Shows
The ECRM Podcast127. How Hunting Discomfort Drives Breakthrough Results in Business & Life (Sterling Hawkins)ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and entrepreneur, speaker and author Sterling Hawkins discuss how we can drive breakthrough results in business and life by regularly seeking activities that bring us out of our comfort zone, a topic Hawkins writes about in his new book, "Hunting Discomfort: How to Get Breakthrough Results in Life and Business, No Matter What."
They cover several topics from the book, including:
How avoiding discomfort and limiting beliefs hold us back
Why it’s important to be wrong on occasion
Why persistence and grit are not always the answer
The power of commitment (or "getting...2022-06-0454 min
The ECRM Podcast125. How Healthy Snack Brand Solely Is Pushing All the Right Buttons with BuyersIn just three years since launching, healthy snack brand Solely Inc. has grown its distribution to more than 30,000 locations by checking off all all of the boxes that grab buyers attention these days. It makes healthy, organic products with minimal ingredients. It’s vertically integrated and controls its entire supply chain (translation: no out of stocks). It has a low carbon footprint and minimizes waste. Plus, it takes exceptional care of those farmers who grow the fruit for its products.
In this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski, Solely CEO Simón Sacal and Chief Revenue Officer Michel Alga...2022-05-1936 min
The ECRM Podcast124. Bringing Speakeasy Style to Retail, Without the Alcohol: Blind Tiger Spirit-Free CocktailsWith the growing popularity of zero-ABV cocktails, it's no surprise that Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails was among the first wave of brands to receive a wholesale order on RangeMe shortly after the service became available on the platform. According to NielsenIQ, off-premise sales of non-alcoholic grew 87 percent versus last year. And a survey by CGA - Americas revealed that 11 percent of consumers have recently tried a non-alcoholic cocktail at an on-premise location.
ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Founder Rebecca A. Styn, Ph.D. (who also owns the Room 33 restaurant in Erie, Pa.) about the origin of her...2022-05-0525 min
The ECRM Podcast117. How Embracing Discomfort Enhances Health, Happiness & Performance: Michael Easter InterviewHave you embraced discomfort today? For our latest blog post, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Michael Easter, Author of "The Comfort Crisis," about how intentionally adding discomfort back into our lives can revive the mental, physical and spiritual vitality we are meant to have, and help us grow personally and professionally to levels we may have thought previously impossible.
Easter’s journey to understand our evolutionary need to be challenged takes him to meet the NBA’s top exercise scientist, who uses an ancient Japanese practice to build championship athletes; to the mystical country of Bhutan, where an Ox...2021-12-0829 min
The ECRM Podcast116. How Zot Organic’s Consultative Approach Landed Deals at ECRM Global Market2 days ago
Zot organic's Todd Kite landed two retail deals from his six meetings at ECRM's recent Global Market: Fall Experience, and is close to closing another. In this interview with Joseph Tarnowski, he discusses his approach to buyer relationships and how it has driven retail success for this organic licorice supplier.
Kite is all about servicing the buyer. He takes a consultative approach to sales, presents with the buyer's needs in mind, and is fully transparent about the company's capabilities. “I would rather walk away from the table than get a black mark on ou...2021-11-1915 min
The ECRM Podcast115. How Authentic Leadership Builds Unbeatable Teams: Sean Georges, On Mission LeadershipAuthentic leadership is what builds high-performing teams, forged by mutual trust and accountability in service to one another in support of their organizations mission. And it's not limited by title or rank. EVERYONE can lead.
But what makes an authentic leader?
According to Sean Georges and Dr. John Buford, co-authors of "On Mission: Your Journey to Authentic Leadership," authentic leaders influence others in the direction of a shared mission by serving them, providing them with the support and resources they need. In some cases, this even means sharing leadership responsibilities.
ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski...2021-11-1055 min
The ECRM Podcast111. Breaking Into the U.S. Market: Best Practices for International Brands (Galvanina)International brands looking to break into the U.S. retail market face many challenges, such as connecting with the right buyers, setting up a distribution plan, and determining the right strategic marketing mix to drive consumer demand in locations that have different trends and cultures than their home markets.
Galvanina, an Italian beverage supplier which produces and bottles mineral water, organic carbonated soft drinks, mixers and iced-teas, has cracked the code to success in the U.S., which is among the 50 countries in which it’s products can be found. The company launched nearly a century ago, tak...2021-02-0446 min
The ECRM Podcast108: Driving Trial with CBD Products: How Betterment Retail Solutions Does ItWhen it comes to selling CBD to mass retail consumers, generating trial is critical if you are looking to tap into the vast swath of shoppers who are new to the segment. But it’s far from easy. Retailers must drive awareness of the segment, furnish a wealth of information quickly and in a format that’s easy-to-understand, have a product assortment that caters to a variety of needs and tastes, and a price-point that is not too prohibitive.
Successfully executing on this, however, can open a wealth of opportunity among the millions of mass retail shoppers that...2021-01-1250 min
The ECRM Podcast105. Stephensons Online: Helping Brands Expand E-Commerce GloballyIf you're a brand looking to grow your business on third-party ecommerce platforms around the world, then Taylor Sargeant, Head Buyer for Stephensons Online, is someone you definitely want to know. Stephensons specializes in helping brands of all sizes to successfully market and sell their products on platforms like Amazon and eBay in dozens of countries, and provides an array of turnkey services and support to help them do so.
The company buys and warehouses the products, and manages everything from set-up to day-to-day operations, including product listings, storefront design and management, brand registry, messaging, returns, and even language translation...2020-11-1855 min
The ECRM Podcast104. Hint, Inc. Founder & CEO Kara Goldin on Becoming 'Undaunted'In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Kara Goldin, the Founder & CEO of Hint, which is best known for its beverages, but also has a line of personal care products too. She's a groundbreaking entrepreneur who has received a ton of accolades during her career, including EY Entrepreneur of the year for Northern California, InStyle's Badass 50, Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, and Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.
And now she can add Wall Street Journal bestselling a...2020-11-071h 11
The ECRM Podcast97. Virtual Presentation Tips from a 3-Time Emmy Award-Winning JournalistThis episode is a great one for anyone who participates in virtual meetings - which is basically everybody these days. I had the opportunity to chat with Wendy Saltzman, CEO of Philly Power Media about how to effectively communicate and engage with people in a virtual setting. Wendy coaches executives, entrepreneurs, celebrities and sports figures about how to deliver strong presentations, whether in-person or virtually.
And she definitely has some credibility in this area. In fact, she's won three Emmy Awards during her 23-year career as a broadcast journalist, so she knows the ins and outs of w...2020-09-2432 min
The ECRM Podcast96. Mastering the 5-Minute Buyer Pitch: Shirley White, OTC BeveragesWhat's up everybody! This episode is a great one for any and all emerging brands looking to engage with retailers. Shirley White, Founder, Owner and Managing Director of U.K.-based OTC Beverages, has mastered her “elevator pitch” for buyers, having delivered it several dozen times as a recent Discovery Hub participant at ECRM’s Euro Food session.
With the assistance of ECRM’s Client Success Managers and armed with information about the buyers with whom she would be meeting, she honed her presentation down to its crucial elements: who they were, what products they manufactured, and how they can meet each...2020-09-1831 min
The ECRM Podcast95. Bringing the In-Person Experience to Virtual: How Herbally Yours Does ItHerbally Yours is a contract manufacturer specializing in the production of a full spectrum of products to a variety of customers in many markets, including liquid products, therapeutic creams & lotions, powders, capsules, botanical extracts, and skin care.
It has a dedicated team of professionals including a biologist, medical doctor and analytical chemists in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. Together they provide solutions from existing companies looking to make products better or add new products, to start ups looking to completely create a new product concept and develop a brand.
