Épisodes

  • Red & Blue Customers with Chris Peterson
    May 12 2025

    In episode 44 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Chris Peterson, the Co-Founder of Lifemind and the Author of Red and Blue Customers, as he shares his extensive background in marketing and his journey into understanding the distinct values and purchasing behaviors of liberal and conservative customers.

    Tune in to discover valuable insights that can help grow your business in the ever-evolving world of retail and hospitality.

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:02:31] Customer buying behavior differences.

    [00:04:12] Market values and consumer behavior.

    [00:08:16] Liberal vs. conservative customer satisfaction.

    [00:12:41] Business values and customer alignment.

    [00:16:35] AI shaping customer communications.

    [00:20:58] Celebrity endorsement strategies.

    [00:26:12] Customer preferences: liberal vs. conservative.

    [00:28:02] Customer worldview and marketing strategy.

    [00:32:32] Retail and franchise insights.

    [00:38:07] Customer analysis without sensitive data.

    [00:40:29] Understanding customer beliefs.

    QUOTES

    • "It's not about waving some issue in front of people and polarizing them. It's about understanding how to make a product fit better into a customer's life based on how they see the world." - Chris Peterson
    • "There's a misconception today that businesses are neutral and there's no such thing because every business will always project probably a little bit more of a liberal set of values or conservative." - Chris Peterson
    • "I think this is where AI is, that dispassionate voice that can help you shape your business in a manner that creates a greater fit between your product and your market." - Chris Peterson

    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

    Chris Peterson

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetersonsf/

    WEBSITES

    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

    Lifemind: https://www.lifemind.ai/

    SUBSCRIBE AND AVAIL THE BOOK HERE!

    Red and Blue Customers: https://redandblue.substack.com/



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    41 min
  • Ransomware
    May 5 2025

    In episode 43 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer delves into the critical and alarming issue of ransomware in the retail sector. He discusses the widespread impact of cybercrime on businesses of all sizes, from major brands to local shops, emphasizing that ransomware is not just a concern for Fortune 500 companies.

    Tune in to learn more about safeguarding your retail operations in an increasingly digital landscape.

    TIMESTAMPS

    00:00:00 - Introduction to Retail Checks and Balances

    00:01:50 - What is Ransomware?

    00:02:34 - Why Retailers Are Prime Targets

    00:03:54 - How Ransomware Attacks Happen

    00:04:39 - Protecting Your Business

    00:05:57 - Importance of Cybersecurity for Small Retailers

    00:06:51 - The Evolving Nature of Ransomware

    00:07:14 - Personal Cybersecurity Measures

    00:07:47 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations

    QUOTES

    • “You have to do some employee training to protect your business, make cybersecurity awareness part of onboarding and ongoing training for everybody in the organization.”
    • "Retailers often think they're too small to be a target, but that's exactly what makes them vulnerable."

    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

    WEBSITE

    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/



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    8 min
  • Beyond Omnichannel Commerce with Natalija Pavic
    Mar 24 2025

    In episode 42 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Natalija Pavic, the Marketing Director of Kibo Commerce, as she discusses her diverse roles in sales, product marketing, and development, highlighting her passion for all aspects of the industry.


    Tune in to learn more about her insights on the retail and hospitality industry and the exciting trends shaping its future.


    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:02:27] Product marketing and communication.

    [00:04:29] Composable e-commerce solutions.

    [00:09:35] Incremental innovation in business.

    [00:13:32] E-commerce transformation and consumer expectations.

    [00:20:22] Sustainability in product lifecycle.

    [00:25:22] Work-life balance challenges discussed.

    [00:30:03] Legacy and career reflection.

    [00:32:43] Finding your Ikigai.

    [00:35:44] Podcast subscription and reviews.


    QUOTES

    • "Some people just buy something based on the brand. They don't really investigate the product." - Kevin Spencer
    • “Work isn't everything. Work is really a sum of interesting challenges and interesting problems to solve, but definitely not identity-driven in that manner." - Natalija Pavic
    • "Once you align things that drive you with things that you're interested in and with things that you're good at, then that's the like magic Venn diagram." - Natalija Pavic


    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/


    Natalija Pavic

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natpavic/



    WEBSITE


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/


    Kibo Commerce: https://kibocommerce.com/



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    36 min
  • Cashless Chronicles
    Mar 17 2025

    In episode 41 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer dives into the fascinating world of digital wallets and explores how they are revolutionizing the way we handle money.


    Tune in to learn how these innovations are shaping the future of commerce and what they mean for your business.


    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01:45] Digital wallets and their evolution.

    [00:05:49] Future of digital wallets.


    QUOTES

    • “AI-powered wallets, imagine your digital wallet doing more than just storing cards. It can help you manage your money. AI wallets are emerging, offering budgeting tools, automatic savings, fraud detection.”
    • “Digital walls are just about payments anymore. They're becoming financial ecosystems. It's going to shape how we interact with money and identity.”


    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/


    WEBSITE


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/



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    10 min
  • Max Retail with Melodie van Der Baan
    Dec 30 2024

    In episode 40 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Melodie van der Baan, the Co-Founder and CEO at Max Retail, to explore innovative solutions for managing excess inventory in the retail industry.


