RSPA Trusted Advisor

In Episode 90 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with longtime industry executive Joe Finizio about two topics: sales pipeline management best practices for VARs and ISVs and the progress of the retail IT industry as the RSPA celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Finizio led sales and marketing teams with Data Terminal Systems, Micros, Sharp, POS.com, Toast, and LINGA, an ISV he retired from earlier this year. Finizio also spent nearly a decade leading two retail associations: POPAI (Point of Purchase Association International) and he was President & CEO of the RSPA from 2006-14.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 89 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA General Counsel Jill Miller sits down with RSPA CEO Jim Roddy to discuss what VARs and ISVs need to know about surcharging and cash discounting. Miller shares her insights on updated mandates, which land mines solution providers need to be aware of, and consequences of ignoring guidelines and best practices. Miller will host a surcharging and cash discounting panel during RetailNOW 2023 (www.GoRSPA.org/retailnow), July 30-Aug. 1 at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.  The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

Episode 88 of “The Trusted Advisor” features a discussion between retail strategists Carl Boutet and Michael LeBlanc conducted live on stage during the RSPA Canadian Community Networking Event April 11 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Boutet is a Montreal-based business strategist and executive advisor with over 25 years of operational, marketing, merchandising, and retail executive experience. He has worked across retailer environments from the very large, such as 10 years with Costco Wholesale, to working as a strategy consultant for a group of 800 independent retailers across Canada. In May 2022, he published The Great Acceleration: The Race to Retail Resilience. LeBlanc, based in Toronto, serves as President of Maven Media and acts as a Senior Advisor to the Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada. He brings over 25 years of brand, retail, marketing, and e-commerce leadership experience and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives, and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. LeBlanc is also an RSPA Advisory Board member, a position he was appointed to in 2022.  Boutet and LeBlanc have both been named Top Retail Influencers by RETHINK Retail.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.  The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

n Episode 87 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA marketing team of Chris Arnold (Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships), Ayana Scriven (Marketing Communications Manager), and Jim Roddy (President & CEO) discuss marketing myths, mistakes, and mastery.   “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 86 of “The Trusted Advisor,” Cervion Systems founder Hunter Allen, BlueStar VP of Marketing Dean Reverman, and RSPA CEO Jim Roddy analyze the 2023 RSPA Retail IT Channel KPI Study. Allen, Reverman, and Roddy discuss how VARs and ISVs have successfully converted disruption into opportunity, solution provider progress with the as-a-Service business model, VAR acquisitions, recruiting best practices, and more.  To download your copy of the 2023 RSPA Retail IT Channel KPI Study, visit: www.GoRSPA.org/2023-rspa-retail-it-channel-kpi-study   “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 85 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA CEO Jim Roddy talks with RSPA members Ekta Iyer of Alliance Bancard Systems and Linda Sudderth of Epson about changing opportunities for women in the retail technology channel. Iyer and Sudderth share their personal stories about ascending to leadership positions in a male-dominated industry, outline new opportunities for women today, and offer guidance for both men and women in our channel.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 84 of “The Trusted Advisor,” RSPA General Counsel Jill Miller sits down with RSPA CEO Jim Roddy to share best practices related to her Master Agreement Checklist. Miller walks through how to utilize the checklist prior to signing any agreement plus she shares why a data retention policy is a must-have for VARs and ISVs of all sizes. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 83 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy sits down with ScanSource CEO Mike Baur to discuss the history and the future of the retail IT channel. Baur details his company’s transition to the “new ScanSource,” describes his vision of the VAR of the future, and offers his perspective on actions VARs, ISVs, vendors, and distributors should take to help each other adapt long-term.  “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 82 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy talks sales best practices with Darcie McNamara, Strategic Partner Specialist at Datacap Systems, and James Gribbin, Account Manager with Metropolitan Sales. McNamara and Gribbin offer advice and anecdotes about accelerating a sales cycle, how to persist during a long sales cycle, and how sales professionals can improve their communication skills.   “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT VARs and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org.   The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org. 

In Episode 81 of “The Trusted Advisor,” the RSPA’s Jim Roddy shares his observations on the changing retail IT channel after the announcements of several VARs being acquired in the second half of 2022. “The Trusted Advisor,” powered by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an award-winning content series designed specifically for retail IT resellers and software developers. Our goal is to educate you on the topics of leadership, management, hiring, sales, and other small business best practices. For more insights, visit the RSPA blog at www.GoRSPA.org. The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software developers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers education, hotlines for legal, security, sales, and business advice, industry advocacy, and discounts on other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW and Inspire, which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.