Sarah Ford loves boots. It’s a key ingredient in many startup stories, a passion for the product. We talk to Sarah Ford about her business journey, from Harvard Business School to management consulting, from the crafting of bespoke boots in a live setting to the evolution into e-commerce. Sarah is an example of grit, determination, agility and creativity.
In the world of special events, he is a legend. Today on the show, a chat with world-renowned event designer David Beahm. David Beahm. Famous for his white beard and round glasses, he truly is an unforgettable persona. And if you’ve had the good luck to attend one of his remarkable events, then you know his gifts are truly special. But how did the man become the myth? It was the year 2000, and Hollywood IT girl was getting married to Hollywood royalty: the wedding of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mic...
Plot twist! In this week’s episode, host Angela Giovine turns the mic on herself to share her small business journey. Angela leads Happenings Media, a media organization devoted digital, social & experiential marketing and media. She is passionate about small business, which led to the development of this podcast. Angela is joined by Jessica Kartalija , evening news anchor for CBS Philadelphia . Angela talks to Jess about her journey from corporate America to small business ownership. After ...
Tessa Miller has owned and operated The Nest in Reno's up-and-coming West District for 10 years. She often supplies the most sought-after vintage shops in San Francisco with her finds in Nevada's rural sprawling estates, mining moguls, ranchers, casino billionaires, Tahoe's lakeside mansions, and her informed eye at estate sales, garage sales, and more. We talked to Tessa about resilience, vision, and the art of making you passion a business.
Who doesn’t love cupcakes? That’s the thought that former NFL stars Michael Griffin and Brian Orakpo had one day as they enjoyed some tasty treats. Griffin and Orakpo both spent part of their professional football careers playing for the Tennessee Titans, which is where the original Gigi’s Cupcakes was located. So when the time came to move on from professional football, the pair was ready to enter the entrepreneurial world. They joined forces with their college friend Bryan Hynson and together,...
It is dizzying to think about the way the internet has shaped, and reshaped, the way we do business, make money, and lead our lives. One of the more interesting aspects of e-commerce is the ability to be really successful and profitable in niche businesses. Ben Scrivens was a horror movie enthusiast from an early age. Age 4 to be exact. Little did he know that this hobby, combined with his creativity and ability to wield a little bit of coding, would help him to create one of the premier destina...
There are over 1.5 million registered nonprofits in the United States alone. And just like the world of business, nonprofits come in many shapes and sizes. While profit may not be a driving force when it comes to many nonprofits, there are many similarities between small businesses and small nonprofits, from living your passion to people management to planning for the future. Today we will touch on many of those topics with Jen Andruzzi, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of the Joe Andruzzi Foundat...
Taxes. Business structures. These seemingly straightforward topics are actually ANYTHING but simple. Large corporations all across the world employ teams of people to develop the ideal business structures for legal protection and tax advantages. But what about small businesses? Enter Ross Brunson. Ross has devoted his entire career to assisting small business owners in these important matters. And as a business owner himself, Ross has seen firsthand, how the digital age has transformed his indus...
Today, email marketing is a tool used by all businesses, big and small. But back in 1998, Tom Kulzer was a college student looking for an automated way to keep in touch with his clients. AWeber was born, as many great businesses are, out of a desire to fix a personal problem he faced. Today, with over 20 years of success, 100 employees, and over 100,000 customers served, AWeber is recognized as one of the early players that helped define the email marketing industry. How did AWeber did continue ...
How did craft brewing company Yuengling survive almost 200 years, through prohibition and the dawn of the mega brewery? This is the story of how Yuengling deployed character, community, grit, and resilience to become the largest craft brewery, the 6th overall largest brewery, and America’s oldest brewery, all while maintaining 100% family ownership? We had the honor to chat with Debbie Yuengling. Debbie shared with us her memories of the company from childhood, what drew her into the family busi...
It started with a cocktail, a chance meeting, and a love for doughnuts. What resulted was a doughnut phenom that took New York City by storm. By pushing the boundaries with recipes like the "everything doughnut" and the beet & ricotta doughnut, The Doughnut Project attracted everyone from in search of delicious travel destinations to major brands looking to collaborate on innovative projects. Co-owner Leslie Polizzotto shares her journey with us from leaving the legal profession, to moving a...
In 1959, his mother helped him get a business loan to open his first service center. Today, Fred Beans sits at the helm of a self-made empire with more than 14 auto dealerships supplying 19 vehicle brands across southeastern Pennsylvania, employing over 1,700 people. Fred shares more than 6 decades of wisdom with us about starting, growing, and managing a small business with staying power. Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media! Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness/ Face...
"I can't believe this product doesn't exist." That thought, or some variation of it, is the origin point for many entrepreneurial journeys. While most entrepreneur stories may begin that way, the endings vary greatly, from the licensing of an invention to the sale of a company, to an unfortunate flop. It was this question that Mark Kuhn asked himself as a college intern that led to the founding of the quirky, creative engineering firm. From that initial “hey we could build that" moment, Kuhn set...
Have you ever attended a sporting event where one lucky spectator has the chance to win a car if he or she could bank a half-court shot? Have you ever gone to a charity event where you could win $25,000 if you sink a hole in one? What you may not realize is adding this type of contest to an event isn’t as risky as it sounds. All it takes is a special type of event insurance. That’s the basis of what Interactive Promotions Group (and its flagship US Hole in One) does. This story is a unique one i...
If you mention the name Valerie Weber or Dermagrafix in permanent cosmetic circles, you may get a look of recognition or admiration. Valerie Weber is an international name in her industry, a talented artist and a savvy business owner. When you meet Val or browse her social media, you will encounter a poised, professional and successful artist-meets-mogul who seems effortless in her delivery. But the truth is, Weber achieved those things through a lot of hard work and determination. Having made t...
Insurance. We all need it…. Few understand it. Do I have enough? Is every circumstance covered? Am I going to end up one of those horror stories where I was underinsured in a crisis? For most busy people, there simply isn’t enough time to do the hours of research it takes to become intimately versed on insurance needs. Most of us would see the value in buying our insurance from someone we know and trust. That is how Steve Gannon has built his business. In an industry that took to the internet ah...
Guests today on the Extra/Ordinary Small Business Podcast: Zanya Gissler and Filomena Cook, the dynamic duo behind Zanya Spa Salon . This extraordinary small business is headed by 2 yin and yang business partners whose talents complement each other to form a killer business combination. Zanya Gissler, the beauty industry veteran, Filomena Cook, the savvy businesswoman. We learned a lot about what it means to run a small business with a large staff, how to overcome setbacks and how to succeed in ...
A long-time artist and graphic designer, John Fezzuoglio decided later on in life that he needed to make a change for the sweeter. Influenced by his childhood memories of authentic homemade food in Brooklyn New York, John decided to combine his love for food with his artisan skill. The result? In less than 10 years, Owowcow has become a runaway hit. We visited John in his Lambertville, New Jersey ice cream shop to dive deeper on how he became an extraordinary small business. Was it a killer soci...
In this episode, how Mary Dougherty turned her natural business savvy and hunger for success to into profitable small businesses in the fashion space, first as a successful retail wholesaler, and later the owner and operator of Nicole Miller Philadelphia . The name Nicole Miller may be familiar to you. As the “queen of the little black dress,” this fashion label has been loved and worn across the globe since 1982. Perhaps a lesser known fact about the company is that it works with a network of i...
Coffee roaster David Waldman of Rojo’s Roastery joins us for a truly memorable conversation about what it takes to brew the best cup and make money doing it. Once a red-haired touring musician, David’s nonlinear life is what has shaped him, and has shaped the truly unique culture of his company. Learn the merits of delivering the highest quality product to the customer and the dividends that it pays. David’s diverse background makes him the quintessential Renaissance man. From professional music...
The U.S. fitness industry generates more than 30 billion dollars per year. There are nearly 40,000 health clubs nationwide. But believe it or not, the health club industry is fairly new... just about 4 decades old. Jim Worthington got in at the ground level, at age 24, when clubs hosted more racquetball than actual fitness programming. Fast forward to today, Worthington owns one of the most well-respected and cutting-edge health clubs in the industry, the Newtown Athletic Club . Today the NAC bo...
What does it take to grow a local real estate company to over 400 agents from scratch? Robin Mancuso DeLuna, co-owner of Coldwell Banker Hearthside , shares the magic formula with us. Robin, along with her co-owner and brother Jamie Mancuso, is second generation small business owners. Learn how the duo overcame a host of challenges: learning the business from the ground up, earning the respect of agents and employees, and evolving the business at a time of major change and unrest. Are you connec...
A modern American pub and restaurant, Steam Pub serves hundreds of locals each week and employs over 70 staff. The restaurant, created by 4 friends, has become a trusted neighborhood favorite. But it took a LOT of blood, sweat and tears to get there. Martin Hoeger, co-owner of Steam Pub , co-owner, recounts the story of how he got into the restaurant business, what gave him the idea to start his own restaurant, how he took on the momentous task of building and financing a restaurant, and how he ...
Are you a small business owner? This podcast is for you. Welcome to the Extra/Ordinary Podcast, where together we'll discover extraordinary local businesses and the stories behind them. Pop culture has become obsessed with the entrepreneurship stories of Silicon Valley, glorifying enormous investments rounds and worshipping venture capitalists. But the backbone of our economy is made up of small, local businesses. Their stories might not include an IPO or exit strategy. They may never become a b...
