This week on the Making It In Asheville podcast, we’re sharing a presentation we delivered to the community at The Lobby, a monthly event hosted by Different Wrld.
We make the claim that audio is a valuable asset for businesses and — more often than not — the fastest media for businesses to create.
If you’re interested in getting the document I offer at the end of the episode. Just email tony @makingitinasheville.com
This episode announces a miniseries focused on sharing the behind-the-scenes strategies and tactics used to launch a new business in Asheville.
Over the next month, we’ll be diving into the “Why, How, and What’s” of the business, South Slope Pilates (and All Things Wellness), and the launch plan.
In the episode, we make three requstes:
In this episode, we interview Tarleton Walmsley & Seth Connelly, partners and founders of Garden Party.
*Listeners of today’s podcast with Garden Party receive a special discount code. Apply MAKINGIT15 at checkout.*
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with the owner of Sauna House and advocate of preventative health, Andrew Nehlig.
Garden Party is an aesthetically minded lifestyle brand and retail experience that supports well-being promotes creativity and cultivates meaningful connection through the advocacy and normalization of cannabis. Co-Founders Tarleton Walmsley and Seth Connelly opened Garden Party in the summer of 2018, and bring with them their own unique backgrounds and expertise.
Tarleton grew up in Virginia and moved to Asheville from Atlanta back in 2009. Before launching Garden Party, Tarleton spent the last several years working in B2B sales and operations, but always knew she wanted to open her own shop one day. Tarleton’s role at Garden Party includes marketing and content creation, as well as overall brand management. Seth grew up in the Ozarks of Arkansas and Key West, Florida. While living in Asheville for the past 16 years, Seth’s professional background has included wilderness therapy, business development, and before working full time at Garden Party, he was the COO of a hemp company. Seth is the glue that keeps Garden Party together–he handles all of the operations and financial aspects of the business, as well as product development. When they aren’t Garden Partying, you can find T&S hanging out with their son Finn, taking their canoe out for a ride, or hanging at home with their two cats.
“Community is a verb.”– Seth Connelly
To learn more about Garden Party and see what they’re up to in real-time, check out the links below:
Shopgardenparty.com is where you can see the best deals and sign up for email and texts
Gardenpartyavl is where you can see Tarleton’s superpower of awesome content creation and branding
For the young folx, you can even find them on Tik Tok at gardenparty.shop
Tools
Music by Commonwealth Choir
In this episode, we interview Josh Dorfman, CEO of Simbly. We talk about his time as, in our words, a media mogul and the brain behind the brand “The Lazy Environmentalist”.
“The more we can sell, the more we are doing for the planet, because you’re taking customers away from the people who don’t care about sourcing and sustainable practices.”
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with our favorite local sustainability-focused business owner, Gillie Roberts.
Josh Dorfman is an environmental entrepreneur, author, and media personality dedicated to building and leading mission-driven ventures. He is co-founder and CEO of Simbly, a modern design, sustainable furniture company. Josh is also the founder and chief curator of Lazy Environmentalist, a sustainable lifestyle media brand. He has produced and hosted a primetime reality TV show on Sundance Channel and a national radio show on Sirius and written two books on sustainable living.
Josh was also CEO of The Collider, a nonprofit innovation and entrepreneurship center for climate change solutions. Josh currently resides in Asheville, NC, where he led Asheville’s high-growth startup community as Director of Venture Asheville and co-founded and was Managing Director of Asheville Angels, an early-stage angel investment group investing in startups across the Southeast. He is currently a member of Governor Cooper’s North Carolina Entrepreneurial Council. Oh, and his son may be the best young NASCAR predictor.
To learn more about Simbly, The Lazy Environmentalist, and more, check out the links below:
For the Simbly website follow this link
For the Lazy Environmentalist website click here
Josh on LinkedIn
Music by Commonwealth Choir
In this episode, we interview Jacob Ballard, owner of Nature Bound Co. and Asheville Print Shop.
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with local graphic design artist, Alyssa Phillips.
Jacob’s story of entrepreneurship starts at age 6, knocking on doors of the apartment complex he and his family lived in. A young Jacob was motivated to raise money for a seat at the movie theater. So much so, that he began washing cars, and soon young Jacob’s piggy bank was busting at the snout. Fast forward to high school and college, where he saw the opportunity and a gap to again create businesses. These ranged from cutting grass, starting a T-shirt company big in the MMA world, and customizing Myspace pages (remember that?). Now, Jacob Ballard has the successful business Asheville Print Shop where he and his team create a one-stop-shop for printing and all things merchandise.
While completing the TransAmerica Trail, (think Appalachian Trail for off-road vehicles), Jacob became inspired to highlight nature’s greatness. Mixing beautiful designs with a passion to discuss and preserve the land, Nature Bound Co.’s products have expanded to 900 designs, found in places like REI and national parks.
Asheville Print Shop and Screen Printing is located at two locations in Asheville, NC.
Nature Bound Co.
Music by Commonwealth Choir
In this episode, we interview Jefferson Ellison, the Chief Creative of Jawbreaking.
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with local photographer & storyteller, Nicole McConville.
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Jefferson Ellison has been working in fashion since he was 16. After earning a degree at North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles, Ellison moved to NYC and expanded his body of work to include sales strategy, content creation and public relations. Under Ellison’s creative direction, JAWBREAKING, a digital platform offering interviews and investigative reporting, op-eds, fashion editorials and prose, became known for its irreverent sense of youth and boastful hints of Southern charm. Upon his return to Asheville, Ellison founded Jawbreaking Creative, a creative agency that offers consulting in editorial, advertising, events and influencer outreach as well as data analysis, trend forecasting, brand monitoring and more.
“I’m not a cog in the machine, I am the machine”
To learn more about Jawbreaking, check out the links below:
Places
Media
Music by Commonwealth Choir
Happy 2021, friends!
On the first podcast episode of the year, we thought it’d be a great time to circle back to our episode from season 3, “How to Set Goals that M.A.T.A. and Achieve Them.” We offer useful steps using the M.A.T.A method and explain how this system can help you set more meaningful, intentional goals for the New Year – and actually stick to them.
This episode is brought to you by Range Urgent Care an Asheville-based clinic that offers affordable healthcare, transparent pricing, and streamlined, friendly service. Learn more about Range Urgent Care.
*Enjoy your first month free of annual membership at Range Urgent Care. Use code ‘makingitinasheville’ at checkout. Offer valid for a limited time only.
M.A.T.A is the acronym we use to set meaningful year-long goals and achieve them. It stands for Meaningful, Actionable, Time-Constrained, and Accountable.
Find the rest of the show notes from this episode.
Music by Commonwealth Choir
In this episode, we interview John Hornsby, a creative graphic artist, organizer of information, strategic thinker, and an experienced achiever. What one might call, a Chief Creative Ninja.
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with local Asheville graphic designer & business owner of Amp’d Designs, Alyssa Phillips. Alyssa sits on the board of AIGA.
This episode is brought to you by Range Urgent Care an Asheville-based clinic that offers affordable healthcare, transparent pricing, and streamlined, friendly service. Learn more about Range Urgent Care.
*Enjoy your first month free of annual membership at Range Urgent Care. Use code ‘makingitinasheville’ at checkout. Offer valid for a limited time only.
Delivering the rare balance of graphic artistry and business acumen, Hornsby Creative brings to the table a strong background in environmental graphic design specializing in signs and special events marketing, as well as extensive hands on experience in sales, relationship management, business development and workflow solutions.
Interested in engaging more with John Hornsby?
Instagram: @JohnHornsbyCreative @ConnectionKits
Websites: JohnHornsbyCreative.com ConnectionKits.biz
Music by Commonwealth Choir
In this episode, we interview Sarajane Case, a coach, writer, and speaker.
We hope you enjoy this episode with Sara!
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with digital marketing expert, Tyler J. McCall.
This episode is brought to you by Range Urgent Care an Asheville-based clinic that offers affordable healthcare, transparent pricing, and streamlined, friendly service. Learn more about Range Urgent Care.
*Enjoy your first month free of annual membership at Range Urgent Care. Use code ‘makingitinasheville’ at checkout. Offer valid for a limited time only.
Based in Asheville, Sarajane Case is s coach, writer, and speaker. Using research and mindset shifts that she has compiled over the years, Sarajane help women find (and re-find) joy in their work and life. She is the author of The Honest Enneagram, as well as the founder of Enneagram and Coffee and @YourCoffeeatHome. Connect with her at sarajanecase.com
Written by Sarajane Case, The Honest Enneagram is a kinder, more down-to-earth approach to understanding the nine types. The book includes beautiful illustrations (done by Sarajanes husband!) mixed in with highly digestible writing.
If you’re interested in buying this book and you’re from Asheville, we recommend buying it from our local independent bookstore, Malaprops (click this link here). However if you must buy it on Amazon, please use this affiliate link to help support this podcast and project.
Sandra Matri is an artist, an author, an enneagram teacher
Tyler J. McCall is a digital marketing expert. He’s Sarajane’s former business partner—and current friend.
Nespresso Aerroccino Milk Frother (affiliate link) – the milk frother Sarajane uses at home to make her favorite coffee drink: the cappuccino.
Aeropress – the coffee-making tool we use at home and travel with!
Finca El Puente coffee by Counter Culture – Sarajane’s favorite coffee blend right now
The Artist’s Way is a book by Julia Camera about discovering and developing the artist within. View on Malaprop’s or view on Amazon (affiliate link).
Shrill is a memoir by Lindsey West. It’s the book Sarajane was reading at the time of this podcast recording. View on Malaprop’s or view on Amazon (affiliate link).
High Five Coffee – Sarajane’s favorite local coffee shops (the one on Broadway)
Music by Commonwealth Choir
Making It in Asheville is a podcast where we go behind the scenes with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in Asheville. We learn about what they’re making and how they’re making it in Asheville.
Making It in Asheville is powered by Making It Creative, our boutique marketing and business consulting agency. We help passionate small business owners build and improve their sales and communication strategies. Learn more here.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, review, and/or share. Each review means than you might think as they help this episode get discovered on podcast players.
To recommend an interviewee, visit MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast
For as long as he can remember, Jeff has been fascinated by entrepreneurship. Prior to becoming the Director of Entrepreneurship at Venture Asheville, he graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship. He’s taught entrepreneurship, written a book about entrepreneurship, and is even an entrepreneur himself—selling one of his startups about two years ago.
Considering we’ve had a podcast about Asheville-based entrepreneurs for over a year, we’re about a year late in having Jeff on the show. We hope you’ll agree that the wait has been worth it.
Enjoyed this interview? We think you might also dig this episode with Andrew Nehlig of Sauna House.
This episode is brought to you by Range Urgent Care an Asheville-based clinic that offers affordable healthcare, transparent pricing, and streamlined, friendly service. Learn more about Range Urgent Care.
*Enjoy your first month free of annual membership at Range Urgent Care. Use code ‘makingitinasheville’ at checkout. Offer valid for a limited time only.
Jeff Kaplan is the Director of Venture Asheville (more on that below!).
Concurrently, Jeff is leading a startup of his own, JustKibbitz, a new kind of dating site where parents do the matchmaking. He’s also the local director of VentureSouth’s Angel Investment Group, the Asheville Angels.
Prior to leading Venture Asheville, Jeffrey earned his Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and instructed in Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida. He is a published author in Entrepreneurship Pedagogy, launched and sold pet-tech startup Dogphrendly as an alumnus of the Groundwork Labs accelerator in Durham, and was Product Owner and Consultant in digital product development at Anthroware.
In the community, Jeffrey serves on the State of North Carolina’s Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Vice-Chairman on the Mountain Capital Community Fund, Board Member of the Hatch AVL Foundation, Board of Directors Member and Secretary of the Asheville JCC, and advisor to UNCA’s Center of Jewish Studies.
Venture Asheville is the high-growth entrepreneurship initiative of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. The program’s work centers on catalyzing Asheville’s high-growth entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs with startup funding, mentors, and talent to scale their ventures.
