I became aware of Rich’s work when he was the Vice President of Marketing for a Fortune 200 company that nexAir represented. His work there was impressive and on the cutting edge for our industry. As a distributor, nexAir was the beneficiary of his initiatives. We gained additional exposure to Rich’s abilities on projects where he worked with our team on specific manufacturer/distributor joint projects.

Soon after Rich started his consulting firm, nexAir enlisted his services to formalize our overall marketing program.

What ensued was the development of a comprehensive three-year strategic plan that addressed all aspects of nexAir including our value proposition in the geographies and products we covered. Our needs varied by market and Rich helped us identify those needs through various tools that involved customer input and more.

Rich’s knowledge of strategic planning, branding, customer segmentation, unique campaigns, vetting third party resources, website development, budgeting and how to measure success enabled nexAir to institute a best-in-class strategic marketing plan.

Rich’s knowledge and guidance during that three-year period was critical to the success of the engagement.

Bill Proctor, President

nexAir, LLC, Memphis, Tennessee

Rich was brought in as a consultant to guide me through the development of the first strategic marketing plan for our company. Through a series of interviews with various internal influencers, Rich was able to determine the current view of marketing throughout the organization and pinpoint areas to focus on for the first plan as well as how to structure the plan to pave the way for future plans going forward.

With the insights gained through his interviews, analysis of competitive and market trends, as well as research Rich conducted previously that brought to light how our brand is positioned in the eyes of our customers, we determined the focus for our first plan.

That initial plan has served as the backbone for our strategic marketing plans and initiatives, including for the launch of our new website, which we consulted with Rich on to ensure our newly developed brand messaging was carried and visible throughout the entire site.

Not only has bringing Rich on board helped elevate our brand, but in working with him he has helped develop my skills as a marketing professional. His patience, willingness to help, and genuine desire to see me succeed has allowed me to confidentially continue to develop our brand.

Maria Ricci, Marketing Manager

nexAir, LLC, Memphis, Tennessee

Regal Ware engaged with Rich to help ensure the positioning of our ESPRO brand was correct and afforded the opportunity to better target the right audience. Rich’s thoughtful approach to understanding the brand and introducing the right 3rd party experts to assist yielded a product that moved the brand forward quickly by ensuring the right audience was targeted. Rich’s general understanding of business allowed him to also contribute beyond marketing alone which helped the Division beyond just the engagement. Based upon the success of the first engagement, Rich was engaged on several other strategic projects supporting growth objectives across the portfolio. It was a pleasure working with Rich. His style of engaging with the organization to understand strategy and strengths through a question based approach allowed him to work effectively with all disciplines and be seen as a business partner, not a consultant.

Ryan Reigle, President/CEO

RegalWare, Inc, Kewaskum, Wisconsin

I had the pleasure of working with RW Thompson Consulting in my role as Director of Marketing for the ESPRO division of Regal Ware. Rich engaged Regal Ware on a number of strategic marketing initiatives, acting as an interim/fractional Chief Marketing Officer. I greatly appreciate Rich’s approach to brand development that begins with foundational consumer and market research. That data-driven approach offered us a true opportunity to differentiate in the market, and separated Rich from other advisors who may have made recommendations on gut rather than fact. Rich works closely with stakeholders so that they understand the process and can carry forward the brand long after the engagement has concluded, which speaks to Rich’s high character and his ability to truly mentor and advise. From his use of CliftonStrengths’ Strengthsfinder to the Brand Asset Valuator (BAV) framework, Rich brings proven processes to the table. I would absolutely recommend working with RW Thompson Consulting and wouldn’t hesitate to hire Rich in the future.

Phil Censky, Director of Marketing, ESPRO brand

RegalWare, Inc, Kewaskum, Wisconsin

Rich Thompson is unique in a great way. A creative and analytic capability with the ability to bring customers and employees at all levels along with his vision. He has a unique capability of developing brand strategy, through a brand hierarchy process, followed by the ability to connect it to the creative expression and make it come to life through the many tactical plans. ESPRO and other divisions of Regal Ware have benefited from Rich’s strategic marketing process as our interim Chief Marketing Officer. Rich’s demeanor and character adds to the enjoyment of working with him in the process.

Dave Lenz, Chief Operating Officer

RegalWare, INc. Kewaskum, Wisconsin

I have collaborated with Rich Thompson over the past seven years on a multitude of comprehensive market research studies that cover a wide variety of B2B and B2C categories and objectives. Working with Rich as a client is a dream for a researcher as he brings with him unique experiences and perspectives on the implications of brand data on the targeting and communications imperatives for the brands being researched. Rich brings life to the research findings with his understanding of the audience’s experience and needs. He is a true professional in enhancing the marketing team’s learnings from market intelligence.

Gene Topper, Ph.D.

Partner, Strategic Research Partners, Chicago, Illinois

Rich Thompson is an energetic thought leader and strong partner in the areas of brand and growth strategy, brand hierarchy, and B2B/B2C sales enablement. He is a very engaging professional with a passion for developing individuals and aligning teams around a shared vision. He acclimates well to various cultures and teams and can be very hands on when necessary to support team development and accountability. I’ve had the privilege of partnering with Rich to serve mutual clients. Rich consistently delivers for his clients and results speak for themselves. I recommend Rich without hesitation.

Troy Beauchamp, Sr. Managing Director

Patina – a Korn Ferry Company

I have had the honor of working with Rich twice throughout my career and I hope it isn’t the last. Of all the marketing roles I have held in my 25+ years, my work with Rich has taught me more about the art of branding than any other. Rich is a master at branding and leading team members on a path of continuous growth. He gave me the runway to develop my own ideas and real coaching to think even further outside the box. I learned the science of strategic branding, supported by research and meaningful KPIs. Under Rich’s guidance I polished my skills to expertly develop integrated campaigns and content that supported relevant, desirable brand attributes, leading to market share gains, increased product value (= support for higher prices) and improved customer loyalty.

Rebecca Gibbons, Director of Marketing,

Next Phase Enterprises, Phoenix, AZ
(Former Brand Manager, ITW Welding)