Innovations and Breakthroughs

Lesley Hensell is the Co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, an e-commerce and Amazon consulting agency. The company’s experts help sellers resolve account listing suspensions and other challenges. Lesley has personally helped hundreds of third-party sellers get their Amazon accounts and ASINs back up and running for the past 10 years. She is the author of The Amazon Incubator: Grow Your Business or Hatch a New One, to be released in January 2024. In this episode… When Amazon sellers get their accounts suspended, it can damage their credibility among customers, lead to losses, and lower their seller ranking. So, what can trigger a suspension and how can you get your account reinstated? To prevent suspension, familiarize yourself with the policies and know the most common culprits. You should also watch your Amazon account health scorecard or rating to ensure that you don't fall below the recommended threshold. When faced with a potential suspension, you need all the tips and lessons you can get. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Lesley Hensell, the Co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, about strategies for overcoming Amazon account suspensions. They also talk about Amazon brand registry enforcements, common IP complaints on Amazon, and how Lesley's kids work in the family business.

Lucas James is the Co-founder and CEO of Twiz, a digital marketing agency focused on driving leads for B2B service companies and online stores. Based in Los Angeles, Twiz was founded on the idea that traditional marketing companies were charging businesses too much without producing enough results. Lucas is also the Co-host of the podcast, How To Scale an Agency, and produces a variety of other content in the area of AI news and developing tech. In this episode… Entrepreneurship requires taking careful and strategic steps to bring your ideas to life. To increase your probability of success, you need to be innovative, creative, and open to learning new ways of doing business. The most successful entrepreneurs understand their limitations and leverage their strengths to stand out in the industry. They develop creative strategies for solving complex problems, build sustainable lead-generation plans to attract high-value clients, and invest in the right technology. This is all conducive to increasing a company's value. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Lucas James, the Co-founder and CEO and Twiz, about entrepreneurship and lead generation best practices. They also talk about the value of content, the steps to building a successful product, and Lucas' inspiration to build a software platform.

Jordan Ross is the Founder and CEO of 8 Figure Agency, a firm that helps businesses scale their annual revenue through better operational, fulfillment, and management processes. Since its inception, the agency has worked with over 700 agencies and helped add $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Before founding 8 Figure Agency, Jordan was an Operations Lead at Amazon where he ran a division with over 800 people. In this episode… What is the most essential part of scaling a business? Is there a single secret to building a sustainable company? Every entrepreneur aims to create a thriving business with a high customer lifetime value. Meeting your cash flow needs is not enough to stay competitive. You must implement systems for a stronger company culture and hire top talent to deliver exceptional customer experience. This small shift in focus can lead to disproportionately great results. Jordan Ross, the Founder and CEO of the 8 Figure Agency, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about strategies for building recurring revenue. They also discuss tips for maintaining quality services and Jordan's “one-thing” philosophy.

Christene Marie is the Founder and CEO of The Knowing Agency, a brand identity and integrated marketing agency. The company helps empathy-driven brands develop marketing strategies to create connections with their target audiences. Christene has worked with brands like Amazon, Toyota, NAACP, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. She is also an international speaker and has a new book coming out this spring. In this episode… How much do you know about the people in your business? What strategies can you use to empower them? Developing interpersonal relationships with your team and customers is a great strategy for building an authentic business. To achieve this, you need to know and understand yourself, your needs, and your goals. You also have to build emotionally intelligent connections with your people, taking the time to understand who they are. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Christene Marie, the Founder and CEO of The Knowing Agency, about how to be a holistic entrepreneur. They also discuss business branding strategies, how to develop your listening skills, and how to incorporate emotional intelligence into marketing.

Laurie Barkman is an M&A advisor and the former CEO of a $100 million revenue company that was sold to a Fortune 50 business. She now guides business owners as an M&A intermediary, facilitating both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Laurie is a dynamic speaker who has consulted, advised, and presented to hundreds of CEOs and business owners. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook: How To Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options and is the host of the award-winning podcast, Succession Stories. In this episode… When planning to exit a business, the first step is to create clearly defined goals. You need to assess your current business environment and practices including your finances, record keeping, and your business' worth. Taking this into consideration, succession planning should start early to ensure a smooth transition out of a business. Working with experienced M&A experts and advisors can help you prepare for a successful exit. A strategic transition plan aligned with your goals will help you avoid the common succession pitfalls. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Laurie Barkman, an M&A advisor, about succession planning best practices. They discuss Laurie's exit planning process, how to avoid regrets after selling a business, and how intellectual property promotes business transferability.

