Local to Legend

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Ciara Landroma, an entrepreneur, coach and van-lifer who finally said yes to her dreams and shed the expectations of other people a year ago to set off on her own adventure traveling the country, working on the road, and supporting women with finding financial freedom. She joins Emily to chat more about letting go of goals that weren't really hers to begin with, selling it all and living in a van, and her new found love for content creation.A corporate, ladder-climbing professional got to the top and didn't like anything she saw. So, she said goodbye to it all and drove away. Literally. Ciara Ladroma moves with a purpose to share how life can be absolutely delicious when you start to choose yourself. Ciara lives full-time in her campervan as she works and plays as a 100% digital nomad with her partner and their dog. Ciara creates wealth for Women, Queer Folx, BIPOC through budget & business coaching, as well as, a curator of multi-media content that inspires viewers to choose themselves and choose joy.  Tune in for topics like:Shifting from a work-first mindset to finding joyThe collection of moments that led to a radical shift in Ciara's lifeWhy a month long challenge turned into 3 years of sober livingPivoting to focus on content creationThe question we should be asking ourselves regularlyNavigating others' opinions of your decisionsThe Daily Moment programLinks from the episode:The Daily Moment programCiara's websiteCiara's InstagramThe Megan Ciara Show InstagramFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Tobi Parks, an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, majority owner and CEO of xBk, a Des Moines-based music venue, and Board Vice President for the National Independent Venue Association Foundation.Listen in as Tobi & Emily chat through Tobi's experiences in the music world, both as an artist and on the business side. Tobi shares how her journey led her from rural Missouri to New York City and details her decade in the city working for Sony Music, touring with bands, marrying her wife and having children. Ultimately, a desire for a better city to raise kids and be closer to family led Tobi and her family to Des Moines, Iowa, where she immediately immersed herself in the music scene.Tobi walks listeners through her experience opening up xBk in the Drake neighborhood, her vision, the obstacles she had to overcome and what's next for her (hint: it may just be right next door and involve cocktails). Tune in for topics like:Tobi's background and music experienceMoving to NYC and spending a decade in the music industry thereThe trip that made Tobi change her mind about Des MoinesThe vision for xBkWhy the Drake neighborhood was chosen for a music venueWhat's next for Tobi & xBkLinks from the episode:xBk websitexBk InstagramxBk FacebookFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Sue Honkamp, founder of Real Food 4 Kids, a brand dedicated to offering food education and hands-on cooking classes for kids and teens. Sue is passionate about getting kids involved in the kitchen and teaching them how to create wholesome, tasty meals for themselves and others.Listen in as Sue & Emily talk about Sue's background at Oscar Meyer that led to a career shift and motivation to investigate the foods she and her family were consuming and the ingredients inside. Sue shares more about how she started her business, her pivots during the pandemic and all she has planned for the future, including new summer camps and cooking courses for teens.Tune in for topics like:Sue's experience as a brand manager at Oscar MeyerWhy Sue was motivated to create her own food when her daughter required a feeding tubeThe one thing Sue hopes kids take away from her cooking classesHow to encourage your kids to try new foodsSue's latest launch: Real Food 4 LifeKey takeaways from 6 years in businessLinks from the episode:Real Food 4 Life Teens Cooking CourseReal Food 4 Kids websiteReal Food 4 Kids FacebookReal Food 4 Kids InstagramFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Grace Rigdon, co-founder and COO of Deetz. Deetz is an app that you can use to see what's happening around you right now in your very own community. As a fellow tech co-founder on a mission to support local businesses in every community they're in, Emily and Grace dive into Grace's journey into the startup space, her first business that led to Deetz, and how Deetz supports its users and small business subscribers.Tune in for topics like:Grace's focus and ambitions as she started collegeHow Grace started her first business by stumbling into an entrepreneurship classWhat joining a tech startup company looks likeWhat Deetz is and how it worksLinks from the episode:Deetz app Deetz plans and pricingFind a credit union to partner with by visiting the Iowa Credit Union FoundationFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Jackie Reses and Lauren Weinberg, co-authors of new release, Self-Made Boss, a book designed to give small business owners an essential survival guide with stories and experiences from business owners and advice from industry experts. Whether you've been in business for 30 years or have been noodling on a new idea, this book will offer you tangible, actionable advice you can implement right away.Jackie & Lauren join Emily to discuss their experiences working with small business owners everywhere that led to the creation of Self-Made Boss. Jackie & Lauren scoured the marketplace for books that gave small business owners a holistic approach to running their business, but found very few. So they decided to write their own. They compiled stories and advice from business owners and experts, distilling them down into bite-size educational pieces that allowed readers to gain a new perspective on all aspects of running a small business from marketing to hiring to operations to taxes and beyond. Their writing style is approachable, offering pragmatic advice for anyone who picks up a copy.Listen to the episode to learn more about what you can expect from picking up a copy of Self-Made Boss and the journey Jackie & Lauren undertook to write it! Find Self-Made Boss at your local bookstore, Amazon, or wherever you find your books.About The Authors:Jackie ResesJackie Reses is the Chief Executive Officer of Luna Financial Group, a fintech building banking-related financial infrastructure for tech and crypto companies and the Chair of the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.  Previously, she was the Executive Chairperson of Square Financial Services and Capital Lead and Head of the People Team at Square.  She has been named one of Forbes “Self Made Women,” Fast Company's “Most Creative People in Business” and American Banker's  “Most Powerful Woman in Finance.”  She has held leadership positions at Yahoo! and was a Partner at Apax Partners Worldwide, one of the largest private equity firms in the world.  Reses serves on the board of directors of Endeavor, Affirm, and Nubank.   Lauren WeinbergLauren Weinberg is the Chief Marketing Officer of Square, where she leads global Marketing and Communications for the $100B company that provides business solutions for millions of small business owners all over the world.  She has been named on Forbes “CMO Next,” Brand Innovators “Top Women in Marketing,” and Fintech Hub's “30 Most Influential Fintech Marketers.” Weinberg has held leadership roles at Yahoo!, MTV, and AOL.  She is an Adweek Executive Mentor and advises early stage startups.Tune in for topics like:Lauren & Jackie's backgrounds and how they ended up at SquareThe inspiration behind the bookWhat's inside and how to read Self-Made Boss Who they had in mind when writing the bookWhat Jackie & Lauren hope readers take awayLinks from the episode:Self-Made Boss websiteDownload your free excerpt hereBuy Self-Made Boss hereFind a credit union to partner with by visiting the Iowa Credit Union FoundationFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Lisa Even, founder of Even Connection and corporate culture junkie turned entrepreneur. Lisa joins to share more about her one million interview mission, upcoming conference, and how she's striving to build more connection opportunities in the world.Lisa founded Even Connection in 2019 after years of building strong team cultures in the medical and financial industries. She decided it was time to take her expertise to more people so she opened up the virtual doors of Even Connection with the goal of helping people create positive ripple effects at work and beyond. Now her offerings have expanded to include:- Speaking (keynotes, conferences, retreats, breakout sessions, teams and departments)- Coaching (1x1) with people who want to create a greater ripple effect at work and beyond- Wave Workshops - work with teams on engagement, motivation, culture, and communication- Connection Conferences - one-day connection conferences, Rising Tides, for leaders and entrepreneurs who want to be inspired, connected, and impactful.Listen in as Lisa shares more about building her online business and the mission she's on to interview one million souls. The next Rising Tide conference is coming up on April 28th in Des Moines, Iowa. Emily will be speaking! If you're interested in attending, find the link to grab your ticket below.Tune in for topics like:Questions Lisa asks in every one million interviewThe Rising Tides ConferenceWhy you should read the Go GiverCreating roles and responsibilities in hiringWhy knowing where your strengths lie is crucial to your successLinks from the episode:Even Connection websiteLisa Instagram InstagramEven Connection FacebookLisa LinkedInBuy a ticket for the April 28th Rising Tides ConferenceFind a credit union to partner with by visiting the Iowa Credit Union FoundationFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Brooke Happe, owner of b.e. happe designs, an evergreen apparel brand. Brooke joins to share more about her unconventional business and life path, running b.e. happe as she travels the country with her family in an RV, crocheting hats and producing products.In 2015, Brooke stepped away from her role as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and opted to stay home with her two young boys and a daughter on the way. She started crocheting hats to keep her hands strong, intending to go back to work one day. But then more and more people started asking for the hats they saw Brooke wearing and b.e. happe was born. In 2019, Brooke and her husband decided they wanted to enjoy this season of life with young children for as long as possible so they sold almost all of their belongings, bought an RV and have been traveling the country ever since. She's continued to grow her business from a one-woman-show to a team of twelve, selling her products directly to her consumers and through wholesale. Brooke joins to chat more about taking the leap and choosing a path that's a little less traveled. She shares the experiences that led up to the change in her life and how she's continued to stay happy on the road. Brooke explains why b.e. happe also offers a portion of their profits to children's hospitals and child life services. Listen for a peek into her business and the reason why flexibility is such an important trait to have as an entrepreneur. Brooke hopes to dispel any misconceptions our listeners may have about believing you need to have all the tools, space and processes ready to go before you start. Just start! If you're someone who likes to venture off the predictable path and do things a little differently, tune in to this episode with Brooke!Tune in for topics like:Brooke's leap into entrepreneurshipWhat it's like to sell everything and live the RV lifestyleHow to tap into the resources you already haveExternal factors to be aware of in your businessHow to live without regretsLinks from the episode:b.e. happe websiteb.e. happe Instagramb.e. happe FacebookFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Jessi Shuraleff, host of the podcast, This is My Truth and coach for women seeking to reclaim their stories and their voice. Jessi joins to share more about storytelling and how to actually use it in your business to drive sales and connections.At the age of 33, Jessi was handed a pivotal moment when her husband asked her one morning - are you happy? Her answer changed the course of her path. In that moment, she realized that while on the outside it looked like she had it all - successful leadership career at Google, two kids, supportive partner, beautiful house in the city of Chicago - on the inside she had become a shell of herself. She had lost her own voice. It was at that moment she realized she held the power to write her own story and that she would do everything in her power to reclaim her voice, own her story & always speak her truth.An effective storyteller & passionate people-first leader, Jessi spent 13.5 years at Google effectively building and leading strong sales & marketing teams partnering with some of the largest global brands in the world. Creating, building, and maintaining relationships is at the core of who she is and authenticity, vulnerability and storytelling have been the cornerstone of her skillset to get her to where she is today as a leader, a podcaster & a mom.Jessi walks listeners through how to discover their own stories and how to find the meaningful moments in your life. She breaks down the importance of writing your story down and how you should go about sharing it. Jessi also shares how you can use storytelling in your marketing strategy and why it's one of the most cost-effective tools in your arsenal of tactics. She offers advice for cultivating know, like, and trust factors in your business that will draw in your ideal customer.If you've been curious about how to actually incorporate storytelling into your strategy, listen to this episode with Jessi!Tune in for topics like:Jessi's moment of truth that spurred her into entrepreneurshipHow to get curious with yourselfWhy it's important to write down your story and read it out loud (even if you never plan to share it all)Where to find your business whyShowing up on your personal profile versus your business profileHow to create little touchpoints in your business that will set you apartLinks from the episode:Jessi's websiteJessi's InstagramJessi's LinkedInMoment of Truth podcastFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily dives into five different areas all local business owners can do some “spring cleaning.” If your business operates in a local community and you want to find organic, sustainable growth, these are the things to focus on not only in the spring, but a few times a year!Here are five areas Emily dives into:1. ONLINE PROFILESYour online profiles such as Instagram, Facebook, Google, and Yelp likely have an opportunity to get a little clean up. Whether you're adding fresh photos to Google or you're ensuring your tagline is succinct & consistent across all platforms, take a moment to look at everywhere you exist to ensure all new and repeat visitors are seeing the same thing.2. SYSTEMSEmily dives into two of her absolute favorite systems for business operations: Notion and LastPass. But this is an opportunity to look at your own systems. What tools are working for you? What can you ditch? Maybe upgrading your email marketing system will allow you to access more features that increase your revenue. Perhaps deleting those apps you got on your iPhone will free you from feeling obligated to do things that you keep ya know, not doing. Be intentional about the systems you choose and remove what no longer works.3. ANALYTICSTake a look at your Google Analytics and social media insights at least once a quarter so you can get an idea of what is resonating with your audience, where you can optimize your website, and where you can bake in some social proof. Analytics give us a snapshot of data to understand how our customers walk through our brand journey. Making decisions based on this can impact the bottom line of your business, while simultaneously adding more value to your potential and current customers.4. REVIEWSReviews are essential in building trust and authority in your community and/or your industry. Take an opportunity once a quarter (or once a month) to ask your customers for a review in the places that people discover you. For example, if you see 75% of website traffic coming from Facebook, might be best to get more reviews there. If 90% of your traffic comes from Google, get reviews there. Take those reviews and implement them in your content to get the most impact!5. JOY CHECKHow are you doing as a human? Are your services working for you? Your hours? Do you need to hire a part-time VA or intern to support some of the small tasks weighing you down? Is it time to find a bookkeeper? Business ownership is hard because of all the hats you need to wear. Ditch what no longer works, hire where you need help, or make a plan to take action when certain things line up in your business. If you've been looking for ways to grow your local business, you'll love this episode! If you feel like you need more support, accountability, and how-to trainings, Local Business School was MADE for you.

