Unraveling Today's Supply Chain Challenges with John Janson
SanMar Radio
John Janson is the senior director of global logistics for SanMar. The last year and a half has definitely challenged and tested his team, along with the rest of us, to say the least. In this episode, John delves into how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up supply chains all over the world, how SanMar is faring, and what we need to accomplish before we can be “back to normal.” THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE John breaks down how SanMar’s global supply chain worked prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. What causes product shortages, and how has the pandemic played into that? Looking into how...
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Trends that are Moving us Forward with Vicki Ostrom
SanMar Radio
Vicki Ostrom is SanMar’s futurist and trend editor - she reads the cultural and apparel tea leaves to help us stay in the know. In this episode, Vicki discusses some unexpected trends that have sprung out of the pandemic, muses over why retro styles make such a splash, and looks at how sustainability is factoring into the average customer’s purchasing decisions. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How the pandemic has shaken up personal fashion. The reason Vicki believes retro trends are so popular. Vicki reveals her favorite trend at the moment. The trends Vicki sees coming out over...
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How WonderWink is Working Wonders with James Shimizu
SanMar Radio
James Shimizu is the Chief Marketing Officer of the Superior Group of Companies (SGC), whose WonderWink brand of scrubs is the latest to join the SanMar family. In this episode, James discusses how WonderWink’s fabric selection makes their products more appealing to consumers, looks at how the pandemic has affected the company, and looks into the non-medical professions that use scrubs. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE James gives Lisa, Tara and the listeners a crash course in what makes WonderWink products unique. What is WonderWink’s relationship with SanMar and how...
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Making a Climate Commitment with Emily Gigot
SanMar Radio
Emily Gigot is SanMar’s sustainability manager and is spearheading our company’s initiative in helping to reduce climate change. In this episode, Emily explains what it means to make a climate commitment, delves into SanMar’s own sustainability strategies, and discusses how small changes in our everyday lives can make a positive impact on our planet. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE What is SanMar’s climate commitment? Breaks down what the Paris Agreement hopes to accomplish. How SanMar sets its internal climate goals. The big and small ways that companies big and small can...
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The Evolution of TravisMathew with Ryan Ellis
SanMar Radio
Ryan Ellis is the CEO of TravisMathew, a well-known lifestyle and golf brand that has recently joined SanMar’s family of brands. In this episode, Ryan delves into TravisMathew’s meticulous fabric-making process, discusses the positive changes that the past year of quarantine has brought about, and gives us a sneak peek of what’s next. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Ryan gives listeners a crash course in TravisMathew’s history. How TravisMathew tries to push golfwear beyond the golf course and clubhouse. Breaking down how TravisMathew researches and selects fabrics for its...
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The Impact and Importance of Diversity and Inclusion
SanMar Radio
Natalie Tenner and Rob Crowley are the chairs for SanMar’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, which works to foster an open-minded and equitable environment in the company’s workplaces. In this episode, Natalie and Rob discuss their role models, lay out their strategies for workplace education and conflict resolution, and suggest methods for making SanMar an even more welcoming place than it already is. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Natalie explains what got the ball rolling with creating SanMar’s council, and Rob specifies why this group is a council, not a committee. Rob and...
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Celebrating 50 Years with Marty & Sharon Lott
SanMar Radio
This year, SanMar is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and to kick things off, we talked with our founder, Marty Lott and his wife Sharon. Marty and Sharon started SanMar with $1 in the company’s checking account. From there they have worked together selling t-shirts at concerts, unloading boxes at warehouses and teaching their sons the ins and outs of the business. In this episode, Marty and Sharon reveal how SanMar started with a backpack created for college students, discuss the challenges of running a family business and share how being a family…and being a SanMar family…has been at...
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Dynamic Marketing in a Crisis with Shelley Williams
SanMar Radio
Shelley Williams is the Vice President of Marketing here at SanMar. This year has been a whirlwind for her as she is relatively new to the company and the industry in general, having joined up just a couple months before the pandemic hit. In this episode, Shelley discusses how the pandemic compelled SanMar to focus on building relationships, speculates on which advancements spurred on by quarantine will carry forward and emphasizes you should never forget it’s okay to ask for help. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE How the COVID-19 pandemic made Shelley and others reassess their...
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Checking in with SanMar’s Sales Team, Part 2
SanMar Radio
To get the low-down on what’s going on in our industry, Lisa and Tara spoke to some of SanMar’s channel managers across the country, including Rachelle Manning, Ken Snyder and Mark Bailey. In this episode, our guests discuss how the sporting goods industry has dealt with nearly every sport being canceled this year, they elaborate on how they’ve found ways to make virtual meetings work for them,and they explain why they’re feeling optimistic about the rest of Q4 of 2021. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Sporting Goods Channel Manager Rachelle Manning discusses how the communal...
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Checking in with SanMar’s Sales Team, Part 1
SanMar Radio
To get the low-down on what’s going on in our industry, Lisa and Tara spoke to some of SanMar’s territory managers across the country, including Matt Foley, Chris Smith, Ben Prasad and Alisha Proffit. In this episode, our guests discuss how Q4 looks around the country, which industries are doing well, and how customers have adapted to the current business climate. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE Matt notices a shift away from PPE purchases. Why virtual meetings are here to stay. How Ben pulled off a parking lot tradeshow. What Alisha thinks has been a silver lining that’s come...
info_outlineIt’s a new year, which means it’s tradeshow season! At the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, Lisa Terry and SanMar’s social media writer Josh Storey spoke with industry experts Bobby Lehew and Kate Plummer. Bobby is the Chief Content Officer at Commonsku, a comprehensive sales and marketing tool. Kate is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at customized awards manufacturer Clearmount.
In this episode, Bobby discusses the role of storytelling in business and dispels myths about the power of spontaneity, while Kate talks about her early start in business and explains how she’s effectively built a community in her company, the industry and on social media.
THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS EPISODE
- Bobby explains what storytelling means to him.
- How has the nature of storytelling changed, especially in regard to the development of technology?
- What you people do to make your story stand out when everyone has their own platform.
- Bobby’s advice for creating empathetic bonds with your customers.
- How Kate defines community and why it’s essential to any successful company.
- Why it’s important to keep your viewpoints open and keep expanding your horizons.
- What’s your differentiation point?
- The relationship between education and mentorship in building a community.
- Finding a community that fits your needs.
QUOTES
- “Every major religion, every major thought, every major philosophical idea has been carried on the back of a story.” -- Bobby Lehew
- “If you know your audience well, then you’ll know what they come to expect from a story.” -- Bobby Lehew
- “We make our decisions emotionally and justify them rationally.” -- Bobby Lehew
- “Ingenuity is taking any product that anyone can get and then transforming that into an experience which no one else can emulate.” -- Bobby Lehew
- “You’d be surprised at how many people are very open to sharing their secret sauce.” -- Kate Plummer
- “I am like a pirate: if I can pillage your brain for information, I am going after it.” -- Kate Plummer
- “Reach out; be part of it.” -- Kate Plummer
LINKS
- SanMar U homepage: http://www.education.sanmar.com/
- SanMar’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcorp/
- SanMar’s Twitter: @sanmar_corp
- SanMar’s Instagram: @sanmar_corp