In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve talks about venture capital and logistics to Burak Cendek, partner at Auto Tech Ventures. The conversation covers the investment strategy and cultural aspects of VCs, specifically in the freight industry.

Cendek shares his journey from growing up in Turkey and coming to the United States for college to working in engineering and eventually venture capital. The episode highlights the importance of understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in the logistics industry when it comes to venture capital investments.

LINKS

• Connect with Burak Cendek on Linkedin
• Visit Auto Tech Ventures website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The listener will learn about the background and experience of a venture capitalist who specializes in investing in early stage startups related to ground transportation. They will also learn about AutoTech Ventures, a sector-specific fund that focuses on ground transportation and has built an ecosystem around it. The episode discusses the importance of unit economics and team when investing in startups in the ground transportation, logistics, and tracking industries. The podcast also discusses the potential for a more connected and digital infrastructure in the freight industry, including the use of chatbots and trucking in a box companies.


TIMESTAMPS:

[00:01:23] Journey to the United States.
[00:04:15] Disaster logistics in Turkey.
[00:09:31] Ground transportation investment strategy.
[00:11:32] Podcasting in Logistics.
[00:15:29] Balancing growth and profitability.
[00:19:21] Importance of team in startups.
[00:22:53] Tech vs Brokerage Business.
[00:26:31] Thesis-driven investment strategies.
[00:31:30] AI in freight ecosystem.
[00:34:03] Trucking in a box.
[00:39:01] Starting a startup in freight.
[00:41:49] VC firms and podcasts.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Getting business in a tight market is challenging but sending 10k cold emails and expecting to get a decent response should be grounds to have you thrown in jail.

Ok, that last part was a little dramatic, but we live in interesting times.

These interesting times include massive layoffs and cutbacks which has any normal person feeling a little nervous.

So how do we prepare and strategize during a challenging time?

By sending cold emails that don't suck.

Most cold emails suck because of the laziness of the person sending them. We've all been guilty of hearing the hopes that marketing and sales software can help us send targeted campaigns that our audience will love. Only to find out that most folks purchase an email list, load it into Hubspot, and hope for the best.

This spray-and-pray tactic only works to annoy the very people you would hope to become a customer.

So in a world of AI and inboxes getting record amounts of spam, how do we stick out?

By crafting a good 'Why Buy' campaign.

LINKS: 

• Watch the YouTube version of this show
• Read the Newsletter version of this show

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The listener will learn about a variety of topics related to marketing and AI, including Legion campaigns, establishing clear pathways to conversion, the impact of AI on the workforce, using AI tools for image creation and copywriting, finding potential use cases for AI in business, creating effective cold outreach campaigns and email sequences, and the importance of staying educated and adapting to the changing market. The podcast also promotes various resources and services related to marketing and AI.



TIMESTAMPS:
00:05:16 Create a conversion pathway.
00:07:03 Test forms regularly for success.
00:14:39 AI replacing white-collar jobs.
00:20:03 Embrace AI tools for success.
00:20:51 Stay educated on AI.
00:31:30 Stand out with YBIs.
00:36:41 Stand out with why buys.
00:37:05 Create targeted messaging to stand out.
00:45:19 Stay educated and adapt.
00:49:30 Navigate the digital world.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Blythe Brumleve is joined by Carly Gunby, who at the time of recording was VP of Sales Strategy and Marketing at TransFix, but has since been promoted to VP of Shipper Success and Sales--which deserves a big congrats! 

On this episode of Everything is Logistics, Carly discusses the growing relationship between digital freight brokerages and traditional freight brokerages. Carly is a Jacksonville resident, a FSU graduate and Jacksonville Jaguars fan, who despite having an Art History degree, stumbled into the logistics industry. After beginning her career with inside sales, she was promoted and had the opportunity to learn more about the industry, including ocean freight, warehousing, customs brokerage, and truck brokerage. She's sharing her experience on how to help the sales and marketing teams in freight work better together. 

