In this episode, Adam Kimmel dives into the evolving role of business development in the manufacturing sector. Traditionally focused on transactional sales and quotas, business development is now shifting towards a more strategic approach, emphasizing partnerships and deep customer understanding. Adam shares insights on how discovery sessions with clients often reveal gaps they hadn’t considered, helping them reframe their challenges and expand into new markets. He also explores the difficulty of getting buy-in from entrenched sales teams and founders and how leveraging voice-of-customer insights can align teams and strengthen client relationships. This episode highlights the growing importance of combining outbound and inbound strategies to build lasting, trust-based relationships.

On this week’s episode of The Kula Ring we are joined by Caleb Rule. Caleb is a fractional CMO and bonafide CRM expert. We had a chance to sit down with Caleb to discuss CRM ownership within different organizations. We also dive into how new technology implementation sometimes puts a spotlight on failings within an organization. If you are experiencing that pain, don’t worry, we also discuss how to deal with it. Don’t miss this masterclass in CRM implementation and best practices.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Nate Calvert, VP of Marketing at KCooper, dives into how his company addresses the challenges in the manufacturing and supply chain space by adopting a customer-first approach. Nate highlights the shift from a product-centric model to one that revolves around solving specific customer problems. KCooper leverages international supply chains and innovative technologies to not only meet immediate demands but also introduce products that perform better, save money, and improve sustainability. Nate explains how KCooper’s proprietary performance-based solutions offer enhanced value, from sanitizer-compatible wipes to recyclable materials, ultimately transforming industry standards while fostering stronger relationships with their customers.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, we delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding trade show marketing for manufacturers. Joined by Jim Beretta, founder of Customer Attraction Inc., they explore the importance of developing effective trade show strategies and measuring ROI. Jim shares insights from his own experiences, highlighting the need for a data-driven approach while balancing the often emotional responses to trade show outcomes. The discussion emphasizes how manufacturers can create long-term value through strategic planning and understanding the broader, non-transactional benefits of trade events.

In this episode, we sit down with John Koehler of KK Tool to discuss the unique challenges of managing a family-run manufacturing business. From the pressure of modernizing marketing efforts to the critical role of recruiting and retaining top talent, John shares his insights on navigating industry consolidation and keeping small businesses competitive. Tune in to hear how family enterprises can adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving industrial landscape, and why communication and a sense of purpose are key to long-term success.