"In the dance of connections, success finds its rhythm."
Founder of ShipPlug, a data-driven insights and proprietary software company that saves businesses time and money when it comes to their parcel shipping efforts, Nick DiNatale cut his teeth as a FedEx Sales Representative-turned-Sales Manager, where he managed high-profile accounts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars over a 12-year span.
While working there, he identified a pain point among customers that didn’t understand the claims process or their pricing contracts, resulting in financial losses. Enter ShipPlug, which has recovered $1 million in refunds for late shipments and generated a total of $12 million in savings for its customers in just two years.
Having seen firsthand companies go out of business due to a lack of understanding regarding their shipping costs, Nick is passionate about bringing a level of transparency and clarity to the space, providing customers fair and appropriate price-saving solutions in the process.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET FEATURED?
All interviews are 100% FREE OF CHARGE
Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Nick DiNatale: I’m a Pittsburgh native, born and raised, and now reside in Miami, FL. I have always had a passion for helping others and talking about business ideas. I kickstarted my career as an accountant, but quickly realized that wasn’t for me. I switched to my first sales job at FedEx, and quickly fell in love with it.
During my time there, I managed high-profile accounts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, and identified a pain point among customers that didn’t understand the claims process or their pricing contracts, resulting in financial losses.
Now, I’m Founder & CEO of ShipPlug, a data-driven insights and proprietary software company that saves businesses time and money when it comes to their parcel shipping efforts.
To date, we’ve recovered $1 million in refunds for late shipments and generated a total of $12 million in savings for our customers in just over two years.
Having seen firsthand companies go out of business due to a lack of understanding regarding their shipping costs, I’m passionate about bringing a level of transparency and clarity to the space, providing customers fair and appropriate price-saving solutions in the process.
How has the significance of networking evolved over the past decades?
Nick DiNatale: Networking has, and will always be, an important part of business. While it’s traditionally taken place in person over the past decades, the rise of the Internet and social media platforms like META, LinkedIn, and others, have enabled people to connect virtually.
COVID also certainly changed the ways in which we network, forcing a quick evolution. Now that in-person meetings and events have picked back up, you see the desire for people to want to connect in person.
I really think there’s no substitute for it, but at the end of the day, whichever method is used, most people prefer to work with those they know, trust, and/or like. I don’t think that will ever change.
Can you share a personal story where one networking interaction led to unexpected doors opening, and how it highlights the ripple effect of networking?
Nick DiNatale: ShipPlug launched in 2021 after I met our current VP of Operations while at FedEx. We left the company within the same month, and at the same time a friend of mine who I had met through networking, connected me to another individual – a developer who helped us create the initial version of our software.
It was just the three of us for the first few months, before a sales/business development rep I knew at FedEx got let go and contacted me about joining my company. This was a game-changer for us, as things really took off from that moment.
I knew I had to hustle by using my network and traveling to win new business. Some of these individuals were friends who owned businesses that were shipping thousands of packages per day.
They became customers and, because they were happy with our services, ended up making referrals which helped grow the business.
Ultimately, networking leads to referrals, which makes up almost 40% of our business. We intentionally network with the right group of people (businesses and marketers in the e-commerce space, members of chambers of commerce, etc.)
We also attend and host happy hours and other types of events, including charity events, to help build our network. We’ve always put an emphasis on being strategic when it comes to forming partnerships, which has resulted in a great flow of business.
What are some common networking mistakes people make, and how can they pivot to turn potential missteps into learning experiences?
Nick DiNatale: The most common mistake is people putting too much of an emphasis on trying to sell themselves and their products or services vs. genuinely wanting to get to know the other person and learn about how they can help them.
While you may have a certain networking objective, coming on too strong or appearing too self-interested can send the wrong signal.
Your approach can make all the difference, so instead of going in thinking about what you’re going to get out of the exchange, place the focus on them and what their needs might be. You can do this while still being prepared to share more about yourself, what you do, and how you can help them.
How do you see the future of networking evolving with the rise of AI, VR, and other technologies?
Nick DiNatale: It will only become easier to network and build personal relationships. While this may lead to fewer in-person networking opportunities, I do believe most people crave human interaction and will want to continue networking in that way.
In terms of its evolution, we’re already seeing it with AI and how people are using it to gather information, produce content, and connect with others at a faster pace.
If anything, these technologies will allow individuals and businesses to interact with a greater number of people at a faster clip, offering businesses the opportunity to scale at a greater rate.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Nick DiNatale for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Nick DiNatale or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
