Next Level Supply Chain with GS1 US

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mehta-media-ceo/], CEO and Chief Content Officer at Mansueto Ventures [https://www.mansueto.com/], joins hosts Reid Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidjackson/] and Liz Sertl [https://www.linkedin.com/in/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 [https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/how-to-get-a-upc-barcode/get-upc-barcodes?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g-YRJDMnWMGlYHx4BVA6paGhhat5XlyMsjwCNulVASbEothRP8QRbRoCSu8QAvD_BwE] GS1 US on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs1-us/]   Connect with the guest: Stephanie Mehta on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mehta-media-ceo/] Check out Mansueto Ventures [https://www.mansueto.com/]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggieplyons/], Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at GS1 US [https://www.gs1us.org/], joins hosts Reid Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidjackson/] and Liz Sertl [https://www.linkedin.com/in/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 [https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/how-to-get-a-upc-barcode/get-upc-barcodes?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g-YRJDMnWMGlYHx4BVA6paGhhat5XlyMsjwCNulVASbEothRP8QRbRoCSu8QAvD_BwE] GS1 US on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs1-us/]   Connect with the guest: Maggie Lyons on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggieplyons/]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-barnes-a0a7022/], General Manager of Retail & Alternative Channels at Jungle Scout [https://www.junglescout.com/], joins hosts Reid Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidjackson/] and Liz Sertl [https://www.linkedin.com/in/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 [https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/how-to-get-a-upc-barcode/get-upc-barcodes?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g-YRJDMnWMGlYHx4BVA6paGhhat5XlyMsjwCNulVASbEothRP8QRbRoCSu8QAvD_BwE] GS1 US on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs1-us/]   Connect with the guest: Chris Barnes on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-barnes-a0a7022/]Check out Jungle Scout [https://www.junglescout.com/]

How do you build a beverage brand from scratch and land in over a thousand stores? For Aisha Chottani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishacee], it started with stress and a few homemade “potions”. In this episode, Aisha, Founder and CEO of Moment [https://drinkmoment.com/], joins hosts  Reid Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidjackson/] and Liz Sertl [https://www.linkedin.com/in/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 [https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/how-to-get-a-upc-barcode/get-upc-barcodes?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g-YRJDMnWMGlYHx4BVA6paGhhat5XlyMsjwCNulVASbEothRP8QRbRoCSu8QAvD_BwE] GS1 US on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs1-us/]   Connect with the guest: Aisha Chottani on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishacee]Check out Moment [https://drinkmoment.com/]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrboyce/], Founder and CEO of Avenue7Media [https://avenue7media.com/], joins host Reid Jackson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidjackson/] 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 [https://www.gs1us.org/upcs-barcodes-prefixes/how-to-get-a-upc-barcode/get-upc-barcodes?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g-YRJDMnWMGlYHx4BVA6paGhhat5XlyMsjwCNulVASbEothRP8QRbRoCSu8QAvD_BwE] GS1 US on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs1-us/]   Connect with the guest: Jason Boyce on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrboyce/]Check out Avenue7Media [https://avenue7media.com/]