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Conversation
Highlights

 

In this episode of Marketing Front Lines, we speak with Meredith Blechman, Head of Marketing at Archive, a Series A startup powering circular commerce for major retail brands. Archive is transforming how brands approach sustainability and secondary markets by enabling direct resale, repair, and recycling programs. Through their platform, companies like The North Face, New Balance, and Oscar de la Renta are building new revenue streams from existing products while reducing environmental impact. Meredith shares how she applies brand marketing principles to B2B tech and builds authentic connections in an increasingly dynamic market.

Topics Discussed: 

  • Transitioning marketing expertise from CPG to B2B tech 
  • Building emotional brand connections in technical markets 
  • Balancing creative and analytical marketing approaches 
  • Implementing effective ABM strategies for enterprise sales
  • Scaling marketing operations with limited resources 
  • Adapting quickly to changing market conditions

 

Actionable
Takeaways

Prioritize High-Touch Over High-Volume:

Schedule quarterly in-person relationship building events rather than relying solely on digital campaigns. While these touchpoints reach fewer prospects (20 vs. thousands), they create deeper connections and enable organic advocacy. Bring existing customers together with prospects to leverage social proof in natural settings.

Implement Hyper-Personalized ABMP:

Create unique LinkedIn ad variations for each target account rather than using blanket messaging. Despite requiring more resources to produce 20 variations versus one campaign, the ROI significantly outperforms generic approaches. Customize messaging to specific roles and company contexts.

Start With Brand Foundation Before Tactics:

When joining as first marketing hire, establish brand values, mission, and purpose before tactical execution. Even in B2B tech, emotional connections matter - define your brand stance and ensure consistency across touchpoints. Use individual customer conversations to uncover authentic brand positioning opportunities.

Choose Tech Stack for Team Context:

For resource-constrained teams, prioritize integrated platforms (like HubSpot) over point solutions. This enables efficient execution across functions without requiring extensive integration work. Add specialized tools only when team bandwidth allows proper implementation and maintenance.

Leverage Consumer Marketing Principles:

Apply customer interview and brand building techniques from consumer marketing to B2B. Focus on understanding customer challenges and aspirations rather than just product features. Create marketing that resonates both personally and professionally with decision makers.

Challenge "Best Practices" Regularly:

Question the "stick to what works" mentality. Marketing channels face diminishing returns and require constant optimization. Regularly evaluate all activities against current market conditions. Test new approaches even during periods of success to identify emerging opportunities.

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