The Award Winning Small Business Show is the only Small Business Podcast that is By, For and About Small Business Owners.
With over 40-years of Small Business experience between them, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss topics related to starting, growing and managing your Small Business.
You’ll find real-world advice from ourselves as well as from guests that have started, run and sold Small Businesses both big and small. With over 200 episodes, there is a wealth of content, advice and interviews that we hope will inspire, educate and perhaps motivate you to start your own Small Business.
Being the owner of a single small business is challenging in itself. Owning multiple, successful businesses that you remotely manage and eventually selling them is something to be proud of. Today we’re joined by a longtime friend and business colleague, Joseph Stewart, former owner the Mac Outlet in Colorado and Felt Pool and Billiards.
Listen in to this episode of the Small Business Show to find out how Joseph managed both companies from another state and how being a remote business owner forced him to develop better systems and processes for success. You’ll learn about the importance of the work you do each day by asking yourself: Is this $10 per hour work or $1000 per hour work?
Your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton learn how Joseph used the cash flow from his businesses to purchase the building they were operating in and how being a landlord eventually led him to start his second company at the same location.
We then jump into a discussion about preparing your business to sell and whether you should be meeting with a business broker or handling things on your own. Joseph went the DIY route and all that prep work to develop stand-alone systems and processes for the businesses to succeed paid off.
Join us for another Small Business Show for all this and much more. Then head over to the Small Business Support Group to join the discussion!
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #214 for Wednesday, March 13, 2019
00:01:06 Joseph Stewart Former BadAss and Owner at Felt and Mac Outlet
If you’re selling products, logistics is a critical part of the equation and being logistics-smart can mean the difference between making a profit or losing money on a product. Should you be handling your own shipments, using Amazon’s fulfillment services or perhaps a 3rd Party Fulfillment company to get your orders out? We discuss those options and much more on today’s show.
Listen in as your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton discuss and learn about the challenges of getting your products to your customers in a timely manner while keeping your costs low and errors to a minimum. You’ll learn about the latest Amazon FBA changes that have caught some sellers by surprise and how you can minimize your reliance on FBA by using a 3rd Party Logistics company to handle your product fulfillment.
Join us today to learn about optimizing your product delivery and then join the conversation at the Small Business Support Group!
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #213 for Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Have you added a recurring income stream to your Small Business? Are you selling subscriptions, service plans or other passive income as part of your business model? Creating a recurring income stream is a powerful way to increase profits as well as creating a more lasting relationship with your customers.
What are some typical recurring income streams?
Service plans
Subscriptions – physical products or content
Memberships
Affiliate revenue
Retainers
Online Courses
Recurring upgrades
Donations
Service plans – if you are selling a product that may require service to keep it functioning, you should be selling extended warranties and service plans. Sell your own plan or sell a third party plan (Square Trade) – but sell something that adds value to your product line.
Subscriptions – can you add a subscription model to your business? Think about your product or service offerings and your current pricing – is there a monthly or annual subscription model that you could offer? Think Netflix – use the automatic recurring model to normalize your monthly revenue. You can be selling physical products with an automatic delivery schedule or services that renew each month.
Memberships – does your website offer a members only area with valuable content? Can you offer discounted prices for your services to paying members? Look at the movie business – you see both theatre chains and independent companies really pushing memberships.
Affiliate revenue – do you generate good traffic on your company website? Create an affiliate account with affiliate aggregators like Commission Junction, Amazon or others to create recurring revenue.
Retainers – Do you offer services that your customers may want quick access to your attention or expertise? Charging a monthly retainer can be a great way to monetize this
Online Courses – Can you create an online course related to your business? I’m sure you can. Think about all your own knowledge or your employees and consider creating an online course that you can monetize. Most of you are experts in something – people will pay for value – think about sharing your knowledge – entice with some free content and some paid.
Recurring Upgrades – do you sell a product that has an upgrade cycle? Are newer models coming out frequently that have features your customers want? What about a program that allows them to automatically upgrade on a regular basis? Apple and companies like Verizon do it with phones, can you use that model and apply it to your products?
Donations – is your Small Business a cause or non-profit? Are you using the Paypal donate button on your website or Patreon to setup recurring donations? You should be.
