune.  His experience and advice can help your organization avoid “the dark side” and instead walk towards the many opportunities for value creation associated with this category of spend. Listen in to learn: The benefits of managing costs as well as services through a cost plus model How to navigate the transition from service provider to client Unique facilities management challenges in C-store, big box retail, and office environments In depth category perspectives and stories of managed services survival Links: Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Alex Carlson on LinkedIn Watch Again: Why is facilities management so complex?

Category management has been around for decades - so why hasn't it become ubiquitous?  Many of the objectives procurement needs to satisfy - both qualitative and quantitative - can be addressed by a category management program. Taking a more comprehensive approach to spend and supplier management can deliver improved cost flexibility, more leverage in tightly held markets, and a closer alignment with the priorities of the business. Despite all of these benefits, category management struggles to secure broad adoption.   In this solo episode, Philip Ideson speaks about his personal experience with category management and the challenges and opportunities he sees. Listen in to discover: The roadblocks that prevent category management from living up to expectations Advancements in procurement technology that will enable everyone in the company to play a larger role at the category level Why he still believes category management IS the future of procurement Links: Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Philip Ideson on LinkedIn Category Management: How Far We've Come, How Far We Can Go featuring Mark Webb What is Category Management? (According to the Experts) Build Your Category Management Framework with Five Evergreen Principles Learn from the 4-step Category Management Process Refined by Novartis

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Emily Chang. Emily's financial adventures began in her early 20s in the most unexpected way. One frigid night, Emily found a young girl huddled by the roadside, clearly beaten and wearing nothing but a windbreaker. She took the girl to a diner, offered her a meal, and then invited her to stay in her spare room for the night. That one night turned into a week, then months, until Emily could help her find stability. Emily's family worried the girl might steal or harm her, but Emily chose to see the potential for good. She helped not just that one girl but went on to assist 17 individuals over the next 23 years, transforming lives one by one. Emily is a global commercial leader with 24 years of experience spanning QSR, Retail, Hospitality, Creative, Tech, and FMCG industries. An acknowledged thought leader in Digital Customer Experience, Workplace Culture, and Business Strategy, Emily holds an exceptional track record of accelerating global brands. She is a bicultural leader with proven success bridging China and U.S. cultures. Before joining VML, Emily was CEO of McCann Worldgroup in China, where she looked after 450 team members across four agencies located in three offices. She developed new strategic and digital O2O capabilities to partner with clients like IKEA, LEGO, The North Face, and Innocent Juice. Prior to McCann, Emily was CMO of Starbucks China, where she oversaw all commercial functions including Digital Flywheel, Loyalty, Sales & Partnerships, Category Management, and Studio. She led the commercial teams that brought O2O experiences to life: Shanghai Roastery Augmented Reality, Starbucks Delivery, and Digital Gifting. Prior to Starbucks, Emily served as Chief Commercial Officer for InterContinental Hotels Group, Greater China where she led transformation of brand experience, loyalty offering, data and BI, and OTA strategy/implementation to turn around share and become the #1 hotel brand in China. As the first executive in China for Apple Retail, she oversaw the APAC region, expanded the flagship footprint, and developed the Apple Asia retail operating model. Emily began her career at P&G, where she worked across all three business units, from upstream innovation to retail and digital marketing at Walmart. Emily believes passionately in living with intention and leading with authenticity. She's a servant leader who gives back by teaching and sharing with next gen leaders; she has delivered four TEDx talks and spoken at other industry-leading events like Fortune Most Powerful Women. She recently published a best-selling book called “The Spare Room,” telling the stories of 17 children she and her family have cared for in their spare room.

“I think category management is great fun because you have the freedom to do things. It's not following a rote process. It's using structure to be creative. I think that's the great benefit of it.” - Mark Webb, Managing Director at Future Purchasing For many in procurement, category management is “old hat.” Some even assume that widespread adoption and integration of category management structures and processes within the business are non-issues in 2024. They see category management as a mountain that has been scaled, and now procurement just needs to sit back and enjoy the view. When we look more closely, however, there is still significant room for improvement in category management strategy and for expanded scope of implementation throughout the business.  In this episode, Philip Ideson welcomes back Mark Webb, Managing Director at Future Purchasing, for a deep dive into the current state of category management, including where we've been and how far we have left to go. Mark also shares the results of the 2024 Global Category Management Report, a large, comprehensive study Future Purchasing conducts in partnership with Henley Business School.  They discuss the importance of stakeholder involvement, the need for more consistency and effective communication, the distinctions between category management and strategic sourcing, and the delicate balance between internal expertise versus external resources in implementation. Philip and Mark also explore: Why 80 percent of stakeholders don't fully understand their role in category management, and what procurement can do to fix that Practical advice to streamline category planning and improve stakeholder engagement The ideal model for category management when considering big versus small teams Links: Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Read the 2024 Global Category Management Report here Mark Webb on LinkedIn The Differentiators of Category Management Leaders & Followers, w/ Mark Webb

