<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	
	xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
	xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Suppliers | The Barefoot Spirit</title>
	<atom:link href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/tag/suppliers/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com</link>
	<description>Founders of Barefoot, a Top Global Brand New York Times Bestselling Authors International Keynote Speakers, Entrepreneurial Coaches.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:04:07 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	
	<item>
		<title>Think You Need a VC to Start Your Business? Try the Barefoot Spirit Instead!</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/think-you-need-a-vc-to-start-your-business-try-the-barefoot-spirit-instead/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cash flow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retailers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategic allies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[venture]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=13713</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>These days it seems like most people believe that you can’t start a business without some sort of venture capital financing. Shark Tank, Silicon Valley, and most of the business publications underscore this popular premise. In fact, the business plan is now viewed as an application for venture financing. The idea seems to be, come [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/think-you-need-a-vc-to-start-your-business-try-the-barefoot-spirit-instead/">Think You Need a VC to Start Your Business? Try the Barefoot Spirit Instead!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-13715" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717.jpg 768w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717-30x30.jpg 30w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TBS.072717-75x75.jpg 75w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />These days it seems like most people believe that you can’t start a business without some sort of venture capital financing. Shark Tank, Silicon Valley, and most of the business publications underscore this popular premise. In fact, the business plan is now viewed as an application for venture financing. The idea seems to be, come up with an idea and get it financed, and you are golden.</p>
<p>But you’re not. Far from it! Now you have given up equity to raise capital that you can spend in ways that may not be necessary or effective. Now you have given yourself the false sense of security that because your plan got financing, it must be right.  Now that you have secured a “runway” and “burn rate,” you attract service suppliers interested in grabbing some of that capital. They want to sell you goods and services you don’t necessarily need, including staff, facilities, and other overhead with monthly bills hungry for your money. Have you made adequate sales to justify those expenditures?</p>
<p>So, now you have funded your company without thoroughly understanding the sales or growth process, especially the most often overlook and underestimated expense: the cost of sales. Do you even know what it costs to make sales?  And what it costs to service what you sell? Now you can get into trouble because the only funds you have are from financing …and you are burning through that at an alarming rate. Pretty soon, you go back for a second and third round of financing and you give up more of your equity.</p>
<p>We have heard many startup founders say, “We had to close down because we couldn’t raise additional capital.” But that’s not the real reason! They simply didn’t have sufficient revenue to achieve a positive cash flow given their hasty commitment to overhead. In other words, they focused on production and administration instead of sales.</p>
<p>There’s a good reason why VC’s look for returns that are ten to twenty-five times their investment. They are losing on nine to twenty-four of their investments.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the startup using the Barefoot Spirit focuses on achieving a positive cash flow much sooner. It’s not as sensational as the promise of “six digits in six months,” but it is solidly based on sustainability. It’s not the glamorous rocket to the top, but it is a practical way to discover the true cost of sales before you get over-extended or commit yourself to regular monthly bills you just can’t sustain. It’s not an instant success that’s crushing it on a national scale, but it is a slow, step-by-step process that is deliberately small in scale to allow you to get  the real market education you need to make sensible growth decisions and preserve your equity.</p>
<p>The Barefoot Spirit is an attitude and a philosophy that puts you in the other guy’s shoes at every turn. From your own people to your vendors, from your supplies to your bankers, from your distributers to your retailers &#8211; learn what they want. This is how you discover your strategic allies, be more resourceful, and save time and money. This is how you can grow your business on a positive cash flow!</p>
<p>The Barefoot Spirit has proof that you can do it without VC money. And you may even do it better.</p>
