One of the biggest shifts brought on by the pandemic is the number of people who have opted to quit their jobs.The media has handily named this the ‘Great Resignation’ and whether the number of people leaving their posts is quite as high as the headlines imply, there has certainly been a surge in the number of people who are disgruntled and find their work - well somewhat soul crushing.  Have so many companies become terrible places to work?  Or have employees simply raised their expectations as to what work should be like?  Either way, what can today’s leadership do to reduce turnover and create a work environment that supports people - and productivity?To gain greater insights into the current situation that’s driving workplace turnover, I reached out to Ralf Specht, creator of the Soul System and author of  Building Corporate Soul: Powering Culture & Success with the Soul System.Ralf was a founding partner of Spark44, where he was the architect of an innovative, industry-first joint-venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which grew under his leadership to a global revenue of $100+m and 1,200 employees. In this episode, Ralf talks about:- How companies can build stronger relationships with their teams and reduce employee turnover.- Why it’s possible to have a workplace environment that’s both competitive and supportive.- How to build a company that has a ‘soul’.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comConnect with Ralf Specht:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralf-specht-b21b8529/Building Corporate Soul website:  https://buildingcorporatesoul.com A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most companies are using some form of digital marketing. However a growing number are struggling to achieve the results they hoped for.What used to be a handful of digital options has now mushroomed into a vast array of choices and complex media plays.Those early days of banner adverts, sponsored content and posts on a few social media platforms have morphed into a situation where companies are struggling to keep up with a massively time consuming frenzy of online activities - often without having a clear idea of what’s working or how they should be benchmarking success.To gain some clarity on digital marketing, I reached out to Madeline Farquharson, marketing lead at Inqling, a digital media consultancy that helps small companies tell their story and connect with their audience.Her team are masters at designing those moments of engagement that customers have with companies online.In this episode, Madeline is going to share some huge insights:- Why Marketers Need a ‘Provisional Persona’ for Their Products.- The Power of Community in Driving Leads.- How We can Benchmark the Success of Our Digital Marketing.- Why It Pays to Use Paid Promotion.- The Critical Difference Between ‘Rented’ and ‘Owned’ Audiences.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Inqling:  https://inqling.studioConnect with Madeline Farquharson:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-farquharson/A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at  A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It seems that everyone is talking about data.At first it was big data.  Then it was data privacy … data mining … data management … cloud data.  And more recently, how big tech is handling our data.Whether you’re a massive corporation or a solopreneur, today everyone has the ability to collect customer data - and is seeing lots of advantages in doing so. The challenge is what do we do with the growing mass of data that we are able to collect? How do we turn it into something that is actionable - useful - in improving or growing our business?To get some top level advice as to how we can leverage our data to grow our business, I sat down with the very talented Joanne Persico, President and Co-founder of OneCount, an SaaS platform that helps companies integrate multiple, diverse data streams - and then analyse it for practical, actionable customer insights that can generate more leads and 10X customer experience.In this episode, Joanne will talk about:- 6 Pillars for Rethinking How You Manage Data- How B2B Companies Can Use Customer Data Like Big Tech Does (in other words, Steal a Page from the B2C Playbook)- How Better Data Management Can Support Your Company in Building Greater Trust with Your CustomersUSEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Joanne Persico, President of OneCount:  http://www.one-count.com/Learn more about OneCount:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannepersico/A Seat at The Table website:  seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Brands are facing massive market changes.  Supply chain disruptions have pulled the rug out from under fast fashion.  Eco-conscious consumers want more sustainable apparel.  And new direct to consumer brands are rapidly gaining market share.When the dust settles there will be winners and losers, but one thing is certain - new brands are bringing new demands to suppliers.Gone are the days when most brands wanted the same thing - and typically that was lower prices.We know that the new brands have a different sourcing model.  But exactly is it?To get a better understanding of what direct to consumer brands want - or need - from their suppliers I reached out to Kevin Lynk, founder and CEO of Creare, an agency that provides design,  product development and production, and that leverages strong mill partnerships to deliver high quality raw materials.Kevin has two decades of experience working with both traditional and new digital native brands.In this episode he’ll talk about:-  Who’s  likely to prosper in the ‘New Normal’.- The growing shift away from cheaper and towards better.-  The overlooked emergence of a new ‘middle market’.-   Today’s biggest “asks” from buyers.-  What keeps him up at night.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Creare:  https://crearegroup.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone is talking about the importance of digital transformation, yet many companies are stuck as to how exactly to best implement it for their business.Regardless of what business you’re in, shifting away from legacy systems is never easy and not knowing best practices or even how to evaluate which system is best for you can make the process even more daunting.To get insights into what companies need to consider when making the leap into digitising their operations, I sat down with Sunny Han, founder and CEO of Fulcrum, a cloud-based platform that helps manufacturers quickly sift and sort through hundreds of data points at lighting speed in order to make better decisions - and make them faster.In the episode Sunny will share: - The importance of re-evaluating your company’s data architecture before ditigitizing your operations.- The overlooked benefits of being able to make faster decisions.- The role that API’s are playing in boosting the capabilities of software systems.- Why by digitising you’re not simply implementing software, but are trying to evolve your operations.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Fulcrum:  https://fulcrumpro.com/Connect with Sunny Han:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusunnyhan/A Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Starting a business is easy.  Scaling it is where things get a bit more challenging.  70% of start ups fail within two to five years of launching.  Not encouraging numbers.  In today’s competitive market, even establish businesses are facing new and unanticipated market challenges.Still, we are firmly in the Age of the Entrepreneur, with solopreneurs launching new micro businesses, creators developing new products and services, and mega corporations being told to “be more entrepreneurial” in their thinking.In this new and often chaotic environment, what are current best practices?  What do those who succeed have in common?  What should we at least be considering as we navigate a market where it seems that none of the old rules still apply?To get a better idea of what successful startups do right, I reached out to a man who’s mentored 100’s of startups and whose career has been deep in the fast growing MarTech (marketing technology) sector. Dan McGaw, is CEO of McGaw.io, an analytics and marketing technology consultancy and SaaS platform, UTM.io.  Dan previously was Head of Marketing at Kissmetrics and  worked as a CMO consultant for a number of high-growth companies, implementing tools, offering support, and analyzing data.  He was also selected to be a United States Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the United States Department of State.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Dan talks about: Why ‘traction’ can be more important initially than sales or profits.The critical, but often overlooked, role that corporate culture plays in building a successful business.Why data is important - but so is human instinct - in making the right decisions.What the ideal MarTech stack looks like today.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comConnect with Dan McGaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmcgaw/Dan's websites:  mcgaw.io  and utm.ioGet Dan's FREE ebook:  text +1-415-915-9011A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There are probably almost as many trading systems and investment philosophies as there are active traders.  Each strategy promising to help people beat the market.  But what if success was less a matter of a system or a strategy and more a matter of a certain mindset?Roger Khoury has over two decades of experience the field of market forecasting.In 2010, he developed an innovative probability-based form of price forecasting, called Market Vulnerability Analysis™, to overcome an inherent flaw he discovered in all trading systems and strategies, which he felt was the root cause of large drawdowns and inconsistent results.His approach focuses on limiting downside market risks, without limiting upside profit potential, while maintaining a consistent win rate.Roger is passionate about helping traders and investors understand how they can achieve sustainable and consistent earnings.In 2019, Roger launched the Market Forecasting Academy to accomplish his vision for educating and mentoring active market participants on acquiring the skill of accurate and objective financial market forecasting.In this episode he shares insights into:Why  focusing on opportunities to make money is the reason people have bad or inconsistent market experiences and what to do instead. Why it's critical to focus on the process, not the results.The "inherent flaw" in all market strategies that leads to large losses and inconsistency.