Schneider Electric Announces New Uninterruptible Power Supply Designed for Gamers Available in Europe Celebrating 40 years of Legendary Reliability and industry-leadership, APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS ensures gamers and influencers remain powered, connected, and protected from electrical surges and power failures. eSports certified UPS protects professional and recreational gamers' investments in consoles and GPU-powered gaming PCs, safeguarding them from player penalties, lost connections, and lost revenue. APCBack-UPS Connect, a lithium-ion-powered, mini network UPS now also available, ensuring power continuity and protection for Internet routers, IP cameras and other home equipment. Schneider Electric uninterruptible power supplies Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has today announced the availability of its APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in Europe. Celebrating 40 years of Legendary Reliability and leadership in critical power protection during 2024, the new, stylish, and state-of-the-art UPS has been designed to protect gaming equipment from power outages and deliver a robust power connection, despite energy spikes and failures. Back-UPS Pro Gaming has been specifically designed with gamers, streamers, and influencers in mind, delivering uninterruptible power protection, even in regions where the grid is unstable, keeping GPU-powered PCs, leading consoles, streamers, and gamers connected to both their online gaming experiences and audiences, regardless of power disruptions. To deliver robust protection, APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS features sine wave battery backup power - delivering the smooth electrical current required by sensitive electronics and AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation), and helping to protect against power irregularities that can result in glitches and buffering during an outage to extend the lifespan of gaming equipment. APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming also features a patented reactor circle which is visible from every angle, providing the status of the UPS' remaining battery power, and details on surges, dips, power outages, while highlighting building wiring faults. APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming Features: Reactor Circle: When the Gaming UPS is on battery backup power, the reactor circle ticks down to show how much time is left, at a glance. 160-Degree Slant: APC made sure the reactor circle is titled at 160 degrees, so it's visible from nearly every angle. Functional Lighting: When the Gaming UPS detects a power anomaly - like surges, dips, and even wiring faults - it notifies gamers with pulsing lights. Six Battery Back-up Outlets: Complete with surge protection, the unit instantly powers sensitive electronics, such as an Xbox, PlayStation, PCs, TVs, or routers/modems, during a power loss. Four Additional Surge-Only Outlets: Designed to protect against unsafe power surges and "hard shutdowns" that can permanently damage equipment. Three Front USB Ports: To recharge devices, like a gaming headsets and mobile phones. Custom Design: Available in two colour options - Arctic (BGM1500) and Midnight (BGM1500B), both with 12 customizable RGB LED lights to match a user's gaming setup. "Reliable power and Internet connectivity are fundamentals for today's Gamers and Influencers, and any surges, spikes or energy failures can have a major impact on both their equipment, and their connection to audiences around the world," said Elliott Turek, Director of Category Management, Schneider Electric, Europe. "With the introduction of APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming in Europe, we're ensuring that expensive and sensitive electronics such as GPU-powered PC's and Gaming systems from the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, stay protected from electrical damage, and that the Gamers and Influencers of the future benefit from Legendary Reliability, when they need it most." The game...

This Series is Sponsored by BMO In the fourth episode of the “Foodservice Gamechangers” series, Sysco SVP and chief merchandising officer Victoria Gutierrez joined Food Institute advisor and special guest host Pat Mulhern to discuss the importance of fostering a growth mindset and embracing digital transformation in the foodservice distribution industry. The duo also discussed the need for adaptable problem solving and resilience in the workforce. More about Victoria Gutierrez: Ms. Gutierrez has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer since August 2022. Previously, she served as Vice President of Category Management after joining Sysco in July 2021. Prior to joining Sysco, Ms. Gutierrez was a Partner with the Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”) from September 2014 to June 2021, serving as a lead member of BCG's Retail, Large Scale Change and Operations practices, as well as a firm expert in transformation management, merchandising analytics, and private brands. Before joining BCG, she held several positions in the beverage industry as a certified sommelier and entrepreneur. Ms. Gutierrez holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management and a B.S. with Honors from Northwestern University. More about Sysco: We build relationships through quality products, intelligent systems, and an extraordinary community of associates. We want to be your most valued and trusted business partner, investing in your success with fresh ideas to grow your business. Learn more at: https://www.sysco.com/. Thanks to Our Sponsor: BMO Whether you're a producer, processor, retailer or distributor every company throughout the food continuum needs a financial partner that understands the factors that impact their business. From emerging consumer trends and industry consolidation to commodity fluctuations and economic cyclicality, BMO's Food, Consumer, and Agribusiness Group understands the issues affecting your company and are dedicated to serving the entire food industry – from farm to consumer. To learn more about how they can help, visit commercial.bmo.com/food.

Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, today unveiled its revamped data centre White Space portfolio, where racks and IT equipment sit within a data centre. This new portfolio includes the second generation of NetShelter SX Enclosures (NetShelter SX Gen2), new NetShelter Aisle Containment, and a future update to the NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced, designed to meet the evolving needs of modern data centres, particularly those handling high-density applications and AI workloads, as well as regulatory requirements like the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The NetShelter SX Gen2 enclosures are specifically engineered to support the demands of contemporary data centres. These new racks can support up to 25% more weight than previous models, handling approximately 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms), which is essential for accommodating the heavier, denser equipment associated with AI and high-performance computing. Enhanced perforation in the doors increases airflow, vital for cooling high-density server configurations, and the racks offer more space and better cable management options for larger, more complex server setups. With security of physical equipment remaining an important requirement, the enclosures feature all-steel construction and 3-point-locking systems to improve data centre protection. The NetShelter SX Gen2 racks reduce their overall climate change impact by around 3.3% per rack and are designed to be highly recyclable, with approximately 97% of the rack being recyclable. These racks are available in standard sizes of 42U, 45U, and 48U along with wide, extra-wide and deep models. "Our NetShelter SX Gen2 enclosures are a leap forward in addressing the critical requirements of high-density applications," said Elliott Turek, Director of Category Management, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric. "With enhanced weight support, airflow management, and physical security, we are enabling our customers to optimise their data centre operations while also advancing sustainability." Advanced Cooling and Flexibility with NetShelter Aisle Containment The latest NetShelter Aisle Containment can achieve up to 20% more cooling capacity. This is crucial for managing the heat generated by AI servers and other high-density applications. The system incorporates an airflow controller that automates fan speed, reducing fan energy consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional passive cooling systems. The vendor neutral containment systems provide greater flexibility and speed of setup for data centre operators, allowing for easier integration and adaptation to existing builds. The new design also simplifies installation and field modifications, while reducing energy expenses by between 5 and 10%. "Containment remains paramount in today's high-density data centres," said Elliott Turek. "Even in liquid-cooled applications, air heat rejection plays a critical role. Our NetShelter Aisle Containment solutions not only enhance cooling capacity but also offer significant energy savings, aligning with our commitment to sustainability." Security and Management with NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced and Secure NMC3 The NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced with Secure NMC3 is an updated power distribution unit equipped with advanced security features and enhanced management capabilities. The Secure NMC3 network management card provides robust cybersecurity measures and enables third-party validation for firmware updates for consistent compliance. This support for mass firmware updates significantly reduces the manual effort required to keep the PDUs secure and up-to-date, which is crucial for maintaining security across large deployments. The PDU is suitable for a range of applications, including those with power requirements up to an including 70kW per rack, making it a versatile solution for various data centre configurations. It includes features that enhance energy efficiency and operatio...

How do you think digital category management will transform how we determine and implement breakthrough sourcing strategies into the future? Well, in this episode, Paul and Jonathan ask that very question to Stephane Morel, who is Director of Procurement and Capability Standards for Fresenius Medical Care. Not only will you find out his answer, you'll also find out in this episode that Excel spreadsheets are quite exciting.

Si è insediata da qualche settimana il nuovo Amministratore Delegato di Kraft Heinz Italia: è Carmela Bazzarelli, già Head of Commercial Strategy Continental Europe di Kraft Heinz. Origini calabresi ma cittadina del mondo, Carmela Bazzarelli ha più di 20 anni trascorsi nel settore dei beni di largo consumo e in particolare nell'industria alimentare. Nella sua carriera ha lavorato in Italia, Belgio e Francia per Barilla ricoprendo ruoli di Category Management e Trade Marketing, prima di diventare Direttore Generale del Belgio e poi per la Spagna. Nel 2022 è entrata in Kraft Heinz come Head of Commercial Strategy & Go To Market della business unit Continental Europe, dove si è dedicata a far crescere la reputazione internazionale dell'azienda e a guidare la strategia commerciale.

AI technologies are just one of the ways the supply chain is automating their process, specifically when it comes to the hand-off during warehouse-to-store delivery processes. By leveraging AI and other technological applications, supply chains can see efficiency when it comes to labor management and data collection. Join Clay Kobernick, Vice President of Category Management at Rehrig Pacific, and Jeff Hentges, President of Rehrig Pacific Delivery Solutions, as we explore how AI technology and groundbreaking material handling solutions are improving the hand-off.

There are more than 100,000 separate contract vehicles used for federal contracting. How do you know where to find one to start selling to the government? Today, GovCon Chamber president Neil McDonnell explainswhat a contract vehicles and how they are used?What are the 10 Common Goods CategoriesWhat is Category Management?What are the Category Vehicle Tiers?What types if Contract Vehicles are used?How to get the contract vehicle used to purchase what you sell✅ JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON LINKEDINContract Vehicles Made Easy for Government Contractors✅WHAT IS A CONTRACT VEHICLE?A contract vehicle is a streamlined method the government uses to buy goods and services. A contract vehicle is a contract, or group of contracts, that provides a streamlined process for government agencies to place multiple orders for certain products and services with a pre-selected vendor or group of vendors.REFERENCE @GSA https://www.gsa.gov/sell-to-government/step-1-learn-about-government-contracting/ways-you-can-sell-to-government–––––––––––––––––––––––––✅ HOST | Neil McDonnell, president GovCon Chamber of CommerceSmall business owners​ trust Neil to​ show them HOW to earn federal government contracts and subcontracts.​A passionate 'evangelist' for business development​ in the federal marketplace, Neil has helped 1000s of small business contractors collectively win over $3B (federal contract value)Neil's Daily LinkedIn Live and YouTube training have been viewed over 1 Million x.​ ​#experiencemattersAs B2G technology business owner for 25+ years, Neil successfully won contracts worth hundreds of millions for the Department of Defense and civilian agencies, including ...US Army • US Navy • US Air Force • HHS • VA • White HouseDepartments of Education, Transportation, Interior and Energyplus numerous large prime contractors

Unlock the secrets to successful category growth with the wisdom of Todd Rupp, the 'Todd Father' of Category Management, as he navigates the intricacies of evolving retail landscapes at High Impact. Our Director of Category Growth shares his transformative journey from sales to category mastery, focusing on the power of aligning with consumer needs rather than solely pushing brands. This episode is a treasure trove of insights as we discuss best practices in retail analytics, the transition from DSS to Walmart Luminate, and the vital role of ROI in securing leadership buy-in for innovative data-driven strategies.Get ready to go beyond the barcode with a deep dive into Walmart's shopper behavior data utilization. As traditional DSS becomes a relic of the past, our conversation with Todd unveils how customization in analytics is becoming the bedrock of understanding consumer patterns. We tackle the hard decisions companies face in a race against the clock—a choice between basic and advanced data access. Todd's expertise in incremental sales and customer reports spotlights how data not only refines merchant dialogues but also sharpens top-tier decision-making frameworks.Finally, we take a look at the real-world implications of category management failures and successes. Category growth isn't just about the next big flavor; it's about adding true value to the consumer's experience. Jeff Lerner's transformation from high school dropout to seasoned entrepreneur underscores the boundless potential residing in us all. The episode wraps with a candid examination of consumer behavior, dissecting the dichotomy between stated desires and actual buying habits. Whether you're a retail aficionado or an emerging brand strategist, this episode offers invaluable lessons on steering through the complex tides of market demands and consumer choices.