Venture Asheville Programs
Asheville Entrepreneurship Week is an annual, week-long celebration that highlights Asheville’s growing startups, innovative businesses, and entrepreneurs from every industry. The program is hosted by both Hatch AVL and Venture Asheville.
Elevate is a free mentorship program designed to help new businesses navigate the practical, day-to-day challenges of building great companies and develop their skills as effective managers, leaders, and CEOs.
Venture 15 Awards is an annual awards ceremony that honors Asheville’s 15 fastest growing startups and the people and organizations that make Asheville a place for startups to thrive.
Asheville Startup Road Trip helps a small group of Asheville-area startups fundraise for their businesses in surrounding cities such as Charlotte, Durham, and Winston Salem.
Asheville Impact Micro Grant provides $5,000 micro grants for early-stage startups in Buncombe and Haywood County.
Other Resources for Entrepreneurs
ScaleUp WNC provides intensive growth strategy development and implementation assistance to cohorts of 15 small businesses. Western North Carolina businesses with strong potential for growth and job creation have the opportunity to apply to participate in this highly competitive program. The program is hosted by Hatch and Mountain Biz Works.
Big Scary Fish Tank is a live pitch event in Asheville where local entrepreneurs compete to win a game-changing financial infusion from the city’s top investors.
One Million Cups of Coffee is a free, weekly pitch event that gathers downtown. Each week, one to two founders pitch their business to like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and supporters of Asheville’s growing startup scene. And there’s free coffee!
Talent Jam is a one-of-a-kind pitch event that authentically connects job seekers with local opportunities and employers within their community, and beyond!
Dig South Tech Summit is where leading global brands connect with the South’s most innovative tech companies.
Businesses that Venture Asheville has worked with:
Moonlight Makers is a silly puns T-shirt and gift shop. We interviewed founders, Nicole and Claire, in episode 052.
French Broad Chocolates is an Asheville-based chocolate confectionery and bakery.
3 Mountains Tea sources and produces premium, organic, and fair-trade teas from Rwanda.
Other Local Businesses
Aux Bus is a simple & affordable podcast solution that lets you plan, record, and launch all in one place.
Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours is an award-winning rooftop bar tour featuring stunning sky views and fun bits of history.
Dogwood Health Trust s a North Carolina nonprofit corporation with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities across Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust is the successor foundation of the nonprofit Mission Health System.
Hatch AVL Foundation is a 501(c)3 uniquely supporting high growth startups with a proven Playbook, Programs, and Partnerships to grow the next $10M companies in Asheville.
Anthroware is a US-based team of brilliant strategists, developers, designers, and engineers who build software for humans.
Jeff’s Startups:
Chef Sleeves
Dogphrendly
Just Kibbitz is a new kind of dating site where parents do the matchmaking,
Principles & Concepts
Intrepreneur vs. Entrepreneur
Corridor Principle is, according to BPlans Glossary, “where an entrepreneurial venture may find that it has significantly changed its focus from the initial concept of the venture as it has continually responded and adapted to its market and the desire to optimize profitability potential.”
Kaleidoscope Thinking is a mindset or strategy that requires you to re-arrange what you see and imagine new arrangements, new patterns, new groupings.
People
Jon Jones is the President/CEO and Founder of Anthroware.
Josh Dorfman is former Director of Venture Asheville, now currently the CEO and Founder of Simbly.
Dan Radan is the founder of Auxbus.
Places
Roswell is a small town located in the north metropolitan suburbs of Atlanta, GA.
All Day Darling is is a cafe’ located in Montford that serves an all-day menu of market-focused food.
TV Shows & Movies
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is comedy/drama TV show about a 1950’s Jewish housewife who turns into a comedian after divorcing her husband.
Star Trek
Music by Commonwealth Choir
Making It in Asheville is a podcast where we go behind the scenes with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in Asheville. We learn about what they’re making and how they’re making it in Asheville.
Making It in Asheville is powered by Making It Creative, our boutique marketing and business consulting agency. We help passionate small business owners build and improve their sales and communication strategies. Learn more here.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, review, and/or share. Each review means than you might think as they help this episode get discovered on podcast players.
To recommend an interviewee, visit MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast
