ZQ Magazine - Issue 18 / July • August 2024

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AI

&

2024 M A G A Z I N E

Diveintotheprosandconsof AI-poweredcustomerservice

Consumerexpectationsareshifting whenitcomestoonlineshopping

LetterfromthePresident

PresidentJeffBushsharesvisionfor ZQUAREDandsetsthetrajectoryfor theupcomingmonths

BrandHighlights

ForJuly&August,we’reproudto highlight:Vetoquinol,Crossrope, FisherSpacePen,andNucentix

InformationalResources

Diveintoavarietyoftopics availableonourblogandcheck outthefeaturesfromthisIssue

News&Announcements

Learnaboutthelatesthappenings, hires,andeventsatZQUARED headquarters

CheckoutthisIssue’sfeatured employeeandwhattheteamhas tosayaboutthem Becomeapartofateamwitha trajectoryforgrowthanda fantasticcommunity&culture Learnaboutwhoweare,what we’reabout,wherewe’vebeenand wherewe’reheaded Takealookatupcomingtrade showsthatwe’reattendingandlet usknowifyou’llbethere

Letter from the PRESIDENT

It is astounding to think we are already halfway through 2024! With eyes focused on the journey ahead, we see potential for remarkable growth and achievements in the coming months

Our e-commerce pathway is poised for further flourishing, driven by our pursuit of excellence and innovation. The strides we aim to make could expand our market capabilities and create more job opportunities for ZQUARED than ever before While our team is in growth mode, we remain committed to a personal approach to partnership management

Constantly evolving to meet our partners’ and customers’ needs, we are exploring the possibility of adding new services to our portfolio These enhancements could provide greater value and support, reinforcing our position in the digital marketplace

Moreover, we are making significant investments in our infrastructure Our facility is undergoing a revamp to quadruple its processing capacity, enabling us to handle increased demand more efficiently and keeping us ahead in this dynamic industry.

As we forge ahead into the latter half of the year, let’s remain open to embracing new opportunities and striving for excellence Together, we have the potential to drive growth and success for our business and partners.

Here’s to a prosperous and dynamic second half of the year!

OURBRA

ANDS

HIGHLIGHTS Brand

Vetoquinol

Foundedin1933,JosephFrechinhad developedarangeofover250 veterinaryproductsby1970.Today, Vetoquinolemploys2,500people withproductssoldin24countries.

FisherSpacePen DebutingontheApollo7missionin 1968,theFisherSpacePenhasbeen oneveryNASAmannedspaceflight since.Asidefromspace,their uniquelydesignedpenswriteupside downandunderwater.

Nucentix

Nucentixwasfoundedbyindividuals dedicatedtodeveloping breakthroughproductstoassist individualsintheircommitmentto personalhealthandvitality.

Supplements

INFORMA RESOU

ATIONAL URCES

The retail industry, continuously in flux, is poised for significant transformations in the next five years Industry leaders predict a landscape shaped by seamless tech integration, evolving consumer preferences, and a redefinition of what constitutes the "store" experience

IsWalmart Worthit?

If you sell online, you are always looking for new ways to reach customers and improve your competitive edge While Amazon undoubtedly offers the

most global exposure, you might also hear rumblings of an old face with a new look shaking up the e-commerce landscape: Walmart Although Walmart made

Makingthe MostofSocial Commerce

If you are an ecommerce business owner and looking to expand your audience, utilizing social media is a must The fast-growing trend of “social shopping” allows consumers to shop the products they love directly via social media The experience is designed to be

THE PROS & CONS OF AI-POWERED CUSTOMER SERVICE

July 2024

Rapid developments in AI have led to the rise of AI-powered chatbots greeting customers when they visit online stores – mimicking the experience of a store clerk at a brick-and-mortar retailer In fact, 37% of ecommerce marketers worldwide use AI customer service, according to surveys conducted by eMarketer. While the prospects of integrating AI into customer service are certainly exciting, ecommerce business owners need to be careful.

Humans crave empathy, and AI will never be able to deliver on emotional connection like a human can. Real brand loyalty and longterm success will likely come with combining the speed and efficiency offered by AI while ensuring you never lose the irreplaceable power of personal touch with your customers

LeadershipIsn’tAboutYourJobTitle

Youdon’thavetobethebosstobeinfluential intheworkplace.Hereare3strategiesfor developingyourleadershipskillsinany position.

PlaytoYourStrengths:Identifythetasksat workthatenergizeyou.Understandtheunique perspectiveyouoffer.Byacknowledgingyour strengths,youcanenhanceyourconfidence andleadwithauthenticity.

CommittoDailyImprovement:Sharpening yourskillswillincreaseyourimpactand influence Takenoteonwhatyourorganization valuesandinvesttimeincontinuous developmenttoimproveinthoseareas

onnections:Regardlessof nintrovertorextrovert,forming ionshipsiscrucialforgaining yourteam Strivetobe ine,andempatheticinyour colleagues.Thisauthenticity ablishastrongandrespected

Explore the categories below to search the ZQUARED blog for additional resources, news, and information

Thereare33.2millionsmall businessesintheUS, comprising99%ofallfirms

ECOMMERCE INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE IN 2024 AND BEYOND

July 2024

Today, approximately 44% of consumers begin their shopping journey through an online search engine. Online sales globally are expected to grow by 9% in 2024, hitting $6.3 trillion by the end of the year. After the industry broke $5.2 trillion in 2021, it is expected to hit $8 1 trillion by 2026, seemingly normalizing the post-COVID surge in online shopping

Popularity appears to be fueled by rapid improvements in delivery fulfillment, as well as innovative technologies that improve customer experience and mimic in-store experiences. Partnering with managed ecommerce providers like ZQUARED can help brands maximize the opportunity at hand

New Hires

JIMSCHEETZ

VPofFinance&Operations

Leadingwithover25yearsofexperience,Jim’s distinguishedcareerandsolidreputationfor advancingorganizationalstrategypositions himasanassettospearheadingrevenue, profitability,andgrowthatZQUARED.

