#218 - Forecasting 101 with Graza & Drivepoint

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In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by Austin Gardner-Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Drivepoint, and David Sooch, Senior Director of Finance at Graza, to unpack the art and science of forecasting for consumer brands.

They discuss why forecasting is one of the most critical processes for CPG businesses, how responsibility for it evolves as companies grow, and the risks of getting it wrong—from wasted cash tied up in excess inventory to missed sales and retailer frustration.

David shares how Graza approaches forecasting at the SKU, retailer, and distributor level, while Austin explains how tools and processes can streamline complexity and free teams to focus on decision-making rather than data wrangling. The conversation also covers the importance of balancing overstock versus understock, the dynamics between sales, operations, and finance teams, and the differences in forecasting for retail, direct-to-consumer, and marketplace channels.

Whether you’re a founder just starting out or a finance leader scaling a fast-growth brand, this episode offers actionable insights and proven strategies to strengthen your forecasting process.

Be sure to check out the free forecasting templates: https://www.drivepoint.io/resources/cpg-forecasting-templates-for-success

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Listen in as they share about:

• The Basics of Forecasting
• Stages of Forecasting by Company Size
• Tools and Technology
• E-commerce Forecasting
• Retail Forecasting Practices
• Forecasting Layers and Levels
• Timing and Cash Implications
• Templates and Practical Help

Episode Links:
Website: https://www.drivepoint.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austingardnersmith/ 

Website: https://www.graza.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsooch/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
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• Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics