- TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st -
Tear up the 2021 Plan: Planning Through Uncertainty
Since COVID-19, the way we do business has changed tremendously. Some startups have seen a surge in orders, others are struggling with decreased demand. The future for all is uncertain. Through all of this, we can't stop looking ahead -- we need to come up with a new plan that supports our vision while staying flexible in the face of change. The key is to look ahead, assess the current conditions, and chart a nimble path through them. Join us on September 1st as we host a conversation on these issues with topic experts and outdoor industry startup founders on ways to formulate a strategy for your startup to thrive in 2021 and beyond.
- Useful Tools -
Thanks Sarah Wood for these tools:
Slack - Desktop and mobile. A great tool to help keep teams accountable and moving forward together on projects without the clutter of email. Especially great for remote teams, but works great either way. Your inbox truly will be less cluttered and attachments and conversations easier to find and remember. I'm a huge fan.
Trello - Desktop and mobile. Likely the lowest barrier to entry for a project management tool. I'm a fan of using tools and programs that are easy to adopt and while this doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of the more robust project management tools, this one will be the easiest to get your team to use and moving quickly. Looking for something more robust? Try Teamwork, Asana, or Monday. They all have some benefits that I like. It all depends on the nature of the business and team. Keep it simple, or folks won't use it.
Live Plan - Dano suggested this tool for business planning. I am just getting familiar with this tool, but I do like it so far. It could be a great option for some of the early-stage startups, as well as businesses needing to revisit their plan or evaluate a new opportunity right now.
From Dano: We use Live Plan with our Catapult Outdoor Accelerator teams and find it useful to build out a plan, pitch decks, one-pagers that show financial and industry-specific comparisons, and much more.
Quickbooks - I suggest small businesses dive deep into their budgets, cash flow, and monthly P&L. Really get finances dialed, set some milestones, and track your progress with regular analysis and review. Don't know where to start? Tap into your local small business development center, they are sure to have some financial coaching available.
OUR ROCKSTAR PANEL
DIRK SORENSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPORTS INDUSTRY ANALYST - NPD GROUP
Dirk covers the bicycle, outdoor, and team sports equipment categories for The NPD Group, which offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help you grow your business in a changing world. His knowledge of data-bound product management strategies is sought after by top global manufacturers. He has been a speaker at industry trade shows including Outdoor Retailer, Bicycle Leadership Conference, Interbike, Paddlesports Retailer, and The Running Event.
RICH HILL -
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - GRASSROOTS OUTDOOR ALLIANCE
With over 25 years in the specialty outdoor industry, Rich has gained a unique perspective from having experienced all aspects of the business - from a river guide to a results-oriented senior executive. His extensive wholesale history coupled with managing companies through multi-channel transitions has helped him craft a collaborative, customer-focused approach in today’s changing market.
MATT GODFREY
Business Resiliency Specialist - Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) of North Carolina
Matt is the lead facilitator for the Waypoint Accelerator. Matt is also Founder of Periscope Solutions, focused on supporting business functions and entrepreneurs in small to mid-sized organizations through all stages of development from start-up through maturity. Currently, Matt is on a temporary assignment as a Disaster Loan Specialist helping process the loans for a local CDFI.
SARAH WOOD
FOUNDER - GOOD TALK
Sarah is an experienced small business strategist with a passion for the outdoors. She helps owners become better leaders, and teams become more cohesive and effective. Sarah has worked in varied industries as a business owner, VP of Operations, and Executive Director from the outdoor industry to music and manufacturing. Sarah launched her new business management firm, Good Talk, Jan 2020 focusing on organizational design, strategy, and project management.