Podcasts about suppliers

This Podcast Is Episode 634, And It's About Financial Red Flags Your Construction Company Can't Afford To Ignore As a construction bookkeeper, I've had a unique vantage point, watching countless projects unfold from the first bid to the final payment. While the hammers and blueprints are the visible signs of progress, it's the numbers behind the scenes that truly tell the story of a company's health. And let me tell you, those numbers often whisper warnings before they start screaming.   Small business owners in the construction industry are incredibly busy. You're juggling bids, managing crews, dealing with permits, and ensuring client satisfaction. It's easy for subtle financial warning signs – what I call "red flags" – to get overlooked until they become critical problems. However, ignoring these signals can lead to severe cash flow issues, stalled growth, and even business failure.   Based on what I've observed, here are five common financial red flags that you absolutely cannot afford to ignore, along with practical steps you can take to address them. Red Flag #1: Constant Cash Flow Crises Despite "Profitable" Projects This is the most puzzling red flag for many owners. You look at your profit and loss statement, and it shows a healthy profit. Yet, your bank account is always running on fumes. You're constantly chasing payments, delaying supplier invoices, or juggling funds to make payroll. Why it's a problem: Profit is a theoretical measure of what you've earned over a period; cash flow is the actual money moving in and out of your business. In construction, where you often incur significant costs upfront (materials, labor for the first phase) and payments come in installments (often with retainage held back), it's entirely possible to be profitable on paper but cash-poor in reality. This constant stress impacts your ability to take on new projects, negotiate better deals, and even pay your team on time, leading to low morale. How to fix it: Implement Robust Progress Billing: Don't wait until a project is 50% or 100% complete. Structure your contracts to allow for regular progress payments tied to specific milestones (e.g., foundation poured, framing complete, rough-ins finished). This ensures a steady stream of cash. Aggressive Accounts Receivable (A/R) Management: Send invoices promptly as soon as milestones are met. Have a polite but firm follow-up process for overdue invoices. Don't be afraid to make phone calls. Negotiate Favorable Payment Terms with Suppliers and Subcontractors: While you want to pay your bills on time, try to secure longer payment terms (e.g., Net 30 or Net 45) from your vendors whenever possible. This helps you collect from your clients before your payments are due. Manage Retainage Proactively: Thoroughly understand the retainage clauses in your contract. Track how much retainage is outstanding for each project and aggressively pursue its release as soon as the contractual conditions are met. This money is yours; get it! Build a Cash Reserve: Even a small percentage of profit set aside each month into a dedicated savings account can create a vital buffer for lean times. Aim for 3-6 months of operating expenses. Red Flag #2: Consistently Inaccurate Project Estimates (Leading to Underbidding) Do you frequently find projects ending up significantly over budget, eating into your expected profit margins, or even becoming a loss? Do you often need to inform clients about additional costs? This points directly to issues with your initial estimating process. Why it's a problem: Inaccurate estimates mean you're consistently underbidding, leaving money on the table, or worse, taking on jobs that will inevitably lose you money. This directly impacts your profitability and, by extension, your cash flow, as you're funding the gap with either the cash from other projects or your capital. It also damages client trust when costs unexpectedly balloon. How to fix it: Implement Detailed Job Costing: This is a non-negotiable requirement. For every project, meticulously track all expenses, including labor hours (with specific tasks), material quantities and costs, subcontractor invoices, equipment rentals, permit fees, and miscellaneous expenses. Learn from Past Projects: Conduct a post-mortem analysis after each project. Compare your actual costs to your estimated costs. Where were the discrepancies? Was it materials? Labor hours? Unexpected site conditions? Use these insights to refine your estimating formulas. Categorize and Standardize: Develop a comprehensive system of cost codes for materials, labor types, and activities to ensure accurate and consistent tracking of costs. This consistency makes it easier to track and compare data across projects. Build in Contingency: Always include a contingency fund (typically 5-15% of the total project cost) in your estimates for unforeseen issues, changes in material prices, or minor scope creep. Use Estimating Software: Even simple estimating software can help streamline the process, ensure all line items are considered, and integrate with your accounting system. Red Flag #3: Uncontrolled Material Waste & Loss Are materials constantly going missing or getting damaged on site, or are you consistently buying more than what was initially estimated? This is a direct drain on your project's profitability and your company's cash. Why it's a problem: Every piece of wasted or lost material is money directly out of your pocket. It means you're paying more than you bid, leading to cost overruns. It can also cause project delays while you wait for replacements. How to fix it: Implement Strict Inventory Control: Secure Storage. Designate secure, organized storage areas on job sites for materials when not in use or overnight. Material Tracking System: For larger projects, consider a simple log or spreadsheet to track materials received and used. Regular Site Cleanliness: A clean, organized job site naturally leads to less waste and makes it easier to spot missing items. Careful Material Handling: Train your crew on proper handling and storage techniques for various materials to minimize damage and ensure optimal safety. Accurate Take-offs: Ensure your initial material take-offs (the process of determining the quantities of materials needed) are precise to avoid over-ordering or multiple trips to the supplier. Return Unused Materials: Establish a process for returning unused, undamaged materials to suppliers for credit, where possible. Red Flag #4: Inefficient Labor Utilization & Unaccounted Time Labor is often the most significant cost for a construction company. Suppose your crews are standing around, waiting for materials, traveling excessively between job sites without proper tracking, or simply not as productive as they could be. In that case, your labor costs are likely to be increasing significantly. Why it's a problem: Every idle hour or misspent minute costs you money. Inefficient labor directly reduces your profit margins and can cause projects to fall behind schedule, leading to client dissatisfaction and potential penalty clauses. Unaccounted time can also lead to compliance issues with wage and hour laws. How to fix it: Accurate Time Tracking: Implement a robust system for tracking employee time. This could include mobile apps with GPS features, biometric time clocks, or even detailed paper timesheets, as long as they are managed in a meticulous manner. Ensure all hours (including travel, breaks, and specific tasks) are accurately recorded. Optimize Scheduling & Workflow: Plan daily tasks meticulously. Ensure materials, equipment, and instructions are ready before the crew arrives. Minimize downtime from waiting or searching for tools. Cross-Training: Train your crew members on various tasks. This provides flexibility and prevents delays if one skilled worker is absent or busy elsewhere. Daily Huddles/Toolbox Talks: Begin each day with a brief meeting to review tasks, identify potential roadblocks, and ensure everyone is aware of their role. Regular Performance Reviews: Identify bottlenecks or areas where productivity can be improved. Provide training or reassign tasks as needed. Red Flag #5: Lack of Financial Visibility & Untimely Reporting Are your financial reports always weeks or months behind? Do you rely on gut feeling more than actual numbers to make business decisions? Do you only look at your bank balance at the end of the month? This means you're flying blind. Why it's a problem: Without up-to-date and accurate financial information, you cannot make informed decisions. You won't spot cash flow issues, cost overruns, or unprofitable projects until it's too late. This lack of visibility prevents strategic planning and proactive problem-solving. How to fix it: Invest in Good Accounting Software: QuickBooks Desktop or Online, Foundation Software, or other industry-specific solutions are essential. They automate data entry, generate reports, and track job costs. Maintain Clean Books Consistently: Don't let your bookkeeping pile up. Enter invoices, payments, and expenses regularly, ideally on a daily or weekly basis. This provides a real-time picture. Review Key Reports Regularly: Cash Flow Statement - Review it weekly or bi-weekly to track where your money is going and coming from. Job Costing Reports: Review weekly to compare actual costs against your budget for each project. Accounts Receivable Aging Report: Review weekly to see who owes you money and for how long. Work Closely with Your Bookkeeper: A good construction bookkeeper isn't just a data entry specialist; they are your financial partner. They can provide valuable insights, flag potential issues, and help you understand your numbers, enabling you to make informed, profitable decisions. Identifying and addressing these financial red flags isn't about adding more burdens to your plate; it's about building a stronger, more resilient construction business. By taking proactive steps and staying on top of your numbers, you can turn those red flags into green lights for growth and lasting profitability. Don't let hidden financial issues undermine your hard work on the job site – empower yourself with clarity and control.   About The Author: Sharie DeHart, QPA, is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on managing the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com    

At the heart of The Prophets' vision are “The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes.” What are they? Find out, and see the future yourself. Click here Recorded live from the AIAG Supply Chain Conference in downtown Detroit, this episode captures real conversations with the people driving (and dealing with) supply chain change. With a fresh venue, new voices, and an unfiltered look at what's working (and what's not), the ASCP team dives into what's happening across the automotive supply chain, shaping the road ahead.The day starts with fresh eyes—Wayne State student John LaGarde shares what it's like attending his first supply chain conference. He's drawn in by the industry's complexity, but what stands out is his call for continuous learning and work-life balance—things Gen Z now expects, not just hopes for.Fred Coe, Chair of AIAG's EDI Advisory, gives an update on their latest EDI survey. 500 companies responded, and results show a split: some still use fax and email, while others have moved to APIs. The industry isn't aligned, but the interest in standardization is growing.Dr. Bing Xu from Catena-X shares what he heard at the event: companies are looking beyond old supply chain methods and focusing more on using data properly. He notes the interest in AI tools and stresses the need for fast implementation, especially with growing pressure from tariffs and supply chain instability.Then comes Sig Huber from Elm Analytics with a warning: uncertainty is paralyzing the industry. Companies aren't investing, demand is unclear, and policy changes continue. A 5% increase in the cost of goods could double the number of distressed suppliers. Whether demand rises or drops, disruption is coming.That pressure is already hitting the tier-two level. Jennifer Smith, VP of Supply Chain at Royal Technologies, explains how suppliers are stuck—OEMs want cost cuts, suppliers want margin. Her focus? Speeding up processes and getting actual context behind data. Suppliers need the "why" to make the right decisions—and that's still missing in too many places.Finally, Tanya Bolden from AIAG puts the day into perspective. The industry is changing fast. Mandates, electrification, decarbonization, and digital tools are all colliding at once. AIAG's job, she says, is to bring all those pieces to the table—while helping the next generation of professionals see that this isn't your grandfather's supply chain job.Themes discussed in this episode:The unpredictability and chaos of today's global tariff landscapeWhy AI and digital tools are now essential for managing supply chain complexityWhat the next generation of supply chain talent actually wants from employers—and why the industry needs to listenWhy transparency from OEMs matters more than ever to tier-two suppliersHow policy shifts and tariff uncertainty are paralyzing investment and planningThe risk of a bullwhip effect—and why the industry is still unprepared for sudden shifts in demandHow supply chain roles are evolving—and why the next generation needs to see that shiftFeatured guests:Name: John LaGardeTitle: Marketing and Global Supply Chain Student at Wayne State University - Mike Ilitch School of BusinessDiscussed: [03:04] First-time attendee John LaGarde shares what drew him to supply chain, what surprised him at the conference, and what today's students really want from employers. Name:

UKRAINE: 500% SANCTIONING RUSSIA'S SUPPLIERS AND CLIENTS, JOHN HARDIE, BILL ROGGIO, FDD 1840 KYIV

In this episode, Tu and Lei discuss the latest developments in the electric vehicle (EV) and automotive industry in China. They delve into the implications of new payment terms for suppliers, the competitive landscape among Chinese automakers, and the global strategy of BYD. The conversation also touches on the future of internal combustion engines, Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving, and XPeng's AI innovations. Additionally, they address quality control challenges and the regulatory environment affecting the industry.Keywords / Companies:China EVs, automotive industry, payment terms, suppliers, BYD, Tesla, XPeng, quality control, market strategy, electric vehiclesDigital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Europe's chemical distribution sector is bracing for the impact of multiple geopolitical and economic challenges, including the Israel/Iran conflict. -          All Iran's mono ethylene glycol (MEG), urea, ammonia and methanol facilities have been shut down -          For methanol this represents more than 9% of global capacity, for MEG it is 3%-          Brent crude spiked from $65 to almost  $75/bbl, reports of attacks on gas fields and oil infrastructure-          If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz this will severely disrupt oil and LNG markets -          Expect extended period of volatility and instability in the Middle East-          European distributors brace for a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world-          Suffer prolonged period of poor demand, in tandem with producers, with no sign of an upturn-          Global overcapacity driven by China, subsequent wave of production closures across Europe both a threat and opportunity for distributors-          Suppliers and customers turn to distributors to help navigate impact of tariffs and geopolitical disruptionClick here to download the 2025 ICIS Top 100 Chemical DIstributors list.In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Dorothee Arns, director general of the European Association of Chemical Distributors and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting. 

PREVIEW: Colleague Chris Riegel reporting from Florida that the China suppliers are desperate no matter the promising headlines of a deal between US and PRC. More later. 1849 CHINA

Performance is taking center stage in the beauty and personal care ingredients sector, as revealed on the floor of NYSCC Suppliers Day 2025. Host Victoria Meyer explores the notable shift away from buzzwords like “sustainability” and “natural,” uncovering how companies are reframing their focus towards innovation, plant-based solutions, and advanced product performance. Victoria is joined by John Harrold of Zinco Verde, who discusses novel, energy-efficient zinc oxide for sunscreens, and Christoph Krumm of Sironix Renewables, highlighting breakthroughs in bio-based surfactants derived from agricultural waste. The conversation unpacks how trends like neurocosmetics, microbiomes, and a pragmatic approach to environmental benefits are shaping the industry's direction. Get a first-hand perspective on what's driving R&D, purchasing, and consumer choices in today's dynamic beauty ingredient market. Gain insights on the following topics: Innovation Takes Center Stage: Companies are pivoting away from buzzwords like “sustainability” and “natural,” putting real innovation and performance at the heart of product development. Neurocosmetics and Microbiome Science and how new ingredients target mood and neurological benefits alongside appearance, while microbiome-friendly formulations gain traction. Sustainability Reconsidered: Companies shift from "sustainability" rhetoric to pragmatic solutions and value-driven innovation. Plant-Based Performance: Industry messaging replaces "natural" with "plant-based" and "performance”. Start-up leaders discuss bringing advanced technologies to market  Killer Quote: “If you had asked me this when we spun out as a company, I would have told you bio based is the innovation, right? That is the reason for existing. That's really not the case. As we found. Bio based ingredients matter. People still want them. The reason for existing for us is performance.” — Christoph Krumm, CEO of Sironix  0:00:24 Bonnie's career in chemicals 0:02:51 Responsible Care principles at Evonik  0:04:20 Sustainability's growing importance. 0:05:13 Evonik's sustainability pillars: next-generation solutions, technology, and culture. 0:06:34 Customer demand for sustainable solutions  0:08:29 The importance of culture in driving change 0:13:49 Leadership and career lessons, women in leadership roles, Bonnie's career advice   ***Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.  ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. ***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com  Wondering how we produce our podcast? We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria We use CastMagic.io to create ShowNotes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1 We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t 

Creativity and Imagination: Man's ability to Create something uplifts the human spirit. Imagination fuels creativity. Imagination leads to the thoughts that become ideas — and thoughts become things. Inspiration from Nature: As Monarch butterflies need the milkweed plant, Evana Henri needs Wild Aspen from Colorado forests to make her Wild Aspen Exfoliators.. Wild Aspen is sustainably and responsibly sourced from Colorado forests. Harvesting is part of a forestry plan to prevent wildfires and revitalize forests. Sourcing Practices (from their website): Partner with local, reputable suppliers. Suppliers are government-approved and follow U.S. Forestry guidelines. These efforts support both the environment and forest health. The Origin of the Idea: Most sponges are synthetic, made from crude oil (non-renewable). Contain toxic chemicals and microplastics. Pollute water, soil, and the broader environment. Evana and her husband have scientific backgrounds. Motivated by love for the planet. Focused on solving the "Dirty Sponge Problem": About the Business: Sustainable sourcing of natural materials. Reducing global plastic pollution. Visit: www.darzeescrubs.com Named "Darzee" after the little bird in The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. Committed to: Coming Soon: Turmeric-infused Wild Aspen Face & Body Exfoliator Check the FAQ and Our Story sections on their website for more details. Metaphor of Transformation: Like the Monarch butterfly's metamorphosis, wrapped in a jewel-green chrysalis with golden threads… Evana and her husband transform Wild Aspen into eco-friendly scrubs for the body and face. KUNDALINI YOGA  Kundalini Yoga FEEL YOUR ABUNDANCE. KID FRIENDLY YOGA!  Remember to use an orange https://youtu.be/jRegtSKAZDI?si=wAKsXcr8BKTqCXkJ   Fine Wine & Spirits   Typical flavors of Tequilla for food pairing: Blanco - unaged or slightly in neutral oak.  Pair with fish, cheese, light meals such as shrimp salad.  Reposado means rested - it is aged in barrels from a few months to two years.. pair with Mexican food..easy. Anejo- smokey and smooth- grilled meats on the barbeque.. portabello mushrooms, corn on the cob.. big flavors so barbeque flavors are the perfect match. A rare fine Tequilla is available from Zacatecas, Casa Endemica. Organic and Sustainable farmed.    FURTHER RESOURCES: www.Darzeescrubs.com Short video on Tequilla production:https://youtube.com/shorts/aueylrQFLM0?si=3QbNZ6Md6lF7UZtO    https://lascruces.gov/arts-and-leisure/museums/branigan-cultural-center/ CONTACT Valerie Hail valerie@allinourminds.com www.allinourminds.com                        

Fodder suppliers in Queensland have launched a new service, to properly gauge demand. Farmers in South Australia, Victoria and Southern New South Wales are running low on fodder stocks as they grapple with drought. Suppliers across Northern Australia are recording demand not seen since the Millennium drought. Rural Editor Emily Minney spoke with FeedCentral Managing Director Tim Ford about the new Hay Wanted Register See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#436 In this episode of the Millionaire University Podcast, Brien Gearin interviews Corey Ganim, an Amazon wholesale expert who shares his journey to creating a seven-figure business by reselling products on Amazon. They dive deep into the intricacies of wholesale on Amazon, touching upon product selection, sourcing strategies, logistics, and the importance of strong supplier relationships. Corey also discusses the operational aspects of his lean team and key lessons in managing a capital-intensive business. (Original Air Date - 7/8/24) What we discuss with Corey: + Introduction to Corey Ganim and His Business Model + How Strollers Got Him on The Millionaire Path + Navigating Amazon Listings and the Buy Box + Finding the Right Products and Suppliers, Don't Overcomplicate It + Why He Leans Towards the Unsexy Products + His Process For Working with Distributors and Manufacturers + FBA vs. FBM and Logistic Strategies + Financial Management and Profit Margins + Operating a Lean Team and Expanding with Content + Favorite Resources for Amazon Wholesaling + Advice for Entrepreneurs Links and resources from this episode: ⁠SmartScout.com⁠ - Find product opportunities no one else can on Amazon ⁠OnlineJobs.ph⁠ - The Job Board for Virtual Workers in the Philippines ⁠Seller Snap⁠ - The most advanced AI Amazon repricer and business intelligence software on the market ⁠Repricer.com⁠ - Maximize Sales and Profits with the World's #1 Repricer ⁠Profit First by Mike Michalowicz⁠ - Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine ⁠Profit First for Ecommerce Sellers: by Cyndi Thomason⁠ - Transform Your Ecommerce Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine  To listen to these books on Audible for FREE, click ⁠here⁠. Thank you, Corey! To learn more about Corey Ganim, check out his Podcast, ⁠The Amazon Wholesale Podcast⁠ and follow ⁠Corey Ganim⁠ on YouTube, where he shares valuable insights and content related to Amazon wholesale. For more information go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MillionaireUniversity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/millionaire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Partnerships Unraveled, we dive into the career journey and channel philosophy of Ty Smith, founder of Optical Diversity Telecom and 2023 Channel Manager of the Year at Intellisys. From redefining what it means to be a proactive channel leader to launching his own agency, Ty brings unmatched insights from the trenches of indirect sales and partner enablement.We unpack Ty's award-winning approach to distributor collaboration, technical training, and network-first channel growth. He also introduces his thought-provoking SPICE framework, an actionable model for driving diversity across Suppliers, Partners, Investors, Customers, and Employees and explains why a more inclusive channel isn't just fair, it's essential for scale.You'll also hear:What most channel managers misunderstand about switching to the partner sideWhy brand equity matters more than ever, and how new partners can build itHow to bring the channel to overlooked regions and underrepresented talent poolsTy's bold vision to make channel roles as mainstream as real estate agentsWhether you're leading partner strategy or just discovering the power of the channel, this episode offers a fresh, human, and forward-thinking lens on what's next for our ecosystem.Connect with Ty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyrellsmith/_________________________Learn more about Channext

AJ Aparicio, Mark Renzo Tan, and Jeff Andre Millan are Co-Founders at Baylo Central. Baylo Central is an e-commerce platform making sourcing easy for MSMEs and suppliers in Iloilo. The primary market of Baylo Central are local food and souvenir shops in Iloilo City, and soon going beyond. This episode is recorded live at CPUGAD TBI. CPUGAD TBI is a startup incubator based in Central Philippine University in Iloilo City. In this episode | 01:16 Ano ang Baylo Central? | 06:20 What problem is being solved? | 14:57 What solution is being provided?22:29 What are stories behind the startup? | 37:42 What is the vision? | 44:42 How can listeners find more information? CPUGAD TBI | Website: https://startupwesternvisayas.com.ph/tbi/cpugad-tbi | Facebook: https://facebook.com/cpugadtbi THIS EPISODE IS CO-PRODUCED BY:SPROUT SOLUTIONS | Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sprout.ph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Sprout Payroll Starter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/SproutPayrollStarter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | APEIRON | Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apeirongrp.com |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TWALA |Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twala.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | SYMPH Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://symph.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | SECUNA Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secuna.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | MAROON STUDIOS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maroonstudios.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | AIMHI Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aimhi.ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS | Ask Lex PH Academy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://asklexph.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (5% discount on e-learning courses! Code: ALPHAXSUP) | Founders Launchpad: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://founderslaunchpad.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | GumdropLab: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gumdroplab.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | CloudCFO: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cloudcfo.ph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Free financial assessment, process onboarding, and 6-month QuickBooks subscription! Mention: Start Up Podcast PH) | Cloverly.tech: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cloverly.tech |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ BuddyBetes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buddybetes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | HKB Digital Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://contakt-ph.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10% discount on RFID Business Cards! Code: CONTAKTXSUP) | Hyperstacks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hyperstacksinc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | OneCFO: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onecfoph.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10% discount on CFO services! Code: ONECFOXSUP) | UNAWA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unawa.asia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | SkoolTek: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://skooltek.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Better Support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bettersupport.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Referral fee for anyone who can bring in new BPO clients!) | Britana: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://britanaerp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Wunderbrand: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wunderbrand.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Fail Coach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fail.coach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Drive Manila: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/drivemanilaph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | EastPoint Business Outsourcing Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/eastpointoutsourcing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Doon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://doon.ph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Hier Business Solutions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hierpayroll.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | DVCode Technologies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dvcode.tech |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mata Technologies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mata.ph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | LookingFour Buy & Sell Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lookingfour.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | NutriCoach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nutricoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Uplift Code Camp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://upliftcodecamp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (5% discount on bootcamps and courses! Code: UPLIFTSTARTUPPH) | Digest PH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://digest.ph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10% discount on legal services! Code: DIGESTXSUP)START UP PODCAST PH | YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/startuppodcastph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6BObuPvMfoZzdlJeb1XXVa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-up-podcast/id1576462394⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/startuppodcastph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/StartUpPodcastPH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://phstartup.online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edited by the team at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tasharivera.com

This week, the chair of the Australian Energy Regulator, Claire Savage, advised us to “shop around” for a better deal as energy prices are set to rise by almost ten per cent, in some places. But how easy is it to shop around? And what happens when supplies don't make it an even playing field for consumers?  

Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) has expressed concern over the persistently high cost of building materials, despite the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar

This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click hereSeason 6 opens with a deep dive into the 2025 Working Relations Index (WRI)—and the numbers are telling. Toyota, Honda, and GM continue to rise, while Ford and Stellantis slide further down. The gap between the top and bottom OEMs? The largest since 2008.Jan brings together Dave Andrea and Dr. Angela Johnson from Plante Moran, along with returning guest Sig Huber, to explain what's behind the scores and what they mean for supplier relationships in today's automotive world.Toyota didn't just maintain its lead; it widened it. The difference? Consistency, buyer accessibility, and a move to streamline supplier systems into a single platform. Suppliers asked for more visibility, and Toyota delivered.GM, after several senior leadership changes, continues to show steady progress. A renewed focus on transparency, buyer empowerment, and cross-functional alignment is changing how suppliers experience the company. And it's working.On the other hand, Ford's story is death by a thousand cuts. There was no single failure—just a build-up of delays, unclear communications, and internal silos that made it hard for suppliers to get what they needed.Stellantis, still at the bottom, might be in the early stages of a turnaround. Leaders like Marlo Vitous and Antonio Filosa are more visible, engaged, and pushing for change, and suppliers are noticing. One of the biggest takeaways? Empowerment at the buyer level. Toyota's edge comes from enabling people on the ground to make decisions. GM is starting to adopt that mindset. Ford and Stellantis are still catching up. Suppliers want faster answers, stronger advocacy, and relationships built on trust—not red tape.And yes—getting buyers back in the office made a difference, too. Suppliers responded positively to buyers being on-site and re-engaging face-to-face. One team even linked their score improvement directly to getting buyers back in three days a week.They end the episode with a reminder of why the WRI matters. Good supplier relationships lead to better outcomes. In the top 3 OEMs, there's a same-year correlation between WRI scores and financial results. The message to OEMs is that relationships drive performance, and the numbers prove it.Themes discussed in this episode:Understanding the significance of the Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index (WRI) Study as a tool for assessing industry performance and supplier relationsThe growing gap between top and bottom OEMs in supplier trust, with the widest WRI spread since 2008The influence of leadership changes, such as Vice Presidents of Purchasing, on supplier relations and organizational performanceHow unpredictability and organizational complexity continue to hurt Stellantis' supplier relationsHow Toyota's long-term mindset and consistent buyer behavior keep it on top of supplier rankingsThe importance of trust and collaboration between OEMs and suppliers in navigating future challengesThe direct impact of empowered buyers on supplier trust and decision-making speedThe proven connection between high WRI scores and same-year OEM financial performanceFeatured guest: Dave AndreaWhat he does: Dave Andrea is a principal at

