MY TOP 5 HARDCORE BUSINESS BELIEFS
- Businesses must ‘grow’ into their customers.
Every customer has the potential to be the right one—if engaged at the right time. Misaligned timing can lead to anything from a missed opportunity to devastating consequences, such as strained resources, lost credibility, or even bankruptcy.
Successful businesses focus not only on finding the right customers but also on ensuring they’re ready to meet those customers’ needs. Growth, preparation, and timing are the keys to sustainable customer relationships.
2. Picking the “right” customer goes way beyond their assortments, philosophies or certifications.
True compatibility lies in operational synergy:
- Capabilities and Demands: Can your business efficiently meet your customer’s logistical and service expectations?
- Payment Terms: Are their financial practices sustainable for your cash flow?
- Cost of Doing Business: Does the relationship provide a return that justifies the investment in time, resources, and effort?
Without alignment on these foundational elements, even the most promising partnerships can become unsustainable.
3. Service is the only real differentiator.
In a crowded marketplace, it’s easy for producers and marketers of consumer goods to claim their products are the best. But if you truly want to stand out, shift your focus from merely promoting products to delivering exceptional service.
Every interaction—whether it’s a communication, a sale, or a follow-up—is an opportunity to provide value, solve problems, and build trust. Consistently prioritizing service transforms customers into loyal advocates and differentiates your brand in a way that product claims alone never can.
4. Purpose outlasts passion.
Passion is the burning dedication that propels us through the challenging moments, often fueling the early years of a business. However, passion demands significant emotional energy, and over time, this intensity can lead to burnout.
Purpose, on the other hand, offers a sustainable path forward. By grounding efforts in meaningful, long-term goals, businesses can focus on initiatives that foster stability and resilience. Purpose is less draining and more enduring, making it a critical driver for thriving beyond the volatile first five years.
Building a purpose-driven business isn’t just about survival; it’s about creating a legacy.
5. Have a working knowledge of everything.
You don’t need to do everything or involve yourself in every detail of your business, but you must have a working knowledge of all its facets. This comprehensive understanding is essential for:
- Ensuring Continuity: Stepping in confidently when necessary to maintain operations.
- Making Better Hires: Evaluating candidates effectively by understanding their roles.
- Defending Your Business: Recognizing and mitigating risks posed by inexperience or “accidental pretenders.”
A holistic grasp of your business equips you to lead strategically, maintain resilience, and safeguard your vision against threats, both internal and external.
I grew up in Montreal and built my career in Toronto. Now, my family and I are fortunate to call the Greater Vancouver area, home.
My credentials come from decades of working with regional, national, and global conventional retailers and e-tailers in the Consumer-Packaged Goods industry. I have worked for and with worldwide brands like Danone, Stonyfield, Cuisinart, Conair, Champion, Coach, Isotoner, and Kodak.
Today, clients come in all sizes, from the US and Canada including Quebec, and from a variety of CPG categories: Food, Health + Wellness, Home, Kitchen, Pets, Apparel and Beauty.
The road to success has been anything but a straight line. With thanks to my upbringing, I have a lifetime supply of perseverance. Giving up is not an option. My motto: Problem solving in progress. Solution underway.
I am a late bloomer. By traditional standards, I married late, graduated from the University of Waterloo late and gave birth even later, at the age of forty-three. In keeping with my history, I plan to die really, really, late.
Off hours, you’ll find me hanging out here on the beautiful West Coast of Canada with ‘my boys’ – my husband Peter, our son Zach, and our 4-legged fur baby, Hercules, a WFT not to be confused with WTF.
P.s. Although I share their last name, I am not related to either Tony or Ned Stark. On occasion though, I have been guilty of telling little kids I am Tony’s mother.
BUSINESS HOURS
MONDAY – FRIDAY
PST: 7:00am – 4:00pm
MST: 8:00am – 5:00pm
CST: 9:00am – 6:00pm
EST: 10:00am – 7:00pm
AST: 11:00am – 8:00pm
SERVICE LOCATIONS
Based in the Greater Vancouver Area, I specialize in addressing general CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) Go-to-Market challenges for businesses across Canada.
For Amazon-specific needs, I offer comprehensive training and support for Amazon platforms across North America, Europe, and Australia.
DISCOVERY SESSIONS
Your business challenges matter!
To make our time more productive, please provide as much detail as possible when booking your call.
If you encounter any issues, email me: jennifer@pernosakai.com.