Podcasts about commoditized

In the engineering world, we rely on sensors to acquire data from real-world processes and machines. Deciding how to use that data is very important. The right decisions impact process efficiency, system reliability, and even worker safety.   Join Control.com's David Peterson as he chats with Kate Sokolnicki of Rockwell Automation in this episode of the Moore's Lobby podcast. Sokolnicki explains the evolution of industrial sensing and the shift toward data-driven manufacturing.  They discuss many key technological advancements, including: -IO-Link as a standard: Simple sensors are transitioning into "smart" devices that provide dual-channel feedback—process data and health analytics—without typical price premiums. -Commoditized vision AI: High-end vision systems are being replaced by affordable cameras capable of quality checks and AI-driven processing at the edge or in the cloud. -Smart safety protocols: Learn how operators can now pinpoint specific faults in a daisy-chained system (e.g., identifying exactly which door is ajar), significantly reducing troubleshooting time. Sokolnicki notes that while AI is powerful, it requires robust metadata (machine, shift, and location context) to be actionable. She highlights how condition monitoring—such as tracking "heartbeats," sensor margins, or cable tension—allows plants to move from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance. She concludes by encouraging young engineers to prioritize back-of-the-napkin math and the common-sense test. Instead of relying solely on theoretical calculations, she advocates for interrogating results to ensure they align with physical reality. Rockwell Automation is committed to enabling the next generation of smart manufacturing. Under their Allen-Bradley brand, Rockwell has a broad portfolio of high-performance sensors and switches. This includes proximity and photoelectric sensors, limit switches, safety switches, and RFID and operator safety devices.  Meet Kate Sokolnicki Kate Sokolnicki is the Global Business Director for Rockwell Automation's Sensing & Safety business unit and serves as the site lead for Rockwell's Chelmsford, MA location. She oversees product portfolio strategy and is responsible for global sales growth.  Kate joined Rockwell in 2015 as a product specialist and was promoted to portfolio manager supporting Sensing, Safety, and Connectivity. Most recently, she was a business manager responsible for in-cabinet infrastructure products, including single-pair Ethernet/IP.  Prior to joining Rockwell, Kate worked in the biomedical industry as an applications engineer. Kate holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and lives in Chelmsford, MA. 

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Risa Cretella, Executive Vice President, Meals & Beverages at The Campbell's Company, about what it takes to evolve iconic brands while staying competitive in fast-moving, highly commoditized categories. Risa shares how she brings an entrepreneurial mindset into a large organization, focusing on smart risk-taking, faster decision-making, and empowering teams to act with conviction, even without perfect data.She also discusses how Campbell's is approaching innovation differently, starting with real consumer behavior and moving quickly when there's clear evidence of demand. The conversation explores why brands lose relevance over time, how private-label gains ground, and what it takes to build and maintain a true “right to win”, while aligning brand-building efforts with commercial outcomes to drive real growth.Key takeaways:Speed is a competitive advantage, but only if teams are empowered to act before perfect validation.Private label growth is often a symptom of brand stagnation, not just pricing pressure.The strongest innovations don't create new behavior; they formalize what consumers are already doing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's show is entitled, "Standing Out in a Commoditized Market" and my guest is Steve Gielda, Managing Partner at Ignite Selling. Tune in as we discuss... Buyers buy outcomes, not products. Know what the customer is trying to achieve before you start selling. Features and demos can wait. Price is rarely the real reason you lose a deal. When reps say they lost on price, customers usually tell a different story. Dig deeper. Reframe the decision criteria before your competitor does. If you let the buyer define the evaluation on their own, a competitor likely already shaped that list. Get there first. Listen Now | Watch the video HERE Matt interviews the best and brightest minds in sales and Marketing.  If you would like to be a guest on Sales Pipeline Radio send an email to acceleration@heinzmarketing.com. Sales Pipeline Radio was recently listed as one of 30 Best Sales Management Podcasts and Top 60 Sales Podcasts You can subscribe right at Sales Pipeline Radio and/or listen to full recordings of past shows everywhere you listen to podcasts! You can even ask Siri, Alexa and Google or search on Audible!  

Welcome to Episode #532 - Today we discuss the question "Are stamps being commoditized".  This arose from Stamp Grading but it is a far deeper question than that.

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Brett Cavanagh to explore why staffing firms must abandon the old transactional playbook, embrace a consultative mindset, and leverage technology like AI while doubling down on the human relationships that truly drive success. About the Guest Brett Cavanagh is the President of TempWorks Software and Lone Oak Payroll. With more than a decade of experience working directly inside staffing firms before moving into technology leadership, Brett now helps agencies scale through smarter systems, operational discipline, and deeper alignment between technology and the real-world demands of recruiting and staffing. Key Takeaways The old staffing playbook is breaking in a changing market. Talent inventory determines who wins in staffing. Commoditized staffing always becomes a race to the bottom. AI won't replace recruiters—it will expose weak ones. The future belongs to consultative staffing firms. Timestamps [00:00] – Is selling staffing harder than ever? [01:40] – Why cold calling candidates is fading [04:05] – What winning staffing firms do differently [05:49] – The shift from transactional to consultative selling [08:24] – Why fear drives bad staffing decisions [10:58] – The danger of competing on price [16:03] – Building a true candidate-first experience [21:43] – The “sports agent” mindset for recruiters [24:45] – How AI will reshape staffing [32:23] – AI will expose average recruiters [37:14] – Where growth still exists in staffing [46:03] – Brett's advice for the next generation About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He's the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry's leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. For a limited time, we're offering 50% off a brand new staffing website. Just message Brad Bialy on LinkedIn and mention the Crazy Website Promo. Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 Benefits in a Card helps staffing firms offer meaningful benefits to their entire workforce through flexible, unbundled plans designed for high-turnover environments—making it easier to control costs, improve retention, and stay competitive. https://www.BenefitsInACard.com TRICOM partners with staffing firms as an asset-based lender and full-service back-office provider, helping owners scale confidently by reducing risk and easing the operational strain of payroll, cash flow, and administration. https://www.tricom.com

