Ok! Welcome back to my podcast: The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman! Presented by Details Interactive. Here, you’ll take away 3 game-winning marketing plays every episode to take back to your team. I’m your host, Mark Friedman, and my career has been focused on direct-to-consumer marketing; direct mail, physical retail, and digital commerce.
This is Episode #35 and today’s guest is Mike Dupuis. He is the Chief Digital Officer of SPARC Group. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you have your playbook!
Podcast Episode #35: Mike Dupuis – Chief Digital Officer of SPARC Group
Mike Dupuis, the Chief Digital Officer of SPARC Group, adds his page to the Marketing Playbook. Hear how to develop your technology, eCommerce, and data capabilities, build teams with strong soft skills, venture into roles that stretch your skills, Mike’s experience at agencies and clients, and how digital marketing efforts have evolved over time. This episode covers everything from Brooks Brothers to team-building. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- What is a remarkable story about Mike’s life
- How was Mike’s experience as an agency guy
- How do you deal with Shiny Object Syndrome
- How have businesses evolved in the past couple decades
- How do you craft your company culture
- What is the role of Chief Digital Officer
- What is a superpower Mike wishes he had
- What is his most prized possession other than family
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.
Let’s open the playbook. Ready? Break! Check out the episode, show notes, and pictures below for much more detail.
Show Notes
- Intro
- [0:24] The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman
- [0:27] Details Interactive
- [0:32] Connect with Mark at Mark@DetailsInteractive.com, on Twitter at @DetailsInteract, and on LinkedIn
- [0:40] Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
- [1:13] Thank you as always to Max Branstetter of MaxPodcasting and the Wild Business Growth Podcast for producing this podcast. You can reach him at Max@MaxPodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life
- Mike’s Page of The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman
- [2:01] How are Mike and his family doing during the pandemic
- [2:31] Brooks Brothers
- [3:00] What is a remarkable story about Mike’s life
- [3:23] Westchester, NY
- [3:56] Entrepreneurs
- [4:06] Mentoring
- [4:15] Advertising, Agency-Side, Digital Commerce
- [4:24] Where did Mike’s inspiration come from
- [4:37] Apparel
- [5:03] What is SPARC Group LLC
- [5:31] Simon Property Group, Authentic Brands Group (ABG)
- [6:07] Forever 21
- [6:15] Lucky Brand, Bankruptcy
- [6:51] Were all the brands troubled before the acquisition
- [7:06] Nautica, Aeropostale
- [7:17] Chapter 11
- [7:23] Brands
- [7:41] How was Mike’s experience as an agency guy
- [7:50] McCann Erickson
- [8:07] L’Oréal, Salomon Brothers, US Airways, Gillette
- [8:54] Digital Media
- [9:02] How do you go about attribution
- [8:18] Marketing
- [9:34] Internet
- [11:19] Why did Mike switch to the client side
- [12:04] eCommerce (eComm)
- [12:11] Clients
- [12:19] Digital Marketing
- [12:47] Tech (Technology)
- [13:18] Outsourcing
- [13:38] Data
- [14:01] American Eagle Outfitters
- [14:37] Big Data
- [14:42] Consulting, Employee
- [15:12] Databases
- [15:26] How do you deal with Shiny Object Syndrome
- [17:07] How was Mike’s experience at The Children’s Place
- [17:40] Merchandising
- [18:08] Omni-Channel
- [18:22] How have businesses evolved in the past couple decades
- [18:43] Retailers
- [19:29] Sales
- [20:07] Saks Fifth Avenue
- [20:56] How was Mike’s experience at Party City
- [21:21] Chief Digital Officer, Private Equity (PE), IPO (Initial Public Offering)
- [21:53] Stakeholder
- [22:24] Do you have a Direct-to-Consumer business? I enjoy connecting with guests on this podcast because it reminds me what I love to do: strategic and tactical consulting for businesses like yours. If you’d like to speak with me and see how you can add a fresh set of eyes to your team, contact me at Mark@DetailsInteractive.com
- [22:58] Branding
- [23:20] How was Mike’s experience at PVH Calvin Klein (Phillips-Van Heusen)
- [24:49] Podcast
- [25:38] CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
- [26:12] How do you craft your company culture
- [27:22] Finance, IT (Information Technology)
- [28:17] What is the role of Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
- [29:05] Profitability
- 2-Minute Drill
- [30:42] Patagonia
- [31:03] Traeger App
- [31:20] Content
- [31:38] Amazon
- [31:45] Nike.com
- [31:52] What is something Mike wishes he were better at
- [32:02] Wounded Warrior Foundation
- [32:19] Adirondacks
- [32:32] What is a superpower Mike wishes he had
- [33:41] What is his most prized possession other than family
- [32:46] Traeger Grill
- Outro
- [33:00] Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
- [33:36] This week’s 3 Game-Winning Plays are as follows:
- Develop your technology, eCommerce, and data capabilities
- Build teams with strong soft skills
- Venture into roles that stretch your skills
- [34:38] If you want to check out more pages of The Marketing Playbook, make sure to follow on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
- [34:50] Connect with Mark at Mark@DetailsInteractive.com, on Twitter at @DetailsInteract, and on LinkedIn
- Theme Song: Jazzy Man Funk Rock – Auditone Music Library – provided by Jamendo
What is The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman?
Mark Friedman (that’s me) knows direct-to-consumer marketing. The 30+ year industry veteran has served as the President of eCommerce at Steve Madden, Chief Marketing Officer of Brooks Brothers, mentor to dozens of startups, and even youth sports coach. You’ll take away 3 fundamental tips every episode to help your team knock it out of the park, and draw up strategies for digital marketing, eCommerce, customer monetization, and pivoting with the brightest all-stars in business. Do you have your playbook?
How can I work with Details Interactive?
That’s it! Today’s game ball goes to Mike Dupuis. Thank you, Playbook Marketers, for listening. If you want to check out more pages of The Marketing Playbook, make sure to follow on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter at @DetailsInteract and learn more at DetailsInteractive.com. Until next time, The devil is in the details.