startupnation

Starting a small business is hard. Your ability to navigate obstacles and achieve critical goals will make or break your startup. On today's Business Beat, Jeff explores a study from CB Insights highlighting the most common reasons businesses fail. 

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the current state of business travel with David Fishman, president of Cadillac Travel Group.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about what you need to know about business travel right now.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses how three companies alone receive half of all U.S. ad spend: Google, Facebook and Amazon.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about how Google, Facebook and Amazon are earning this U.S. ad spend and how you can get your business noticed, too.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses a new study from Avionos, 80% of consumers say trust is more important in the post-pandemic era than ever in connecting them with brands and earning their spend.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about this increase in trust and how to earn it in order to drive sales.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses a recent CNBC study on the best states to base a business, and it ranked Michigan as one of the top, at number 11.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about how Michigan ranks in states to base a business and what its best/worst metrics are.

On today's food-themed episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff talks to food entrepreneurs Jessica Harold and Patrick Hingst of Kookys N Cream and chef Laura Romito of High 5 Salts with Benefits.

Tune in to the full StartupNation Radio show with food entrepreneurs Harold, Hingst and Romito here to learn more about how to succeed in the food industry.

First up is Harold and Hingst, the co-founders of Kookys n Cream, a Michigan-based cookie shop in Lapeer known for its cookie blend called "cookie cream."

During the interview, Harold and Hingst discuss:

• What Kookys n Cream offers
• How they "kookify" traditional desserts
• How they came up with the business idea
• Why they're looking toward franchising
• How TikTok helped them get a surge in orders and how they handled the influx

For more information about Kookys n Cream, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Next up is Romito, a chef who founded High 5 Salts with Benefits, an organic seasoning blend.

During the interview, Romito explains:

• How she turned her concoction she previously used just for herself into a business
• An explanation of the five tastes of people's tongues
• Why she created the product to avoid working in restaurants forever
• How she switched from the teaching world to the food industry
• How she made her business scale

For more information about High 5 Salts with Benefits, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses brick-and-mortar stores, which are thriving despite the pandemic and an overwhelming surge in e-commerce.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about brick-and-mortar stores and their everlasting importance.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the expected resurgence in the travel sector in Michigan post-pandemic economy. Revenues from travel in the state are expected to increase 19% this year to over $2 billion, according to a forecast from the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about how the travel sector is bouncing back in Michigan.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the fear of missing out, or FOMO, and how it can be the powerful driver that gets you more sales.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about FOMO and how it can help you expand your customer base.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses strategies on how to create customer loyalty, which starts with putting your brand above everything else.

Tune in to Business Beat to learn more about how to make customer loyalty soar.

On today's travel-themed episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff talks to KT Maviglia-Morgan and Jordan Morgan of On Arrival - The Traveler’s Podcast, Sally Bunnell of NaviSavi and Andrea Schubiner of Wanderful Journeys.

Morgan is an American-born Slovenian professional basketball player who played college basketball at the University of Michigan. Maviglia-Morgan was crowned Miss Michigan in 2014 and is the founder of The KT Maviglia Fund, which helps Michigan residents with hearing loss. Together, the duo host On Arrival, a travel-based podcast.

During the interview, Morgan and Maviglia-Morgan discuss:

• How Morgan balances being a professional athlete and maintaining a business
• Why they decided to create a travel brand
• How they plan to expand to booking and designing trips
• How to build a successful podcast
• How to immerse yourself in the business world

For more information about On Arrival, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

Next is Bunnell, the founder and CEO of NaviSavi, a video-only travel app that shows prospective travelers what they're in for on their vacation of choice.

During the interview, Bunnell talks about:

• How the app works
• How it went from a TV show idea to an app
• Why the app doesn't allow photos, reviews or editing
• How and why user-generated content drives the app
• How people can be approved to send in videos and start earning compensation

For more information about NaviSavi, visit the official website, and follow on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Next is Schubiner, founder of Wanderful Journeys, a boutique travel business that designs one-of-a-kind travel itineraries for customers.

During the interview, Schubiner explains:

• How she went from having a travel blog to a full-fledged business
• How she came to realize travel is her passion
• How being a travel advisor works
• How the business brings in revenue
• Why travel is booming now more than ever

For more information, visit the official website, and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

We’ll be back next weekend with another exciting episode of StartupNation Radio! Stay tuned.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff talks to Amy Peterson, the CEO and co-founder of Rebel Nell, a Detroit-based jewelry business that seeks to employ women with barriers to employment.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about Rebel Nell and its worthy cause.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff talks to physician Daniel Siegal, CEO of Navv Systems, a Michigan-based company focused on hospital personnel location and equipment tracking and location services. The company just closed a $3.2 million venture fundraising round from some of the top venture firms in our region. 