The company recently participated in ECRM's Contract Manufacturing Virtual Session, and...2020-09-1430 min
The ECRM Podcast94. How Clark Food Service Equipment is Helping to Make Dining Safer (Becky Smith, Project Exec.)There’s no doubt that the foodservice industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. The entire nature of the business – in which people gather around closely to eat, drink and converse at restaurants, campuses, corporate dining rooms and nursing homes – has been turned upside down by social distancing requirements.
Foodservice operators have been innovating ever since the outbreaks in March to accommodate these requirements as best as they can, helped in no small way by their supplier partners, who have done much innovating themselves. Clark Food Service Equipment, based in Lancaster, Penn. and a recent participant in ECR...2020-09-0431 min
The ECRM Podcast93. EATING BUGS: A Q&A With Entosense Founder Bill BroadbentIn this episode, I talk about eating bugs with Bill Broadbent, Founder & President of Entosense, a retailer and wholesaler of edible insects and insect-based foods, whose products can be found in retail stores, bars and restaurants.
During our conversation, Bill discusses the market for edible insects, the many nutritional benefits they have, and how great they are from a sustainability standpoint. We also cover how they are being merchandised in stores and included as ingredients on menus.
And while the idea of bugs as food may be icky to some people, they do have a built-in viral marketing component to...2020-08-3034 min
The ECRM Podcast92. Hecky’s Barbecue: Food, Family & PhilanthropyHecky Powell, Founder of Hecky’s Barbecue, is a legend in Evanston, Ill. A true community icon, Powell was known as much for his philanthropy as for his restaurant’s delicious barbecue food, including ribs, rib tips, chicken and especially for his barbecue sauce. Indeed, “It’s the Sauce” became the restaurant motto, and its sauces, spices and beverages are now carried in local restaurants and grocery stores.
This past May, Powell, who founded the business in 1983, was featured on NBC’s Lives Well Lived series when he passed away due to complications from the coronavirus. In this episode, I had the priv...2020-08-2623 min
The ECRM Podcast91. Q&A: Brandy Alexander - Senior Buyer, Health & Beauty Care, 99 Cents Only StoresBrandy Alexander is the Senior Buyer for Health & Beauty at 99 Cents Only Stores, which has more than 350 locations across four states. And while the company's name might be 99 cents only, their products are not only 99 cents. In fact, over the years they have evolved to a retailer that delivers amazing value compared to the rest of the market, even at price points around twenty-five bucks.
In this episode, I speak with Brandy about how the pandemic has changed the way consumers shop the retaler's stores, and how Brandy herself has adapted her day-to-day activities working remotely. She a...2020-08-1032 min
The ECRM Podcast90. Giant Eagle's Brain Ferrier: Turning Adversity into Opportunity with Virtual ToolsFace it, we all miss meeting in-person; the ability to see, touch, taste products, feeling the energy of people when you are sitting across the table face to face, and sharing a joke with them over cocktails during a networking function. Last year I’ve been to almost 20 ECRM Food & Beverage sessions as well as other industry events, and like everyone else, I’ve had to accept the fact those personal connections will not happen for quite some time.
However, being forced to adapt to a virtual world has forced us to embrace new technologies, and in doing so we’ve lea...2020-08-0421 min
The ECRM Podcast89. Staples’ Brian Coupland: Building Solutions for the ‘Remote & Ready’ ConsumerMany of you are likely reading this from a makeshift home office, perhaps squeezing in time between virtual meetings with customers or colleagues while you’re kids are learning from home and wondering what school is going to be like when and if they return as the school year starts. You might have recently waited on line getting takeout, standing on the social distancing floor marker as you read the sign noting that masks are required, and if you are venturing into work, you are taking precautions to ensure the safety of yourself, your team and your customers.
This is a...2020-08-0221 min
The ECRM Podcast88. Walmart’s Scott Gutche on This Year’s Virtual Open CallThe application process for Walmart’s seventh annual Open Call is now open, and the retailer is inviting entrepreneurs seeking to get their U.S.-manufactured products on Walmart shelves to apply for the opportunity to meet with Walmart buyers October 1 via virtual pitch meetings.
The event kicks off Walmart’s celebration of U.S. Manufacturing Month and will include similar programming to previous years. In addition to one-on-one pitch meetings with Walmart buyers, participants will have an opportunity to hear directly from Walmart executives and learn from company leaders during smaller breakout sessions designed to inform, empower and encourage supp...2020-07-2209 min
The ECRM Podcast87. Today's Consumer Needs an 'Empathetic Ear' From Retailers & Brands (Larry Levin, IRI)With the myriad challenges the industry has faced over the past few months, empathy is probably the most important quality a retailer and brand can demonstrate when it comes to their shoppers. Now more than ever, we need to put ourselves in their shoes and develop not only products, but solutions that will help make their lives safer, easier and as close to a sense of “normalcy” as we can make it.
In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Larry Levin, EVP of Market & Shopper Intelligence for IRI Worldwide, about how consumers’ needs and shopping behaviors have changed over the pa...2020-07-1541 min
The ECRM Podcast86. Success at the Shelf: Color-Blocking Strategies for Packaging DesignThe true test of effective packaging design is that it makes the product jump out on the shelf and ultimately -- into the shopper's basket. One of the ways to accomplish this is by employing color-blocking strategies in the context of those competing products on the shelf, as well as within your line of products.
To show you how this is done, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Emily Page, CEO of Pearl Resourcing and a packaging design and product branding expert, who will take you through the steps on what you need to do.
Side note: This was originally recorded...2020-07-1035 min
The ECRM Podcast85. Back to Business: How Bars & Restaurants Can Navigate Re-Opening ChallengesThe last time ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Art Sutley and Ashley Bray, Publisher and Editor respectively of Bar Business Magazine, it was April and we were early in the lockdown phase due to the coronavirus pandemic. During that interview, they discussed what bars and restaurants need to do to survive the lockdown, and what they need to start thinking about when we eventually started reopening.
Now bars and restaurants beginning to reopen. Well, kind of. The country is really a patchwork of different phases of re-opening, with some places allowing limited indoor seating, others, like my home city of...2020-07-0835 min
The ECRM Podcast84. Enstrom Candies: Bringing the In-Person Experience to Virtual MeetingsSometimes change sparks up innovation, and that’s certainly what it did for Enstrom Candies during ECRM’s recent Candy Planning: Easter & Valentine’s Day Virtual Session. Jim Simons, the fourth-generation owner and VP of Sales for the manufacturer of all-natural almond toffee products, has been participating in ECRM in-person Candy Planning sessions for years, ever since they decided to expand from direct-to-consumer onto the store shelves.
With our pivot to virtual sessions, Jim and his team wanted to create an experience that was as close to the in-person ECRM meetings as possible, and found some interesting ways to do it, bu...2020-07-0220 min
The ECRM Podcast83. Retail Reset: Best Practices for Engaging Cautious Consumers (WSL Strategic Retail)The team at WSL Strategic Retail is known for their "in-the-trenches" analysis of retail where the rubber meets the road -- in the store and online -- and they have scouts in major cities around the world gathering intelligence to evaluate how retailers are engaging with shoppers.
As retailers are beginning to open up for business, these scouts have been checking out how they have adapted their stores and operations to this new environment, where shoppers are cautiously starting to make their way into stores again, whether to browse the aisles or to pick up an online order.