Step into the world of fashion and commerce with a seasoned expert! Join Dürrin Ergün as she welcomes the remarkable Dalbir Bains, an expert in the fashion and commerce sector. Delve into Dalbir's inspiring journey, focusing on her transformative role at Zalando, where as Vice President of Category Management, she elevated the brand to extraordinary heights, doubling its revenue within four years through masterful negotiations. She shares key moments that shaped her career, highlighting pivotal experiences from negotiating with factories in China to dealing with top executives in New York. Discover Dalbir's principles of collaborative negotiations, infused with empathy and authenticity. Currently a dedicated mentor and life and career coach, Dalbir emphasizes the empowerment of women. Don't miss the insights and wisdom shared by Dalbir on this remarkable journey! 

Welcome to another insightful episode of Product Team Success, your go-to resource for elevating your product management career. Today, we're thrilled to feature Ralf Maurer, a luminary in the field of Category Management.

Dirk Merle was born in Columbus, Ohio, to a military family. He lived much of his life abroad and throughout the USA. Following in his father's footsteps, he served in the US ARMY in both the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps. He has a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from Arkansas Tech University and a Masters in Business Administration from the Jack Welch Management Institute, holding a Welch honors distinction. He studied Financial Management from Cornell University and Product Management from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. Merle's worked in the food industry in various capacities over the last 25 years. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Value-Added Products Cooperative and currently serves as Director of Product Development, Sales, & Category Management for Olympia Foods in Chicago where he travels bi-weekly to work from his office there. Dirk has served Searcy County as a past member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and won a 2020 Spirit of Searcy County Award from the Chamber.  He also earned the 2019 Arkansas Trails Volunteer of the Year award. Dirk resides in Tilly with his wife, Chris.  He and his wife are avid cyclists, helping to organize the annual Pedestal Rock & Lick Fork Rides for the Witts Springs Community Voices Non-Profit. As a cycling adventurer, he's one of fewer than 100 cyclists who've ever finished the prestigious Arkansas High Country Race (which travels through Searcy County), a 1000+ mile un-supported race through the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. He's also one of a handful of cyclists to complete the Ozark Grinder Trail, a route that travels through Searcy County and portions of Newton, Stone, Pope, and Van Buren Counties. Dirk Merle is passionate about his Searcy County life and loves exploring Searcy County and sharing his experiences on social media. 

In this episode of The Ecommerce Braintrust, host Kiri Masters talks with Chris Perry, co-founder of firstmovr. They delve into the concept of "smarter growth" and how it can help brands and retailers achieve incremental growth in the e-commerce space. From driving households, baskets, and trips to leveraging category management principles, they cover a range of strategies and tactics.  Chris Perry is the Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr, a Satellite Center of Excellence (COE) for CPG Omni Education & Change Management on a mission to help empower first movers — both people and organizations — to win in a disruptive marketplace. Make sure you tune in to find out more! In today's episode, Kiri and Chris discuss: - Introduction to firstmovr as a center for omni education and change management in e-commerce. - The "smarter growth framework" as a means to organize and drive incremental growth. - Drawing principles from brick and mortar to leverage them for e-commerce success. - Moving beyond tactics to focus on the "why" of growth and driving incrementality. - The importance of understanding household penetration, buy rate, and the four quadrants of growth. - Applying the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) framework for more strategic and measurable growth goals. - Emphasizing the need for intentional content optimization and leveraging levers at scale. - Examples of best practices in basket building, including stocking up, trade up, and bundles. - Strategies employed by Procter & Gamble (PNG) and L'Oreal in driving growth through advertising and product differentiation. - Harnessing shopper purchase data for targeted personalization in advertising. - Practical ways for brands to deploy investments and gain more control over their growth strategies. - The upcoming "smarter events" by Firstmover, offering education and support for implementing smarter growth strategies.

In this continuing series on executing a Profitability Playbook, James Dorn outlines ways to leverage manufacturer incentives, create strategic tiered suppliers at a product category level, and capture every single dollar available before year end. 

This week on the WPwatercooler we're going to be going over the recent developments to WordPress 6.4 Beta 1. We'll be discussing each of the new features and what our thoughts are of them. Links: https://wordpress.org/news/2023/09/wordpress-6-4-beta-1/ https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/58281 https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/59166 https://elementor.com/help/requirements/   Show notes and transcript: https://wpwatercooler.com/wpwatercooler/ep465-whats-new-in-wordpress-6-4-beta-1/   Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:00 - WordPress 6.4 Beta 1 Overview 00:03:45 - New Fonts Implementation 00:08:20 - Lightboxes in WordPress 6.4 00:13:00 - Elementor and Beaver Builder: Competition or Inspiration? 00:19:30 - The Matt Mullenweg Tweet Controversy 00:25:10 - Taxonomy in WordPress 00:29:40 - Introduction of Pattern Categories 00:35:00 - Importance of Testing New Features 00:40:45 - The Art of Category Management 00:46:00 - Outro

Director of Category Management, Beth Erwin joins us for part three of our Skin Care Series. Beth shares how Norwex Skin Care aligns with our new mission statement of “Living Cleaner, Safer, Better”.