Greg Maddox is a Senior Business Advisor at Cultivate Advisors, a consulting firm that partners with small business owners to help them grow sustainably and rediscover the joy in entrepreneurship. With a background in the financial services industry, Greg works with business owners to plan and maximize their business exits. He is a serial entrepreneur and was also the Founder and CEO of the Maddox Group. In this episode... What does it take to successfully exit a business? How can you make informed decisions and gain the financial freedom you desire after selling? According to Greg Maddox, a certified business exit advisor, there are nine key steps to prepare for a successful exit. You need to understand your current business valuation, develop systems and processes, and find the right experts. His advice is to start this process early and thoroughly plan through using the nine steps. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with Greg Maddox, a Senior Business Advisor at Cultivate Advisors, to talk about how to prepare for a successful business exit. Greg shares tips for increasing your company's value, getting a higher multiple when exiting, and how to plan for life after selling your business.

Chris Heivly is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the Managing Director at Build The Fort, an umbrella entity that serves entrepreneurs, and startup companies. He is one of the nation's leading experts on launching startups and has been dubbed The Startup Whisperer. Chris co-founded MapQuest, which was sold to AOL for $1.2 billion. He is also a public speaker and the author of Build The Fort: Why 5 Simple Lessons You Learned as a 10 year-old Can Set You Up for Startup Success as well as Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field Guide. In this episode… Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, and without a supportive community, managing a business can be a burdensome challenge. To keep growing, it is important to seek help from other entrepreneurs who have faced similar struggles. Your lack of expertise in a given area can hinder your business. Chris Heivly’s advice is to identify your strengths and weaknesses while leaning on your community for support. This includes your industry peers, employees, and business partners as an essential part of reaching the next level. Chris Heivly, the Managing Director at Build The Fort, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about the need for a supportive community for entrepreneurs. They also discuss the history of MapQuest, the value of giving back, and common mistakes people make when starting a business.

Yoni Kozminski is the Founding Partner of South Col, an accelerator fund that partners with e-commerce brands to provide capital, strategic advice, operational support, and exit strategy. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of MultiplyMii and Escala, where he helps e-commerce businesses to grow and scale. Yoni has more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and creative advertising for top brands like Mercedes-Benz, Mastercard, Sony, and Medtronic. He is also the host of the Successful Scales Podcast. In this episode… Preparing a business to sell takes time. From streamlining your business operations to documenting systems to fixing your finances, the process can take months to complete. To increase an e-commerce brand's valuation and make it more attractive to investors, it needs to stand out from other brands. Build a unique company by optimizing your marketing, branding, and general business operations. All of these adjustments and more can vastly improve your company’s valuation. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Yoni Kozminski — the Founding Partner of MultiplyMii, Escala, and South Col — to discuss strategies for preparing an e-commerce brand for exit. Yoni breaks down tips for making a business more attractive to investors, the benefits of intellectual property protection, and why a good exit strategy helps build a solid business.

Jim Padilla is the Founder of Gain The Edge, a company that works with legacy-minded professionals and entrepreneurs to create scalable sales systems. He is known in the personal development and business coaching world as the go-to guy for all things sales. Jim is also a master collaborator whose purpose is to help entrepreneurs leverage the power of collaboration to scale their businesses. In this episode… In a highly competitive market, entrepreneurs need to focus on building sustainable businesses that can run without them. To achieve this, it is essential to create a well-documented system for running sales processes. An effective sales process consists of many components including hiring the right team, identifying and attracting your ideal clients, and nurturing great relationships. Building effective systems around these components will increase company value in the long run and make it easier to sell and exit your business. Jim Padilla, the Founder of Gain The Edge, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share his strategies for creating an effective sales process. They discuss how systems help build a sellable business, the challenge of teaching people how to sell, and share tips for driving sales.

Gracey Ryback is a content creator, Amazon Live creator, and influencer marketing consultant. She works with e-commerce and Amazon brands to help them leverage the power of influencer marketing. With a focus on TikTok and Amazon Live, Gracey has worked with clients across multiple industries both on and off Amazon. She has grown a community of over one million followers. In this episode… Building a top brand on Amazon has become more difficult and expensive over the last couple of years. This is attributed to increased competition and the high costs of ads. To stand out from other players, Amazon sellers have to leverage different marketing strategies, including influencer marketing. To create a high-converting influencer marketing strategy, brands have to find the right influencers and create customized product listings. Amazon sellers also need to work with a budget and ensure that their marketing campaigns align with their business goals. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Gracey Ryback, a content creator and influencer marketing consultant, about how to leverage influencer marketing on Amazon. Gracey explains what an A-list Amazon influencer means, shares tips for working with influencers, and discusses the benefits of attending networking events.

David Fairley is the Founder and President of Website Properties, an online business brokerage that has sold over $650 million. Prior to that, he started a hammock import business that eventually became hammocks.com, eventually selling it to a billion-dollar company. David established Website Properties to fill a need in the market, specializing in the listing and selling of profitable internet-based businesses. In this episode... How can you prepare your business for a future exit? When is the right time to start having conversations about selling? David Fairley, an online business broker, advises entrepreneurs to work with experts. They should start by focusing on their financial records, branding, and revenue. Timing is important and business owners need to have clear goals from the time the business is established. What else are you missing when preparing for an exit? In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with David Fairley, the Founder and President of Website Properties, to talk about secrets to a successful business exit. They also discuss the value of working with experts, how to build a transferable business, and the right time to have conversations about an exit.

Rob Stanley is the Chief Evangelist and CMO at GETIDA, a global leader in Amazon FBA reimbursements and refunds. He has more than 20 years of experience in the e-commerce and marketing spaces, having founded and successfully exited two seven-figure e-commerce brands. Prior to joining GETIDA, Rob was the CMO at AccrueMe and FeedbackWhiz. He is also a China sourcing expert, co-host of the Sellernomics Podcast, and a YouTube-certified expert with a previous channel that had over 48 million views. Rob is affectionately known as "The MoneyMan". In this episode… When is the right time to pivot or diversify your e-commerce business? How can you identify lucrative business opportunities to invest your time and resources? To build a thriving brand, there are some key steps you need to take. This starts with creating a unique product with unique features to stand out from the competition. For Amazon FBA sellers, optimize your product listings and take advantage of alternative marketing channels like social media to build a memorable brand. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Rob Stanley, the Chief Evangelist and CMO at GETIDA, to discuss e-commerce best practices. They also talk about the effects of AI on marketing, the evolution of Amazon product launches, and strategies for driving traffic to online stores.

Adam Lyons is the CEO of The S.M.A.R.T. Blueprint, which has been instrumental in driving revenue growth for over 2,200 small businesses since 2020. Adam has advised more than 500 brands and experts across the US and Canada, recognized by major media outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and Forbes. He has worked with PepsiCo, Nike, Discovery Digital Networks, and other brands. In this episode... Are there bottlenecks in your company slowing down growth? Do you have the right systems and processes in place? Building a transferable brand is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to sell their businesses. According to Adam Lyons, an M&A expert, you need to work with the right business partners, employees, and professionals to build a sustainable brand. Adam also advises entrepreneurs to increase their companies’ valuation by selling quality products, creating a conducive workplace, and filing for patent protection. Adam Lyons, the CEO of The S.M.A.R.T. Blueprint, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to share tips and strategies for increasing a company's valuation. They also discuss how to grow sales, the benefits of IP protection, and how to build a happy workforce.

Reuben Hendell is an Operating Partner at Madison Alley Global Ventures, a leading independent advisory and M&A investment bank. After a series of successful exits and a fruitful career operating businesses, Reuben now helps companies from a very early stage and sets them on the right path towards scaling, building value, and eventually exiting. He also provides strategic and M&A advisory services to digital marketing, e-commerce, and DTC companies. In this episode… How can you optimize your business for a future exit? What strategies can you implement to increase your business' value? Having spent years scaling and exiting businesses, Reuben Hendell, an M&A expert, has learned the value of preparing for an exit early. It is essential to optimize your business for success by focusing on the right products, team, and market. Reuben advises business owners against waiting until they are ready to exit to start fixing their businesses. He instead helps companies to create more value to be more attractive to potential buyers. Reuben Hendell, an Operating Partner at Madison Alley Global Ventures, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about how to prepare your business for a successful exit. They also discuss the early days of digital marketing, tips for increasing company value, and how Reuben helps business owners optimize their businesses.

Brian Fouts is the Co-owner and CEO of The Elevation Group, a financial education company that helps individuals to create financial freedom. The company has offered courses to more than 50,000 students worldwide. Brian is also the CEO of the Living Legacy Association. Between both positions, he educates and empowers people about how money, wealth, and real estate investing work. In this episode… What are the essential steps to building wealth? How can you achieve financial freedom and use that to give back to others? According to Brian Fouts, the key to building wealth starts with your mind. Your core beliefs on money will trickle down and influence every decision. Brian advises people to reprogram their minds, develop a solid financial foundation, and acquire the right knowledge about investing in order to build a living legacy. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein sits down with Brian Fouts, the Co-owner and CEO of The Elevation Group, to share tips and strategies for building wealth. Brian also explains why identifying your life's purpose is essential and discusses how to build wealth.

