What The Teck?

Rolando Rosas is the Founder of Global Teck Worldwide, which offers business and office technology for seamless customer communications. In his role, he leads his team to provide insights on e-commerce trends, digital marketplace strategies, and client success metrics. Rolando is also the Founder of CircuitLoops.com, which uses AI to match businesses to the lowest-priced internet service provider. As an entrepreneur, he has founded three startups and hosts the What The Teck? podcast.

Dave Kelly is the General Manager of Global Teck Worldwide and the co-host of the What The Teck? podcast. He holds a bachelor's in telecommunications management from the New England Institute of Technology, where he focused on the acceleration of networks transitioning from digital IP to support successful business communications. Before Global Teck Worldwide, Dave was the Account Manager at Jabra and the Territory Manager at Polycom.

When the pandemic hit, businesses were forced to send their employees home, creating apprehension around daily business operations, technology integrations, and client communications. One accounting firm closed its offices permanently and transitioned to a fully remote work environment. What can you learn from this company's shift?

Like many customer-focused organizations, Berg Advisors struggled to maintain client communications in a virtual space, worrying its employees would have to use their personal cell phones to answer customer calls. As Berg Advisors' technology consultants, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly helped the firm transition to a cloud-based phone system for secure and seamless communication. Consequently, Berg Advisors boosted revenue in multiple business areas. When transitioning to remote work, establishing a technology roadmap for consistent updates and consolidation is crucial for adapting to the developing landscape.

In today's episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly sit down to discuss a remote work case study. Together, they share how the pandemic impacted business operations, strategies for consolidating technology, and how to leverage software to streamline client communications.

Leslie Pierson is the President of Hot Taco Inc, a card game development company started by her son when he was just seven and created the popular strategic card game Taco vs Burrito. As an inventor, serial entrepreneur, and partner of Shark Tank's Lori Greiner, she launched her product GoodHangups through Kickstarter and grew the product's exposure on TV shows such as The View and Good Morning America. Leslie has received three issued utility patents and has experience in e-commerce, advertising, entrepreneurship, and graphic design.

In Amazon's competitive landscape, sellers often employ various hacks and shortcuts like buying reviews to accelerate growth quickly. These methods not only risk account suspension but compromise long-term profitability on the platform. Instead, brands should utilize Amazon's tools and programs. How can you optimize Amazon's systems to build a reputable brand?

Shark Tank veteran Leslie Pierson urges sellers to cultivate a strong business partnership with Amazon. This begins by registering your brand through the IP accelerator in Seller Central to gain access to Amazon's growth tools. For instance, you can harness brand analytics to deliver personalized customer experiences and targeted products and listings. Another feature involves listing transparency, which prevents unauthorized users from selling counterfeit versions of your product. To maximize your brand's potential, Leslie says to develop user-generated content like photos and videos to emphasize a product feature that appeals to your target audience.

Join Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly on this episode of What The Teck? as they sit down with Leslie Pierson, President of Hot Taco Inc, to discuss partnering with Amazon to build your brand on the platform. Leslie also talks about her appearance on Shark Tank, her predictions for Amazon's seller support panel, and how to connect with other Amazon sellers.

Yoni Kozminski is the Co-founder and CEO of Escala, a digital transformation consultancy for e-commerce brands. He is also the Founding Partner of South Col, an e-commerce accelerator company, and the Co-founder and CEO of MultiplyMii, an offshore staffing agency helping global businesses reduce operating costs, increase profitability, and find leading talent. Previously, Yoni was an Amazon private label seller and spent 10 years in digital marketing and creative advertising in various countries. He is also the host of the podcast Successful Scales.

In Amazon's costly and competitive landscape, sellers struggle to accelerate their businesses. Generating adequate revenue and profit requires cultivating a team of knowledgeable professionals to coordinate product launches and develop innovative new ideas. How can you build and manage a team to promote future prosperity?

Seasoned e-commerce business owner and Amazon expert Yoni Kozminski affirms that Amazon sellers should establish multiple growth avenues. Early-stage business owners often spend too much time on one task, like managing customer support, while neglecting other profitable ventures. Yoni recommends identifying your company's most necessary endeavors, allocating hours, and delegating tasks to develop a functional business model. One valuable method for optimizing this model is to conduct level 10 (L10) meetings to evaluate departmental business metrics and encourage team collaboration by identifying, discussing, and resolving pertinent issues.

Join Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly in this episode of What The Teck? as they welcome Yoni Kozminski, Co-founder and CEO of Escala, who shares Amazon growth tips. Yoni also discusses hero product syndrome, the future of profitability for Amazon sellers, and how to integrate processes for new product launches.

Michael J. Fleming, CMI, is the Founder and President of Sales Tax and More (STM), a consulting and solutions firm specializing in state and local taxes. Before STM, he was the Director at Peisner Johnson, where he became one of the country's leading authorities on state tax issues, including nexus, drop-shipping, e-commerce, and business licensing. As an industry thought leader, Michael has spoken at national events and is frequently interviewed and quoted by major publications.