We chat with former MSC Industrial Supply veteran Steve Gettleman on the topic of category management, for which he says a formal plan is severely lacking across the distribution sector. We cover the ins and outs of category management and how distributors of all kinds can leverage such a plan.

This week, Sean Kosednar joined with Daymon Senior Director, Emma Bryan, to explain Daymon's important partnership with AWG Brands. AWG Brands are supported by a third-party agency called Daymon. Daymon brings expertise in supplier relations, label design and management, web development, creative services, strategic advisory, and more. Many of the Daymon team members are in-house at AWG and work side-by-side with Category Management to represent AWG Brands

Emily Detwiler is the new AWG Brands Executive Director. Prior to this role Emily was the Executive Director of Category Management and Execution here at AWG. She joins Sean Kosednar in studio to talk about where AWG Brands is today as well as opportunities for growth in the future. 

Episode #139: Team Coaching Learning Conversation: Christina Lee and Yvette Hall Join us Friday March 31 at 9:30 New York / 14:30 London / 21:30 Beijing for this week's Team Coaching Zone Learning Conversation! Joining the TCZ stage to explore "Influencing Business Leaders and Empowering Women" are Christina Lee and Yvette Hall from Paradigm 360 Consulting, LLC. The session will be livestreamed on LinkedIn and YouTube and made available for replay afterwards on your favorite podcast player (e.g. Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and more)! Christina Lee is the Chief Executive Officer for Paradigm 360º Coach Training and Consulting, which focuses on transformational leadership development and customized service. She has a wealth of experience in non-profit management, fundraising and development. She's also skilled in building teams through behavioral management assessment-based trainings, developing over 2000 leaders within a ten-year span. Since 2004 she has successfully trained small companies, schools districts, and non-profit organizations. She holds a certification as an Executive Leadership Coach from Dream Releaser Coaching, A Coach Trainer Certification from Life Forming Leadership Coaching, MBTI Certification and DiSC. Christina is a native of California, has a wonderful husband and six children. She's a national speaker, teacher, executive coach, and serves as Chaplain to NFL families through the Professional Football Players Mothers Association. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and vacationing on California beaches. Yvette Hall, PhD is Co-Founder of Paradigm 360º Coaching & Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in leadership development, training, change management, team & executive coaching and coach training. Her specialties include: Team & leadership development, strategic visioning, training, executive coaching, change management, competitive and strategic analysis. Yvette is a Strategic Marketing and Business Leader with extensive corporate experience in Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing, Sales and Business Development, Brand Management, Category Management, Trade & Customer Marketing, and Sales Planning.

Show Notes Will Bachman and Niul Burton discuss procurement and strategic sourcing. Procurement is the function of acquiring goods or services as inputs to a company's operations. Strategic sourcing is a subset of procurement that focuses on the sourcing of goods and services in order to maximize value and efficiency. Niul explained that procurement involves identifying, negotiating, contracting, and working with suppliers on an ongoing basis. He also discussed the importance of understanding the needs of the company, the market, and the supplier in order to ensure that the best deal is being offered. Finally, Niul stressed the importance of building relationships with suppliers in order to ensure successful and long-term collaborations. Functions of Procurement Procurement is the process of buying goods and services from external suppliers. Strategic sourcing is a subset of procurement that takes a big-picture perspective to maximize value from spending. Other functions within procurement include contract negotiation and purchase to pay, which is the day-to-day operational execution of requisitions, purchase orders and invoicing. Third party risk management is an evolution of procurement that includes managing risk for external suppliers, licensees, and distributors. Strategic Sourcing to Drive More Value Strategic sourcing is an evolution of the procurement function to drive more value for an organization. Historically, purchasing was simply a department that executed purchase orders. Now, strategic sourcing is focused on creating value, as more than 50% of an organization's revenue goes out to their supply base. To manage costs and drive value, procurement and the relationship with the suppliers creates a tremendous opportunity. Procurement is now also doing more supplier risk management, which is a subset of third parties. Strategic sourcing is focused on understanding the current market, developing the right supplier relationships, and creating a competitive environment to drive the best value for the company. The process typically includes conducting a market analysis, negotiating with the suppliers, and implementing a contract. Strategic Sourcing – A View on Spend Strategic sourcing is a way of taking a new view on how money is spent. It involves centralizing contracts and purchases, standardizing specifications, and creating competition in the market. A former client of Niul was a big manufacturing company which had 36 different agreements for different sites, each with different terms and conditions and pricing. Strategic sourcing enabled them to look at the situation from a bigger picture view, and negotiate a commercial relationship with the supplier which was worth $1.5 billion over five years. Some of the levers used to create more value included consolidating skews, reducing the number of vendors, and having one standardized contract. Other strategies included aggregating volume, aligning to industry specifications, creating new competition, and process improvement. Timestamps 00:01 Procurement and Strategic Sourcing 101  02:07 Exploring the Different Functions of Procurement 08:12 Leveraging Value Creation Through Process Improvement 09:25 864 different strategies that can be deployed in strategic sourcing 12:13 Assessing the Procurement Function 15:47 Category Management 30:59 The internal process 39:38 The difference between RFI RFP and RFQ Links: https://www.beroeinc.com/podcasts/niul-burton-procurement-digitalization-journey/ CONTACT INFO: Niul@NiulBurton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/niulburton/ https://niulburton.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.  

