In episode 42 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Natalija Pavic, the Marketing Director of Kibo Commerce, as she discusses her diverse roles in sales, product marketing, and development, highlighting her passion for all aspects of the industry.

Tune in to learn more about her insights on the retail and hospitality industry and the exciting trends shaping its future.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:27] Product marketing and communication.

[00:04:29] Composable e-commerce solutions.

[00:09:35] Incremental innovation in business.

[00:13:32] E-commerce transformation and consumer expectations.

[00:20:22] Sustainability in product lifecycle.

[00:25:22] Work-life balance challenges discussed.

[00:30:03] Legacy and career reflection.

[00:32:43] Finding your Ikigai.

[00:35:44] Podcast subscription and reviews.

QUOTES

• "Some people just buy something based on the brand. They don't really investigate the product." - Kevin Spencer
• “Work isn't everything. Work is really a sum of interesting challenges and interesting problems to solve, but definitely not identity-driven in that manner." - Natalija Pavic
• "Once you align things that drive you with things that you're interested in and with things that you're good at, then that's the like magic Venn diagram." - Natalija Pavic

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Natalija Pavic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natpavic/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

Kibo Commerce: https://kibocommerce.com/

In episode 41 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer dives into the fascinating world of digital wallets and explores how they are revolutionizing the way we handle money.

Tune in to learn how these innovations are shaping the future of commerce and what they mean for your business.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:45] Digital wallets and their evolution.

[00:05:49] Future of digital wallets.

QUOTES

• “AI-powered wallets, imagine your digital wallet doing more than just storing cards. It can help you manage your money. AI wallets are emerging, offering budgeting tools, automatic savings, fraud detection.”
• “Digital walls are just about payments anymore. They're becoming financial ecosystems. It's going to shape how we interact with money and identity.”

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

In episode 40 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Melodie van der Baan, the Co-Founder and CEO at Max Retail, to explore innovative solutions for managing excess inventory in the retail industry.

Tune in to learn more about innovative solutions for inventory management and the evolving landscape of retail.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:40] Excess inventory solutions for retailers.

[00:04:06] Diversification in retail markets.

[00:10:04] Excess inventory management solutions.

[00:12:50] Overcoming inventory overstock challenges.

[00:19:06] Passion for solving problems.

[00:22:01] Mentorship and legacy impact.

[00:26:05] Future of retail innovation.

QUOTES

• "You don't have to worry about money. You focus on planting seeds. The harvest takes care of itself. Money is a lagging indicator. The leading indicator is the satisfaction of your customers. If they are satisfied, if they are seeing value, you will make money." - Melodie van der Baan
• "Think of the world five years from now. And think of how your business is fitting in it. And start charting that path now." - Melodie van der Baan
• “One of the innovative things that we do as an organization outside of this podcast is we bring that new innovative technology in terms of one of our VIP events that we have every year.” - Kevin Spencer

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Melodie van der Baan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodievev/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodievdb/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodie-van-der-baan/

WEBSITES

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

Max Retail: https://maxretail.com/

In episode 39 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Russ Hawkins, CEO at Agilence Inc., as he discusses the importance of leveraging data to tackle challenges like shrinkage and total retail loss, and how Agilence helps businesses make better decisions through effective data management.

Tune in to explore the fascinating world of retail data analytics and its impact on business operations.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:03:30] Building companies and problem-solving.

[00:05:30] Data wrangling for businesses.

[00:12:35] Total retail loss concept.

[00:14:56] RFID technology advancements.

[00:19:09] Data-driven customer engagement strategies.

[00:25:20] Online presence in retail.

[00:28:10] Supply chain disruptions and inventory.

[00:32:06] Consumer behavior during Christmas sales.

[00:36:09] The origin of Black Friday.

[00:38:41] Data-driven decision-making.

QUOTES

• "A long history of working didn't grow up with any money but found that the way to basically run your own business without having the capital to start it is to be in the sales business." - Russ Hawkins
• "We can't get accustomed to just doing the same thing every day. You gotta evolve with change, which is constant as we all learn." - Kevin Spencer
• "It's kind of a self-fulfilling, you know, virtuous circle here, that virtuous cycle where you give the employees the ability to be better consultants to the customers." - Russ Hawkins

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Russ Hawkins

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russhawkins/

WEBSITES

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

Agilence Inc.: https://www.agilenceinc.com/

In episode 38 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Lorena Tomasini, owner of MALM Life and Health Insurance Agency, as she discusses the distinction between health insurance and health supplements, clarifying common misconceptions.