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your hosts are Paul Marden and Andy Povey.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. Show references:  Anna Preedy, Director M+H Showhttps://show.museumsandheritage.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/annapreedy/Jon Horsfield, CRO at Centegra, a Cinchio Solutions Partnerhttps://cinchio.com/uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-horsfield-957b3a4/Dom Jones, CEO, Mary Rose Trust https://maryrose.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicejones/https://www.skipthequeue.fm/episodes/dominic-jonesPaul Woolf, Trustee at Mary Rose Trusthttps://maryrose.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-woolf/Stephen Spencer, Ambience Director, Stephen Spencer + Associateshttps://www.stephenspencerassociates.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/customerexperiencespecialist/https://www.skipthequeue.fm/episodes/stephen-spencerSarah Bagg, Founder, ReWork Consultinghttps://reworkconsulting.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbagg/https://www.skipthequeue.fm/episodes/sarah-baggJeremy Mitchell, Chair of Petersfield Museum and Art Galleryhttps://www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mitchell-frsa-4529b95/Rachel Kuhn, Associate Director, BOP Consultinghttps://www.bop.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuhnrachel/  Transcriptions:Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast for people working in and working with visitor attractions. You join me today, out and about yet again. This time I am in London at Olympia for the Museums and Heritage Show. Hotly anticipated event in everybody's diary. We all look forward to it. Two days of talks and exhibitions and workshops. Just a whole lot of networking and fun. And of course, we've got the M and H awards as well. So in this episode, I am going to be joined by a number of different people from across the sector, museum and cultural institution professionals, we've got some consultants, we've got some suppliers to the industry, all pretty much giving us their take on what they've seen, what they're doing and what their thoughts are for the year ahead. So, without further ado, let's meet our first guest. Andy Povey: Hi, Anna. Welcome to Skip the Queue. Thank you for giving us some of your time on what must be a massively busy day for you. I wonder if you could just tell the audience who you are, what you do, a little bit about what museums and heritage is, because not everyone listening to the podcast comes from the museum sector. Anna Preedy: Andy, thanks. This is a great opportunity and always really lovely to see your happy smiley face at the Museums and Heritage Show. So M and H, as we're often referred to as, stands for Museums and Heritage and we're a small business that organises the principal trade exhibition for the Museums and Heritage sector that could be broadened, I suppose, into the cultural sector. We also have the awards ceremony for the sector and an online magazine. So we are Museums and Heritage, but we're often referred to as M and H and we've been around for a very long time, 30 plus years. Andy Povey: Oh, my word. Anna Preedy: I know. Andy Povey: And what's your role within the organisation? Your badge says Event Director today. That's one of many hats. Anna Preedy: I'm sure it is one of many hats because we're a very small team. So I own and manage the events, if you like. M and H is my baby. I've been doing it for a very long time. I feel like I'm truly immersed in the world of museums and heritage and would like to think that as a result of that, I kind of understand and appreciate some of the issues and then bring everyone together to actually get in the same room and to talk them through at the show. So, yeah, that's what we're about, really. Andy Povey: In a shorthand and obviously the show. We're in the middle of West London. It's a beautifully sunny day here at Olympia. The show is the culmination, I suppose of 12 months of work. So what actually goes in? What does a normal day look like for you on any month other than May? Anna Preedy: Yeah, it was funny actually. Sometimes people, I think, well, what do you do for the rest of the year? You just turn up to London for a couple of days, just turn up delivering an event like this. And also our award scheme is literally three, six, five days of the year job. So the moment we leave Olympia in London, we're already planning the next event. So it really is all encompassing. So I get involved in a lot. As I say, we're a small team, so I'm the person that tends to do most of the programming for the show. So we have 70 free talks. Everything at the show is free to attend, is free to visit. So we have an extensive programme of talks. We have about 170 exhibitors. Anna Preedy: So I'm, although I have a sales team for that, I'm managing them and looking after that and working with some of those exhibitors and then I'm very much involved in our awards. So the Museums and Heritage Awards look to celebrate and reward the very best in our sector and shine the spotlight on that not just in the UK but around the world. So we have a judging panel and I coordinate that. So pretty much every decision, I mean you look at the colour of the carpet, that which incidentally is bright pink, you look at the colour of the carpet here, who made the decision what colour it would be in the aisles this year it was me. So I, you know, I do get heavily involved in all the nitty gritty as well as the biggest strategic decisions. Andy Povey: Fantastic. Here on the show floor today it is really busy, there are an awful lot of people there. So this is all testament to everything that you've done to make this the success that it is. I'm sure that every exhibitor is going to walk away with maybe not a full order book, but definitely a fistful of business cards. Anna Preedy: I think that's it, what we really want. And we sort of build this event as the big catch up and we do that for a reason. And that is really to kind of give two days of the year people put those in their diary. It's a space where people can come together. So you know, there'll be people here standing on stands who obviously and understandably want to promote their product or service and are looking to generate new business. And then our visitors are looking for those services and enjoying the talks and everyone comes together and it's an opportunity to learn and network and connect and to do business in the broadest possible sense. Really. Andy Povey: No, I think that the line, the big catch up really sums the show up for me. I've been. I think I worked out on the way in this morning. It's the 15th time I've been to the show. It's one of my favourite in the year because it is a fantastic mix of the curatorial, the commercial, everything that goes into running a successful museum or heritage venue. Anna Preedy: I mean, it's funny when people ask me to summarise. I mean, for a start, it's quite difficult. You know, really, it should be museums, galleries, heritage, visitor, attractions, culture. You know, it is a very diverse sector and if you think about everything that goes into making a museum or a gallery or a historic house function, operate, engage, it's as diverse as the organisational types are themselves and we try and bring all of that together. So, you know, whether you are the person that's responsible for generating income in your organisation, and perhaps that might be retail or it might be catering, it could be any. Any stream of income generation, there's going to be content for you here just as much as there's going to be content for you here. Anna Preedy: If you are head of exhibitions or if you are perhaps wearing the marketing hat and actually your job is, you know, communications or audience development, we try and represent the sector in its broadest scope. So there is something for everyone, quite. Andy Povey: Literally, and that's apparent just from looking on the show floor. So with all of your experience in the museum sector, and I suppose you get to see. See quite an awful lot of new stuff, new products. So what are you anticipating happening in the next sort of 6 to 12 months in our sector? Anna Preedy: I mean, that's a big question because, you know, going back to what were just saying, and the kind of different verticals, if you like, that sit within the sector, but I think the obvious one probably has to be AI, and the influence of that. I'm not saying that's going to change everything overnight. It won't, but it's. You can see the ripples already and you can see that reflected out here on the exhibition floor with exhibitors, and you can also see it in our programme. So this sort of AI is only, you know, one aspect of, you know, the bigger, wider digital story. But I just think it's probably more about the sector evolving than it is about, you know, grand sweeping changes in any one direction. Anna Preedy: But the other thing to say, of course, is that as funding gets more the sort of the economic landscape, you know, is tough. Undeniably so. So generating revenue and finding new ways to do that and prioritising it within your organisation, but not at the expense of everything else that's done. And it should never be at the expense of everything else that's done. And it's perfectly possible to do both. Nobody's suggesting that it's easy, nothing's easy but, you know, it's possible. Anna Preedy: And I think the show here, and also what we do online in terms of, you know, news and features, all of that, and what other organisations are doing in this sector, of course, and the partners we work with, but I think just helping kind of bridge that gap really, and to provide solutions and to provide inspiration and actually, you know, there's no need to reinvent the wheel constantly. Actually, I think it was somebody that worked in the sector. I'm reluctant to names, but there was somebody I remember once saying, well, know, stealing with glee is kind of, you know, and I think actually, you know, if you see somebody else is doing something great and actually we see that in our wards, you know, that's the whole point. Let's shine a spotlight on good work. Well, that might inspire someone else. Anna Preedy: It's not about ripping something off and it's not absolute replication. But actually, you know, scalable changes in your organisation that may have been inspired by somebody else's is only a good thing as well. Andy Povey: It's all that evolutionary process, isn't it? So, great experience. Thank you on behalf of everybody that's come to the show today. Anna Preedy: Well, thank you very much. I love doing it, I really genuinely do and there is nothing like the buzz of a busy event. Jon Horsfield: Yeah, My name is Jon Horsfield, I'm the Chief Revenue Officer of Cincio Solutions. Andy Povey: And what does Cincio do? Jon Horsfield: We provide F and B technology, so kiosks, point of sale payments, kitchen systems, inventory, self checkout to the museums, heritage zoos, aquariums and hospitality industries. Andy Povey: Oh, fantastic. So I understand this is your first time here at the Museums and Heritage Show. Jon Horsfield: It is our first time. It's been an interesting learning curve. Andy Povey: Tell me more. Jon Horsfield: Well, our background is very much within the hospitality. We've been operating for about 20 to 23 years within the sort of high street hospitality side of things. Some of our London based listeners may have heard of Leon Restaurants or Coco Di Mama, we've been working with them for over 20 years. But we're looking at ways of bringing that high street technology into other industries and other Verticals and the museums and heritage is a vertical that we've identified as somewhere that could probably do with coming into the 21st century with some of the technology solutions available. Andy Povey: I hear what you're saying. So what do you think of the show? What are your first impressions? Give me your top three tips. Learning points. Jon Horsfield: Firstly, this industry takes a long time to get to know people. It seems to be long lead times. That's the first learning that we've had. Our traditional industry in hospitality, people will buy in this industry. It's going to take some time and we're happy about that. We understand that. So for us, this is about learning about know about how the industry works. Everybody's really friendly. Andy Povey: We try. Yeah. Jon Horsfield: That's one of the first things that we found out with this. This industry is everybody is really friendly and that's quite nice. Even some of our competitors, we're having nice conversations with people. Everybody is really lovely. The third point is the fact that I didn't know that there were so many niche markets and I found out where my mother buys her scarves and Christmas presents from. So it's been really interesting seeing the different types of things that people are looking for. We've sort of noticed that it's really about preservation. That's one of the main areas. There's a lot of things about preservation. Another one is about the display, how things are being displayed, and lots of innovative ways of doing that. But also the bit that we're really interested in is the commercialization. Jon Horsfield: There's a real push within the industry to start to commercialise things and bring in more revenue from the same people. Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's all about securing the destiny so that you're not reliant on funding from external parties or government and you taking that control. So what do you do at Centrio that helps? Jon Horsfield: Well, first of all. First of all, I would say the efficiencies that we can bring with back office systems integrations. We're very well aware of what we do, we're also aware of what we don't do. So, for example, we're not a ticketing provider, we're a specialist retail and F and B supplier. So it's about building those relationships and actually integrating. We've got a lot of integrations available and we're very open to that. So that's the first thing. But one of the key things that we're trying to bring to this industry is the way that you can use technology to increase revenue. So the kiosks that we've got here, it's proven that you'll get a minimum average transaction value increase of 10 to 15%. Andy Povey: And what do you put that down to? Jon Horsfield: The ability to upsell. Okay, with kiosks, as long as, if you put, for example, with a burger, if you just have a nice little button, say would you like the bacon fries with that? It's an extra few pounds. Well, actually if you've got an extra few pounds on every single transaction, that makes an incredible difference to the bottom line. From the same number of customers. Some of our clients over in the USA have seen an ATV increase above to 60% with the use of kiosks. Andy Povey: And that's just through selling additional fries. Jon Horsfield: Exactly. People will. I went to a talk many years ago when people started to adopt kiosks and the traditional thing is the fact that people will order two Big Macs and a fries to a kiosk, but when you go face to face, they will not order two Big Macs and a fries. Andy Povey: So you're saying I'm a shy fatty who's basically. Jon Horsfield: Absolutely not. Absolutely not, Andy. Absolutely not. So that's really what it's about. It's about using the sort of the high street technology and applying that to a different industry and trying to bring everybody along with us. Dominic Jones: And you need to listen to the Skip the Queue. It's the best podcast series ever. It'll give you this industry. Paul Marden: Perfect. That was a lovely little sound bite. Dom, welcome. Dominic Jones: It's the truth. It's the truth. I love Skip the Queue. Paul Marden: Welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul, welcome. For your first time, let's just start with a quick introduction. Dom, tell everybody about yourself. Dominic Jones: So I'm Dominic Jones, I'm the chief executive of the Mary Rose Trust and I'm probably one of Skip the Queue's biggest fans. Paul Marden: I love it. And biggest stars. Dominic Jones: Well, I don't know. At one point I was number one. Paul Marden: And Paul, what about yourself? What's your world? Paul Woolf: Well, I'm Paul Woolf, I've just joined the Mary Rose as a trustee. Dom's been kind of hunting me down politely for a little bit of time. When he found out that I left the King's Theatre, he was very kind and said, right, you know, now you've got time on your hands, you know, would you come over and help? So yeah, so my role is to support Dom and to just help zhuzh things up a bit, which is kind of what I do and just bring some new insights into the business and to develop It a bit. And look at the brand, which is where my skills. Dominic Jones: Paul is underselling himself. He is incredible. And the Mary Rose Trust is amazing. You haven't visited. You should visit. We're in Portsmouth Historic Dock blog. But what's great about it is it's about attracting great people. I'm a trustee, so I'm a trustee for good whites. I'm a trustee for pomp in the community. I know you're a trustee for kids in museums. I love your posts and the fact that you come visit us, but it's about getting the right team and the right people and Paul has single handedly made such a difference to performance art in the country, but also in Portsmouth and before that had a massive career in the entertainment. So we're getting a talent. It's like getting a Premiership player. And we got Paul Woolf so I am delighted. Dominic Jones: And we brought him here to the Museum Heritage show to say this is our industry because we want him to get sucked into it because he is going to be incredible. You honestly, you'll have a whole episode on him one day. Paul Marden: And this is the place to come, isn't it? Such a buzz about the place. Paul Woolf: I've gone red. I've gone red. Embarrassed. Paul Marden: So have you seen some talks already? What's been impressive for you so far, Paul? Paul Woolf: Well, we did actually with the first talk we were listening to was all about touring and reducing your environmental impact on touring, which is quite interesting. And what I said there was that, you know, as time gone by and we had this a little bit at theatre actually. But if you want to go for grant funding today, the first question on the grant funding form, almost the first question after the company name and how much money you want is environmental impact. Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah. Paul Woolf: And so if you're going tour and we're looking now, you know, one of the things that Dom and I have been talking about is, you know, Mary Rose is brilliant. It's fantastic. You know, it's great. It's in the dockyard in Portsmouth and you know, so. And, and the Andes, New York, you know, everywhere. Dominic Jones: Take her on tour. Paul Woolf: Why isn't it on tour? Yeah. Now I know there are issues around on tour. You know, we've got the collections team going. Yeah, don't touch. But nonetheless it was interesting listening to that because obviously you've got to. Now you can't do that. You can't just put in a lorry, send it off and. And so I thought that was quite interesting. Dominic Jones: Two, it's all the industry coming together. It's not about status. You can come here as a student or as a CEO and you're all welcome. In fact, I introduced Kelly from Rubber Cheese, your company, into Andy Povey and now you guys have a business together. And I introduced them here in this spot outside the men's toilets at Museum and Heritage. Paul Woolf: Which is where we're standing, by the way. Everybody, we're outside the toilet. Dominic Jones: It's the networking, it's the talks. And we're about to see Bernard from ALVA in a minute, who'll be brilliant. Paul Marden: Yes. Dominic Jones: But all of these talks inspire you and then the conversations and just seeing you Andy today, I'm so delighted. And Skip the Queue. He's going from strength to strength. I love the new format. I love how you're taking it on tour. You need to bring it to the May Rose next. Right. Paul Marden: I think we might be coming sometimes soon for a conference near you. Dominic Jones: What? The Association of Independent Museums? Paul Marden: You might be doing an AIM conference with you. Dominic Jones: Excellent. Paul Marden: Look, guys, it's been lovely to talk to you. Enjoy the rest of your day here at M and H. Paul Marden: Stephen, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Stephen Spencer: Thank you very much. Paul Marden: For listeners, remind them what you do. Stephen Spencer: So I'm Stephen Spencer. My company, Stephen Spencer Associates, we call ourselves the Ambience Architects because we try to help every organisation gain deeper insight into the visitor experience as it's actually experienced by the visitor. I know it sounds a crazy idea, really, to achieve better impact and engagement from visitors and then ultimately better sustainability in all senses for the organisation. Paul Marden: For listeners, the Ambience Lounge here at M and H is absolutely rammed at the moment. Stephen Spencer: I'm trying to get in myself. Paul Marden: I know, it's amazing. So what are you hoping for this networking lounge? Stephen Spencer: Well, what we're aiming to do is create a space for quality conversations, for people to meet friends and contacts old and new, to discover new technologies, new ideas or just really to come and have a sounding board. So we're offering free one to one advice clinic. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Stephen Spencer: Across a whole range of aspects of the visitor journey, from core mission to revenue generation and storytelling. Because I think, you know, one of the things we see most powerfully being exploited by the successful organisations is that kind of narrative thread that runs through the whole thing. What am I about? Why is that important? Why should you support me? How do I deliver that and more of it in every interaction? Paul Marden: So you're Having those sorts of conversations here with people on a one to one basis. Stephen Spencer: Then we also are hosting the structured networking event. So all of the sector support organisations that are here, they have scheduled networking events when really people can just come and meet their peers and swap experiences and again find new people to lean on and be part of an enriched network. Paul Marden: Absolutely. So we are only half a day in, not even quite half a day into a two day programme. So it's very early to say, but exciting conversations, things are going in the direction that you hoped for. Stephen Spencer: Yes, I think, I mean, we know that the sector is really challenged at the moment, really, the fact that we're in now such a crazy world of total constant disruption and uncertainty. But equally we offer something that is reassuring, that is enriching, it's life enhancing. We just need to find better ways to, to do that and reach audiences and reach new audiences and just keep them coming back. And the conversations that I've heard so far have been very much around that. So it's very exciting. Paul Marden: Excellent. One of themes of this episode that we'll be talking to lots of people about is a little bit of crystal ball gazing. You're right, the world is a hugely, massively disrupted place at the moment. But what do you see the next six or 12 months looking like and then what does it look like for the sector in maybe a five year time horizon? Stephen Spencer: Okay, well, you don't ask easy questions. So I think there will be a bit of a kind of shaking down in what we understand to be the right uses of digital technology, AI. I think we see all the mistakes that were made with social media and what it's literally done to the world. And whilst there are always examples of, let's say, museums using social media very cleverly and intelligently, we know that's against the backdrop of a lot of negativity and harm. So why would we want to repeat that, for example, with generative AI? Paul Marden: Indeed. Stephen Spencer: So I heard a talk about two years ago at the VAT conference about using AI to help the visitor to do the stuff that is difficult for them to do. In other words, to help them build an itinerary that is right for them. And I think until everyone is doing that, then they should be very wary of stepping off the carpet to try and do other things with it. Meanwhile, whilst it's an immersive experience, it is not just sitting in, you know, with all respect to those that do this, A, you know, surround sound visual box, it is actually what it's always been, which is meeting real people in authentic spaces and places, you know, using all the senses to tell stories. So I think we will need to see. Stephen Spencer: I've just been given a great coffee because that's the other thing we're offering in the coffee. It's good coffee. Not saying you can't get anywhere else in the show, just saying it's good here. Yeah. I think just some realism and common sense creeping into what we really should be using these technologies for and not leaving our visitors behind. I mean, for example, you know, a huge amount of the natural audience for the cultural sector. You know, people might not want to hear it, but we all know it's true. It's older people. And they aren't necessarily wanting to have to become digital natives to consume culture. So we shouldn't just say, you know, basically, unless you'll download our app, unless you'll do everything online, you're just going to be left behind. That's crazy. It doesn't make good business sense and it's not right. Stephen Spencer: So I just think some common sense and some. Maybe some regulation that will happen around uses of AI that might help and also, you know, around digital harms and just getting back to some basics. I was talking to a very old colleague earlier today who had just come back from a family holiday to Disney World, and he said, you know, you can't beat it, you cannot beat it. For that is immersive. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. But it's not sealed in a box. Stephen Spencer: No, no. And it really. It's a bit like Selfridges. I always took out. My favourite store is Selfridges. It still does what Harry Gordon Selfridge set out to do. He said, "Excite the mind and the hand will reach for the pocket." I always say. He didn't say excite the eye, he said, excite the mind. Paul Marden: Yeah. Stephen Spencer: The way you do that is through all the senses. Paul Marden: Amazing. Stephen Spencer: And so, you know, digital. I'm sure he'd be embracing that. He would be saying, what about the rest of it? Paul Marden: How do you add the human touch to that? Yeah. I was at Big Pit last week. Stephen Spencer: As they reopened, to see this. Yeah. Paul Marden: And it was such an amazing experience walking through that gift shop. They have so subtly brought the museum into the gift shop and blended the two really well. Stephen Spencer: Yes. And I think that raises the bar. And again, if you want to make more money as a museum, you need to be embracing that kind of approach, because if you just carry on doing what you've always done, your revenue will go down. Paul Marden: Yes. Stephen Spencer: And we all know your revenue needs to go up because other. Other sources of income will be going down. Paul Marden: Sarah, welcome back to Skip the Queue last time you were here, there was a much better looking presenter than, you were in the Kelly era. Sarah Bagg: Yes, we were. Paul Marden: It's almost as if there was a demarcation line before Kelly and after Kelly. Why don't you just introduce yourself for me? Tell the listeners what it is that you do. Sarah Bagg: So I'm Sarah Bagg. I'm the founder of Rework Consulting. The last time I spoke, it wasn't that long after our launch. I think like two and a half years ago. We've just had our third birthday. Paul Marden: Wow. Sarah Bagg: Which is completely incredible. When we first launched rework, were specifically for the visitor attractions industry and focused on ticketing. Paul Marden: Yep. Sarah Bagg: So obviously we are a tech ticketing consultancy business. In the last three and a half years we've grown and now have five verticals. So attractions are one of them. Paul Marden: And who else do you work with then? Sarah Bagg: So the art, the leisure industry. So whether it be activity centres, cinemas, bowling centres and then live entertainment. So it could be anything from sports, festivals etc and the arts, like theatres or. Paul Marden: So closely aligned to your attractions. Then things that people go and do but different kinds of things loosely. Sarah Bagg: Say they're like live entertainment. Paul Marden: I like that. That's a nice description. So this must be Mecca for you to have all of these people brought together telling amazing stories. Sarah Bagg: I think how I would sum up museum and heritage today is that I think we're kind of going through a period of like being transformed, almost like back. People are reconstructing, connecting with real experiences and with people. Paul Marden: Yeah. Sarah Bagg: And I would like to think that tech is invisible and they're just to support the experience. I think there's a lot of things that are going on at the moment around, you know, bit nostalgia and people dragging themselves back to the 90s. And there's a lot of conversations about people and customer service and experience. And although technology plays a huge part in that, I would still like to think that people come first and foremost, always slightly weird from a technology consultant. Paul Marden: Well, nobody goes to a visitor attraction to be there on their own and interact with technology. That's not the point of being there. Yeah. Interesting talks that you've been today. Sarah Bagg: I think one of my favourite was actually one of the first of the day, which was about. Of how do you enhance the visitor experience through either like music and your emotions and really tapping into how you feel through, like all your different senses. Which was one of Stephen's talks which I really enjoyed. Paul Marden: That's really interesting. Sarah Bagg: I think if people like look at the visitor industry and across the board, that's why I'm so keen to stay, like across four different sectors, we can learn so much pulling ideas from like hospitality and restaurants and bars.Paul Marden: Completely. Sarah Bagg: Even if you think about like your best, there's a new bar there, so you can not very far from my home in Brighton and the service is an amazing. And the design of the space really caters for whether you're in there with 10 people or whether you're sat at the bar on your own. It doesn't exclude people, depending on what age you are or why you gone into the bar. And I think we can learn a lot in the visitor attractions industry because there's been a lot of talk about families today. I don't have children and I think that there, you need. Sarah Bagg: We need to think more about actually that lots of other people go to visitor attractions Paul Marden: Completely. Sarah Bagg: And they don't necessarily take children and they might want to go on their own. Yes, but what are we doing to cater for all of those people? There's nothing. Paul Marden: How do you make them feel welcome? How do you make them feel like they're a first class guest? The same as everybody else. Yeah. So where do you see the sector going over the next few years based on what you've seen today? Sarah Bagg: I think there'll be a lot more diversification between sectors. There's definitely a trend where people have got their assets. You know, like if you're looking at things like safari parks and zoos, places that have already got accommodation, but maybe like stately houses where there used to be workers that were living in those cottages or whatever, that they're sweating their assets. I think it would be interesting to see where tech takes us with that because there has been a tradition in the past that if you've got like, if your number one priority to sell is being like your hotel, then you would have like a PMS solution. But if it's the other way around, your number one priority is the attraction or the venue and you happen to have some accommodation, then how is that connecting to your online journey? Sarah Bagg: Because the last thing you want is like somebody having to do two separate transactions. Paul Marden: Oh, completely drives me crazy. Sarah Bagg: One thing I would also love to see is attractions thinking beyond their 10 till 6 opening hours completely. Because some days, like restaurants, I've seen it, you know, maybe they now close on Mondays and Tuesdays so they can give their staff a day off and they have different opening hours. Why are attractions still fixated in like keeping these standard opening hours? Because actually you might attract a completely different audience. There used to be a bit of a trend for like doing museum late. So I was speaking to a museum not very long ago about, you know, do they do like morning tours, like behind the scenes, kind of before it even opens. And I think the museum particularly said to me, like, "Oh, we're fine as we are.". Paul Marden: I've never met a museum that feels fine where it is at the moment. Sarah Bagg: But I guess the one thing I would love to see if I could sprinkle my fairy dus. Paul Marden: Come the revolution and you're in charge. Sarah Bagg: And it's not like, it's not even like rocket science, it's more investment into training and staff because the people that work in our industry are like the gold, you know, it's not tech, it's not pretty set works, it's not like fancy display cases. Yes, the artefacts and stuff are amazing. Paul Marden: But the stories, the people stuff. Yeah. Sarah Bagg: Give them empowerment and training and make the customer feel special. Paul Marden: Yes. Sarah Bagg: When you leave, like you've had that experience, you're only ever going to get that from through the people that you interact with completely. Paul Marden: Jeremy, hello. Welcome to Skip the Queue. We are, we are being slightly distracted by a dinosaur walking behind us. Such is life at M and H show. Jeremy Mitchell: Yeah. Paul Marden: So. Jeremy Mitchell: Well, anything to do with museums and dinosaurs, always great crowd pleasers. Paul Marden: Exactly, exactly. So is this your first time at M and H or have you been before? Jeremy Mitchell: Been before, but probably not for 10 years or more. It was, yes. I remember last time I came the theatres were enclosed so they were partitioned all the way around. Paul Marden: Right. Jeremy Mitchell: But because it's so popular now that would not just not would not work. It's a long time ago. It shows how long I've been volunteering. Paul Marden: In museums, doesn't it? So for our listeners, Jeremy, just introduce yourself and tell everyone about the role that you've got at the Petersfield Museum. Jeremy Mitchell: Okay, so I'm Jeremy Mitchell. I'm a trustee at Petersfield Museum now Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery. I'm actually now chair of trustees. Paul Marden: Paint a little picture for us of Petersfield Museum then. What could someone expect if they came to you? Apart from, as I understand, a very good cup of coffee. Jeremy Mitchell: A very good cup of coffee. Best in Petersfield. And that's not bad when there are 32 competitors. You'll get a little bit of everything you'll get a bit of. You'll get the story of Petersfield, but you'll get so much more. We've got collections of costume going back to the mid 18th century. We've got work of a local artist, Flora Torte, one of those forgotten female artists from between the wars. She's a story that we will be exploring. We've got, in partnership with the Edward Thomas Fellowship, a big archive of books and other artefacts by and about Edward Thomas, who was a poet, writer, literary critic. He's one of the poets killed in the First World War. But he's not well known as a war poet because he was writing about the impact of war on life at home. Jeremy Mitchell: So he's now more well known as a nature poet. Paul Marden: So you're telling the story not just of the place, you're telling the story of the people that have produced great art or had an impact on Petersfield. Jeremy Mitchell: Yes. And their networks and how they might relate to Petersfield in turn. And we've got the costume collection I mentioned going back to the mid 18th century, which came from Bedale School. They've all got stories to them. Paul Marden: Interesting. Jeremy Mitchell: This came from Bedale School, which is a private school on the edge of Petersfield. It was actually collected by their drama teacher between the 1950s and the 1970s. Paul Marden: Wow. Jeremy Mitchell: Because she believed in authenticity. So if she was putting on a 19th century production, she would want genuine 19th century clothes. Paul Marden: Let me tell you, my drama productions in a 1980s comprehensive did not include authentic 19th century costumes. Jeremy Mitchell: If were doing something like that at school, their parents would have been, all right, go down to the jumble sale, buy some material, make something that looks something like it. Paul Marden: Yeah. Jeremy Mitchell: But no, she was, well, if you haven't got anything in your attic that's suitable, please send me some money because there's a sale at Sotheby's in three months. Time off costume from the period. Paul Marden: Excellent. Jeremy Mitchell: And we've got some lovely pieces in there. When we put on the Peggy Guggenheim exhibition, which is what were talking about earlier today here, were able to bring in costume from the 1930s, Chanel dress, other high quality, not. Not necessarily worn by Peggy Guggenheim, but her. Paul Marden: Authentic of the period. Jeremy Mitchell: Authentic of the period. But her son was at Bedale, so she could have been asked to donate. Paul Marden: So. Okay. Jeremy Mitchell: Highly unlikely, but it was similar to items that she had been photographed in or would have been. Would have been wearing. Paul Marden: So tell me about the. The presentation. How was that? Jeremy Mitchell: It went so quickly. Paul Marden: Oh, yes. You get in the zone don't you? Jeremy Mitchell: You get in the zone. But it flowed and Louise was great. Louise had done the bulk of the. The work. She prepared the presentation that visually told the story of the exhibition and its outcomes and impacts. And I filled in the boring book, I call it the BBC, the boring but crucial. How we funded it, how we organised the project, management around it, the planning and getting buy in from the rest of the trustees at the beginning, because it was potentially a big financial commitment if we hadn't been able to fund it. Paul Marden: Isn't it interesting? So coming to an event like this is always. There's always so much to learn, it's always an enriching experience to come. But it's a great opportunity, isn't it, for a small museum and art gallery such as Petersfield? It feels a little bit like you're punching above your weight, doesn't it, to be invited onto this stage to talk about it. But really you're telling this amazing story and it's of interest to everybody that's here. Jeremy Mitchell: We want to share it. If we've been able to do it, then why can't they? Why can't you? Why can't we all do it? And yes, you need the story, but if you dig deep enough, those stories are there. Paul Marden: Absolutely, Absolutely. One of the things that is a real common conversation here, M and H, is looking forward, crystal ball gazing, talking. There's challenges in the sector, isn't there? There's lots of challenges around funding and I guess as a small museum, you must feel those choppy waters quite acutely. Jeremy Mitchell: Definitely. I mean, we're an independent museum, so we're not affected by spending cuts because we don't get any funding from that area. But the biggest challenge is from the funding perspective. Yes, we have a big income gap every year that we need to bridge. And now that so much more of the sector is losing what was its original core funding, they're all fishing in the same pond as us and they've got. Invariably they've got a fundraising team probably bigger than our entire museum team, let alone the volunteer fundraiser that we've got. So, yes, it is a challenge and you are having to run faster just to stand still. The ability to put on an exhibition like Peggy Guggenheim shows that we are worth it. Paul Marden: Yes, absolutely. Jeremy Mitchell: And the Guggenheim was funded by Art Fund Western loan programme and an Arts Council project grant. And it was a large Arts Council project grant. Paul Marden: So although everyone's fishing in the same pond as you're managing to yeah. To stretch my analogy just a little bit too far, you are managing to. To get some grant funding and. Jeremy Mitchell: Yes. Paul Marden: And lift some tiddlers out the pond. Jeremy Mitchell: Yes. But it was quite clear that with Peggy it was a story that had to be told. Paul Marden: So we talked a little bit about challenging times. But one of the big opportunities at M and H