Making It Work

Think getting investment is like Shark Tank? Think again. After experiencing failed pitches, interfering investors and pressure to scale, scale, scale, a new generation of entrepreneurs is ditching venture capital and pursuing crowd funding. In the sixth episode of Making It Work, we speak to Rahim Diallo of Ginjan Bros, Dana Donofree of AnaOno, David Patrick of Shark Wheel and Liz Powers of Artlifting. From $2.4m investment rounds to seeking out loan sharks, our entrepreneurs reflect on their diverse experiences when it comes to securing cash to kickstart their growth. So should you hold out for an angel investor or bootstrap your business all the way to the bank? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES

We're back for a second season, and we're feeling festive. For most small businesses the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas is crucial for driving sales, but what's happening behind the scenes?

In Season 2 Episode 1 of Making It Work we speak to Nik Hawks of Paleo Treats, Mayra Hernandez of Back of the Yards Coffee Co., Ebun Olaloye of Live Breathe Futbol and Kat Samardzija of Locker Lifestyle.

From placing orders in August to roping in friends and family as free labor, we talk to four entrepreneurs about how they plan for the few months that can account for 80% of their sales.

So should you take on the big boys on Black Friday? And, more importantly, what's the deal with pumpkin spice lattes? Tune in to find out.

Working round the clock has always been a strong symbol of entrepreneurship. But does it do you and your business any good in the long term, or is it just a fast path to burnout? In Season 2 Episode 2 of Making It Work we speak to Dahlia Rizk of Buckle Me Baby Coats, Nik Hawks of Paleo Treats, Kat Samardzija of Locker Lifestyle and Mayra Hernandez of Back of the Yards Coffee Co. From breaking up your day into 30 minute chunks to fighting fires in the early hours, four small business owners discuss how they manage their precious time and whether you can ever stop thinking about work. So should you be packing boxes until bedtime? Or is it time to axe the agenda and start putting yourself first? Tune in to find out.

We thought it was time to give the Making it Work entrepreneurs a bit of a break. So as they catch up on calls and tweak their Ts & Cs, Tom chewed the fat with Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg.

In this Season 2 'Ask the Expert' special of Making It Work we ask Publicis Groupe's Jason Goldberg what the future holds for retail businesses.

Nobody could have seen COVID coming, but some coped better than others. While big-box retailers scrambled to streamline their online offering, small businesses were disproportionately disadvantaged in the race to adapt.

But as big companies struggle with their supply chains and service levels, changes in consumer behavior have created new opportunities for SMEs.

So how can entrepreneurs fill this gap? And who did Jason (not) say "I told ya so" to? Tune in to find out.

There are few words that get thrown around in the world of entrepreneurship as much as 'innovation'. And while for many, it brings about thoughts of Marie Curie and George Washington Carver, for small business owners being innovative is just one more way to survive.

In Season 2 Episode 4 of Making It Work we speak to Kat Samardzija of Locker Lifestyle, Casey Kelley of Blended Designs, Nik Hawks of Paleo Treats and Paul Pallas of SWISCO.

From throwing things out there to "see what sticks" to staff mediation and yoga classes, all of these entrepreneurs have different approaches to innovation. The thing they all agree on? It's do or die.

So what can you do to stay one step ahead of the competition? And will our entrepreneurs ever run out of ideas? Tune in to find out.