Counterfeit Taylor Swift Concert Tickets!

Changing product demand, increasing competition, fewer resources and consumer demand for transparency and safety are sending clear signals about continued changes in every company’s manufacturing processes. New business models and stringent regulations are becoming the norm, so streamlining operations, while maintaining quality is becoming non-negotiable for any reputable institution. Not an easy task, but certainly one that is being demanded today. This week Stan Salot and his guest, Indra Desai, will discuss how manufacturing process management helps eliminate toxic products and therefore support industry to safeguard consumer choices.

We hear about toxic toys and fake Gucci bags frequently, usually when their blatant occurrence or discovery makes the news. Sometimes people lose “only” money and respect for the retailer, other times they risk losing a lot more. Recognizing the risk of toxic and counterfeit products to their customers, some retailers such as Target just established supplier requirements. However, 90% of major retailers do not have rules about toxins and counterfeits and continue to choose to carry millions of products with potentially life- threatening components. Why is this our reality today? How can we change it? Join us for a casual conversation with Stan Salot and Julia Kocs, executives of the HSF Mark Program as they discuss the concerns fueling their passion and their hope for a US economy free of hazardous substances.

There are over 140 million products manufactured worldwide- and many of them will be on sale for this approaching holiday season. This is the season to share- and buy: more new products enter our households, from toys to couches to electronics than any other time of the year. It is nearly impossible to know the ingredients in these products or whether they contain counterfeit parts. Join us on learning how to avoid the probability of the paying tenfold for deeply discounted items! This show includes a special interview with successful industry entrepreneur Don Baker, founder of a professional electronics supply chain services company. You will also hear from our host, Stan Salot, veteran expert and co-author of the handbook on hazardous substance process management.

The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board plays an important role in ensuring the safety and quality of goods and services and in protecting the environment in the US. The Board accredits testing and calibration labs, inspection and certification bodies, reference material producers, and proficiency test providers. You wouldn't want to be treated by a doctor who isn't board certified in her specialty, or send your child to a college that isn't accredited, would you? Like those accrediting bodies, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board conducts audits to make sure industry follow international standards and are competent to do their work. This week Stan Salot and his guest, Randy A. Dougherty, Vice President, ANAB for the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board, will discuss ways accreditation and certification bodies can support industry to safeguard consumer choices.

Air, next to water and soil, is a third critical resource for humans, plants, animals and all other organisms within a natural area. Air must be monitored in order to control and lower pollution levels, control smoke caused by wild land fires, and to monitor air quality. The USDA Forest Service monitors the effects of air pollution that may impair visibility, harm human health, injure trees and other plants, acidify or cause unnatural fertilization of streams and lakes, leach nutrients from soils, and degrade cultural resources, like archeological sites and historical buildings. Forest activities that can affect air quality such as prescribed burning, ski areas, and mining are also monitored to ensure compliance with air regulations for human health and to monitor possible impacts to natural resources. This week Stan Salot and his guest, Linda Geiser, ecologist with the USDA, will discuss our collective environmental responsibility to our planet.

Counterfeiting is a complex, dynamic and global problem that negatively impacts brands in every industry and often threatens the health and safety of consumers around the world. Diversion of products into unauthorized sales channels and distribution of “gray market” goods cause significant losses for many companies. While there is no ‘cookie cutter’ solution to address the brand protection challenges that a company may face, companies seeking to better protect their brands should consider the following best practices in the development of an anti-counterfeiting and brand protection strategy tailored to meet their specific needs. Join our host Stan Salot and his guest, Mr. Justin E. Pierce to hear about ways you can protect your brand in the marketplace.

As of Friday, October 23, four people have been found dead due in San Francisco alone, to overdosing on what are believed to be counterfeit Xanax pills containing a strong opioid called fentanyl. According the FDA, counterfeit medicine is fake medicine. It may be contaminated or contain the wrong or no active ingredient. Join our host, Stan Salot Jr. for a discussion on why counterfeit drugs are illegal, ways they pose threats to our health and for our communities at large, and how to stay away from these potentially lethal substances.

Do you know the difference between misleading or deceptive marketing strategies? Some companies put trademarks on their own products or services that are close in appearance or meaning to those of the original manufacturer. These companies use these “logos” in ways that confuses or misleads the purchaser into thinking that the goods come from or are associated with and authorized by the original source. The harm goes beyond loss of business: confused customers buy the infringer’s goods rather than the original goods. It can also adversely affect the brand value and customer loyalty of the original source and can stop it from gaining market share. Due to these practices, we, unsuspecting consumers, can become supporters of counterfeiting and trafficking. This week, our host, Stan Salot and his guest Prof. Jacob Jacoby, to hear about the ramifications of deceptive marking and their commitment to educate and protect the public from the damages of these practices.

Did you know that the federal Environmental Protection Agency encourages efforts to reduce packaging and household waste, but through low-key exhortation rather than regulations. The United States, unlike Britain for example, imposes no special federal tax on landfills, and weaker regulation makes it easier to expand them. These practices, often differ in emerging countries, coupled with ways industry counts on consumers buying products without much scrutiny can lead to our willingness to participate in an epidemic that continues to alarm consumer advocates and environmentalist. This week, our host, Stan Salot will answer questions from our loyal audience, focusing on daily risks we face in today’s fast paced, materialistic society. He will also share about his activism with industry leaders globally, including his upcoming keynote address in Australia, and his commitment to raise awareness around the globe about the issues that are cheating our wallets and affecting our health.