<p>In the coming months, we will be describing and advocating the Barefoot Spirit approach to starting a business. Isn’t it about time we got back to basics?</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/think-you-need-a-vc-to-start-your-business-try-the-barefoot-spirit-instead/">Think You Need a VC to Start Your Business? Try the Barefoot Spirit Instead!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Ways to Build and Grow Trust</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-build-grow-trust/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 May 2017 17:40:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communicate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creditors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forge Alliances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Warehousing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=13290</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Good business relationships are built on trust. People who depend on you, from your creditors to your employees, need to confidently rely on you to treat them fairly. Once they know you can be depended upon, they will extend their cooperation and even make allowances for you. This is absolutely critical to your success. The [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-build-grow-trust/">5 Ways to Build and Grow Trust</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft wp-image-12888" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Biz-Journals-300x300.png" alt="" width="206" height="206" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Biz-Journals-300x300.png 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Biz-Journals-150x150.png 150w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Biz-Journals.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px" />Good business relationships are built on trust. People who depend on you, from your creditors to your employees, need to confidently rely on you to treat them fairly.</p>
<p class="content__segment">Once they know you can be depended upon, they will extend their cooperation and even make allowances for you. This is absolutely critical to your success.</p>
<p class="content__segment">The sooner you demonstrate that you are trustworthy, the faster you will receive the benefits, such as extended credit, loyalty, engagement, priority ranking, increased sales, and opportunities. The key is to be proactive. Look for ways to show all the folks you work with that you have their best interests at heart.</p>
<p class="content__segment">Here’s our short list for how to build and grow trust:</p>
<h4 class="content__segment">1. Communicate often</h4>
<p class="content__segment">Be clear about what you are doing and why. Don’t leave anyone in the dark guessing what you are up to. We recommend regular meetings with creditors, suppliers, outsourced services, and your own team. Alleviate their fears by sharing vital information early and often. The more they know, the more confident they feel about working with you.</p>
<h4 class="content__segment">2. Forge alliances</h4>
<p class="content__segment">Identify who gets ahead if you do and forge these strategic alliances. Treat these folks like business partners, such as sharing your plans for expansion with suppliers who will benefit from your increased business. Discover how you can work together to improve their business while reducing your need for capital, such as long-term contracts in return for free warehousing and better terms.</p>
<h4 class="content__segment">To read the complete article, please visit <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/growth-strategies/2017/05/5-ways-to-build-and-grow-trust.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Business Journals </a></strong></span></h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-build-grow-trust/">5 Ways to Build and Grow Trust</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Find Your Ideal Investor</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/11189/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bankruptcy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Start-up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vendors]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=11189</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>One of the wisest questions any startup could ask is, “What should I be looking for in an investor?” Wise startups assume they have some say over whom they will accept money from, rather than being in the desperate position of being lucky to get any investor. When you choose your investor carefully consider their [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/11189/">How to Find Your Ideal Investor</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft  wp-image-11191" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TBS.08.04.16.jpg" alt="TBS.08.04.16" width="420" height="256" />One of the wisest questions any startup could ask is, “What should I be looking for in an investor?” Wise startups assume they have some say over whom they will <em>accept</em> money from, rather than being in the desperate position of being lucky to get <em>any</em> investor.</p>
<p>When you choose your investor carefully consider their motives and what they can add to your business besides funding. Sometimes the “perfect” investor is not bringing hard money to the table! Sometimes what they bring can be of greater value to you in the short term and protect your equity position in the long term.</p>
<p>For years we could not get an investor in Barefoot Wine, now the world’s largest brand. The banks wanted nothing to do with us because we didn’t have a “secondary means of collateralizing the debt.” Those are big words for owning real estate. They wanted us to own property they could take if things went south. Ironically, when we tried to buy a house they said we were self-employed and ipso facto “unstable.” When we complained that they had floated mortgages to four of our employees, they said, “Well, that’s different. They have a good solid job!”</p>
<p>So were forced to go it alone, undercapitalized and on the verge of bankruptcy for years! But that was a <em>good </em>thing! That forced us to be resourceful, frugal, and practical. We never had a bunch of money to “burn” through, so we had to come up with alternatives to get the word out about our product. We had to come up with other ways of financing our growth. We were forced to grow slowly.</p>
<p>Yes, it was a good thing because we learned how to get our vendors, suppliers and retail buyers to “finance” our business and we never lost control. They had an interest in seeing us succeed and we learned quick enough what we had to do to gain their trust. They were, in retrospect, our ideal investors.</p>
<p>Had we gotten the Shark Tank variety of investors, we would have been forced to sell as soon as we achieved the equity return majority owners wanted to see on their investment. Not necessarily the most opportune time for a sale, but the shortest turn around for investors!</p>
<p>With access to capital we would have approached marketing in a much more conventional, expensive, and less efficient way that we did – which was to use Worthy Cause Marketing. Because we were broke, we chose to support local fundraisers in the neighborhoods around the stores where our brand was for sale. We hoped the non-profit’s members would choose our product over our competitor’s. This turned out to be a targeted, highly efficient, and effective way to build a loyal base of advocates.</p>
<p>Our “investors” who were suppliers and vendors stood to gain by our success, so they granted us extended terms, higher credit limits, and free warehousing. In the case of “investors” who were our retail buyers, they gave us cash for volume discounts, store-wide ads resulting in higher volume, and they gave us their loyalty. In other words, they helped us build our brand.</p>
<p>These “investors” wanted long-term contracts, quick resolution to customer service issues, and empathy for their position. They never pressured us to sell our brand. On the contrary, they wanted us to continue to enrich them with ongoing growth and success!</p>
<p>So what is the bottom line? Your ideal investor is someone who is in your industry and stands to gain by your success in more ways than just a return on their hard capital investment. They will be more supportive, more forgiving, and more respectful of your long-range goals. Cash is not necessarily king.  It takes more than money!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/11189/">How to Find Your Ideal Investor</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do You Need More Money &#8211; Or Improved Relationships?</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/need-money-improved-relationships/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2016 17:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Distributors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[receivables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[startups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vendors]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=10811</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A common lament we hear from startups is, “If I only had more money!” or, “I would have succeeded but I was undercapitalized,” or even, “I ran out of money!” But what is money but trust in the form of investment? Someone is taking a risk on you. Money without trust can be very expensive. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/need-money-improved-relationships/">Do You Need More Money &#8211; Or Improved Relationships?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft wp-image-10813" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TBS.06.16.16-300x264.jpg" alt="TBS.06.16.16" width="288" height="253" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TBS.06.16.16-300x264.jpg 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TBS.06.16.16-768x675.jpg 768w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TBS.06.16.16.jpg 874w" sizes="(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" />A common lament we hear from startups is, “If I only had more money!” or, “I would have succeeded but I was undercapitalized,” or even, “I ran out of money!” But what is money but trust in the form of investment? Someone is taking a risk on you. Money without trust can be very expensive.</p>
<p>The banks love it when you have to come to them to borrow money at high rates to pay for your services and supplies. When you can’t collect the money owed you before your bills are due, they are right there with short-term loans and lines of credit.</p>
<p>So do you really need more <em>money</em>? Or do you need to develop better <em>relationships </em>with your vendors and suppliers?</p>
<p>First, you build a relationship based on trust with your key suppliers. With that foundation, they will be more likely to raise your limits and extend your terms. Over time, they will realize that <em>your </em>success is a key to their <em>own </em>growth and success.</p>
<p>But how do you get to that level of trust? It takes empathy, communication, dependability, and good behavior &#8211; over time. They have to <em>believe</em> that you have their best interests at heart. That means that you must be clear about what their best interests are. Where are <em>they</em> going with <em>their</em> business? Who is <em>their </em>competition?  Where do <em>they</em> want to be in five years and how can you help them get there. We chose our suppliers and vendors based on how we could grow our businesses together. We also took this approach when choosing our distributors. We offered them big discounts on volume for cash and then helped them sell it. They became loyal and we enjoyed dependable receivables.</p>
<p>The whole idea here is to reduce your need for cash in the first place &#8211; so you don’t have to borrow so much or so often. Ideally, your buyers pay you before your bills are due! And conversely, your bills ideally aren’t due until your incoming checks have cleared. The reality is somewhere between that ideal situation and borrowing money to pay for all your supplies and services. This is where building a strong relationship based on trust really pays off. The stronger the relationship, the less money you need! Period!</p>
<p>When you write a business plan, you itemize the costs you expect to pay. Then you start your business and find out costs are higher than you planned. When you itemize your receivables, they are almost always <em>less</em> &#8211; and received <em>later</em> &#8211; than you planned! In other words, your business plan is generally impractical. The day after you open your doors, it’s the cash flow projection that is guiding your business, not your business plan. Your business relationships directly affect your cash flow projection and the very survival of your business.</p>
