Matt Blumberg on The Marketing Playbook Podcast with Mark Friedman: Co-Founder and CEO of Bolster

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 #28 and today’s guest is Matt Blumberg. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bolster. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – subscribe and leave a 5-star review if you have your playbook!

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?

Podcast Episode #28: Matt Blumberg – Co-Founder and CEO of Bolster

Matt Blumberg, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bolster, adds his page to the Marketing Playbook. Hear how to create an outstanding company culture, learn from your mistakes and stay positive, clearly communicate the problem you solve, lessons from his book Startup CEO and successful exit Return Path, and the important technology he was tasked with building in 2020. This episode covers everything from startup tips to hiring the right people. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• How was Matt’s experience at Princeton
• What problem did he solve with Return Path
• How do you educate people on new technology
• Why didn’t Matt sell Return Path earlier
• What mistakes did he make
• What are Startup CEO and Startup CXO
• What is Bolster
• What is a charitable organization Matt is passionate about

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn, Twitter at @MattBlumberg, and StartupCEO.com.

Let’s open the playbook. Ready? Break! Check out the episode, show notes, and pictures below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Intro
  • [0:20] The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman
  • [0:22] Details Interactive
  • [0:29] Connect with Mark at Mark@DetailsInteractive.com, on Twitter at @DetailsInteract, and on LinkedIn
  • [0:38] Connect with Matt on LinkedIn, Twitter at @MattBlumberg, and StartupCEO.com
  • [0:41] 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
• Matt’s Page of The Marketing Playbook with Mark Friedman
  • [1:11] Bolster, Return Path
  • [1:28] Westchester County, NY
  • [1:43] Pandemic
  • [1:50] What is Matt’s first story
  • [2:29] Entrepreneur, Business School, Venture Capital (VC)
  • [2:44] Tech (Technology)
  • [3:42] How was Matt’s experience at Princeton University
  • [3:58] Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Public Policy
  • [4:36] What was Matt’s experience in Colorado after COVID-19 hit
  • [4:59] Brad Feld, Foundry Group
  • [5:29] Jared Polis, Techstars
  • [7:05] Innovation Response Team
  • [7:22] KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
  • [7:50] PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
  • [8:37] Sarah Tuneberg
  • [8:57] Matt’s blog
  • [9:11] Podcasts
  • [10:42] FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
  • [10:48] What did Matt do after college
  • [11:06] Management Consulting, Oliver Wyman
  • 111:17] General Atlantic Partners (GA), Series A, Series B
  • [11:33] Internet, Priceline, E*TRADE
  • [12:11] Consulting, CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
  • [12:24] Moviefone, Russ Leatherman
  • [13:25] Dial-Up, America Online (AOL), CompuServe, GEnie
  • [13:53] HTTP
  • [14:10] GM (General Manager)
  • [14:40] Bartered Media
  • [14:51] Marketing, Email Marketing
  • [15:04] What problem did Matt solve with Return Path
  • [15:24] Email Deliverability, Email Certification, Bounce Management
  • [15:54] MovieMail
  • [16:09] eCommerce, Content Marketing
  • [17:26] Knowledge Worker
  • [18:19] Brooks Brothers, Hanover, The Company Store
  • [19:11] How do you educate people on new technology
  • [19:22] Early Adopters
  • [19:45] Direct Mail, ECOA (Email Change of Address)
  • [20:02] Cross the Chasm
  • [20:42] Why didn’t Matt sell Return Path earlier
  • [21:42] Shareholders, Liquidity, Validity
  • [21:57] Database Marketing
  • [22:07] Oracle, Salesforce, ExactTarget
  • [22:31] What mistakes did Matt make
  • [22:55] Capital Efficiency
  • [23:24] Product-Market Fit
  • [23:33] Hiring
  • [23:52] Leadership Development, Executive Team
  • [24:16] Company Culture
  • [24:33] Startup
  • [24:43] Acquisitions
  • [25:11] What is Matt’s book Startup CEO
  • [25:41] Venture Deals by Brad Feld
  • [26:15] Venture Debt Deal
  • [26:41] Wiley & Sons
  • [27:44] Startup CXO by Matt Blumberg
  • [28:15] At Details Interactive, you can discuss your business with a seasoned direct-to-consumer marketing executive who’s helped launch and grow web businesses and integrate multi-channel marketing initiatives. Learn more at DetailsInteractive.com
  • [28:46] What is Bolster
  • [29:42] Mentoring
  • [30:28] Revenue
  • [30:50] HR (Human Resources), Finance
  • [31:03] Board
  • [31:14] Gig Economy, Uber, Lyft
  • [31:32] Clients
  • [33:01] What is PathForward.org
  • [33:11] 501(c)(3)
  • [34:40] Fellowships, Internships, Networking
  • [34:54] Amazon, Walmart
  • [35:02] Hire Rate
  • [35:24] Tammy Forman
• 2-Minute Drill
  • [36:02] Apple
  • [36:24] iPhone, GameChanger, TeamSnap
  • [37:24] Ororo, USB Charger
  • [37:52] What is something Matt wishes he were better at
  • [38:04] What is a charitable organization he is passionate about
  • [38:15] What is a superpower he wishes he had
  • [38:29] Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, WY
• Outro
  • [38:52] Connect with Matt on LinkedIn, Twitter at @MattBlumberg, and StartupCEO.com
  • [39:36] This week’s 3 Game-Winning Plays are as follows:
    1. Create an outstanding company culture
    2. Learn from your mistakes and stay positive
    3. Clearly communicate the problem you solve
  • [40:44] If you want to check out more pages of The Marketing Playbook, make sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
  • [40:55] 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

How can I work with Details Interactive?

That’s it! Today’s game ball goes to Matt Blumberg. Thank you, Playbook Marketers, for listening. If you want to check out more pages of The Marketing Playbook, make sure to subscribe 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.