Explore every episode of the podcast Startup Confidential
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 141 - Founder Archetypes - The Missionary Founder | 01 May 2025 | 00:07:27 | |
How do mission-driven founders get in their own way? It’s not that hard, depending on how ideological your company’s foundations. The most fundamental issue with missionary zeal, when you do not channel it professionally into scaling a disciplined brand is this - you become overly anchored in the end goal and don’t take the journey seriously. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 140 - Rapid Growth Is Not For Everyone w/Sarah Delevan | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:21:27 | |
It’s time for a contrarian view. Most founders in CPG should not be focused on rapid growth. It is far easier to create a stable, satisfying seven-figure CPG business if you let go of a need to scale (and grow fast to get there). In this episode, Sarah and I explore the key financial math that forces your hand as a founder. Do you really want to pursue rapid growth? E-mail Sarah at : hello@thegoodfoodcfo.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 131 - A Startup’s Recession Playbook | 01 Dec 2024 | 00:06:28 | |
In 2025, the Trump administration’s stated policy moves may easily trigger a recession in the U.S. by late in the year or in 2026. This is a great time of year to create a Plan B for your marketing playbook to adjust how recessions impact premium-priced early-stage CPG brands. Have a listen and spend a day getting ready in advance. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 41 – The “Death Funnel” - Revisited | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:06:19 | |
80% of CPG brands never make it past $500K trailing annual sales. It's a cruel reality. Often, the end of the business is self-inflicted due to business inexperience. Too often, though, it's based on overly ambitious timelines to scale fed by reading anecdotal cases that trade media love to cover. The unicorns distract too many starting out. This episodes revisits the brutal process of turning the engine on for a CPG business when you are under-capitalized and under-staffed. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 40 – Stakeholders – Distributors | 15 Feb 2021 | 00:07:21 | |
I’ll probably lose some LinkedIn Connections once again with this content. Don’t care. The reality is that new founders to retail CPG need to get super real about 3P distributors, especially the national players specializing in natural and organic products. Listen up and learn the one stunning oversight most new founders make when starting to work with UNFI, KEHE, and others. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 39 – The Skate Ramp – An Excerpt from Ramping Your Brand | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:09:21 | |
Goldilocks was right. The middle path is the way forward when you are trying to scale quickly and actually get to scale in good enough shape to keep growing in the double digits. Listen in to a ‘dramatic’ reading from my forthcoming audiobook edition of Ramping Your Brand. I think you’ll enjoy it! Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 38 - Pressure Testing Your Topline | 15 Jan 2021 | 00:07:32 | |
The more years in the market and, regardless of your actual topline growth rate or scale, the more likely you will no longer be able to notice the subtle signs of underperformance in your business. This is most pronounced when growth is strong. But that's when it's most important to look underneath the topline hood and pressure-test for solid, healthy $ growth. In this episode I share some initial tips straight from the toolkit I use with my clients every month at PGS. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 37 - Behavior-Based Brand-Building | 01 Jan 2021 | 00:10:12 | |
Unfortunately, the folks who talk loudest about brand-building are either a) branding agencies, b) venture capitalists or c) overly enthusiastic founders. Curb your enthusiasm. You can design a brand identity, a symbolic system. But, 'brand' is an outcome. It is an outcome based on influencing real human behavior, entering social networks with memorable consumer experiences, potent symbolism, and grassroots 'influence,' not social media puffery. Learn the rules of behavior-based brand-building or get ready to struggle unnecessarily on your journey up the Skate Ramp. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 36 - Conversion vs. Trade Techniques to Drive Velocity Growth | 15 Dec 2020 | 00:07:25 | |
It's no secret that Placement is the "P" that dominates strategy among most early-stage consumer brands, selling into retail primarily. And there's no shortage of brokers, fractional sales VPs and consultants ready to focus you on manipulating the trade to win narrowly. The problem with this 'normative' viewpoint is that brands don't grow via TPR programs. There is NO marketing science to prove this common myth. Brands grow by adding households and growing velocity inside those households (generally most common for beverages). So, in this episode, I take on the myth and explain why you need to understand the limits of trade techniques in the later phases of the Ramp. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 35 - Stakeholder Classes - The Buyer | 01 Dec 2020 | 00:12:32 | |