<p>The sooner you get started, the better. Identify right now the suppliers and vendors you can grow with. When you grow, they grow.</p>
<p>But don’t leave out the magic ingredient, the foundation of trust. Let your major vendors know your plans, your directions, and the obstacles you face. Offer them long-term contracts that make them feel comfortable about helping you grow. Call in advance when you can’t make a payment and offer a plan to get your account current. Meet with them on a regular basis to review your progress and ask for the help you need &#8211; that will result in more sales for <em>them</em>.</p>
<p>Remember your vendors and suppliers will judge you <em>more</em> by how you behave when you’re in a pinch than when it’s smooth sailing. That’s when you show your true intentions. That’s when you show your stuff and build your trust, and that’s when you can reduce your need for capital.</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/need-money-improved-relationships/">Do You Need More Money &#8211; Or Improved Relationships?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Ways to Build Trust and Grow It</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-to-build-trust-and-grow-it/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2016 17:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alliances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communicate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creditors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[experiences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foundation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opportunities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=10780</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Good business relationships are built on trust. People who depend on you, from your creditors to your employees, need to confidently rely on you to treat them fairly. Once they know you can be depended upon, they will extend their cooperation and even make allowances for you. This is absolutely critical to your success. The [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-to-build-trust-and-grow-it/">5 Ways to Build Trust and Grow It</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10782" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TBS.05.26.16-300x200.jpg" alt="TBS.05.26.16" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TBS.05.26.16-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TBS.05.26.16-768x511.jpg 768w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TBS.05.26.16.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Good business relationships are built on trust. People who depend on you, from your creditors to your employees, need to confidently rely on you to treat them fairly. Once they know you can be depended upon, they will extend their cooperation and even make allowances for you. This is absolutely critical to your success.</p>
<p>The sooner you demonstrate that you are trustworthy, the faster you will receive the benefits, such as extended credit, loyalty, engagement, priority ranking, increased sales, and opportunities. The key is to be proactive. Look for ways to show all the folks you work with that you have their best interests at heart.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s our short list for how to build and grow trust:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong> Communicate Often</strong>. Be clear about what you are doing and why. Don&#8217;t leave anyone in the dark guessing what you are up to. We recommend regular meetings with creditors, suppliers, outsourced services, and your own team. Alleviate their fears by sharing vital information early and often. The more they know, the more confident they feel about working with you.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong> Forge Alliances</strong>. Identify who gets ahead if you do and forge these strategic alliances. Treat these folks like business partners, such as sharing your plans for expansion with suppliers who will benefit from your increased business. Discover how you can work together to improve their business while reducing your need for capital, such as long-term contracts in return for free warehousing and better terms.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
<li><strong> Mend Fences</strong>. When you make a mistake, don&#8217;t try to cover it up or blame others. It will only exacerbate the situation, lose you precious credibility, and hurt the relationship. When you realize you are about to miss a payment, call your creditors immediately. Be ready with a payment plan based on receivables that will bring your account current. This shows empathy for their position and the risk they have taken on you. Remember, you are judged more by how you handle a mistake than when everything goes smoothly.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
<li><strong> Be Honest</strong>. If you harbor hidden agendas or deliberately withhold information to trap or manipulate others, this will result in you losing the relationship and your reputation in your industry. Voluntarily expose loopholes to reassure the people you depend on that you will not take unfair advantage of them. Show them you are a true partner, watching their back, not waiting to stab it! Don&#8217;t give them reasons to keep their guard up or you will only get the words, and not the spirit, of your agreements.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
<li><strong> Service Your Customers</strong>. Nothing says, &#8220;I got your money and now you are stuck with my product&#8221; more than poor customer service. When you are all over them to make a sale but can&#8217;t be reached to fix a problem, you are killing your long-term business security and opening the door for competitors to take your customers. Customer service is more important than the product. Without it, your customers will no longer buy, and will feel an obligation to tell others about their bad experience. When you show them that you are treating them like a friend, they become loyal advocates.</li>
