Podcasts about SKU

This week, Dave speaks with Dean McElwee, ecommerce and digital transformation leader and author of Ecommerce for CEOs.Dean shares what he's learned working across global brands, complex categories, and digital shelf transformation — including why DIY and home improvement require a very different ecommerce content playbook.In this episode, Dean breaks down the challenges of managing SKU complexity, spec data, mobile legibility, B2B and B2C shopper needs, and content workflows across retailers. He also shares his perspective on It'sRapid Optix, and why analytics should help teams understand not just what needs to be fixed, but why those fixes matter in the shopper decision process.The conversation also explores how AI and creative automation are helping ecommerce teams refresh content more efficiently, reduce manual work, and focus on doing the digital shelf basics brilliantly.Connect with Dean on LinkedInFollow Beyond the Shelf on LinkedInLearn More about It'sRapidGet the It'sRapid Creative Automation PlaybookTake It'sRapid's Creative Workflow Automation with AI surveyEmail us at sales@itsrapid.io to find out how to get your free AI Image AuditTheme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.comProducer: Jake Musiker

In this episode of Better Advertising with BTR Media, Destaney sits down with Ana Sviatschi, Director of Digital Commerce at Future Beauty Brands, to talk about what it really takes to grow in today's beauty and ecommerce landscape.Ana shares her journey from Unilever to Bayer to Future Beauty Brands, and breaks down why brands often chase the “next shiny thing” before fixing the basics. From content and catalog health to SKU economics, TikTok Shop, AI, and leadership alignment, this conversation gets into the unsexy but essential work that actually drives growth.Connect with Ana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-laura-sviatschi/ Connect with Destaney on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destaney-wishon/

In an already competitive market, Beekman 1802 is maintaining steady growth through human connection and is using AI to do it. David Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Beekman 1802, sits down with Jeremy Goldman to discuss how his team is cutting through industry traffic and content using human creativity and emotional brand building. "AI is not coming for our jobs. People who know how to use AI will come for the people who don't know how to use AI.” Inside the Episode: - Ruthless Inventory: Why you need to avoid the micro-trend trap, and double down on what your customers are loyal to. - Operational Simplification: How reducing SKU count freed up working capital, eased vendor management, and improved store planning, without sacrificing brand identity - Getting Creative with AI: How to position your tech into a ‘red-teaming' approach to aggressively stress-test ideas, name options, and look for vulnerabilities before any capital is deployed - Keeping AI Out of Creative: How to establish market differentiation amid the influx of AI-generated content - Stop letting tech run your creative. Start using it to clear out the daily clutter so your team has the breathing room to stand out. Catch the full conversation and more inside the episode.

Topics covered:A field report from week one of Crossroads Publishing Group—what's coming in the door, what's surprising, what's confirming.What a hybrid press actually is. A working definition: a publisher where the author shares the financial risk via a fee (broadly $5K to $45K, depending on the engagement), in exchange for real editorial work, professional production, distribution under the press's imprint, and a higher royalty share than traditional contracts.Why the vanity-press confusion exists, and why it's no longer accurate to the category as it stands in 2026.The IBPA Hybrid Publisher Pledge—the trade-association standard the legitimate hybrid presses meet (and the vanity operations don't).Three case studies of serious hybrid presses: She Writes Press (founded by Brooke Warner, 2012; 500+ titles; Industry Innovator Award from the Book Industry Study Group in 2017; Warner is chair of the IBPA) Greenleaf Book Group (Austin; operating since 2003; 1,500+ titles; multiple New York Times bestsellers) Lucid Books (Texas Christian hybrid; 5,000 authors in 20 years of operation)Three structural reasons the hybrid category is growing while the Big Five contracts: * The agent and Big Five pipeline is capped (≈1,000 active US agents, 3-5 new clients each per year) * Platform requirements at traditional imprints have become unworkable for serious working writers * The math of a hybrid contract is often better for the author: The traditional advance reality in 2026: $5K-$25K for non-celebrity nonfiction, declining year over year, with the author doing the marketing anyway, on a 10-15% royalty, with the publisher owning the ISBN.Why this matters for The Difficulty‘s actual listeners — coaches, therapists, consultants, pastors, mission-driven leaders, retired executives in second and third acts, working professionals in midlife transition.Five questions to ask any hybrid press before you give them a dollar:One — Are they IBPA pledged? If not, why not? Two — What is the author royalty split, in a specific number, with accounting schedule? Three — What editorial work is actually included in the price — developmental, line, copy, proofreading; at what stage; how many rounds? Four — Where does your book actually go after publication? Real distribution (Ingram, Amazon, Bookshop.org, library channels like Baker & Taylor and OverDrive) or just a SKU on a website? Five — What is the editorial selection rate? A serious hybrid press turns books down.About Crossroads Publishing Group:Crossroads is a hybrid press for practitioner authors—coaches, therapists, consultants, mission-driven leaders, and working professionals with a serious book and a body of insight. Three main category lanes on the site. 80% net royalties to the author. IBPA-pledged criteria built into the model.Inquiry door: crossroadspublishing.groupCall to action:If you're a practitioner author with a serious book and the hybrid path sounds like it could be yours, visit crossroadspublishing.group to start the conversation. Feedback on the show is welcome — what episodes are speaking to you, what you'd like to hear more or less of. Get full access to The Descent at chadprevost.substack.com/subscribe

Episode #220 of the PricePlow Podcast brings Ben Kane and guest host Joey Savage to Washington, DC for the 2026 NPA (Natural Products Association) Fly-In Day. Their guest on the US Capitol steps at sunset: Uday Gosalia, founder of UGo Beyond and a proud advisor to Future Nutra. This year’s trip had a sharper edge than most. For the first time in several years, the industry came to DC specifically in opposition to active legislation, not just to make a general case. Two bills are in play: Senator Dick Durbin’s Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2026 (S.3677), which would require every supplement SKU registered with the FDA before market entry, and the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act (H.R. 7366), introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy, which needs a Senate companion to stop states from layering their own supplement restrictions on top of federal law. The conversation covers those two bills, the drug preclusion clause risk, what actually happens when you explain DSHEA to a senator’s staffer, and why consistent DC presence matters more than any single meeting. Our NPA Fly-In Day preparation guide and Episode #100 with NPA CEO Dan Fabricant offer essential background on PricePlow’s history at these events. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast and sign up for FDA news alerts before diving in. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/uday-gosalia-220 Video: Uday Gosalia and Future Nutra Oppose MPL at NPA 2026 Fly-In Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WBa-IPH5I Detailed Show Notes: Uday Gosalia (UGo Beyond) at the NPA 2026 Fly-In Day (0:00) – Introductions (1:45) – The 2026 NPA Fly-In: Industry on the Offensive (2:15) – Opposing S.3677: The Mandatory Product Listing Problem (5:00) – H.R. 7366: Protecting Supplement Access for Minors (7:15) – HSA/FSA Eligibility and the Enforcement Gap (8:00) – Rep. Jim McGovern: An Unexpected Ally (11:00) – Teaching the Hill: Explaining How Supplements Are Regulated (12:45) – Do Your Legislators Take Supplements? (14:30) – The Ashwagandha “Gotcha” Moment (15:45) – DC Is More Accessible Than You Think Where to Follow and Learn More Connect with Uday Gosalia and UGo Beyond LinkedIn: Uday Gosalia (UGo Beyond) Sign Up for FDA News on PricePlow Resources Mentioned in This Episode NMN, FDA, and the Supplement Industry’s Winning Battle Against Pharma NPA Fly-In Day Guide: How to Come Prepared for a “Lobby Day” Dan Fabricant (NPA): Why You Need to Show Up in Washington DC (Episode #100) The NPA is Fighting Dick Durbin’s 2022 Supplement Bill (Episode #067) Thanks to Uday Gosalia for joining from the Capitol steps, and to Joey Savage and Future Nutra for making this episode happen. For anyone ready to get involved in supplement advocacy, our NPA Fly-In D… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Lauren Livak Gilbert, lead of the Digital Shelf Institute, joins the podcast to explore how agentic commerce and AI tools like Amazon's Rufus are transforming product discovery. As the industry shifts from traditional SEO keyword stuffing to natural language and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), sellers must optimize their Product Detail Pages by directly answering consumer Q&As to feed context-driven AI recommendations. Currently, nimble challenger brands are capturing market share by adapting quickly and building off-site trust signals, while large legacy brands are often bogged down by massive SKU counts, messy data taxonomy, and regulatory hurdles. To overcome these challenges and safely scale AI content generation, Lauren emphasizes the critical need for strict E-commerce hygiene and a single source of truth for product data using Product Experience Management platforms like Salsify. Episode Notes: 00:00 - Introduction to Lauren Gilbert and the Digital Shelf Institute (DSI) 01:48 - Defining the "Digital Shelf" and the Data Explosion 03:51 - What is Agentic Commerce? 08:12 - Amazon Rufus, Natural Language, & Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) 14:16 - Why Challenger Brands are Winning Market Share 18:01 - The Core Data and Taxonomy Problem for Large Brands 21:40 - Solving Content Chaos and Workflows with Salsify 24:42 - Legal, Compliance, and the Importance of Trust Signals 28:08 - How to Join the Digital Shelf Institute Related Post: How to Build a Repeatable Amazon Competitor Analysis Workflow How to Reach Lauren: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurenlivak Scott's Links: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813 X: @itsScottNeedham Instagram: @smartestseller YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371 Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

In this episode of Brand Growth Heroes, I'm joined by founder Bethan Higson and Alice Gallsworthy of Mother Root. Get this: Mother Root is already the UK's number one non-alcoholic spirit brand in terms of revenue driven per product. Whoah.So what's the deal? This ginger-based non-alcoholic aperitif is different to most playing in food and beverage, as it only has one core SKU, but an incredibly powerful DTC growth engine. Even though it's the UK's No1 non-alc spirit, it still only has around 6–7% distribution -  talk about headroom for growth!As you might imagine, Bethan and Alice are incredibly clear on the choices that created their growth. We talk about why they stopped trying to do everything, how they went all-in on DTC, how customer interviews and jobs-to-be-done thinking shaped their marketing, and why the product itself delivers something so many non-alcoholic drinks miss: flavour, ritual, heat, length and a real adult drinking moment. We also get into team building, finding the right second-in-command, launching into the US, and why operations has to scale at the same rate as marketing if you don't want the business to break.What You'll Learn How Mother Root grew from around £1.5M to £15–16M run rate.  Why focus on one channel helped build a repeatable and scalable growth model.  How jobs-to-be-done customer interviews shaped Mother Root's digital marketing.  Why the non-alcoholic drinks consumer is not necessarily the Gen Z sober-curious stereotype.  How Bethan and Alice think about hiring, operations, US expansion and scaling without breaking the business. Why AI is part of EVERY part of the working day at Mother RootKey Topics Discussed Mother Root's growth from early-stage brand to £15–16M run rate  Building a challenger brand with one core SKU  The evening drink ritual and the role of non-alcoholic drinks  Ginger, apple cider vinegar, slow burn and flavour architecture  Choosing where to play and walking away from distracting channels  Building a DTC growth engine  Paid social, customer interviews and jobs-to-be-done insight  Word of mouth and repeat purchase  Nielsen performance and retail headroom  Hiring a brilliant number two  Scaling operations alongside marketing  Launching Mother Root in the US  Why the non-alcoholic category is not just about Gen Z Useful Linkshttps://motherroot.com/https://www.instagram.com/motherroot/Like this episode? PLEASE share the love by sharing this episode with another founder building a challenger brand, a colleague or a mate who loves brilliant non-alcoholic drinks, or anyone trying to work out how to build a sharper, more focused growth model. Don't forget to FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to Brand Growth Heroes on your favourite podcast app, and even LEAVE A REVIEW - both of these actions make a MASSIVE difference to our mission to help more founders just like you.Join our community on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube, and find out more about the programmes and courses Fiona runs, as well as the NextGen CPG WhatsApp group for founders leaning in to the value that a leadership approach to engaging with AI can unlock for businesses like yours.Follow Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.*****Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes' podcast sponsor  - Joelson, the commercial law firm *****If you're a founder, you already know how much energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with consumers.But scaling a CPG business also brings legal complexities that can make or break your growth journey - from contracts and regulatory compliance to protecting your intellectual property.That's why we're proud to partner with Joelson, the leading commercial law firm specialising in helping founders of scaling consumer brands.Joelson works with brands like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze and Pulsin, and advised the innocent founders on their landmark sale to Coca-Cola - and still work with them at JamJar Investments today!To learn more contact hello@joelsonlaw.com - in fact, Joelson is offering Brand Growth Heroes listeners a FREE Legal consultation - we highly recommend you take them up on this! CreditsThanks to our Sound Engineer Gyp Buggane at Ballagroove.com and all the Brand Growth Heroes team.