We would love to hear how you are using Recurring Income streams to grow your business and keep connecting with your customers. Share your story at the Small Business Support Group
00:00:00 Small Business Show #212 for Wednesday, February 27, 2019
We all aspire to greatness. Marketers have used this urge to be a better person, to own the best thing, to achieve the most and to be unique to create iconic brands that we all recognize. Just what is aspirational marketing and is there a way to use to in your Small Business?
Aspirational marketing involves striving in a long-lasting and meaningful way to achieve or become something in particular. This urge for something better or unique is so strong that people will make terrible financial decisions to be seen driving a particular brand of car, wearing a particular brand of clothing, carrying a particular brand of handbag.
Think gym memberships in January – they are selling an aspirational story of what you COULD become, if only you will signup for a membership.
Think fashion shows by companies like Chanel, Gucci or Victoria Secret – they are trying to drive customers to their brand and stores that aspire to look something like they see on the runway – even if that’s impossible.
Recently your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton been thinking a lot about aspirational marketing and how Small Businesses might use some of these tactics to engage with our customers on a deeper, emotional level, to attract new customers and ultimately increase our sales.
Join us today for this episode of the Small Business Show to discuss how Aspirational Marketing can help your business. After the show, join us on the Small Business Support Group to share your story.
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #211 for Wednesday, February 20, 2019
We often talk about travel being one of the huge benefits of owning a Small Business. Being able to expand your world with travel is certainly a big part of living the Charmed Life of a Small Business owner.
Today, we get a chance to talk with someone who’s been on the other side of that equation, running travel and lifestyle related businesses. Gilbert Gauteraux has started, built and managed several travel and lifestyle businesses including JustLuxe.com and his latest venture, HotelsVillasDirect.com.
Gilbert has had some significant corporate experience, as well as starting and running his own Small Businesses, so we get a chance to dig deep into the pros and cons of each type of experience to get the show started.
Listen in and you’ll hear how HotelVillasDirect uses content creation to add value to their customers (both B2B and consumers) while driving leads to their website. You’ll also learn how the online travel market works, the multiple layers of information needed to close a sale and why it’s important for a hotel to be in control of the customer service experience directly.
Gilbert also spends time talking about leveraging the customer relationship in as many ways as possible and the challenges of educating investors and partners about what their business model really is, versus the perception of how the market operates.
Join us today for this episode of the Small Business Show with your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton. There’s some great insights from this episode that will help any Small Business owner.
After the show, join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask questions, make comments and share your own Small Business story.
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #210 for Wednesday, February 13, 2019
The only constant in business is change. Every Small Business goes through various cycles in its lifetime and you’ll need to learn to adjust your management style, your activities and your attitude to match whatever cycle your are in. How many cycles will you encounter? It really depends on the type of business you are running, but on this episode of the Small Business Show, we’ll be focusing primarily on 5 different cycles.
Launch – Implementation – Action
Growth
Peak
Maturity
Decline
Listen and and you’ll learn why adapting your management style and anticipating the next business cycle is critically important for your success as a Small Business Owner.
Your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have owned businesses that have gone through all of these cycles; from the excitement of the Launch, all the way to the misery of decline. During each cycle, there are adjustments to be made and actions to be taken that will steer your business in the right direction. Learn from our mistakes and successes and mix in your own experience to keep your Small Business growing.
Join us for all this and much more on this episode, then visit the Small Business Support Group to share your own tips and to join in on the conversation!
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #209 for Wednesday, February 6, 2019
00:01:20 The Disaster version vs. the Planning Version
Chances are, you’ll be attending a Conference or Trade Show related to your Small Business at some point. How do you maximize your time and have the best possible experience from attending a Conference or Trade Show? Join us for episode 208 of the Small Business Show to find out!
Your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have attended, reported on and exhibited at hundreds of Conferences and Trade Shows. From small events with just a few hundred people to the Consumer Electronics Show with hundreds of thousands of attendees. Each of these events requires planning and purpose to be sure you get the best result out of your attendance.
Listen in and you’ll hear about the importance of researching the event so you’ll be confident and comfortable, how building trust with existing and new contacts is critically important and why hanging out in conference hallways can be a great way to make connections.
We discuss the importance of listening more than talking, planning meetings before the show while also keeping some flex time available for what may come up and why connecting in the evening could be the best part of the event.
Join us for all this and much more in this episode of the Small Business Show! After the show, click over to the Small Business Support Group to share your own tips.
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #208 for Wednesday, January 30, 2019
00:00:58 The cycles of business and weather
00:02:58 The Trade Show/Conference Episode
00:03:50 How can you be comfortable and confident at the show?
When starting a Small Business, there’s a few different ways to go. You can start from scratch on your own, work with a partner to create something new, buy an existing business or purchase a franchise.
We’ve talked about the first 3 many times on the show, but not much about buying a franchise, or franchising your own business. Today we’re going to get educated in the franchise business model by Nick D’Agnillo of Nexus Property Management.
Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean to learn how Nick gained experience as a Real Estate investor to start Nexus Property Management, with a plan to create a business he could franchise. You’ll learn how to get startup information from your future competitors, why up-front and transparent pricing can be a competitive advantage and just how many hurdles are in front of you if you are considering franchising your Small Business.
You’ll also learn the steps required to turn your business into a franchise – from hiring a consultant to analyze your business, to the detailed Franchise Disclosure Document. Nick also shares what costs you will incur and how much money you need to set aside to complete the franchising process.
Listen in for all this and much more, then visit us at the Small Business Support Group to join the discussion and share your own franchising experiences.
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #207 for Wednesday, January 23, 2019
We’re fortunate to discover so many diverse skill sets with all of the Small Business owners we get to meet on the Small Business Show. This week we are joined by Nick Zadrozny, founder and CEO of One More Cloud. We’re excited to have Nick as a guest today so he can educate us about One More Cloud, their products and services and about his Small Business story.
Join us today to hear how Nick and his team created One More Cloud in 2009 to be one of the first companies to offer an Infrastructure as a Service. Nick discusses his years of programming and website programming experience and how a sticky note on his desk, labeled “Build Passive Revenue!” was the impetus to start One More Cloud.
Listen in and hear about Nick’s 10-year journey, moving from Engineer to Manager and then to the leadership position of CEO and how he has adjusted to the various roles and requirements of a fast growing business.
Nick talks about the power of having a group of like-minded peers, such as a CEO Coaching Group to share the details of your business with that can offer advice and criticism of all different aspects of your business, as well as your own actions as CEO.
There’s much more to hear on this episode that you don’t want to miss! After the show, join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask questions, comment and share your own story.
Chapters/Timestamps:
00:00:00 Small Business Show #206 for Wednesday, January 16, 2019
00:12:57 SPONSOR: TextExpander. If you’re on a team, TextExpander will change your life, leaving more time for what you do best. Visit TextExpander.com/podcast to learn more.
00:15:06 There’s a marketplace for everything
00:18:03 Finding the right customers
00:17:13 Role Shift from Technician to Manager
Coaching Group with Other CEOs
00:21:51 Managing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
00:27:35 Showing value to customers
00:30:30 Challenges running a Search Engine
00:34:23 “You need to pursue your success elsewhere”
00:38:34 Find your own “Mental Floss” Opportunities
Are you a confident Small Business owner? Has showing that confidence helped build your business? Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton today on episode 205 of the Small Business Show to hear learn how your own confidence can inspire confidence in your employees and your customers – leading to more sales and success!
You’ll hear why “Praising yourself (and your Small Business) daringly” is a proven marketing technique that you should become comfortable using. When you communicate your expertise and display confidence, most people will believe you and they will tend to confirm that impression in their minds.
We discuss a number of methods to use to create the confidence in yourself and your Small Business to attract success including the controversial use of “directional truths”, promoting past successes and how you overcame adversity even if it was caused by your own mistakes and how talking about big goals can convince potential customers that you’re already there.
Listen in for all this and much more, then join us at the Small Business Support Group to join the conversation, ask questions and share your own confidence story.
00:00:00 Small Business Show #205 for Wednesday, January 9, 2019
00:01:18 The benefits of attending CES
00:04:31 Trade shows are valuable!
00:05:10 The Confidence Episode
00:05:48 Confidence vs. Competence
Sammy Hagar says it best!
00:06:30 Step one: Say you’re the best; Step two: become the best!
00:09:39 People are impressed more by confidence
00:11:13 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/SBS gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
00:14:38 Promote previous successes
00:15:57 Tell “directional” truths
“Thousands of customers…”
“Multi-million dollar business…”
“Dozens of employees…”
00:18:58 Promote brand name customers and big deals
00:22:13 Talk about how you’ve overcome mistakes
00:23:29 Talk about your goals
00:24:38 Know your cash numbers, even if they suck!
