skucast

Denise Taschereau, CEO and co-founder of Fairware, took four months off from work to travel, and in this episode, Mark Graham visits with both Denise and Sarah White (Fairware's Chief Operating Officer) about how they were able to work together to create such a refreshing opportunity.

Snugz USA is a $40 million powerhouse led by owner and CEO, Brandon Mackay. Powered by an incredible team of talented professionals, Snugz remains one of the most respected suppliers in the industry, a manufacturer whose diverse product line has grown far beyond lanyards to include leather goods, personal care products, food, and even shoes.

We sit down with Jake Malishkevich (Promodealer) to learn about his journey and mine the lessons he has learned, including: the importance of Google AdWords then and now, how process is the most important part of a new salesperson’s training (and a distributor's growth), navigating the online world of trendspotting with products and how Amazon and Wal-Mart entering the industry is a non-issue.

Steve Levschuk is the CEO of Talbot, recognized by Deloitte as one of The 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada - twice! We sit down with Steve to talk about acquisitions vs. organic growth, supplier partnerships, international business, compensation models, and what it takes to become a “best-managed company.” Steve is also a distributor candidate for the PPAI board, and we discuss his vision for the industry and the opportunities and challenges he sees on the road ahead.

Lori Kates has overseen many transitions since she first began as controller of Vitronic in 1996. Honored as ASI’s Supplier Woman of Distinction in 2013 and listed on The Counselor Power 50 for the past 4-years, she continues to pursue excellent operating principles intended to propel Top 40 supplier IMAGEN Brands to even greater heights.

Todd Pottebaum is the President of Quality Resource Group, a $35 million promotional products and print distributor with over 50 salespeople, located in the Minneapolis, MN area. This episode reflects on principles of success, particularly personal and professional development, and how we can implement these into our own experience.

skucon, the conference for entrepreneurs, mavericks, and both young and young-at-heart professionals, is back, and it's at an all-new venue with a stellar lineup of some of the brightest and best in the business. In this episode, Mark Graham and Bobby Lehew provide a quick overview of topics and highlight some of the speakers who are taking the stage.

Dan Frailey is the President of RuMe BrandSuite, the promotional division of the wildly popular retail brand RuMe (which stands for “reuse me”). RuMe BrandSuite has taken the industry by storm and was recognized this year by ASI’s The Counselor magazine as the fastest-growing supplier.

Andy Thorne, Co-Founder and Sales and Marketing Director at Outstanding Branding, was our special guest at commonsku University at The ASI Show Chicago, discusses the realities of partnerships, building a brand, utilizing a business coach, healthy margins, workplace culture, and more.

Recorded live at commonsku University at The ASI Show Chicago, we discuss what it takes to climb the path to success, and we chat about key factors that contribute to growth: net profit, mentorship, sales persistence, margins, and more.