This Is Small Business

Ever wondered how to keep a seasonal business profitable year-round? Charlie Weiss, owner of  Jummy , an organic hot cocoa company has it figured out. Find out how you can leverage slow periods for business growth and why customer loyalty is essential to your success during the high and low seasons. And because this is our last episode this season, you’ll also get to hear from experts from pr...

Can your business meet eco-friendly regulations while thriving in a competitive market? Greg and Will Owens, the Co-Founders of  Liberty Tabletop  (who claim to be one of the most environmentally friendly flatware manufacturers on earth) will show you how. From using reusable materials to reducing carbon footprint, learn what it takes to grow your business as you implement environmentall...

Are you wondering if you could use AI or technology to ease your workload? The answer is yes and we’ll show you how. Kevin Meyer, Co-Founder & CEO of  Crunch Tech Inc. , explains how he uses automation and AI to run his business more efficiently. And Michelle Weise, the CEO of Rise & Design, digs deeper into how you can future-proof your business and the importance of communication in...

Entering a new market can be challenging, especially if it’s an international one. But Max Gurevich, President of  Warm Home Designs , has learned all the do’s and don’ts after successfully entering the Canadian and Mexican markets via Amazon. From making sure you switch up your marketing strategy to better suit the new market and trusting your customer feedback, to taking on the fear of a ne...

Trying to figure out how to make money while giving back through your business? Learn what it takes to grow your business when the foundation of your business model is social responsibility. Andrew Glantz, the Founder & CEO of GiftAMeal, explains how he managed to make a profit out of a business centered on giving back to the community. And Heather Cameron, a social entrepreneur and Michael B...

Are you sure you’re reaching the right customer? If you're not sure, you might not be leveraging customer research. Roshni Wijayasinha, Founder & CEO of Prosh Marketing, explains how to use customer research as a marketing strategy and the importance of timing when targeting the right customer.   — (02:19) Roshni talks about the three ways you can reach your customer: brand awareness, con...

Are you interested in starting a crowdfunding campaign? Or maybe you’re wondering if you should pull money out of your savings to start your business? Learn the pros and cons of bootstrapping & crowdfunding and what it takes to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign with Josh Lipinski, the founder of  Breakwater Supply , and Tess Estandarte, Director of Product Marketing at Rainfactory...

Have you been struggling with securing funding? The issue might be your cash flow. Ambro Blackwell, a best-selling author and VP and senior business banking relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase, explains what cash flow is and how to strategically plan it in a way that sets you up for success.   — (04:14) How to use your cash flow to figure out and mitigate what problems you might run into....

Are you looking forward to exiting your company? Take a glimpse into what happens during and after exiting a business. Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital and the ex-CEO and founder of PartPic, tells us how PartPic got acquired by Amazon and what she would’ve done differently. And Danyel Surrency Jones, the head of Amazon's Black Business Accelerator program and co-founder and...

How do you keep customers coming back for more? By being attentive to their needs and priorities. Learn customer-centred ideas to integrate into your business from the best. Mitzi Rivas, CEO and Founder of  Livie & Luca , is all about customer service and she’s got the customer retention rate to prove it. And John DiJulius, the founder, Chief Revolution Officer, and President of the DiJul...

Should I work with a manufacturer or do the manufacturing myself? That’s a question every small business owner starts thinking about as they grow. Sean Brownlee, the CEO of  Ravenox , has made the choice to acquire a manufacturer for his business and is gonna let us know all the benefits that come with it. — (03:42) The benefits of becoming a manufacturer (04:56) How to manage inventory — Cli...

How do you show customers that your product is different - and better - than competitors'? Aaron and Whitney Cordovez, Cofounders of  Zulay Kitchen , talk about how they differentiated their brand in the crowded "kitchen gadget" category. And Rita Gunther McGrath, a best-selling author and professor at Columbia University Business School, shares her five-step discovery-driven planning process...