The Defense Department is telling its acquisition people to use what's known as category management to expand the use of small business. But for years, small business has argued that category management actually limits the number of vendors who can sell to government. To help analyze the matter, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with Professional Services Council President & CEO, David Berteau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marken aus Nischen entwicklen & Geduld haben. Bereits vor meiner ersten Podcast Folge von Haie im Schwimmbad war klar, Harm Humburg für ein Interview zu gewinnen ist für mich persönlich die größte Ehre. Für alle die in der FMCG Industrie unterwegs sind, ist er bekannt. Entweder weil viele ihre Sales- oder Marketing Karriere bei Ferrero gestartet haben, oder weil sie auf Handels Seite die Süßware verantwortet oder gestaltet haben. Und auch für die, welche Harm Humburg nicht kennen. Macht Netflix aus, legt TikTok mal kurz beiseite und lernt von einer tollen Persönlichkeit. Heute gehört es zum guten Ton Category Manager zu sein mit einer GS1Zertifizierung. Auch hier haben das Team von Harm in Zusammenarbeit mit Handel und GS1 viel Vorabeit für uns alle geleistet. Danke an dieser Stelle für diese wegweisende Veränderung und der reinen eigenen Produkt Denke hin zur Kategorie.

Category management has its fair share of supporters and detractors - and that is just within the procurement community. But rumors of its pending demise may be premature. Rather than rejecting category management because circumstances and strategies are constantly changing, procurement should embrace category management because circumstances will always change and strategies must adapt accordingly. In this episode, Philip Ideson welcomes the first guest of 2023: Stephane Morel, a Global Process Owner within Strategic Procurement at Novartis. He is responsible for advancing, aligning, alleviating, accelerating, and automating strategic procurement processes. He also had the opportunity to lead Novartis' highly successful stakeholder mapping exercise in 2016, an experience which shaped many of the perspectives on stakeholder partnership he shares in this interview. Philip and Stephane take this opportunity to discuss and debate: When and where category management should be applied, and how this connects to the future trajectory of the procurement operating model Whether digital maturity can address procurement's previous failed attempts to engage the business in category management efforts The five essential workstreams that may make it possible for procurement to navigate the combined challenge of the economy, aggressive ESG targets, supply chain risk, and ever-evolving automation

In the 17th episode of the All Things Financial Management podcast, presented by the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) and Guidehouse, Ms. Christina Freese, Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management for the US Army Materiel Command, sat down with host Tom Rhoads to discuss how the use of category management, a structured approach to create categories for common goods and services, has enabled the Army Materiel Command to eliminate redundancies, increase efficiency and effectiveness, achieve cost savings, and enhance the war fighter capabilities.

Welcome back to The Procuretech Podcast! We're continuing our mini series where we ask influencers and industry experts for their thoughts on everything that's happening in the digital procurement world. This episode we're talking about negotiation. And there's no one more influential in the negotiation space than the host of the Negotiations Ninja Podcast himself, Mr. Mark Raffan.   Will Negotiation Bots Replace Humans? - Mark Raffan from Negotiations Ninja 1:07 We open up by asking Mark about his background: From sales and online advertising to category manager, before finally transitioning to content creation and his own negotiation training business. 3:12 We discuss Mark's lengthy career in podcasting, now he's over 300 episodes deep. He reflects on some of his favourite episodes. He gives special mention to an interview with Brain Burns, in which it's safe to say they were not exactly aligned... 4:40 Going back to Mark's time working in Category Management, to what extent did he come across procurement technology back then? Mark mentions how common Coupa was back then, alongside niche players like Scout, which is now part of Workday. It's very interesting to see how tech has progressed and it's especially fascinating to Mark to see how the use of tech with negotiation has progressed. We move to talking about the future impact of tech, and Mark highlights process automation and error elimination as huge benefits. 8:17 We talk about how the mid-market is still slow to adopt digitisation. 10:06 Looking at big platforms like Coupa and Ariba, we're now seeing this sort of Salesforce model, where platforms put their own app stores in place. This is almost an admission that these big players can't be everything to everyone. Especially when looking to the mid-market, having a modular structure that allows users to cherry pick features is hugely important. 11:50 We discuss the value of experience. When an experienced professional with over 30 years of experience leaves an organisation, how much can technology hope to fill that gap? 12:47 To what extent can technology replace humans when it comes to negotiation? Does Mark think we'll ever see a robot able to replace humans when negotiating for something really complex and high end? 17:50 We take Grainger as an example. The whole reason Grainger exists is because a technical buyer or MRO category manager didn't have the time to spend all day doing three bids and a buyer for something that cost $5,000. AI can solve all sorts of problems- so as long as you've got a competent person evaluating the results to make sure that it's not doing something stupid from time to time. 18:43 Mark breaks down the present and future of automating negotiations. He doesn't think that truly complex negotiations can be carried out by bots yet. But he's keen to emphasise the word yet in that sentence. He would be very cautious about saying we'll never get there. Because technology is achieving things today that we'd have thought were totally impossible ten years ago. 21:45 Nobody knows the answer for sure. It's not unrealistic to expect that we'll be able to teach a robot to do very complex negotiations. But will we be able to teach them the emotional intelligence required to deal with cultural differences in negotiation between nationalities or between different cultures? That's going to be the most complex part for AI to replicate. 23:49 Mark runs a negotiation training business. How does advancing tech impact how he builds his long term business strategy? 26:02 Mark thinks it's very, very interesting to think about things like using AI to train people in negotiation. But he's keen to highlight the fact that we're both very biassed here. Mark and I think about technology every day. That's our business. But for most procurement professionals it's not on their mind. They've got operational...

Some categories of spend are dependable and constant. Their reliability makes them seem like they've been the same forever, which gives procurement a comfortable opportunity to manage them with equally consistent strategies and results. It is hard to think they will ever change; until they do. How can you stay ahead when disruption strikes your spend category?  How can procurement introduce the required flexibility while continuing to achieve steady results? In this episode, we're sharing a session from Categorypalooza 2022 during which SpendPro and marketing category expert Steve Trussell shares the core approaches that will serve you well during times of change. He also describes the strategies he uses to stay on top of evolving categories while continuing to deliver value. Listen to the conversation facilitated by Kelly Barner to learn: About the current state of marketing: what has changed and what has remained the same? Time-tested approaches that will serve you well during times of volatility and change, regardless of what category of spend you manage How to ensure that procurement's strategies and execution align with what the business really needs

Ron starts this episode with a call on a 91 Bronco that, when hot, will give a clunk and a whirr when starting : answers an email on removing spark plugs on an old vehicle where the plugs are about 20 years old : an answers another email regarding parts for a small block chevy and buying original parts yet nothing in the boxes was stamped as genuine GM : and Ron talks with Randy Zahorchak, Product Manager, and Chris Gillespie, Director of Category Management of Dorman Products about exhaust manifolds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Art of Procurement special series, host Philip Ideson asks members of the WNS Denali team: How do you design an end-to-end ecosystem based procurement operating model? Throughout the four parts of this series, they provide their insight about the basics of an ecosystem approach, and then each set of guests digs into specifics across category management, source to contract, and procure to pay processes. In the second episode, he is joined by Lynn Rideout, Vice President of Global Category Advisory, and Sanjeev Singh, Director - Solutions both at WNS Denali.  They focus on taking an ecosystem approach to the category management process: What does true category management entail and how does it benefit when procurement takes an ecosystem approach? What are the common pain points companies work to overcome?  What role do digital transformation, investments in talent, and business alignment play in category management success?

The CPG Guys, PVSB and Sri are joined in this episode by Francesca Hahn, VP of Digital Commerce & GM of DTC at Mondelēz International, the world's leading manufacturer of snacking foods.Follow Francesca Hahn on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-hahn/Follow Mondelēz International on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mondelezinternational/Follow Mondelēz International online at: https://www.mondelezinternational.com/Francesca answers these questions:1) Your story starts in Category Management at top tier CPGs such as PepsiCo, Diageo, Colgate, evolving into sales leadership roles, a stint in Germany, eCommerce, Baby, and then emerging as a Digital Commerce leader here at Mondelez. Decompose this for our audience and tell us how all this change came to be2) Why is digital commerce a priority for Mondelez international in these times? Is it just about eCommerce or does it have broader omnichannel drivers?3) How are you working to ensure Mondelez international is omnichannel ready - what are specific initiatives or actions you have taken? Let's focus on search and your work in this area.4) Does the world of ratings & reviews and content still have an equal importance of search these days and why?5) DTC - it seems every brand is focused on delivering some sort of direct partnership with the consumer especially if subscription oriented. How are you focused on it?6) How are you focused on building a team and what does your team specifically focus on - is it strategy or execution?7) With a brand that is everywhere and sold primarily omnichannel, how do you bring those NOT on your team?8) What are some key learnings from the last 2 years you would share with our audience they should focus on?9) The pandemic has obviously changed shopper behavior for good it seems - do you agree. In the role you play, how are you responding to this and preparing for the transformation?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGGuys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://fmcgguys.comDISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Procurated's Genna Gold is joined on this live webinar recording by several highly respected education purchasers, including: Jayme Baker, Manager, Category Management, Purdue University Carol Munroe, Business Analyst, Michigan Department of Education Kevin Walters, Supervisor, Office of School Support Services, Michigan Department of Education The webinar covers a variety of important topics specific to the education market including the unique buying cycles of higher education and K-12, trending goods and services, and more. This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

Far more teams talk about category management than successfully carry it out, but is the challenge one of talent or scale? It is certainly one of the more creative processes procurement engages in, which opens the door to more value creation - as long as procurement has the right metrics and KPIs guiding their work. In this week's episode, we bring you a session from our recent AOP Digital Outcomes 2022 virtual event. Kelly Barner was joined by Gary Levitan from WeWork and Remko Van Hoek from the University of Arkansas to discuss whether or not category management initiatives can be executed at scale. Key takeaways from the interview include: Category management can facilitate stakeholder collaboration when products, services, and/or suppliers overlap How the automation of rote and even ‘boring' procurement tasks can make it possible for procurement to invest more time and effort in strategy  Why it is important to consider automation part of a process or a subset of spend categories instead of waiting to include 100% at the same time

