In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with trade show industry veteran Mike Van Valey, who has spent more than 35 years in the business and over two decades running his own trade show contracting company.

From selling books door-to-door in college to managing trade shows for major consumer brands, Mike shares firsthand insights into how the trade show landscape has evolved — and why so many companies are doing it wrong.

You’ll learn how technology, rising costs, and changing buyer behavior have reshaped the industry. Attendees no longer arrive ready to write orders on the show floor — they come to evaluate, compare, and research. That shift means your strategy needs to change too.

Mike breaks down the biggest mistakes exhibitors make, including overspending on flashy booths while neglecting staffing and follow-up — and explains why the “software” (your people and process) matters more than the “hardware.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether trade shows are still worth the investment, this episode gives you a clear, strategic answer.

In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we cover:

• How trade shows have changed in the digital era
• Why lighting and booth design can dramatically increase traffic
• The right way to staff your booth (and how many people is too many)
• Why pre-show marketing can make or break your results
• The most common post-show follow-up mistakes
• How to know if a trade show is right for your business
• And so much more

Want to connect with Mike?
Visit tradeshowsolutions.net to learn more or reach out directly for guidance on improving your trade show strategy.

Do you have a brand you’d like to launch or scale?
Visit HarvestGrowth.com to book a free consultation and learn how our team has helped generate over $2 billion in product sales.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with John Fry, VP of Marketing and Sales at Allerpet, to unpack how a simple, problem-solving product built lasting success through trust, emotional connection, and smart channel strategy.

John explains how Allerpet helps reduce pet dander at the source—allowing people with pet allergies to stay close to the animals they love—by mechanically removing allergens rather than masking symptoms. The conversation dives into what pet dander really is, why traditional solutions like shampoos fall short, and how consistent, safe use of Allerpet can make a life-changing difference for allergy sufferers.

Beyond the product, John shares the story behind Allerpet’s growth since being acquired in 2014, including its major shift to Amazon as a primary sales channel. He breaks down the key inflection point that drove rapid Amazon growth: better merchandising, smarter bundling, and optimized product presentation—paired with the unexpected power of authentic influencer storytelling on platforms like TikTok.

This episode also explores why genuine customer stories outperform paid promotion, how emotional connection fuels word-of-mouth marketing, and why products that truly solve a painful problem naturally earn trust and advocacy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• What pet dander actually is and why it causes allergic reactions
• How Allerpet works differently than shampoos or medications
• How often allergy sufferers should use Allerpet safely
• The emotional connection between pet owners and problem-solving products
• Allerpet’s biggest Amazon growth inflection point
• Why better merchandising drove rapid sales acceleration
• How unpaid influencer content sparked massive awareness

If you’re building a product that solves a real problem—and want to understand how trust, emotion, and smart channel strategy drive long-term growth—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

To learn more about Allerpet, visit Allerpet.com or search for Allerpet on Amazon.
To explore how to grow your own product, visit HarvestGrowth.com and book a free consultation with our team.

In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with Jim Warren, founder of Infomercial.com and one of the most respected voices in direct response and infomercial marketing.

With decades of experience spanning traditional DRTV, long-form infomercials, and modern digital campaigns, Jim breaks down what still works — and why the core principles of infomercials are more relevant than ever in today’s TikTok, YouTube, and CTV-driven world.

Together, Jon and Jim explore how to build marketing creative that actually converts, why long-form storytelling continues to outperform short ads for many brands, and how smart marketers blend TV and digital to scale profitably. They also dive into attribution challenges, creative burnout, audience connection, and where brands should start when launching a new product in 2026.

Whether you’re running Meta ads, launching on TikTok, testing YouTube, or considering TV for the first time, this episode is packed with timeless insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why infomercials still work — even in a digital-first world
• The biggest misconceptions about direct response TV today
• How to create marketing videos with longevity (not one-hit gimmicks)
• Why long-form content builds deeper trust and connection
• The reality of attribution across TV, digital, and multi-screen viewers
• Where Jim would launch a brand-new product right now (and why)

Learn more at Infomercial.com
Get Jon’s book The Perfect Launch System at PerfectLaunch.com