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If you’re facing challenges on your path to success as a small business owner, we’re here to give you the tools you need to break through and reach the next level.
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Perhaps there's no more important aspect of sourcing than communication with your suppliers. Good or even great communication can not only lead to great opportunities but also increase the efficiency of your sourcing process.
On this episode, host Mike Jackness speaks with Jordan West, CEO at Keep Nature Wild, Founder and CEO of upGrowth Commerce, and Co-Owner of Little and Lively Clothing.
They discuss:
- 3:27 Why high customer lifetime value matters.
- 6:54 Why sourcing from Alibaba.com is safe.
- 12:21 Why you should always consider communicating with suppliers on the Alibaba.com platform.
- 16:24 Why it’s important to always have a backup plan.
You’ll also hear Jordan share the particular challenges of sourcing for his business in Canada.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information visit Alibaba.com buyer central at https://buyer.alibaba.com/
The new world of post-pandemic work offers businesses all sorts of options to expand and grow.
On this episode, host Mike Jackness speaks with Dave Kerpen, Serial Entrepreneur.
They discuss:
- 8:55 Values and skills of great employees.
- 17:39 How the new world of work is shaping up.
- 28:13 The role of courage in innovating.
- 32:57 The competitive advantage of mastering fear when it comes to embracing change.
- 34:34 Why you shouldn’t only choose price when picking a supplier.
You’ll also hear Mike jump in and share his perspective on the pricing question.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information visit Alibaba.com buyer central at https://buyer.alibaba.com/
The pandemic accelerated changes that were already happening across buying channels and supply chains. More and more buyers are expecting a seamless experience when dealing with suppliers and, increasingly, companies are taking a customer-centric approach to their ecommerce strategy.
On this episode, host Mike Jackness speaks with Brian Beck, B2B Ecommerce Expert Advisor & Author at Beck Ecommerce. Brian has been in ecommerce since 1999, both as a business owner and executive. He has also gone on to be an influential thought leader and author in the space.
Mike and Brian discuss some interesting topics on the subject, including:
- 5:02 Why a B2C experience is now expected even in B2B situations
- 7:57 Are physical sales relationships dead?
- 17:58 Why 65% of consumers trust a marketplace enough to buy from an unknown brand
- 20:14 How efficiency is most important for B2B buying
You’ll also hear Brian talk about why it’s important for companies to use digital tools to streamline their workflow.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information visit Alibaba.com buyer central at https://buyer.alibaba.com/
You are listening to the Alibaba.com Ecommerce Academy podcast. The official podcast from the team at Alibaba.com.
Each week on the show, we bring you conversations with industry leading experts who are using Alibaba.com to build and scale their businesses.
These conversations help you understand the state of the global trade industry, the challenges we face today, and how to thrive amidst changing times.
Subscribe and be sure to check out our website for more resources at Alibaba.com
This episode is brought to you by Alibaba.com, the B2B global sourcing marketplace that aims to make it easy to do business anywhere. Alibaba.com’s services cover all aspects of commerce, including helping buyers discover products, find suppliers, and place orders online fast and efficiently. Try our platform out today at Alibaba.com
The global supply chain model has increased the affordability and accessibility of products manufactured all over the world. Sourcing products in this environment has become a much more complex task than before, and having a handle on the logistics of international trade has never been more vital.
On this episode of the Alibaba.com Sourcing Insights podcast, host Kunle Campbell, Co-Founder of Octillion Capital Partners, speaks with Mike Jackness, President and CEO at Terran LLC, about some tips and tools for staying on top of increasing supply chain complexity.
Some valuable insights from their conversation include:
- 7:15 Coordinating logistics to make the most of suppliers’ geographical locations
- 17:26 Ways to secure lasting relationships with suppliers through clear communication
- 26:15 Coordinating pricing to maximize profit, despite global market volatility
- 29:10 Diversifying sourcing to create built-in resiliency
- 32:33 Ensuring quality control at the supplier level
Beyond managing complex logistics, there are other important takeaways, such as:
- 5:41 The ways that perceived value can impact manufacturing decisions
- 14:15 How to protect intellectual property from competitors seeking to copy design concept
- 31:15 Taking the time to create quality products with noticeable market differentiation
- 32:24 Taking advantage of Alibaba.com’s RFQ feature for pro buyers
Coordinating international complexity is key to maximizing profit and creating a sustainable sourcing model.
To attract repeat customers, businesses should source their products according to changing trends.
Tom Samiljan, Editor in Chief of Dealerscope, joined host Mike Jackness, President and CEO of Terran.com, on Alibaba.com Sourcing Insights. They discuss some of the trending electronics products Tom has written about, and how important it is for ecommerce businesses to pay attention to these trends.
A few products gaining popularity, and sourceable through Alibaba.com, include:
- 3:04 - The increasing affordability of true wireless earbuds
- 6:01 - Ebikes and escooters, which are becoming far more accessible and available in urban areas
- 11:39 - Outdoor appliances and tech, as hosting and entertaining outside is gaining popularity
- 15:18 - Wearable tech, whose uses are expanding for both health and entertainment purposes
- 19:12 - HDMI 2.1 cables, keeping in step with better high fidelity TVs and game consoles
- 22:47 - Cell phones, with ever-expanding options and better affordability
- 29:16 - Virtual Reality systems, which have gained immense popularity in the last year
Tom also explains some ways business can take advantage of the latest technology:
- 37:55 - Website optimization and making use of digital optimization tools
- 41:59 - Sourcing the latest tech through Alibaba.com
- 43:27 - Attending consumer technology trade shows, such as the Alibaba.com’s Online Trade Shows
By sourcing the most popular new tech, businesses can turn one-time purchases into repeat business.
Note: All mentions of ‘CTA’ in the episode refer to the Consumer Technology Association
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