PDX Small Business Network: Recent Episodes
One-Click Lindsey
PDX Small Business Network Podcast has been started with an aim to shine a light on the success of Portland’s small business community.
Dr. Angela Potter (https://www.drangelapotter.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Dr. Potter and I talk all about her practice and how she supports women during their recovery after birth. Not only does she help with the symptoms of recovery like hormone imbalance, mood imbalance, incontinence, and pelvic pain, but Dr. Potter also helps new moms regain their energy and feel more vibrant overall. Let’s talk about it! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The postpartum experience. It was jarring for me to see how once the baby is here, it doesn’t matter if your feet are still swollen and your body is adjusting. All the attention goes to the baby, which is fantastic, but it’s still very sudden and jarring!
- Dr. Potter’s patients are usually coming in for emotional support as new mothers. She recommends counselors and acupuncture, but Dr. Potter helps with the clinical aspect like hormone balance, vitamin levels, and nutrition to make new moms feel more nourished.
- How pelvic floor work is excellent for healing physically and emotionally. Processing the birth story can have a direct relationship with the pelvic floor. Dr. Potter talks about what happens when the birth doesn’t go as planned, and how that can affect mom emotionally. The pelvic floor is where a mother carries her baby, and so doing this work can help mothers process the birth story physically and emotionally.
- Dr. Potter loves working on the postpartum healing plan during the pregnancy and gives you all the resources you need to prevent postpartum depression, anxiety, incontinence, etc. But she also encourages new mothers who are struggling to give her a call or schedule a consultation because she is here to help!
- Fertility work and how, surprisingly, women can have trouble getting pregnant for the second or third time. She talks about her personal experience with holistic fertility treatment and how even things like stress management can make all the difference.
- Yoni steaming! It’s big around the world and making a comeback here in the United States. Dr. Potter talks about what it is and how it’s helpful during your postpartum time. She works with women to develop steaming plans, and she’s got all the resources for you to get started!
- Dr. Potter has a philosophy for healthcare. She is a naturopathic doctor, so she can prescribe medications, but her practice is all about holistic care. She helps out with the big picture. Find out how she assesses her patients’ overall health and guides them to a healthier lifestyle.
- Toddlers! Having a toddler can be a huge adjustment, and sometimes you don’t know what to feel, but you just don’t feel right. Dr. Potter talks about how she would help someone who just hasn’t felt the same since giving birth.
- Having a concern for weight loss after birth is huge in our society. We see new mothers on Instagram or celebrity moms, and we want to lose weight as fast as them. Dr. Potter talks about how dieting can hurt not help, and what she would recommend for someone coming to her trying to lose the baby weight.
- Bonus: How she helps patients get easy access to at-home testing for hormone imbalance and nutrition.
Geoffrey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47514124@N02/) and Valerie Franklin (http://www.valerieschaferfranklin.com/) are our special guest on today's episode of PD...
Torie (https://www.linkedin.com/in/torie) and Cathy are our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com). They are founders and co...
Jenn Louis is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com). She is here to talk to me about her new restaurant, Ray (http://www.raypdx.com/). Based on Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine, Ray is something bold and new on the Portland scene. Together, Jenn and I talk about what kind of food her restaurant offers, some of her favorite dishes, and why Ray is so unique, and inspiring not only for our local area but in the long run as well. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What to expect when you drop into Ray! It’s a casual restaurant that speaks to the experiences Jenn had in Israel. She took a trip there 2 years ago and, at her old restaurant, started making dishes that incorporated her favorite recipes as specials. With how interesting the flavors were, and with a cuisine that isn’t understood very well due to its location, Jenn decided to close her former restaurant, and reopen it in March as Ray!
- Jenn talks to us about how Ray fits into the Portland scene. She’s had several businesses before and has been self-employed for 17 years. As such, she’s very aware of what’s happening in the market, what she wants to be a part of, and what appeals to her. Portlanders eat differently, Jenn explains, and being casual is more important to how we live our lives! The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern way of eating match that sort of flow, therefore Ray is a natural progression in that direction! Portlanders also love big flavors, and these flavors are vibrant, rich, intense, and varied — they compliment the lifestyle we enjoy.
- Jenn talks to us about how her menu is food for everyone! Admittedly, she didn’t think too much about things like dietary restrictions before opening, but the way the menu panned out, it fits in very well with people who are gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, and vegan! There are options for everyone that give you the same bold and rich flavors that Jenn boasts about in a way that doesn’t complicate your personal needs. It’s not a cuisine for the timid, she says, but there is something for everyone.
- Jenn explains the ambiance of the restaurant, stating that all are welcome! One of the biggest goals in opening Ray was being inclusive, and a place for everyone to visit. With big, round tables that seat 8 - 10, with Lazy Susan’s in the middle to share big dishes between guests, the restaurant is very group friendly. For date night, events, or just a night on the town with people you care about, Ray is the place to be!
- As a local and national celebrity, Jenn talks about her experiences in the media and the world. She doesn’t consider herself much of a celebrity, and is still very much a hard working person with a job she loves, and dedicates much of her time to. Because of her celebrity, however, she’s had amazing opportunities, where she experienced wonderful things! Winning Best New Chef from Food and Wine in 2012 was definitely a good launching pad for her career, and that combined with being on Top Chef Masters definitely gave her chances to travel, and experience food in lots of different cultures.
- Jenn talks to us about the way things work in the kitchen. She’s the head chef, with two people underneath her — she oversees the bigger picture while they cook in the kitchen. There’s also a row of line cooks that work under them, and so on with the way the staff extends. Kitchens are a hierarchy, Jenn says, which works well due to always having someone there to teach you new things, and keep an eye on you as things progress. They all work together as a team for ideas, problem-solving, and doing a better job.
- Jenn goes through some restaurant basics with us, starting with stating that they do catering and event planning for things like weddings,
Pam Blair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-blair-484ba09/) is the special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business network Podcast. She is the owner and creator of Yoga Bug Real Estate (http://yogabugrealestate.com/)—a company that she started after working in both the yoga field and the real estate field, for the past 7 years. Together, Pam and I talk about how her business got started, what sort of events you can catch her at next, and what aspects of yoga and real estate she enjoys the most, and how bringing them together helped her find a passion for her career like never before. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Pam got started! She’s one of the top producing realtors in the Portland area, and in 2011, Pam combined her two passions into one business! She started teaching yoga a few years prior, and though she had her feet in both worlds, she felt like she was being treated differently in her two lines of work. People would often express more interest in her yoga business as opposed to her real estate business, despite her enjoying both, so she decided to bring the two worlds together!
- Pam explains how she got started with Yoga Bug Real Estate, stating that planning events was the first thing to get them off the ground. They’re very involved with the community, and every other month, Pam produces what she calls as wellness series. These events are free to the public, and in turn, the people who come to them receive benefit from attendance through valuable information, and getting to know Pam as a business owner, too!
- Pam explains why she loves her business so much, calling it sustainable and exciting. It’s not only about being able to connect through real estate but also being able to use the community to connect like-minded people. The marketing involved with Yoga Bug Real Estate is always done by highlighting another business, or another entrepreneur, and it helps to bring people together (which, according to Pam, is what real estate is all about). They practice an organic way of marketing and an organic way of doing business, and that’s what distinguishes them in the world of real estate.
- Pam talks to us about a fun yoga event they have coming up, entitled the Dog Bone-Anza! It’s an event that features dog yoga, which lets you bring your dog onto the yoga mat and exercise with them! It’s extremely fun, Pam says, and the proceeds from this event go towards an amazing cause. You can keep up with this event, and other events that Pam plans for her business, through her Facebook page!
- Pam tells us which takes longer, organizing events or selling homes! She explains that selling homes usually takes more time—for the event planning she does, there’s a team behind her to help her get the job done. However, either way, Pam explains that when you’re passionate about what you do, it becomes effortless, and it happens either way. She’s incredibly grateful for choosing this path, and has an overflowing amount of enthusiasm to support her!
- Lastly, Pam talks to us about the difference in selling houses and listing houses, and what her perfect client would be like. When it comes to selling houses, she enjoys getting to know the people she’s working with, and watching how they light up when she helps them find the perfect home. She often refers to the process as a “treasure hunt”, and getting to know the people you’re working for is crucial in that field. When a seller is listing a home, however, it’s more like the end of an era in their lives, and it’s her job to make them feel excited about the next milestone in their lives, and to ensure them that she’s going to do the best possible job in the world to make this transition smooth.
- Overall,
Susan Brown (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-brown-44777b68/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the current owner and teacher at Happy Hearts Preschool (http://www.happyheartspreschool.com/). Originally founded in 1984, Susan bought the business in 2000 when the previous owner retired and has been running it successfully ever since! Together, Susan and I talk about what got her interested in Happy Hearts Preschool, what sort of things you can expect your child to take part in when they sign up for classes, and the outings and field trips the kids get to enjoy once a month. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Susan came to run Happy Hearts Preschool! A half day preschool for 3 - 5-year-old children, the original owner founded it in 1984, after struggling to find a suitable preschool for her own children. Susan started volunteering and enrolled her own children there, and once the original owner retired in 2000, Susan bought the business and took over! She’s been involved since 1993, and works with one other assistant teacher to keep the school running!
- Susan tells us about the sort of things that kids can do in the classroom. They get a lot of hands-on learning in the classroom and are tasked with jobs they can do that teach them a bit of responsibility. There’s a mix of academics learning and playing, and the kids learn how to be independent. Susan also lets the kids get used to being in front of others and being in front of crowds to help prepare them for presentations in elementary schools. 2 times a year they’ll have evening programs as well, where the kids will perform in front of the parents! They learn problem-solving, patience, empathy, self-esteem, and what it’s like to be in a community.
- Susan tells us about the field trips that the kids can take, stating that they go out once a month to explore the city and learn how to make friends in different settings! It also provides a place for the parents to get to know each other as they chaperone, while also engaging with the kids as they learn. Field trips can be a variety of things—during the holidays, the kids can go to the pumpkin patch, as well as visiting retirement homes to go caroling!
- Susan talks to us about the philosophy of her classroom, and how important it is for her that their doors are open to everyone and anyone. At Happy Hearts Preschool, Susan explains that they’re dedicated to building positive self-esteem and self-stability—they have several hands-on stations in the classroom that allow kids to get interactive, and those stations will change weekly to encourage new things for them to learn. They don’t “rescue” the kids if they’re having problems, either—instead, they’ll try to help them solve the conflict, and own what’s going on (in terms of disputes).
- Susan talks to us about the interaction that she encourages between the classes and the parents! There are 2 classes kids can enroll in—one that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one that meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—and overall, Susan says they take 20 kids per class. There’s also a sign-up sheet outside of the classroom (as well as newsletters and calendars of their events so parents can keep track of what the kids are doing to get involved with detailed conversations) where parents are encouraged to volunteer their time in the classroom!
- Susan talks to us about what they do when the kids start misbehaving, explaining their process as calm and caring, as opposed to something like “time out”. She states that the disruptions happen the most during what’s called “circle time”, which requires the kids to be quiet and listen. That can be hard for young children,
Kyle Kautz is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He is the owner of PDX Pedicab (http://pdxpedicab.com/home/), joins me this week on the PDX Small Business Network p...
Danielle Savory (http://daniellesavory.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com/). Danielle is a certified life coach, she uses the practices of Modern Mindfulness to help people find their peace of mind through a variety of techniques that she’s studied over her years with experience. Together, Danielle and I talk about what her coaching sessions are like, what kind of things she teaches to other people, and the ways in which you can connect with her if you’re interested in getting some modern mindfulness! Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What it is that Danielle does! She’s a master certified life coach who specializes in teaching modern mindfulness. She’s spent the last decade with her personal practice—which is built from the previous education of modern mindfulness—and integrates those ideas into real life, and teaches those ideals in the world using workshops, in corporate settings, or at live speaking events!
- Danielle explains to us what modern mindfulness is, stating that it’s about taking ancient practices (like Buddhist influences) and applying them to modern life, and putting real-life experiences into play. Using her formal education background in neuroscience, Danielle approaches mindfulness in her own way to help people achieve a sense of calm in their lives.
- Danielle tells us some of the ways to practice modern mindfulness in the home! A lot of people tend to go to meditation first, and Danielle agrees that its part of what she teaches, but some people aren’t ready for it in that moment. Danielle also teaches ways to drop into stillness, with a focus on bringing a presence of mind to what’s going on in your moment to moment life. Some clients have very busy lifestyles, and for them, it’s about teaching how to work on deeper breaths, and tapping into their senses, and focuses on what that brings up for you!
- Danielle also explains that any type of mindfulness practice has far-reaching benefits, and one of the things she focuses on revolves around increasing the grey matter parts in your brain. Grey matter focuses on a part of our brain that allows us to notice what’s happening internally, and when we start to check in with our body more regularly, we realize that our emotions have a physical component in the body. When we start to notice these things, we can tap into the body to know what’s going on, and gives you more intelligence when you move throughout the world.
- Danielle talks to us about what you can expect when you interact with her during a session! She sees mindfulness as the way into everything—it’s not the end game, but it gives us this way of being in the world and allowing us to have more awareness. Once we have that, we can learn what it is we’re trying to cultivate more of, and we can spend our time working towards it. Her life coaching sessions help with the cultivation of the qualities of mind that you’re working on creating and allows you to uncover those thoughts that you need to work on creating more of.
- Danielle explains to us her idea of the perfect client is, stating that people who would describe their lives as busy or full would be wonderful candidates. People who have a lot on their plate—whether it be personally, professionally, or both—are people who would benefit from mindfulness. These people are usually achievers and have a sense of wanting to make an imprint in their life with high aspirations, and they’re looking for ways to get through the change with more ease and confidence, and wanting to feel that continuous motivation without doubt or judgment.
- Danielle tells us about a 6-week course she runs 3 - 4 times a year for women, called Befriending and Becoming. It’s her signature course,
Danielle Ewalt (http://www.danielleewalt.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com). Danielle is a business coach wh...
Pam Westra (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-westra-0051b9162/) is the founder and owner of Tiny Digs Hotel (http://www.tinydigshotel.com/), a community in the heart of Portland with 6 houses for you to stay at! Each house has its own theme, too, and this week, Pam talks to me about how she got started in the tiny house business, what goes into planning each house, and the designing involved to make each one unique and special, as well as cozy for guests from all over the world. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- When Tiny Digs got started! Pam explains that they opened a year ago and have been going strong since! Each house is tiny in appearance—they’re under 200 square feet—and each house is individually themed. You can visit their website to see all of the houses offered to choose a themed house that suits you best!
- Pam also explains what each house can offer, starting with the fact that each house has a queen size bed at the minimum. Some of the other houses offer a pull-out couch for additional room, as well as a click-clack couch, meant for one adult, but mostly children. Overall, each house can fit a minimum of 2 people, and a maximum of 4. The houses are also electric powered, with a hot plate and toaster ovens included in most of the houses!
- Pam explains the designing process, stating that each partner takes turns in designing the houses on graph paper. Then, one of the partners works to build a model on SketchUp, and the original partner with the idea gets to choose the theme, as well as decorate the inside of the house to match! Currently, there are 8 houses on site (though one is their office space), and when they’re done with construction, they plan to have a total of 12 houses to rent out.
- Pam talks to us about the neighborhood where Tiny Digs resides, stating that it’s perfect for people looking to explore Portland. It’s just one block away from what’s called “Portland’s Delicious Half Mile of Food”, and Pam explains that there are over 50 restaurants and brewpubs within a 10-minute walk of the hotel!
- Pam explains to us what the inside of the houses look like, stating that most of them have a loft sleeping area upstairs. On the main floor, there’s a sitting area and a small kitchenette, where you can use hot plates and toaster ovens to prepare food. There’s also a restroom on the first floor, complete with a flush toilet and a stand-up shower. Pam also tells us the rates you can expect to pay for staying at these houses, explaining that weekday rates are 165$/night, and weekends are $175/night.
- Pam gives us a bit of background on herself, stating that she’s been living tiny for 9 years! Nine years ago, after her and her husband retired, they hit the road in their RV to travel. During that time, tiny houses were just coming about, and once they settled down in Portland, they decided to live in the RV! In the future, they’re looking forward to getting more tiny houses built for the community, as well as building one for the family!
- Pam tells us how her family got interested in building tiny houses, stating that she started to see little hotels popping up about 5 years ago. Pam and her son were already obsessed with tiny houses in general, and would constantly send each other ideas about tiny houses while they were traveling. After doing research, they set up their home base in Portland, and after another 8 months of research, they found the perfect property to start Tiny Digs! Additionally, they built tiny houses for a whole year before opening, so they could immediately start renting with 6 houses when they started.
- Pam explains that they do entertain tours of the houses for people who don’t want to stay, but want to see what the houses are all about!
Ashley Rose (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-rose-salvitti-6b806319) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Ashley is the founder of
Melissa Jaffe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jaffe-2710a014a) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com). By combining her expertise and years as a licensed attorney dealing with businesses and intellectual property with her love and dedication towards yoga, meditation, and practices for a good mind, Melissa has found a way to teach people how to better understand what they’re doing, as well as settling themselves as they do it. By making sure that people are mindful of how they’re working, Melissa is effectively changing the way people do their business and find peace in their lives. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What gave Melissa the idea to start something like Blissness School. Over the last 20 years of her working in corporate business, Melissa noticed that there wasn’t a lot of spaciousness to be creative all the time, especially in the world of law. People weren’t happy, and Melissa started to utilize some of the practices she’d learned in other parts of her life—her yoga and meditation classes—and soon created a place to learn how to be self-accepting, more effective at work, and more empowered. Blissness School!
- Melissa tells us how Blissness School got started, with her just recording segments of video that demystified business law. People would often freak out, she says, and bury their heads in the sand, which is the opposite of what you want to do as a small business owner. Other people began to come to her with great things to offer, and since then, she’s been teaching about business law, intellectual property, how to manage passive income streams, scale up and franchise, and how to understand your own business. Additionally, Melissa also offers a mentorship package, where she works with people one on one.
- Melissa tells us about the biggest mistake that people make when it comes to knowing the law, stating that people either don’t use a contract, or they use someone else’s contract. She’s seen it with her own clients, and after a certain point, no lawyer can help you. If you don’t have the right words, or if you’re not acting in accordance with what you say you’re going to do, it’s not going to work well for you, and you’ll pay for it.
- Melissa also explains that, while some people don’t want to be tied down and have the freedom to change their minds, that’s a dangerous place to operate from in business. People come to you for a reason, and you need to be clear with yourself and them during your interaction. When you’re not clear, that’s when you get problems. The contract isn’t about the paper, it’s about the promise to do or not do something. You need to know everything, but you need to know where you’re going so you can have a discussion when you deviate from the plan. That’s what helps maintain and preserve relationships.
- Melissa tells us about the various events that Blissness School hosts! On top of the retreats they’re beginning, Blissness is a place to come to learn about empowerment. Some of the headier places like law can be intimidating, and by focusing on the body and the mind, Melissa has successfully started to cleanse challenges and meditation challenges that help affect the mind and the way people face work. By reevaluating what you’re putting your body and taking it one step at a time, you can see what helps in shifting your mental state, and what makes you more effective.
- Melissa explains what happens when you sign up for a challenge, saying that you get an email every day! After consulting with experts, Melissa has found that meeting people where they are is a great place to start. So, for example, before you jump into the cleanse challenge, they’ll encourage you to start a pre-cleanse.
Becky Jarvis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/curvychiccloset) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Becky is one of the people leading the way towards this amazing new tomorrow. Becky runs the largest original plus sized clothing event in the Northwest—Curvy Chic Closet (http://curvychiccloset.com/)—and gives women everywhere a chance to visit with over 200 consignors who sell their gently used clothes from sizes 14 and up! Together, Becky and I talk about how she started this business, what it means to her, and how she’s been able to grow this event into what it is today. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All about Curvy Chic Closet! Founded in 2011, Becky got the idea after volunteering for an event that was giving plus sized clothes to children. Upon attending, she thought about why there wasn’t the same thing for adults, and thus Curvy Chic Closet was created! With 2 events a year, one in September and one in April, you can visit and shop with over 200 consignors with 20,000 consigned items sizes 14 and up! All items are gently used and thoroughly inspected before being presented for purchase.
- Where the event takes place, in Washington County. Becky also tells us that, additionally, there are 21 women-owned business vendors outside of the event, selling their goods as services! There are homemade crafts and products, as well as business owners from the areas (like a massage therapist, Becky explains). Additionally, Becky explains to us that, if consignors volunteer to help with the event aside from selling their wares, the percentage they get back on the items they sell can increase from 60 to 85%!
- In order to participate in the event, you need to register online at their website. There’s a small registration fee of $10.00, but afterward, you’re on the floor! Consignors can bring in a range of 20 items, to nearly 150 items. On-site, tagging services are offered for your clothes, but the closer they get to the event, the more limited those appointments are. When you use their tagging service, you get 40%, but if you tag your items yourself, you get 60 - 80%! Additionally, the software they use at the registers can notify them which items of clothing belong to which person, making the process of paying the consignors easier.
- Becky tells us how popular the event has grown to be, with 1,500 people attending their last event in the spring! They’ve been at their current location for the past 2 years now to accommodate the crowds, and they’ve gained this notoriety through mostly word of mouth, and national publicity. Shoppers tend to come from all over at this point, with some traveling from Canada to attend!
- Becky talks to us about the fashion show that comes with the event! They just recently held a casting call to find their models, and Becky assures us that what they do isn’t a traditional fashion show. When they cast, they’re looking for everyday women that embrace and inspire other women. They want people who’re comfortable with themselves, people who aren’t necessarily professional plus-size models, and people of all ages (their youngest model this year is 14, and their oldest is a 58-year-old woman in a wheelchair who’s bucket list included being in a fashion show!). The fashion show is free, and also hosts as a fundraiser for a nonprofit called Period, which helps women with menstrual hygiene products and needs.
- Overall, the shopping event is free. However, Becky tells us that there is a presale before the event opens to the public. The presale, which is from 11 - 2 pm the first day of the event, costs an admission of $5, or $5 in menstrual hygiene products. Volunteers can also get into the event early, but—as stated above—volunteers are consignors only.
Becky Boldrick (https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-boldrick-08866754/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Becky is the founder and operator of Stumptown Social Media (https://www.stumptownsocialmedia.com/), a company that offers to run your social media accounts for you! Together, Becky and I talk about the kind of work she does, the kind of businesses she collaborates with, and what you can expect once you hire Becky to take charge. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What Becky does when you hire her for your social media management. Becky does everything that you would need to do for your social media pages—she creates content, runs ads, and is the main point of contact between you and your customers. She makes sure to respond to messages very quickly, and she keeps conversations running smoothly while she directs people to the proper channels.
- Becky explains that she doesn’t have a favorite type of client. Overall, she enjoys working with anyone. Her perfect client, however, might revolve around someone who doesn’t have any sort of social media presence set up. Becky truly enjoys starting them from scratch, seeing followers flow in to see who their community is, and getting the interest and excitement up for the business.
- Becky discusses how often businesses should be posting to Facebook and Instagram, the 2 most prominent social media platforms in marketing, explaining that 3 - 5 posts a week is the sweet spot. You don’t want to overwhelm your followers with information, but you want to keep them intrigued throughout the week. When it comes to this content, the choice to share the same content across different channels or create new content based on the platform itself is ultimately up to you, and how you think your audience would respond.
- Becky explains the ROI on social media marketing, explaining that a lot of people tend not to understand how it works in terms of social media marketing. More than half of it is social ROI—it’s a social return, where people are talking about your business and sharing the information with others across social media. You can’t really record a number with this method, but you can see customers communicating with each other and building trust. That’s where they turn from interested prospects into customers, and that’s where the money flows in.
- When it comes to Instagram marketing, Becky explains that she focuses more on organic growth with followers. You can buy followers, of course, but they may not actually be your customer. You want to be posting content that represents who you are as a brand and a business, and the people who start following you because of it are the people who are going to buy from you in the long run.
- Becky explains the way she goes about creating content, saying that writing content in advance isn’t always the best way to work. Since she works with a lot of local businesses, Becky often visits the business and talks to their team. By maintaining open communication and building trust, the business knows that what Becky will write is going to be good, quality content for the business. Additionally, with how available Becky makes herself to these clients, she’s ready to fix any last minute changes and edits that need to be made.
