Next Level Supply Chain with GS1 US

The way cash moves through the supply chain is evolving.  What was once a paper-heavy process is now embracing digital transformation. In this episode, Robert Skitt, Senior Manager at Axiom Armored Transport, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to discuss the shift from traditional, manual methods to more secure, efficient, and accountable digital solutions.  Financial institutions and the Federal Reserve are demanding greater transparency and control over cash movement, and armored transport teams are under increasing pressure to adapt. Robert walks us through the process of how Axiom is modernizing armored transport, replacing handwritten logs with barcode scans and eManifests. In this episode, you’ll learn: How GS1 standards are helping digitize cash logistics What “cash visibility” looks like in practice Why early adoption gave Axiom a seat at the table and a competitive edge Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (04:52) What cash visibility looks like (07:23) How GS1 standards changed the workflow (11:32) Turning paper-heavy processes into data (13:32) Barcode tech in armored car logistics (15:14) How digitization improves accuracy and trust (19:25) Advice for starting your visibility journey (20:44) Robert’s favorite technology today   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Robert Skitt on LinkedInCheck out Axiom Armored Transport

The packaging around your product now matters just as much as the product itself. For companies navigating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, that's quickly becoming the reality. And it’s reshaping how teams think about data, packaging, and compliance. In this episode, Lindsay Savage, Senior Director of Data Governance and Business Platforms at Georgia-Pacific LLC, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to demystify what EPR means for manufacturers and retailers.  With legislation ramping up across states, Lindsay explains how brands are preparing for complex reporting requirements, coordinating across departments, and turning sustainability regulations into opportunities for smarter product innovation. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why EPR is more than a packaging issue and why it matters now How Georgia-Pacific is building scalable systems to manage regulatory data Tips for companies just getting started, from legal teams to logistics Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:21) Lindsay Savage’s background (03:16) What EPR means for your business (04:50) Every state has its own rules (06:15) Data overload and the push for standards (07:36) Breaking down product, packaging, and pallet (09:27) Two ways to report EPR data (11:20) How to get started with EPR compliance (12:40) Building cross-functional teams for success (17:55) Embracing AI tools to stay ahead   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Lindsay Savage on LinkedIn Check out Georgia-Pacific

How are brands thinking about their supply chains five years after the COVID-19 crisis? Companies are now leaning more heavily into innovation, from making their operations resilient to market changes to launching sustainability initiatives. In this episode, Stephanie Mehta, CEO and Chief Content Officer at Mansueto Ventures, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl following her keynote at GS1 Connect. They discuss why the supply chain is now at the center of innovation and how companies can stay ahead of changes in the economy and evolving customer demands. Drawing on her experience leading Fast Company and Inc., Stephanie shares how resilience, sustainability, and data-driven thinking are transforming the business landscape for companies of every size.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How companies are using the supply chain to drive innovation and acceleration Why executives are rethinking product packaging, automation, and logistics The impact of data and social media on a company’s operations   Jump into the conversation: (00:17) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:32) Stephanie Mehta’s journey from business journalist to CEO (03:27) How GS1 US collaborates with media brands (04:13) Reaching small businesses with supply chain storytelling (05:41) What most people miss about barcodes (07:35) Why innovation should not stop post-crisis (08:23) How sustainability aligns with consumer demand (11:16) Solving forecasting and inventory with better data (12:05) The logistics of HP’s sustainability initiative (15:56) Social media’s growing impact on supply chains   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Stephanie Mehta on LinkedIn Check out Mansueto Ventures

Confused by the new regulations and a patchwork of state-level policies? With a new administration setting fresh policy priorities, supply chains are facing shifting rules and growing pressure to adapt. Maggie Lyons, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at GS1 US, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to decode the changes affecting how products are made, moved, and sold, and what businesses can do to stay ahead. From SNAP waivers and red dye bans to extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and 2D barcodes, this episode breaks down how government decisions are impacting daily operations across food, retail, and consumer packaged goods (CPG). Maggie’s team works with policymakers and industry leaders to align mandates with existing systems, helping avoid duplication and enabling efficient, standards-based implementation. In this episode, you’ll learn: How state-level regulation is influencing national supply chain strategies Why new ingredient bans could create a ripple effect across CPG brands What you can do to stay ahead of policy changes impacting your industry Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:07) Why GS1 built a policy team (04:02) From Capitol Hill to CPG strategy (06:34) Staying focused amid constant regulatory shifts (08:48) Government agencies shaping supply chain standards (10:38) Customs, tariffs, and food assistance priorities (14:59) How SNAP waivers complicate retail operations (17:57) What red dye bans mean next   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Maggie Lyons on LinkedIn

What if you could see what your customers are searching before they even hit 'buy'? In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, that’s exactly what the best brands are doing, and it’s giving them a serious edge. In this episode, Chris Barnes, General Manager of Retail & Alternative Channels at Jungle Scout, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to break down how brands are using real-time search, product, and shopper data to respond faster to market signals on Amazon and beyond. Chris shares how companies are identifying market opportunities, protecting category share, and improving performance across pricing, inventory, and advertising, all by knowing what to look for in the data. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to use search and shopper behavior to guide product strategy Why category management looks different in the age of marketplaces The data brands overlook and how it impacts sales performance Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:07) Chris Barnes on his career journey (04:38) Transforming strategy with data and intelligence (05:55) Category management in-store vs. online (09:23) AI’s impact on search and consumer behavior (13:04) Dude Wipes’ growth and success (15:35) Leveraging data to understand consumer needs (19:17) Power of data analytics in product development (20:48) Top strategies for maximizing growth (27:37) The future of agencies and AI in business   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Chris Barnes on LinkedInCheck out Jungle Scout

How do you build a beverage brand from scratch and land in over a thousand stores? For Aisha Chottani, it started with stress and a few homemade “potions”. In this episode, Aisha, Founder and CEO of Moment, joins hosts  Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to talk through what really goes into launching and scaling a functional drink brand. From labeling boxes by hand to managing relationships with co-packers and navigating supply chain failures, Aisha shares the behind-the-scenes story most startup founders keep to themselves. She also gets real about what went wrong, like barcode mix-ups and Amazon returns gone sideways, and how those lessons became systems that power Moment’s growth today. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why small brands need relationships more than volume How early mistakes can turn into long-term wins What to watch out for when scaling distribution and operations Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (01:34) Building a global mindset from four continents (03:07) From McKinsey burnout to homemade “potions” (06:06) Barcode errors and the pain of early logistics (08:21) Growing Moment to 1,000 stores and 30 DCs (11:33) What small brands can leverage on (14:06) Collaborating with Lululemon (17:15) Why Moment leans into a subscription model  (20:39) Operational failures to learn from (27:36) Aisha’s favorite technology Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Aisha Chottani on LinkedInCheck out Moment

What does it take to grow a brand on Amazon today? The rules have changed, and Amazon is now less of a storefront and more of a dynamic ad and data platform. In this episode, Jason Boyce, Founder and CEO of Avenue7Media, joins host Reid Jackson to share what he’s learned over 22 years in the e-commerce world. From selling as a reseller to building a brand and leading an agency, Jayson explains why success now depends on feeding the algorithm, not pitching to buyers. He breaks down how streaming TV is driving direct Amazon sales, the problem with locked attributes and UPCs, and why attribution is finally catching up to the promise of connected TV. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why traditional retail rules don’t apply to Amazon How Connected TV can accelerate brand growth What makes Amazon profitable when compared to DTC Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:53) From failed consulting to full-service agency (06:26) Fixing locked attributes and bad UPC data (09:59) Streaming ads that convert like e-commerce (13:56) Selling to algorithms, not people (16:34) Comparing Amazon to direct-to-consumer (20:44) Why CTV is outperforming display ads (26:48) How AI will change the way we shop   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Jason Boyce on LinkedInCheck out Avenue7Media

How accurate is your inventory? For many retailers, answering that question is more difficult than it appears—especially when inventory counts are only conducted once or twice a year. In this episode, Dean Frew, President, RFID Solutions Division, SML IIS, sits down with hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to explore how RFID solves one of retail’s biggest challenges. Dean shares how real-time data at the item level drives results from return fraud to buying online and pick up in store. He also discusses what it takes to make RFID work at scale, how adoption has changed post-COVID, and why distribution centers are the next frontier.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How RFID improves inventory accuracy Where retailers are seeing the most significant ROI New use cases beyond the sales floor   Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (02:20) Dean’s background and RFID journey (06:35) Improving inventory accuracy with RFID (12:13) Reducing returns fraud with item-level data (18:07) How BOPIS impacts inventory and sales (23:01) Boosting inbound accuracy at distribution centers (26:14) RFID in checkout and fitting room experiences   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Dean Frew on LinkedInCheck out SML Group

Did you know that the first coupon dates back to the 1800s?  It hasn't changed much for something that's been around that long, and how shoppers redeemed coupons stayed the same…until now. In this episode, Brett Watson, CEO of The Coupon Bureau, joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to talk about how the world of coupons is finally catching up. With digital formats, real-time validation, and built-in fraud prevention, coupons are evolving for the modern retail experience.  Brett explains what it takes to bring an old system into the digital age, why coupon fraud has become such a costly issue, and how these changes are unlocking new opportunities for both brands and consumers.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How couponing has evolved over the years The role of coupons in marketing and media The future of coupon technology   Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (03:31) History of couponing  (09:45) The scale of coupon fraud in the industry (14:56) The new coupon standard (18:54) Different innovations and applications of coupons (23:23) Brett’s favorite tech she can’t live without   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Brett Watson on LinkedIn Check out The Coupon Bureau

Do you ever think about food safety when you sit down for a meal? It’s easy to take for granted, but behind every meal, strict standards and practices ensure the food we consume is safe. In this replay episode, we revisit our conversation with Darin Detwiler, Founder and CEO of Detwiler Consulting Group. Darin’s path to food safety is deeply personal, driven by the tragic loss of his son to E. coli. Darin shares how the food safety industry is adapting to technological advancements like data analytics, AI, and digital solutions while meeting the ongoing demand for consistent production. If you've ever wondered about the efforts behind keeping food safe, this episode provides an inside look at the evolving food safety landscape and how we can continue protecting consumers in a rapidly changing environment.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How digital solutions like data analytics and blockchain balance long-term and short-term food safety goals The need for courage in food safety leadership to proactively manage and prevent crises The power of social media to help improve food safety and transparency   Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (00:45) What led Darin into the food safety industry (04:05) What Detwiler Consulting Company offers (09:20) New technology and trends in the food safety industry (14:08) How Darin and his team use AI and evolve it (16:39) Big failures that have taken place in the food safety industry (23:47) Darin’s favorite technology at the moment   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn   Connect with the guest: Darin Detwiler on LinkedIn Check out Detwiler Consulting Group