    Tune in to learn more about innovative solutions for inventory management and the evolving landscape of retail.


    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01:40] Excess inventory solutions for retailers.

    [00:04:06] Diversification in retail markets.

    [00:10:04] Excess inventory management solutions.

    [00:12:50] Overcoming inventory overstock challenges.

    [00:19:06] Passion for solving problems.

    [00:22:01] Mentorship and legacy impact.

    [00:26:05] Future of retail innovation.


    QUOTES

    • "You don't have to worry about money. You focus on planting seeds. The harvest takes care of itself. Money is a lagging indicator. The leading indicator is the satisfaction of your customers. If they are satisfied, if they are seeing value, you will make money." - Melodie van der Baan
    • "Think of the world five years from now. And think of how your business is fitting in it. And start charting that path now." - Melodie van der Baan
    • “One of the innovative things that we do as an organization outside of this podcast is we bring that new innovative technology in terms of one of our VIP events that we have every year.” - Kevin Spencer



    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/


    Melodie van der Baan

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodievev/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodievdb/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodie-van-der-baan/



    WEBSITES


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/


    Max Retail: https://maxretail.com/



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    28 min
  • Achieving Agilence with Russ Hawkins
    Dec 16 2024

    In episode 39 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Russ Hawkins, CEO at Agilence Inc., as he discusses the importance of leveraging data to tackle challenges like shrinkage and total retail loss, and how Agilence helps businesses make better decisions through effective data management.


    Tune in to explore the fascinating world of retail data analytics and its impact on business operations.


    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:03:30] Building companies and problem-solving.

    [00:05:30] Data wrangling for businesses.

    [00:12:35] Total retail loss concept.

    [00:14:56] RFID technology advancements.

    [00:19:09] Data-driven customer engagement strategies.

    [00:25:20] Online presence in retail.

    [00:28:10] Supply chain disruptions and inventory.

    [00:32:06] Consumer behavior during Christmas sales.

    [00:36:09] The origin of Black Friday.

    [00:38:41] Data-driven decision-making.


    QUOTES

    • "A long history of working didn't grow up with any money but found that the way to basically run your own business without having the capital to start it is to be in the sales business." - Russ Hawkins
    • "We can't get accustomed to just doing the same thing every day. You gotta evolve with change, which is constant as we all learn." - Kevin Spencer
    • "It's kind of a self-fulfilling, you know, virtuous circle here, that virtuous cycle where you give the employees the ability to be better consultants to the customers." - Russ Hawkins



    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/


    Russ Hawkins

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russhawkins/



    WEBSITES


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

    Agilence Inc.: https://www.agilenceinc.com/




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    40 min
  • Life and Health Insurance 101 with Lorena Tomasini
    Nov 18 2024

    In episode 38 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Lorena Tomasini, owner of MALM Life and Health Insurance Agency, as she discusses the distinction between health insurance and health supplements, clarifying common misconceptions.


    Tune in to gain insights into the life and health insurance field


    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:04:01] Financial protection through insurance.

    [00:07:36] Common misconceptions about insurance.

    [00:08:17] Protecting your finances with insurance.

    [00:12:48] Life insurance age demographics.

    [00:18:03] Hobbies and interests of guests.

    [00:21:43] ICRA and health insurance trends.

    [00:24:46] Life insurance policy trends.

    [00:29:00] Importance of personalized insurance plans.


    QUOTES

    • "Always doing what's right for the client and not based on what you're going to get paid or anything like that. It's always offering a solution to the client that meets their needs." - Lorena Tomasini
    • "It's about protecting your finances if something were to happen unexpectedly, that you don't have to owe the $50,000 bill at the hospital." - Lorena Tomasini
    • "I think everybody needs to have that life and health insurance covered, especially in this modern day where anything can happen spontaneously." - Kevin Spencer



    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/


    Lorena Tomasini

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lore0125/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malmins22

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenatomasini/



    WEBSITES


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/


    MALM Life and Health Insurance Agency: https://www.malmins.com/



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    32 min
  • Birthday Gifts - How Loyalty Keeps Giving Back
    Oct 21 2024

    In episode 37 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer celebrates his birthday and discusses the significance of customer loyalty, particularly on special occasions.


    Tune in to discover how businesses can leverage these moments to strengthen customer loyalty and drive success in the retail and hospitality industries.


    TIMESTAMPS

    00:00:00 - Introduction to Retail Checks and Balances

    00:00:31 - Kevin’s Birthday and Customer Loyalty

    00:01:04 - Personal Birthday Experience at a Restaurant

    00:03:34 - Applying Birthday Loyalty to Retail

    00:05:25 - The Power of Surprise in Customer Loyalty

    00:06:29 - Extending Loyalty Beyond Birthdays

    00:07:16 - Recap and Final Thoughts on Loyalty

    00:08:22 - Closing Remarks


    QUOTES

    • “This is how we foster loyalty and build emotional connections to our customers. And the key driver of customer loyalty specifically for birthdays is delivering something that serves to be consistent and build a great foundation with your customer.”
    • "Tailoring the experiences and offers to the individuals can create a deeper loyalty than you can ever imagine."



    SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS


    Kevin Spencer

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/



    WEBSITE


    Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/



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    9 min