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Morgan Chicchelly, founder of Des Moines Girl, a blog dedicated to all things Des Moines. Morgan joins the podcast to share more about building a local media brand that's helped so many people discover new brands, places, and things to do in their city. Not in dsm? This story is still jam packed with value for anyone interested in building a micro media or online brand from scratch. Morgan grew up in Des Moines but spent the majority of her twenties on the East Coast. After returning to her hometown like so many did during the pandemic she discovered that so much had changed about the city she grew up in. She wanted to get to know her city better but struggled to find a place to discover new brands and activities beyond her own searches on Instagram and Google. So she decided to create her own, a blog and brand called Des Moines Girl.With a full-time corporate job, Morgan slowly built Des Moines Girl on the side, investing first in branding and then creating her website and social media presence on her own. She started by sharing topics she was interested in herself like all the happy hours in Des Moines, or best brunch spots or upcoming weekend activities and quickly gained a loyal audience.Morgan walks our listeners through how she creates a two way conversation with her followers and tips she has for others looking to build an engaged community primed to act. She also shares her advice for those just starting out and how to avoid burnout by learning how to fill the gaps between your weaknesses and strengths. If you've been curious about starting a local blog or social media account highlighting spots in your city, listen to this episode with Morgan! Tune in for topics like:The searches that spurred Morgan to create Des Moines GirlWhy it's important to anchor your social media presence with a websiteWhat to do first when you're ready to launch your brandA pivotal conversation & a question Morgan hadn't considered beforeThe reason to wait before monetizing your brandHow to keep your why at the forefront of your businessLinks from the episode:Des Moines Girl websiteDes Moines Girl InstagramDes Moines Girl FacebookJoin Local Business School! Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Regan Doely, owner of Doe a Deer, a product-based business offering kitchen decor and home goods. Regan shares more about her leap from freelance to products, how she's driven growth and what her expansion to a storefront has looked like.Reagan graduated from Grand View University with a graphic design degree and spent her first few years working in corporate graphic design departments. Feeling the itch to flex her creative muscles beyond strict brand guidelines, she started her side hustle, Doe a Deer. What started as a primarily freelance business designing logos and brands for other entrepreneurs quickly became part product-based as Regan began selling her stationery designs. A love for vintage kitchen decor like flour sack towels pushed Regan to begin experimenting with designing her own and eventually landed her at craft shows, selling her stationery, towels, and greeting cards. At first her freelance clients gave Regan the cash flow to be able to invest in buying stock of her products but over time she continued to grow the product side so that less and less clients were needed. Today her primary focus is on the products. Regan walks listeners through her experience growing her business and the steps she's taken to drive that growth, especially her approach to wholesale. She breaks down some of the wholesale markets she's tried and which ones are her favorite. Regan also shares her experience sourcing the perfect building and getting ready to launch her own storefront in Stuart, Iowa. She offers her advice for any new or aspiring product based business owners ready to launch their idea into life. If you've been curious about what it's like to build your own product based business or launch a storefront, listen to this episode with Regan! Tune in for topics like:Evolution of Doe a Deer from freelance to productsWhen Regan knew it was time to leave her corporate jobThe story behind Doe a Deer's signature flour sack towelsWhy and how you should prioritize your margins Regan's advice for anyone dipping their toes into wholesaleHow to test the waters before opening your own storeLaunching F is for Fawn, new baby product lineLinks from the episode:Doe a Deer InstagramDoe a Deer websiteF is for Fawn InstagramShopifyFaireFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium in Des Moines, Iowa and Desert Rose Cactus Lounge in Bend, Oregon. Andrea joined to chat about starting a retail business and juggling two brands in two separate cities.Andrea's career path has given her a wide variety of experience in many different industries. From using her degree in communications from the University of Northern Iowa to work in the film industry to joining her roommates' tech startup in Austin for real estate referrals to community building for a Des Moines co-working space, Andrea learned a ton. It was an idea to host an event in the skywalk for local artists, however, that sparked Andrea's interest in opening her own space. Creating Art Terrarium was Andrea's first voyage into entrepreneurship on her own and she quickly had to learn the ropes of running a retail business.Andrea walks listeners through her experience learning Shopify, sourcing inventory, hiring and managing people and what she does to work through challenges that arise. Just a few years ago, Andrea moved to Bend, Oregon, where she decided to open up another plant store, this one named Desert Rose Cactus Lounge. Now as owner of two stores in separate cities, Andrea had to cultivate a team she trusted and learn how to balance her responsibilities.If you've been curious about what it's like to build, own, & operate multiple stores from afar, listen to this episode with Andrea! Tune in for topics like:Andrea's career journeyOrigins of the Art Terrarium nameAdvice for business partnershipsTips for managing peopleHow Andrea manages two businesses in separate citiesWhat's up next for Art TerrariumLinks from the episode:Art Terrarium InstagramArt Terrarium websiteDesert Rose Cactus Lounge InstagramDesert Rose Cactus Lounge websiteAndrea's InstagramJoin the Local Business School waitlistFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Leah Longueville, founder & CEO of Polished Prints, a lifestyle brand dedicated to creating products that bring positivity to you, your children and your home. Leah shares more about how she grew her side hustle business printing sayings on onesies into a globally-recognized brand with products sold in over 700 retailers.Leah's business started when she became a mom with her first daughter and wanted more time to spend with her. She got out of the tourism world and into freelance graphic design. She opened up her own Etsy shop where she could print onesies with sayings and designs that she made and also posted about it on social media. People started flocking to her product and Polished Prints began to grow organically. Leah hired a PR firm to help add fuel to the fire and eventually Polished Prints grew beyond Etsy into its own own website on Shopify, allowing them to control all aspects of the customer experience. Leah walks listeners through her learning curve of getting a grip on the world of manufacturing and how she pivoted in fall 2020 when her normal shirt vendor fell through. She also dives into the world of wholesale and why launching on Faire was the right move for Polished Prints. She offers crucial questions any business owner should think through before launching a new collection or wading into the wholesale world.If you've been curious about what it's like to build your own clothing line and a peek into the world of wholesale, listen to this episode with Leah! Tune in for topics like:Shifting from hobby to businessThe first thing Leah outsourced When she knew it was time to switch from Etsy to ShopifyHow Leah found the right manufacturing partnerThe wholesale beast - pricing, volume, sourcing retailers, planning aheadThe unexpected part of Polished Prints that brings Leah the most joyHow understanding your customer can impact your business decisionsLinks from the episode:Polished Prints websitePolished Prints InstagramShopifyFaireFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Katie Allgood, the owner of a luxury rental company, The Good Co DSM. Katie shares more about starting a business during a pandemic, pivoting your offerings as you grow and navigating the complicated world of pricing.Katie's business started in the summer of 2020 when she began outfitting a 68 VW bus with a photobooth that could be rented out for weddings and events. Since Katie had just moved to Des Moines, she had to build her network from scratch, and learn how to market herself and her business and attract her ideal clients. Katie walks listeners through her journey of establishing strong roots in her community and creating exceptional customer service. She also explains how she learned to navigate the often well-intended but unwarranted opinions of other people and how to determine if something that's good for someone else is right for you. Listen as Katie offers her advice on how to price your services and all the elements that go into creating your packages and offerings. She also encourages others to go after the dream collaboration or clients they're hoping to land by starting the conversation first. This was such a fun conversation with a delight of a human so whether you're in the events industry, own a service based business or just want to learn more about Katie, tune in! Tune in for topics like:Starting a business in the middle of a pandemicThe connection that led to Katie's first bookingThe element of surprise + delight and how to prioritize customer serviceLearning how to listen to your own gut in businessPricing complexity and how to navigate itSimple ideas you can implement to go after your dream clientsLinks from the episode:The Good Co DSM InstagramThe Good Co DSM websiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Whitney Shindelar, travel advisor and owner of Undiscovered Sunsets and Masters In Travel. Whitney joins to share about the travel industry, building not one but two businesses and honing in on your niche.Whitney walks listeners through her journey into the travel industry from working at five star hotels in Shanghai to filling for her own business just 24 hours after returning to the United States. She's candid about the uphill battles she climbed learning how to become a travel agent and also run her own business, Undiscovered Sunsets. Whitney explains how the frustrations she felt about a lack of education led her to creating Masters In Travel, an educational marketplace, community and podcast for aspiring and current travel agents. Listen as Whitney explains the dramatic shift that occurred in both of her businesses when she became incredibly intentional about her focus. She offers her advice for niching down and why it's not as constricting as some might think. You'll also learn more about how to move past your fear of hiring and ways to slowly start outsourcing.If you're interested in learning more about the travel industry and creating focus in your business, download this episode!Tune in for topics like:A trip to Germany that led Whitney to become a travel agentThe purpose of a host agencyCreating resources to fill the gap in education for travel agentsAdding unique revenue streams to your business How to actually create focus in your businessWhat to do before the inquiries flow inSimple ways to start outsourcing Links from the episode:Undiscovered Sunsets InstagramUndiscovered Sunsets websiteMasters in Travel InstagramMasters in Travel website Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Coral Thede, a creative storyteller, musician, writer and stand up comic known around Des Moines for her constantly sold out show, Tits Up! Coral joined to chat more about how she got into comedy and her beliefs in the power of trusting the process and believing in the journey. Coral takes listeners back to a monumental time in her life, losing her dad and then embracing Pantone's Color of the year in 2019, Living Coral, as a sign to set out on her own adventure.  She bought a one way ticket to Germany and traveled all over Europe for three and a half months simply going wherever her journey pulled her to next. The experiences she had offered her many clarifying, defining moments that led her to where she is today.Listen as Coral explains how she came to terms with the fragility of life, how a binge watching session of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel led her to comedy and what she hopes her show brings to other people. Coral also discusses how she works through her own insecurities and what it looks like to give yourself permission to go after what you truly want.If you're interested in learning how to trust where you're headed next and want an inside peek into the stand up comedy world, download this episode!Tune in for topics like:Why the Pantone color of the year in 2019 changed her lifeThe moment in Paris that led her to her current house in Des MoinesListening and responding to the pings in your lifeHer Camp Climb experienceThe makings of her Tits Up! comedy showWhat keeps Coral going through tough daysWhy knowing your value attracts the right people to you Links from the episode:Coral's InstagramCoral's websiteBuy tickets to Tits Up! comedy showFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Mikayla Sullivan, an associate with ISA Ventures, an Iowa multi-stage venture capital studio. Emily first got plugged into the ISA world when she joined their accelerator in early fall of 2021 with her other company, the hummingbirds, a local influencer and brand matchmaking business. Mikayla joins the podcast to chat about the venture capital world and how to navigate it as a first time founder.Mikayla got her start by building her own company in college, KinoSol. KinoSol is an Iowa-based startup that creates creates solar-powered food dehydrators to reduce post-harvest loss around the world and has a mission to help end global food waste, improve livelihoods, and create entrepreneurial opportunities for subsistence farmers in developing countries. After six years running that business, Mikayla started at ISA, helping founders all over the state work on their pitches, improve their business strategy and connect to resources.Listen as Mikayla shares more about what venture capital is and why founders may seek it out. She goes into what makes ISA different from other VC firms and the resources they can provide. Mikayla explains what her team looks for when partnering with new startups and what the entrepreneurship lifestyle is really like. If you're interested in scaling a company or pivoting into seeking out venture capital, download this episode!Tune in for topics like:What is venture capitalTypes of companies who should seek out venture capital fundsWhat differentiates ISA from other VC firmsThe three most important questions you need to ask yourself before pitchingHaving a give first mentalityOne of the biggest misconceptions early stage founders haveWhy generating revenue is always better than raising capitalHow to know which fundraising option is right for youLinks from the episode:ISA Ventures website ISA Ventures FacebookKinoSol websiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Jodi Frank from Culineer, an app designed to build a community for home cooks who want to buy directly from farmers. Culineer is set to bridge the gap in marketing for the $70B direct-to-consumer farming industry.Jodi got her start in medical communications working for Bristol Myers before leaving that job to raise her children. After teaching at a local community college in the marketing department, Jodi was ready to finally get to work on an idea she'd had brewing for a decade: an app that would make it easy to source local ingredients and find recipes while also connecting with your local community. That idea morphed into what is now Culineer.Listen as Jodi shares more about her journey to creating Culineer, from sourcing developers, to finding a design team, to figuring out the best business model and revenue streams. Jodi shares how her initial idea for her app evolved into supporting an untapped market, CSA's (community supported agriculture). Jodi also explains the difference between crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter vs. the platform Jodi is currently using, Wefunder.Fellow startup lovers, sustainability advocates and curious humans, you're going to love this one!Tune in for topics like:How the food industry has evolved in the past centuryFinding an untapped market and pivoting to serve itPutting together the right team and messaging to build CulineerWhy food deserts exist and how to decrease themHow to use the Culineer app as a customer and a farmerEquity-based crowdfunding - what it is and why it worksWhy Jodi wants to build a zebra rather than a unicornLinks from the episode:Invest in Culineer here on WefunderCulineer InstagramCulineer WebsiteUse code LEGEND to get 10% off all House of Wise productsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Lyn Johnson & Sara Sparhawk, the co-founders and creators of West Tenth, a venture capital backed app and movement to support more women-owned, home-based businesses in local communities all across the country. By simply downloading the app, you can shop the talents of women in your neighborhood like to find a homemade pie for your thanksgiving dinner or a tutor for your middle schooler.Sara & Lyn got their start in finance together in New York City but went their separate ways, Sara to the tech startup world in Silicon Valley and then on to Amazon while Lyn stayed on the East Coast and worked her way up to CFO of a financial advisory firm. After Lyn made the decision to go back to graduate school, she started considering the idea of starting her own business and reached out to Sara to partner up. They both were passionate about closing the gender wealth gap and putting more money into women-owned businesses so they ideated until they landed on the idea for West Tenth: a marketplace that would allow women to monetize their talents and the average person to put more dollars into women-owned businesses in their community.Lyn & Sara offer up an honest look at their story on the podcast today, chatting about what it was like to build an MVP (minimum viable product), raise capital from friends and family before finding a VC that they aligned with, and a recent holiday campaign they did to put more dollars into women-owned businesses (‘tis her season).Tune in for topics like:Gender wealth gap - what it is and how it's different from the gender pay gapHow to use West Tenth as a customer and a sellerThe growing pains that come with scaling your businessWhy the standards for women today are impossibly highHow West Tenth allows women to turn domestic skills into profitThe unexpected connection that led to the right Venture Capital firmWhat's next for West TenthLinks from the episode:West Tenth websiteWest Tenth InstagramWest Tenth iPhone AppWest Tenth Andoid AppUse code LEGEND to get 10% off all House of Wise productsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Ashley K Stoyanov Ojeda, a community builder, business development coach, author, and founder of a nonprofit called Womxn Crush Music. With a background in journalism and public relations, Ashley has held roles in a variety of industries. But the common thread throughout them all is her heart & knack for helping people turn their passions into something tangible & profitable.After college, Ashley served in community marketing for Yelp, which taught her a lot about community building and how to connect local businesses to people in their area. Her time there inspired her to create her own community for women and non-binary songwriters in Portland called Womxn Crush Music. Within her first year as founder, she expanded to 16 different cities with over 50 volunteers. It's now an international nonprofit and is almost 5 years old. The experiences she gained from creating a nonprofit led her into the startup world, making her a pro at building authentic communities for several different brands before landing in her current role at OwnTrail. As if that wasn't a lot, she also coaches business owners and has seen major success. She also has a new book debuting in February 2022 called Jefa in Training all about business development and geared towards Latina business owners. Endorsed by celebrities like Eva Longoria, Ashley saw a gap in the marketplace for business owners she could relate to, she wrote her own!Listen to hear more about Ashley, her career journey, and her advice for current and aspiring business owners.Tune in for topics like:Ashley's unique career journeyThe ins and outs of building a non-profit organizationAshley's experience coaching business owners like Melissa Gallardo from Bonita Fierce CandlesWhat community building really means and how to do itThe process of publishing a bookAdvice for local business owners Links from the episode:Ashley's InstagramAshley's WebsiteResource: Hello Alice WebsiteWomxn Crush Music InstagramMujerista WebsiteOwn Trail WebsiteBonita Fierce Candles WebsiteJefa In Training DetailsUse code LEGEND to get 10% off all House of Wise productsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's podcast episode, Emily chats with Cherie Edilson, local business enthusiast and CEO of Member Marketplace Inc. Cherie digs into her journey as a local business owner and shares how that experience gave her an honest look at the challenges small businesses have to face. This spurred her to create Member Marketplace Inc, a business that makes it easy to implement an e-commerce marketplace for your community or organization, creating a one-stop shop for buying products and services from businesses online.After becoming a mother, Cherie launched a hair bow business called the Pink Barrette when she was looking for something with flexible hours that would still allow her to stay home with her kids. She started selling at farmers markets, on her website, and on Amazon.It was at one of these farmers markets that she realized a lot of local businesses relied heavily on events to sell their products. Because of her experience with the Pink Barrette, she knew the impact that e-commerce could have on a local business. This led her to create Member Marketplace with her husband, a web developer. From there they've expanded to work with local businesses and organizations all over the country including Shop Iowa, Shop Made In Nevada, California Shop Small, and Shop North Dakota.Cherie chats more in this episode about her pivot from local business to startup and what it's been like to be a part of a startup accelerator. She shares more about how her business model has changed and the vision for the future of MemberMarketplace Inc. Check out this episode to learn more about Member Marketplace Inc and the power of e-commerce!Tune in for topics like:Cherie's journey to starting her own local businessLessons Cherie learned from her first businessCommon challenges local business owners faceJoining a business accelerator programHow the pandemic affected the MemberMarketplace business modelWhy e-commerce is such a powerful tool for small and local businessesLinks from the episode:Member Marketplace WebsiteShop Where I Live WebsiteCherie's LinkedInShop Iowa InstagramShop Iowa WebsiteUse code LEGEND to get 10% off all House of Wise productsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode, Emily chats with Gil Coosner, a small business supporter and founder of Aviv Distributing. Aviv Distributing focuses on helping small alcoholic beverage brands find a place in the market. Gil and his team connect these emerging brands with the right network and distribution to get their product into the hands of their ideal customers.Gil grew up in a farming community in Israel before moving to NYC in his early twenties. After working in the nightlife industry in bars, he met his wife Brenda, and eventually moved back to Iowa, her hometown. In Iowa, Gil dove into real estate and grew a successful business before deciding to take the leap into entrepreneurship in early 2021 with his own distribution company after many talks with friends about the need for a reliable rep for smaller brands.Gil chats about creating his own company, the brands he works with and why he loves what he does. He also maps out the journey his wife took to start her own brand, Daisy Cocktail Company (he serves as her distributor). From meeting with a chemist to get her flavors just right to nailing her branding to experiencing launch delays, Gil walks listeners through it all.Listen to this episode to learn more about Aviv Distributing and Daisy Cocktail Company!Tune in for topics like:Gil's work experience and backgroundHow Aviv helps empower emerging brandsGil's experience moving to a new state and starting a new careerThe conversation that led to Gil starting his own distribution company Brenda's steps to creating Daisy Cocktail CompanyGil's vision for the future of AvivLinks from the episode:Aviv Distributing WebsiteAviv Distributing FacebookDaisy Cocktail Company InstagramDaisy Cocktail Company WebsiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode, Emily chats with Kt McBratney about their journey into the startup world and co-founding OwnTrail. OwnTrail is a platform Kt created with co-founder Rebekah Bastian to help women share their unique paths in life and build meaningful connections with others. Kt is obsessed with disrupting the status bro. They are also a visual artist, borderline book hoarder and former marketing exec who's spent her career building communities and brands across industries. Kt joins Emily to chat about her nonlinear career journey and the impact that had in her decision to start OwnTrail. They also share a behind the scenes look at what it's really like to build a startup, with both highs and lows.Kt's episode will remind you that there isn't just one path to your dream job and that sometimes the best destinations require a winding road to get there. Listen to this episode to learn about startups and to get inspired to build your own unique path in life!Tune in for topics like:Kt's career journey Meeting & teaming up with their co-founderWhat it's like to be an entrepreneur in the technology worldImportant aspects of starting your own businessKnowing when it's time to pivotHow to use OwnTrail Links from the episode:OwnTrail WebsiteOwnTrail InstagramKT's OwnTrail PathEmily's OwnTrail PathThe Hummingbirds websiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this episode of Local to Legend, Emily chats with Julie Lyle, owner of Indie House in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Indie House grew from Julie's desire to marry her love of home goods and furniture with her eye for design. Thus her East Village retail store and boutique interior design studio were born. Julie chats about her background and what led her to create her own store. She shares more about developing the Indie House brand and how she sets herself apart from others in her industry. Julie shares a bit of her design expertise with our listeners and describes what she believes is one of the most important parts of a space: balance.Check out this episode to learn more about Julie and Indie House!Tune in for topics like:Julie's background in the design industry Factors that went into selecting a store locationHow Julie selected her inventoryWhat it's like to work with an interior designer like JulieJulie's #1 tip for good home designPartnering with local makers and artistsLinks from the episode:Indie House InstagramIndie House WebsiteFREE - grab the ultimate checklist for local business ownersFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode of Local to Legend, Emily chats with Katelyn Soults, co-owner of Illuminated, an agency assisting small business owners, and a certified StoryBrand Guide. Emily & Katelyn are both fans of Donald Miller's StoryBrand framework and join today to talk more about how business owners can come alongside their customers with their messaging to illustrate how their products or service offerings can solve pain points and fulfill a need. Katelyn talks about how to extract yourself from your content some of the time and make your customers the focus. She explains why it's important to dig deeper into your target audience to discover the problem you're solving rather than the features or benefits of your product or service. Emily and Katelyn talk through creating content and key things to remember that can help you create pillar pieces that you can continuously add value to or pull from in your business.Tune in for topics like:Donald Miller's StoryBrand FrameworkDifference between being the hero of your business vs. the guideThe amount of time you have to make a first impressionWhy you should focus on clarity rather than clevernessEssential pieces for the top section of your websiteWhy you don't need to be on every channelLinks from the episode:Illuminated WebsiteIlluminated InstagramKatelyn's InstagramIlluminated LinkedInBusiness Made Simple - StoryBrand framework episodeBuilding a Story Brand by Donald Miller - bookFree hour long training for local business owners - build success for your business with this four step framework!Come Back Again Method - get customers coming back again and again!Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode of Local to Legend, Emily chats with Jacob Repp, a LinkedIn pro, all about strategies to make connections with people in your local community. Jacob is a financial advisor at Principal Financial, the President of Young Variety, and a Des Moines enthusiast. He is passionate about LinkedIn and using it regularly to grow his personal brand. Did you know that if you post on LinkedIn once a week, you'll already be in the top 1% of all users on the platform? Jacob explains the different types of content you can create and which perform the best. He also chats through tips to engage with others and stand out.If you've been thinking about hopping on the LinkedIn trend to grow your business, check out this episode!Tune in for topics like:Networking and differentiating yourselfWhy it's important to meet people with different backgrounds and experiencesHow to find people that will vouch for youHow to work with the LinkedIn algorithm and stand outWhat kind of content Jacob creates for LinkedInHow to build the correct audience for your business on LinkedInLinks from the episode:Jacob's LinkedInJacob's InstagramFree hour long training for local business owners - build success for your business with this four step framework!Come Back Again Method - get customers coming back again and again!Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode, Emily chats with Megan Bannister, creator of the travel blog Olio In Iowa. Megan is also a full-time digital marketer and a first time author! She started her blog around seven years ago to share her travel experiences with her family. Four years later, she realized this was something she could actually make money from too. She joins to chat about her experiences working with different destinations and what it's like to be a content creator. Megan's book, Iowa Supper Clubs, released in August 2020 and highlights different historic restaurants in Iowa! For all aspiring authors out there, she also shares more about the process of writing and publishing your own book. Listen to this episode to hear all about it!Tune in for topics like:Why Megan started her blogHow to monetize your blogWorld's largest thingsTips on how to pitch yourself to destinations as a content creatorMegan's experience writing and publishing her book, Iowa Supper ClubsAdvice for starting a travel blogLinks from the episode:Olio in Iowa InstagramOlio in Iowa WebsiteIowa Supper ClubsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode of Local to Legend, Emily chats with Austin Mac Nab, the CEO, co-founder and executive leader VizyPay and Look Local First, a company headquartered in Waukee, Iowa but with reach all across the country. VizyPay is a payment processing system created for local businesses and powers the Look Local First movement, a community built to empower and highlight local business owners.After working in the payment processing industry for eleven years, Austin decided to strike out on his own, pulling from the lessons he had learned. From the beginning, he wanted to create a company that would be transparent with business owners and employees and work to bring more diversity to the payment processing industry. He credits VizyPay's rapidly growing success to a company focus on culture and authenticity.Listen to this episode to learn more about Austin, VizyPay and Look Local First!Tune in for topics like:Austin's upbringing & how it shaped him into the person he is todayThe steps that led Austin into the payment processing worldCreating a startup in IowaAdvice about payment processing for small biz ownersAll about the Look Local First movementEmpowering the VizyPay team to share their business journeysLinks from the episode:VizyPay InstagramLook Local First InstagramVizyPay WebsiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode of Local to Legend, Emily chats with Sara Hopkins, a top realtor in the DSM area. Sara knows the importance of connecting with people in her local community. It was through many years of building relationships and connecting authentically with others that Sara was able to build a successful real estate business that recently settled into its own location in Highland Park.Sara is honest in her conversation, opening up about the hard parts of real estate. But she also shares how meaningful a career in real estate can be. Sara shares how she's invested in her community and what it looks like to build genuine relationships with the people around you. She's an active Instagram user so she shares her tips for staying relevant on the platform. She also digs into the behind-the-scenes of her popular Friday Finds series where she shares about local spots around town.Tune in for topics like:How Sara got into real estateAdvice for people who want to become a realtorHow Sara uses Instagram to connect with people and share her communityHow to network authenticallyThe small touches Sara incorporates to enhance her client experienceHer view on competition within the real estate industryCreating an inspiring place on social mediaLinks from the episode:Sara's InstagramSara's WebsiteSara's FacebookFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

