This week, Tyler Simmons shares his journey from summer intern to marketing and e-commerce leader at Energy Management Corporation, and how that path through sales and marketing has uniquely positioned him to bridge the gap between the two. Tyler breaks down the realities of running a successful e-commerce platform in the B2B manufacturing space. He discusses how talking directly with customers and internal sales teams provides critical feedback and why consistency beats one-time wins when scaling a digital storefront. If you’re navigating the grind of e-commerce in B2B manufacturing, this episode is packed with grounded insights, tactical takeaways, and a refreshing dose of honesty.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Nelson Bruton, Founder of Manufacturing Chats, joins Carman and Jeff to explore the role of live chat in modern B2B manufacturing websites. Nelson shares how real-time, human-enabled chat, not bots, can unlock conversions from prospects who would otherwise stay silent. Drawing from 20 years in the digital space, he outlines why staffing chat with internal teams often falls short, and how businesses can successfully integrate chat into their buyer engagement strategy without overwhelming their teams. Whether you’re considering bots, hybrid AI, or fully staffed human support, this episode offers clear advice on how to maximize conversations and move beyond form fills.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Phil Harris of Paulo Heat Treating shares an honest and insightful look into the often murky handoff between sales and marketing. Phil walks us through how fostering a shared understanding of responsibilities and handoff qualifications combats inter-team tensions and strengthens leads. He discusses the mounting pressure on sales teams, the demand for higher-quality leads, and how a lack of SDR infrastructure in manufacturing intensifies these challenges.
Phil outlines how redefining lead qualification and raising the bar for sales engagement significantly improved alignment and results. Plus, he shares actionable insights on using evergreen content, doubling down on newsletters, and experimenting with high-intent CTAs. If you’re a marketer in manufacturing struggling with lead quality, ownership, or sales enablement, this conversation will hit home.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Casey Cheshire introduces the concept of “Disconnected Marketing,” the slow, creeping separation between marketers and their customers caused by over-reliance on tech and automation. Casey shares how launching a podcast helped him reverse that disconnect by creating real, human connections with customers, starting relationships with generosity rather than a sales pitch.
Alongside hosts Carman Pirie and Jeff White, Casey explores the importance of knowing your customers by name, and even more critically, understanding their real pains and challenges. They discuss how podcasting serves as a powerful tool to foster reciprocity, build authentic relationships, and bring marketing teams back to their foundational role as the voice of the customer.
For B2B manufacturing and beyond, this conversation is packed with insights on how marketers can reconnect with the people they serve and create genuine growth opportunities.

In times of economic uncertainty, many manufacturers instinctively pull back on marketing, but according to Una de Boer, that’s exactly the wrong move. In this episode of The Kula Ring, Una joins hosts Carman Pirie and Jeff White to challenge the idea that marketing should take a backseat when times get tough. She shares practical, data-driven strategies for manufacturers looking to grow revenue through diversified customer bases, without breaking the bank.

From assessing existing customer data for hidden opportunities to taking the first steps into international markets through scalable digital campaigns, Una outlines how B2B manufacturers can move beyond their comfort zones with confidence, securing new business from a wider variety of geographies and cultures. She also explores how changing markets can help revitalize core marketing efforts and why now might be the perfect time to reexamine product-market fit.

Whether you’re trying to get your leadership team to see the value of investing in marketing or looking to extend your brand’s reach globally, this episode is packed with actionable advice for growth-minded marketers.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, Stephanie Nolan of Square Robot shares how submersible robotics is transforming tank inspections. We also dive into the marketing and sales strategies that innovative solution utilizes.
Introducing cutting-edge tech into a risk-averse industry isn’t simple. Stephanie dives into the challenge of marketing something most people don’t even know exists, and how a fully integrated sales and marketing team is using account-based marketing, webinars, and targeted messaging to drive adoption.
From the importance of building the right contact list to adapting messaging across industries and organizational levels, this episode is full of actionable insights for marketers navigating niche markets with complex buying committees.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get traction when you’re competing with “how it’s always been done,” this episode’s for you.