LINKS

• Connect with Carly on Linkedin
• Listen to Transfix CMO Rachel Meranus in a previous EIL interview
• Follow the Transfix Take podcast
• Check out the Transfix website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The listener will learn about the evolving relationship between sales and marketing in the freight brokerage industry, as well as the experiences of a female leader in logistics and the importance of supportive leadership. The episode also discusses TransFix's freight platform, sales strategy, and investment in technology, including chat GPT and AI tools. The podcast highlights the benefits of data and transparency in the logistics industry and updates on upcoming beta tools.

TIMESTAMPS:
[00:01:17] Stumbling into logistics.
[00:03:10] Understanding logistics and supply chain.
[00:07:01] Digital freight marketplaces.
[00:10:11] Sales strategy during COVID.
[00:15:37] Freight brokerage sales strategies.
[00:16:36] Referral Relationship Strategies.
[00:20:09] Social media marketing strategies.
[00:24:07] Women in male dominated industry.
[00:26:41] Women in logistics leadership.
[00:30:08] Dedicated carrier partnerships.
[00:33:53] AI and chat GPT in sales.
[00:38:20] TrueRate Plus Tool.
[00:39:33] Cold calling and emailing.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve interviews Stephanie Cannon, SVP at Pitney Bowes, about her background in logistics and how she fell in love with the industry.

Cannon shares that she started as an industrial engineer in college and landed her first co-op job with UPS, which ultimately led to a full-time job offer and participation in their management trainee program. She discusses the importance of understanding all facets of a logistics company and the value of hands-on experience.

LINKS: 

• Pitney Bowes website
• Connect with Stephanie on Linkedin

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

The listener will learn about various topics related to logistics, including the speaker's experience working at UPS, challenges of logistics operations in different countries, Pitney Bowes' different business divisions and innovations, the use of robotics in warehouse systems, and Pitney Bowes' efforts to improve worker engagement and retention through automation.


TIMESTAMPS:

[00:01:52] UPS management trainee program. 
[00:05:27] International logistics operations. 
[00:07:23] Pitney Bowes' global e-commerce. 
[00:10:46] Workforce optimization. 
[00:14:09] Consultative parcel shipping solutions. 
[00:17:19] Flexible automation in warehouses. 
[00:20:41] Employee involvement in automation. 
[00:24:20] Monotonous jobs and robotics. 
[00:27:18] Robotics in Warehouses. 
[00:33:02] Parcel Shipping Index. 
[00:33:52] E-commerce innovation and automation.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this episode, Grace Sharkey and the host discuss the new era of media, including the recent shake-ups in the legacy media world and the influencer economy.

They also introduce a couple of new segments to the podcast, including discussions on their favorite logistics stories of the month and intriguing conspiracy theories. The episode ends with a roundup of the latest freight tech and media stories from Grace.

LINKS:

• Instagram influencers are getting jobs and legacy media is dying
• Britney Spears AI conspiracy
• Feral people of National Park conspiracy
• Logistics of a Taylor Swift concert
• The Logistics of Lipstick
• Connect with Grace and scope her work

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:02:24] New era of media. 
[00:05:05] Influencers gaining more power. 
[00:09:03] Influencer marketing and its flaws. 
[00:12:16] Influencers and media companies. 
[00:16:23] Going Direct to Twitter. 
[00:19:39] Spotify's User Interface Challenges. 
[00:23:24] Influencer lifestyle and platforms. 
[00:29:45] AI in podcasting. 
[00:31:22] AI Instagram account realizes truth. 
[00:36:03] Princess Diana's Infamous Interview. 
[00:38:15] Royal family fashion. 
[00:42:41] The logistics of music tours. 
[00:45:21] Low margins in music industry. 
[00:50:10] Lipstick logistics. 
[00:52:18] Lipstick logistics and the economy. 
[00:56:10] Press on nails and nail salon economy. 
[00:59:28] Britney Spears conspiracy theory. 
[01:06:30] Feral people in national parks. 
[01:11:29] Mountain lion encounter. 
[01:13:35] Hiking in bear territory. 
[01:20:27] AI in retail. 
[01:20:57] 3D imaging with AI. 
[01:25:12] Getting the most out of technology. 
[01:28:27] Mental models in business.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this episode of "Everything is Logistics host Blythe Brumleve welcomes CEO of Scale Logistics, Shay Lynn Dixon, to discuss using social media to grow your brokerage business and personal media brand.

