Bridging Product Development and Sales

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we sit down with Ellen Kershke, a technical expert turned sales professional at Polo. Ellen shares her unique experiences and how her background in product development has benefited her current role in sales. We discuss the crossover between these fields and how it has helped Polo better serve its customers. Ellen shares stories from trade shows, strategies for managing customer relationships, and the importance of communication and understanding technical details. She also highlights the unexpected ways her product development expertise has enhanced her sales efforts, allowing her to provide tailored solutions and more effectively navigate customer issues. Tune in to learn about the critical factors in maintaining strong customer relationships, recent trends in the medical market, and the value of solution-oriented thinking in manufacturing.

00:00 Introduction to Inspiring Innovation

00:59 Meet Ellen Kershke: From Product Development to Sales

01:46 The Anaheim Trade Show Experience

04:10 Misconceptions Between Sales and Product Development

07:16 Influence of Product Development on Sales Approach

08:56 Polo's Unique Design Process

10:29 Lessons from Product Development Applied to Sales

13:23 Maintaining Strong Customer Relationships

26:48 Trends in the Medical Market

27:55 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

In the second episode of our Happy Hour series, we enjoy a lively conversation with Brian Weber, the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Brian reflects on the company's 75-year legacy and the anticipation of future milestones. He shares insightful manufacturing stories, the impact of Polo's products out in the real world, and humorous personal anecdotes, including an early career embarrassment that turned into a lasting success. We discuss the importance of company culture, maintaining employee satisfaction, and making calculated business decisions. Cheers to more inspiring conversations and the continued success of Polo Custom Products!

00:00 Introduction to the Happy Hour Podcast

01:11 Reflecting on 75 Years of Polo

02:22 Pride in Polo's Products

03:04 Balancing Class and Fun

03:47 Describing Polo with Movie Titles

04:58 Corporate Culture at Polo

05:35 Customer Stories and Product Impact

06:53 Embarrassing Mistakes and Lessons Learned

09:29 Superpowers and Logistics

10:56 Pandemic Challenges and Strategic Decisions

14:35 Acknowledging Leadership and Team Efforts

16:14 Conclusion and Call to Action

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we welcome back Brian Weber, our first repeat guest and the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Inspired by the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, we have a casual and fun discussion over some Busch Light, where Brian shares intriguing manufacturing stories and notable achievements. We delve into the significant success of scaling a medical product across multiple locations, and the complex logistical endeavor of moving production to the Dominican Republic. We also touch on unique product requests, the value of offshore manufacturing partners, and the heroic efforts of Polo employees during the pandemic. Join us for this special two-part episode, packed with insights and reflections on innovation in the manufacturing industry.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:03 Special Guest: Brian Weber

02:07 Manufacturing Success Stories

05:16 Unique Product Requests

09:14 Navigating Global Manufacturing Challenges

19:56 Heroes of Polo Custom Products

24:09 Lessons and Mentorship

29:35 Pandemic Innovations and Challenges

33:59 Debunking Myths in Custom Manufacturing

38:48 Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

Resources:

A Triple Play for Industrial OEMs - Polo Custom Products

Learn more about Polo Custom Products

Polo Custom Product designs, engineers, and manufactures custom products for OEMs in the medical, fire & safety, and defense industries. Polo Custom Products has experts on staff to globally source and procure your specialty formulation materials. Our experts in quality assurance test and ensure all custom products meet standards and your requirements.