Withover15yearsofexperienceinecommerce, Eric’swealthofknowledgeallowshimtosupport fourBrandPartnerswiththeresourcesnecessary orsuccessacrossallchannelsandplatforms.

iWithabackgroundofover10years nmarketing,Hannah’seffortsarecentered aroundcompanypositioning,ensuringourcore valuesandbrandingalignacross channels.

Alexmonitorsdailysalesperformance,working closelywithourBrandPartnerstoprovide performancereports,inventoryforecasting assistance,andbrandprofitabilitysupport.

Announcements &

Summer RallySummer Rally

ZQUARED employees and their families enjoyed food, fellowship, & fun at our annual team summer rally. We had a fantastic turnout and a good time was had by all!

SPOTLIGHT Employee JACKMEYER

Jackhasattentiontodetailthatis

As Inventory Associate, Jack keeps our purchasing processes running smoothly by managing Purchase Orders, invoices, and inventory records He excels in communicating with brands, now supporting all Purchase Order operations weekly Outside of work, Jack enjoys watching baseball. We're proud to have Jack at ZQUARED!

WorkingwithJackisatreat.Heisgoodat communicatingwithmewhenwearegoing throughdirectsaswellasifanissueisto comeup.Heisoneofthemostfriendly peopletoeveryoneouthereonthe warehousefloor –CarterSoberg

OURCULTURE

ZQUARED's roots as a familyoriented company run deep. Our "we-not-me" team works together to achieve common goals while supporting one another individually, both professionally and personally.

TEAM Join Our OURCOMPANY

A united team is always behind something big. We work hard, laugh a lot, push the boundaries, and strive for continual growth both personally and professionally. And we have the best holiday parties in town!

Ifyou’relookingforaworkenvironment thatoffersagreatwork/lifebalance,a trajectoryforgrowth,andafantastic community&culture,ZQUAREDmaybe yourperfectfit!Visitourwebsitetocheck outouropenenings.

SEARCHOPENPOSITIONS

IhavebeenwithZQUAREDfor9years.ItrulylovemyjobandthepeopleIwork with.It’sagreatcompanythatcaresabouttheiremployeesandtheirclients.

zquared

[skwerd] noun

ZQUARED invests in brands who sell on online marketplaces and are poised and ready for accelerated growth.

WE-COMMERCE

At ZQUARED, we understand the opportunities, risks, and challenges of selling online With over 50 years of combined e-commerce sales experience, our primary goal is helping you multiply your success by serving as an extension of your team to maximize results. From distribution to advertising strategies, we have solutions proven to grow your brand Putting the "we" in e-commerce.

YOUGROW,WE GROW

Built on the belief that all boats rise with the tide, our services are based on this principle. ZQUARED invests time, money, effort, and energy into brands poised for success with the expectation of a worthwhile resultbeacause we go all-in, growing together and winning when you win

OURMISSION

Our mission is to invest in brands who sell on online marketplaces and are poised and ready for growth by forming partnerships built on trust and rooted in relationship to maximize value and achieve results.

VALUES Our

UNPARALLELEDCULTURE

ZQUARED'Smottois"we-not-me",andwe strivetobuildanunparalleledcultureby incorporatingthisattitudeintoevery aspectofourworkplace.,Ourteamisbuilt ontrustaswellasexcellent communicationandaservice-based mindsettogetthejobdone.

FIRST-RATEEXECUTION

Westrivetoprovideunmatchedquality whenservicingeachofourBrandPartners. Byintentionallybeingproactive,prepared, andinconstantpursuitofimprovement, ourpromisehingesondeliveringtopqualityresultsinallaspectsofourwork.

ENTHUSIASM

Ourpartnershipsaremorethan transactions-weinvestinpeopleand brandswhoshareourdriveand enthusiasm,deepeningpartnerrelations whilecollaboratingtoexecuteexpert-level growthstrategies.

ZQFounded

Brothers and co-founders Chad and Zach start ZQUARED in Chad’s basement 2010 2011

ZQDoubles Footprint

ZQUARED has moved three times ince Chad's basement, doubling it's footprint with each move and growing to a staff of 40+

ZQUARED makes it first hire 2014 2019

Inc. recognizes ZQUARED as one of the fastest growing privately-held companies in the United States & the St. Louis Business Journal names

ZQUARED on it's "Fast 50" list

ZQUARED hires Jeff Bush as President

ZQRecognized

RORY wherewe’ re at

2024 2024

ZQUARED sets a trajectory for record growth, with multiple new key hires, plans for new service offerings and a projection forecasting our highest revenue number to date

thefuture

THEFUTURE

With our commitment to embracing change, seizing new opportunities, and preserving excellence, the future at ZQUARED is positioned for continued success.

EVENTS Upcoming

Takealookattheupcomingtradeshowswe’reattending.

17-18

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