128 – Season 10 Finale and Recap

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Welcome to the Season 10 Finale of the Making It in Asheville Podcast.

This season was brought to you by our sponsor Ernest Ready. In this episode, we reflect on the key themes and takeaways from this season, an e-commerce-focused season.

This is a great episode to get a distillation of the content from the last 12 weeks and get a taste of the content from each episode in Season 10 of Making It In Asheville.

Themes Discussed in This Episode

Tech Matters

Technology is the backbone of modern businesses. It plays a crucial role in shaping the customer experience and streamlining operations. In this segment, we discussed:

  • Why Shopify emerged as the most talked-about platform this season.
  • The impact of memberships, subscriptions, and referral programs on businesses.
  • Insights on how to leverage technology to enhance your operations and customer interactions.

Unboxing vs. Profit Margin

Balancing the excitement of unboxing experiences with the need to maintain healthy profit margins is a challenge many businesses face. In this part of the episode, we highlighted:

  • How to determine the right level of investment in unboxing experiences.
  • Strategies for managing costs effectively and ensuring profitability.
  • Key considerations when evaluating the trade-off between customer delight and profit.

Launching and Marketing Channels

The success of any business hinges on effective launching and marketing strategies. In this segment, we discussed:

  • The power of email marketing and its impact on audience engagement.
  • The role of rep groups in expanding your reach and market.
  • Insights into launching through Kickstarter campaigns.
  • Leveraging social media, events, and live interactions to build brand awareness and engagement.

Storytelling and Unique Value

As the final theme of the season, we noted that founders bring a unique perspective and value to their businesses through storytelling. In this part of the episode, we delve into:

  • The importance of hiring developers and building effective teams.
  • Strategies for outsourcing non-critical tasks to focus on your core competencies.
  • A special shout-out to Ernest, who embodies the spirit of entrepreneurial storytelling.

Season Recap

We wrap up the episode with a speed-round journey through the key episodes of this season, highlighting memorable moments and valuable insights shared by our guests.

Episode 116 – Season Preview

Episode 117 – Jamie Daniels – Ernest Readymade

Episode 118 – Jacob Baumann – Devil’s Foot

Episode 119 – Elisa Van Arnam – SoulKu

Episode 120 – Rachael Meyer – Botanical Bones

Episode 121 – Karen Mullins – Digestive Warrior

Episode 122 – Erik Fabian – Sourhouse

Episode 123 – Gillie Robert’s – Ware

Episode 124 – Mathew Bishop – High Cotton

Episode 125 – Brandegee Pierce – Pirani

Episode 126 – Laura Jorgensen – The Runner Box

Episode 127 –  Sarah Ubertaccio – qb Cucina

Thank You to Ernest

A big thank you to Ernest for being a valuable part of this season. We appreciate your contributions and the unique insights you’ve brought to our audience.

Stay tuned for more exciting content in the next season of [Podcast Name].

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127 – qb Cucina

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Sarah Ubertacio, Co-founder of qb Cucina

This week, we welcome Sarah Ubertaccio, the co-founder of qb Cucina and the former co-host of this podcast back to the show!

Links and Notes from Episode 127

  • qb Cucina’s website: https://www.qbcucina.com/
  • qb Cucina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qbcucina/
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on the podcast player of your choice, like the YouTube video, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.
Check out this episode with Sarah Ubertaccio on YouTube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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126 – The Runner Box & The Rider Box (+a new business is announced!)

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Laura Jorgensen, Co-Owner of The Runner Box, The Rider Box, and Fuel Goods

This week, we welcome Laura Jorgensen of The Runner Box and The Rider Box to the podcast!

Links and Notes from Episode 126

  • The Runner Box and The Rider Box’s website: https://www.therunnerbox.com/
  • The Runner Box on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runnerbox/
  • The Rider Box on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theriderbox/
  • The next business is yet to be officially launched. Come back for a link!
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on the podcast player of your choice, like the YouTube video, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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125 – Pirani

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Brandegee Pierce, Co-Owner of Pirani

This week, we welcome Brandegee Pierce of Pirani to the podcast!

Brandegee began as an industrial designer for brands like Mr. Coffee and Crockpot. He always had ideas and was always tinkering one day, as you’ll hear in the episode, while cleaning a local beach, he had a thought: “What if these features weren’t covered in red solo cups?”

Abbreviating the story a bit, it wasn’t long until a sample batch was in hand, his wife “got it” and they were looking to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the project. A lot has been learned since launching, doubling in size each year. They’re now gearing up for a second product launch on Kickstarter and looking to take their business to the next level.

Check out this episode with Brandegee Pierce on YouTube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Links and Notes from Episode 125

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on the podcast player of your choice, like the YouTube video, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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124 – High Cotton

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Mathew Bishop, Co-Owner of High Cotton

This week, we welcome Mathew Bishop of High Cotton to the podcast!

Check out this episode with Mathew Bishop on YouTube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Links and Notes from Episode 124

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on the podcast player of your choice, like the YouTube video, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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123 – Ware

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Gillie Roberts, Co-Founder of Ware

This week, we welcome Gillie Roberts of Ware back to the podcast!

Gillie is a long-time friend of the podcast who has undergone a lot of change with respect to e-commerce since launching Ware in 2018. Namely, there was NO e-commerce at the launch of Ware. Today, it plays a small-but-growing part of total revenue with a focus to expand e-commerce in the months ahead.

Ware has transitioned location and sales focus in its five years of business. Today, they’re in West Asheville and focusing on bolstering their refill business. Some of the lessons that have informed the pivots have been hard-earned.

But Ware is poised to capitalize on those lessons. Listen until the end to hear their announcement!

