Distribution Talk

Think your DIY customer survey produced the data you needed? Are you confident in your ability to analyze that information and implement those client recommendations?  I sat down with Martha Brooke, chief customer experience analyst and founder of InterAction Metrics , to find out how better questions translate into meaningful customer insights. "Just because you have a platform like SurveyMonkey...

When things go badly, rest assured the situation can always get worse. That's what happened to Steve Cohn, president of Premier Beauty Supply .  If you think salon sales has nothing in common with you r distribution business, hang with this episode. My conversation with Steve yields some great advice for everyone, regardless of industry, about resilience and reinvention -- especially when things g...

What have you done to secure your company's future? Beyond upgrades to your tech, your  warehouse space, and your fleet, what investments have you made in your people? Michael Meier, VP and COO of Meier Supply Company , discusses how his own professional growth has translated into a passion for training company talent and clientele.  Michael laughs when he tells his origin story and it probably re...

Want to know the secrets to a successful expansion? For Dan Esch of Esch Construction Supply based in St. Paul, Minnesota, a company's mission is just as important as the advanced field work and the financial analysis.  "This business is all about service." That's a sentiment you'll hear Dan repeat throughout our conversation. He's positioned Esch within the concrete cutting niche as a key collabo...

Ankit Sharma, CEO of Kitply Industries LTD. in Vancouver, British Columbia, didn't just take a leap of faith when he started his distribution business a decade ago; he set fire to all of his bridges for good measure. I caught up with Ankit to find out what motivates this award-winning entrepreneur and why he's on a mission to make wood sexy. His strategy to attract the same employees that typicall...

What are you selling? Beyond the parts and pieces, what differentiates you from your competitors? Don't answer, at least not until you've listened to my conversation with Paul Reilly, president of Tom Reilly Training . His company has been on a 40 year mission to show sales teams that value-driven conversations can help them sell more profitably. The message has never been more relevant than in to...

What does your sales force look like in five years? In ten? If you don't have an answer yet, my chat with Eric Wessinger, president of Richards Supply , will definitely spark some ideas.  Officially, he's lead the company for a little over six years. Unofficially, Eric's been in and around the distribution business since childhood. As a second generation leader, he's drawing on his decade of outsi...

Yes! It's possible to remain laid back and move your business forward. Bill Morse, former owner of Constar Supply out of Clovis, California, is proof. Bill sat down to discuss the philosophies that have lead him to create solid banking relationships, honor employee freedoms over management scrutiny, and find the right corporate fit for his company's next chapter.  There's a lot to learn from a guy...

If the prospect of business growth makes you uneasy, you'll find a lot to relate to in this episode. Jason chats with Michelle St. John, owner and president of IBS Incorporated , a self-proclaimed risk-averse leader whose company continues to find creative solutions to industry challenges in spite of, or perhaps because of, her conservative mindset. Maintenance, repair, and operational supply has...

"If you live by that example, those around you will do the same and the more people live that philosophy, the stronger your team becomes. And the stronger the team is, the stronger your business becomes." ~Cameron Overacker When it comes to the family business, there's the clan you're born into and the people that you surround yourself with. Jason talks with Cameron Overacker, president of Canadia...

"Most business owners try to grow our way out of our problems. But the result is simply a bigger monster. You can't grow out in your profit problem. You need to fix the profit first, then you grow." -Tully Brewer In this episode, Jason and Tully Brewer, president of Littlejohn, Inc. , chat about the profit first approach and planning for a healthy succession. Littlejohn, Inc. began selling tank tr...

"There are three things that we ask when we make a call: what should we start doing? What should we stop doing? What should we continue doing? What should we stop doing is usually some of the best feedback." ~Gabriel Curry Jason sits down with Gabriel Curry , president of G&S Nursery and Impact Media , to discuss client retention, business expansion, and the myriad ways data informs decisions. Gab...

"I think salespeople do a fantastic job accomplishing the task that they've been given. That said, none of what they produce out there can really come to fruition without the support of a wide network of folks within the organization." --Marshall Jones  Jason catches up with Marshall Jones, former owner of Marco Supply Company. They cover a lot of ground from life in and out of the family business...

Meet Jason Bader, executive coach, speaker, and owner of The Distribution Team, and find out the origin story of the Distribution Talk podcast (the idea for which came like a 2x4 to the back of the head.) Get ready to hear stories, struggles and solutions from business owners and thought leaders in the wholesale distribution industry. Thanks to Michael and Greg at  Get a Grip on Lighting  for help...