Entrepreneurship, Standing Out, and Empowering Small Businesses.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Robb Wong, CEO and Founder of Fedsolve. Robb discusses his lifelong entrepreneurial drive starting at 11 years old, stringing tennis rackets with his brother, and holding 7 part-time jobs in college. He also talks about his email hack to avoid spam and whether or not he feels like a Government Contracting Celebrity. Robb's experience with HUBZone and the SBA has had a major impact on small businesses in America, and he discusses that path and the potential effect of recent developments. Lastly, Robb recommends a book that you may not have read in a while! QUOTES “I would say this about leadership in general. I practice this. I try to practice this at home. What I say to my daughter is, I'm trying to be the dad that you expect me to be, not the dad that I want to be. And so, I say that to my wife about me trying to be a husband. And I tried to apply that to SBA. I tried to be the type of leader that other people expected me to be, not the person that I wanted to be.” - Robb Wong [26:59] “What's going to happen is if you continue to try to help people, they're going to come to you and they're going to say, Shana, I know this isn't what NYLA does, but we have this other problem. And if you answer and honestly say, listen, I'm not the expert in that, but I can figure it out. That's how you, that's how you evolve, that's how you change as a company. And you have to be open for change.” - Robb Wong [50:50] “I love helping small businesses who can help our government because I think it makes for a stronger government. And I devoted my life to government service. I was inside, I was outside. I was inside again, now I'm outside, but I think if we have a strong government then we have a strong country.” - Robb Wong [54:00]   TIMESTAMPS  [00:04] Intro [02:12] Meet Robb Wong [04:09] Robb's College Experience [05:22] Ursinus College [07:57] Born an Entrepreneur [12:52] Robb's Email Address Hack [15:02] Robb's Experience with Race-Based Assumptions [20:37] The Advantages of Living in America [22:34] Does Robb feel like a Government Contracting Celebrity? [25:43] Robb's Experience with HUBZone and the SBA [34:44] Recent Developments with the SBA and Category Management [37:38] It Comes Down to Business Development [41:47] Lowest Price Technically Acceptable [45:00] Role of the Contracting Officer [48:32] The Personal Aspect of Government Contracting [50:03] Advice Robb Would Give to his Younger Self [51:20] Robb's Interest in Curious George [51:53] Robb's Surprising Fact [54:44] Outro   RESOURCES https://www.ursinus.edu/ (Ursinus College) https://www.georgetown.edu/ (Georgetown University) https://www.nih.gov/ (National Institutes of Health) https://www.gwu.edu/ (The George Washington University) https://www.wikihow.com/String-a-Tennis-Racquet (How to String a Tennis Racket) https://www.berkeley.edu/ (University of Berkeley, California) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/8a-business-development-program (8(a) Business Development Program) https://hubzonecouncil.org/National-HUBZone-Conference (National HUBZone Conference) https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/category-management#:~:text=Category%20Management%20is%20the%20practice,and%20effectiveness%20of%20acquisition%20activities. (Category Management) https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-biden/ (President Joe Biden) https://discover.dtic.mil/section-809-panel/ (Section 809 Panel) https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/ (Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) Program) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs (Information on SDVOSBs from the SBA) https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/joint-ventures (Joint Ventures)...

Episode 15 (Season 3) of the Empowering Women PodcastABOUT OUR GUEST:  Wende Goble is a curious, fact finder who does not like the word NO and CAN'T when finding creative outlets to solve problems, who leaps tall orders during disasters and will find generators and deliver water in a quick nano second in an emergency situation.  Friendships and networking are her game; she loves to hear others stories of their life goals and careers, everyone that crosses her path has an interesting story.  Her career path has been non-traditional filled with peaks and valleys that has given Wende grit and grace and has allowed her to view all situations as an opportunity.Wende's career path has included various roles in the Supply Chain sector in Master Planning, Capacity Planning, Buyer, Category Management, and Logistics within medical, apparel, mining equipment, and currently in HVAC markets.   She has been recognized for CEO and Chairman awards with VF Corporation for successfully managing a systems integration project and Trane Technologies for humanitarian relief for hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Lynn Haven, Florida.Her absolute passion is within the arts.  Wende grabbed the opportunity to launch her own successful photography business.  Photography has allowed her the opportunity to capture special events for others; creating an environment of comfort for a person to express their authentic self.  Photography is now a hobby that channels a creative outlet when life becomes too structured.CONNECT WITH WENDELinkedIn  EPISODE AND EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKSGrit:  The Power of Passion and PerseveranceMargaret Heffernan: Forget the Pecking Order at Work (Super Chicken TED Talk)Empowering Women WebsiteEmpowering Women Slack ChannelEmpowering Women Events (Including Meet Ups)QUOTES“There is no such thing as no.  Everything and anything is possible.”“I do not like to be put in a box.  I like to be outside of that box. I want to be different.”The Gift of Grit:  “I am going to do this for me not for anybody else.”Wende's number one mantra:  “It's all about relationships. I've learned so much from individuals that have been one of my resources along the line.”“I wanted the core of my brand to be all about relationships.  It's where I am today; authenticity and relationships is key.”Imposter Syndrome: “ There are days when I have the black crow on my shoulder. They like to chatter all around and you just have to put them in a corner.”The Power of No.  Wende uses this in two ways:(1)   In Setting Boundaries(2)   Avoid Saying No to Possible:  “Open yourself to possibility.”“There were times when we thought ‘we can't do this'.  But you would pick me up or I would pick you up. We were never on the same page as quitting.”On crucial conversations: “I tend to second guess myself when I bring up a topic that I passionately believe in but do not want to hear the word ‘no'…. Focus on if I do not say anything, will anything happen?”