Fundamental Friendship with Jason Baylis

In episode 20 of Retail Checks and Balances, Kevin Spencer interviews Jason Baylis, President of Great Lakes Data Systems, as they discuss the challenges faced by independent grocers and the importance of building strong relationships in business. Jason also shares his journey from a small-time POS company to becoming a leading figure in the industry. 

Tune in as they reflect on the value of taking breaks, the integrity of the game of golf, and the importance of building a team that shares a common vision.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:08] Golf Enjoyment and Passion.

[00:05:57] Helping Independent Stores Compete.

[00:13:37] Building Strategic Partnerships.

[00:15:15] Building a Successful Company.

[00:22:08] Golf as a Character Revealer.

In this episode, Kevin Spencer and Jason Baylis emphasize the importance of cultivating meaningful connections to achieve success. Jason acknowledges the support and understanding he receives from his wife, Lindsay, highlighting the significance of having a strong personal support system to thrive in both professional and personal endeavors.

In addition, Kevin and Jason discuss the importance of taking breaks and stepping away from work to gain valuable insights and define vision in business. By allowing time for relaxation, reflection, and relationship-building, individuals can gain valuable insights, enhance creativity, and make informed decisions that ultimately contribute to the growth and sustainability of their businesses.

QUOTES

• “I just found that it's a unique space, but it's a more valued space, right? I like to, I mean, as you've seen, we were a couple of guys, it's not a nine-to-five and you just get through the day, right? There's a purpose, there's a meaning, and it's a drive.” - Jason Baylis
• “From that standpoint, I think it's awesome. That's probably what I'm most proud of is that I actually feel like I did create this and I established something. And it's not what it used to be where it was a stepping stone.” - Jason Baylis
• “Sometimes you got to step away and that's where you get what you need to define vision in your business.” - Kevin Spencer

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Kevin Spencer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspencer007/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinspencer007/

Jason Baylis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-baylis-43b06844/

WEBSITE

Rod Plus Solutions: https://rodplussolutions.com/

Great Lakes Data System, Inc.: https://www.glds.net/

Transcript

Welcome to Retail Checks and Balances, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the bustling world of commerce and culinary delights to help you grow your business and win. Join us as we explore the fascinating stories, trends, and challenges that shape the retail and hospitality industry, from cozy corner cafes to sprawling shopping malls and everything in between. And now, here's your host, Kevin Spencer. 

Okay, we're diving into another episode of Retail Checks and Balances. Today, I have the honor of my great friend, Jason Bayliss, President of Great Lakes Data Systems, an all-around athlete, a professional golfer of sorts, right? Welcome, Jason. 

Maybe back in the day I had my time, but thank you for the kind words and introduction. 

Oh, you're awesome, dude. We played golf last week and I enjoyed it. 

I enjoyed looking at it. Oh, it was so much fun. It was nothing better. I was talking to Ben today about how I had the opportunity to bring you up there and play some golf in Florida with the clients. And he was like, man, that is so cool that you guys get to do that. It's been being friends with you for over 10 years, being a big part of what I did before I met you. I can't tell you how cool it is to see you out there. Enjoying it, having fun. As you got to experience this weekend, it's. For me, it's all about having fun out there nowadays, right? I've done all the competitive stuff. I've done things that people. Would wish they could do, right? So it's just about having fun. I see you out there and I was telling Ben I'll be like I'll be. you know, 100 yards up, walking to the ball just to keep the pace going. And then I'll hear, fuck yeah! And I'll look back and there he is, like, posing, you know, like you just hit the shot. You know it, the ball flies, right? And it's like, we loved it. I loved it, you know? So to see that out there, to see, I've taught golf so many different ways to so many different people. But to see the pure enjoyment of what it's supposed to be is awesome, right? I mean, the game is tough as it is, right? So I like to see people enjoying it just to play it. You don't have to play like you see on TV to have fun. That's really what what it comes down to. As you've seen, we had some people who think they should always play like what they see on TV. 

Exactly.

And then they get so mad, yet they've never played in their entire life like they see on TV. Right? So you're getting mad at things you can't physically do. And it's not, it's not fun. It's not what it's supposed to be.

Oh, great. But tell us about, you know, your, yeah, your company, what, what, what does Great Lakes Data Systems?

Great Lakes Data Systems, well, we are as we were a small time, POS company in the greater Detroit area, been around since 1969. And what I did was identify a need that I had no idea was out there. It is the independent grocer, right? And if you go, as I learned throughout my career, what the independent grocer was, what we could do and how you can actually benefit and help them. That is the draw to doing what I do, right? As a graphic designer, what do I know about the grocery world? You know, what do I know about any of that? But the software that we use being HTML based and learning what an independent grocer was, that's kind of what got me hooked on. If you see, I got into what I do to help, help businesses, help other people, right? Like creating websites, doing merchant fulfillment, stuff like that. It's like, what can I do? What can I offer you software wise, right? So when I got in here and I saw that and I learned what the independent was, And that's why you see the slogan on my website, you know, making a difference for those who make a difference, right? The corner store, think about all those little bodegas we saw in New York, right? In those neighborhoods. They don't go to Kroger's and all these big wig shops, right? They use that. And then they kind of, the community thrives around them. and what they do. And that's what I got in this for. I started seeing what I could do and how I could help independents. Because like I said, an independent should have all the tools and the tricks that the corporates do. Who's to say that they shouldn't? But for the longest time, I was told that retailing in the independent space was always missing something. They could never compete. So when I got that software, it was like, okay, what can we do? How can I help you? Right? Because I found that when you have a single store as an independent, and you're battling a corporate store, you're looking at one, but they have many. So they can budget full dollar amounts of loss where you have to capture fractions of pennies. I started seeing that, and I, what can we do? How can we help the independents, right? What can we do to kind of set them apart from everybody else, right? So I started getting into a lot of stuff with loyalty programs. I'm designing up stores the way my parents designed restaurants for the community. As you know, my parents are the co-founders of Applebee's, right?

That's awesome.

I watched, you know, my stepmom and stuff go around and spend two to four weeks in every location. And all she did was pull this, what's this, the neighborhood grill, you know, figuring out about the community, and then they build up a restaurant that is designed around the community, right? You go in there, you see the high schools, you see all this stuff, right? And it's all about the community. The stores we do, I kind of take the same philosophy. It's like now all of a sudden I got the same kind of concept that my parents had and I built the business around helping others.

That's really what I'm passionate about. And I was honored to see that platform that you have there last week at dinner when you were talking to one of your clients and you know, You were at your best where you were, you were using words like, let me help you. Let me help you do this. Let me help you do that. And, you know, you kind of ease the frustration of that client by, by showing them, you know, I, I'm, I'm an expert and I can guide you along the way because yeah. And it goes back to what you're saying. And I like that passion you have, um, in promoting your business, in promoting what you can do to help the customer, because that's what it is at the end of the day, right?

Yeah. I mean, you and I see dealers go around and look at building. They just want the next club, right? They want the next one. They want the next one. They get the next one. They get the next one. But they never cared about the last one. It's always the next one, the next one, right? You and I have ran into this all over the country, right? So it's like, I just found that it's a unique space, but it's a more valued space, right? I like to, I mean, as you've seen, we were a couple of guys, it's not a nine to five and you just get through the day, right? There's a purpose, there's a meaning, and it's a drive. It's a drive, right? I love the success stories of the one single store. They partnered up with you, and now they got three stores. I mean, like, as you heard, from this past weekend, right? Frustrations around that client and the previous setup, right? And all it was was, well, here, this is how I can help. This is what we should do, right? And this is how you should be looking at that. And I mean, you saw that. If you can do that, and then I like the flip side of that is we'll look at the respect that you can get when you When you do something, you know, for an organization, you know, I mean, you and I were sitting poolside, you know, with a client of mine who just happens to value everything that Great Lakes brings to the table. You know, I mean, that is. That's the success of what we do, really, you know, so. So, yeah, so that's that's what I like to do. So we do. Helping the little guy.

Yeah. And I think you having such an amazing amount of years in your life from Applebee's to golf to running your own company now, I think that should be an astounding statement that should push you into the future. And I think, you know, even when we have discussions, you know, I see we have synergies in terms of our experience and what we've done. What would you think would be your greatest achievements so far? You know, you can break it in two if you want from a business perspective and from a personal perspective.

The biggest feather in the hat comes from So when I first got with this company, you remember Lake Las Vegas?

Yep.

We were the redheaded stepchild, sat in a corner in the dark, right? I thought, this is the coolest thing in the world, right? Why don't you want to be up? I'm looking at the owner, like, why don't you want to do what all these other guys are doing? Right. And So I go around for years and years, a couple of years, seeing this, seeing that. And Baltimore, I pulled our buddy aside and I said, look, you got me here, but what am I here for? You're catering to all these other guys, but I'm 10 times better than they are. And he's like, well, I've been waiting. you know, because he found this company, he wanted it to be something, right? Yeah. He just said, I've been waiting for you to say that. And he took me under his wing from that point on. And I built this up to be the entity it is now, right, where we are looked at as the POS gods, in a sense, around here, because we have this ability to cater to those individuals. And we're not just a POS company, we're the POS company, right? So when I see that, I see where we have gone and I talk to owners and they tell me about what a great partnership it is, right? And then in the last two years, And from the software company itself, as we're doing some of these changes, it's been noted that we really didn't know about Great Lakes data systems that don't include you, right? And then I started to think, wow, right? And as you know, from the Montreal, like, I'm now at executive conferences with you, with the software. And I wasn't always there, right? Because the old owner just didn't do anything, right? So when I look at that, and I look at some of the, you know, I got a couple, my parents taught me to be, to find strategic partnerships, right? Because you can't, you can't, you can only get so much done one, one-on-one, right? So when I take that, I look at how I've done some of these things, like I didn't build this one on one, right? So I built it with some of those things. And what I'm proud of the most is I looked at a meeting today with my accounting department, some of my managers, and it was like, this is where we got to and to see them wanting to take it to that next level. Like, oh, we're here. We're there. You got like, this is so much fun. Like, I got two girls that. In all honesty, they had no idea who I was, but it told me they would love it if I made this their last job. That's awesome. Like, are you kidding me? Like, one of them just came back today. Unfortunately, she had to have surgery for, she's a cancer survivor. And she was, she got to take six weeks off, right? And she was like, you know, I was getting, so I just got so used to doing, I was having, you know, and I'm like, why are you talking about like, you're not gonna do it again? She's like, well, I'm not, you know, six weeks, I'm not sure. I was kind of hoping this was my last job. And I said, do you want this to be your last job? And she's like, oh, I love it. I've never worked for somebody like you. And she's 20-some years older than me. So I started looking at that. And I'm thinking, if that's what you want, then I'll make sure that that's available for you. She came back today, Kevin. And it's like, let's go. She brought Jody, my accountant here, and let's just say there's some people around here that didn't think I'd be able to do this, right? And now I'm the company that the old owner never thought I would make this company what it is today. And they told me that. So it's funny that you asked me that question today of all days, because That's what I'm most proud of is building a staff that works for you, that values what we're doing and what I'm doing. And I mean, look at what it's done. I didn't know, you know, when you're inside, you don't know, but then it starts to come out and it's like, wow. Okay. Just stay, step back a little bit, see what you got. Right. And I mean, I looked at it and it's like, these people wanna be here, right? It's an environment that I created. I tried, I wanted it, but I didn't know if it was there, you know? But to sit here and know that I got these people on the back end who are, they said like, let's do this. So, From that standpoint, I think it's awesome. That's probably what I'm most proud of is that I actually feel like I did create this and I established something. And it's not what it used to be where it was a stepping stone.

Correct.

Great Lakes Data Systems is a career path for people that want to be here. I didn't know that I mean, I just want to water, you know, but when you're inside, you're trying to build that you're trying to change it. And when the company used to be a stepping stone for people to move on, right? And you get so close, you got somebody and then they go, it's like, what? How is that possible? How can we be in this business and be a stepping stone? So now, I started doing that. And it's all about working from within, getting people rallied around what we're doing, because if they believe in me, it doesn't matter what we're doing. Right. So. I kind of figured that stuff out every day, something comes up, but if I had to say what's my proudest moment, and that's flipping this stepping stone of a company into the POS dealer in Michigan, and it's actually a career spot.

Right. That's amazing. You're the lead singer and you've got an amazing fucking band, right?

Well, I got you in the band, man. I got you in the band.

I loved it. I mean, even being there when you had your open house and the new offices, I mean, it was an amazing feeling. And I'm happy that I was there to be part of that with you, dude. It was

Let me tell you, from a friendship standpoint, that was the day and the time that I knew Kevin Spencer was different than everybody else. And I've told you this many, many times. Our friendship is valued beyond explanation. And I wouldn't change it for the world. One of the coolest things about when you left this weekend was every single body, especially Gabe, they were amazed how a kid from Southern California living in Detroit, Michigan became so close to somebody from Trinidad and Tobago. They could not believe that we met in passing in God knows what city. And they just thought that was awesome. But it's a testament to us as individuals. But from that moment you showed up here, I knew we were going to have a friendship for the rest of our lives that's going to be better than anything we've ever had.

I 150% agree, my friend. And, you know, this is awesome that we can share this with people for them to see, you know, you know, relationships where whether it's business or personal or you combine both, it's awesome. I mean, it just goes to show that you're in the right environment. Yeah. You know, I, I took two days away from work and I was on the golf course and you told me, don't look at your phone. And I did. I mean, it was great. And to put that into context, it just shows you that sometimes you got to step away and that's where you get what you need to define vision in your business. I'm so happy I can use golf to do that now, but not about me too much anymore. For you and I, it's kind of something that married

into each other, like you need it. Use this game not only to, well, as I've told you, like my professional stance is all about I create the game of golf. It is the greatest game ever played for many, many reasons, right? From life lessons to business lessons to, I'll tell you what, my dad taught me this early on. You may think you know somebody, you might've known them for 20, 30 years. But if you ever really wanna know the true root of a man, take them golfing. Because that sport and that game will show you everything about that man. And as you saw, it does. It was the most profound thing I've ever heard. My dad's taught me a lot, That one holds true till this day, and it will hold true till the end of time, right? So, and look at that for what you did, right? Look at this game of golf and what it did. It takes you, gives you a little bit, gives you that insight, and then you go back, and I always needed that to do something. I just happened to use this game. You've been around me a long time. I mean, let's just take the Nashville guys, you were there, right? Ah, they finally got to see. And they said, Okay, I get it. Right. I mean, even Richard nowadays, right? But, you know, when I first started, people like dog before they didn't know about it. I thought I just screwed around a lot, right? But you've seen that It's not all fun and games. It teaches you a lot. You can do it a lot. And growing up as a country club kid, it was, you know, the stigma is there, but I mean, I'm not running the streets and I'm providing opportunities for people.

Exactly. And you know, one of the things that, you know, and I'm sure you can give a good testimony to this is that, You know, you step away from the business for two days and after those two days, what you have gotten from a treasured perspective, it doesn't make you feel guilty because you've gotten something that you can bring back into the business. You know, just learning, you know, the strategies of Gov and talking and networking and stuff. I mean, I think that's an amazing thing that Gov brings to my business.

Oh, it's awesome. And like now the staff, right? I mean, they've said all the time, like, this company rides on my visions, right? And my ideas. They now understand what the game does for Great Lakes. So this past week, just like you though, I got great people now to help us do what we gotta do, right? So I'm out there with you, doing our thing. I got my own ideas of coming back. you know, and they were just like, okay, what'd you come up with? Right? Because they know that that's my breakaway too, right? Doing that. And, you know, one of the guys from the software, I had a meeting with him a few weeks ago, and he was kind of surprised. But then at the end of the meeting, he was like, complimentary. He's like, man, I see why you do that. I'm like, yeah, you should probably try taking a break once in a while. Right? And I guess for me, doing it like that, but yet equating that world into the business world, it's like, I don't feel I'm that far removed either. You know, I come in here and the same philosophies, right? Hold true, really. You know, I mean, I treat my business just like golf. It's the honor system. Do you really need me to come around and micromanage you and tell you if you didn't do that? Right. So. Let's be honest, the game of golf, if you get the ball move before you hit it, you say it took a stroke. I didn't see nothing, but I saw the ball move. It's integrity. Right. So I do that. people enjoy that, they appreciate that, right? Because I'm not over their shoulder, but I tell them, I'm sorry, hey, you can, I give you the opportunity, right? But hey, if I gotta be the USGA and the ruling arm, I'll come through and let you know, either yes or no, you know? So, like I said, greatest game I've ever played.

Oh, this is, this has been great. I mean, and I think it's, it's, this has brought me so much since, you know, we know each other very well. You've got an amazing life. You've got an amazing wife. You got two great boys that I love to death as well. You know, those, those guys are great. Oakley and, and Rookster.

Yeah. Well, we definitely, uh, you know, That's actually Lindsay right now. I can see it coming through. I told her we were doing this. She's like, don't tell her I said hi.

Tell her I said hi, Buck, and tell her to listen. For sure.

Oh, yeah. She's going to listen. She's like, you got to send it to me when you're done. But yeah, it's lucked out there, too. One of the cool things about this, Kevin, was just to highlight Lindsay a little bit here. Sure. You know, you know, more so than a lot of people. Last year's been, so to say, right, not everything's teddy bears and ice cream sometimes, you know. But one of the cool things about her is she saw our connection. Right. And traveling for work, sometimes, you know, you leave them in this off their side. Right. But I channeled a lot of stuff and changed a lot of things because I highlighted the fact that going forward, this is what I got to do. This is what I would rather do. Right. I'll sit in my house for. 30 straight days, if that's what you know, if I had to, you know, for the ability to meet up with you and, and stuff like that. So she was like, she saw that and you know, it's like, how do you, so she's awesome for that. You know, can't thank her enough for being a part of that. Right. Um, and most, most wives don't, I got guys that don't even intertwine their wives with their friends.

Yeah.

You know? Um, but, It's not what I want to do. And it just is awesome that she's a part of this as much, you know. And you've seen her. I mean, hell, she's the only wife of the group to be partying with us.

For sure. You remember Vegas.

Yeah. Right. I mean, so. Yeah, it's awesome, you know, and she loves having you around, too.

Thank you for that. Appreciate it.

So now we just got to get spark plug and your wife out.

For sure. Well, you got a taste of spark plug in South Carolina, so.

Oh, man, it was awesome. And I almost now, just like last night, right? Come home. Lindsay goes to sleep earlier. The dogs are over there and I'm like. Well, where's spark plug? I got nobody to hang out with, man. Nobody's hanging out with me.

My wife loved that picture that I took and you made a sticker out of it. I mean, she loved it.

Oh yeah, with me and Spark Plug? Yeah. I loved it. I love it.

Well, my friend, my buddy, my pal, thank you very much for this. I think listeners are going to love this all around. I hope your clients get to listen to this episode. It's been a great one.

I appreciate the opportunity, Kevin. This is awesome. I really enjoyed being a part of this show with you, but I'm really looking forward to what all you and I are going to do together in the future, my friend.

Same here. We're going to do more of this as well, too.

Oh, yeah. I can't wait for the next episode.

Okay.

Thank you, sir. Thanks, man.

Thanks so much for tuning into this episode. We sure do appreciate it. If you haven't done so already, make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever you consume podcasts, so we'll get updates as new episodes become available. And if you feel so inclined, please leave us a review. Until next time, friends.