This final episode of Season Three revisits my favorite podcast episodes from Food Biz Wiz that are relevant now more than ever. Tune in to hear a recap of six of my favorite shows, and the key takeaways from each. Each summary will give you practical tactics and inspiring mindset shifts to continue moving forward in your food business, despite uncertainty about the future in the wake of the Coronavirus.Whether you need to focus on email marketing, refreshing your Instagram feed, working through your target audience, shifting your mindset, knowing how to focus right now, or how to prioritize your time… I’ve got you covered!For the full list of episodes that I reference on today’s show, click here.Once you’ve listened, make sure to join us in the “Key Three Accountability Challenge” to stay on track of your business goals, mental wellbeing, and community connections this month! Click here to join. We’d love to have you commit with us in finding balance and supporting yourselves and your businesses this month. Join for free here. 

Food Biz Wiz

Tactics & Strategy: Revisiting ways to work ON your food business during COVID

It’s on all of our minds: how to respond to COVID in the packaged food industry, and how to respond and adapt to change during this time of uncertainty. Join me in conversation with fellow food industry consultant Amrit Richmond, as we talk about what’s going on in CPG right now, weeks after coronavirus started to impact our food industry.In today’s episode, we discuss:The state of the industry after the cancellation of EXPO WestHow brick & mortar and eCommerce stores are responding, and how to interact with wholesale buyers at the present momentWhether or not you should continue to promote your productThe bright side of being in the food industry right nowWhat you should think about for the wellbeing of your business and to guard for your future successFor the full show notes and Amrit’s contact information, click here. To join Alli’s free “Key Three Accountability Challenge” to stay on track of your business goals, mental wellbeing, and community connections this month, click here. We’d love to have you join us to focus on finding balance and supporting yourselves and your businesses this month. Join for free here. 

Adapting to Change: How to Move Forward in CPG

Things change so rapidly in the food industry, and with so much uncertainty I always recommend planning just one quarter at a time. Ninety days: that’s it! As we approach the second quarter of the year, I’ve got a super-quick, super effective outline that you can use to plan your next three months of your food business.Grab a pen and paper, find a quiet place to focus, and take this time to outline where you want your food or beverage business to be at the end of the next ninety days. Let’s do this!My favorite way to outline my quarterly goals is with my Food Biz Wiz® quarterly planner. This physical planner is made specifically for the food industry, and helps my clients set, track, and achieve their business goals. Find the planner by clicking here, and get moving on the goals that you’ve set using today’s outline.For this week’s full show notes, click here. 

Quarterly Planning For Your Food Biz: Setting your next 90 day goals

If you’ve ever had the hunch that you should be using Pinterest to grow your packaged food business, you’re going to love this episode. Join me in conversation with Jennifer Priest, a social media strategist and the creator of Smart Pin Pro, as she educates us on:How to determine if Pinterest is right for your food business, and what to actually pin once you decide to use this platformWhat to do if you have a dormant account on Pinterest and you’d like to re-engage your boardsThe biggest mistakes that Jennifer sees as brands try to promote their products on PinterestThe importance of “fresh pins” and how to use them, plus how to market your products on Instagram so they actually lead to salesI promise you’ll be as fired up as I am about Pinterest once you listen to this episode! Once you do, click here for the full show notes.From there, learn more from Jennifer in her free training on Pinterest, outlining the top mistakes that everyone makes, and why they’re costing you money. Click here to sign up! 

Pinterest for Food Businesses: How you can generate massive traffic using Jennifer Priest's Smart Pin Pro system!

Join me in conversation with professional food & beverage brand copywriter, Celsea Jenkins of Grassfed Copy, as we talk about writing copy that CONVERTS.The art of copywriting goes beyond being a fantastic creative writer. At the end of the day, if the words and selling points on your packaging and website don’t turn browsers into buyers - it hasn’t done its job.In today’s episode, we cover:How to know when you’re ready to hire a copywriter, and what to expect from that relationship (hint: don’t waste your money too early!)How brands can use creative copy to create a cohesive experience for their consumers - and why that’s key to brand loyaltyHow bootstrapped brands can write successful copy themselves using Celsea’s best copywriting tipsHow to ensure your copy actually leads to salesFrom here, grab my behind-the-scenes insight from today’s episode by joining our free Facebook community at www.foodbizwiz.com, plus click here for the detailed show notes, including links to connect with Celsea’s social channels and her website. See you there!This episode is supported by Brand24, my favorite online platform for tracking what people are saying about me and my business, online, in real time. Grab your free account by clicking here! 

