In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with Scott Brown, founder of Snax Depot and VendingAd.com, to explore a surprising but powerful advertising opportunity hiding in plain sight: vending machines.

Most advertising today competes in speed mode — scrolling, swiping, skipping, and digital fatigue. But what happens when you reach people in a true moment of pause?

Scott shares how modern, AI-powered vending machines equipped with 15-inch HMI screens are transforming everyday snack stops into high-attention marketing moments. With 10-second visual ads placed directly at eye level, local businesses can reach a captive audience in gyms, warehouses, apartment complexes, and office spaces — where repetition, frequency, and exclusivity drive real brand recall.

This isn’t about chasing clicks. It’s about being remembered.

You’ll learn why physical-world visibility still matters in a digital-first era, how QR codes bridge real-world impressions with measurable online results, and why limiting each machine to just 10 advertisers dramatically increases brand impact.

If you serve local customers and want repeated, real-world exposure in places where people actually pause — this conversation may change how you think about marketing.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we cover:

• Why “paused attention” is more valuable than endless digital impressions
• The psychology of repetition and frequency in local advertising
• How vending machine screens create credibility in physical spaces
• Why limiting advertisers per screen increases impact
• How QR codes make offline ads measurable and retargetable
• Which types of businesses benefit most from vending machine advertising
• Why exclusivity (no competitors per machine) strengthens brand recall
• How physical and digital marketing can work together seamlessly

Visit VendingAd.com to learn more or schedule a strategy call to see if this opportunity is a fit for your business — especially if you serve customers in the Boston market.

To be a guest on our next podcast, contact us today!

Do you have a brand you’d like to launch or grow? Visit HarvestGrowth.com and set up a free consultation with our team.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, to break down what nearshoring really is, when it works best, and how founders can use it to unlock growth without overextending their budgets.

Brian has spent more than a decade working across the U.S. and Latin America, building three companies from zero to over $4 million in revenue and helping hundreds of businesses build high-performing global teams. He shares real-world insight into the difference between offshoring and nearshoring, why time zones matter more than ever, and how today’s remote tools and AI have completely changed the game.

If you’ve ever wondered whether nearshoring could work for your business — or had a bad experience years ago and wrote it off — this episode will give you a practical, modern perspective.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The difference between offshoring and nearshoring (and why it matters)
• Which roles and company types benefit most from nearshoring
• How to safely “test the waters” without overcommitting
• The cultural and structural differences between Latin America and Asia
• How remote work infrastructure and AI have made global teams easier than ever
• When to DIY with platforms like Upwork or Fiverr — and when to work with a partner
• How scaling with international talent can increase flexibility and optionality for growing brands

Whether you’re a startup founder, agency owner, or scaling eCommerce brand, this episode offers a clear roadmap for building smarter teams in 2026 and beyond.

To learn more about Brian and Plugg Technologies, visit https://plug.tech

Interested in growing your brand with proven direct response strategies? Visit https://harvestgrowth.com and book a free consultation with our team.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review — and we’ll see you next time on the Harvest Growth Podcast.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with trade show industry veteran Mike Van Valey, who has spent more than 35 years in the business and over two decades running his own trade show contracting company.

From selling books door-to-door in college to managing trade shows for major consumer brands, Mike shares firsthand insights into how the trade show landscape has evolved — and why so many companies are doing it wrong.

You’ll learn how technology, rising costs, and changing buyer behavior have reshaped the industry. Attendees no longer arrive ready to write orders on the show floor — they come to evaluate, compare, and research. That shift means your strategy needs to change too.

Mike breaks down the biggest mistakes exhibitors make, including overspending on flashy booths while neglecting staffing and follow-up — and explains why the “software” (your people and process) matters more than the “hardware.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether trade shows are still worth the investment, this episode gives you a clear, strategic answer.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we cover:

• How trade shows have changed in the digital era
• Why lighting and booth design can dramatically increase traffic
• The right way to staff your booth (and how many people is too many)
• Why pre-show marketing can make or break your results
• The most common post-show follow-up mistakes
• How to know if a trade show is right for your business
• And so much more

Want to connect with Mike?
Visit tradeshowsolutions.net to learn more or reach out directly for guidance on improving your trade show strategy.

Do you have a brand you’d like to launch or scale?
Visit HarvestGrowth.com to book a free consultation and learn how our team has helped generate over $2 billion in product sales.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with John Fry, VP of Marketing and Sales at Allerpet, to unpack how a simple, problem-solving product built lasting success through trust, emotional connection, and smart channel strategy.

John explains how Allerpet helps reduce pet dander at the source—allowing people with pet allergies to stay close to the animals they love—by mechanically removing allergens rather than masking symptoms. The conversation dives into what pet dander really is, why traditional solutions like shampoos fall short, and how consistent, safe use of Allerpet can make a life-changing difference for allergy sufferers.

Beyond the product, John shares the story behind Allerpet’s growth since being acquired in 2014, including its major shift to Amazon as a primary sales channel. He breaks down the key inflection point that drove rapid Amazon growth: better merchandising, smarter bundling, and optimized product presentation—paired with the unexpected power of authentic influencer storytelling on platforms like TikTok.

This episode also explores why genuine customer stories outperform paid promotion, how emotional connection fuels word-of-mouth marketing, and why products that truly solve a painful problem naturally earn trust and advocacy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• What pet dander actually is and why it causes allergic reactions
• How Allerpet works differently than shampoos or medications
• How often allergy sufferers should use Allerpet safely
• The emotional connection between pet owners and problem-solving products
• Allerpet’s biggest Amazon growth inflection point
• Why better merchandising drove rapid sales acceleration
• How unpaid influencer content sparked massive awareness

If you’re building a product that solves a real problem—and want to understand how trust, emotion, and smart channel strategy drive long-term growth—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

To learn more about Allerpet, visit Allerpet.com or search for Allerpet on Amazon.
To explore how to grow your own product, visit HarvestGrowth.com and book a free consultation with our team.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with Jim Warren, founder of Infomercial.com and one of the most respected voices in direct response and infomercial marketing.

With decades of experience spanning traditional DRTV, long-form infomercials, and modern digital campaigns, Jim breaks down what still works — and why the core principles of infomercials are more relevant than ever in today’s TikTok, YouTube, and CTV-driven world.

Together, Jon and Jim explore how to build marketing creative that actually converts, why long-form storytelling continues to outperform short ads for many brands, and how smart marketers blend TV and digital to scale profitably. They also dive into attribution challenges, creative burnout, audience connection, and where brands should start when launching a new product in 2026.

Whether you’re running Meta ads, launching on TikTok, testing YouTube, or considering TV for the first time, this episode is packed with timeless insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why infomercials still work — even in a digital-first world
• The biggest misconceptions about direct response TV today
• How to create marketing videos with longevity (not one-hit gimmicks)
• Why long-form content builds deeper trust and connection
• The reality of attribution across TV, digital, and multi-screen viewers
• Where Jim would launch a brand-new product right now (and why)

Learn more at Infomercial.com
Get Jon’s book The Perfect Launch System at PerfectLaunch.com

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare breaks down a hard truth many product founders don’t want to hear: building your entire business on Amazon is far riskier than it looks.

While Amazon can be an incredibly powerful sales channel—with built-in trust, massive buyer intent, and fast early revenue—speed does not equal control. Jon explains how fees quietly erode margins, why Amazon always puts its own interests first, and how even successful products can be replaced or undercut without warning.

More importantly, this episode dives into the long-term consequences of not owning your customer relationship. When you sell exclusively on Amazon, you don’t control the data, the follow-up, or the lifetime value of your buyers. Jon contrasts this with selling through your own website, where customer ownership becomes a compounding business asset rather than a one-time transaction.

