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Noah DiPasquale is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Golf Club, grace the cover of the renowned Worldu2019s Leaders Magazine as one of World's Dynamic CEOs Making A Footprint in Business, 2023
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Vol. 10 | Issue 19 | October 2023 www.worldsleaders.com World's Dynamic ’S Making A Footprint in Business, 2023 2023 Noah Noah DiPasquale Crafting Unforgettable Golf Experiences
World’s Dynamic CEOs Making A Footprint in Business, 2023 Revolutionary Visionaries Even for CEOs who have already achieved success, learning never ends and needs to be improved upon constantly. In addition to maintaining conversations and engagements with consumers/clients, staff members, investors, analysts, board members, and other stakeholders, the dynamic leader must fearlessly pursue new alliances and information sources. Since competition is inherently dynamic, so too must the methods for obtaining resources and tools to outmaneuver the opposition. Instead of focusing just on communicating about their own accomplishments, the CEO has to spend time learning, connecting the links, and listening. In his role as a business leader, Noah sees it as his responsibility to assemble a team of talented and passionate individuals, forge a collective vision that extends years into the future, and empower his team to make sound decisions for the benefit of the business, its customers, and the communities they serve. He considers himself incredibly fortunate to have chosen a career path that brings him immense satisfaction and feels blessed to wake up every day with a smile, knowing that he has the privilege of interacting with his favorite people in the world. In order to improve their leadership style, high-achieving CEOs also look for outsiders' perspectives. To do this, they need to undergo a clinical evaluation that gathers input from a far wider spectrum of stakeholders than they may have in the past. World's Leaders latest edition “World's Dynamic CEOs Making A Footprint in Business, 2023” has featured success stories of renowned CEOs whose expertise in leadership is echoing globally. The cover has Noah DiPasquale, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Golf Club. He is drawing from over two decades of experience as a corporate executive. His primary focus is on providing Epic Golf Club members with unforgettable experiences at some of the world's most prestigious golf courses. Also, while you flip through the pages, don't forget to read the articles created by our in-house editorial staff and industry experts. Have a lovely read!
CREDIT PAGE Editor-in-Chief Steve Sanchez Managing Editor Jagdish Chincholikar Executive Editor Nicole Williams Assistant Editor Gayatri Bhujbal Art & Design Director Jack Anderson Business Development Manager Alex Gonzalez Business Development Executive Natalie, Sayali Teke Associate Designer Kevin Rust Digital Marketing Manager Victor Clarke Sales Manager Casey Simpson, Irfan Shekh Marketing Manager Tom Swann Technical Specialist Barry Jones Circulation Manager Danny Parker OCTOBER 2023 3296 Westerville Rd #250, Columbus, OH 43224, USA Copyright 2023 WORLD’S LEADERS Media Tech LLC, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from WORLD’S LEADERS Reprint rights remain solely with WORLD’S LEADERS. Follow us on :
10 Cov Sry Noah DiPasquale Crafting Unforgettable Golf Experiences
18 Carlos Santos David Weild 22 26 Dean Bartles Josh Sherrard 32 36 Ken Dychtwald Liam Hardey 40 46 Mitch Gould 50 Oliver Drews 54 Paul Edalat
Noah DiPasquale Crafting Unforgettable Golf Experiences N N oah DiPasquale is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Golf Club, drawing from over two decades of experience as a corporate executive. His primary focus is on providing Epic Golf Club members with unforgettable experiences at some of the world's most prestigious golf courses. blessed to wake up every day with a smile, knowing that he has the privilege of interacting with his favorite people in the world. In addition to his role at Epic Golf Club, Noah has a history of successfully founding various business ventures. Notably, he recently launched GolfLync, a social media company aimed at connecting millions of golfers worldwide. Furthermore, Mr. DiPasquale has initiated the Epic Foundation (www.epicfoundation.us), a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of communities in which they operate. In his role as a business leader, Noah sees it as his responsibility to assemble a team of talented and passionate individuals, forge a collective vision that extends years into the future, and empower his team to make sound decisions for the benefit of the business, its customers, and the communities they serve. He considers himself incredibly fortunate to have chosen a career path that brings him immense satisfaction and feels 10 | October 2023
C O V E R S T O R Y worldsleaders.com | 11
The Club Epic Golf Club subscription-based membership that operates as a private golf society allowing like-minded golfers who share a passion for golf to play the best private golf courses in the world, together. Members of Epic have the opportunity to play at over 1,000 of the top private courses in North America and around the world. Through its careful curation and application process, the club's society of private club members have the privilege of playing at each other's impeccable, top-rated private courses among the most beautiful landscapes in the country. Epic also hosts 20+ events each year at top-rated clubs for members and their guests to enjoy. The Epic Golf team provides a fully curated white-glove experience to ensure the quality of the trip meets or exceeds the quality of the world class golf. 12 | October 2023
Personal and Professional Philosophy Founding His Passion in Golf Noah is the same person inside and outside of the workplace. He holds exceptionally high standards for the individuals he chooses to surround himself with, and he deeply values the people in his life, whether they are family, friends, customers, or co-workers. Noah has a penchant for operating at a rapid pace and takes pride in his ability to swiftly and accurately assess situations, adapting as necessary. He strongly believes in the philosophy of "work hard and play hard," and he has cultivated a culture that rewards both personal and professional growth. Originating from humble beginnings, Noah views each day as a blessing and relishes every moment. He firmly adheres to the notion that "the journey is the destination." Noah had a self-described “unusual path” to his start in the golf business, since he had really only taken up the game a few years prior. He was in the management and technology consulting space where he led a mid-tier firm for over a decade and started his own consulting firm in 2016. However, he quickly became drawn to the game of golf by its social and competitive foundation. Noah instantaneously noticed that there was a huge gap in the way golfers interacted with each other and saw his opportunity to change the game of golf forever. worldsleaders.com | 13
empowered to go above and beyond what is typically expected, especially in extenuating circumstances. At Epic, one of the core values is "Your job is not done until THE job is done," which often means thinking creatively and taking heroic actions when the situation demands it. Building the Epic Family In his line of work, Noah rarely looks for individuals with specific prior experience since the nature of their work is unique. Instead, he seeks out individuals who possess qualities such as high intelligence, energy, empathy, and a strong desire to give their best while functioning as part of a team. He believes that when these traits are present, it becomes relatively easy to integrate individuals into the Epic Family through coaching and support. Pursuit of Excellence and Innovation Vision of a Connected World Much of Noah's success can be attributed to his persistent curiosity and unwavering commitment to problem-solving. He never settles for the status quo and firmly believes that taking risks is a fundamental aspect of personal and professional growth. In his own words, "The things I value the most in business and in life are developing and spending time with a core group of friends, family, and team, helping them achieve their full potential, always striving to win and be the best, but not at the expense of others, and building a sense of community with every interaction." Noah views their industry as analogous to golf, and they believe that they are at the forefront of driving change through technology. Historically, golf has been a geographically constrained activity, with the location of golf courses dictating participation based on geography. However, Epic Golf Club has transformed this model by placing individual participants at the center and enabling them to come together from all corners of the world (42 states and 11 countries to date) based on shared values, an adventurous spirit, and a desire to expand their horizons. In an increasingly interconnected world, Epic Golf Club has created a new golfing universe for its members and guests. Approach to Teamwork at Epic Golf Club Noah believes that effective teamwork is a combination of both structured processes and individual heroics. The foundation of the team is established by having well- defined processes in place, which provide guidelines for operation and set expectations for outcomes. However, individual heroics come into play when team members are Journey from Comfort to Risk For Noah, the most significant professional risk he took was in 2016 when he started his first company. At worldsleaders.com | 15
that time, he held a relatively high-paying and high-powered job, and he and his wife had just welcomed a baby boy into their family. The decision to leave his job and pursue entrepreneurship was a challenging one, and he wasn't sure if the bigger risk was leaving the job or discussing it with his wife. Fortunately, his wife was incredibly supportive, reassuring him that they didn't need all the luxury items if things didn't work out but expressing confidence in his ability to succeed if he gave it his best. Her support provided the push he needed, and from there, the transition to starting Epic Golf felt like a natural progression. As he put himself in positions to succeed, the sense of risk diminished, and it all felt like the obvious next steps. Words of Wisdom for New Leaders Noah's advice to new leaders includes several key pieces of wisdom: Ÿ Build strong relationships with your team and create an environment of trust. Ÿ Communicate clearly, setting expectations and addressing deficiencies when necessary, while also celebrating successes. Ÿ Be decisive and don't avoid tough decisions, and when delivering bad news, do it in person. Ÿ Stay adaptable and open-minded, as great ideas can come from unexpected sources. Ÿ Prioritize self-care, as leadership is demanding, and your mental and physical well-being are essential for long-term success. Burnout can hinder your effectiveness as a leader. 16 | October 2023