</ol>
<p>Trust is built on a foundation of good behavior over time. The time involved can be reduced by the telling experiences that build or break trust. In the early days of a relationship trust can be lost easily. The way you handle an embarrassing situation is “the tell” that they are looking for to justify putting their faith in you or regretting the relationship. It takes a lot more than just saying, &#8220;Trust me.&#8221;  You can trust us on this!</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/5-ways-to-build-trust-and-grow-it/">5 Ways to Build Trust and Grow It</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Successful Entrepreneurs Must Constantly Sell to Each Business Relationship</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/successful-entrepreneurs-must-constantly-sell-to-each-business-relationship/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2016 17:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[team]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=10634</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Most agree that selling products and services are at the core of any successful business. Without sales there is simply no money to pay the bills and the business fails. But there are other, less obvious types of “sales” that are just as essential to the success of your business.  Without these sales, made regularly, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/successful-entrepreneurs-must-constantly-sell-to-each-business-relationship/">Successful Entrepreneurs Must Constantly Sell to Each Business Relationship</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10636" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/TBS.04.14.16-300x200.jpg" alt="TBS.04.14.16" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/TBS.04.14.16-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/TBS.04.14.16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/TBS.04.14.16.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Most agree that selling products and services are at the core of any successful business. Without sales there is simply no money to pay the bills and the business fails. But there are other, less obvious types of “sales” that are just as essential to the success of your business.  Without <em>these</em> sales, made regularly, your costs will increase dramatically.  These are the “sales” you must make, not with your prospects, but with your support team.</p>
<p>Your support team includes your employees, your outsourced services, and your suppliers. Each one of these “sales” requires a different approach to fully engage them to do their best work for you, take on additional responsibilities, provide quality products and services, and extend your credit and terms. But they all have one thing in common. They must <em>believe</em> you have their best interests at heart before they will commit their time, energy, loyalty, products and services to you. But when they do, they can significantly reduce your costs, turnover, and need for capital, thereby dramatically increasing your chances of success.</p>
<p><strong>Employees.</strong> Your employees are key to your success – <em>if </em>they really understand that you are offering them a career opportunity, security, a piece of the action, appreciation, guidance, respect, and time off.  They must be clear on how their job, however removed, eventually affects sales, why it’s important, and how it fits into their careers. Show them that you have their best interests at heart so they will be more appreciative of performance based-compensation plans, bonuses, and increased decision-making power.</p>
<p><strong>Outsourced Services. </strong> Show appreciation for your outsourced services by providing them with a clear message about your expectations. You can achieve this by having policies in place to constantly improve communication, being clear on requirements and deadlines, and sharing with them the <em><u>reasons</u></em> for your requirements. It also means that you give more praise than criticism, and your criticism is constructive. Show them that you are easy to work with. “What can we do on <em>our </em>end to help <em>you </em>be more effective” is a great “sales” pitch for these folks.</p>
<p><strong>Suppliers.  </strong>Show empathy for the risk they are taking with your new or growing company. Share with them your goals, challenges, and opportunities on a regular basis. This will alleviate some of their fears when they take a chance on you by extending credit and terms that enable you to grow. They worry that you may pay your bill late, or be a “beg pay.”  Work out a long-term commitment so they know you won’t dump them for another supplier. They have to believe they can grow with you. It takes considerable seasoning over time to prove you have their best interests at heart.</p>
<p>Negotiating every business relationship is a sales process. You have to gain their trust and prove to them that you fit into their business and growth plan. You have to be aware of their fears and allay them. You do this by demonstrating over time that you will live up to their expectations, and that you are a <em>true </em>strategic partner, helping them achieve <em><u>their</u></em> goals.</p>
<p>The alternative to making these “sales” is to spend tons of money on turnover, lost corporate knowledge, high interest rates, short payment terms, and higher service and supply costs. This is money that startups can’t afford, and money that is better spent growing your business.</p>
