About this episode

In this episode, Scott Wilson interviews Ben Kepes about building an authentic brand and the impact of AI on small businesses in New Zealand.

What does it take to build a brand that customers choose to get married in it, get buried in it, and stop strangers on the street to rave about it? In this episode of the Marketing 4 Business podcast , Scott chats with Ben Kepes, Managing Director of Cactus Outdoor and a seasoned tech investor who spent 15 years embedded in Silicon Valley's cloud computing wave. Ben shares what it really means to build an authentic brand, why NZ small businesses are running out of time to get serious about AI, and the philosophy of "holding the line" that has kept Cactus Outdoor's DNA intact for 33 years. You'll hear Ben's take on where AI will hit hardest for NZ small businesses (accounting and law are right in the firing line), why he tells every business owner to spend 30 minutes a day experimenting with AI tools, and how Cactus Outdoor built a cult following without a big budget by staying relentlessly true to who they are. If you're a business owner trying to figure out what AI actually means for your operation, or you want to build a brand that people genuinely love, this episode will give you a lot to work with. Download the Local Business AEO Playbook here — a free, step-by-step guide…

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