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Roger Khoury:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerkhouryusa/Market Forecasting Academy website:  https://marketforecastingacademy.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table podcast:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Building a reliable supply chain is never easy.  Especially when you’re dealing with a vast number of suppliers and when you are facing cultural differences in your vendor markets.  It gets even more complicated when the product you’re sourcing is fresh food.So what are the best practices learned over the years from industry leaders who’ve meet the many challenges, spent sleepless nights and ultimately managed to succeed?One man who has been in the supply chain trenches - and succeeded - is Xavier Naville.Xavier built a business in China supplying fresh lettuce to leading international fast food chains.  Despite the incredible challenges sourcing food in a market with a highly fragmented agricultural system, he managed to survive - and ultimately thrive.  His experience not only taught him sourcing best practices, but also incredibly powerful lessons in leadership that served him well managing his team in China - and that are increasingly relevant to markets outside of China.Xavier’s new book "The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China" documents his experience and is a must-read for anyone who wants greater insights into successfully doing business in China.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Now let’s sit down with Xavier and hear about how he navigated one of the world’s most challenging supply chains.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:   https://www.spinexpo.comConnect with Xavier Naville:  - Advisory   https://www.vision-consultants.org/- Coaching  https://www.xavier-naville.com/Learn more about Xavier's book "The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China".   https://www.vision-consultants.org/the-lettuce-diariesA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmContact "A Seat at The Table" https://seat.fm/contact-us/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing  https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re trying to make sense out of a world where everyone seems to be launching the next unicorn.  And where valuations seem to have little correlation to corporate values or even the value of revenue or profit generated … If you’re running a business without VC investment and feel like every day you’re pushing water up hill … or feel that your less glamorous, but profitable business is nothing compared with those start ups that keep getting new rounds of funding … Then this is the podcast for you.If you’re looking for a candid view of the real opportunities for start ups and brand acquisitions then Brian Esposito is your man.Brian has a 20 year track record of successfully advising, investing and nurturing brands across an industrial spectrum that runs from fashion and beauty to technology and entertainment, as well as charities and transportation.  He’s a natural born connector who has the unique ability to see often overlooked opportunities in seemingly disparate assets.  Today, Brian shares his key principles for running a successful brand or business.- What successful starts up have in common- Why he doesn’t believe in unicorns- The importance of having a good advisory team- The overlooked opportunities in small companiesUSEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comConnect with Brian J. Esposito- On LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjesposito/- Website:  https://eie.rocks- Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianjespositoA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmContact A Seat at The Table podcast:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re confused about commodities… perplexed about where prices might be headed …  and increasingly concerned about those rumours about potential shortages of certain raw materials - well you’re not alone.At a time when we seem to be surrounded by uncertainty, it’s difficult for even the most confident to leaders not to second guess themselves.While many analysts expect to see price increases as part of the fallout from the pandemic, others believe that higher costs are likely to linger - becoming another part of the new normal.I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on a Seat at The Table.Each week I sit with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and authors who share their insights, experience, outlook  for succeeding in business as well as a vision for the future.When you want insights into the future of cotton prices the man to talk to is cotton industry consultant Terry Townsend, who has spent over 30 years analysing the cotton industry.Before establishing Cotton Analytics, Dr. Townsend was executive director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). Prior to that he worked at USDA  analyzing the U.S. cotton industry.Dr. Townsend has a love for commodity issues, especially those related to cotton, and a deep appreciation of the importance of fundamental analysis in understanding structural change in commodity markets.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about up upcoming events and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s get some insights into where cotton prices might be heading.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Dr. Terry Townsend:  [email protected] A Seat at The Table website:   seat.fm   or contact us at:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

 Most brands are looking for new markets where there’s strong consumer demand - and buying power.Yet most over look Japan.  Too complicated … takes too long to get into the market … then there’s the language barrier and cultural differences.   Many would rather avoid it than risk possible failure.But what if the Japanese market wasn’t as challenging as it looks?  What if brands could actually do quite well there, if they just understood what to do and how to do it?The Japanese market might be different from other markets, but there are huge opportunities for brands that offer high quality products, according to Catherine O’Connell, a New Zealander who opened her own law firm in Japan.Catherine has helped many international brands successfully enter and navigate the Japan market.  In today’s episode, she’ll helps us demystify and decode many of the commonly held (and often incorrect) assumptions about what it takes to break into the market.According to Catherine, Japan isn’t about a quick win.  It’s about long term investment for long term returns.  If you’re willing to make the commitment and use a local playbook, there’s lots of opportunity - especially for niche brands.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  Now let’s find out how we can build our brand in Japan.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  https://www.spinexpo.comConnect with Catherine O'Connell:   | www.catherineoconnelllaw.com   or https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/ A Seat at The Table website:   seat.fm   Contact A Seat at The Table:   https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When your computer freezes you simply rebooted it.  When your modem is running slowly tech support tells to try rebooting it.But what about when you feel that your life is stuck?  When you feel that you’re going in circles? Or going nowhere.  When you simply don’t know what what you want to do next.Perhaps what you need is to reboot your life.If you feel like your life could use a reboot then this podcast episode is for you!Debbie Gissoni faced life changing tragedy and had to find a way move past the trauma and find the happiness and inspirationto create a new life.From this experience she developed methods that helped her and that later she shared with others through her bestselling books and now her new course.Today she’ll tell us how she turned her life around, as well as tools and exercises we can use to help us rethink and reboot our lives.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will reboot retail sales, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s join Debbie and find out how we can reboot our lives.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Debbie Gissoni- Website:  selfpowernow.com- LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgisonni/A Seat at The Table website:   seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the key differentiators between good and great companies is leadership.For most companies the focus tends to be on financial results, product development - and recently on juggling supply chain crises.That leaves little time to think about leadership - let alone getting involved in professional development.However as many of have learned, the value of having capable leaders at the top and middle level of your organization can be a game-changer - and often times a lifesaver!Being a great leader sounds like a lofty concept, but it can be distilled down into a series of simple, actionable skills and tactics that once learned anyone can apply.That’s exactly what April Sabral, founder of RetailU has done.  She’s taken everything she’s learned during two decades of managing diverse retail teams around the world and codified her best tactics in a way that leaders - in retail or virtually any other industry - can use.Today she’ll share what’s she’s learned, what worked best - and how a million dollar chocolate bar drove her team to achieving sales results beyond their wildest expectations.