In today's episode, we'll dive into a fascinating twist on the e-commerce journey — what happens when you buy back the very brand you once sold. Ben will share the lessons, emotions, and strategic insights behind exiting — and then re-entering — your own business. Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Ben Leonard's entrepreneurial journey with Beast Gear, from initial investment to seven-figure exit.Challenges faced after selling Beast Gear to Thrasio, including mismanagement and loss of brand identity.Importance of effective inventory management and the consequences of overleveraging.The significance of building a genuine consumer brand beyond basic Amazon tactics.The role of intellectual property protection and the impact of neglecting it.Insights on the operational difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on e-commerce.Strategies for diversifying sales channels and avoiding dependency on a single platform.The importance of quality in products and overall business operations.Marketing strategies for brand awareness, including the use of influencers and social media.Lessons learned from reacquiring and reviving a brand in a competitive market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with entrepreneur Ben Leonard, who built Beast Gear into a seven-figure brand before selling it to aggregator Thrasio. Then buying it back after mismanagement caused revenue to collapse. Ben reveals how Thrasio abandoned the brand-building strategies that drove Beast Gear's success, mishandled inventory, and neglected intellectual property protection. He shares lessons on diversifying beyond Amazon, maintaining product quality, and building genuine customer communities. Ben also discusses his new dad-focused baby carrier brand, Tuco, and offers actionable advice on scaling e-commerce businesses sustainably.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Build a brand, not just an Amazon listing Engage customers off-Amazon (TikTok, email, events) and create a loyal community—not just traffic.Treat inventory like risk, not just growth Forecast per SKU, avoid over-ordering, and ensure sell-through within ~6 months to prevent cash flow disasters.Diversify early and protect your moat Expand beyond Amazon (Shopify + social channels) and actively enforce IP to protect your brand from copycats.Timestamps:00:00:34 Introduction to the EpisodeThe host introduces the guest, Ben Leonard, and the topic: buying back his brand after selling it to an aggregator.00:02:14 The Brand's Decline Under New OwnershipBen confirms his brand crashed after he sold it to the aggregator Thrasio due to mismanagement and operational failures.00:05:41 The "Magic" Thrasio IgnoredBen explains his original success came from building a true brand with customer relationships, which the new owners dismantled.00:09:27 The Financial FalloutBen reveals the brand's revenue plummeted from $6 million to about half a million dollars under Thrasio's ownership.00:13:13 Three Key Mistakes by the AggregatorThe host summarizes Thrasio's critical errors: inventory mismanagement, ignoring off-Amazon branding, and failing to protect intellectual property.00:19:51 Why You Must Diversify Beyond AmazonBen stresses the need for Amazon sellers to act like real brands and diversify channels to build a sustainable business.00:22:23 The Revival Playbook for Beast GearBen outlines his bootstrapped strategy to revive the brand, focusing on TikTok Shop and rebuilding community goodwill on a budget.00:27:08 Launching a New Brand: TucoThe conversation shifts to Ben's new venture, Tuco, a baby carrier startup designed specifically for dads.00:32:22 When to Implement Brand Awareness StrategiesBen and Josh discuss when a brand should start investing in top-of-funnel marketing and diversifying beyond its primary channel.00:37:40 Three Actionable Takeaways for Brand OwnersThe host summarizes key lessons: diversify with solid processes, avoid inventory leverage, and work with creators for brand awareness.00:42:13 Ben's Final Three QuestionsBen shares his most influential book (The E-Myth), favorite AI tool (Claude), and an e-commerce professional to follow.00:45:51 How to Connect with BenBen shares the best places for listeners to find him online, primarily LinkedIn and his personal email address.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Shopify": "00:03:03""Amazon": "00:03:03""TikTok": "00:09:54""YouTube": "00:19:51""TikTok Shop": "00:23:10""Meta Ads": "00:24:07""WordPress": "00:35:58""Email Marketing": "00:36:33""Claude (AI Tool)": "00:43:03""LinkedIn": "00:45:09""Ecomm Breakthrough Website": "00:46:24"Books"Quit Stalling and Build Your Own Brand by Ben Leonard": "00:01:01""Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller": "00:21:31""The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber": "00:42:25"Videos"Brand Rescue Mission": "00:08:17""Escaping the Amazon Goldfish Bowl": "00:19:51"Podcasts"Operators Podcast": "00:09:54"Other Mentions"Forbes": "00:01:01""Peregrine Commerce": "00:25:41""Sean Cowie": "00:44:09"Episode Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started my business in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If ...

What happens when breweries start making cider… not because they have to, but because they want to keep drinking beer? That question kicks off episode 504 featuring Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt of Element Brewing Company. "Most breweries probably see cider as a way to let them continue making beer." That line says a lot. And it opens the door to a bigger conversation. Breweries adding cider isn't just about diversification. It's not just about gluten-free taps. And it's definitely not just about adding another SKU. Something is shifting. In this episode, we dig into: • Why breweries are turning to cider right now • What changing consumer habits have to do with it • How cider fits into a beer-first business model • What this trend means for independent cider makers At Element, cider isn't an afterthought. It's part of a strategy to stay relevant in a changing market and a window into where craft beverages may be heading next. Time Stamps 00:00 Why Breweries Are Making Cider 02:01 Season Travels Recap and Road Notes 04:44 Tours, Travel Updates, and France Signup 06:44 Meet Element Brewing Company 07:07 From Brewing to Distilling: The Origin Story 10:43 Barrels, Aging, and Apple Brandy 15:37 Sourcing Cider and Apples for Production 19:23 Why Breweries Are Adding Cider Now 23:53 Branding and the Element Two Concept 25:44 South Deerfield Expansion Plans 29:13 Cider Making Mindset 29:40 Tasting a Dry Botanical Cider 30:36 Yeast Choices and Sweetness Strategy 32:15 Balance First: Building Flavor 33:38 ABV, Structure, and Serving Glassware 34:59 Learning Curve and Cider Books 35:50 Apple Varieties, Terroir, and Flavor 38:33 Experimentation and Small Batch Cider 41:12 Personal Palates and Fridge Favorites 42:40 The Bigger Shift: Breweries Moving to Cider 46:00 Advice: Make Your Cider Stand Out 48:53 Apple Brandy Toast 49:40 Why Independent Cider Media Matters 51:54 Tom Oliver and 500 Episodes 53:00 #CiderGoingUp Campaign 53:45 Final Sign-Off Find the full show notes for Episode 504 at CiderChat.com Direct link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/504-breweries-making-cider-element/ Mentions in this episode: Totally Cider Tour to France Listen wherever you get your podcasts Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube

Your Shopify taxonomy is not just your navigation menu — it's the way your store teaches Shopify, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, Meta, and AI tools like ChatGPT what your products are, who they're for, and why they matter.In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I'm breaking down why taxonomy is really your store's semantic strategy. We'll talk about the difference between Shopify's built-in structure and the deeper semantic taxonomy your e-commerce store actually needs for modern SEO, GEO, and AI search.If your products, collections, tags, metafields, variants, and SKU prefixes feel a little chaotic, this episode will help you see how they can all work together to create a clearer, smarter product universe.You'll learn: Why Shopify taxonomy is your store's ontology  The difference between Shopify's structural taxonomy and your semantic taxonomy  Why collections and tags alone are not enough for modern search  How AI and LLMs interpret your product categories  Why persona or solution hubs matter for buyer intent  How SKU prefixes can act as semantic signals  The three-tier taxonomy framework for e-commerce brands  Why clear information architecture can improve visibility, conversions, and AI recommendations The big idea: your taxonomy is not just a set of collections. It's a semantic model of your business.When your product categories, attributes, titles, metafields, and internal links all work together, you reduce confusion for buyers and ambiguity for AI — which can lead to better search visibility, stronger buyer journeys, and a store that is easier to understand, recommend, and buy from.Resources MentionedJoin AI SEO Skool (Join FREE for 7 days!): https://AISEOskool.comVisit the website: https://simpleandsmartseo.comPodcast hub: https://SimpleandSmartSEO.com/best-seo-podcastText me your questions or comments!Hey, Shopify store owners! (Especially if you're selling on Etsy, too!)Here's a quick question: Are people actually finding your products on Google?If SEO feels confusing, overwhelming, or like something you'll "get to later", this is for you.I'm hosting a free, seven day Shopify SEO challenge that breaks it down into simple, doable steps.No tech headaches, no fluff. Join us at  Hey, Shopify store owners! (Especially if you're selling on Etsy, too!)Here's a quick question: Are people actually finding your products on Google?If SEO feels confusing, overwhelming, or like something you'll "get to later", this is for you.I'm hosting a free, seven day Shopify SEO challenge that breaks it down into simple, doable steps.No tech headaches, no fluff. Join us atSupport the showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal!Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO!Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)Grid and PixelNote: If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money. But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

Today we're digging into a topic you might not have considered before: the importance of clean financial data. We talk about numbers constantly—how to focus on them, why they matter, and what you should be looking at. But we haven't truly discussed why having clean information is the absolute backbone of successful decision-making in a product-based business. The Danger of Dirty Data I recently spoke with two clients who were using a financial analysis tool to guide their buying. The tool kept telling them to buy more, buy more. They followed the data, thinking they were being efficient, only to end up buried in inventory that didn't move. That wasn't a supply chain problem or a marketing problem—it was a data problem. Dirty data is dangerous because it doesn't come with a warning label; it looks like fact, but it's actually fiction dressed as finance. What Does Dirty Data Look Like? If you want to avoid making wrong decisions confidently, watch out for these five common red flags: Miscategorized Transactions: Expenses floating in no man's land or assigned to the wrong revenue streams. COGS vs. OPEX Confusion: When your inventory purchases are blurred with operating expenses, you can't see your true margin. Timing Errors: Recognizing revenue when cash hits rather than when it's earned (Cash vs. Accrual). Inventory Valuation Gaps: Your books say you have 800 units, but your warehouse only has 500. Un-netted Discounts: Refunds and chargebacks that aren't properly subtracted from your top-line revenue. The Three Cs of Clean Data To run a genius inventory system, your data must be: Consistent: Applying the same rules and categories every single month. Connected: Your POS, bank account, and accounting software should all tell the same story. Current: Books should be reconciled and in your hands by the 15th–20th of every month—not just at tax time! 8 Key Data Points You Need to Track I want you to look at your dashboard and ask: “Do I actually have this number, and can I trust it?” Gross Margin by SKU: Not just overall, but by category and brand. Inventory Valuation: Real-time wholesale and retail value. 12–13 Week Cash Flow: A forward-looking projection of your bank balance. Net Revenue: Gross sales minus returns, fees, and discounts. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): What it actually costs to get a buyer through the door. Inventory Turn: How fast your product is moving by department. All-in Cost Per Unit: The landed cost including shipping and handling. Contribution Margin: Revenue minus all variable costs to see what truly goes toward profit. Your 3-Step Data Audit Don't just listen—take action today with these three simple steps: Step 1: Pull your P&L and go line-by-line. Ensure every expense is correctly categorized. Step 2: Confirm your bookkeeper is reconciling accounts monthly and delivering reports on time. Step 3: Check your POS. Ensure every SKU has an accurate cost associated with it. Final Thought: Stop treating your books like a tax document and start treating them like a GPS. Clean data leads to better decisions, which leads to stronger margins, which leads to cash. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

