90. Stop Wasting Trade Spend: Maximize Promo ROI

90. Are your promotions draining cash instead of driving growth? Most CPG brands waste 70–90% of their trade spend—and don't even realize it. When you rely on discounts without measuring base sales, contribution, distribution, or execution, you're shortening your runway and weakening your brand's leverage with retailers. In this episode, I break down how to measure true promotional effectiveness, why base sales matter more than temporary spikes, and how to calculate your brand's contribution using dollars per point of distribution ($SPP). You'll learn how digital strategy amplifies retail promotions, why out-of-stocks destroy ROI, and how to design promotions that introduce new shoppers—not just subsidize loyal ones. Trade marketing is your single largest line item. It can either bleed margin or become your most powerful growth engine. Maximize Trade Marketing ROI and listen to related episodes to build a smarter, more profitable retail strategy. Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session90