148: Why Your Manufacturing Business Should Be Boring with Marc Bowers, Executive Director of St. Louis Makes

<p>We know what you’re thinking…this episode title is against everything we stand for! But hear us out…&nbsp;</p><p>“Manufacturing should be boring” may sound like the antithesis of this podcast but, as you listen, you’ll understand what this guest means.&nbsp;</p><p>On this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we are joined by St. Louis Makes Executive Director, Marc Bowers. St. Louis Makes is a non-profit helping emerging and mid-sized regional manufacturers drive sales expansion through product innovation and new marketing opportunities.&nbsp;</p><p>Marc joins the show to discuss the main how-tos of running a manufacturing business, why old-school entrepreneurship is making a comeback and the advantages of thinking outside the box.&nbsp;</p><p>Plus, an explanation for our title!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In this episode, find out:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>The infrastructure of St. Louis&nbsp;</li><li>The return of old-school manufacturing entrepreneurship&nbsp;</li><li>The customers manufacturing leaders should focus on&nbsp;</li><li>What to do before seeking out adjacent business opportunities&nbsp;</li><li>Why you need to know the business inside out&nbsp;</li><li>The benefits of taking alternative career paths&nbsp;</li><li>Leveraging the importance of education&nbsp;</li><li>Steps to buying a manufacturing company&nbsp;</li><li>Important how-tos when running a manufacturing business&nbsp;</li></ul><br/><p><a href="http://manufacturinghappyhour.com/iTunes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here.</a> Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!&nbsp;</p><p>Tweetable Quotes:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>“Everything that I've learned, I've learned from somebody else. It’s not like the knowledge spontaneously popped into my head. The way I've done that is by taking calls where other people maybe wouldn't have.”&nbsp;</li><li>“So many people made the jump into high tech. They failed to realize that there was nothing but tech in manufact