On The Rhoad
On The Rhoad
Studio Rhoad
Conversations on the art of business and marketing in the automotive market. Your hosts are Chris Rhoad, Founder of Studio Rhoad, and Davin Sturdivant, Senior Consultant at Studio Rhoad, who collectively have over 30 years of marketing and consulting experience in the automotive space. In each episode, we take turns interviewing each other on a particular theme, for 20-35 minutes. We wander when appropriate, and often interview leaders in the automotive space. It’s a bit raw at times, but we want to capture conversations with minimal editing. Both of us love working with automotive professionals and you’ll see our admiration bleed all over the conversation. You’ll also experience candor, disagreement, and authoritative counsel when appropriate.
How Holley Performance continues to be an icon.
The Holley Performance brand is one we are all familiar with but how does it continue to remain an automotive icon? We talk with Holley's Digital Marketing Manager on that very question. He sheds some light on LS Fest, automotive culture, products and where the company plans to be in three years. Follow Holley Performance: Instagram Youtube Facebook Holley Performance Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
Feb 3, 2021
32 min
How to prepare for Cyber Monday in 2020.
We’ve all seen those wild social videos of past Black Fridays. Hundreds of people camping out in lines, then frantically rushing into stores as soon as the doors open to get the best deals, not caring how many people they knock over in the process. Middle-aged moms elbowing each other to get the best toys, and crowds running to a pile of 20 televisions that are half off... Sounds like a social distancing nightmare, right? According to new data, other Americans think so, too. Since March, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused our shopping habits to change, with more stores, even local ones, converting to digital purchases and curbside pickup. And now, Google is reporting that many Black Friday shoppers will choose to shop online rather than in person. This may not seem like a huge shift. We've already seen, in recent years, the rise of Cyber Monday and online e-commerce dominance, as consumers take tor their couches instead of stores for the best deals. Still, there is more than meets the eye to this story which Davin and Chris discuss.    Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
Sep 22, 2020
28 min
Ask yourself these 3 questions before selling.
Davin and Chris determine when and how automotive companies can start selling again without appearing tone deaf. Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
Sep 9, 2020
20 min
Imposter Syndrome.
Impostor Syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud". The most talented people I know, and myself, struggle with it day-in and day-out. General Managers running billion dollar companies. Speakers who command audiences in the thousands. Powerful men and women who still wonder if what they are doing is good enough, or if they are about to be found out for being an imposter. We all suffer from it.⁣⁣ I am convinced there will be a knock on the door one day and a man with a clipboard will be there to tell me that it was all over. That they caught up with me and I would have to get real job now. Since I'm a shit-cook, I'm quite relieved that most of the door knocks so far have been the pizza man.⁣ But Imposter Syndrome doesn't go away with any form of a success. We assume that successful people don't feel like frauds but we now know that the opposite is true.⁣⁣ In fact, the most successful people I know don't question themselves. They question their ideas and their knowledge. They know when they are in too deep and to ask for advice. They use that advice to improve their ideas and to learn.⁣ Our special guest on this week's podcast is VP Of Marketing for Bristol Motor Speedway, Drew Bedard. He too knows a thing or two about Impostor Syndrome and implore us all to welcome the challenge.  Stalk Drew: Instagram Twitter Facebook Marketing That Works Podcast Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
Aug 31, 2020
36 min
Words Matter. Beginning to understanding Diversity discussions.
Conversations around diversity and inclusion are hard, but necessary. So we're going to take the conversation one step at a time. Davin takes some time to talk about the importance of how the words we use matter, as we start along the journey.
Aug 11, 2020
18 min
Going all in on car culture - Race Service
Back in February, when it was still safe to travel, Davin and I visited a media agency in LA. This isn’t like any other media agency though. They have completely flipped the traditional agency model upside down by operating out of a garage space which acts as a hub - connecting artists, innovators, industry insiders, and brands around a shared passion for contemporary car culture. By doing so, they have worked with the likes of Samsung, Michelin and most recently, Formula 1. That agency is Race Service and today we are going to chat with its co-founder and long-time friend, Jacob Agajanian. His wealth of knowledge will give you some insight as to what’s happening on the media landscape and tips you can apply to your own media strategies.  Follow Race Service: Instagram Youtube Facebook Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
Jun 2, 2020
1 hr 11 min
$900 Lug Nuts
If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, then you know how much I love good design and aesthetics in general. Logos, package design, typography, photography. All of it. And that’s why I’m very excited to have on today’s guest, Jarrett Seng. He owns and operates Raceseng which produces high-end (dare I say luxury) automotive parts. For example, one of the marque products is a set of titanium lug nuts that sell for $900. You’re probably thinking what lunatic would pay $900 for lug nuts. The answer is they aren’t buying lug nuts. They are buying the experience that the Raceseng team have designed. And that’s why Jarrett is on the show. He’s going to share how they take a seemingly commoditized product and created a lucrative business around selling high-end experiences. Show Links: Marty Neumeier books Stalk Raceseng: Instagram Youtube Facebook Raceseng Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
May 27, 2020
55 min
How MoTec has adapted to ever changing requirements
We're talking to David Gibson, Business Development Manager of MoTec USA. Like many of us, MoTec have had to adapt to the ever changing requirements with customer support and supply chains. So he’ll give us some insight on how MoTec is handling that. David will also touch MoTec’s North Carolina office and it’s relationship with NASCAR despite the sport’s decreasing numbers. Lastly, we will hear that one piece of bad advice that you shouldn’t take. Show Links Instagram Youtube Facebook MoTec USA Website   Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
May 21, 2020
1 hr 11 min
Larry Chen - Life behind the lens.
One of the most well known automotive photographers on the planet who’s best known for his work with SpeedHunters and more recently Jay Leno. Larry Chen is joining us and we cover a lot. Everything from the business value of photography to what he would put on a blank billboard. Stalk Larry: Instagram Youtube Facebook Website Tag Along with Studio Rhoad: Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok Website
May 13, 2020
55 min
Is the Manual Transmission dying? SPEC Clutch has some thoughts.
It’s being said that the manual transmission is going extinct. Between the adoption of electric cars which don’t utilize a transmission in the traditional sense. And more and more consumers considering driving to be a chore, clutch companies are keeping a very close eye on the market shift. So we’ve invited David Norton of SPEC Clutch onto the show. He’s going to give us some insights as to how they have adapted to market shifts over the last two years and how they plan to stay ahead of this one. SPEC Clutch specclutch.com SPEC Instagram SPEC Facebook Tag along: studiorhoad.com Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok
May 6, 2020
30 min
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