About Podcast
Picture it – the year is 1990 and Curt Anderson is full of hopes and dreams. However, those dreams are deferred when he accepts his father’s request to take over their family-owned floral business. At the time the business was bankrupt and in desperate need of financial resuscitation.
Curt spends the next several years grinding and doing everything he can to save the business from ruin. Just when it seems all hope is lost, he discovers a lifeline that will change the trajectory of both his business and his career.
That lifeline is the internet.
By 1995, he changes the business model from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce. Along the way, he’s thrown more lifelines until one day he realizes he needs someone else to come in and help manage the daily operations. After 20 years of hard work, smart partnerships, and investments in business infrastructure he successfully sells his business.
How did he do it?
That’s what you’ll discover in this scale tale. Join us as Curt takes us on a journey that includes experimenting with new technologies, forming partnerships with key people, and outsourcing a critical part of his back-office operations.
- Reviving a Family Business: Curt took over his bankrupt family business in 1990 and turned it around through hard work and learning on the job.
- Embracing E-Commerce: He moved the business online in the 90s, using Google and social media to grow and gain recognition.
- Building a Strong Team: Curt hired a partner and outsourced logistics to scale while keeping costs low.
- Knowing When to Step Down: As the business grew, Curt brought in a partner and sold the company to her.
- Helping Manufacturers with E-Commerce: Now, Curt helps manufacturers with e-commerce and digital marketing through workshops and his book, Stop Being the Best Kept Secret.
Special Guest: Curt Anderson, Founder of B2Btail
Location: Lakewood, NY USA
Air Date: October 06, 2024
Book:
- Stop Being the Best Kept Secret: Manufacturing eCommerce Strategies: a book by Curt Anderson.
Website:
- B2Btail.com: access free training and resource guides to help you on your path to Manufacturing eCommerce success.
Articles by Curt:
- The B2Btail eCommerce Checklist for Beginners
- 25 Blog Topics for Manufacturers Eager to Start Blogging
- Manufacturing Website Call-to-Action Strategies That Work
- Manufacturing Your Keyword Strategy
Podcasts:
- Manufacturing eCommerce Success: join Curt and his co-host Damon Pistulka every Friday for the latest on eCommerce strategies on their LinkedIn live show.
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Audio Editor: Olanrewaju Adeyemo
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show notes: Erika Ve Revilla
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Curt Anderson:
Curt founded an e-commerce company in 1995 that was ranked 3X on the Internet Retailer Magazine’s Top 1000 e-commerce Companies. Curt is the author of “Stop Being the Best Kept Secret” and founder of B2Btail.com, an eCommerce resource guide for manufacturers.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc.. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 20-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 