When it comes to tax payments, Amazon and other online sellers must navigate increasingly complex regulations that vary by state. In the South Dakota v. Wayfair case, the supreme court ruled that states may collect sales tax from sellers without a physical presence in the area. How can you comply with these regulations to avoid penalties?

Although Amazon sellers aren't required to pay sales taxes, sellers on other platforms storing inventory in Amazon warehouses must comply. The Wayfair decision initiated discrepancies surrounding the sales tax nexus, which requires sellers to register with states to collect and remit sales tax. For instance, each sale processed and shipped in Texas requires a sales tax collection. According to state sales tax expert Michael Fleming, many retailers avoid these payments and face penalties plus interest. Decreasing risk requires registering with the state through VDAs (voluntary disclosure agreements) and conducting regular audits to ensure compliance.

In today's episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly welcome Michael Fleming, the Founder and President of Sales Tax and More, who shares insights about sales tax requirements for e-commerce businesses. Michael explains how to determine tax payments, why sellers should remain proactive when assessing and paying state sales tax, and the intricacies of sales tax nexus.

Josh Hadley is the Founder and CEO of Hadley Designs, an online graphic design boutique where customers can choose, design, download, and print home decor and invitations. Josh is also an e-commerce business consultant and the host of the eComm Breakthrough Podcast, which is dedicated to helping brands exceed eight-figure profits. Before starting Hadley Designs and eComm Breakthrough Consulting, Josh honed his business, marketing, and project management skills as an executive for American Airlines.

Amazon has augmented its ad listings, with up to 60% of sponsored products displayed on the top-of-search page for generic keywords. How can you launch and sustain relevant products in this competitive landscape?

According to e-commerce master Josh Hadley, launching a consistent stream of new products boosts market share. Directing traffic to these products requires creating promotional messaging on your Amazon storefront and advertising on your product detail pages (PDPs) with defensive campaigns. This eliminates competition and allows you to cross-promote relevant products. When running ads on your PDPs, you should leverage PPC campaigns through sponsored displays to support organic rankings.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly welcome Josh Hadley, Founder and CEO of Hadley Designs, to discuss elevating product conversions on Amazon. Josh explains how to build brand loyalty on Amazon, the importance of launching original products, and how to harness defensive campaigns.

Kevin Sanderson is the Founder of Maximizing Ecommerce, which helps people launch and grow an e-commerce business. He is also the Vice President of Marketing at My Amazon Guy, a full-service Amazon agency increasing sales through traffic and conversion improvements. Kevin has been selling on Amazon since 2015 and has worked for two Fortune 500 companies and a rapidly growing insurance agency. As a self-proclaimed Amazon, e-commerce, and marketing nerd, he hosts the Maximizing Ecommerce podcast to help entrepreneurs optimize their Amazon businesses.

When it comes to selling and advertising on Amazon, there are numerous strategies and tools to optimize sales growth, so it can be tricky to determine the best path forward. Today's guest offers valuable tips and shares what to avoid when maximizing growth on the platform.

Amazon selling and advertising expert Kevin Sanderson warns against capitalizing on every recommendation you receive from others, as it can lead to contradictions and impede business growth. Instead, he advises specializing in one strategy, such as PPC or ChatGPT, to control business outcomes and provide exceptional shopping experiences. Additionally, if you want to diversify your product offerings, it's essential to understand Amazon's rules and regulations to avoid account deactivation. For instance, instead of incentivizing reviews or manipulating Amazon's algorithms, you should place customers on an email list and leverage Amazon-sanctioned support to ensure your products reach your audience and entice satisfied shoppers to leave positive reviews.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly talk with Kevin Sanderson, the Founder of Maximizing Ecommerce, about how to optimize your Amazon business. Kevin explains why Amazon sellers should specialize in one area, when to send external traffic to Amazon, and his thoughts on influencer product marketing.

Kevin King hosts the AM/PM Podcast, which helps entrepreneurs sell on Amazon FBA and create and market private-label products. Since his start on Amazon in 1999, he has created, developed, and guided hundreds of products from inception to market. Kevin started five private label brands on Amazon, grossing over $2.4 million in product revenue. He was also named by Target Marketing magazine as one of the Top 40 Direct Marketers Under 40, and his e-commerce insights have been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

When contemplating selling on Amazon, some people leave their corporate jobs to become full-time sellers, believing that starting an Amazon business will bring in more revenue and additional freedom. But Amazon is a competitive and rapidly expanding landscape, so developing a profitable business takes years and precise strategies. Today's guest reveals some best-kept secrets for selling on Amazon.

