By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

This show was crazy – some 3,000 brands and 80,000 people converged in Anaheim, CA recently for the annual  natural products extravaganza. There were several trends showcased, all of which are making their way to us through retailers. And, congrats to all the brands that keep changing the food we eat for the better.

One trend that made me happy was the absence of artificial sweeteners, like saccharin and aspartame. Most companies are switching to natural sugars like dates, honey, maple syrup, agave, and fruit purees. I tested products all day long and I can assure you – they were delicious!

Matcha. Yummy.

One habit I picked up at the show was matcha – energy without the shakes. As soon as I returned to Kansas City I ordered a case of taika Matcha Latte and MatchaKo lemonade. Millennials and Gen Zers are drifting away from caffeine and looking for products that provide the buzz without the jitters.

Back to Basics

Many products are moving back to basics. Aren’t we all tired of picking up a product in the grocery store that has 25 ingredients, most of which we cannot pronounce? Why not just have fruit in a jar, instead of the product being jammed with sugar and laboratory ingredients.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia was big. Remember all the foods your mom used to buy or cook for you as a kid? They’re back and tapping into those fond memories. Remember Neapolitan ice cream, chocolate sauce and zucchini bread? Brands are having fun exploring and recreating experiences.

NABs, Wine and Spirits

Non-alcoholic beverages have come a long way and were on display everywhere at the show. My favorite Gia and Seedlip dominated, but I was also introduced to many small brands that are emerging. Wine, craft beer – even Guinness was there with a dark beer. Spirits, ready to drink beverages with adaptogens to manage stress and restore balance – even amaro’s. The N/A beverage movement got its start in the natural channel and continues to thrive as evidenced by the show.

I must admit the show, so many people, the traffic in LA and parking were something I had never experienced before, but I can’t wait to go back next year!

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Check washing scams involve changing the payee names and often the dollar amounts on checks and fraudulently depositing or cashing them. These checks are stolen from the mail and washed in chemicals to remove the ink. And this isn’t a thought leadership exercise… this happened to us recently! So please consider this a public service announcement worth taking seriously. Okay, here is the story.

We mailed a check to a vendor in St. Louis, the check was stolen, washed, and cashed for $17,483.15 in unincorporated Fresno, TX.

When we figured out this had happened, we reached out to our bank for help. nbkc Bank had to shut down all transactions coming in and out of our checking account – thousands of them every month with the portals, ACH, checks written and deposited and our company debit cards. They’ve been incredibly helpful through this entire scary experience.

I’m three weeks into this mess and still dealing with the bank every single day.

Check Fraud

Check fraud is not a thing of the past – and these days, it can involve sophisticated criminal operations. Check fraud is back in a big way, fueled by a rise in organized crime that is forcing small businesses and individuals to take safety measures or to avoid sending checks through the mail altogether.

How can you protect yourself?

1. Consider making all payments through ACH
2. Use pens with indelible black ink so that it is more difficult to wash your checks – you can buy them on Amazon.
3. If you receive paid checks back from the bank, shred them.
4. Use online banking to review copies of your checks to ensure they were not altered. (That is how we found out!)
5. Do not mail business checks in a window envelope.

The United State Postal Service also recommends that you:

1. Do not drop off your email in collection boxes after the last scheduled pick-up or directly at your local Post Office.
2. Do not leave your mail in your mailbox overnight.
3. If you’re heading out of town, have the Post Office hold your mail.

What to do if you are a victim?

1. Call your financial institution immediately.
2. File a report with your local police department.
3. File a report with the Post Office online at uspis.gov/report.

Please follow my advice and best wishes for this not to happen to you!

p.s. order that indelible ink pen from Amazon today!

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

In August, I went to Lexington, Kentucky for the nation’s ONLY female whiskey consumer conference. The Bourbon Women National SIPosium showcases and celebrates whiskey education and industry trends to 400+ women from across the nation.

There were exciting excursions, seminars about mixing whiskey cocktails, history and unique experiences like going to the contemporary art museum and designing whiskey labels with experts in that field.

Women account for 40% of all whiskey sales in the United States.

Alex Castle, Master Distiller and Senior Vice President told one of the most inspiring stories of the conference – she had graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, but had to start at the very bottom, rolling barrels, to get into the distillery business.

The men, who owned all of the distilleries at that time, fought having a woman in the room. Even though she had her degree in engineering, she felt every day that she was going to be fired because she kept telling them that what when they were constructing the stills, they were not doing it right.

Another story I loved was about a woman distiller in that lived high on a mountain called Black Rock in the Appalachians in the early 1800’s.

All the women distilled whiskey from leftover fruit, rye and corn, and there were over 15,000 distilleries spread across the US. She would see the Whiskey Tax men coming down the river and would run up a red flag over her house. This would alert the women to dismantle their stills and hide them in the woods. They would cover themselves in flour and start baking, because the smell of whiskey distilling in close to the smell of baking bread. They never got caught!

Meet and Greet with Bill Samuels, Maker’s Mark

We were also lucky enough to tour and meet with Bill Samuels – his mother and father started Maker’s Mark. She had a great presence behind her husband and was responsible for all the marketing, including the distinctive shape of the bottle and the red wax.

North Kansas City Woman Distiller

We have a woman distiller right here in North Kansas City – Benay Shannon is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Restless Spirits Distilling Company. She went from teaching high school chemistry to making beverage alcohol for a living, sort of like Walter White but clean and legal. Her current best-seller is a gin, but she’s got an Irish Whiskey and is aging an American Single Malt.

Check out the organization at www.BourbonWomen.org

 

By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

There are times when you need to consider firing a client. It’s always a delicate and stressful situation that requires a lot of tact.

Before you decide to fire the client, evaluate the benefits and risks of doing so.

• How will this affect your reputation and resources?
• Are there unresolved conflicts that could be resolved?
• Is the client too demanding, expects impossible deadlines and wants more than they’re paying for? (Sound familiar?)

I’ve had to fire clients in the past because of the way they treated my team. If you don’t let your employees know that you will stand up for them, how can you inspire loyalty?

Parting on Good Terms

If you decide to move forward, it helps to do some planning. When you talk to your client, you should have an honest message that explains why you’re dissolving the partnership, what you appreciated about the relationship and how you will handle the transition. (Having an exit strategy will help avoid misunderstandings, disputes, and legal issues.)

The way you talk to your client about your exit can make a big difference. Don’t blame or criticize them. Don’t accuse them of any wrongdoing even if there are good reasons to do so. Of course, if they did something illegal, that is fair game.  Focus on the positive parts of your relationship and acknowledge their contributions.

We can’t forget that even though this is a business relationship, people’s feelings are involved. Most importantly, Kansas City is a VERY small town, so be respectful.

You should also consider maintaining the relationship with your former client if possible. They can still be a valuable source of referrals and insights. You never know when you might cross paths in the future.

Post Breakup

After the transition is complete, reflect on the experience and learn from it.

• What worked and what didn’t?
• Was there something you did in the beginning that led to parting ways?
• What lessons did you learn that will help you make sure the next partnership works well?

Some people are going to be angry. Some people will understand. All you can control is making the right decisions for your team and your company. And if that means parting ways with a client, even one that’s important to your business financially, trust your instincts and act. There’s a reason your gut is telling you it’s time to make a change.