As a part of the Game-Changers Series for Startup Week, Caleb Talley sat down for a conversation with Tom Gordon, the co-founder, president, and CEO of Slim Chickens. They talked about the early days of Slim Chickens, how the company has adapted through the pandemic, the current and future expansion of Slim Chickens, and much more. You do not want to miss out on this tremendous episode!
Shownotes
(1:20) The beginnings of Slim Chickens
(6:12) Handling finances with a young business
(8:21) Taking outside capital after initial investors
(11:15) Building a culture that welcomes everyone from the community
(13:40) Going international
(15:33) Making menu decisions
(18:49) Adjusting to the pandemic environment
(23:55) Tom gives advice to his younger self
Links
Quotes
“We say none of us really ever lost. Everybody who has a company that they start from scratch makes sacrifices. And those are things you’ve got to do. You know, you don’t pay yourself. You sell a car to make payroll. You know, you take your money to the bank after Friday lunch to make sure you make Friday payroll for your people. That’s real-life in business. That’s real life in American capitalism, and if you stick to it, you know, often you can get to the next level.” (7:45)
“You know, those are lessons that are learned and will always be valuable to me and Greg Smart. And it just takes time. Surviving is the key, and if you can survive long enough and have enough time and adjust quick, you know, I think that anybody in the US, anybody in this country has a shot at it.” (25:
This week, Jeff Amerine talks with Sam Alley, chairman, and CEO of VCC. VCC is a leading general contractor in the nation, and it is the largest retail construction company in America. In this episode, you will hear about how Sam started VCC with two partners, challenges the business has overcome, and the strong culture found within the company. Sam also shares advice for engineers who are looking to build their own businesses. As always, thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:10) Sam Allley introduces VCC
(3:46) Sam talks about the early days at VCC
(6:18) Challenges that VCC has overcome
(9:34) Advice for entrepreneurs looking to build large enterprises
(11:47) Building a strong culture
(14:19) Managing a business through COVID-19
(20:06) Advice for engineers looking to start their own business
(22:15) Sam’s take on the American Dream
Links
Quotes
“So really, construction includes engineering and business together, and that’s why I was really excited to choose the construction industry.” (2:41)
“If you ever go and start your own company, people will come and ask you to service them because they’ve dealt with you. And it doesn’t matter what the name of the company is, it’s the individual that makes a difference.” (4:09)
Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine chat with special guest Sarah Frey, CEO, and founder of Frey Farms. Frey Farms is one of the nation's largest fresh produce suppliers and grows fresh produce in the Midwest, Southeast, and West Virginia. From a recent appearance on CBS to creating her book "The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life -- And Saved an American Farm", Sarah Frey has made an impact on many people telling her remarkable entrepreneurial story. In this episode, you will get to hear about Sarah's inspiring journey to save the family farm, an in-depth conversation around everything pumpkin related, and how COVID has affected the agriculture industry. Listen in to this great story!
Shownotes
(1:00) Introducing Frey Farms
(11:17) Frey Farms, the largest pumpkin provider in the country
(16:14) Educating the public on the pumpkin as a part of a meal
(19:20) The sales model of Frey Farms
(27:00) Using imperfect produce
(31:32) How Sarah’s childhood experiences prepared her for future success
(35:32) The future of Frey Farms
(38:40) Sarah’s advice to her younger self
Links
Quotes
“Food was simple. It was clean, and it was delicious. Nothing ever went to waste on our farm, because we couldn't afford to waste anything on the farm where I grew up when I was a little girl. And it’s those same principles that apply today to our business on a much larger scale. And I think there is an opportunity to tell that story...to educate the consumer on this is who we are. This is how we grow your food. This is what’s important to us. And I think that translates to more customer loyalty at the grocery retailer.” (20:17)
Hey everyone! We are back again with another spectacular week of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Jeroen Corthout, co-founder and CEO of Salesflare. Salesflare is a simply powerful CRM that automates data to build better relationships and make more sales. It's a fast, visual, and easy-to-use sales machine that is built by humans for humans. In this episode, you will get to hear about the evolution of Salesflare, the amount of time employees spend on SaaS platforms, the flexibility of raising various funds to run a startup, and the impact of COVID on Salesflare. We are happy you are tuning in with us!