How Swap Retail's Melodie van der Baan Sells with Soul and Turned a Manual Process Into a Inventory Swapping Startup for Fashion Retailers

I love startup stories that involve taking a manual, real-life process and creating a tech solution that mimics it and stories from founders who, in the quest to solve their own problems, end up bringing needed new ways of doing things into areas begging for innovation. This week’s guest is doing BOTH. During her years as a fashion brand rep, Melodie found herself going the extra mile to serve the stores she visited. In fact, she was quite literally going the extra mile by driving her retail clients’ excess inventory to other stores, swapping out merch even though it sometimes meant driving across state lines — all in the name of helping the brands she worked with maintain value (vs. ending up on the sale rack) and the store owners sell through their merchandise. After discovering that one retailer in her network might be able to easily sell what wasn’t moving n another store, she founded Swap Retail to help brands and retailers buy, sell and swap their excess inventory. Now a retailer herself and co-founder of this Florida-based fashion tech startup platform, Melodie is working to move inventory more seamlessly so there’s less discounting, less waste and more profitability for both retailers and brands alike. What you’ll also notice about Melodie is her upbeat, positive attitude and how she uses mindset to fuel her passion for connecting with others and selling Swap Retail. If you struggle with selling, you’ll definitely want to hear how Melodie thinks about conversations she has with prospective brand and retail partners in a way that sets her up not only to get the sale, but to create lasting human connection as well. <3 <3 <3 Oh hey there! Please help the podcast out and leave us a rating and review on iTunes. This stuff is key to the show's success, and I appreciate you helping me play the game. <3 <3 <3 HOW TO LISTEN: Listen online: Just press play above or subscribe via RSS to receive all new episodes. iOS, iPhone, iPad: Subscribe via iTunes or download the Apple Podcast app and subscribe by searching for Spirit of 608 in the app. Android: Download the free Stitcher app and search for Spirit of 608 in the app. Be on the Podcast: Ask Spirit of 608 a Question Linkage Connect with Melodie van der Baan:  LinkedIn: Melodie van der Baan Instagram: @swapretail Website: SwapRetail Resources from the show: Nu ORDER Joor Why the Lean Startup Changes Everything by Steve Blank The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino The NFX Podcast Startups and Downs: The Secrets of Resilient Entrepreneurs by Mona Bijoor Pay It Forward: Good Pix Find more episodes featuring women at the forefront of FEST online at www.Spiritof608.com.