This Is Small Business

• How an Accidental Entrepreneur Went from No Orders to Sold Out Overnight

  What if your business took off before you were ready? No team. No investors. Just a homemade product and a sudden wave of demand. That’s exactly what happened to Adria Marshall, founder of Ecoslay. When her flaxseed hair gel went viral overnight, she had to decide: shut it down or take the risk and build something bigger. Host Andrea Marquez unpacks how Adria scaled her side hustle into a purpose-driven brand, why staying small was her boldest move, and how she learned to embrace risk despite being a planner obsessed Virgo. Adria’s journey will show you how to build something real with what you already have. No MBA, no perfect plan – just purpose, persistence, and a few exploding jars along the way. If you’re waiting for the “perfect” moment to start, this is your sign: the mess is the journey.Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at [email protected] – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode you’ll hear:(01:47) Can solving your own problem turn into a business? Hear how Adria’s hair journey – and an obsession with DIY – sparked the beginnings of Ecoslay.(05:00) Do you have to know what you’re doing before you start? Adria talks about launching her first product with no experience and no formal plan.(06:53) What do you do when an expert says your idea won’t work? Adria hires a chemist who said her formula was impossible – so she proved him wrong.(08:13) What would you do if your side hustle goes viral overnight? The moment a YouTuber changed everything for Ecoslay and how Adria juggled the chaos with a full-time job.(14:40) What if your product starts exploding in the mail? The hard (and messy) lessons Adria learned and how she bounced back from her mistakes.(16:38) How do you keep going when everything feels like too much? Adria shares how she grounds herself in difficult moments – and why making risky, values-driven decisions (like ditching plastic packaging) became her boldest moves.(22:27) Still waiting for the “perfect” moment to start? Why Adria now sees risk as a teacher – and how she learned to bet on herself before she felt ready.

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• Turning Rejection into Momentum: How One Mom Started a Multimillion CPG Brand

  When Partake Foods founder Denise Woodard’s daughter had a life-threatening allergic reaction, everything changed. That moment inspired Denise to launch an allergy-friendly snack company that’s now worth millions and serves thousands of families across the U.S. But starting a food business from scratch with no baking experience and no outside funding meant taking one bold risk after another. Host Andrea Marquez talks with Denise about her transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur, how she kept going after getting 86 investor no’s (at least) until she landed a yes from Jay-Z’s VC firm, and how to validate a product before it exists. If you've ever been afraid of hearing “no,” Denise’s story will change how you think about risk, resilience, and the power of starting small.Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us as an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at [email protected] – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode you’ll hear:(00:00) Ever felt like you needed a “perfect” plan before starting? Hear how Denise launched Partake Foods with no product, no baking skills – just a very personal “why.”(04:55) What if a stranger at the zoo told you to start a business? Denise shares the serendipitous moment that gave her the push she needed.(09:20) Struggling to get others to believe in your idea? Learn how Denise turned a cold shoulder from a manufacturer into a yes.(11:21) Feel like you have to do it all yourself? Denise opens up about making costly mistakes, asking for help, and finding the right people to bring her vision to life.(16:27) Thinking about quitting your job to go all in? Denise shares the very unglamorous reality of her first day as a full-time founder.(21:17) Tired of rejection? Hear how Denise pushed through 86 investor no’s and how one yes from Jay-Z’s VC firm changed everything.(25:28) Afraid to take risks? Denise’s advice for fellow risk-averse founders will make you rethink what it really means to start small.

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• How Two Friends Quit Their Jobs to Build a Brand That Disrupted the Eyewear Industry

  What do you do when your glasses don’t fit well – and the eyewear industry doesn’t see the problem? For best friends Tracy Green and Nancey Harris, co-founders of Vontélle Eyewear, the answer was bold: start their own company. In the season six premiere of This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez kicks off her personal mission to become more of a risk-taker so she could eventually start her own business by learning from two women who embraced the curveballs that life threw at them and came out stronger. If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t take the leap, Tracy and Nancey’s story might just be the push you need.Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us as an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at [email protected] – you might hear it in a future episode.In this episode you’ll hear:(00:33) How listeners like you are stepping outside their comfort zones – plus, Andrea shares why she’s finally facing her fear of risk.(03:35) How losing a favorite pair of glasses sparked an impromptu trip to Paris and a new business idea – and why noticing everyday problems is your first step to innovation.(10:51) Ever wonder how to know when it’s time to go all in? Tracy and Nancey were juggling full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and a pandemic – until they realized they couldn’t wait for the “perfect” time to start.(14:17) When everything goes wrong, do you pause or push through? From a health scare to a fire, these founders share how staying focused on their mission helped them overcome obstacles and keep building.(17:58) The small wins, like a single email from a customer, can keep you going when self-doubt creeps in. Hear what kept Tracy and Nancey going, even when things got rough.(20:17) How Tracy and Nancey pivoted from direct-to-consumer to wholesale and got creative about growing their business.(22:55) Get advice on how to decide when to leap, when to pause, and how to bounce back from failure without losing momentum.

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• Small Business Bytes: How UGC Can Help Your Business Stand Out

  What if your customers could become your best marketers?In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez dives into the power of user-generated content (UGC) and why UGC is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. You’ll learn how UGC builds trust, loyalty, and engagement with your audience, discover simple ways to encourage your customers to create content, and get actionable tips to use UGC effectively.Whether you’re a brand that's just getting started or an established business looking to grow, this minisode will give you tools you can tap into when it comes to the content your customers are already creating.So, how will you start leveraging UGC? Share your ideas or results with us in a Spotify comment, Apple Podcasts review, or email us at [email protected]. Doing that will not only hold you accountable but could also inspire another entrepreneur to take their next big step.Sources: If you want to know more about influencer marketing and Brittany Hennessy's story, listen to: How Influencer marketing Can Help You Grow Your Business - This is Small BusinessIf you want to know more about marketing and Liz Downing's story, listen to: How to Build Your Marketing Strategy - This is Small BusinessConsumer Behavior Stats 2021: The Post-Pandemic Shift in Online Shopping Habit - NostoUGC Content 101: A Comprehensive Introduction - American Marketing AssociationConsumer Confessions: How does UGC Impact and Influence the Shopping Experience? - TurnTo NetworksWhy User-Generated Content Is Winning - Forbes

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• Small Business Bytes: How to Pitch Your Business Like a Pro

  Your pitch is more than just words – it’s your first impression, your story, and your chance to stand out. But how do you pack all that into just 60 seconds or less?In this minisode of Small Business Bytes on This is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez walks you through how to craft an elevator pitch that grabs attention, tells a compelling story, and leaves people wanting more. Whether you’re pitching to a potential customer, investor, or partner, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to make every second count.You’ll also get inspired by real-life examples of past guests who’ve crafted pitches that opened doors for their businesses – like Felicia Jackson, founder of CPR Wrap, who turned a personal crisis into a life-saving product, Matthew Tesvich, founder of Skunk Skin, who solved a smelly problem with humor and creativity, and more! These stories will bring the steps to life and show you exactly how to apply those lessons to your own pitch.So, what’s your pitch? Share it (or just one line) with us in a Spotify comment, Apple Podcasts review, or email us at [email protected]. Doing that will not only hold you accountable but could also inspire another entrepreneur to take their next big step.Sources: If you want to know more about CPR Wrap, listen to Felicia’s story here: Every Entrepreneur's Dream: ‘Your Product Is a Life Saver!’ - TISB: Behind The BuyIf you want to know more about Skunk Skin, listen to Matthew’s story here: Knock Their Socks Off: A Fresh Solution to a Stinky Problem - TISB: Behind The BuyIf you want to know more about Shezza Socks, listen to Tiffany’s story here: From Blisters to Breakthrough: Behind Shezza Socks' Viral Success - TISB: Behind The BuyIf you want to know more about Agua Bonita, listen to Kayla’s story here: A Taste of Tradition: Infusing Heritage in Every Sip - TISB: Behind The Buy11 actually great elevator pitch examples and how to make yours - Zapier

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