This Is Small Business

Meet Debra Mastic, the founder of Fluff Trough, a pet feeder designed to enhance mealtime comfort for our furry friends. Debra shares her heartfelt journey, inspired by her beloved pug, Porkchop, who struggled during mealtime. From the challenges of launching a business to overcoming personal obstacles, including a cancer diagnosis, Debra’s story is one of resilience and innovation. Discover how s...

Meet Anissa Pfeifer, the CEO and inventor of the Whiskee Straw, a unique straw with a whisk at the bottom designed to mix drinks like smoothies and coffee. Anissa shares the emotional journey behind creating her product, from the early struggles of running a small boutique to the breakthrough moment when she invented the Whiskee Straw. With her business on the brink of failure, Anissa finds new ho...

Meet Chris Osse, the founder of Armbie, a unique dual-arm support sling designed for comfort during long flights. Chris shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, revealing the challenges and triumphs he faced while bringing his innovative product to market. Join us as we explore the passion behind Armbie, the lessons learned along the way, and the pivotal moment that led Chris to pitch his...

Kayla Castañeda, founder of Agua Bonita, brings a refreshing twist to the traditional Mexican drink, aguas frescas, blending heritage and innovation in every sip. With a rich personal story rooted in her family's heritage, Kayla's mission is to share an elevated version of this beloved beverage. After navigating challenges like job loss during the pandemic and financial struggles, she successfully...

From a chaotic childhood to joining the military at 17, this entrepreneur discovered the therapeutic power of science and gamified it. In this special Veteran's Day episode of This is Small Business, John Coveyou, founder and CEO of Genius Games, a science-based board game company that has sold over half a million units worldwide, shares his journey. He discusses how military principles shaped his...

Matthew Tesvich, the CEO of Skunk Skin turned his personal battle with stinky feet into a thriving business with his innovative odorless socks. Hear about his experience on "Buy It Now," where he impressed judges like Jamie Siminoff, and learn the key lessons he gathered on entrepreneurship, marketing, and overcoming challenges. You can watch Skunk Skin's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: Lio...

Meet Keith Lorren, a.k.a. The Spice King on Buy It Now. With his aromatic cooking seasonings, he swooned a panel of industry judges, complete with a live cooking demo and an original song. We delve into how his vibrant personality and unique approach won him a spot in the Buy It Now store and a $20,000 prize. Tune in for an inspiring story of perseverance and creativity that might just ignite your...

“Stumble, stumble forward.” That’s the key advice of Scott and Paige Putnam, founders of Swat n Scoop, and winners of Prime Video's Buy It Now. This father-daughter entrepreneurial duo share the origins of their innovative product, which began with a scream— the kind every parent knows all too well. With a blend of humour and heart, they discuss the challenges of creating a humane bug-catching pro...

A tragedy near-miss turned this healthcare professional into an entrepreneur. Her toddler was crying, but no sound was coming out: a clear sign of choking for any medical professional. Felicia Jackson's nightmare scenario inspired a product that is literally saving lives: CPR Wrap. Host, Andrea Marquez explores the backstory and journey of Felicia’s invention, what led her to audition to Buy it No...

A behind-the-scenes look into Emmy Award-nominated entrepreneurship show "Start Up" on PBS. Gary Bredow and Jenny Feterovich explore the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship and the journey that led them to creating their successful show Start Up. Gary reflects on his childhood experiences that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, while Jenny shares her journey from the Soviet Union to becomin...

Are you an entrepreneur looking to turn your big idea into a successful business? Welcome to "This is Small Business: Behind the Buy", the official companion podcast to the Buy it Now show from Amazon Prime Video. Hosted by Andrea Marquez from This is Small Business, and featuring Jamie Siminoff, creator of Ring, this special season of TISB dives deep into the world of Buy it Now and the entrepren...

Can you still start a business if you’ve got no space or time to create, store, and pack your products at home? Just ask Marilyn Yang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Popadelics, who managed to do just that by starting her business remotely using third party logistics. She shares the ins and outs of outsourcing your operations as a startup, some of the early risks she had to take to make it work, and th...

How can the right ad strategy help your business stand out in a crowded market? Just ask Kyle Goguen and Garrett Gosselin, the co-founders of CRBN Pickleball, who transformed their passion for pickleball into a thriving brand by leveraging the power of Amazon Ads. Discover how the right advertising helped them showcase their unique brand identity and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you're n...

Ever wondered how to get a cash injection for your business without giving up equity or taking on debt? Just ask Elise Lambkin, the founder of Lil Sippers, who landed a game-changing for-profit grant that helped propel her business forward. Elise breaks down the entire process of applying for the Amazon Business Small Business Grant, from finding the opportunity to making sure her brand story reso...

What if you could revolutionize your Amazon business with cutting-edge AI tools? Join us as we uncover the latest advancements from the Amazon Accelerate event in Seattle, with exclusive insights from Andrea Marquez of Amazon’s This Is Small Business podcast. We dive into the game-changing world of AI-generated A+ content, as well as the exciting debut of Project Amelia, Amazon’s generative AI tha...

Want to build an award-winning business that not only thrives but also makes a real difference? Just ask Justin Forsett, former NFL player and CEO and co-founder of Hustle Clean, who turned his side hustle to a successful community-focused brand! In a live recording, we catch up with Justin, winner of the Amazon Force for Good Award. He reveals how his personal experiences – from humble beginnings...

Ever wondered how being part of an entrepreneurial community can be the game-changer your business needs? Just ask Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners aka NAWBO, who believes that surrounding yourself with a good network can propel your business to the next level. To celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month, we’re taking a look back to see how the entrepreneu...

How do you transform an everyday problem into a product that people want to buy? Just ask Ray Philips, the CEO of SoapSox, who turned children’s bath-time struggles into a product that resonated with so many people. Ray shares how he validated his idea and navigated the bumps throughout his entrepreneurial journey. And if you're still in the brainstorming stage, Morgan DeBaun, the CEO of Blavity,...

Want to know how your culture can give your business an edge? Just ask Mayra Luz Colon, the founder of Healthy Rican, who fused her Puerto Rican roots with her passion for healthy living to create a successful line of mom-approved seasonings. Mayra shares how she overcame imposter-syndrome, connected with her community, and pivoted from coaching to creating a product that resonated with so many pe...

Ever wondered how to make influencer marketing a game-changer for your small business? Just ask Brittany Hennessy, the bestselling author of  "INFLUENCER: Building Your Personal Brand In The Age of Social Media."  Brittany reveals how small businesses can leverage the power of influencers to enhance their brand, reach new audiences, and drive sales. Whether you're new to the influencer m...

Want to make sure everyone knows about your product before it launches? Just ask Jay Clouse, the founder of Creator Science, who was able to generate six figure sales within the first few days of launching his product, Creatore HQ, all thanks to a carefully thought out pre-launch strategy. Jay shares his approach to building anticipation through consistent communication and engagement with his aud...

Wondering if your small business is ready to scale and how to smoothly transition into e-commerce? Just ask Val Fishbain, co-founder of Spread the Love Foods, who successfully took her business from the local farmer’s market to the online world, all while staying true to her community roots. Val shares her experience selling at farmer’s markets, what it took to make the leap to e-commerce, and the...

Ever wondered how podcasting can help you grow your business? Just ask Hala Taha, the host of the Young and Profiting (YAP) podcast and the founder of YAP Media Network and YAP Media, who knows all the podcasting secrets that’ll help you get big. Hala aka the Podcast Princess shares her own entrepreneurial journey and reveals the secrets behind her rapid growth, including how she harnessed LinkedI...

Starting a business on a tight budget might sound tough, but it can be more beneficial than you might think. Just ask Alice Kim, founder of Elizabeth Mott, who turned a small budget into a flourishing business. Alice explains how she reduced costs by building a strong network, coming up with creative solutions, and the importance of buying enough time to build the momentum you need to get your bus...

Want to learn how to turn your cultural heritage into a successful business idea? Just ask Conchita Pleasant, the founder and CEO of Nefertiti's Secrets, who looked at Ancient Egyptian remedies to create a hair care line. Conchita opens up about the struggles of battling breast cancer and how it led her to start her business.  Learn how to conduct effective market research through direct feed...