This episode isn’t anti-Amazon—it’s anti Amazon-only. Jon shares how to think strategically about Amazon as a channel, not the foundation of your business, and why the brands that win long-term are the ones that build on assets they actually control.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we’ll cover:

• Why Amazon fees quietly destroy margins over time
• How Amazon competes with its own best-selling products
• The real risk of not owning your customers or their data
• Why selling direct increases lifetime value and defensibility
• How to use Amazon as a channel without building on “rented land”
• What brands should prioritize if they want to survive long-term

If you’re launching a new product or already selling on Amazon, this episode will help you rethink your strategy before hidden risks become real problems.

Want to take the next step in growing your business? Visit HarvestGrowth.com to connect with our team and book a one-on-one conversation focused on your business.

In this episode, Jon LaClare sits down with Jim Wilkinson, a multi-patented inventor, author, manufacturer, and longtime mentor to inventors and entrepreneurs. With more than three decades of hands-on experience, Jim has helped bring countless ideas from concept to real products found in homes, and even automobiles, around the world.

Jim shares how his lifelong passion for innovation led him to write "The Practical Inventor," a no-nonsense guide designed to help inventors avoid costly mistakes and follow the correct sequence when developing a product. He explains why rushing into patents, branding, or marketing too early often derails promising ideas and why simplicity, planning, and discipline matter more than enthusiasm alone.

We dive into product validation, profitability, and how inventors can use modern tools like AI and basic market research to determine demand before spending significant money. You’ll also discover why American manufacturing can be more beneficial than many realize when factoring in quality, communication, speed to market, automation, and overall value.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we’ll cover:

• Why inventors should focus on sequence and planning before patents or marketing
• How to validate product demand and profitability early
• The biggest mistakes that prevent inventors from ever launching
• Why defining a clear minimum viable product is critical to success
• The hidden costs and risks of overseas manufacturing
• The value of mastermind communities for mentorship, collaboration, and growth

If you’re looking to bring an idea to market, to improve manufacturing, or to scale, this episode delivers practical, real-world guidance from someone who’s been through it all. And to learn more about Jim Wilkinson, schedule a conversation, or receive a complimentary copy of The Practical Inventor, visit www.veritek.com.

To be a guest on our next episode of the podcast, contact us today!

Do you have a brand that you’d like to launch or grow? Do you want help from a partner that has successfully launched hundreds of brands totaling over $2 billion in revenues? Visit HarvestGrowth.com and set up a free consultation with us today!

In today’s episode, your host, Jon LaClare, leads an important conversation that healthcare marketing rarely explains: the placebo effect and why it deserves far more attention. This discussion is inspired by the launch of Pluseebo, a transparent, intentionally humorous product designed to spark awareness around belief, expectation, and honesty in healthcare.

While Pluseebo is lighthearted on the surface, its launch highlights a much deeper reality supported by published scientific research. Placebo responses can produce real, measurable biological effects in the body, including changes in brain chemistry, pain perception, and overall wellbeing. These effects are not imagined, and in many clinical trials they closely mirror the average performance of widely prescribed medications.

Tune in as Jon breaks down what healthcare advertising often leaves out, including how modest the average benefit of some antidepressants, pain medications, sleep aids, and other common prescriptions can be when compared to placebo, and why side effects and transparency must be part of the conversation. Grounded in respected medical journals and FDA-reviewed data, this episode offers a research-driven perspective designed to inform, challenge assumptions, and elevate the discussion around modern healthcare.

Don’t miss this timely conversation on belief, biology, and why understanding the placebo effect changes how health products, treatments, and claims should be evaluated.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we’ll cover:

• What the placebo effect actually is, and why it’s not “fake.”
• What large studies reveal about SSRIs, opioids, sleep medications, anxiety medications, ADHD drugs, and statins.
• Why prescription drug commercials rarely tell the full story
• How transparency in healthcare affects trust and decision-making
• How Pluseebo is designed to spark honest conversations.

To learn more about Pluseebo, visit Pluseebo.com.

To be a guest on our next episode of the podcast, contact us today!

Do you have a brand that you’d like to launch or grow? Do you want help from a partner that has successfully launched hundreds of brands totaling over $2 billion in revenues? Visit HarvestGrowth.com and set up a free consultation with us today!