On today's episode we are diving into VolunteerLocal, a product that helps organize and track volunteers. Think about some of the most incredible festivals and events you know; many are powered by dozens if not hundreds of volunteers. Brian Hemesath has built software that makes the process of signing up, communicating with, organizing, reporting, and MORE available to companies who use volunteers.Brian talks about how he got started, lessons along the way, and things to think about if you're considering building a technology company.Links from the episode:Volunteer Local WebsiteVolunteer Local FacebookSo You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Today we welcome to the show, Deidre DeJear, a current candidate in the running for Iowa governor and a local business owner. We chat about Deidre's experience starting her own business while still in college, her passion for helping small business owners and her journey into politics. Deidre opens up about her childhood in Mississippi and Oklahoma and the values her parents instilled in her. She was always interested in politics, but never saw herself as a leader in it. That changed when she found her purpose in serving her community.After graduating from high school, she moved to Iowa to attend Drake University and study broadcast journalism and politics. She started her own marketing business called Caleo Enterprises during her senior year of college because of a need in the small business community. She saw so many small business owners that had little to no knowledge on how to market their business and she set out to change that. Deidre shares her experience in politics, both campaigning for someone else and as the one on the ballot. She offers a peek into what it takes to run for a political office and her take on the most important leadership qualities.Tune in for topics like:Deidre's journey in politicsStarting her own business while still in collegeWorking on the 2012 Obama campaignHer run for secretary of state and the lessons she learnedWhat it takes to be a leaderAdvice on career pathsLinks from the episode:Deidre's InstagramDeidre's FacebookCaleo Enterprises WebsiteEmily's episode with Matt Niblock about the hummingbirdsEmily's Local Holiday Shopping blog postSo You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode, Emily chats with Mike Burggraaf, one of the owners of Core Physical Therapy. With two clinics in Iowa (West Des Moines & Adel), Core is on a mission to partner with every one of their patients on their journey back to their best self. Mike's early connections in the healthcare industry led him to becoming a co-owner of Core Physical Therapy.Core isn't your average physical therapy clinic. Each patient has 1:1 time with their therapist in a private treatment room. The physical therapists are always looking to get to the root cause of someone's pain. Core is also passionate about giving their clients a space to heal. Mike shares about the body's ability to hold emotions and how that can often affect people physically. He also shares about Core's specialty, myofascial release and craniosacral therapy, two things that have had drastic impact on patient outcomes and differentiate the team from other clinics in the area.Mike also chats about what it's like to manage people and how he and the rest of the leadership team have worked to help each one of their employees find their own interests within physical therapy. Tune in to this episode if you've ever been curious about physical therapy or what it's like to own a local business in the healthcare industry!Tune in for topics like:How Mike became interested in being a PTThe journey to owning a private practiceWhat sets Core apart from other clinicsCore's specialties and how they've been able to help patientsHow our body holds emotionsWhy Core helps staff to find their passions within physical therapyWhat the future holds for CoreLinks from the episode:Core PT WebsiteCore PT InstagramSo You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this episode, Emily chats with Rachel Daily and Kristin Owen, the owners of ‘Cure Studios in Austin, Texas. ‘Cure Studios is a waterless nail salon created for busy people who still want to practice self care. It's a business built on intention designed to be a place that feels welcoming to all people, especially those who haven't traditionally felt comfortable at a nail salon like men or those in the LGBTQ+ community.Rachel and Kristin still have day jobs they love. Rachel is a Product & Implementation Manager at Stitch Fix, and Kristin is the Co-Founder/COO/CRO at DoStuff. They met in Austin, Texas, and eventually decided to go into business together. In this episode, Rachel & Kristin discuss their business partnership and how they came up with the idea for their brand. They are candid about some of the struggles that have happened along the way but their true passion for what they're creating seeps into every part of the conversation. Emily chats with them about the elusive work-life balance, self care, and what it means to create a brand in 2021.Rachel and Kristin are powerhouses dedicated to creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and appreciated, all while sprucing up their nails. They also have done the work to implement more sustainable practices into their salon and are continuously looking for more ways to do even better. Their vision for what ‘Cure Studios can be is inspiring. Don't miss out on this episode!Tune in for topics like:Ins & outs of business partnershipRachel & Kristin's experience hiring the right team membersWhy using water for manis and pedis is an issue in the nail industry How they chose the products they carry at the salonThe impact of personalized care for clientsHow to be be intentional in every step of the processThe vision for Cure Studios in the next 5-10 yearsLinks from the episode:Cure Studios InstagramCure Studios WebsiteSo You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelSo You Wanna Start A… Blog postsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Today we are excited to welcome Liz Lidgett from Liz Lidgett Gallery to the Local to Legend Podcast! Liz discusses her journey in the art industry and gives us the inside scoop on starting her own art gallery. After wearing many different hats in the industry, including consultant, curator, entrepreneur, and writer, Liz was ready to create a gallery that respected both the artists and the clients equally. Born and raised in Iowa, Liz decided to branch out of the state for college, but post-grad life brought her back to her Iowa roots. She found a place for herself in the Des Moines community and realized that she could make an impact in her city. She started out in the corporate world as an art curator but quickly realized that it wasn't for her. That ignited her desire to start her own business.After selecting art for businesses around Des Moines, she then transitioned into helping people pick out art for their homes. Through her work she started to notice practices and patterns she didn't agree with. That led her to start her own gallery, vowing to change things for the better and creating an experience the artist and client both loved. Emily and Liz chat about the art industry, social media in 2021, and how Liz was able to build press around her business. Tune in to learn more about the art gallery world!Tune in for topics like:Liz's journey in the art industryTrusting your gutLiz's passion for helping people enter the art worldHow Liz worked with national magazines to get her brand out thereLiz's advice for starting your own businessHow Liz defines success nowThe impact of social media and setting boundariesLiz's future goalsLinks from the episode:Liz Lidget Gallery InstagramLiz Lidgett Personal InstagramLis Lidgett Gallery WebsiteLocal Business School - ENROLL!So You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelSo You Wanna Start A… Blog postsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