During this...2020-06-2541 min
The ECRM Podcast82. Virtual Sessions, Real Orders: Earth Friendly Products's Craig Harlan & ECRM ConnectCraig Harlan, VP of Sales for Earth-Friendly Products, is an example of a supplier who has experienced the speed in which buyers are following up from ECRM’s Virtual Sessions. Not only did he receive 33 follow up notifications from his meetings during our Pet Virtual Session, but one of those retailers, Bartell Drugs, already placed an order just days after the session wrapped up – and it wasn't just for his pet products, but for some other products as well!
In this episode, ECRM VP of COntent Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Craig about his company and the products they offer, and how...2020-06-2319 min
The ECRM Podcast81. What's Trending in the Pet Category (Maria Lange, VP of Pet & Cannabis Verticals, Nielsen)Maria Lange, Nielsen’s VP of Pet and Cannabis verticals, was slated to speak at ECRM’s Pet Program this past April, but the pandemic through a wrench in the works and so we transformed that program into a Virtual Session that was held last week, hosting more than 1,600 meetings between retailers and suppliers of pet products over the span of four days.
And in place of the in-person thought leadership session, participants were able to get a first-look at the video Q&A with Maria hosted by ECRM VP of Content Joseph Tarnowski, during which they covered some key tren...2020-06-1841 min
The ECRM Podcast80. Q&A With Bartell Drugs' Gemeral Merchandise Category Manager Howie CohenDuring the initial phase of the pandemic, essential items were considered to be things like food, hand sanitizer and of course, toilet paper. But as the stay-at-home orders began to span months, the definition of what was essential has shifted. Now it includes products that keep us occupied, that help us to work and learn from home, things that help us to prepare meals, and many of these products fall under the general merchandise umbrella.
In this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Howie Cohen, General Merchandise Category Manager for Bartell Drugs, about how their consumers' shopping a...2020-06-1634 min
The ECRM Podcast79. The New Retail Mindset & What it Means for Suppliers (Dan Mack, Founder of Mack Elevation)One impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is that it has changed the mindset of retailers and the way in which they view thier supplier partnerships. They have new expectations when it comes to supply chain capabilities, innovation, and consumer engagement, and trust is now more important than ever.
In this episode, ECRM's Wayne Bennett speaks with Dan Mack, Founder & Managng Director of Mack Elevantion Forum, they discuss this new retail mindset and provide some insights on how suppliers can best engage with them moving forward.
Dan is a strategist, advisor and performance coach to numerous co...2020-06-1117 min
The ECRM Podcast78. ECRM Virtual Platform a 'Game Changer' for Hy-Vee's Todd GeanTodd Gean, Candy Category Manager for Hy-Vee, who was originally a bit skeptical about participatng in ECRM's Virtual Session for Easter & Valentine's Day Candy Planning. After all, he had been working remotely for a couple of months now and had been setting up virtual meetings with suppliers on his own. So he figured, why would he need us to do it? But that all changed once his meetings began, and he saw the value delivered by the people, process and platform behind ECRM's virtual sessions. In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski chats with Todd about his experience with our...2020-06-0916 min
The ECRM Podcast77. Rebound, Reboot, Reinvent: Nielsen's Scott McKenzie on What's Next for CPG RetailIn this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Nielsen's Global Intelligence Leader Scott Mckenzie on what we can expect as the CPG retail industry emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, based on Nielsen's global research of companies and consumers around the world -- including countries that are further along the road in terms of opening up their businesses.
They discuss the various mixed scenarios that we can face depending on which direction the pandemic takes, as well as how consumers will shop differently post-pandemic. Scott also provides recommendations for how retailers and brands can effectively engage consumers as we pass through...2020-06-0431 min
The ECRM Podcast76. Delivering Awesome Virtual Buyer Presentations: How Total Cluster Fudge Does ItTotal Cluster Fudge makes several lines of baked goods ranging from the unapologetically indulgent to the healthy and nutritionally dense. Founder Alisa Shakespeare has seen a ton of success with ECRM's digital solutions. Her RangeMe Verified Premium profile received more than 1,000 views from buyers in just two weeks. Her Efficient Supplier Introduction presentation resulted in a pending retail deal that should be closed any day now. And on top of this, she had six buyers contact her immediately following her participation in ECRM's first virtual session. One buyer said that Alisa's virtual presentation was among the most memorable that...2020-06-0126 min
The ECRM Podcast75. Overstock.com’s Kate Soffe on the ECRM Virtual Session ExperienceOverstock.com's Kate Soffe was among the more than 70 buyers who participated in ECRM's first virtual session ever: the Healthy Living, Vitamin & Nutrition session, which was held last week. During the span of four days, ECRM hosted more than 630 face-to-face meetings between buyers and sellers of vitamins, supplements and nurition products on the Connect platform.
In this episode, Kate gives us an overview of her experience with the virtual session. She discusses how she worked with our client success team to prepare for using the platform and its tools. She then gives details on she used those t...2020-05-2815 min
The ECRM Podcast74. ECRM’s Virtual Session a ‘Seamless’ Experience for Clorox (Bob Richardson & Alla Scharlinski)Clorox was one of the supplier participants of ECRM's very first virtual session, the Healthy Living, Vitamin & Nutrition Program, during which we hosted more than 630 meetings between buyers and sellers in the vitamin, minerals and supplements categories. It's line of Better Health brands includes Renew Life, a probiotic and cleanse brand; Rainbow Light, which specializes in premium multivitamins and prenatal supplements; Natural Vitality Calm, a magnesium brand; and NeoCell, a premier collagen brand.
During this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Bob Richardson, Director of Customer & Industry Development and Alla Scharlinski, Clorox’s Customer Development Manager for Nat...2020-05-2528 min
The ECRM Podcast73. COVID-19's Lasting Impact on the Mass Retail Landscape: Jeff Woldt, Racher PressWhat will the mass retail landscape look like as we make our way through and past the pandemic? To explore answers to this question, I spoke with Jeff Woldt, VP and Editor-in-Chief at Racher Press, which publishes Chain Drug Review and MMR magazine. Jeff has been covering the mass retail industry for almost three decades and has spoken extensively with top executives at the largest retail chains on the subject.
During the podcast we cover a variety of areas, such as how the instore environment will be impacted moving forward, the role online and delivery will play, new opportunities that...2020-05-2129 min
The ECRM Podcast72. Walgreens' Stefanie Kruse on How Covid-19 is Accelerating the Role of DigitalWe've all seen how the pandemic has driven many shoppers to digital solutions, whether e-commerce for shopping, telemedicine for pharmacist consultations, or that hybrid of order online and pick up at the store. In this podcast, ECRM SVP of Retail Wayne Bennett speaks with Stefanie Kruse, who as the VP of Digital Commerce & Omnichannel for Walgreens, is right in the center of all of this. While she was already working on a ton of digital innovations for the drug chain, Covid-19 has greatly accelerated many of them. During this interview you'll learn about some of these initiatives, as well as...2020-05-1819 min
The ECRM Podcast71. How Consumers Will Shop Post Covid-19 (Elizabeth Gretkowski, WSL Strategic Retail)As many states look to start opening up their businesses, fear and financial insecurity are still the main drivers of how consumers are shopping. Fear of the coronavirus is keeping many people indoors even after being quarantined for two months, and with the number of newly unemployed now hitting Great Depression levels, fear of running out of money is leading shoppers to stretch their dollars as much as possible. These are some of the topics ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski touches on during this podcast interview with Elizabeth Gretkowski, Senior Consultant at WSL Strategic Retail, as they review some of the findigs...2020-05-1530 min
The ECRM Podcast70. Connecting With Buyers When You Can't Meet in Person: Stephen Caldwell, Swiss RostiIn this interview, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Stephen Caldwell, Founder of Swiss Rosti, which makes "Crispy Potato-Filled Pockets of Deliciousness." And Joe can tell you first-hand that that is an accurate description of the products because he tried a bunch of samples last week!
Steve discusses all of the things that went into his very successful Efficient Supplier Introduction Exprience, from his prep work with ECRM's Client Success Managers behind the scenes, to the detailed schedule and instructions they provided for his presentation, and even how he set up his meeting space so he can present t...2020-05-1230 min
The ECRM Podcast69. How TickKey Intl. Connects with Buyers Around the World via ECRM Virtual SolutionsIf you are a supplier considering participation on one of ECRM's virtual solutions, then this is the podcast for you. In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Donna Lucente, CEO of Tick Key, which makes an innovative tick removal product that sells in U.S. and in countries around the world. She's a regular at ECRM Programs, and recently participated in our Pet Efficient Supplier Introduction.
Donna provides details on how the ECRM team worked hand-in-hand with her to ensure she had an optimal ESI experience. They took her through the platform, making sure she was comfortable with all...2020-05-0727 min
The ECRM Podcast68. ECRM Euro Virtual Solutions: A Seller's Experience (Merzdorf Fine Food)In this podcast episode, I speak wth Andrzej Grudniok of Merzdorf Fine Food, which makes high-protein healthy snacks made from chicken breast fillets. The company won a buyers choice award at last year's ECRM Euro Food session, and I was supposed to meet him again this past March in Rome, but unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic prevented that from happening. Instead, we held launched our European Efficient Supplier Introductions last week, and he was able to present his products to buyers virtually.
Durig our discussion Andrzej goes over his very interesting origin story with details on how the company and its...2020-05-0625 min
The ECRM Podcast67. Irish Distributor Taps ECRM for Virtual Product Discovery (David Morrin, Wholefoods Wholesale)Last week ECRM launched its Efficient Supplier Introductions in Europe, giving retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operators the ability to meet with suppliers at scale in a virtual format so that they can continue their product discvery efforts even though they can't travel.
In this interview, I speak with David Morrin of Wholefoods Wholesale, Ireland's largest distributor of natural foods and healthcare products. He participated as a buyer on our Euro Beauty Efficient Supplier Introduction, where he saw presentations from more than 10 suppliers in the category. He talks about his experience on the ESI, and how the ECRM team helped him...2020-05-0419 min
The ECRM Podcast66. The Art of Differentiation in the Face of Adversity: Branding Expert & Author David BrierIn these challenging times, there are two options. You can freeze in fear, and do nothing, or you can take action. David Brier is all about taking action. He’s a branding expert and Creative Director of DBD International, as well as the author of Brand Intervention: 33 Steps to Transform the Brand You Have Into the Brand You Need, a book that was lauded by the likes of Daymond John and Grant Cardone. He also has a huge social media presence, and is well known for his One-Minute Wednesday videos which range from inspirational to hard-hitting, and even downright hilarious – look...2020-05-0143 min
The ECRM Podcast65. Ecommerce Auto-Replenishment in a Post Covid-19 World (Tom Furphy, Consumer Equity Partners)In this episode, Wayne Bennett, SVP, Retail for ECRM and Tom Furphy, CEO of Consumer Equity Partners, discuss the growing importance and growth of e-commerce in today’s retail environment, and how auto-replenishment capabilities can help grow basket size, create supply chain efficiencies and drive shopper loyalty. Tom also provides some insights into technology's role in retail's future, and what strategic areas retailers and suppliers should be exploring for the post Covid-19 world.
Tom Furphy is CEO of Consumer Equity Partners, a Seattle-based venture capital and venture development firm that focuses on retail and related commerce technologies. Within the portfolio, he...2020-04-2834 min
The ECRM Podcast64. Covid-19 and the CBD Category: Challenges & Opportunities (Bethany Gomez, Brightfield Group)The CBD industry was just starting to gain momentum in mass retail when the coronavirus hit the United States. The pandemic impacted CBD supply chains and posed a challenge to startup brands that depended heavily on outside investments. Yet at the same time, heavy CBD users stockpiled products in order to provide themselves with a means of self-care and to deal with the anxiety they knew would be coming with the quarantine.
In this episode, ECRM’s Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Bethany Gomez, Managing Director of Brightfield Group, which provides market intelligence and consumer insights for the CBD and cannabis in...2020-04-2325 min
The ECRM Podcast63. Yesway's Derek Gaskins: Meeting the Covid-19 Crisis with Flexibility & AgilityFlexibility and agility are the key traits that Yesway’s Derek Gaskins attributes to the convenience store chain’s ability to adapt to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This flexibility and agility comes in numerous forms, including finding sources of products they never would have considered before, leveraging Fedex or UPS to distribute products to stores when necessary, and taking on furloughed QSR employees as temporary help. Indeed, the retailer has managed to achieve what’s seems almost impossible to do in today’s world -- staying one step ahead of the coronavirus.
In this Episode, ECRM SVP of Retai...2020-04-1926 min
The ECRM Podcast62. CBD Emporium's Andrew Young Turns to Virtual Platforms for Product SourcingAndrew Young is the Vice President of Product Management and Vendor Relations for CBD Emporium, a retailer with stores across Arizona that offers a full range of branded and store brand CBD products. Its associates provide a very consultative approach to customer interactions, making them the go-to spot for first timers as well as veteran CBD users. In this interview, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and Andrew discuss the retailer's approach to selling CBD products, as well as how he discovers, vets and partners with the vendor community.
And due to travel restrictions from the Covi-19 pandemic, he's increasingly t...2020-04-1740 min
The ECRM Podcast61. Staying Engaged With Customers During COVID-19: Manna Kadar, Founder of Manna Kadar BeautyIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Manna Kadar, Founder and CEO of Manna Kadar Beauty, about how she has adjusted to the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic –– not just as a business owner, but also as a mom.
They discussed the various ways in which Kadar is staying engaged with buyers and consumers, and how she's leveraging content and social media to do this, sharing information not just about beauty, but about different ways in which her audience can cope with the isolation, such as cooking together with the family, sprucing up different areas of the home, and manag...2020-04-1542 min
The ECRM Podcast60. Getting Back to Business Post Covid-19: What Bars & Restaurants Need to KnowOnce the coronavirus pandemic passes, we'll all be getting back to business -- but getting back to business for bars and restaurants may be particularly challenging with potental social distancing requirements and consumers who will remain cautious about being near others. In this epidsode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Bar Business Magazine's Art Sutley and Ashley Bray about what a post Covid-19 world will look like for bars and restaurants, and how owners and operators of these establishments can best prepare for this new normal.2020-04-1242 min
The ECRM Podcast59. The Value of Virtual Buyer Meetings: Pamela Heyward, Founder of SOS Life SciencesIn this episode, I speak with Pamela Hayward, Founder of SOS Life Sciences, which makes solutions for people and pets living with diabetes. We discuss her recent successful participation in an ECRM Efficient Supplier Introduction, as well as the value of virtual buyer meetings.
For more information on ECRM Efficient Supplier Introductions, click here:
https://ecrm.marketgate.com/Blog/2020/03/ECRM-Virtual-Platform-to-Help-Buyers-Continue-Sourcing-Amid-Travel-Restrictions?utm_source=Post&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=SOSlifesciences
SOS Life Sciences Website: https://www.soslifesciences.com2020-04-1017 min
The ECRM Podcast58. How Covid-19 is Impacting the School/Office Supplies Category: Leen Nsouli, NPDNow that we've been under the stay-at-home order for a few weeks, consumers have been seeking out products that can help them and their families better cope with isolation, and many of these products are within the school and office supplies category. They include everything from arts and crafts-related materials, to organizational products for those now working or learning from home, to fun products like finger paints and slime.