- Becky explains how she started this business, stating that Stumptown Social Media has been around for a year! The idea came to her after she started taking over social media accounts for a friend, and after discovering that she enjoyed it—as well as doing it successfully—she thought how necessary a strong social media presence is for marketing. Coupled with her want to help the local businesses of the Portland area, Stumptown Social Media was created.
- Lastly,
Lisa Jewell is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com/). Lisa is the sole doctor at Jewell C...
Jason Gerlt (https://www.facebook.com/jason.gerlt.7) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He's a general manager of
Alicia Hart (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-hart-a40555a0/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is a physician, and founder of
John Harris (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-harris-a848186/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He is the founder and head brewer at Ecliptic Brewery (http://eclipticbrewing.com/). This week, John tells us how he got started in the industry, what made him take a leap to open his own brewery, and the kind of products his amazing company has to offer. Additionally, he gives us an amazing sneak peek as to what running a brewery is all about. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Who John Harris is, and how he got started with Ecliptic Brewery! Starting in 1986, John brewed for McMenamins Hillsdale Brewpub for 2 years, before leaving in 1988 to become the founding Brewmaster at Deschutes Brewery. From there, he served as a Brewmaster at Full Sail Brewing in 1992, until just recently. He quit his job in 2012 to start his own company, and the rest is history!
- John also tells us why he started his own brewery, stating that the area of Portland he’d been living in and looking at really called for something that was suited to his needs, and was right up his alley. Starting his own company, at that very moment in time, just felt right. John then goes on to explain where the name for his company—Ecliptic Brewery—came from!
- John tells us the luck he’s had in the last year, with the name of his company coinciding with the solar eclipse. Due to that amazing planning, John got to create a special brew just for the occasion. And, though they only made 3,000 cases for the event, they sold out in a flash!
- John tells us how he got started into brewing, stating that it happened in the last 1980’s. After trying beers from microbrews, John noticed how much more flavor it had to offer compared to mainstream beers, and his interest was piqued right away. After buying his first homebrew kit, the rest was history, and John started pursuing this interest at a professional level!
- John tells us the process of finding the perfect building for his company, stating that it took him nearly a year after he quit his job to find the right match. It did come, thankfully, just before Christmas time in 2012, and after working to negotiate the lease for 3 more months, John had found his perfect location. The building is big, with lots of room for growth, has arrangements for outdoor seating, and is located in a very popular spot for nightlife in downtown Portland. And, after being there for the past 6 years, it looks like it’s going well!
- John confirms that most of the beer brewed at the headquarters does leave the restaurant, and gets shipped out to the Northwest area. Among them is the most popular beer they served, entitled the “Starbust IPA”. What started off as a special beer they brewed for the Portland Beer Week in 2015 became something of the best selling hit, and John’s been brewing it up ever since!
- John talks with us about the design of the cans, stating that the company in charge of their graphics—Sasquatch Creative Agency—does all of their base designs, and does a wonderful job with it! Additionally, their marketing manager Daria Stein creates her own graphics for social media marketing and advertisements, and with the combination of both, they work extremely well together. In fact, once they changed the logo, cans were flying off the shelf! The money spent is worth it if your product sells successfully.
- Finally, John tells us about the beers he currently has brewing, stating that they’ve got at least 6 or 7 going on at all times. Additionally, John tells us an anecdote about the craziest concoction he’s ever created, detailing a time where he used too much spruce to try and add spices to his brews!
Victoria Benedetti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-benedetti-5a71b233/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast (http://pdxsmallbusinessnetwork.com/). She is a tattoo artist in Southeast Portland who owns and operates her own private tattoo parlor. Together, Victoria and I talk about what got her into the art of tattooing, how long she’s been at her own business, and to sort of debunk some myths about the entire process while educating people (myself included) on what they can expect when they enter her tattoo parlor. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Where Victoria got her start! A Portland native, Victoria has been an artist her whole life and has a degree in graphic design from Portland State. In addition to traveling around the world, she’s spent the past 13 years doing custom designed tattoos for people in her own private studio!
- Victoria explains the process to us slightly, explaining that before anything serious happens, everyone gets a free one-hour consultation so they can articulate what they want. For her, it’s fun to meet new people and understand what their thoughts are on getting a tattoo. However, in the end, Victoria claims that the connection she has with her clients is the most important—she’s the artist who can bring their vision to life, but she needs a concept and an idea from the customer, first, before she can execute it to perfection.
- Victoria also explains how much it can help for people to do a quick Google search on tattoos and the whole process, or to even visit her website in order to read the FAQs and informational pages. Since tattooing has become pretty popularized with reality television, people often think they know more than they do about the process. Since tattoos are permanent, Victoria needs anyone interested to know that what they’ll get it something they’ll carry for the rest of their lives, so knowing what you want before going in is highly important, as well as making sure that getting a tattoo is what you truly want in the first place.
- Victoria talks with us briefly about the pain experienced during a tattoo, first confirming that the process does hurt. However, how much it hurts varies from person to person—if you’re someone with a high pain tolerance, it won’t be as much of an issue as opposed to someone with a very low pain tolerance. Additionally, the part of the body you choose to get the tattoo on affects how much pain you experience, as some places are extremely tender and exposed.
- Victoria talks to us about the importance of finding a tattoo artist that you connect with. For her, it’s about a positive exchange of energy—you want to find someone you click with and someone that you like. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who does a specific style you’re looking for since most artists can do a lot of different styles and techniques. It’s about how much you connect with them, and how you resonate with them. Having a personal connection with someone is important when you start the process! Tattoos are powerful, and you want to make sure that the person you receive it with is on the same wavelength as you are.
- Victoria tells us about the first time she got a tattoo, stating that it was kind of hard at first. Being an artist herself, it’s hard to choose what you want doing first, and it wasn’t until she had a very powerful experience that she knew she wanted to be reminded of that experience. If you’re not really sure of what it is that you want, Victoria encourages people to wait on it. Once you have the right experience or feeling, of something you want to be connected to, you’ll know.
- Victoria also talks with us about cover-up tattoos, stating that it’s a popular request she often gets.
Cinda Stevens Lonsway (https://www.cindastevenslonsway.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is an author from the Portland area, and she’s seen her fair share of struggles, trials, and tribulations. In this episode, Cinda regales us with what she’s been through, how it affected her personal life, and how she helped herself—and others—by finding what she believes was her true calling. (Before we start, allow me to mention the inclusion of triggering themes that Cinda discusses, including violence, PTSD, and potential rape.) IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- When it all started for Cinda, she was starting her life in retail. However, through her life, she worked up through volunteer work and becoming a mother. As she advanced, however, she realized that she began to realize that she was experiencing rage in a way that she wasn’t familiar with, or that she understood, and it scared her. Through some internal work and deep thinking, it occurred to her that she was reliving an experience that happened when she was 19 years old, which (at the time she didn’t understand) was PTSD.
- From there, Cinda tells us her story—at age 19, while she was renting a house in the Portland area with her friend, a stranger broke into the house and attacked her. For 3 hours, she fended him off, preventing him from committing awful acts of violence, and possibly ending her life. After that night, this man spent 2 - 3 months stalking her to the point where—when she had an opportunity to leave—she took it immediately. This man has yet to be caught, Cinda explains, and she never received any traditional closure.
- Through this, Cinda tells us what she went through as she aged into motherhood, falling into the feeling of pure panic at not being able to protect herself, and her children, from a possible attack. This fear and anger turned into the rage due to the feeling of being out of control against her personal demons, and she tried to control everyone and everything around her. The rage (which she categorizes as a lot of yelling) and these feelings after 5 years drove her to her lowest point, where she explains that she was ready for these demons to take over.
- Cinda explains that it was here where her spiritual journey started—when she was feeling this low, a voice called out to her in the middle of the night, saying “Cinda—learn to love your enemy, and there you will find your peace”. Through this, she claims to have called the spirit of her attacker into her room and expressed a love for him. Not a human type of love, but a divine love. Through this, she felt like her journey towards healing had finally begun.
- Moving forward to near present day, Cinda tells us about what happened that inspired her to write her book based on these events and her process: I Know Now: A Woman’s Healing, Violence to Victory, Trauma to Truth. A three-part saga, Cinda tells her story of what happened, how her rage turned her to that low point, and the spiritual journey that she went on in order to heal from her emotional wounds. In her words, Cinda believes that there’s a spiritual awakening happening across the planet, and there’s always a moment where we decide if we’re going to awaken to a new way of living, or if we’re going to resign ourselves to what we’ve got.
- Cinda also explains that, while she was growing up, she wasn’t a particularly spiritual child. Being raised Episcopalian, she had an attitude towards things that were deemed “traditional”. However, as she came into her own, Cinda does admit that there’s a difference between spirituality and religion. After starting her spiritual awakening in her 30s, Cinda came into her own, and these things she’s learned have saved herself, and her mental health.
Maegan Megginson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maegan-megginson-ma-lmft-lpc-5145b969) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the owner and clinical director of T...
Sofia McKay (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-torres-mckay-37635b133/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the owner and operator of the Cramoisi Vineyard (https://www.cramoisivineyard.com/), an excellent example of local winemakers doing what they love for a living. Today, she is telling us about how she got started, how her family works to maintain the vineyard, and the variety of wines they’re serving to the public. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Sofia McKay started this business with her husband, Brian. After meeting in San Francisco, Sofia and Brian discovered their mutual interest in food and wine. With Brian’s passion from his previous job, they both craved more knowledge about wines, and how they’re created. And, since Brian wanted to be a farmer, their dream only expanded into what they have today!
- Sofia also tells us how they settled on the land they have. They’d been researching about where the best wines from Oregon originate from, and easily they settled in the Dundee Hills of the Willamette Valley. After moving to the states from Canada in 2011, they found a clean plot of land to start planting on in 2012. Six years later, they’ve found success, and have 6 acres of pinot noir planted, as well as 1 acre of Chardonnay.
- Sofia explains to us the process of planting, and farming the land. Usually, it takes about 3 - 4 years before you have your first real harvest! That’s right—you have to wait until you get quality produce. Then, once you’ve produced this harvest, the grapes are sent to the winery. Once the wine is made, it must be kept in the barrel for an additional 12 - 18 months! For the pinot noir they produce, it takes 5 - 6 years. Additionally, once it’s in the bottle, you have to wait another 6 months before opening it. With this process, Sofia wants people to understand the history and the experience that goes into making a single bottle of wine.
- Sofia tells us that, 3 years ago, they planted their 1 acre of Chardonnay. With their 5 acres of pinot noir, however, that’s where they mainly focus their efforts. This year, they’ve produced 25 cases of Chardonnay, and—additionally—this year was the first time they’ve released a rosé!
- Sofia explains that they started this business purely for the passion they have for wine. You don’t make revenue right away in this industry, anyways—it takes about 10 - 12 years before you start seeing revenue. Sofia explains that what she does, and what their vineyard is about, is based on a foundation of passion and love for what they do. Neither Sofia or Brian come from families that previously owned a vineyard, nor do they have experience in this field. They started this business with their own money from previous (and current) jobs in the software field, and continue to pursue their vineyard based on the passion for what they’re creating. In Sofia’s words, they’re taking it little by little—their wines are mostly available on the vineyard, as well as a few local restaurants, and Red Hills Market. The goal is to make phenomenal wines they can drink, and share.
- Lastly, Sofia explains the important process of designing a label for the bottles! It took them 2 - 3 years to pick out the perfect name for their winery—making sure that no one else is using what you’ve created worldwide can take some time—and once they got their name trademarked, finding the perfect person to collaborate with was a challenge. Thankfully, their answer came with Courtney Cunningham, who produced labels for them in just 6 months! We can all agree that her hard work paid off.
Maya Cardoso is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the current owner and operator of Santa Fe Taqueria (http://santafetaqueria.com/)—is proud of the work her uncle started in 1990, and together, we talk all about what Santa Fe Taqueria has to offer, the kind of foods they’re selling, and the overall atmosphere of their restaurant. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All about where Santa Fe Taqueria started. In 1990, Maya’s uncle started the business, and she explains that it was one of the first taqueria’s to open up in the area! Collectively, they own 3 locations in Portland, and all of them run with the same style of menu, service, and atmosphere. Together, she’s kept all 3 locations in business for over 30 years!
- Maya explains to us what a taqueria is, telling us that it’s more about the style in which you get your food. Similar to an assembly line, the food is made to order right in front of you as you’re waiting, and everything is plated in front of them to their exact specifications. The ways in which people can customize their food are truly limitless, and the quick order based system means very short waits!
- Maya also goes over their menu with us, explaining that there’s plenty of authentic Mexican meat choices that are plated in a Tex Mex sort of style. With over 8 different kinds of meat offered—from a house special chicken in chocolate-based sauce to a more classic ground beef or carnitas—you can rest assured that there’s something for everyone. On top of that, Maya also assures that there’s plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, like rice and beans with some fresh salsa!
- Maya proudly tells us that everything is made in-house. Cooks arrive as early as 7 AM to prep for the day—all the salsas for simmering are made fresh, all of the cold salsas are made fresh (like pico de gallo), and all meats are prepared fresh multiple times a day. The staff is prepping and preparing all day long to ensure that the food you’re being served is as fresh as possible.
- Maya then talks to us about the atmosphere of the restaurant, stating that they’ve been in the same location for 27 years! While the neighborhood has gone through all sorts of changes around them, Maya was more focused on observing the kind of people that visited their restaurant. And, through that, she found that they have a very diverse and unique audience that comes to visit them during the week! With events scattered throughout—a kid’s musician on Wednesday’s, salsa dancing on Thursday’s, and happy hour every day—they’ve garnered people from all walks of life, and they’re very happy with it.
- Maya also tells us about La Cantina next door to the restaurant! It’s traditional, she says, where you have a dining space on one side, and a Cantina on the other. It’s open every day, and is stocked with a full bar, a complete drink list, and several specialty house margaritas, including one named after the restaurant itself! With plenty of TVs for watching sports, as well as an open patio, the Cantina is a fun place for people to drink and be social with each other.
- Lastly, Maya talks to us about how they accommodate for parties, explaining that they love hosting events for anyone who’s interested! Any tables can be moved around to sit a large party comfortably, and people are even encouraged to bring their own music playlist, or even a DJ, for hosting events!
Emily Mackay is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the founder of Oaks Park (http://oakspark.com/), an incredible amusement park, and attraction here in Portland. It’s been open since 1905 and boasts that they have been open every single season since they’ve opened. Emily calls herself the “party person” at Oaks Park, meaning she takes care of parties, events, and advertising of all kinds. No better person to talk to about Oaks Park! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The history of Oaks Park. Like I said, it was opened in 1905, but Emily goes on to explain that it was created by the Oregon Power Water Commission to get rich residents of the swanky nearby Oregon City to come into Portland.
- How Oaks Park is run. It was bought by a family called the Ballingers, who owned it until 1985. However, they wanted to make sure Portland would have the park forever, so they turned it into a nonprofit historic site run by a board of directors.
- A variety of the attractions and offerings Oaks Park has. It has one of the largest and best-skating rinks in the country, a variety of amusement park rides, an enormous and busy picnic area, and so much more. Emily and I can barely cover it all!
- Their newest ride, an extreme roller coaster that will be of interest to you thrill seekers out there. As of recording this, the coaster had not been built, but I’m happy to say that Adrenaline Peak is HERE! Emily shares a bit about how it was constructed and brought to Portland in this episode.
Michael Jung (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejung/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He encourages you to come down for the night and play to your heart's content. Michael talks about where Pips and Bounce started from, as well as all the amazing things he offers. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All about what Pips and Bounce is! Michael Jung describes it as a place to relive your childhood nostalgia. With several large ping pong tables, an in-house bar, and kitchen ready to whips up party snacks, it’s the perfect destination for a fun night on the town for anyone. For now, this is the only location they have, but they’re definitely looking to expand!
- Michael talks with me about what they’re sort of advertising with this theme, the first being the concept of “time travel”. Now, of course, we know this doesn’t mean he’s trying to talk science with us, but instead, he’s trying to bring everyone back in time, when playing ping pong in your basement was an average Friday night! He also enjoys giving people the opportunity to unplug from technology, and social media, and offer people a place to hang out and interact face to face with one another. The authenticity of these interactions is what makes Pips and Bounce so special.
- Located in the Central Eastside of Portland, Pips and Bounce accepts walks in from anyone! Michael says there’s always one table ready for people who wander in and want to know more. Reservations are available—and recommended—for people who have larger parties, and want to ensure they get the space they need to enjoy their night out. They’re also open for booking large events, for up to 200 people!
- Michael gives us a rundown of what Pips and Bounce looks like, stating that most people don’t expect what they see when they walk in. In his words, it’s like they took ping pong out of your basement, and put it onto the main street. With a large open space, double story windows, modern and bright airy lighting, Pips, and Bounce mixes the old, with the new. Fake oak wood paneling lines the bar, an old-fashioned garage door is punched into the wall near the event room, and fun 80’s memorabilia lines the walls to give it a retro, nostalgic vibe!
- Michael also explains that, because ping pong tends to make people work up a sweat, they also offer in-house bar service, as well as food from the kitchen! Their menu, he states, is mostly around snack food that won’t interfere with the play of the game (like pizza, or nachos.) On top of that, there’s also a resident in-house “pro”, who’s available for lessons, for anyone who wants to get a competitive edge up on the game!
- Inside, Michael explains that they’ve got enough space for a number of party sizes—they can easily accommodate parties as small as two people, or they can book the whole club for 200 people. There are also sections for smaller groups as well, divided by how many tables are in each. On top of that, if you’re looking for something fun to do on a Friday, or Saturday night? Pips and Bounce has Cosmic Pong, ready to go! It’s the same game, of course, but under the black lights, and with fun, dance music to accommodate the fun atmosphere!
- Michael talks about how this idea came to life, stating that he and his brother took what little they knew about ping pong as a business and tried to make it work based on their own enjoyment and memories of the game from their childhood. Small business professionals turned them down many times (no experience, no model, too risky), and every no they got made them hone in closer to their own gut instincts on how to pull it off. They knew what they wanted to do, and buckled down on determination and creativity to get it done.
- For them, it’s all about people—their job is to bring people together,
David Maria (https://www.facebook.com/david.maria)is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He is the owner of this awesome business, joins me on the PDX Small Business Network Podcast this week to talk all about Vortices Design (http://www.vorticesdesign.com/) and what he can do for you and your business! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- His role in the company and what the company culture is like. David is primarily a programmer, and another employee, Brian, is the design savant. The company is small, so they work remote but do everything they can to personalize the entire experience for their clients.
- How they design their sites. Though they are completely capable of working in WordPress, they’ll only do it if that’s what the client wants. They’ve done a lot of E-commerce, and they are able to do something completely custom for your site or take a WordPress theme you like and implement it on your behalf
- His perfect client. They’re someone who isn’t concerned about cost, knows what they want (or is willing to invest in the discovery process, and is willing to let David’s firm run with their creativity for the project (with client input, of course!).
- All areas of their graphic design. David sings the praises of Brian, the graphic design expert of the company, and how he is extremely skilled in terms of computer skills and also naturally intuitive when it comes to design. Vortices Design can design anything you need, from displays for conventions to logo design to business cards and other fliers.
Kristine D’Angelo (https://www.doyoursexlifeafavor.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Kristine is a certified sex coach, she works with people who are willing to take the first step in exploring or empowering their sexual energy. Today, she’s here to talk to us about her business, what she does, and the kind of people she can help. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Who Kristine is, and all about her business. Her specialties lie in coaching women and couples through their own exploration of their sexuality, body image concerns, and the like. Specifically, her passion lies in coaching women—because women are never taught about their bodies, about how to identify a healthy relationship and what it means to be in a bad one, how to get out of a bad one, or sexual pleasure, it’s rewarding to be able to create a space for those conversations to happen.
- Kristine explains how she works with couples, stating that it’s common for a couple to lose their sexual spark after being together for a certain amount of time. Sometimes, there’s an imbalance in the levels of arousal both parties are feeling, and Kristine works to bridge that gap and have them meet on common ground in the middle. She enjoys giving them a chance to learn how to communicate their needs in a healthy and positive way.
- Kristine explains to us the difference between what she does—sex coaching—and sex therapy, stating that she’ll often refer people to a therapist if they come in with issues that stretch into the emotional and personal depths of their lives, and their relationship. What she aims to do is pick up on couples who have a strong, loving foundation and help them find a way to communicate their sexual needs.
- Kristine explains her process when engaging with an individual client, stating that she looks at them from all angles—mental, body, emotional, energy, and spirit. She looks for blockages in any of those areas that may be impeding their process into developing the sexual lifestyle they’re looking for and works to fix them with her client at their own pace.
- In terms of her sessions, Kristine explains to us that they’re meant to be short term, and are results driven. This means she tends to roll up her sleeves and get to work as soon as possible by identifying what the concerns are, building up to goals each week, and starting them off slowly in an attempt to normalize the conversation around sex and their bodies, so the overall idea becomes more comfortable for them.
- Kristine explains to us that, more often than not, she’ll see women who experience low or no sexual desire, which is something that’s common overall. She then goes onto explain the difference between men and women and their overall arousal, stating that it takes men a lot less time to settle into that place of comfort than it does for women. These are the conversations she has with male clients, too—explaining to them the pressures that women are under helps them understand their state of mind and Kristine enjoys educating these men on such topics.
- From there, Kristine talks to us about her sessions, stating that she prefers one on one sessions held in her office. Sessions for couples are structured a bit differently than those for individuals, however—they’ll start together for the first sessions, then break off for individual sessions so Kristine can get a sense of what their sexual experiences are like on their own. Then, they’ll come together until the sessions come to a close. Individual sessions are 50 minutes long, and couples sessions are 80 minutes.
- Lastly, Kristine talks to us about the importance of having intimacy in our lives, stating that intimacy is one of the most important things in a relationship.
Becky and Andrew Grossman of Davy Crockett Tree Farms is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. They’re here to tell us how they got started in the wasabi business, what wasabi can actually do to improve your health, and where they plan to take their wasabi sales in the future. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All about who Andrew and Becky Grossman are. A mother and son duo, they work together at their farm, cultivating a small, family-owned business that’s been on the scene for over 80 years! Talk about success!
- Andrew goes on to tell us about the origins of wasabi, explaining that it comes from the mountains of Japan, where it’s originally grown. Andrew also explains the different parts of the plant, explaining that the leaves themselves can eat, as well as the roots. The bottom of the plant, called the ryesome, is what most people tend to eat, as it’s generally grounded into a paste and ready for serving.
- Becky explains to us how they got started on the wasabi train, saying that her career was based as an environmental manager for private companies. She was tasked to do research for crops that would grow in California, and found that wasabi fit the bill—and the climate—perfectly! For extra protection, however, she does store them in a greenhouse, to provide safety from wind and excessive heat.
- They explain the layout of their land, stating that they have four greenhouses right now, taking up about 5,000 square feet each. They also got lucky in the sense that, 14 months after they planted their wasabi, it was ready for marketing and selling. It usually takes 18 - 24 months for something like that to happen!
- Out of the four farms that grow wasabi on the West Coast, their farm is the largest wasabi growers in the country! They sell their products through a company called Pacific Coast Wasabi, which allows them to sell their wasabi to people within the United States. However, they soon hope to start distributing out of their own website!
- Though each part of the plant has its own importance, Becky and Andrew talk to us about the recent discovery that lies within the leaves. The leaves of the wasabi plant promote hair growth, and can also be used in various skin products to retain elasticity and promote collagen. Right now, there’s a lot of people looking into this opportunity, and Becky and Andrew are no exception! They hope to venture into that sort of realm in the future, while the research is still being finalized.
- Andrew talks to us about their exciting partnership with New Seasons, stating that, by November 1st of this year, they want to have their products available in all 20 New Seasons stores! Their plans include selling the ryesome itself, as well as manufacturing a grinder, so people can grind the stem from their own house!
- Becky leaves us with the confidence that they’re still going to maintain their Christmas tree business, as well as push the wasabi business forward. Becky states that they may expand into other areas and are thinking about other crops they want to grow in the area that match the same climate as wasabi, but for now, this is where they’re staying.