Today I'm joined by Michael Maroone, Chairman and CEO of Maroone USA. Michael breaks down why new cars are becoming commodities, where profit has actually migrated, and why culture, curiosity, and operational freedom matter more than pay plans. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Podium - 78% of customers buy from the first business that responds, yet most businesses reply an hour or more late. Jerry 2.0 is the only fully customizable AI Employee. Jerry learns your playbooks, understands your inventory, schedules appointments, books test drives, handles trade-ins, books consultations, sends promotions, requests reviews, and learns from your feedback—within minutes, day or night. Businesses now let Podium's AI Employees handle 40% of their inbound leads, giving teams more time for their customers—and more time home for dinner. Learn what Jerry can do for you @ here! 2. Carfax - Drive long-term customer loyalty with CARFAX. Visit @ https://www.carfax.com/ to learn more. 3. Nomad Content Studio - Most dealers still fumble social—posting dry inventory pics or handing it off without a plan. Meanwhile, the store down the street is racking up millions of views and selling / buying cars using video. That's where Nomad Content Studio comes in. We train your own videographer, direct what to shoot, and handle strategy, to posting, to feedback. Want in with the team behind George Saliba, EV Auto, and top auto groups? Book a call @ http://www.trynomad.co Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dealership recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgrecruiting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Fix your dealership's social media ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.trynomad.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgpartner.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Topics: 06:10 Instead of GMs, use equity-owning "President Partners." 06:45 Use a "Freedom Frame" for flexible governance. 08:00 High goodwill stores make partner buy-ins impossible. 19:55 Never use compensation to run your business. 21:10 Ask 20 questions in every elevator ride. 24:15 New car product has been totally commoditized. 26:15 We are facing a lost generation of CapEx. 32:15 Measure "Super PVR" to see total deal economics. 39:45 Reject framework agreements; they only hinder growth. Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you've only sold sexy products with cool demos and unique features, you're probably missing the fundamentals that separate good salespeople from great ones. Marcus Chan, CEO of Venli Consulting and recent guest on the Sales Gravy podcast, learned to sell in the trenches of commoditized selling: uniforms, facility services, telecom. Industries where you're locked in multi-year contract cycles, competing against five other vendors who offer the exact same thing, and selling at two to three times the market price. "In order to get really, really good at selling in the commoditized market, where price seems to be the only factor... you have to learn how to get really good at the sales process," Chan explains. "You have to be able to take someone who has what I call a latent pain—pain they don't realize—get them to active and create urgency to move." No flash. No sizzle. Just selling. And that's exactly why it works. The First-to-Market Delusion Chan was talking with a client recently. They've closed $5 million in revenue in 12 months. Apple, Fortune 500 companies, massive wins. They're first to market in a brand new category. Zero competitors. Their sales team is flying high. "That's fantastic," he told them. "Now what's your plan for when competitors show up in three years?" Silence. Here's what happens: you get drunk on the product. You don't have to build real sales skills because the product does the heavy lifting. Then the market matures. Competitors launch. Your "unique" features become nothing new. Most teams operate under the belief that they're different. They talk about their proprietary technology, their best-in-class service, and their innovative approach. Meanwhile, buyers are looking at five vendors saying the exact same things. This isn't just true for uniforms and telecom. It's true for SaaS, consulting, financial services. Any market that's been around longer than 18 months gets commoditized fast. The question isn't whether you're in a commoditized market. The question is whether you know how to sell when you are. What Commoditized Selling Actually Teaches You When Chan was selling uniforms at three times the competitor's price to buyers locked into five-year contracts with other vendors, he had nothing to lean on except process. He couldn't say, "Look at this cool new feature." The uniforms were uniforms. Same fabric. Same colors. Same everything. He had to learn three skills most salespeople never develop: Moving buyers from latent pain to active pain. Most buyers don't think they have a problem. They're comfortable. They're "fine" with their current vendor. Your job is to help them realize what they're losing by staying put, and make it real enough that they care. Creating urgency when the status quo is locked in. When a buyer is in year three of a five-year contract, there's zero natural urgency. You have to create it. You have to make the pain of waiting worse than the pain of switching. Navigating complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles without a product demo to fall back on. You need the operations manager, the finance team, and the C-suite to all agree that switching vendors is worth the headache. And you need to do it without any bells and whistles to distract them from the hard questions. The Hidden Advantage Nobody Talks About Mastering commoditized selling makes everything else easier. Learn to sell uniforms at a premium price, and differentiated products become simple. The hard skills transfer—objection handling, stakeholder navigation, urgency creation. But the real value is that your process becomes your product. In commoditized markets, you compete on how you sell. Your discovery process. Your ability to diagnose the real problem. Your consultative approach. The way you make the buyer feel heard and understood. That's what buyers remember and what separates you from the five other vendors in their inbox. Stop Hiding Behind Your Product Chan sees it all the time with sales teams from "sexy" industries. They lead with features because they can. They lean on their demo because it works. They let the product do the selling. Until it doesn't. Because eventually, every market commoditizes. Your competitor launches the same feature. Buyers stop caring about your "innovative solution" and start asking about price. The salespeople who win in commoditized markets win because of process, not product. They've mastered diagnosis, urgency, and navigating complexity when there's nothing shiny to distract the buyer. A Commoditized Market Is the Best Sales Training Ground If you're selling in a commoditized market right now, congratulations. You're getting an education most salespeople never get—how to compete when you're "just another vendor," how to create value when the product doesn't, how to win on process instead of features. Sell commodities at premium prices to buyers locked into competitor contracts, and you can sell anything. Master the fundamentals where there are no shortcuts, and those fundamentals become automatic. Move to a market with actual differentiation, and you don't just have a good product—you have a good product and the skills to sell it. Winning in Commoditized Selling The best training ground for sales isn't the hottest SaaS company or the coolest startup. It's the "boring," commoditized industries where the product doesn't do the work for you. Where you have to diagnose the problem, create urgency, and navigate complexity without flash to hide behind. The skills you build when nothing else can save you? Those are the skills that make you unstoppable everywhere else. -- If you want to sharpen the fundamentals that win in any market, start with prospecting. Download the free Seven Steps Prospecting Sequence Guide and build a process that creates urgency and fills your pipeline on purpose.

The truth is, in today's world, credibility and expertise are no longer enough to stand out. They've become commodities. What differentiates you is how you build trust and create a unique experience for your prospects. It is important to learn how to shift from a transactional approach to one that builds deep trust and lasting relationships.In this month's Stump The Guru show, I'll be diving into a critical question: Is your selling approach commoditized?I've made it my life's mission to create the clarity that is missing in the traditional sales process, through decades of working with thousands of business owners all over the world, refining Trust-Based Selling into a true art form:· Stop "chasing" ghosts (leads that never call you back!)· Make the sale in ONE conversation, without pressure· Stop selling, create deep trust insteadI've taken my mission one step further and created a livestream show called “Stump The Guru'” -- where you get the opportunity to jump on live and ask me your toughest sales questions that you'd love an answer for.Get Ari's latest best-selling book "Trust In A Split Second!" for FREE along with a Complimentary Lead & Sales Growth Consultation (Value $995.00) at http://www.UnlockTheGame.com/FreeConsult, and join him as a guest on his podcast "Stump The Guru" and get your chance to ask Ari one-on-one questions, fill in the form to be clickable to this link: https://links.arigalper.com/widget/form/rh5YanDqzZqPHVBCKlKG