F Years of Excellency For the past few decades, the race for industrial competitive advantage has centered on finding new and abundant low-cost labor sources. The next wave of industrial productivity increases is anticipated to be fueled by technological advancements. Cyber- physical systems (CPS) Since 2010, Dr. Dean Bartles has served as a board member for NCDMM before joining as the President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2019. Prior to this, he served as the President of the National Tooling and Machining Association and was previously the Director of the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Bartles was the founding Executive Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago and the Chief Manufacturing Officer of UI LABS. Dr. Bartles worked for General Dynamics Corporation for 30 years, where he was responsible for setting up and running manufacturing operations in Egypt, Turkey, and the United States. Between 2001 and 2014, Dr. Bartles increased sales at General Dynamics Corporation from $135 million to over $600 million. Before his time at General Dynamics Corporation, Dr. Bartles worked for Fairchild Republic Company as an industrial engineer for approximately 5 years. and dynamic data processes that employ enormous volumes of data to drive smart machines define this development, which some refer to as Industry 4.0. Dr. Dean Bartles, a well-known person in the manufacturing area, is well-suited to describe the complexity of production and how it is being altered with the assistance of developing technology. He is a seasoned operations specialist with four decades of manufacturing and technology management experience. He is currently the President and CEO of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc., a not-for-profit holding company of both the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and Advanced Manufacturing International, Inc. (AMI), a new subsidiary and sister company to NCDMM. Dr. Bartles served as the 2016-2017 President of the North American Manufacturing Research Institute, the 2016 President of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the founding Chairman of the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition, and the Chairman of the Board of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining. Dean graduated from Indiana State University, earning a PhD in Technology Management with a concentration in Manufacturing Systems. MTDG The Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group (MTDG) is the not-for-profit holding company of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and Advanced Manufacturing International (AMI). Dr. Bartles' skills in advanced manufacturing technology areas include digital manufacturing, model- based enterprise, industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, advanced robotics, and brilliant factory concepts. MTDG is transforming the advanced manufacturing industrial base by driving innovation and accelerating growth. MTDG is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. 28 | October 2023
Josh Sherrard Guiding Families to Entrepreneurial Success with Unparalleled Expertise and Insight worldsleaders.com | 33
Journey of Empowerment and Significance Josh, a Hawaii native, pursued his education at The University of Hawaii, Simpson Bible College, and The Moody Bible Institute. As an ordained minister, he found fulfillment in working on missions, playing the guitar, traveling, and spending cherished moments with his wife, Amy, and their three children: Joshua II, Julianne, and Gabriel. Josh's entrepreneurial spirit ignited at the age of 12 when he started his first business, and later, as a teenager, he interned at a prominent financial company in Honolulu. Following over a decade of experience in Christian Ministry, he served as a minister in non-profit organizations, gaining exposure to operations, stewardship, and communications. Josh Sherrard, a born entrepreneur, embarked on his first business venture at the young age of twelve. As the President and CEO of Strategic Navigators, he has nurtured a passion for entrepreneurship throughout his career. Over the years, Josh has dabbled in start-ups, corporate America, and international business development, gaining invaluable experience in these realms. With over a decade of involvement in the Non-Profit Sector, Josh has successfully managed multi-million- dollar companies, showcasing his prowess in organizational leadership. Additionally, he has dedicated numerous years to financial advising and business efficiency, establishing himself as an expert in these fields. Around 2012, Josh embarked on a transition from a full-time pastor to a businessman. During this period, he identified a crucial pain-point for entrepreneurs—taxes. Driven by the desire to guide his clients towards a path of significance, he assembled a team of tax and law experts. Together, they developed a program that could provide small business owners with time-tested strategies employed by the uber-wealthy, ultimately assisting entrepreneurs in maximizing their revenue. Josh's comprehensive background in Business, Finance, Executive Management, Real Estate, Operations, and Sales lends a unique depth to his role as a Business Family Coach. Combining his diverse expertise, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide and support families in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Drawing upon his diverse experiences and expertise, Josh strives to empower his clients by offering valuable strategies that pave the way for their success and significance in the business world. worldsleaders.com | 35
A Thought Leader with a Focus on the Business Opportunities and Social Effects of Global Aging and Rising Longevity KEN DYCHTWALD, PhD 36 | October 2023
Founder & CEO Age Wave worldsleaders.com | 37
K original thinker regarding the social, economic, healthcare, marketing, financial, and workforce implications of the "age wave" – a term he coined in the 1980's. He is a psychologist, gerontologist, documentary filmmaker, and best- selling author of 19 books, including his three latest What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age, Radical Curiosity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life and Sages of Aging: A Guide for Changemakers. en Dychtwald, PhD has emerged as North America's foremost visionary and House Conferences on Aging. He was named the single most influential marketer to baby boomers over the last quarter- century by American Demographics. His article in the Harvard Business Review, "It's Time to Retire Retirement," was awarded the prestigious McKinsey Award, tying for first place with the legendary Peter Drucker. He was honored by Investment Advisor as one of the 35 most influential thought leaders in the financial services industry over the past 35 years, and he and his wife, Maddy, received the Esalen Prize for their outstanding contributions to advancing the human potential of aging men and women worldwide. He has twice received the American Society on Aging Award for distinguished leadership and has received the Inspire Award from the International Council on Active Aging. Since 1986, Ken has been the Founder and CEO of Age Wave, an acclaimed think tank and consultancy focused on the social and business implications and opportunities of global aging and rising longevity. During his career, Ken has addressed more than two million people worldwide in his speeches to corporate, association, social service, and government groups. His strikingly accurate predictions, landmark research, and innovative ideas are regularly featured in leading print and He has served as a fellow of the World Economic Forum and was a featured speaker at two White 38 | October 2023
electronic media worldwide and, incredibly, have garnered nearly twenty billion media impressions. pioneering research initiative called the SAGE Project, which came to be funded by the National Institutes of Health. We set out to see if some of the progressive new approaches to mental and physical health, such as biofeedback, meditation, yoga, and nutrition, could reverse some elements of aging decline. The project was so successful that it became the model for similar programs all over the world and served to ignite the nascent holistic health and healthy aging fields. Congressional think tank. The several-year focus of our team of demographers, gerontologists, sociologists, urban planners, and physicians was to study how, throughout 99% of human history, the average life expectancy was under 18 years. Over the past few centuries, medical, economic, social, and demographic forces have been shifting and grinding against each other. Dramatic breakthroughs in medicine, public health, and lifestyle management have caused two unprecedented trends: declining fertility and increasing longevity. In this wide-ranging interview, Ken Dychtwald shares what inspired him to start Age Wave, what market opportunities are hiding in plain sight, and so much more. What motivated you to start Age Wave and what were your initial goals? Life threw me an interesting curve back in 1974, when I was 24, finishing writing my first book, BodyMind, and completing my doctorate on the Psychology of the Body. I was invited to co-found a Then, in 1982, another piece of an emerging puzzle fell into place. I became an advisor to what was then called the Office of Technology Assessment, the non-partisan U.S. worldsleaders.com | 39
potential significance of the technology. It was a sustainable technology that would also be used to the energy transition, one of the fastest-growing and most important sectors of the economy. To the best of the team's knowledge, Cellfion is developing and commercializing the world's first bio-based ion-selective membrane made from the most abundant biopolymer on the planet, cellulose derived from wood. The membrane can be used in different energy storage and conversion devices such as Redox Flow Batteries (a battery technology that can store substantial amounts of energy) and hydrogen technologies such as fuel cells (used for hydrogen conversion to electrical energy) and Electrolysers (used for the production of green hydrogen). He says, "Our solution isn't limited to just these devices, as we have identified over 10 possible applications for the material." The Force behind Joining Sector The key driving force to join this sector was the feeling of knowing that Liamcould make a real impact with the technology. He says, "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we are facing, therefore we need to reduce greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere." One thing that is being overlooked when it comes to climate action is the materials that are being used. The world is still turning to unsustainable materials that are fossil based and contain rare, non-abundant metals because of the lack of better alternatives. This is where Liam believes that Cellfion can make an impact and hopefully inspire others to dare to take similar journeys. Life Story Liam was born and raised in a small town in the north of England, located on the outskirts of the North Yorkshire Moors. He participated in youth football leagues for several of England's top football (soccer) academies, including York City and Leeds United. He was released from York City (League 2) when he was 12 years old, which finally caused him to give up football for a short while. Liam later went on to play football again which resulted in a two-year contract with Leeds United at the age of 14 but later released after the two year contact. Liam re-joined York City, the team that had previously dropped him, for the next two years after turning 16 and signing his first professional youth contract. At the end of the contract, Liam was once again released, and at that time he was offered the chance to join a football club in the north of Sweden, where he played for the following few years. Seeing Challenges as Ways of Transformation In 2017, Liam suffered a career ending injury when he tore two ligaments, strained one, and tore both cartilages in his knee. After two years of rehabilitation and two operations, he made a limited return to football, playing with Swedish Division 1 and 2 teams and later training with a Singapore Premier League team in 2019. The future of manufacturing is exciting. The number of innovations that can be made in the area are enormous and Liam sees that manufacturing has the potential to be modern and innovative. He says, "We already see a push towards more sustainable manufacturing, and I believe that clean and bio technologies will be the future of manufacturing.” Cellfion AB Liam had the good fortune to land a job in 2020 with the Linköping- based business incubator LEAD, where he worked on a variety of deep tech projects. He met the research team behind the amazing technology and learned more about the work being done at the university through one of those projects, the Cellfion one. He spent six months researching the industry and financial prospects for the study and rapidly realized the Liam wants to see more daring individuals advancing novel, useful technology. 42 | October 2023
Governments, risk capitalists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and researchers all have important roles to play in this. The absence of risk-takers and entrepreneurs that desire to advance the technology into a commercial product causes a lot of wonderful research and new concepts to be lost. He thinks industries can create the future it desires by promoting greater innovation. According to Liam, in a start-up or scale-up company, one is constantly developing procedures and adapting value propositions based on the customers' demands and wants, which is a never-ending process. He asserts, "What we put a lot of focus on today is customizing our membranes for different market segments and customers." He believes that through market and customer focused development, Cellfion can improve performance and increase the efficiencies of energy devices. He adds, "There is immense potential in optimizing our solution to fit specific requirements in each of the applications we target, as well as the 10 potential applications we have identified." Guidance for Future Leaders Liam can guarantee that there will be days when everything feels hopeless, or one gets stuck in a rut. He suggests for those times, "Just keep going." He asserts, "You can only fail if you quit; hardships are just a part of the journey." He recalls, "My father always said to me growing up that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. This is something that I carry with me every day, and something I saw as a footballer. The most talented players I played with at an early age are now working in dead-end jobs, whereas the ones that gave everything but did not have the most talent are now playing in the Premier League or representing international teams." Liam also believes that it is so easy to get caught up in one's own work and the little details that one actually loses sight of the long-term goals or fails to see how far he or she has come. He says, "By surrounding yourself with experts and people you can trust, you can always find a way to solve challenges." Future Ideas Liam envisions a really thrilling journey over the next five years. He anticipates that the business will have reached out to other geographic areas, increased the number of skilled employees at the company, researched new goods to add to its product line, and built the first plant in the world for the production of bio-based ion- selective membranes. worldsleaders.com | 43
A Legacy of Excellence in Retail Distribution and Manufacturing Mitch Gould, the accomplished Founder and CEO of NPI, brings a legacy of excellence in retail distribution and manufacturing as a third-generation professional. With an impressive career spanning over 25 years, Mitch has honed his expertise across diverse consumer product categories, including lawn and garden, hardware, sports nutrition, dietary supplements, skincare, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and beverages. 46 | October 2023
GNC, Tree of Life, Albertson's, Amazon.com, Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven, Target, USA Sports, Vitamin World, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards. Collaboration lies at the heart of Mitch's success, as evident in his partnerships with industry luminaries. Noteworthy collaborations include his alliance with the legendary eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman to establish RonnieColemanNutrition.com, his joint venture with Hulk Hogan for HoganNutrition.com, his partnership with Roberto Clemente Jr. for PowerIce.com, and most recently, his involvement with Tapout Nutrition. These ventures reflect Mitch's commitment to driving innovation and growth within the industry. M 2007. The driving force behind the company was a clear vision: to offer affordable guidance and support to small and medium-sized brands, both domestic and international. With his deep understanding of the industry, Mitch recognized the common challenges faced by numerous businesses, even those boasting exceptional brands on a global scale. "I watch the latest retail and economic trends, which benefit our clients as they plan to enter the US market or expand sales here," says Mitch. itch leveraged his entrepreneurial spirit and extensive retail expertise to establish Nutritional Products International, Inc. in Unmatched Expertise and All-In-One Solutions NPI stands out from its competitors primarily due to its expertise. Mitch began his career as a marketing and sales agent for renowned companies such as Igloo, Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, Remington, Chapin, Paramount, Miracle-Gro, Native Remedies, and Flora Health. Throughout his career, Mitch secured significant purchase orders with major retail stores like Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Costco, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, GNC, and CVS at their national headquarters. Throughout his journey, Mitch has been a trusted representative for esteemed organizations such as Igloo, Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, Remington, Chapin, Paramount, Miracle-Gro, Native Remedies, Flora Health, Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt, Body Basix, and Hulk Hogan's extreme energy granules. His proven track record includes successfully guiding a wide range of products from concept to store shelves, with many earning prominent features in renowned publications such as Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, People, US, U.S. News & World Report, Men's Health, and Maxim. In addition to his product expertise, Mitch has consistently demonstrated his leadership acumen by building and managing high- performing national sales teams throughout his career. Mitch developed the "Evolution of Distribution" system for NPI, a comprehensive solution that combines expert services to enhance sales and introduce new brands in the USA. NPI boasts a highly experienced team capable of handling all aspects of sales and marketing. Mitch's focus on pricing and speed to market has streamlined the sales expansion and product launch processes. NPI provides a complete, all-in-one solution for product launches in the United States. With its proprietary "Evolution of Distribution" system, NPI has the capacity to import, distribute, and promote products in various sectors, including food, drug, mass, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and military channels. Effectively acting as the overseas clients' US headquarters, NPI allows clients to take advantage of its services at a reasonable price. Mitch's remarkable industry insights have paved the way for the successful entry of new entrepreneurs, major corporations, and celebrity-branded products into coveted markets and accounts across the country. Notable achievements include securing placements for iconic products like Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt, Hulk Hogan's "Hogan Energy" supplement, and Chuck Liddell's Iceman RX in highly sought-after retailers such as Walmart USA, Walmart International, Sam's Club, Costco, 48 | October 2023
Mitch emphasizes how NPI can help clients achieve their goal of entering the US market, offering a range of services that eliminate the need for recruiting sales representatives, administrative assistants, warehouse space, marketing expertise, logistical knowledge, and FDA compliance. The "Evolution of Distribution" platform proves invaluable in reducing costs for NPI clients and facilitating their successful entry into the US market. For brand manufacturers, especially those who primarily operated online, these changes presented new challenges. Managing the supply chain became increasingly difficult as they needed to meet the demand if a retail store decided to carry their brands. As an example, one customer shared with Gould that the bottle cap they had been using faced a backorder of nine months, forcing them to switch suppliers. The importance of having an online presence, which was already significant before the pandemic, became even more critical during the health emergency. Navigating the Changing Retail Landscape The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the retail industry, accelerating the growth of e-commerce. While online shopping had been steadily increasing, the pandemic compelled customers to make in-person purchases of brands they had previously only bought online. To adapt to these changing consumer behaviors, retailers introduced new services such as curbside pickup, next- and same-day delivery, and more. Many businesses, particularly startups, excel at developing innovative products but lack the necessary personnel to effectively market and sell them. These companies require a team of talented and qualified employees to navigate the complexities of the retail industry. At NPI, a skilled sales team is in constant contact with retail customers throughout the year. Additionally, NPI has a dedicated marketing group with expertise in worldsleaders.com | 49