This week's guest is Ryan François from real estate development company, Rally Cap Properties. Ryan's journey to real estate is a bit unconventional. He studied civil engineering and architecture at Iowa State University and after graduation, he became a mountain guide and then worked for a tech startup. After recognizing an itch in himself to do something a little bit more entrepreneurial, Ryan started investigating real estate.He started flipping houses in Des Moines with one of his college friends as a side gig in 2014. They quickly realized there was a strong demand and that they could start a viable business. One of their first projects was reposted on the For the Love of Old House's Facebook page and their business blew up with both media attention and inquiries. After appearing on local news channels, they sped up the process of their business organization so that they'd be ready to start fielding requests from potential clients. Since then, Ryan has been renovating homes in the Des Moines area and is eager to continue making a difference in the community.Tune in for topics like:The journey from civil engineering & architecture to real estateRyan's career journey and pivotsHow a side gig of flipping homes turned into a full time jobWhat to do when your post goes viralHow the Covid pandemic has impacted Rally Cap PropertiesWhere to start learning everything you need to know about real estate developmentRyan's future plans for Rally Cap PropertiesLinks from the episode:For the Love of Old Houses Facebook PageRally Cap Properties WebsiteRally Cap Properties InstagramRally Cap Properties FacebookLocal Business School - doors are open, sign up today!So You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

This week Emily chats with Rabia Kamara, the owner of Ruby Scoops, an ice cream/dessert shop in Richmond, Virginia. Rabia was bit by the baking bug early on when she got her first cookbook around the age of nine. Headed to law school, she changed her mind and instead wanted to do something she was passionate about: culinary school. Her parents were unsure of her decision at first, but warmed after seeing Rabia in her element at school and in her jobs.After culinary school and jobs in savory food, she decided to switch to pastries in 2013 and has had a career in desserts ever since. As the only Black woman in the restaurant she worked in, she noticed that she didn't receive the same amount of respect and treatment as some of her coworkers. This pushed her to go out on her own and start selling her ice cream at farmers markets and other events that slowly began growing her brand. Ruby Scoops opened up a storefront in November 2020 and recently WON a Food Network show you might have recently seen, Clash of the Cones with Ben & Jerry's!Rabia and Emily chat through her journey to ice cream and what it was like to build her business on the East coast. They dive into her Food Network experience and what it was like to have Kevin Bacon and Ludacris taste her ice cream flavors. Tune in for topics like:How Rabia got into desserts and started her careerNavigating your relationship with your parents when you choose a different career pathRabia's experience as the only Black woman in her restaurant jobStarting Ruby Scoops and Rabia's first farmers marketRabia's take on what you need to be an entrepreneurWhere to start for aspiring dessert shop ownersRabia's personal journey on the Food Network channelLinks from the episode: include any links that were discussedRuby Scoops InstagramRuby Scoops Facebook Ruby Scoops WebsiteLocal Business School - get on the waitlist!So You Wanna Start A... series YouTube ChannelSo You Wanna Start A… series Blog postsFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week's episode, Emily chats with Angela Poldberg, the owner of Marne, a boutique located in the East Village of Des Moines. As a vegan, sustainable boutique, Marne only carries brands that are ethically made. Angela was motivated to start her own boutique after struggling to find other retail stores who carried vegan and sustainable options.Owning a store had always been in the back of her mind but Angela first got her start working in an ad agency and several retail stores like Lululemon. It was those experiences that gave her the knowledge and tools she needed to go out on her own. As a newly opened business, the pandemic hit her hard, but her resilience and determination have helped her grow her brand exponentially. In this episode, Angela & Emily chat about what it's like to open a retail store just a few months before the pandemic hit and how she serendipitously found the perfect space. If you've ever been curious about what it's like to go to market in New York and search for brands to fill your retail store, Angela shares the details of her experience with that too. Fellow retail brands or fashion lovers, this episode is for you!Tune in for topics like:How Angela got the idea to start her own shopThe influence of her ad agency and retail store experienceHow her dream to own a store continued to growWhy Angela only carries vegan and sustainable brandsGoing to market and sourcing brandsWhat to look for when sourcing ethical brandsAngela's experience hosting pop-up shopsSpecific strategies she used to keep her business afloat during the pandemicLinks from the episode:Marne WebsiteMarne InstagramLocal Business School WaitlistSo You Wanna Start A... YouTube ChannelFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Jenny is the owner of Dogpatch Urban Gardens (DUG), an urban farm in Des Moines that specializes in growing organic produce.The mission of Dogpatch is to inspire the health of humans, its community, and the land. Jenny and her team do this by growing organic produce, hosting farm events, supporting other local growers/producers, and using regenerative farming practices to enhance their soil.The business has evolved to become more and more diversified since inception in 2015. Their main produce sales avenues are the online store (which emerged during COVID),  local restaurants, through a modified CSA known as a Salad Subscription, and this season they will be vending at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Trust us when we say you won't want to miss this episode! It's full of so much fresh knowledge and personal insight on hard work, perseverance, and showing up with something of value.Tune in for topics like:What inspired Jenny to start urban farming The importance of value-added products How assessing profitability determined which types of produce to grow Knowing the $10 tasks in your businessSpecial events and community involvement opportunities at the farmLinks from the episode: Visit Dogpatch Urban Gardens onlineDogpatch Urban Gardens FacebookDogpatch Urban Gardens InstagramFREE training to help your brand become a beloved business in your community without an expensive or time consuming marketing strategyFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Today's guest is Mason Groben, winemaker of Jasper Winery. Started by his parents in 2000, Jasper Winery was a bit of an anomaly in Iowa but it's grown into a favorite destination.After graduating the University of California-Davis with a degree in viticulture and enology, Mason returned to Iowa in 2003 to assist with the family business. In 2007, it became apparent that the winery had outgrown the Newton location and needed to expand into a larger building. The Groben family was intrigued by the recent resurgence of downtown Des Moines, and located a property near Grays Lake and began construction of the current winery. The new winery opened in the summer of 2009 and has been booming ever since.During this week's episode Emily chats with Mason about all things Jasper Winery; from how the family has continued to evolve and grow over the years, to marketing and product development, to wine production, special events, and more.Tune in for topics like:Why the Groben family started Jasper WineryWhat drew Jason back to Iowa after college in CaliforniaThe importance of evolving marketing plans and product development to remain relevantAn overview of the winemaking process from harvest to bottlingExciting events coming up at Jasper WineryLinks from the episode: Jasper Winery FacebookJasper Winery InstagramFREE training to help your brand become a beloved business in your community without an expensive or time consuming marketing strategyEmail marketing mini training to learn how to launch your email list (free!) Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Today's guest is Vanessa McNeal, a certified manifestation coach, national speaker, and documentary filmmaker. She and Emily chat about how much her life has changed in just a year and why making the switch to manifestation coach was the most aligned decision she's ever made.Emily first met Vanessa through her documentary, Gridshock, a poignant expose on the sex trafficking industry. But Vanessa has since blossomed into a role as a coach, guiding people across the country on how to be in alignment with their authentic selves to manifest the life of their wildest dreams.They chat about Vanessa's journey to finally discovering who she was, aside from the things she did. They dive into manifestation and how powerful it can be to utilize as a business owner. Money limiting thoughts are also on the table as Emily and Vanessa turn commonly held beliefs on their head.This episode will make you break open wide the doors to possibilities you hadn't let yourself dream of before. Press play.Tune in for topics like:Why Vanessa made the switch from documentarian + speaker to manifestation coachWhy it's important to separate yourself from what you doHow Vanessa went from investing $12,000 to up level her skills to making that back threefold in 30 daysA breakdown of manifestation and how it can change your lifeCreating visibility for your coaching businessWhy rest is trustLinks from the episode: Vanessa McNeal websiteVanessa McNeal InstagramMagnetic Manifestation Academy applicationFREE training to help your brand become a beloved business in your community without an expensive or time consuming marketing strategyEmail marketing mini training to learn how to launch your email list (free!) Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Today's guest is one of my friends and fellow DSM enthusiast, Tyler Coe! Tyler is a divorce lawyer in the Des Moines area who has poured time and energy into crafting a strong personal brand that has helped him to grow a robust client base and increase the impact he's been able to make in the community.When you own a service-based business, YOU are the biggest differentiator in your business, and it's ultimately what sets you apart from others in your industry and market. Tyler does an excellent job of creating little touchpoints and connections with his audience on a daily basis to build trust and relationships. From sending out Valentine's Day cards to injecting humor into what can potentially be dry or sensitive legal topics, Tyler is an expert at attracting and retaining new customers and connections.In this episode, Tyler and Emily dive deeper into the world of personal branding and how vital it can be to grow a loyal customer base by simply showing up as your authentic self! They chat through how personal branding began to grow Tyler's business in just six months and how he became one of the top viewed profiles on his law firm's site at age 32!Tune in for topics like:How a personal branding class opened up Tyler's worldWhat Tyler started doing to attract new clientsWhy tracking your referrals is so importantIntentional snail mail Tips to grow your audienceLinks from the episode: Please Pass the Love website (mental health nonprofit in Iowa)Tyler Coe InstagramTyler Coe websiteFREE training to help your brand become a beloved business in your community without an expensive or time consuming marketing strategyEmail marketing mini training to learn how to launch your email list (free!) Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