<p>These types of sales to your support team are rarely taught in school and receive little focus in the entrepreneurial media. But when you demonstrate that you have your team’s best interests at heart, you spend less and monetize faster!</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/successful-entrepreneurs-must-constantly-sell-to-each-business-relationship/">Successful Entrepreneurs Must Constantly Sell to Each Business Relationship</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>7 Ways to Reduce Your Need for Capital</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/7-ways-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:28:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[assets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mohegan Sun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outsource]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quality Control]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategic allies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[turnover]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vets Rock]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=10065</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Happy Veterans Day, everybody! Today, November 11, 2015, it is our honor and our pleasure to speak at the first annual Vets Rock event at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.  What would we share at this keynote event with more than 100 veteran-owned businesses that would be of the greatest value to them? What lessons have [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/7-ways-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/">7 Ways to Reduce Your Need for Capital</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10085" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/499x261xV12.jpg" alt="499x261xV12" width="499" height="261" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/499x261xV12.jpg 499w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/499x261xV12-300x157.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px" />Happy Veterans Day, everybody! Today, November 11, 2015, it is our honor and our pleasure to speak at the first annual <a href="http://mohegansun.com/events-and-promotions/schedule-of-events/vets-rock.html" target="_blank">Vets Rock</a> event at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.  What would we share at this keynote event with more than 100 veteran-owned businesses that would be of the greatest value to them? What lessons have we learned, often the hard way, in our own business experience that they could use to improve their own businesses &#8211; tomorrow?</p>
<p>Of all the challenges aspiring, launch and growth-phase entrepreneurs face, the top has to be capital, or should we say the lack of it. The key to success of any business is simply making more money than it costs you to stay in business. So we decided to share how to reduce the need for capital in the first place.</p>
<p>Here are 7 tips that worked for us:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong> Discover Your Hidden Assets.</strong> What do you already bring to the table, and what can you find if you look with expectant eyes? Discover how you can repurpose something you have for something you need. Be resourceful. Solve problems creatively. We used a door for a desk and a laundry room for an office.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong> Identify and Work With Your Strategic Allies.</strong> Those who succeed if you succeed are your strategic allies. Learn how your products or service benefit your customers, suppliers, and the community. Find a small company you can work with that is poised to grow, and grow with them. We provided a small company called Trader Joe’s with a fun California product and together we spread across the country.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
<li><strong> Use Your Suppliers and Buyers as Bankers.</strong> Treat your suppliers like business partners. Enter into long-term contracts so they can see a future with you. Keep them up to date on your progress, challenges and opportunities. Notify them in advance when you will be late on a payment, and show them how you will get current. Then ask for extended credit to expand your business and increase your purchases from them. We offered our buyers quantity discounts for cash.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
<li><strong> Pay for Performance.</strong> Discover the metrics that demonstrate sales, growth, and profitability, then reward your people for achieving those goals. Keep the bonus period short term, such as every month or every quarter to keep the goals active and achievable in their minds. We matched our people&#8217;s 401K either 50%, 100%, or 150% based on quarterly achievement.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
<li><strong> Outsource (Locally) Everything but Sales, Quality Control, and Accounting.</strong> Don&#8217;t invest in a ton of bricks and mortar or other overhead that require monthly payments whether you have sales or not. Try for just-in-time production and avoid holding large inventories. We outsourced production but held our producers to a set of quality specifications in a contract.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="6">
<li><strong> Reduce Turnover.</strong> The #1 hidden cost in any business is turnover. It can result in the loss of your company knowledge, supplier relationships, and even customers. The key is to hire, orient, train, and compensate properly. If you are paying your people right, the producers can&#8217;t afford to leave and the non-producers can&#8217;t afford to stay.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="7">
<li><strong> Reduce Your Cost of Advertising.</strong> Think about your customers as belonging to a community which is interested in more than your product. That community has needs and cause-based groups that work to satisfy those needs, such education, conservation, human rights, and support of the arts. By supporting community fundraisers and non-profits , we gave their members a social reason to buy our products.</li>
</ol>
