RSPA Trusted Advisor

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 5: From Startup to Sustained Success with Melanie Tawil of VAR SwipeTrack Solutions

In Episode 5 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Melanie Tawil, the CEO and co-owner of RSPA reseller member SwipeTrack Solutions. Their conversation covers several topics including SwipeTrack’s humble beginnings in 2011, maintaining differentiation with your products, services, and company culture, SEO tactics that lead to sales, and where retail technology is heading.

“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.

Watch Episode 5 now:

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RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 4: Building a Company Culture with Pinnacle’s Michelle MacKeith and Vigilix’s Colin Martin

In Episode 4 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discusses how VARs and ISVs can build a stellar company culture with Michelle MacKeith, Vice President at VAR Pinnacle Hospitality, and Colin Martin, General Manager of Vigilix. Their conversation covers a variety of culture-oriented topics including Pinnacle’s and Vigilix’s guiding principles, systems that can help you execute your vision, how to maintain a culture across multiple locations, and how to groom talented employees into company leaders. 

“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.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 3: VAR and ISV Business Development with Spark’s Jason Cowan and Vend’s Jake West

In Episode 3 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discusses VAR and ISV business development best practices with Jason Cowan, Principal of Business Development at VAR Spark Solutions Group, and Jake West, Director of Business Development for ISV Vend. Jim, Jason, and Jake talk through the most effective lead gen tactics, how to secure referrals, key elements of a successful business development program, and internal sales systems SMB channel companies should embrace.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 2: VAR and ISV Marketing with CBS NorthStar’s Jeremy Julian and BlueStar’s James Korte

In Episode 2 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discusses effective VAR and ISV marketing with Jeremy Julian, RSPA board member and COO of VAR/ISV CBS NorthStar, and James Korte, Manager of Digital Strategy at distributor BlueStar. Among the concepts discussed are the cadence of “value-value-sell” messaging, defining your target audience, executing content marketing on a budget, and coordinating marketing efforts with your sales team.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 1: The Future of the Retail IT Channel with RITE’s Rick Feuling and HP’s David Gosman

In Episode 1 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discusses the future of the retail IT channel with Rick Feuling, CEO of VAR RITE Enterprises and ISV Cloud Retailer, and David Gosman, Global Hospitality Segment Manager at HP and the RSPA’s Incoming Chairperson. Among the topics they dive into are technologies VARs and ISVs should pay attention to in both the short-term and long-term, go-forward strategies for retail IT VARs, and common reseller mistakes.