is to be inspired to think about where the opportunities are going forwards. You've had a day here today. What are you thinking as inspiration as next big things for Petersfield Museum. Jeremy Mitchell: I'm finding that really difficult because we're small, we're a small site, Arkansas, I think has got to be a way forward. I miss the talk. But they're all being recorded. Paul Marden: Yes. Jeremy Mitchell: So I shall be picking that one up with interest. But AR is something. We've got police cells. Well, we've got a police cell. Paul Marden: Okay. Jeremy Mitchell: Now, wouldn't it be great to tell an augmented reality story of Victorian justice to kids? Paul Marden: Yes. Jeremy Mitchell: While they're sat in a victory in a Victorian police cell on a hard wooden bench. That is the original bench that this prisoners would have slept on. Paul Marden: I've done enough school visits to know there's enough kids that I could put in a jail just to keep them happy or to at least keep them quiet whilst the rest of us enjoy our visit. Yes. I feel like I need to come to Petersfield and talk more about Peggy because I think there might be an entire episode of Skip the Queue to talk just about putting on a big exhibition like that. Jeremy Mitchell: Yeah, no, definitely. If you drop me an email you can skip the queue and I'll take you around. Paul Marden: Oh lovely, Rachel, welcome to Skip the Queue. You join me here at M and H show. And we've taken over someone's stand, haven't we? I know, it feels a bit weird, doesn't it? Rachel Kuhn: I feel like we're squatting but I. Paul Marden: Feel a little bit like the Two Ronnies, cuz we're sat behind the desk. It's very strange. Which one are you? Anyway, just for listeners. Introduce yourself for me. Tell listeners what it is that you do at BOP Consulting. Rachel Kuhn: Yeah, so I'm Rachel Kuhn, I'm an associate director at BOP and we specialise in culture and the creative economy and kind of working across everything that is to do with culture and creative economy globally. But I lead most of our strategy and planning projects, particularly in the UK and Ireland, generally working with arts, heritage, cultural organisations, from the very earliest big picture strategy through to real nitty gritty sort of operational plans and outside of bop. I'm a trustee for Kids in Museums, where we love to hang, and also a new trustee with the Postal Museum. Paul Marden: Given what you do at bop, this must be like the highlight of the year for you to just soak up what everybody is doing. Rachel Kuhn: I love it. I mean, it's so lovely just going around, chatting to everybody, listening in on the talks and I think that spirit of generosity, you know, like, it just comes across, doesn't it? And it just reminds me why I love this sector, why I'm here. You know, everyone wants to, you know, contribute and it's that whole sort of spirit of what do they say? We know when the tide rises, so do all the boats or all the ships. And I feel like that's the spirit here and it's lovely. Paul Marden: It is such a happy place and it's such a busy, vibrant space, isn't it? What have been the standout things for you that you've seen today? Rachel Kuhn: I think probably on that spirit of generosity. Rosie Baker at the founding museum talking about the incredible work they've done with their events, hires, programmes. Obviously got to give a shout out to the Association of Cultural Enterprise. I've been doing a lot of hanging out there at their stage day. So Gurdon gave us the rundown of the benchmarking this morning. Some really good takeaways from that and Rachel Mackay, I mean, like, obviously. Paul Marden: Want to go into. Rachel Kuhn: You always want to see her. Really good fun, but lovely to hear. She's talking about her strategy, the Visitor Experience strategy. And you know what, I spend so much time going into places looking at these sub strategies, like visual experience strategies that just haven't been written in alignment with the overall strategy. So it's lovely to see that linking through, you know, and obviously I'm from a Visitor Experience background, so hugely passionate about the way that Visitor Experience teams can make visitors feel the organization's values. And that alignment was really impressive. So, yeah, really lovely and loads of great takeaways from all those talks. Paul Marden: I will just say for listeners, all of these talks have been recorded, so everyone's going to be able to download the materials. It take a couple of weeks before they were actually published. But one of the questions that I've asked everybody in these vox pops has been, let's do some crystal ball gazing. It's. It stinks at the moment, doesn't it? The, the, the economy is fluctuating, there is so much going on. What do you see 6 to 12 month view look like? And then let's really push the boat out. Can we crystal ball gaze maybe in five years? Rachel Kuhn: Yeah.  I mean, look, I think the whole problem at the moment and what's causing that sort of nervousness is there's just a complete lack of surety about loads of things. You know, in some ways, you know, many organisations have welcomed the extension for the MPO round, the current round, but for many, you know, that's just pushed back the opportunity to get in on that round that little bit further away. It's caused that sort of nervousness with organisations are having to ride on with the same funding that they asked for some years ago that just doesn't, you know, match, you know, and it's actually a real time cut for them. Paul Marden: Absolutely. Rachel Kuhn: So I think, very hard to say, I don't know that there's much I can say. I feel like as at sea as everyone else, I think about what the landscape looks like in the next six months, but I think that never has there been, you know, a better time than something like this like the M and H show. You know, this is about coming together and being generous and sharing that information and I think reaching out to each other and making sure that we're sort of cross pollinating there. There's so much good stuff going on and we've always been really good at that and I think sometimes when we're feeling a bit down, it feels like, oh, I just don't want to go to something like this and meet others and, you know, get into a bit of a misery cycle. Rachel Kuhn: But actually it's so uplifting to be at something like this. And I think, you know, what we've seen here is at the show today, I think, is organisations being really generous with their experience and their expertise. Suppliers and consultants and supporters of the sector being really generous with their time and their expertise and actually just shows just spending a bit of time with each other, asking things of each other. We've just got loads of stuff to share and we're all really up for it. And I think that generosity is so critical and I mean, obviously I'm going to plug, I've got to plug it. Rachel Kuhn: So, you know, if you are a supplier, if you are a commercial business working in this sector, it might be tough times for you, but it's certainly nowhere near as hard as it is for the arts and cultural heritage organisations in the sector. You know, reach out to them and see how you can support them and help them. I mean, you and I have both been on a bit of a drive recently to try and drum up some sponsorship and corporate support for kids in museums who, you know, an Arts council MPO who we're incredible, incredibly proud to represent and, you know, do reach out to us. If you've been thinking, oh, I just want to sponsor something and I'd love to sponsor us. Paul Marden: Exactly. I mean, there's loads of opportunities when you take kids in museums as an example, loads of opportunities for. And this is what Arts Council wants us to do. They want us to be more independent, to generate more of our own funding and we've got a great brand, we do some amazing work and there's lots of opportunities for those commercial organisations who align with our values to help to support us. Rachel Kuhn: So I think you asked me there about what's in the next year. So next year, six months, I don't know is the answer. I think it's just a difficult time. So my advice is simply get out there, connect, learn from each other, energise each other, bring each other up. Let's not get into that sort of doom cycle. That's very easy next five years. You know what, I've had some really interesting meetings and conversations over the last. Well, one particularly interesting one today, some other ones about some funds that might be opening up, which I think is really exciting. You know, we've seen this really big challenge with funding, you know, slowing funding going in much larger amounts to a smaller number of large organisations and that causes real problems. But I think there might be a small turnaround on that. Rachel Kuhn: I'm not crumbs in the earth. I think it's still tough times. But that was really exciting to hear about. I'm also seeing here at the show today. I've been speaking to a lot of suppliers whose their models seem to be shifting a lot. So a lot more opportunities here where it requires no investment from the attraction and a lot more sort of interesting and different types of profit share models, which I think is really interesting. So I think the other thing I'd say is if you're an attraction, don't discount partnering some of these organisations because actually, you know, go and talk to them. Rachel Kuhn: Don't just, don't just count them out because you think you haven't got anything to invest because many of them are visiting new models and the couple that I've spoken to who aren't, learn from your competitors and start doing some different models. And I think that's been really interesting to hear some very different models here for some of the products, which is really exciting. Paul Marden: It is really hard sitting on the other side of the fence, as a supplier, we need cash flow as well. We've got to pay bills and all of those sorts of things. But you're right, there are interesting ways in which we all want to have a conversation. As you say, don't sit back afraid to engage in the conversation because you've got nothing to invest, you've got an important brand, you've got an audience. Those are valuable assets that a supplier like us would want to partner with you to help you to bring a project to life. And that might be on a rev share model, it might be on a service model. There's lots of different ways you can slice it and dice it. Rachel Kuhn: And going back, on a closing note, I suppose, going back to that generosity thing, don't think because you haven't got any money to commission, you know, a supplier to the sector or a commercial company, that you can't reach out to them. Like, you know, we are in this because we really want to support these organisations. This is our passion. You know, many of us are from the sector. You know, I will always connect somebody or introduce somebody or find a way to get a little bit of pro bono happening, or, you know, many of my colleagues are on advisory committees, we're board members. And I think that's the same for so many of the companies that are, like, working with the sector. You know, reach out and ask for freebie, you know, don't ask, don't get. Paul Marden: Yeah, exactly. Rachel, it is delightful to talk to you as always. Thank you for joining us on Skip the Queue and I am sure, I'm sure we'll make this into a full episode one day soon. I do say that to everybody. Rachel Kuhn: Thanks so much. Lovely to speak to you. Paul Marden: Andy. Andy Povey: Paul.Paul Marden: We've just walked out of the M and H show for another year. What are your thoughts? Andy Povey: First, I'm exhausted, absolutely exhausted. I'm not sure that I can talk anymore because I've spent 48 hours having some of the most interesting conversations I've had all year. Paul Marden: No offence, Tonkin. Andy Povey: You were part of some of those conversations, obviously, Paul. Paul Marden: I was bowled over again by just the sheer number of people that were there and all those lovely conversations and everybody was just buzzing for the whole two days. Andy Povey: The energy was phenomenal. I worked out that something like the 15th show, M & H show that I've been to, and I don't know whether it's just recency because it's sitting in the far front of my mind at the moment, but it seems like this was the busiest one there's ever been. Paul Marden: Yeah, I can believe it. The one thing that didn't change, they're still working on Olympia. Andy Povey: I think that just goes on forever. It's like the fourth Bridge. Paul Marden: Talks that stood out to you. Andy Povey: I really enjoyed interpretation One led by the guy from the sign language education company whose name I can't remember right now. Paul Marden: Yeah, Nate. That was an amazing talk, listeners. We will be getting him on for a full interview. I'm going to solve the problem of how do I make a inherently audio podcast into something that's accessible for deaf people? By translating the podcast medium into some sort of BSL approach. So that was the conversation that we had yesterday after the talk. Andy Povey: I know. I really look forward to that. Then, of course, there was the George and Elise from Complete Works. Paul Marden: I know. They were amazing, weren't they? You couldn't tell at all that they were actors. Do you know, it was really strange when George. So there was a point in that talk that George gave where we all had a collective breathing exercise and it was just. It was. It was so brilliantly done and were all just captivated. There must have been. I rechon there was 100 people at theatre at that point. Absolutely. Because it was standing room only at the back. And were all just captivated by George. Just doing his click. Very, very clever. Andy Povey: But massively useful. I've seen the same thing from George before and I still use it to this day before going on to make a presentation myself. Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah. Andy Povey: Just grounding yourself, centering yourself. Well, it's fantastic. Paul Marden: Yeah. But the whole thing that they were talking about of how do we create opportunities to have meaningful conversations with guests when they arrive or throughout their entire experience at an attraction so that we don't just talk about the weather like we're typical English people. Andy Povey: That's great, isn't it? Go and tell a Brit not to talk. Talk about the weather. Paul Marden: But training your staff makes absolute sense. Training your staff to have the skills and the confidence to not talk about the weather. I thought that was really interesting. Andy Povey: It's an eye opener, isn't it? Something really simple, but could be groundbreaking. Paul Marden: Yeah. Andy Povey: Then what was your view on all of the exhibitors? What did you take away from all the stands and everybody? Paul Marden: Well, I loved having my conversation yesterday with Alan Turing. There was an AI model of Alan Turing that you could interact with and ask questions. And it was really interesting. There was a slight latency, so it didn't feel quite yet like a natural conversation because I would say something. And then there was a pause as Alan was thinking about it. But the things that he answered were absolutely spot on, the questions that I asked. So I thought that was quite interesting. Other exhibitors. Oh, there was a lovely point yesterday where I was admiring, there was a stand doing custom designed socks and I was admiring a design of a Jane Austen sock and there was just somebody stood next to me and I just said, "Oh, Jane Austen socks." Paul Marden: Very on Trend for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen, that all of the museums in Hampshire will be buying those up. And should funnily you should say that I'm the chief executive of Chawton Park House, which is one of the museums in the last place that Jane Austen lived. So very interesting, very small world moment at that point. Andy Povey: I do, it's almost an oxymoron to talk about Jane Austen socks. I don't imagine her having worn anything with nylon or Lycra in it. Paul Marden: Very true. I hadn't tweaked that. Andy Povey: There was a lot of AI there wasn't there AI this, AI that. Paul Marden: And there were some really good examples of where that is being used in real life. Yeah, yeah. So there were some examples where there's AI being used to help with visitor counts around your attraction, to help you to optimise where you need to put people. I thought that Neil at Symantec just talking about what he called answer engine optimisation. That was interesting. There were some brilliant questions. There was one question from an audience member asking, are there any tools available for you to figure out whether how well your organisation is doing at being the source of truth for AI tools? Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah. So almost like your Google search engine ranking. Paul Marden: But exactly for ChatGPT. Andy Povey: And have you found one yet? Paul Marden: No, not yet. There's also quite a lot of people talking about ideas that have yet to find a home. Andy Povey: Yes. What a very beautiful way of putting it. Paul Marden: The people that have. That are presenting a topic that has yet to get a real life case study associated with it. So the rubber hasn't yet hit the road. I don't think on that. Andy Povey: No. I think that's true for an awful lot of AI, isn't it? Not just in our sector. Paul Marden: No. Andy Povey: It's very interesting to see where that's all going to go. And what are we going to think when we look back on this in two or three years time? Was it just another chocolate teapot or a problem looking for a solution? Or was it the revolution that we all anticipate. Paul Marden: And I think it will make fundamentals change. I think it's changing rapidly. But we need more real case studies of how you can do something interesting that is beyond just using ChatGPT to write your marketing copy for you. Andy Povey: Yeah, I mean it's all about putting the guest at the front of it, isn't it? Let's not obsess about the technology, let's look at what the technology is going to enable us to do. And back to the first part of this conversation, looking at accessibility, then are there tools within AI that are going to help with that? Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So there was definitely. There was an interesting talk by Vox. The people that provide, they provide all of the radio boxes for everybody to wear at M and H that provides you with the voiceover of all of the speakers. But they use this technology across all manner of different attractions and they were talking about using AI to do real time translation of tours. So you could. Andy Povey: Very interesting. Paul Marden: Yeah. So you could have an English speaker wandering around doing your tour and it could real time translate up to. I think it was up to four languages. Andy Povey: BSL not being one of those languages. Paul Marden: Well, no, they were talking about real time in app being able to see subtitles. Now, I don't know whether they went on to say you could do BSL. And we know from the other presentation that not everybody that is deaf is able to read subtitles as fast as they can consume sign language. So it's important to have BSL. But there were some parts of that Vox product that did it address deaf people. It wasn't just multilingual content. Andy Povey: So AI people, if you're listening, you can take the idea of translating into BSL in real time and call it your own. Paul Marden: Yeah, we very much enjoyed hosting our theatre, didn't we? That was a lot. And Anna, if you are listening, and I hope you are, because lots of people have said very nice things in this episode about M and H. Andy and I would love to come back next year. Andy Povey: Absolutely. Paul Marden: And host a theatre for you. Any other thoughts? Andy Povey: Just really looking forward to the rest of the week off. Yeah, it's a sign of a good show when you walk away with all that positive feeling and that positive exhaustion and you probably need a week to reflect on all of the conversations that we've had. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Next up we is AIM Conference at Mary Rose in June. I can't wait very much. Looking forward to that. Thank you ever so much for listening. We will join you again in a few weeks. See you soon. Bye Bye. Andy Povey: Draw.Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.  The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