<p>These 7 tips can help anyone who runs a business, and we are happy to give back to our vets by sharing these lessons with them today, Veterans Day, 2015.</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/7-ways-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/">7 Ways to Reduce Your Need for Capital</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Use Your Suppliers as Investors to Reduce Your Need for Capital</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/how-to-use-your-suppliers-as-investors-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2015 17:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long-term alliance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monthly income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Profits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategic allies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supply companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vendors]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=9951</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Nobody likes to get bills. They seem unending and chew up your monthly income as fast as it comes in. It’s probably the scariest part of starting a new business. You begin to realize that the bills are due no matter whether you have the funds to pay them or not. Many businesses fold simply [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/how-to-use-your-suppliers-as-investors-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/">How to Use Your Suppliers as Investors to Reduce Your Need for Capital</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft wp-image-9953" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/TBS.10.15.15.jpg" alt="TBS.10.15.15" width="199" height="284" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/TBS.10.15.15.jpg 537w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/TBS.10.15.15-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Nobody likes to get bills. They seem unending and chew up your monthly income as fast as it comes in. It’s probably the scariest part of starting a new business. You begin to realize that the bills are due no matter whether you have the funds to pay them or not. Many businesses fold simply because they can’t pay their bills. Many that survive find they can’t expand without a big cash infusion that may cause them to lose control of their own company. Is there another way?</p>
<p>When you are new in business this is especially trying. You find yourself playing catchup almost immediately and it can take years before there’s anything left you could conceivably call “profits.” For us it took 10 years to really get ahead! Why? Because we were growing and everything we made went right back into growth. Sound familiar?</p>
<p>But we found something surprising about all those bills. We discovered that there were several vendors we had who depended on <em><u>us</u></em> for their own growth! They actually wanted us to make it so they could sell us more and send us even more bills!</p>
<p>Take another look at your vendors and suppliers. Who’s getting the most money out of you each month? If you succeed do they succeed? Shouldn’t you be <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/blog/2012/03/31/kindred-spirits-fellow-travelers-and-strategic-partners/" target="_blank">strategic allies</a>? How can you make them increase your credit and lengthen your terms so that you can better afford grow, and, in the process make <em>them</em> a lot of money? Answer: TRUST. That’s right, they have to <em>trust</em> you!</p>
<p>They have to believe that you will stick around when you get bigger and don’t need them anymore. They have to believe that you will pay your bills on time. They have to believe that you will notify them as far in advance as possible when you can’t &#8211; with a plan to bring your account current within 30 days. They also have to believe in you, your product, your management and your growth strategy.</p>
<p>What would make them believe in all this? How about quarterly meetings where you outline your progress, your challenges and your plans? How about long-term contracts? How about treating them like a real partner with updates and opportunities?</p>
<p>This isn’t going to happen overnight. It will require some seasoning, where, over time, your consistent behavior earns their trust! It took us years but eventually our supply companies, vendors and bankers all extended our credit and terms enabling us to reduce our need for capital and grow on our <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/blog/2015/08/10/beverage-trade-network-cash-flow-tips-for-australian-wineries-looking-to-distribute-in-the-usa-2/" target="_blank">cash flow</a>. Sure there were times when we were unable to perform, but because they believed we had their best interests at heart, they were lenient. They’d seen how we handled the same situation in the past. They judged us not by how well we paid when we were on time but by how fast we became current when we were late!</p>
<p>Maybe it’s time for a meeting with the vendors and suppliers who send you your largest bills. Find out what it would take to get them to extend your credit. Usually they will have a performance plan whereby you prove over time that you are worthy of more credit. Go ahead and prove it! It’s a whole lot cheaper than a loan, you stay in control of your company, you reduce the use of your interest-bearing line of credit, and you forge a long-term <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/blog/2015/10/01/we-need-more-successful-startups/" target="_blank">alliance</a> with a supplier who has a special interest in your success. Yes, it’s sort of like what the pioneer said, “Thar’s gold in them thar bills!”</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/how-to-use-your-suppliers-as-investors-to-reduce-your-need-for-capital/">How to Use Your Suppliers as Investors to Reduce Your Need for Capital</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:01:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beaches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car-pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaner beaches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environmental health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farmer's market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Founders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Future]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happy Birthday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthier food choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independence Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Tsunami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lobbyists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local merchants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merchants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Order]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oil supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Coast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Political differences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Powerless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Purchase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Superpower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tsunami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working conditions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=1657</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As we approach the nation&#8217;s 236th year of independence from England and thereby Europe, we find ourselves glued to the financial news out of Europe like we were still part of it. And we are, more than ever. We worry about the economies of China and Russia as if they were our own &#8211; regardless of [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/">On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FlyingFlags.jpg" rel="lightbox[1657]"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1658" title="FlyingFlags" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FlyingFlags.jpg" alt="" width="259" height="222" /></a></p>
<p>As we approach the nation&#8217;s 236<sup>th</sup> year of independence from England and thereby Europe, we find ourselves glued to the financial news out of Europe like we were still part of it. And we are, more than ever. We worry about the economies of China and Russia as if they were our own &#8211; regardless of our political differences. Why? Because our very livelihood depends on the world’s economic and environmental health.</p>
<p>We live on the Pacific Coast where debris from the Japanese tsunami is now just starting to wash up from a catastrophe clear across the world’s largest ocean. Beyond our human empathy for the brave people of Japan, many Japanese products we took for granted became scarce. We were confronted with how the damage to their infrastructure affected our marketplace.</p>
<p>If there’s even a hint of an interruption in the supply of oil from the Middle East, we feel it at the pump. That cost trickles up into everything we buy, including the food we eat.</p>
<p>On the West Coast, we’re now getting air pollution from China. If the developing world continues to copy our approach to “prosperity,” we will suffer the health and environmental consequences right here in the USA.</p>
<p>So yes, we wave the flag and celebrate our great nation. We are thankful for the opportunities and freedoms we enjoy. We are proud to be Americans. But independence? We are all here on the same planet, all interdependent and becoming more so every year.</p>
<p>The good news is that the superpowers all know that their customers and suppliers in the other superpowers are too important to allow anything that would hurt their infrastructure, economy, or the world atmosphere. The bad news is that we haven’t yet realized that our economies and health are ultimately dependent on the health of the environment.</p>
<p>But we as individuals are not completely powerless, especially in America. Over and over again we hear that the world economy depends largely on the health of the American consumer. We all know by now that we vote with our money. In our incessant desire to get everything at the very lowest price, we can inadvertently subsidize political, social, health and environmental practices we would never allow in our own country. Every purchase we make is a vote for how it was made, the working conditions and how it got to us.</p>
<p>It’s hard to blame the government when the lobbyists are financed by our choices. If all politics are local, as it is often said, we can start to make changes in the way we spend our money. We can shop at the local organic farmer’s market and try to buy as many goods and services from local merchants as possible. We can avoid the purchase of single use plastics and vote for cleaner beaches. We can vote for lower healthcare costs by making healthier food choices. Every time we fill up with gas we can at least recognize where those funds are going and hope the day will come soon when we will have cleaner alternatives. Car-pooling, biking, and just plain walking are great votes for a more sustainable future.</p>
<p>This Independence Day let’s recognize our interdependence and how our individual choices can shape the future of not only our great country, but also the world. We are free to make independent choices in how we spend our money, thereby casting our votes. We can yet bring in the “New Order” that our nation’s founders called for by recognizing our true power right here in our wallets.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday USA!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/">On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!--
Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https://www.boldgrid.com/w3-total-cache/

Page Caching using disk: enhanced 
Database Caching 100/129 queries in 0.026 seconds using disk

Served from: thebarefootspirit.com @ 2026-04-09 08:46:52 by W3 Total Cache
-->