Amazon FBA provides promising opportunities for emerging brands, but it's critical to consider factors such as profit margins, pricing, and product rankings. When launching your business, Amazon guru Kevin King says to begin by registering your brand. Applying for a trademark allows you to optimize your listing and capitalize on exclusive data like search terms and category searches. To enhance listings and search term indexes, you can leverage the Q&A section and utilize AI chatbots to analyze reviews. Running out of stock can undermine product rankings, and raising prices to avoid this impedes sales momentum, so Kevin suggests decreasing costs or closing the listing to secure profit margins.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly converse with Kevin King, the host of the AM/PM Podcast, about launching, managing, and scaling a fruitful Amazon business. Kevin explains how Amazon businesses can optimize ChatGPT, why you shouldn't rely on hacks to structure your seller account, and how sellers can preserve sales.

Steven Pope is the Founder of My Amazon Guy (MAG), a full-service marketing agency known as the "Wikipedia of Amazon knowledge" that serves 300-plus brands. MAG provides over 1,500 tutorial videos on YouTube, educating hopefuls on how to grow sales on Amazon. Steven helps clients grow through onsite and offsite channels, including SEO, SEM, and social media. With over a decade of experience in corporate marketing and e-commerce, he's worked for multiple product brands, including serving as the Digital Marketing Manager for APMEX, Inc., which achieved 10 million additional website visits under his direction.

Operating as an Amazon seller is increasingly complex, and merchant support on the platform is difficult to find. However, in the current e-commerce space, selling on Amazon is one of the primary ways to be successful.

While countless people shop on Amazon, there is also an incredible amount of competition, making discovering your product in the sea of competitors challenging. Many evolutions are going on at Amazon, and the landscape is constantly changing, making it even more difficult for sellers. As an expert in all things e-commerce and Amazon, Steven Pope shares his insights and predictions of even more changes on the horizon with talk of mergers and acquisitions and how TikTok may become a chief player in the selling space. Steven explains why finding reputable guidance to help you navigate the e-commerce seller space is crucial.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly are joined by Steven Pope, Founder of My Amazon Guy (MAG), to discuss the current landscape of selling on Amazon and how it's changing. They talk about emerging technology, how to navigate seller support, why Amazon Prime no longer works as before, and training the next generation of Amazon experts. They also touch on the potential competition for the platform and what the future might look like.

Ronnell Richards is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, host, business consultant, and the Founder of Business & Bourbon, a podcast turned platform helping business professionals network and build relationships. As a serial entrepreneur and sales leader, he has helped build and scale companies through fractional leadership and coaching. Ronnell is the author of Shut The Hell Up And Sell and has been featured in publications, including Inc., Forbes, Gwinnett Business Journal, and numerous others.

The widespread use of CRMs and other management software has diverted from foundational business models and practices like relationship building and communication. Consequently, many sales professionals rush through the funnel to meet their quotas and satisfy company requirements, surrendering ownership of the customer relationship. How can you optimize the sales process to build and maintain valuable customer relationships?

Sales veteran and relationship cultivator Ronnell Richards advises developing a sales business separate from your assigned organization by prioritizing and aligning with customer needs. This value exchange approach allows you to establish yourself as a trusted advisor, encouraging customers to pursue your services and advocate for you beyond your current organization. When structuring your sales funnel, identifying your target audience and tailoring your messaging to address their needs is crucial in nurturing lasting partnerships.

In today's episode of What The Teck? Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly sit down with the Founder of Business & Bourbon, Ronnell Richards, to discuss creating a customer-focused sales business. Ronnell explains how to utilize technology effectively by leveraging business fundamentals, how to establish authority as a young minority sales manager, and the crucial elements of the sales funnel.

Steve Cadigan is a Talent Advisor at Cadigan Talent Ventures, which helps top organizations and leaders build compelling talent solutions for the digital era. As a keynote speaker on the future of work, he has been at the forefront of global talent strategy and company culture for the past 30 years. Steve was LinkedIn's first Chief HR Officer, having scaled the company's talent from 400 to 4,000 in 3.5 years.

He is the author of Workquake and has been recognized as an exceptional world-class performer in culture by the Wall Street Journal, Fortune magazine, and other publications. In 2021, Steve was recognized as being among the top 200 Global Thought Leaders in the world of people and talent.

The pandemic has altered corporate America as employees shift from being work-focused to seeking freedom and balance. But many company owners and senior executives lack the knowledge to build consistent, scalable businesses in remote and hybrid work environments. What can you observe from recent workforce developments, and how can you create an attractive culture?

Elon Musk's decision to require 80-hour on-site work weeks has deterred employees, with many leaving to pursue flexible remote opportunities or hybrid environments offering child care, fitness centers, and restaurants. Future of work advocate and culture expert Steve Cadigan helps middle management teams communicate the value of remote work to their senior executives. He maintains that leaders should adapt their departments to manage uncertainty and adversity by making current and future decisions and generating trust and confidence among team members.

Join Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly in this episode of What The Teck? as Steve Cadigan returns to share strategies for adapting to the evolving work world. Steve explains how to create a culture in hybrid and remote work environments, the dilemma of corporate America, and leadership's impact on company culture.