They chat about their personal histories in the logistics industry and how they got to where they are today. Dixon shares how she started in the industry and how her previous job taught her the basic skill set that she needed for her current business. The episode emphasizes the importance of leveraging social media to build a brand and connect with potential clients.


WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

The listener will learn about using social media to grow a brokerage business and personal brand, the importance of structuring a business from the beginning, the benefits of staying within a niche, and the challenges of shifting away from it. They will also learn about the founding of Scale Logistics, the speaker's passion for the aerospace industry, and their approach to social media and content marketing. The episode also discusses the importance of building relationships in business, following up with contacts, and using AI tools for writing and fact-checking. Additionally, the episode covers the accuracy of various statements related to shipping aerospace parts, the benefits of using freight forwarding services, and the Freight Broker community.


LINKS:

• Check out the Scale Logistics website
• Connect with Shay on Linkedin

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:02:22] Restarting a freight brokerage.

[00:03:44] Freight Brokerage Partnerships.

[00:07:29] Aerospace and STEM education.

[00:11:24] Rebranding and Personal Branding.

[00:15:21] Social media strategy planning.

[00:18:25] Small business marketing education.

[00:22:07] Standing out in logistics industry.

[00:25:11] Creating content for trust.

[00:29:01] Strategies for building business on LinkedIn.

[00:32:04] Trade Show Strategy.

[00:35:19] Approaching potential clients.

[00:39:07] Developing relationships for business growth.

[00:43:39] Small talk in the South.

[00:48:26] ROI on social media strategies.

[00:51:55] Saying no to bad fits.

[00:54:11] AI tools for business.

[00:57:19] AI in the freight industry.

[01:00:16] Shipping aerospace parts internationally.

[01:03:02] Solopreneurship and mentoring.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Blythe Brumleve welcomes Joe Lynch, host of The Logistics of Logistics podcast, to discuss the state of podcasting in the freight industry. They talk about the growing popularity of podcasts in the logistics industry and how podcasting can be a helpful tool for professionals to stay up-to-date on industry trends and insights. They also discuss the challenges of starting and maintaining a podcast and offer tips for success. Overall, it's a lively conversation between two industry veterans who are passionate about sharing knowledge and creating engaging content for their audiences.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

The listener will learn about the state of podcasting in the freight industry, Joe's career journey from the automotive industry to the logistics industry, and the challenges and benefits of podcasting as a marketing tool. They will also hear about the importance of building relationships and engagement in podcasting, the challenges of creating YouTube content, and the potential convergence between YouTube and podcasting.

LINKS:

• Connect with Joe Lynch on Linkedin
• Follow The Logistics of Logistics podcast

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:01:48] Joe's career background.

[00:03:51] Starting a successful blog.

[00:07:57] Podcasting during COVID lockdown.

[00:10:54] High Failure Rate of Podcasts.

[00:15:50] Picking podcast guests.

[00:17:09] Evergreen content strategy.

[00:23:14] Listener-funded podcasts.

[00:24:49] Sponsored content authenticity.

[00:28:39] How to make a bad podcast.

[00:32:45] Successful entrepreneurs from humble beginnings.

[00:36:05] Starting a Podcast.

[00:38:12] The challenges of podcasting.

[00:41:33] Collaborating with sponsors.

[00:47:46] Podcasting and YouTube convergence.

[00:48:23] Creating YouTube-friendly content.

[00:52:32] The future of TikTok.

[00:55:57] Trucking industry job improvement.

[01:00:11] Podcasting and community building.

[01:02:54] Warehousing company turnover.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

On this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve welcomes Reed Loeffel, manager of merchant acquisition and strategy at GEODIS e-Logistics, to discuss the world of e-commerce and fulfillment. Blythe and Reed reminisce about meeting at the Manifest logistics conference and discuss the infamous GEODIS puppy lounge sponsorship that garnered lots of attention.

The conversation touches on the latest trends in e-commerce, the challenges of fulfillment in a fast-paced industry, and how e-commerce companies can optimize their supply chain networks.

LINKS: 

• Check out the new GEODIS e-Logistics website
• Connect with Reed on Linkedin

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

The listener will learn about GEODIS eLogistics, a logistics company that offers end-to-end services for e-commerce brands, including packaging, fulfillment, and delivery.

The episode discusses the company's use of robotic systems, the importance of building a strong website, and the challenges of managing returns and inventory levels during COVID. The guest speaker shares their expertise in e-commerce logistics, including insights on trends, challenges, and best practices, and the potential impact of AI on jobs in the marketing industry.


TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00:25] Geodes eLogistics and e-commerce.

[00:06:13] E-commerce fulfillment and delivery.

[00:07:33] International Fulfillment Department.

[00:11:22] Robotics in e-commerce.

[00:15:54] Robotics in warehouse operations.

[00:19:02] E-logistics and customer experience.

[00:21:30] E-Logistics and Warehousing.

[00:25:14] When to reach out to 3PL.

[00:29:00] My e-Logistics Portal.

[00:33:11] Reverse logistics solutions.

[00:36:18] Returns as customer retention.

[00:40:03] Launching a new product.

[00:44:42] Opportunities for e-com brands.

[00:48:35] E-commerce logistics expertise.

[00:51:23] AI as a tool in marketing.

[00:54:21] Puppy video and show notes.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this episode of "Everything is Logistics," host Blythe Brumleve interviews Derek Szopa, CEO of CloudSort, about the middle mile in logistics. They discuss Szopa's background in the Marine Corps and how it has helped shape his career in the corporate world. Szopa emphasizes the importance of being resourceful with limited resources, which is a key aspect of small-unit leadership in the military. The conversation highlights the need for more attention and innovation in the middle mile of logistics, which often goes overlooked in discussions of the first and last mile.

LINKS:

• Connect with Derek on Linkedin
• Check out CloudSort website

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00:20] The Middle Mile
[00:09:37] Inadequacy of legacy systems
[00:12:05] Clouds and logistics
[00:16:10] Moving work to greatest value
[00:20:05] CloudSort and ecosystem
[00:27:14] AI and Complex Nodes
[00:27:57] AI technology advancements
[00:32:33] Optimizing logistics for the environment

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

In this episode of Everything is Logistics, Blythe Brumleve interviews Ron Greene, the VP of biz development at Overhaul, about the world of cargo crime. Greene discusses his experience in cargo risk management and how his company works with various industries to mitigate the risk of cargo theft.

They also talk about the importance of establishing risk protocols and recovery systems in case theft does occur. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the fascinating and frustrating world of cargo crime.

LINKS: 

• Visit the Overhaul website

TIME STAMPS: 

[00:02:10] Cargo theft risk protocols.

[00:04:22] In-transit cargo risk management.

[00:08:48] Reducing theft risk by 80%.

[00:12:54] Cargo theft on the rise.

[00:17:00] Cargo crime in Brazil.

[00:22:52] Preventing cargo theft.

[00:23:33] Highly targeted shipments.

[00:29:02] Cargo theft and recovery.

[00:31:23] Cargo criminals and police response.

[00:35:21] Cargo theft around the world.

[00:40:00] Machine learning in risk management.

[00:42:48] Logistics technology start-up.

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.

CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.