In this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with NPD's Leen Nsouli about how consumers are now shopping the school and office supplies category during the crisis, which segments of the category...2020-04-1041 min
The ECRM Podcast57. Managing in the Age of COVID19: Perspectives from Leading CPG Sales & Marketing ConsultantsECRM's SVP of Retail Wayne Bennett speaks with Roger Gravitte, Chief Operating Officer of The Emerson Group, Jeff Mueller, Senior Director, Trade Marketing/Analytics & Insights of The Greenwood Group, and Kristine Urea, EVP of Market Performance Group, about how they're supporting their customers and working with retail partners during the coronavirus crisis.
They discuss the key priorities of retailers, and how this affects current supply chain needs, product supply and process, and wrap up with their predictions on how the industry will recalibrate once the pandemic passes.2020-04-0936 min
The ECRM Podcast56. Cul+ure Collective's Virtual Happy Hour & Cocktail Class: Innovation in a Time of CrisisCul+ture Collective's Virtual Happy Hour and Cocktail Class is a weekly live event that the restaurant and hospitality company started when restaurants were closed to dine-in customers due to coronavirus, and takes place every Saturday at 5pm. It draws live crowds of more than 100 people to enjoy entertainment and cocktail education while chatting with each other on Zoom. What's more, all of the proceeds from this innovative event go to help the bar staff. In this interview,
ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Assistant Director of Guest Experiences Carolyn Rhoades and Creative Partner Pat Pipi, who discuss every...2020-04-0850 min
The ECRM Podcast55. Creating Contextual Content During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Mark Evans, The Sasha Group)For brands, developing content that's contextual to the market is more important now than ever before. At a time where consumers are concerned with survival, finding peace of mind, and establishing somea sense of normalcy, a brand's content must be empathetic and definitely not come off as trying to sell something.
These are some of the areas I discuss with Mark Evans, Executive Director of The Sasha Group, which works with emerging brands on marketing and growth, including many brands that participate in ECRM programs. We also touch on how the new normal of digital engagement during this pandemic will...2020-04-0740 min
The ECRM Podcast54. Covid-19's Impact on Retail & CPG: Joan Driggs, VP of Content & Thought Leadership, IRIIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Joan Driggs, VP of Content & Thought Leadership for IRI, which just hosted a webcast about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the retail and CPG industries. We discuss some of the key findings from the research, including the recession-like behaviors consumers are demonstrating, the shift to online or click and collect, and he willingness for consumers to try new products, which is creating opportunities for emerging brands to fill the gaps from out-of-stocks. We wrap up with a look at what the post coronavirus retail environment will look like.
Here's a link...2020-04-0641 min
The ECRM Podcast53. Social Responsibility & Covid-19: Mel Bandler, Fair Trade USAFair Trade USA seeks to build a model of responsible business, conscious consumerism, and shared value to eliminate poverty and enable sustainable development for farmers, workers, their families, and their communities around the world. It also helps provide producers with the tools they need for resiliency and help increase their access to sanitation, preventative resources, and healthcare services -- whch are becoming critically important during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the intervew, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Mel Bandler, Retail Relationship Manager, about how Fair Trade USA works with retailers and suppliers, and the challenges -- as well as opportunities...2020-04-0534 min
The ECRM Podcast52. ECRM Efficient Supplier Introductions: A Supplier's Experience (George Mandras, Flex Beauty LabsIf you are a supplier and thinking of participating in an ECRM Efficient Supplier Introduction program, then this podcast is for you. In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with George Mandras, President of Flex Beauty Labs, who discusses his experience on our first ESI, which was for the hand sanitizers category. He takes you through everything from when he registered up to his presentation and follow up, as well as how our client success manager got him up to speed on using the digital platform.2020-04-0311 min
The ECRM Podcast51. Young Nails' CEO Habib Salo: Delivering Value with Beauty Content During Covid-19Those beauty suppliers out there definitely want to check out this interview. In this interview, ECRM’s Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Habib Salo, CEO of Young Nails about how he leverages digital content and social media to stay engaged with his audience – something that’s especially critical for those of you in the category impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
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And they get into the weeds in this one. Habib not only discusses his general philosophy around content marketing in general, but he provides details on the type of content he’s been putting out, how he approa...2020-04-0350 min
The ECRM Podcast50. Albertsons Marketplace, Covid-19, and How Everything Changed in 3 WeeksDuring this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speakwith Jeff Bordes, the Business Development Manager for Albertsons Marketplace, about how much has changed since they last spoke on March 13. Consumers are now flooding the ecommerce site to pick up those food staples like beans and rice that they would have typically picked up in the stores pre-coronavirus.
Jeff also discusses how he is keeping up with this demand by finding and engaging with emerging brands that can ship directly to these shoppers, and how this may change the way people think of ecommerce once this all passes.
View on YouTube: https://youtu...2020-04-0241 min
The ECRM Podcast49. How Coronavirus Has Changed the Way Consumers Shop: Wendy Liebmann, WSL Strategic RetailThe coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the way consumers shop. First of all, with a limited number of brick and mortar stores open and people concerned about social distancing, many people have turned to ecommerce. On top of this, with millions of people now out of work, finances are playing a major roe in shopping decisions. These are just two of the topics I discuss with Wendy Liebmann, CEO & Chief Shopper of WSL Strategic Retail, which just fielded some new research on how the pandemic is impacting consumers’ shopping habits.
Learn more about the study: http://www.wslstrategicretail.com/2020-03-3135 min
The ECRM Podcast48. The Impact of Covid-19 on the Beauty Category: Marlea Clark, CMO of Stella RisingThe beauty category may not technically be among those "essentials" customers are yanking off the shelves such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, but many consumers are turning to products like face masks, hair care and bath bombs for self-care and to bring a sense of normalcy to self-isolation.
In this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Marlea Clark, Chief Marketing Officer for digital marketing agency Stella Rising, about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the beauty category, and how beauty brands can leverage social media to stay engaged with customers until they can get back into stores.
#ecrmrangeme #beauty...2020-03-3034 min
The ECRM Podcast47. Nicholas Bertram, President of The Giant Company: Adapting to the Coronavirus PandemicIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Nicholas Bertram, President of The Giant Company, about how his company has adapted to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They touch on how the company has dealt with supply chain issues and finding new sources of products that are out-out-of stock from panic buying, how daily operations have evolved to accommodate the new normal, as well as the surge of online shopping and how they are handling it.
Nicholas also discusses how Giant has engaged its community -- including providing jobs for those affected by layoffs, and the role of...2020-03-2723 minThe ECRM Podcast46. How Restaurants Can Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic - and Emerge Stronger (Donald Burns)If you're running a restaurant operation during today's challenging times, then you definitely need to listen to this episode. ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Donald Burns, also known as The Restaurant Coach, who is the author of two books on running successful restaurants, has spoken at restaurant events around the country (including at ECRM programs), and coaches restaurant owners and operators around the globe.
In this episode, they discuss the challenges that restaurant operators face during the coronavirus pandemic, and what they can do to not only survive it, but to emerge from it stronger than ever. Tons of practical...2020-03-2633 min
The ECRM Podcast45. How the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Changed the Way Consumers Think About Food (Kim Kirchherr)In this podcast episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Kim Kirchherr, President of K2 Outcomes, which specializes in the connection of agriculture, food and health for individuals and organizations. Kim is a Registered Dietitian and certified personal trainer, has worked for 10 years at a major food retail chain, and has pretty much been in the food and agriculture industry her entire career.
They discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way consumers think about food from the perspective of shopping, storage and meal prep, and how retailers can best engage them in today's environment, as well as once this...2020-03-2547 minThe ECRM Podcast44. Entrepreneurship in the Face of Adversity: LoveHandle Smartphone Grips & the Impact of Covid-19In this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Mike Watts and Scott Glaser of LoveHandle Smartphone Grips, a RangeMe Premium member and ECRM program participant that attended our Impulse, Front-End & Checklane as one of The Shark Group suppliers, and showcased its innovative American-made product that makes it virtually impossible to drop your cell phone while using it.
They discuss the origin of the company, how they are working with Daymond John and The Shark Group, and their experience with RangeMe and ECRM.
They also talk about the challenges they are facing during the coronavirus pandemic, as many of the company's...2020-03-2446 minThe ECRM Podcast43. Datassential Update: The Impact of Coronavirus on the Restaurant IndustryDatassential update on how the coronavirus is impacting the restaurant industry. This is a video version of the podcast interview with Ian O'Neil in which he and ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski discuss Datassential's most recent update on how Covid-19 is impacting restaurants, as well as the way consumers are purchasing food from them. Among the topics they cover are:
- The impact of restaurants shifting to delivery/takeout
- Shift in focus from taste to cleanliness/sanitization
- Gaining the trust of foodservice consumers
- How people have shifted their food ordering habits
- The popularity of ordering pizza during...2020-03-2332 minThe ECRM Podcast42. Foodservice Buyer Profile: Dot Foods, Inc. (Park Plank, Dir. of Business Development - New SupplIn this episode me and Stephanie Nicklos from our foodservice team speak with Park Plank, Director of Business Development - New Suppliers for Dot Foods, Inc., which, as a national re-distributor, sits between the manufacturers and distributors to add efficiencies into the entire food supply chain.
We cover the history of Dot Foods, how it drives these supply chain efficiencies, and what Park looks for in the suppliers with which he decides to do business. Definitely a must listen for any suppliers looking to do business with Dot Foods!
https://www.dotfoods.com
ECRM Program List:
https://ecrm.marketgate.com...2020-03-2340 minThe ECRM Podcast41. Food Trends in 2020 & Beyond: Ian O'Neil, DatassentialIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Datassential's Ian O'Neil about menu trends in the foodservice industry based on recent research from the company.
They address four key areas:
- Generational shifts in food consumption
- The influence of global flavors
- College & university food behavior
- Impact of health and wellness on menus2020-03-1945 minThe ECRM Podcast40. Greystone Premium Organic Tea: Forging Ahead During the Covid-19 PandemicECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Shiv Joshi, Managing Director of Greystone Premium Organic Tea about the steps he's taking to keep his business going during the lockdown we're all experiencing as a result of the coronavirus.
This includes leveraging digital opportunities, such as the buyer review days RangeMe has been hosting for several major retailers, and keeping engaged with the natural foods community on LinkedIn. Lots of useful info here for all suppliers!
#ecrmrangeme #brands #rangeme #coronavirus #covid192020-03-1848 minThe ECRM Podcast39. How Foodservice Buyers are Adapting to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Keith Schalk, Gordon Food ServiceIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and Stephanie Nicklos speak with Keith Schalk of Gordon Food Service about how Covid-19 has impacted the way the company and its customers are going about their business. Keith gives an overview of the 120-year-old company, the various services it offers to independent restaurants and other foodservice operations, and how they have adapted sourcing and product reviewing -- including "virtual cuttings" that span several locations.
Keith was one of the buyers planning to attend ECRM's Foodservice Programs in Vegas this week, which obviously had to be rescheduled due to travel restrictions. N...2020-03-1741 minThe ECRM Podcast38. Albertsons Marketplace: The Impact of Coronavirus on Shopping, Sales & Product DiscoveryIn this episode, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with Jeff Bordes of Albertsons Marketplace about how the Coronavirus has impacted the e-commerce business.
They discuss how shoppers' buying habits have changed as the virus has become more prevalent, challenges the marketplace vendors are facing in replenishing their supplies, and how his product discovery efforts have altered with fewer face-to-face options available -- including his leveraging of solutions from ECRM and RangeMe
#ecrmrangeme #brands #retail #business #coronavirus2020-03-1330 minThe ECRM Podcast37. NPD's Stephen Baker on Trends, Challenges & Opportunities in the Consumer Technology SegmentThis episode is the audio from a presentation given by Stephen Baker of The NPD Group during ECRM's Innovative Technology Program in Chicago.During the presentation, Stephen discussed trends in the Consumer Technology industry and the future outlook based on NPD data. He also examined the impact of e-commerce on consumer tach sales, as well as took a deep dive into specific consumer technology product categories to uncover the challenges and opportunities within each.#consumertechnology #electronics #speakers #headphones #audio #gaming2020-03-0939 minThe ECRM Podcast36. How Brands Can Bootstrap Awesome Content Marketing (Mark Evans, The Sasha Group)How emerging brands can bootstrap awesome content marketing: ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and Mark Evans of The Sasha Group discuss how brands can develop and deploy effective content at scale with limited resources by leveraging man
y of the strategies and tactics Mark discussed in his presentation at our Innovative Tech Program in Chicago. Among these were:
* Developing "hero" content that can be repurposed across various platforms
* Effective storytelling
* Engagement and community-building
* The mobile phone as a powerful content-development tool
They also discussed the importance of viewing your content marketing as part of your business development efforts, and scheduling it regularly...2020-03-0514 minThe ECRM Podcast34. Joe's Visit to the Planet 13 Dispensary, and What Mass Retailers Selling CBD Can Learn From ItIn this podcast, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski discusses his observations from a recent visit to the Planet 13 dispensary in Las Vegas, and what learnings mass retailers selling CBD products can learn from it.
There are two main takeaways from this:
1. Education is the key to success in the CBD game: both the education of those selling it, as well as THEIR ability to educate those looking to buy it.
2. Every retailer selling CBD should visit a dispensary, and see how they interact with customers. It's a lot different than helping shoppers decide which cereal or lipstick to buy!
Let us know...2020-02-2714 minThe ECRM Podcast33. The Impact of Veganism on the European Beauty Industry (Peter Mudahy, CEO of Pak Group)ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski and Pak Cosmetics CEO Peter Mudahy discuss the impact of veganism on the cosmetics industry during the ECRM Euro Beauty Program in Barcelona.
January has become known as Veganuary when a UK-based nonprofit group by that name was started to encourage consumers to embrace a plant-based lifestyle for the first month of the year.
Recently, the UK passed a law saying that organizations like restaurants and hotels must offer vegan options for consumers.
Joe and Peter discuss how this has impacted the way consumers shop his stores and website, as well as his assortments and product...2020-02-2505 minThe ECRM Podcast32. Tops Markets' Dir. of Center Store/Grocery Michael Nugent on ECRM's Format, Process & CultureMichael Nugent with Tops Markets is not just a 25-year veteran of the grocery industry, but is also an adjunct professor of organizational behavior and so in this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski he wears both hats to discuss how the ECRM format, process and especially its culture combine to deliver value for retailers like Tops.
Mike gives an overview of his company and its goals at the Snack, Center Store and Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Programs, as well as how he and his team work closely with the retail team (in his case, Wayne Bennett , Jessica Moore and Taylor Huston...2020-02-2410 minThe ECRM Podcast31. How SpartanNash Completes its Christmas Candy Planning in Just One Week with ECRMSpartanNash Candy Category Manager Barry Phillips accomplishes all of his Christmas candy category planning in less than a week at ECRM 's Candy Planning: Christmas & Halloween Program.
In this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski , Barry outlines how he works with Laura Dillie of our Retail Team prep for the program, the at the program itself he'll meet with participating suppliers -- as well as some suppliers who come in specifically to meet with him. Then he selects product samples to be sent to his planning room, where he works with his analysts to make his final decisions on which items...2020-02-2206 minThe ECRM Podcast30. ECRMADVANTAGE: Prepping Suppliers for Successful Buyer Appointments at ECRM ProgramsECRM Client Success Managers help buyers and sellers prep for our programs to ensure they get the most out of their experience. This includes learning the needs and objectives of the buyers, and educating suppliers on how to use our tools, how to prepare for buyer appointments, and how to set up their meeting spaces.
This includes webcasts in which buyers and sellers with experience at our programs providing advice from their own experiences with us on how to take advantage of every opportunity offered at our programs, from the meetings to the networking functions as well as the educational...2020-02-2106 minThe ECRM Podcast29. ECRM SupplierDEMAND: Promoting Your Brand to Buyers in Advance of our ProgramsThe moment a supplier registers for an ECRM program, our Client Success Managers begin promoting them to registered buyers in a process we call SupplierDEMAND.
We provide these buyers with all the relevant supplier information, including product information, supplier capabilities, relevant certifications, and any unique points of differentiation.
In this interview with Joseph Tarnowski , CSM Caroline Bernitt discusses how they execute these services and how they help set up suppliers for success!
#ecrmrangeme #cpg #brands #retail #business2020-02-2003 minThe ECRM Podcast27. The Paleo Foundation & Certifications for Paleo, Keto and Grain-Free/Gluten-Free FoodsThe Paleo Foundation has developed certifications for Paleo, Keto and Grain-Free/Gluten-Free foods, and is working with retailers and brands to help consumers navigate these categories as these diets become increasingly prevalent among them.
In this interview, Joseph Tarnowski of ECRM speaks with the Foundations VP of Advocacy Todd Jamalkowski about what these certifications mean, the process behind them, and their benefits for retailers, brands and consumers.
ECRM recently launched its Specialty Diets & Healthy Foods Programs to connect retailers and brands seeking these types of products -- click the link below for more info!
Specialty Diets & Healthy Foods: Center Store...2020-02-1806 minThe ECRM Podcast25. The Importance of Sustainability for CPG Brands: Larry Levin, IRIIRI 's Larry Levin discusses the importance of sustainability for suppliers in the CPG retail industry in this interview with ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski during the Convenience & Impulse Programs in Las Vegas last month.
IRI conducted research with NYU Stern School of Business in which they examined POS data for products that had sustainable attributes on the packaging such as Fair Trade, organic, Leaping bunny -- attributes that showed the products were good for people, good for the planet or good for the workers producing them -- accounted for more than half of all of the CPG growth during the...2020-02-1705 minThe ECRM Podcast24. The Shark Group: What it Is, What it Does & Who it Works With (Morri Chowaiki, Head of Sales)The Shark Group offers a ton of turnkey services to get brands ready for retail. While it's owned by Daymond John , it has nothing to do with the Shark Tank TV show -- indeed, some of its brands did not come from the show.
Among the services it provides are marketing, branding, social media engagement, EDI, and preparation and preparation for buyer meetings.
ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Head of Sales & Retail Morri Chowaiki about the group, what it does and who it works with during our Impulse Program in Las Vegas, where 10 of The Shark Group brands had...2020-02-1311 minThe ECRM Podcast23. CBD Trends in Mass Retail: Larry Levin, IRI WorldwideIRI 's Larry Levin discusses trends in the CBD category with Joseph Tarnowski of ECRM during our Convenience & Impulse Programs in Las Vegas.
During the interview, they touch on how the CBD segment is exploding in mass retail, and how keeping an eye on the dispensary channel will provide retailers and suppliers with insights into where it may head in food, drug and mass channels.
#ecrmrangeme #cbd #hemp #cannabis #retail #brands #cpg
Click here for info on ECRM's 2020 Convenience Program: https://ecrm.marketgate.com/Sessions/2021/01/Convenience?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=LarryLevinCBD2020-02-1208 minThe ECRM Podcast22. When a Brand Owner IS an Influencer: Erich Roa, CEO of Pacinos Signature LineWhen a brand owner is an influencer with 683K followers on Instagram , it makes for a powerful combination. That's the case with Pacinos Signature Line CEO Erich Roa, who went from celebrity barber -- who has styled Puff Daddy and Jay-Z, to owner of a line of hair products available at retailers like Target .
In this interview with ECRM VP of Content Joseph Tarnowski , Erich takes us through his journey as he grew his social media presence as he grew his business, first on MySpace (remember that platform) as a barber, then Facebook, and finally to Instagram.
When he sold 1,000...2020-02-1025 minThe ECRM Podcast21. How FTI Brands Expanded Distribution from 200 to 40K Stores in Just One Year.Hear how FTI Brands LLC went from distribution of its SneakERASER products in 200 stores to 40K+ stores in one year in this video interview with Co-Founders Kevin Consolo (a former ECRMer) and Chris Pavlica .
In this interview, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and the two entrepreneurs discuss the company's origin, as well as how they leveraged both ECRM and RangeMe to get on the shelf at major retailers like Walmart , CVS Health and Dollar General , and how they have evolved their brand based on the needs and objectives of retailers they have met to address the auto and golf markets as well.
...2020-02-1009 minThe ECRM Podcast20. Driving Sales in the Convenience Channel (Alan Adato, Yesway)Yesway Merchandising & Procurement Manager Alan Adato discusses several ways to boost sales in the Convenience category, which was the topic of the roundtable discussion he moderated during the ECRM Convenience Program in Vegas.
In this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski, Alan touches on the importance of merchandising (and merchandising displays) particularly for fresh foods, as well as how one convenience store operator at his table boosted the bottom line by eliminating coupons.
The roundtable was one of several concurrent discussions held as part of ECRM's Thought Interaction Pods, which give program participants the opportunity to take a "deep dive" on...2020-02-0207 minThe ECRM Podcast19. Best Practices for Sellers Participating in ECRM Programs (Jack Savdie, Global Beauty Care)ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski speaks with veteran ECRM seller participant Jack Savdie of GLOBAL BEAUTY CARE, INC about how to get the most from buyer meetings at ECRM programs.
Jack has been participating in ECRM programs for years, and has won multiple Buyers Choice Awards for GBC's beauty products. In this video he discusses:
- How to prep for buyer meetings - including meeting space set up and buyer research
- The conversation flow with the buyer during meetings
- How to best follow up after a meeting
#ecrmrangeme #brands #sales #meetings #business2020-02-0211 minThe ECRM Podcast18. Mirza Minds' Fam Mirza on Entrepreneurship & Successful Product LaunchesECRM VP of Content Joseph Tarnowski and CEO of Mirza Minds Fam Mirza discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, as well as the criteria behind successful products during ECRM's Impulse, Front-End & Checklane Program, where Fam was a special guest.
For entrepreneurs, focus is key, and the laser-focus needed to weather 18-hour days only comes when you have passion for what you're doing. And when it comes to products, the R&D groundwork is crucial for developing a product that will generate the most return for the least marketing spend.
And when it comes to grabbing eyeballs from...2020-01-3107 minThe ECRM Podcast13. How to Amplify Your Influencer Marketing Content: Karen Koslow, Wellness AmplifiedOnce you are working with influencers, it's important to amplify their content beyond its organic reach to get maximum exposure and ROI.
In this interview with ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski , Wellness Amplified Founder and CEO Karen Koslow discusses how brands can accomplish this through paid sponsorships as well as repurposing influencer content for use on their own platforms, such as on their own website, their RangeMe profile and on their Amazon storefront.
Karen will be speaking about influencer marketing at ECRM's Cough/Cold, Preventative & Allergy Program next week in Jacksonville!
Click here for more info on the program: https://ecrm...2020-01-2205 minThe ECRM Podcast12. ECRM Buyer Profile: Diana Gumbs, Category Manager - Beauty, Wakefern Food Corp.Wakefern Food Corp. Category Manager Diana Gumbs gives an overview of her company, the markets and consumers it serves, as well as the trends in beauty products among them during this interview with ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski at our Everyday and Holiday Cosmetics, Fragrance & Bath Program last week in Chicago.
She also touches on the value she gets from participating in ECRM programs, such as how our Retail Team works closely with her to discuss her needs and objectives so they can curate a schedule of appointments to match them perfectly.
The result? Meetings with new innovative suppliers and the...2020-01-2205 minThe ECRM Podcast11. Navigating the CBD Legal & Regulatory Landscape (Bridget Hill-Zayat, Hoban Law Group)NAVIGATING THE CBD LEGAL/REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Hoban Law Group's Bridget Hill-Zayat discussed the ever-changing legal and regulatory environment related to CBD during her keynote this morning at ECRM's Pet CBD and CBD Food & Beverage sessions.
In this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski, she provides some key takeaways from her presentation.
#ecrmrangeme #cbd #pet #food #beverage #legal2020-01-2204 minThe ECRM Podcast10. CBD Beverage Market Trends (Liz Stahura, BDS Analytics)CBD BEVERAGE MARKET TRENDS: CBD beverages are already seeing 80 percent growth year-over-year in the dispensary channel, and mass retailers at ECRM's CBD Food & Beverage Program met with many of these suppliers to be ready once the FDA issues an opinion.
In this interview, ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski and BDS Analytics' Elisabeth Stahura discuss CBD beverage trends and opportunities for mass retailers.
Two key trends are the popularity of water-soluble powders -- for their discreetness and portability, as well as functional ingredients, which create a connection with ingredients consumers are already familiar with. Many brands are marketing the mood and effects around...2020-01-2205 minThe ECRM Podcast9. NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and the Origin of his CBD Brand, DEFYNFL LEGEND AND CBD ENTREPRENEUR Terrell Davis discusses his journey into CBD and how it resulted in the founding of DEFY with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski at ECRM's CBD Food & Beverage Program in Cape Coral, Fla. -- where the company also took the 1st Place Buyers Choice award.
As an NFL running back, Terrell took a lot of bumps and bruises during the course of his football career (and also experienced severe migraines throughout his life). Traditional OTC and prescription remedies provided little relief, but when he discovered CBD, it changed his life.
Terrell also gives a little background on how...2020-01-2207 minThe ECRM Podcast8. Pearl Resourcing Rebrands Charcoal House Product Line for Success at the ShelfREBRANDING SUCCESS STORY: Great case study on how a supplier leveraged ECRM and Pearl Resourcing to successfully rebrand its line of products for several retailer wins from our programs.
This is a long one, but a good one. Charcoal House offers a TON of products that use activated charcoal to address all kinds of needs, from health, to the home, to pets and everything in between. As the were originally online only, their packaging wasn't suited to stand out on the shelf.
So CEO John Dinsley, who co-founded the company with his wife Kimberly, reached out to Emily Page of...2020-01-2209 minThe ECRM Podcast7. How Albertsons Marketplace Works with Brands: Jeff Bordes, Business Development Mgr.Albertsons Marketplace provides an "endless aisle" for the retailer and serves an an entry point for emerging brands looking to eventually get on the shelves or for established brands to try out new concepts.
In this interview with ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski, Jeff Bordes gives an overview of Albertsons Marketplace and how he works with brands.
#ecrmrangeme #retail #ecommerce #business #digital2020-01-2103 minThe ECRM Podcast6. Selecting the Right Influencers for Your Brand (Karen Koslow, Wellness Amplified)There is no question that influencer marketing is a powerful way of reaching your target audience. But finding the right influencers to work with for your particular brand is critical.
According to Karen Koslow , founder of Wellness Amplified -- who spoke with ECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski on the subject -- it comes down to considering the "5 Rs":
- Reach
- Resonance
- Relevance
- ROI Potential
- Reputation
The influencer you work with must have similar values as you brand, reach consumers that you are targeting, and authenticity in the field you play in. Depending on your goals, you might...2020-01-2007 minThe ECRM Podcast5. Social Media Engagement & Community Management for Brands: Zain Gaziani, VaynerMediaECRM 's Joseph Tarnowski and Zain Gaziani of VaynerMedia & Team GaryVee discuss the importance of social media community management for brands.
Engagement is a two-way street, and building a thoughtful dialogue with your brand's audience helps drive loyalty and extend your reach to potential new customers.
In this interview, Zain gives some background on his role at Vayner, how he engages with the Gary Vaynerchuk community, and provides some recommendations on how to best engage your audience.
#ecrmrangeme #socialmedia #marketing #communitymanagement #garyveechallenge2020-01-2009 minThe ECRM Podcast4. 99 Cents Only Stores Brandy Alexander: ECRM Helping New-to-Desk Buyers Get Quickly Up to SpeedECRM Programs are a perfect immersion education experience for buyers who are new to a category, like 99 Cents Only Stores Beauty Buyer Brandy Alexander, who joined the company last month and participated in our Everyday and Holiday Cosmetics, Fragrance & Bath Program in Chicago.
ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski spoke with Brandy about how she leveraged her meetings with sellers and the many networking opportunities to learn category trends, meet brands face-to-face, and ramp up her category relationships.
#ecrmrangeme #beauty #retail #buyers #sourcing #business2020-01-1703 minThe ECRM Podcast3. How ECRM & Apex-Brasil Helped Brazilian Brands Reach $122 Million in Sales in the U.S. MarketTrade Partner Organizations like Apex-Brasil leverage ECRM programs to help their supplier-members enter the U.S. retail market. At each category-based ECRM session, these suppliers have opportunities to meet with buyers face-to-face in private, prescheduled meetings, and also have many opportunities for networking and learning.
ECRM Client Success Managers work closely with each supplier before, during and after each session to ensure that they maximize every opportunity.
In this interview with Joseph Tarnowski , Apex-Brasil's Fernando Spohr discusses how the organization works with ECRM to help its members succeed in the U.S. market.
And the ROI is tremendous -- a $1.5...2020-01-1607 min
The ECRM Podcast2. Virtual Restaurants, Real $$$: (Kristen Adamowski, Uber Virtual Restaurants)Virtual Restaurants, Real $$$: Uber Virtual Restaurants' Kristen Adamowski will be presenting at the ECRM Commercial Foodservice Program on how restaurant and foodservice operators can leverage virtual restaurant concepts to drive incremental sales.
In this interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski she gives an overview of how virtual restaurants work, and how food delivery data is leveraged to select the best menu concepts to use.
In some cases, restaurant operators have actually grown their virtual concepts so much their sales match or exceed those of their physical locations!
Kristen's presentation is Tuesday, March 17 in Las Vegas.
Click here for more information, or...2020-01-1105 minThe ECRM Podcast1. The Importance of Earned Media for Brands: Nancy Trent, Trent & Co.EARNED MEDIA 101: This is the first in a series of video interviews on how brands can maximize exposure by getting earned media -- media coverage that is not paid for such as articles, blog posts or news features highlighting the vale of their brand.
In this video interview with ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski, public relations expert Nancy Trent of Trent and Company gives an overview of what earned media is, why it's important, and how it complements a brand's paid advertising efforts.
The video series will cover different aspects of earned media, including crafting a strong press release, working with influencers...2019-12-1304 min