Links and Notes from Episode 123

  • WareAVL.com
  • Ware’s Instagram: @ware.avl
  • Lightspeed
  • Spotify
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel, like the youtube video, comment below, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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122 – Sourhouse

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Erik Fabian, Co-Founder of Sourhouse

This week, we welcome Erik Fabian of Sourhouse to the podcast!

Erik is a home baker and a brand marketer. His business partner is an industrial designer. The rise of sourdough homebaking during the pandemic was the ah-ha moment that set the two down the long rabbit hole that leads to today.

We, at Making It in Asheville, like to say that they’ve created “the biggest advancement in sourdough baking since the invention of the dutch-oven!” and while that’s a little tongue in cheek it’s also probably correct. Together, they created a gorgeous countertop product called Goldie — as in Goldielocks — which uses an exceptionally low amount of energy to create the perfect climate for sourdough starters. When you place your starter in Goldie, it never gets too hot or too cold, it stays just right.

To go from idea to product, product to successfully crowdfunded project, and successfully crowdfunded project to a growing business took a lot of intention. We get into the details of Sourdough’s playbook in this week’s episode.

Check out this episode with Erik Fabian on Youtube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Links and Notes from Episode 122

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel, like the youtube video, comment below, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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121 – Karen Mullins, Digestive Warrior

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Karen Mullins, Founder of Digestive Warrior

This week, we welcome Digestive Warrior, a supplement and wellness coaching business, to the podcast!

In this episode, Karen talks about her own story which ranges from a hospital bed and nearly dead to becoming “the digestive warrior.” We learn about how food affects our bodies and how to make the first steps toward better understanding. Then we hear how she built her business by championing her own wellness story.

Check out this episode with Karen Mullins on Youtube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Links and Notes from Episode 121

  • Disclaimer: We (at Making It in Asheville) are not doctors and nothing described in this episode would be considered health advice. Consult your doctor whenever attempting new health/wellness practices. Do your own research. And, enjoy this episode!
  • digestivewarrior.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel, like the youtube video, comment below, and/or share this episode with a friend! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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120 – Botanical Bones Founder Rachael Meyer

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Rachael Meyer, Founder of Botanical Bones

This week, we welcome Botanical Bones to the podcast!

Botanical Bones is a superfood dog treat business inspired by Rachael’s pup Carnaby, who she rescued at the beginning of the pandemic. She wanted to make sure Carnaby was getting the best nutrition possible, so she started making treats with clean, superfood ingredients and adaptogens (like Reishi and Ashwagandha).

Soon, Rachael found that not only did Carnaby love them, but they were also helping with his digestion and mood. Eventually, she started sharing them with the neighborhood dogs and not long after set up a booth at a pop-up market.

Rachel was onto something!

Today, Bontanical Bones has beautiful packaging, all human-grade ingredients like chickpeas, peanut butter, pumpkin, and hemp seeds, and a growing business Making It In Asheville is excited to highlight.

Check out this episode with Rachel Meyer on Youtube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

Links and Notes from Episode 120

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel, like this video, comment below, and/or share this video! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode with Jacob Baumann of Devil’s Foot. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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119 – SoulKu Co-Founder Elisa Van Arnam

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Elisa Van Arnam, Co-founder of SoulKu

We like to say, “The best business to start is one that fills a need you’ve had.” SoulKu, you could say, is the perfect example of a business that has grown to honor its team, serve its customers, and fulfill its founders.

 

Today, SoulKu (Pronounced, “soul-coo.” The word “Ku” in Japanese translates to “a place of infinite possibility.” As they say, “We like to think of our company as just that, ‘A place where, guided by our soul’s calling, anything is possible.'”) is a precious stones and jewelry brand with a twist. They make all of their bracelets, earrings, and necklaces by employing a team stay at home mothers who work when they can.

 

Co-founders Elisa and Alison started SoulKu in the wake of the ’08 financial collapse. They had children, mortgages, and wanted courage… and income. Fast forward to their peak and they had about 40 Mamas (as Elisa calls them) that pick up the raw materials and turn them into finished products for their growing business.

 

Was it always this way? No. How many times did they pivot to find this model? You’d be surprised. Are they living into their mission and vision? They sure are.

 

And, have they filled a need they had through the creation of the business — they sure have. Now, about 25 mamas feel empowered and make income — a gift I’m sure if they could go back to 2009, they wish they could give themselves.

 

Check out this episode with Elisa Van Arnam on Youtube or wherever you like to consume podcasts.

 

Links and Notes from Episode 119

  • https://soulku.com/
  • https://www.instagram.com/soulku/
  • use code MAKINGIT20 at checkout for 20% off *all items at SoulKu (*some restrictions apply)
  • If you’d like to win a free SoulKu necklace or bracelet, comment on our Instagram Post with your favorite part/lesson from the episode! We’ll select three winners at the end of the week.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel, like this video, comment below, and/or share this video! It helps to spread the word and get more eyes on Asheville’s makers.
 

 

Music by Commonwealth Choir (http://www.commonwealthchoir.com)

Engage with the Show:

We value your input! As we continue to shape this season, we invite you to share your suggestions for E-commerce businesses you’d like to hear from. Leave a comment on the YouTube video, or direct message us on Instagram, or email Tony directly at tony@makingitinasheville.com.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode with Jacob Baumann of Devil’s Foot. Don’t forget to join us next week for another inspiring interview on Making It in Asheville Podcast!

Special thanks to our e-commerce season sponsor: Ernest Ready-Made

Ernest is the obvious co-warehousing solution for growing Asheville-based businesses. For more on Ernest, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/ernest

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