Today we're digging into a topic you might not have considered before: the importance of clean financial data. We talk about numbers constantly—how to focus on them, why they matter, and what you should be looking at. But we haven't truly discussed why having clean information is the absolute backbone of successful decision-making in a product-based business. The Danger of Dirty Data I recently spoke with two clients who were using a financial analysis tool to guide their buying. The tool kept telling them to buy more, buy more. They followed the data, thinking they were being efficient, only to end up buried in inventory that didn't move. That wasn't a supply chain problem or a marketing problem—it was a data problem. Dirty data is dangerous because it doesn't come with a warning label; it looks like fact, but it's actually fiction dressed as finance. What Does Dirty Data Look Like? If you want to avoid making wrong decisions confidently, watch out for these five common red flags: Miscategorized Transactions: Expenses floating in no man's land or assigned to the wrong revenue streams. COGS vs. OPEX Confusion: When your inventory purchases are blurred with operating expenses, you can't see your true margin. Timing Errors: Recognizing revenue when cash hits rather than when it's earned (Cash vs. Accrual). Inventory Valuation Gaps: Your books say you have 800 units, but your warehouse only has 500. Un-netted Discounts: Refunds and chargebacks that aren't properly subtracted from your top-line revenue. The Three Cs of Clean Data To run a genius inventory system, your data must be: Consistent: Applying the same rules and categories every single month. Connected: Your POS, bank account, and accounting software should all tell the same story. Current: Books should be reconciled and in your hands by the 15th–20th of every month—not just at tax time! 8 Key Data Points You Need to Track I want you to look at your dashboard and ask: “Do I actually have this number, and can I trust it?” Gross Margin by SKU: Not just overall, but by category and brand. Inventory Valuation: Real-time wholesale and retail value. 12–13 Week Cash Flow: A forward-looking projection of your bank balance. Net Revenue: Gross sales minus returns, fees, and discounts. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): What it actually costs to get a buyer through the door. Inventory Turn: How fast your product is moving by department. All-in Cost Per Unit: The landed cost including shipping and handling. Contribution Margin: Revenue minus all variable costs to see what truly goes toward profit. Your 3-Step Data Audit Don't just listen—take action today with these three simple steps: Step 1: Pull your P&L and go line-by-line. Ensure every expense is correctly categorized. Step 2: Confirm your bookkeeper is reconciling accounts monthly and delivering reports on time. Step 3: Check your POS. Ensure every SKU has an accurate cost associated with it. Final Thought: Stop treating your books like a tax document and start treating them like a GPS. Clean data leads to better decisions, which leads to stronger margins, which leads to cash. Work with Me - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-with-meVisit the Bookstore - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreSign Up for Free Weekly Tips and Trainings - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/subscribe More About the Episode Sponsor:T&O Strategic Advisory (http://www.tostrategicadvisory.com/) - Offering a wide range of tax and accounting services, including entity election and S-Corp advisory.

In this Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Judah Berger, AI Product Manager at Unframe.ai, joins Omni Talk to explore one of the biggest questions facing retail leaders today: how do you actually implement AI across an organization without creating operational chaos? Judah works directly with enterprises to turn AI from an exciting concept into scalable systems that solve real business problems, helping companies identify inefficiencies, design AI powered workflows, and deploy solutions employees can actually trust and use. As companies rush to adopt tools like ChatGPT and Claude, Judah explains why unrestricted experimentation can unintentionally create an “Excel on steroids” problem, where disconnected prompts and workflows multiply inconsistencies across the business. From AI governance and workflow orchestration to SKU intelligence, predictive inventory management, and a real world footwear retail case study that generated a reported 40x ROI, this episode offers a practical roadmap for retailers looking to operationalize AI responsibly while still encouraging innovation across their teams. Key Topics Covered: • 00:01:56 – The four major approaches retailers can take toward AI implementation • 00:05:21 – Balancing bottom up AI experimentation with enterprise wide governance • 00:17:40 – How organizations should identify, scope, and scale the right AI use cases • 00:21:26 – The technology, auditability, and infrastructure needed for scalable enterprise AI • 00:26:58 – Case study: How a footwear retailer used AI inventory intelligence to achieve a reported 40x ROI See our past 8 years of wonderful Spotlight Series podcast guests, featuring roughly 200 movers and shakers in retail, by clicking here: https://omnitalk.blog/category/spotlight-series-podcast/ #retailtech #AI #retailAI #inventorymanagement #retailoperations #SKUintelligence #supplychain #predictiveanalytics #enterpriseAI #generativeAI #retailinnovation #OmniTalk #retailpodcast #AIstrategy *Sponsored Content*

There's an old idea in M&A called the Rembrandt in the attic. A company owns something valuable — a brand, a patent, a customer list, a data set — and nobody inside the business sees it for what it is. The right acquirer walks in, looks at the same asset through a different lens, and recognizes a masterpiece.  Dori Yona spent six years and raised $14 million building what he thought was a price protection company for consumers. Earny tracked everything its users bought online and automatically clawed back refunds whenever the price dropped within the retailer's protection window.  The model never quite worked. After two rounds of layoffs, a shutdown plan presented to the board, and a move out of the Santa Monica office, Dori pivoted to selling the one thing the company had in abundance: SKU-level purchase data on 3.5 million users.  That pivot found the acquirer.  To a consumer packaged goods (CPG) giant trying to understand what shoppers were actually putting in their carts during COVID, the data was the prize. The consumer app was almost incidental. 

You're pulling in $25,000, maybe $30,000 a month on Amazon. Deposits are rolling in, ads are running, and inventory is moving. Looks like a real business, right? But here's the catch: your P&L — that profit and loss statement — is more than just an accounting document. Neil Twa breaks down why it's crucial for sustainable growth. We dive into real-world examples, like a home goods brand doing $18,000 a month with three SKUs. Neil shares three actionable moves to build your contribution margin per SKU this week. If you've been running your business off deposits and ad reports instead of a real P&L, you're not alone. The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast is here to guide sellers at every level, from $5K to $1M+ per month, to truly understand their numbers.

Most people don't think twice about the spice jar on their shelf. But behind it is a supply chain that can pass through 20 different hands — and that's exactly where quality, safety, and accountability break down. In this episode, Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl speak with Ori Zohar, co-founder and co-CEO of Burlap & Barrel, about how they're reshaping the spice industry by sourcing directly from smallholder farmers across 22 countries. Ori shares how Burlap & Barrel built a transparent, trust-based supply chain — no formal contracts, just long-term relationships — and how that model has helped them navigate real-world pressures like the pandemic, tariffs, and rapid scaling. He also gets into the operational side: how GS1 standards and barcoding became foundational tools for managing a 100+ SKU business across warehouses, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels.  This is a story about innovation, transparency, and the power of human relationships in building a sustainable supply chain.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why trust-based relationships with farmers outperform formal contracts How they responded to tariffs — without raising prices or passing costs to farmers The practical role GS1 standards play in managing a high-SKU, multi-channel business   Things to listen for: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (07:13) Third-wave spices and why a broad lineup demands better tracking (09:44) The Dr. Salunke story: transparency and traceability in action (13:23) Why contracts with farmers don't work (19:11) How to handle tariffs without raising prices (31:55) Navigating turbulence with a values-first strategy (32:36) How GS1 standards power their warehouse and retail operations   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.orgGS1 US on LinkedIn Register for GS1 Connect 2026, happening June 9 to 11 in Las Vegas, and get 10% off with the promo code GS1USPOD10 at connect.gs1us.org.   Connect with the guest: Ori Zohar on LinkedInVisit Burlap & Barrel at https://www.burlapandbarrel.com/ Follow Burlap & Barrel on Instagram  

Sellers running TikTok Shop alongside their Amazon listings are seeing ACoS drops of 30-50%. Neil Twa breaks down the mechanics behind this game-changing strategy on The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast. Discover how a husband-and-wife team selling collagen powder in the $35–$45 range boosted their sales from $22,000 by leveraging TikTok Shop. This episode delivers actionable steps for sellers at every level — from those just starting to $1M+/month operators. Neil shares three moves to optimize your ad spend: start by listing your top SKU on TikTok Shop. It's not just a trend; it's a strategy to enhance your margins.

If you're shipping AI product lines, are you measuring the two metrics that actually tell you whether your AI is making money — or burning it? In episode #371, Ben Murray covers two AI unit economics metrics every SaaS CFO and founder should be tracking today: the Inference Expense Ratio and the Work-to-Inference Ratio. Traditional SaaS metrics aren't enough anymore — and a year from now, when your board, investors, and potential acquirers start asking for AI margin and efficiency data, the companies that built the chart-of-accounts structure now will have clean answers. Everyone else will be scrambling. The Inference Expense Ratio (AI revenue ÷ inference cost) — and why you can start calculating this from your GL today if your chart of accounts is set up properly The healthy benchmarks: 10:1 for AI-infused products, 5:1 for AI-native, and why 3:1 is the warning zone where inference is silently eating your gross margin Why this metric only works if your chart of accounts cleanly separates AI revenue from non-AI revenue — and the SKU tagging that makes it possible The Work-to-Inference Ratio — how Salesforce's "agentic work units" concept lets you measure whether your AI is getting more efficient over time Why every AI product needs its own definition of a "work unit" — record updated, report generated, MCP called — and how the wrong definition will distort your margin trends The chart-of-accounts evolution every SaaS company needs right now: from SaaS-only structure to SaaS + AI, with new GL accounts for inference cost in DevOps COGS How the Inference Expense Ratio connects to Ben's ROSE metric — measuring revenue produced per dollar of employee, contractor, and agentic AI spend Tune in to get the AI unit economics framework in place — before your board and investors start asking the questions you can't answer. Resources Mentioned Ben's new AI course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ai-finance-metrics-saas ROSE metric: https://www.thesaascfo.com/saas-rose-metric/

Up to 50% of Kenya's fruits and vegetables never reach a plate. Not because farmers can't grow. Because nobody can reliably move, sort, price and pay. Claire van Enk is the founder and CEO of Farm to Feed, a Nairobi-based agritech platform that today connects 6,000 smallholder farmers with hotels, restaurants, schools and food processors across Kenya through bespoke logistics, traceability and a 200-SKU catalogue that includes "grade rescue" produce too imperfect for conventional buyers. The business started as a COVID-era GoFundMe in 2020. Five years and one commercial pivot later, it is one of the most ambitious operational businesses in East African food. In this episode of The Samuele Tini Show, Claire makes a case that cuts against most of the African startup conversation: the continent does not need more cloud-based platforms. It needs warehouses, trucks, cold rooms and the unglamorous logistics that physically move food from a farm to a kitchen. Investors prefer asset-light businesses. The real bottleneck is physical. We talk about the fragmented food system, the multiplier effect on rural employment, the limits of traceability in a country with weak pesticide regulation, and the "Africa discount" that keeps Kenyan products underpriced on global markets. Claire also shares the hardest founder lesson of her journey: realising she had to stop being an entrepreneur and start being a CEO, and that the two are not the same job. A direct, honest conversation about food systems, climate-resilient supply chains, and what it really takes to build operational businesses in Africa.

There's a town in Texas called Round Top. Population eighty-seven. One square mile. And in that town, an artist named John Lowry sold a single painting for $141,500. (We toured his gallery on YouTube — link's right there in his name. Watch it before or after this episode.) That's the headline. Here's the part nobody tells you: he then sold roughly $60,000 more in reproductions of that same image. Same painting. Different mediums, different sizes, different price points. One image, two hundred grand. That is not luck. That is not a once-in-a-lifetime fluke. That is a system. And the same system is what Gray Malin uses to run a 4,156-SKU catalog with 221 variants of certain images. The same system is what Wyland — yes, that Wyland — uses to sell 972 products across 45 different mediums, raising prices roughly 10% a year for the last sixteen years. This episode deconstructs the engine that makes all of that possible. Print on Demand and the sample ladder aren't two ideas. They're one engine. The artists at the top of this business have figured that out. Most artists haven't. We're going to fix that today. But first — a quick rant about what gets in the way. In this episode: The $141,500 painting in a town of 87 people — and why the second sale is the lesson The knife salesman pivot: why Print on Demand is a sample tool first, a profit tool second Hobbyist or business? The honest question every artist has to answer The Drain — four ideas clogging up most art businesses (you can't run a business / you can't run sales or marketing campaigns / you can't be perceived a certain way / never discount your work) — and why every pro you admire threw all four of them out Why we study the masters: you studied Van Gogh and Ansel Adams in art school. Time to study the people doing it best in the business of art. Gray Malin, deconstructed: 4,156 SKUs, 16-year escalator, 221 variants of single images. What an artist with a real engine looks like under the hood. Wyland, deconstructed: 972 products across 45 mediums. The 10%-a-year price escalator that compounds for decades. The catalog as a museum gift shop. The Range Unlock: your catalog isn't N images. It's N images × M mediums × P price points. Most artists are sitting on 100x more inventory than they think. Same image. Every price point. Why this is the single most important sentence in your art business. The bottom rung IS the sample: a $20 mug isn't a giveaway, it's a customer-acquisition machine wearing a price tag The Buc-ee's flex: how the cheap stuff at the front door funds the expensive stuff at the back wall John Lowry, the customer mirror: an Art Storefronts customer in a one-square-mile Texas town doing exactly what Malin and Wyland do — at his scale. Proof this isn't a billionaire-only game. (Watch the full studio tour on YouTube.) "You don't sell JPEGs" — the Brooks rant about why a digital file is not a product, and what the pros actually sell How the Six Basics from The Long Game show up — receipt by receipt — in all three of these businesses The artichoke storage room (you'll know what this means by the end) This week's homework: audit your own catalog the way we just audited Malin and Wyland. Take your top 5 best-selling images. Count how many mediums you currently offer them in. Count how many price points. Now ask: could I responsibly add three more variants of each, this week, with Print on Demand? If the answer is yes — and it almost always is — you just found revenue you already earned but haven't collected yet. Resources mentioned: John Lowry of Humble Donkey Studio — the full video tour on YouTube (the original 2024 interview referenced throughout this episode) Humble Donkey Studio — John Lowry's website Humble Donkey on Instagram Gray Malin — the catalog we deconstruct Wyland — the other catalog we deconstruct Art Storefronts — the website + storefront engine built for working artists Related episodes: Why Your Website Will Still Be Working in 2055 — The Long Game (the parent episode this one builds on) Humble Donkey Studio — the original John Lowry interview, July 2024 All Oars In — The Anatomy of a Sale Nothing New Under the Sun — The Rules That Actually Sell Art So: which 78-year-old version of yourself wins? The one still asking what to post on social media, or the one running a real engine — same image, every price point, compounding every year? You don't have to be in a billionaire's neighborhood to do this. You can be in Round Top, Texas. Population 87. The engine doesn't care where you live. It cares whether you build it.

Business is not a spectator sport…although shouldn't you be curious why THG Nutrition just delivered its strongest start to a year since 2021? THG (aka the company formerly known as The Hut Group) recently updated the public markets by releasing its Q1 2026 trading statement. I'll be utilizing all available publicly disclosed information to obviously update you on the recent performance of THG Nutrition division, which includes the world's largest online sports nutrition brand MyProtein, but also utilize everything as the contextual backdrop for my expanded strategic commentary around global sports nutrition market dynamics and trends. Additionally, due to the THG Ingenuity demerger action occurring at the end of 2024, the up-to-date THG portfolio configuration now would be described as a global, cash generative, health and wellness consumer brands group. During the first quarter of 2026, THG Nutrition revenue was approximately $217 million, which increased 8.8% YoY. THG Nutrition delivered its fifth consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Moreover, momentum was said to be broad-based across categories outside of the core protein range, especially in activewear and creatine. But I'll dive into several strategic decisions impacting MyProtein including its global digital sales channel strategy, offline retail expansion efforts, product licensing strategy, and let's just say A LOT is riding on the success of the MyProtein global rebrand that started its initial staggered market rollout two years ago. Myprotein maintained its leading position as the largest UK sports nutrition brand. THG Nutrition still mainly deploys a global digital-first commerce strategy, with around 80% of its total revenue coming from direct-to-consumer, online marketplaces, and social commerce…but MyProtein has continued to invest in offline retail partnerships where it places a limited (or exclusive) SKU range as part of a bigger demand generation strategy. Although the most highlighted commercial strategy (utilized for offline retail expansion) continues to surround the development of MyProtein products that are sold under licensing arrangements. When done correctly, these types of retail partnerships boost customer touchpoints and broaden brand appeal. Nonetheless, this ambitious level of offline retail expansion globally will undoubtedly help drive a more diversified retail mix over the next few years. Equally, MyProtein continues to lean heavily into international product collaborations. And obviously, while that includes THG Nutrition recently expanding successful dietary supplement categorical examples (like with global confectionary giant Mars Incorporated), I'd rather mention the recent launch of the Myprotein x Champion collaboration, as MP activewear is reportedly continuing to deliver exceptional growth, with annualized run-rate sales fast approaching $140 million. Yet, it's the margin accretive aspect of MP activewear that's maybe most helpful right now, as THG Nutrition attempts to mitigate elevated whey protein input prices.

“Marketing's job gets a lot easier when they have new products to sell.” Curtis Matsko (CEO, Portland Leather Goods) and Katy Mimari (CEO, Caden Lane) join Matt Bertulli (CEO, Pela Case and Lomi) to tackle one of our most requested topics. How to create and launch new ecommerce products. Each host brings a unique perspective. Curtis runs a 280k square-foot production facility and releases fresh products three times a week. Katy built Caden Lane into a 5,000-SKU brand by staying obsessed with what moms want next. Matt's approach is on-demand, sustainable manufacturing balanced with high-velocity releases for new variants, colors, and sizes. Together, they unpack the art + data behind merchandising large catalogs, when to raise prices versus when to hold, and how to know when to kill a product before it quietly bleeds your business dry. Plus, Curtis reveals his secret (selling) weapon — an Insiders Facebook Group with +200k members. Powered ByFulfilhttps://bit.ly/3pAp2vuNorthbeamhttps://www.northbeam.io/Aftersellhttps://9ops.co/4i3bb5Saras Analyticshttps://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescPostscripthttps://9ops.co/postscriptRichpanelhttps://9ops.co/richpanelOperators Newsletterhttps://9operators.com/

We Like Shooting - Ep 660 This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: Midwest Industries (Code: WLSISLIFE) Die Free Co. (Code: WLSISLIFE) Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Flatline Fiber Co (Code: WLS15) Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171  Public   Show Titles   GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 Gear Chat [Ruger] RXM The Ruger RXM is a striker-fired pistol designed with a grip angle similar to the 1911 for natural point of aim, featuring a polymer frame developed in collaboration with Magpul. It incorporates a modular FCI (fire control insert) system allowing frame swaps without a new background check and is compatible with Gen 3 Glock parts, holsters, sights, and lights. Reliability testing showed 800 rounds fired without failures, with suppressor-height tritium night sights and direct optic mounting for RMR, DPP, or RMSC footprints. Cost: MSRP $539 / Street ~$438 Special: FCI (fire control insert) system for modularity enabling frame swaps Note Ruger RXM Review [Hi-Point] Hush-Point 30 The Hush-Point 30 is a lightweight, modern suppressor designed for .30-caliber centerfire rifles like the AR-15, available in titanium and Inconel models. It features advanced flow-through technology that directs gas away from the shooter to reduce over-gassing in direct-impingement systems. The suppressor is HUB compatible and includes 1/2×28 and 5/8×24 threads for .223 and 300 Blackout calibers.0 Availability: Shipping now. Available at Guns.com (titanium: https://www.guns.com/silencers/p/hi-point-hush-point-30-ti?i=654780, Inconel: https://www.guns.com/silencers/p/hi-point-hush-point-30-inconel?i=654767).0 Cost: MSRP: Inconel $822.88, titanium $846.81.0 Special: Advanced flow-through technology that vents gas forward to reduce over-gassing, especially for direct-impingement systems; HUB compatible; includes 1/2×28 and 5/8×24 threads.0 [Inland Manufacturing] Model 1910 The Inland Manufacturing Model 1910 is a suppressor for the M1 Carbine platform, replicating the original Maxim Silencer design with modern internals. It features a monoblock monocore construction that allows easy servicing without removal from the barrel, even for cleaning, and includes an offset bore. Compatible with .30 caliber and .357/9mm calibers, it provides a throwback to early 20th-century suppressor technology patented by Hiram Percy Maxim. Availability: Shown at NRAAM 2026; available at Guns.com (https://www.guns.com/silencers?product.manufacturer=INLAND%20MANUFACTURING) Special: Monoblock monocore design with offset bore; can be cleaned without removing from barrel Note (Nick) Bus Built Projects [RevoMag] RevoMag (Nick) The RevoMag is a revolver reloading device designed to be faster than a speedstrip and more concealable than a traditional speedloader. It features a polymer magazine-style body with a reversible pocket clip, compatible with calibers such as .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .327 Magnum. Proudly made in the USA for everyday carry and personal protection. Special: Magazine-style reload with squeeze-to-release mechanism and reversible pocket clip68 Bullet Points Gun Fights No one stepped into the arena this week. The Agency Brief Agency Update “The government looked at a piece of plastic on the back of a rifle, panicked, and spent ten years proving that gun control is a complete myth.” THE INTEL (THE STORY) The Play-by-Play: 1989 Catalyst: The Stockton school shooting gives gun control groups their emotional leverage. The media pivots away from the shooter's massive rap sheet to demonize the “evil” semi-auto rifle. What the Media Lied About: They flat-out lied that military machine guns were flooding the streets. Anti-gun activist Josh Sugarmann explicitly published this strategy: exploit the public's confusion between semi-autos and fully automatic weapons to manufacture outrage. The Architects: Bill Clinton needed a “tough on crime” headline. Sen. Dianne Feinstein drafted the ban, later admitting her true goal on 60 Minutes: “If I could have gotten 51 votes… for an outright ban… Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in; I would have done it.” What It Actually Did: Banned 19 specific firearms and semi-autos equipped with two or more “scary” cosmetic features (bayonet lugs, flash suppressors, folding stocks, pistol grips). It also capped new magazines at 10 rounds. The Backroom Deals: Democrats didn't have the votes for a permanent ban. They negotiated a 10-year sunset clause and grandfathered in millions of existing firearms, gambling they could just expand it later. The Workaround: The industry adapted overnight. Manufacturers removed the banned cosmetic plastic and sold functionally identical rifles. Congress literally regulated aesthetics. 2004 Sunset: The ban expires. An official, DOJ-funded study by Christopher Koper concludes the ban did absolutely nothing to reduce gun violence. The Reality Check (Hidden Incentives): Conditioning the Public: This was a psychological op to condition Americans to accept the government banning entire categories of firearms based purely on Hollywood aesthetics. Incrementalism: Lawmakers knew a total gun ban wouldn't fly, so they established the “feature test” as a foothold for future, broader bans. The True Target: The feature ban was mostly temporary political theater; starving the civilian market of standard-capacity magazines was their real long-term objective. Market Impact: They hoped shifting regulations would bankrupt the tactical firearms market with compliance red tape. Instead, they inadvertently birthed the massive modern AR-15 industry. THE 2A ANGLE (LEGAL & IMPACT) The Threat: The '94 ban is the exact blueprint tyrannical blue states (CA, NY, IL, WA) use today to terrorize FFLs and castrate standard rifles. They took a proven federal failure and turned it into permanent state-level law. For modern FFLs, this means SKU-by-SKU compliance nightmares, massive inventory risks, and the constant threat of a new federal ban—which, next time, likely won't include a grandfathering clause. Bruen Test: Text: The Second Amendment protects “arms.” Semi-auto centerfire rifles and standard capacity magazines are plainly protected arms. History & Tradition: There is zero founding-era analogue for restricting arms based on ergonomic grips or muzzle devices. The Founders didn't ban repeating arms when they emerged. Heller / McDonald Check: Arms “in common use for lawful purposes” are fundamentally protected. With over 24 million AR-15s in civilian hands right now, they undeniably satisfy the common use standard. Banning them violates the core of Heller. Bruen kills the feature-test dead; rogue appellate courts are simply playing games to delay the inevitable. Regulatory Creep: The Expanding Ratchet: The feature test is a backdoor trap. It started with bayonet lugs and flash hiders, then moved to pistol braces, threaded barrels, and parts kits. Fluid Definitions: Current AWB proposals name over 200 firearms and reduce the threshold to just one aesthetic feature. The Handgun Endgame: Once society accepts that a semi-auto action plus a detachable mag equals a “weapon of war,” your daily-carry Glock 19 or P365 is logically next. Agency Update 94-04 AWB coming next? WLS is Lifestyle Note Secret Service LPVO Drip Imgur Image yYOLY0f The provided URL points to an Imgur page at https://imgur.com/yYOLY0f. Page content indicates JavaScript is disabled, preventing access to the image or any details. No firearms, cultural elements, or product information is accessible or stated. The Alley Not Stated The webpage is a news article about an Oakland County man charged in a deadly shooting of a teen burglar. It mentions a generic ‘9mm' firearm used by the man in self-defense context, with no manufacturer or model name specified. No technical gear details matching the required format are explicitly provided. Going Ballistic ATF NFA Division: Over 1 Million Forms Processed in 2026, 6 Million Suppressors Registered (Savage) The ATF's National Firearms Act (NFA) Division processed over 1 million NFA forms in the first four months of 2026, surpassing previous annual totals due to the elimination of the $200 tax stamp for suppressors and short-barreled firearms effective January 1, 2026. Over half of these were Form 4 applications for suppressor transfers, with nearly 6 million suppressors now registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) as of April 2026. This marks a historic surge, with 2026 registrations rivaling decades of prior accumulation. The Gist: National (United States): ATF NFA Division and National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR); applies nationwide to NFA items like suppressors and short-barreled firearms. Impact: Elimination of $200 tax stamp for suppressors and short-barreled firearms effective January 1, 2026, caused surge in processing (over 1 million forms in first 4 months of 2026 vs. 1.37 million in all of 2024); over 5.99 million suppressors registered as of April 10, 2026. Bottom Line: Historic surge in NFA adoption post-tax elimination, with 2026 early-year forms exceeding prior annual records and suppressor registrations rivaling 76 years (1934-2010) of prior totals. Post-Bruen Gun Rights Cases: Wolford v. Lopez, United States v. Mitchell, United States v. Hemani, Viramontes v. Cook County, and Roberts v. ATF (Savage) The article details several post-Bruen Supreme Court and lower court cases challenging restrictions on public carry, prohibited-person statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), AR-15 bans, and NFA registration requirements....

The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast delivers critical intelligence for portfolio operators. In this essential episode, we dissect Amazon's impactful 3.5% fuel and inflation surcharge, implemented May 1st, 2022, across all U.S. and Canadian FBA fulfillment fees. While seemingly minor, this strategic adjustment by Amazon is a direct response to unprecedented macroeconomic pressures, specifically escalating fuel costs and labor inflation. For the uninitiated, it might appear as a simple cost increase. However, for astute portfolio builders and 'Voltage-caliber operators,' this isn't just a challenge—it's a strategic inflection point. We reveal how proactive operators don't just react but anticipate and weaponize such market shifts. Drawing insights from a real-world example like 'Project Atlas,' a portfolio holding in the outdoor adventure niche, we illustrate how a 3.5% surcharge, when compounded across millions in sales, can dramatically impact net profit margins if not strategically addressed. This episode provides a deep dive into the underlying economic rationale behind Amazon's decision, framing it not as a punitive measure but as a 'temporary' surcharge designed to maintain operational efficiency amidst global supply chain disruptions. Learn three immediate, actionable steps to navigate this new operational landscape and protect your brand assets: first, conduct a comprehensive SKU-level profitability audit to identify vulnerable products; second, strategically adjust pricing or bundle offerings to absorb the surcharge without alienating customers; and third, explore diversified fulfillment strategies beyond FBA to mitigate future single-platform risks. The ecommerce landscape is in constant flux, and this 3.5% FBA surcharge is a stark reminder that proactive, operator-led strategy is paramount for protecting and growing your brand assets in a high-voltage environment. Tune in to transform this potential threat into a competitive advantage.

Jeremy Rhodes and Ali Chetkof Rhodes discuss the rapid growth of their business, Moonrise Bagels. The couple shares the story of how a pandemic-era experiment with "stuffing" a bagel with pizza ingredients evolved from a home-kitchen project into a multi-unit operation with a flagship location in New York City's Greenwich Village. Jeremy and Ali detail their transition from established corporate careers to full-time entrepreneurship, highlighting the operational challenges of moving from a small-town shop to the competitive Manhattan market. The conversation explores their unique product, which reimagines the bagel as a complete, handheld meal, and their focus on maintaining high quality through a handmade commissary process while expanding their reach nationwide via Goldbelly.10 Key TakeawaysThe "Accidental" Business: Moonrise Bagels began when Jeremy had leftover pizza sauce and decided to experiment by stuffing it inside bagel dough, leading to immediate viral interest on Instagram.Simplicity Scales: Jeremy advocates for a simple business model with a low SKU count to ensure operational efficiency and higher profit margins.Hospitality as a North Star: Both founders credit their obsession with "unreasonable hospitality" to their backgrounds, particularly Jeremy's tenure at Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group.Staggered Transition: To manage financial risk, the couple staggered their exits from corporate jobs; Jeremy went full-time to staff the first shop while Ali provided financial stability before joining later.The "Testing Ground" Strategy: They spent years refining their recipes and team culture in upstate New York before attempting the high-stakes New York City market.Revenue Diversification: Beyond foot traffic, the brand utilizes DoorDash as a "digital billboard" and ships nationwide via Goldbelly to reach customers in all 50 states.Product Differentiation: Moonrise Bagels are unique because they are stuffed with sandwiches and proteins, breaking the product out of the traditional breakfast-only category and into lunch and dinner.The Commissary Model: To ensure quality and consistency across multiple locations, they produce everything by hand in a central commissary and boil/bake the bagels on-site at retail stores.Entrepreneurial Delusion: The founders agree that a level of "obsession" and "delusion" is required to survive the 3:00 AM wake-up calls and the daily grind of the industry.Support Systems: They emphasize that being a husband-and-wife team helps mitigate the "lonely road" of entrepreneurship by providing a constant sounding board for ideas and challenges.

If you think the market makes sense right now, you haven't been paying attention. This week on the Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Dan Passarelli (MarketTaker Mentoring), Brian Overby (The Options Playbook), and Kevin Carter (Cboe Global Markets) to navigate a market that is equal parts predictable and head-scratching. On the Docket: Trading Block: A look at the surging price of crude and why semiconductors are carrying a "tired" market. The Odd Block: We investigate massive call buying in FIGS (Medical Scrubs) ahead of earnings. Is it a retail frenzy or institutional positioning? Plus, unusual flows in Hasbro (HAS) and Comcast (CMCSA). Strategy Session: Brian Overby breaks down his recent trade in Netflix and explains the mechanics of a back ratio spread to repair a stock position (The "Covered Call on Steroids"). Volatility Watch: Discussing why the VIX remains largely "hunched" despite a sea of red on the screens and geopolitical bullets flying. Mail Block: Listeners ask about the updated SKU index and the tactical use of high vol.

If you think the market makes sense right now, you haven't been paying attention. This week on the Option Block, host Mark Longo is joined by Dan Passarelli (MarketTaker Mentoring), Brian Overby (The Options Playbook), and Kevin Carter (Cboe Global Markets) to navigate a market that is equal parts predictable and head-scratching. On the Docket: Trading Block: A look at the surging price of crude and why semiconductors are carrying a "tired" market. The Odd Block: We investigate massive call buying in FIGS (Medical Scrubs) ahead of earnings. Is it a retail frenzy or institutional positioning? Plus, unusual flows in Hasbro (HAS) and Comcast (CMCSA). Strategy Session: Brian Overby breaks down his recent trade in Netflix and explains the mechanics of a back ratio spread to repair a stock position (The "Covered Call on Steroids"). Volatility Watch: Discussing why the VIX remains largely "hunched" despite a sea of red on the screens and geopolitical bullets flying. Mail Block: Listeners ask about the updated SKU index and the tactical use of high vol.

Amazon can make your sales chart look healthy while your bank account tells a different story. We sit down with John Klein, CEO and lead Amazon strategist at Online Brand Growth, to get brutally practical about what it takes to scale profitably on Amazon without relying on hype, hacks, or endless ad spend. We dig into what separates strong Amazon brands from the ones that slowly fade: building demand beyond Amazon through omnichannel marketing, keeping a steady cadence of meaningful new product launches, and measuring the few metrics that actually move the needle. John explains why sessions and conversion rate are the early signals, how buy box loss and unauthorized resellers quietly drain revenue, and why stockouts and compliance downtime are margin killers you have to design systems around. We also talk about using business intelligence tools to see true SKU-by-SKU profitability, plus quick audit wins like reimbursements Amazon may owe you and inventory age management that avoids expensive storage and low-inventory penalties. On the paid side, we break down a lifecycle approach to Amazon PPC that keeps you from living on a breakeven treadmill. John shares the logic behind a healthier organic-to-paid mix, how Search Query Performance data guides smarter keyword decisions, and TACoS benchmarks that help you protect profit as you grow. We close with where AI is already useful in modern e-commerce operations, from research and listing optimization to reporting and automated account health checks. If you want a cleaner, more predictable path to Amazon growth, subscribe, share this with a seller friend, and leave a review so more operators can find it. What's the one Amazon metric you're going to start tracking weekly?How to connect with Jon?Website: https://www.onlinebrandgrowth.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlinebrandgrowthYTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlinebrandgrowth/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Online-Brand-Growth/61579553361931/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-klein-5489724b/Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call. https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signuphttps://lexingtonbakes.com/Lex Evan built Lexington Bakes after years of baking for friends who kept telling him the same thing: they didn't usually like desserts like this, but they loved his. That turned into a bootstrapped brand built on better ingredients, frozen and refrigerated distribution, and a refusal to follow the usual packaged dessert playbook.For CPG founders and DTC operators trying to improve conversion, CAC, and retail sell-through without watering down the product.In this episode, Lex breaks down:How Lexington Bakes went from a holiday presale to about 200 retail stores Why premium products can fail when value is not obvious at first glance How changing format, sizing, and offer structure helped bring CAC from roughly $180 down to $25 on a new-customer offer What “radical ingredient transparency” actually looks like in packaged food Why a product rename turned a weak SKU into one of the brand's best retail performers Who this is for:DTC founders, CPG operators, grocery brands, and marketers working on pricing, offer design, retention, or retail expansion.What to steal:Build first-order offers around how cautious buyers actually shop Make value obvious without forcing customers to do math Use plain-language product naming until the brand has enough equity to get more creative Timestamps:00:00 From zero to shipping 500 brownies02:30 Why Lexington Bakes started05:00 No preservatives and cold chain strategy07:00 Manufacturing challenges and scaling09:30 Radical ingredient transparency explained13:00 Product evolution and Lexington Bakes 4.017:00 Pricing psychology and shelf perception21:00 Fixing DTC conversion and CAC24:00 Intro offer strategy and LTV thinking29:00 Retail behavior and repeat purchase patterns34:30 Naming mistake and SKU turnaround39:00 2026 growth strategy and manufacturing focusSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

PODCAST WE ARE WATCHING AMERICA set up the one world government. This is happening with the help and approval of the American church just as scripture said. This church will submit to this system and betray the true church with dose not belong to a commercial church system. Then the system they helped will turn on them.They are breaking the common people to force  a control system upon those who don't understand or do not know God. Welcome to the BLACK HORSE OF REVELATION. Branham Saw the Black Horse in 1946–Famine and Economic Collapse Hits Ap... https://youtu.be/4O4A1UP20wk——-Why Moses Gave This Final Warning (Deuteronomy Explained) https://youtu.be/VXCmuKjjfkk——- This Lost Biblical Book Tells An Unbelievable Storyhttps://youtu.be/gbNx-LDgfEk——- 4 BARUCH

Thinking about adding more products to fix slow sales? In this episode, I break down the SKU problem that no one talks about as you grow a product-based business. Did you know more products can drain your margins, dilute your marketing, and create operational chaos? Here's how to recognize when your product line is actually working against you and how to fix the problem before it costs you. Tune in to learn how to stop managing mess and start focusing on the hero products that drive clarity and sustainable profit.In This Episode, You'll Learn:00:00 Why adding more products is not the answer to your business.03:30 Why product businesses end up with too many SKUs.05:30 The profit and margin problem no one talks about.07:00 What happens when your marketing tries to sell too many things?08:45 Why do customers get confused and stop buying?09:15 How to identify your hero products and what to let go of.11:00 The shift from managing more to simplifying smarter.12:00 The fastest way to simplify and become more profitable.Resources + LinksReady to stop guessing and follow a proven system? Book your strategy call HERE!Get business tips sent right to your inbox - join the newsletter!Watch on YouTubeFollowJacqueline on IG: @theproductbosstheproductboss.com

Wine may be under pressure — but some brands are still growing. The question is how.In this episode of Business of Drinks, we sit down with Jeff Ngo, EVP, Chief Growth Officer at The Duckhorn Portfolio, to break down how Decoy has scaled into a multi-tier platform brand — and why it continues to gain share in a flat category.The numbers tell the story. For the 52 weeks ending January 25, 2026 (Circana):Decoy Core: ~1M cases, +4.6% volume, +3.5% dollarsDecoy Limited: ~144K cases, +24% volume, +18.7% dollarsDecoy Featherweight: ~28.6K cases, +80% volume, +74.7% dollarsImpressive results by any measure — but this isn't incremental growth. It's a case study in how to build a platform inside a mature category, with each tier playing a defined role:Core ($15–$20): Scale, consistency, and national distributionLimited ($25–$30): Premium trade-up and margin expansionFeatherweight ($20–$25): Moderation and new consumer entryJeff explains how this was built intentionally — not as SKU expansion, but as consumer-led architecture. Each line targets a distinct audience and occasion, from socially influential “tastemakers” to younger consumers seeking lower-calorie options that still deliver on taste.Key takeaways for operators:Scaling requires saying no — to discounting, SKU sprawl, and short-term volume grabs that erode brand equityAt 1M+ cases, consistency becomes the brand; sourcing, production, and execution must align across every channelPlatform thinking beats product thinking; growth comes from structure, not just innovationPremiumization still works, but only when brands clearly overdeliver on valueDistribution follows demand; brands that pull win more support than those that pushJeff also shares how private equity ownership has shifted the focus toward long-term value creation, and how cross-category learnings are shaping digital and growth strategy.For founders, this is a clear look at what changes when you move from early traction to true scale — and why most brands struggle to make that leap.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry's most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today's conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you're listening, and don't forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

What does it take to turn a house-made restaurant dressing into a multi-SKU CPG brand with distributors, Power Bowl mixes, and a brand-new line of high-protein soup mixes? This week, Phil and Kenny sit down  with Joanna and Stephanie, the co-founders of Umami Crave the Fifth, a Kelowna-based food brand making waves across BC and beyond. Joanna and Stephanie pull back the curtain on the full journey: starting with a beet quinoa salad dressing at BNA Brewing, surviving a pandemic launch, building their own production facility, and navigating the brutal reality that getting into a store is easy — getting off the shelf is hard.  They share hard-won lessons on SKU naming disasters (50,000 pouches ordered before rebranding), sourcing Canadian pea protein, competing in a crowded condiment category, and why their vegan Worcestershire sauce accidentally became their fastest-growing product.   Check out Umami Crave the Fifth here: https://www.umamicravethefifth.com/ Find out more about the Big Cheese Festival in Armstrong here: https://www.aschamber.com/thebigcheese.html Find out more about Basin Food Summit here: https://basinfood.ca/   If you want to sign up for one of our classes, email us at podcast@thiscommercelife.com  

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Jason O'Toole, Head of Connected Commerce & Media, and Katie Tripodi, Director of US Digital Merchandising and eCommerce Expansion at Gildan, a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Company's product offering includes activewear, underwear, socks, and intimates sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters, embellishers, retailers or e-commerce platforms, as well as global lifestyle brand companies. Follow Jason on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmotooleFollow Katie on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sierveld-tripodi-b945262Follow Gildan on LinkedIn at: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/gildanFollow Gildan online at: https://www.gildan.com/us/enJason & Katie answer these questions:How have you structured your connected commerce teams internally to meet the demands of this complex omnichannel landscape and break down traditional silos?For a legacy apparel brand, that is a bold and necessary move. What does your playbook for TikTok Shop look like, and how does your merchandising strategy there differ from a traditional dot-com?In a world where 'attention is the new storefront,' how do you ensure that your upper-funnel brand storytelling actually connects to disciplined, bottom-funnel media systems?When you are merchandising for a platform that is driven by viral moments and creator content, how do you forecast inventory and manage the digital shelf differently than you would for a predictable weekly cadence at a mass retailer?How did you convince the organization to invest so heavily in that upper-funnel homepage placement rather than just fighting it out in bottom-funnel search?you consciously chose to prioritize branded search and incremental ad-attributed sales as your main success metrics. Why were those specific metrics the best indicators of the consumer's path-to-purchase journey for apparel?How do you approach digital shelf management—specifically regarding Product Detail Page (PDP) content, ratings, and reviews—to help the consumer confidently navigate that SKU complexity and hit the 'buy' button?How do brands like Hanes and Maidenform approach 3P competition and brand protection across digital marketplaces to ensure the consumer gets an authentic, premium experience?As consumer discovery shifts away from traditional search bars toward social feeds, creator recommendations, and even generative AI, what is the most critical muscle an apparel brand needs to build today to win the digital shelf in 2026 and beyond?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: 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 orCPGGUYS 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.

Episode 262: What happens when a cold-pressed juice passion with humble beginnings in your own kitchen counter suddenly meets nationwide demand? Complications arise that demand fast decision making. Meet Crunchy Hydration CEO and founder Megan Riggs, whose company scaled at lightning speed, sending her into problem-solving mode. (The memorable company name, she says, is because her early carrot juices were too pulpy/crunchy for people's liking.) There was one key problem with scaling their product for a broad consumer audience. "With cold-pressed juices, you cannot wholesale unless you high-pressure pasteurize or heat pasteurize. I had a ton of stores reaching out to carry it, but I couldn't sell it to them," Megan said. So, Crunchy Hydration made a series of smart choices. They swapped fragile glass bottles for shelf-stable cans and kept pivoting in lockstep with consumer feedback. They unlocked national distribution after moving from perishable juice to functional sparkling water. Next, they saw velocities spike to 150 units per store per week—nearly 20 times the buyer's benchmark. They weighed pay-to-play math like $5,000 per SKU per store slotting fees or free-filling 12,000 cases across 4,000 outlets. They learned distributors wouldn't merchandise for you and that maintaining relationships was imperative. To succeed, they needed to choose a leaner path. Today, they're a coast-to-coast operation with just 12 employees. They juggle DTC subscriptions, retail velocities, and cash-flow gaps that can stretch four months. The result? A community-driven beverage that competes on flavor, cultural relevance, function, and customer devotion, all in one. Guest: Megan Riggs, CEO and Founder, Crunchy Hydration Host: Rob Markey, Partner, Bain & Company Give us feedback: Customer Confidential Podcast Feedback Send us a note: Contact Rob Timestamped Topics [00:00] Early juicing company origins and the product's shelf-life problem [00:03] Switching to shelf-stable functional cans [00:07] Pricing trust at $2.50 a can: too expensive? [00:12] Their first big grocery win and stock-out lessons [00:20] Slotting fees vs. free-fill economics [00:25] How their lean, 12-person team managed national reach [00:29] Picking partners and saying no to bad money [00:31] The new vision for 2026 and the evolution of the ongoing direct-to-consumer push Notable Quotes [00:01] "I wanted to create something on another level, from the flavor portfolio to the smoothness that you're tasting. People were spending hundreds of dollars a month on their juices because it truly was different." [6:00] "I'm grateful that I have access to clean water, and I take a sip. And even just those five seconds of mindfulness, it's going to change the trajectory of your day, plus all of the benefits that are actually in this water. You really will feel different." [00:16]  "Our net promoter scores of 10 are the people really diving into being the brand ambassadors that are then talking about how Crunchy is part of their identity." [00:38]  "I did everything from the start with Crunchy, from driving the forklift, being the delivery person, learning how to build websites, doing socials, creating graphics. I learned all of that, but I also know what I created was not what was going to help us get to the next level." [00:40] "We're big believers in time-blocking and knowing what metrics define success before you even start."

AI agents are reshaping product discovery for 2.2 trillion monthly products. Katie Moro, Director of Managed Services at Productsup, brings 15 years of e-commerce optimization experience from Channel Intelligence to Google Merchant Center to scaling enterprise product data strategies. She reveals the critical readiness KPI framework for AI commerce platforms, explains why exposing entire catalogs creates measurement chaos, and demonstrates how structured persona-based segmentation drives measurable results at the SKU level.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PODCAST

Send us Fan MailWhen analyzing the Top Supply Chain Suites in 2026, it is critical to start with the broader architectural context in which these platforms operate. Supply chain suites are most commonly adopted by retail-centric organizations where demand volatility, high SKU counts, omnichannel fulfillment, and large distribution networks require tightly coordinated planning and execution. Most modern suites integrate several core components—typically network planning, supply planning, and execution—while embedding operational layers such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) directly within the broader platform. However, these suites are not architected uniformly. Manufacturing-oriented suites tend to intersect heavily with systems such as MES, CAD, procurement, and quality management to support production-centric workflows, whereas retail-focused suites emphasize fulfillment orchestration, distribution optimization, and execution density across complex logistics networks. Evaluating these platforms therefore requires careful attention to product-market fit and micro-vertical specialization. A solution designed for high-SKU retail distribution will differ significantly from one optimized for engineer-to-order aerospace manufacturing. Market positioning also varies widely, with some suites targeting mid-market organizations through bundled functionality and simplified deployment models, while others are built for global enterprises managing multi-tier supply networks and complex operational ecosystems. Ranking these platforms ultimately requires assessing product share acquisition strategy, roadmap depth, ecosystem maturity, win rate, architectural robustness, and the level of investor backing shaping their long-term trajectory.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top Supply Chain suites in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these Supply Chain suites. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each Supply Chain suite.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYiZSSOId_wRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-supply-chain-suites/Questions for Panelists?

Recorded live at Shoptalk, Phillip and Brian sit down with Heather Rivera, Chief Business Officer at Wing (an Alphabet company), to talk about how Wing has crafted our five-minute delivery future. Spoiler: the novelty of drones wearing off might be the best thing that ever happened to the industry. Building the Drone While We're Flying It Key takeaways: Wing's fastest recorded delivery: 2 minutes, 37 seconds. Average is under five minutes. 25% of Wing customers order three times a week – habit, not novelty. Wing just announced its largest residential drone delivery expansion yet, with Walmart, covering 270+ store locations. ~70% of Walmart SKUs fit in Wing's current delivery box – roughly 50,000 products. Wing recently doubled its payload capacity from 2.5 lbs to 5 lbs, opening new SKU and category possibilities. [00:20:39] "I want this technology to become unremarkable for people because it just becomes part of the way they go about their lives." – Heather Rivera [00:13:09] "I predict there's gonna be whole sets of new companies that design existing products to fit into the five pound baskets." – Brian Associated Links: Get STRATA Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you rebuild French wine from scratch — without appellations, without traditional grapes, and without the assumption that younger consumers care about either?In this episode, we sit down with Antonin Bonnet, co-founder of Pierre & Antonin, a fast-growing French wine brand scaling a very specific idea: Natural wine at a true mass-premium price point.The numbers and positioning are what make this story compelling. Pierre & Antonin produced ~350,000 bottles last year and is targeting ~400,000 this year, expanding across 20+ export markets. But the real unlock is how they got there — by rethinking everything from grape selection to packaging to brand storytelling.At the core is a contrarian bet: Hybrid “resistant” grape varieties. Long dismissed by the traditional wine industry, these grapes dramatically reduce vineyard inputs — less spraying, lower labor, lower cost — enabling the brand to hit a $15–$20 price point while maintaining margins.That economic model is paired with a sharp read on the consumer. Their average drinker is 26–27 years old — a cohort that prioritizes taste, price, sustainability, and story over varietal pedigree or appellation.And critically, the business is built around velocity, not tradition:Product-market fit: Pet Nat was the breakout SKU, driving ~60% of volume globallyRetail unlock: Landing Trader Joe's doubled revenue and validated U.S. national demandGo-to-market: Instagram collaborations outperform paid ads for reaching urban Gen Z consumersBrand strategy: Simplified labels and back-label education reduce friction at shelfThere's also a deeper industry question running through this conversation: Is wine overbuilt for the next generation?While the trade debates appellations and varietal purity, Pierre & Antonin is building for accessibility — in price, in messaging, and in experience. The result is a brand that's growing by aligning sustainability with economics, not just storytelling.For drinks founders, this episode is a case study in identifying white space, challenging category assumptions, and designing a business model that actually works at scale.For the latest updates, follow us:Business of Drinks:YouTubeLinkedInInstagram @bizofdrinksErica Duecy, co-host: Erica Duecy is founder and co-host of Business of Drinks and one of the drinks industry's most accomplished digital and content strategists. She runs the consultancy and advisory arm of Business of Drinks and has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies.LinkedInInstagram @ericaduecyScott Rosenbaum, co-host: Scott Rosenbaum is co-host of Business of Drinks and a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Most recently, he was the Portfolio Development Director at Distill Ventures. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of T. Edward Wines & Spirits, a New York-based importer and distributor.LinkedInCaroline Lamb, contributor: Caroline is a producer and on-air contributor at Business of Drinks and a key account sales and marketing specialist at AHD Vintners, a Michigan-based importer and distributor.LinkedInInstagram @borkalineIf you enjoyed today's conversation, follow Business of Drinks wherever you're listening, and don't forget to rate and review us. Your support helps us reach new listeners passionate about the drinks industry. Thank you!

Send us Fan MailWhen analyzing the Top 10 S&OP systems in 2026, it is important to recognize that most S&OP capabilities are not standalone applications but components of broader supply chain planning suites. These suites are particularly common in retail-centric environments, where high SKU counts, omnichannel fulfillment, franchise networks, and volatile demand require structured, macro-level planning coordination. However, the need extends beyond retail. Construction contractors with storefront footprints, franchise-heavy operating models, or expanding eCommerce channels also depend on S&OP frameworks to align demand forecasts, inventory positioning, and supply commitments. In many implementations, S&OP functions as a planning layer within a larger ecosystem that includes demand planning, supply planning, and network optimization. Architecturally, these solutions vary widely: some vendors deliver S&OP as a tightly integrated module inside ERP or supply chain suites, while others position it within analytics-driven “connected planning” platforms that unify finance, HR, and operational planning. Because these approaches differ significantly in scope, specialization, and integration depth, organizations must evaluate them through the lens of their planning maturity, data governance discipline, and enterprise architecture to determine which model will generate the most strategic value.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top S&OP systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these S&OP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each S&OP system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA4gJulHt3kRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-sop-systems/Questions for Panelists?

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Chris Walton sits down with duvo.ai CEO Tomáš Čupr to explore one of the most mind-bending ideas in AI today: not just how AI can improve retail operations, but how it can actually identify what in your operations should be improved in the first place. Drawing on Tomáš Čupr's experience building Rohlik Group, a $1.5B+ pan-European e-grocer, and now leading duvo.ai, the conversation dives deep into the messy reality of retail operations, including fragmented systems, manual processes, and the hidden gaps leaders don't even realize exist. From agentic process mapping and Duvo Clarity to autonomous operations and the future of hybrid human and AI teams, this episode challenges conventional thinking around digital transformation and offers a practical look at what it really takes to operationalize AI at scale. If you're trying to understand where AI fits into your organization, how to uncover inefficiencies, or how to move beyond pilot purgatory into real execution, this conversation delivers a fresh and highly actionable perspective. Key Topics Covered: • 00:00:45 – Why AI should identify problems, not just solve them • 00:03:02 – Tomáš Čupr's background building Rohlik Group • 00:04:51 – The origin of duvo.ai and challenges with retail automation • 00:07:50 – Why retail operations are too messy for traditional AI approaches • 00:11:07 – The reality that most leaders don't actually know their own processes • 00:14:32 – Agentic process mapping and Duvo Clarity explained • 00:19:41 – How AI analyzes workflows and recommends improvements • 00:23:26 – Real-world examples including missed supplier follow-ups and margin leakage • 00:25:56 – Automating should-cost analysis across every SKU • 00:29:10 – The rise of self-improving, feedback-loop-driven retail systems • 00:33:20 – The future role of retail leaders managing agents, not just people • 00:41:28 – Why AI-native retailers could outpace legacy competitors • 00:44:57 – Where to start with AI: process first, not data

The old e-commerce funnel is breaking, and AI is replacing it… the question is, who controls customer intent?In this episode of the High Voltage Business Builders podcast, we break down how agentic commerce is changing the way people discover, compare, and buy products online. What used to be a multi-step funnel of search, clicks, and checkout is quickly being replaced by AI agents that can research products, compare options, apply discounts, and complete the purchase inside a single conversation.

In this episode, host Josh interviews Tyler Jefcoat, founder of The Seller Roundtable, about financial strategies for Amazon and e-commerce sellers. Tyler explains key metrics like COGS, Amazon fees, and advertising costs, and shares actionable tips on optimizing profit margins, managing inventory, and preparing for business exits. He emphasizes the importance of accurate accounting, SKU-level analysis, and disciplined habits for long-term success. The discussion also covers useful tools and resources, including Merchant Spring and the book "Atomic Habits." Listeners gain practical advice to build more profitable and acquisition-ready e-commerce businesses.Chapters:Introduction to Tyler Jefcoat and Seller Accountant (00:00:00)Tyler's background, experience, and introduction to his work with e-commerce sellers.Key Financial Metrics for Amazon Sellers (00:00:38)Breakdown of revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), Amazon fees, and advertising expenses.Profit Margins and Targets for Sellers (00:01:44)Discussion of ideal net profit margins, advertising spend, and benchmarks for healthy Amazon businesses.Net Profit Margin Benchmarks and Market Trends (00:03:59)Analysis of average net profit margins, market headwinds, and acquisition readiness.Preparing for Exit: Case Study and Best Practices (00:05:01)Advice and case study on preparing for business exit, including accounting and inventory management.Return on Capital and Product Portfolio Analysis (00:06:54)Explanation of return on capital, product-level profitability, and portfolio optimization.FBA Fees and SKU-Level Analysis (00:10:18)Importance of monitoring Amazon FBA fees, SKU-level analysis, and correcting fulfillment fee errors.Automating FBA Fee Audits (00:11:45)Discussion on automating FBA fee audits and best practices for large catalogs.Three Actionable Takeaways for Sellers (00:12:59)Summary of three key actions: solid accounting, SKU-level profitability, and price testing.Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits (00:15:40)Tyler recommends "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and discusses its impact.Favorite Software Tool: Merchant Spring (00:16:46)Recommendation and overview of Merchant Spring for multi-channel sales integration.Closing Remarks and Contact Info (00:17:28)Final thoughts, recommendation to contact Tyler, and episode wrap-up.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  "Merchant Spring": "00:16:46"Books  "Atomic Habits by James Clear": "00:15:49"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Tyler Jefcoat. Tyler is the founder and CEO of Stellar Accountant, where he exercises his passion for helping sellers maximize their businesses. Tyler provides financial coaching for sellers totaling more than 100 million per year in e-commerce sales. Tyler also leads the Sellers Roundtable, an exclusive mastermind group for seven and eight figure sellers. Before founding Seller Accountant, Tyler was the co-founder and managing partner for Care to Continue, a home health care company that grew from 0 to 100 employees in four years. So, Tyler, welcome to the show.Tyler 00:00:36  All right, Josh, thanks for having me.Josh 00:00:38  So you have your top line revenue. The next thing we have is you're going to have your cost of goods sold, right? So with your cost of goods sold, you said the average is about 30 to 35% is what you're seeing right now.Tyler 00:00:52  And this kind of landed cost. So if you kind of think about what it costs you to satisfy your Chinese Po and then do the duties freight into the states, I think.Tyler 00:01:01  Across the board, we're seeing literally pretty close to a third 33, 34%.Josh 00:01:05  So if you're below 30% or so, that's a good indication then. Right. Okay. Looking good. All right then next you have your Amazon fees that are going to come up. Right. And I think I'm going to split these up with the advertising separate. So what is your Amazon fees that your 15% commission plus the pick and pack. All that goes into the Amazon ecosystem. You're saying 30 to 35% is what you're seeing there. Is that right?Tyler 00:01:34  To keep the numbers easy is probably another third. So you got about a third in your unit cost to Google. You got about a third and normal Amazon fees.Josh 00:01:44  okay. Cool. And then so all right. So at this point we have 66% right of our revenue going to Cogs in Amazon. And so what you're saying is that the last remaining portion for that POG number that you were talking about is your advertising expense specifically on Amazon. So with your advertising expense, you said ideally you want to be between that 20% to 25%, you know, net gross margin, including the advertising costs in there.Josh 00:02:16  So that means you're going to be needing to sit around somewhere between 15 to 20%. Correct.Tyler 00:02:22  So if we if you think about it, we've got it split into thirds, a third in cogs, a third name is on fee. So we've got 33 points left. I can spend between, you know, roughly 10% on tacos in that model. Let's assume that your cost of goods sold model. Then I'm really going to. So so right. Take another 10% away for ads. That leaves me with a 23% P&G or post advertising gross profit. And I would say that's a really good target. Like, again, I would rather aim for 25 and hit 23 than really flirt with 20 constantly. But yes. So that would be that would be a fairly prototypical private label or kind of brand building seller on Amazon is third, Amazon fees. Third product cogs are about a dime, about ten points going to tacos. And then I've got 22, 23, 24% after ads that I can put towards my overhead.Tyler 00:03:08  And mama wants a boat, you know, whatever it is, that's the money I want.Josh 00:03:12  Makes sense. Makes sense. So with that, and then the other thing you mentioned is, hey, if you have really good cost of goods sold, right, you know, you might be 10 to 20%, right? Well, then you could ramp up your advertising spend. Right. So you can kind of offset those things, but the more profitable you are, the better. Like you said, some people were 30 to 35% that were really getting some premiums, with all the acquisitions that were going on. So this is awesome. This gives us a lot to think about and great targets to shoot towards, especially like net profit margin. You said, you know, ten is kind of the average. You said, right. 15 means that you're really good. You know looking good. You're a good candidate to be acquired. Is that correct?Tyler 00:03:59  Yes. And honestly, coming out of like 2022, I would actually say that, you know, 10% was actually probably pretty good because we did see a lot of headwinds.Tyler 00:04:09  So give your give yourself some grace. Like if you're looking at your piano right now, you know, here in the middle of 2020 and you're like, well, boy, I got 5% last year, I must be dead. That actually might be more normal than you think it is. But don't don't think that that's going to be normal forever. I think we are we're, we're we're continuing to want to see the market get better and we want to we work too hard and we risk too much to take a 2% profit margin for too long. And so getting a 10% is really crucial. And then I think if you're going to exit, getting it closer to that 15% net profit. Yeah.Josh 00:04:38  Awesome, awesome super valuable content. Tyler thanks again. All right. So with that, let's talk about maybe some of the levers that people can be pulling, you know, as they prepar...

On She Built It®, Brianna Bitton shares the founding story of O Positiv—a women's health company she built with her brother after years of missing work due to debilitating PMS symptoms she couldn't even speak openly about. What started as the first-ever PMS gummy vitamin has grown into a 30-SKU brand with Amazon's #1 vaginal probiotic and a full line supporting women from their first period through menopause.Brianna opens up about the gaps she saw in the women's health market, what it took to build trust in a historically taboo space, how community and authentic storytelling drove their growth, and why she believes there's never a failure—only a lesson. This conversation is equal parts inspiring and practical for any founder building in a category the world wasn't ready to talk about.Connect with us:Brianna Bitton LinkedInBrianna Bitton InstagramO Positiv WebsiteO Positiv LinkedInO Positiv InstagramO Positiv TikTokThe State of The Vagina ReportWork with She Built It® Media She Built It® Instagram She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr InstagramMelanie Barr LinkedInShe Built It® LinkedIn

Join CloverTac for a deep dive with Blake from Lok Grips! Product manager spills on premium G10 textures, aluminum/brass competition grips, massive SKU expansion, new backstraps/magwells/Omni base pads, AR grip dreams, manufacturing automation, and why custom options beat factory every time. Grip nerd heaven. LOK Grips Website Podcast Powered By Meprolight USA Call In Segment Powered By Nutrithority Save 20% On Your First Order With Code CLOVERTAC ********** Become A YouTube Channel Member Amazon Influencer Store Visit The CloverTac Website Grab You Some Camorado Apparel

Today, we are talking about a massive misconception in the Amazon advertising world: the hyper-prioritization of Total ACoS.First things first, I will always argue it should be called ACOTS (Ad Cost of Total Sales), but terminology aside, using this metric purely as a PPC goal is fundamentally broken. The biggest flaw we cover in this episode is how product-level Total ACoS ruins your math, specifically because of Other SKU Sales. When you look at paid sales for a product ad, you're actually looking at sales generated for every SKU in your catalog. Instead of making misinformed cuts, we need to think full-funnel. In this episode, I break down exactly how to approach your Amazon PPC strategy for 2026. We discuss why you must track organic visibility alongside PPC visibility, how to use your Search Query Performance dashboard to monitor market share, and why you should be evaluating your Total ACoS at the Parent-Child family level using the Purchased Product Report.We'll see you in The PPC Den!

Some of the most influential companies in today's economy rarely make headlines. Known as the titanium economy, these small and mid-sized industrial businesses supply the parts, systems, and expertise that keep global supply chains operating.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by Karin Bursa, Steffen Fuchs, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Ryan Fletcher, Partner at McKinsey & Company, to examine what makes these industrial companies so effective. The group discusses the characteristics that set them apart, from disciplined operations and close customer relationships to long-term thinking that helps them remain competitive across changing market conditions.Steffen and Ryan also share perspectives from their work with companies in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and energy. The discussion looks at how these organizations respond to supply chain disruptions, approach growth opportunities, and invest in their people and operations. Along the way, the group explores leadership decisions, workforce development, and how companies are applying new technologies to support continued growth.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(02:28) Meet the guests and introductions(05:05) Warmup: March Madness and theater roots(08:22) Steffen discusses background in AI(10:38) Ryan's experience in mid-cap industries(14:02) Defining the titanium economy concept(19:50) Book impact and changes since 2022(23:15) Global policy and geopolitics influences(29:01) Resilience and supply chain adjustments(35:27) The great amplification cycle explained(37:14) Clusters, innovation, and regional growth(38:00) Supply chain tailwinds and opportunities(39:34) Top performers' playbook for success(41:25) Lead time and SKU management(42:39) Capacity bets that lead to success(46:02) AI as a competitive advantage(47:53) Real-world examples of AI in practice(54:36) Leadership lessons from the titanium economy(01:00:40) Trends flying under the radar todayAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Steffen Fuchs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffen-fuchs/Connect with Ryan Fletcher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanfletcher/Connect with Karin Bursa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinbursa/Learn more about McKinsey & Company: http://www.mckinsey.comLearn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/aboutLearn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkSupply Chain Now en Espanol WEBINAR- Visibilidad estrategica en Pharma: control, cumplimiento y resiliencia en entornos de alto riesgo: https://bit.ly/4rku7lCWEBINAR- Talent Management Playbook for Supply Chain Leaders: https://bit.ly/4uc2OfBWEBINAR- From Workforce Planning to Hourly Performance Management: How GEODIS Americas Turned Labor Productivity into a Growth Engine: https://bit.ly/4blRfKpWEBINAR- Ahead of Disruption: How AI-First Design Builds Supply Chain Resilience — and Transforms the Teams Behind It: https://bit.ly/4ldRn3bThis episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Karin Bursa, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/titanium-economy-how-ai-supply-chains-reshaping-industrial-competitiveness-1559

Go to www.LearningLeader.com  This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Kat Cole is the CEO of AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens) and a renowned business leader known for a meteoric rise from Hooters waitress to Fortune 40 Under 40 executive. As former President/COO of Focus Brands (Cinnabon), she specializes in scaling global brands. Her career is defined by driving billions in sales, strategic innovation, and a strong, people-first leadership style. Key Learnings You can't market your way out of a bad product. AG1 has 3x'd the business in four years while being in only one channel (direct to consumer) for 15 years. 80% of retail is in brick and mortar, so they were doing that volume in less than 20% of where transactions happen. That only works when customers love the product, keep buying it for years, and tell their friends. Scale comes from trusted recommendations, not marketing spend. Real volume comes from people telling their friends, recommending it to their teams and companies. That's where real scale and sustainable growth comes from. Two questions guide every career decision. Is my work done here? Can someone else do what the company needs better than I can? If the answer to either is yes, that guides you toward pushing for change in your role, the way you show up, or finding the next opportunity. Sometimes the best move is the lesser-known role. Kat could have stayed running big franchise brands everyone knew (Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's), but becoming COO of the parent company, Focus Brands, was a bigger, more complex role. Lesser known, smaller team, bigger stretch, more learning. That bridged her into consumer packaged goods and got her ready for AG1. Consider financial needs, learning, and ego separately. Between financial needs, your ability to learn or contribute, and your ego or optics, there are questions you can ask yourself about a particular moment or opportunity that will help you be sharper in what you actually want versus what just looks like what's best next on the surface. The founder heard her on podcasts and asked for an introduction. AG1's founder heard Kat on a couple of podcasts, knew Sahil Bloom, and asked Sahil to make the intro. She just happened to be taking time off and had been a customer for two years. "You're interviewing for your next job every day." Whatever you do now, that choice of time, that tone of voice, that decision, how you show up or don't, creates an impact that leads to an experience and people's actions and then results. Eventually, it leads to the next thing. Showing kindness in the airport matters. A caring note to someone struggling, a teacher or stranger saying, "I see something in you," a compliment when someone's in a dark place. It helps people out of darkness. Or opportunistically, being the one who sent the email or made the ask means you're the one who got the opportunity. Don't burn bridges even when you feel wronged. When Kat was an executive at Hooters at 26, peers in their 50s and 60s would say things in meetings that weren't kind or appropriate. She would write letters expressing how it made her feel, but never sent them. She processed, reflected, and showed up professionally. Years later, those same people became advocates, partners, and references. Four key mindsets for senior leaders. Humility, curiosity, courage, and confidence. By the time candidates get to Kat, they've been vetted on technical capability. She spends time validating those four characteristics because leadership and style trickle far into the organization. Ask "if not for" questions to reveal humility. When someone tells you how they stood tall in tough moments, ask what enabled them to do those great things. They'll say, "I had access to this data, this team, this technical leader." Then ask: "If those people did not exist, if that resource did not exist, how would you have navigated that?" You peel back layers and see if they have the humility to acknowledge their success was due to critical factors. The best candidates do the job in the interview. When someone says, "If we're doing this, we'll absolutely need this person in this specific role," or they have people in mind they're bringing with them, that's a good sign. Hiring leaders who have people who are loyal to them shows something real. In reference checks, ask, "What does this person need to be successful?" It's a positive framing to get at what someone might lack or require around them to be effective. Help people answer "how should I think about this?" In a fully remote company, you have less context and fewer vibes. When you send a note about ending a product line or launching something you said you'd never launch, people's subconscious internal war is "how should I think about this?" Leaders should start communications with "here's how I think about this" or "here's how we should think about this." Sometimes the answer is to shut up and speak last. As teams get stronger, there's more weight on the few things the CEO says. Leave space for other leaders to lead. Kat removed herself from some meetings entirely because she has such great leaders and a strong culture. Pay attention to themes in criticism, not individual attacks. When competitors attack you, ask: Are there patterns? Is there something reflective of industry questions? Sometimes criticisms point to things you already do well but aren't communicating well enough. Comparison ads work short-term but don't build credibility long-term. Challenger brands use the playbook of "we're like the leader, but better/cheaper." Consumers see through it. People tell AG1, "I saw an ad comparing their product to yours, and they're clearly saying you're the leader." The rage bait is brief; the truth is long. Algorithms reward dopamine hits and rage bait. Something untrue or negatively spun can quickly become widely seen because the critique is brief and witty, but the explanation and truth are long. AG1 has more human trials on a single SKU than any other multi-ingredient product ever in the space, but that's harder to say in a sound bite. Don't criticize a car for not taking you to the moon. Someone criticized one of AG1's products for not doing something the product isn't supposed to do. When addressing criticism, clarify what the product is actually designed to do. Her husband will be the fourth person ever to row across three oceans. He's already rowed the Atlantic (set the US record as a pair) and the Caribbean. Now he's training for the Pacific. If he completes it, he'll be only the fourth person to have ever done it in the world.  It's about who you become while striving for the big thing. After her husband got rescued in the Caribbean, he questioned why he was doing this with two kids. But this pursuit is who he is, what drives him, it's inspiring for the kids, and it makes him a better person when he's home. It's about the journey and who you do it with. More Learning 476: Kat Cole - Raise Your Hand, Raise Your Voice 078: Kat Cole - Courage, Confidence, Curiosity, and Humility Reflection Questions Is your work done where you are? Can someone else do what the company needs better than you can? When interviewing someone, ask what enabled them to succeed in a tough moment. Then ask: if that team or resource didn't exist, how would you have done it differently? What communication this week needs context? Start with: here's what this means, what it's not about, and how we should think about it. Audio Timestamps 00:18 Meet Kat Cole  02:42 AG1's Growth Story: $160M to $500M+  03:28 Product-Led Growth Wins  05:57 Kat on Writing and Reflection  07:39 Two Questions for Every Career Move  12:25 How Kat Joined AG1  16:09 You're Always Interviewing  18:47 Neutralizing Opposition at Hooters  24:19 Hiring Great Leaders  27:43 Inside Executive Interviews  31:56 Reference Checks That Reveal Truth  32:52 CEO as the Storyteller  34:16 "How Should I Think About This?"  35:46 Speak Last, Empower Leaders  37:41 Handling Public Criticism  39:59 Separating Signal from Noise  44:49 Staying Focused Through Criticism 48:00 Champagne Question: Family First  48:45 Rowing Three Oceans  51:37 Who You Become on the Journey  56:14 EOPC

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by David Gottlieb, Chief Revenue officer and Jeff Wrona, VP Product, Image Recognition for FORM, the makers of the award-winning market execution software GoSpotCheck and FORM OpX, and Trax, the industry-recognized global pioneer of Image Recognition, delivering AI-powered shelf-level insights that help brands and retailers improve execution, availability, and growth in the physical store, have merged. Follow David on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmgottlieb/ Follow Jeff on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gospotcheckjw/Follow FORM online at: https://www.form.com/ This episode is sponsored by FORM.They answer these questions:When you combine Trax's global reach with FORM's innovative model training and deployment capabilities, what fundamentally changes for CPG brands on the ground?How does proactively onboarding the most popular SKUs in each region shift Image Recognition from just reactive reporting to a proactive competitive advantage?What does 'agentic AI' realistically look like inside a CPG organization over the next three to five years? Is it hype, or are we looking at an operational revolution? If you were building the modern CPG tech stack from scratch today, what happens when IR data is integrated directly into sales, supply chain, and marketing systems?Could shelf-level data become the fastest leading indicator of these generational behavior changes—even faster than syndicated data?In this margin-compressed world, does flawless in-store execution become the single biggest lever brands still control?How does integrating FORM's AI-powered image recognition directly with FORM's mobile task management fundamentally close that gap between identifying a shelf issue and executing a fix right there in the aisle?What unique execution challenges do traditional CPGs face when competing with the speed and emotional connection of these newer brands?How does leveraging AI and granular, SKU-level shelf intelligence help brands manage their physical presence with the same precision and responsiveness as their digital storefronts?If two brands have equal product quality and trade support, does the one with superior IR-driven visibility win every time?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: 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.