What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Randy Kush, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• What kind of business 7 Day Furniture is and Randy’s role within the organization
• The origin of the name 7 Day Furniture
• Family dynamics in the business and advice for other family-run businesses
• Changes made by Randy and his brother Troy since taking over in 2020
• Importance of company culture and strategies to improve it
• Impact of the economy on consumer spending and the retail market in Nebraska
• 7 Day Furniture's marketing strategy and brand positioning
• Use of AI in marketing and other current trends
• Future plans for e-commerce at 7 Day Furniture
• Use of external marketing agencies and their roles
• Challenges faced by marketers and marketing agencies in 2024
• Advice for marketers considering bringing a new agency onboard
• And, Advice for agencies trying to win business from marketers like Randy

Thanks Randy for a great interview!

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What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Rebecca Morris-Hoeft, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• What kind of organization Sunrise Banks is and what Becca does for them
• Social Responsibility and what it means to be a “Social Engine for Good”
• Role of Chief Brand Officer at Sunrise Banks
• Building a community and social impact at Sunrise Banks
• Front-facing positioning and marketing strategies employed at Sunrise Banks
• Social impact initiatives at Sunrise Banks
• Response to George Floyd's murder and community engagement
• Future of the banking industry - digital transformation and relationship building
• Role of AI and ChatGPT in marketing and banking
• Involvement with marketing agencies for SEO, customer focus groups, media prep, and storytelling
• Becca’s advice to agencies looking to win business from marketer’s like herself
• And, advice for marketers considering bringing a new agency onboard

Thanks Becca for a great interview!

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What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Jill Sammons, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• Overview of BCU and its unique approach in the credit union industry
• BCU’s focus on financial well-being and partnership with large employers
• Implementing strategies to improve employees' financial well-being
• Leadership style and the influence of "Truth About Leadership" book
• Importance of shared values and mentoring at BCU
• Know to Grow strategy and prioritizing initiatives
• Differentiation strategies in the saturated banking/CU market
• Utilization of AI technology in marketing Jill’s efforts
• Collaboration between in-house teams and external agencies
• Advice for marketers considering new agency partnerships

Thanks Jill for a great interview!

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What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Amanda Kantor, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• What kind of business Saucy Brew Works is and what Amanda does for them.
• The company's expansion and entry into the coffee business.
• Raising money via crowdfunding to help with expanding into the brewing and coffee markets.
• How the company differentiates itself from the competition.
• How Saucy Brew Works attracts and retains customers.
• How Amanda uses technology and the potential of using AI for recipe creation.
• How Amanda and her team of 3 handles all aspects of their brand and marketing
• Their use of agencies.
• How and why Saucy Brew Works positions itself as a food and beverage destination with a wide range of offerings to cater to different preferences.
• Amanda's advice for marketers looking to bring a new agency on board.

Thanks Amanda for a great interview!

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• Autumn's journey from starting as a bakery to owning multiple locations of Hardy Coffee Co. and her role as the CEO handling sales and marketing.
• Marketing strategies including: word-of-mouth; social media; email marketing for promotions; and content creation for engaging customers.
• How she differentiates her business from competitors.
• Expansion from retail-only to B2B sales through roasting for wholesale accounts, showcasing growth in the business.
• Challenges in managing retail locations compared to wholesale business, importance of delegation, and strategic focus for growth.
• Consolidating multiple brands under Hardy Coffee Company for better brand identity, challenges faced during the rebranding process internally and externally.
• How Autumn goes about learning and development, from exploration of new coffee flavors, varieties, and trends through relationships with suppliers and industry events to focus on research and development for product improvement.
• Her experience working with agencies and how they can bring a personalized approach and clear value proposition to the business.
• Advice for small business owners and the importance of gaining industry experience before starting a business, as well as mentorship and building a supportive network of entrepreneurs.
• Discussion on balancing working in the business versus on the business, prioritizing tasks, and effective delegation of responsibilities.
• Her involvement in local community events, collaborations with local photographers, and using retail locations as showrooms to engage with customers directly.
• Autumn's continuous learning and actively seeking new marketing approaches, technologies, and consumer trends through various sources like podcasts, books, seminars, and input from team members.
• Advice Autumn would give to marketers looking to bring a new agency onboard.
• Autumn’s advice for agencies looking to win business from marketers.

What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Mark Cohen, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• What kind of organization Mesirow is, and what Mark does for them.
• The role of “Advisory Services” in financial companies.
• Marketing strategies in the financial services industry.
• The importance of digital culture in organizations.
• Utilizing digital technology for efficiency and effectiveness.
• The future of AI and technology in marketing and the various challenges in its application.
• Managing relationships between marketers and agencies.
• The challenges of digital integration for marketers.
• The importance of digital transformation and cultural change in companies.
• Strategies for effective client-agency relationships.
• The role of martech stack in agency services.
• The significance of AI in marketing and business management.
• Advice Mark would give to marketers looking to bring a new agency onboard.
• Mark’s advice for agencies looking to win business from marketers.
• Strategies for agencies to impress and win business opportunities

Thanks Mark for a great interview!

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What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Paul Schwalbach, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• An in-depth understanding of Pima Community College, including the structure, offerings, and unique aspects of one of Tucson's key educational institutions.
• How Pima Community College manages its extensive marketing and communications efforts across multiple platforms and departments.
• How Pima works hand-in-hand with local businesses like Raytheon and Caterpillar to tailor educational programs that meet industry needs.
• How Pima balances open admissions with maintaining high educational standards and how they've tackled the impact of the pandemic on student enrollment.
• The transition from traditional marketing methods to modern digital strategies, including the use of geofencing and social media.
• Paul shares valuable advice for marketers looking to bring on new agencies.
• Paul’s advice for agencies looking to win business from marketers.

Thanks Paul for a great interview!

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What We Discussed:

In today's interview with Cory Treffiletti, we discussed a wide variety of issues:

• What kind of organization Rembrand is and Cory’s role within the company.
• The challenges of traditional video advertising and the need for new solutions.
• How Rembrand's AI technology works to identify placements, render 3D objects, and seamlessly insert them into videos.
• The industries and types of advertisers that have adopted Rembrand's technology.
• Cory's perspective on the current use of AI in marketing and how it can be applied to the creative process.
• The skills and capabilities needed for successful marketing leaders and CMOs today.
• Cory's experiences working on the agency side and how that has shaped his approach as a marketer.
• Challenges facing agencies, including competition from consultants, and the need for greater agility.
• Advice for marketers on evaluating and working with agencies.
• Cory's advice for agencies looking to win business from marketers.

Thanks Coryfor a great interview!

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