- Nissan Could Close Plants in Japan - Japanese Government Tries to Save Nissan - Xiaomi YU7 Targets Tesla Model Y - VW Drops ID Name for EVs - BMW Using Gen-AI in Purchasing - Suppliers Love GM, Hate Ford - Aito Shoves BMW, Mercedes, Audi Aside - Tesla Cybertruck Trade-In Values Plummet  - Autoline Poll Results on Stop/Start

- Nissan Could Close Plants in Japan - Japanese Government Tries to Save Nissan - Xiaomi YU7 Targets Tesla Model Y - VW Drops ID Name for EVs - BMW Using Gen-AI in Purchasing - Suppliers Love GM, Hate Ford - Aito Shoves BMW, Mercedes, Audi Aside - Tesla Cybertruck Trade-In Values Plummet  - Autoline Poll Results on Stop/Start

Dallas Counts, the Chief Operations Officer at Vendormint, which helps suppliers and retailers recover more revenue, enhance compliance, and streamline operations, unlocking the full … Read more The post Helping Retailers and Suppliers Unlock the Full Potential of Their Supply Chain appeared first on Top Entrepreneurs Podcast | Enterprise Podcast Network.

Ever wondered what it takes to put on an SBC Event? Today's Episode of iGaming Daily goes under the hood of the inaugural SBC Summit Americas, which kicks off this week in Fort Lauderdale, with one of the key names behind making it happen - Aidan Brain, SBC's Vice President of Conference Production. Aidan takes Joe through the whole process, from the inception of the event itself, when they started planning the agenda, the extensive preparation lasting more than one year, the process involved in planning the event, and importance of industry feedback. Aidan also speaks about the choice of location, why Fort Lauderdale works for both the US and Latin American audiences, and the advantages with more predictable good weather. Joe also asks about the logistical complexity of organising the event, and Aidan discusses the industry collaboration involved, the importance of timing, maximising the opportunity presented by next year's FIFA World Cup, and integrating English, Spanish and Portuguse speakers in one event. They also chat about the conference agenda, including the high-level speaker roster, the First Pitch startup competition, the challenges in constructing an agenda that appeals to the diverse attendee base, and building it around transcendental knowledge. Finally, they chat about the closing party, headlined by the iconic Steve Aoki. Host: Joe StreeterGuests: Aidan BrainProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Scott FultoniGaming Daily is the official podcast of SBC Summit Malta. Taking place from 10-12 June at the Intercontinental in Malta, SBC Summit Malta is the definitive casino and betting event where European companies and professionals converge to explore cutting-edge insights, gain transformative skills, and forge impactful connections with senior decision-makers. Get your tickets now at sbcevents.com.iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service. 

What really lies behind Bunnings' promise of lowest prices? The hardware superstore has carefully built a reputation for being part of the local community with its famous sausage sizzles and friendly advertising. But a Four Corners investigation has found that the haven for DIY enthusiasts has grown to dominate the market, squeezing suppliers and competitors. Today, reporter Angus Grigg on why the Bunnings juggernaut isn't facing the same scrutiny as the supermarkets. Featured: Angus Grigg, Four Corners reporter

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway breaks down two big stories. First (0:43), fresh warnings from UK food suppliers about the threat of climate change. Second (3:24), tensions between India and pakistan have seen the dismantling of a key treaty over the supply of water. And finally (10:32), a look at what Reform's successes in the local elections could mean for England's flood defences.

Les employés de certains fournisseurs du géant chinois de la fast fashion Shein travaillent toujours 75 heures par semaine, malgré la promesse de l'entreprise d'améliorer les conditions.Traduction :Workers for some suppliers of Chinese fast fashion giant Shein are still working 75 hours a week, despite the company promising to improve conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Les employés de certains fournisseurs du géant chinois de la fast fashion Shein travaillent toujours 75 heures par semaine, malgré la promesse de l'entreprise d'améliorer les conditions.Traduction :Workers for some suppliers of Chinese fast fashion giant Shein are still working 75 hours a week, despite the company promising to improve conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, discusses a new report calling for CRU to ensure that electricy suppliers help customers save money.

Electricity suppliers should offer customers price plans that allow them to save money, change consumption patterns and reduce emissions. That's the call from the Climate Change Advisory Council, who are today launching their annual review of the electricity sector. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Marie Donnelly the Council's Chair.

Why Proptech Suppliers Should Join the ICG? Boost Your Business Today! If you're aiming to make an impact in the UK property market, this episode is for you. Iain White, the leader of the ICG, shares why joining this exclusive group can help you elevate your business and connect with the right people. In this episode, Iain reveals what the ICG is all about. The ICG is a network of top tier suppliers in the property sector, chosen for their high standards and ability to deliver real value. It's not just about technology, it's about innovation and collaboration to make sure estate agents get the tools and services they truly need. Being part of the ICG means you're surrounded by like minded businesses, giving you the chance to share leads, ideas and strategies. This collaborative environment creates better outcomes for estate agents, helping them deliver smoother experiences for buyers and sellers. If you want to grow your network and be part of something truly impactful, this episode is for you. Listen now and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

In this episode, Executive Director Henry Williams is joined by John Sullivan and Laura Chaparro from the Michigan Gaming Control Board's Enterprise Licensing team to break down what it takes to become a licensed gaming supplier in Michigan.They dive into the essential qualifications, the purpose and process of supplier exemptions, and how the MGCB upholds ethical standards and fairness in the industry. Plus, hear how the Board is working to support small and minority-owned businesses and promote equitable access to opportunities in gaming.From compliance to innovation — including a look at the new MGCB Application Portal — this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to enter or better understand Michigan's gaming supplier landscape. Facebook: MichiganGCBTwitter: @MichiganGCBInstagram: @michigangcb)LinkedIn: michigangcb

Asian stocks edged lower and US equity-index futures dropped at the open as trade conflicts showed no signs of abating. Nvidia said the US put new restrictions on some chip exports to China. Contracts for the Nasdaq 100 fell more than 1.5% and S&P 500 futures retreated 1% after Nvidia slumped in after-hours trading. That’s even as results from Wall Street’s financial heavyweights on Tuesday underscored an equity-trading boon and still-healthy consumers and businesses. We discuss the day's market headlines with Ken Stern, President and CEO at Lido Advisors. Plus - TikTok users in the US are being inundated with videos from Chinese influencers encouraging American buyers to overcome punitive Trump tariffs by buying direct from the “world’s factory” — China. Mostly filmed at Chinese factories purporting to supply top US brands from Lululemon Athletica to Nike, the influencers aim to “expose” how the vast majority of consumer goods are made in the world’s second-largest economy. Colum Murphy, China EcoGov Reporter for Bloomberg News, joins us from Beijing to break down the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Procurement is central to the operation of modern government but, following a series of high-profile scandals, is often controversial. Much of the criticism has focused on the role of the biggest suppliers, some of whom have become household names for the wrong reasons. But who are these big suppliers and how dependent is the government on them? This special episode of Inside Briefing will tell you everything you need to know about how much the government actually spends with big suppliers, the kind of services these companies provide, how well do they perform compared to other suppliers, and how effective the government is at holding them to account. With IfG programme director Nick Davies, former Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, Capita Public Service CEO Richard Holroyd, the TUC's Director of Organising Public Services and Skills Sian Elliott, and Gus Tugendhat, Founder of Tussell. This podcast episode is kindly supported by Tussell. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Ian Hinckley from DGI Apparel to tackle the tough questions everyone in the custom apparel game is asking. From rising tariffs and supply chain chaos to the tech-driven shakeup in how shops order and operate — Ian breaks it all down.

Discover the unseen network of middle-class professionals who quietly shape our world for the ultra-wealthy and corporations. Author Kit Sadgrove exposes the four types of "fixers" - Magicians, Enablers, Pushers, and Suppliers - and reveals whether you might unknowingly be part of this influential group reshaping society.================================

Ryan Atkinson has continued his travels and brings us the latest in how brands, suppliers, and merchants in bicycle retail are feeling during some uncertain times. There are bright spots and some optimism, particularly among retailers. Themes from industry eventsBicycle Leadership Conference (suppliers)NBDA Retailer Summit (both) - join the Midwest event in Bentonville in MayCABDA West (both)Uncertainty among suppliers, optimism with dealersTariff confusion and frustrationThrottle electric bikesUsed and pre-ownedTap into health/beauty, active lifestyle, prioritize healthProfitabilityEcommerceMarch online sales performanceUS sales +9% and orders +7%CA sales -18% and orders -32% (sporting goods generally -6.9%)Dollar growth was fueled by road and mountain bikes, plus the surprise performance of comfort and commuter bikes. Electric bikes had a surprising slump.CA non-essential discretionary down, calls from concerned clientsUS consumers getting ahead of tariffsCyclingnews article on DeMinimis (Ryan's rant)Bummed how they characterized Bob Margevicius' testimonyBob is a VP for SpecializedHe's an exceptional representative for our industry on trade issuesNobody knows EU, Asian, and US manufacturing/trade as wellTireless contributor and just awarded PFB lifetime achievement awardAuthor conflated legitimate tariff frustration with DeMinimisDeMinimus exemption increased to $800 in 2016PFB has lobbied for change sinceReason for so much cheap product disrupting IBD marketCheap D2C electric bikes, cheap helmets and lights on Temu, etcUnsafe for consumers, erodes value proposition for retailers, takes away high margin retail salesI want to encourage listeners not to spread click bait rumors just because they think the headline gets attentionBe sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.Find Us on LinkedInRyan Atkinson, President + Co-OwnerSuzie Livingston, Marketing + CommunicationsMark Still, Business DevelopmentWe also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@works...

Tariffs are back again and stronger than ever. Things are still a little shaky at the moment because we never really know what will happen tomorrow but today, Dave discusses 5 ways you can deal with the new tariffs through DDP, diversifying, and negotiation.  Big Takeaways:  It is basically impossible to eliminate the effects of the tariffs but there are ways to minimize them.  DDP shipping puts risk on your supplier, not you. Diversifying sales channels can be a great way to keep your profit margins healthy.  Negotiate discounts with your suppliers to soften the blow.  Moving your manufacturing can reduce tariffs and contribute to a healthier business. Accept that the business landscape has changed permanently. Look for new opportunities that arise from these challenges. Consider manufacturing in Canada and Mexico as alternatives. Evaluate your product catalog in these new market conditions. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 03:03 - Strategy 1: Shipping with DDP 05:50 - Strategy 2: Diversifying Channels 08:59 - Strategy 3: Negotiating with Suppliers 11:48 - Strategy 4: Moving Manufacturing 15:09 - Strategy 5: Accepting Change and Finding Opportunities Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Today's Chart Master focuses on three key suppliers in their respective industries. Jenny Horne turns to Walmart (WMT) seeking assistance from Chinese suppliers, Barclays adjusting its J.B. Hunt (JBHT) price target, and TSMC's (TSM) $100 billion "intention" to invest into the U.S. Kevin Green offers a look into the technical trends he sees in the charts.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Inside SAP Business NetworkThe Big Themes:New Organizational Structure: SAP reorganized its internal teams by combining Business Network and Digital Supply Chain into a new unit: Supply Chain Management. While this may sound like internal restructuring, Tony Harris explained that for customers, it signals a major innovation push. A major focus in 2025 will be on supply chain orchestration and supply chain risk — two areas that demand real-time responsiveness and cross-functional collaboration.SAP Business Network as a Response to Tariffs and Disruption: With the rise of geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and tariffs, companies need to rapidly adjust their supplier bases. SAP Business Network helps companies respond to such disruptions. If tariffs threaten certain international suppliers, businesses can use SAP Business Network to quickly identify alternative suppliers in unaffected regions or within domestic markets.Introducing SAP Business Network Promote Subscription: On the very day of the interview, SAP launched a new subscription service called SAP Business Network Promote, designed specifically for suppliers. This offering helps vendors raise their visibility and connect with global buyers on SAP Business Network. Features include enhanced and verified company profiles, uploading of full product catalogs, and access to AI-powered tools for responding to requests for information (RFIs), improving content, and correcting invoice errors. Suppliers also receive robust data insights.

This week I came across a CD program I once recorded for Vacation.com. They have since joined Travel Leaders but a few years back I teamed with the Hertz Corporation and delivered a quarterly audio newsletter. This particular recording featured an interview with industry specialist Bob Abrahms who shared his thoughts and importance of maintaining a sound business relationship with preferred suppliers. The information was good a few years back and it is just as sound today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is projected to add an additional 26 GW of solar capacity in 2025. Solar has been one of the energy transition's biggest success stories, but there are dark clouds gathering. Uncertainty is the biggest barrier to deployment at the moment: there's potential changes coming with federal tax credits and trade policies (some of which are already having an impact), and the perceived risks are high for investors of solar projects. To find out how developers and manufacturers are mitigating these risks, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst covering solar markets at Wood Mackenzie, is joined by Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables. Mike talks through the data he's analysing; Anza is seeing supply chains diversify and financial incentives like the ITC Adder helping developers. Despite efforts to bolster domestic manufacturing, China continues to dominate the global solar market. What are the impacts of Trump's tariffs on domestic manufacturing? With a quarter of the year already gone, what have we seen in solar investment? How can long-term planning be done when so much is up in the air?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ecommerce expert and agency founder Andrew Faris shares how he uses "P&L design" to increase margins and run online businesses efficiently. He's now applying some of these strategies to launch his own upcoming consumer brand. Andrew shares his tips for iterating and testing creative, spending more efficiently on ad creative, and saving on variable costs like manufacturing and shipping. 

When we sat down with Jeff Clapper, President and CEO of 8th & Walton, we knew we'd get insights on supplier training – but our conversation revealed something much more profound about the evolving retail landscape.From its origins teaching suppliers about Walmart's culture and systems to today's comprehensive support services, 8th & Walton has witnessed and adapted to dramatic shifts in what suppliers need to succeed. Jeff shares how the organization now balances urgent operational training with strategic education that prevents problems before they occur.The transition from legacy data systems like DSS to new platforms like Scintilla represents both challenge and opportunity. While these systems offer unprecedented visibility into consumer behavior, they demand constant learning from suppliers who can't afford to fall behind. As Jeff aptly describes, success requires being an "aggressive student" of retail – recognizing that yesterday's expertise quickly becomes obsolete in this fast-moving environment.Jeff shares about 8th Walton's journey to becoming a certified B Corporation, demonstrating that business growth and positive impact aren't mutually exclusive. Jeff's perspective on "scaling values" rather than just scaling revenue offers a refreshing counterpoint to traditional retail metrics. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the emerging trend of consumers preferring brands that demonstrate ethical practices and sustainability.The conversation culminates with Jeff's preview of the upcoming "Consumer Impact" event in Bentonville, bringing together impact-minded brands to share best practices in sustainable retail. It's a tangible example of how the supplier community is evolving beyond transactions to create meaningful change.Whether you're a seasoned Walmart supplier or just beginning your retail journey, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating today's complex retail environment while building a business that makes a positive difference.