Kimi Marin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimi-marin-m-a-ryt-856ba526/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Kimi has a variety of yoga programs and workshops through her company and her studios, including group classes, as well as one on one settings for people who need a little more attention to detail. This week, I talk with Kimi about what she does, and how she puts her own unique spin on her yoga classes. Let’s get started! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Who Kimi Marin is, and the kind of classes she offers. With 8 years of experience with teaching yoga, Kimi explains that she offers the chance for people to relax through a variety of different avenues—including group settings, workshops, and one on one meetings. Her overall goal, however, remains the same across the board, as she hopes to generate a place where people can connect, and gain better self-awareness within a group of peers.
- Kimi explains how her group classes work, stating that they’re more about having people in a group setting connect with their breath in order to understand what’s going on with their lives. She encourages them to take a momentary break from being cluttered with the outside world, explaining that people are too busy nowadays, and what we’re really looking for is within us.
- Kimi also explains her one on one classes, and how they differ from group settings. She uses the tools of yoga (breathwork, mindfulness, physical postures) to aid people into a more helpful balance in the body through a one on one connection, whether that be by meeting people in their homes, or scheduling private studio time.
- Kimi discusses the way her schedules work, stating that group classes tend to draw the same crowd of people. They’re set classes that happen in various locations around Portland, and though people come in, it tends to be full of regulars, giving the classes a community and atmosphere where everyone gets to know each other and create a certain comfort level.
- Kimi tells us the benefits of group classes over her one on one classes, and vice versa, stating that one on one classes tend to give someone more attention if they’re having specific problems, wherein a group setting, it wouldn’t exactly be brought up. One on one settings also gives people a chance to learn what is going on on an emotional level and not just the physical level.
- Kimi talks about what one can do to really feel the benefits of yoga every day, explaining that the physical exercise and poses aren’t always necessary. In fact, doing something as easy as taking deep breaths from your diaphragm will help lower your stress levels and give your body a more relaxed state overall.
- Kimi talks with us about how eating and a healthy diet can affect your overall well being in conjunction with yoga, stating that deep breath and connect with your mind (and your nervous system) can help aid in digestion problems, giving people a better quality of life overall.
- Lastly, Kimi talks with us about her retreats, stating that she likes to plan them around various goddesses and elements from mythology. With a masters degree in literature, Kimi uses her passion to really inspire people by connecting what these goddesses and elements did into what’s happening in our lives, giving people a chance to explore something new in the process of doing their exercises.
Tiffany Thoen (https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She’s extremely dedicated to helping women find their inner balance through h...
Talie Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliesmith/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Talie Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliesmith/) runs the company alongside her husband, Scott (https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-smith-2937764/), and her sister, Becca (https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccablumm/). Together, the three of them cover the three major disciplines of their awesome design, strategy, and technology company: Talie heads the creative side, Becca is in charge of technology, and Scott leads them in strategy. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Smith & Connors came to be. They were each working in their own little corner of the corporate world but were ultimately unfulfilled by it. However, they brought their experience to the table, and it began when Becca and Talie quit becoming developer/designer, respectively. Scott joined as their strategist not long after.
- How they help their clients—and they help their clients in a plethora of ways! Essentially, they help give their clients a voice and build a story to bring their mission to the forefront. They do this by building brands, websites, apps, writing, strategies, and so on, offering a real 360 view of their clients’ communications.
- What their perfect client is like. They love working with folks who are open-minded, adventurous, and ready to dig deep. Talie specifically uses the word “changemaker”. These folks are not satisfied with how things are going and really want to switch things up, especially in regards to communication.
- What they do uniquely. For Talie and her co-owners, it’s not just about design, brands, websites, or communication; it’s about the essence of the business or organization they’re working with. From there, they figure out the tools that need to be built to make that essence shine.
Sherri Curley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-curley-thepracticalsort/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Podcast. She is from The Practical Sort (https://www.thepracticalsort.com/), a professional organizer who offers eco-organizing solutions in the PDX area. As she puts it, if you can organize your home, the rest of your life will run so much better. Let's get started. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Who Sherri is and what she does. Sherri talks about how she helps people from organizational services to helping clients ready their homes if they’re looking to put their house on the market.
- The different ways Sherri can help you reorganize your life, depending on what kind of “brain” you have. For example, even people with an orderly brain type like her can need extra help getting things on track when life gets hectic, or she can help creative types keep their important documents organized to make things like tax time much easier.
- What the process of working with her is like. Things start with a free (that’s right—FREE) 30-minute phone consultation with her as she gets a better feel for who you are and what your needs are. From there, she’ll come to your home to assess the situation and see if you are a good fit.
- Some of her certifications. She’s certified by both NAPO and IPO, two well-established and respected organizations for professional organizers. She goes on to emphasize that if you are hiring a professional organizer, you should go with someone who is NAPO-certified.
Susana Holloway (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susana-holloway-a1020036/) from Portland's Culinary Workshop (http://www.portlandsculinaryworkshop.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. There are a lot of great places to learn cooking here in Portland, but Portland's Culinary Workshop an incredible cooking school driven by hands-on learning specifically geared toward the public in the Portland Area. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Portland’s Culinary Workshop came to be. Susana and her business partner, Melinda, knew each other for years before and have a long history as professionally trained cooks and chefs. Seven years ago, Melinda proposed the idea of opening their own cooking school together.
- What kind of classes they offer. Their class list is extremely varied! From butchery to kid’s cuisine, if you look at their list, you’re bound to find something that interests you.
- What the schedule looks like. Most classes are in the evening, but they offer daytime classes during the week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. They also offer kid-specific classes on the weekends.
- How classes work. At other cooking schools, you can expect to come once a week for six weeks, but with Portland’s Culinary Workshop, each class is one and done—though they do offer two-part classes if the information is too much to contain in one class!
Chef Javier Canteras (https://www.facebook.com/javier.canteras.7) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. We’re talking about his restaurant, Urdaneta (http://www.urdanetapdx.com/), on Alberta Street here in Portland. Urdaneta is a Spanish restaurant with a strong influence of the Basque region of Spain, as well as Madrid. This is because Javier is originally from Spain. What they specialize in is tapas, Spanish wines, and other specialties from the Basque region. Let's get started. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What tapas are, exactly. Javier says there is some contention of what makes a tapa, but as far as he’s concerned, tapas are simply “small plates”—which means they can be a lot of things! The ultimate goal is that you can eat tapas in about five bites but that you get a few different things so you can have a variety.
- The different kinds of tapas that are offered at Urdaneta. They have tapas broken down into three categories: Pintxos, Tapas Primeros, and Tapas Segundos. Javier shares some of his favorite tapas from each category and explains each one is almost like you are going through the different courses of a meal.
- How Javier got his start. He’s a trained chef who went to culinary school, but he got is REAL start as a kid. Between his father and his grandfather, cooking has been a part of his family for a long time.
- The atmosphere of Urdaneta. He describes it was a “really big kitchen that has tables and chairs around it”. It’s laid back, fun, and high-end without the white tablecloths.
Anna VonRosenstiel is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the owner of the business Carter & Rose (https://carterandrose.com/) that aims to sell handmade goods, pottery, jewelry, and so much more. She talks to us about what her amazing store can offer, and how this store came to be. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Where the idea for Carter and Rose started from. Anna states that prior to her time as a business owner, she worked as an art teacher for a private school. The woman she started the business with had been in floral design, and upon moving to Portland, she had the idea to start a store. And thus, Carter and Rose were born!
- Anna tells us the three tiers of what’s important to her, as a business owner, and the goals she strives to reach through her store—she wanted to make as much product as they could for the store, she wanted to make sure they engaged other people in the making process, and she wanted to showcase other local artists in the store.
- Anna tells us the story of their most popular product, the wall planters, and how they really took off! Using scraps of ceramic, they create cones that they then mount onto pieces of wood, and the size of the cone decides what sort of plant is based in the soil. The popularity of this product helped them gain amazing footing and wholesale accounts, according to Anna, and it’s what really gave them the foundation to build a storefront.
- Anna also tells us about the other products that Carter and Rose have to offer—for example, the ceramic fortune cookie that’s extremely popular with bridal showers and wedding parties, and the lovely array of ceramic jewelry made from scraps that they turn into lovely earrings and necklaces.
- Anna tells us the process of how Carter and Rose's classes go! Weekly, they open their clay studio to the general public, and for $5 an hour, you can visit and create whatever you’d like, with as much (or as little) advice as you want. Larger groups (4 or more) are encouraged to call ahead, and even larger groups can rent out the studio for a private party!
- Lastly, Anna tells us about her sales process, stating that her main sales are done throughout the year in the storefront. Additionally, there are about 35 stores that carry the wall planters for wholesale accounts, and during the winter and summer, there’s a lot of craft fairs in which they have a booth to sell their products out of as well!
Mac Prichard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/macprichard/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He runs two companies in Portland, one is Prichard Communications (https://www.prichardcommunications.com/) and the other one is Mac’s List (https://www.macslist.org/). He is better known for Mac’s List as It's an awesome resource for job seekers in Portland area. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What Mac’s List is all about. It’s an online community that attracts over 80,000 hits every month, and nine out often located right in the Portland area or Southwest Washington. There’s a job board there that advertises positions you won’t see anywhere else, as well as great content on how to properly look for work.
- How Mac ended up becoming a professional job hunter. He’s self-taught, but more importantly, he’s worked in communications his whole life. He loves to connect people and started a list to keep in touch with folks, and it grew slowly with only about 1,000 names after nine years. However in 2010, they launched a website, and it took off from there.
- What makes Mac’s List Portland Oregon special. His short answer? Employers get fewer applicants, but they tend to be the right applicants. He goes into some more details about how Mac’s List Portland Oregon job seekers tend to be more educated than other job seekers!
- Informational interviews. This is a model of interviewing that Mac likens to a structured business meeting. You walk into the appointment with an agenda and touch on three key things: your story and goals, specific targeted questions about where you want to work, and recommendations for growing your network.
Angela Tisci (https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatisci/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Angela is the owner of the Woodstock Wellness Center (http://www.woodstockwellnesscenter.com/) (http://www.woodstockwellnesscenter.com/) in the Woodstock neighborhood here in Portland and the creator of the EcoFertility Method (https://www.integrativefertilityinstitute.com/ecofertiilitymethod/). She’s also a business coach and owner of AcuBizConsulting (https://acubizconsulting.com/). IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The Woodstock Wellness Center. She originally created the Woodstock Wellness Center because there was a need for a place people go to heal and thrive that wasn’t a medical center or a spa. Woodstock Wellness Center is a good in-between, where she and her team offer acupuncture, massage, yoga, and life coaching.
- What is a life coach entails? Angela boils it down to people having that thought of, “I know what I should be doing, but I’m not doing it.” That’s where coaching comes in. It’s getting people from where they are to where they want to be by offering accountability and support on top of coaching.
- The EcoFertility Method. This was created about four years ago, born because fertility is actually Angela’s specialty. She asked herself, “How can we help these people in the best, most awesome way?” She boiled it down to four pillars: Physical Health, Mental Health, Financial Health, and Spiritual Health. The EcoFertility Method is a 90-day preconception program that takes these four pillars into account in order to prepare the body for pregnancy.
- Angela has been through all the hardships and struggles in starting her wellness business, so she wanted to offer that training and coaching for other holistic practitioners. The way I see it is, Angela has been through all the struggles; you shouldn’t have to go through them, too, when she can give you the answers!
Laurie Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-lewis-083577a/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. They’re a 100% women-owned and operated business and proudly offer a wide variety of unique wines. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Laurie and Renee got their start making wine. They had a love of wine to the point that they toured almost every winery in Oregon, and one day they just had an epiphany. Making wine looked like so much fun, and they said, “Let’s stop tasting wine and making it at home; let’s get serious and find out more about the industry.”
- How to create wine. Laurie’s simple answer boils down to three things: getting good grapes, keeping things clean, and not screwing it up. Sounds easy, but she dives into a deeper answer about some of the many things that she and Renee have to consider when making their wines.
- The different kinds of wine Hip Chicks Do Wine offer. Laurie goes into detail about so many of their wines, but she sums it up nicely by saying, they try to have something for everyone.
- PDX Urban Wineries. It’s an organization that highlights all the different wineries in Portland. For a long time, it was just Hip Chicks Do Wine making wine in Portland, but that has expanded considerably. They bring together boutique wineries in a variety of ways, including joint events twice per year.
- What the future holds for Hip Chicks Do Wine. Laurie certainly hopes to grow a little more, but not to the point that they end up going nationwide. She wouldn’t mind setting up distribution in other states, however, like California, Illinois, and New York—places they’re already delivering to. Otherwise, she’d like to keep it a two-person operation!
Anne Tegtmeier (https://www.facebook.com/anne.tegtmeier) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She owned a catering company named as Fan Fare Theme Catering (https://www.fanfarethemecatering.com/) right here in Portland, there’s an awesome catering company that specializes in themed events and custom food catering. A perfect choice for your event. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What Fan Fare is. Simply put, they’re a catering service that specializes in creating custom menus for theme events. The “fan” part of the name is an obvious nod to fandoms, but you don’t need a fandom to contact them for your event; they can use any kind of theme you can think of!
- Some of the recent and upcoming events Anne has catered. This past summer, she had a Game of Thrones wedding, and she has a Star Wars wedding coming up. They’ll be having a taco and a pasta bar, featuring dishes like Boba Fettuccine and Tatooine.
- What she does for each event. She creates the entire buffet, complete with tablescape and display pages that have a humorous little description for each dish. She can prep the food from a commercial kitchen she rents (usually from an awesome place called Kitchenhood), or she can bring everything to your house or venue if they have the kitchen space. She and an assistant or two will stick around once the buffets have been set up to assist with whatever you may need!
- How Anne got started with Fan Fare: Theme Catering. She’s been creatively involved with food for ten to fifteen years, starting with a food blog she used to run with her mother. They published two cookbooks together, and Anne even ended up on Ultimate Recipe Showdown on the Food Network as a result! She then started throwing themed parties for fun, which turned into the catering business she runs today.
Heidi Ingelfinger (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-ingelfinger-34738b149/) from Artemis Foods (http://www.artemisfoods.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is an event planner for the company and joins me to talk all about the business and what sets Artemis Foods apart from other catering companies here in the Portland Area. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How the owner of Artemis Foods got the inspiration for the company. She was seeing a lot of things happening to food in grocery stories—lots of processed foods and people suffering from things like gluten or dairy issues. This is how clean eating and sustainability became one of the biggest beliefs for Artemis Foods.
- What makes Artemis Foods unique. Sure, they aren’t the only caterer that believes in sustainability, but Artemis Foods has INCREDIBLE customer service; Heidi talks about, as an event planner, she can stick with the client from beginning to end because Artemis Foods is still boutique enough to facilitate that. Not only that, but they’re INCREDIBLY flexible so that the client can get exactly what they want, no matter their situation.
- What the process of picking the menu is like. They have some set menus that are used as a jumping off point for clients to decide their own menus, but something Heidi likes to ask is, “What’s your favorite restaurant, and what about it makes it your favorite?” It then becomes a process of taking pieces from a variety of different things to make a menu completely unique to the client.
- The two main types of catering they offer: drop off catering and full-service catering. Heidi lays both out for us and also describes why some folks would prefer to drop off catering to full service for their events.
Omer Orian (https://www.linkedin.com/in/omerorian/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. He's the co-founder of Off the Waffle (https://offthewaffle.com/), an awesome waffle shop with locations in both Eugene and Portland that specializes in making liege waffles. Omer has loved waffles all his life and knew he always wanted to be a waffle guy—which means he is living his dream with Off the Waffle. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What a liege waffle is. Omer tells the story of their origin and explains what they are; they’re like a sweet pastry, made from mixing the dough with chunks of sugar that then melt as the waffle bakes.
- Some of their dishes. Omer tells me that their most popular is a dish called Goat in Headlights, which is a liege waffle topped with chevre, sliced avocado, and much more. Oh, and best of all? All their delicious ingredients are organic!
- The origin of the company. It was founded by Omer, his brother Dave, and their father, though Omer runs it pretty much on his own right now. His dad still does the books and payroll from Israel, while Dave is pursuing other goals in Tel Aviv. However, Omer has loved waffles all his life and he loves Portland, loves waffles, and is happy to be a Waffle Guy.
- Their logo. Omer tells the story of their logo, where it came from, and how even though it’s well-loved by the people of Portland, a minor redesign may be in order to give the logo more depth and dimension.
Cody Patey from Abbot and Rinehart Jewelers Portland is our special guest on today's episode. If you want to get a beautiful piece of jewelry for your own loved one to show just how much they mean to you or if you want or need to get a custom piece of beautiful jewelry for any reason. Abbot & Rinehart Jewelers (https://www.arjl.com/) should be your go-to! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The history of Abbot & Rinehart Jewelers. They’ve been in business since 1979, originally owned by Norm Rinehart, it was purchased by the current owners twenty years ago, and it’s been with them ever since. They kept the name because it’s so well known around the area; people still come into the store asking to see Mr. Rinehart!
- What the store is like. They’re not a big box retail store, so they don’t keep a large inventory of pre made items. They specialize in loose stones, engagement rings, Rolex, and custom jewelry, especially men’s custom jewelry, but they do women’s as well.
- The biggest misconceptions around diamond buying. Cody says the two biggest misconceptions he sees a lot are 1) the mounting needs to be really expensive, and 2) you have to have the best of the best. Generally, a mounting shouldn’t be more than $2,500. He also talks about the various scales diamonds are ranked on, and some people want to go the highest on the scale so that they are definitely getting the best. However, you can go lower on these scales, get a really pretty diamond, and save some money doing it.
- Where they source their diamonds, and the possibility of colored stones. They get their diamonds both from the public (buying diamonds from those looking to sell old jewelry) as well as wholesalers from all over. They also have a large selection of emeralds and rubies, but colored stones don’t tend to be as popular in Portland.
Angie Gordon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-gordon-7a40281) is our special guest in today's episode. She is the founder of Pop and Paint (http://popandpaint.com/), a pop-up shop that specializes in painting classes. You do not have to have any kind of experience to enjoy what Pop and Paint can offer, since they have instructors there to help you! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Pop and Paint works. Pop and Paint will come to you with all of the supplies you need to create your masterpiece! Then, you and your group sit around with your canvases and follow along with your instructor—a local Portland artist—as they show you how to paint your picture step-by-step.
- Why there’s no brick and mortar business. Angie knew people would want to eat and drink while they paint, but she wasn’t prepared to foot the cost of that food and drink. By partnering with all sorts of venues across PDX, aspiring painters get the best of both worlds!
- The two types of events they offer: private and public events. For a private event, you select everything: the location, the image, everything. For public events, these are already scheduled, and you simply pay to attend. A recent public event was $37 per person and you are given all the supplies, food, and drinks you could want.
- How the idea for Pop and Paint came to be. Angie has always been creative, always drew and sketched, but she never painted until a painting class six years ago. She fell in love with it instantly and wanted to share this with everyone, so after she and her family moved for her husband’s job, she decided Pop and Paint would be her creative endeavor in her new home.
Jesse Layton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-layton-01689a22) from PDX Money (http://www.pdxmoney.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Today, we are talking about the economic situation in Portland. Jesse gets asked questions about Portland’s economic issues often, which is why he’s positioned himself as Portland’s Money Guy! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Jesse’s goals for the podcast and what weekly segments you can expect. On Mondays, he posts his weekly headline segments, where he brings you up to speed with the latest need-to-know news, and on Thursdays, he showcases interviews, similar to what I do here!
- How the PDX money podcast got started. Jesse thought that Portland lacked a good financial resource for news and what’s going on, specifically targeted toward the business and economic news of Portland.
- Jesse’s experience. He’s a financial advisor by day who got his start as a stockbroker eleven years ago. He needs to stay up-to-date on all of this news and these changes to do the best job for his clients, but instead of keeping it all in his head, he’s decided to share it with all of you through the podcast!
- A brief snapshot of Portland’s unique financial situation. Basically, there’s been massive growth and the city has been slow to meet this growth in a lot of ways, but there’s still good news: we’ve got a burgeoning tech scene and a lot of incredible creatives still calling the area home.
Judith Auslander (http://wiseheartcoaching.com/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is a life coach and hypnotherapy expert. She and I talk about her business, the way she runs it, and what people can expect in a typical session when they go to see her. We also dispel some rumors about hypnotherapy, and Judith tells us the details about it, and how effective it can be in aiding people’s journey towards Success. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How Judith got started in the life coach industry, and what makes her include hypnotherapy into her skillset. She talks to us about how important it is to get certified for what you want to be doing, and how bad experiences in the past made her want to change the stigma for the better while helping people in the process.
- Judith explains to us how hypnotherapy works, introducing us to the “5 path hypnosis” technique that covers every aspect of healing incorporated into one process. She also reaffirms that hypnosis isn’t simply a magician’s trick—it cannot make you do anything that’s against your value system, and cannot make you confess to anything that is not true about your person. You do your own work by releasing thoughts that’ve plagued you through your subconscious.
- Together, Judith and I run through what a typical session is like. They tend to last for two hours, and the session will begin with the client sitting down and talking to Judith about reoccurring themes (asking questions that pertain to the client’s emotional state, discussing differences or tough spots that might’ve come up, discussing concerns together). This helps Judith know what may be stopping them from moving forward.
- From there, Judith then discusses the hypnotherapy part of the session and affirms that it is never forced on a client. Judith always asks if people would like to try it or not, and from there, the session continues. If they do say yes, however, Judith discusses what a hypnosis session is like, and describes the atmosphere she intends for her clients for optimal relaxation.
- Judith states very plainly that she is not a “fixer”, nor is she a counselor. Hypnosis doesn’t “cure” depression, or anxiety, or stress, but it does help relieve it, and it does help clients start a natural healing process. And, overall, Judith shares her positive review rate.
- Judith tells us how long it takes to see results from her sessions, and she surprises me with her answer—just one! She says that results happen after the first session, however, it does take the average person about 5 sessions to see full-fledged results. She then backs up her claim with a story about a client of hers, who she helped and saw progress within just 5 days.
- Lastly, Judith ends with explaining to use that while shaking off the negative stigma of hypnosis can be hard, it’s worth it for the results that she sees, and the results she’s gotten in her own life. It helps people take control of their life instead of removing their self will—like most people think—and Judith is incredibly proud and passionate about her work.
Minda (https://www.linkedin.com/in/minda-coombs-61a72b1) and Kevin Coombs (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-coombs-pga-3583ba11) are our special guests on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. They both are running two awesome businesses VIP PDX (https://vippdx.com/), and Double Decker PDX (https://doubledeckerpdx.com/) in Portland and providing the best luxury transportation services in Portland area. Their vehicles are absolutely GORGEOUS and they are fully committed to making sure you and your crew have a spectacular time. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- We talk about Double Decker PDX, which is the only limousine style double decker bus available for charter transportation events in the Portland metro area. She’s a 1959 Bristol Lodekka named Candy originally from the UK who found her way to Portland from Chicago and Missouri and refurbished into an incredible luxury vehicle.
- We also talk about their other business, VIP PDX. VIP PDX is executive style transportation. It’s got the feel of an executive lounge, and they offer two buses: one is a big, thirty-passenger travel bus, and the other is a smaller, fourteen-passenger bus they call the Mini-V. The only difference apart from size is the fact the Mini-V doesn’t have a restroom.
- Minda and Kevin also dish about everything you could possibly want to know about these two businesses: what you can book them for, prices, where they can take you, and so on. For example, the VIP bus will take you to Cannon Beach or Timberline, but the Double Decker will not.
- They also talk a little bit about how they got into the business. After Kevin got out of the golf business after thirty years, he was searching for a way to utilize his skills in golf services, event marketing, and customer service. This sort of fell into his lap and ended up being a great fit.
Kelley Roy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelleyroy/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the founder of ADX Portland (https://adxportland.com/). ADX loosely stands for “Art Design Portland”. It's a collaboration hub where individuals and organizations make and learn by sharing tools, knowledge, and experience. They truly live up to their motto: Make it yourself, learn how to make it, or we’ll make it for you. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- How ADX came to be. Kelley read a New York Times article about a maker space in Brooklyn, but the classes and membership only business model meant the space couldn’t sustain. It took her and her team a long while to find a model that worked for them, but they did and they’ve been in business ever since.
- All the things that you can create in their maker space. ADX offers a wood shop, metal shop, jewelry making, screen printing, laser engraver, 3D printers, digital design software, and more. They also partner with various places within the city so if you can’t find it under their roof, chances are, they know somewhere else that you can go.
- All the pieces that make ADX work. It’s not just classes and membership, after all, though they do offer both of these things. What makes ADX really stand out is their in-house design and fabrication shop, where they create a variety of things for their clients.
- How they get clients for the fabrication shop. The truth is, they don’t do a lot of advertising; it’s mostly word of mouth, client referrals, social media, repeat customers, and so on.
Joe Morris (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-morris-1a2ab472) is an incredible professional runner and was born from his desire to train and give back to the community. Bridgetown Fitness (https://bridgetownfitness.squarespace.com) was born through his journey as a professional runner. He ran all through college and into the professional circuit; he’s even run against Usain Bolt! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Joe’s history as a professional runner. Bridgetown Fitness was born through his journey as a professional runner. He ran all through college and into the professional circuit; he’s even run against Usain Bolt! People started asking, “Will you train my son?” and it’s hard to say yes when you’re training professionally, but within the last year, Joe started saying yes because he enjoys training and helping with health, wellness, and strength.
- All about Bridgetown Fitness: the set-up, the schedule, the pricing, everything you could possibly want to know if you’re in the market to find a new place to work out. But know this: Bridgetown Fitness is MORE than just a place to work out! Joe prides himself on fostering a sense of community at his gym, so you should come into Bridgetown with that in mind.
- What sets Bridgetown Fitness apart. Some might say what Joe offers is similar to CrossFit, so why not just do CrossFit? The difference is, Bridgetown Fitness is more personal. Most people pay $90 a session for a personal trainer, but during group classes, Joe does his best to give a little time to everyone so that everyone feels valued and included.
- Joe’s perfect client—which is anyone looking to develop themselves in an environment that’s not so hyped up on pressure and competition. Bridgetown Fitness is definitely more easygoing than a place like CrossFit. He wants people who challenge him and who are willing to meet the challenge he puts before them.
Fanny Angeles (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannyangeles/en) is our guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Podcast. She is one of the co-owners of a business called SXD (http://sxd-group.com/). SXD provides detailed engineering, technical and architectural coordination services, to help those in the building industry optimize production and get on board with something called building information modeling, or BIM. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What SXD does, and what BIM is all about. Fanny talks about how folks in the building industry use too much email and don’t communicate very well; the goal of SXD is to help make things clearer and more efficient for all parties involved in the building process.
- How 3D modeling comes into play. Using special programs to create a 3D model of a building or project makes this much more efficient. For example, with a 3D model, you also get data attached to it, so when you click on a particular area or object, you know who is going to make it and what is needed to get that part of the project done.
- Her perfect customer? Small firms of any building industry (i.e. architecture, engineering, etc). Big firms have access to this technology and BIM already, but smaller firms have a harder time because it’s more expensive for them. That’s where SXD comes in.
- How SXD made it to Portland. The company actually originated in France, which means, yes—Fanny is French herself! She came to Portland for a project, fell in love, and decided to start a branch here in our favorite city.
Elyse Stoner (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyse-adler-stoner) of Fresh Perspective Consulting and Coaching (https://thefreshperspective.net/) talk about her business. She’s, well, just what her business would suggest: a marketing consultant, but she prides herself on building a relationship with her clients to tailor her strategies specifically to them as well as bringing a unique set of skills to the table: she has a long history of working in sports and arena marketing! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Just what she does and who she wants to work with. Elyse says she wants to share her enthusiasm for marketing with people who can appreciate a smart, strategic, and multifaceted marketing program. She even talks a little bit about her perfect client: someone smart enough to know they can’t do it all on their own.
- What makes a good marketing plan. A coach she used to work with said this about a good team: It’s like a living being, an amoeba, always growing and changing. That’s also the mark of a good marketing plan!
- What Elyse is bringing to the table that other marketing experts do not. Not only are you getting her unique experience, but you’re also getting her incredible network. As she says, if she doesn’t know someone who can do something, someone she knows does.
- Why she insists on a minimum four-month contract and what her multi-faceted plans consist of. For her, it’s all about building a solid relationship so she can tailor a plan to you and the audience you’re targeting—which means she’ll pursue whatever avenue is necessary for that audience, even if that means getting you a billboard.
Nicole Pittman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-pittman-10a128a5) is our guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Podcast. She is the owner of Portland Short Bus and today she talks to us about how she got started with her great idea Portland Short Bus along with her husband Kyle and what they offer under Portland Short Bus. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All about Portland’s Short Bus, Lucille (named after Lucille Ball!), how she came to be, and what kind of tours Nicole can offer you a ride on, ranging from private events to bachelor and bachelorette parties.
- The PDX Urban Wine Tour, their most popular attraction, and why Nicole thinks it does so well. With a unique twist on a typical wine tasting, the Short Bus brings you to fifteen different wineries with a goal of trying and tasting as many goodies as you can—and for a low cost, too! Nicole also explains how the idea came to fruition, and what exactly you can expect to taste while you’re on the road.
- The easy-to-use and fully stocked website, portlandshortbus.com! Nicole tells us how simple it is to look up travel times for various tours, find all needed booking information for private events, and the simple process of purchasing tickets for wine tours (and others) online with one simple click! Additionally, she tells us how flexible they can be when planning for private events, and how Nicole ensures safety for her passengers with designated drop off locations at the end of each tour.
- Nicole breaks down exactly how this small “mom and pop shop” got started back in 2012, and she further explains where the idea for starting the company came from. She also tells us how the company has grown over these past 5 years, and how she plans to expand moving forward into the winter season.
Frank Manning (https://www.linkedin.com/in/manningfrank) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Podcast. He is the owner of StayinPDX (https://stayinpdx.com/), that's about a meal kit delivery service. You will get a meal kit that has all the ingredients you need to create an awesome, delicious meal—but they’ll deliver it right to your office using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients so dinner is ready to be made as soon as you get home. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- His business, StayinPDX. His goal was to get people to connect over food and make it really easy by providing locally-sourced ingredients for a meal you can make in thirty to forty minutes. We also talk about when the company got started; November 2016, in case you were curious, but he took some time off to revamp the idea and eventually turned it into what StayinPDX is today.
- How StayinPDX works. The gist is a company, such as an office, can sign up with StayinPDX and pay a small, monthly delivery fee. Then, the employees of that company can go onto the StayinPDX website and order their meals and have them delivered directly to their office—and you can order up until 1PM day of delivery!
- Why they cater to businesses. With services like Blue Apron, there’s something called the “last mile commute”—where the package of ingredients has to travel that last bit of distance from the delivery’s Portland place of origin to your house. By delivering to businesses instead, it cuts the amount of emissions needed for a delivery significantly, since the customer is going to make that last mile commute themself.
- How to get StayinPDX in your office! They usually work with HR folks, but just suggest it to someone in your company and see if it’s something they’d be interested in signing up for. If they ARE interested, make sure you do it fast; StayinPDX only takes on one new client per week!
Jala Smith-Huys (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalasmithhuys) is our special guest. She runs a social media consultancy company called Embark Creative (http://www.embarkcreative.com/), and by night, she runs Seek and Swoon (https://www.seekandswoon.com), where she designs and sells throw blankets based upon all the places that she’s traveled—and before all that, she was the eighth employee hired to work for New Seasons, where she did much of the company’s graphic design. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- New Seasons—how Jala got her start with the company, what she did, and what her experience was like over those nine years. She recounts opening two (that’s right: TWO!) stores during the fall and winter one year.
- Embark Creative and how that all came about. Jala left her comfortable job at New Seasons in the middle of a recession because she knew it was time—and she found great success after word got out that she was doing social media.
- Jala’s perfect client. She wants to work with people (or companies) who have a story to tell, aren’t afraid to try new things, and understand that social media isn’t a full-on problem solver and that solutions don’t happen overnight.
- Seek and Swoon—Jala’s newest company and creative endeavor. She tells the story of how she and her family traveled Europe for two full months in 2015 and how that, along with a little throw blanket in her home, inspired her to create these pieces inspired by the places she’s been.
Gisella Barbaray (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisellabarbaray) is the owner of Bergerac Bistro (http://bergeracpdx.com/) French Restaurant in Portland. Not only does the food look incredible, but Bergerac Bistro is also a small, cozy, and intimate setting that you or me, or any average Joe, could go to for date night. It’s owned and operated by Gisella and her husband, Joris, who grew up in southwest France—so you can be sure all of their menu items are truly authentic! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The origin of the name Bergerac. Bergerac is actually the town Gisella’s husband grew up in and where they got married! It’s smack dab in the middle of wine, duck, and foie gras country, and the Bergerac Bistro draws a lot of inspiration for its dishes from this area!
- The restaurant’s journey. The bistro is just under two years old, and before that, Gisella and her husband spent eighteen months looking for the right location. Originally, the space they settled on was a Lebanese restaurant that they completely transformed.
- Some of Bergerac’s popular dishes. There are a lot of awesome offerings on their menu, but Gisella cites escargot, pâté maison, confit de canard, and lamb navarin as some of their most popular starters and main dishes. For dessert? Crème brûlée is always popular, but Gisella is partial to the pot au chocolat!
- How she and her family ended up in Portland. Gisella talks about how they have family all along the West Coast, including in the Portland area, and how as a child, she grew up all over the world. She wanted her children to have the opportunity—to see different cultures and other ways of life.
Stella Rausch Scott of Stella Maris Photography (https://www.stellamarisphotography.com/) is our special guest. Stella Rausch Scott is a birth story and Portland family photographer that caters to the northwest area of Portland, as well as southwest Washington. She calls herself a boutique photographer—meaning she takes the time to customize the session for her clients as much as possible. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The origin of Stella’s name, Stella Maris. She tells me that “Stella Maris” means “Star of the Sea,” which was given to her by her grandfather. Apparently, her parents met on the sea after her mother’s ship caught fire and was sinking; her father’s ship answered the distress call and rescued everyone on board.—a serious fairytale start for them!
- What being a boutique photographer is all about. Stella prides herself on making her photography not just a single session, but an awesome experience for the whole family. She gets to know her clients, understands fully what they want to do with their photos, builds a relationship, and shows them that the investment they’re making is truly worth it.
- The kinds of sessions she offers. Though she does family and life sessions, her real bread and butter is what she calls the “Fresh 48”, which is where she comes in and takes photos of your newborn within the first forty-eight hours of their life, and “Botanical and Milk Bath Sessions,” which is where Stella pampers moms in a beautiful, floral milk bath and takes photos of this relaxing time.
- The way Stella markets herself. A huge component of her success is networking, specifically with people in the industry she shoots for—meaning, birth services.
Nina Roberts (https://www.ninaroberts.biz/) is founder of Women With Brilliance. (http://womenwithbrilliance.biz/) WWB is a group meant for the “modern woman”: moms who are doing all the mom things, making dinners, taxing their kids, and so on, but also have a deep desire and passion to have a business for themselves. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What WWB is all about. Nina sums it up perfectly: when you work from home, sometimes you just want to hang out with your girlfriends at the end of the day. WWB gives you that chance, and bonus: they’re all driven, like-minded women who will inspire you!
- What events are like—though it’s hard to describe since no two events are alike. These meetups happen one to three times a month—whatever the group is feeling like!
- Being a guest versus the paid membership. Since it is a closed group, there is a membership fee, but there are tons of perks that come with it. For example, as a guest, you can only go to two events without paying, but as a member, you get unlimited access.
- A little bit about Nina’s coaching business and what her perfect client is like. She tells a story about how when she was working for White House Black Market, they had their perfect customer so finely tuned that they had given her a name. She also notes that your perfect customer is often similar to yourself.
Marcus Harvey (http://marcusharvey.com/), the brains behind Portland Gear (https://portlandgear.com/), sat down with me to tell the story behind his successful business, Portland Gear—and trust me, it’s a pretty incredible story. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The full origin story of Portland Gear. Marcus leveraged his 70,000 followers on the Portland Instagram when he launched the Portland Gear website, which started with two shirt designs that had a stock of thirty-six shirts each. He sold out within half an hour and made five grand on the first day alone!
