SanMar Radio

Lisa and Tara are switching things up this week by turning the interviewer's microphone on themselves, SanMar social media guru Josh Storey is asking the questions this time.

In this episode, our usual hosts discuss the ins and outs of their daily jobs, explain how their work helps make SanMar U what it is, and reveal the key building blocks to recording a good podcast.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• How Lisa and Tara used their backgrounds in radio and film to fit right in at SanMar.
• Why there's no such thing as a "normal day" for a project manager.
• The reason project management is both about healthy relationships and also wrangling cats.
• The research and experience that went into creating SanMar U.
• What goes into preparing for a SanMar Radio episode and why Lisa and Tara don't let their guests know the questions up front.
• How our hosts measure success.
• What podcasts Lisa and Tara listen to on their own time.
• Lisa and Tara's advice for those looking to start their own podcast and what they have planned for 2020.

QUOTES

• "No two projects are ever the same."
• "I love being challenged and I love being able to create something out of nothing."
• "Giving people a chance to just tell their story is a really freeing experience."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

SanMar U email: [email protected]

Ray Hong is a Custom Apparel Project Manager at SanMar, and is responsible for overseeing bespoke products from initial quote to final delivery.

In this episode, Ray discusses what it's like to help design and create unique products, reveals the right questions to ask customers who need help clarifying their ideas, and explains how to stand out in a fast-paced market.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• How Ray came to work with SanMar and join the custom orders program in its infancy.
• Which products can be customized and how does Ray with work with customers during the customization process?
• How long does the customization process take?
• What Ray thinks is the most exciting (and occasionally scary) part of customization.
• Ray's method for helping customers figure out what they're looking for when they don't have a clear idea.
• How alpaca wool figured into one of the more unique projects Ray and the team have worked on.
• Where Ray thinks custom clothing design is headed in the near future and how he personally measures success.

QUOTES

• "Pretty much anything that we produce through our network...can be customized."
• "We want to gather all the information that we can at the beginning so there's no surprises later."
• "When we go and do something custom — completely custom — it's kinda like off-roading."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Rhea Aslin is the senior brand director at SanMar, overseeing merchandising and design for several of our key brands.

In this episode, Rhea explains how developing a brand is like telling a story, discusses what she does to stay on top of fashion trends and describes how the apparel market is having to evolve to meet customer expectations.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Rhea lays out her responsibilities as the company's brand director and which brands she oversees.
• Which SanMar brand has been Rhea's favorite over the years?
• How customers' expectations of what their apparel can do is changing the way we develop product.
• Rhea explains what it's like to go on a product "shopping trip."
• How difficult it can be to develop a product and not have that piece be picked up for production.
• Which trend does Rhea look back on in regret?
• How she and her team analyze trends and try to predict which will stay and which will go.

QUOTES

• "My job as a brand director is to make sure all those ideas that the merchandisers have come together as one story."
• "Did I produce the best results for the company that's entrusting me to do my job? That's how I measure success."
• "We've programmed people to expect a lot and for a lower price."
• "When you stop trying is when you become stale."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Pat Noonan is SanMar's chief product officer. His teams oversee product design, manufacturing, sourcing, and quality assurance across the company.

In this episode, Pat shares how his time in the Navy taught him how to keep things in perspective, how SanMar's relationship-based approach to sourcing helps us weather global challenges and how our industry is changing lives for the better.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Pat discusses his time in the Navy — including his family sword — and how that experience helps him now at SanMar.
• How SanMar's service mentality made the transition from military to civilian life easier for Pat.
• Pat walks us through the lifecycle for the design, manufacture and distribution of an average SanMar product.
• What are some of the challenges SanMar faces when sourcing products?
• How SanMar is dealing with the current trade situation between the United States and China.
• What SanMar does to ensure product quality across multiple production locations worldwide.
• How SanMar maintains sustainability across its supply chain and how Pat personally measures success.
• Why Pat is so proud of SanMar's Canvas for Good initiative.

QUOTES

• "We get inspiration certainly from the marketplace but also from our global partners."
• "We've become much more deliberate and intentional in how we bring a product to market."
• "Apparel sourcing is defined by how dynamic it is, and honestly that's kind of part of the fun of it too."
• "We're really involved in all stages of production to ensure that we get consistent, high quality products."
• "We are gonna be able to offer a truly sustainable, value-oriented product here in the years ahead, and I'm really excited about it."
• "We're lifting up lives and making a hugely positive difference!"

LINKS

• Canvas For Good: https://canvasforgood.com/
• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Adam Gould is a senior manager of sales operations at SanMar, overseeing many of our company's customer service interactions. In this episode, Adam reveals his tips for training an effective customer service team, discusses how technology helps employees who work remotely feel closer as a team, and explains how you can turn a challenging customer service experience into one that works in everyone's favor.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Adam explains how his team works with the rest of SanMar and why working with all different kinds of people is one of his favorite parts of the job.
• Adam relates his extensive customer service experience and discusses why he still finds interacting with clients refreshing.
• What SanMar does to most effectively train its customer service specialists.
• Discusses the relatively high number of employees that work from home and how SanMar has successfully pivoted to support them.
• Adam's advice for SanMar customers looking to train their own customer service providers.
• How you can flip a tense or difficult customer service experience around.
• Adam describes his own personal measure for success in his line of work.
• Some of the highs and lows of Adam's customer service work at SanMar.

QUOTES

• "All along the way it's been really fantastic to watch people grow and succeed."
• "It's nice to be able to get out in front of our customers and see what's actually happening in the industry."
• "We are well taken care of and we take care of our customers the same way."
• "You have to listen to the whole problem before you start to solve."
• "It's really exciting to see people enjoy what they do and do it really well."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter:@sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Barb Herman is SanMar's director of channel sales, and for the majority of her career, she has focused on the "biggest little industry you've never heard of" — industrial laundry.

In this episode, Barb explains what makes industrial uniforms durable yet stylish and discusses the important role that industrial laundry and uniforming services play as they work behind the scenes to support businesses that impact our everyday lives.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Barb explains how industrial laundry has been a part of her life since high school.
• If you want an idea of how big a business industrial uniforms are, just check out its fleet of trucks.
• Examine how industrial laundry delivery is a relationship-based business.
• The wide range of products that industrial laundry services deliver to businesses.
• How industrial laundry is one of the last "blue collar cool" services and is very important for certain employment demographics.
• What SanMar does to make its industrial laundry (IL) uniforms both appealing and durable.
• What we do to stay fashionable while our apparel remains functional.
• The industry's methods for making a sustainable product.

QUOTES

• "There's no such thing as a textile emergency — even though we all feel that way many days."
• "The industrial laundry industry's kind of credited with keeping people safe, looking good and keeping people feeling good about going to work every day."
• "It's an incredible story for the environment; it's a great story for public safety and employees."
• "You just know you look good because somebody did their job."
• "They're the hidden business that helps business run."

LINKS

• The funny video about snag-proof polos that Barb refers to: https://vimeo.com/99675384
• SanMar's Uniforming Services Team: https://www.sanmar.com/resources/services/uniformingservices
• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Rachelle Manning is SanMar's sporting goods channel manager. She has been involved in sports and in the sporting goods market for most of her life and she works with her team to help customers strategize and grow their businesses.

In this episode, Rachelle discusses how utilizing technology can drastically improve sales, how customers can keep up with what's trending in the market and how knowing the difference between Tennessee Orange and Clemson Orange can be a real game changer.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• Rachelle recollects her early days with SanMar and how she had to relearn some key clothing terminology when she came on board.
• How Rachelle grew up with sports and what the current sporting goods market is like.
• Why speaking the same lingo as those in the sporting goods market can make or break a sale.
• Where Rachelle thinks the greatest opportunity for growth in the sporting goods market is and why she feels it's difficult to break into this industry.
• Why the Color Guide can be a customer's key to success.
• Which trends Rachelle thinks people should keep an eye on and what you can do to stay on top of the latest fads.
• Rachelle's favorite part about going on roadtrips for her job.
• Why the recent changes in the sporting goods and online retail industries don't scare her.

QUOTES

• "Sporting goods is all I know."
• "Team sports is basically where we hang our hat."
• "The more items we get on those team stores, or spirit stores or school stores, the more successful we're gonna be."
• "We have to sell by color because people buy by color."
• "People want something that fits them and is in their authentic color."

LINKS

• SanMar's Color Guide: https://www.zoomcatalog.com/catalogs/color-guide-2019
• SanMar's Team & Fanwear Guide: https://viewer.zoomcatalog.com/team-and-fanwear-2019
• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Lee Strom is SanMar's Vice President of Marketing, having spent most of the last two decades managing a wide variety of personalities, from analysts and project managers to digital marketers and creative staff.

In this episode, Lee describes how SanMar's approach to marketing, and SanMar itself, has changed during his many years with the company, debates the merits of a physical catalog in today's day and age, and discusses his own future with SanMar.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• How Lee came to work for SanMar 18 years ago, and how the marketing department,and especially the website, have evolved since he started.
• Why the way SanMar presents itself has been the biggest thing that's changed in Lee's nearly two decades with the company.
• The changing role of SanMar's physical catalog and what relevance it still has today.
• The reason marketing departments are having to deploy a wider range of tactics in appealing to today's customers.
• Lee's advice for SanMar customers on how to more effectively market their products.
• The story of Professor Noggin and how it's possible to fall behind by being too far ahead.
• What's in store for SanMar's marketing strategy and Lee's own career.
• Lee explains how SanMar operates responsibly and gives back through A Canvas for Good.

QUOTES

• "We don't have 2,000 products, we have 2,000 stories to tell."
• "I think this industry finds you and I believe it found me."
• "In marketing, we are the left brain to the right brain of everything, all in one department."
• "I don't see any slowdown. If anything, I see an acceleration of what marketing needs to do to stimulate customers."
• "This industry allows us to bring communities together and people together in beautiful ways."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

John Janson is SanMar's director of global logistics, overseeing a 20-person team responsible for coordinating orders across our warehouses and ensuring customers receive them as quickly as possible.

In this episode, John reveals why he thinks he has one of the best jobs around, explains how SanMar is keeping up with newer next-day delivery expectations, and explores the effects of "Amazonization."

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• What logistics entails and how John came to be so experienced at it.
• How John came to start meeting customers face-to-face and why he prefers that kind of interaction.
• Looking at the widespread effect Amazon has on logistics and supply chains.
• Why John believes standards for delivery will become more demanding in the near-future, and how SanMar is planning to meet that challenge head-on.
• The reason change is John's favorite part of his job.
• What John's personal metric is for measuring success.
• Taking a peek at John's surprising hobby.
• What SanMar is doing to ensure its supply chain is as sustainable as possible.

QUOTES

• "I've been in the industry for almost 30 years and this is far and away the best opportunity I've had."
• "There's very few parts of the United States that we can't ship it on one day and deliver it before three o'clock in the afternoon the next day."
• "SanMar is a global logistics company that sells apparel."
• "If we're helping to drive profitable growth and expanding our customers', that's a win."
• "SanMar's just gone so far above to make sure that we're doing things the right way and in a good way."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp

SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp

Dan Tushar, SanMar's vice president of sales, is involved in every aspect of the sales process and works with our customers to optimize their success.

In this episode, Dan shares why it's so important to have a diverse customer base, what it means to be a leader and how helping your customer find solutions can often be your most successful sales strategy.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE

• How Dan is involved with every step of the sales process.
• What approach SanMar takes with its sales strategy.
• How the company builds trust with its customers.
• Why customers need to understand the value they bring to their clients.
• Dan's tips that customers can use to increase their sales.
• How selling has changed and some mistakes he's learned from.
• The difference between managing and leading, and why Dan thinks you can't really learn how to lead.
• Some of Dan's favorite customer experiences.
• What he loves most about being a father and grandfather.

QUOTES

• "My job really hasn't changed; who I manage has changed."
• "We have to get our inspiration from our customer's success."
• "Be diverse in the kind of clients you bring in."
• "I think generally people want to be led. They don't want to be managed."
• "Whatever I did, whatever I sold, I wanted to be in front of people."

LINKS

• SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
• SanMar's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
• SanMar's Twitter: @sanmar_corp
• SanMar's Instagram: @sanmar_corp