Retail buyers. Either right now or eventually, you will need to convince buyers you are a key new addition to their sets. In this episode, I share some pros and cons of developing relationships with these important stakeholders. I also discuss why the Skate Ramp is just not on their radar, even though one of your key KPIs - velocity - absolutely is. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 34- Why Your One-Page Strategic Plan is Lame | 15 Nov 2020 | 00:13:00 | |
Well...Well..Well, I never...I mean, what a rude title! Then stop writing plans not based on market and consumer data. Then I'll take this episode down right away. It's a plague among early-stage startups in ALL industries. Dataless plans based on wholesale case projections. Your review mirror of case sales to the distributor is not sufficient to make a smart plan for exponential growth. In fact, it sentences you to repeat the growth rate in the mirror itself. If you're growing at 10% and want to grow 100%, the rear-view mirror of case sales doesn't help you much. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 33 - Why Saying No is the Essential Skill as a Founder | 01 Nov 2020 | 00:13:05 | |
You might think saying 'no' is simply the luxury of an established business who has the privilege to turn down an opportunity that isn't dead-on perfect. But you'd be wrong. Dead wrong. In this episode, I introduce the perfect training ground for saying no: the onslaught of service providers who 'prey' on the ocean of startups, most of whom will fail or stagnate as hobby businesses. A small % are actually really good. But they never come to you... Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 32- Stakeholder Classes - The Investor | 15 Oct 2020 | 00:16:41 | |
It's time to share thoughts on one of the more important stakeholder classes for your fast growing early stage brand. I focus on the pros and cons of angels, venture capitalists and private equity firms. I'm very keen on angels for reasons you'll want to listen in and discover. The big challenge for most entrepreneurs is their de-leveraged situation early on up the Ramp. Maximizing your leverage is a sociological challenge, not a financial one in the face of very, very rich people. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 130 - Your Year-Round Horror Show - The Death Funnel | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:11:54 | |
The perils of the first $500,000 in recurring sales are many. Most are related to cash flow and getting paid by distributors or retailers. Without the proper seed monies, many companies evaporate despite the power of their innovation. In this episode, I’m updating the episode that launched this tough love podcast. There is less space on shelves than ever before, slotting fees have risen, and competition for access is worse than ever. Learn how to get through it and thrive. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep 31- Founder Archetypes - The Brand Worshipper | 01 Oct 2020 | 00:15:26 | |
Grab onto your handrails, folks. You may hear the thunderous retort of the entire global branding industry in the middle of this one. Branding is one of the most over-rated arts in the early years on the Ramp. Without a data-refined strategy in place, you just can't finalize your brand's symbolic system. Yes, you can try to research it in advance and over-determine everything like a Big Company. But since that rarely works out well for them either, I advise patience. Don't launch a product line hoping initial branding will carry you. Professional branding is expected by consumers. It's not impressive or distinctive any more in premium CPG. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 30 - An Interview with Jake Huber - Negotiating with Buyers Part Two | 15 Sep 2020 | 00:13:00 | |
He's back! Jake Huber riffing with me on more advanced topics in retail buyer negotiation. The big one in this final part of the interview is : how to say no...obviously, without ever using this word. :) If you liked Part 1, then you're going to luv, luv, luv this part. Again, I apologize for the horrendous audio on my end. Won't happen again. You have my promise. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 29 - An Interview with Jake Huber - Negotiating with Buyers Part One | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:10:52 | |
Pardon the horrendous audio. This was recorded in a chaotic apartment during the early months of the pandemic. Nevertheless, Jake Huber and I riffed on some very important topics. In Part One we address the #1 thing founders screw up when approaching buyers, how pitching investors and buyers is similar/different and the challenges posed for introverted founders. Hope you like it! Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 28 - Why I No Longer Work With Young Startups | 15 Aug 2020 | 00:10:01 | |
Sorry to discuss my boring business, but, in this rare case, my internal decision is based on something it might benefit some of you to hear about. I hope so, or this will be a seriously low performing episode! This episode hinges around the concept of coachability. And my foil is the human need for validation. We all have it. We all need social validation or we will eventually commit suicide. A problem arises for founders of young startups, especially for young founders of young startups when they approach business advisors or mentors looking for validation, and not for professional critique. Listen in, if you dare... Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 27 - Ramping Your Brand - A Reading on Iteration | 01 Aug 2020 | 00:09:31 | |
The UPCs you initially launch with are very, very unlikely to be the ones that you scale. Maybe the product inside the package is largely the same. But many things will change as you learn and iterate on the basis of market feedback. In this episode I read a few pages from my new book - Ramping Your Brand and hope you enjoy them. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 26 - How to Filter Advice | 15 Jul 2020 | 00:09:58 | |
As an advisor, this is a tricky topic to wax poetic about, since it might appear atrociously self-serving. Yet, here I go. I want folks newer to business and to CPG specifically to get a lot more critical about how they filter inbound advice, especially the unsolicited kind you tend to get poured on you during events, virtual or real world. There's usually at least a shred of help to find, even if most of what is offered is bunk. This is NOT a pitch for paid advice, trust me. The rules I describe cross the paid-free divide. I hope it helps you out. Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 25 - Why Hitting the Gas on Distribution Almost Never Works | 01 Jul 2020 | 00:09:21 | |
My favorite punching bag is the 'door count' tribe. Who are these folks? The folks whose primary KPI is I added me a sh*t ton of doors last year. Boo-yah! Really? Yes. These folks do exist. They're generally the same folks whose case study research was limited to 10 unicorn brands, mostly D2C and funded off enormous wealth. In this episode, I explain in somewhat redundant, sermonizing fashion why you must forget this non-KPI. It measures nothing of importance at all. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 24 - Interview with Mark Crowell - Part Two | 15 Jun 2020 | 00:13:04 | |
In this episode, Mark and I finish our conversation, getting into the details of finding the right co-man and the three different ways to approach professionalizing your production in general. Just don't wing it, people. And don't hire the first warm body. Ever. www.culinex.biz Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 23 - Interview with Mark Crowell, Founder of Culinex - Part One | 01 Jun 2020 | 00:10:48 | |
Do you own your IP? Do you know the difference between a prototype and a protocept? Founder of Culinex, culinologist Mark Crowell, addresses these questions and more in the first of a two-part guest interview on product development. If anything has NOT changed due to the global pandemic, it's the laws of product development. It's science folks. Learn it or outsource it. Just don't ignore it and then blame your broker for your crappy sales. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 22 - The Preface from Ramping Your Brand | 15 May 2020 | 00:08:56 | |
If you thought your career was messed up, then entertain yourself with the Preface from my new book - Ramping Your Brand. I share the bizarre twists of fate that illogically led to my current expertise in guiding growth strategy for emerging consumer brand. As we all muddle through the pandemic, have a laugh at my expense...or maybe three. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 129 - The Six Elements of a Good Strategic Plan | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:09:06 | |
It’s that time of year, folks. Preparing for 2025! The most underthought aspect of early-stage business plans is the strategic plan. It’s the front half of your business plan focused on growth. And all too often, it resembles an investor pitch. In this episode, I narrate material from my Blog for a broader audience so that you can focus on a measurable plan for growth based on reality. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 21 - When to Change Your Strategy | 01 May 2020 | 00:09:33 | |
The current global pandemic is a massive temptation to over-react to near-term signals. This is especially true when it comes to business strategy in consumer packaged goods. In this episode, I use the COVID-19 social distancing reality as a foil to remind us of what strategy is, when you know you should change it, and why you need to really understand your category fundamentals now more than ever. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 20 - A Second Reading from Ramping Your Brand | 15 Apr 2020 | 00:07:46 | |
Who drives your brand's adoption? And why? In my new book, I break down four rough segments of consumers who trade up to premium CPG brands. Each segment has a set of macro-drivers that affect their near-term vs. long-term value to your business. Spoiler: most founders fit nicely into just one segment...ahem...the one that doesn't scale brands. Have a listen. And buy Ramping Your Brand, if you haven't already. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 19 Learning the Right Lessons from the Covid-19 Emergency | 01 Apr 2020 | 00:20:58 | |
This national health emergency has thrown most 2020 plans into the trash. As everyone revises their moves, it's important to understand the lessons for near-term business decisions and the lessons for the long-term. If you want to dig in more, I have a free webinar about the surge in CPG caused by social distancing orders. It may be helpful to you and your team. https://bit.ly/2ycPlN9 Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 18 - Working w/Agencies - Identity and Branding | 15 Mar 2020 | 00:13:31 | |
Look at my glorious brand! Save it for the bedroom, please. In CPG, you are scaling a product line. It may have a name. It may have a look. But let's not confuse how important branding is in the ramp up of a strong business. It is VERY easy to overthink these elements and agencies will charge to the maximum extent of founder ego if you let them. Time to get real. So, you must be in the right place. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 17 - Professionalizing Yourself | 01 Mar 2020 | 00:12:45 | |
Most CPG founders are NOT from the industry they operate in. Many are younger folks. If either is true, professionalizing yourself is a critical practice. If you're young AND new to CPG, your burden is the highest...but you can do this. You have to take it very seriously. Professionalization is not about being polite. It's about something more difficult. Listen in to my social science take on why this is so critical in the CPG sector. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 16 - The Serial F(l)ounder | 15 Feb 2020 | 00:07:17 | |
Back to my series on founder archetypes. This time, I riff on the problems faced by serial entrepreneurs in CPG and how their biggest strength poses a risk you will never encounter. Tune in to hear why MOST serial entrepreneurs in CPG do not succeed more than once. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 15 - Designing to Command a Premium | 01 Feb 2020 | 00:13:44 | |
1/3 of my new book - Ramping Your Brand - focuses on superb product design that will command a premium. I can't tell you how many folks hit a wall at $5M or $10M largely because their 'thing' was surfing trial by mostly disappointed, underwhelmed consumers. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 14 Working with Agencies - Communications | 15 Jan 2020 | 00:11:19 | |
It's critical to understand what kind of communications talent can most help an early stage premium brand. And it is not the typical agency employee or veteran...not at all. I explain why in this episode. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 13 - Founder Archetypes...the Creative Founder | 01 Jan 2020 | 00:09:14 | |
The majority of CPG founders exhibit this archetypal orientation. They got into this because they're innovators. They're category geeks. Some, even snobs. But the real weakness these folks have to accept and address somehow is that they are NOT business people at heart. And yet it is the professional businessperson (and his/her team) who scales innovations. Not product-obsessed amateurs. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 12 - Founder Archetypes - The Finance Founder | 15 Dec 2019 | 00:11:28 | |
Founders are not snowflakes after all. They tend to come in a finite array of archetypes. In this series, I begin by discussing the Finance Founder. His/Her orientation to money and ROI over-determines every decision they make. For good and for bad. If you recognize yourself in this episode, I hope it helps trigger some self-awareness and growth. You need it. :) Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 128 - One Industry Pro Please | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:09:03 | |
You may be an amateur with an idea. A great idea. And you may be smart, organized and well-funded. But you still should have at least one other person on your team with 10 years plus functional experience in the early stage world. Most likely, this should be an ops person. This is the skill most founders simply do not have. And it often shows. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 11 - Working with Agencies: the Creative Brief | 01 Dec 2019 | 00:13:01 | |
This is a professional practice of large companies that badly needs adoption among early stage brands. Poor, inconsistent, or absent, communication about the goals of communications work is a consistent reason why marketing fails and then gets cut prematurely. Don't make this mistake. Smart founders know enough to write a good brief, because it's an analytical exercise, not a creative one! Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 10 - 7 Reasons You Need a Strategic Plan | 01 Nov 2019 | 00:11:57 | |
Strategic planning is what I do. I live it and breathe it. Most founders don't enjoy it. And this podcast starts off by explaining why this is. Yet, the folks who ride the Ramp to glory almost all engaged in disciplined planning. Not rigid. Just smart. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 9 - A Reading from Ramping Your Brand | 01 Oct 2019 | 00:09:31 | |
A dramatic reading from the Introduction to Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer Curve of CPG Growth. This excerpt gives you a passionate, audio introduction to the book's key metaphor: the Skate Ramp of exponential growth. Sign up for advanced publication notification and special deals here: www.rampingyourbrand.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 8 Beating the Odds Against Your Seed Raise | 01 Sep 2019 | 00:11:52 | |
Fast-growing brands almost always need seed capital...This month I share my tips on how to think about this process. Hint: if you weren’t born into the 1%, you will have to work ten times as hard to get your checks...but it’s possible...it’s actually commonplace. Good luck out there. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Working with Agencies Effectively - #1 - Package Designers | 01 Aug 2019 | 00:11:14 | |
Your package is the #1 communications tool you have that reaches ALL consumers without a marketing budget. You must eventually get it right, before you hit the gas. But who do you hire? It's an ocean of design folks out there with superb graphic design skills. But do they really know CPG? FDA regulation? Take a listen as I give my blistering critique of the con men and, more importantly, share what good pack designers should cost and how to vet them. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Word-of-Mouth Marketing Part 2 of Interview with Ted Wright | 01 Jul 2019 | 00:08:20 | |
In this episode, Ted and I explore specific brand examples of great storytelling that drives word of mouth for CPG brands. We begin with Lay's and move on from there. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 5- Word-of-Mouth Marketing - Part 1 w/Ted Wright | 01 Jun 2019 | 00:08:56 | |
Building Awareness out of store is critical to velocity growth at existing stores. Yet, most founders do not have the cash to pay for awareness building. Word-of-mouth, though, still ranks as the number 1 causal driver of awareness for new brands. Why not learn how to nurture it and steer it? Ted Wright, of the agency Fizz, joins me for a two-part interview on WOMM, why you should NEVER hire a demo agency and why founders must do their own sampling...like a boss. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 4 - A Founder's Confession with Jason Burke | 01 May 2019 | 00:08:15 | |
A rare interview with a founder willing to discuss their early mistakes and what they learned from them. This kind of conversation is way too rare in the business media, usually reserved for those who scaled and have the comfort of emotional distance. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 3 - My Team Eats Your Lone Wolf for Dinner | 01 Apr 2019 | 00:10:37 | |
Food and beverage startups are particularly exhausting to operate. This is my colorful, passionate case for starting off with a co-founder and building a team as early as possible. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 2 - It Was the Worst of Shows...It Was the Best of Shows | 05 Mar 2019 | 00:07:45 | |
Understand when and how premium CPG startups should use trade shows. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 127 - Getting Real on Seed Financing | 01 Oct 2024 | 00:10:42 | |
Let’s get real on seed financing. Judging by the sheer volume of founders complaining about all the hidden costs in third-party distributed retail, it’s clear to me that way too many middle-class people tried to jump on the bandwagon designed from top to bottom for the rich. Poor financial planning remains the number one reason that consumer startups die fast. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Ep. 1 - Navigating the Death Funnel | 19 Feb 2019 | 00:09:22 | |
The original episode points to the statistical bloodbath every CPG founder has to get through: the journey past $500,000 in trailing, annual sales. This is where most undercapitalized founders get tested. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 126 - Top Five Mistakes Courting Investors | 15 Sep 2024 | 00:11:50 | |
During this funding lull, we should all step back and absorb the key mistakes that so many amateur founders made in the 2010s and the pandemic. In this episode, I start with the big one: You started looking way too late. Want the rest. Then, listen in! Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||
| Episode 125 - Quant-Curious Founders Win | 01 Sep 2024 | 00:08:03 | |
The most important thing founders can learn from private equity investors is quant-curiosity. It comes in at least two forms. The first is deep curiosity around the financial inner workings of your business. The second? Have a listen to find out… Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com | |||