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be social media superstars, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with April Sabral:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/Find out more about RetailU:  retailu.caA Seat at The Table website:  seat.fmLearn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Direct to Consumer brands have been a rising market sector for over a decade.  The massive shift to online shopping during the pandemic was the rocket fuel that propelled many new brand launches, and made many traditional brands aware of the huge opportunities in selling online.From potentially better margins to building closer engagement with consumers, most brands have made Direct to Consumer a priority.While DTC doesn’t necessarily mean that the consumer purchases the product online, it does rely heavily on online promotions.And that’s where the going can get tough - very tough!Social media has been a key channel for promoting DTC brands.  However to succeed it takes a lot more than simply posting photos to your feed.  In a hyper competitive market, brands need to be more strategic - to find unique tactics that can set them apart - and that help manage those massive advertising and marketing costs that are now part of growing a brand.David Morneau is the go-to guy for brands who want out-of-the-box strategies for building their brands online.  His social media agency, In Beat, has run wildly successful campaigns for DTC brands that help them uncover hidden marketing opportunities and then support them in effectively implementing them to their full potential.Today he joins me to discuss one of his most effective tactics.  He’ll dive into why it works, potential problems that brands could face and how to use it effectively.  As a bonus, he’ll share an innovative way that brands can get valuable market feedback from influencers.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be social media superstars, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with David Morneau... on LINKEDIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/morneaudavid/... on In Beat Agency's website:  https://www.inbeat.agency/Visit A SEAT at THE TABLE website:   seat.fmLearn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

 When most people start a business their core focus is on product development, driving sales and creating customer loyalty.Few think about selling the business.  Or more importantly, “if some day I wanted to sell this business what would make it attractive to investors?”By the time they start to think about this, it’s often too late.  Turns out, that what’s a great business for the owner, is not necessarily that appealing from an investor’s point of view.If you’re looking to ensure that your business is saleable - if or when you want to sell it - then John Warrillow is your man.John started and exited four companies, and is the author of bestseller, “Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive without You” and host of Built to Sell Radio.He is also Founder and CEO of The Value Builder System, a blue print for companies that shows you exactly what you need to do to build a business that some else would want to buy.John has helped countless business owners build more valuable companies.  In this podcast he shares critical insights that point out what to start doing now to build a company that’s Built to Sell.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will standout in the market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comGet the Value Builder “Cheatsheet” and workbook that John mentioned in the podcast:  www.builtToSell.com/seatRead John Warrillow’s book “Built to Sell”:  https://bit.ly/builtToSellList’s to the Built To Sell podcast:  https://builttosell.com/radio/Connect with John Warrillow:  - Built To Sell website:  www.BuiltToSell.com-  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwarrillow/Our A Seat at The Table podcast website:   seat.fmLearn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing reports:  bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Have you ever thought of what it might be like to live your dream life?But then thought “well that will have to wait.  There’s no way I can do that right now. “Or maybe you’ve felt stuck, a lack of opportunity because of where you’re living or the nature of your job?What if there was a way to start moving towards living your dream life right now.  A way to build a successful and happy life, regardless of where you are?This episode is part of our Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.  Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances.  Who’ve defined success in their own terms.  Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.Jayne Nakata lives in Fukushima, Japan a place you might recognise as ground zero for the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.She managed to get past the devastation of seeing everything around her  thrown into chaos and ruin, as well as having her own plans turned upside down - and she went on to build her best life.In this podcast episode, Jayne talks about mistakes people make when trying to create their dream life. How you can create an amazing life even when you live in a small town.  And also the power of community.Before we get started, whether you’re launching a new brand or looking to grow your existing brand then SPINEXPO is a must visit fair.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops, contests and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s sit down with Jayne Nakata and find out to start building our best lives.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Jayne Nakata:Website    https://www.jaynenakata.com/Facebook URL  https://www.facebook.com/transformationswithjayneInstagram URL  https://www.instagram.com/transformationswithjayne/LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynenakata/Visit A Seat at The Table Website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the many sectors that have been disrupted by the pandemic is commercial real estate.  From consumers embracing online shopping and people working from home for over a year - to what could be long term migrations out of cities, this kind of movement clearly impacts the property sector. However to fully understand what’s happening - and to be able to see where there might be opportunities - or obstacles - requires data.  And the ability to not only collect that data, but also to analyse it in ways that highlight things that might otherwise be overlooked.Like many industries, commercial real estate has been slow to adopt technology.  However that’s changing now - and it’s affecting everything from identifying top locations to shining a light on operating costs.Rob Finlay, Founder of Lobby CRE,  knows the knows the extraordinary value of combining tech, innovation and data within the commercial real estate sector.He’s pioneered applications that essentially do for commercial real estate what Bloomberg terminals did for the financial sector - making previously difficult to get data accessible.Rob joins me today to talk about what he sees happening in commercial real estate from market shifts and cost management to using data to identify new opportunities.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will standout in the market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s here what Rob has to say about commercial real estate.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Rob Finlay:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-j-finlay/A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Many people dream of launching their own fashion brands but once they get started find that it’s much more complicated than it looks.That leads to stalled - or even failed businesses.  Brilliantly creative products - that could be part of profitable companies - even up dyeing on the vine.  Never making it beyond the sample room.If you’re thinking of starting a fashion brand - or if you have brand and you’re stuck trying to grow it, then this podcast could bring you some of the answers you’re looking for.I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.  This episode is part of our Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.  Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances.  Who’ve defined success in their own terms.  Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.In today’s podcast episode we’ll be hearing how Susan Berman started an accessories business while she was in business school and grew it into a brand that retailers from Barney’s to Anthropology loved. Her Susan Daniels brand was so eye catching that it won that all-important placement in store windows, as well as being worn by cast members of popular television series including Gossip Girls.Susan talks about what she wishes she knew when she got started.  What were the biggest ‘blind spots’ she faced - and what she’d do differently if she were starting over.Before we get started, whether you’re launching a new brand or looking to grow your existing brand then SPINEXPO is a must visit fair.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s dive in as Susan talks about starting and growing a successful brand.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Susan Berman:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/berman-susan/Visit 'A Seat at The Table' website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Amazon is usually admired for its massive scale, obsession with serving customers and founder Jeff Bezos’ relentless entrepreneurial spirit.What doesn’t get discussed as often is the management principles and strategies that are the backbone of this organisation.  The tenets that provide the infrastructure on which the Amazon empire has been built.  However Amazon’s management philosophy and organisational tactics and strategies played a critical role in getting Amazon to where it is today - and continue to be one of the keys to its ongoing success.The company’s approach to everything from launching new businesses and benchmarking progress to fueling innovation is both awe inspiring -  and daunting!  Few understand the inner workings of Amazon’s management principles better than John Rossman, a former Amazon executive who lead the development of the Amazon marketplace in its formative years.He worked with Jeff Bezos and other senior members of the company’s leadership as they implemented management concepts and tactics that were at least as innovative and groundbreaking as the company’s business model itself.   John understands Amazon’s unique business principles so well that he wrote a book about them.Today John joins us here on A Seat at The Table to give us an insiders view of Amazon, and to discuss his new book “The Amazon Way”.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are bursting with creativity, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s sit down with John and learn about what Amazon does differently - and why it works. USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comRead John Rossman's book "The Amazon Way":  https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Way-Leadership-Principles-Disruptive-ebook/dp/B00KHT2UJSConnect with John Rossman on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/John Rossman's blog:  www.the-amazon-way.comA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Performance apparel remains a bestselling category.  The challenge is to continue to add innovation - while meeting growing demand for better quality.All of which comes down to not only more investment in R&D but more strategic investment .  When it comes to performance  5.11 Tactical is one brand where functional properties can be a matter of life or death.The brand’s core products are purpose-built to support first responders whose work requires gear that provides wearers with safety, ease of movement and endurance.Seeing the growing  consumer demand for high performance activewear, 5.11 Tactical parlayed the innovation developed for its professional gear into a collection aimed at adventure sports enthusiasts.In this episode I sit down with Vivian Lee, managing director of 5.11 Tactical Sourcing, to hear about a new R& D centre she’s developing for the brand in Taiwan, why vendor relationships must be a two-way street and how 5.11 is finding new global market opportunities for high performance apparel.By the way, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.  From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the Seat at The Table episodes, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

What can business leadership learn from a professional artist?  Turns out - a lot!At a time when we’re being encouraged to ‘think outside of the box’ fine art is probably as far outside of the traditional business setting as you can get.Yet it seems that occasionally  swapping Excel sheets for art supplies can give executives a totally new perspective on where their business is now, where they could be heading - and how to get there.  I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table!  Each week I sit down with leading executives, entrepreneurs, authors and innovators who share their experience, expertise and insights about the future of business.This week I had the opportunity to speak with Nora Herting, a pioneer of visual strategy.  She’s CEO and Founder of ImageThink, a visual leadership company that has worked with clients ranging from pharmaceuticals like Pfizer and  Johnson & Johnson to tech giants including IBM and Google, as well as NASA and Toyota.In this episode Nora talks about the power of visual thinking as a catalyst for personal and organisational change.  She explains her unique visual approach that blends strategic thinking with creative expression.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are bursting with creativity, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s find out Nora helps companies discover the game-changing benefits of thinking like an artist.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comFind out more about Nora Herting and ImageThink: www.imagethink.comConnect with Nora on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-herting-imagethink/Visit "A Seat at The Table" website:  https://seat.fm Learn more about Current Situation in Sourcing:  www.bit.ly/current_situationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The old saying that there are riches in niches is proving to be increasingly accurate.As consumers demand greater personalisation, brands that meet those requests are seeing steady sales growth - as well as healthy margins.In the past, brands grew their sales by trying to provide something for everyone.  Today, that strategy is becoming increasingly unprofitable.  New brands that focus on narrowly defined market segments are grabbing the high margin business.  And those super narrower segments are showing great profit potential.Identify a consumer who is under served and give them exactly what they are looking for and you will be rewarded for your efforts.I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table.  Each week I sit down with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and authors who share their insights, expertise, experience and vision for the future of business.This week I sat down with Amy Lipton, founder and CEO of Spitfire Petites, which focuses on providing fashionable activewear for women golfers who wear petite sizes.Amy parlayed a successful marketing career in the tech sector into an equally as successful role as fashion innovator.In this episodeshe’ll share how she’ positioned Spitfire Petites to compete and win in the hyper competitive activewear sector.Before we get started, if you’d like to create winning knitwear collections then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s find out how Amy built her fabulous fashion-driven activewear brand.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comSpitfire Petites:  www.spitfirepetites.comA Seat at the Table website:  https://seat.fmCurrent Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Getting into the fashion industry as a designer is not easy.  Staying in the industry can be even more difficult.  Especially nowadays when companies are facing so much uncertainty.That’s gotten many designers wondering what alternatives might be available for them. If you love the fashion industry but are looking for a way to pivot from some the industry’s traditional careers, then this is the podcast for you!I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.  This episode is part of our new Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.  Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances.  Who’ve defined success in their own terms.  Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.In today’s podcast episode we’ll be hearing how Lacee Swan parlayed her talent and love for illustration into an incredibly successful business doing  collaborations with  leading brands, as well as creating her own product line.  And how each time she was faced with adversity, she managed to find a way to make her next move towards building a profitable business that she loves.  One where her art can bring a touch of joy and encouragement into the lives of people around the world.This is not just a story of remarkable business success. It’s also a story of faith, of learning to be your own cheerleader, and of never giving up on your goals and dreams.Before we get started, if you’d like to create winning knitwear collections then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now let’s hear Lacee’s inspiring story of how she went from fashion designer to highly sought after illustrator and successful entrepreneur.USEFUL LINKSLearn more about SPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.comSee Lacee Swan's illustrations and products:  www.laceeswan.comA Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

What does it take to create a business selling very high end, exclusive products online - without any physical retail presence?How do you manage to standout from all of the noise and chaos on social media, let alone establish the level of trust necessary to convince customers, who are an ocean away, to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something they have not been able to touch or examine?I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.  This episode is part of our new Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.  Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances.  Who’ve defined success in their own terms.  Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.In today’s podcast episode I’ll be speaking with the incredible Alex Alfieri , founder of Butterlane, who along with his partner Monte Cutteridge, has turned the business of selling antique jewellery on its head and built a wildly successful business through their strategic use of social media.This is not just a story about remarkable business success, it’s also a story about integrity, unwavering dedication and loyalty, and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles.Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.   It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.USEFUL LINKS:Learn more about SPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.comButterlane Antiques:  www.butterlaneantiques.comA Seat at The Table podcast:  www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When we think of eBay we usually think  ‘that’s where you sell all of those things from your closets, basement or garage that you no longer want. It’s that auction site.'That was how eBay started, but a lot has changed since then.  Today it is a fast growing massive marketplace where savvy sellers can set up their own online stores.  Consider this:In 2020, eBay’s global gross merchandise volume reached $100 billion, up 16.9% year-on-year.  It ranks second after Amazon in terms of GMV.  And it is the fifth largest marketplace worldwide, weighing in after China’s JD.com.The company ended 2020 with 185 million active buyers, and 1.7 billion global customer visits per month, making it the second most visited platform worldwide.EBay is proving that it has the ability to sustain the gains it has seen during COVID. Yet most brands and individual sellers overlook the huge opportunities here - particularly for their growing cross border sales.If you want to learn more about the opportunities on eBay then the person to see is Kathy Terrill.  She’s a leading eBay super seller with a 15 year history as a top eBay  seller as well as 25 years in brick-and-mortar retail.   Her website name “I Love to Be Selling” says it all.In addition to selling on eBay, Kathy is  an eBay educator and consultant, and small business advocate, as well running the only Facebook group exclusively for eBay store owners.  Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.  From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Also checkout our website.  You can find all of the Seat at The Table episodes, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.USEFUL LINKS:Learn More about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Kathy Terrill:  Facebook Business page: I Love To Be Selling https://www.facebook.com/ilovetobesellingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/love2beselling/Pinterest: https://www.instagram.com/love2beselling/Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyterrill/ Website- link to free seller tips:https://ilovetobeselling.com/webinars-and-workshops/free-tips/A Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmLearn more about   The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

E-commerce is a tech driven channel and so when retailers look to enhance their online performance the first place they look is for more technology solutions.However, the consumer is still a human being - whether shopping offline or online.  So connecting with them on a more personal basis is proving to be as important as the functionality that tech provides.For a growing number of retailers, the ability to humanise their online stores is showing game changing results.In this episode I’m talking with Lucy Norris, Head of Content at Ecrubox Digital, a  UK-based digital communications agency.For the last two decades, Lucy has served as an advisor for a host of corporate, celebrity and non-profit clients providing strategic advice to help individuals and organizations tell their story.Today she’ll be discussing some of the insights from a recent study that Ecrubox has done to better understand the role of humanisation in driving online sales and loyalty.Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.  From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  Also checkout our website.  You can the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table , the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Now, let’s hear Lucy’s views on why we need to add a human touch to our e-commerce stores.Useful Links:Learn more about SPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Ecrubox Digital:  www.ecruboxdigital.comA Seat at The Table website:  seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Never in recent times has leadership been put to the test the way it has during the past year.Suddenly managers found themselves not only facing unprecedented business conditions, but they also needed to work with teams that were now working from home.Navigating these challenging circumstances was the perfect opportunity for executives to develop new leadership skills.  To learn fast, take risks and test boundaries - without the fear of failure.Who better to speak with now as we head into the next phase of the ‘pandemic era’ than Colin Hunter, CEO of Potential Squared, which specializes in using virtual reality technology to help leaders reveal and learn from their true behaviors and habits .  Colin is set to release the much anticipated, “Be More Wrong: How Failure Makes You An Outstanding Leader” , which uncovers the systems, habits, and practices executives need in order to develop critical leadership skills and learn fast.   It brings together multiple concepts including The Hero’s Journey, Design Thinking Methodology, storytelling, personal resilience, psychological safety, strategic presence and the blended skills of coaching and mentoring into a leadership framework.Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.  It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  There’s also a link in the show notes.Useful Links:Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Colin Hunter:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhunterConnect with Potential Squared:  https://www.potential2.com/en-gb/A Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There once was a time when brands would only dabble in emerging markets.  Most brands avoided them.  Too complicated.  Too risky. Not enough potential revenue to justify the investment.  But that’s starting to change - and that change is being driven by two key factors.Traditional developed markets are highly competitive (every brand wants to be in these markets) and they are mature markets - making growth more difficult.  But that’s been the case for a while.What’s changing the game is that now emerging nations are seeing impressive growth of their middle classes - in terms of percent of population and buying power.And these are not all small nations.  Countries like Indonesia with a population of about 246 million, Nigeria with 201 million, India at 1.3 billion weigh in terms of numbers.   Smaller markets in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa also have a growing consumer populations who can and will buy international brands.Even though the numbers look enticing, entering these markets is not for beginners. New markets bring with them new challenges.  If nothing less than understanding local cultures and business practices.So how does a brand go about identifying which of these markets could be the right market for them? And then how do they get started where simply replicating what they did in traditional markets is not likely to be successful?To learn more about entering emerging markets I reached out to Mark Loynd, an Executive Director at Giordano International, and the group’s General Counsel and Head of Overseas Markets.If you’re looking at how to bring your brand into an emerging market, then Mark is the man to see.  He’s been there, seen it and done it.Mark has led Giordano’s successful expansion into nine countries in Africa, including its recent entry into Ghana, 8 countries in Central Asia, 7 Eastern European nations and many more in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.TIME STAMPS(4.46) Identifying the Right New Markets(8.48) Managing Inventory across over 30 Markets(13:47) The Benefits of a Strong Commitment to Quality(15:26) Understanding the New Consumer(16:19) Why Sticking to Their DNA has Paid Off(20:03) Fastest Growing MarketsBefore we get started, if you are looking to create collections for your brand that will be must-buys in new markets or traditional markets, then SPINEXPO is the place for you!  It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.From technical innovation to cutting edge colour and design inspiration, SPINEXPO is a rich resource that provides  well edited forums featuring high quality products, as well as exclusive trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.   You can learn more at:  www.spinexpo.comAnd don’t forget to check out our new podcast website where you can find all of the previous episodes of A Seat at The Table podcast, the show notes,  plus lots of other useful information.   You can find it at www.seat.fm.  That’s seat.fm - fm because it’s a podcast.USEFUL LINKSSPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comGiordano International:  www.giordano.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today a strong brand can be a company’s most valuable asset.Companies who’ve done branding right have racked up massive brand valuations like Apple at $263 billion, Amazon at $254 billion,  Microsoft at $140 billion … and it’s not just tech brands.  Coca-cola weighs in at $64 billion, Louis Vuitton at $47 billion, Nike at $39 billion and Walmart at $29 billion.  And that’s only the top of the list.Building a brand is long term investment, but it’s one that can pay off handsomely.  As we’ve seen during the spate of retail bankruptcies during the past 4 years, even if the business fails, there is usually a buyer who is willing to acquire the companies intellectual property - in other words - it’s brand.But what does it take to create a brand that has the power - and value - of say Apple or Nike?In this episode I reached out to Alina Wheeler, author of the Designing Brand Identity.  The book, now it is fifth edition, has become the definitive resource for understanding all of the touch points that create the ecosystem necessary for building a high value power brand.Timestamps(3:45) What is a brand?(6:20) The importance of brand discipline(6:55) Getting on the Brand Train(12:04) Find your 'big idea'(17:20) Focus on you key message(17:55) 4 key questions to define your brand(18:58) Building trust (22:55) Getting content management under control(26:05) Creating your brand signature(27:38) Overcoming the biggest challengeBy the way, if you are looking to develop the kind of knitwear collections that consumer fall in love with the SPINEXPO is the fair for you.From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.And don’t forget to check out our new podcast website where you can find all of the previous episodes of A Seat at The Table podcast, the show notes,  plus lots of other useful information.You can find it at www.seat.fm.  USEFUL LINKSDesigning Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler:    On AmazonConnect with Alina Wheeler:    http://designingbrandidentity.info/Alina's Twitter:  https://twitter.com/alinawheelerAlina's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/alinawheeler/?hl=enSPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.comA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comConnect with Luca Suriano:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucsur/A Seat at The Table website:  seat.fmThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re a brand looking for serious growth opportunities than chances are you’ve been looking at China’s dynamic consumer market.Never before has there been a market that has offered so much opportunity.  1.3 billion people,  a huge rapidly increasing middle class, and e-commerce sales figures so massive that it almost sounds as if you’re making them up.While the opportunities are great, so are the challenges.  If you’re entering China thinking that the same strategies that have worked brilliantly in other markets can simply be rolled out in China - you might be in for a rude awakening.This vast digital-first market is fast moving and constantly changing.  To succeed in China brands need to start from scratch and learn to do things the China way.To better understand how to succeed in China’s complex e-commerce market, I reached out to Josh Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Shanghai-based Kung-fu Data.Josh is a senior China strategist whose helped hundreds of brands with China e-commerce launches.  His company manages a portfolio of successful flagship stores on Tmall and JD.com.  And works with clients from strategy and structure to activation and optimisation.Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.  It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity.  Not to mention outstanding  trend information that can not be found anywhere else.  You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.  I’m pleased to share that A Seat at The Table now has its own website.  You can find all of the podcast episodes, the show notes and lots of other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Kung-Fu Data:  www.kungfudata.comConnect with Josh Gardner on LinkedIn:  /joshgardnerContacts for A Seat at The Table podcast:  [email protected];  [email protected] A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Regardless of where you live, Amazon probably plays a role in your life.  For many of us, Amazon has  become the go-to place when we need something - and want it delivered - or when it’s something we can’t find locally.  Or maybe we’re looking for product reviews.For most retailers, more often than not, it’s the 800 ton gorilla that has either eaten your business - or is about to! We all know that Amazon has the benefits of scale, a multi faceted business model that powers further growth, investors who aren’t pressuring its on profits, and seemingly bottomless pockets that allow it tremendous freedom to innovate, as well as grow it’s infrastructure.But unlikely as it might seem, Amazon’s has it failures too.  There are sectors that even Amazon can’t crack.In this episode, Dr. Robin Gaster, author of Behemoth, Amazon Rising:  Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon, will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays.  Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon.  And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.Timestamps(1:40)  How Amazon Wins in Key Categories(2:50)  The Pros - and Cons - of Having a Massive Product Catelog(9:37)  The Real Strategy Behind Amazon's Foray into Private Label(14:28) Amazon's Next Move - New Sectors with Big Implications(23:42) Why We Should be Worried(27:53) Why Amazon is Likely to Win Any Antitrust Suits(40.51) Where Amazon Could Stumble(50:15) If You're Not Amazon - Here's What You Need to DoThis book is a must-read for anyone who wants a sharp and well researched view of Amazon’s true strengths and weaknesses, as well as insights into how brands need to rethink the way they approach customers.Although Behemonth, Amazon Rising, is packed with facts, statistics and technology explanations, it’s a surprisingly fast and engaging read.Dr. Gaster is a visiting scholar at George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and the President of Incumetrics, Inc., a data and program evaluation consultancy that serves clients seeking to understand the intersection of technology, innovation, economics, and politics. His clients include think tanks like the National Academies, Brookings and the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy; US government agencies including Navy, SBA, and NIST; foreign governments (Sweden, Finland); large companies like Houghton Mifflin and Deloitte - and many more.In this episode, Dr. Gaster will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays.  Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon. And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.Before we get started, if you are looking to develop collections that will be bestsellers both online and in stores, then Spinexpo is the fair for you.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.   It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  I’m also pleased to announced that A Seat at The Table now has its own website where you can find the show notes, access to all of the podcast episodes and other useful information.  You can find it at www.seat.fm.   Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comMore about Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of AmazonVisit A Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It’s difficult to talk about apparel without also talking about materials.And that quickly leads to conversations about sustainability.  Not so much about the need to use more sustainable materials. - most people are pretty clear on that.  The challenge is how to check all of the boxes - and there are a lot! - that brands need to check these days.I’m Jane Singer, and welcome to A Seat at The Table.The question so many brands struggle with is “how to meet requests for better performance, better hand feel, visual appeal and, of course, sustainability?”So I reached out to Veronica Pagani, a leading expert on materials sourcing to find out how she manages that complex equation.Veronica was Vice President of raw materials sourcing at Ralph Lauren for 15 years, before leaving last year to start her own consulting business Studio VP.She’s worked with suppliers around the world and has been challenged to meet the stringent standards that are part of working for a major brand that faces constant pressure to be more sustainable, meet strict compliance standards, work on tight lead times, while also being innovative in terms of performance and design.Speaking of materials, before we get started, if you’re looking for  a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, Then Spinexpo is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.   It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Studio VP:  www.studiovp.ioThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit a Seat at The Table's website where you'll find all of our podcast episodes, more show notes plus other useful information.  Go to www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re like most of us, you’ve seen video meetings go from a temporary measure to become part of the ‘new normal’.  Love them or leave them, Zoom, Teams, Skype and other apps are here to stay.  So smart leaders are adapting and conquering what is really just one more step in an overall migration to all things digital.So how do we  bridge what is a clear divide between in person and online?  Where can we improve the way we communicate information and ideas?  What can we do to win the day in this strange new virtual environment?If you’re looking to make a better impression in online meetings or take your virtual meetings to the next level then the man to see is Eduardo Placer.Eduardo is the CEO and Founder of Fearless Communicators, whose clients include HBO, Google, Bank of America- Merrill Lynch, Yale, The Juilliard School, and the Wharton School of Business, as well as a list of A-lister private clients that are too many mention here.If you’re looking to develop show stopping collections that will perform on the selling floor and online, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  And, I’m pleased to share that A Seat at The Table Podcast now has its own website.  You’ll find the playlist, the show notes and other useful information there.  You can check it out at seat.fm. Useful LinksLearn about SPINEXPO:   www.spinexpo.comFearless Communicators:  www.fearlesscommunicators.comA Seat at The Table website:  www.seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As retail looks forward to returning to normal, most of the attention is focused on which brands will be opening stores and what the new omni-channel strategies might look like.However, we might overlooking what else needs to change.  Will post-pandemic retail simply be a rollout of they we ‘always did things’.  Or will brands reimagine new ways to connect with consumers so they can drive both sales and profits.I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table.I put that question to Andrew Smith, a transformational retailer leader who focusses on the future of retail and customer experience, and is co-founder and managing partner of Think Uncommon, a retail innovation thinktank.   Andrew has worked with both established retailers and startups to develop action-focused  strategies to help them thrive in highly competitive markets.In this episode he’ll share some of what he sees as opportunities for brands and retailers to rethink as they reopen.Before we get started, if you’re looking for precise trend information that will define your next best-sellers, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now let’s sit down with Andrew and learn how we can seize the opportunity to rebuild retail. Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Andrew Smith and ThinkUncommon:  www.thinkuncommon.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Now with the vaccine rollout seriously underway in many countries, a growing number of brands have solid reasons to feel optimistic  that retail could start to rebound.  At worst, there is a bit more clarity about the future. To get a 'behind the scenes' look at what retail might look like in the coming months, I reached out to Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman at Newmark, a leading property consultant.In this podcast he shares an insider's view of what's happening with new tenants, new leases and the new role of stores in the age of digital retail.  Whether you are a brand or a supplier, Ariel provides critical insights into what the next 6 months to a year might look like at retail.You'll learn ...(3:22)  The current situation for high streets vs 3 months ago(7:30)    Who are likely to be the next tenants on the high streets in major cities.(12:30)  What new lease agreements could look like - and why.(21:07)  Why the outlook for retail might be more optimistic than we think.Useful LinksLearn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman of Newmark, click here.Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