On this episode of the Thrivecast, Jason Blumer sits down with Dr. Kristy Short to reveal a profound truth about professional services: firms unconsciously choose mediocrity through their communication patterns. We explore how the accounting profession's default toward compliance-based content creates an invisible prison of sameness—a sea of templated messaging that transforms unique practices into indistinguishable commodities.The strategic tension emerges clearly: in an era where AI can generate unlimited content, authentic voice becomes the ultimate differentiator. Yet most firm leaders struggle to identify, articulate, and consistently express their distinctive perspective. Dr. Short's 25-year journey through the content landscape illuminates how this challenge transcends marketing tactics—it's fundamentally about leadership courage and organizational self-awareness. The "million dollar look" framework she describes isn't about aesthetic polish; it's about the disciplined practice of authentic expression in a profession that rewards conformity.This exploration challenges the inherited belief that technical competence alone drives firm success. Instead, we examine content as relational infrastructure—the systematic way firms build trust, demonstrate expertise, and invite deeper advisory relationships. The conversation reveals how moving from one-way compliance communications to engaging, client-centric storytelling requires leaders to confront their own creative limitations and embrace the vulnerable work of authentic brand development. This isn't simply about marketing strategy; it's about organizational transformation and the courage to stand apart in a crowded marketplace.The deeper question emerges: Are you willing to risk distinctiveness in pursuit of meaningful client relationships, or will you remain safely hidden within the comfortable anonymity of professional sameness?About the guest:Kristy Short, Ed.D, is the owner of Type5 Content and Align Creative. She has served the accounting profession for more than 25 years—an expert in content strategy and development. And she's loved every minute of it! Kristy's passionate about helping firms and the profession as whole move forward., kick ass and conquer. She's worked with hundreds of firms and accounting-space vendors and is authentically effusive when she says: "There's no better feeling than watching clients succeed.

Pricing isn't just “check a comp.” We dig into price discovery: how vendors set numbers on the floor, why eye appeal (centering, strength/weakness for the grade) can trump the last sale, and where “invisible comps”—private deals and off-platform sales—shape the real market. Dan Bliss stays on to share a dealer's playbook for fair, competitive pricing and fast inventory turnover, and Leighton Sheldon joins to weigh in on rare cards, negotiation ethics, and keeping your own private sales data. Highlights Competitive vs. cushion pricing: why marking 20–30% over comps can stall your table Eye appeal premium/discounts: strong-for-grade vs. off-center within the same numeric grade Commoditized cards vs. scarce pieces: when comps matter—and when they don't “Invisible comps”: private show/LCS/Facebook deals that never hit public databases Buying etiquette: avoiding “lowball” moments, respecting sellers, and still getting to yes Collector vs. flipper negotiations: why intent shouldn't change fair pricing Practical takeaways: price to sell, track your own private sales, refresh inventory often Support the show Enjoying Sports Cards Live? Follow and rate the podcast, share this episode with a hobby friend, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new segment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ton Dobbe is the founder of Value Inspiration, helping SaaS companies transform from commoditized to remarkable. He's the author of The Remarkable Effect, where he explores what makes products stand out and command premium prices. And he's a keynote speaker and podcast host himself. In this episode, Ton shares his insights on how SaaS companies can escape the commodity trap and command premium pricing by focusing on their unique approach to solving customer problems, rather than just features and functions.   Why you have to check out today's podcast: Learn how to identify and articulate the real problems your customers face that keep them awake at night. Discover why competing on your approach rather than features is the key to premium pricing. Understand how guarantees and risk reduction can justify higher prices and improve your entire business operation.   "Start thinking about what you do and why customers would pay a premium for that. And if you cannot answer that, there's work to do. It's a very simple question. What would it take for people to start paying a premium for it?" – Ton Dobbe   Topics Covered: 02:37 – Startup failure and value proposition: Why 75% of software scalers fail despite achieving product-market fit and how the inability to market at appropriate value becomes their downfall  04:07 – Value is a story: Ton's definition of value as "a story in the head of a customer" versus Mark's "result of solving problems" and how perception drives pricing acceptance  09:28 – Value pricing and guarantees: How adding guarantees reduces customer fear of making mistakes and enables premium pricing, plus the psychology behind buyer decision-making 12:33 – Guaranteeing results for customers: The insurance model approach to guarantees and how implementation success creates win-win scenarios for both vendor and customer 15:28 – Competing on approach, not features: Why software companies must differentiate based on their unique approach to solving problems rather than feature comparisons with competitors  19:09 – Secret sauce for ideal customers: Ton's 12-step "pressure cooker" process for identifying your value foundation and connecting company knowledge to customer segments  22:11 – Ideal customer segmentation benefits: How focusing on perfect-fit customers accelerates sales cycles, increases win rates, stops discounting, and improves every business function  27:59 – The value of AI solutions: Why companies fail when they position themselves as "AI-powered" instead of focusing on the specific problems their AI capabilities solve 30:39 – Premium pricing strategies: The fundamental question every company must answer - why would customers pay a premium for what you do, and what would it take to achieve that?   Key Takeaways: "Value is a story in the head of a customer. When I say to you, for example, this is 30,000 US dollars. Some people will say, that's expensive. And other people will say, that's a bargain. And the difference is how well you communicate the value in a way that clicks with them." – Ton Dobbe "The moment you can add something like a guarantee or like a reliable promise to that, you can even charge more on pricing because it takes a lot of objections away around the fear of messing up." – Ton Dobbe "If you compete on a feature function level, everybody will lose. So you have to make a choice, are we going to compete on the feature function level or are we going to compete on something else?" – Ton Dobbe "The moment you get that idea in their head, this is the choice and they're gonna solve my problem better than anyone else. They're gonna give me more value than anyone else. Well, why should I even start talking about discounts?" – Ton Dobbe   People / Resources Mentioned: The Jolt Effect (book on buyer indecision) Christian Owens, CEO of Paddle   Connect with Ton Dobbe: Website: https://valueinspiration.com Book: https://theremarkableeffect.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tondobbe/    Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com  

Astasia Myers is a GP at Felicis, an iconic VC firm with investments in companies like Shopify, Canva, Adyen, Notion, Mercor, Plaid, Supabase, Flexport, and more. Astasia's favorite books: God's Bankers (Author: Gerald Posner)(00:01) Introduction(00:26) Astasia's Infra Thesis(03:59) Golden Age of Infra & Innovators Network(06:22) RL Environments & AI Agents(08:57) Disruption Opportunities: Data & Observability(11:31) Where to Find Infra Founders(16:31) Early Signals & Thesis-Driven Investing(18:01) Picking & Decision-Making Process(20:11) Red Flags in Infra Investing(22:20) References & Diligence(24:35) Proof of Usage & Production Signals(26:24) Building Edge as an Investor(28:01) How Felicis Helps Founders Post-Investment(30:05) Consensus vs. Contrarian Views in Infra(32:09) Tourist Traps in Infra Investing(34:43) GTM & Sales Motion in Infra(37:25) Pricing Strategies for Infra Startups(40:09) Ecosystem vs. Core Product Focus(42:15) Lessons from Outlier vs. Good Companies(44:30) Infra Wedges to Fund Today(45:23) Commoditized but Promising Categories(47:06) Exciting AI Advancements(48:21) Rapid Fire Round--------Where to find Astasia Myers: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astasiamyers/--------Where to find Prateek Joshi: Website: https://prateekj.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-joshi-infiniteX: https://x.com/prateekvjoshiResearch column: https://infrastartups.com 

