In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Almost every time I facilitate a small group leadership discussion, I ask the team to share some of their story. Predictably, half the group jumps at the opportunity to transparently relay “who” they are and the “story” that informs their lives. It is one of the most powerful moments of any gathering because our story is the truth of where we’ve been and often the spark of our motivations. Our personal narrative is the essence of who we are and the impetus for how we engage with others.

We all have a story. It explains our past and inspires our future; it is, was, and will always be essential to who we become. As Harvard’s Dr. Howard Gardner says, “stories constitute the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal.”1 Dr. Howard Gardner quote, Howard Gardner, cited in: Richard L. Daft (2014), The Leadership Experience, p. 273 Research suggests we almost exclusively operate within a ‘story mindset.’ Leaders who are not afraid to enter someone else’s story understand the power of empathy. But leaders who are not afraid to share their own story understand the power of vulnerability. The future belongs to the storytellers.

One of the best predictors …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
7 Key Elements to Bring Food Products to Large Retail Chain Stores

Are you thinking about scaling up your food business with a major retailer? Whether you’re expanding your product line or increasing production, there are key elements you’ll need to have in place before contacting a major retailer. 

I have seen many excited food entrepreneurs get into major retail stores only to have their products removed within a year with several thousand and sometimes millions of dollars of unsold inventories. 

Here are seven elements to have in place before contacting a big-name retailer. 

1. Get the right team and the right software

When building your team, make sure:

You hire people who enjoy learning and are great team players. Your team needs to keep up with all applicable regulations and should have ongoing training opportunities. All departments need to be able to work together to maintain an efficient product delivery process.   You reach out to your network of food consultants and services. As your business grows, you will inevitably have more on your plate than you can handle yourself. A very knowledgeable consultant can help you navigate some key transition periods without having to commit to them long-term. RangeMe offers a network of service providers that can support many aspects of…
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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

Our lives are filled with color. Color influences our moods, feelings, and perceptions, as well as our decision-making processes. That means your choices in color combinations play an essential role in designing your brand and website.

Choosing the best color combination is both a science and an art. Although not everyone was born with an eye for color and an innate ability in graphic design, there are methods and principles you can use to choose the best color combinations to make both a strong impression and achieve your desired effect. We put together a cheat sheet to help ease the stress of picking.

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Color combination basics

Before we start picking out color combinations, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of colors, color terminology, how colors work together, emotional connections to colors, and the role colors play in creating a reaction. 

Let’s start by reintroducing the visual representation of the relationships of color hues: the color wheel.

The color wheel

The history of this essential guide for artists and designers goes back to the early 1700s. Whether it was in elementary school or the last time you used

…
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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

In recent years, subscription boxes have taken the ecommerce world by storm. This trend grew even faster since the onset of the pandemic, when more people sought out new ways to keep themselves entertained at home.

Research supports this theory—McKinsey predicts that, by 2025, the subscription box market will reach a staggering $ 473 billion, up from just $ 15 billion in 2019. 

So how can you, as an entrepreneur, capitalize on this trend and build your own subscription box business? That’s just what we’ll discuss. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the right subscription-based business model, how to get started building your business, and plenty of tips for success.h

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What is a subscription business?

Let’s go over the advantages of adopting a subscription business model:

More cash on hand. Subscription companies typically receive payments upfront. Besides being good for cash flow, the buffer provides much-needed peace of mind.  Predictable revenue. Knowing how much one has coming in every month helps you forecast everything from sales to inventory requirements.  Loyal customers. Subscriptions allow you to personalize the customer experience, which is a catalyst for repeated purchases and …
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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

As another tumultuous year ends, we eagerly anticipate what’s to come in the following twelve months. Here are the top CPG and retail trends we predict will be top-of-mind for retailers, brands, and consumers in 2023:

1. Direct-to-consumer

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) is a retail model where brands sell directly to new customers, eliminating the need to join forces with big retail brands and brick-and-mortar stores. Consumer expectations and preference to buy from DTC brands are at an all-time high, with 23% of shoppers claiming DTC channels offer better quality products. And 61% of consumers also believe DTC companies provide the best personalized and engaging digital experiences compared to marketplaces and third-party channels.

A DTC brand takes complete ownership over its relationship with a consumer from sales, distribution, and marketing. For brand owners, DTC channels help increase profits by cutting distributor and middle-men costs, creating strong relationships with consumers, and forming a memorable brand personality. DTC brands also have the mobility to create personalized relationships with their shoppers, follow retail trends in a timely manner, and use their consumer data to their advantage.

2. Personalized experiences

Closely connected with the rise of DTC comes the trend of personalized shopping experiences. Personalizing a …

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

Whether you're an individual freelancer, a small business owner, or a high-profile coach, you could do with a business card.

Your business card can be a conversation starter, something for people to keep and act on. It can grow your brand awareness, helping people learn more about your company and get in touch.

And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a pro designer to make custom business cards. Many free business card makers and templates enable you to DIY. 

Below, I’ll walk you through seven of the best tools to make free business cards. As a bonus, I’ll list a few websites offering business card templates you can make your own.

Use these resources to create and/or print off a stunning design, so potential customers and clients remember your business.

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7 best free business card makers

1. Shopify’s free business card maker

Best for professional business cards.

Shopify free business card maker

Shopify’s business card maker is extremely quick and simple to use. Simply provide the information you want to showcase, upload your logo, and click the Create button. Shopify will then email you a download link for your business card mockup.…

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