Growth Insights for CEOs
Advice for CEOs on Growth and Scaling
Bob Sherlock
Bob Sherlock often works with companies serving business markets that face one of two challenges: · An innovative offering that isn’t ramping up sales fast enough · Getting squeezed on price Bob solves those problems by helping clients find their Hidden Value, message it so that prospects perceive that value, and pricing to get paid for it. As a result, his clients can grow sales and margins at the same time. Bob’s experience includes consulting at Marketwerks and The ProAction Group, and founding and running a venture-funded logistics service provider operating a network of automated, unmanned delivery drop points. Earlier, Sherlock was CMO for Wickes Inc., a distributor and retailer of building materials.
Recent Posts

The Contrarian Brand Play: Why Right Now Is the Best Time to Invest in Brand
Fri, Sep 18, 2026 | Posted by Doug Bell
Executive Takeaways
- Most companies are cutting brand spend to fund rising paid acquisition costs. That is the wrong response.
- Brand awareness now drives AI citations, and AI citations drive Day One shortlist inclusion.
- Google's redesign of Search makes brand recognition more important; AI systems favor brands users already know.
- The companies investing in brand while competitors pull back are building advantages at lower cost.
Part 4 of our four-part series on the evolving AI search landscape and what B2B leaders need to know to stay competitive.
Recent Posts

Sold, not Bought: The Marketing of Unfamiliar Solutions
Mon, Nov 20, 2017 — Several years ago I met Davis, an executive in Ohio, who segmented his product lines into “Bought, not Sold” and “Sold, not Bought.” “Bought” products, he said, were familiar to prospective buyers. They had self-diagnosed what they needed and self-prescribed a product solution for that need. Often, they’d previously purchased a product in the category. By contrast, a “Sold” product presented an unfamiliar solution—so the prospect couldn’t self-prescribe, and may not have self-diagnosed. In fact, their need could be latent and wouldn’t be recognized without prompting.
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