Many companies spend months, if not years, pursuing Whole Foods Market. Yesterday former Senior Buyer Perry Abbenante gave a webinar for the Abe’s Market community on the secrets to success at Whole Foods.

Perry’s full length presentation was captured on video and will soon be available on each Seller’s dashboard. We have already heard from several companies on how much they appreciated Perry’s wisdom. He is a natural presenter, inspiring, insightful and down to earth (is there a pun there:)

A few of his comments that jumped out at me are below and I curious to hear from everyone on the call as to what was most meaningful for them?

1. Spend on packaging – no two ways about it. Don’t use your brother-in-law to design your packaging unless he is a superstar.

2. Have a great story and tell it well  – Perry singled out Sweet Leaf Tea and how well they tell the story of their Grandma making sweet tea.

3. Hustle – Every example of success involved the founders starting small (the Siggi’s founder was making Skyr in his bathtub and selling at the Union Square market) and literally running around town to provide samples and spread their enthusiasm.

That you Perry for making it clear that success is within grasp of anyone willing to invest the time to work hard.