Innovating Inside the Model

The Third Growth Option with Benno Duenkelsbuehler and Guests

Innovating and growing a legacy company that has often played inside the conventions of an industry, is different from the proverbial outside disruptor crashing the party. John Toler, who worked his way up to CEO of Evergreen Enterprises, shares his thoughts on innovating inside the model.

5:39 – on personal growth “I’m part of development group YPO… they’re a good sounding board… I’ve done a lot of continuing education, a lot of reading… those outside reference points… what others are doing… inside or outside our space are very insightful.”

8:14 thru 10:47 – Key drivers of Evergreen’s growth story, from a couple of amazing immigrants sewing product in Virginia… to a multi-national corporation.”

11:26 thru 16:50 – why sharing data and collaborating with customers and competitors helps both the sharing company and the receiving industry.

16:50 thru 20:33 – Fairedotcom, how and why John shared his experience with this disruptor with GHTA (trade association) members and the industry, as other industry players felt they couldn’t address the elephant in the room, the disruptor.

20:34 thru 26:59 – on innovation – what it is, how to make it happen, what it takes to bring people along, to innovate inside the model.

29:20 – “… consumption of home furnishings is about 20% ecommerce now…(projected) to go to about 40% by 2025… how do we participate and adapt the model?”

You can learn about GHTA at www.giftandhome.org, and you can connect with John Toler on LinkedIn.