Episodes

Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
In Episode 48 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Chelsey Paulson, COO, EOS Implementer, and Culture Strategist for Keystone Group International, previews her RetailNOW 2021 presentation “Best Practices for Gaining Real Traction Toward Your Goals and Business Growth.” Paulson and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss how operating systems benefit SMBs, why so many business owners struggle to operationalize their orgs, and why business leaders need to “stop mowing dandelions.”
Scheduled for July 25-27 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, RetailNOW 2021 will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Sales & Marketing, Customer Service, Security, Next Gen Technologies, and Cannabis. For more information on RetailNOW or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
In Episode 47 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Dan Jablons, owner of technology consultant Retail Smart Guys, previews his RetailNOW 2021 presentation “Learn the Business Language of Retail.” Jablons and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss retail VAR communication shortfalls, how to engage in more meaningful conversations with prospects and customers, and the importance of inspiring your team to serve as trusted advisors.
Scheduled for July 25-27 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, RetailNOW 2021 will feature 20+ education sessions across six tracks: VAR & ISV Executive Education, Sales & Marketing, Customer Service, Security, Next Gen Technologies, and Cannabis. For more information on RetailNOW or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Wednesday May 26, 2021
Wednesday May 26, 2021
In Episode 46 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks retail technology and customer experience trends with two industry experts: Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, the Founder and Publisher of Retail Minded and author of Retail 101: The Guide to Managing and Marketing Your Retail Business, and Stacey Widlitz, President of equity research firm SW Retail Advisors and for 10 years a retail analyst for CNBC.
Reyhle, Widlitz, and Roddy – all named Retail Industry Top 100 Influencers by RETHINK Retail – discuss the latest tech innovations SMB retailers should embrace, AI (artificial intelligence) applications for smaller retailers, customer experience technologies SMBs can afford, and if the current labor shortage in retail is a short-term disruption or a broader trend.
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Friday May 21, 2021
Friday May 21, 2021
In Episode 45 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with association General Counsel Atty. Jill Miller about current business and legal issues in the retail IT channel. Among the topics discussed are next steps for solution providers related to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, how VAR and ISV executives should approach staff travel and flexible work schedules, and best practices for creating your data privacy policy.
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
In Episode 44 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks with Hussain Darsi, CEO of VAR Loyalty Sense in Calgary, and Shannon Moyes, Business Development Manager for software developer Volante Systems in Toronto, about how their organizations are moving forward during Canada’s COVID lockdowns. Among the topics discussed are best practices for maintaining company culture in a restrictive environment and impactful sales/marketing innovations for VARs and ISVs.
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Wednesday May 05, 2021
Wednesday May 05, 2021
In Episode 43 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy explores the fast-growing cannabis market with Dan King, Owner and President of New West Technologies/GreenForcePOS, and Stephen Bergeron, VP of Sales and Marketing in North America for APG Cash Drawer. Among the topics discussed are why VARs should jump into this market before the payment processing stampede, how to initially engage in the cannabis vertical, and which cannatech products and services generate the most sales for resellers.
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Wednesday Apr 07, 2021
Episode 42 of “The Trusted Advisor” features the second-ever “Battle of the Channel Stars,” an industry-focused conversation in a fun and competitive framework. The RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks with Jules Curs, the Director of Operations at VAR Qlaborate, and Sean Buckley, the Retail Partnerships Lead at Shopify about accountability. Among the topics discussed are how self-accountability is foundational to organizational health, how obviating helps your team stay on track, and how conducting a candid failure analysis helps you avoid repeat mistakes.
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: http://www.gorspa.org/retailnow
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 41: Experts Analyze 2021 RSPA POS Channel KPI Study
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
In Episode 41 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Josh Wintoniak of Auto-Star Compusystems Software, Hunter Allen of VAR Cervion Systems, and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy analyze the 2021 RSPA POS Channel KPI Study. Among the topics discussed are the rise – and sales struggles – of ISV/VAR hybrids, an expected increase in channel M&A activity, the continued shift to the as-a-Service recurring revenue business model, and why VARs and ISVs keep missing out on marketing opportunities.
To obtain your copy of the RSPA POS Channel KPI Study, follow this link: 2021 RSPA POS Channel KPI Study
For more information on RetailNOW, July 25-27 in Nashville, or to register for “Where The Industry Meets,” follow this link: www.GoRSPA.org/RetailNOW
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Thursday Feb 11, 2021
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 40: Cannabis Opportunities for VARs and ISVs in 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
In Episode 40 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy takes a deep dive into the fast-growing cannabis market with Dave Albert, president of VAR Retail Control Systems, and Duane Roebuck, Sr. Channel Manager of Retail and IoT at distributor BlueStar. Among the topics discussed are recent market changes affecting VARs and ISVs, opportunities for retail IT resellers in this space, and steps solution providers should take now to position their business for the future.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.

Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 39: Inside POS Nation’s VAR-to-ISV Transition
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
In Episode 39 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Cort Ouzts, the CEO of POS Nation, and Will Atkinson, formerly the President of CAP Software and now POS Nation’s Director of Channel Sales. They discuss POS Nation’s VAR-to-ISV transition and acquisition of CAP Software plus engage in a wide-ranging conversation about navigating the challenges retail IT VARs and ISVs face today.
“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for point of sale resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.