Anthony Standifer’s Post

Mastering Change: Tactical, Strategic, and Wholesale Approaches Explore the three types of change—tactical, strategic, and wholesale—and learn how to implement them effectively in your life. Discover how to enhance efficiency, redefine your approach, and achieve your goals with practical insights. #ChangeManagement #PersonalGrowth #TacticalStrategies #StrategicPlanning #Efficiency #GoalSetting #WholesaleChange #LifeHacks #SelfImprovement #Transformation

Price, convenience, relationship, reputation or quality. Which one matters most to your customers? Picture this: You’re deciding between two brands, both offering the same product. What pushes you to choose one over the other? 🤔 Depends on what you’re shopping for, right? Here are the 5 dealmakers: ▶ Price – Does it fit your budget? ▶ Convenience – Is it easy to access? ▶ Relationship – Do you trust them? ▶ Reputation – What do others say? ▶ Quality – Does it meet your standards? Every decision has a mix of these drivers, but some matter more than others. (To see how it all fits together, check out the slides ⤵) More importantly though: Do you know what your customers are shopping for? Are you winning them over in those categories? — Need an ally? I'm Andreas - your CMO's best-kept brand secret.

Clients often come to us with really specific ideas for their branded merchandise—something I’m sure a lot of people in this industry can relate to! Now, we could just jump right into production and get it done, but instead, we like to pause and dig a little deeper. We start by asking the big questions: What’s at the heart of your brand? Who’s your audience? What’s the goal here? That’s where the magic really starts to happen. More often than not, we end up creating something even better than anyone expected. The secret to building those strong client relationships? Listen more than you talk. It’s not just about filling an order—it’s about truly getting what the client needs and bringing real value to the table. When you take that approach, clients stop being just customers—they become partners. So next time you’re sitting with a client, take a step back, ask those thoughtful questions, and watch the relationship evolve.

✨ Learn How to Pitch to Retail Buyers Like a Pro! So, what’s the secret to mastering the pitch? (Plus mistakes brands usually make) 🎯 Understand What Buyers Look For: You need to grab their attention quickly with your USP (it’s often not obvious enough) 💎 Prove Your Worth: Demonstrate why your brand is a financial win for the retailer partners (forgotten 9/10 times in pitch packs) 🔍 Strategic Research: Identify the best retail partnerships for your brand and build a distribution strategy that complements your direct-to-consumer channels (often customer profiles don't align) 📋 Prioritise and Connect: Know who to contact, how to find them, and what to say to land that first meeting (a direct intro doesn’t mean anything, you need to nurture and build relationships) 🤝 Prepare for Retail Success: Understand retailer expectations, how they operate, and how to align your brand for a successful launch (you may lose money if you don’t get his right) Anything else you would add? Working with me isn’t just about pitching, it’s about understanding buyers, developing a strategy and creating meaningful, long-term partnerships that elevate your brand globally. ______ I am Wizz, I spent 12 years buying at Selfridges, and have worked with Ocado, NEXT and Fewnick plus 100+ brand founders to help them scale. I have been pitched to thousands of times and know what works Follow me for my tips on #retail #brandbuilding and working with retail buyers

CPG companies need to find a perfect balance of two things ⚖️: Distribution and awareness You can have your product in 5000 stores nation wide but what’s nation-wide distribution without nationwide awareness? Same goes vice versa. What’s national awareness if your products aren’t available nationally? Finding this balance is tough. 💡What I want to know is this… as a smaller brand without VC funding, which do you focus to accomplish first? Nationwide awareness or nationwide distribution? Super interested to see what people think about this one 👇

"People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories, and magic." – Seth Godin This quote really hits home for me. In retail, I've realized that customers aren't just buying products – they’re looking for something that connects with their needs, whether it's confidence, comfort, or a sense of belonging. It's about more than just the item on the shelf. As we move forward, it’s a reminder that the best way to serve our customers is by understanding their stories and building genuine relationships. It's not just about selling; it's about connecting. #CustomerExperience #Retail #Branding #CustomerLoyalty #SethGodin

I get brands into their first chain retailer. But here’s the thing: I take a holistic, brand-building, business-building approach to it. I make sure your brand stands out I make sure we have a base of cash flow I make sure you know how we're going to grow I make sure we're going to sell off shelf before we get on shelf I make sure you know what the buyer is asking and what they’re looking for I make sure you know how to launch and build sales once you’re in I make sure you know how to take the results and pitch the next buyer And as little secret backdoor to retail... I try to put you in places where we can get the buyer to come to you. But here are my rules: Unless you have a celebrity cofounder or are a major DTC brand, a national retailer can’t be your first chain. Too complicated. Too expensive. I need you to be open to feedback and testing. I need you involved and collaborating with me.  I'm not a sales rep or a broker, but I will be your partner to win in the first 10 yards of retail. ____ P.S. Check out my client Sip Herbals with an end cap at Lazy Acres 💕 #retailstrategy #cpgretail #retailsales #salesstrategy

Adding new products to your store's lineup can be a double-edged sword. If it hits, then you're in business. If it doesn't, it sits in your warehouse until you discount it. But what if you could dip your proverbial toes in the water to test the market before fully committing? If that sounds interesting then check out the video below and hear Mark's thoughts on why you should adopt a merch drop strategy.

I've been thinking a lot recently about the brands that are *actually* getting on shelves at chain retail... What I've noticed: The brands winning at retail right now? They're not the ones cold pitching buyers. They're the ones buyers are actively seeking out. 🕵 Here's what I mean: Think about a buyer's inbox. It's FLOODED with pitches from brands claiming to be "the next big thing." Here's what catches a buyer's attention: - When they keep hearing about your brand from trusted industry voices - When they see you winning prestigious awards - When they find you in their local coffee shops - When customers are asking for your product by name - When you're creating genuine buzz with their target market I call this the "back door" approach to retail—and in 2025, it's becoming more critical than traditional sales tactics, IMO. Why? Because it proves what buyers really want to know: - That there's actual demand for your product - That you understand your market - That you can create authentic brand love - That you can create and sustain independent retail placement - That you're less risky than an unknown brand The reality? Cold pitching into retail isn't dead, but what I'm seeing is that the most successful brands are combining it with strategic "back door" momentum. When buyers are already excited about your brand before you pitch? That's when magic happens. 🪄 What are your thoughts on this? ⤵️

I've been thinking a lot recently about the brands that are *actually* getting on shelves at chain retail... What I've noticed: The brands winning at retail right now? They're not the ones cold pitching buyers. They're the ones buyers are actively seeking out. 🕵 Here's what I mean: Think about a buyer's inbox. It's FLOODED with pitches from brands claiming to be "the next big thing." Here's what catches a buyer's attention: - When they keep hearing about your brand from trusted industry voices - When they see you winning prestigious awards - When they find you in their local coffee shops - When customers are asking for your product by name - When you're creating genuine buzz with their target market I call this the "back door" approach to retail—and in 2025, it's becoming more critical than traditional sales tactics, IMO. Why? Because it proves what buyers really want to know: - That there's actual demand for your product - That you understand your market - That you can create authentic brand love - That you can create and sustain independent retail placement - That you're less risky than an unknown brand The reality? Cold pitching into retail isn't dead, but what I'm seeing is that the most successful brands are combining it with strategic "back door" momentum. When buyers are already excited about your brand before you pitch? That's when magic happens. 🪄 What are your thoughts on this? ⤵️