The Marks Group’s Gene Marks on Navigating Tariffs and Preparing for AI Revolution

Meet Gene Marks, Business Keynote Speaker, Author, Columnist, & Business Owner at The Marks Group

"If you're doing business with China, you've got some serious challenges," warns Gene Marks, Business Keynote Speaker, Author, Columnist, & Business Owner at The Marks Group. As a prolific business columnist for publications like The Guardian and Forbes, and the head of his own company, Gene brings decades of experience helping small and mid-sized businesses navigate economic challenges.

Manufacturing companies today face a perfect storm of challenges: shifting tariff policies creating supply chain uncertainty, rapidly evolving AI technologies demanding implementation strategies, and persistent workforce shortages requiring innovative talent acquisition approaches. Gene addresses all three with practical, tactical advice drawn from his network of successful manufacturing clients across the country.

Gene's journey into business advisory began unexpectedly: he was running his CPA firm when he decided to start writing as a creative outlet. His column for the Philadelphia Business Journal, "The Penny Pincher's Almanac," gained popularity and launched his career as a trusted voice for small and mid-sized businesses. This therapeutic writing practice evolved into a second career spanning prestigious publications and speaking engagements where he shares wisdom gleaned from successful manufacturing companies.

In This Episode

In our wide-ranging conversation, Gene provides immediately actionable strategies for manufacturers dealing with tariffs (like utilizing bonded warehouses to defer costs), a practical three-step approach to prepare for AI implementation (clean your data, engage with vendors, create policies), and unexpected advice on talent acquisition (look for service industry workers with great attitudes who can be trained in technical skills). Gene emphasizes that although technology creates tremendous opportunities, success ultimately depends on having the right people to implement it, making talent acquisition and development perhaps the most critical challenge manufacturers face today.  

Topics

• Current status of tariffs, particularly the extraordinary 145-185% rates on Chinese goods, and strategies for navigating international trade disruptions.
• Strategic use of bonded warehouses and free trade zones to defer tariffs and potentially reduce costs during periods of trade uncertainty.
• The reality of AI implementation versus the hype, with practical guidance on current limitations and future potential for manufacturing.
• Three essential steps to prepare for AI: cleaning existing data, engaging with software vendors on roadmaps, and developing comprehensive AI policies.
• How ERP systems enable data-driven decisions during supply chain disruptions, including selective price increase strategies based on customer profitability.
• The critical importance of developing an AI policy governing appropriate usage, permissions, and documentation within manufacturing organizations.
• Why small and mid-sized manufacturers must invest in data preparation now to capitalize on AI automation capabilities coming in the next few years.
• Innovative approaches to talent acquisition that prioritize attitude, adaptability and customer service skills over technical expertise that can be taught.
• Predictions on tariff negotiations and their likely resolution with most countries except China, where manufacturers need long-term alternatives.
• The competitive necessity of embracing AI and automation despite employee concerns, with strategies for communicating benefits to the workforce.

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