Copy That Converts: Steal this Copywriter's Secrets to DRIVING SALES of your food or beverage brand

In today’s episode, I outline the five most common mistakes I see early-stage CPG brands make as they try to grow their packaged food businesses.I’ve worked with hundreds of brands in Retail Ready®, and see the same mishaps over and over again: from financials, to marketing, to systems - it’s easy to stumble as you build your brand.Tune in to hear the top five things you should ensure you have figured out before you scale. For the full show notes and resources I mentioned on today’s episode, click here.From here, watch my free masterclass on my three steps to growing a packaged food business! I present the other most common errors that I see founders make as they grow, and outline immediate action steps to take instead. Click here to find a time that works for you to watch.

Founder Fumbles: 5 Common Mistakes I see every Food & Beverage Founder Make (and how to avoid them!)

You’ve probably been gathering email addresses at demos, events, and through your website, but then what happens? If the answer is “not much” you’re going to love today’s episode: join me with digital marketing expert Carly Hackbarth as we talk through the three most important things that you need to be doing with your email list for your food business.In today’s show, we discuss:How to feel about the number of subscribers you haveHow to turn your website into a fast-paced list growing toolHow to automate your email series to turn your food business fans into purchasersFor the full show notes & to keep in touch with Carly, click here.Interested in seeing how I run my email opt-in (and want to copy my secrets)? Grab my free Retail Roadmap by clicking here. This roadmap outlines the nine-steps to growing a brand that flies off the retail shelf.

The THREE Most Important Things To Do With Your Email List to Capture More Sales For Your Food Business

Putting out fires, being pulled in a million directions, and responding to “urgent” requests seems par for the course in the food industry, right? But what if you could change all that in under sixty seconds a day?Join me in today’s episode as I share my one habit - the KEY THREE - that I do daily to reduce overwhelm, make BIG moves forward in my business, and actually get the RIGHT stuff done.I’ve had clients use this technique for years - and you know what? It works! Listen to this speedy episode to get more done daily and reduce overwhelm in your food business.From here, grab the full show notes by clicking here, join my Facebook group here, and find out more about the Food Biz Wiz™ Quarterly Planner by clicking here. 

Constantly "putting out fires" in your food biz? How to stop spinning your wheels in your food business in under 60 seconds

As a strategic market researcher and consumer insights practitioner, Britta Schell knows exactly how to develop a target persona for your brand. In today’s episode she shares just that - plus how to survey your audience, assess your data, and use it to drive sales & growth.Join in on today’s episode to learn why thinking that “everyone” is your target audience will do more harm than good for your sales, and what to do instead.For the full show notes and Britta’s contact information, click here. Once you listen, come continue the conversation in our Food Biz Wiz™ Facebook group, linked here! This episode was supported by Canva, my favorite design tool for creating images, graphics, and printed collateral that resonates with your exact target audience. If you’re looking for easy-to-use online software, you’ll want to check Canva out.

"Everyone" is not your target audience: how narrowing your target consumer leads to higher sales for your food business

In today’s food landscape, almost anyone can create a beautiful brand - but it’s rare to create a product that stands out because of its taste. Join my guest Dave Hirschkop, the founder and creative force behind Dave’s Gourmet, as he talks about what it takes to create award-winning products, and WHY your product is the key foundation to your brand.In this episode, Dave covers:Why is your product by far the most important part of your business?What are some of the different ways to create a winning product?What do you do if your product is not well received?What are good ways to ideate and think of products?How your product strategy impacts your exit strategy.This episode is brought to you by my free masterclass on the 3 steps to growing your packaged food business. In this masterclass, you’ll hear me expand on the idea that “your friends & family are lying to you” that Dave and I joke about in this episode. Join me by clicking here. For the full episode notes and to keep in touch with Dave, click here.

Dave's Gourmet: How to Create Award-Winning Product Lines with a 17-time winner, Dave's Gourmet

You’re putting so much time and energy into Instagram for your food business, but you JUST KNOW the engagement could be better! Tune in to today’s episode to take my 15-minute Instagram audit to capture more sales, engage more with your audience, and turn your followers into raving fans.In this episode, you’ll hear:Three questions to ask yourself to boost your food business’s InstagramExamples of two CPG brands who are really getting it right, and one who misses the markHow you should spend at least ten minutes per day, without fail.Why you should send me a DM on Instagram, and what sort of response you’ll receive back.For the full show notes, including links to the profiles used as examples in the show, click here. This episode is supported by Brand24 - my favorite way to keep up-to-date with what my fans and followers are saying about ME online. Check them out here.

The 15 Minute Instagram Audit

Today’s episode is all about launching and executing successful crowdsourcing campaigns. Join my guest, Courtney Boyd Myers (CMB) as she shares her secrets on her most recent successful Kickstarter for her kelp jerky brand, Akua. In today’s show, CMB covers:How to determine whether or not crowdsourcing is right for your brandHer steps to planning & launching your campaignWhy the first 24 hours of your campaign are the most importantThe most common mistakes she sees food businesses make as they wrap up their crowdfundingFor the complete show notes, including all of the resources that CBM mentions on today’s show, click here. This episode is supported by Canva, a free design software used by (and loved!) by both Alli & CBM.

Crowdsourcing 101: How to Launch & Execute A Successful Kickstarter Campaign

Season three of the Food Biz Wiz™ podcast kicks off with another rapid fire episode where I answer your questions on building your packaged food business. In today’s show, I talk through:How you can get feedback from Grocery Buyers as you fine-tune your product lineWhat happens if you miss your category review?How to prepare for the Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food ShowThe most common mistakes I see on sell sheetsHow to find a “good” broker or distributorWhether or pursue E-commerce or brick & mortar accountsClick here for the full show notes, or connect with me on Instagram at @itsalliball!This show was brought to you by Retail Ready™, my online course for producers of packaged product who are looking to increase their wholesale success. Click here to be notified when enrollment opens again! 

Rapid Fire Answers to Your Wholesale Questions

I did three things in that past year that were scary as hell, but were total game-changers for my business. In today’s episode I share exactly the steps I took to double my revenue, hire two team members, and take more time off than I ever have before. I want that for YOU TOO and outline how to achieve that in today’s episode.In the past year, I’ve:Learned an organizational system that guarantees that I’m working smarter, not harderMade a single investment in my business that paid for itself within two monthsHad a total mindset shift that allowed me to stop working into the evenings and weekends, and instead focus on my relationships, health, and wellbeing.While we don’t have the same business models, we DO share an entrepreneurial mindset. I’ve seen these three things work time and time again for my clients, and I KNOW they can help you as well. Join me in today’s episode to learn how you can find balance while growing your packaged food business.As mentioned in today’s show, Retail Ready™ is open for enrollment again! Find out more by watching my free masterclass on my “Three Step Framework To Growing Your Packaged Food Business” and finally put a system in place for growing your packaged food business by understanding exactly how to craft a brand that captures the attention of a Wholesale Buyer and flies off the retail shelf. Click here to watch.

Three Business Game Changers: how I doubled my revenue, hired two team members and took more vacation that ever this year - and how you can do it too.

Today’s episode is all about setting and achieving your food business goals. Whether you’re listening just before we move into 2020, or long after, this episode will guide you through the process of goal planning for the future.In today’s show, we cover:Why it’s important to set goals and plan for the future.What timeline you should work with when thinking about the year ahead and setting food business goals for 2020What questions to ask yourself as you set your business goals for next yearAnd, my #1 tip for achieving those goals!This episode is brought to you by the Food Biz Wiz™ Quarterly Planner. This physical planner helps you set and achieve your food business goals, and is made specifically for our industry. Click here to check it out. Make sure to download the free workbook on setting & achieving your 2020 business goals, linked in the full show notes here!

How to Set (and achieve!) Biz Goals

Launching, growing, and scaling a packaged product in the food industry is daunting - from understanding production, incubator kitchens, and co-packing, to mastering your brand strategy, packaging design, and marketing, to navigating growth on the retail shelves and e-commerce platforms, and eventually working with brokers and distributors - every step of the way is challenging. Join former Head of Grocery & Grocery Buyer at Bi-Rite Market, Alli Ball, as she tells you exactly how to build a brand that flies off the shelf through solo episodes, curated guest experts across the food industry, and live consulting calls with her Retail Ready™ students!

hubhopper

Food Biz Wiz

hubhopper