Locally Owned

What if the thing holding your business back isn’t a lack of leads, effort, or money? What if it’s you? Tim Jordan bought his first business at just 21 years old and went on to buy, build, scale, and sell multiple companies, including helping grow Palmer Flowers into one of the largest independent floral businesses in the country. But this episode isn’t really about Tim’s résumé. It’s about what h...

In this episode of Locally Owned, Dave interviews Luke Desmond, vice president of Weber’s Mustard, a fourth-generation Western New York family business. Luke describes growing up working on the production line as a kid, learning every step of making and shipping products, and later pursuing a biology degree and urgent care work during COVID where he documented over 15,000 patients and faced days o...

The Customer Is NOT Always Right: The Real Origin of the Rule (And What to Use Instead) | Locally OwnedIn this mini episode of Locally Owned, the host argues that “the customer is always right” is misunderstood, explains its origins in the late 1800s/early 1900s as a marketing strategy to protect customers in an era of inconsistent goods and no return policies (often attributed to Marshall Field b...

2026 Q2 M&A Report: Why Buyers Are Growing but Deals Are Down (And How to Make Your Business Sellable)In this mini episode of Locally Owned for small to mid-sized business owners, the host breaks down insights from the 2026 Q2 M&A report: the buyer pool and the number of owners looking to sell are growing, yet overall purchases are down 10% from last quarter. With 10,000 baby boomers retir...

For most of his life, Jacob believed blessing could be earned. He grabbed. He negotiated. He outworked. He outmaneuvered. And by almost every worldly measure, he became successful. But it wasn't until he wrestled with God—and walked away with a limp—that he finally discovered the secret he'd been chasing all along. In this solo episode, Dave explores one of the most misunderstood stories in Script...

Build a Sellable Small Business: Start With the End in Mind (Locally Owned Mini Episode)In this mini episode of Locally Owned, the host explains why selling a small business will eventually become the expected “normal,” much like cultural shifts toward safer, smarter standards over time. He argues that most owners build lifestyle businesses custom-fit to themselves—like prescription sunglasses—mak...

In this episode of Locally Owned, I interview Jenise and Dell Burton, founders of SugarPlum Kids Spa and Salon in Trussville, about leaving a burned-out teaching career and a capped-out corporate IT path to build a kid-focused spa and natural hair salon. They share how fasting and prayer led to an unexpected business idea sparked by their five-year-old daughter’s request for a spa party, why they...

Escape the Owner Trap: Build a Business That Runs Without You (Team & Systems Roadmap)The script uses an ocean undertow metaphor to explain the “owner trap,” where small business owners start with energy and simplicity but get pulled into doing technical work, admin/sales, and higher-level management all at once, becoming the bottleneck that causes many businesses to stagnate or fail. It argue...

Why Hiring Feels Impossible (and the Surprisingly Simple Fix) | Conner Klassen on Home Service HiringThe host of Locally Owned interviews Conner Klassen, founder of Home Service Hiring, about why local business owners struggle to find and keep good employees. Drawing from his upbringing in a family window-cleaning business and a year of 100% turnover, Conner argues the core issue isn’t a lack of g...

In this episode of Locally Owned, the host interviews Dylan Hatfield of Hatfield Cleaning Solutions in Dothan, Alabama, about building a pressure washing business through hard work and door-to-door sales. Dylan shares how growing up in a below-average income family shaped his work ethic, how he worked his way up over 12 years in a factory to a well-paying supervisor role, and why he left stability...

How Joe Dan Reed Built a Laundromat Empire: Pickup & Delivery, Systems, and Scaling “Boring” BusinessesHost Dave interviews entrepreneur Joe Dan Reed, co-author of Splash ’Em Out Laundry, operator of nine laundromats in Kentucky, and creator of a major laundromat-focused YouTube channel. Joe Dan shares his path from early hustles to building a house-cleaning company, carpet cleaning operations...

Build Habits That Stick: Start Small, Stack, Schedule & Track (Locally Owned)In this episode of Locally Owned, the host explains that motivation may start goals, but habits determine results, sharing a personal trick for getting back to the gym by giving himself permission to do just one rep. He argues the best way to build habits is to start ridiculously small, then grow consistency over time...

6 Goal-Setting Myths Holding You Back (and the System That Actually Works) | Locally OwnedIn this episode of Locally Owned, the host breaks down six common myths that prevent people—especially small business owners—from achieving their goals and explains that success is driven by a clear vision and a repeatable system, not personality, luck, or constant motivation. The myths addressed are: goal se...

The Hidden Power of Likability in Business Success: Build Trust & LoyaltyIn this episode of 'Locally Owned,' we explore the concept of likability in business, emphasizing its role in building trust and customer loyalty. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, we illustrate how being easy to work with, trustworthy, and communicative can enhance customer relationships and increase lon...

How Austin Kirby Built a Successful Dryer Vent Cleaning Business From Scratch | Unveil Your True PurposeWelcome to another episode of Locally Owned! Today, we dive into the inspirational journey of Austin Kirby, a hands-on entrepreneur who built a successful dryer vent cleaning business from scratch. Discover how a scripture from Jeremiah and a rejection of the nine-to-five hamster wheel propelled...

Ever wondered how a private equity firm works. This is a real life story of a family owned business that that grew to become a nationally recognized brand, was bought by a private equity firm and collapsed over night! In this episode of 'Locally Owned,' we explore the inspiring story of Dominic (Nick) and Jon Paella, who started Jon-Don, a revolutionary janitorial supply company, from their s...

How AI Is Revolutionizing Main Street: Zeb Dawson on Sales, Marketing & Small Business GrowthWhat if your small business had an inside sales rep who never missed a call, booked jobs 24/7, followed up with every lead, and talked to customers exactly the way you would? In this episode of Locally Owned, I sit down with Zeb Dawson, founder of Happy Path Marketing, to explore how AI technology is t...

In this video, we delve deep into the concept of branding, explaining why it's more than just a logo or color palette. The essence of a brand is the story consumers tell themselves about your product and reputation. Using a detailed example of Joe's journey with his salsa business, we explore the three stages of branding: Stage 1 where the owner is the brand, Stage 2 where the product becomes the...

How to Make Your Personality Your BrandIn this episode of 'Locally Owned,' host Dave interviews Johnny Juan Ortiz, a dynamic speaker, community leader, and founder of Fun Life Coaching. With decades of experience in mortgage lending, real estate coaching, and community leadership, Johnny shares how his charisma and faith-driven approach to business have fueled his success. From his early days work...

The 5 Mindset Shifts to More Profit, Freedom and ValueIn this episode, the host returns after a two-month hiatus to discuss the significant shifts needed to make a small business more profitable, easier to manage, and ultimately more valuable for a future sale. After sharing personal experiences related to moving and converting a townhome into a rental property, the host dives into the five crucia...

What if scaling your business isn't the only path to success? Join us in today's episode of 'Locally Owned' as we dive deep with Miranda Gwilliam, entrepreneur, intuitive business guide, and founder of Manifest Mountains. Miranda's unique approach defies conventional wisdom by integrating mindset work, intuition, and alignment into her business strategy. Discover how she transitioned from running...

From Humble Beginnings to Local Fame: The Success Story of Rug WorksIn this episode of 'Locally Owned,' the host interviews Scott and Miranda from Rug Works, a family-run business that has transformed the rug cleaning industry. From a modest carpet cleaning operation, the couple expanded into high-end textile cleaning, garnering nearly a million social media followers and becoming renowned for the...

From Homemaker to Six-Figure Vending Business: Kathy Kidd's Entrepreneurial JourneyIn this episode of Locally Owned, meet Kathy Kidd, a single mom who transformed a modest vending machine business into a thriving six-figure enterprise. Starting from scratch at the age of 55, Kathy, along with her son Grant, grew their operation from 6 to over 50 machines. Discover how Kathy used her background in...

The Unstoppable Journey of Veronika Walker: Building a Client-Centered SalonJoin us on this inspiring episode of 'Locally Owned' as we dive into the remarkable journey of Veronica Walker, owner of Concepcion Salon. From moving to the US at 22 without knowing English to navigating through an array of challenges including long commutes, rejection, and a pandemic, Veronika's story is a testament to r...

Faith, Grit and Growth: The Story of The Danita Clinic | Locally OwnedIn this episode of Locally Owned, we dive into the incredible journey of Dale and Anita, founders of The Danita Clinic. Discover how they transitioned from secure careers to following a higher calling of providing revolutionary healthcare solutions through regenerative therapy, PRP, and more. From their small start in a 10x10 ro...