Founder and owner of Invictus Media, JenniferKathryn King, joins Emily on the podcast to chat about her journey from Stanford to Nike to Men's Health, and back to Iowa to eventually build her own visual productions agency, Invictus Media. With her own company, JenniferKathryn has brought her expertise into her local community and even bigger projects like an upcoming Netflix movie. But she didn't start out thinking she'd go out on her own.JenniferKathryn King worked in marketing and advertising at Nike building an internal video department that worked to tell the story of Nike sponsored athletes. She was persuaded to join the Men's Health team and then later transferred to Des Moines to serve as store manager over Fresh Fit Meals. Then she pivoted once again to open up her own business, telling the story of local brands and organizations right here in Iowa.As she built her business, she had to work to combat the intimidation people sometimes felt around video and instead show them why it's a crucial medium to use to build trust with your customers in today's business environment. We chat through how local businesses can get started with video and how Invictus is able to help businesses articulate their brand through visual content. Tune in to listen to JenniferKathryn's story and where she's headed next! Tune in for topics like:A behind the scenes look at working in Nike's HQHow you know when to niche down in your businessThe real deal on ReelsHow to incorporate video into your brand strategyWhy it's time to get comfortable showing up as yourselfVideo Business Card - what is it and why do you need it?Links from the episode: Invictus Media FacebookInvictus Media InstagramInvictus Media VimeoInvictus Media YouTubeInvictus Media WebsiteFREE training to help your brand become a beloved business in your community without an expensive or time consuming marketing strategyEmail marketing mini training to learn how to launch your email list (free!) Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

This week Emily is solo as she shares a breakdown of our newest course: Local Business School! Have you heard of it? Are you wondering what all the hype is about? Then this is the episode for you.The Local Business Growth System is why people are saying YES to Local Business School. This step-by-step system will help you become THE staple brand in town, which has benefits like consistent sales, endless referrals, and feeling super supported.FOUNDATIONS are essential. We make sure you have clarity on the business and brand elements that matter most in local markets.STRATEGY is built after the foundation is laid. Your strategy is YOURS. We help you navigate how to build it based on your marketing channels, your personality, and how much time you can devote to implementing it.REVIEW happens after you start implementing your strategy. It's imperative that you understand the data inside of Instagram, your website, your CRM, and beyond. Data should drive decisions, not your emotions. ACCELERATE happens after you start implementing your strategy consistently. Let's say you start getting momentum on Instagram, we'll give you the tools to drive results even faster.Tune in for topics like:Why the first round of Local Business School sold out in 48 hoursThe four phases that make up the Local Growth MethodWhy you need support in a way that aligns with youWhy consistency is the name of the game in business growth Links from the episode: Learn more about Local Business School on the websiteFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!As a special bonus for the podcast community, use code LOCALTOLEGEND to receive $97 off your Local Business School enrollment. Discount can be applied to either the first month of the monthly payment plan or the pay in full option. Thank you for listening, friend. See you in the next episode!

This week's podcast guest is coming all the way from the land Down Under! Yep, that's right, Emily is chatting with Imogen Lamport, Australian native and professionally trained, internationally certified Image Consultant (aka a personal stylist) and a certified Type Practitioner. Imogen loves to share what she knows so that others can stop wasting money on clothes that don't work, and discover the ones that make them look and feel fabulous. Imogen uses her business, Inside Out Style, to fulfill her life's mission to “empower you to express your style.”Imogen discovered she had a love of the science behind style and how personality played an influential role. When she realized image consulting was something she could actually study and get certified in, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to combine her passion with her desire to one day start her own business.In 2008 Imogen began writing 3-5 posts a week as she started creating a local community based blog. Consistently showing up and providing content for her website greatly expanded her SEO, helping to build relationships with other bloggers. Her blog posts led to the release of her first eBook, which led to more posts and more eBooks, and eventually led to her writing virtual programs. As people continued to ask Imogen for personal consultations and to be trained by her themselves to become personal stylists, she realized she needed a way to do so virtually to meet her growing demand. Leaning into technology to deepen connections, create opportunities, and reach farther than she ever imagined, Imogen has continued to aim for viability and scalability. This episode will leave you feeling inspired to create amazing content and expand your reach.Tune in for topics like:How Imogen grew her local styling blog to a global marketWhy creating *useful* content on your website is what moves the needleThe benefit of creating a business that isn't solely dollars for timeThe importance of diversifying your revenue streams Why an online presence is so criticalLinks from the episode:Learn more from Imogen's encyclopedia of style by visiting the Inside Out Style website Connect with Inside Out Style on FacebookBe inspired to create your personal style by following Imogen on InstagramFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!Thank you for listening, friend. See you in the next episode!

This week's guest is Michael Zimmerman, founder of RipRoar Events, Iowa's largest endurance event production company. Obsessed with endurance sports since the age of five, Michael has built an enterprise around his love for challenging communities to go further, or faster, or find the entertainment in suffering.But it wasn't always that way - Michael worked tirelessly for years (sometimes for free) to gain experience and a deeper understanding of the endurance events industry. After years of hard work and making notes of what he would do differently if given the chance, he finally took the leap and started his own company; RipRoar Events.“When you're starting a business, a big component is: could you do it better? Is the X factor something you can contribute to? Is the X factor you?”Over the last six years, Michael and his team at RipRoar Events have continued to prove themselves as the X factor and as experts in what they do. They own and operate three of Des Moines largest race events and are able to bring the community together for incredible experiences in unique ways. When 2020 hit and halted the live event industry, Michael and his team knew they had two choices: hide and wait, or innovate and do something different.Tune in for topics like:The importance of knowing your WHYHow a business plan Michael made in college came in handy down the lineWhy it's important to identify the X factor in any situationWhy saying yes to everything isn't always the best strategyA behind-the-scenes look at the details that go into planning a running experienceLinks from the episode: Check out each of the RipRoar Events:Des Moines Women's Half MarathonEMC Dam to DSMDes Moines Turkey TrotFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!Thank you for listening, friend. See you in the next episode!

We are so excited to share this magical episode in which Emily chats with Rashelle Whiteharris, the owner and visionary behind Women's Collective Box. A mom of three, with a background in photography, marketing, and brand building, Rashelle has a genuine passion for creating a community buzzing with energy from women supporting each other's dreams. Women's Collective Box is a subscription box service that unveils a beautifully designed box, featuring carefully curated products from 6 to 7 women-owned businesses, every season. From learning to navigate product sourcing, intentional collaborations, size and weight logistics, shipping specifications, and so much more - Rashelle has since grown the company to an online marketplace which provides the ability to 1) showcase even more women and 2) allow products to be featured year round (not just for the box season).Having one year of business officially under her belt, Rashelle has big dreams for Women's Collective Box and her overall mission remains the driving force. Don't miss this episode as it's sure to leave you feeling inspired and ready to jump into a community that aligns with you.Tune in for topics like:The behind-the-scenes of how a beautiful, curated subscription box arrives at your doorWhy having a mission you believe in is the heartbeat of doing something hardWhy you “just gotta ask” and what can happen when you doThe importance of finding people who are in true alignment with you and your missionLinks from the episode: Engage with the Women's Collective Box on Instagram Check out the Women's Collective Box website to shop the Marketplace and learn moreLook for the upcoming community groups on the Women's Collective Box FacebookFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!Thank you for listening, friend. See you in the next episode!

Emily hosts longtime gardeners and nature enthusiasts, Adam and Jenn O'Neal, owners of Pepperharrow Farm, a twenty acre flower farm. PepperHarrow offers customers the ability to order their fresh flowers online weekly, available for pick-up each Saturday during the growing season, or at Gateway Market and The Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. PepperHarrow also hosts several unique classes and events on the flower farm, geared towards people looking for an amazing experience.The dream for Pepperharrow Farm began twenty years ago in 2001 after Adam read a magazine article about permaculture and sustainable agriculture. For the next ten years the couple dreamed and journaled their desire to one day transition to farm life. During this time Adam, still working full time in the oil industry, took up gardening. He had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best gardeners in Tennessee; ultimately becoming a master gardener. Finally, in 2011 the O'Neals made the decision to leave their urban life behind and return to Madison County, Iowa (where Jenn grew up) to fulfill their farm dream. New to the community, the couple knew they needed to establish brand recognition and introduce themselves and their product. They worked with a local artist to design a logo and Adam hit the streets to promote Pepperharrow Farm. With the support of the local farmers market, surrounding community, and area grocers, Adam and Jenn were quickly being sought out by customers. Over the years the couple has learned what works best for them and what their customers desire. They have continued to make upgrades to the farm, add new products and offerings, and began inviting guests to the farm in 2015. All the while, both Adam and Jenn remained employed full time outside of the farm. Adam eventually left his previous career in the oil industry five years into owning and operating Pepperharrow Farm. Jenn remained in her medical equipment sales role for another five years and recently made the transition to full time on the farm after nine growing seasons. Both Adam and Jenn are thrilled to be working together full time on their dream; Pepperharrow Farm.It's no shock from the way this couple intentionally dreamed, envisioned, and grew their farm from the ground up that they are blooming exceptionally well (pun intended

“It really is a case of a rising tide lifts all boats. Other artists doing well makes the markets we're at better, which brings more people, which means we do better. So it's definitely something where the incredible community allows us to do what we do.” On the podcast this week, Emily chats with Tammy and Adam Winn, owners of Red Door Press. Red Door Press is a letterpress print shop specializing in hand-printed cards, broadsides, social stationery, gig and event posters, corporate branding, workshops and much more.In 2008 Tammy went through a career change and was in search of a creative outlet as a result. After taking a class at the Des Moines Art Center, she ended up finding and purchasing an old printing press that was about to be thrown away. Her desire for creativity combined with the idea that she could help preserve this technique drove this decision despite the fact that she had no idea how to restore or use the press. The 1,500 lb printing press moved into her garage and was the piece of equipment that ultimately started the journey to starting a business.In support of his wife's passion, Adam leaned in to support rather than resist the takeover of the garage. Together they began to learn from an older generation of printers who were gracious enough to share the history, techniques, equipment, type, and much wisdom. They attended their first market with little experience and that led to being invited to another, which led to another, and they soon were included in a lot of indie craft markets throughout the community. Over the years participation has grown and in 2019 they attended 75 different events; all the while both are employed full time outside of the print shop.This is one of the very things that make Tammy and Adam, and their business, unique. Having their full time jobs allows them to not worry about their basic cost of living, allowing them to create simply because they want to rather than because they have to. This has expanded their freedom and creativity in intentionally making things that they feel are one of a kind, valuable, spread an important message, and are desired by their customers...the stuff you can't just find in any home decor store.  Don't miss this fascinating episode as Tammy and Adam dive into what starting a business in a “supposedly” dead industry entails, how they give back and share with the next generation of printers, and their hopes for the future of Red Door Press.Tune in for topics like:What letterpress printing actually meansHow having foresight into business purchases is importantWhy knowing your strengths and those of your business partner is important for teamwork The importance of supporting the community around youLinks from the episode:Visit the Red Door Press website to view their prints and learn moreFollow Red Door Press on instagram for new designs and behind the scenes at the shopFree Training – Sign up + learn how to generate consistent sales for your local business WITHOUT a complicated or expensive marketing strategyFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

“We've literally trademarked the term “word of thumb” advertising, that's what we call our share feature”.  This week's episode is full of energy as Emily talks with Sara Castillo, Co-Founder and President of TapOnIt. Sara oversees and manages communication between brands and consumers through TapOnIt. Her unique background has allowed her to become an expert in driving traffic and sales into small businesses in the most beneficial way possible. Focused on the customer experience, Sara's strengths lie in building relationships between consumers and businesses, creating loyalty and generating excitement for TapOnIt across all of the markets. Since co-founding the company with her sister, Katie Wilson, in 2015, TapOnIt has evolved into a major player in SMS/MMS consumer engagement.Whether or not you're familiar with text message marketing you won't want to miss this podcast! Emily and Sara discuss how text messaging is the most widely used app on a smartphone, how texting is the fastest way to get a hold of somebody, and how businesses can almost guarantee their text will be seen versus traditional fragmented advertising methods. What makes TapOnIt unique is that it appeals to both the local business owner and the consumer. It's never spam and it's never a list of bought phone numbers...it's always current deals and 100% opted in. Plus, there are always incredible contests and sweepstakes available, as well as opportunities to unlock bonus offers!Listen for more information on how you can get connected to TapOnIt to receive the latest deals; as a local business owner and as a consumer. Tune in for topics like:Relevant, cost effective ways to get your brand in front of peopleHow businesses can grow using “word of thumb” advertisingThe benefit of using text message marketing as a business ownerHow to reach consumers who love to save money but want convenience Why our friends recommendations matter to local businessesLinks from the episode: Learn more about how Tap On It works via their websiteFollow Tap On It on Facebook and InstagramFree Training – Sign up + learn how to generate consistent sales for your local business WITHOUT a complicated or expensive marketing strategyFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!More from Sara and Tap On It: Don't miss out on deals in your area! Send the message TAPONIT to 82928 and respond with your zip code to receive the most recent offers. Note: standard message rates and data apply. 

“Be authentic, be you. Don't try to be anything you're not. Don't try to be everything to everybody. That's another big piece. That's where a lot of people tend to lose because they get caught up in not really knowing who their customer is and what they stand for. They truly want to be everything to everybody.”We are so excited to share this conversation with Jason Pirock, the Director of Marketing for Aparium. Aparium makes “hotels that matter'' and provides “the most unique experiences in the most distinctive places”. When the founders saw an opportunity to bring elevated, upscale, boutique hotels to secondary and tertiary markets that's exactly what they did. Creating and mastering a niche in translocal hospitality, Aparium brings passing guests together while connecting with local communities and the people that inhabit them.Not only does Jason manage a marketing campaign for the Aparium brand itself, he also oversees each of the individual properties in the portfolio, personalizing each brand identity to the specific market. The properties alone don't speak for themselves so it's crucial the teams in each market are genuine and truly care about the guests and their experiences. Jason relies on traditional PR tactics as well as social media to get the word out in a real time way.Join us for this podcast as Emily and Jason discuss how Aparium works: from finding historic buildings to restore and bring back to life, to choosing all local vendors, makers, and artisans as the hotel suppliers, to the key role of the Lifestyle Director and their collaborations with locals in the community.  As you listen you'll quickly realize that Aparium is not just a hotel. It's an experience. It's the place to be and hang out.Tune in for topics like:Translocal hospitality and what it means  to immerse the local community into a hotelCreating a hotel that is not just a place to stay but a true experienceManaging an overall brand portfolio made up of several properties each with their own unique brand identity How to use hotel space creatively during times of restricted travel and gatheringLinks from the episode: Follow Aparium on Instagram Like Aparium on FacebookStay in the know with Aparium on LinkedIn and Twitter Free Training – Sign up + learn how to generate consistent sales for your local business WITHOUT a complicated or expensive marketing strategyFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!More from Jason and Aparium: Aparium currently has seven open and operating locations with five new hotels opening in the coming months. Learn more about each experience on their website. 

Our guest this week is Mary Senese with Dough Re Mi; an edible cookie dough company. Join us as Emily gets a behind the scenes look from Mary about how she started her business from the ground up. From initial concept and product testing, to official launch, to expanding the brand nationwide, and most recently acquiring a brick and mortar storefront - all in less than a year!After graduating college, Mary returned to her hometown ready to start her career. What began as a way to make homemade Christmas gifts (and some extra dough), soon became a blossoming business. Mary quickly realized she had something extra special in the edible cookie dough recipe she had created and enjoyed herself during her time at school. Trusting her instincts and passion for entrepreneurship, Mary decided to go all in on starting her own edible cookie dough business. Having no financial backing or budget, Mary relied on Instagram and word of mouth to spread the word. She reached out to local influencers and business owners on the gram and actually *asked* for what she wanted; their support. She would send them samples of her edible cookie dough and in exchange all she asked was that if they enjoyed it they would share about it on their social platforms. It didn't take long for the Dough Re Mi brand presence to spread and order demand to increase. Listen to this tasty chat as Emily and Mary discuss all the logistics of operating a food based business, tips for expanding a brand nationally, and most importantly - recognizing and addressing the highs and lows of business and the impact on our mental health. Tune in for topics like:Expanding a local brand to a national marketWhy it's important to actually *ask* for what you wantHow to use Instagram to grow your online presenceHow easy it is to tie our personal value to our business value - and why we shouldn'tLinks from the episode: Follow Dough Re Mi on Instagram Like Dough Re Mi on FacebookOrder edible cookie dough on the Dough Re Mi websiteFree Training – Sign up + learn how to generate consistent sales for your local business WITHOUT a complicated or expensive marketing strategyFollow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!