“If there's one reason we have done better than our peers in the internet space over the last six years, it is because we have focused like a laser on customer experience, and that really does matter, I think, in any business.” – Jeff Bezos Check Out These Highlights: When I started in sales, it was all about the product or service and how we could save time and money for the client. This remains a crucial piece of the puzzle in highlighting the benefits to the client. The other key piece that is often overlooked is the client journey and the culture that needs to be built to earn the long-term respect and to become top-of-mind every time your client has a financial event, which is about every 90 days. So, if our efforts do not align with the marketing message from your marketing department, the results can be catastrophic, resulting in a significant loss of sales and missed sales opportunities. About Lori Turner-Wilson: Lori is the founder of RedRover, is a trailblazer in business marketing. With 30+ years of experience, she has led transformative marketing strategies that drive measurable results for hundreds of companies. Under her leadership, RedRover became one of the only full-service B2B firms in the U.S. to guarantee marketing ROI, earning the moniker “The Results-Guaranteed Agency.” Her innovative approach continues to reshape the industry, empowering businesses with strategies that deliver real, guaranteed outcomes. How to Get in Touch with Lori Turner-Wilson: Website:   marketingresultsguaranteed.com Email:  lori@redrovercompany.com Gift: www.marketingresultsguaranteed.com/podcast Use Discount Code: Podcast Previous Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/changing-the-sales-game/id1543243616?i=1000711035912 Stalk me online! LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/conniewhitman Subscribe to the Changing the Sales Game Podcast on your favorite podcast streaming service or YouTube. New episodes are posted every week—listen as Connie delves into new sales and business topics or addresses problems you may have in your business.

Outsourcing podcast Get the full show notes for this outsourcing podcast here: outsourceaccelerator.com/549   Staff Virtual On this episode of the Outsource Accelerator Podcast, host Derek Gallimore sits down with Ike Stranathan, CEO and Co-founder of STAFFVIRTUAL. They discuss the company's growth, differentiation strategy, and the future of outsourcing.    Ike shares how STAFFVIRTUAL evolved from a VA startup concept to a trusted BPO partner for legal and technical clients across the globe.    References: Website: https://staffvirtual.com/ Email: ike@staffvirtual.com     Start Outsourcing Outsource Accelerator can help you transform your business with outsourcing. Get in touch now, or use one of the resources below.   Business Process Outsourcing Get a Free Quote - Connect with 3 verified outsourcing experts & see how outsourcing can transform your business Book a Discovery Call - See how Outsource Accelerator can help you enhance your company's innovation and growth with outsourcing The Top 40 BPOs - We have compiled this review of the most notable 40 Business Process Outsourcing companies in the Philippines Outsourcing Calculator - This tool provides you with invaluable insight into the potential savings outsourcing can do for your business Outsourcing Salary Guide - Access the comprehensive guide to payroll salary compensation, benefits, and allowances in the Philippines Outsourcing Accelerator Podcast - Subscribe and listen to the world's leading outsourcing podcast, hosted by Derek Gallimore Payoneer - The leading global B2B payment solution for the outsourcing industry   About Outsource Accelerator Outsource Accelerator is the world's leading outsourcing marketplace and advisory. We offer the full spectrum of services, from light advisory and vendor brokerage, though to full implementation and fully-managed solutions. We service companies of all sectors, and all sizes, spanning all departmental verticals. Outsource Accelerator's unique approach to outsourcing enables our clients to build the best teams, access the most flexible solutions, and generate the best results possible. Our unrivaled sector knowledge and market reach mean that you get the best terms and results possible, at the best ALL-IN market-leading price - guaranteed.

One area of the economy and commercial real estate that's flourishing is luxury travel. Well located, well managed hotels are unique assets that retain their value irrespective of the macroeconomic environment. In the past few years, this trend has been amplified because of the cost to build and resulting limited new supply. People who have the economic wherewithal will always prioritize upscale experiences and be willing to pay for them. Since founding Dovehill Capital Management in 2011, Jake Wurzak has led the investment of over $1.5 billion in hospitality projects, mostly in Florida where he resides. Currently, Jake is mostly investing in pref equity deals with other experienced operators.

This week on More or Less, we dive into the escalating AI talent wars, Meta's bold moves, and what the latest hires really mean for the future of AI innovation. The More or Less team break down why product execution is overtaking research wizardry, what's happening between OpenAI and Microsoft, and how AI is reshaping inbound for all markets.We're also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

What does it take to keep hospitality from becoming just another commodity? In this episode of The Turndown, Bashar Wali, Founder and CEO of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, shares why the future of hotels lies not in points or perks, but in the power of human connection.    Drawing on his experience as hotel developer, operator, and tireless traveler, Bashar challenges the industry to rethink loyalty, guest experience, and the role of technology. Discover why emotional intelligence is hospitality's greatest asset – and how small, thoughtful moments can transform forgettable stays into lifelong loyalty. 

In this episode, I dig into a question that's always lurking in the back of a portrait photographer's mind – what really makes light flattering? It's a term we all use, but what does it actually mean? Is it just about soft shadows and low contrast, or is it more about the connection between the subject and the photographer? I talk through this while reflecting on a busy week – from a stunning wedding at Head Saw House to a corporate shoot for Barclays, and a spontaneous portrait session that reminded me why I love this job. I also share some thoughts on the updated Mastering Portrait Photography book, which hits shelves in September, complete with fresh images and a whole new chapter on AI post-production. If you've ever wondered what makes a light truly flattering – and why it's about more than just the gear – this episode is for you. And as always, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, be kind to yourself. Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.    Transcript  ​  Well, as I sit here in the studio, the sun is shining in through the windows and it's been a beautiful, beautiful week. I started it with a trip down to Devon with the in-laws. One great thing about being married to Sarah, whose family are from Plymouth, there are many great things about being married to Sarah. But one of the ones, in terms of geography, at least, is her family still lived down in Plymouth, in Devon, by the sea. So it was absolutely glorious to spend a couple of days down there walking the dog, drinking a beer, enjoying the sunshine, and the sun is still shining here right now. And on that happy note, I'm Paul. I'm very much looking forward to a barbecue, and this is the Mastering Portrait  

Stephen Dooley is Founder of Roamr, a corporate travel accommodation platform built for distributed teams. Merging insights from trust dynamics and the sharing economy, Stephen explains how a personal pain point led to an innovative travel solution rethinking cost structures and workplace needs. He shares how listening to customer feedback evolved the initial concept into a fresh approach to business travel that—being empathetic and practical—supports flexibility, connection, and culture while delivering measurable impact for businesses and employees alike.     TAKEAWAYS [01:22] Stephen studies commerce aligning early interests in business and entrepreneurship. [01:45] A year abroad gives Stephen an exciting experience and global perspective. [03:11] The year studying in the US sparks Stephen's ambition and sharpens his interpersonal skills. [03:47] Graduate research initially focuses on financial technology and wealth management. [05:15] Stephen is interested in tech-related consumer psychology dynamics and adoption drivers. [06:25] The sharing economy reverses historical fundamental trust patterns and behaviors. [07:11] Younger consumers now influence their parents' tech-based adoption decisions. [08:34] Stephen takes a new role then the pandemic hits, requiring rapid learning. [09:28] A light bulb moment about new realities for travel, lifestyle and career compatibility. [09:47] A great workation opportunity is dashed by unaffordable accommodation. [10:42] Identifying remote work necessities reveal need for better infrastructure. [11:17] Location flexibility is widespread, but how to take advantage of new opportunities. [12:21] Societal tailwinds are behind Working From Anywhere and distributed work. [12:55] Roamr launches with an employee-focused offering home swaps for workations. [13:49] During customer discovery, many employers ask to apply the model to corporate travel. [14:20] Employees get alternatives to hotels, financially benefit, and firms save money. [14:52] Now business travel is more relationship-focused, so culture and collaboration benefits can outweigh reduced costs. [16:31] Travel expenses can be significant so more than 20% in savings is valuable. [17:09] Improved culture, engagement, and retention offer meaningful additional benefits. [19:21] More younger workers understand the Roamr concept and have much interest to connect and network. [20:09] Hosting income also helps employees towards meaningful financial goals. [21:04] Roamr aligns CFO cost savings priorities and CPO employee experience goals. [22:40] Global platform partners expand reach to over 100 countries. [24:31] Top talent understand their worth and if not offered flexibility will work elsewhere. [25:50] Finding the option(s) that work for each person—where is the middle ground? [28:08] Research revealed how taxi rides fostered long-term interactions. [28:46] Engineering connections by mapping users to have facilitated serendipity. [29:32] Adding personal networks to expand reach, connectivity, and flexible opportunities. [31:50] Employees can create and plan local events during work trips. [32:30] Visibility avoids missed connections among nearby remote coworkers. [33:15] Highlighting common interests to encourage sharing experiences while traveling. [34:11] In-person sales increase in relevance as AI outreach becomes oversaturated. [36:02] Commoditized business travel offers few incentives for employees to reduce costs. [37:15] Incentivizing smart booking combined with uplifts for culture and engagement. [37:47] Buffers in travel planning processes reveal hidden budget inefficiencies. [38:55] Roamr is a win-win choice – an optional, flexible alternative to hotels. [39:18] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP – How can you think differently about business travel processes to avoid or reduce bloated costs?       RESOURCES   Stephen Dooley on LinkedIn Roamr's website     QUOTES   “What if we could make work from anywhere, work from everywhere?”​  “It's a platform that helps companies save 30% on their corporate travel accommodation and we do that by paying employees instead of hotels.”​  “We believe that's a way better way to build culture rather than a kind of team building awkward session in the middle of the office.”​ “So we're not just saying we want to save money. We actually want to make the experience better, more intentional, more engaging.”​ “How do we find a way to give some flexibility, but also bring teams together and make it work?”​ “Everybody can send a million emails now. How are we going to stand out? How we're going to build those relationships?”​

Mike Krieger is the Co-Founder of Instagram and now CPO @ Anthropic.  In Today's Episode with Mike Krieger We Discuss: 03:07 Where Will Value Be Created and Sustained in a World of AI? 04:59 Are Foundation Models Commoditised Today? 08:36 Should Founders Build for the Models of Today or Build for Models of the Future 12:19: Why Will Models Become More Different Than More Similar 16:38: Will Human or Synthetic Data Be More Prominent in the Future  19:28 Model Quality vs. Product UX 23:36 The Competitive Landscape of AI 32:27 Do We Underestimate China's AI Capabilities 33:59 What Did Anthropic Learn from Deepseek 34:07 Is Deepseek a Sustaining and Credible Threat? 37:04 Transitioning from Model Provider to Application Provider 38:26 Where Has Anthropic Chronically Under-Invested 39:08 Why Has Anthropic Been Slow On Consumer Product Development 43:50 What is the Role of a Software Developer in the Future 48:29 Balancing API and Consumer Products 51:09 Is Europe Stronger or Weaker in a World of AI 52:40 Quickfire Round: Insights and Reflections  

Jack Martin speaks with Ari Galper, a renowned authority in trust-based selling. Ari shares his "One Call Sale." The post Trust-Based Selling as an Advisor in a Commoditized Market with Ari Galper (Ep. 77) first appeared on Simplicity InsurMark.

Jack Martin speaks with Ari Galper, a renowned authority in trust-based selling. Ari shares his "One Call Sale." The post Trust-Based Selling as an Advisor in a Commoditized Market with Ari Galper (Ep. 77) first appeared on Simplicity InsurMark.

Episode 204 - Is your business a commodity Marketing Strategies to avoid being commoditized In this episode of the Marketing Guides for Small Businesses Podcast, we tackle the pressing issue of commoditization that many service-based businesses face. Hosts Ian Cantle, Ken Tucker, and Paul Barthel delve into why businesses struggle with becoming commoditized and how they can stand out in a crowded, competitive market. The episode offers actionable steps and strategies for differentiation, customer feedback, and leveraging technology to enhance your unique value proposition and secure lasting customer relationships. Key Learnings: Identifying Commoditization: Learn the early warning signs of commoditization such as price wars, customer churn, and lack of differentiation, and how these signs can impact your business.Importance of Differentiation: Discover why setting your business apart from competitors is crucial and how it prevents the risks associated with being viewed as a commodity.Practical Strategies for Differentiation: Explore actionable strategies to differentiate your service-based business, including productization, systematization, and understanding your ideal customer.Leveraging Technology: Gain insights on the key technologies, like CRM systems and analytics tools, that can help your business streamline operations, respond faster, and deliver an enhanced customer experience.Customer Feedback: Understand the role of customer feedback in identifying areas of improvement and discovering what your business does well, helping you to refine your services and increase customer loyalty. TAKE ACTION TODAY: If you found value in this episode, we encourage you to subscribe to the Marketing Guides for Small Businesses Podcast. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more listeners like you. Also, visit our website at https://marketingguidesforsmallbusinesses.com/ for free resources, more episodes, and links to set up free consultation calls with any of the hosts. Share our podcast with your colleagues, friends, and family. Keep calm and market on! GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MARKETING GUIDES: Ian Cantle of Dental Marketing Heroes and Outsourced Marketing Jeff Stec of Tylerica Marketing Systems Ken Tucker & Paul Barther of Changescape Web Solutions

Episode Summary: Susan Duke's entrepreneurial journey began in her mother's retail business, planting the seeds of her desire to own a business. Despite initially majoring in business administration, she found her true passion in English and history, eventually leading her to pursue a law degree. Her early legal career was fraught with challenges and a lack of mentorship, but she took a leap of faith to start her own law practice, which quickly became successful. Susan's experiences have taught her the importance of trusting her gut instincts, strategic financial planning, and fostering a strong company culture, all of which have shaped her resilient and adaptive entrepreneurial mindset.   Here's what to expect this episode:  Seeking mentorship and guidance from legal professionals is crucial for entrepreneurship success. Building a strong company culture and hiring based on values are key to maintaining a successful business. Believing in abundance rather than scarcity is important for long-term business growth and success. Financial planning and strategic growth are essential elements in building a successful law practice.    Core values and Three Unique's can differentiate a business in a competitive market and shape its reputation and future growth.   Connect with Susan Duke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-duke/   Connect with Stas Balanevsky: https://www.eosworldwide.com/stas-balanevsky

Anurag Arjun is the Co-founder Avail. Anurag's Twitter: https://twitter.com/anuragarjun Avail's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvailProject Avail's Website: https://www.availproject.org/ Logan Jastremski's Twitter: @LoganJastremski Frictionless's Twitter: @_Frictionless_ Frictionless's Website: ⁠https://frictionless.fund/⁠

Has Artificial Intelligence Destroyed the Creative Process? - Has Creativity Become Commoditized?

Today we delve into the leadership upheaval at Stability AI, Apple finally putting their cards on the table, the breadth of tools available for image and video generation, more ways to use LLMs to build micro apps, the release of numerous new models, and highlighting broader trends in the AI industry that may be rising to the surface. What might recent developments in the space reveal about the future of open source and centralized Ai? Are we headed toward a brighter, or much darker future? Find out in today's show. Links to check out Sora video generation (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2tmz8tt9) RunwayML (Link: https://runwayml.com/) Pika Labs (Link: https://pikalabs.org/) Stability Ai (Link: https://stability.ai/) Fountain.fm (Link: https://fountain.fm/) Host Links Guy on Nostr (Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) Guy on X (Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann/) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) Check out our awesome sponsors! Get 10% off the COLDCARD with code BITCOINAUDIBLE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Link: bitcoinaudible.com/coldcard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Swan: The best way to buy, learn, and earn #Bitcoin (Link: https://swanbitcoin.com)

Today we delve into the leadership upheaval at Stability AI, Apple finally putting their cards on the table, the breadth of tools available for image and video generation, more ways to use LLMs to build micro apps, the release of numerous new models, and highlighting broader trends in the AI industry that may be rising to the surface. What might recent developments in the space reveal about the future of open source and centralized Ai? Are we headed toward a brighter, or much darker future? Find out in today's show.   Links to check out Sora video generation (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2tmz8tt9) RunwayML (Link: https://runwayml.com/) Pika Labs (Link: https://pikalabs.org/) Stability Ai (Link: https://stability.ai/) Fountain.fm (Link: https://fountain.fm/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839) Check out our awesome sponsors! Fold: The best way to buy, use, and earn #Bitcoin on everything you do! Sats back on your debit card, gift cards, auto-buys, round-ups, you name it. Fold is the true bitcoiner's banking. Get 20K sats for FREE using referral code bitcoinaudible.com/fold Ready for best-in-class self custody? Get the Jade here and use discount code 'GUY' to get 10% off (Link: bitcoinaudible.com/jade) Trying to BUY BITCOIN? River, secure, trusted, bitcoin only, lightning enabled, simple. (Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/river) Bitcoin Games! Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from the Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Link: https://www.freemarketkids.com/collections/games-1) Bitcoin Custodial Multisig Want to get into Bitcoin but not ready for self custody? Use custodial multisig for the best way to distribute trust across multiple institutions and even jurisdictions! Check out OnRamp. (Link: BitcoinAudible.com/onramp) Education & HomeSchooling Get the lesson in real economics that you never got in school, and teach your kids the truth, not the statist insanity that is Keynesia...

Struggling to compete on Amazon?  Many sellers rush into competing with hot-selling products without realizing they're commoditized. This video by John Aspinall of My Amazon Guy explains how to identify commoditized products and develop winning strategies to stand out  using branding. Learn why competing solely on price can be a race to the bottom. Discover effective tactics  to thrive in the  Amazon marketplace.#amazonfba #amazonseller #ecommerce #onlineselling #branding→ Use code STEVENPOPE6M20 and save 20% on your first 6 months of Helium 10!↳ https://bit.ly/3RTm5id→ Already have Helium 10? Get a special discount for upgrading your account!↳ https://myamazonguy.com/h10upgrade→ More reason to invest in Helium 10! ↳ https://myamazonguy.com/helium-10-service/Our Amazon Agency specialists here at My Amazon Guy are always on the lookout for the latest updates in Seller Central Amazon in order to better manage our clients' listings. Click here to know more:↳ https://myamazonguy.com/seller-central-amazon/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Join My Amazon Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Follow us:Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Please subscribe to the podcast at: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Commoditized Products on Amazon00:52 - Identifying Commoditized Products01:35 - Standing Out with Branding for Commoditized Products01:53 - Competing on Price with Commoditized Products (Not Recommended)02:27 - Considering Costs Before Competing on Price02:50 - Conclusion: Don't Blindly Compete on PriceSupport the show

During Week 1 of the 2024 Sales Kickoff Meeting Season, one of Mike's clients included a live Q&A to conclude a virtual session. The questions from the salespeople and sales leaders were so good, and so different from what Mike is typically asked, he decided to share them (along with his answers) in this episode. You'll want to share this episode with your sales team!  Take a listen for Mike's answers to these eight great questions: At what point do you move on to the next opportunity? How many NO's do you need to get before giving up, or how long do you continue to pursue a prospect who has stopped responding? How do we get your training to stick? What would you tell salespeople and managers to ensure that what you're teaching gets implemented…and makes an impact? How does using the business plan help the salesperson and manager set short-term and long-term goals, and also help to achieve those goals? How can your training (and approach) help our ecosystem develop both a better sales culture and also help us deliver a better customer experience? What is necessary for us to be successful going “upmarket” (selling solutions instead of hardware) and getting into higher-level customer contacts? After winning a deal and handing it off cleanly, how can we get salespeople back to selling instead of having them continuing to come back to make sure the project is moving and/or installed? What do you think is the number one sales sin of the Ugly 8 Reasons Sellers Get Viewed as Amateurs, Relegated to “Vendor” Status and Commoditized? Can you speak about the most resistant sales organization you have dealt with? Were you able to get them to change, and through that change, what was the outcome? Resources Referenced by Mike in Episode 68: The New Sales. Simplified. Video Coaching Series Ugly 8 Reasons Sellers Get Viewed as Amateurs, Relegated to “Vendor” Status and Commoditized (PDF) Mike's wife's irrational, but wonderful, response to her gorgeous new putter (blog post) A Foolproof Framework to Guarantee Consistent Deal Flow and a Full, Healthy Pipeline (podcast episode)  9 Powerful Reasons to Have Salespeople Write Individual Business Plans (podcast episode) 5 Fundamental Focus Areas for a Successful Sales Attack (podcast episode)   This episode is sponsored by Pursuit Sales Solutions. If you looking for help adding A-player talent to your team, contact Mike's friends at pursuitsalessolutions.com/weinberg  

Welcome back to another episode of the Natural Born Leader Podcast! Today I had a call with Abysuss (a member of GCP) and we had a great talk that I wanted to share with you guys. We talk about his journey, how he got started in this space, and some of his biggest breakthroughs since working with ClientAcquisition.io Thank you for listening Find Serge Gatari Here: Natural Born Leader Community | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | ClientAcquisition.io

Greg Romanzo and his partners spent 17 years growing a freight forwarding business. As the company expanded to 200 employees, the partners faced a realization: their decisions now impacted 200 families. This responsibility became overwhelming, and they decided to sell.