- The power of Instagram. Though Marcus and Portland Gear exist on all kinds of social media, Instagram is truly their bread and butter and the reason why Portland Gear has been so successful.
- Their favorite event they’ve done, “Brand Camp”. They brought in a few high schoolers and college kids to sit in on some lessons about business and entrepreneurship to learn about Portland Gear and how they could be successful as well for a three-day event during this past summer. It was so successful, they are intending to do it again next year!
- What’s in store for the future. Portland Gear is focused on Portland right now, and Marcus knows they have much more to learn. One thing he did mention was the possibility of an airport store “when it feels right”.
Harini Sukumaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/harini-sukumaran-51034964) is our special guest from the MindTree Holistic Counseling and Wellness Center (https://mindtreeholisticcounseling.com/) here in Portland. She is sharing, how she helps her clients navigate the hardships of their mental illnesses.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- What goes into a holistic approach to counseling. Harini tells me it’s a bit more than just encouraging you to get out there and jog (though that’s part of it). For example: she is a yoga practitioner and often brings tools of meditation and yoga into the room with a client.
- How Indian herbal medicine fits in. Harini is trained in this and includes lifestyle coaching and nutrition advice, among other things.
- What Harini’s perfect client is like. She says it’s someone who has anxiety or significant stress, and can be either a child as young as three or a woman, particularly a mom. Anxiety and stress are Harini’s specialties, but she is bringing in additional providers that specialize in other things like relationships, families, and adolescence, and so on.
- How MindTree can help new and expecting moms who might be struggling. Harini cites specific examples of moms who might not have had great parents and keep thinking, “What if I can’t do this? I don’t know what I’m doing,” among so many other things.
Kylie Cole (http://www.kyliecolephotography.com/about.html) is founder of of the Capes and Crowns Foundation (http://www.capesandcrowns.org/). The Capes and Crowns Foundation is a non-profit that offers complimentary, custom photography services for families and children who have gone through an extreme hardship: cancer, other serious illnesses, foster care, special needs, and more.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The origins of the Capes and Crowns foundation. The moment that changed her was when she took an incredible photograph of a boy who had just overcome a serious disease and moved his mother to tears. However, the actual idea for the nonprofit came about on a flight to San Diego Comic-Con with her husband.
- The three kinds of sessions Capes and Crowns offers. The main service is Inspire sessions, which is where they take whatever the child’s inspiration is and base the experience around it.
- How Capes and Crowns have grown over the last two years. It started with just her, but now she has about twenty-five volunteers total and are expanding to a new location in Northern California in January.
- How getting the chance at a Capes and Crowns photo shoot works. Families can apply themselves on their website, or if you know someone who would benefit from the foundation’s services, you can nominate them as well.
Sarah Hammer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhammer) of To the Point PDX (http://tothepointpdx.com/) is an acupuncturist based in downtown Portland on the corner of 3rd and Washington—and she is not just a typical acupuncturist. You’re definitely going to want to listen into this episode and find out more about her and her practice. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Sarah’s origins and how she got her start. She was actually in PR and a bit of a skeptic before making a total life and career change to pursue acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Being told she might never run again was what pushed her to look into all of her options and try acupuncture for the first time.
- Her passion for treating skeptics. The reason she set up her practice downtown is because that’s where the most skeptics are! She also loves to bring acupuncture into the workplace and show how it can work.
- The kinds of ailments acupuncture can handle. Sarah’s short answer is, “Any kind of pain,” but she adds that it’s important to talk to your practitioner. If there’s a way for them to help you with something other than pain, they will absolutely let you know.
- How Chinese medicine fits in. Sarah tells us about the four modalities and how acupuncturists are trained in each one so they can help treat you in every way that they can.
Meg Wise (http://www.uniquelywise.com/) of Uniquely Wise Photography is an awesome photographer who specializes in maternity, newborn, and family photography, and she is the real deal: she won Best Maternity Photographer in Portland by Expertise in 2017! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Her studio (located in northwest Portland), and the difference between lifestyle photography and studio photography. Lifestyle photography just means she’s taking your photographs in your home rather than in her studio. Meg loves doing both equally!
- Why she chose to specialize in family photography. She loves helping moms capture all their special moments in their everyday lives—the moments in between the posed shots.
- Her experience. Meg has been doing photography since high school—over fifteen years! And she’s always trying to better herself as a photographer by taking classes and learning new skills so you know you’re getting the best possible photographs you can have.
- What the average session is like. Most sessions are an hour long, but newborn sessions can last up to three and a half hours! Meg also goes into a bit more detail on what the average newborn session is like and what new parents can expect at their shoot.
- Some of her marketing strategies. One of her biggest things is a resource guide she created for new and expecting families. Her thought was, when she was pregnant, she didn’t have that many resources, so she wanted to make sure expecting families had everything they could possibly need at their fingertips.
- Her favorite place in Portland is… Via Delizia! Meg makes the bold claim that they have the BEST gelato.
Rose Jubb (https://www.stylepdx.com/) is with us. She is Personal Wardrobe Stylist. There are two kinds of people: the people who see that as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people who don’t think they would benefit from it at all. I’m here this week with Rose Jubb, the PDX Stylist, to tell you that yes! You can benefit from it (yes, even you), and it’s not just a pipe dream, either.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Rose’s methods. She doesn’t just tell you what’s good and flattering for your figure; she takes into account your goals and how your closet can help you reach your goals.
- Amy, Rose’s “case study”. Amy won a free consult and just wanted help cleaning out her closet; she had no interest in style. However, once Rose got her talking, Amy had a lot of feelings about how she presented herself to the world!
- Closet therapy. Did you know Rose is a trained therapist? It’s true! Rose takes her work with wardrobes very seriously, to the point where getting rid of old and negative things (including negative self-talk!) is very therapeutic.
- Affordability. Having Rose come into your home and go through your closet and take you out shopping might be the once-a-year birthday treat, but to sit down for coffee and have her make a shopping list for you? You’d be surprised by how affordable it is!
Gwen Montoya (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenmontoya/) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Podcast. She is the owner of Montoya Digital Marketing (https://www.alignable.com/portland-or/montoya-digital-marketing). She's also one of the minds, who started the MOB – Mommy-Owned Business Group. You can't afford to miss this episode. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Gwen fills us in on her background in coding way back in the 90's, and how she's used that knowledge to help create the MOB's online presence.
- We discuss the core culture of the MOB group and how it differs from a lot of other business-related groups. The core structure is founded on kindness, inclusiveness, and collaboration over competition. Most important, the core of the MOB is to blend the responsibilities of being a business owner with the responsibilities of being a mom. Phew!
- She explains what she does for a living as a single mom. She outlines how she got to her current position, and the trials she's had to deal with involving finding childcare while still somehow eking out a paycheck. This set of trials led her to a startling revelation: how many moms out there were just like her and in need of marketing support that took their parenting needs into account.
- Gwen explains how integral motherhood has become to her business approach and how many of her clients are also mothers. (She even tells the story of how she played peek-a-boo with a client's kid during a coaching session. Yeah. She's that cool.)
- Gwen drops a few marketing bombs for local Portland business owners. These include things like asking current clients for reviews and making sure your brick-and-mortar business is listed on all of the online directories. She hits us hard and fast with these tips, so get your pens and notebooks ready.
Julia Webster (https://www.facebook.com/julia.webster88) is our guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is one of the co-owners of Etc… Eatery Pacific Northwest Food Specialists (https://www.etceaterypdx.com/). Etc... Eatery isn’t open yet (September 9th-10th; mark your calendars), but they’re already making a name for themselves around Portland!
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The origins of Etc. Eatery and their journey from idea meetings to their first ever storefront, which opens in early September. Also, wondering where the name ‘Etc. Eatery’ comes from? Julia tells the story!
- How she got started cooking. Turns out, she’s had a passion for it since she was very young.
- Some of the struggles the restaurant has faced—including a burglary that left them out $15k worth of equipment, and how they bounced back with the help and support of the community (namely, The MOB NW).
- What services they offer, ranging from catering to their awesome mobile bartending. The mobile bar is built into a refurbished horse trailer. How cool is that?
- What we can expect from the restaurant itself. This place sounds so awesome, you guys; it’s got everything: a bar, a café lounge, and even a place where children can entertain themselves with art.
- Julia’s favorite and must-visit spot in Portland!
Jessica Hansen (https://www.thejessicahansen.com) is our special guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. Balancing a full-time career as a business and success coach while being a mom to four kiddos sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? She is an incredible woman sharing a little bit about her personal life and how that fits into her career.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- Jessica’s family. Though one of her children is grown, the rest are still at home. Though it makes it tough to do summer business, Jessica is already looking ahead to the free time she will have in the fall and how she plans to ramp up business once they’re back in school.
- Where she comes from. Jessica has experience in direct sales and did a lot of coaching in her career coach, which made it a great springboard for her coaching business. Her most successful direct marketing? The Paparazzi $5 jewelry, of course!
- Her Vision Board Workshop! She calls it “Catch Your Vision” and recently held one in the Portland area! Her plan is to hold it quarterly, though the topics for these workshops are still TBD. The premise: For fourteen bucks, she feeds you breakfast and provides you all the materials you need to create the vision board you need to remind you of your goals.
- Her programs, from the lowest level (one-off courses you can email her questions about) to her six-week, 1x1, intensive coaching, Jessica has something that can work for you.
Dr. Miriam Ward (http://www.rosecitymusicacademy.com/ward/) is our special guest on today's episode of the PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is the Executive Director of Rose City Music Academy. (http://www.rosecitymusicacademy.com/) She is a viola player and is also the brains behind the Rose City Music Academy. If you have any interest in music at all, you’re seriously going to love all of the stuff we talk about.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- All the things that Rose City Music Academy can offer to its students, ranging from lessons to recitals to summer camps and more.
- Programs and offerings to those interested in music but may not be ready to make the full commitment yet.
- The difference between a viola and violin (the viola is actually the bigger one!).
- How to go about purchasing or renting an instrument. Rule number one: don’t order off the Internet!
- How businesses like the Rose City Music Academy can market themselves. Word of mouth is big!
Aria Leighty (http://www.viaonehope.com/glitterqueen) is our very special and first ever guest on today's episode of PDX Small Business Network Podcast. She is running many businesses and the main ones are Art ala Carte (http://www.artalacartenw.com/), Fox & Glitter, (https://foxandglitter.com/) and the most important one is the MOB Nation (http://www.themobnation.com/).
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- A little bit about her two businesses, Art ala Carte: its goals and mission, its success, and its inevitable comeback, and Fox & Glitter.
- The MOB Nation, which is the big reason why I wanted Aria on this podcast in the first place. “MOB” stands for Mommy Owned Business, and there are 4500 members in the main group!
- The paid version of the MOB, also known as the MOB Alliance, which gives the moms access to numerous resources and benefits, and any meetups or conferences that would otherwise cost money for entry.
- Plans to expand the MOB! There’s interest all across the country for this mommies-only club.
- Some of the awards the MOB has won. They’re currently up for a $25k grand prize in September!
I am One-Click Lindsey (http://www.oneclicklindsey.com), the owner of Web Impakt (http://www.webimpakt.com/) and Traffic & Leads. (http://trafficandleads.com/) I also host the Traffic & Leads Podcast (http://trafficandleadspodcast.com/) and run a Facebook group for my online marketing strategy, The CLICK Technique (http://www.theclicktechnique.com). I just started a podcast named as the PDX Small Business Network Podcast to help entrepreneurs and small business owners by showcasing successful small businesses in Portland and share how they have found their success.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
- The origins of my company, Web Impakt (and yes, I do regret that unique spelling), and how Traffic & Leads was born from it.
- How I got my name, One-Click Lindsey, and how a catchy nickname can make you more memorable.
- My company’s online marketing strategy (that really works!), The CLICK Technique, and how I make marketing magic happen with it.
- Why I left Idaho Falls and transplanted myself and my family in the Portland area.
- How I develop relationships with other business owners using my podcasts and why they’re my favorite way to create content!