About Marker 90

I help people turn ideas, problems and opportunities into something that works.

Marker 90 Business Works is led by Brent DeRidder, a sales trainer, strategist, writer, organizer and hands-on problem solver based in Hampstead, North Carolina.

Most of the work is handled directly by me, but I also work with a small, trusted team when a project needs additional hands or specialized experience. That allows us to take on broader projects without turning Marker 90 into a faceless agency. I stay personally involved from the first conversation through completion.

My strongest work has always lived where sales, communication, systems and people meet. I help business owners figure out what is actually holding them back, decide what needs to happen next and build the practical pieces to move forward.

Experience built in the real world

My background is not limited to one industry or one job title. I have sold directly to consumers and businesses, supervised and trained sales teams, built organizations, developed outreach programs, managed major events, written speeches and marketing copy, created websites and brands, and designed systems other people could understand and use.

Early in my banking sales career, I broke company sales records in my first week and first month and reached an entire regional monthly goal within my first five days. I later moved into supervision and sales training, helping other people improve their conversations, understand their customers and produce stronger results without becoming pushy or robotic.

I have also trained organizers and outreach teams in several states, worked with national, state and local leaders and organizations, and led a statewide organization through periods of growth, conflict and change. That work included strategic planning, team development, volunteer recruitment, affiliate growth, event production, public communication and building repeatable systems that continued to be used beyond my own organization.

Leadership, communication and systems

I have served as a state chair, vice chair and secretary; led committees and teams; organized large conventions and public events; managed campaigns and community outreach; and helped people with very different personalities, priorities and perspectives work toward a shared goal.

I founded and led a disaster-relief organization that required far more than good intentions. It meant building teams, coordinating people and resources, communicating under pressure, working in affected communities and turning a mission into practical action.

Across all of that work, the common thread has been the same: understand people, identify the real problem, create a workable system and communicate clearly enough that others can act.

Small business is personal to me

Today, I bring that experience to small businesses, entertainers and community organizations. I am not advising owners from a distance. I am actively helping build and operate family businesses, developing brands and offers, planning launches and events, creating websites and content, improving customer experiences and solving the everyday problems that come with trying to make something work.

I especially love working with small businesses here at home in Hampstead, Topsail and the surrounding Carolina communities. Local owners are building more than companies. They are supporting families, creating jobs, serving neighbors and giving a place its character. That matters to me.

I am equally happy to work virtually with clients farther away and will travel when the project calls for in-person work. Wherever the business is located, the goal is the same: practical help, honest advice and work that produces a real result.

Goal Driven Communication

My approach begins with a simple idea: every meaningful communication has a goal. The job is to understand the person, find common ground and work toward the best voluntary outcome available.

That means asking useful questions, listening for what is actually being said, treating objections as information, building real value before asking for a decision and respecting a genuine no. It applies to sales, leadership, customer service, marketing, hiring, partnerships and nearly every other part of running a business.

More than advice

Marker 90 is for people who need help thinking through the problem and building the solution. Depending on the situation, that may include strategy, sales training, staffing, systems, copy, social media, websites, outreach, events or ongoing support.

I will not recommend work simply because I can sell it. If you do not need a service, I will say so. If there is a simpler or less expensive way forward, we will talk about that first.

Start it. Fix it. Build it. Grow it.