“The world doesn't need another expert.” So says today's guest, Andrew Davis. Experts rely on hacks, tips, tricks, teaching, preaching, and over-promising. Visionary leaders a) tend not to call themselves that and b) focus on the quest for knowledge itself, with enough humility to admit what they don't know, or the problems they are exploring even while still in process. In today's conversation, you'll learn how to move past commoditized content toward launching a quest that builds trust and brings your audience along for the ride—while embracing digital doppelgängers to help you get there. More About Andrew: Andrew Davis is a bestselling author and internationally acclaimed keynote speaker. Recognized as one of the industry's "Jaw-Dropping Marketing Speakers," Andrew is a mainstay on global marketing influencer lists. Wherever he goes, Andrew Davis puts his infectious enthusiasm and magnetic speaking style to good use teaching business leaders how to grow their businesses, transform their cities, and leave their legacy. He is the author of Brandscaping, Town Inc., and The Referable Speaker.

In this insightful episode of Full Funnel Freedom, special guests Mike Wolf and JP Acosta from Delgado Stone Distributors are welcomed. The conversation unravels the strategies that have positioned Delgado Stone distinctively in a commoditized industry, underscoring the importance of exceptional customer service and a collaborative approach among sales, customer service, and marketing teams. What you'll learn: The innovative strategies Delgado Stone employs to differentiate in a commoditized industry. How an unwavering commitment to customer service and product integrity forms the cornerstone of Delgado Stone's success. The essence of synergistic collaboration among sales, customer service, and marketing teams. The pivotal role of technology in streamlining processes and fostering work-life integration. How a culture of learning from failure and genuine customer interactions underpin Delgado Stone's sales philosophy. Resources: -=+=-=+=--=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+= Free offer for listeners of the Full Funnel Freedom Podcast. It's incredibly frustrating as sales leaders when our sellers get a deal almost across the finish line, but can't quite push it to the finish, even though they've promised us that it's coming in real soon. We are offering a Free white paper on Three ways to get those sales across the line. To get this free, insightful report, visit us at fullfunnelfreedom.com/sputter -=+=-=+=--=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+= Full Funnel Freedom https://fullfunnelfreedom.com Sandler on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandler_yyc/  Sandler in Calgary - www.hamish.sandler.com/howtosandler Connect with Hamish Knox on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishknox/ Sponsorship or guest inquiries - podcast@fullfunnelfreedom.com  

Transforming the brand into a commoditized category requires strategic thinking, innovation, and a deep understanding of the market and consumer dynamics. To discuss this topic, Rich Kylberg, a former Arrow Electronics CMO, joins the podcast to explore some key insights and strategies that can help reshape the brand's role. Rich emphasizes the value of empowering others to do something great. You can help empower others by getting them into their goal without imposing the presumption of your goal upon them. It is important to hear Rich's insights on these strategies and learn about his experiences in transforming the role of a brand in a commoditized category, particularly within the context of Arrow Electronics.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.monigle.com/

In my latest podcast episode, we explore a topic that is often overlooked but extremely important - community engagement. Small healthcare businesses often face marketing strategy gaps due to their over-reliance on SEO and an inconsistent online presence. Listen to the episode for valuable insights on how to harness the power of the community as a marketing tool.Linkedin Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nearsite Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joealexlemon/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/joealexlemon/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdF9f7hg/

Guillaume Roux-Chabert from Interactive Brokers Singapore joins with Senior Portfolio Manager – Stefano Grasso, MBA, Enhanced Value Fund. Over 20 years of investing experience, most recently in commodity trading with Eni as head of the Singapore Office (APAC). Prior experience with McKinsey and Company in Milan and London. Disciple of Warren Buffett and passionate about value investing philosophy. Sponsor Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanograsso/ EVF@8vantedge.com 

In this episode of my journal entries, I share one of my most popular presentations. A presentation that I gave to many businesses around the globe and at conferences from coast to coast. In this particular episode, I'm going to be sharing the audio from a webinar I did with the team at Metadata.io about how SaaS brands can win in commoditized markets.  You know. Here's the biggest problem I see right now in our industry:  Brands have forgotten that Content Marketing is a two word concept.  As such… They've shifted their focus to creating content and that's it.  Content. Content. Content.  And absolutely no marketing. It's a shame.  More organizations across SaaS need to be thinking like a media company.  But I won't stop there…because, I'm sure you've heard that. I go on to say that SaaS brands need to embrace the idea of marketing at its core. Which means companies in the SaaS space need to think holistically about their marketing efforts.  Not just creating blog posts and hitting publish for years on end.  Blog posts should be the tip of the iceberg for your content marketing engine. A great content engine recognizes opportunities for research, development, press releases, and a great content engine will ultimately lead you to the conversations that you want to have with industry and global leaders.  --- Follow Ross on YouTube Instagram Twitter Connect on LinkedIn

In this Their Story podcast episode, Michael Parisi and Sean Martin dig into the challenges and implications of compliance, cybersecurity, and the risk of commoditization in the industry. The conversation focuses on the importance of maintaining a strong security posture, the role of stakeholders, and the need for education among non-technical individuals, such as CFOs and board members, to prevent a race to the bottom in cybersecurity.Parisi's main concern is that compliance has become an outcome rather than a mission, and that cybersecurity could follow a similar path if we're not careful. With an increasing number of organizations turning to managed security service providers (MSSPs), the risk of commoditization looms large. Parisi and Martin also discuss the challenges posed by the "fog of more" in the cybersecurity landscape, with an overwhelming number of security solutions available and a potential race to the bottom in pricing.The conversation shifts to the role of stakeholders in preventing this downward spiral. Parisi argues that stakeholders have the power to save the industry, but only if they care enough and are adequately educated about the importance of cybersecurity. He believes that educating boards and business owners is crucial to creating more stakeholders with a genuine stake in the game.Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more: https://www.itspmagazine.com/their-infosec-storyGuest:Michael Parisi, Head of Client Acquisition at Schellman [@Schellman]On Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-parisi-4009b2261/ResourcesLearn more about Schellman and their offering: https://itspm.ag/schellman9a6vFor more RSAC Conference Coverage podcast and video episodes visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2023-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-coverageAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-story

Are you tired of blending in with the competition? Want to know how to stand out and succeed in a commoditized industry?In this episode, we dive deep into the world of innovation and marketing with Peter Mann, Founder and CEO at Oransi, who shares his unique approach to thriving in a crowded market. Discover the secrets to connecting with customers on an emotional level, outsmarting your competition, and disrupting a commoditized industry.