E-commerce has  continued to see strong year on year growth, even before the pandemic accelerated it to new heights.While sales growth might start to level off as we head back to more normal times, few doubt that e-commerce will remain an essential retail channel.One of the backbones of e-commerce is logistics. It takes incredible agility and resiliency to be able to provide merchandise on-demand to consumers in the US and Europe when it’s often sourced in Asia - even when there’s no global health crisis.I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at The Table.To get some insights into what these small and medium sized direct-to-consumer retailers are doing, I reached out to Judah Levine, Research Lead at Freightos.com, a logistics marketplace that was purpose built to provide these business with greater transparency and flexibility on the freight side of their operations.Before we get started, if you’re looking for greater insights into the most important knitwear trends, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now join me as I sit down with Judah and get a behind the scenes look at what’s been happening with direct-to-consumer brands from a logistics point of view.Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Freightos:  www.freightos.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When most people talk about trendy fashion they’re usually referring to international designer brands or cutting edge street fashion.Few would be looking to a 120 year-old image wear company whose heritage is supplying t-shirts with team logos or polos embroidered with corporate branding.   However they would be overlooking a company that has pivoted to serve the fast growing demand for show stopping garments that just happen to be represent teams, universities and corporate branding. I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.Today I’m speaking with Susan Ganz, CEO of Lion Brothers.Some of the most fantastic fan wear and image wear is being created by Lion Brothers.In recent years the company has been able to parlay its foundation as a producer of personalized apparel into a key role in the fast growing Direct to Consumer supply chain.Add to it Lion Brothers’ on going investment in both creative talent and new technology and you’ve got a company that makes garments that consumers love and is able to provide buyers with critical on-demand service.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are a ‘must-buy’, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now join me in finding out how Lion Brothers is building the next chapter in its century-old success story.Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Lion Brothers:  www.lionbrothers.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today, brand value is one of the most valuable assets a company can have. For many, it’s proving to be their only asset.Yet most companies don’t really know how to build a high value brand.  Others simply don’t see brand building as a long term investment. The few who have strategically - and often painstakingly - invested in building a brand have reaped the rewards.  From Apple, with its trillion dollar valuation, to Coke-a-Cola, the godfather of global brands - and including everything from luxury goods to packaged goods, from technology to manufacturing - the few companies who get brand right enjoy a massive payoff.I’m Jane Singer and welcome to a Seat at the Table.If you want to understand how to build a power brand then my guest today is the man to see.  Marty Neumeier, is a bestselling author and Director of CEO Branding at Liquid Agency.  He is one of the few people who can boast that Steve Jobs not only read one of his books, but found it so valuable that he wrote his name “Steve Jobs” on the cover along with the warning “Hands Off”.  Marty has decades of experience helping companies - in addition to Apple - create brands that are built to last.Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are on brand and meet consumer demand, then SPINEXPO is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  Spinexpo provides well-edited forums featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now, get ready to hear Marty discuss how to build your brand into a profitable, market leader.Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Liquid Agency:  https://www.liquidagency.comLearn about Level C:  www.levelc.orgVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Logistics has moved from the backroom to the boardroom.  The demand for tighter control over inventory as heightened awareness of the critical role that logistics is playing in creating more responsive and more resilient supply chains. That logistics is a lynchpin in top functioning supply chains has been made painfully clear during the past six to eight months as even the best service providers were stymied by various pandemic related impacts, a dramatic imbalance in global imports and exports, combined with labor shortages at key ports in Western nations that has driven ocean rates up by nearly 200% on key trade routes. The situation with air cargo has been just as bad. I'm Jane singer and today I'm speaking with Eric Williams, senior vice president global head of international supply chain at Kuehne + Nagel.Eric will be giving us a closer look at the current situation in shipping and his outlook for when we might see a correction. He'll also share his insights on some of the new developments that are enabling logistics to provide brands, retailers, and exporters' with better transparency, flexibility, and control over their global supply chains.Before we get started, if you're looking to develop knitwear collections that meet consumers demands for better design and higher quality than SPINEXPO is the place to go. It's the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. SPINEXPO provides well edited forums, featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity.To learn more about SPINEXPO:  www. spinexpo.comAbout Kuehne + Nagel:  https://home.kuehne-nagel.com/Contact us at A Seat at the Table:  https://insidefashionlive.net/contactVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Sourcing executives are increasingly challenged with being faster, more agile, more sustainable, more transparent - oh, and also finding better products that their brand’s customers will want to buy.They are also facing a massive range of new technologies, that if implemented strategically, could be game changing.  That is if they can get the team on board.If we connect all of the dots,  what might the future of sourcing look like?I’m Jane Singer, and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.To get that future view, I reached out to Christophe Roussel, Executive Vice President of Sourcing and Production for Gap, Inc.  Christophe has the vision to be able to see beyond the immediate challenges and envision a new model for sourcing that ties in advanced data analysis and cutting edge technology to deliver the right products at the right time - and in doing so, reduce waste and thus achieve greater sustainability and profitability.In this episode, Christophe explains where he sees new opportunities for supply chain advancement, his ideal for vendor relationships, how vendors could better serve customers, and what his greatest supply chain concerns are.Before we get started, if you’re looking for a future vision of the key trends and technical innovations in knitwear, then SPINEXPO is the place to go - it’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are filled with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now, join Christophe and me at the table as we dive into the future of apparel sourcing.Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comContact us at A Seat at the Table:  insidefashionlive.net/contactVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Africa has been rising to the top of many buyers’  ‘need to look into’ list.However the vastness of the continent - and the diversity amongst regions - makes this a daunting task.A new platform aims to make this easier by gathering key supplier information and organising it in an easy to search database.Not only that, the platform provides an entire ecosystem that ties in support services from inspection to freelance designers.Today I’m speaking with Dirk Robens, CEO of ABANA, a digital solution for discovering Africa’s apparel manufacturers.  Dirk has spent over 30 years in the apparel industry, both on the manufacturing side as well as serving as Sourcing Director for Mr. Price Group, Africa’s largest retailer.He’ll be explaining what ABANA offers, as well as giving us a closer look at sourcing opportunities in Africa.Mauritius and Madagascar in particular have a long history as knitwear suppliers.  As African nations, they also have duty-free status to both the EU and the US, as well as the ability to handle small orders with short lead times. Before we get started, if you’re looking for trend information to technical innovation, then you’ll want to check out SPINEXPO, the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.  The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.  To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.  You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.Now, let’s sit down with Dirk and get some insights into sourcing in Africa.Learn more about SPINEXPO at www.spinexpo.comLearn more about ABANA at www.abana.muThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In recent years retail has gotten a bad rap - especially fashion retail.Too often stores have fallen into a slump, neglected by management’s shift in attention to building up their e-commerce channels.  