Summary
In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Claudia Scott and Daniel Koonce are joined by Stephanie Sirianni and Caitlin Livingston, co-founders of The Wellnest Shop, a brand that brings you the best in authentic health and healing, and products to support self, family and home. Founded in 2022, The Wellnest Shop stands as a beacon of holistic wellness and community support, providing a range of services like workshops, events, and a wellness home program.
The Wellnest Shop also has an in-house essentials line and offers unique product categories including but not limited to cosmetics, house and home, personal care, pets and animals, and toys and games. With these products, The Wellnest Shop isn't just a place to purchase goods, it’s a nurturing space where monthly birth meetups and community support groups are held, all aiming to prioritize bio-individuality for their customers.
Additionally, Caitlin and Stephanie run a podcast named The Wellnest Mamas and are active on social media and YouTube, providing a platform for alternative health and wellness information. Future ambitions include launching a second location in Fayetteville and developing a franchising program. Their journey underlines the importance of dreaming big and fostering a supportive community environment, encouraging others to pursue their dreams and contribute to a healthier lifestyle!
Show Notes
(0:00) Introduction
(0:48) About The Wellnest Shop
(2:46) Top Three Non-toxic Products You Should Have at Home
(4:44) About Non-toxic Product Sourcing
(5:53) Erasing Non-toxic Stigmas with Brick and Mortar Consulting
(7:06) Making Non-toxic Products Attainable with Community Based Entrepreneurship
(7:45) The Wellnest Shop’s Community Support
(8:38) The Wellnest Mamas Podcast
(10:16) The Wellnest Shop’s Startup History
(11:30) The Wellnest Shop’s Workshops and Events
(13:41) Advice for Starting a Non-toxic Journey
(16:55) About The Wellness Home Program
(18:05) The Wellnest Shop’s Recent Relocation
(22:21) The Meaning Behind The Wellnest Shop’s Name
(23:02) Stephanie and Caitlin’s Upcoming Wellness Services
(26:10) What’s Next for The Wellnest Shop
(27:02) Advice to Younger Selves
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Summary
En este episodio, el Dr. Adam Arroyos, CEO y fundador de Serve2Perform, comparte su inspiradora trayectoria y los desafíos que ha enfrentado como emprendedor exitoso. Conoceremos qué lo motivó a escribir 'PerformanceGPA®', las influencias que han marcado su camino y lo que lo impulsa a seguir sirviendo a nuestra comunidad. También hablamos sobre los desafíos más comunes que enfrentan los negocios latinos al comenzar y los muchos recursos disponibles en Estados Unidos. Adam ofrece valiosos consejos para los dueños de negocios actuales, brindando una visión única sobre el equilibrio entre la vida laboral y personal y el desarrollo del talento y liderazgo. ¡Únete a nosotros para una conversación llena de inspiración y aprendizajes clave para líderes y emprendedores!
Show Notes
(00:04) Welcome & introduction.
(00:38) Adam’s story.
(01:53) Tejano.
(02:50) U of A decision.
(05:25) Becoming an entrepreneur.
(08:41) An idea.
(13:30) It’s a network thing.
(16:00) Making a difference.
(17:13) Writing a book.
(18:58) Advice for new entrepreneurs.
(21:51) The challenges.
(30:21) Time for change.
(33:10) Book recommendation.
(34:52) A look into the future.
(41:18) Work / life balance.
(43:32) Advice from the past.
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Summary
In this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Victoria Dickerson, Caleb Talley, and Daniel Koonce sit down with Tom Gordon, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens, a restaurant setting itself apart by offering high-quality chicken products and embodying southern hospitality. Founded in 2003, Slim Chickens has expanded to two-hundred and eighty-four restaurants globally, including franchises in the United Kingdom and forthcoming ventures in Germany.
Slim Chickens thrives thanks to its unique menu, which boasts seventeen different dipping sauces, unique sandwiches, and quality tender breading. This diverse menu has contributed significantly to the brand’s success and popularity, particularly among consumers aged eighteen to forty who seek both good food and a memorable dining experience. Despite its success and growth, Slim Chickens remains committed to its core identity, choosing not to over-diversify its menu to ensure consistent quality and experience for its customers.
Moreover, managing a growing enterprise isn't without its challenges. Tom emphasizes the importance of solving problems and handling financial analyses to maintain profitability, especially in the face of inflation and supply chain hurdles. Despite these challenges, Tom remains passionate about hospitality, continually striving to balance franchise owner satisfaction with high employee wages.
Throughout the episode, Tom discusses his vision for Slim Chickens, including ambitious goals such as reaching a billion dollars in revenue by 2027 and expanding the domestic and international footprint of the chain. Additionally, Tom shares his advice to young entrepreneurs, highlighting openness to partnerships and investor input, stressing the necessity of finding common ground to foster business growth. Tune in today!
Show Notes
(0:00) Introduction
(0:52) Tom’s Origin Story
(3:59) Slim Chickens’ Locations Globally
(5:41) Slim Chickens’ Franchising
(6:38) Exploring the Intricacies of the Restaurant Industry
(9:35) About Slim Chickens’ Cultural DNA
(11:30) Fried Chicken Competitors Internationally
(13:20) The Impact of Recent Inflation and Supply Chain Challenges
(16:41) Collaboration between the Culinary and Marketing Teams
(18:48) What Sets Slim Chickens Apart Domestically
(20:12) Tom’s History with the Restaurant Industry
(24:39) What’s Next for Slim Chickens
(26:21) The Importance of Staying Involved in the NWA Community
(27:57) Advice to Younger Self
(31:37) Closing Question
Links
Summary
En este episodio de nuestro podcast, tenemos el placer de conversar con Federico Deciga, dueño de Deciga’s Lab. Federico comparte con nosotros su inspiradora trayectoria en el mundo de las finanzas, desde sus comienzos y las influencias que lo llevaron a seguir esta carrera, hasta su transformación al negocio de la comida. A lo largo de nuestra charla, Federico nos habla de los desafíos que ha enfrentado y las estrategias exitosas que ha implementado. Además, nos ofrece una visión personal de cómo equilibra su vida laboral y personal, sus hobbies y las lecciones importantes que ha aprendido en su camino como emprendedor. ¡No te lo pierdas!
Show Notes
(00:05) Welcome & introduction.
(00:59) Federico’s story.
(05:00) Flying solo.
(07:31) It is up to you.
(13:15) Our first food truck.
(21:35) It is a community.
(22:54) It takes a team.
(29:35) Honest criticism.
(31:07) Biggest challenge.
(32:27) Quality quality quality.
(34:26) Starting advice.
(35:13) The best time to start.
(37:05) The ups and downs.
(39:49) Advice from the past.
Links
Summary
In this virtual episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Caleb Talley, Daniel Koonce, and Jeff Amerine chat with serial entrepreneur and founder of Growth Readiness, Todd Westra, about what it means to be “growth ready.” Drawing from his experience interviewing two-hundred and fifty CEOs in thirteen weeks, Westra identifies recurring themes in business growth, particularly the importance of people, processes, and tools. He uses the analogy of SpaceX rockets to explain the difference between launching a business and scaling it, emphasizing the need to transition from what got the business into orbit to focusing on what needs to happen in orbit.
Moreover, Westra introduces his growth readiness framework, which consists of four stages of transition and three growth checkpoints in each stage. He highlights common growth blockers, such as financial fluency, understanding cash flow, and managing expenses. Westra also stresses the importance of client profiling, simplifying deliverables, and being less emotionally connected to the product to achieve scalability and efficiency.
Throughout the episode, Todd talks about his previous business ventures, his current business, Growth Readiness, and how to grow and scale your business, including crafting an exit strategy. Tune in to this episode to learn about Todd's Orbit Framework and Growth Readiness Assessment so you can identify what might be holding your company back from real growth!
Show Notes
(0:00) Introduction
(1:04) About Todd
(7:12) The Four Stages of “Launch Transition”
(16:18) Challenges That Can Inhibit Growth
(22:22) Scaling a Trust Based Business
(27:38) Crafting an Exit Strategy
(33:13) Advice to Younger Self
(34:54) Closing Question
Links