Sumner Hobart is an Amazon, Etsy and Walmart seller who has generated over $1m in sales of his own private label products. His mission is to discover the most efficient ways to generate substantial personal profit online. With his wife, Ali, Sumner helps other sellers build more profitable businesses through online courses and their YouTube channel. In this episode… Building a successful business on Amazon has become more difficult over the years. With more sellers joining the platform, competition is at an all-time high and advertising costs have been on an upward spiral. Businesses have to be smart to stand out and outperform other sellers. Having spent many years selling on Amazon, Sumner Hobart realized that the secret to growing a successful business is building a product that will stick with customers for years. Instead of purely focusing on profit, try to meet your customers' needs. Sumner also advises sellers to leverage other platforms to grow their business, since older strategies may not create the results you want today. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Sumner Hobart about strategies for building a profitable Amazon FBA business. Sumner also shares his experience working in a toxic work environment, the lessons learned from investing in non-regulated assets, and how he supports Amazon sellers.

Jason Fladlien is the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Rapid Crush, a software company that develops solutions for internet marketing. As an expert in sales, marketing, and product positioning, Jason helps businesses to use and improve their webinars. Jason is also the host of The Jason Fladlien Show and author of One to Many: The Secret to Webinar Success. He is best known for his record-breaking webinars, having sold more than $57.9 million in product launch by effectively utilizing webinars. In this episode... Did you know that webinars can help you attract high quality clientelle for your business? Did you also know that webinars offer a great opportunity to win your customers' trust? As an entrepreneur, it is essential to identify a need in the market and then create a product that solves that problem. Webinars are a cost-effecive marketing method that can help you to identify market needs and reach a specific audience. They can also help you educate your customers about your product, establish market position, and drive sales. In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Jason Fladlien, the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Rapid Crush, about best practices for marketing and launching products through webinars. They discuss product positioning strategies, how long a webinar should last, and how to successfully execute a marketing strategy.

Izabela Hamilton is the Founder and CEO of RankBell, an agency that helps Amazon sellers to launch products and grow their rank on the platform. She is a highly respected keynote speaker, business strategist, and advocate for helping people create their own financial freedom. Izabela's mission is to help sellers make an impact with their brands and build sustainable wealth. She also hosted the Seller Sessions podcast weekly for more than two years, where she focused on cultivating a better business mindset. In this episode… To build a business that provides value to others, being in the right mindset is essential. Having an amazing product is not enough. Izabela Hamilton advises entrepreneurs to focus on serving others and building meaningful relationships with customers. It is also crucial to be conscious of the language you use in your business. Your words are powerful, and when used the right way, they can positively influence other people. With these ideas together, your business can build value for yourself and others. Izabela Hamilton, the Founder and CEO of RankBell, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to discuss how to create value for others. They talk about navigating the Amazon platform, how Izabela overcame life challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, and how RankBell serves entrepreneurs.

AJ Cassata is the Co-founder and CEO of Revenue Boost. He helps digital agency owners and B2B companies get a consistent stream of high-value clients and build the right systems and teams to accelerate growth. AJ is also the Founder of B2B Sales & Marketing Secrets For Agency Owners, a free Facebook community. He is an entrepreneur and sales consultant who is passionate about helping companies systematically scale primarily through outbound and organic strategies. In this episode… There are many viable marketing strategies that companies can leverage to promote their products and services. It is essential for business owners to create or adopt these effective marketing plans that target a unique audience, drive sales, and grow revenue. All of this only works if your marketing is focused on your customer's unique needs. It is not enough to talk about your product to potential leads without considering their problems. Your prospects need to be the right fit for your business. AJ Cassata, the Co-founder and CEO of Revenue Boost, sits down with Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to talk about outbound sales strategies. AJ shares his sales background, explains how outbound sales marketing works, and shares tips for crafting effective marketing messages.

Tim Jordan is the Founder and CEO of Private Label Legion, a community of sellers and entrepreneurs. He is also the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Carbon6. As a long-term Amazon seller, Tim provides e-commerce consulting services to entrepreneurs within the online marketplace. He has been selling for many years on Amazon and Shopify, and is now selling on Walmart. In this episode... Although the e-commerce space has experienced massive growth over the years, many online sellers struggle to grow sales outside of Amazon.. This has created a dire need to find alternative markets for online products. Walmart, with its great infrastructure and large distribution system, provides a great opportunity for e-commerce sellers to diversify their market. In addition, strong partnerships with other brands like Google and Shopify make Walmart competitive compared to Amazon and other online marketplaces. Tim Jordan, the Founder and CEO of Private Label Legion, joins Rich Goldstein in this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast to discuss current e-commerce opportunities at Walmart and Alibaba. They also talk about Walmart's selling guidelines, how the marketplace's infrastructure and partnerships drive growth, and why Tim founded Carbon6.