Tune in to gain insights into the life and health insurance field

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04:01] Financial protection through insurance.

[00:07:36] Common misconceptions about insurance.

[00:08:17] Protecting your finances with insurance.

[00:12:48] Life insurance age demographics.

[00:18:03] Hobbies and interests of guests.

[00:21:43] ICRA and health insurance trends.

[00:24:46] Life insurance policy trends.

[00:29:00] Importance of personalized insurance plans.

QUOTES

• "Always doing what's right for the client and not based on what you're going to get paid or anything like that. It's always offering a solution to the client that meets their needs." - Lorena Tomasini
• "It's about protecting your finances if something were to happen unexpectedly, that you don't have to owe the $50,000 bill at the hospital." - Lorena Tomasini
• "I think everybody needs to have that life and health insurance covered, especially in this modern day where anything can happen spontaneously." - Kevin Spencer

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Lorena Tomasini

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lore0125/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malmins22

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenatomasini/

WEBSITES

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

MALM Life and Health Insurance Agency: https://www.malmins.com/

In episode 37 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer celebrates his birthday and discusses the significance of customer loyalty, particularly on special occasions.

Tune in to discover how businesses can leverage these moments to strengthen customer loyalty and drive success in the retail and hospitality industries.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction to Retail Checks and Balances

00:00:31 - Kevin’s Birthday and Customer Loyalty

00:01:04 - Personal Birthday Experience at a Restaurant

00:03:34 - Applying Birthday Loyalty to Retail

00:05:25 - The Power of Surprise in Customer Loyalty

00:06:29 - Extending Loyalty Beyond Birthdays

00:07:16 - Recap and Final Thoughts on Loyalty

00:08:22 - Closing Remarks

QUOTES

• “This is how we foster loyalty and build emotional connections to our customers. And the key driver of customer loyalty specifically for birthdays is delivering something that serves to be consistent and build a great foundation with your customer.”
• "Tailoring the experiences and offers to the individuals can create a deeper loyalty than you can ever imagine."

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

In episode 36 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Nolan Bradbury, founder of Bradfield Accounting and Advisory, as he shares the misconceptions surrounding the accounting profession, the importance of mindset in business, and how Nolan helps business owners achieve their personal and professional goals.

Tune in as we explore Nolan's insights into the accounting field and his passion for supporting entrepreneurs in their business journeys.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:20] Psychology with numbers.

[00:06:07] Family office light concept.

[00:10:03] Conscious decision-making in business.

[00:11:03] Workforce retirement and supply issues.

[00:15:03] Legacy and its impact.

[00:19:00] Success and client improvement.

[00:23:41] Financial improvement and consultations.

[12:34:56] The impact of social media.

QUOTES

• "I want someone to help me kind of buy back my time without sacrificing the things that are going to create a legacy for my family." - Nolan Bradbury
• "It's no longer my job to make you do the right thing. It's my job to make sure that you have all the information to make the best choice for yourself." - Nolan Bradbury
• "Whether you're a business owner or not a business owner, whatever your financial situation is, it can be improved and it can be changed." - Nolan Bradbury

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Nolan Bradbury

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-bradbury/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

Bradfield Accounting & Advisory: https://bradfieldco.com/

In episode 35 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer dives into the crucial vendor business relationship that underpins the food and retail industries. He emphasizes that any delays or quality issues from vendors can disrupt business operations, making these partnerships vital for success.

Tune in to understand why cultivating strong vendor partnerships is vital for success in the retail and culinary sectors.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction to Retail Checks and Balances

00:00:32 - Vendor Business Relationship Basics

00:01:16 - Importance of Vendor Relationships

00:02:04 - Vendor Relationships in Supermarkets and Restaurants

00:03:10 - Building Trust and Mutual Benefit

00:03:54 - Reliability and Transparency in Vendor Relationships

00:04:49 - Challenges in Vendor Relationships

00:05:46 - Resolving Vendor-Business Conflicts

00:06:21 - Trends in Vendor-Business Space

00:07:25 - Summary and Future Outlook

00:08:20 - Closing Remarks and Subscription Reminder

QUOTES

• "These relationships between vendors and businesses are built on trust, communication, and mutual benefit. And I say they would mutually benefit because the partnership must benefit both mutually."
• "The most successful partnerships are those where both sides are willing to work through issues together rather than jumping ship at the first sign of trouble."
• “One of the biggest strengths is the rise of technology in managing these relationships.”

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/