Startup Confidential
Dr. James F. Richardson
Who is it For? Founders of CPG start-ups. What is It? Zero B.S. perspective on running your start-up well, understanding the biases of industry stakeholders and getting the industry to work for you, not the other way around. When? Every month. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com If you want to take my founder's Quiz to see if you are ready for exponential growth, please visit : www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/founder_resources and sign up for my e-mail list to download it. Transcripts and an entire episode library are on my podcast site. https://www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 15, 2020 • 13min
Ep. 24 - Interview with Mark Crowell - Part Two
In this episode, Mark and I finish our conversation, getting into the details of finding the right co-man and the three different ways to approach professionalizing your production in general. Just don't wing it, people. And don't hire the first warm body. Ever. www.culinex.bizYour Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Jun 1, 2020 • 11min
Ep. 23 - Interview with Mark Crowell, Founder of Culinex - Part One
Do you own your IP? Do you know the difference between a prototype and a protocept? Founder of Culinex, culinologist Mark Crowell, addresses these questions and more in the first of a two-part guest interview on product development. If anything has NOT changed due to the global pandemic, it's the laws of product development. It's science folks. Learn it or outsource it. Just don't ignore it and then blame your broker for your crappy sales. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
May 15, 2020 • 9min
Ep. 22 - The Preface from Ramping Your Brand
If you thought your career was messed up, then entertain yourself with the Preface from my new book - Ramping Your Brand. I share the bizarre twists of fate that illogically led to my current expertise in guiding growth strategy for emerging consumer brand. As we all muddle through the pandemic, have a laugh at my expense...or maybe three.www.rampingyourbrand.comYour Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
May 1, 2020 • 10min
Ep. 21 - When to Change Your Strategy
The current global pandemic is a massive temptation to over-react to near-term signals. This is especially true when it comes to business strategy in consumer packaged goods. In this episode, I use the COVID-19 social distancing reality as a foil to remind us of what strategy is, when you know you should change it, and why you need to really understand your category fundamentals now more than ever.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Apr 15, 2020 • 8min
Ep. 20 - A Second Reading from Ramping Your Brand
Who drives your brand's adoption? And why? In my new book, I break down four rough segments of consumers who trade up to premium CPG brands. Each segment has a set of macro-drivers that affect their near-term vs. long-term value to your business. Spoiler: most founders fit nicely into just one segment...ahem...the one that doesn't scale brands. Have a listen. And buy Ramping Your Brand, if you haven't already.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Apr 1, 2020 • 21min
Ep. 19 Learning the Right Lessons from the Covid-19 Emergency
This national health emergency has thrown most 2020 plans into the trash. As everyone revises their moves, it's important to understand the lessons for near-term business decisions and the lessons for the long-term. If you want to dig in more, I have a free webinar about the surge in CPG caused by social distancing orders. It may be helpful to you and your team. https://bit.ly/2ycPlN9Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Mar 15, 2020 • 14min
Ep. 18 - Working w/Agencies - Identity and Branding
Look at my glorious brand! Save it for the bedroom, please. In CPG, you are scaling a product line. It may have a name. It may have a look. But let's not confuse how important branding is in the ramp up of a strong business. It is VERY easy to overthink these elements and agencies will charge to the maximum extent of founder ego if you let them. Time to get real. So, you must be in the right place. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Mar 1, 2020 • 13min
Ep. 17 - Professionalizing Yourself
Most CPG founders are NOT from the industry they operate in. Many are younger folks. If either is true, professionalizing yourself is a critical practice. If you're young AND new to CPG, your burden is the highest...but you can do this. You have to take it very seriously. Professionalization is not about being polite. It's about something more difficult. Listen in to my social science take on why this is so critical in the CPG sector.Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Feb 15, 2020 • 7min
Ep. 16 - The Serial F(l)ounder
Back to my series on founder archetypes. This time, I riff on the problems faced by serial entrepreneurs in CPG and how their biggest strength poses a risk you will never encounter. Tune in to hear why MOST serial entrepreneurs in CPG do not succeed more than once. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
Feb 1, 2020 • 14min
Ep. 15 - Designing to Command a Premium
1/3 of my new book - Ramping Your Brand - focuses on superb product design that will command a premium. I can't tell you how many folks hit a wall at $5M or $10M largely because their 'thing' was surfing trial by mostly disappointed, underwhelmed consumers. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.comPlease send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com
