The Source Refresh Podcast
In The Source Refresh Podcast, host Chandhrika Venkataraman interviews leaders from small businesses around the world about their supply chains, their support systems, and what keeps them moving in today’s dynamic world. Chandhrika is a seasoned supply chain professional with experience working in industries ranging from consumer goods to retail. She is currently the Founder and CEO of Source Refresh, a consulting firm that helps small businesses increase profitability by implementing data-backed sourcing models.
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Episodes
![Jason Roberts - Supplier diversity is not woke [The Source Refresh Podcast, Ep 18]](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/15214226/The_Source_Refresh_Std_Podcast_Cover_1__x47dxe_300x300.jpg){kind=logo}
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
In this interview, I chat with Jason Roberts of Kaleida to talk about two subjects - supplier diversity, and building a marketplace solution. Kaleida is a fully inclusive B2B marketplace connecting buyers with suppliers and diverse suppliers. From my research, it seems to be a first-of-its-kind solution that helps further the cause of supplier diversity, which is what prompted me to invite Jason on the show.
SHOW NOTES
Jason talks to us about what made him launch Kaleida and reiterates his objective to help level the playing field for anyone else who has experienced implicit biases. We talk about why supplier diversity is not really "woke", and in fact is just helping close a 4% gap in opportunities.
We then dive into the mechanics of building a marketplace.
What comes first - Buyers or suppliers?
Should a marketplace charge for transactions?
Do you make every user on the buy-side and sell-side pay into it?
Jason shares rich insight that every marketplace enthusiast must hear.
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlrob/
and check out Kaleida to learn more about how it works.
https://www.kaleida.co/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
In this interview, Tyler Douglas of String and I sit down to talk about how automation rules used by shipping software like ShipStation end up costing small businesses more because the rules are not dynamic. The rules don't account for variable factors like rate changes in peak season. And this can cost your small business a pretty penny.
SHOW NOTES
Tyler walks us through the e-commerce shipping leg of the supply chain. We learn of how businesses typically select the package and carrier, how they obtain their shipping labels, and what works and does not work with software like ShipStation, ShipHero, Shippo, and EasyShip to name a few.
Tyler details what makes String a perfect optimization tool that can help you get it right every single time, because it not only shops for the best rates, it also optimizes your package size. Those are the two key variables that impact shipping costs. And what's better, with String's business model, you only pay for result delivery.
Connect with Tyler Douglas on LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-douglas-7702b8133/
and check out the String website to learn more about how it works.
https://www.meetstring.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
I stumbled upon Sackcloth & Ashes while hunting for Oregon-made gifts for a friend. We've not explored the apparel supply chain in our show yet and so I reached out to Jordan Tardie, erstwhile COO of this 9-year old business that sells handmade, sustainable blankets. In addition to sustainability in their sourcing process, they also have a noble goal of donating 1,000,000 blankets to homeless shelters by 2024.
SHOW NOTES
Jordan details the apparel supply chain from overseas fiber sourcing to finished product distribution and sales in the US. We talk about the specific challenges with sustainable fiber sourcing in terms of availability and color composition. Jordan helps us understand overseas freight challenges along with its implications on inventory management and stock outs. We wrap up with an as yet unsolved challenge, and would love for our listeners to reach out to Jordan if you have a solve.
Connect with Jordan Tardie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordantardie/
and check out their awesome product line of blankets (ideal for winter gifting!)
https://sackclothandashes.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Mark Samuel is a man of few words over email, but on the podcast, he tells it all as it is. Mark Samuel is the founder of IWON Organics, a health enthusiast who is known for inspiring his LinkedIn community to show up for their Saturday workouts. Mark recently launched a passion project with the Feel Good Cold Plunge in just 4 months from idea to launch. I was curious about how he handled his supply chain from figuring out demand, identifying the right manufacturing partner, to validating product quality, to shipping it in, and distributing it within the US.
SHOW NOTES
We kick off the interview with learning a bit more about Mark the serial entrepreneur. The rest of the interview is devoted to Feel Good Cold Plunge, starting with an audacious timeline of 4 months from concept to commerce. Mark outlines in detail the steps he took to research the market, identify partners be it manufacturing, freight forwarders or 3 PLs. Leveraging existing networks and understanding basic commerce are things he hammers home, which should be encouraging for any aspiring entrepreneur - it really boils down to a lot of common sense.
Follow Mark Samuel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markalansamuel/
and check out Feel Good Cold Plunge here - https://www.linkedin.com/company/feel-good-cold-plunge/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Friday Aug 18, 2023
Friday Aug 18, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Tom Mills has a reputation that precedes him - a reputation for persistently driving change in the Procurement landscape through his Substack newsletter and his entertaining yet thought-provoking LinkedIn posts. In this interview we cover Tom's unique Procurement journey through Direct and Indirect procurement, the skills he values in Procurement pros, and his advice to small businesses who think they lack leverage.
SHOW NOTES
We start the interview with how small businesses vary from large ones when it comes to Procurement. We talk about the financial losses for under-funded Procurement teams. Tom shares a real-life example on how he is cementing a place for Procurement in a small business setting. We then cover negotiations as a small player, again hearing a real-life example from his current role. If you are the owner of a small business, or you are a Procurement team member at a small business, you will want to listen to this interview.
Find and follow Tom on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mills-procurement/
Subscribe to his Substack here - https://procurementprotagonist.substack.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Friday Jul 28, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Vish Puttagunta, CEO of Power Central, is an entrepreneur who has combined his first-hand experience in food packaging with his tech expertise to address multiple pain points - lot traceability for food safety certification, cost per pack metrics, inventory management and production planning - all with one cost-effective ERP solve!
SHOW NOTES
In this interview Vish walks us through how he discovered these challenges through his own food packaging business. We talk about how Power Central differs from other ERPs like NetSuite. [hint: It's all in mobile apps and user experience] We also learn of Power Central's 12-16 week hands-on implementation timeline that ensures a high degree of user adoption. And, it doesn't stop there - these guys have a robust hyper-care plan too!
This episode will resonate most with co-packers or manufacturers with annual revenues of $5M - $100M, that are playing in the biggish leagues.
Give Vish a follow on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishputtagunta/
Check out Power Central - https://thepowercentral.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
My guest in this episode is Will Nitze, founder and CEO of IQBar. IQBar has three product lines - plant protein bars, hydration mixes, and instant coffee, all formulated with functional ingredients designed to promote cognitive performance.
Will shares his experiences using 3PLs, co-manufacturers, along with a refreshing perspective on whether it is acceptable to task small businesses with environmental sustainability goals.
SHOW NOTES
I wanted to see first-hand how IQ Bar delivers on its supply chain, and in preparation for this interview, I purchased a sampler pack. Not only did it arrive within 2 days and is now my go-to healthy snack, I was impressed with the kitting and the USPS postal delivery which hinted at efficiency.
So, of course, we dive right into 3PL (Third Party Logistics) and IQ Bar's experiences using a third-party service provider. A 3 PL provider typically provides distribution, storage, kitting, transportation, and order fulfillment services to customers. You'd think that's how IQ Bar delivers excellence, but Will shares the full story behind-the-scenes.
We also talk about co-manufacturing and Will details the different options brands have when working with co-manufacturers. Best practices, negotiations, demand planning - there's a bit of everything in this conversation.
We wrap up with Will's contrarian take on sustainability, and I urge you to listen and think - and it may just make you feel a bit better too about your own role in this massive undertaking.
Check out Will Nitze on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/
And absolutely try some of his bars - https://www.eatiqbar.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating and feedback, please!
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
My guest in this episode is David Downing, co-founder and CEO of ChipMonk Baking. ChipMonk Baking makes low carb, low glycemic index desserts in their own manufacturing facility in Texas. They recently opened up their facility to co-packing for other brands.
In this interview we talk about how there is more to the Make vs. Buy decision than just financials, and how ChipMonk made the decision to start co-packing.
SHOW NOTES
The interview opens with international sourcing and challenges around the unique ingredients that ChipMonk Baking uses. We cover how David made his Make vs. Buy decision when they opted to self-manufacture. David highlights how having their own facility has made a difference to ChipMonk's innovation.
Learn all about David and ChipMonk Baking at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-downing-16784023/ and https://chipmonkbaking.com/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating and feedback, please!
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
My guest in this episode is Shawn Berg, a highly experienced retail broker and advisor who has brought hundreds of brands to traditional retail shelves. Shawn is the founder of SMB Sales & Marketing, a grocery broker trying to do things differently in the East Coast. He brings years of experience getting brands on shelf at Publix and other East Coast grocers like Harris Teeter, Ingles, Food Lion, etc.
In this interview he provides actionable insights to get your startup brand into retail, and more importantly, how to stay, and grow on shelf.
SHOW NOTES
We start the interview with what is the right time for a startup brand to get into traditional retail. Shawn details some pre-cursors to bagging that lucrative retail account. We also talk about data, how to use effective substitutes when syndicated data is not accessible to small brands, and how to tell the story using data.
Learn all about Shawn Berg and SMB Sales & Marketing at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-berg-7944829/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening! Leave us a rating and feedback, please!
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
My guest in this episode is Lexie Guttierez-Goldfarb, Director of Sales & Branding for Sow Good Inc. Sow Good Inc is a Texas-based family managed business that manufactures freeze-dried fruit and veggie snacks, smoothies, and granolas. In this interview, we talk about sustainable sourcing, how there is opportunity for packaging material providers to build more sustainable packaging, and efforts made by Sow Good to balance sustainability with an affordable product line.
SHOW NOTES
We cover what ethical sourcing means for Sow Good Inc. Lexie provides a call to action for packaging material providers to help Sow Good become sustainable on their packaging. She shares some tips on how this family managed business manages their input costs to manufacture affordable products.
Learn all about Sow Good Inc at https://sowginc.com/
Find more info about Lexie at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-gutierrez-goldfarb-b52862215/
CALL TO ACTION
Thank you for listening!
Follow me on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandhrika/
Sharing is caring! Spread the word about this show to your network
Leave us a rating and feedback
Email me at chandhrika@source-refresh.com if you would like to be a guest on my show
Thank you for your time!
In the Source Refresh podcast I talk to small businesses and startups and hear their supply chain stories, their successes and their challenges. I spent 15 years in manufacturing, visiting hundreds of facilities and making furious notes on material flow from source to customer. I find this subject fascinating, and if you are here, you probably do too!
Subscribe to this podcast to hear from my guests on what their businesses do, what their supply chains look like, and what challenges they face. Maybe you could help them solve some of their challenges, or maybe you are a small business owner looking to grow your own business and you can find a lead or two through my show. Maybe you can support these businesses by buying some of their products… or, simply just listen, learn and grow!