Jeremy Andrus: The Turnaround Entrepreneur behind Traeger Grills

In this revealing episode, Stan sits down with Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills, to delve into his gripping experiences in entrepreneurship and business transformation. Jeremy shares the tumultuous journey of rethinking and reinventing Traeger Grills amidst economic upheavals, tariffs, and a toxic corporate culture. The conversation covers the critical importance of negotiation, managing complex supplier relationships, leveraging partnerships with major retailers like Costco, and the power of transparency in leadership. Alongside anecdotes from his time at Skullcandy and a harrowing poisoning scare in China, Jeremy offers invaluable insights into building a resilient business that's not just about survival, but winning.

00:27 Meet Jeremy Andres: CEO of Traeger Grills

01:12 Navigating Challenges: COVID and Tariffs

02:47 Reinvention and Survival Strategies

05:38 Transparency and Team Communication

10:43 Jeremy's Harvard Business School Journey

13:16 Early Entrepreneurial Struggles

17:17 Joining Skullcandy: The Early Days

21:55 Negotiating Deals and Raising Capital

29:05 Acquiring Traeger Grills: The Surprises

30:04 Acquiring a 27-Year-Old Business

30:35 Cultural Challenges and Realizations

33:01 Negotiating a Buyout

33:34 Revamping the Supply Chain

34:37 Dealing with Toxic Culture

36:59 Retail Negotiations and Battle Scars

37:25 Costco's Tough Negotiation Tactics

48:38 Supplier Negotiations in China

55:54 Building Strong Supplier Relationships

01:03:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

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