Good Morning, Market

For the United States, the economy looks to bring an end to the post-pandemic bounce-back as the Federal Reserve focuses on curbing inflation. As most business owners brace for a mild recession, Coastal Georgia may actually expand with new developments in manufacturing, logistics, and construction. Dr. Michael Toma, Professor of Economics at Georgia Southern University and principal author of the...

Growing businesses have a trait in common: laser focus of resources on a specific target. Stephanie Dammen-Morrell has spent over a decade learning how to harness the synchronized powers of service, sales, and marketing as Director of Business Development at prominent design firm, Hussey Gay Bell. Stephanie joins GMM to discuss growth hurdles, leading a business development team, avoiding "unicorn...

When you are a one-person business, you learn about your abilities and your limits, and you learn from a plethora of mistakes. Solopreneurs also have some strong practices from which any business professional can take a page. Bri Salley has been the solopreneur, running her own marketing agency and managing large marketing budgets across the world. The marketing & communications director of Te...

With a recession looming ahead in 2023 and prices continuing to rise, Black Friday was supposed to be somewhat understated. This has impact for the economy as Black Friday shopping is seen as a bellweather of overall consumer spending. Shoppers didn't get that memo this Black Friday weekend, and it has impacts and insights for everyday businesses. Phillip breaks down the performance. Learn more ab...

When Marjorie Young got a call to come help her dad's business in Virginia (on the brink of bankruptcy), she had to figure out how to grow that business with a $0 marketing budget. The result became known as the Reputation Matrix.  For over 25 years Marjorie has been using that system to increase visibility, credibility, and positive word-of-mouth for organizations of all sizes. The CEO of Ca...

Pre-COVID, the Coastal Empire was growing at significant rates. Post-COVID, the Savannah Metropolitan Area looks primed to explode. Heather Booth brings decades of experience working the Hostess City area in real estate - sharing what we may expect from recent growth catalysts. Connect w/ Heather Booth: https://hbooth.baystreetrealtygroup.com/ Learn more about Sol Insights : solinsights.com Share...

Start-up expenses. Equipment upgrades/expansions. Working capital for operations. Everyday businesses find themselves needing large sums of money; yet, they often get turned away from traditional lenders. As business capital gets even tighter, entrepreneurs need options to keep their business progressing. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are designed to solve these problems. Na...

Personal experience can spark "opportunity vision". When Scott and Amy Pierce saw serious health care gaps for their own loved ones, they decided to bring a new type of service to the market. Learn about the story of seizing opportunity as the Coastal Care Partners organization grows through global pandemics, massive vaccine roll-outs, and "Shark Tank" competitions. Learn more about Coastal Care P...

Business is about capitalizing on opportunities, and buying and selling organizations is how many of the best win the in the market place. Brian Judson brings his 15 years of experience to the podcast – revealing what you need to know about one of the least-discussed aspects of business. Learn more about Brian and B3 : http://best-business-brokers.com/about-us/brian-judson/ Learn more about Sol In...

Do you want to grow your business into something more than yourself? Erik Reagan and his business partner at Focus Lab decided they wanted to do just that...but it didn't happen over night. Fresh off his launch of coaching organization, Built On Purpose, Erik shares key planning, principles, and processes in scaling an organization beyond the ceiling of its owner. Learn more about Built On Purpose...

As we reflect on the pursuit of excellence and prepare for scaling your business beyond yourself, Phillip shares his struggles and battle scars as an entrepreneur since starting Sol Insights in 2020. Launching a little-known firm providing a "new" service in a historically lagging market, the first-time business owner certainly chose a steep climb. Strap in for some honest reflection on the challe...

How do you achieve the exceptional - be it as a business or professional? Reaching the mountaintop can be overwhelming, but Catherine Grant and the ExperCARE organization have made tremendous progress in a relatively short span. Co-founding and leading the preeminent urgent care organization in a healthcare industry hub, Catherine shares her trials and triumphs in achieving rarefied air...the spac...

Jennifer Abshire is the Founder, CEO of Abshire Public Relations, a premier agency in the low country.mpire as it has been slowly but surely changing. With a new wave of transformation underway, Jennifer shares her insight on the potential to lead the region's growth inside-out. Jennifer Abshire is the Founder, CEO of Abshire Public Relations, a premier agency in the Southeast coastal region. Lear...

COVID changed the way we had to work. The subsequent demographic shifts, habit developments, and technology acceleration are changing the way we choose to work. Mo Hamzian, CEO of the new VEL premium work cafe, shares his perspective on the changing productivity landscape and how both employers and remote workers can optimize their productivity. Learn more about VEL: https://www.myvel.com/ Learn m...

How do you make customers that like you, love you? How do you then develop those fans into your street team of promoters to get that hallowed word-of-mouth growth? Hot off their new ESPN+ series and transition to full-time Banana Ball, Phillip brings the president of The Savannah Bananas to the plate. Jared shares how the Bananas do the basics consistently well and then add the little things to pl...

The July inflation numbers came in lower than analysts expected. Congress just passed an "Inflation Reduction Act". Is the tide turning in favor of business? Phillip investigates across the board to highlight why we are likely in for a long, hard road...and how businesses can be prepared. Learn more about Sol Insights: https://www.solinsights.com Email your questions for Phillip on upcoming episod...

All customers want effortless, low-friction shopping experiences, right? Recent research highlighted in Harvard Business Review shows customers aren't that monolithic in their shopping desires.  Phillip details the four major customer journeys, and how you can map out greater wallet share of your core customers. Learn more about Sol Insights: https://www.solinsights.com Email your questions f...

How do you take a fragile substance like honey and scale a boutique honey brand to national prominence...all while retaining character and advocating for the noble honeybee? Phillip hosts a round-robin with Founder Ted Dennard, President Mark Haney, and Creative Director Libbie Summers to discuss Tupelo honey, COVID, delivery models, Ukrainian-sourced honey, the Bee Cause project, and more. Connec...

By whatever circumstances, you come up with a unique product idea - it shows promise. How do you turn this good idea start-up into a growing, scalable organization? That's exactly the journey Jesslyn Rollins took when her dad developed a new electrolyte supplement to help her mom during chemo treatments. Jesslyn went from selling BIOLYTE out of the back of her Toyota SUV to transitioning the growi...

Are your customers satisfied with your service? Would they leave you if the right offer came along? How does your actual delivered experience stack up against your expectations? The answers to these questions can mean the difference between great success and death by attrition. Matt Selbie founded Oberon3 in Portland, Oregon to get businesses these answers in an intuitive, convenient manner for th...

Gas prices have been at historic highs recently - eating at consumer pocket books and driving up the cost of the supply chain. Why is gas so expensive right now? Can small businesses count on prices to come back down to earth this year? Phillip deep-dives into the major forces impacting oil pricing and highlights the latest forecasts on what may be coming down the pipe for Main Street U.S.A. Learn...

Inflation has been the number one economic headline for sometime now, but how is it impacting small businesses specifically? How worried are small business CEOs about inflation? What are they doing to combat rising costs? We do a full deep dive into SCORE 's recent Megaphone of Main Street: Inflation & the Economy study, which seeks address these exact questions on a national scale. Phillip al...

Google is changing shopping - here’s what you need to know. All businesses (especially product sellers) need to understand Google's latest move via the 2022 Marketing Live event. Learn more about Sol Insights: https://www.solinsights.com Get the weekly Good Morning, Market email newsletter: https://www.solinsights.com/good-morning-market.html

The COVID crisis has impacted retailers of all sizes and ages, but imagine supply chain challenges to a food & bev brand starting in the thick of it. Zach Broome dared to dive into a saturated market during a huge supply-side crisis  - hear his story, business philosophy, and how Vitamin Bar is penetrating a niche lane with broad potential. Discover Vitamin Bar: https://eatvitaminbar.com/...

Store layouts, company culture, customer service, and leadership are some of the secret sauces that make Leopold’s a little sweeter than the rest. Ross Bragg took over as general manager shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear how he learned and led from the “trenches” of the famous ice cream shop to take a 100 year old business to new heights. Discover Leopold’s Ice Cream: https://www.leopolds...