A SEAT at THE TABLE: Helping business leaders grow their influence

Regardless of where you live, Amazon probably plays a role in your life. 

For many of us, Amazon has  become the go-to place when we need something - and want it delivered - or when it’s something we can’t find locally.  Or maybe we’re looking for product reviews.

For most retailers, more often than not, it’s the 800 ton gorilla that has either eaten your business - or is about to!

We all know that Amazon has the benefits of scale, a multi faceted business model that powers further growth, investors who aren’t pressuring its on profits, and seemingly bottomless pockets that allow it tremendous freedom to innovate, as well as grow it’s infrastructure.

But unlikely as it might seem, Amazon’s has it failures too.  There are sectors that even Amazon can’t crack.

In this episode, Dr. Robin Gaster, author of Behemoth, Amazon Rising:  Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon, will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays.  Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon.  And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.

Timestamps
(1:40)  How Amazon Wins in Key Categories
(2:50)  The Pros - and Cons - of Having a Massive Product Catelog
(9:37)  The Real Strategy Behind Amazon's Foray into Private Label
(14:28) Amazon's Next Move - New Sectors with Big Implications
(23:42) Why We Should be Worried
(27:53) Why Amazon is Likely to Win Any Antitrust Suits
(40.51) Where Amazon Could Stumble
(50:15) If You're Not Amazon - Here's What You Need to Do

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a sharp and well researched view of Amazon’s true strengths and weaknesses, as well as insights into how brands need to rethink the way they approach customers.

Although Behemonth, Amazon Rising, is packed with facts, statistics and technology explanations, it’s a surprisingly fast and engaging read.

Dr. Gaster is a visiting scholar at George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and the President of Incumetrics, Inc., a data and program evaluation consultancy that serves clients seeking to understand the intersection of technology, innovation, economics, and politics.

His clients include think tanks like the National Academies, Brookings and the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy; US government agencies including Navy, SBA, and NIST; foreign governments (Sweden, Finland); large companies like Houghton Mifflin and Deloitte - and many more.

In this episode, Dr. Gaster will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays.  Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon. And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop collections that will be bestsellers both online and in stores, then Spinexpo is the fair for you.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.   It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. 

I’m also pleased to announced that A Seat at The Table now has its own website where you can find the show notes, access to all of the podcast episodes and other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.   

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

More about Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon

Visit A Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fm

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Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

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It’s difficult to talk about apparel without also talking about materials.

And that quickly leads to conversations about sustainability.  Not so much about the need to use more sustainable materials. - most people are pretty clear on that. 

The challenge is how to check all of the boxes - and there are a lot! - that brands need to check these days.

I’m Jane Singer, and welcome to A Seat at The Table.

The question so many brands struggle with is “how to meet requests for better performance, better hand feel, visual appeal and, of course, sustainability?”

So I reached out to Veronica Pagani, a leading expert on materials sourcing to find out how she manages that complex equation.

Veronica was Vice President of raw materials sourcing at Ralph Lauren for 15 years, before leaving last year to start her own consulting business Studio VP.

She’s worked with suppliers around the world and has been challenged to meet the stringent standards that are part of working for a major brand that faces constant pressure to be more sustainable, meet strict compliance standards, work on tight lead times, while also being innovative in terms of performance and design.

Speaking of materials, before we get started, if you’re looking for  a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, Then Spinexpo is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.   It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else. 

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Studio VP:  www.studiovp.io

The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtation

Visit a Seat at The Table's website where you'll find all of our podcast episodes, more show notes plus other useful information.  Go to www.seat.fm

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re like most of us, you’ve seen video meetings go from a temporary measure to become part of the ‘new normal’. 

Love them or leave them, Zoom, Teams, Skype and other apps are here to stay.  So smart leaders are adapting and conquering what is really just one more step in an overall migration to all things digital.

So how do we  bridge what is a clear divide between in person and online?  Where can we improve the way we communicate information and ideas?  What can we do to win the day in this strange new virtual environment?

If you’re looking to make a better impression in online meetings or take your virtual meetings to the next level then the man to see is Eduardo Placer.