How much is my product worth - and what is my customer willing to pay? Every entrepreneur asks these questions at some point in their small business journey. Mark Stiving, Chief Pricing Educator of Impact Pricing, joins Andrea with insights on: (2:00) How to think about pricing your product or service. (02:58) How to figure out how much your customer is willing to pay. (04:46) Should you start pri...

Every step you need to take to get your book in front of an audience - learn the process of publishing with  Naibe Reynoso , a journalist and the founder of Con Todo Press. And Jane Friedman, a publishing industry expert, shares her secrets to ensuring your book is as discoverable as possible. — (05:32) What are the steps to publishing a book? (13:21) What's the ISBN and how do I get one for...

Are you ready to make your first hire? Learn how to find the right fit, and why retention is so critical. Keirsten A. Greggs, the Founder & Principal Talent Acquisition Consultant of TRAP Recruiter, tells Andrea what small business owners should consider at this important stage of growth. — (02:22) Considerations small business owners should make when they hire.   (05:24) How to find the...

What happens if you don't protect your IP, and is it worth all the paperwork? Jeannell Darden, CEO of  Moisture Love , shares her story of battling trademark and copyright issues, and how she overcame it. Learn when and how to start the process, what to consider when rebranding, how to avoid trademark disputes, whether you should register your logo, and where to find legal support for small b...

Are you preparing to launch your first product? Andrea learns how to prepare your MVP (minimum viable product), and how to know when you're ready to go, with Trinity Mouzon Wofford, co-founder and CEO of  Golde . Trinity also gives us a look into all the behind-the-scenes work she put into their brand as she prepared to launch. — (05:56) How distinctive packaging and vibrant colors helped Tri...

Are you struggling to identify your target market? Or maybe you’re wondering where you can find your ideal customer? Andrea breaks down the customer journey into five simple steps with Amber Murray, founder of  Fidget Stickers . Once we've figured out who our ideal customer is, Darian Kovacs, founder of Jelly Digital Marketing, tells us how to reach them. Stick around to hear Andrea's key tak...

Are you an aspiring or early-stage entrepreneur with a product to sell? Learn how to grow your small business from a diverse group of entrepreneurs and experts. By the end of this season, you'll understand how to: → define your target market → secure funding → set prices → protect your intellectual property → position your product → expand to new markets → hire for success → secure a supply chain...

Join us as we dive deep into the aftermath of the competition and catch up with our teams to hear about their experiences and discover what lies ahead. Did any of the participants secure investors or unearth new opportunities? Are they venturing into other competitions for greater financial rewards, or have they decided to take a break from the high-pressure world of pitching? We’ll also reconnect...

In Episode 7 of " This is Small Business: Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert bring you to the thrilling final day of the  Rice Business Plan Competition . As anticipation reaches its peak, they reveal the teams that have advanced beyond the semi-finals and emerged as winners. Andrea and Mitch also highlight all the improvements made by each team within this short timefr...

In Episode 6 of " This is Small Business: Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert guide you through the first round of eliminations at the  Rice Business Plan Competition  where the teams compete for a spot in the semi-finals. As the pressure intensifies, each team strives to make significant improvements in order to stand a better chance of winning. They work tirelessl...

In Episode 5 of " This is Small Business: Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert take you through the first day of the  Rice Business Plan Competition  along with the four competitors. Andrea and Mitch take you behind the scenes and share the nerves, worries, and excitement that each team faces as they enter and leave the first practice round of pitching with a TON of...

In Episode 4 of " This is Small Business Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert offer a glimpse into the days leading up to the  Rice Business Plan Competition  (RBPC). With just a few days left before the big event, the pressure is mounting, and the teams are feeling the intensity, especially after receiving some anonymous feedback from the judges. These dedicated ent...

In Episode 3 of " This is Small Business Next Generation ," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert uncover the dos and, more importantly, the don'ts of pitch presentations by speaking directly with RBPC judges. They provide insights into the key differences between various pitch formats, offering advice on how to adapt and make a significant impact within the given time constraints, while also emp...