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about Navv Systems and the way this company is changing health care for good.

On today's franchise-themed episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff is joined by co-host Chris McCuiston of Goldfish Swim School and two featured guests: Dr. Mary Mason of Little Medical School and Manish Vakil of Tumbles Kids' Gyms.

Tune in to the full StartupNation Radio show with McCuiston, Dr. Mason and Vakil to learn how to run a successful franchise.

McCuiston is the co-founder and CEO of Goldfish Swim School, the premier learn-to-swim facility for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. This year, the Michigan-based company is celebrating its 15th year in business.

During the interview, McCuiston discusses:

• Why entrepreneurs should consider going the franchise route and its advantages
• What the basic essentials behind franchising are
• Why every business should have a recipe it follows
• Why the franchise model helps to scale
• How Goldfish Swim School continues to succeed

For more information about Goldfish Swim School, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Next is Dr. Mason, the founder of Little Medical School, an educational company that teaches kids about the sciences surrounding health care.

During the interview, Dr. Mason explains:

• How she turned a hobby into a successful business
• Why she decided franchising was the best option for her business
• How Little Medical School's franchisees succeed
• Why taking risks is the key to success
• Why franchising gives businesses a head start

For more information about Little Medical School, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Next is Vakil, the founder and CEO of Tumbles Kids' Gyms, which focuses on physical fitness while incorporating science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programs.

During the interview, Vakil talks about:

• How he started as a franchisee
• How the company is expanding to other continents
• How having a master franchisee gives businesses much more access
• What types of advisors he used to help him expand and enter into other countries
• How the company is continuing to thrive

For more information about Tumbles Kids' Gyms, visit the official website, and follow on LinkedIn.

Finally, all the guests come back together to discuss franchise disclosure documents and how to put together a business plan successfully.

We’ll be back next weekend with another exciting episode of StartupNation Radio! Stay tuned.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff talks to Bea Wolnerman of Bea's Squeeze, a lemonade company that started in Eastern Market as a summer pop-up and is now available through retailers distributed in 25 states.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about Bea's Squeeze and how you can build a brand that's just as authentic and lovable.

On today's episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff is joined by co-host, Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), and two featured guests: Patti Eisenbraun, co-owner of Brown Iron Brewhouse, and Derek Dickow, founder of Steward Media and Board of Directors member of SBAM.

Calley, who is the former the lieutenant governor of Michigan, is the president of SBAM and will soon be its CEO. SBAM aims to help local small businesses find their footing and grow. It is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community, and has been in operation since 1969.

During the interview, Calley discusses:

• His transition from commercial banker to lieutenant governor to businessman
• How the SBAM does more than just advocate for small businesses
• How SBAM's membership levels work and what resources are provided
• His view of politics today
• Why he plans to dedicate the rest of his life to SBAM

For more information about SBAM, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Next, Calley and Jeff talk to Eisenbraun, the owner of Brown Iron Brewhouse, a smokehouse, full-service restaurant and brewery.

During the interview, Eisenbraun talks about: 

• How Brown Iron Brewhouse opened its second restaurant on March 1, 2020, right around the time the pandemic took over
• Why its business model worked before the pandemic, and how the staff had to change it completely due COVID-19
• How the business has maintained its staff during the tumultuous year
• Why Brown Iron Brewhouse pays its workers' health and dental insurance if they work a minimum of 30 hours per week
• How the business has recovered its customer base

For more information about Brown Iron Brewhouse, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Next, Calley and Jeff chat with Derek Dickow, who in addition to being the founder of a PR and political relations firm, is also on the Board of Directors for SBAM.

During the interview, Dickow explains:

• How he responded to the pandemic
• How he facilitated worthwhile programming during a difficult year
• Why some may adapt to a lifelong hybrid world
• Why he spends an hour a day connecting people
• How SBAM plans to move forward post-pandemic

For more information about SBAM, visit the official website, and follow on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Finally, all the guests come back together to discuss how small businesses can recover from the pandemic.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses how food delivery apps surged during the pandemic — and how they're expected to stay for the long run.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn about why food delivery apps are taking over the business world.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses how small business owners are seeing bright times ahead for their enterprises. In fact, around 90% of small business owners are now saying with confidence they believe they're going to survive the troubling times the pandemic caused, according to a survey from Goldman Sachs.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about small business owners' optimistic outlooks:

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the deeper meaning behind small business failure statistics — and what you should do to make sure you don't become a part of those numbers.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about what entrepreneurs should really take away from small business failure statistics.

On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the increasing importance of having a health care plan for your employees — and how it can be the difference in employee retention and productivity.

Tune in to the Business Beat to learn more about why health care plans for employees are more important now than ever.