Eduardo is the CEO and Founder of Fearless Communicators, whose clients include HBO, Google, Bank of America- Merrill Lynch, Yale, The Juilliard School, and the Wharton School of Business, as well as a list of A-lister private clients that are too many mention here.

If you’re looking to develop show stopping collections that will perform on the selling floor and online, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. 

And, I’m pleased to share that A Seat at The Table Podcast now has its own website.  You’ll find the playlist, the show notes and other useful information there.  You can check it out at seat.fm.


Useful Links

• Learn about SPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.com
• Fearless Communicators:  www.fearlesscommunicators.com
• A Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fm

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As retail looks forward to returning to normal, most of the attention is focused on which brands will be opening stores and what the new omni-channel strategies might look like.

However, we might overlooking what else needs to change.  Will post-pandemic retail simply be a rollout of they we ‘always did things’.  Or will brands reimagine new ways to connect with consumers so they can drive both sales and profits.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table.

I put that question to Andrew Smith, a transformational retailer leader who focusses on the future of retail and customer experience, and is co-founder and managing partner of Think Uncommon, a retail innovation thinktank.   Andrew has worked with both established retailers and startups to develop action-focused  strategies to help them thrive in highly competitive markets.

In this episode he’ll share some of what he sees as opportunities for brands and retailers to rethink as they reopen.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for precise trend information that will define your next best-sellers, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now let’s sit down with Andrew and learn how we can seize the opportunity to rebuild retail.

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Andrew Smith and ThinkUncommon:  www.thinkuncommon.com

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Now with the vaccine rollout seriously underway in many countries, a growing number of brands have solid reasons to feel optimistic  that retail could start to rebound.  At worst, there is a bit more clarity about the future.

 To get a 'behind the scenes' look at what retail might look like in the coming months, I reached out to Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman at Newmark, a leading property consultant.

In this podcast he shares an insider's view of what's happening with new tenants, new leases and the new role of stores in the age of digital retail. 

Whether you are a brand or a supplier, Ariel provides critical insights into what the next 6 months to a year might look like at retail.

You'll learn ...

• (3:22)  The current situation for high streets vs 3 months ago
• (7:30)    Who are likely to be the next tenants on the high streets in major cities.
• (12:30)  What new lease agreements could look like - and why.
• (21:07)  Why the outlook for retail might be more optimistic than we think.

Useful Links

• Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com
• Learn more about Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman of Newmark, click here.

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

E-commerce has  continued to see strong year on year growth, even before the pandemic accelerated it to new heights.

While sales growth might start to level off as we head back to more normal times, few doubt that e-commerce will remain an essential retail channel.

One of the backbones of e-commerce is logistics. It takes incredible agility and resiliency to be able to provide merchandise on-demand to consumers in the US and Europe when it’s often sourced in Asia - even when there’s no global health crisis.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at The Table.

To get some insights into what these small and medium sized direct-to-consumer retailers are doing, I reached out to Judah Levine, Research Lead at Freightos.com, a logistics marketplace that was purpose built to provide these business with greater transparency and flexibility on the freight side of their operations.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for greater insights into the most important knitwear trends, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now join me as I sit down with Judah and get a behind the scenes look at what’s been happening with direct-to-consumer brands from a logistics point of view.

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Freightos:  www.freightos.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtation

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When most people talk about trendy fashion they’re usually referring to international designer brands or cutting edge street fashion.

Few would be looking to a 120 year-old image wear company whose heritage is supplying t-shirts with team logos or polos embroidered with corporate branding.   

However they would be overlooking a company that has pivoted to serve the fast growing demand for show stopping garments that just happen to be represent teams, universities and corporate branding.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.

Today I’m speaking with Susan Ganz, CEO of Lion Brothers.

Some of the most fantastic fan wear and image wear is being created by Lion Brothers.

In recent years the company has been able to parlay its foundation as a producer of personalized apparel into a key role in the fast growing Direct to Consumer supply chain.

Add to it Lion Brothers’ on going investment in both creative talent and new technology and you’ve got a company that makes garments that consumers love and is able to provide buyers with critical on-demand service.


Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are a ‘must-buy’, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now join me in finding out how Lion Brothers is building the next chapter in its century-old success story.

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Lion Brothers:  www.lionbrothers.com


The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtation

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today, brand value is one of the most valuable assets a company can have. For many, it’s proving to be their only asset.

Yet most companies don’t really know how to build a high value brand.  Others simply don’t see brand building as a long term investment.

The few who have strategically - and often painstakingly - invested in building a brand have reaped the rewards.  From Apple, with its trillion dollar valuation, to Coke-a-Cola, the godfather of global brands - and including everything from luxury goods to packaged goods, from technology to manufacturing - the few companies who get brand right enjoy a massive payoff.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome to a Seat at the Table.

If you want to understand how to build a power brand then my guest today is the man to see. 

Marty Neumeier, is a bestselling author and Director of CEO Branding at Liquid Agency.  He is one of the few people who can boast that Steve Jobs not only read one of his books, but found it so valuable that he wrote his name “Steve Jobs” on the cover along with the warning “Hands Off”. 

Marty has decades of experience helping companies - in addition to Apple - create brands that are built to last.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are on brand and meet consumer demand, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides well-edited forums featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now, get ready to hear Marty discuss how to build your brand into a profitable, market leader.

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Liquid Agency:  https://www.liquidagency.com

Learn about Level C:  www.levelc.org

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Logistics has moved from the backroom to the boardroom.  The demand for tighter control over inventory as heightened awareness of the critical role that logistics is playing in creating more responsive and more resilient supply chains.

That logistics is a lynchpin in top functioning supply chains has been made painfully clear during the past six to eight months as even the best service providers were stymied by various pandemic related impacts, a dramatic imbalance in global imports and exports, combined with labor shortages at key ports in Western nations that has driven ocean rates up by nearly 200% on key trade routes.

The situation with air cargo has been just as bad.

I'm Jane singer and today I'm speaking with Eric Williams, senior vice president global head of international supply chain at Kuehne + Nagel.

Eric will be giving us a closer look at the current situation in shipping and his outlook for when we might see a correction. He'll also share his insights on some of the new developments that are enabling logistics to provide brands, retailers, and exporters' with better transparency, flexibility, and control over their global supply chains.

Before we get started, if you're looking to develop knitwear collections that meet consumers demands for better design and higher quality than SPINEXPO is the place to go. It's the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. SPINEXPO provides well edited forums, featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity.

To learn more about SPINEXPO:  www. spinexpo.com

About Kuehne + Nagel:  https://home.kuehne-nagel.com/

Contact us at A Seat at the Table:  https://insidefashionlive.net/contact

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Sourcing executives are increasingly challenged with being faster, more agile, more sustainable, more transparent - oh, and also finding better products that their brand’s customers will want to buy.

They are also facing a massive range of new technologies, that if implemented strategically, could be game changing.  That is if they can get the team on board.

If we connect all of the dots,  what might the future of sourcing look like?

I’m Jane Singer, and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.

To get that future view, I reached out to Christophe Roussel, Executive Vice President of Sourcing and Production for Gap, Inc. 

Christophe has the vision to be able to see beyond the immediate challenges and envision a new model for sourcing that ties in advanced data analysis and cutting edge technology to deliver the right products at the right time - and in doing so, reduce waste and thus achieve greater sustainability and profitability.

In this episode, Christophe explains where he sees new opportunities for supply chain advancement, his ideal for vendor relationships, how vendors could better serve customers, and what his greatest supply chain concerns are.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for a future vision of the key trends and technical innovations in knitwear, then SPINEXPO is the place to go - it’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are filled with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now, join Christophe and me at the table as we dive into the future of apparel sourcing.

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.com

Contact us at A Seat at the Table:  insidefashionlive.net/contact

SEND US A MESSAGE

THE CONSISTENT MARKETING SYSTEM

Stop starting over again each month. We'll work together one-on-one to build a tailor-made system you can repeat each quarter.  Marketing gets done - on easy mode.  Get the details about the Consistent Marketing System.

More resources for B2B marketers at our website at seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm