RSPA Trusted Advisor

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 58: How to Sell Technology to Cannabis Dispensaries

In Episode 58 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy connects with John Bachanov, CEO of cannabis ISV Appspensary, and Oscar Alvidrez, Business Development Manager for Custom America, about selling technology to cannabis dispensaries. They discuss key differences between selling to dispensaries vs. traditional retailers, the best contact sources, how to earn a first meeting with the dispensary decision maker, and where the cannabis channel is heading.

“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.

If you liked this episode of the pod, you’ll love courses offered through RSPA Academy EXCELerate, the next generation of education for the retail IT channel. This online system offers continuous learning, training, and development opportunities anytime, anywhere, from any device. Included in EXCELerate are courses on:

• Entering the Cannabis Vertical – Where Should VARs Start?
• 7 Elements of a Successful Cannabis VAR
• Mistakes VARs Can’t Afford to Make in the Cannabis Market
• and more

For more information on RSPA Academy EXCELerate, visit learn.GoRSPA.org.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 57: Self-Service and the Changing Consumer

In Episode 57 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Fredrik Carlegren, Vice President of Global Marketing for Toshiba, and Blake Gillum, General Manager of VAR/ISV hybrid DCR POS Solutions, to discuss self-service trends and how solution providers should adapt.

“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.

If you liked this episode of the pod, you’ll love courses offered through RSPA Academy EXCELerate, the next generation of education for the retail IT channel. This online system offers continuous learning, training, and development opportunities anytime, anywhere, from any device. Included in EXCELerate are courses on:

• Retooling for Revitalization in Restaurants and Retail
• The Blurring of the Lines Between Stores and DCs
• Simplify and Streamline Payment Acceptance
• and more

For more information on RSPA Academy EXCELerate, visit learn.GoRSPA.org.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 56: Opportunities and Challenges for Women in Today’s Retail IT Channel

Episode 56 of “The Trusted Advisor” features 2021 RSPA W2W Leaders of the Year Nell Alverson, the Director of Channel Marketing at ScanSource, and Breanna Brown, Global Marketing Manager for APG. Alverson, Brown, and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss opportunities and challenges for women in today’s channel, actions both men and women can take to avoid bias and promote inclusion, and changes the retail IT industry should embrace to accelerate progress.

“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.

If you liked this episode of the pod, you’ll love courses offered through RSPA Academy EXCELerate, the next generation of education for the retail IT channel. This online system offers continuous learning, training, and development opportunities anytime, anywhere, from any device. Included in EXCELerate are courses on:

• Mentoring
• Leadership development
• Self-development
• and more

For more information on RSPA Academy EXCELerate, visit learn.GoRSPA.org.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 55: Security Trends & What to Expect in 2022

In Episode 55 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with Mark Shelhart, the Director of Digital Forensics and Incident Response at Foregenix, and RSPA Security Advisor Nathan Sweaney to discuss security trends in the retail IT channel and what VARs and ISVs should expect in 2022.

 

“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.

 

If you liked this episode of the pod, you’ll love courses offered through RSPA Academy EXCELerate, the next generation of education for the retail IT channel. This online system offers continuous learning, training, and development opportunities anytime, anywhere, from any device. Included in EXCELerate are courses on:

• Malware and ransomware
• Passwords
• Email phishing
• Zero Trust
• and more

For more information on RSPA Academy EXCELerate, visit learn.GoRSPA.org.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 54: What Lies Ahead for the Retail IT Channel?

In Episode 54 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy connects with David Gosman of HP, Michel Sirois of BlueStar Canada, and Jeremy Julian of VAR/ISV CBS NorthStar to analyze “What Lies Ahead for the Retail IT Channel?”

 

“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.

RSPA Trusted Advisor Ep. 53: Growing Your VAR Business with POS.com’s Kelli Stewart and Jim Stewart

Episode 53 of “The Trusted Advisor” features the wildly popular “Battle of the Channel Stars” format, an industry-focused conversation in a fun and competitive framework. The RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks with Kelli Stewart and Jim Stewart of VAR POS.com about strategies and tactics for VARs to grow their sales. Among the topics discussed are investing in activities that deliver higher value, ramping up an outbound sales force, and entering new markets by creating micro niches inside the current market you serve.

 

“The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is a content series designed specifically for retail IT 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. 52: Stop Pulling Out Your Hair, Start Working On Your Business

In Episode 52 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy shares several VAR and ISV best practices including five simple steps to alleviate your customers’ phone frustrations and one giant step that will change the trajectory of your business. Roddy says, “As the leader of an organization, you need to take a step back from your day-to-day tasks and frequently ask yourself why you do what you do.”

 

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.

RSPA Trusted Advisor “Quick Take” Ep. 51: How to Stop Selling on Price with NAB’s Keith Sampson

In Episode 51 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Keith Sampson, the National Sales Director for North American Bancard, previews his RetailNOW 2021 breakout session “Sell on Price, Lose on Price – Don’t be a Loser!” Sampson and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss how to capture the attention of merchants, which tools will help you sell value over cost, and why VARs and ISVs should invest time attending shows, especially in 2021.

 

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.

RSPA Trusted Advisor “Quick Take” Ep. 50: Security Advisor Nathan Sweaney on Zero Trust and Other Security Trends

In Episode 50 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA Security Advisor Nathan Sweaney previews the security education track for RetailNOW 2021. Sweaney and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss balancing business needs with security preferences, which threats and technologies will remain relevant after COVID, and why POS solution providers should investigate the Zero Trust security model.

 

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.

RSPA Trusted Advisor “Quick Take” Ep. 49: ZolTrain’s Danny Gold on the Emerging (and Challenging) Cannabis Market

In Episode 49 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Danny Gold, co-founder and CEO of ZolTrain, previews his RetailNOW 2021 panel “Everything You Need to Know About Cannatech in 45 Minutes.” Gold and the RSPA’s Jim Roddy discuss nuances of the cannabis market, how VARs should market themselves to dispensary owners, and common reseller mistakes in this niche market.

 

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.