At the heart of The Prophets' vision are “The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes.” What are they? Find out, and see the future yourself. Click here Tariffs are back. The EV transition is shaky. Autonomous vehicles are still a question mark. The auto industry is staring down a future full of uncertainty, and suppliers are stuck in the middle of it all.In this episode, Paul Eichenberg returns to break down the three biggest shifts shaking up the supply chain: the move away from globalization, the messy reality of electrification, and the evolving regulatory landscape for autonomy.For decades, global supply chains were the name of the game—companies optimized for low-cost country sourcing, suppliers expanded internationally, and the industry embraced efficiency on a global scale.But now? Tariffs and shifting trade policies are forcing a hard pivot to regionalization. Suddenly, localization isn't just a buzzword—it's a necessity. Suppliers that haven't adjusted are running out of time.Then there's EVs—what was once an unstoppable movement is now facing resistance. Sure, automakers have committed to an electric future, but consumer adoption isn't moving as fast as expected. Policy shifts and market uncertainty create a volatile mix in North America, while China and Europe continue pushing full speed ahead. The big question? How long can suppliers ride the fence before going all in?And let's talk about autonomy. It's been overshadowed by EV hype and supply chain chaos, but it hasn't disappeared. If anything, it's quietly gaining momentum. With regulations starting to loosen, companies like Tesla are pushing harder than ever. The next few years could bring breakthroughs no one saw coming.So, where does this leave suppliers? According to Paul, there's no room for hesitation. The auto industry has always been at its best when its back is against the wall, and now is one of those moments. Scenario planning isn't just an option—it's survival. Transparency in the supply chain isn't just about efficiency—it's about being prepared for whatever comes next.Themes discussed in this episode:The decline of globalization and the rise of regionalization in automotive supply chainsHow tariffs and trade policies are forcing suppliers to rethink their sourcing strategiesThe uncertain future of EV adoption and the market hesitation slowing it downWhy regulatory shifts could make or break the transition to electrificationThe financial struggles of suppliers caught between ICE phase-out and EV ramp-upThe critical need for scenario planning in an industry facing constant disruptionHow political and economic polarization is reshaping global supply chainsFeatured on this episode: Name: Paul EichenbergTitle: Managing Director, Paul Eichenberg Strategic ConsultingAbout: With 25 years in the automotive industry, Paul Eichenberg has led strategy for top suppliers, including eight years as Global VP of Corporate Development & Strategy at Magna Powertrain & Magna Electronics. Now, through Paul Eichenberg Strategic Consulting, he advises hedge funds, private equity firms, investment banks, and automotive suppliers on product management, mergers & acquisitions, and future-focused strategies.Connect: LinkedInMentioned in this episode:

#FenceFam 4NAFCA.com is hosting another service April 25-26 where they, with the help of Gregory Industries, are giving back to our communities! Suppliers and manufactures like Gregory Industries supplying great products like the "C-Post" allows us to do more! Thank Gregory Industries and Clint Iams with NAFCA for your help and dedication!      Cheers! Remember to like, share, comment and REVIEW!   The Fence Industry Podcast Links: IG @TheFenceIndustryPodcast FB @TheFenceIndustryPodcastWithDanWheeler TikTok @TheFenceIndustryPodcast YouTube @TheFenceIndustryPodcastWithDanWheeler Visit TheFenceIndustryPodcast.com Email TheFenceIndustryPodcast@gmail.com Mr. Fence Companies:    IG @MrFenceAcademy FB @MrFenceAcademy TikTok @MrFenceAcademy YouTube @MrFenceAcademy Mr. Fence Tools https://mrfencetools.com Mr. Fence Academy https://mrfenceacademy.com   Gopherwood & Expert Stain and Seal IG @stainandsealexperts  FB @ExpertProfessionalWoodCare YouTube @Stain&SealExperts  FB Group Stain and Seal Expert's Staining University  Visit RealGoodStain.com Visit Gopherwood.us   Kencove Farm Fence Supplies IG @KencoveFarmFence FB @KencoveFarmFenceSupplies TikTok @KencoveFarmFenceSupplies YouTube @KencoveFarmFence Visit kencove.com   Elite Technique Visit getelitetechnique.com   Greenwood Fence Visit greenwoodfence.com   Cat-5 Gate Systems Visit floridafenceco.com/cat-5-gates   FenceNews Visit fencenews.com   Ozark Fence & Supply promo code: TFIP15 for 15% off! Visit ozfence.com   Benji with CleverFox for all your FENCE website needs! Visit cleverfox.online   One Tap Connect Visit onetapconnect.com   Stockade Staple Guns Visit stockade.com   Bullet Fence Systems Visit bulletfence.com   The Fence Industry Podcast is Produced by "Rob The Producer" Connect with him at justrobnoble@gmail.com for availability and rates.  

This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more The auto industry is holding its breath. A 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada is about to take effect, and the ripple effects will be massive. Suppliers are drawing a hard line—either OEMs accept the costs, or shipments stop. The chaos is real. It's a high-stakes moment, but Jan Griffiths knows this isn't just about economics—it's about leadership.In this solo episode, Jan challenges leaders to ask themselves: How will you show up in the face of uncertainty? Will you default to command and control, tightening your grip out of fear? Or will you lead with authenticity, staying calm, and instilling confidence in your team? This moment will test leaders across the industry, and the choices they make now will define the road ahead.But this episode isn't just about leadership in crisis—it's about transformation. One year ago, Jan launched AutoCulture 2.0, a book that champions the very leadership transformation the industry needs right now. To mark the occasion, she read its introduction and first two chapters, sharing a powerful message: the industry's biggest shift isn't just about EVs, software, or supply chains—it's about culture.She takes us back to her early days, from a farm in Wales to the factory floors of the U.S., where she learned firsthand how rigid hierarchies and outdated leadership styles hold companies back. Through stories of culture clashes, gender biases, and relentless perseverance, Jan lays the foundation for a new leadership model—one built on trust, inspiration, and the courage to break the mold.Hold on tight. The road ahead is uncertain, but the auto industry will always find a way through. The real question is: what kind of leader will you be when it does?Themes discussed in this episode:The impact of 25% tariffs on the automotive supply chain and how suppliers are respondingWhy command-and-control leadership is failing in today's rapidly changing auto industryHow trust and inspire leadership is the key to thriving in the modern automotive worldThe cultural transformation needed to support EV and software-defined vehicle innovationThe hard truth about outdated leadership models and why they hold companies backJan Griffiths' journey from a Welsh farm to the automotive C-suite—and what leaders can learn from itWhy authentic leadership, not just technological advancements, will define the future of the auto industryYour HostJan Griffiths is the architect of cultural change in the automotive industry. As the President & Founder of Gravitas Detroit, Jan brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for transforming company cultures. Additionally, she is the host of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, where she shares insightful conversations with industry visionaries. Jan is also the author of AutoCulture 2.0, a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional leadership model prevalent in the automotive world. With her extensive experience and commitment to fostering positive change, Jan is at the forefront of revolutionizing the automotive landscape. Reach out to her at

Shoot us a Text.The auto industry breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as it was announced that they will be exempt from the 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods. Plus, we're looking at the cars that hold their value the best, and Google's push towards AI search.Show Notes with links:The auto industry is temporarily relieved by a one-month exemption from the 25% tariffs on vehicles covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). President Trump granted the reprieve following requests from Ford, GM, and Stellantis, with the ultimate goal of shifting production to the U.S.The automotive provisions of the USMCA require that 75% of a vehicle's components be made in North America (up from 62.5% under NAFTA) to qualify for zero tariffs, and mandate that 40-45% of auto parts be made by workers earning at least $16 per hour, aiming to boost North American production and labor standards.Most automotive manufacturers comply with USMCA standards and The American Automotive Policy Council and automakers expressed gratitude for the temporary exemption.Suppliers remain concerned about long-term impacts, despite positive signs for USMCA-compliant parts.Dealers and industry experts view the exemption as part of a broader strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing, but uncertainty persists.“The damage has already been done. For an industry that operates in three- to five-year product cycles, this level of day-to-day uncertainty is debilitating.” — Glenn Stevens, Executive Director of MichAuto.Last week we covered the cars with the most depreciation, and now, Kelley Blue Book has announced its annual Best Resale Value Awards, highlighting the top performers of 2025.The top 10 vehicles are projected to retain an average of 58% of their original MSRP, compared to the market average of 44.6%.Toyota dominates the list, securing four of the top ten spots, including the #1 2025 Toyota Tacoma with a projected 64.1% resale value.The full top 10 list includes the 2025 Toyota GR Supra (53.7%), 2025 Porsche 911 (53.8%), 2025 Toyota RAV4 (53.9%), 2025 Honda CR-V (54.4%), 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (56.6%), 2025 Ford Bronco (57.0%), 2025 Toyota 4Runner (60.0%), 2025 Toyota Tundra (60.9%), 2025 Chevrolet Corvette (61.0%), and 2025 Toyota Tacoma (64.1%).Google is accelerating its AI integration into search with a new feature called AI Mode, adding a chatbot-like experience directly to the core of Google Search.AI Mode, currently in testing, is only available to Google One AI Premium subscribers and must be enabled in the Labs section of Search.The feature offers a search-centric chatbot experience, delivering AI-generated answers directly from Google's search index with supporting links throughout.AI Mode uses the Gemini 2.0 model, aiming to improve Google's ability to handle more advanced queries while providing real-time data and web interaction.While concerns remain about Google's shift away from traditional website linking, Stein asserts that AI Overviews anHosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

Divy Ojha became passionate about creating a solution for food waste as a university student, and began building relationships to start a grocery delivery business. He discusses approaching potential partners and maintaining good relationships, plus the big change he made to make Odd Bunch's value proposition better for both customers and suppliers.For more about Odd Bunch and show notes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/odd-bunch-relationshipsSubscribe to the Shopify Masters YouTube channel for video interviews.

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his conversation with Larry Michelson, Co-Managing Partner at Cool Daddy LLC, Director of ObjectStep, HVAC Constitution expert at AlphaSights, and former Senior HVAC Counterman at A&R Supply, South Florida. In Part 2, they discussed the challenges within HVAC supply chains, including communication gaps, lack of automation, and the growing burden on counter staff. They also discuss why returned parts are a major issue, the impact of brand ownership changes, and how technology can improve efficiency in HVAC distribution.Larry also shares insights on the daily challenges HVAC counter staff face, the disconnect between technicians and suppliers, and why effective communication is crucial for smooth operations. He emphasizes the impact of brand ownership changes, the risks of relying on undertrained counter staff, and how technology can streamline HVAC supply transactions. Additionally, he discusses why returned parts create major inefficiencies and how both technicians and suppliers can work together to improve service quality.This episode is filled with practical insights, industry challenges, and real-world solutions. It is a must-listen for HVAC professionals looking to improve supplier relationships, enhance communication, and navigate the evolving HVAC supply chain effectively.At Tropic Supply and other leading distributors, Larry Michelson has gained deep expertise in HVAC supply chain management, helping technicians navigate parts ordering, supplier relationships, and industry challenges. He highlights the disconnect between counter staff and technicians, emphasizing the importance of communication, training, and technology in improving service efficiency. With years of experience in HVAC logistics, brand ownership changes, and supplier operations, Larry provides valuable insights for professionals looking to streamline their workflow and build stronger industry connections.Expect to Learn: Why effective communication between HVAC technicians and suppliers is critical. How lack of automation in HVAC supply impacts efficiency and logistics. The biggest challenges counter staff face when dealing with technicians. Why returned parts create major issues in the HVAC supply chain. How technology can streamline transactions and improve supplier relationships. Episode Highlights: [00:33] – Introduction to the Second Part of the Episode with Larry Michelson  [02:40] – Key Challenges in HVAC Supply: Communication, Automation & Returned Parts.  [07:15] – What HVAC Counter Staff Need from Technicians to Keep Supply Operations Smooth.  [09:25] – Language Barriers, Technology, and the Increasing Burden on HVAC Counter Staff.  [14:26] – Discussion on HVAC brand ownership, qualities of a good counter person, technician challenges, and building strong supplier relationships.  [18:41] – Examination of knowledge gaps, miscommunication, and the role of technology in HVAC supply dynamics.  This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:Master: https://www.master.ca/Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/Supply House: https://www.supplyhouse.comCool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.netLambert Insurance Services: https://www.lambert-ins.com Follow the Larry Michelson on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljmfla/ObjectStep: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objstep/AlphaSights: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alphasights/A&R Supply South Florida: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-r-supply-south-florida/Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/  Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/ 

In this episode we dive into the challenges and opportunities within the government procurement process with Chrissy Farrington, a military spouse and senior proposal specialist at H2L solutions. We begin by highlighting the slow and often disconnected solicitation process, where there is a lack of clarity on both sides: what the government agencies want and what the businesses can provide. In today's episode, we discuss the chronic issues observed, such as miscommunication, misconceptions, and the detrimental effects of delays and cancellations. We explore the importance of understanding the nuances within specialized fields like cybersecurity and engineering, emphasizing that assumptions about uniformity can hinder progress. Listen as we discuss the need for a more responsive and efficient procurement process, bridging the gap between government needs and innovative solutions.

In today’s episode, we help a bakery owner navigate supplier negotiations. Learn how to improve payment terms, reduce costs, and build stronger partnerships with your vendors. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&A several days each week. Show notes: SideHustleSchool.com Email: team@sidehustleschool.com Be on the show: SideHustleSchool.com/questions Connect on Instagram: @193countries Visit Chris's main site: ChrisGuillebeau.com Read A Year of Mental Health: yearofmentalhealth.com If you're enjoying the show, please pass it along! It's free and has been published every single day since January 1, 2017. We're also very grateful for your five-star ratings—it shows that people are listening and looking forward to new episodes.

This is Part 3 in our little series on Working With Suppliers. The goal is to focus on providing them with value, before asking them for value. If you want your suppliers to come through for you, you need to first come through for them. Before expecting value, give value. You want them to trust you, so be trustworthy. It's good to consider what sort of value you're providing when working with suppliers.