And just as often because brands have too many stores and too little revenue to maintain them all properly.That’s led to a rash of retail closures in many key markets around the world.But is retail really fated to become just a memory of ‘the way we used to shop?’Or can the right people with a vision and the drive to bring it to fruition and rejuvenate retail into a dynamic place where today’s consumers want to shop?I’m Jane Singer and welcome to A Seat at the Table.Today I’m speaking with Ron Thurston, retail expert and author, and a champion of physical retail.Ron is Vice President of stores for Intermix and has a decades long career of working with leading brands and driving retail excellence from visual merchandising to taking teams of diverse retail staff and helping them to be the best they can be.His enthusiasm for retail is contagious.  And he takes an industry that many people view as an ‘if all else fails’ job and shows us the exciting career opportunities it offers for people of all different skills sets and education levels.  Retail is one industry that has almost no barriers to entry - and few limits on how high you can rise.Most importantly Ron talks about his vision for revitalising retail and provides a path that both large and small companies can easily follow.You can find Ron’s book, Retail Pride, on Amazon in paperback, hardcover or kindle versions.Before we get started, if you’re overwhelmed by information and wish someone could sift and sort through it all and provided you with a tight summary of just what you need to know, then you might want to check out Inside Fashion’s market snapshots. You can find more information at  insidefashionlive.net/snapshots.  Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In an era where technology plays an increasingly dominant role and companies are being told ‘digitise or die’. Is there still a role for human talent?And if so, for how long?From major advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, to the growing use of self-service platforms at retail, where do people fit into Industry 4.0?Can machines and bots do it all?  If they can - is this the future vision that we aspire to?Today I’m speaking with  Dr. Stephen Patton, who’s visionary view of the future of industry includes vital roles for both man and machine.As Regional Director of Asian Sourcing for Liverpool Department Stores, Stephen played a pivotal role in helping his company navigate through the pandemic, thanks to his adept management of his supply chain.Early on, he foresaw how the pandemic could potentially escalate beyond Asia.  This led him to make strategic decisions that resulted in Liverpool having the right inventory at the right time, when some their competitors did not.Stephen attributes Liverpool’s success to the strength of its Human Resources, and by using technology to empower those people so they can do even better work.Before we jump into our podcast, if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast reports done, or you need a sharp, well organised view of the market, then the Current Situation in Sourcing could be the answer to your prayers.  You can request more information about the Current Situation in Sourcing at insidefashionlive.net/css.Now, lets sit down with Stephen and learn about what Liverpool has achieved by  Humanizing and Digitizing their organisation.USEFUL LINKSLearn More about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comA Seat at The Table podcast:  https://seat.fmThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After a year that has been particularly unkind to apparel, many of us are wondering what  the fate of the category might be.  Consumers are spending, but just not on apparel.  Even before the pandemic, many brands were struggling.So where are the opportunities for fashion brands?  And what do we need to do move away from relying on discounts and promotions?  Today I’m speaking with Glenn McMahon, a fashion and brand consultant with an impressive multi-decade track record of helping brands become retail winners.Most recently, Glenn was operating partner at TRAUB, after having served as CEO at St. Johns Knits. Prior to that he held  C-suite roles at other international apparel brands.Glenn will be sharing his view of what brands need to do meet what today’s consumers want.  He also dives into where he sees opportunities - even in a challenging market.Before we get started, if you’re overwhelmed with information  but need a view of global sourcing, then you might want to take a look at the Current Situation in Sourcing.  These concise, easy-to-read snapshot reports have been a live saver for many sourcing directors - saving them days of tedious work.You can learn more at www.current situation.net. That’s www.current situation.net Now let’s sit down with Glenn and get an expert view on apparel brands.Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most brands want to be more sustainable, but they also need to meet price targets and also create products that consumers want to buy.At the same, mills and manufacturers around the world are often sitting on mountains of dead stock - rolls of perfectly good fabric that is destined to be dumped into landfill.My guest today was able to successfully connect the dots between these two scenarios and create a platform that provides brands with a sustainable source of high quality fashion fabrics while giving manufacturers a way to turn unused stock into profits.Stephanie Benedetto is a sustainability super hero.  Her vision and relentless efforts to go from idea to a fully functioning service that benefits thousands of brands, retailers and consumers is making it possible for everyone to make a huge impact on sustainability, without sacrificing on fashion.From corporate attorney to tech startup entrepreneur, Stephanie has purpose built Queen of Raw, a platform that allows manufacturers to list dead stock and brands to easily purchase it - along with a dashboard that provides critical data such as the amount of water or energy being saved.Before we jump into our podcast, if you’re struggling to get your sourcing forecast reports done - or you simply want a sharp, organised view of the market, then the Current Situation in Sourcing could be the answer to your prayers. You can find more information in the show notes for this podcast.Now, let’s sit down with Stephanie and hear about Queen of Raw.Contact Queen of Raw at www.queenofraw.comLearn more about Current Situation in Sourcing at insidefashionlive.net/cssVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone is looking for the next big thing.It turns out, that the next big thing is huge!  We’re talking about space.  And in the New Space Age the opportunities are of galactic proportions.If you’re like me you, when someone mentions the Space industry you probably think astronauts, rockets, planets and maybe even extraterrestrials.Today, the Space industry is all that (well maybe not the extraterrestrials) and more… a lot more!This massive next gen sector has opportunities for a vast range of supporting and tangent industries.  And, unlike other industries, there are more jobs (good paying jobs) than people to fill them.  Not only that, there are piles of patents waiting for entrepreneurs and industrialists to bring them to market.From technology to logistics and even textiles, here’s a sector that’s bursting with real opportunities - at a time when we need them most.I’m Jane Singer and today I’m speaking with Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to connecting the space sector with dynamic industries and individuals who see the future and want to be part of it.Shelli has parlayed  a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and Congressional Liaison for the US Air Force — to her current role leading the Center for Innovation and Education.As a leading role model for women in space, she chairs the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation, hosts the Women’s Global Gathering annually at Space Symposium, serves as a United Nations Space4Women Mentor and an Ambassador for WomenTech Network, and sits on the board of directors for Manufacturer’s Edge. Before we jump into our podcast, I’d like to suggest that if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast report done, The Current Situation in Sourcing is the answer to your prayers.  It provides a sharp and concise snapshot of the situation in major sourcing nations, along with key data. In a a fast and easy-to-read format - of course.Now, let’s sit down with Shelli and talk about space!Space Foundation: www.spacefoundation.orgCurrent Situation in Sourcing:  https://insidefashionlive.net/cssVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After nearly a year of lockdowns, mandatory store closures and people working from home, it’s becoming more difficult to envision what retail will look like when we get past the pandemic.Right now workout gear, yoga pants, hoodies and comfy tops are bestsellers.  And shopping online is not just the channel of choice, for many it’s the only choice. The question on most of our minds is when will retail finally rebound? And what will consumers want to buy as life gets back to normal?So I got in touch with retail expert Tom Ott to get an insider’s view of what retail will look like as we emerge from the strange days of COVID.During Tom’s impressive 24-year career at Saks Fifth Avenue he was Senior Vice President and GMM of Men’s, Gifts and Home.  He then went on to be Chief Merchant at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.After leaving Saks, Tom became Chief at Retail and Fashion Solutions, which provides strategic solutions for retail and fashion companies.Recently, he’s launched Retail Czar, an e-commerce platform.Today Tom is sharing his outlook for what consumers are going to want as we head into healthier times - and why.  Spoiler Alert! There’s a lot of good news - especially for menswear.Tom will talk about his view of how physical retail might fare in a world where e-commerce has seen a year of skyrocketing growth.Before we jump into our podcast, I’d like to suggest that if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast report done, The Current Situation in Sourcing is the answer to your prayers.  It provides a sharp and concise snapshot of the situation in major sourcing nations, along with key data. In an easy-to-read format - of course.Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing:  insidefashionlive.net/contactContact Tom Ott at:  www.retailczar.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm