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.

Extra/Ordinary Small Business

23: Sarah Ford, Ranch Road Boots

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 Michael Douglas. There was to be more than 1000 guests at the legendary Plaza hotel, and David Beahm was tasked with making their dreams a wedding reality. We talked to David about his small business journey, being a leader at the forefront of the burgeoning events industry, and the magic that can come from live events.

22: David Beahm, David Beahm Experiences

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 her interview with Jess, long-time friend employee, KC Schafer puts Angela in the hot seat.   Let's continue the conversation on social media.  Find us on Instagram (@extraordinarysmallbusiness) or Facebook (/extraordinarysmallbusiness) and let us know what you thought. Have more questions?  We'd love to hear them!

21: Angela Giovine, Happenings Media

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.

20: Tess Miller, The Nest Reno

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, they trio became “The Cupcake Guys."

19: Brian Orakpo, Michael Griffin, Bryan Hynson -- The Cupcake Guys

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 destinations for horror genre fans on the internet.     Ben started Fright-Rags.com in 2003 with one idea for a t-shirt. Since then he has grown it from a one-person operation from the spare room of his apartment to a 7-person business operating out of the old morgue in Rochester, NY. The Fright-Rags story is a fantastic example of the success that can come from combining the power of the niche with the power of the internet.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: https://twitter.com/extraordinarysb Online: http://extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/ Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media! 

18: Ben Scrivens, Fright-Rags

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 Foundation.   In 2007, Jen’s husband, former New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl-winning offensive guard Joe Andruzzi, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s lymphoma, ending his football career.    Joe would go on to beat the disease, and he remains cancer-free today, but a new passion grew from his own battle: helping less-fortunate patients and their families. After witnessing first-hand the stress cancer can cause, Jen and Joe formed the Joe Andruzzi Foundation to help cancer patients and their families meet life’s day-to-day challenges.

17: Jen Andruzzi, Joe Andruzzi Foundation

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 industry.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: https://twitter.com/extraordinarysb Online: http://extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/ Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media! 

16: Ross Brunson, BookEase

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 to grow, scale, and truly thrive as a bootstrapped business alongside competitors who chose the path of venture capital? Tom Kulzer gives us a peek behind the curtain. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: https://twitter.com/extraordinarysb Online: http://extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/ Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media!

15: Tom Kulzer, AWeber

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 business, what aspects of their business and culture have given them such staying power, and how family can work together to succeed, generation after generation.    Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media! Instagram: instagram.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: facebook.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: twitter.com/extraordinarysb Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com   This episode was made possible by ClickFunnels.  Software that will LEVEL UP your small business.  Check them out—> http://extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/clickfunnels

14: Debbie Yuengling, Yuengling, America's Oldest Brewery

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 across the country and starting a business, to harnessing the power of social media to supercharge the growth of her small business.   Join the #extraordinarysmallbusinesschallenge on social media! Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: /extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: @extraordinarysb Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com   This episode was made possible by WP Engine.  

13: Leslie Polizzotto, The Doughnut Project

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/ Facebook: facebook.com/extraordinarysmallbusiness Twitter: @extraordinarysb Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/   This episode was made possible by ClickFunnels.  Software that will LEVEL UP your small business.  Check them out—> http://extraordinarysmallbusiness.com/clickfunnels

12: Fred Beans, Fred Beans Auto Group

"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 out to assemble his core team of partners that were willing to give entrepreneurship a go. The twists and turns in Oat Foundry’s road have led to the establishment of a thriving small business. “We build cool stuff” is their motto....and, well, they do!     Are you connected with Extra/Ordinary Small Business?   Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com 

Oat Foundry: Mark Kuhn

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 in many ways - it technically operates as a traditional brick and mortar, but most of its business is brought in via the internet.  This business is also the type of business, based on its very impressive performance, that typically attracts investors, capital, and even buyout offers.  What is so refreshing to me about Greg Esterhai’s story is that, while all of that has been available to them, they choose to continue to wholly own and operate the business. We learned a lot about niche operations, business partnership and having conviction and vision that helps you achieve your goals.     Are you connected with Extra/Ordinary Small Business?   Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com 

US Hole in One: Greg Esterhai

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 the choice to strike it out of her own while settling into a new life as a single mother, Valerie shares her outlook on what it takes to get to where you want to go in your career and in your life.  Valerie kept a hold of her vision and ambition to make a business and a better life for herself and her son. Today, she is a mother of two sons, a wife to a loving and supportive husband, and an all-around boss.     Are you connected with Extra/Ordinary Small Business?   Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com 

Dermagrafix: Valerie Weber

Are you a small business owner? This podcast is for you. Welcome to the Extra/Ordinary Podcast, where together we'll discover extraordinary small businesses and the stories behind them. Pop culture has become obsessed with the entrepreneurship stories of Silicon Valley, glorifying enormous investment rounds and worshipping venture capitalists. But the backbone of our economy is made up of small businesses. Their stories might not include an IPO or exit strategy. They may never become a billion-dollar business. But each and every day, millions of small business owners wake up in the morning to deliver a quality product or service, support the local economy, employ their neighbors and follow their passion. We think their stories are worth telling. Join host Angela Giovine as she connects with local business owners who excel at what they do so that you can hear their Extra/Ordinary story. Are you connected with Extra/Ordinary Small Business? Instagram: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Facebook: @extraordinarysmallbusiness Online: extraordinarysmallbusiness.com 

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Extra/Ordinary Small Business

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