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When there's no handbook for building a career, you rely on tenacity, positivity, and education. David Gavin learned retail marketing the hard way: by watching, asking questions, and looking for the white space everyone else ignored.

In this episode, Danny sits down with his uncle, David Gavin, a worldwide sales and merchandising consultant who went from navigating apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a strategic force in North American jewelry retail.

David shares how focusing on what competitors aren't doing beats racing to the bottom of price, how mentors who throw you in the deep end can change your career trajectory forever, and how the true mark of a salesperson isn’t the sum of a set of soft skills, it’s how you connect with people.

Episode Highlights:

• Success comes from identifying white space, the opportunities competitors overlook, rather than fighting over what everyone else is already doing.
• PowerPoint presentations aren't just sales tools; they're strategic frameworks that help clients see concepts they couldn't articulate themselves.
• Calculated risk-taking means being willing to leave comfort behind when you see a bigger opportunity, even if the path isn't clear.
• Mentorship often looks like being thrown into the deep end with people who believe you'll figure out how to swim.
• Retail success requires understanding both the corporate and independent sides of the business, and being willing to walk into stores and observe what's actually happening.

Episode Links:

• David Gavin on LinkedIn
• David Greg Website
• Rapaport Magazine: The Rise of Desert Diamonds

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