Paul focuses on the challenge of selling value in a tough, competitive market. Show Notes It begins with attitude. If you believe your solution is the same as everyone else's, that's exactly what your customer is going to think.  You must remind yourself that you are selling a unique, bundled package: the three dimensions of value (the company, the product, and you – the salesperson). There is no commodity in creativity. Creatively add value to the customer experience. Have you asked your customer this question: “What problems are you experiencing that I can help with?”  Become customer-focused. View the world through the eyes of the customer. Did you enjoy the podcast? Go to Apple Podcasts to rate/review the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-q-and-a-sales-podcast/id1485103513. Click “Listen” then the “ratings and reviews” button. Visit www.ToughTimer.com to get started on the 30-Day Tough-Timer Challenge! Order your copy of Selling Through Tough Times from Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Click here to purchase the latest edition of Value-Added Selling! Interested in our public seminar offerings? Click here to learn more. *** Thank you for tuning in. Our show is updated weekly with the questions you ask. So, please go to the home page to ask the question that you want answered. Thank you to our production team at The Creative Impostor Studios. Be sure to follow our show in your favorite podcast app and share this episode with a colleague or friend. And most importantly...make it a big day.

 In this episode, Cheryl and Scott discuss: The difference between being interested and being passionate  How to know your biggest, most audacious dream Why we need to know ourselves and our gifts  Potential energy and kinetic energy   Key Takeaways: There's a world of a difference between being interested in something and having a burning desire for it. The first step to making your dream come true is to make sure that you truly are passionate about it.  Figure out the biggest, most audacious dream that you can have by giving yourself two minutes to write down all the scary things you've wanted to do. Narrow down that list to three and then choose one.  Understanding ourselves is key to identifying our superpower and bringing our best selves and best gifts to work every single day.  Nothing happens until you take action. By preparing, planning, and motivating yourself for your audacious goal, you've stored up potential energy. Taking action is what releases that energy and puts you in momentum toward the direction of where you want to be.    “You can not outperform your self-image.”  —  Scott Carley   Read, “Who Not How” by Dan Sullivan, Benjamin Hardy: https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151    Book a call with Scott by clicking on this link: https://calltheenergizer.com     Connect with Scott Carley: Website: https://scottcarley.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scott.carley  Twitter: https://twitter.com/SACarley  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacarley/    Get in Touch with Cheryl: Website: www.cherylknows.com  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvWKXBC6fKn1dLGY11hxIg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynamiteproductionsinc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylknowlton/     Show notes by Podcastologist: Justine Talla Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, we sat down with Mr. Will Harris of White Oak Pastures.  In this discussion, Will shares the pivotal agricultural shift that took place after World War II along with his own transition from conventional to regenerative farming in the mid-1990s. We also covered the benefits of having an on-farm USDA-inspected processing plant, the radical transition of Bluffton, Georgia, and the interconnected nature of the pharmaceutical and pesticide industries.Find White Oak PasturesInstagram // @whiteoakpasturesWebsite //  whiteoakpastures.comNon-profit //  Center for Agricultural ResilienceDocumentary // Food and CountryFind HomegrownInstagram // @homegrown_education, @lizhaselmayer, @joeyhaselmayerWebsite // homegrowneducation.org

Seems like everybody is selling the same digital marketing products. And that makes them low-margin commodities. Gordon & Corey wonder if it's time for media companies to go back to doing what they do best -- selling higher-margin O&O inventory. They get some insight from omnichannel marketing expert Oliver Jacob, president of Frequence.

Eric Siu shares how marketing is becoming harder but why it's actually a good thing. Tune in to find out! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] - Marketing is becoming harder [00:47] - Diversify your creatives [01:02] - How to maximize your data to launch successful marketing campaigns [01:25] - Diversify your channel, here's what it means [01:45] - Becoming a T-shaped marketer What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sky Cassidy founded and runs MountainTop Data, a data company that sells leads -- but differentiates by selling 1) guaranteed lead quality 2) a la carte: that is, you buy (not rent) a certain number of leads without an ongoing contract commitment. Seems simple, but that's the beauty of it. We talked about some of the practices in his industry, and the large competitive white space some major competitors have constructed for him. Thanks, Sky! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Eric and Kostas preview their upcoming live stream episode featuring Willem Pienaar of Tecton and Tristan Zajonc of Continual.

Michael Girdley (@Girdley) and Bill D'Alessandro (@BillDA) talk about two cool deals relevant to holiday vacations: A ski rental in Colorado and a fireworks store in Oklahoma. Both are traditional-type businesses. We get to determine if these crazy, fun deals are indeed interesting in terms of real estate captures, scales, wholesales, moats, and if the risk would be worth expanding the businesses.-----Thanks to our sponsors!* Guardian Due Diligence is the diligence solution for first-time buyers and self-funded searchers.You should be able to acquire a business with the comfort that the numbers are solid and the seller is not fooling you. Your lenders and equity partners want and need the same.Guardian's Quality of Earnings reports give you this confidence.Contact Elliot Holland at eholland@guardianduediligence.com-----Show Notes:(00:00) - Introduction(00:53) - Our sponsor is Guardian Due Diligence(02:09) - Deal 1: Ski rental shop for sale(04:21) - Financials and price: Do they make sense?(05:09) - What makes this deal catch the eyes of the buyer?(08:07) - What are the retail risks of the deal? What is the key factor to this deal?(09:27) - The value captures from Real Estate: How to protect yourself as a buyer?(12:39) - What are the limitations of this Deal? How does the location act as a limit for this business?(13:56) - The Deal's trap: Think about the lifestyle choice(20:17) - Deal 2: Fireworks business(22:54) - Why would we say the seller has 2 operations?(24:13) - What about the retail part of the business?(24:42) - The situation for wholesale: Should we consider it valuable?(25:59) - What are the growth opportunities here?(28:11) - What are the regulations and permitting requirements if you want to add another business to the store? Is it worth entering risky retail markets?(31:08) - Commoditized product risk: defendable or vulnerable?(32:25) - Moats, scale, and building a defensible business-----Links:Guardian Due Diligence offers free reviews of LOIs and company valuations at www.OfferFromElliott.comhttps://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Opportunity/Seasonal-Ski-and-Snowboard-Rental-Repair-and-Sales-Shop-in-SW-CO/1937618/https://www.businessbroker.net/business-for-sale/fireworks-premier-seasonal-business-oklahoma/504864.aspx-----Additional episodes you might enjoy:#106 A Pet Product and Saas business for sale. Which one do we like?#105 How to Make Money in the E-Commerce Game - Bill D'Alessandro gives an e-Commerce masterclass - part 1#79 What do Investors want? - Dig into an investor's mind with Bradford Hardin#75 SBA Loan Secrets with Heather Endresen, expertise from a Billion-Dollar Loaner

This week we had on Vinay Iyengar (@VinIyengar) of Two Sigma Ventures. Two Sigma is a multi-strategy fund that invests from seed to Series B across a number of industries. Vinay helps lead up the San Francisco office, and he focuses on early-stage investments in enterprise software, machine learning, marketplaces, and infrastructure. In this talk, we discuss: Why now is the golden age to start a business Implications and second order effects of software becoming commoditized Ways to demystify the job search process